"Mr. Wen Mang? There is a package for you here. When would it be convenient for you to come pick it up?"
Wen Mang wiped the sweat from his forehead. Stepping outside in this season felt as though one could lose several jin of sweat in a single trip.
A fan gift?
Layer by layer, the packaging was opened, and to his surprise, inside the small parcel lay a jade pendant with a soft, gentle sheen.
The pendant was formed as a seamless hollow circle, a dragon coiling twice around itself from head to tail, with smaller li dragons entwined along its body, exquisitely crafted in every detail.
A li-dragon jade pendant?
Wen Mang quickly dredged up the relevant knowledge from memory.
The workmanship was quite good. After handling it briefly, he arrived at a firm conclusion that this was a high-end Yiwu product.
On an online marketplace, it would probably cost at least twenty-five yuan.
Beneath the jade pendant lay a note. Wen Mang unfolded it and saw neatly written clerical script:
"One jade pendant, offered as a token of respect — Left General of the Han, Marquis of Yicheng Pavilion, Governor of Jingzhou, Liu Bei."
Was this some new form of immersive interaction?
Wen Mang could not quite make sense of it, but in the end, he decided to keep it carefully. After all, it was his first fan gift, and its commemorative value was considerable.
After thinking it over, he took out his phone, snapped a few pictures, and uploaded them to Site 13 along with a short caption expressing his thoughts.
What Wen Mang did not notice was that a faint line of text had appeared in the upper corner of his account:
"Historical Deviation Value: 0"
…
Fourteenth Year of Jian'an, Gong'an County, Jingzhou.
Since the last manifestation of the light screen, Kongming had simply moved his working place to this side hall.
Twenty full days had passed since that event. Aside from handling the administrative affairs of the four commanderies of Jingzhou, Kongming spent his time studying the words of the light screen.
At that moment, an attendant reported, "Strategist, my lord has returned together with the three generals."
"Invite them in at once. We must discuss matters."
The three generals naturally referred to Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun.
After the light screen vanished last time, Liu Bei had gone with Zhao Yun to inspect the four commanderies of Jingzhou. With the region newly stabilized, suppressing bandits and comforting the populace were tasks that required Liu Bei's personal attention.
Now that they had returned together, they must have encountered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei on their way back from the campaign. It seemed the matter of Nanjun had been settled.
Soon enough, Liu Bei, tall and imposing, Guan Yu with his face like dark dates, Zhang Fei with a swallow's jaw and tiger's beard, and Zhao Yun with his broad features all crowded into the small side hall.
"Big Brother, why are we all squeezed into this tiny hall? Even a victory banquet would not fit here."
Zhang Fei spoke first. On the battlefield he followed orders without question, yet in leisure he had something of a fondness for wine. Ever since the campaign at Nanjun ended, he had been looking forward to a proper celebration, one that would last at least a full day, no, three days.
Before he could finish complaining, a light screen suddenly unfolded in midair within the hall, startling both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei into stunned silence.
Kongming, Liu Bei, and Zhao Yun focused their attention. This time, the screen showed no moving images, only a few simple lines of text accompanied by several vivid pictures.
[Lightscreen]
["The li-dragon jade pendant sent by a fan has arrived. It is a beautifully made imitation Han-style pendant, and I truly like it."
"But I must still advise everyone, a simple follow, like, and share is enough. As for material gifts, it is best to exercise restraint."]
Below were four images of the jade pendant, along with a handful of comments:
[Server Chat Log]
[VoidTracker: "Unbelievable, a new uploader already getting fan gifts so quickly?"
WifiWarrior: "The uploader's analysis is quite interesting, but I think Sun Wu's weakness does not even need such detailed argument. The 'Hero of Hefei' alone is enough to make them lose face."
NoAntUndertree: "Indeed, an army of one hundred thousand being driven back by eight hundred elite troops and nearly losing their commander in the process. Truly, Sun Quan lives up to the name 'Sun Shinwan-Ge.'"
NerdHistory: "The claim that Sun Quan was nearly killed comes from the Romance, but eight hundred men routing a hundred thousand is still absurd."
FallForyou: "Shu Han had the greatest potential, but sadly Zhuge Liang exhausted himself, handling everything personally until he died. Meanwhile his old rival Sima Yi lived to seventy-two."
MarchIfPaid: "Last month I visited the Wuhou Shrine in Chengdu and saw the couplet 'Two memorials repay three visits, one pair endures for a thousand years.' It was deeply moving. The Chancellor is eternal. Though why is Liu Chen there but not Liu Shan?"
SickUndermoon: "Those enshrined in Wuhou Shrine are loyal martyrs of Shu Han. Does Liu Shan deserve to be there? He would only bring shame upon himself."]
There were not many comments, yet the information they carried was more than sufficient.
After carefully transcribing every word and image from Wen Mang's post and its comments, Zhuge Liang's expression turned solemn as he declared,
"Next, we shall discuss the matter of General Guan's death."
Liu Bei looked at his second brother, the one he had always believed unmatched under heaven, with a faint smile.
That same unmatched second brother looked back at him in confusion.
"Big Brother… I die?"
"That is correct. You die."
"How do I die?"
Liu Bei recalled briefly before answering, "You guard Jingzhou, are ambushed by Lu Xun and Lü Meng, and in the end Sun Quan has your head cut off."
Guan Yu fell silent and turned to Zhuge Liang. "Strategist, my brother, he…"
Kongming waved his feather fan. "Every word my lord has spoken is true. General Guan, take a look at this."
He handed over a small booklet, already compiled by Kongming, titled "Analyzing the Possibility of Shu Han Unifying the Realm from a Strategic Perspective."
Though thin, every page contained shocking statements. Guan Yu, who would not change expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, widened his eyes at the very first page.
"The contents within…"
"This is precisely what we must discuss next," Kongming said. "General Guan, what is the condition of Zhou Gongjin's health?"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei exchanged glances. During the assault on Nanjun, both had taken the lead and had personally witnessed Zhou Yu being struck by a stray arrow.
Rumors spread wildly that very night, yet the next day Zhou Gongjin personally inspected the camp, dispelling all doubts.
Such actions, however, only made it seem as though the truth was being concealed, leaving Guan Yu with lingering concern.
Cao Ren, still holding out within the city, knew nothing of this. In the following days, the Jiangdong forces attacked with increasing ferocity, yet Zhou Gongjin appeared less and less frequently.
Fortunately, Nanjun was already at the end of its strength. Within ten days, the city fell, and Cao Ren abandoned it and fled.
With Jingzhou secured and a letter from Liu Bei urging urgent matters, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei bade farewell to Zhou Gongjin and hurried back at full speed.
"Did either of you see the Commander when you took your leave?" Kongming asked.
"No," Guan Yu replied, shaking his head. "We were seen off by attendants under his command, who said that the Commander was occupied with affairs after the city's fall and would make amends properly when we met again."
"Was that attendant named Pang Tong?"
"It was indeed him. Does the strategist know him?"
Kongming waved his fan lightly and sighed. "An old acquaintance from Nanyang. To think…" According to the light screen, Pang Tong would join Liu Bei next year, only to die young at Fallen Phoenix Slope. Such was the capriciousness of fate.
"General Guan, this booklet contains the most confidential matters of our forces. After you finish reading, pass it to the Third General. Then we shall discuss."
"The topic is how to prevent General Guan from having his head cut off by Sun Quan."
The thin booklet quickly passed from Guan Yu to Zhang Fei. By the time Zhang Fei finished reading, the loudest voice in Shu Han could no longer hold back.
"That Lu Meng, I saw him during the siege. To think he is such a treacherous wretch. Second brother, wait here. I will go and take his head at once and avenge you!"
"Third Brother, do not act rashly."
Guan Yu and Liu Bei rose at the same time to restrain him.
Yet the towering, dark-faced man was already on the verge of tears.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, we swore brotherhood, to live and die on the same day. Yet Second Brother is killed by a petty villain, and Big Brother fails to avenge him, dying in grief."
"And I, Zhang Fei, am left alone. Even the Military Advisor dies young. And your son, A-Dou, is unworthy, squandering in forty years the foundation we built!"
"I, Zhang Fei… my heart is bitter."