Chapter Eleven: Hooked Heart and Corner

  The young man coughed painfully several times, looking at me with hopeful eyes. I helplessly gestured to Xiao Shunzi to carry him into the room, then asked: "This official is not talented, but also a scholar who has read books, and is confident that he does not have the evil habit of abducting women. I don't know why you think your wife is here with me?"

  That young man looked at me with a puzzled expression and said: "Although Han Zhang, a humble commoner from Shu State, is not an official or a soldier, but just an ordinary farmer, his wife is a noblewoman from a prestigious family, beautiful in appearance and of high status. Three years ago, my wife left home because she was dissatisfied with the marriage arranged by her family and married me. A few months ago, when she learned that her mother was ill, she returned to visit her relatives. I went back home alone because it was during the autumn harvest season and I couldn't stay away for long. Who would have thought that I would run into the combined forces of Da Yong and Nan Chu attacking Shu State? My wife's father, Tian Wei, the governor of Ba Prefecture, unfortunately died in battle, and my wife and her mother were captured. When I heard the news of the fall of Ba Prefecture City, I rushed day and night to get there, only to find out that they had been given to Jiang Zhe, a staff officer in the army, as slaves by King Deqin, so I followed him all the way here."

  I looked at Xiaoshun in confusion, and Xiaoshun's expression suddenly became enlightened. "Your Excellency," he said, "at that time you were ill, and Duke De saw Tian Wei's daughter was beautiful, so he rewarded her to you as a gift for your meritorious service of offering strategies. However, Your Excellency was unconscious all the time, so I took it upon myself to let them stay with Wang Gonggong. These days, I thought that since Your Excellency had just recovered from illness, I would serve you more, and seeing Tian's family serving Wang Gonggong very considerately, I arranged for them to continue serving Wang Gonggong, so everyone is happy."

  I finally understood why Xiao Shunzi had been following me around all this time. I asked: "How did Wang Gonggong treat them?"

  Xiao Shunzi respectfully said: "Don't worry, sir. Tian's daughter is clever and resourceful. Wang Gonggong even wanted to adopt her as his own daughter. However, Madame Tian has not been in good health since General Tian's death."

  Han Zhang's face lit up with irrepressible joy, but it was quickly covered by a painful expression. I thought to myself, "It seems that this Han Zhang is not a spy for the Shu army, but will he still want to silence me after hearing what I just said?" After some thought, I decided it wasn't necessary, as if he could still go and inform King De of the news. As I hesitated, Han Zhang was already on his last breath, so I quickly took out a needle box, extracted a golden needle, and used it to perform acupuncture on him. Then, I gave him some medicine to take, and under its effects, he fell into a deep sleep. I told Xiao Shunzi, "I couldn't save Tian Wei's life, as casualties are unavoidable in war between two countries. However, his wife and daughter didn't commit any great crimes. Arrange for them to be released once we capture Luoyang and the roads become clear."

  Xiao Shunzi said, "Yes, when the time comes, I'll make it clear to Wang Gonggong and he won't be unhappy. It's just a pity that Han Zhang has a good foundation in martial arts. This slave doesn't dare to belittle himself, even among the top guards in the palace, not many can survive my attacks. If only Han Zhang could stay by my side as my personal guard..."

  I think it's unlikely, I said: "I am an official of Southern Chu, he is a relative of the Shu general, let alone there are also my mother-in-law and wife, where can they be my attendants. You also have some fanciful ideas."

  Xiao Shunzi said, "This is not impossible, his wife is now a slave of the adults, if the adult allows him to stay and reunite with his wife, he will be grateful, but I know that what the adult needs is a loyal servant, this person will not be good if forced to stay."

  I nodded and said, "Yes, it's better to be lacking than to have too much. If they're not loyal, then keeping them won't do any good. However, if we can capture Luoyang City, it'll take at least a month or two. During this time, they won't be able to leave, so let him temporarily serve as my attendant for now, to avoid you and I being too close and arousing suspicion." Xiaoshunzi agreed, saying, "That's good, so I don't have to worry about your safety all the time."

  When Han Zhang woke up, it was already deep in the night. He could feel the true energy surging through his limbs and bones, and he couldn't feel the severe internal injury that had almost taken his life. He didn't move, but he could sense that he was in a small room. He couldn't feel anyone around him. Just as he was about to sit up, an icy palm gently pressed against his chest. Then, a flame flashed, and someone lit a candle. Han Zhang looked over with the faint light of the candle and saw the young man who had injured him staring at him coldly, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Han Zhang wisely stopped moving, not wanting to die inexplicably, especially after receiving news that his wife was safe and sound.

  The man, seeing him very calm, revealed a cold smile and said: "My name is Li Shun, the Jiang Zhe you are looking for is my master. My master has decided that after the Battle of Luo City, he will release you and your wife's mother and daughter, but before that, I hope you can temporarily serve as his attendant."

  Han Zhang hesitated for a moment. After all, he was a Shu national and serving as an attendant to an official who invaded his own country made him somewhat unwilling.

  Xiao Shunzi seemed to ignore his expression and continued, "To be honest, you're not a good person to choose from. If someone suspects you're a spy for the Shu army, it's likely to bring trouble to Master. However, since Master has already made up his mind, I don't have any opinions on this matter. Tomorrow, Master will take you to meet your family and then report this to Supervisor General. Once Supervisor General permits it, you can temporarily stay by Master's side. But there's one thing you must remember." Xiao Shunzi's face turned gloomy as he spoke word by word, "You didn't hear my conversation with Master, you don't know the relationship between us. If you leak a single word, I'll kill you even if I have to search for you to the ends of the earth, and your wife will suffer the greatest pain in the world."

  Han Zhang said sternly: "Lord Jiang and Master Li have treated me with great kindness, I will never speak of today's events to a second person until the day I die."

  Xiao Shunzi withdrew his palm and smiled faintly before leaving.

  The next day, I took Han Zhang to see Wang Gonggong. Wang Gonggong was quite pleased when he heard about this matter, and since Tian Shi's mother and daughter were my slaves anyway, he allowed Han Zhang to stay by my side temporarily. Of course, he also informed De Qinwang's side so that they wouldn't misunderstand Han Zhang as a spy. However, I think there will still be secret surveillance, so I told Xiao Shunzi not to come for the time being.

  It was also the first time I saw the slave girl rewarded by De Qinwang, Tian Shi, whose name was Tian Suying. She had a beautiful appearance and an elegant demeanor, truly worthy of being called a tiger daughter from a military family. According to Han Zhang, Tian Suying was also skilled in martial arts and wasn't inferior to him. This time, it was clear that she couldn't escape because of her mother. When I asked Xiao Shunzi about this matter, he told me nonchalantly that not only were there many guards by Wang Gonggong's side, but he had also warned Tian Suying that if she dared to assassinate him or me, he would definitely kill her mother. Anyway, they couldn't escape from Weishui Pass.

  I immediately looked at Xiao Shunzi in a new light; this kid was meticulous and cautious in his actions. If he put his heart into it, why worry about not becoming the biggest eunuch? When I said this to him, Xiao Shunzi sneered: "What's good about serving the emperor? It's all about flattering and fawning, being a slave and a servant. If there's even a slight mistake, you'll have to worry about losing your head. You're different; if you really get angry at me, the worst that can happen is that you'll scold me, but I still need to be careful not to provoke you."

  Under Xiao Shunzi's cold and gloomy gaze, I suddenly felt a chill in my heart. I immediately thought back to whether I had been too harsh on him before, but after thinking about it, it seemed like I shouldn't have been. However, no matter what, I must remember that this kid has high martial arts skills.

  At this time, Chengdu was in a state of chaos. The prime minister, Xun Jun, led the generals Fan Hu and Meng Ting to guard the Jiameng Pass. The siege by the Great Yong army was very frequent, making it difficult for the defenders of Jiameng Pass to even catch their breath. The great general Long Bu and General Wei Xian, who were guarding the Ba Prefecture, also dared not relax their vigilance. The central government of Shu had almost no soldiers left. King Meng Yu of Shu had turned his black hair white in just a few months. He was resentful that Southern Chu had betrayed him, and he hated himself for offending Great Yong. No matter how hard he thought, he could not come up with any way to repel the enemy. Later, the senior official Fa Lan presented a plan, saying that since East River had already been lost, it would be better to make peace with Great Yong. If Great Yong withdrew its troops, Southern Chu would certainly not dare to attack Shu alone. Although this plan was accepted by the ruler of Shu, who should be sent as an envoy? The king of Yong, Li Zhi, was famous throughout the land, and if a ordinary person were sent, he might not even be able to say a few words. Later, the eccentric Yang Can volunteered to go. Yang Can rushed day and night to Jiameng Pass, where the blood and fire were raging fiercely. He rested for a night and then left the pass the next day to enter the Yong camp, presenting his credentials and requesting an audience. Before long, the king of Yong ordered that he be received in the commander's tent.

  Yang Can was a famous crazy scholar in Shu State, who was arrogant and disdainful of others every day. However, when he saw the majestic military appearance of King Yong's army, he felt a chill in his heart. He adjusted his clothes and walked into the big tent, where he saw a man with a gentle face and a warm demeanor, but with a hint of coldness in his eyes. The man was wearing a black light armor and a brocade robe, looking calm and peaceful, as if he were sitting at home rather than leading troops on the battlefield. On his left stood over a dozen generals, each with a stern and fierce aura. On his right stood over a dozen officials or attendants, either in official uniforms or plain clothes, showing the prosperity of both civil and military under his command.

  Yang Can entered the account, stood up and did not kneel down, saying loudly: "The Shu State Envoy Yang Can pays homage to the King of Yong's throne for a thousand years."

  Those generals all glared with anger, one of them, a rough-looking general, shouted: "Little messenger, why didn't you kneel when you saw the prince?"

  Yang Can said loudly: "Although Yang Can is a commoner, he is a citizen of Shu State. Your Highness may be noble, but you are also a minister of Da Yong. Today, I come on a diplomatic mission at the order of my monarch, how can I bow down?"

  A refined and elegant counselor, barely fifty years old, said politely: "The Shu state is on the verge of collapse. Our great army of 200,000 men has been deployed outside the pass. Your king does not think about seeking victory, but instead sends you as an envoy to come here. What is the purpose?"

  Yang Can bowed and said: "My country's ruler knows that he has committed a great crime against Da Yong, now that the army is at the city gate, how can we not be afraid? However, as long as Shu has not fallen, I, as a citizen of Shu, do not dare to humiliate my country. If Da Yong forgives our crimes and allows us to surrender and pay tribute, then even if I am arrogant, how would I dare not respect the great minister of the superior state?"

  A young strategist, with an ordinary appearance, but with a sharp nose and deep eyes, coldly said: "The Shu state is now in a precarious situation, the Jiameng Pass will fall at dawn tomorrow, I don't know what the Shu state can use to ask for peace, our country can win completely, why bother leaving you remnants alive."

  Yang Can said, "Although Shu has suffered a great defeat now, the Jiameng Pass and Ba Prefecture are still under our control. It is not impossible to survive. If your country insists on destroying my Shu, our ruler would rather give all of Shu to Southern Chu. At that time, Southern Chu will obtain the fertile land of Shu and occupy Jingzhou, even if with the strength of Dayong, from then on, it can only watch Southern Chu grow stronger. If you are willing to stop fighting, my Shu will not only surrender to Dayong but also dare not ask for the return of the land east of Jiameng Pass. My ruler deeply resents the ruler of Southern Chu for betraying our alliance and being unrighteous. From now on, if we harbor hatred, we will only take revenge on Southern Chu. Dayong can obtain half of my territory and watch my Shu and Southern Chu mutually slaughter each other. Isn't that delightful?"

  Everyone was silent, and the recent failure to capture Zhangmen Pass had made them think of retreating. However, the strategy had been set and could not be changed, so everyone's eyes fell on Prince Yong Li Zai.

  Li Zhi smiled slightly and asked: "I don't know how the people of Shu are?"

  Yang Cang said: "I am a man of Shu, with the talent of Xiao He in literature, the bravery of King Wu in martial arts, and the wisdom of Li Ping in strategy. The heroes of my Shu are all loyal and righteous men. Although I am not talented, I dare to emulate Tian Heng's heroic spirit. If there is anything I don't know, I am willing to follow Nie Zheng's example."

  A hint of imperceptible chill flashed in Li Zhai's eyes as he continued to ask, "Now under the King of Shu, how many people are like you?"

  "Men of letters and men of arms, who are both intelligent and brave, number in the hundreds. They are as numerous as the cars that carry them and the measures that hold their grain."

  Li Zai asked: "Since so, what position does your excellency hold?"

  Yang Can replied: "Under the rule of our lord, things are rich and people are prosperous. We wild men will return to the fields and gardens, enjoying ourselves morning and evening."

  Li Zai smiled faintly and said: "Your Excellency has come from afar, you must be tired. Please return to the pass for now. If there is a response, I will surely send an envoy to inform you."

  Yang Can bowed and bid farewell, not far from the tent, a white-shirted Confucian scholar with thin eyebrows and long eyes, elegant and refined, quietly came out of the tent and asked: "Mr. Yang, a madman from Shu, why are you first arrogant and then polite?"

  Yang Can replied: "Earlier I was arrogant because I did not yield in spirit, but later I became respectful because of the altars and temples of my Shu state."

  "In the future, if you have any entrustments, you can send a letter to me, Bai Shuang. As long as it's not related to national affairs, I, Chang Qing, will do my best."

  Yang Can thanked him and returned to Chengdu via Jianmenguan Pass to report back.

  Half a month later, Yong Jun no longer attacked the city, and the pressure on Jia Meng Guan was greatly reduced.

  Before long, the news was sent to Zhao Jie's hands by a thousand-mile urgent investigation of Southern Chu. Zhao Jie was furious. He had not been doing well for some time. The city of Luo had been besieged for a long time without falling, and Long Bu was indeed a great general in Shu. He often took advantage of the changes in the military situation to launch surprise attacks outside the city, which often forced Southern Chu to retreat. Wei Xian was good at intercepting enemy camps, and every three days he would make a small interception, and every five days he would make a big one, making it difficult for the Southern Chu army to sleep peacefully. Long Bu and Wei Xian worked together, and the Southern Chu army had not made any progress in a month. The grain road in the rear was often harassed by the scattered Shu army, and Zhao Jie was at a loss for what to do. Just as he was worried, he received this shocking bad news. If Shu and Dayong really made peace, it would be the end of Southern Chu. At this time, he thought of Jiang Zhe. This young scholar had a somewhat eccentric personality. Although Zhao Jie forced Jiang Zhe to join the army, and did not ask about him much during his illness due to shock on the battlefield, this could not be blamed on Zhao Jie. On the one hand, Zhao Jie believed that Jiang Zhe was a subject of Southern Chu, and since he had talent, how could he not serve the country? On the other hand, Zhao Jie was busy with military affairs at the time, busy with marching and fighting, and conquering cities was no easy task. After Jiang Zhe recovered from his illness, he was very cold towards military affairs. Zhao Jie thought that Jiang Zhe was lazy after his serious illness, and he also sensed that his trusted advisor Rong Yuan was excluding Jiang Zhe. Because he did not want to destroy his relationship with Rong Yuan, after all, Rong Yuan was very skilled in military strategy and was his indispensable right-hand man. In comparison, he was somewhat indifferent to Jiang Zhe. The two reasons made Zhao Jie and Jiang Zhe more and more estranged. But today, Zhao Jie once again felt the importance of Jiang Zhe. Jiang Zhe's superiority over others lay not only in his ability to analyze intelligence and handle official documents but also in his extraordinary foresight in strategy. From the battle of attacking Ba Prefecture, it could be seen that Jiang Zhe was good at planning the purpose of the war in advance and finding a breakthrough from the vast amount of intelligence. Although implementation required careful and meticulous people, it was already extremely rare. Now that Zhao Jie encountered difficulties in decision-making, he finally thought of Jiang Zhe again. But what about Rong Yuan?

  Just as Zhao Jue was worried, Rong Yuan came to visit and knelt down on both knees as soon as he saw Zhao Jue, saying "Please forgive me". Zhao Jue was shocked, hurriedly helped Rong Yuan up and asked: "Master Rong, why such a big ceremony?"

  He said with shame and guilt: "I am narrow-minded, rejecting the wise and able, my fault is unforgivable. Recently, I have been thinking about how to defeat the enemy, but I couldn't come up with an effective method. If Jiang Zuo were here, he would certainly be able to devise a plan. Your Highness, please let me go with you to see him, so that I can apologize in person and work together with him to capture Luocheng."

  "Sir, you know your mistakes and are willing to correct them, which is a great virtue. I, Zhao Jue, also have my faults, neglecting the talents of others. Let's go see Jiang Zhe together and apologize, and ask Jiang Shuangyuan to devise a plan to break this deadlock." As he spoke, he handed the intelligence report to Rong Yuan, who looked at it with a pale face. He naturally knew the danger of the current situation, and if Shu really surrendered to Dayou, once Shu recovered its strength, it would definitely take revenge on South Chu. Thinking of this, he hurriedly urged Zhao Jue to go find Jiang Zhe together.

  At this moment, I am still indulging in the comfortable life of a guest, and when Tian Suying also knew martial arts, Wang Haiguan immediately agreed to return Tian Suying and the Tian family to me. They were reunited as a family, naturally joyful, but Tian Suying was still lukewarm towards me, after all, I am a high-ranking official of Nanchu, and the mastermind who planned her father's downfall. I didn't know yet that a dark cloud had already pressed down on the sky of Nanchu.

  Just as I was writing down a poem I had just composed, someone outside the door asked: "Is Lord Jiang in?"