Conquest of Jing Province (4)
Black smoke rose over the surface of the Yangtze, where flames had recently swept through. The acrid stench assaulted the nose—a mix of wet wood burning, molten iron, and the revolting odor of searing human flesh. Just half a shichen ago, these massive tower ships had boasted the might of Jing Province's navy. Now, they drifted like enormous coffins, reduced to skeletal frames afloat on the river.
"Urgh... ughhh..."
In the eerie silence of the deck, only beast-like groans echoed. Sun Ce grabbed Huang Zu by the collar and hoisted him up. His white mourning robes were stained with enemy blood and soot, losing their original color, but the filth only made him look like a demon crawled from hell.
"Tell me. Did you tremble like this when you killed my father?"
Sun Ce's voice was low and calm—almost unnaturally so. A shout might have seemed more human. The dry question, stripped of emotion, drove Huang Zu's terror to its peak.
"S-spare... spare me! I didn't kill Lord Sun Jian!"
"Don't dirty my father's name with that tongue."
Huang Zu flailed his legs in midair. Any dignity as Grand Administrator of Jiangxia had long been tossed into the river. His pants grew damp, releasing a pungent stench of urine.
"Liu Biao! It was Liu Biao who ordered it! Yuan Shao backed him! I just followed orders from above... urk!"
As Sun Ce tightened his grip, Huang Zu's excuses turned to screams.
"Followed orders... So that's your dying words?"
Sun Ce slowly—ever so slowly—drew the sword from his belt. The blade gleamed blue in the firelight from the burning ships, reflecting in Huang Zu's eyes. Veins bulged on Sun Ce's arm. Killing intent poured from him, urging him to sever Huang Zu's head and hurl it into the river.
The blade bit into Huang Zu's neck skin, drawing a thin line of red blood.
Not yet, I thought, watching from afar. Killing him here would end it as Sun Ce's personal revenge. But dragging him alive to Suchun? That would seal a political victory and elevate Yuan Shu's army's legitimacy into a grand ceremony for all to see.
Still, I held my tongue. Stopping Sun Ce now would be like forcing the fangs from a beast's jaws. He had to sheath the blade himself to become a true lord's man.
Endure it, Sun Ce. Swallow your rage—that's how you become a true general.
As if my telepathy had reached him, Sun Ce's trembling blade halted in midair.
"Hrrrrgh..."
He bit his lip until it bled, unleashing a beastly wail. Then he sheathed the sword and slammed Huang Zu onto the deck.
"Kuh! Cough, cough!"
"Part of me wants to carve your flesh piece by piece and feed it to the fish. But I won't sully this river with your filthy blood."
Sun Ce gestured to Ju Chang, who had just climbed aboard.
"Bind him."
"Yes, General!"
Ju Chang trussed Huang Zu tight with thick ropes. Sun Ce glared down coldly.
"You'll kneel alive before my father's spirit tablet. You'll atone as a living sacrifice, confessing your crimes to the world."
Only then did I exhale in relief. In that brief moment, Sun Ce had grown splendidly. He'd learned to tame the beast called rage.
"Well done, Uncle Sun."
As I approached and clapped his shoulder, Sun Ce staggered, tension finally easing. But his eyes shone like stars.
Five days later, in Suchun.
The whole city buzzed with festival energy. Streets overflowed with crowds, every house draped in banners bearing Yuan Shu's insignia in vibrant colors.
"Yuan Shu's army crushed Jiangxia!"
"They captured Huang Zu alive!"
"As expected of Lord Yuan Shu. His loyalty is unmatched!"
Basking in the cheers, Yuan Shu sat on the high seat of the massive altar in the central plaza. His face beamed with unprecedented pride.
"Seowon, hear that? They call me a man of righteousness. Hah! Sweeter than honey. Back in Luoyang, I heard it daily. Know why? I was a famous knight-errant there. This fist of mine smashed every thug in sight. One day, that bastard Zhang Rang's adopted son was strutting through the market. He tried grabbing a northern white falcon from a merchant without paying. Everyone just trembled. Guess who stepped up?"
Yuan Shu thumped his chest with his thumb.
"Me, Yuan Gonglu. No Yuan clan guards behind me—just my fist. I whispered right in his ear."
He lowered his voice, mimicking the scene vividly.
"'Hey, you eunuch asshole. Under Luoyang's sky, nothing with wings flies without my say-so. Not that falcon. Not your life.'"
"Kuhahaha! You should've seen his face! As soon as I said it, boom—fist to his nose, bones crushed, falcon snatched back. Then what? I let the precious bird fly free right there."
He stretched his hand skyward, as if releasing it.
"Freedom! That's a true xia. Obsessing over goods is for merchants. A real man needs only the boldness to command the world."
Yuan Shu lounged on his jade throne, swirling a cup of honeyed wine in admiration.
"Indeed, my lord. What happened next?"
Yuan Shu chuckled.
"What else? He bolted like hell. Even the great Yuan Gonglu was just a reckless kid then. I ran barefoot to Luoyang's walls, heart pounding louder than hooves."
He gave a wry smile, staring into space.
"But the clan guards caught me. Father was furious—his roars shook the hall. 'You've resolved to doom the Yuan clan!' He grabbed a staff for my calves."
Yuan Shu paused, staring me down.
"But then, the family patriarch hobbled in on his cane and blocked Father."
He deepened his voice, imitating the elder's booming tone.
"'Put down the staff. Gonglu didn't earn lashes today—he deserves praise.'"
"'Courtiers sealed their lips for safety, armed officers bowed to the Ten Attendants. But this boy alone struck out against injustice.'"
Yuan Shu's eyes gleamed steadily.
"'Even if our clan suffers for it, no shame. He saved not a merchant's goods, but Han justice fallen to earth.'"
He curled his lip bittersweetly, proudly.
"The elder patted my shoulder: 'You're the man this chaotic world needs.' Those words kept me alive. No matter what others say, I walk the path I believe right. That's me, Yuan Gonglu."
I gazed at him quietly. I could almost hear, What's on my face? Why stare like that? But I ignored it.
"What if the path you believe right is wrong, my lord?"
He answered without thinking.
"Then you and your generals stop me. I'd listen to you, at least. If I talk and you disagree, you're probably right. Wise lords heed loyal counsel—even if grudgingly. If I still won't, threaten to join Yuan Shao or Cao Cao. I'd listen then, out of jealousy."
"Understood, my lord. But I won't go to Cao Cao or Yuan Shao."
"'Cause I'm cooler?"
As we chatted, Lu Su cleared his throat.
"Pardon the interruption, but I have something to say..."
He glanced cautiously. Yuan Shu eyed him.
"I've prattled too long. Lu Zijing, speak."
Lu Su bowed politely, cleared his throat again.
"Congratulations, my lord. This victory spreads your fame beyond Jiangdong to the whole Central Plains. A lord who raises an army for his general's vengeance—public opinion will soar."
"Damn right! Unlike that prig Yuan Shao. Brothers should aid each other, not scheme. How could we be equals?"
Yuan Shu hummed smugly. I smiled and nodded. Only Sun Jian's rite remained.
Yuan Shu waved; I signaled the musicians at the end.
"Begin."
Dong—dong—dong!
Majestic drums boomed, hushing the crowd. At the altar's center stood Sun Jian's spirit tablet as "Tiger of Jiangdong, Rear General." Incense wafted before it.
Sun Ce entered from the plaza gate. Fresh mourning robes replaced his bloodied ones. Ju Chang followed, dragging bound Huang Zu like a dog.
"Kill him! Don't let him live!"
"That's the bastard who killed General Sun!"
The crowd hurled stones and jeers. Huang Zu, half-mad from days of torment, was a wreck—rags torn, one eye bruised. No trace of Jiangxia's lord; he looked worse than a slaughterbound mutt.
Sun Ce halted before the altar and kicked Huang Zu's ankles viciously.
"Kneel."
"Urk!"
Huang Zu crashed to his knees. Sun Ce yanked his hair, forcing his gaze to the tablet.
"Behold. The spirit tablet of the father you slew—the Tiger of Jiangdong, cut down by your cowardly arrow."
"I-I'm sorry... General Sun... please, just my life..."
Huang Zu begged, trembling. Sun Ce drew his sword instead.
Ching—!
The clear ring pierced the silence. The sun-glinting blade flashed toward Huang Zu's eyes. He squeezed them shut against the glare.
Sun Ce looked skyward. Cloudless blue stretched above.
"Father."
His voice quavered—not mere grief, but joy and longing intertwined, a swelling resonance.
"Your unfilial son Ce has finally captured your killer. Forgive the delay."
He raised the sword high.
"Receive this filthy blood... and rest easy in the afterlife. I'll guard Jiangdong now."
With those words, the blade fell like lightning.
Shwick—!
No dull thud—just a razor-sharp stroke. Huang Zu's head tumbled, rolling to stop before Sun Jian's tablet, eyes wide in death. Blood fountained, staining the altar red.
Silence. Then explosion.
"Waaaaah—!!"
"Vengeance for General Sun Jian!"
"Long live Sun Ce! Long live Yuan Shu's army!"
Earth-shaking cheers filled Suchun. Tears mixed with roars; soldiers stomped spears.
This execution transcended punishment—it heralded Yuan Shu's army and Sun Ce as the new era's leads.
Yuan Shu rose, fist clenched, roaring skyward.
"Behold! This is justice! I, Yuan Shu, never forget our enemies! I'll grind their bones to dust without pause!"
His eyes gleamed beast-like.
"Touch my people, and I'll hunt you to hell's end for payment! No one in the world dares point a finger at my family! That's my righteousness!"
No empty bravado—this was Yuan Shu's purest vow: twisted perhaps, but he'd stake his life for his own.
"Long live General Yuan Shu!"
The plaza shook with cheers. In this moment, Yuan Shu towered over any hero.
As the rite ended and crowds dispersed, Sun Ce cleaned his bloody sword, sheathed it, and approached me. Up close, his face was astonishingly serene. Days ago, venom and rage burned in his eyes like lava; now, purged, he radiated Buddha-like peace.
"General Seowon."
"You did well, Uncle."
Sun Ce stopped before me and knelt on one knee without hesitation.
"...!"
Nearby elders like Huang Gai and Han Dang from Wu flinched. The proud Sun Ce knelt not to his lord Yuan Shu, but to me.
"Thank you for keeping your promise—for avenging my father, and awakening this fool. I'll engrave it in my bones."
He bowed his head, then glanced at Yuan Shu.
"I, Sun Ce, and every blade in Jiangdong exist for the Rear General. No betrayal until my last breath."
A thrill pierced my chest. History's Sun Ce pawned the imperial seal to borrow troops from Yuan Shu, built his own power as "Little Conqueror," and dominated. Yet now, he knelt, swearing eternal loyalty.
But his stubbornness killed him young—like Xiang Yu, ignoring loyal advice, dying by suicide.
That future faded now. This wasn't just gaining one general—it was claiming future Wu, that vast empire, whole.
I gripped his shoulder, raising him. Solid muscle met my hand.
"Rise. We're in the same boat now."
I met his eyes squarely.
"Until Jiangdong's pacified and the world unified. Your blade won't rest. Can you bear it?"
A faint, resolute smile crossed Sun Ce's face.
"It's what I crave. I'll follow you to hell's end."
Now we stood at the starting line. Top talents gathered: administrators Yu Bok and Jeong Hon, naval expert Jang Heum, warriors Ju Chang and Qi Ling, ultimate potential Ye Mong—and now Little Conqueror Sun Ce.
But the road's still long.
Cao Cao's forces teemed with fierce generals. War now might favor our numbers, but our commanders' quality and quantity lagged—victory no sure thing. Facing him later? The losses chilled me.
Worse, we needed a strategist to wield this might and resources. I could spot plots or sow discord in moments, but not shoulder it all. Lu Su was green despite hasty recruitment.
We needed a grandmaster to view the realm as a go board.
Then—
"Who's that guy?"
"Whoa... he's insanely handsome."
Murmurs rose from the city gate. Soldiers parted, staring curiously at one man.
A white-robed figure strode boldly, unescorted. Even on the dusty plaza, his gait was graceful as walking on clouds. Exquisite beyond handsome—beautiful, even—with clear, deep eyes and a leisurely smile. He clashed with the blood-soaked execution ground, like a scholar stepped from a painting.
But my instincts screamed warning. No ordinary man. Something hid behind that smile.
Sun Ce's eyes widened.
"Huh...?"
He stepped forward, incredulous.
"Gongjin! How are you here?!"
Gongjin.
My heart sank at the name. Zhou Yu, courtesy name Gongjin—Luminous Talent of Meiling. The fire incarnate who torched Cao Cao's million at Red Cliffs.
He'd come to us of his own accord.
Zhou Yu folded his fan and elegantly cupped his hands toward Yuan Shu.
"Zhou Yu of Lujiang, Gongjin, pays respects to the Rear General."