Return to Xu Province
It had been two years…
I had finally returned to the land of Xu Province.
The first time I set foot here, I left Wu Commandery carrying a dream. I met the wandering swordsman Xu Shu and the powerful local clan leader Lu Su, and with their help I rescued my entire family—including Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, who had been staying in the region.
After barely escaping to Yan Province, I became a general in Cao Cao’s army, struck Xu Province once, and had no reason to return since.
Now I was back.
This was the same land that Cao Cao’s forces had invaded, where Xiahou Yuan had swept everything clean and I had taken away every last remaining civilian.
Only traces of that campaign remained; the region had been left abandoned for a long time.
If not for me, Cao Song and the entire Cao clan would have been slaughtered to the last man, and in his rage Cao Cao would have buried every soul in Xu Province alive.
From now on, I would stand at Cao Cao’s side and prevent any more meaningless massacres.
“Shall we go, then? Into the tiger’s den.”
I gripped the reins and spurred my horse hard toward Xiapi, where Lu Bu waited.
The foal of the Shadowless stallion that Cao Cao had given me was truly a fine steed. By the time I reached Xiapi and announced myself as an imperial envoy, the gates opened without trouble.
Surprisingly, the atmosphere inside Xiapi was calm, and the people’s faces overflowed with prosperity. I had expected brutal exploitation under Lu Bu’s rule, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“The soldiers keeping order are disciplined, and there are no signs of banditry.”
Was this the lingering result of Liu Bei’s governance before Lu Bu arrived, or had Lu Bu’s army turned out to be unexpectedly lenient toward the common people?
Either way, when I reached the provincial office, someone was already waiting to greet me.
“Wenlie. It has been a long time.”
“It has indeed been a long time, Wenlie. And you as well, Master Chen Gong.”
The man who welcomed me was Chen Gong.
The same Chen Gong who had vanished during the “Banquet of Blood” in Puyang had, as history recorded, come to Xu Province and entered Lu Bu’s service.
“Is serving under Lu Bu in place of my uncle tolerable?”
“At least I have a position where everyone shows respect. That includes all the Yan Province clans who came with me. No one dies under suspicious circumstances anymore.”
In the end, Chen Gong had remained a man of the gentry, centered on the Xu Province clans. Only I knew what his future held.
“After Liu Bei fled to Xuchang, I never imagined the court would send you as its envoy. My lord was quite intrigued when he heard the news.”
“I, too, am glad to see Lu Fengxian again.”
And so I entered the Xu Province administrative hall and came face to face with Lu Bu once more.
Perhaps because I had seen Yuan Shao in Ji Province, the Xu Province hall felt surprisingly modest. Instead of a lavish throne, everyone sat on cushions as they received me.
When I looked around, the civil and military officials stared at me, but there was less killing intent than I expected.
“I, Cao Xiu, Commandant of Cavalry, greet you on behalf of His Imperial Majesty.”
“I never thought the one sent as the Son of Heaven’s envoy would be you. It really has been a while, old friend.”
Lu Bu was still Lu Bu.
He rose from his seat at once and approached with that signature arrogant swagger, staring straight through me. He looked ready to draw his weapon and strike me down at the slightest provocation.
But I refused to yield even an inch.
“I carry His Majesty’s decree. Show the proper respect.”
“Ah, my mistake. Is this good enough?”
At the mention of the imperial decree, Lu Bu dropped to one knee and looked up at me.
As with Yuan Shao, no one truly prostrated themselves with sincere reverence simply because an “imperial decree” was mentioned. Lu Bu’s posture was insolent; his hand even fidgeted inside his robe where a gleaming treasured sword waited. The gesture made it clear he could spring up and slit my throat in an instant.
“In the second year of Jian’an, by the will of the Emperor: Xu Province was originally the territory of Inspector Tao Qian, appointed by the late emperor. After Tao Qian’s death, Liu Bei of You Province and Lu Bu of Bing Province fought over his seal. Nevertheless, I hereby grant the position of Governor of Xu Province to Lu Bu, who now holds the land, and permit Tao Shang, son of Tao Qian, to inherit his father’s title of Marquis of Luyang.”
Lu Bu had been occupying Xu Province using Tao Qian’s son as a figurehead. By granting the governorship directly to Lu Bu instead, the court stripped the puppet of real power while only recognizing the son’s hereditary title.
As I delivered the words, I recalled the earlier counsel from Xun You and Guo Jia.
‘Though Lu Bu used Tao Shang as a shield, if you give the man an official title he’ll grow drunk on his own authority and tyrannize the Xu Province gentry.’
‘The resentment will build until they realize the warlord they themselves elevated is the one strangling them. That is how we will split Xu Province from within.’
Both Xun You and Guo Jia had said the same thing. And so Lu Bu was now formally installed as Governor of Xu Province by imperial decree.
“This Lu Bu, Governor of Xu and General Who Pacifies the Waves, is overwhelmed with gratitude for His Majesty’s boundless grace! Be sure to convey that.”
Lu Bu spoke with open disrespect as he rose to his feet.
“I am not finished.”
“I already know the rest. Now that I sit as proper Governor, I am to pay taxes on time and remain loyal to the court. Isn’t that it?”
His already massive shoulders seemed even broader now that they carried the weight of an official title. Lu Bu’s arrogance had shot straight into the heavens.
“From the next season onward, I shall send taxes to the court. Any more messages? Or shall we skip the words and move on to this?”
Lu Bu finally drew the treasured sword from his robe and waved it about.
“Governor, no matter what, I am an envoy of His Imperial Majesty. Excessive rudeness may invite the court’s wrath.”
“Ah, Chen Gong. It’s only a joke. A joke.”
If Yuan Shao was a fox wearing a bear’s skin, then Lu Bu was a greedy, colossal wild boar that charged and trampled anything he saw.
“There is one more matter.”
“What, there’s more? Speak quickly. I’m listening right here.”
“In addition to Liu Xuande, who temporarily held the post of Governor, the court orders that all detained family members of those who have reached Xuchang be released and sent back.”
“Oh, that long-eared fellow and the bearded one’s families? Let me think. Chen Gong.”
“Yes, Governor.”
“That round-faced woman with the large hips and the fair-skinned beauty with the Mi surname—they are well, yes?”
“Governor, even so, to speak of Liu Xuande’s wife in such a manner…”
“Hahaha! I’m only speaking. It’s not as if I’ve done anything untoward. In any case, release those two, the daughter, the bearded one’s young son, and the giant’s two daughters. All of them.”
“Understood, Governor. They will be sent with the envoy when he departs.”
Crude yet refreshingly straightforward—that was Lu Bu.
Thanks to my visit, I was able to secure the release of all the family members of Liu, Guan, and Zhang who had been held under Lu Bu.
“Well then, rest well before you leave.”
“My thanks.”
“Next time we meet on the battlefield, I’ll give you three bouts.”
After listening to Lu Bu’s continued provocations, I answered in kind.
“I hope by then Lord Lu Fengxian’s hair has grown longer. Your topknot still looks rather sloppy.”
“Hah—cutting off a few strands of my hair but not my head, and yet that mouth of yours…”
He looked ready to say more, but Chen Gong took my arm and led me out.
“There is nothing to gain by provoking the Governor. In any case, it seems your true purpose from the beginning was to retrieve Liu Xuande’s family.”
“Well, we will find out the rest when we meet on the battlefield.”
“Xu Province will not fall easily, and the Governor is not a man who is easily defeated.”
Following Chen Gong’s guidance, I toured the provincial offices.
“As you saw on your way here, I hope you will convey this to the court: Xu Province is prosperous and content under General Lu.”
That was probably thanks to the previous governors…
Since Chen Gong claimed things were better under Lu Bu, there was little I could say.
But at that moment—
“Hey!”
“Hm?”
“You! It’s you—Cao Xiu!”
Suddenly, a girl carrying a sword came running toward me from afar.
She had raven hair and striking beauty. She looked somehow familiar.
Like someone I had seen once on a battlefield… Ah.
“We meet again! This time for sure!”
“Young miss, stop at once!”
The girl charging with a blade at her side was none other than Lu Bu’s daughter.
Like father, like daughter—she rushed in without warning and drew her sword right in front of me.
“Lu Ming, what are you doing? Stop this instant!”
A beautiful woman chased after her, followed by a large, imposing general who had rushed over at the commotion.
But Lu Bu’s daughter paid them no mind and tried to draw her blade. The moment my own hand moved to my sword—
Clack.
“!?”
The massive general moved with astonishing speed. He seized the hilt of the girl’s sword before she could draw it, locking it in place, and spoke in a heavy voice.
“Young miss, what disrespect is this toward an official sent by His Majesty?”
“Uncle Gao Shun! But this bastard is an enemy! I saw him on the battlefield—”
“!!!”
At that instant, the general called Gao Shun fixed her with a terrifying glare, silencing her at once.
He then approached me quietly, clasped his hands, and bowed his head.
“The lord’s daughter has committed a grave rudeness. I apologize on her behalf.”
“Well, she didn’t actually draw the blade. Since she only came running, I’ll let it pass.”
“Please forget this disturbance. I ask this with all sincerity.”
Gao Shun was a renowned, loyal, and valiant general, yet he served the wrong lord and was forced to clean up such messes.
Behind him, Lu Bu’s daughter continued to glare at me. Still, she was a beautiful young woman. Lu Bu himself was a wild, thick-featured handsome man; his daughter had sharp eyes, large pupils, snow-white skin, and a figure with pleasing curves.
“Lu Ming, why have you done this again? Did I not warn you that if you carry a sword in the offices one more time, the master would punish you severely?”
“Stepmother, you’re so noisy!”
The woman she called “stepmother” must be Lu Bu’s concubine, Diaochan.
One of the Four Great Beauties indeed—her beauty was breathtaking. Standing beside Lu Bu’s daughter, they looked more like an older sister and younger sister despite the age difference.
In any case, the incident passed without further trouble.
Whether it was Lu Bu or his daughter, I would encounter them again someday. The final outcome would be mine to decide.
“I have committed a truly grave offense. I apologize for what just happened.”
“Save your apology for when the girl actually draws her sword. Though I suppose both father and daughter share the same love for blades. It runs in the family.”
“Mm…”
I had seen quite a few interesting sights during my visit to Xu Province.
And I made certain to commit Lu Bu’s daughter firmly to memory.
After all, Lu Bu did not have many years left. After that… I would make sure to settle everything.