Chapter 11
Chapter 11: Scheming Against One Another1
The young man coughed several times . He looked at me filled with hope . With no alternative, I had Xiaoshunzi bring him into my room . There, I asked, “This official is untalented, but is still an educated scholar . I can say with confidence that I have never stolen any married women . I wonder why you believe that your honored wife is here with me . ”
The man looked at me, unconvinced . He replied, “Although this lowly commoner,2 Han Zhang, is a citizen of the Kingdom of Shu, I am neither an official nor a soldier . I am an ordinary farmer . This lowly commoner’s wife hails from a prestigious house, possesses a beautiful appearance, and of noble status . Three years ago, because she was unhappy with her betrothal, she left her home . By chance, she married me . A few months ago, my humble wife learned her mother was ill and returned home to visit her family . Because this lowly commoner was busy with the fall harvest, I could not stay long and returned home early . Who knew that Great Yong and Southern Chu would invade Shu . My humble wife’s father was the garrison commander of Ba Prefecture, Tian Wei . He was unfortunate to perish . My humble wife and my mother-in-law were captured . When I heard that Ba Prefecture fell, I traveled day and night . I learned that they had been rewarded by the Prince of De to his military retainer, Jiang Zhe . As a result, I have followed you all the way . ”
Confused, I turned to look at Xiaoshunzi . Revealing a look of realization, he replied, “Daren, you were ill at the time . The Prince of De saw that Tian Wei’s daughter was elegant and beautiful . He rewarded her to daren because of your proposed strategy . At the time, daren was in a coma, so I accepted her on your behalf . She is currently staying with Army Supervisor Wang . Over these last few days, because daren only recently regained your health, this lowly servant wished attend to you for a few days . I saw that Lady Tian was quite thoughtful when attending to Wang gonggong, I decided to allow her to attend to him, allowing everyone to be happy . ”
I finally understood why Xiaoshunzi was always by my side . I asked, “How have they been treated by Wang gonggong?
Respectfully, Xiaoshunzi replied, “Be at ease, daren . Lady Tian is ingenious and nimble . Wang gonggong even wishes to adopt her as his daughter . As for the elder Lady Tian, she has been mourning the death of General Tian, so she is not too well . ”
When Han Zhang heard this news, exposing a look of unrestrained happiness . But not before long, the look was replaced by an expression of suffering . Thinking it over, I realized that Han Zhang was not a Shu agent . But he had heard what I had said earlier . Should I still silence him? Having thinking it over, I realized there was no need to do so . It was unlikely that he would inform the Prince of De what I had said . While I was hesitating, Han Zhang was at death’s door . I hurriedly took a small case filled with needles . I took out a golden needle and used acupuncture before I helped him take some medication . Under the medicinal effects, he fell asleep . Towards Xiaoshunzi, I said, “I could do nothing to avert the death of Tian Wei . With the two countries in a state of war, casualties cannot be avoided . But his wife and daughter are innocent . Go arrange matters . When we have captured Luocheng and the roads are free of obstacles, release the three of them to return home . ”
Xiaoshunzi replied, “Yes, when the time comes, I will explain everything with Wang gonggong . He will not be unhappy . But it’s a pity … Han Zhang’s martial arts are quite good . This lowly servant does not underestimate myself . Even among the skilled martial artists in the royal guards, few can take my attacks and live . It would be good if we could keep him by your side as a personal guard . ”
Thinking that it was unlikely, I replied, “I am an official of Southern Chu . He is a family member of a general of Shu . In addition, he has a wife and mother-in-law . How can he become my personal guard? You are indulging in fantasies . ”
Xiaoshunzi replied, “This is not impossible . His wife is now daren’s servant . If you allow him to remain and reunite with his wife, he must surely be grateful . But I understand that daren requires someone loyal . It won’t be good if we force this man to stay behind . ”
I nodded my head and replied, “That’s right . It would be better to be without rather than accept someone substandard . 3 If he is disloyal, it would be useless to have him remain . But for us to capture Luocheng will require at least two more months . We can use this time to figure out a way to leave . We can allow him to remain at my side as a personal guard and prevent anyone from being suspicious at our relationship . ”
Xiaoshunzi agreed and said, “That’s good as well . This will prevent me from being always worried about daren’s safety . ”
When Han Zhang woke, it was already late in the night . He could feel the qi in his four limbs and hundred bones was vigorous,4 and could not feel any of the heavy internal wounds that would have cost him his life . He didn’t move, but he could sense that he was in a small room . He couldn’t sense anyone nearby . Just as he was about to sit up, a cold hand gently pressed down on his chest . Then he saw a spark as someone lit a candle . Under the faint light of the candle, he saw the young man who had injured him earlier stare coldly at him, his eyes filled with killing intent . Han Zhang smartly ceased to move . He did not want to die without reason, especially when he had learned the news about the safety of his wife .
Seeing that he was completely calm, he revealed a cold smile, and said, “I am named Li Shun . The Jiang Zhe that you wish to find is my master . Master has already decided that once the battle for Luocheng is concluded, he will release your mother-in-law and wife . Until then, you must remain and serve as his personal guard . ”
Han Zhang hesitated for a moment . He was ultimately a citizen of the Kingdom of Shu . He was a bit reluctant to serve as a personal guard of an official of an invader .
Retracting his palm, Xiaoshunzi smiled faintly before departing .
The next day, he led Han Zhang to meet Wang gonggong . Wang gonggong was more than happy to fulfill them . The Ladies Tian were my servants and agreed to allow Han Zhang to remain by my side . Of course, I also informed the Prince of De of this matter, to prevent him from thinking that Han Zhang was a Shu spy . Thinking it over, especially as there were undoubtedly quite a few individuals surreptitiously monitoring me, I told Xiaoshunzi to keep away for now .
Of course, this was the first time that I had the opportunity to meet the servants awarded me by the Prince of De . Lady Tian was named Tian Suying . She indeed possessed an elegant appearance, and a vigorous and heroic spirit, definitely the daughter of a family of generals . From Han Zhang, I learned that Tian Suying also knew martial arts, and that her skills were not below that of Han Zhang . This time she did not escape because of her mother . I took a cold breath . What could I do if Tian Suying were to assassinate Wang gonggong? When I asked Xiaoshunzi, he did not hesitate to tell me that Wang gonggong was protected by numerous guards . In addition, he had already warned Tian Suying . If she dared to act, her mother would not survive . It wasn’t as if they could escape Fushui Pass .
I immediately looked at Xiaoshunzi in a different light . This little fellow was tight and cautious . If he were willing, he could easily become the top ranking eunuch supervisor . When I suggested such a course to him, he replied with contempt, “What good is there to attend to the King? One has to be servile and fawning . If one is even the slightest bit not careful, he will be beheaded . You are different . If you really got angry with me, all you would do is scold me . You have to be careful that I will bite back . ”
Under his cold and secluded, my heart grew cold . I immediately began to think back to whether I was too excessive with him . Thinking it over, I didn’t think that there was any such occasion . However, regardless of what, I had to remember that this little brat was a skilled martial artist .
At this moment, Chengdu had fallen into chaos . The Shu Prime Minister, Shen Jun, led Grand Generals Fan Hu and Meng Da to defend Jiameng Pass . Great Yong frequently attacked the pass . The defending soldiers of Jiameng Pass found it difficult to sleep . 5 In addition, Grand General Long Bu and General Wei Xian were defending Ba Prefecture . They did not dare to relax . The center of Sichuan did not have a single soldier . Over the last few months, the King of Shu, Meng Yun’s black hair had become white . He deeply resented Southern Chu for breaking the alliance, but also hated himself for offending Great Yong . Thinking it over, he could think of no solution to pushing back this invasion . Afterwards, an important official suggested that as the Hanzhong region was already lost, why not negotiate a peace with Great Yong . If Great Yong were to withdraw its troops, then Southern Chu would not continue to attack Shu by itself . Although the King had adopted this strategy, he could not decide who to send as envoy . The Prince of Yong, Li Zhi, was famed throughout the land . If they were to send someone ordinary, then they could hardly say much . Later, the Kingdom of Shu’s wild scholar, Yang Can, nominated himself . Yang Can traveled day and night, arriving before Jiameng Pass . Jiameng Pass were brightly lit by flames . Calm and unruffled, Yang Can rested one night . The next day, he left the pass and proceeded towards the Yong encampment, handing over his credentials . Not long afterwards, he was invited into the marshal’s tent by the Prince of Yong .
Yang Can was a famed wild scholar of the Kingdom of Shu, known for his conceit, contempt for others,6 and his condescension . 7 But upon seeing the strict organization of the Prince of Yong’s camp . Before the Prince’s tent, it felt as if there was a majestic tiger . He could not help but feel a chill in his heart . He tidied his appearance and entered the tent . He saw a man in martial attire seated behind the marshal’s table . The man had a poised appearance there . Although he seemed to have a gentle deportment, one could detect a faint but awe-inspiring aura . The Prince of Yong was thirty-one years old . Although he had fought on the battlefield for years, there wasn’t a hint of killing intent . He was wearing a set of light armor in black with a brocade gown on top . He had a nature and serene expression on his face, almost as if he was sitting idly at home and not leading an army on the battlefield . To his left stood a dozen or so generals, all of whom had steady, but fierce and tough auras . To his right stood a dozen or so individuals dressed either in the garb of civil officials or in the plain garb of a retainer . One could clearly see that he had many civil and military officials among his subordinates .
Yang Can entered the tent . He remained standing and did not kneel . In a loud voice, he said, “The envoy from the Kingdom of Shu, Yang Can, greets Your Highness, the Prince of Yong . ”
The eyes of the generals widened and glowered at Yang Can . One general who looked particularly forthright shouted, “A mere envoy, why do you not kneel before His Highness?”
Raising his voice, Yang Can replied, “Although Yang Can is but a commoner, I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Shu . Although His Highness is respected and honored, he is a subject of Great Yong . Today, Yang Can is here on behalf of the King of Shu . How can I kneel and bow?”
A refined looking adviser around the age of fifty replied in a cultivated voice, “The Kingdom of Shu is about to be destroyed . My Great Yong’s two hundred thousand troops are before the pass . Why does your distinguished country’s King dispatch an envoy instead of seeking victory?”
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