Peach Sisters (1)
Bloodless Entry into the City
We took Pengcheng without spilling a single drop of blood.
And that wasn't all.
The Five Prefectures of Xu Province and countless counties lay at our feet.
It was a triumphant victory report of a kind hard to find precedent for. As they passed through the city gates, the troops of Liu Chong's army entering Pengcheng took in the reality of their victory while regarding the soldiers and officers of Tao Qian's army, who stood waiting entirely disarmed.
"Pengcheng Kingdom, Xiapi Kingdom, Guangling Prefecture, Langya Kingdom, Donghai Kingdom... all of them have come under His Highness the King of Chen's rule."
"I've never known a war this easy. Have you?"
Easy.
Smooth and effortless.
Beyond astonishment, it was enough to make a man feel somewhat deflated.
Had there ever been a war this simple?
It felt like we'd gone out to enjoy the beautiful scenery and then come home.
Only a few regrettable casualties had occurred during the raid on the supply depots in Donghai Kingdom and Guangling Prefecture. The soldiers and officers killed or wounded on the battlefield numbered no more than three hundred in total.
"No idle chatter! If I hear another word, I'll haul you out of the ranks!!"
Looting was strictly forbidden.
Likewise, refrain from any speech or conduct that might enrage Tao Qian's troops and the common people.
Mounted officers of Liu Chong's army circulated, maintaining strict control.
No ugly incident occurred.
Liu Bei's army, which had taken responsibility for the disarming in advance, had everything completely under control.
"Major of a Separate Command... no, General of a Separate Division Liu Bei pays her respects once more to the Southern Heir."
"It's been a while. Have you been well?"
A beauty with lovely white hair flowing like lily-of-the-valley knelt alongside her Sworn Sisters to greet Liu Seong-hwi. I firmly suppressed the unconscious reaction that nearly made me laugh out loud.
The audacity.
No—
should I call it superb acting?
Liu Bei was playing the part of a defeated general with a demure demeanor. There was even a resolute firmness about her, as if she were prepared to accept any punishment for the sake of the people.
—Hurry up and praise me, little brother.
While every defeated general had their head bowed,
Liu Bei wore an artless smile and mouthed silently with her full lips.
What a sly fox.
I had to fight to still the twitching corners of my mouth.
"Liu Bei and her Sworn Sisters, hear this! You deserve to be held to account for shielding Inspector of Xu Province Tao Qian, who betrayed the great cause of the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition Army. Yet, because you recognized your mistaken judgment belatedly and surrendered, bringing your soldiers and the people with you, mercy shall be extended to you once more!"
"We are overcome with emotion at the Crown Prince's merciful decision."
First, we committed ten thousand troops and brought all of Pengcheng under control.
In the original history, hadn't Cao Cao's army come to ruin after naively accepting the wholesale surrender of Zhang Xiu's forces? Taking that as a cautionary tale, we prepared thoroughly for any eventuality.
Cao Bao and his personal troops.
And the elite Danyang Troops, a unit of one-man-army caliber.
Perhaps they had realized the outcome was already decided. Cao Bao and the soldiers of the Danyang Troops, who had been the personal guard force of Tao Qian's army, peacefully disarmed and accepted the status of Surrendered Generals.
"Little brother!"
We arrived at the Inspector of Xu Province's office.
When we were finally alone together in Tao Qian's work chamber,
the beautiful woman who had worn only a rigid, ice-cold expression broke into a bright smile and clung to me.
"The Five Prefectures of Xu Province are finally in your grasp, little brother. Congratulations on becoming the master of Xu Province."
"You've worked hard, Sister."
I wrapped an arm around her slender waist,
and with the other hand I stroked her hair.
A gesture of affection toward a lover.
And at the same time, a commendation for a loyal subordinate.
If the Scholar-Officials and Local Gentry of Xu Province were to witness the secret liaison unfolding inside the work chamber, they would shriek as if about to faint, foaming at the mouth. The common people who revered Liu Bei as the hero of Xu Province would be no different.
"Everything went smoothly... The problem is Tao Qian. They say he's still breathing, however faintly."
"I received the report."
Was it a lingering attachment to her father?
Or had it simply been a mistake?
A distasteful complication had arisen: a target who should have died immediately was still alive.
But there was no way an old man past sixty could withstand a lethal poison. He'd cling stubbornly to life, lingering at death's door, then cough up blackened blood and die.
"Aide to the Governor Mi Zhu and Assistant Officer Sun Qian, who surrendered to you, are excellent talents. If we put Xu Province's notables at the forefront, we can quickly settle the people's unease."
"I'll entrust you with full authority over Xu Province. Please become the new Governor of Xu Province."
Tao Qian's influence was still vividly imprinted in the minds of the common people. Thus, there was no chance they would sincerely welcome Liu Chong's army, which had invaded and seized Xu Province.
No matter who was appointed as the new Governor of Xu Province, they would face the people's resistance and discontent. To bring Xu Province wholly into submission, Liu Seong-hwi chose Liu Bei, who had risen to stand tall as the hero of the province.
"Thank you, little brother. I'll serve you with every ounce of my strength from now on."
"Yes."
Once we were outside again, we'd have to pretend nothing had happened.
The fact that we were having a secret affair must not be discovered.
the beauty with flowing white hair smiled a suggestive smile and embraced me. She deliberately rubbed her full, prominent breasts against me, boldly seducing me.
"You must have held back for a long time... Let your sister suck out that thick little lord for you. Just like when we had that passionate secret meeting, go ahead and spill everything inside your sister."
"It's out of the question. If our private meeting goes too long, suspicions will grow."
"I'll do it with my hand. And I won't waste your noble little lord, of course. I'll just open your sister's full lips and have you fill the inside."
"..."
Liu Bei parted her own lips with slender fingers and stuck out her tongue.
Then she knelt and lifted her head.
* * *
Liu Bei had not told her Sworn Sisters the truth until they suppressed the bandit Que Xuan. She had also kept secret the Chain Stratagem that had cast the Danyang Tao Clan, which held sway over Xu Province, into the pit of ruin.
It wasn't that she distrusted her Sworn Sisters.
She trusted her little sisters more than anyone.
She had merely hoped
they would not feel the sting of conscience.
Her Sworn Sisters, who revered the martial path, had no need to involve themselves in a despicable Chain Stratagem. And so, as the eldest sister with a duty to look after her juniors, she had chosen to bear every burden alone.
"Since when has Big Brother Crown Prince been playing patty-cake with our sister? I had no idea all this time."
The real patty-cake had just happened, though.
I thought to myself as I looked at the gallant girl with flowing violet hair.
"Yide, that's disrespectful to the Crown Prince."
"This much is fine, isn't it? He's going to be our brother-in-law someday."
I'd rather not be called brother-in-law already...
Well,
I do intend to take responsibility to the end.
"I have appointed Liu Bei as Governor of Xu Province. Before long, you two will be appointed as Governors as well."
"G-Governor of Xu Province?! Xuande is going to be Governor of Xu Province...!"
We had graduated from the life of a wandering army, clinging to one power after another like a late-autumn grasshopper and drifting from post to post as Guest Generals. As if to compensate for all the hardships and sorrows of that time, we had received Xu Province, the most fertile of the Thirteen Provinces of the Han Dynasty.
Zhang Fei quivered all over as she let out an exclamation.
Guan Yu, who had been listening quietly beside her, also reacted with considerable elation.
"You two have also worked hard."
I spoke while looking at the Sworn Sisters, who boasted martial prowess worthy of the title Foe of Ten Thousand.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei then spoke.
"We will help with anything from now on."
"Ahem! You just say the word any time, Big Brother Crown Prince."
Their sister's lord and their sister's husband.
In other words, I was one of the family, connected by marriage.
Household.
Or family.
True to the style of the Liu Bei army—a small-to-medium enterprise that valued a family-like atmosphere built on blood and regional ties—the Sworn Sisters showed rock-solid loyalty the moment I was recognized as their sister's husband. They were bold enough to declare they would carry out any order.
"Peach Sisters! Surely you haven't forgotten me?"
"What's this? It's just old Jian! Where on earth have you been all this time?"
Jian Yong.
The spy who had infiltrated disguised as a deserter.
After that, he had followed and campaigned alongside Liu Chong's army, then rejoined Liu Bei's forces.
"I'll appoint you as Senior Assistant Officer. Support Liu Bei, who has been appointed Governor of Xu Province."
"Xuande is Governor of Xu Province...? Yes, understood! I will carry out the order."
A total of three people were appointed as Senior Assistant Officers in Xu Province.
Mi Zhu. Sun Qian.
And Jian Yong.
The Jian-Sun-Mi Trio, who would share life and death, joy and sorrow with Liu Bei's army to the very end, was born.
Internal administration + diplomacy + stratagems.
A working-level team possessing numerous specialties.
Even if they weren't S-rank like Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, they were more than adequate to be called A-rank, the tier just below.
"From now on, when I call 'Jian-Sun-Mi,' grab Sun Qian and Mi Zhu and come out together."
"J-Jian-Sun-Mi?!"
"Isn't it efficient to lump them all together? No need to call multiple names."
"..."
Disaffected elements opposed to Liu Bei's rule would be operating in the shadows all over Xu Province. That being the case, I decided to remain in the province until Liu Bei's army, now the new master of Xu Province, could completely replace Tao Qian's forces.
Peach Sisters.
And the Jian-Sun-Mi Trio.
Truthfully, half the reason was that my interest had been piqued.