A Small Snowball Triggers an Avalanche -1 Neigh!
A cheerful horse's neigh announced our arrival at Xinyang.
The coachman Inma had turned as pale as a ghost, and Zhao Yun looked utterly drained.
We'd raced here at breakneck speed, swapping horses midway, all because of a time attack on Xu Shu's original posting.
"Chen Soyoung, daughter of Lord Kongming, who serves as Military Strategist General and Left General's Deputy, has arrived."
I'd heard the announcement from Zhao Yun on the way.
It was a shocking promotion under Liu Bei's command. Knowing full well the sidelong glares wouldn't be kind, I decided to act all the bolder for it.
"A brat who hasn't even shed blood yet. Where do you think you're crawling from?"
A booming voice from a hearty man. If I had to describe him, he'd be a ruddy bear.
Call him a thug afraid of nothing in the world, and he'd still turn you into a polite gentleman on autopilot—a manners enforcer.
A burly guy who looked a bit like my dad.
One glance, and I knew exactly who he was.
Anyone who's seen that eight-foot spear would know.
"Greetings, Lord Zhang Fei."
I gave a light bow and strode right past him without a second glance.
Zhang Fei didn't try to stop me.
As I walked on, thunderous shouts echoed. Under Xu Shu's lead, the soldiers were drilling formations hard.
Liu Bei was watching the training too, but his gaze was fixed not on the troops—on Xu Shu.
Like he could sense the farewell coming, his eyes brimmed with heartbreaking pity.
"First time meeting. I assume you know who I am."
I gave a casual nod, holding my ground with all my might in this invisible battle of wills.
Xu Shu on the platform snapped his fan shut, and the soldiers dropped their weapons in unison, collapsing onto the ground.
"Follow me."
Xu Shu gestured politely, and I trailed behind.
Thud. Thud.
A heavy pat on the back made me turn naturally. Zhao Yun had knelt down, bringing his face close to my ear.
"Take your words to heart, young miss."
"Yeah. I know the situation's more tangled than it seems."
No more chit-chat after that—we headed straight into the command tent.
Liu Bei sat at the head seat. Soon, Xu Shu and I faced each other across from him.
"This girl is too shy for small talk. Might we cut straight to the point? What's your will on that?"
Liu Bei nodded silently.
I looked at Xu Shu. His eyes were so eerily calm it sent chills down my spine.
I knew exactly what was churning in that head of his right now.
Like I'd stuffed my mouth full of ashes—words barely came out amid the overwhelming pressure.
A terrifying man with the weight of stillness.
"Straight to it, then. The letter is a fake. If you fall for it, something irreversible and horrific will happen."
Liu Bei and Xu Shu locked eyes.
Like they'd never dreamed I'd say such a thing—the once-calm Xu Shu's gaze twisted into something ghostly and fierce.
"My lord. May I speak freely?"
"You may."
With Liu Bei's permission, Xu Shu steadied his breath.
"You bastard!!! You staked your life on that claim? Do you even grasp what it means? You know Cao Cao's using my mother as bait to lure me out, right?!"
I felt the killing intent.
Every word dripped with rage, like he wanted to kill me on the spot.
"I'll stake my neck to prove it's a lie."
"Good. Even if Kongming favors you, I didn't mishear that. So speak—why?"
Xu Shu was scarier when he went quiet.
His sharp voice raised goosebumps on my skin.
"Have you heard the rumors from Xu Chang about the emperor?"
"Why bring that up?"
"Have you heard them?"
"I have."
Maybe I should mix in a convincing lie of my own. Stake my life on it.
"I started those rumors."
All eyes turned to me.
Even Zhao Yun's.
"I carved that horse statue myself. I know Xu Chang inside out. If it's not too rude, could I see the letter?"
Xu Shu tossed the letter from his bosom.
The bamboo slips were worn thin from repeated readings.
"I'll read it."
I unrolled and scanned the slips.
Beautiful calligraphy, but one glaring point jumped out.
"Your mother is quite advanced in years, isn't she?"
"She is."
"What does she think of Cao Cao?"
"She sees him as a traitor. That's why I was ready to ride out tomorrow."
I carefully handed the slips back to Xu Shu.
"Cao Cao has the emperor under house arrest, so the people's hearts aren't with him. He crushes rebellions with force and rules by terror, keeping the masses too scared to rise. But he treasures his own people fiercely. Cruel, yes—but not purely cruel."
Character assessment game. The mandatory back-and-forth in late Han conversations.
Xu Shu responded to my eval.
"That's exactly why I must go. Cao Cao's cruel, but if I bend to his will, he'll treat me well. Then my mother lives. How could I call myself a man if I fail in filial piety?"
Xu Shu's killing intent eased a bit.
He's thinking now.
"I examined the slips. It says Xu Du, not Xu Chang. I know this letter's fake. Did you know too, Lord Xu Shu?"
"What difference does that make? Fake or real, nothing changes."
Resolute.
Xu Shu clutched his hair, hyperventilating as he glared like he wanted to strangle me.
Zhao Yun stepped forward to intervene. I raised a hand, and he held back.
"That's why I came—to fulfill filial duty." Going to Xu Chang would be unfilial. I had to make him see that. No way they'd get it otherwise.
"Lady Huang always told me: A woman must steel her heart more firmly than any man—that's her chastity, her integrity, beyond men's schemes."
I fanned my scholar's fan as I continued.
"So your mother must be a woman of integrity and chastity. Even if she's ill or held hostage by Cao Cao, no parent wants to burden their child."
Xu Shu's glare softened. But that wasn't the reaction I wanted. I'd chosen the spicy route.
"If I were your mother, I'd hang myself in shame if you fell for Cao Cao's ploy."
"You wretch!!!"
Clang!
Xu Shu's hidden dagger flew at me. Zhao Yun blocked it with his spear.
"How dare you! How dare you spout such nonsense! I'll tear you apart today!"
Zhao Yun held him back.
"Before the lord!! Lord Xu Shu, quell your rage!"
"Argh! Out of my way! I need blood today!!!"
"Silence!!!"
Liu Bei drew his twin swords and bellowed. Everyone froze. His face twisted in fury.
But somehow, this scene felt oddly comforting. Like a psychopath, I was relieved he'd raged at me.
"Don't you know best that your mother feels the same fury toward you right now? Why burden her with it?"
I knew the story's end, so I spoke without a shred of deceit. No flaw or falsehood for him to detect—Xu Shu looked confused as he dropped the blade.
"Kuh... kuh... grrr!!!"
Xu Shu's hand trembled—the one that had gripped the dagger moments ago.
Then silence fell. With a frosty, wintry tone, he spoke.
"Your name?"
"Chen Soyoung."
"Kongming sent you?"
"I came of my own will."
A brief exchange of short phrases. Xu Shu turned to Liu Bei.
"I must go. Just one horse... if I may ask, my lord."
Liu Bei grabbed Xu Shu's arm in panic.
"Really. Really leaving like this?"
"No. I need to visit Yangyang first. See that poker-faced Kongming and decide then."
Anyone could see Xu Shu meant it—Liu Bei seemed to believe without doubt.
"If that's it, I'm relieved. Take Ironclad as you need."
Hearing Liu Bei's reply, Xu Shu extended his right hand to me.
"Kongming raised a clever daughter. How can you speak so boldly without flinching?"
I clasped his hand politely with both of mine.
"This girl's full of fear— I just spoke plain truth without schemes. You already know the answer, don't you?"
Xu Shu smirked, didn't even bow to Liu Bei, mounted the horse a soldier brought, and galloped off.
Liu Bei took my hand where Xu Shu had left off.
"How did you get all the way here? But thanks to you, one worry's lifted. Kongming sent you?"
"I volunteered myself."
Liu Bei's eyes were endlessly pure.
"My lord. May I offer one piece of advice?"
Liu Bei answered simply.
"Speak."
"Straight to the point. Cao Cao's coming for Xinyang—pull the army back to Jingzhou and secure Yangyang. If you don't, countless people will die."
"Then Xinyang's people die."
"Why think that?"
"Cao Cao's brutal. I've served under him; I know he's cold-blooded."
I feigned empathy for Liu Bei's concern.
"Indeed. Cao Cao's cold-blooded, rules the people by fear. But that doesn't make him a pure butcher."
"Do you know what happened in Xu Province? Bodies everywhere, the land turned to wasteland. I can't entrust people to him."
Of course I do. Liu Bei hates Cao Cao. Bound to have bad blood.
"Truly lamentable—a world where vengeance is justification. But Cao Cao's lost the people's hearts; he can't just slaughter them. He rules by fear because he fears the people most. That's why you must take Jingzhou, my lord."
I raised my voice.
For Uncle Kongming's grand plan, Liu Bei had to move.
"If you won't sacrifice the branch for the root, unification's just a dream, my lord. At our first meeting, I warned your benevolence would be your downfall. Rude words, but reconsider—avert that ruin."
Liu Bei remained expressionless.
Persuasion failed. But Plan B's ready.
"Call your sworn brothers, my lord. I'll devise a scheme."
Liu Bei pondered, released our clasped hands, and returned to the head seat.
"I'll hear you out. Devise your scheme."