Chapter 600

“Is Master Pang and Teacher Shuijing in good health?” An old and a young scholar sat opposite each other in the courtyard. On the table was a playing board.1

“Thank you for your concern. Lord Pang and my teacher are both in good health.” The young scholar replied. He was respectfully playing black but his pieces captured white disrespectfully.

“That’s good! That’s good!” The older one nodded. “It has been many years since I last saw them. Time passes in an instant.” The older scholar was no slouch himself, quickly pressuring the white pieces into a disadvantage.

“If you want to meet Lord Pang and my teacher, we can all get together at Jingzhou.” The young scholar replied.

“Jingzhou? Haha. No thanks. Liu Biao would just arrest me.” The middle-aged scholar sighed bitterly. In these chaotic times, rather than casual visits, it was more likely for friends to become enemies. Jingzhou and Yangzhou may not be far but the people was as separated apart as Heaven and earth.

“What if Jingzhou is under the jurisdiction of His Highness the King of Shu? Wouldn’t you be able to go meet them?” The young man replied while seemingly bored of the game. He moved his pieces aimlessly. It was as though his pieces were surrendering.

“Unfortunately, it isn’t.” White continued to press the advantage.

“Wouldn’t it become true soon?” The young scholar put another piece on the board while the middle-aged scholar did not seem to care as though he had already won.

“Master Chen. Thank you for letting me win.”

“Hm?” The middle-aged scholar looked back down to find out that he had lost.

“Zhuge Kongming. What do you want?” The middle-aged scholar did not want to continue playing after he had lost. He put aside his white pieces and looked at Zhuge Liang.

“Master Chen Gong. Like you, I am simply choosing a tree to settle on.” The young scholar replied with sincerity in his eyes.

Yes, Zhuge Liang had paid a visit to Chen Gong at Wancheng after the events at the Yangtze River.

“Do you think I would believe you?” Chen Gong paid no attention to Zhuge Liang’s ‘sincerity’. In Chen Gong’s case, he was simply unable to work together with Cao Cao. The reason he joined Lu Bu was mostly because out of necessity. Lu Bu had the highest chance of getting into conflict with Cao Cao.

However, Zhuge Liang was different. He was so talented that few could compare with him. Him alone is worth more than a hundred thousand men. It was also because of this that Chen Gong was even more vigilant towards Zhuge Liang. Chen Gong chose Lu Bu because it was a last resort but Zhuge Liang had many choices.

Cao Cao for example was one of the many people with larger territories than Liu Mang. Liu Bei worshipped strategists but only have Pang Tong. Now that Pang Tong was missing, Liu Bei was in dire need of a strategist. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu was willing to offer Zhuge Liang a high salary and a high post. Zhou Yu was even willing to step aside. Compared to these people, what could Yangzhou give?

“Report!” While the two were talking, a messenger came in. “Report. Lujiang’s navy has sent a letter!”

“Didn’t I say that I have a visitor? Can this wait?” Chen Gong said to the messenger. He was having enough trouble trying to figure out Zhuge Liang.

“No. I was ordered to deliver this letter to you with haste.” The messenger explained.

“Oh?” Chen Gong furrowed his brow. Zhuge Liang politely stepped aside and admire the flowers to give Chen Gong some privacy.

Chen Gong quickly read the letter. The more he read, the more his brows furrowed. By the time he was done, he had already subconsciously crumpled the letter.

“Zhuge Kongming! What do you want?” Chen Gong asked again but this time his tone was extremely serious. He waved the letter in his hand as he asked.

“Master Chen. Didn’t I already say? I am simply choosing a tree to settle on.” Zhuge Liang repeated himself.

“I don’t believe you!” Chen Gong shook his head. He did not believe that Zhuge Liang had no idea about the contents of the letter. It was stated in the letter that the Jiangxia Navy had surrendered to Yangzhou despite their numerical superiority. This was extremely illogical. Besides that, Chen Gong was afraid that Zhuge Liang might repeat what he did to Jingzhou and Jiangdong at Yangzhou. Chen Gong’s spy had infiltrated Jiangdong very well so he knew exactly what Sun Ce and Zhou Yu had offered Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang had agreed and started proposing plans for Jiangdong. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu then let down their guard had their own army annihilated. Chen Gong felt admiration towards Zhuge Liang’s ploy but more importantly, he felt fear.

Now Zhuge Liang seemed to be doing the same thing. He is offering benefits that couldn’t be refused before turning traitor. Zhuge Liang did not explain himself and Chen Gong could not figure him out. Before this, Chen Gong would have tried to find a way to figure out Zhuge Liang but now he was already made lazy by Liu Mang. If you cannot understand something, there is no need to think. If you can use force, there is no need to use diplomacy.

“Men. Arrest this master and servant! Drag them out to execute them!” Chen Gong immediately ordered. He had no intentions of playing around with Zhuge Liang nor did he have any intentions of putting such a high risk beside him.

“How could you be like this? Why do you want to execute us? Our Master here painstakingly helped you but now you want to burn the bridges? Master! Didn’t I say not to come here? Wasn’t it better at Jingzhou?” Wu Hui started to complain.

Zhuge Liang smiled calmly. He had believed that Chen Gong would not truly harm him until he figured out what is going on. Yet, Chen Gong did not act according to common sense. Four guards immediate arrested and dragged away Zhuge Liang and Wu Hui. Chen Gong really wanted them dead.

Zhuge Liang laughed bitterly. All this time, he simply plans strategies. Even when Zhou Yu suspected him, Zhou Yu did not dare act to rashly. However, Chen Gong immediately go straight for the kill. Either explain things to him, or explain things to Yama.

Zhuge Liang was helpless so he could only shout to Chen Gong. “Master Chen, I will speak!”

“Let them go.” Chen Gong ordered the guards. Before Zhuge Liang could speak, Chen Gong quickly reminded Zhuge Liang that he only has this one chance. If Zhuge Liang threw away this chance, Chen Gong would kill Zhuge Liang regardless of Pang Degong and Shuijing.

Zhuge Liang found himself in a difficult position for the first time. Even when the people of Jiangdong wanted him dead, they could not do anything. However, this time Zhuge Liang was out of luck.

Zhuge Liang patted the dust off his body and replied. “Master Chen. Would you believe me if I say it is because His Highness the King of Shu is benevolent?”

“It’s over!” Wu Hui became depressed thinking that Zhuge Liang was still trying to bullshit people.

“Benevolent?” Chen Gong was stunned. He never thought of Liu Mang as humane. At Xiapi, Liu Mang was willing to kill his own men to survive. To pacify Wancheng, Liu Mang had killed off all the nobles and their supporters without reason. This gave Liu Mang the title of a butcher. He also ordered for the civilians at Nandun to be killed after they were led astray by Liu Bei. Which part of Liu Mang was humane? Clearly, Zhuge Liang must be lying. Wouldn’t it be better to look for Liu Bei who had the reputation of a benevolent ruler?

“Liu Bei? Haha. Does Master Chen really not know what that man is like?” Zhuge Liang said as though he could read Chen Gong’s mind.

“Liu Bei may be a hypocrite but at least he still showed benevolence. On the other hand, His Highness is not benevolent at all!” Chen Gong sneered thinking that Zhuge Liang was still lying. “Men! Execute him on the spot!”

Chen Gong was angry. Does Zhuge Liang really think so highly of his own intellect?

“Peaks and ridges press together, waves and torrents rage, zigzagging between the mountains and the river runs the road through Tong Pass.”2 Zhuge Liang started to speak again as Chen Gong waved his hand to have Zhuge Liang taken away. The grieving Qin and Han travelled the earth.

“I look to the western capital, my thoughts linger. It breaks my heart to come to the old place of the Qin and Han, now palaces and terraces have all turned to dust.” Zhuge Liang stood up. “Dynasties rise, the common folk suffer. Dynasties fall, the common folk suffer.” Zhuge Liang closed his eyes as though he could see the suffering of the people.

“Why do you know this?” Chen Gong stared at Zhuge Liang. Chen Gong had heard Liu Mang say this before at Xuzhou. Why would Zhuge Liang from Jingzhou know this when these words were not passed on?

Zhuge Liang then explained that he once travelled the lands and happened to be around when Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou. Zhuge Liang was caught up in the war but he managed to blend in with the common people to avoid starving to death.

At that time, Zhuge Liang and Liu Mang came across each other though they did not recognize each other. At that time, Liu Mang saw the people escaping their home with their wealth and also the people who starved to death. Liu Mang knew the consequences of war and was extremely disturbed by it. As a person from the peaceful era of modern times, war was something only heard in passing or seen in news at most. It was not something people personally experience. That was why he was so disturbed by it that he said those words. Zhuge Liang just happened to be there. He would have introduced himself to Liu Mang had Liu Mang not been in the Lu Bu’s Army.

Initially, Zhuge Liang didn’t care as the Lu Bu’s Army was about to meet its end under the hands of Cao Cao. Yet, they managed to escape. Liu Mang obtained Yangzhou, repelled the Jiangdong Army and even survived the joint assault of three armies. This made Zhuge Liang think highly of Liu Mang.

Liu Mang was benevolent, capable and knew how to use his subordinates. These are the reasons Zhuge Liang chose Liu Mang.

Zhuge Liang started making his arrangements when Liu Mang sent out the recruitment order. He entered Liu Biao’s service and made achievements so that Liu Biao would delegate power to him. Jingzhou had seventy thousand men but forty thousand men were given to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang was slow because of the thirty thousand men controlled by Wen Pinl. His plans were then derailed when news arrived saying that Liu Biao became a cuckold thanks to Liu Mang.

Zhuge Liang was worried but he still bided his time as he wasn’t certain he could wipe out Wen Pin’s men. Though he could win, the damage would be big. How would they be able to confront against Jiangdong? At that time, even fighting against Jingzhou would be impossible.

Fortunately, Liu Biao wanted trade away Jiangxia for Jiangdong to help wipe out Yangzhou. Jiangxia was Jingzhou’s barrier so if it falls, Jingzhou wouldn’t be too far off.

So, Zhuge Liang began his master plan to wipe out both the Jingzhou Army and the Jiangdong Army. Jiangdong brought sixty thousand men, Wen Pin brought thirty thousand men, while Zhuge Liang only brought five thousand men. On top of that, these five thousand men were from families ruined by Jiangdong. Their reason for fighting was vengeance and they were very willing to sacrifice their lives to burn the oil.

With these done, Zhuge Liang was left with about thirty-five thousand men all of which were brought to Yangzhou. In a single moment, Jiangdong who had the largest navy was now the smallest navy. Jinghou was not behind them. Meanwhile, Yangzhou who had the smallest navy was now the largest.

“For now, I will trust you.” Chen Gong said uncertainly.

“If Master Chen doesn’t trust me, I will have to prove my loyalty.” Zhuge Liang replied with a smile. He too, wouldn’t want Chen Gong to believe him all of a sudden.

“Prove your loyalty?” Chen Gong did not understand Zhuge Liang’s words. Didn’t he already tried to do that? Having Jiangxia’s troops defect was already a huge achievement especially considering the size and also the current state of Yangzhou’s navy. Yangzhou needed time to build or repair their new warships.

“Master Chen. Do you want Jiangxia and Jiujiang?” Zhuge Liang laughed.

“Jiangxia?” Chen Gong’s eyes glinted. Whoever obtains Jiangxia would be able to obtain Jingzhou as they would become helpless after losing Jiangxia. On the other hand, Jiujiang may not be worth as much but they would be able to attack Jiangdong by land from there. If they had these two places, the end of Jingzhou and Jiangdong won’t be far.

“Good! Zhuge Liang. If you can capture these two places, I will make sure the Lord gives you a generous salary and a high post!” Chen Gong offered.

“A generous salary and a high post?” Zhuge Liang shook his head. “I only need the His Highness’ benevolence.”

***

“Milord! The navy at Xiakou has gone to Yangzhou!” The messenger reported while Liu Biao was preparing to hold a banquet for Wen Pin.

“The troops at Xiakou moved?” Liu Biao asked skeptically as he sat on his throne. Why did no one tell him this earlier? Wen Pin should have mentioned this earlier.

“It must be the Military Advisor.” Wen Pin’s subordinates spoke up. There were two important figures at Jiangxia, Xiakou. One was Wen Pin, the other was Zhuge Liang. Since Wen Pin was at Xiangyang, the one moving the troops must be Zhuge Liang.

“Reporting to Milord. It should the Military Advisor moving to recapture Jingzhou’s territory.” Wen Pin added as he cupped his fists towards Liu Biao. He could not tell Liu Biao that he himself was not sure. After all, they had returned to Xiangyang straight after the events at Yangtze River. They did not even stop to rest in fear that Zhuge Liang would steal all the merits. If it was before, he would not have minded losing out on merits. However, if he did not have any merits after losing Liu Biao’s elites, he would be imprisoned or even executed.

“Oh. It is Kongming that is pursuing the enemy.” Liu Biao nodded in satisfaction. With Jiangdong’s fleets destroyed and Yangzhou’s fleet retreating, it can be said that the whole of the Yangtze River was free for the Jingzhou navy to occupy. It would be stupid to not take advantage of the current situation.

All the nobles were also happy. The more lands Zhuge Liang obtains, the more profits for Jingzhou’s nobles. They flattered Liu Biao even more, so Liu Biao was also happy and content.

Huang She also smiled. With so much land, even the Huang Family would profit from this. The Huang Family was already famous in Jiangxia. Besides that, the better the war situation, the less military power Liu Pan can have.

“Where are Xiakou’s troops now?” Huang She asked the messenger. The others present also want to know.

“They have already advanced to Jiujiang.” The messenger replied.

“Good! The lands taken by that thief at Jiangdong have finally returned to us! Jiujiang? This Zhuge Liang is really helping the Lord conquer more lands!” Huang She’s words made everybody laugh. Only the messenger’s face seemed flushed.

“What other good news is there?” Huang She asked.

The messenger felt like crying. Good news? What good news? How could he tell everyone the truth and ruin the mood? If he tells the truth, he would suffer the consequences but if he doesn’t say anything, he would be delaying military intelligence. That is a capital offense punishable by death. After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to tell the truth. “Milord. The troops at Xiakou have indeed captured Jiangxia and Jiujiang but they weren’t carrying our banner! They were carrying Yangzhou’s banner!”

“What?” Everyone’s laughter quickly turned to silence. Why were they carrying Yangzhou’s banner?

“Say that again!”

“Milord! Xiakou’s troops have defected to Yangzhou!” The messenger said again.

Everyone then understood what the messenger meant by flying Yangzhou’s banners. Their troops not only went to Yangzhou. They even gave Jiangxia over to Yangzhou.

“How can this be?” No one dared to believe this. The Jiangxia navy has defected? “What about Military Advisor Zhuge?”

“We did not see him but it was General Huo Jun who brought the Jiangxia navy over to Yangzhou’s side!”

The people then understood that Zhuge Liang was involved. Huo Jun would not act without Zhuge Liang’s orders.

“Do we still have Chibi and Shiyang?” Wen Pin quickly asked. As expected of a military man, he quickly asked about these two vital locations that help protect Jingzhou. Even when Liu Biao offered Jiangxia away to Jiangdong, he did not dare give away these two locations.

“The Jiangxia navy have garrisoned at Chibi. Shiyang is resisting but would soon fall!” The messenger replied.

Liu Biao’s face turned red and then he spat out blood. Before fainting, he ferociously shouted the name of his hateful enemy, the Yangzhou Army.

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