"Marquis Sun seems to be unaware of Gongjin's condition."
Having just returned from Dantu, Liu Bei's face was filled with fatigue. These past days had been far too taxing for him.
He had first presided over the New Year, then hurried without pause to Dantu to negotiate with Sun Quan, followed by his marriage to Lady Sun, all while enduring the strain of constant travel. Even a veteran like Liu Bei found it difficult to bear.
Though he already knew the outcome, Zhuge Liang still asked, "My Lord, how did the matter conclude?"
A faint smile appeared on Liu Bei's face, only to turn into a sigh.
"I have obtained authority over Jing Province, yet Gongjin still remains in Jiangling, recovering from his injuries…"
Kongming's expression showed understanding.
Lu Su had indeed proven reliable. He had successfully persuaded Marquis Sun to allow Liu Bei to oversee Jing Province and govern Nan Commandery.
But the problem remained. Nan Commandery had been taken jointly by Sun and Liu, yet Zhou Yu now lingered in Jiangling and refused to leave.
Thus Liu Bei's mood was caught between joy and concern, difficult to put into words.
Kongming understood well. Gongjin believed that by remaining in place he could alter Sun Quan's intentions, yet his time was already running short.
The day Zhou Yu died would be the day Nan Commandery truly changed hands. At the same time, the "Fengchu , Fledgling Phoenix," Pang Shiyuan, and the gentry of Nan Commandery would also come to pledge themselves.
"Elder Brother, Sister-in-law's troops have already moved into Chanling!" Zhang Fei reported angrily.
He could not help but be furious. Though he had already been warned of Lady Sun's domineering nature, the escort cavalry sent by Sun Quan still caused trouble as they rode through Gong'an.
Lady Sun herself was attended by a group of armed female riders, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach her.
"Did she come here to marry, or did Marquis Sun send her here to be our lord instead?" Zhang Fei grumbled.
The others wore subtle expressions, while Liu Bei looked somewhat embarrassed.
Fortunately, his second brother arrived.
"Elder Brother!"
A murderous aura surrounded Guan Yu as he entered, the hem of his robes stained with blood.
"Two of Sister-in-law's riders trampled good farmland and spoke arrogantly, refusing to submit. I, Yunchang, have executed them and come to request punishment!"
Liu Bei was momentarily stunned. He glanced at his calm Strategist, then at his imposing second brother, and a realization began to form in his mind.
Before he could respond, Ma Su hurried in to report:
"My Lord, Lady Sun's riders have left Chanling and are advancing toward Gong'an, demanding that the one who killed the Jiangdong riders go out and surrender himself."
Liu Bei felt numb, yet in such chaos his mind became clearer than ever. No matter how disorderly things were, could they surpass the days of flight and hardship he had once endured?
Moreover, after gaining foresight from the auspicious light screen, the Liu Bei of the past might have chosen to endure quietly, but now…
Opening his eyes, a cold light flickered within them.
"Zilong!"
"This general is here!"
"Take your personal cavalry and suppress them. Issue two warnings. Any who dare resist are to be slain on the spot."
"Zilong obeys!"
"Yunchang! Lead your men to seal off the river. Anyone crossing without authorization is to be executed."
"Yunchang obeys!"
"Yide! Take your troops and station yourself ten li northwest of Chanling. Establish a camp to guard against bandits."
"I, Old Zhang, will go at once!"
In the span of a single breath, decisions had been made. Ma Su looked on with admiration in his eyes.
As the three generals departed, Liu Bei's mind continued to turn rapidly. He turned and said:
"Kongming, draft a letter to Marquis Sun, explaining the advantages and disadvantages. Say that I am willing to renegotiate Nan Commandery in exchange for Lady Sun's escort cavalry returning to Jiangdong."
With prior knowledge of the other side's bottom line and the impending deaths of key figures in Jiangdong, such negotiations no longer seemed difficult.
Kongming smiled and cupped his hands.
"I accept the order. I shall make the matter clear."
Privately, he added another thought. A letter must also be sent to Zijing. At least for now, Lu Su was firmly intent on placing Liu Bei at the forefront against Cao Cao, allowing Jiangdong to reap the benefits from behind.
At the same time, he felt a measure of relief.
It seemed that My Lord had finally understood. At present, Jiangdong desired this alliance even more than Liu Bei did.
Nan Commandery was the front line against Cao Cao. With Zhou Yu gravely ill and Jiangdong wavering toward submission, Sun Quan's Jianghuai veterans could not easily leave Dantu lest instability arise.
Under such circumstances, placing Liu Bei in Nan Commandery was, after much deliberation between Sun Quan and Lu Su, the most advantageous outcome. It minimized losses while maximizing gains.
Standing at the side, Ma Su had already deduced how events would unfold.
Lady Sun's cavalry numbered fewer than four hundred, and their quality was uneven. Zhao Yun's personal cavalry alone numbered twelve hundred.
The time required to annihilate this escort force would depend only on how many casualties Zhao Yun was willing to accept.
Guan Yu sealed the river to prevent reinforcements, while Zhang Fei stationed troops at Chanling as both deterrence and ready support.
What waves could they possibly stir?
And indeed, the outcome proved unremarkable. After losing only seven or eight men, the Jiangdong riders surrendered entirely. Lady Sun shut herself within Chanling in anger, declaring that Liu Bei must personally come to apologize.
Beyond that, nothing further occurred.
Across the river, Zhou Yu showed no reaction, and Marquis Sun sent no reply, as though he had completely forgotten this sister.
As for Liu Bei…
Educating the sons of the Liu clan was everyone's responsibility.
For the time being, Lady Sun was set aside, and both A-Dou and Liu Feng entered a rather intense period of "instruction."
Requiring Liu Feng to remember his comrades, and Liu Shan to uphold the dignity of the Han, Liu Bei's method of discipline, balancing severity with reward, proved remarkably effective.
Even the servants were alarmed, feeling that the Governor of Jing Province governed his household with great strictness.
After the New Year passed, Zhao Yun departed for Changsha to serve as Administrator and suppress banditry.
Jian Yong volunteered to travel to Yi Province to meet Liu Zhang, and then head north to see Ma Chao, speaking on Liu Bei's behalf.
Under such circumstances, Liu Bei's greatest concern became whom to select next for inclusion in the auspicious light screen.
Huang Yueying's name had long been circled.
In merely twenty days, the Bureau of Crafts under her management had erected a waterwheel by the banks of the Hudu River.
Through methods Liu Bei could scarcely comprehend, the waterwheel had been connected to a massive pestle and mortar. Even Zhang Fei, upon seeing it, exclaimed:
"By heaven, is this not like a tireless strong man pounding grain day and night?"
Having tasted the benefits, Liu Bei boldly chose to overlook Huang Yueying's status as a woman.
There was no helping it. The techniques drawn from later generations were simply too valuable.
He desired even more. If only he could understand that so-called high-speed rail…
Shaking his head, Liu Bei forced himself back to clarity.
As for the final candidate…
When Jiang Wan stepped into the side hall, his heart sank.
His dream of idling away his days was gone.
Especially after the Strategist pulled him aside and handed him paper and brush:
"Gongyan, you serve as a clerk, so your copying ability must be adequate. Later, you must record everything you see and hear. Do you understand?"
Jiang Wan looked at the chaotic hall and nodded blankly.
Facing the newly arrived Huang Yueying and Jiang Wan, Zhang Fei, Liu Bei, and Mi Zhu had all prepared themselves to appear calm and composed before the light screen. They had even decided whether to describe things as "nothing unusual" or "quite ordinary."
Yet when the light screen opened on time, they were still astonished.
[Lightscreen]
[Hello everyone, I am Wen Mang. Today, as promised, we will discuss the Battle of Xiangfan.
The war that truly made Shu Han realize that Heaven's mandate was no longer with them!]
At the same time, several lines of text drifted across the screen:
[Server Chat Log]
〖AntClimbingTree: It is finally here! The Martial Saint whose might shook all under Heaven, Guan Yunchang!〗
〖NerdAlwaysLonely: People of Xiangfan, come witness Second Lord's glory!〗
〖LovelyTofu: His prestige shook the realm, his fame unmatched in all ages!〗
〖CakeUnderroad: Come see Second Lord and his naval and land forces!〗
〖Li Shimin: What is this?!〗
The crowd was bewildered.
What were these drifting lines of text?