The Coming Event
Having parted ways with Yi near Xiangyong, I passed through Xiangyang and returned to Jiangling, which I now consider my true home base.
“Welcome back, General Jin!”
“You’ve traveled a long way. Thank you for coming to greet me.”
“Thank you. I know you must be busy, but I’m grateful you came out to meet me.”
Jiangling and its people were exactly as I remembered.
Seeing the familiar faces of my comrades washed away every trace of fatigue. The bonds I had built here were more precious to me than anything else.
After greeting Zhang Fei and Xu Shu, I returned to my quarters, organized my belongings, and spent a quiet moment with Gan Yong over tea.
“Hah. I missed this cup of tea while you were away.”
“I missed it too.”
The meals and hospitality I received as part of the envoy mission in Xuchang had been grand and luxurious (aside from Cao Pi’s personality), but I preferred the simple, comfortable atmosphere of a quiet place like this over grand settings.
“So, how did the envoy mission go? This was your first time traveling to the Central Plains, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. There were more twists and turns than I expected. Before we even reached Xuchang, some fellow named Cao Wei kept following me around…”
I briefly recounted meeting Cao Wei, the way Cao Pi tried to humiliate me at the banquet, and how I had turned the tables.
“Hah. With your reputation growing, all sorts of people are drawn to you. Next thing I know, even conmen are coming to find you.”
“Still, that man will be investigated and punished. The real problem is Cao Pi.”
“I’ve heard Cao Pi’s character isn’t great, but this is going too far. Cao Zhang is far more of a gentleman by comparison. Still, it’s good you returned safely.”
After our light conversation about the envoy mission, we moved on to the next topic—the one thing I had been most curious about while away.
“By the way, how has His Highness the Crown Prince been?”
“Hmm. He studies diligently and hasn’t had any incidents.”
“Really? That’s good to hear.”
“Truly. In fact, I borrowed your name a few times.”
“My name?”
Gan Yong cleared his throat once and continued.
“Whenever His Highness seemed more interested in playing than studying, I would mention your name. It helped a little. His Highness needs to study hard so that when General Seyoung returns, he’ll be happy. So he studied diligently.”
“Hmm. Well, yes. He did well.”
It felt rewarding to see the effort I had put in beginning to bear fruit.
Ma Su had also visited from time to time and answered Liu Shan’s questions, and Zhang Fei would glare fiercely while Huang Hao shrank back without daring to flatter.
Everything seemed to be going well so far, but I still couldn’t let my guard down.
“Huang Hao still hasn’t let his guard down. I’ll have to keep a closer eye on him.”
“I still don’t understand why you’re so wary of that eunuch. You already have enough on your plate.”
“Master Gan doesn’t know, but such people can become a threat to the nation in the future.”
Gan Yong clicked his tongue.
“You’ve always had excellent instincts for people, so I won’t dismiss it… but…”
“Exactly. Master Gan, I need a favor. When I’m busy, please keep an eye on Huang Hao and make sure he doesn’t do anything suspicious. Do it discreetly, as if you’re not paying attention. You’re good at that sort of thing. I may have to lead troops again soon.”
“But why do you have to go that far?”
“I have too much on my plate. I might miss something. How many tasks do I have? I have to train the soldiers, guide the Crown Prince, watch over the people’s hearts, and handle military affairs…”
“Aigoo. I understand. I’ll keep an eye on things.”
“Thank you. I’m always asking too much.”
“Since Sukji asked me to look after you, I’ll do it. Now, let’s finish this tea. You should rest as well.”
As Gan Yong and I were finishing our tea, a familiar yet unfamiliar sound suddenly came from under the table.
“Nyaaong!”
“Huh?”
“What is that sound?”
At that moment, something glowing yellow leaped onto the table with a thud.
“Nyaaang.”
The agile creature howled again, and Gan Yong recognized it.
“Isn’t this the cat His Highness the Crown Prince keeps?”
“Yes. Its name is Geumwang. It keeps sneaking into my quarters. It’s become familiar here.”
It must have entered through a gap in the open window like a mouse.
“Ah. Now that I think about it, I’ve seen shadows of cats loitering near your quarters a few times while you were away. So this was the one.”
“Haha. Really? It came looking for me while I was gone?”
The intruder approached me without meowing and instead lay down on the table with its belly exposed. Then it tapped its belly with its paws as if asking to be petted. The behavior of a cat was strangely like that of an uncle.
“Were you looking after this cat while I was gone, Master Gan? Its posture is just like yours.”
“Eh? When did I ever let it run wild? I’ve lived a life of at least minimal restraint.”
While Gan Yong and I chatted, Geumwang tapped my hand and then tapped its own belly again.
“Hahaha. The only one who can act this recklessly in front of General Jin Cheong is this fellow.”
“Oh dear. Yes, you’re my lord, my lord.”
I let out a sigh mixed with laughter and gently stroked Geumwang’s belly. The thought of acting as a nanny and now a housekeeper made me laugh.
Geumwang happily meowed in response. Nyaaang~
***
Around that time in Eastern Wu.
In a quiet mountain valley, a man sat helplessly. Before him stood a tomb and a stele.
[Grave of Gan Ning]
The stele bore those words.
“Gan Ning.”
Ling Tong poured a cup of wine in front of Gan Ning’s grave and muttered.
Gan Ning. The fierce general of Wu, who had been severely criticized by Sun Quan for the failure in the Jingzhou campaign.
Even though he was gravely ill, he had forced himself to lead troops. Ling Tong and other Wu generals had tried to defend him, but it was useless.
Unable to quell his anger, Sun Quan sent envoys to reprimand him repeatedly, and in the end, Gan Ning, who had been driven to his deathbed, passed away.
To Ling Tong, Gan Ning was a being of extremes. An enemy of his father and a benefactor of his life.
But whether one weighed more than the other had become meaningless.
Still, Ling Tong knew that even if Gan Ning had never spoken it aloud, he had always carried a deep sense of guilt toward him in his heart. That too had become meaningless.
But it wasn’t over. Suspecting Ling Tong of the same failure that had driven him to his deathbed, Sun Quan no longer took his eyes off him.
“Gan Ning. I gave my all to save Your Highness at He Fei, losing three hundred of my subordinates. You did the same. Yet this is what we have come to. Is it right that I must endure suspicion as well?”
After taking a sip of wine, Ling Tong muttered to himself again.
“Yu Meng, the Protector, has also died of illness, and Lu Xun and Ding Feng are stuck in the rear handling trivial tasks because of the defeat. I am no different. Since this is Your Highness’s command, I must give my all in any task. But I would at least like to avoid that suspicious gaze. Why…?”
Ling Tong lowered his head.
***
Upon returning from the envoy mission, I returned to my usual duties.
While the education of Liu Shan and watching over Huang Hao had been tiring, the military-related tasks such as training and patrols were mostly handled by my loyal subordinates, so I hadn’t been overwhelmed with work.
However, following Cao Cao’s death, another major turning point befell the continent.
“Emperor Cao Pi has deposed the Han Emperor!”
The fall of Han.
Even the Han Dynasty, which had barely survived, and the Han Emperor himself had vanished from history’s rear.
“Cao Pi himself has ascended the throne and bestowed the posthumous title of ‘Martial Emperor’ upon Cao Cao.”
As expected. The time had come.
Liu Xie, the last Han Emperor, had been enfeoffed as the Duke of Shanyang and sent to his fief. However, rumors had also reached that he had already been killed by Cao Pi.
It was inevitable, and I had known about it, but it still weighed heavily. The fall of a nation was no small matter. Especially since the goal of our faction was the revival of a nation.
Of course, I felt a certain weight, but the others panicked. Xu Shu and Ma Liang tried to calm the chaotic atmosphere, and thanks to their efforts, the gloom gradually lifted.
This news would soon reach Chengdu. And what movements would Liu Bei make?
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