Whoever Touches Little Xinye (3)
At that very moment, in Heodo.
"The weather is truly splendid."
"Yes, Prime Minister. You've seemed in exceptionally high spirits lately."
"Haha, you think so? Is it that obvious? Heh heh."
Cao Cao sipped her tea with a grin plastered across her face, but Liu Bei, seated across from her, fidgeted restlessly, unable to sit still.
"Why are you sitting so uncomfortably? It's not like you've committed some crime."
"Of course not. Here I am, in such fine surroundings, dressed in the finest clothes, eating the finest meals every day—how could I possibly act like some guilty criminal?"
"No need to overreact like that."
Cao Cao shrugged.
"How's life treating you, Imperial Uncle? The same as before, or different?"
"It's changed a great deal. And that's thanks to your consideration, Prime Minister."
"Haha, my consideration? Come now. So, tell me—how is life these days?"
"...These past few years, I've been charging through battlefields as treacherous as thin ice. To suddenly enjoy this peace... it feels terribly awkward."
Liu Bei carefully lifted his cup.
"Even now, I can't help worrying. Are bandits tormenting the people somewhere? Are the warlords clashing in their endless greed? The concerns weigh on me endlessly."
"So you want to rush out and fight them yourself? Even as the Imperial Uncle?"
"If the Imperial Uncle himself took up arms on the battlefield, it would set an example for countless soldiers. That's why I made that request last time..."
"Ah, you mean the Henei matter."
Before Cao Ren had set out as cavalry commander, Liu Bei had proposed to Cao Cao that he would personally drive out the bandits in Henei.
"I truly regret that incident. But I couldn't possibly let you trouble yourselves over mere bandits. What kind of host makes his guests do the housework?"
"......."
Yet Cao Cao had rejected it outright. Even when Liu Bei offered to bring Guan Yu and Zhang Fei along, she refused without exception, sending Cao Ren instead regardless of reason.
"If any other bandits appear, I'll be sure to recommend you. Why worry so much? Do you think I'll have you killed?"
"Haha, of course not. There's no reason for you to kill me, Prime Minister."
"What if there was a reason?"
"...Would you tell me?"
Drip, drip.
The sky suddenly darkened. Black clouds blanketed the heavens, and a sudden downpour began.
"A reason."
Cao Cao smirked as she watched the raindrops falling into the garden beneath the pavilion.
"I don't think there are many in the realm worthy of being called heroes. Everyone was too busy looking out for themselves. Even Yuan Shao of the north was obsessed with his own fame and glory. Do you know when I realized that? When we struck against Yuan Shu."
Cao Cao poured tea into Liu Bei's cup herself, with one hand, her smile benevolent.
"No one in the realm aided me—but you alone did! Isn't it ridiculous? I thought Liu Biao would move, but he stayed put, and here you were, helping me!"
"I merely did what was right."
"How many warlords failed to do what was right? That's when I realized it anew. In this age of chaos, the realm needs heroes—and there are only two such heroes."
"......."
Liu Bei fell into a long silence. Cao Cao simply gazed at him endlessly, as if urging him to speak.
"I..."
In that instant—
BOOM!!
"Gah, shit!!"
"......."
The sudden thunderbolt made Cao Cao's jaw drop in shock, while Liu Bei glanced at her in panic.
"...What did I just say?"
"No, nothing at all. Haha, so even you have things that scare you?"
"O-Of course. Ha, haha. What an embarrassing sight I've shown..."
Liu Bei wiped the cold sweat from his brow, stroking his chest. Watching him closely, Cao Cao tilted her head as she sipped her tea.
"Was the thunder that startling?"
"When it hits out of nowhere, yes. Felt just like my wife smacking my back. Whew."
"Hahaha! So you're afraid of your wife!"
"...Who isn't?"
For the first time, Liu Bei let out a sheepish laugh, his tension easing.
"She's the woman who's stood by me for over ten years of wandering. And my new concubine has a temper to match. Nights are... exhausting, to say the least."
"That's your good fortune, Imperial Uncle. In any other household, she'd have run off long ago. Heh heh, got any secrets?"
"No real secrets... ahem."
Liu Bei puffed out his chest but hesitated to continue.
"Your marital harmony is truly enviable, Prime Minister."
"I see... Please pass on my regards to your wife. Tell her Cao Mengde owes much to Imperial Uncle Liu."
"She'll be delighted. Thank you, Prime Minister."
"No need for thanks."
The rain began to ease. In the relaxed atmosphere, Cao Cao lifted her cup and casually asked,
"By the way, I hear you've been getting close to Dong Cheng lately?"
"......."
Liu Bei's expression hardened once more.
"Don't get too chummy with Dong Cheng. Think of the 'Dong' name—that's all I'll say."
"...We only shared a meal. As the Imperial Uncle. Isn't he kin to the imperial family?"
"Not trying to sow discord here—this is just between us."
Cao Cao pointed calmly at herself.
"His Majesty favors me more than Dong Cheng right now."
"......."
Liu Bei had no retort to Cao Cao's confident words. Who could take such a claim at face value?
"You think I'm joking? No. Beyond rescuing His Majesty, he has elevated me, Cao Cao, to Prime Minister."
"I know. I've heard rumors that court officials want to grant you just a corner of the realm."
"Haha, nonsense. That's the scheme of those slandering me. Right now, His Majesty and I walk the same path. We're in the same boat... no harm in saying so. Hyun-deok."
Cao Cao leaned forward earnestly toward Liu Bei.
"Become my man. Serve Han truly as the Left General."
"...It seems you care more about the people around me than me."
"Hm?"
Liu Bei gave a wry smile and bowed his head.
"I follow only His Majesty's commands. I serve him directly, not through others. That's the duty of the Imperial Uncle."
"...I see."
Cao Cao raised her cup to Liu Bei.
"That's the resolve of a true hero of the age. Haha. Think it over. See if my words are empty, or if those around you speak the truth."
"......Why are you so kind to me?"
"Isn't it obvious? Because you're of the imperial house."
"And if I weren't?"
"We wouldn't even be sitting here. Even if all your actions were the same, if you were Liu Bi or Dong Bi or Gong Sunbi, I'd see you merely as a loyal subject."
"......."
Liu Bei was speechless at Cao Cao's frank revelation. She grinned and turned her gaze outside.
"What a noisy shower that's been."
The clouds parted, and sunlight began to filter in.
"Did I go too heavy? Haha, then—"
"Pardon the interruption, Prime Minister."
As Cao Cao spoke, a bald giant approached and handed her a letter.
"Thank you, Front Guard. ...Hm, so this Yuan Shu bastard is still banditizing and plundering the surroundings?"
In that moment, Liu Bei's fist clenched tight, and he lifted his head sharply.
* * *
"From now on, we're going to exterminate the bandit called Yuan Shu."
I'd gathered everyone participating in this battle at the schoolhouse I'd designated as our temporary command post.
"Pang Tong, any questions?"
"I want to know the enemy's composition."
"Sure. Four thousand halberdiers, four thousand spearmen, two thousand archers."
"That's awfully similar to the force we crushed last time."
"Yeah. They're copying our tactics outright. ...Embarrassing to even call it tactics, but better than just bringing swordsmen."
Having lost once to an all-swordsman force, they needed a proper mix now.
"I don't know how much they'll stick to form, but bandits won't fight with spears and halberds properly—so it's basically a full-frontal clash."
That meant we couldn't hide that it was Yuan Shu's army anymore, but with honey-blinded Yuan Shu openly eyeing Jingzhou anyway, it was fine.
"No declaration of war, but it's practically war with Yuan Shu..."
"You okay with that? Liu Biao's not sending reinforcements."
"Yeah. The very worry we had for Huang Zu is happening to us now."
Whether he assumed we'd handle it, Liu Biao hadn't even hinted at aid.
'I sent a whole jar of honey as a gift—too much?'
At least send three thousand for face. He wouldn't withhold by twisting words... probably. But I wouldn't beg Mun Bing directly.
"Reinforcements will come. I've sent word through Cai Mao's wife, so at least some will arrive."
Now Cai Xuan would nag her husband nightly to send troops. I'd just focus on how to smash Yuan Shu.
"Assuming the enemy is a proper army, what should we do?"
"Correct."
"Right, Pang Tong—speak first."
"Follow Zhuge Liang's plan to the letter."
"......."
No need for discussion—the answer was out.
"Th-That work? Shouldn't we discuss more, talk it over, exchange ideas, point out each other's flaws...?"
"Master. Planning a tactical debate with Zhuge Liang?"
"...Hmph."
Zhuge Liang covered her mouth with her feather fan, smirking.
"...Liang. How about hearing Pang Tong and Seo Seo's thoughts first?"
"That's fine, husband."
Zhuge Liang pointed her fan at the paths where enemy generals Le Bao and Jin Ran would come.
"While you were in Henei, husband, I've already set up everything to repel them."
"...Facilities?"
"Yes."
Zhuge Liang mimed throwing something from horseback, beaming.
"I've lined repeating crossbows along every path they'll take. Very efficiently. Prettily."
"......."