The Wife of the Duke of Pei (1)
The morning air on Mount Mangtan was sweltering. Sunlight poured through the deep green trees, licking stickily across Liu Bang’s sweat-drenched face.
“Brother!”
The urgent voice of No Gwan rang out.
“What is it?”
Liu Bang answered while noisily chewing on a strip of dried pig tendon he had been using to pass the time. He lay sprawled on a rock without changing his posture, merely tilting his head to look at the newcomer. No Gwan came running up, panting, and thrust a bamboo slip into his hand.
“Urgent news, sir!”
“Urgent news… Don’t tell me it’s from Peixian again?”
Only then did Liu Bang’s expression grow slightly serious. The jaw that had been working on the tendon stopped moving. No Gwan nodded vigorously while catching his breath.
“Yes. And it’s a letter from your sister-in-law.”
“From Chiya?”
Only then did Liu Bang spit out the tendon with a loud ptoo.
“Hand it over.”
He sat up at once and reached out. No Gwan pulled the bamboo slip from his robe and passed it to him. A faint scent of sandalwood clung to the entire slip. Liu Bang swallowed once, then untied the string.
“……!”
The letter contained no long message. Only two characters.
時至矣
The time has come.
And beneath them, written in small, shy strokes that were utterly unlike her usual style:
願早得見君
I wish to see my husband as soon as possible.
Had it been any other day, Liu Bang would have danced with joy at Chiya’s coy “I miss you.” But the destructive power of the words The time has come above them was simply too great.
For a moment his breath stopped. Then, with a slightly trembling hand, he set the bamboo slip down.
“……Chiya says she wants to see me.”
“Ah… does she… now?”
“Yeah. Along with the message that the time has come.”
“……! So that’s how it is.”
Only then did No Gwan swallow hard. Liu Bang bit his lower lip for a moment, lost in thought.
It’s happening much faster than I expected.
It had not even been a full fifteen days since Chiya had warned him that a storm was coming and told him to prepare. Liu Bang tapped the surface of the rock a few times, then looked up at No Gwan with a far more serious expression, as if he had reached a decision.
“Gather everyone.”
There was no room for hesitation. In the colossal plan Chiya had described that day, the existence known as Liu Ji was indispensable.
“Even the women and children?”
“Yes. Down to the suckling infants. Everything that will happen from now on must be known by every single person gathered here.”
The number of villagers had already swelled to one hundred and thirty-six. They were all Liu Bang’s new family, subordinates who had chosen to remain here because they believed in him. He could not hide something this important from them.
“I’ll get ready and come out soon. Gwan, you go right now and call the others together.”
“Understood, Brother.”
No Gwan bowed his head and dashed off. The moment he was out of sight, Liu Bang let out a long, deep sigh.
…All right. Let’s do this.
His hesitation was brief. He wiped a hand down his face and stood up. When he emerged from the hut again after about an hour, an eerie, heroic aura as if he were a man destined to discuss the fate of the world clung to him.
“Looks like everyone’s here.”
At the center of the mountain stronghold, an enormous bonfire was surrounded by a staggering number of people. Men and women, elders and children alike had gathered. One hundred and thirty-six pairs of eyes were all fixed on Liu Bang.
“Listen well.”
Liu Bang decided to get straight to the point. He climbed onto the large wooden platform No Gwan had prepared in advance and calmly surveyed them all.
“Just now, my wife sent me a letter.”
He paused for a moment, then continued.
“She says the might of the Qin Dynasty is crumbling.”
The crowd immediately began to murmur. Though reactions varied, most wore expressions of disbelief.
Of course they would. I can hardly believe it myself.
Liu Bang continued calmly.
“Rebellions are breaking out one after another across the land. The rage they’ve been holding back all this time has finally exploded.”
In truth, even Liu Bang did not know the exact details of how the situation was unfolding. Perhaps fearing information leaks, Chiya had omitted any painfully detailed explanations. Still, judging from the conversation they had shared that day and the letters that had arrived since, it seemed almost certain that the “storm” she spoke of referred to “the people’s rebellion.”
He spoke plainly.
“Therefore, I intend to return to Peixian.”
At the single word return, the murmuring stopped as if cut by a knife. People looked at the faces of their comrades standing beside them and began to ponder deeply.
And then, at last—
“Yes! We’ll prepare at once!”
A vigorous voice shattered the silence. As if a dam had burst, voices rose one after another.
“Me too!”
“I’ll be ready in no time!”
“Let’s tear down that rotten Qin Dynasty!”
On their faces were refreshingly bright smiles—so bright that even Liu Bang was slightly taken aback.
These impatient fools.
A stinging warmth rose in his chest. That was precisely why he had to say the next words. Managing his expression, Liu Bang paused briefly, then raised a hand to quiet the crowd.
“However.”
Every eye turned toward him at that single word.
“Unfortunately, I have no intention of dragging you all along.”
“……What?”
“……Big Brother?”
This time a heavy silence blanketed the camp. Liu Bang continued in a low voice.
“The road ahead will be brutal. Far more so than when you wandered through Mount Mangtang last winter searching for me.”
His gaze lingered on a woman carrying a child on her back, then on an old man with a limp.
“Moreover, once we return, the real fighting will begin. Driving out the county magistrate won’t be the end of it. We will become fugitives hunted by Qin’s regular army. We will evolve from mountain hermits into genuine, full-fledged rebels. Do you understand?”
“……”
Was it fear, or worry? Every face hardened like stone.
Good. That’s enough.
Liu Bang gave a small smile and went on.
“You are all comrades who have shared joys and sorrows with me on this mountain. You are my friends and my family. And I… as the head of this household, do not wish to let my own greed cause your deaths.”
“……Brother.”
No Gwan’s voice trembled. But Liu Bang did not stop.
“Therefore, we will disband here. Return to your hometowns and live quietly. When the world calms down a little, and if I am still alive, I will come for you then.”
That was the end. Liu Bang closed his eyes without hesitation. Silence followed. A very long silence in which even the sound of the wind could not be heard.
A moment later, when he opened his eyes again and turned to leave, Hae Yeon, who stood at the very front, finally spoke.
“I will follow you.”
The words that burst out were startlingly simple.
“What?”
Liu Bang frowned.
“I said I will follow you. No matter where you go, Brother, we will follow you to the end.”
Hae Yeon took a step forward. There was no wavering in his eyes.
And then—
“Me too!”
“We will go with you even to the depths of hell!”
“Didn’t I swear lifelong loyalty to you?!”
As if they had been waiting for the signal, the voices of men and women poured forth one after another.
Have these bastards actually lost their minds…?
To be honest, a part of Liu Bang had wanted to take them all back to Peixian. In this turbulent age, the one thing more important than one’s own life was personal connections—that had always been his creed. But the danger of being a simple hermit and the danger of being a rebel were on completely different levels.
Liu Bang clenched his fist and roared.
“Have you all gone collectively insane? This is treason! If we’re caught, it’s the waist-cutting punishment! Sliced clean in half from the waist down—don’t you know that?”
“Even so, it’s less painful than being eaten alive by a tiger, isn’t it!”
“That’s right! I already threw my life away the moment I set foot on Mount Mangtan without knowing anything!”
Not a single voice retreated. Even the children were now raising their hands and spouting nonsense about staking their lives.
These idiots…
The situation was unfolding in a way completely contrary to Liu Bang’s expectations. Normally he should have roared at them here. Or at the very least, he should have compromised and persuaded them to wait here for his return while he was gone. But—
They all… want me.
Liu Bang’s true nature. The emotion called ambition that had surged in him the day he cut the rope. Something deep in his heart refused to allow it. Everyone was saying they would follow him no matter what awaited. Everyone was begging him not to abandon them, saying they would gladly die for him.
If that was the case—
“……You truly are beyond saving.”
Then it was a leader’s duty to grant that wish. Liu Bang let out a sigh mixed with a helpless laugh and raised his hand.
“Listen!”
His voice rang powerfully through the mountain stronghold. Everyone instantly fell silent, overwhelmed. Liu Bang swept his gaze over them once, then continued.
“I am Liu Ji. I was originally the head of the neighborhood watch in Peixian.”
Except for the men who had left Peixian with him, the fugitives gathered here did not know Liu Ji’s true face. To their eyes, Liu Ji had always been a calm, perfect, and wealthy bandit leader. But since they had promised to look toward the future together, they all needed to know the real Liu Ji.
He spoke calmly.
“What I like is alcohol, gambling, and beautiful women. I can read and write, but I know nothing of the words of the sages. I practiced the sword for half a year before quitting because it was too hard. I’ve never once helped with farm work, let alone housework, and I have never bought a single gift for my beloved wife with my own money.”
At that point, an inexplicable chuckle escaped even him. Yet Liu Bang’s voice did not stop.
“When I lived in Peixian, everyone pointed fingers at me. In our village, the word ‘Liu Ji’ was used more often than the word ‘loafer.’ My own name had become a curse word.”
Scattered giggles broke out here and there. Liu Bang smiled faintly as well. But his expression quickly sharpened again. He stared straight ahead and continued.
“However, starting today, I will change.”
His voice grew heavier.
“You will change too. From now on, we are no longer fugitives hiding on Mount Mangtan. From now on, we are an army.”
Liu Ji’s army. A look of solemn determination settled on the people’s faces.
“The Qin Dynasty calls us criminals. Traitors. But who are the real criminals?”
Liu Bang’s voice rose.
“We only wanted to live! We only wanted to feed our starving families! Yet this country strangled us with absurd laws. As a result, we chose to run away rather than die like dogs.”
Liu Bang thrust a clenched fist toward the sky.
“Where exactly is the crime in that? Is wanting to live a sin?”
At that question, the people began to shout in agreement.
“That’s right!”
“We are not criminals!”
“It’s the Qin bastards who are evil!”
Riding the wave of their anger, Liu Bang continued.
“The Qin Dynasty has always demanded that we bow. Under the pretext of ruling the world, they forced everyone to walk like beasts. And what have they given us in return? Whips? Forced labor?”
He pounded his own chest.
“We have arms! We have legs, we have wills, and we have comrades beside us! Must people like us spend our entire lives staring at the ground with our heads bowed?”
“No!”
“Never!”
“Just because we were born the children of farmers, the children of butchers, the children of merchants—must we live our whole lives exploited at the feet of those so-called ‘heroes’?”
“No!”
“That’s right! No! The emperor in Xianyang has two eyes, and so do I! Our arms and legs are the same, and the thing between our legs… well, the size might differ, but I’m sure it’s hanging there just the same!”
Laughter erupted naturally. The atmosphere lightened considerably. Liu Bang grinned and went on.
“Therefore, from now on, we will live our own lives.”
He paused for a moment, then continued.
“Starting now, we will all return to Peixian together.”
He pointed in the direction of Peixian.
“In Peixian, the smartest and most fearsome woman in the world—my wife—is waiting with every preparation complete. She is ready to drive out the county magistrate and welcome us.”
Liu Bang nodded with absolute certainty.
“With her help, we will seize Peixian. Once we have Peixian, we will take even wider lands. We will gather as many comrades as possible beneath our banner.”
Liu Bang looked up at the sky.
“And if we keep going… someday.”
The blue sky. White clouds. He glared for a moment at the sun floating above his head, then lowered his gaze to look at his people once more.
“Someday, we may even devour the world.”
The world. A word none of those gathered here had ever dared to imagine. Yet no one laughed at him. In their eyes now unfolded a future they had drawn together—a future that had changed.
“I know. I know this sounds insane. To be honest, even I don’t have more confidence than the length of a pig’s tail.”
Liu Bang spoke honestly.
“We might die along the way. We might fail. I might drag all of you down to hell with me.”
A terrifyingly realistic statement. Yet an eerie confidence rose in Liu Bang’s expression.
“But this one thing I can promise.”
His gaze swept over them all once more. From Hae Yeon to No Gwan, and even the nameless child.
“No matter what happens, I will not abandon you.”
His leg took one step forward.
“If we win, I will share everything I gain with all of you.”
His voice grew even louder.
“If we lose, I will let you escape first.”
His expression filled with even stronger conviction.
“And I will never let anyone kneel before the name of a so-called greater cause.”
Liu Bang nodded and concluded.
“That is all I can offer you.”
He paused once more, then spoke in a serious tone.
“So, will you continue to walk with someone like me?”
Liu Bang did not decide for them. He simply waited. And every single person gathered there answered with fierce voices, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“Brother Liu! Brother Liu!”
“We will follow you, Brother!”
Liu Bang felt his chest swell as he gazed for a moment at the frenzied crucible. His eyes grew a little hot, but instead of tears he simply flashed his usual smile and raised his voice one last time.
“Good. Then let’s all go seize the world.”
And on the lips of the man who turned away, there was no longer any trace of tension.