Downfall (3): Stifling Frustration
Chen Gong sat alone, nursing her wine and pounding her chest. It took considerable force to strike her sternum like other men did in fits of rage, but she wanted to vent her injustice through self-harm if that's what it took.
"My eyes must have been clouded. I should have colluded with Yuan Shao back in Puyang that day."
Chen Gong sighed bitterly. How foolish she'd been to choose Lü Bu over Yuan Shao. Lü Bu's martial prowess combined with her own intellect—wouldn't that have been near perfection?
"Hàn Xīn, what kind of battles have you fought, exactly?"
Chen Gong yearned to become a successful Hàn Xīn. The dream bestowed upon her—to serve as the strategist commanding the realm—had felt so tantalizingly real.
That first assault on Puyang. When they'd pushed Cao Cao's forces to the brink of annihilation, she'd been certain Chenliu would fall completely into Lü Bu's hands.
But Lü Bu had proven weaker than expected. As an individual, he was undoubtedly strong.
The phrase one against a thousand surely described him; whenever he charged onto the battlefield, countless foes were swept away. Lü Bu was the strongest.
But that held true only in one-on-one duels.
"Ha. Why didn't I see it sooner, with all his defeats?"
Lü Bu had suffered defeat after defeat. If personal might directly led to victory, he should have triumphed endlessly—yet even in Chang'an alone, he'd fled from Li Jue and Guo Si.
He was overwhelmingly strong against the weak, but against a worthy opponent, he was merely a slightly superior general. And his horse was utterly disobedient to boot.
"The enemy is preparing a flood attack. If we sit idle here, the city will soon be submerged. And this blockhead wants to hole up with his woman and sleep...!"
Bam! Chen Gong groaned in despair.
"I dreamed of the Hegemon-King of Chu, but reality gave me Guo Zǐyī. No, worse than him. Lü Bu is just Lü Bu. It's an insult to compare him to those legends."
His martial skill was exceptional. The Hegemon-King had dominated Liu Bang until Hàn Xīn's betrayal, and even after, he'd leveraged his personal talents for victories.
But Lü Bu was different. He ignored Chen Gong's counsel entirely. He blundered constantly, deaf to her words amid the sycophants' schemes and divisions.
"I'm not always right, but this was the obvious path...!"
Chen Gong clutched her head.
"It's Diaochan. That bitch."
Killing intent flashed in Chen Gong's eyes.
"That damned woman sees me as a rival and whispers poison in his ear at bedtime. Otherwise, why would Lü Bu ignore me like this?"
Women had a peculiar instinct, especially when gauging if another woman liked or hated them—it flared most fiercely then.
Diaochan genuinely despised Chen Gong. And knowing the reason only deepened her frustration.
"I'm not even viewing Lü Bu romantically, yet she treats me as a love rival? She's mad. Utterly mad. Ha, no wonder the wild tale claims Hàn Xīn was ousted by Lady Xī's jealousy!"
Chen Gong downed more wine.
"If I'd been born a man, would I face such contempt? Ah, so this is Hàn Xīn's suffering. Alas, what calamity!"
Thud. She slammed her fist on the desk.
"You, sneaking around cuckolding others, dare ignore my words? And because you think I don't like you? Heh, heh heh, ahahaha!!!"
Chen Gong laughed maniacally, pounding the desk so fiercely her hand might swell and bleed.
"Bastard."
Her blazing eyes turned toward where Lü Bu slept.
"...Is there any reason to pledge loyalty to a man who ignores his strategist's advice?"
Had anyone been there, they might have restrained her or betrayed her. But the room held only Chen Gong.
"I must survive. Carve my own path."
She bit her lower lip, then suddenly dressed and dashed out.
"Open the prison gate."
"Yes, Lady Chen!"
Creak.
As the door to the basement-like chamber swung open, a foul stench wafted from below. In the corner sat a man in shackles, looking half-dead from brutal torture.
"My dear Hú Zhēn."
"...Advisor?"
Hú Zhēn, one of Lü Bu's subordinate generals, had been imprisoned for some blunder. One of the three generals flogged to ruin, he now shivered on the cold stone floor in humiliation.
"Care to join me in a little venture?"
"A... venture?"
"Indeed. We can't just drown or freeze here."
Chen Gong's face was flushed from drink, but her eyes were sharp. "They branded us traitors of the Lü clan, so we must live."
"H-how?"
"Don't worry. I lack power, but not brains. I'll devise a plan to kill Lü Bu and save us all."
"B-but, Advisor... Won't Cao Cao execute you if you're caught?"
"...I've secured my lifeline."
Chen Gong extended her hand steadily. "So, will you?"
* * *
On a deep, moonless night, Lü Bu awoke to a chill wind. An inexplicable unease gripped him, his body heavy as lead.
"Urgh..."
He struggled upright and turned to the bronze mirror to inspect himself.
"What...?"
The polished reflection showed a ruined man, pallid as death—not the warrior who once dominated the realm. Just a creature rotting away in booze and women.
"When did I become... this?"
Lü Bu clutched his gut. Confined to Xiapi Castle, his once-firm abs had vanished.
"Ugh... I train daily...!"
Staggering up, he donned clothes. Swing a weapon to sweat it out? Or another way?
"Can't torment Xián'ér. Hm."
After deliberation, he opted for his weapon after ages. In his chamber hung his beloved Fangtian Huàjī—
"Gone?"
It was missing from its usual spot. He'd even kept it bedside lately, yet nowhere in sight. A weapon as long as a man—it couldn't hide.
"What in the—?!"
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. He leaped, snatching a wall rod.
Crack!
"My lord! Get down!"
Sòng Xiàn burst in, blood-soaked, sword dripping.
"Rebellion!!"
"Wh-what?!"
"The soldiers have risen en masse. Flee now!"
"Explain! How are you—?!"
"We don't know! But...!"
Sòng Xiàn armored Lü Bu amid curses.
"Everyone but Hám Jīnyíng is charging you! They're mad for gold!"
"What?!"
Lü Bu bolted up, face crimson.
"Where's Fangtian Huàjī? Red Hare?!"
"Searched everywhere... gone!"
"Gah...!"
Lü Bu dashed outside. Eerily quiet—no sign of tumult.
Whoosh.
"Guh?!"
A hooked rope snagged his shoulder. He grabbed it in panic, then realized: hooks flew from all sides.
Whirrr!!
They latched onto him. Protecting his face, he leaped back—only to sense foes behind. He swung the rod wildly.
"Urk?!"
Sòng Xiàn, sword in hand, flew back from the force. Even a mere rod felled sword-wielders; Lü Bu's might dwarfed them, yet he spared Sòng Xiàn.
"Bind the traitor!! Pull!"
The hook-bearers yanked one way. Lü Bu twisted to match, but some hooks pinned him via armor.
"You bastards...?!"
He seized three or four ropes, yanking hard. Figures tumbled from shadows; rage boiled as he recognized them.
"Wèi Xù! Hú Zhēn! You dogs! Betraying after floggings?!"
"Shut it, traitor!"
"You think years under Lord Wèi bought true loyalty from Dǒng Zhuó's guard dog?! Sick of your betrayals and our suffering!"
"Better gamble than freeze in Xiapi!"
Desperation fueled them. The three generals and soldiers strained every sinew to bind him.
"Capture Lü Bu alive for Cao Cao! Split the gold!"
"Generals and grunts alike—equal shares!"
"Pull like you mean to die!!"
"Raaagh!!"
They hauled with suicidal fervor. More ropes flew; Lü Bu yanked those on his wrists, staggering ten men.
"I am Lü Bu! Cavalry General, General of the Left! You think to bind me like this?! Dream on!"
"Kyaaak!!"
A scream pierced the air. Lü Bu's strength drained.
"Xiāo Lián...?!"
"Regrettable, General Lü."
From shadows emerged a woman gripping a bound Diaochan, sword in hand.
"Chen Gong!! You bitch!!"
"Mind your tongue. I'm no lowly wretch to deserve it."
Chen Gong smirked, pressing the blade to Diaochan's throat.
"Kneel quietly. I'll spare her life."
"You think Cao Cao will let you live after this?!"
"Yes."
Chen Gong shrugged mockingly.
"Turns out being a woman helps—words get through. Betrayal's price is steep, but I must've impressed her once. She grants my every plea."
"Wh-what?!"
"A deal. I begged for my life; in exchange, I deliver your head."
"Impossible. Cao Cao never spares traitors...!"
"True. Chen Gong dies."
Chen Gong grinned wickedly, nicking Diaochan's throat.
"But this woman? She survives. Somewhere quiet, out of sight. Jingzhou, perhaps?"
"You...! Chen Gong—grrr!!"
"Should've heeded me sooner."
Chen Gong's face hardened.
"You reduced a strategist who shed her womanhood back to mere female."
Stab.
"The failed strategist Chen Gong dies here. I start anew."
Crimson sprayed into the night sky.