Enemy Phase - The Anti-Dong Zhuo Alliance (2)
"Ha, fuck... Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are probably already heading for the assembly point, so what the hell are we doing? When is that bastard Sun Jian supposed to get here?"
Meanwhile, Yuan Shu, who had been raising troops in Runan, was thoroughly pissed off. Compared to Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, who had moved with remarkable speed, he had grasped the situation late and still had not even finished organizing his forces.
"He set out from Changsha, so won't it take quite a while? It's over sixteen hundred li from there to here..."
"Hey, Qi Ling. You think I'm asking because I don't know where Changsha is? Honestly, all you know how to do is fight like a brute — not a scrap of tact in you."
"..."
When Yuan Shu put her on the spot, Qi Ling looked so mortified she did not know what to do with herself. Seeing her like that, Yuan Shu's heart softened at once.
"No, look... I'm not trying to pick on you. I'm just frustrated, that's all."
"You're not mad at me, are you, my lord?"
"Would a magnanimous man like me get angry at a subordinate he cares about? Anyway, where's Yang Hong gone off to?"
"I'm heeere~"
Speak of the devil — Yang Hong appeared at once. The moment she arrived, she held out a letter with a flourish.
"What's this?"
"A letter from Sun Jian. He says the road from Changsha is so long that his army's running short on provisions."
"Oh for fuck's sake, and what am I supposed to do about that? Am I supposed to ship grain all the way from Runan? Just forage locally like a normal person!"
"That's exactly what the letter is about. He wants to ask the Inspector of Jingzhou, Wang Rui, for help — and if Wang Rui refuses, is he allowed to kill him?"
"..."
When Yuan Shu said "forage locally," he meant shaking down the common folk for supplies. But Sun Jian was taking it a step further and proposing to murder a state official?
"Wait, isn't Wang Rui on our side? I thought the call to arms went out to him too?"
"That's why he's asking you, my lord. Someone has to take responsibility, right?"
In short, if anything went wrong later, Sun Jian could not handle it alone — so he wanted the whole thing framed as Yuan Shu's order. Yuan Shu deliberated for a moment, but for now there was no other way.
"Tell him to try talking him around as far as he can, and if that fails, kill him. I'll take full responsibility for the rest."
"I'll send the reply right away. And then when I get back, you and I... you know?"
"..."
Everyone else was off earning military merit, and here he was leisurely indulging in lord-and-retainer diversions. But there was one thing Yuan Shu did not know.
Sun Jian had assumed Yuan Shu would naturally grant permission. So the moment he sent the letter, he had already marched his troops into Wuling — and he killed Wang Rui before the letter even arrived.
"Ah... Lord Yuan, it has been some time..."
Meanwhile, upon receiving word from Wang Guang, Yu Bi had ridden straight to Yuan Shao's camp. Yuan Shao greeted her with a bright smile, delighted to see her again after so long.
"Haha! So we meet again after all. The promise we made at Mengjin has finally come to pass. Heaven itself refuses to let us part."
"Ah... if you say such things again..."
"Lord Yuan, am I invisible?"
Lu Zhi frowned at Yuan Shao for seeking out Yu Bi first and setting him aside. Yuan Shao laughed heartily as he welcomed Lu Zhi.
"How could I possibly ignore Master Lu? That said... who is this?"
A woman standing beside Yu Bi. Not quite her equal, but still a striking beauty, with a dignity that rivaled even Yuan Shao's own.
"This is Sima Lang, eldest of the Sima clan of Henei."
"Sima Lang, courtesy name Baida."
Sima Lang introduced herself with a courteous bow. Yuan Shao recited her background at once.
"Ah, so you are the one known as the foremost of the Eight Sima Talents. I have met Lord Sima several times at court."
"My father has often spoken of you, Lord Yuan. It is my honor to meet you at last."
"And your connection to Magistrate Yu is...?"
"Magistrate Yu has driven out bandits abroad and supported the scholar-gentry at home, until her renown reaches every corner of the county. And now that she has joined your great cause, Lord Yuan, we of the Sima clan could not simply stand by — so we have sent what modest supplies we can for her provisions."
In truth, Sima Lang should not have been here at all. Whatever else, her father Sima Fang was a sitting court official, and if this became known, they risked earning Dong Zhuo's enmity.
"A truly admirable deed. With Lord Sima striving for the Han at court, and you, Sima Baida, doing the same in Henei, the name of the Sima clan shall preserve its lofty honor for a thousand years."
"You flatter me."
That was as far as Sima Lang's role went. When Lu Zhi said he wished to know about the army's organization, Yuan Shao had Feng Ji show him around the camp.
"Magistrate Yu? Would you spare a moment to speak with me?"
"As you wish."
Then he could indulge a little selfishness from here on, couldn't he? Yuan Shao mounted up alongside Yu Bi and rode along the banks of the Yellow River.
"Do you remember what Dong Zhuo once said? That he hoped I would come into power someday — and he laughed right in my face, didn't he? But look at the forces filling Hulao Pass over there. Who would ever have imagined that Dong Zhuo would come to fear this Yuan Shao?"
"Indeed so. I hear you persuaded the Inspector of Jizhou and secured both roads and provisions in a single stroke."
"It was nothing. Everyone said persuading Han Fu was impossible. But then, nothing I have ever done has been easy. Taking the path everyone says cannot be taken — that is how I live."
"I-indeed so."
He'd always been a bit full of himself, but after his stint in Bohai, the self-regard seemed to have gotten worse. Especially compared to Do Yeop, who pulled off astonishing feats time and again and still always played the humble card.
A shake of the head...
What on earth is he thinking about? Lately Do Yeop had been sticking close to Sima Lang and stirring up all sorts of romantic gossip.
He had even used the title "young lady" for her — a form of address he had never once used for Yu Bi — and it had cut her deeply. When Yu Bi said nothing, Yuan Shao asked again.
"Magistrate Yu, there is something I wish to say."
"What is it, Lord Yuan?"
"Our forms of address feel rather stiff. From now on, don't call me that — just use my courtesy name."
"I-I could never do that. You hold the posts of Colonel Director of Retainers and Administrator of Bohai, while I am merely a county magistrate. And to address the de facto leader of this allied army so familiarly..."
However, before Yu Bi could finish, Yuan Shao gently took her hand. Yu Bi could only blink, at a loss for what to do.
"I only ask that you call me so when we two are alone. Just once, I wish to hear that name from your lips, Lady Yu."
"W-what did you just call me?"
"Is 'Lady Yu' so strange? I could use your courtesy name, but that feels rather cold. Please, grant me leave to call you so."
When it came to winning hearts, this man was a master. Do Yeop had never once used that address for her and then gone and spent it on Sima Lang of all people — while Yuan Shao came straight at her the moment they met.
"Come now. Call my name."
"Y-Yuan Benchu..."
"Not like that — more tenderly."
"Benchu..."
Yuan Shao smiled with deep satisfaction. He did not want his mind occupied with this so close to a great campaign, and yet — he truly could not take his eyes off this woman for even a moment.
"These bastards claim the King of Hongnong is dead when the boy is perfectly alive — aren't they the real traitors?"
Meanwhile, in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo was thoroughly enraged that these nobodies had turned their spears against him. And to pin the murder of Liu Bian on him when he had not even killed the boy?
"No need to worry, my lord. They're nothing but a ragtag mob. I hear Yuan Shu and Cao Cao haven't even set out yet. This Hua Xiong will wipe them all out."
Hua Xiong clasped fists in salute, radiating confidence. Li Ru sidled up beside Dong Zhuo and casually stroked his lower body.
"This is actually perfect. Why don't we use the chance to purge everyone who colluded with Yuan Shao? Who would dare say a word?"
"Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong, you mean? True, those bastards were the ones who told me to send Yuan Shao to Bohai. Go round them all up. That said, we do need to mount some kind of response..."
"Xu Rong has arrived."
At that moment, Dong Min approached to announce Xu Rong's arrival. When Dong Zhuo gestured, Li Ru withdrew to her place with open regret. Presently Xu Rong entered and clasped her fists in salute.
"This humble servant has just arrived."
"You've come a long way — well done. And you've grown even more beautiful, haven't you? Shouldn't we throw a celebration for that?"
Dong Zhuo stroked his beard as he admired Xu Rong's beauty after so long. Long, clean limbs and exotic features — a classic Liangzhou beauty.
Xu Rong did not so much as react. As if she had not heard a word, she went straight to her proposal.
"I have a strategy. Send Hu Muban to Henei as an envoy to urge their surrender."
"Does that make sense? If they were the type to surrender just because we asked, they never would have defied me in the first place."
"I know. They'll more likely cut off Hu Muban's head to build their own prestige."
"So you're telling me to send Hu Muban knowing he'll die? He's completely one of ours — why would I do that?"
"Because Hu Muban is Wang Guang's brother-in-law."
"If Yuan Shao kills Hu Muban, Wang Guang will turn on him?"
"He's such a rigid fool that far from betraying anyone, he'll blame you, Lord Dong, and move his troops rashly. There is no easier enemy than an army driven by vengeance. This Xu Rong will smash them in a single stroke."
"..."
So she had not spent the whole journey just sitting on a horse with an empty head. True to her place as Dong Zhuo's most trusted field commander, she had been wholly absorbed in how to break the enemy.
"We'll do as you say. Still, we have time to spare — why not rest for today? Come to my chambers later. We'll share a cup of wine and..."
"Then I shall go inspect the troops."
"..."
Xu Rong left those words and turned on her heel. Hua Xiong shot her a look for the rudeness, but Dong Zhuo himself said nothing.
The reason she was trusted was that she was the most capable. But that did not mean she was the most favored general.
Because she refused to share Dong Zhuo's bed. Every other woman was desperate for a place in his chambers — yet Xu Rong alone insisted on being valued for her ability alone.
Of course, if he wanted, he could take her by force. No — given Xu Rong's loyalty, the moment Dong Zhuo gave the order she would unfasten her collar even before the Emperor himself.
But he had never given such an order. Breaking an upright woman was a pleasure, but this one would not break.
She would simply spread her legs like a stunned frog and accept him. And that would be no fun at all. So he would wait.
Someday, when she suffered a defeat, the only thing that could comfort her crushed spirit would be this Dong Zhuo's large and splendid piece of meat.
"Li Ru."
"Did you have something to say?"
But bedding Xu Rong was a secondary concern. Dong Zhuo issued his order as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Kill Liu Bian. Those bastards seem to want it that way anyway."