Secret Talk

A night so dark even the moon had hidden itself behind the clouds.

Somewhere deep in the forest, in a secluded hollow, two figures crouched among the underbrush, whispering in hushed conspiracy.

"The promise still holds, I trust?"

"Yes, yes. Leave everything to me. As I attend upon the Crown Prince of Shu, I have thoroughly mapped his habits, his pastimes, his every route of travel. When the moment comes, I shall raise a disturbance from within—and if fortune favors us, I may even deliver the Crown Prince himself into your hands."

The two figures were Huang Hao and a subordinate of Zhou Fang of Wu.

"Furthermore, the two General Shen brothers have agreed to hand over military secrets. When you launch your assault, I shall personally convey the troop deployments, movement routes, and supply lines. With that alone, Jiangling will fall to you in a single stroke."

"Excellent. Excellent. Heh heh."

Huang Hao, who had once served as Liu Shan's devoted attendant—devoted, at least, in his own estimation—had been bought by Zhou Fang and was now colluding with Wu.

"And when I have rendered such service… at that time…"

"Have no fear. I shall personally petition His Majesty the King of Wu to grant you a fine post and a handsome reward. You have my word."

"My deepest thanks. I shall most certainly deliver a great victory to His Majesty."

Huang Hao bowed again and again toward the dark silhouette, which merely nodded in reply.

His clandestine rendezvous concluded, Huang Hao made his quiet way back along the shadowed path.

Just as he thought he was nearly home free, he collided with an unexpected silhouette.

"Gah!"

"Hup!"

The two dark figures nearly cracked their heads together and sprang apart with a metallic scrape of startled breath.

Wh-what?! Don't tell me I've been found out.

What truly terrified Huang Hao was not the near-collision itself, but the possibility that his collusion had been exposed.

"Aiee! Nearly scared me half to death!"

Collecting himself, Huang Hao first tried to make out who stood before him.

Gan Yong?! That old— Don't tell me he's been tailing me?

His heart plummeted. While Huang Hao stammered, Gan Yong spoke first.

"Well now. If it isn't Huang Hao?"

But looking closer, Gan Yong hardly seemed like a man who had been following him. His clothes were disheveled, his hair a mess. A faint flush colored his cheeks, and the smell of wine clung softly about him. Could it be…?

"Master Gan? Ah—have you been visiting the pleasure houses again…?"

The moment Huang Hao voiced his guess, Gan Yong startled and clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Aiee! You fool—what if someone overheard you shouting like that?!"

"Mmph!"

Gan Yong released him with an awkward chuckle, then glanced about to make sure no one was near before continuing.

"Ahem. Well, a man can go out and enjoy himself now and then, can't he? Having a bit of fun isn't the problem. Not the problem at all… Everything's fine, really—just keep it out of Ban Jun's ears, would you? That fellow's so particular. If he finds out I've been there again, he'll lecture me until my ears fall off about how a senior official of the realm mustn't set a dissolute example."

"Yes, yes. Understood."

"Ah, right—and keep it from Seyoung, too. That child is fine in every other respect, but she's far too upright for her own good. What joy is there in life if you only ever walk the straight and narrow? She doesn't understand a man needing to unwind at a pleasure house, and she'll scold me just the same. She ought to hurry up and get married so she can nag her own husband instead of picking on this poor old man."

"Yes, yes."

As Gan Yong rattled on with his usual nonsense, Huang Hao's wariness gradually eased.

"Ahem, ahem. All's well that ends well, isn't it? I just went out, had my fun, and didn't trouble a soul. You know how it is, eh? Ahahaha!"

Gan Yong clapped Huang Hao on the shoulder with a hearty laugh, and Huang Hao's suspicions all but dissolved.

"And where have you been, then?"

"Ah—merely running an errand at His Highness the Crown Prince's command."

"Ah, right, right. You work hard, always running about. Well then, I'd best be off. Need to get back before anyone sees me."

"Yes, yes. Take care."

Huang Hao watched Gan Yong's retreating back and sneered to himself.

An old man who does no work and spends every day buried in pleasure houses—how does someone like that hold a high seat in this country? Just wait. I'll go to Wu and claim ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a grand position for myself.

Muttering inwardly, Huang Hao returned to his quarters.

Some distance away, Gan Yong also let out a long breath of relief.

Whew. Nearly got caught at the last moment because I let my guard down. He didn't notice, did he? I was far enough away—he'll just think we ran into each other by chance. Still…

He had been watching their secret meeting from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠afar and had deliberately taken a different route back. Unfortunately, Huang Hao had chosen that same path, and they had collided head-on.

Gan Yong cast a sidelong glance behind him. The playful expression from moments before was gone; his eyes were sharp and keen.

Was Seyoung right after all? I'd better go consult Yuanzhi at once.

Gan Yong went straight to Xu Shu's office.

"Advisor Xu. I've come with something urgent to discuss."

"Master Gan, what brings you at this hour? Or rather…"

Xu Shu was puzzled by the unexpected visitor, but one look at Gan Yong's appearance filled him with suspicion—or rather, near certainty.

"Have you been to the pleasure houses again? It makes no difference to me, but if Lord Ban Jun finds out, he'll have another lecture ready. Best slip inside before you're caught…"

Xu Shu sighed softly and shook his head. Gan Yong's face went red.

"N-no! Do people think I live in those places?!"

"Well… isn't that more or less the truth? Then what about that appearance of yours? Anyone can see you've had a cup or two."

"This was for a disguise— No, this is no time for that. I've uncovered something important. Lately Huang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hao's behavior has been suspicious, has it not? So I tailed him in secret, and…"

Gan Yong leaned in and whispered into Xu Shu's ear. At first Xu Shu listened with a look of mild confusion, but by the time the tale was finished, his face had gone pale.

"Is that truly so? Colluding with Eastern Wu…"

"It is. I saw it with my own two eyes. The man was Sonam, a subordinate of Zhou Fang."

"Did you overhear what they discussed?"

"…That, I could not. They were whispering right into each other's ears—impossible to catch a word. But that they were holding a secret conference, of that I am certain."

"Even so, you have done well. This is valuable intelligence. I had already grown uneasy about Wu's recent conduct and wondered whether some scheme was afoot. From now on I shall assign men to keep continuous watch. I will discuss this matter with Lord Ban Jun as well."

At the mention of Ban Jun's name, Gan Yong flinched slightly and turned to go. He had done nothing wrong this time, yet Ban Jun remained a fearsome figure to him—someone who called to mind that exacting Fa Zheng of old.

"R-right. I'll be off, then. If I learn anything further, I'll bring it to you."

"Yes. Thank you for the information. Take care."

But before Gan Yong could even leave the office, a voice from beyond the door stopped him in his tracks.

"Advisor Xu, are you within? It is Ban Jun. I have a matter to discuss—I shall come in briefly."

While Gan Yong stood frozen, Ban Jun entered carrying a stack of documents.

"Advisor. Regarding the revised expenditure policy from last time, I have a few points— Hm? Master Gan, what brings you here?"

"Ah. Ahaha. Working so late into the night on affairs of state—you labor hard. I just dropped by for a quick word. All finished now. I'll be heading back; keep up the good work."

Ban Jun stopped him as he tried to bluster his way out.

"One moment, Master Gan."

"Eh…?"

Gan Yong turned hesitantly—and found Ban Jun's face set in a hard expression.

"Have you been to the pleasure houses again today?"

For once, Gan Yong felt genuinely wronged.

"My lady. A secret missive has arrived from Advisor Xu."

Even while traveling toward Jiangling, I had continued exchanging letters with Xu Shu.

The carriage door opened a crack, and Zheng Sui passed me the sealed message.

"Let's see. Hmm."

The contents were brief, yet more than enough to deliver a considerable shock.

Ah. Damn it. I'd half-suspected, but still…

"Haa…"

An assault by Eastern Wu was something I had more or less anticipated. Internal rebellion, however, was a development I had never wanted to face.

But fretting alone would accomplish nothing. We had discovered it in advance—that was a blessing. Now I needed to prepare countermeasures.

What kind of mischief could Huang Hao stir up from within? The whole way to Jiangling, such thoughts ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turned over and over in my mind.