Meeting Zhou Yu
I had expected Ling Tong's camp to be as neat and tightly disciplined as the first impression he and his troops had given — but the atmosphere turned out to be surprisingly lively. No, lively was an understatement. It looked like they were throwing a drinking party.
"I gave my men leave to rest with a cup of wine after today's fighting."
"General!"
As he passed, his subordinates rose to salute him.
"Don't mind me. Enjoy yourselves."
"Yes, sir!"
They settled back into their seats and resumed their lively chatter over the wine. At a glance it looked like a raucous drinking bout, but even in the midst of it they kept to certain lines.
Not a single man was excessively drunk — they all practiced restraint — and their speech, for a drinking party, was remarkably civil.
We entered the tent where he was staying and took our seats.
"Does the General not drink, then?"
I asked because I worried I might have interrupted them for no good reason while they were enjoying themselves.
"I don't particularly care for wine. I merely permitted them a brief drink to keep morale up — they'll amuse themselves well enough without me. And they'll enjoy it more freely if I'm not there."
Given that they were at war, he said, the drinking would not last long, and he himself was not joining in — he preferred to sit and read treatises on military strategy. The spread he had laid out for his men was a simple one, suitable for moderate enjoyment; but once they won the war, he promised, there would be a grand feast and rewards to go with it.
It was a glimpse of a thoughtful and conscientious character.
Ling Tong and I drank the tea I had brought and talked for a while about this and that — how the war might go, and how we ought to fight it.
"We simply fight with everything we have."
His answer was simple and clear. But he admitted that few generals truly believed they would win. He himself was not certain either.
Honestly, am I the only one who thinks we'll win?
"It seems about time to break up the drinking."
"Yes. I should take my leave as well. Thank you for the welcome."
"N-not at all… If anything, I should thank you for the fine tea…"
He was courteous and well-mannered, but not a man of many words.
In any case, once our conversation was finished we rose and stepped outside. His men were still eating and drinking and making merry.
Ling Tong's subordinates glanced at the two of us and began to whisper among themselves.
"Huh. You think our General finally found himself a match?"
"The two of them look good together, don't they?"
"Ohh. At last, even our General…"
Hey. I can hear all of that. And it's not what you think.
Ling Tong's face went red as he shouted.
"…You lot! Enough idle talk — get back to your posts at once! Training resumes tomorrow, so make sure your gear and your bodies are in proper order!"
"Yes, General!"
At Ling Tong's roar they broke up the gathering in perfect order and went off to their duties.
"…I fear my men have been discourteous to Duwei Jin. They do spout nonsense from time to time."
It was a peculiar yet well-ordered company. They played hard when it was time to play and worked hard when it was time to work. There was a cheerful ease between commander and men that allowed for a certain amount of banter — and yet when he gave an order, they obeyed it like a blade.
If I ever came to lead many soldiers of my own, I thought, building a company like this might not be a bad idea. It wouldn't be easy, though.
"I'm not bothered in the least. If anything, I worry I've been a nuisance to you."
"A nuisance? Nonsense. Go carefully."
We exchanged farewells, and I parted from Ling Tong and returned to my own tent. The cold night air tickled my nose. Time for me to rest as well.
"We won the first engagement, but Cao Cao's true strength is far greater than what we saw today. I need not tell you that — you all know it well."
The sun had set and the moon had claimed the sky. Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Zhuge Liang were gathered inside a tent for a council of war.
Winning the first battle was certainly cause for gladness. But not one of them believed the war itself had been won.
"Yes. The Grand Commander's words are true."
Cao Cao's army had not committed its full strength. Even after losing a single engagement, his forces remained overwhelming. He was still unaccustomed to naval warfare, but given time he would train his soldiers and bring Jingzhou's navy fully under his command. And when that vast host came surging forward all at once…
The situation was still against them. But a way to overcome it surely existed.
"I presume the Grand Commander has already devised a plan."
"And I suspect Military Advisor Zhuge has already thought of something himself."
Zhou Yu's and Zhuge Liang's gazes crossed in the empty air between them. Neither was quick to draw out what lay within. Only the candle flame at the center of the table flickered in their eyes. They were taking each other's measure.
These two are sparring with their qi again.
Caught between them, Lu Su sighed inwardly. Someday they might well become enemies. But at the very least, for now, he wished they would work together a little more closely. He cleared his throat once and spoke.
"Come, come. If you worry that important words might leak out, why not write them on paper and show each other?"
So saying, Lu Su held out a sheet of paper to Zhuge Liang and another to Zhou Yu.
Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu took the papers and fell into thought for a moment.
"Don't overthink it — just write. A council is for comparing ideas and refining them together, after all."
When Lu Su spoke so amiably, the two of them, as if unable to refuse, picked up their brushes. Each began to write something.
They set their brushes down almost at once. Whatever they had written, it was neither grand nor long.
Then they showed each other what they had written. This time their minds were in accord — a smile neither had nearly shown until now rose to both faces. Seeing it, Lu Su brightened with delight.
"Oh-ho. So this is what the two of you were thinking. I should very much like to hear the details."
The chill that had hung over the council eased a little. Their deliberations continued deep into the night.
On the table lay two sheets of paper, each bearing a single character.
When the long council finally ended, Zhuge Liang returned to his own tent. The meeting had made real progress and a stratagem had been set, yet Zhou Yu still sat with his hand to his chin, lost in thought. Lu Su asked him,
"Grand Commander Zhou. Is there something further on your mind?"
"Ah. Master Lu Su. Nothing of great consequence. What do you make of Master Zhuge?"
"He has not been long in the world, but I judge him a man of deep purpose. And he is also a person of great importance in solidifying our alliance."
Sensing that Zhou Yu still regarded Zhuge Liang with wariness, Lu Su deliberately brought up the word alliance.
"Indeed. An exceptional man. Given that, is there no chance he might become one of ours?"
"It will not be easy. His elder brother, Master Zhuge Jin, made a quiet attempt to persuade him, but I am told there was not the slightest sign of interest."
"I see. Then what of that Jin Cheong who came with him? I saw her fight once — she is no ordinary person."
"You mean Duwei Jin? By all accounts she is indeed a formidable heroine. She even took the head of the enemy general Sun Guan in this recent battle. But more to the point — you should retire for the night. It has grown late."
Zhou Yu muttered something under his breath.
"Perhaps I should meet this girl Jin Cheong once myself."
"Duwei Jin. Grand Commander Zhou requests a moment of your time."
In the morning a Wu soldier came to deliver the message. Not Gan Ning, not Ling Tong — the supreme commander himself wanted to see me? What could this be about?
It was not something I could refuse, so I obtained Zhuge Liang's leave and prepared to go. Before I left, Zhuge Liang said this:
"I suspect Grand Commander Zhou may be sounding you out. Whatever he says, it would be best to speak in roundabout terms."
Could he be trying to quietly draw me over to his side? In any case, I set my steps toward the quarters where Zhou Yu was waiting.
"Welcome. You must be Duwei Jin Cheong? We have been expecting you."
When I arrived, a boy who looked about ten years old came out to greet me.
"Yes. I am Jin Cheong. I have come to see Grand Commander Zhou."
"You are most welcome. Please — allow me to escort you."
I followed the boy. But who was he? At first I took him for a simple page, yet his eyes were bright and clear, and the way he carried himself and walked was far too assured for an ordinary attendant.
Above all, for one so young, he had a solid, well-built frame. A martial artist, perhaps?
"Grand Commander Zhou. I have brought Duwei Jin Cheong."
"Good. Show her in at once."
When I entered, I found two men seated — not the one I had expected.
"Duwei Jin. I am Zhou Yu. I apologize for putting you to the trouble of coming and going."
"I am Lü Meng. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Zhou Yu and Lü Meng. To meet two of Wu's great pillars at the same time — I had not expected this.
"Not at all. It is I who am honored to meet the Grand Commander. And I am glad to meet General Lü Meng as well."
The three of us exchanged greetings and polite compliments for a moment, and then that same page entered bearing a tray of tea and refreshments. He did not leave again, but seated himself properly at Zhou Yu's side.
To sit beside the Grand Commander in a setting like this — he is no ordinary page. A talent Zhou Yu is raising, perhaps?
"Then allow me to explain why I have asked Duwei Jin here."
I swallowed hard.