Empty Food Box (3)
Breaking through the enemy lines held by Liu Seong-hwi's great army to reach Xiapi Kingdom was extraordinarily difficult. Even if they reached Xiapi Kingdom safely, they would then have to fight Que Xuan's horde, which numbered close to several tens of thousands, in an isolated and unsupported environment.
It could never succeed.
With no route of retreat, they would be annihilated, trapped deep in enemy territory.
But they could not ignore the invasion of Xiapi Kingdom by Que Xuan's bandits. If they stood by, citing the disadvantageous war situation, the Scholar-Officials and Local Gentry of Xu Province would fiercely condemn them: "The Inspector of Xu Province has abandoned the people of Xiapi Kingdom!" and "The warlord of Xu Province who once commanded the Central Plains has fallen into common mediocrity now that he is past sixty."
"Indeed, Major of a Separate Command, you are a moral paragon who values benevolence and righteousness, just as the rumors say! If you sweep away Que Xuan's rabble and deliver Xiapi Kingdom, I swear upon the renown of the Inspector of Xu Province that I will repay you in full! The people of Xu Province, too, will acclaim you as a hero, Major of a Separate Command!"
"This is a mission to rescue people mired in misery. How could I expect any reward?"
Que Xuan, allied with Liu Chong's army, was like a tiger given wings.
There was no chance of success.
Yet they had to dispatch a relief force.
Tao Qian, who had been mulling over whom to use as a sacrificial piece—to demonstrate his resolve that he had done his utmost to save the people of Xiapi Kingdom even in a life-or-death crisis—eagerly seized upon Liu Bei's proposal to throw herself into the pit of fire.
"In an age of chaos where every warlord under heaven pursues nothing but self-interest... to think there would still be a stupid bitch rattling on about benevolence and righteousness while posturing as a hero. I was mulling over which of my subordinate officers to send as the sacrifice, so it suits me perfectly to send Gongsun Zan's Guest General instead."
After Liu Bei's army had sortied,
Tao Qian revealed his inner thoughts to his eldest son, Tao Shang.
"Father... did the Major of a Separate Command not nonetheless step forward and accept the mission to rescue the people of Xiapi Kingdom from Que Xuan's clutches?"
"Of what use is benevolence or righteousness in an age of chaos ruled by the law of the jungle! Benevolence and righteousness are the exclusive preserve of the strong. For the weak who lack power, they are nothing but a deadly poison that only hastens death. Burn this into your memory."
Until now, Tao Qian had championed integrity and fortitude, earning the absolute support of Xu Province's people. Yet contrary to his renown, he possessed a coldly calculating streak and was a thoroughgoing pragmatist.
A great cause meant nothing to him.
He stopped at no method or means to secure the tangible profit before his eyes.
By betraying the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition Army and making secret overtures to Dong Zhuo's forces, he had been appointed General Who Stabilizes the East and Governor of Xu Province. Furthermore, by being enfeoffed as Marquis of Lüyang, he ascended to the rank of a feudal lord of the Han Dynasty—the lifelong goal he had striven for.
Would that have been possible if he had valued benevolence and righteousness?
No.
He would have simply supplied the Guandong feudal lords with provisions and then faded away.
Now, Liu Bei would be recorded by later generations as a moral paragon who accepted sacrifice for the sake of Xiapi Kingdom's people. By means of Liu Bei's miserable end, which Tao Qian expected to hear of before long, he intended to lecture his eldest son on the futility of benevolence and righteousness.
"A great victory! Major of a Separate Command Liu Bei has smashed the bandits of Xiapi Kingdom and beheaded Que Xuan!"
But,
news arrived that was the exact opposite of his pessimistic expectations.
Liu Bei's army had beheaded Que Xuan, the brigand, and annihilated the bandit horde that had flaunted such massive military strength. Que Xuan, who had plagued the cities and counties of Xu Province with relentless arson and pillaging like a virulent plague, had fallen to a hero who put benevolence and righteousness foremost.
"Major of a Separate Command Liu Bei is a hero sent by Heaven!"
"I heard that ever since she served on the Great Wall front, she frequently offered relief to the starving populace and thus won their hearts. Did she not once again set an example by taking the initiative to rescue Xiapi Kingdom's people?"
A moral paragon who values benevolence and righteousness.
A hero who does not begrudge life itself for the sake of the people.
Countless commoners, swarming like clouds, extolled the exploits of Liu Bei's army. And the Scholar-Officials and Local Gentry of Xu Province likewise showed their favor toward Liu Bei, who had acted decisively to protect the people.
The host and guest had been turned on their heads.
Tao Qian felt a sense of displeasure as he watched Sun Qian and Mi Zhu praise Liu Bei. The Guest General of Gongsun Zan's army, whom he had intended to use as a sacrificial piece, had in a single stroke risen to become a hero who surpassed him.
"Major of a Separate Command, you are the hero who saved Xu Province! As the Inspector representing Xu Province, I extend my boundless gratitude to you!"
"You praise me too highly. It is thanks to the Cao Bao retainers and the Danyang Troops you attached to me, Elder, who fought so valiantly."
How,
how in the world did she subjugate Que Xuan?
It made no sense.
By what method had she pierced Liu Chong's army's strict cordon and smashed Que Xuan to pieces?
He had interrogated Cao Bao, the retainer he had assigned as a watcher, but could not resolve his doubts. All he received was the trite answer that the beleaguered Liu Bei's army had utterly routed Que Xuan's great host with a resolve to fight to the death.
Tao Qian suppressed the unpleasant bewilderment that lanced through his heart and feasted Liu Bei and her Sworn Sisters. In response, Liu Bei displayed a humble demeanor and won the favor of Xu Province's Scholar-Officials and Local Gentry.
* * *
Had her desperate sincerity to rescue the people of Xiapi Kingdom moved Heaven? After departing from Pengcheng, Liu Bei's army broke through the enemy lines held by Liu Chong's forces, reaching Xiapi Kingdom after encountering only minor skirmishes.
Furthermore,
they had fortuitously ambushed Que Xuan's main army as it was redeploying toward Donghai Kingdom on orders from Liu Chong's army, thereby seizing the initiative in the battle.
Heavenly Fortune had flown to her one after another.
Thanks to Heaven's aid, she had gained victory with minimal casualties.
Such conveniently arranged Heavenly Fortune, bordering on the golden opportunity of a lifetime, could not have happened consecutively by chance. The moment they had smashed Que Xuan's forces, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei realized that their eldest sister was colluding with Liu Seong-hwi.
"What in the world is Sister Xuande thinking? I figured she wouldn't meekly set aside her feelings of adoration for the Crown Prince, but I never imagined she'd be this single-mindedly devoted."
"..."
Since when,
since when exactly had she been planning this?
They could not tell.
They could not even hazard a guess.
Was she planning to launch a surprise attack to destroy Tao Qian's army and then welcome the Southern Heir at Pengcheng? But Tao Qian's army was far too watchful to be struck from behind with a reversed blade.
The Inspector of Xu Province's personal guard unit, the Danyang Troops, would remain loyal to Tao Qian no matter what. And the Scholar-Officials and Local Gentry, led by Sun Qian and Mi Zhu, were loyal and steadfast men of principle who would struggle to the death.
'There is no way to launch a surprise attack on Tao Qian's army. Even if the surprise attack succeeded, they would be suppressed on the spot immediately.'
Inspector of Qing Province Tian Kai, who was absolutely loyal to Gongsun Zan, would never help. If their collusion with Liu Seong-hwi were discovered, they themselves would be the first to be targeted by their superior, Tian Kai.
What kind of scheme could their sister be contemplating?
The woman with her glossy black hair cascading down let out a heavy sigh, worrying about her eldest sister's safety.
"Zilong, where is our sister?"
"She is briefly meeting with Young Master Tao Ying."
"What, Tao Ying...? You mean the second young master?"
"That is correct."
Tao Ying?
Not the eldest son, Tao Shang?
Guan Yu, who had wanted a candid conversation, heard an unexpected answer from the military officer. Their sister was meeting with the second son, Tao Ying, notorious as a street ruffian.
'Why on earth would Sister meet with a street ruffian who would be of no help at all...? He is a man of such low conduct that merely our brief stay in Xu Province was enough for us to hear several unpleasant reports about him.'
In contrast to the eldest son, Tao Shang, a model student possessed of a handsome appearance and upright character, the second son, Tao Ying, was a thug who ran wild committing all sorts of outrages at the head of Commandant Zhang Kai's gang, who themselves hailed from a bandit background.
He was, you could say, Xu Province's version of Yuan Shu.
That alone should suffice as an explanation.
Tao Qian, too, knowing that Tao Ying was beyond salvation, had not bestowed upon him any official post. He had even attached his own close aides to his eldest son so that he could seamlessly inherit power as successor.
Had the objective been real power, she would have chosen Tao Shang, not Tao Ying.
It was difficult to accept.
Associating with Tao Ying would only lead to hearing unpleasant rumors.
"I hear he recently formed an alliance with Yuan Shu's army in Nanyang Prefecture, too? It would be amusing if Yuan Shu and Tao Qian's second son met. Both of them are damn good-for-nothing wastrels who disgrace their families. A wastrel added unto a wastrel."
"Yide, this is no time for jokes."
Why was she associating with a degenerate like Tao Ying?
Guan Yu glared at her younger sister with keen eyes, reproaching her inability to read the situation.
"That damn wastrel wouldn't be harboring lewd delusions about our sister, would he? No, there's a very high probability he is harboring lewd delusions. Look at how obscene Sister Xuande's body is! It's almost unbelievable she's kept her maidenly purity all this time."
"..."
She wasn't wrong.
Obscenity incarnate.
You could call her a walking spring picture.
Merely by taking a step, she could captivate countless men.
"Well, Sister Xuande's heart is set solely on the Crown Prince, so there's no trouble to worry about on that front."
"Yide. We go to where our sister is, this instant."
"Really, Sister Yunchang, you worry so much. Sometimes you seem just like my mother."
"Shut your mouth."
She cut off her speech, frowning her fine brows.
At the same time, she began moving her feet toward where her sister was.