Side by Side Toward Yuan Shao
On the road to Yuan Shao's mansion, two pairs of footsteps walked abreast. One was mine, the other Jojo's. Perhaps disliking the heavy silence that settled between us as we walked, Jojo tossed out a new topic every ten steps.
"I've told you to stay out of this one and watch from the sidelines, but if you think you can't handle it alone, just say the word."
Jojo meant it as encouragement, but my mind snagged on something else. 'Even alone, there are limits.' It was a truth that held anywhere, anytime—but lately, it felt all the more real. Trying to shift the massive tide of the Ten Attendants' chaos, the limits of one man's power were painfully clear. Imperial scrutiny, mobilizing troops, watching rival warlords, blocking variables... there weren't enough hands for it all.
But since I couldn't flee the chaos yet, I'd have to borrow hands from elsewhere to solve the problem. Still, if I could persuade Yuan Shao today, I'd secure most of the hands I needed. I prayed the countless scenarios I'd pondered over the past fortnight would prove useful.
"What's your business?"
I hadn't expected Yuan Shao to cut straight to it the moment he sat down.
'Good grief.' Jojo clicked his tongue inwardly. Yuan Shao had already made it clear he was too busy to meet, radiating reluctance. Jojo had figured he'd at least play the gracious host once seated, like always. Wrong.
"This seat doesn't suit you, it seems."
"It doesn't. As you know, former Upper Army Colonel Gunshi attempted to assassinate the Grand General and was found out—executed two days ago. The court's in turmoil, and I haven't the leisure to waste time like this."
The exchange crackled with hostility, as if the two had some hidden grudge Jojo wasn't privy to. Yuan Shao moistened his lips with tea and continued.
"Jang Myeong, was it? I don't know why you went to the trouble of asking A Man to arrange this, but if you have nothing to say, be on your way."
Yuan Shao truly drained his teacup, setting it down as if to rise at once. But Jang Myeong calmly lowered his gaze and spoke.
"Lord Jo, my thanks for making this meeting possible. I'd like a word with the Mid Army Colonel—care to listen in?"
"I only arranged the room, as promised." True to his word, Jojo rose and left. Once the door shut, Jang Myeong's voice dropped to a whisper inaudible outside.
"A month ago, I observed the heavens. A strange thief star appeared near Luoyang. The Dowager He, who seeks to rein in the bandits, must be greatly worried."
- Bam! Yuan Shao slammed the table hard enough to shatter it as he shot to his feet. It wasn't exactly pleasant to enrage someone who'd shown zero interest, but I kept my expression serene to avoid derailing things.
"Who told you that?"
Assuming I'd heard the plan from some underling, Yuan Shao demanded my source.
"Not a person—the heavens themselves. Listen to the end, and you'll believe me."
Yuan Shao glared, then sank back into his seat. His face had turned fiercely menacing, a far cry from his initial mild demeanor—enough to make anyone less seasoned tremble.
"Thief stars are born under ill omens, scattering halos as they move. But the star I saw flashed briefly and vanished—like soldiers mimicking bandits. Yet it flowed in from outside Luoyang, not originating within. Likely the work of an outside warlord."
I recited Yuan Shao's plan as if divined from the stars—even details no rat could uncover.
"How much of the heavens did you see?"
"Is time on my side? You granted me an incense stick's worth, but it'll take half a shichen."
Not enough time to spill everything in one stick of incense, so I pressed for more. Having proven my intel wasn't from rats, Yuan Shao would bite.
"Proceed."
Just what I wanted. I knew the scheme Yuan Shao would pitch to He Jin—gaps in memory aside, I recalled the bandit disguise, warlord alliances, and the ensuing disaster clearly.
- Stars flowing from beyond Luoyang shook its skies, leaving the imperial star frozen. The Grand General's star wavered; stars clashed within the Purple Palace. The Forward General's star sprouted a tail, becoming a comet that devoured the fleeing imperial star.
I finished after three incense sticks. Yuan Shao groaned, then asked,
"Does the Grand General rise again?"
"I saw no further. But it's a calamity great enough to shake the stars."
I knew He Jin would enter the palace unguarded and die. But he wasn't one to heed advice, so I glossed over it.
"Do you believe I divined this from the heavens?"
"To a degree. You know even the parts I'd only thought of."
As relief washed over me, Yuan Shao added,
"But the outcome of my plan? Hard to credit."
No one would buy that his scheme would spiral into total ruin. But what could be done? It was the true future barreling toward us.
"That's what the heavens showed. So I propose this: what if we exclude the warlords?"
I suggested executing the deed with only He Jin's own troops. He commanded thousands within Luoyang alone—more than enough against the Ten Attendants, no need to beg outside hands.
"Follow your words, and can you see the new future?"
"No. Peering into heaven's secrets disrupts the flow; related futures blur from view."
"Then you think the Grand General's men can mimic bandits undetected? Framing the Black Mountain Bandits is to sway the Dowager, not purge the Ten Attendants."
Yuan Shao pierced the flaw in my argument. In history, He Jin's men disguised as bandits. To move the Dowager required hundreds at least—could they muster that unseen? My rats had scoured for ten days; impossible.
"But exclude the Forward General. With other warlords, it's feasible—no need to risk extras."
I pivoted to Plan B: cut out only Dong Zhuo. I cited his defiance of court orders to retain command, the lack of a leash to control him, persuading Yuan Shao.
"Because it's you—not another—I accept. More to say?"
Fortune smiled; he took the proposal. More ideas lingered, but today wasn't the day. Next time.
"May I request another meeting later?"
"For urgent matters, gladly."
Yuan Shao left the door open. I bowed deeply and departed. Mission accomplished.
Back at Jojo's mansion, I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. One hurdle cleared, but far from over.
'Best to end it within Luoyang's walls.'
In my view, the Ten Attendants' chaos hinged on the Emperor's escape from Luoyang. Dong Zhuo seized power because he held the Emperor—nine out of ten reasons. The Emperor couldn't leave Luoyang, lest another Dong Zhuo claim him.
'First, a surveillance net.'
One that alerted the main force swiftly if he fled. Best: He Jin's own men. Elite, numerous thousands, motivated by rage at news of his death.
'But a failed choice already.'
History proved it: vengeance over orders led to disorder; Ten Attendants slipped out.
'So, Plan B.'
Private guards to block escape. I knew the Emperor fled north via Jeonggun Mountain. With coin to spare, mercenaries could snag the Ten Attendants' coattails. Yuan Shao would come running like a hound if he learned I held the Emperor.
Chasing best despite knowing it'd fail was folly.
'No more intel gathering.'
Palace events followed a straight path; Dong Zhuo lurked outside. To hire mercenaries quietly, tomorrow meant hustle—no more tea-sipping house calls.
Some things in this world can be managed, others cannot. Even an emperor can't silence the masses' mouths—and futures desperately blocked often become inevitable.
This fell into Jang Myeong's "cannot manage" category. More precisely, he'd tried but failed.
The barracks in Hading, Xuzhou, were stark. Soldiers there bore fierce glares, hardened by battles aplenty. A man in blue hurried through their ranks, clutching something.
He served as a strategist under Forward General Dong Zhuo. He reached the central command tent swiftly.
The tent bore fine decorations but seemed humble for a Forward General drawing 2,000 shi stipend.
"Forward General, urgent matters to report."
Permission granted, Li Ru entered at once.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Dim despite daylight—the roof hole too small. A brazier flickered faintly at center; behind it sat Dong Zhuo. Shadowy, he resembled a caged beast grown savage.
Li Ru bowed; Dong Zhuo slowly raised his head, fierce cold eyes glaring.
"What is it?"
His thick, rough voice pressed the visitor.
Li Ru handed over the bamboo slip.
"Intel on He Jin's movements. Likely marching to Luoyang at the Grand General's call."
Li Ru continued steadily: amid He Jin-Emperor tensions, He Jin plotting with outsiders—clear. No summons for nearer us meant exclusion, he guessed.
"Summon or not, we must prepare to head to Luoyang."
Li Ru persuaded: prime chance for court entry. Success? Excuse of aiding He Jin. Failure? Plug the gap, claim Guard General easily. Fiery rhetoric.
Dong Zhuo listened silently, eyes fixed on the brazier's embers. To outsiders, pure silence. But Li Ru, long at his side, knew the internal debate raging unheard.
"Li Ru, you're right."
Dong Zhuo spoke at last, voice thicker, sharper.
"The time to move has come."
He embraced his ambition. Defying court for command was for this moment.
"Order the camps shifted gradually. Select three hundred elites ready to ride for Luoyang anytime."
"As commanded."
Li Ru bowed and exited. Alone, Dong Zhuo's tent echoed with chilling laughter. Writhing ambition twisted his lips upward.
"Heaven-sent opportunity nears."
Dong Zhuo prepared for an unbidden mission. The future someone had blocked for over a decade crystallized.