On the official road from Lujiang to Chen, several horses were resting. Their groom fed them fodder, and the horses, exhausted from the long journey, whinnied and snorted, clearly weary.
This was the caravan of the Qiao family of Lujiang. It had been a full twelve hours since they last rested at an inn. Even if the people weren't tired, the horses couldn't endure any longer.
*Hoo…*
Beside a stream, two peerlessly beautiful figures faced the water. The elder of the two women sighed softly.
“Tomorrow… we’ll reach Chen. Sister, how do you plan to ask Doctor Lu Yixian to come out of seclusion?”
The speaker was Da Qiao. The mention of asking Doctor Lu Yixian to come out brought a furrow to her brow. It was a difficult task, yet it seemed her younger sister, Xiao Qiao, was confident.
“… This.” Xiao Qiao was choked with emotion, her words catching in her throat before she swallowed them back. A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
“We’re arriving tomorrow, and you’re still keeping it from your sister?” Da Qiao pressed on.
Xiao Qiao lowered her head slightly and finally spoke. “Sister, have you heard that for wealthy and noble families, after a son reaches the age of ten, the family will arrange some concubine maids for him, used for…”
At this point, Xiao Qiao found it difficult to continue. After all, the term “concubine maid”… it was something considered highly taboo for young ladies. What daughter of a normal family would undertake such a humble task?
As she spoke, Xiao Qiao’s cheeks became even redder, as if she had had a bit too much to drink.
*Ah… ah… concubine maid?*
Da Qiao froze. Did her sister, Xiao Qiao, intend to… intend to use this as a condition to ask Doctor Lu Yixian to come out of seclusion?
Da Qiao was no stranger to the concept of concubine maids that Xiao Qiao mentioned. As her sister had said, noble families emphasized the lineage of their descendants and the continuation of their family line. It was for this reason that young masters, upon reaching fifteen years of age, would begin to learn the “rituals of Duke of Zhou” and the “matrimonial arts.” This had been an unwritten rule for a hundred years.
The higher the social standing, the higher the requirements for concubine maids – in terms of appearance, demeanor, and character… they even had to be educated and sensible.
And Doctor Lu Yixian, as a Grand Minister of Agriculture, and with his sister being the renowned scholar Cai Yan, his standards were likely even higher. If that were the case, with her sister Xiao Qiao’s beauty, she might truly capture Doctor Lu Yixian’s heart, thus saving their mother. Her beautiful sister, Xiao Qiao, possessed that capability!
However.
As a sister, how could Da Qiao bear to let her sister go alone as a concubine maid?
“Second Sister… the status of a concubine maid is not high, and their position within the household is quite delicate. If the main wife were to enter the Ministry of Agriculture’s residence in the future, she would become a thorn in her eye, a splinter in her flesh…”
Da Qiao, with her keen intellect, had heard too many tragic stories of concubine maids. No main wife of a noble family could be so magnanimous as to tolerate a “concubine maid.” After all, every illegitimate son was a threat in the eyes of the main wife. In this regard, a concubine maid was merely a tool, responsible only for the young master’s early education. After the young master married, she would be relegated to the most ordinary maid in the household. She might even be feared by the mistress of the house.
The only way to change a concubine maid’s fate was to conceive a child. If this happened, she might be able to secure the status of a concubine! But this also came with strict limitations; it had to be after the young master’s formal marriage, otherwise, it would damage the young master’s reputation and hinder his chances of finding a suitable wife.
It was difficult, so difficult. One could say the fate of a concubine maid was summed up in one phrase: once you enter a noble household, the depths are like the sea! As the saying goes, it is better to be the wife of a poor man than the concubine of a rich man.
For a moment, Da Qiao’s mind raced with thoughts. The more she thought, the tighter she clenched her teeth, her expression growing increasingly complex.
“Sister, is this the only way? Isn’t it?” Xiao Qiao pouted. She was very intelligent and knew that she had few assets to rely on. Perhaps all she could use to attract Doctor Lu Yixian was her appearance.
It was hard to imagine that Xiao Qiao, with her fresh, ethereal temperament like a nascent lotus, was quite resolute. Now, to save her mother, even if it meant becoming a concubine maid, even if it meant entering a household whose depths were like the sea, Xiao Qiao would not flinch.
“But… Sister, you are still young!” Da Qiao murmured.
“Sister is only two years older than me,” Xiao Qiao pouted, maintaining her usual stubbornness. “In short, as long as Doctor Lu Yixian can be persuaded and our mother can be saved… nothing else matters.”
This…
Hearing this, Da Qiao’s eyebrows slightly raised. She didn’t say it, but in her heart, she thought: *How can I push everything onto my sister? If I meet Doctor Lu Yixian, I must mention this before my sister does. If… if one of us must be a concubine maid, then let your sister bear this ‘suffering’…*
Beside the gently flowing stream, the deep sisterly affection rippled with waves.
Tomorrow… they would arrive in Chen.
She wondered what Doctor Lu Yixian’s personality was like? Was he easy to get along with? And would the future mistress of the Ministry of Agriculture’s residence trouble them?
…
…
Here, the Qiao family’s caravan headed towards Chen.
On the other side, the ships from Jiangdong had docked. Zhuge Jin, Sun Ce’s envoy, patted his sleeves and tidied his clothes, making himself appear more solemn. He took a deep breath and stepped out, walking towards the Yamen of Lujiang Commandery.
At this moment, within the Yamen…
Liu Xun, the Prefect of Lujiang, gazed at the brocade pouch before him, his heart unable to calm.
“Ziyang? Is what’s written in this brocade pouch true?” Liu Xun asked urgently.
Liu Ye nodded, then shook his head. “Whether it’s true or false, I don’t know. We must meet with the envoy from Jiangdong to verify its authenticity. If…”
At this point, Liu Ye paused before continuing, “If the envoy from Jiangdong, as mentioned in the brocade pouch, praises Prefect Liu, offers him gold and jewels, and pledges allegiance to Prefect Liu’s lead, and finally… their objective turns to asking Prefect Liu to attack Shangliao City, then… their wolfish ambitions will be exposed.”
*Hoo…*
Liu Xun let out a long breath. In fact, according to historical precedent, after Liu Xun met with the envoy from Jiangdong, even if Liu Ye saw through the opponent’s scheme, Liu Xun would still act stubbornly and attack Shangliao City… This led to his home being stolen, Lujiang Commandery lost, and him shamefully leading his remnants to seek refuge with Cao Cao. This alone cost Old Cao fifty thousand troops!
But the situation now was completely different. It was as if, before meeting the envoy from Jiangdong, Liu Xun had already seen the opponent’s entire plan. Then… if the envoy from Jiangdong still followed the old routine, it would be a different story.
“Ziyang, the envoy from Jiangdong has already crossed the river. You will accompany me to meet him,” Liu Xun commanded.
Liu Ye pondered for a moment, then his eyes fixed. “Prefect Liu, please listen to me again…”
“Even if the envoy from Jiangdong’s words match those in this brocade pouch, I implore you, my lord, not to get angry, nor to show any displeasure. Temporarily agree to it, and after the matter, we can discuss countermeasures with Commander Cheng of the Long Xiao Camp.” Liu Ye was still thinking more comprehensively.
If merely seeing through the opponent’s strategy was not enough to serve as a “letter of introduction” for surrendering to Cao Cao. But… if they were to turn the tables. Winning a great victory against the “Young Hegemon Sun Ce” would then have a completely different significance.
Liu Xun nodded in agreement. “As expected, Ziyang thinks things through!”
Not to mention… At this moment, a hint of fear flickered in Liu Xun’s eyes. If this brocade pouch predicted everything accurately… then this rising star Lu Yu in Cao’s camp was truly a bit of a “monster.” Yuan Shu, the legitimate son of the Yuan family, one of the four great noble clans, was no match for this “monster.” Was he, Liu Xun, merely a minor character? To confront Lu Yu and Cao Cao, wouldn’t that be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot?
*Heh heh…*
Thinking about it this way, it seemed… surrendering to Cao Cao was his only and absolutely correct choice!
…
Lujiang Commandery, an inn.
At a table, three people knelt. Liu Xun and Liu Ye knelt on the left, while Zhuge Jin, the envoy from Jiangdong, knelt on the right.
“My lord received news of Yuan Shu’s demise and specially sent me to congratulate Prefect Liu…” Zhuge Jin spoke first.
Liu Xun was about to reply when Liu Ye preempted him, “May I ask, esteemed sir? What joy does my lord have?”
“Hahahaha…” Zhuge Jin laughed and clapped his hands.
Following this, servants carried in five or six chests. Zhuge Jin continued, “Some wealth, a small token of my lord’s respect for Prefect Liu!”
At this point, Zhuge Jin’s laughter rang out again.
“Hahaha, with Yuan Shu dead, is it not Prefect Zhang who now holds sway over all of Yangzhou? All of Jiangdong? Those who understand the times are heroes!”
“My lord dispatched me to Lujiang with the intention of forming an alliance with Prefect Zhang. My lord Sun Bofu has long admired Prefect Zhang’s accomplishments in both civil and military affairs, and wishes to forge a bond of alliance with Prefect Zhang to achieve great things. My lord will guard the six commanderies and seventy-two counties of Jiangdong for Prefect Zhang! Annually, we will provide ample grain, gold, and jewels, solely seeking Prefect Zhang’s protection for us!”
Flattery… it was indeed a skillful form of “flattery”! Zhuge Jin spoke comfortably, and Liu Xun listened even more comfortably. The humble attitude and subservient tone made every pore of Liu Xun’s body feel at ease.
If not for the brocade pouch from Cheng Yu, Liu Xun would likely have been overjoyed upon seeing the money and hearing these words. After all, two thousand years later, the trending news story of “King of Anyang, dog bites man” tells us – no matter when, people should not get ahead of themselves, otherwise… they will surely be harmed! As the saying goes: “Don’t get too ahead of yourself in life and work, beware of a knife in the back!”
Fortunately… Liu Xun did not get carried away. Instead, he was very rational, and because of the brocade pouch, he wanted to laugh!
… Now, he even knew what Zhuge Jin was about to say next. He looked at Liu Ye.
Liu Ye stroked his beard. The two exchanged glances, their eyes meeting, and they understood each other.
“I never thought Sun Bofu would be such a man who understands the times,” Liu Ye said. “This is excellent. Our two families united in purpose, with my lord conquering externally and capturing cities, and your lord governing internally and supplying military provisions, it will be a perfect match, and the world will be within reach!”
Upon hearing this… the stone in Zhuge Jin’s heart dropped significantly. On this mission to Lujiang, Zhou Yu had repeatedly cautioned him to be wary of Liu Ye, the Chief Clerk of Lujiang’s prefecture, saying he was resourceful and might see through this scheme. Most importantly, he held a very special position in Lujiang and the army, capable of influencing the situation. For this reason, Zhuge Jin had prepared thoroughly, ready to debate with Liu Ye at any moment! He was always a cautious person… never going into battle unprepared!
But… hearing Liu Ye’s words now, it seemed he believed in this alliance. If this was the case, the heavy stone in his heart would surely fall. In Zhuge Jin’s view, this matter… was already more than half done!
*Hoo…*
He let out a breath and Zhuge Jin tried his best to calm his emotions. He was a natural orator, and regardless of his mood, he could quickly regain his composure.
“As Lord Liu, the Chief Clerk, said, my lord will govern internally, supplying money and grain, military supplies… Prefect Liu will govern externally, contending for the Central Plains. However, Jiangdong is newly established, and grain supplies are insufficient. All we can offer are these gold and jewels. I presume Lujiang is also limited by grain?”
“Alas…” Zhuge Jin sighed and continued, “Speaking of which, Yuan Shu has just been defeated, and his forces are in disarray. Most of the cities originally under his command will become independent. Among them, the cities of ‘Yuzhang,’ ‘Haihun,’ and ‘Shangliao’ are the most prosperous in grain! Coincidentally…”
At this point, Zhuge Jin paused. He put on a look of reluctant regret.
“Coincidentally, these three cities are in the hands of Hua Xin. Hmph, Hua Xin is merely a scholar, what capability does he have to defend cities?”
“In my opinion, why doesn’t Prefect Liu send troops to ‘Shangliao City,’ and with one decisive blow, eliminate Hua Xin and seize these three places – ‘Yuzhang,’ ‘Haihun,’ and ‘Shangliao’!”
“People say ‘Shangliao is prosperous, and obtaining it can enrich the nation.’ My lord Sun Bofu originally wanted to attack them for Prefect Liu, but the route is inconvenient. I request a powerful state like Prefect Liu to campaign! My lord Sun Bofu will undoubtedly act as an external support. Then… if you obtain the three cities, Prefect Liu only needs to give my lord three-tenths of the grain… it can be considered a favor granted to my lord for some contribution and effort!”
This speech was very artful and reasonable. It could be said that Zhuge Jin was adept at understanding his opponent’s desires. If he had simply pointed out that Liu Xun should attack the three cities of ‘Yuzhang,’ ‘Haihun,’ and ‘Shangliao,’ with Jiangdong’s Sun Ce providing assistance, it would likely have aroused suspicion from the other side. But now… he was asking for three-tenths of the grain! That… made everything reasonable, and it was enough to make Liu Xun instantly drop his guard and defenses. After all, the Jiangdong side also had an objective. Since they had a common objective, why couldn’t they have a shared goal?
Coupled with Zhuge Jin’s humble tone, his flattery skills were also superb. Every word indicated that the prosperity of Shangliao could only be obtained by someone as powerful as Prefect Liu! The humble attitude and the temptation of real money were enough to make Liu Xun become smug again, losing track of his own capabilities. Even if he had seen the brocade pouch beforehand, Liu Xun was somewhat tempted!
“Ahem…” Liu Ye gave a slight cough, serving as a reminder.
Liu Xun then snapped back to reality from his thoughts that had drifted into the clouds.
*Hoo…*
He took a deep breath. In the span of that single breath, Liu Xun thought a lot, and far ahead… Good heavens, this envoy from Jiangdong’s approach was exactly as described in the brocade pouch. If he had been swayed by this money and flattery and truly attacked Shangliao City, the tragedy described in the brocade pouch would unfold. Shangliao City had strong defenses and couldn’t be taken quickly. However, Liu Xun’s hometown, Lujiang, was empty and isolated, and Sun Ce would rapidly march to raid it. And if Liu Xun retreated to reinforce… Sun Ce would dispatch another force to ambush them midway! The subsequent story…
One must know that Liu Xun’s fifty thousand troops had their families in Lujiang Commandery. How could they fight to the death? The tragedy of being surrounded on all sides would replay, and the defection of fifty thousand troops would be inevitable!
This…
Thinking of this, Liu Xun shivered all over. If not for… if not for this brocade pouch written by Lu Yu and delivered by Cheng Yu, he… wouldn’t he, Liu Xun, have capsized in a ditch? It was just as Liu Ye had said, he would eventually surrender to Cao Cao. However… if he surrendered now with fifty thousand troops, he could still attain a high position and generous salary. If he waited until his army was in disarray and surrendered with only his head on his shoulders, that would be a cold, cold fate!
At this moment, Liu Xun’s face was a mixture of blue and purple, not a good look. Zhuge Jin also noticed this and muttered to himself, could it be… that he had seen through it? He immediately asked, “Prefect Liu, do you not find it suitable?” As an orator, one must not panic, but understand what the other party is thinking. If at this moment, they panicked and continued to elaborate, for instance… how prosperous Shangliao City was? How weak Hua Xin’s combat effectiveness was… that would surely arouse the other party’s suspicion.
Unexpectedly, while Zhuge Jin was still a bit bewildered.
*Swish!* Liu Xun suddenly grabbed Zhuge Jin’s hands and held them firmly. He repeatedly exclaimed:
“Great talent! Esteemed sir, you are a great talent…”
“How could I not have thought of conquering Shangliao City and attacking Hua Xin? Shangliao is prosperous, and obtaining it can enrich the nation, esteemed sir… If I, Liu Xun, can achieve great things, then your plan will undoubtedly be the greatest contribution!”
At this point, Liu Xun put on a look of impatience… He immediately ordered Liu Ye: “Chief Clerk Liu? Did you hear? Mr. Zhuge is a great talent… Let’s take Shangliao City, gather our troops immediately, and go attack that Hua Xin, and then… contend for the Central Plains, there is no time to delay!”
*Er…*
Liu Xun’s appearance, or rather, Liu Xun’s acting directly stunned Liu Ye. This was a bit too much effort, wasn’t it? Liu Ye could realize… Liu Xun wanted to deliberately show his eagerness to attack “Shangliao City,” but… but his acting was truly exaggerated, almost making him, Liu Ye, believe it.
“Ahem…” With a light cough, Liu Ye quickly clasped his hands. “Prefect Liu, please see clearly, Mr. Zhuge is a great talent…”
Having said this, he quickly stood up. “Prefect Liu, there is no time to delay, so then we…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Liu Xun again exaggeratedly tightened his grip on Zhuge Jin’s hands. “My dear brother, from now on, Mr. Zhuge, you are my dear brother, you are Prefect Liu’s honored guest. You are always welcome in Lujiang… I… like you!”
As he spoke, Liu Xun heavily patted Zhuge Jin’s shoulder. This pat was deeply meaningful.
*Er…*
Zhuge Jin was a little bewildered, why was he being called “dear brother”? Had he completed his mission? But it seemed something was still not quite right! After careful consideration, he couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. After all… Liu Xun had already agreed to attack Shangliao City, wasn’t this cause for great celebration and mutual joy?
In any case, although there was confusion, the matter was proceeding smoothly. While still stunned, Liu Xun and Liu Ye had already clasped their hands and bid farewell to Zhuge Jin… They strode with powerful steps, their speed like arrows released from a bow, too fast even for rabbits to catch.
Zhuge Jin rubbed his eyes. Were they… that eager? The matter was proceeding so smoothly! Although it was slightly different from Zhou Gongjin’s prediction, for example… Chief Clerk Liu Ye did not object. Because of this, Zhuge Jin was spared the prepared speech he had rehearsed.
However, everything was fine, and within Zhou Yu’s expectations! Looking out the window, there was no trace of Liu Xun or Liu Ye. Had they gone to muster troops? Zhuge Jin couldn’t help but have such a question in his mind.
Of course… They would muster troops, but besides mustering troops… Liu Ye and Liu Xun would first go to see someone, or rather, meet the legendary Commander of the Long Xiao Camp, who was said to be able to turn the tide of any battle and persuade anyone to surrender – Cheng Yu, Cheng Zhongde!
One could imagine… There, or rather, at Advisor Lu’s place, perhaps countermeasures had already been prepared?
– Turning the tables?
– Feigning a weakness to lure the enemy?
Or perhaps – trapping the enemy in a pot? No… tearing the Young Hegemon apart in a pot?
…
…