Turning Point (1)
Morning came. After finishing my preparations, I set off for Yangyang with a single horse and one woman in tow.
"Heh heh, see? I was right."
After our long, drawn-out conversation through the night, Jia Xu had dropped the formal speech with me.
"Yeah, you were."
And so had I. Though Jia Xu was far older than me, she'd thrown a fit, insisting she didn't want any honorifics from me.
"How do you plan to convince Zhang Su?"
"Just set up the meeting. I'll handle the rest."
Jia Xu licked her lips with a sly grin. She wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing her body firmly against mine and rubbing teasingly.
"You weren't just now thinking I'd try seducing Liu Biao with my tongue, were you?"
"I'd be lying if I said no."
"I wouldn't. I know how to pick my spots."
Jia Xu giggled softly, burying her face against me.
"You're lucky you listened to Master Hwang. He said everything would fall into place once we met, and it really seems like it."
"Foster father?"
"Yeah. Master Huang Shengyan. We met back in Chang'an. Where's he at now?"
"No idea."
By the rumors I'd heard, he was off doing something in Jiangdong, but I had no real details. Yeah, apparently he'd gathered private troops to aid Sun Bo's forces. What a weird guy. His followers were oddballs too. They seemed less like retainers of the Huang clan and more like rebels risen specifically for Sun Bo.
Why Sun Bo, of all people? It was a total mystery. If someone like Huang Shengyan was throwing his support behind you, it meant you had massive future potential. But no matter how I racked my brain, I couldn't see Sun Bo achieving anything great. He was just Yuan Shu's lackey.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"The state of the realm."
"Sounds fun. Why not think about it with me?"
"Teaming up with you would definitely teach me the best ways to survive."
We were both desperate to figure out paths to our own survival. But...
"You're not gonna stab me in the back later over what we discussed on the way, right?"
"Come on, would I?"
"If ditching me was the only way to save your own skin, what would you do?"
"Mm, play it by ear?"
See what I mean? Saying she'd "play it by ear" meant Jia Xu prioritized her own safety over any loyalty to me.
"You're the same way."
"True enough."
"If Zhang Su's forces and Liu Biao's were already at each other's throats, you'd take me hostage and demand ransom from Zhang Su's side, wouldn't you?"
"I'm a civilian."
"I mean if you were with Liu Biao's army."
"......"
Yeah, if I were Liu Biao's strategist, that's exactly what I'd propose. Jia Xu's talents were proven by her survival between Li Jue and Guo Si; as Zhang Su's advisor, she'd be a major threat. Same for Cao Cao's forces.
"What if Cao Cao's army is gearing up for battle? What then?"
"Depends on whether we ally with Liu Biao or not."
"Got some plan in mind?"
"We can hold them off alone, or win outright with Liu Biao's help."
"Cocky much?"
"Of course. Know what's most important for strategists and generals on the battlefield?"
Jia Xu tapped my temple with her fingertip.
"Brains. A staff officer devises winning strategies for the general; the general has the brains to heed the officer's commands. What's the point of brilliant schemes if they're ignored?"
"Sounds like the voice of experience."
"It is. What's the use of peerless martial prowess if you charge into obvious traps with your whole force and get everyone killed?"
"...Is this about Lü Bu?"
"Bingo."
Jia Xu shook her head as if utterly exasperated.
"After killing Dong Zhuo, if Lü Bu had just listened to me, he'd be a grand general by now. The Emperor wouldn't be with Cao Cao; he'd have consolidated Chang'an and Xiliang and marched east."
"But he lost to Li Jue and Guo Si. ...Wait, were you involved?"
"Heh heh."
A low chuckle came from behind me.
"I don't work with people who ignore my advice. I'd take a reliable commander who understands, trusts, and follows my strategies over some one-man army."
"Lü Bu wouldn't listen and acted on ego, so you pretended to reach out to Li Jue and Guo Si—effectively saving them!"
"Exactly. Without that 'favor,' how could I have survived between those two? I showed them both how to stay alive."
"And in the process, the people of Chang'an—and the Emperor and his officials—suffered under Li Jue and Guo Si's plundering?"
"They were the bad guys, not me. I did my best."
Sarcasm or mockery wouldn't faze Jia Xu.
"So Zhang Su actually listens to you?"
"Yup. If Cao Cao accepts our surrender, we transition smoothly. Otherwise, we get Liu Biao's reinforcements and hit Cao Cao from behind."
"Liu Biao won't take that risk."
"Convincing him is my job. Don't worry—I've got the logic lined up."
"Cao the Hegemon?"
"That's the one."
Cao the Hegemon. Just as Chu Hegemon Xiang Yu crushed all who offended him under cavalry hooves in the Chu-Han era, many feared Cao Cao might swing his fist at allies and enemies alike in this age.
"But what if Cao Cao reaches Wan first while we're en route?"
"No problem. Gallop hard, and we'll make it in time."
According to Jia Xu, army movements and individual travel were worlds apart. I'd handled five hundred and two thousand troops before, but her point didn't quite click.
"You've been chased by Zhang Ji, so you get it."
"Is it okay to joke so casually about nearly dying?"
"You didn't die, did you? Hell, we killed Zhang Ji instead."
"Anyone hearing this would think you're not Zhang Ji's successor's strategist."
"I'm Zhang Su's strategist, not Zhang Ji's. So, how was that day?"
"...Pissed myself in terror, pretty much."
That day, when Zhang Ji pursued us through snowfields, his army moved like a beast on the hunt.
"Felt like demonic beasts were after us."
"Beasts on horseback, yeah?"
"...Horses are beasts, but it was a figure of speech. Is this high-official humor? Sigh."
"The higher the rank, the funnier any joke lands."
Her next words were a shock.
"When those in power joke, even lame ones get laughs."
"Huh."
"Of course, you pick your audience. No eye for people, no jokes. Know your timing and place, or your head rolls easy."
Jia Xu kept chuckling, pointing ahead.
"We're here already. So... Lord Geum, shall we get serious now?"
Her voice had suddenly deepened.
"I hope you'll introduce me to Governor Liu, Lord Geum."
"......."
A chill ran down my spine.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
A needless sense of déjà vu dried my mouth.
"The guy who was ready to die yesterday suddenly—"
Thwack.
"Shut it."
"......Urk."
The spot she'd hit hurt way more than expected—like I might die.
Noon. At Lady Cai's request, Liu Biao joined her and the Cai retainers for a separate meal. But the mood was tense.
Lady Cai, cradling her child, seemed eager to finish quickly and eat alone with him. Liu Biao rushed through his food and set tea before them.
"Something the matter?"
"...Someone's come from Wan."
"Wan? Damn."
Liu Biao scowled at the mention of "someone."
"...Send them in."
"Yes."
No small talk needed. This was an unofficial meeting. The Cai arranging it separately meant they saw no major issues linking with Wan. Liu Biao wasn't thrilled, but...
"You...?!."
"Pleased to meet you, Governor Liu."
"No need for 'Governor'—lower your speech."
Liu Biao hastily showed respect.
"Aren't you the Grand Minister of the Imperial Secretariat?"
"Now, I'm just a wanderer—a mere woman."
"...How could I treat casually the one who could have ascended to Grand Commandant herself?"
The woman, Jia Xu, smiled sweetly while bowing deeply.
"I've only looked out for myself amid the realm's chaos. How can I compare to Governor Liu, who survived true hardships to make Jingzhou the most peaceful land under heaven?"
"No, but..."
Liu Biao held his tongue. With Jia Xu insisting on humility, praising her further would only embarrass her.
"...Dear, was she that impressive?"
Lady Cai asked cautiously.
"Didn't you bring her?"
"Nephew Hwang..."
"Taeyang? Hoo."
A shiver hit Liu Biao's spine. If Geum Taeyang of all people had arranged this, the meeting with Jia Xu was more crucial than any other.
"......Very well, let's be frank. Why have you come?"
"I'd like to form an alliance with Zhang Su's forces."
"An alliance? That's difficult. As you know, Zhang Su plundered northern Jingzhou in the past—"
"Governor."
Jia Xu's eyes curved like half-moons.
"Shall we have a little debate?"
"Debate?"
"Yes. The topic: If Cao Cao treads the path of the Chu Hegemon, how should we respond?"
Liu Biao secretly concludes an anti-Cao Cao alliance with Zhang Su.