Feast of Whispers and the Call to Total War
Whispers rippled through the feast. Guests pointed fingers at Yuan Shu and Zhao Yun. Villagers from Changshan and nearby counties, servants of the Zhao clan, merchants, courtesans, and soldiers under Cao Cao and Yuan Shu—all reacted in their own ways.
The villagers had come expecting a simple celebration, only to witness a K-drama meltdown straight out of 1800 years in the future. How did they feel about it? Utterly delighted. Surprisingly, the Zhao clan servants felt much the same. What? The young master had seduced someone else’s fiancée? And what exactly were they supposed to do about it? Nothing. Just bring on more gossip! If cola and popcorn had existed in this era, the servants would have snuck some over to enjoy the show.
Merchants and courtesans were already itching to talk. By the time the sun set, the tale of the filial Ji Ling would be twisted into something far more outrageous, passed from mouth to mouth among their customers. Only time would tell how the story would mutate next.
Meanwhile, the soldiers gossiped like aunties at a neighborhood salon.
“I knew it! A young man and woman clinging to each other like that? Of course something’s going on! Lady Yuan must have made the first move!”
“Come on, you were the one saying rumors are just rumors last time!”
“That was just to protect our commander’s honor! I’m one of Lady Yuan’s personal guards—did you really think I wouldn’t know the truth?”
“But wait, did you hear this? Lady Yuan secretly summoned Zilong at night, and then Commander Cao kidnapped him and kept him locked up for a whole week!”
Squeals and giggles erupted. Burly, hairy men were having a full-blown girls’ talk session straight out of a middle school. And these were supposed to be elite central troops? The future of the Han looked bleak indeed.
With every guest at the feast spinning rumors and dying to spread them outside, the banquet could not possibly continue in peace. Even the hosts, Grandfather and Grandmother Zhao, were flustered by the scandal.
“Marriage?! Me, married to that bastard?! Who the hell started this ridiculous rumor? I’ll find them and make them pay for this humiliation! …And you, old man—get out of my sight! How dare you arrange a betrothal without asking me? My father will hear about this!”
In the end, a furious Yuan Shu stormed out, bringing the feast to an abrupt and messy close. Only wild gossip remained in its wake.
“Aman! What’s gotten into you? You usually ignore Yuan Shu’s nonsense, but tonight you argued with her the entire time.”
Late at night, in a side building of the Zhao residence in Changshan, Xiahou Dun grumbled at Cao Cao.
“If you’d always been like this I wouldn’t be surprised, but you’re usually the one stopping me when I want to fight. What wind blew through you to make you react so viciously…?”
Cao Cao opened her mouth, but found nothing to say. She didn’t understand it herself. Why had she done that? Yuan Shu had only spouted her usual garbage—she should have ignored it like always! …No. That woman had dared to covet her subordinate. The thought alone made her angry again.
“Of course I had to fight back! Gonglu tried to steal my Zilong! A filthy wretch who even lost her own mother’s three-year mourning period to someone else!”
Xiahou Dun shook her head at the casual insult and quietly waited for Cao Cao to calm down. After a long bout of huffing, Cao Cao gave a small cough as if embarrassed by the silence. Only then did Xiahou Dun speak.
“Yuan Shu was as rude as ever, but she’s right about one thing—Zhao Yun is still only a guest general. Do you really think he’ll join you someday?”
“……It’s only been a week. No need to rush. Have you ever seen me fail to obtain what I want?”
“Well, not yet.”
This time it wouldn’t be easy, but Xiahou Dun swallowed the remark and simply gazed at Cao Cao, who was once again wearing her usual sly smile.
“Still, he’s infuriating.”
“What now?”
“Zilong. If he’s going to follow me—even as a guest general—he should at least take my side! Just standing there watching… Hmph! The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get. …Maybe he’s considering joining Gonglu as well?”
“So, are you going to punish him?”
“No! …It’s a little early, but this is the perfect chance to show Zilong Cao Cao’s true charm.”
Cao Cao laughed playfully.
. . .
Meanwhile, in Yuan Shu’s building.
“My father is one thing, but that man is infuriating too!”
“Pardon? Who are you talking about?”
Ji Ling, ever the target of Yuan Shu’s outbursts, asked cautiously.
“Zhao Yun, that bastard! If he intends to serve under me, he should take my side! Pretending not to notice and just standing there… Hmph! The more I think about it, the more infuriating he is! Did he spend the whole week sucking and licking that whore Cao Cao?”
“My lady, such vulgar language…”
“What’s wrong with using vulgar words for vulgar people? No, this won’t do.”
Ji Ling grew visibly anxious at the determined look on Yuan Shu’s face.
“My lady, what exactly are you planning…?”
“Obviously, I need to show him a charm far superior to that whore Cao Cao’s. …Yes, it’s a little early, but this is the perfect opportunity to let him experience the allure of Yuan Gonglu.”
Yuan Shu smiled confidently.
. . .
While everyone drifted off to sleep wrapped in their own delusions, Grandfather Zhao remained awake. He held Zhao Yun’s hand and spoke with grave seriousness.
“It’s fine! Everything will be fine! Your mother married against everyone’s wishes too, yet she ran away, gave birth to ten children, and lived happily until the end! This old man may be foolish, but he’s not stupid enough to repeat the same mistake. I have no intention of sending you off like your poor late sister! So what if our new daughter-in-law already has a fiancé? So what! Our grandson is a far better catch! Your grandfather and grandmother will always be on your side. Don’t you worry about a thing. Ah, what was it again… Ah! Love is something you fight for!”
It was a touching scene. Truly touching… except Zhao Yun had no relationship with any of it. In more ways than one, he felt like crying.
And so the summer sun quickly rose on the next day.
“Grandson! Remember what your grandfather said!!!”
With the entire Zhao household gathered to see him off, Zhao Yun set out alongside the Luoyang suppression army, Grandfather Zhao’s shouts ringing in his ears. Their destination was Julu County in Ji Province—the main camp of the Northern Chief Commander, Dong Zhuo.
***
Rumors were creatures that slipped past closed mouths and uncovered ears. It was only natural that news of the complete annihilation of the Yellow Turbans in You Province reached their main base in Ji Province. Of course, the enemy dismissed it as mere propaganda…
“There’s a limit to that! Eventually they’ll learn the truth!”
“My brother is right. Elder Brother, not just the officers—now even the common soldiers are starting to believe the rumors are true.”
Zhang Jue clutched his throbbing head at his brothers’ words. Zheng Yuanji, that damned bastard! He had boasted so loudly, only to lose fifty thousand men overnight and hand over You Province? Who told him to win? All he had been asked to do was hold the line against Lu Zhi without getting stabbed in the back. Even that had been too much for him. At this rate, the dream of the Yellow Sky would remain just a dream.
Yet one final chance remained.
“Don’t be so frightened. When bad news arrives, good news often follows.”
“Elder Brother? Has something good happened?”
“Yes. I’ll explain everything in front of our comrades. Zhang Liang, Zhang Bao—summon everyone and wait. I will speak to them myself.”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
. . .
One hundred and fifty thousand strong men filled the plain. Every gaze in that vast crowd was fixed upon a single figure—Zhang Jue, leader of the Yellow Turbans.
“Proud comrades. Half a year has already passed since we rose up for our great cause. For half a year we have fought to realize the dream of the Yellow Sky, liberating the people of Ji Province! Qing Province! Xu Province! And Yang Province from the oppression of the Han! And now! Even at this moment, our Yellow Turban warriors fight day and night in You Province! Bing Province! Yan Province! Yu Province! And Jing Province! For those who suffer, for those in pain. Yet… laughably, our enemies say this about us.”
Zhang Jue paused, meeting the eyes of those watching him.
“They claim we are tired of liberating the suffering masses and wish to stop fighting! Soldiers of the Yellow Sky! Is that true?!”
““Lies!!!””
“They say we fear the army of Luoyang and wish to surrender! Is that so?!”
““Lies!!!””
“Exactly! Lies! Everything they say is a lie! They do not understand what we truly fear. What do we fear? Not the demons from Luoyang. What we fear is returning to the humiliation of the past—bowing beneath the disgusting feet of the Han Dynasty. That alone is our fear! Is that not so?!”
““It is!!!””
“We do not fear swords and spears. We fear our children. We fear passing down to them the same family teachings our parents gave us. Parents! The words they spoke to us until their dying breaths—must we really repeat them to our own children? ‘Stay still and you’ll at least get half!’ ‘The nail that sticks out gets hammered down!’ ‘Live like a dead mouse!’ ‘At least we’re better off than the neighbors!’ ‘Birds hear daytime words, mice hear nighttime words!’ ‘The protruding nail gets struck!’ ‘Always obey!’ ‘Always submit!’ How long must we carry these shameful words—these tear-soaked words of our parents—as our family creed?!”
““It is!!!””
“We rose to break that yoke, yet all this time we have been bound by that demon, Lu Zhi… But just yesterday! Lu Zhi was arrested due to the schemes of the Luoyang traitors! Now nothing stands in our way—only cowards remain before us! Do you desire total war!!! If necessary, will you wage total war, spilling blood across heaven and earth for victory alone!!! Will you bear the burden of liberating the people alongside me, Zhang Jue!!!”
““We desire it!!! We desire it!!! We desire it!!!””
Fanatical cries echoed from every direction. Amid the roar, Zhang Jue’s low voice reached Zhang Liang.
“Zhang Liang, move all the prisoners and convicts there. …Now I will offer them up and complete the ritual.”