Empty Food Box (2)
Jian Yong.
A fellow townsman of Liu Bei from Zhuo Prefecture in You Province, he had distinguished himself as a key aide to Liu Bei's forces since the days of the Volunteer Army. He was, in effect, the longest-serving retainer in Liu Bei's camp—a man who had campaigned alongside her since the penniless early days.
A venerable minister of Shu.
A loyal and righteous man who served to the bitter end on loyalty alone.
Though often lumped together under the dismissive label "Jian-Sun-Mi Trio"—a term for officers of supposedly middling ability—Jian Yong had placed his trust solely in his loyalty to Liu Bei, his lord and fellow townsman, and endured countless hardships for half a lifetime without ever faltering. He unquestionably deserved high regard.
"So he's a messenger to convey her true intent—and a hostage at the same time..."
I looked at the man who'd taken a kick from Sun Ce and had blood streaming from both nostrils.
The man standing before me, who had infiltrated the camp disguised as a deserter from Liu Bei's forces, was none other than Jian Yong. I studied him carefully and tried to read Liu Bei's innermost thoughts.
"You dare insult the Crown Prince with an empty food box?! After all the favor and kindness His Highness has shown her, that ungrateful bitch ran off to that bastard Gongsun Zan! How can we trust the true intentions of an ungrateful bitch like that?! You're obviously an assassin sent to harm His Highness!!"
"If I were an assassin, I would have hidden a weapon inside the food box! Besides, what kind of assassin walks in openly through the front gate in broad daylight?! How utterly ignorant!"
"Ig-ignorant?! A deserter dares talk back to me?!" "Aaaagh! Please spare me, Your Highness!"
The red-haired girl raised the club. Her intent was clear: she would not stop the beating until his flesh turned tender.
An argument only holds when common sense and logic apply.
Jian Yong, seeing the club caked with dried blood, screamed and begged for help.
"The moment I saw the empty food box, I understood Liu Bei's intentions."
"You believe in Xuande's true intent and my innocence?!"
"I'm still half-skeptical. So don't get too comfortable. If I see anything suspicious, I'll have you half-crippled on the spot."
"Guh!"
I'd cripple him.
I told Sun Ce to stand by with the club.
"A food box that is full of contents cannot hold anything new. Isn't that right?"
"W-well, yes..."
"What does one put into an empty food box? I think I have a vague idea why she sent me only an empty one."
"..."
Xu Province.
Xu Province was what Liu Bei was after.
The descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan meant to fill that empty food box with the Five Prefectures of Xu Province.
She had a stratagem to take Xu Province intact while minimizing bloodshed. The reason she had sent an empty food box through Jian Yong was to prove her true intent while also requesting that I coordinate from outside to ensure the success of her scheme to swallow up Xu Province.
"If Liu Bei assassinates Tao Qian and brings his head, Tao Qian's army would collapse at once. Wouldn't she exploit the chaos of battle to take Tao Qian's head?"
No.
That couldn't be right.
Assassinating Tao Qian would be nothing more than mutual destruction—a crude, self-defeating tactic.
That cunning and shrewd Cadet Imperial Clan Member would never make Tao Qian into a holy martyr. If she killed Tao Qian in a cowardly surprise attack, every officer, soldier, and commoner in Xu Province would be outraged by the martyr's death and would resist to the death until the very end.
"Cao Cao, who devastated Xu Province with the Xu Province Massacre, never won the hearts of its people, even until the moment she closed her eyes. If Liu Bei murders the warlord who represents Xu Province in a craven ambush, she'll simply retrace the footsteps of Cao Cao's army and its massacre."
It wasn't merely about Xu Province's abundant resources and population.
Mi Zhu. Sun Qian.
She had to win the loyalty of the Scholar-Officials and Local Gentry who followed Tao Qian.
She wanted complete occupation.
Wondering what insidious scheme Liu Bei's forces would use to undermine Tao Qian's army from within, I resolved to find a way to coordinate with her.
"Jian Yong, was it? So, do you plan to return to Liu Bei's forces now?"
"I would like to, but... Tao Qian's army has tightened security so much that it's impossible to cross back through again."
For now, I decided to keep Jian Yong as a guest.
After that,
I summoned Sun Jian, who was organizing the troops.
"Preparations to engage Tao Qian's army at Pengcheng are complete."
"No. We'll turn our horses and strike Donghai and Guangling instead."
According to the original plan, we were to fight a pitched battle against Tao Qian's forces massed at Pengcheng. But having learned that Liu Bei's forces would coordinate from within, I decided to modify our tactics.
Pengcheng Kingdom would be set aside for now.
We would divide our forces and attack Donghai Kingdom and Guangling Prefecture.
And,
"There was someone who offered to strike from the rear if we pinned down Xu Province's main army, wasn't there..."
"A bandit leader named Que Xuan. He commands tens of thousands of bandits in Xiapi Kingdom."
Que Xuan was the leader of the bandit horde in Xiapi Kingdom—a madman who claimed the title of Son of Heaven and conducted himself like an emperor.
He was nothing more than a Street Ruffian who had risen in the chaos of the age.
The arrogance of holing up in some minor county and styling himself emperor said everything about him.
"Summon Que Xuan. I'll accept his proposal."
"But...! Que Xuan is nothing but a Street Ruffian who doesn't know his place! Our army can crush Tao Qian's forces without help from street scum!"
I would make use of a bandit chief who falsely claimed to be emperor.
It was only natural that Sun Jian objected.
"Don't worry. You don't think I'd entrust anything important to Street Ruffians, do you? The moment they start running wild like unleashed mongrels, Liu Bei's forces will suppress them."
"Liu Bei's forces... you say?"
Que Xuan's band was nothing but expendable fodder to push Liu Bei's forces to the forefront. And fodder to burnish Liu Bei's reputation among the people of Xu Province.
The bandit chief Que Xuan allied himself with Liu Chong's army and mobilized his forces.
Liu Bei would surely grasp my intent the moment she heard the news and sally forth from Pengcheng.
* * *
As a rule, the older a person gets, the deeper the wrinkles—and the suspicion.
Tao Qian, now approaching sixty, was exactly that sort.
Though outwardly welcoming, Tao Qian regarded Liu Bei's forces—who had served under Liu Seong-hwi during the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition—with deep suspicion. That was why he had assigned his personal guard troops under Cao Bao, along with Danyang Troops, to Liu Bei's forces: to monitor her every move.
"Nothing unusual. She's been stationed on the outskirts of Pengcheng, supervising her officers and soldiers and inspecting weapons. And over the past few days, she's frequently met with the Local Gentry of Xu Province, including Sun Qian and Mi Zhu."
"Hmm..."
No sign of anything amiss had been detected.
Tao Qian let out a heavy groan.
"She's just a fickle woman who likes to hop from one master to the next. She served Cao Cao, then assisted Liu Seong-hwi... And now hasn't she latched onto Gongsun Zan? I hardly think she's worth your concern, Elder."
"Did I ask for your opinion? A petty officer who fled Dongcheng County in a rout, scared out of his wits—you certainly have a lot to say."
His voice was edged with anger.
Cao Bao had to bow his head and apologize.
"You damned old fool...! About to turn sixty and he's still got that foul temper! When is he ever going to go senile?"
To demonstrate his continued vigor, Tao Qian had received his commanders clad in heavy armor and fully armed. He had even boasted that he would personally confront Liu Seong-hwi, the invader of Xu Province.
He was old, but not yet decrepit.
He would never yield to invaders.
The rumor that he was bedridden with a grave illness was nothing but foolish gossip. The Hegemon of Xu Province brimmed with seething vitality, as if he might lead a great army onto the battlefield at any moment.
"Elder!"
They were discussing tactics to subjugate Liu Chong's army when
a messenger arrived.
A change had been detected in the movements of Liu Chong's army, which had been advancing north toward Pengcheng.
"Liu Chong's army has changed direction! Just before reaching Pengcheng Kingdom... they've suddenly begun attacking Donghai Kingdom and Guangling Prefecture!"
"Is that true?!"
Liu Chong's army had withdrawn from a pitched battle and launched a surprise attack on Donghai Kingdom and Guangling Prefecture. Their intent was clear: to seize Donghai and Guangling—which supplied troops and provisions—and isolate Pengcheng.
They had been caught off guard.
The enemy's objective was the supply lines in Donghai Kingdom and Guangling Prefecture.
Tao Qian's face twisted with fury as he prepared to order an advance. But then fresh urgent news reached the Inspector of Xu Province.
"Que Xuan has mobilized his horde! They say he's formed an alliance with Liu Chong's army!"
"Even the bandit scum are stirring! Liu Seong-hwi, you filthy bastard!!"
How could a Cadet Imperial Clan Member of the Han Imperial House ally himself with lowly bandits? Like the traitor to the Imperial House and Imperial Court that he was, he committed this heaven-offending outrage without a moment's hesitation.
Que Xuan.
The bandit chief feared by every soul in Xu Province.
Que Xuan's horde, tens of thousands strong, began rampaging through Xiapi Kingdom, looting as they went. Upon receiving the news, Tao Qian found himself in a chaotic bind: he had to guard against Liu Chong's forces, which had already invaded Donghai Kingdom and Guangling Prefecture, while also confronting Que Xuan in Xiapi Kingdom.
"Lord Inspector of Xu Province, I shall subjugate Que Xuan."
What was to be done?
While he hesitated,
a refined voice rang out right beside him.
"Major of a Separate Command...? You would subjugate Que Xuan?"
"Entrust the task to me and my Sworn Sisters. We shall protect the people of Xu Province from the clutches of this vile foe."
Que Xuan's band was no mere gang of thieves.
They were closer to a Warlord faction that had expanded its power throughout Xiapi Kingdom.
It was a perilous mission—plunging into Xiapi Kingdom, which had become a bandit den, and fighting alone against overwhelming odds.
And yet, seeing Liu Bei step forward and accept the task so readily, Tao Qian felt a twinge of suspicion.