Xu Province, Donghai Commandery.
A tall, burly man was bound to a large frame with long thorny vines. Thorns pierced the man's skin, supporting a dense thicket of brambles.
A muscular man, shirtless, strode through the Dragon Soar Camp's military stronghold, finally stopping before the port. Gan Ning and his pirate brethren were drilling.
From a distance, Gan Ning's booming voice could be heard.
"My soldiers have but one rule: if I say fight, a thousand arrows fly; if I say charge, we perish with the enemy vessel! Total annihilation!"
"If I say abandon the large ship, abandon it. If I say a small fleet surrounds, surround it. United as one, not to mention mere giant鲲, even the invincible navy of the Jiangxia Huang family, the Jiangdong Sun family, or the Dragon Soar Camp Navy will be trampled underfoot!"
As Huang Xu had suggested…
Thanks to the successful whale capture, Gan Ning and his pirate brothers' prestige within the Dragon Soar Camp reached its zenith.
No Dragon Soar Camp soldier dared to disobey!
On this day of training, except for Lu Bu, almost the entire Dragon Soar Camp participated!
"Cough, cough…"
At this moment, Huang Zhong stepped forward and shouted, "Commander Lu's military order has just been issued: from today onwards, all soldiers of the Dragon Soar Camp, regardless of rank or merit, will obey Gan Ning's command. Everyone will discard their fine steel halberds, equip short blades, and all board ships as sailors, starting with rowing and setting sails. The Dragon Soar Camp navy and army ranks will be separated. Once trained, promoted. Those with ability will rise; those without, no matter how great their past achievements, will honestly serve as sailors!"
"Commander Lu has stated that from now on, in training the navy, he will only heed Gan Xingba's memorials. Whom he appoints as deputy general, Commander Lu will so appoint. Whom he punishes, Commander Lu will also enforce!"
Upon hearing this…
Huang Zhong did not forget to shout, "Have you all understood?"
"Understood!"
The crowd echoed in unison.
Huang Zhong was already a Ya Men General within the Dragon Soar Camp, highly skilled in martial arts. In the past, during the battle of Runan, he single-handedly fought three enemy generals, and ultimately, those three generals were either killed or captured.
To call him an object of admiration and respect for all soldiers was no exaggeration.
Now, with Commander Lu's words spoken through him, coupled with Gan Xingba's capture of the giant鲲…
No matter how arrogant the Dragon Soar Camp might have been, they were now completely subdued, thoroughly convinced.
"Good…"
Gan Ning walked towards the center of the crowd, shouting, "My first military order is to have all of you take off your boots! Just like me, barefoot!"
"Do you know why you can't even fight a large fish? Because you can't stand firm on the ships, on the deck! A navy's feet must be wide to stand firm on a swaying deck! From today onwards, whether you eat, sleep, or relieve yourselves, you will be barefoot! If you want to train an invincible navy, start like me, by training your feet!"
Saying this, Gan Ning directly tossed his boots into the sea.
His tone deepened once more.
"Without a pair of sturdy feet, you are like rootless grass, destined to fail in naval combat!"
Speaking of which… Gan Ning turned around. At that very moment of turning, he saw a man behind the Dragon Soar Camp formation, a bare-chested man.
Thump…
Thump…
He was walking with heavy steps, approaching Gan Ning.
It was…
Gan Ning's eyes instantly narrowed. Upon clearly seeing the person, he recognized him. Was this not… General Lu Ying, the absolute commander of the Dragon Soar Camp's land forces?
Recently…
There were all sorts of rumors in the army saying he was the reincarnation of the former Lu Fengxian!
Regardless of whether he was Lu Fengxian or not, his military achievements in Bing Province were undeniably impressive!
Just then.
"General Gan…" Lu Bu opened his mouth. "A few days ago, I, Lu Ying, misjudged. Today, I have come to offer a self-punishment with thorns!"
No excessive words, concise and to the point!
Lu Bu was a warrior!
For him to offer such an apology meant he deeply admired the person from the bottom of his heart.
Let alone land combat!
In naval combat, if Gan Ning could capture the giant鲲, then… why should he, Lu Bu, be ashamed to offer his apology?
Hiss…
Witnessing this scene…
Huang Zhong was also surprised… He hadn't expected "Lu Ying" to lower himself so much!
"Hahahaha…"
Gan Ning quickly stepped forward. Without speaking, he grabbed the thorny vines from Lu Bu's back and carried them onto his own shoulders.
"I've heard of Lian Po offering his apology with thorns, and I was quite curious how much it hurt. General Lu Ying has just brought them to me!"
"Come, come, let me try too. Does carrying these thorny vines feel very comfortable!"
Ugh…
Even Lu Bu was surprised. This "King of Pirates" was so bold and so resourceful!
He had truly underestimated him before.
Lu Ziyu's choice of a vice-commander for the navy was indeed excellent!
Of course…
This also made Lu Bu feel suspicious. If the vice-commander was chosen so well, then who was the actual commander?
Without time to ponder, Lu Bu also laughed heartily.
"Hahahaha…"
"These thorns are but an itch! Come, you try too!"
The king of the land… seemed to be conversing happily with the king of the sea.
At this moment, the sky and sea blended, red and blue merging with each other!
…
…
Jing Province, Xiangyang.
Outside the General Who Suppresses the South's Military Advisor's mansion, with its golden plaque, guards stood in strict formation.
This was Cai Mao's office.
In the third year of Chuping, Liu Biao rode alone to Jing Province and received the title of General Who Suppresses the South from the Han court.
As the most prestigious noble family in Xiangyang, and a great contributor to Liu Biao's pacification of Jing Province, Cai Mao was appointed Military Advisor to the General Who Suppresses the South, holding military power. In Jing and Xiang, he was second only to Liu Biao, and above all others.
His eldest and second sisters were married to Huang Chengyan, Zhuge Liang's father-in-law, and Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province, respectively.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Cai family had both substance and prestige throughout Jing Province, with connections reaching the heavens.
At this moment, seeing Cai Mao hurrying to the military mansion, the guards knelt on one knee in unison, silent.
Cai Mao's expression was stiff, his features stern and solemn. He walked quickly into the building, dismissing his retinue.
Finally, upon entering the main hall, he closed the door and turned to look at the "woman" wearing a bamboo hat on the main seat…
"Second Sister, you… you are truly foolish!"
Cai Mao frowned, looking as if he was about to explode with anger…
As he spoke, he didn't forget to close all the windows, fearing that walls had ears!
The woman before him removed her bamboo hat. Who else could it be but Liu Biao's wife – Lady Cai?
She lightly parted her lips, exhaled a long breath, and remained silent.
"Alas…"
Cai Mao stamped his feet in distress. "Second Sister, Second Sister, tell me, keeping male favorites in private is one thing, and often meeting handsome young men, your brother has never pointed it out, but… but…"
"But how could you be pregnant?"
"Liu Jingsheng is almost sixty, and has been indulging in wine in recent years. When has he ever touched you, Second Sister? If this gets out, he won't guess that this child is someone else's, right?"
"Second Sister, if this matter gets out, our Cai family will be… will be…"
"Alas… I truly cannot afford to lose face!"
Cai Mao spoke in a rapid-fire manner…
He was exasperated.
Of his two sisters, the elder married Huang Chengyan, was dignified and polite, lived in seclusion, and even managed to raise a good daughter like Huang Yueying.
How could his second sister… be like Mi Yue of the pre-Qin period, loving whoever she saw!
Was this unrestrained love for freedom?
Love for anything!
The consequences of this matter were severe. If Liu Biao found out, divorcing his second sister would be secondary. Most importantly, the Cai family's reputation would be ruined.
Gossip was terrifying. By then… whether it was the Xiangyang Kuai clan, or the second-tier clans of Jing Province – "Pang, Ma, Xiang, Xi" – they might make their move. Few would offer congratulations, but many would fall upon you when you're down!
By then, the foremost position among the Jing-Xiang noble families? To whom would it belong?
This was a chain reaction…
"Second Sister, can't you… get rid of this child?"
Cai Mao suggested.
Lady Cai looked helplessly at her belly. "I've taken the medicine, but it's been several months, and it just won't come out no matter what."
She bit her lower lip tightly. Even in her helplessness, her alluring eyes remained captivating.
Of course…
It was not unusual that she couldn't get rid of it.
The effectiveness of such medicine in the Han dynasty was not great.
Back then, when Lady Wang was pregnant with Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, she foresaw impending disaster and drank this medicine as if it were water.
Yet, "infant Liu Xie" grew vigorously in Lady Wang's womb, immune to all poisons!
Sometimes, one had to admit, the blessings of destiny…
These external medicines were of no use.
Heh heh… Cai Mao was about to say "heh heh" again. "Second Sister… Second Sister… Alas… Oh dear!"
He was about to break down…
"Why are you sighing?" Lady Cai frowned. "I can't get rid of it, and I'm already annoyed to death!"
She slowly stood up, walked two steps, leaning on the wall. "It's only three months, so it's not obvious yet. If it's another two months, it will be completely impossible to hide. I came to find you for a solution, not to complain!"
"Second Sister…" Cai Mao swallowed hard. He didn't even bother to ask who the scoundrel was!
First, he felt his sister didn't know!
Second, it was useless to ask!
"Second Sister, you've already done this, so what do you say we do? Should we tell Eldest Sister?"
"Tell her? If the Huang family knows, the entire Jing Province will know." Lady Cai's tone was cold. "How about this, for now, let that old nuisance add some 'medicine' to keep him gravely ill in bed, preventing any unforeseen complications. Then we'll think of a plan!"
The "old nuisance" she referred to was naturally the Governor of Jing Province – Liu Biao.
As for the plan…
Lady Cai's mind was in a turmoil, with no ideas. She needed to calm down.
"Should we…" Cai Mao suggested. "Should we send a secret letter to the King of Wei in the north?"
As soon as this idea was proposed, Cai Mao quickly emphasized, "I heard that Marquis of Baima, Lu Yu, has the Dragon Soar Camp training the navy in Donghai Commandery, Xu Province. This suggests… the Great Wei's southward advance is inevitable. Even if Jing Province resists, it will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot… Why not… seize this opportunity…"
As he spoke, he made a gesture of slitting a throat, clearly indicating: kill Liu Biao, and then present Jing Province!
This…
Lady Cai's heart skipped a beat. Was she really going to kill Liu Biao?
Even though she was poisonous, she was not one to kill so easily!
Immediately, she extended her right hand, "Let me go back and think…"
She indeed had to think carefully. She didn't care about the ownership of Jing Province. What she cared about was her own and her unborn child's fate, and of course, Cong'er's fate!
It was widely known that Cao Cao favored married women…
But… she was a married woman with a child? Would Cao Cao accept that?
Alas…
With a long sigh.
Lady Cai's heart was in turmoil, unable to calm down!
…
…
Jing Province, Xinye City.
Behind the yamen, a thatched shed stood, with a large open space outside, piled with bundles of fodder.
In the stable, a white horse looked listless, but… Liu Bei was personally feeding it fodder, and even brought a bucket of water. He slowly rolled up his sleeves and began to wash the horse.
The horse seemed very obedient, standing still and cooperating.
Recently, Liu Bei had been in a bad mood due to the newspaper, often keeping company with the "Dilu" horse. It seemed this horse had become a confidant who could listen to his bitter heart!
"The Lord is washing 'Dilu' again!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out…
It was Zhuge Liang. He slowly entered the stable.
"Military Advisor has arrived." Liu Bei put down the horse brush, washed his hands in the water bucket, and stood up to face Zhuge Liang, though he looked rather muddy. "This Dilu only recognizes me. It has a strange temper, and ordinary stable hands can't get near it. Only I can wash it."
"Lord…" Zhuge Liang was clearly not here to talk about horses. He said, "According to intelligence from spies, Lady Cai in Xiangyang has not appeared for three months. Even the New Year's Day sacrificial ceremony was attended by Liu Cong on her behalf!"
This was…
There were hidden meanings in his words…
Liu Bei immediately understood, his eyes narrowing. "Military Advisor means that Lady Cai is pregnant!"
"Yes!" Zhuge Liang nodded. "I inquired with Ziyun. He successfully bribed the two doctors trusted by Lady Cai. They obtained some medicines, and since Lady Cai has always been unclean, with such calculations, pregnancy was only a matter of time."
Speaking of which…
Zhuge Liang's voice lowered. He felt he had no choice but to use such methods, which were not honorable.
It was known that Lady Cai was the concubine of his wife, Huang Yueying's aunt. If it wasn't for the sake of Liu Bei taking over Jing Province, he would never have done this.
"I have troubled the Military Advisor."
Liu Bei clasped his hands.
Zhuge Liang quickly helped Liu Bei up and remained silent.
Liu Bei also pondered for a moment, then asked, "When does the Military Advisor plan to negotiate with Lady Cai?"
"I have already sent Ziyun to Xiangyang to act according to the situation…" Zhuge Liang said softly. "Ziyun is a trustworthy person."
Liu Bei nodded.
Indeed, Cao Cao's faction had killed Zhao Yun's master, Tong Yuan. No matter how one guessed, Zhao Yun's defection was not to be doubted.
Similarly, since arriving at Xinye, Zhao Yun had completed many tasks. Even Lady Gan praised him, and young A Dou was extremely fond of this heroic general in white armor!
Phew…
At the end of their conversation, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang turned their heads to look at the stars in the sky. The night was as dark as ink, and a few stars were always lit.
"Kongming? Accompany me for a walk?"
"Ah… alright…" Zhuge Liang was somewhat surprised.
Under the stars…
A pair of lord and minister walked side by side.
Liu Bei smiled and said, "I used to campaign in all directions, my body constantly on horseback, the fat on my thighs dissolving, making me strong and firm; after coming here, I haven't ridden to battle for a long time, living in ease, and my thighs have grown fat again. Whenever I think of time flowing like water, days and months passing, and people aging in the blink of an eye, while my great cause remains unfulfilled, sorrow overwhelms me!"
His tone was light…
But it contained Liu Bei's unwillingness!
He was too eager to prove himself!
Zhuge Liang took a deep breath, his tone growing a bit heavier.
"Lord, rest assured, this time, we will surely win!"
…
…
Jing Province, Xiangyang City.
On a moonlit night, Zhao Yun hurried into a wine shop and rushed into a private room on the second floor, feeling anxious.
The waiter quickly reached out to stop him, but a clear voice came from the wine shop.
"Let him in!"
The waiter made way, and Zhao Yun entered the room.
Upon seeing the man inside, Zhao Yun immediately said.
"Something has happened."
But the man opposite him was not surprised at all. He simply turned around, his sharp eyes directly at Zhao Yun. "Candle Dragon, barging in like this will expose the Intelligence Bureau!"
This…
Zhao Yun paused. Yang Xiu's expression softened slightly. Zhao Yun was older than him, but in this matter… Yang Xiu clearly had more confidence.
"You must know that we are now behind enemy lines. Every piece of intelligence from the Intelligence Bureau is crucial to Master Lu's decisions. A single oversight can completely sever this line!"
"It was my oversight." Zhao Yun clasped his hands in apology…
Yang Xiu extinguished the two candles in the room, leaving only one flickering flame. The atmosphere here was exceptionally tense.
"Speak!"
"Has Zhuge Kongming ordered me to act?"
"When?"
"Act according to the situation, find the opportune moment, and negotiate with Lady Cai!"
"What are the terms of negotiation?"
"To welcome back the eldest son, Liu Qi!"
"Oh!"
With a hurried "Oh!", Yang Xiu nodded. He pondered for a moment, then said, "You try to delay for now. Lady Cai is related to the entire Jing Province, and we cannot let her fall under Zhuge Kongming's control…"
"Then…"
"I will immediately send a pigeon to report the situation here to Master Lu, so he can decide on a strategy! In taking Jing Province, we must maintain the initiative!"
Yang Xiu's tone was firm…
Zhao Yun could feel the decisiveness in his words.
In charge of the Intelligence Bureau, Yang Xiu had grown a lot, visibly so.
"Alright… I will delay as much as possible!"
"Even if you have to see Lady Cai, it must be after Master Lu's letter arrives," Yang Xiu emphasized again.
"I understand!" Zhao Yun agreed decisively.
Not long after…
The candles were relit, and Zhao Yun had already left.
In the candlelight, Yang Xiu fetched a woodblock and began to write a letter…
Even a letter sent to Luoyang in the north had to be handled with extreme caution! As long as the woodblock was not lost, even if it was intercepted, there would be no trouble.
If nothing else, at least, Yang Xiu had completely entered the zone in terms of espionage!
This was a completely new domain!
…
…