The Old Minister's Sacrifice Ignites the Cause, and the Little Conqueror Roars at Shenting Ridge
Suchun's council hall. A heavy silence hung over the gathered strategists and generals of Yuan Shu's army. The occasional clink of teacups against saucers sharpened the stillness.
This meeting was meant to establish the pretext for their first strike into Jiangdong, but the conclusion they'd reached was brutally grim.
"Fake Path to Destroy Guo—borrowing the road to strike Guo. The scheme itself is brilliant," Lu Su said softly, folding his fan.
"But the problem lies in Liu Yao's temperament. He's paranoid and thinks himself exceptionally clever."
Lu Su's eyes gleamed calmly. "If we request passage under the pretext of suppressing bandits, he'll immediately recall that Spring and Autumn era anecdote."
"Ah..." The other ministers nodded at Lu Su's words.
"Liu Yao will surely think, 'That bastard Yuan Shu takes me for a fool who doesn't know his classics!' He'll want to prove his wisdom surpasses that fool king's."
"Then..."
"Yes. To flaunt his refusal to fall for such an obvious ploy—and to silence any hawkish retainers who might suggest granting passage—he'll choose the most brutal and certain rejection."
Lu Su concluded in a chilling tone. "To demonstrate his resolve, he'll behead our envoy. No matter who we send, they'll die."
They'll die without fail. The hall fell silent once more at Lu Su's words.
I swallowed my bitterness and spoke. "Great endeavors require sacrifice. But we can't send promising talent to certain death. In my humble opinion... why not dispatch someone already battling illness, awaiting heaven's will?"
"What? Hey, Seowon!" Yuan Shu barked from his slouched seat at the head. A cup of honeyed water rattled across the table.
"Are you in your right mind? Sending a sick man to his doom? We're not bandits—we don't need to stoop that low!"
Yuan Shu looked genuinely displeased. He indulged in luxury, but he wasn't the type to burn his own people as kindling.
"Just invade! I'm Yuan Shu—who cares about pretexts? Storm in and demand the seals!"
"My lord, to claim the realm, we need righteousness. A blade without cause is banditry; with cause, it's justice."
"Damn it, even so, this is too much...!"
As Yuan Shu fumed, an elderly minister rose unsteadily from the foot of the table. Gray hair, face pale with illness. Yet his eyes shone clear and deep as a mountain lake—the old scholar Han Gyu.
As he shuffled forward with his staff, the noisy hall fell quiet as if doused in cold water.
Han Gyu had lived his life without ambition for office, teaching children in Suchun's private school. He gave his salary to feed the poor, content with ragged robes through winter—a paragon of integrity.
He'd offered to tutor Yuan Shu upon hearing of his studies but had stepped back due to his worsening health.
"Cough... My lord, send this old man."
His cough echoed through the hall. Even Yuan Shu jumped to his feet in alarm.
"Teacher Han Gyu? Why would you go there? You can barely stand. Go rest and take your medicine!"
Yuan Shu, usually brash and disrespectful, couldn't bring himself to speak casually to Han Gyu.
"The physician says I have but half a year left."
Han Gyu clasped his bony hands and bowed deeply. "I've taught children righteousness all my life, yet I've only wielded a brush in comfort. Grant me this final chance to embody my teachings."
"Teacher..."
"This life returns to dust soon enough. If my head can spare the people's blood and buy the pretext to claim the realm, what death could be more worthy?"
His voice trembled, but his resolve weighed like a mountain. Warriors and strategists alike bowed their heads. None could challenge such nobility.
Yuan Shu bit his lip hard. His eyes reddened.
"...Damn it all."
He raked a hand through his hair, glaring at me, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su with resentful eyes—as if asking if this was truly necessary.
But he knew deep down: only a figure of Han Gyu's stature would make his death a pretext to shake the realm.
I bit my lip until it bled, head bowed in shame, and forced out the words. "Lord Han Gyu's noble will... I engrave it upon my bones."
"Thank you, General Seowon. I thought I'd die clutching books, but now I can become fertilizer for posterity. What greater honor for this old man?"
Han Gyu smiled kindly at me, then offered Yuan Shu one final deep bow.
"My lord, please pacify this chaotic age... and wipe away the tears of the suffering masses."
Han Gyu straightened his bent back and strode out with dignity. His receding figure seemed colossal, marching toward death.
Yuan Shu turned away. His shoulders trembled faintly.
"......Prepare the finest coffin. When Teacher returns, I'll bury him like my own father."
That was Yuan Shu's greatest farewell.
Five days later, the dreaded news arrived.
Liu Yao had acted as predicted. He ranted that Yuan Shu plotted invasion under the bandit pretext, then beheaded the ailing Han Gyu on the spot. He even boxed the head and sent it back to our camp—a monstrous act.
At the northern ferry of the Yangtze, amid biting river winds, I placed the box containing Han Gyu's head on the platform.
"......"
Tens of thousands of soldiers held their breath.
Yuan Shu stood at the front, staring blankly at the box.
I didn't open it. No need to show that horror to our lord or the men.
Instead, I lifted high the blood-soaked cloth draped over it. Crimson gore fluttered in the wind.
"Behold!"
My shout rang out, carried by the gale. "This is their answer! We humbly sought passage to save the suffering people. A frail old minister went to plead for peace. But what did that beast Liu Yao do?!"
I shook the cloth like a banner. "He beheaded our envoy! Trampled righteousness, mocked a loyal elder's devotion! Is this the act of an imperial servant?!"
Bloodshot eyes glared from the ranks. This was no mere ordered campaign. It was primal rage for a wronged comrade, a helpless old man slain by the enemy—pure fury.
Then Yuan Shu stepped forward abruptly. He snatched the bloody cloth from my hand and gripped it tight.
"Seowon."
His voice was low, laced with chilling killing intent as he pointed across the river. "Go take Liu Yao's head. Bring it kneeling before me—I'll sever it myself for Teacher's altar."
The lord's raw fury. That crude cry ignited the soldiers' hearts more than any eloquence.
"Waaaaah!!"
"Kill them! Tear Liu Yao apart!"
"Avenge Lord Han Gyu!"
Suchun's army erupted like boiling lava.
I signaled Zhou Yu amid the scene. "Gongjin. The moment is ripe."
"Perfect. At this momentum, they could slay ghosts."
Zhou Yu snapped open his fan like a baton.
"Entire army, cross the river! We'll deliver justice's iron fist to those ungrateful wretches!"
Boom-boom-boom! Drums thundering like heartbeats, hundreds of warships cleaved the Yangtze's currents. Upon a pretext written in blood, fierce tigers bared claws and crossed the river.
Across the water, at Hengjiang ferry, Liu Yao's deputy Zhang Ying sneered at the black swarm of Yuan Shu's fleet.
"Hah, country bumpkins who don't know water launching boats. Fog's thick and winds fierce today—they'll tire themselves into fish food. Archers, ready!"
Liu Yao's arrows rained like hail.
Thwish-thwish-thwish! Countless shafts struck the lead ships.
But no screams rose from the decks.
"Huh? Why's no one falling?"
Zhang Ying rubbed his eyes and looked again. Emerging from the fog, the lead boats were packed not with soldiers, but straw dummies.
Like porcupines, the scarecrows absorbed the arrows—ready to return them in kind.
Then Zhou Yu's clear voice carried over the waves from the mist. "Generous with arrows, I see. We'll put them to good use."
Behind the dummy boats, the true main fleet surged forward on massive waves.
At the prow stood a man in a red helmet, gripping a spear—Sun Ce.
His eyes held no usual playfulness. Witnessing Han Gyu's death had filled them with cold murder.
"Here's my arrow! Take it!"
Sun Ce hurled his short spear with all his might.
Whoosh—thunk! Over a hundred paces, it pierced a deputy beside Zhang Ying, shattering the banner pole behind.
"Eek?!"
"Brother! I'll go first! Cut those bastards' heads for Teacher's spirit!"
Sun Ce kicked off the prow and soared. Before the boat even touched shore, he crashed into the enemy midst.
"Raaargh!"
The impact flung nearby soldiers. With a beastly roar, Sun Ce swung his spear.
"I'm Sun Ce, son of General Sun! Any who block me die!"
Bam! Crunch! His horizontal sweep snapped three shield-bearers at the waist, sending them flying.
Thrusts tore armor like paper; swings shattered helmets. A tiger amid sheep.
"Block him! Spears up!"
Liu Yao's deputies bellowed, but terrified soldiers backpedaled.
Sun Ce plunged deeper into the gap.
"Uncle! Don't get carried away—your back's exposed!"
I landed right behind, following up.
Sun Ce had gone too deep. Enemies thrust spears at his blind spots from all sides.
I nocked an arrow calmly. The bowstring tautened.
Twang! A soldier lunging from the left clutched his throat and fell.
Next arrow to the right—straight between the eyes of a swordsman raising his blade. Perfect shots.
My arrows erased Sun Ce's blind spots without fail.
"Hahaha! Brother, my back's solid!"
Sun Ce charged ahead without looking, my shield and eyes freeing his spear to strike sharper, fiercer.
"M-monsters!"
"Look at their eyes! They're insane!"
Zhang Ying paled, wheeling his horse. Every Yuan Shu soldier burned with vengeance, charging like demons. Hengjiang ferry already flew red Yuan banners.
We seized it in half a day, then pressed on without pause. Couldn't let Han Gyu's sacrifice-forged momentum die.
"Brother, let's push to Qu'a like this. While Liu Yao's men are pissing themselves in fear!"
Sun Ce wiped blood from his helmet, brimming with vigor.
But I shook my head. "No rush. Even rats bite when cornered. Before Qu'a—Liu Yao's stronghold—we scout enemy movements."
I unrolled the map, pointing to a high pass near Qu'a.
"Shenting Ridge. From there, we overlook his base."
Zhou Yu, peering at the map beside me, frowned. "Heard Liu Yao has a Taesa Ja. Could be an ambush—be cautious."
Lu Su recalled, adding coolly, "Taesa Ja... The one who cornered General Qi Ling last time."
Qi Ling was our top martial powerhouse. Sun Ce's brows twitched at the thought of someone pushing him hard.
I nodded gravely. "Correct. His valor matches mine. Never underestimate."
"Oho..."
Sun Ce's lips curled predatorily. Far from fear, his eyes gleamed like a hunter sighting prey.
"Someone on your level holed up in these backwoods? Tempting."
"Uncle, this is no joke. If we clash, it could cost lives."
"No worries. With you watching my back, how could I lose?"
Sun Ce shouldered his spear and mounted. "Let's go, brother. Pay that mighty Taesa Ja a visit."
With a small cavalry escort, Sun Ce and I slipped from the field toward Shenting Ridge.
Atop the pass, a cavalry band emerged from the opposite woods.
"Halt! Who goes there?!"
A thunderous shout heralded the leader: tall and imposing, twin short moon halberds on his back, long spear in hand.
I knew instinctively. Taesa Ja.
Finally. Jiangdong's premier warrior. Liu Yao's sole competent general.
Sun Ce's eyes flashed. He licked his lips in the thrill of facing a strong foe—his rage sublimated into pure battle lust.
"Ooh... Liu Yao's got a guy like that? Impressive presence."
Sun Ce advanced, shouting, "I'm Sun Ce! Who are you?!"
"I'm Taesa Ja of Donglai! Vanguards of the rebel Yuan Shu—I'll take your heads here and mount them on poles!"
Taesa Ja spurred forward without hesitation. Liu Yao's men faltered at Sun Ce's name, but only Taesa Ja charged undaunted.
"Perfect!"
Sun Ce whooped, galloping to meet him.
The horses closed at ferocious speed.
Clang! Spears clashed midair, sparks flying with a earsplitting ring.
Horses screamed from the shock.
One clash, two, three, ten... Their spearplay blurred atop mounts.
Sun Ce's heavy overheads flowed off Taesa Ja's elegant deflections; Taesa Ja's probing thrusts parried by Sun Ce's shaft.
Their auras deadlocked. Soldiers watched breathlessly—transcendent skill beyond interference.
Fifty clashes passed without victor. Sweat beaded their faces, eyes burning brighter.
"Not bad! Didn't expect a man like you in Jiangdong!"
"Thought you were all hype, but your spear's sharp!"
Horses staggered, panting. As one, they dismounted, hurling spears and drawing swords.
Now hand-to-hand.
Clang! Clash! Blades screamed, locked in equal might and skill.
Then Liu Yao's deputies whispered from afar. "That's Sun Ce. Distracted fighting Taesa Ja. Shoot him now!"
A deputy nocked an arrow at Sun Ce's back.
But I loosed first.
"Argh!"
My shaft pierced his hand, splintering the bow.
"Who?!"
Liu Yao's men gaped at me. I advanced slowly, bow leveled at their brows.
"A duel of men is sacred. Interfere, and you face me. Or care to try Seowon?"
Crushed by my killing intent, they froze. My warning let the duel continue uninterrupted.
Soon both swords snapped. They grappled, tore off helmets, rolled in dirt.
Beyond war—primal male struggle. Fists flew, chokes, ragged breaths.
"Hah... hah... Taesa Ja, was it?"
Sun Ce grinned through mud-caked face.
Taesa Ja wiped burst lips, smirking. "Yeah. Sun Ce—you're crazier than rumors."
Then massive cheers erupted from below.
Waaaaah! Crimson flames soared from Liu Yao's camp, fierce as if to scorch the night sky.
"What...?!"
Taesa Ja's eyes widened.
"Zhou Yu. He's moved."
While we stalled here, Zhou Yu's detachment had flanked and torched Liu Yao's grain stores. The blaze proved it.
"You bastards... Used me as bait?!"
Taesa Ja roared in fury.
Sun Ce shrugged. "Didn't know. Gongjin's too smart. But duel is duel, war is war, right?"
"Damn...!"
Taesa Ja bit his lip. With his base burning, no time for duels.
He released Sun Ce and retreated. "We'll finish this later. Next time, your head's mine."
Taesa Ja mounted swiftly, rallying his men. "Entire unit, withdraw! Protect the lord!"
At the burning Liu Yao camp, Taesa Ja arrived muddied and gasping.
"My lord! Ziyi has returned! It's not too late—rally the men for counterattack!"
But the scene was dire. Liu Yao, half-dressed, fussed over loading treasure chests onto carts.
"M-my lord...?"
Liu Yao glared irritably. "Why so late? Couldn't stop that brat Sun Ce?!"
"I dueled Sun Ce..."
"Shut it! You dawdled like bait, and now my grain's ash!"
Liu Yao berated his valiant general.
Taesa Ja's fists shook. No words for a man returned from risking death.
"What now? Qu'a still holds our men..."
"Who cares! I'm off to Yezhang. You hold the rear with what's left."
"What? You want me to die?"
Liu Yao whipped his horse, yelling as he fled. "A clod like you dying for me is honor! Earn your keep!"
"......!"
Liu Yao bolted without looking back, toadies trailing. Left: Taesa Ja and bewildered soldiers.
Taesa Ja stared at the dust, laughing hollowly. "Hah... Discarded like trash."
Bloodshot eyes—not at foes, but self-loathing for serving such rot.
Qu'a. Zhou Yu's fire attack, Lu Su's supply cutoff, Sun Ce's show of force—perfect harmony crumbled Liu Yao's army like sand.
We entered bloodlessly. A red Yuan banner topped the highest rampart.
Yangtze winds whipped our robes.
Sun Ce gazed over vast Jiangdong, face alight. "Finally... in Jiangdong."
"Just the start. Liu Yao fled, but Yan Baekho, Wang Lang, and mountain tribes remain."
Zhou Yu noted coolly, though excitement simmered.
"But we've seized the key foothold—halfway there."
Lu Su fanned a broad smile.
I leaned on the parapet, staring south into darkness. Somewhere, Taesa Ja ground his teeth over defeat.
Liu Yao fled. But Taesa Ja stayed.
Peerless warrior with innate leadership. Only his joining makes us rivals to Cao Cao, Yuan Shao.
"Uncle."
"Yes, brother."
"Taesa Ja rallied survivors to Jingxian. Betrayed by Liu Yao, he's seething."
Sun Ce cracked knuckles, grinning. "No matter. If force fails, beat him till he joins. We got unfinished business."
"No. Brute force won't work."
I shook my head, glancing at Zhou Yu. He smiled knowingly.
"To catch a beast, need a trap. A sweet one, inescapable."
The hunters' eyes gleamed brighter than stars.
Liu Yao's conquest ended. But the tiger Taesa Ja remained.
First, a debt to settle: honoring the first blood shed for this victory.
That night, Qu'a's rear hill—sunny slope. Unlike the fort's victory revels of drink, dance, song, silence reigned.
Only ragged breaths and digging earth.
"My lord, enough. We'll handle the rest..."
"Outta my way!"
Yuan Shu gripped the spade, bellowing. His fine silk was filthied, face smeared with sweat and dirt.
No one could stop him.
"He's mine. I sent him to die, pushed his back."
Yuan Shu stabbed the spade again, gasping. "So... I'll see him off proper. That's right."
We watched his back in somber silence.
Heir of noble Yuan clan digging a grave for a mere old minister—unprecedented, solemn.
At last, the mound rose. Yuan Shu gently buried the box with Han Gyu's head, collapsing before it.
Trembling, he poured wine from a flask onto the grave.
"Lord Han Gyu."
His voice cracked wetly. "On that final road... did you curse this worthless Yuan Gonglu?"
No reply. Only night wind tousling his disheveled hair.
Yuan Shu buried his face in his knees. Shoulders heaved.
"Sorry... Sorry, old man..."
The ambitious conqueror sobbed like a child before his elder's tomb.
I bowed silently in respect. Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, Lu Su wiped reddened eyes wordlessly.
We knew: honey-loving, willful lord though he was, those tears for his man were true.
Your sacrifice wasn't vain.
Gazing at the stars, I vowed. I'll make him emperor, usher the sage king's era you dreamed of.
Suchun's old star set; Jiangdong's new sun rose.
Yuan Shu's army's true first step began amid hot tears.