Lü Bu Subjugation (7): Meanwhile, in Yeonam
"Even if Lü Bu is a dog-like bastard, his fighting skills are renowned. Haven't you seen General Gi-ryeong lose her wits after witnessing his prowess?"
"Even so, how can we join forces again with those who betrayed us? They're the ones who plundered Shouchun!"
"When hunger and desperation set in, people lose their senses. I'm not defending them. The point is, they're so destitute they're raiding allied territory like ours."
"So, since we're both withering away, we should lean on each other?"
"It's not impossible."
Yeonam's generals clashed sharply over the marriage alliance with Lü Bu. Some insisted on allying with him; others raged that partnering with the likes of Lü Bu was unthinkable. One thing was clear: no matter how much they argued, all decisions in Zhong still rested with Yuan Shu.
"...Zhang Xun."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"If we ally with Lü Bu and strike Cao Cao, how advantageous would that be for us?"
"Absolutely advantageous. But if we send even a single soldier to Lü Bu's army, our rear will be exposed."
Yuan Shu had enemies at his back too. Liu Biao of Jingzhou. And Sun Bo from the east, whose power and territory now rivaled Yuan Shu's own growth. Just as Lü Bu and Yuan Shu might ally to pressure Cao Cao, Liu Biao and Sun Bo could unite against Yuan Shu. They wouldn't formally ally over Huang Zu's affair, but they could squeeze him from both sides as if they had.
"They want us to send troops, don't they?"
"Yes. Their hope is reinforcements. You must decide."
No formal alliance had been struck yet. But allying brought memories of Lü Bu's atrocities, stirring irritation; refusing meant fretting over the future. Either way, it gnawed at him.
"After Lü Bu, it'll be our turn."
Cao Cao didn't yet see Zhong as a true state. She viewed it as a rebel faction to crush, with Lü Bu simply taking priority over Yuan Shu.
"A case of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will feel the cold.'"
Without Lü Bu taking the hits upfront, Yuan Shu would suffer.
"Zhang Xun, is there no other way?"
"There is, but it's a desperate stratagem for when we're on the brink of falling off the cliff..."
"What is it?"
"Hebei's..."
Thwack!
"You madman!!"
Zhang Xun's shoulder took the brunt of the porcelain teacup Yuan Shu hurled. It was hardly fitting conduct for a great general of a nation, but Yuan Shu's fury was so explosive that even Zhang Xun clamped his mouth shut.
"Do you think I'm insane enough to beg favors from that concubine's spawn?!"
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
"Never speak of it again!"
Yuan Shu remained consumed by hatred for that one man. Zhang Xun knew it but had no choice under the generals' scrutiny—yet with Yuan Shu raging like this, he couldn't press further. Any more, and his head really would roll. Better to stay silent.
"In the end, beggars can't be choosers."
Yuan Shu nodded gravely.
"But on one condition. Tell Lü Bu's envoy: send his daughter to Yeonam. Then I'll judge based on her face."
The corners of Yuan Shu's mouth deepened slyly.
"I need to see just how impressive Lü Bu's daughter is. Verify if she's worth saving him for, then consider dispatching reinforcements. Isn't this a marriage alliance?"
"What do you intend?"
"To give him a taste of his own medicine. Heh."
Yuan Shu stroked his beard with a venomous grin.
"We'll need time to test if she has the qualities of an empress. If her father holds out that long, she becomes empress. Otherwise... heh heh."
"Your Majesty."
Zhang Xun asked tentatively.
"Isn't she... to be crown princess?"
"......"
Yuan Shu swallowed hard.
"A slip of the tongue."
No one thought it a mere slip.
A dark night. After tucking Zhuge Liang into bed, I slipped out of the tent alone and gazed up at the starry sky. Passing soldiers glanced my way then hurried off. No surprise—I was embedded with Cao Cao's army at 'executive' level. In truth, my role was just spectating, but the troops steered clear rather than picking fights. Made things convenient. Plenty of time alone to sort my thoughts.
"What has you so deep in contemplation?"
My thoughts scattered. I cupped my fists and bowed at the familiar voice behind me.
"Greetings, Supreme Commander of the Protectorate."
"Come now, no need for such formality. Just call me Mengde."
Cao Cao placed a hand on my shoulder with a grin. It felt like a snake eyeing a frog before the strike—chills ran down my spine—but I steadied myself, smiled back, and continued.
"How could a mere rustic presume to address the general so casually?"
"What about as the foster mother of a close friend?"
"Close... friend?"
"Yes. A close friend. You're quite intimate with Aman, aren't you?"
"Ah, no, that's..."
Was she here to rattle me? Grasping at straws to lop off my head, no doubt.
"Just a personal acquaintance."
"Aman doesn't drink alone with men on mere personal terms."
"......"
"Heh heh, you're sharp—you know what I mean."
"Th-that's..."
Flustered. Aman wasn't just anyone—she was Cao Cao's foster daughter. Why push this connection so hard?
"I've looked into you thoroughly. You're the real power behind Suyeon Academy."
"Merely a scholar riding Sima Hui's reputation."
"Still so humble. You've already proven your worth. Without you, Cao Ang might have died. You're already swaying our army greatly."
She was right. One foot was already in Cao Cao's camp.
"In your view, who is the ideal sovereign?"
"May I speak frankly?"
"Go ahead."
"One who starts no wars."
People don't matter. In true peace, any ruler brings comfort.
"But if you must name one?"
"Calling anyone 'ideal lord' feels meaningless. Ideals and reality differ. In this chaos, wars erupt everywhere, victims overflow. So, I'd pick the one who can become ideal fastest."
The one to achieve peace.
"Yuan Shao of Hebei. And Lady Cao. Those two."
"What of Liu Biao, your Jingzhou host?"
"Full of ambition but blind to talent, utterly complacent. He'll cower till death."
Harsh, but true—especially before Cao Cao.
"Is that your verdict as kin to the Cai clan pulling his strings?"
"...I'd say the same without the connection. I've suffered under him twice."
Once from Sun Jian's invasion. Once from Zhang Je's. Unless a clear traitor like Yuan Shu, he stirred not. Xinya owed its defense to Suyeon Academy.
"Liu Biao will eventually fold into Yuan Shao or Lady Cao. The victor of Hebei-Central Plains will claim Jingzhou too."
"Ha ha, flattering us before we've even pacified the plains? Already sketching post-Yuan Shao."
"My imagination runs wild. Though if Gongsun Zan miraculously topples him, that changes things."
Word was, north: Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan in final deathmatch. Truly desperate.
"In any case, Lady Cao is closest to unifying the realm. You serve the Emperor himself."
"And if I harbored other ambitions?"
Sudden shift—what?
"What if I became like Dong Zhuo?"
Her face chilled. From playful banter to stripping me bare with her gaze.
"Or like Yuan Shu?"
"Not impossible, I suppose."
"Ho?"
Her eyes gleamed.
"No shock?"
"I am shocked. But you asked, so I answer honestly. I once heard friends say: for a country bumpkin, as long as it's warm, belly full, family happy, the lord's name, age, gender—even the nation's—don't matter."
"......"
"Of course, spout that publicly and it's the blade."
I could die now. If her mood flipped to purge, I'd be gone. So, not my words—ones I heard. Still true.
"I just wish for an era of honey tea and nature's embrace. Ha ha."
"......Understood. I'll etch your words in my heart."
Gulp.
Somehow, I swallowed. Her vast ambition—unlike Aman's—made me avert my eyes.
"But wouldn't such a life alone feel lonely? What of marriage?"
"Marriage is a great rite—can't be taken lightly."
"For you, I think..."
She sidled close, linking arms slyly.
"...you'd make a fine match for Aman."
"......Pardon?"
"What say you? She doesn't seem averse."
"Th-that's..."
Tricky. Worse than neck-risk moments.
"I have a betrothal arranged by my clan."
"......Oh."
Instantly.
"Tell me more. In detail."
Her eyes became even more serious than when discussing the fate of the realm.