Debate and Resolve
The Wu civil officials surrounding us in a crescent formation all wore the same expression.
Flushed, reddened faces. Cold sweat. And ragged breathing.
In contrast, Zhuge Liang on the opposite side had not so much as changed color.
For more than thirty minutes, Zhuge Liang had weathered every one of their attacks—and repelled them all.
The Wu officials had thrown themselves at our faction and at Zhuge Liang, desperate to tear us down somehow, but not a single one could pierce the defensive wall his three inches of silver tongue had erected. Instead they kept taking clean counters and dropping out of the fight.
What astonished me most was Zhuge Liang's response speed. It seemed he needed less than a second after hearing an opponent's argument before launching his counterattack. Under those instantaneous ripostes, the Wu ministers fell like leaves in an autumn wind.
Some of them worked their mouths as if trying to say something, then gave up. They glanced at one another, hoping someone else would step forward, but no one dared. They seemed to have realized that ordinary eloquence would never defeat Zhuge Liang.
Everyone here belonged to the surrender faction. We had nearly broken them—now if we could just persuade Sun Quan…
At that moment, one of the ministers looked at me. His eyes lit up. What…?
He cleared his throat once and spoke.
"But who is that young lady standing behind you? Why hasn't she said a single word?"
Me? Why single me out when I'm just standing here quietly?
"Ah. Allow me to introduce her. Her name is Jin Cheong. She holds the rank of Duwei, and she has come this far to assist me."
"My introduction is late. I am Jin Cheong, here to support Military Advisor Zhuge."
"Hmm. I see."
He kept his gaze fixed on me, and the other ministers began focusing on me one by one as well.
Was that Wu Fan? He was famous in Wu for tearing into other people. I just never expected to become his target.
Apparently these people had decided that since Zhuge Liang was an insurmountable wall, they would go after the easier mark—me.
"But is it proper for someone who came to assist to stand there doing nothing? She hasn't said a word this entire time."
"Diplomacy and negotiation fall under my responsibility, and Duwei Jin accompanied me for my personal protection. That she has not entered the debate simply means she has fulfilled her own duty."
Zhuge Liang responded with the same logic as before, but a faint edge of anger that had not been there earlier now colored his voice. He had realized what the Wu ministers were up to.
"Personal protection? That would make her a bodyguard—how is a young lady that age supposed to serve as a bodyguard?"
"Though young in years, Duwei Jin distinguished herself at the Battle of Bowang Slope, and at Dangyang she charged into enemy lines alongside General Zhao Yun to rescue our lord's family. Her loyalty and valor are beyond question."
"No. I cannot shake the feeling that this is exaggerated. Bestowing a rank upon a woman and letting her participate in war? And a thirteen-year-old at that? You wouldn't be putting forward a little girl like that to manufacture some kind of myth or stir up the people, would you?"
"Your words go too far. Are you saying that gender takes precedence over loyalty and righteous spirit toward one's lord? Or rather, it sounds as if you are saying women should not perform such deeds. Duwei Jin achieved clear military merit and received a position commensurate with it—nothing more."
"No, the very rumors of those exploits are suspicious. Even if General Zhao Yun was with her, breaking through tens of thousands? Is Lord Liu Bei's army not one that inflates its power by spreading wild rumors rather than relying on actual ability? And with that, you propose an alliance with us? Frankly, I even doubt whether the young lady is truly a military officer."
Oh dear. The rumors have been distorted beyond the truth, so some people refuse to believe them. Still, I never expected them to attack me over this.
Military officers tended to be favorable toward me, but civil officials apparently were not.
Zhuge Liang was about to rebut again, but I stepped forward first. I felt uneasy that I might have come along only to become a burden on him.
"I will address that myself. I was at the Battle of Dangyang, so it is only right that I explain."
At first I had planned to just watch from the back like a spectator at a sporting match. (It had been a spectacular show.) I had ended up like a spectator who unexpectedly dropped onto the field—but I had no intention of standing there and taking hits blankly.
Zhuge Liang and I exchanged a brief glance, then nodded.
"As you said, Cao Cao's forces at Dangyang did not number in the tens of thousands. Roughly several thousand. Rumors can be distorted, and the exaggeration of numbers in war is a common occurrence in military affairs."
At the time, Cao Cao's forces had been roughly five thousand cavalry. A good portion of those five thousand had been chasing the scattered Liu Bei army and the common people, so the force Zhao Yun and I actually engaged was probably somewhere between a few hundred and a thousand. I did not bother mentioning that detail.
"But that General Zhao Yun and I cut through those forces and rescued our lord's family is an undeniable fact."
Wu Fan cleared his throat once and said,
"Ahem. You may say so, but the truth is it's hard to believe. That someone as delicate as the young lady broke through enemy lines… We haven't seen it with our own eyes."
"If you find it hard to believe, I can show you soon enough. When Cao Cao's army comes, I will go out and fight as well. If necessary, I'll even bring back an enemy general's head."
"Hmm. I see. Then things would become clearer… Wait a moment. Isn't that telling us of Eastern Wu to fight?! I nearly fell for that."
"Are you that afraid? Our lord, with only a modest force, held the front line at Xinye and crushed Xiahou Dun's army at Bowang Slope. General Zhao Yun and I alone broke through several thousand. I have heard that Eastern Wu has forces approaching a hundred thousand, with abundant warships and supplies. And yet you would surrender without fighting even once?"
At my words, Wu Fan's expression showed a slight sting, but he did not back down.
"Handing over our land is a painful matter for me as well, but this is a decision I reached after deep deliberation as a scholar. Being a military officer, the young lady seems not to understand such profound intent."
"Oh. So now you're acknowledging me as a military officer."
"Ah, that… I called you a military officer because you hold the rank of Duwei. In truth, since I haven't seen you fight with my own eyes, I still find it hard to believe."
As Wu Fan mumbled, I replied.
"Be that as it may, our lord and I will fight when Cao Cao's army comes. Then, Lord Wu Fan, would you come and watch me fight? That should make things clear."
"Are you telling me to go out onto a battlefield right now? I am a civil official. I don't expect I'll have any occasion to go as far as a battlefield."
"I am not saying Lord Wu Fan needs to fight himself—only that you watch me fight. You have casually cast doubt on my military merit and martial skill even though I have fought and am prepared to fight again with my life on the line. I am offering to stake my life on the battlefield to prove it to you, and you refuse even to watch? Is that the way of a scholar?"
"Th-that's a bit forced, isn't it…!"
"Forced? Treating something as false simply because you haven't seen it with your own eyes—what is that if not forced?"
Wu Fan's face flushed red, and Zhuge Liang looked at my face with an expression of interest.
Then—
"What are you gentlemen doing right now!"
It was Huang Gai. Bursting in suddenly, Huang Gai unleashed a thunderous roar of fury.
"Honored guests have come, and this is how you treat them? And gathering around a young lady like this to insult her—is that acceptable?!"
"…"
Huang Gai was a valiant general who had served three generations of the Sun family. As he radiated terrifying charisma, the Wu ministers flushed red.
"This Huang Gai apologizes on their behalf. Guests, please come this way. I will escort you."
Huang Gai brought us to our temporary lodgings and then left again. It had been an exhausting day. Now I could finally rest a little more comfortably.
Recalling the verbal battle Zhuge Liang had waged earlier, I said,
"Military Advisor, you were truly magnificent. To repel every one of those attacks…"
Just witnessing with my own eyes the scene of Zhuge Liang silencing everyone with that brilliant eloquence was enough that I did not regret coming along. It was a different kind of unmatched rampage from Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and the like—one waged without a single weapon in hand.
"You're quite the surprise yourself, Duwei Jin. I've never seen you speak like that. You always present such a calm front."
"Haha. I thought if I just stood there quietly, they'd look down on me. And if they look down on us, there goes any alliance."
As Zhuge Liang and I were talking, Lu Su paid a visit.
Even though he must have been exhausted mediating between the surrender faction and the war faction, and between our forces and Eastern Wu's, he had not lost that good-natured smile. From our first meeting he had been carefully attentive so we would not feel uncomfortable, so things had not been too difficult so far.
"Military Advisor Zhuge. Is everything to your comfort? Tomorrow our lord says he wishes to meet with you."
Finally, a decision would be made. If we can just get past the wall that is Sun Quan…
The persuasion of Sun Quan went as I had expected.
To move the still-young and spirited Sun Quan, Zhuge Liang employed the strategy of goading a general.
"If you believe you have no chance of victory against Cao Cao, would it not be better to surrender at once? That, at least, would be a way to preserve your life. But if you miss the timing and provoke Cao Cao's displeasure, you will not be able to guarantee what comes after."
Naturally, Sun Quan flew into a rage at the provocation.
"How do you see me, to say such a thing? Then why does your lord Liu Bei not surrender?"
Zhuge Liang received his fury with calm composure.
"Our lord is a descendant of the Han imperial house. How could he kneel at the feet of a traitor who oppresses the Son of Heaven? He will simply fight to the death and preserve his honor—nothing more."
"Are you saying I have no honor?"
Zhuge Liang's goading strategy properly pricked Sun Quan's pride and drew out the ambition latent within him.
And when Zhou Yu, Grand Commander of Eastern Wu, also stepped forward to persuade Sun Quan, the decision he finally reached was this:
Eastern Wu would stand against Cao Cao!
"Military Advisor. I heard you persuaded Sun Quan. Magnificent work."
I already knew it would turn out this way, but I spoke with genuine sincerity. Having future knowledge was one thing—that did not mean he had not worked hard.
"Yes. Thank you. Now I can rest a little easier."
"Then all that remains is to defeat Cao Cao."
"Will things go as easily as that? This is only the beginning."
Even so, Zhuge Liang wore a distinctly more relieved expression.
"Soon Sun Quan will officially declare war. However, we have not yet turned the hearts of the surrender faction. How he turns their hearts—that is where Sun Quan's caliber will show."
As he said, shortly afterward we heard that Sun Quan was summoning everyone to the great hall.
"I will render my decision in this place. From this moment, Eastern Wu hereby declares that it will stand and fight against Cao Cao."
"M-My lord…"
Zhang Zhao and the other ministers who had advocated surrender went pale with shock. Then they immediately steeled themselves and raised their voices.
"My lord, this is Cao Cao, who toppled even the once-mighty Yuan Shao and the north. With Jiangdong's military strength alone, there is simply no chance of victory…"
"Yes. That is a fact I know well. That Cao Cao's generalship is outstanding is also beyond doubt. But is there some law that says I cannot do what Cao Cao has done?!"
A force I had never seen before poured from Sun Quan's words and bearing. Before that razor-edged presence, Zhang Zhao could only flinch.
Sun Quan drew the sword at his waist. With a ringing scrape, the treasured blade cast a straight gleam of light through the center of the great hall.
"I swear clearly upon this sword. If Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao, then I, Sun Quan, will defeat him in this battle and make known to all under heaven that I am one of the pillars of the realm! Henceforth, if anyone advocates surrender, I will personally take their head with this sword."
With those words he brought the sword down. The blade traced an elegant arc, and one corner of the desk before him was sheared clean off with a crash.
It was a resolve shown to his ministers—and also a resolve that cut away his own hesitation.
The ministers who had advocated surrender shrank back as they looked at the severed desk. Conversely, those who had advocated war squared their shoulders and smiled.
"I will now issue my appointments. Zhou Yu as Commander-in-Chief, Cheng Pu as Deputy Commander, and Lu Su as Military Advisor. I ask that you three take the lead in destroying Cao Cao."
Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and Lu Su stepped forward in turn and bowed before their lord.
"We will give our utmost."
"And for overall command of the rear…"
Sun Quan swallowed once, then continued.
"…I appoint Zhang Zhao!"
Eyes around the hall went wide. The previous three appointments were entirely understandable. But entrusting such an important duty to Zhang Zhao…
When Sun Quan had declared his intent to fight, everyone had thought: Zhang Zhao's future would not be bright from here on.
Zhang Zhao said nothing more and bowed his head. A bitter smile hung at the corner of his mouth.
Bitterness that his opinion had been overruled, and anxiety that Jiangdong might now become a sea of fire.
And yet, strangely, a small sense of relief settled in one corner of his chest.
My lord is no longer the man he once was. He has grown from a child into the timber of a proper sovereign.
He remembered the time when, before the dying Sun Ce, he had forced clothes onto a wailing child and stood him before the ministers.
Sun Quan's present figure overlapped with the image of Sun Ce, who had been called the Little Conqueror.
Perhaps Heaven has not yet abandoned Jiangdong. Now that it has been decided this way, I too must steel my heart and assist my lord.