Xu Shu, My First Companion
Meeting Yuanzhi like this was truly an honor. “Brother Yuanzhi, would you care to join me for a drink somewhere?”
“So suddenly?”
I had been heading for Langya, but with Xu Shu standing right in front of me I simply could not let the chance pass.
“I have heard of your righteous chivalry ever since I was in my hometown of Wu Commandery. I insist on treating you, so please, come with me.”
“What a strange fellow. Still, I won’t refuse a drinking table.”
And so I took Xu Shu with me into the bustling streets of Guangling. The moment we spotted an inn I led him straight inside.
“Welcome… Hic?!”
“B-blood!”
It looked like a quiet little place run by a husband and wife, with no other customers. Perfect.
Xu Shu entered first and sat down quietly. I took the seat across from him and was about to order when I noticed the innkeeper couple’s faces had gone rigid.
Ah. That’s right. I had been drenched in blood not long ago.
“Won’t you take our order?”
“Well… you see…”
I pointed at the bloodstains on my clothes.
“Is this what’s bothering you? We were sailing up from the south when we ran into a gang of Yangtze River pirates. We barely escaped with our lives.”
“You did?”
“Those Yangtze pirates are no joke. This gentleman here drove them off single-handedly.”
“I-is that so?”
I pulled a handful of wuzhu coins from my robe and set them on the table with a clink.
“After nearly dying at the hands of pirates, a man needs a drink. Bring the wine and dishes quickly.”
“Right away, sir. The table will be ready in a moment.”
Two armed men walking in at midday covered in blood would frighten anyone. After my hasty explanation the couple whispered between themselves, then retreated to the kitchen to prepare the food.
“I suppose I’ll need new clothes if I want to avoid any more misunderstandings like that?”
“Mm…”
I tried making small talk to ease the mood, but Xu Shu remained silent. Only when the dishes and wine finally arrived did he pour himself a cup and drain it in one go.
“I don’t know how you learned my name, but our connection ends here.”
“No. I truly wish to travel with you, Brother Yuanzhi.”
At that moment Xu Shu’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“To encounter the renowned hero Xu Yuanzhi here of all places… I want to follow you and learn everything I can.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Pardon?”
“Ever since you first boarded the boat you’ve been calling me a hero. I left my hometown precisely to abandon the notoriety that blade earned me.”
“Ah…”
“Yet you keep addressing me as a hero. Are you making fun of me? Answer truthfully.”
I listened and turned the words over in my mind. The historical records had indeed said that in his youth Xu Shu had lived as a wandering hero, leading a large band of followers.
In kinder terms he had been a knight-errant. In harsher terms, he had been the leader of a gang of swordsmen roaming a chaotic world—in other words, a gangster.
So I changed my approach.
“Then if you have set aside the path of chivalry, where are you headed now?”
“I have simply been wandering, hoping to understand the world. I am looking for a true master.”
“A master?”
“In my hometown of Yingchuan there once lived a famous scholar known as Master Shui Jing. I wanted to abandon my wild ways and study under him.”
Master Shui Jing—that meant Sima Hui. He had been a renowned scholar at the time, and many talented men had emerged from his tutelage. In the original history Xu Shu had been one of them. But the timing was off; Xu Shu had not yet met his teacher.
“Yet the master left Yingchuan and no one knows where he went. So I am traveling in search of another teacher.”
The pieces clicked perfectly into place. As far as I knew, Sima Hui had gone south to Jing Province, where he nurtured the talents of countless future generals. Xu Shu would only find him later when he reached Jing Province himself.
Having finished my calculations, I made my offer at once.
“If you have set aside the sword and dream of the path of scholarship, I can help you.”
“What?”
“My name is Cao Xiu, courtesy name Wenlie. I belong to the Cao clan of Qiao County in Pei State. The road I travel now leads to Langya, where I intend to visit my grand-uncle, the former Grand Tutor Cao Song.”
“And?”
“Travel with me. I will introduce you to Grand-uncle. He knows many celebrated scholars, and since he is heading for Yan Province, why not walk the path of learning there?”
“Hmm…”
Future Xu Shu might have been harder to persuade, but the Xu Shu of this era was still like a sharp blade—yet he was also a man who could be reasoned with. When I spoke of my clan and invoked the name of the former Grand Tutor Cao Song while offering to help him abandon the warrior’s path for scholarship, it was only natural that he would waver.
“Would you pour me a cup?”
I held out an empty cup. Without a word Xu Shu filled it.
“So where is the old gentleman now?”
Perfect!
“He is in Langya, Xu Province. Five days’ journey from here.”
“Will you come with me?”
Xu Shu drained his wine in several deep gulps, then spoke.
“First I’ll need new clothes. We leave tomorrow.”
“Excellent!”
Right there I had gained an incredible companion in Xu Shu. With him at my side, the odds of protecting Cao Song’s household in Langya had risen sharply.
The next day we put on fresh clothes, mounted our horses, and left Guangling for Langya. Having acquired such a formidable figure as Xu Shu would be a tremendous help both in guarding Cao Song and when I eventually met Cao Cao.
Yet I was still uneasy. Hundreds of bandits were said to be targeting Cao Song’s party. Two men alone could not possibly hold them off.
As we drew near Langya I spent that night explaining the situation to Xu Shu in broad terms.
“So, Wenlie, you’re saying you need my strength to escort a wealthy elder and his household?”
“That is part of it. But I am also sincere when I say I will help you walk the path of scholarship once we reach Yan Province.”
“Mm. In the end, everything depends on whether that Lord Cao, the former Grand Tutor, reaches Yan Province safely, does it not?”
“Exactly.”
Xu Shu sat turning a twig in the campfire. After a moment something seemed to occur to him.
“Before we reach Langya there is a county called Dongcheng. A powerful local clan lives there, and one of them is a friend of mine.”
“Oh?”
“He refused to serve the Inspector of Xu Province and instead gathered many renowned warriors in his home district. Would you like to meet him?”
“Of course. If he is such a hero I would very much like to meet him.”
Before Cao Cao’s infamous massacre, Xu Province had been a rich land full of notable families who had put down roots. Xu Shu had mentioned knowing a righteous man in the area, and my expectations rose even higher.
If Xu Shu spoke so highly of him, the man had to be extraordinary.
After camping for the night we rode on and reached Dongcheng County in Xu Province the following day. Once again I was stunned.
In a small county there stood an enormous mansion larger than the local government office, belonging to a fabulously wealthy man. His name was Lu Su, courtesy name Zijing—the very Lu Su who would later become the famous Grand Commander of Eastern Wu.
“Lord Yuanzhi, I thought you had set off on a long journey. I never expected to see you again so soon.”
Lu Su welcomed the two unexpected guests without the slightest discomfort, ushering us inside and even serving tea.
My first impression of Lu Su was that of a strikingly handsome man with strong, bold features. Though he was only in his early twenties—younger than Xu Shu or me—he had deliberately grown a long beard, perhaps to appear more dignified. It stood out.
Xu Shu and Lu Su both? If I could bring these two men to Cao Cao it would be incredible.
I began to explain the situation.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Cao Xiu, courtesy name Wenlie. I am in urgent need of loyal and skilled soldiers, which is why I have come.”
“I do have a number of strong young men from the village, but they are not kept for war… Hmm.”
Despite his words, Lu Su took a sip of tea and asked quietly.
“I will lend up to ten of my men to anyone without asking questions.”
“Ten?”
He had offered ten private soldiers. Xu Shu quietly lifted his teacup and looked at Lu Su. The latter gave a small chuckle and spread his fingers.
“But since it is Yuanzhi who asks, I will add ten more. All of them men who can ride.”
“Truly?”
“There are all kinds in this world. Some come to avenge their families, others burn with chivalry and want to exterminate bandit gangs, still others gather strength to make a name for themselves. Every one of them has borrowed men from me, yet I never ask their reasons. Whether they want wealth, grain, or warriors, I have no particular desire to know.”
Lu Su was remarkably straightforward.
Without asking a single question he had readily lent twenty mounted soldiers skilled with both sword and spear.
“Cao Wenlie, was it? Since you came with Yuanzhi I can see the two of you share a common spirit. Rest here as long as you like, take my men, finish your task, and simply send them back afterward.”
“I am deeply grateful, Lord Zijing!”
I had originally set out alone, thinking only of rescuing Cao Song first. Yet after crossing the Yangtze I had gained Xu Shu, the knight-errant powerful enough to scatter an entire pirate fleet single-handedly.
And through Xu Shu I had met Lu Su, who had now lent me twenty of his own cavalry.
With this force I could definitely protect Cao Song’s household.
“I have one more thing to say in gratitude. I belong to the Cao clan of Qiao County in Pei State. We are heading for Yan Province, where the Inspector, Lord Cao, eagerly seeks talented men.”
At that moment Lu Su smiled and raised a hand.
“I did not hear those words.”
“Lord Zijing, that man will one day become a hero of the world. If you met him personally—”
“That will be enough. If I become displeased, the twenty men I just offered may disappear.”
At the same time Xu Shu gave me a sharp nudge in the ribs with his scabbard.
“I am not a man who abandons his friends. My future is already promised; I am simply waiting for the right time.”
That friend could only be Zhou Yu.
If there had been more time I would have stayed and tried to persuade even Lu Su to come with us. But time was short. In the end I chose to rescue Cao Song’s household and earn Cao Cao’s trust instead.
Thanks to the help of Xu Shu and Lu Su, I arrived in Langya with twenty men.
And the timing was perfect. We had left Langya not long before, and after riding hard for half a day we caught up with Cao Song’s party.
Everyone was safe. The hundred or more carts laden with gold, silver, and treasures were all intact.