Chapter 67: The Five Constants of the Ma Family

  Long Fei and the others did not rush to leave, but instead returned to the hidden place at the top of the mountain, where they slowly admired the jade seal. It was indeed crystal clear and round, with a smooth luster. Just as the historical records described, one corner was damaged and had been repaired with gold. Apart from that, it was well-preserved, and the group couldn't help but marvel at it.

  "This is a jade seal! If it were exchanged for grain, it would be enough to eat for a lifetime!" Di Wei's eyes widened and his mouth opened wide.

  "What's one lifetime? Even ten lifetimes wouldn't be enough!"

  After everyone had a look, Long Fei put the jade seal away again. Zhao Yun said: "This time we can be considered to have completed our mission, can't we go home now? We've been on this mountain for over ten days, and the smell on my body really stinks!"

  Long Fei shook his head: "Not yet, there's still one person who hasn't arrived, let's wait a bit longer!"

  Although Huang Zu was captured, his father died unjustly, and Sun Ce hated him so much that he wanted to chop him into pieces right now. Frightened, Huang Zu begged for mercy repeatedly, muttering: "General, spare my life! General, spare my life! It was Gan Ning who killed General Sun, and I have nothing to do with it!"

  "Isn't Gan Ning still under your command?"

  Huang Zu knelt on the ground and hastily explained: "Gan Ning was originally a water thief, only temporarily living here, he was recommended by Liu Biao, he is Liu Biao's man!"

  Sun Jian's second son, named Sun Quan. He looked strange, with a high nose bridge and red hair, similar to the Hu people of Western Regions. This child was not like Sun Jian, he liked quietness and disliked noise, usually reading books and writing words. His speech was gentle and kind, many people liked him. This time Sun Jian went on an expedition, also wanted to let Sun Quan experience things outside, feel the cruelty of war, so he brought him out. Sun Quan was only twelve years old, already a little adult, many times when his father and brothers were not convenient to show up, this child could easily solve it.

  For example, when the alliance between Yuan Shu and Liu Biao was formed, Yuan Shu listened to the slander of Liu Dai and Kong Yi, and cut off Sun Jian's grain supply for a period of time. Sun Jian's army had difficulty advancing, and Sun Quan was taken by Sun Jian as a child to ask Yuan Shu for grain. Sun Quan was clever and lovely, and flattered Yuan Shu, who was extremely happy, not only agreeing to provide grain but also making an engagement between his young daughter and Sun Quan.

  Brother Sun Ce wanted to kill Huang Zu, so Sun Quan hastily stopped him: "Big brother, Huang Zu can't be killed! Father's body is still with Liu Biao. If we kill Huang Zu now, it will only make Liu Biao more hostile towards us. It would be better to use Huang Zu in exchange for father's body!"

  Cheng Pu, Han Dang and others also nodded. As soon as Sun Jian died, Sun Ce became their leader, and all major and minor matters had to be decided by Sun Ce. Sun Quan continued: "Huang Zu is just a mediocre person, but our father's body is particularly important. We can capture Huang Zu to avenge our father sooner or later, why rush for the time being? And father only has one, please think thrice, brother."

  Sun Ce was not a reckless person, and after listening to Sun Quan's words, he agreed. He sent Huang Gai to escort Sun Quan to Jingzhou. Liu Biao saw that the Sun family had sent a child, and with a sympathetic heart, felt that the Sun family's orphaned children were pitiful. The two sides quickly came to an agreement. Liu Biao agreed to exchange Sun Jian's corpse for his own general Huang Zu. Huang Zu was a member of the Huang clan in Jingzhou, although he was incompetent, but as the head of the Huang clan, without their support, Liu Biao's Jingzhou would lose Jiangxia. And with Sun Jian dead, there was no threat to himself, so he agreed to the exchange.

  The substitution was carried out very smoothly, and after Huang Zu was substituted back, he received heroic treatment. Several big families in Jingzhou, such as Kuai, Cai, and Huang, sent people to welcome him one after another. A defeated general became a hero who defeated Sun Jian and endured humiliation and hardship in the mouths of these people. Liu Biao not only did not blame Huang Zu for his incompetence but also gave him an official position and promoted him to Zhongyong General and Jiangxia Governor, and awarded him good land and beautiful women.

  But the real hero of this battle, Gan Ning, was still a low-ranking officer. He was ostracized in the army and became someone that nobody wanted to see, a jinx. Because he had killed Sun Jian and almost got himself killed by Sun Ce's sword, Huang Zu treated Gan Ning coldly. With the slightest carelessness, he would be either insulted or beaten with a military stick on the grounds of disrespecting his superiors. Gan Ning was beaten until his skin was lacerated and his flesh was torn apart, but he had no way to express his grievances.

  "Big brother! We really can't stay here any longer, sooner or later we brothers will all die at the hands of Huang Zu's little ones!" Pan Zhang looked at Gan Ning who was lying on the couch, his lower body beaten to a bloody pulp.

  Gan Ning endured the intense pain and turned his head to ask Jiang Qin, who was applying medicine to him: "What about the things I entrusted you with? Is there any news?"

  Jiang Qin nodded: "Long Fei was originally a general of the Wang Yun family, and was appreciated by Dong Zhuo. In less than three months, he was personally appointed as Yang Wei General by Your Majesty, commanding four schools in the Western Garden, with about 40,000 soldiers under his command. Moreover, there is Zhao Yun, who single-handedly fought against three generals at Tiger Trap Pass, as his arm. Under Dong Zhuo's command, they are like fish in water, and have a momentum that surpasses even Wen Hou Lü Bu!"

  "Is that all?" Gan Ning asked again: "What did this person used to do? Where is he from?"

  Jiang Qindao said: "It is said that he is a man from Yongzhou, no one knows what he did before, but this person's martial arts are strong, the one who broke into Sun Jian's camp a few days ago was him and Zhao Yun, and they retreated unscathed!"

  "So that's how it is, this Long Fei is quite formidable?" Zhou Tai rubbed his fists together, seemingly wanting to have a showdown with Long Fei.

  Gan Ning lay down again: "That day at Yan Shan, he said when he left that if we were not satisfied here, we could go to Chang'an to find him. Do you think we should go find him?"

  "No way!" said Pan Zhang. "Dong Zhuo is the most evil person in the world, everyone wants to get rid of him and be happy, if we join his side, won't others laugh at us to death?"

  "Do you think they don't laugh at us now?" Zhou Tai sneered, "Once a thief, always a thief. People like us who have been river pirates are looked down upon by those officials. When they need something, they speak nicely to us, but when they don't, we're nothing! It's better to be an upright and honest thief! If you're going to do it, do it big!"

  Gan Ning asked Jiang Qin: "Fourth brother, what do you think?"

  "That day, although I didn't see Long Fei find anything on Sun Jian's body, I'm guessing there's a high possibility it was the Jade Seal!" Jiang Qin said as he worked, quickly applying medicine to Gan Ning and pulling the quilt over him: "If it really is the Jade Seal, that means this person has big ambitions, and being with Dong Zhuo was just a temporary measure. This person comes from humble beginnings, perhaps they can really get along with us!"

  "Old Fourth is right!" Zhou Tai nodded: "People are different from each other, we can't mix with these officials, and we can't be looked down upon by those born into noble families like Long Fei! Old Third, what do you think?"

  "Alas! You've all said your piece, what's left for me to say? No matter what, wherever you go, I'll follow, even if it means death. We brothers will die together!"

  After waiting for three days, Xiangyang City was quiet. Sun Ce of Fancheng did not return to Changsha, but led his army north to Nanyang. Jingzhou returned to calm again. Officials at all levels calmed down again, calling friends and playing in the mountains and rivers, a peaceful scene. Dianwei was a bit bored, shouting that he wanted to eat meat. Longfei looked at Zhao Yun's and Huang Zhong's eyes, both of whom were also full of urgency like Dianwei. Longfei agreed.

  Entering Xiangyang City, I first found an inn, took a comfortable bath to relieve my fatigue, and changed into new clothes before going out. Although Xiangyang is not big, it's exceptionally prosperous, no less than the capital city Luoyang in its heyday. Jingzhou is a great place. For decades, it has not experienced war, and even the recent Yellow Turban Rebellion did not reach Jingzhou. Jingzhou has become an isolated Shangri-La outside the Central Plains.

  All sorts of people on the street, doing small business, being soldiers, being officials, rich and poor people coming and going without end. Everyone is doing their own thing, a harmonious scene. And in tea houses and wine shops, it's also crowded with people, scholars wearing loose robes discussing poetry and classics, talking loudly and at length, afraid that others won't understand their point of view.

  They casually found a tavern and the four of them walked in. The tavern wasn't big, with only over ten small tables inside, and the ones at the back were occupied by a group of people who were engaged in a heated discussion. The waiter led Long Fei and his companions to the small tables near the window. Before the waiter could even speak, Dian Wei's loud voice boomed out, demanding wine and meat. The waiter smiled obsequiously as he went off to prepare their order.

  Compared to the several wine shops on the main street, business here is a bit slow. Seven or eight small tables are not fully occupied, and the shopkeeper is busy calculating accounts behind the counter. A special attendant serves the few scholars who are engaged in lofty discussions. There are five scholars in total, with the main one being a young man of slender face. He looks at Long Fei and nods slightly. The four people beside him are also quite young. The speaker is the youngest youth sitting at the end: "The great affairs of the world can only be resolved by the emergence of a hero who can turn the tide, save the emperor from water and fire, rebuild the prosperity of our great Han dynasty, just like Emperor Guangwu of old, ending this war and bringing peace to the people! If such a person exists, I am willing to follow him left and right, and not betray what I have learned in my heart!"

  The second person on the left burst out laughing and said, "Haha, Fifth Brother is drunk! Even if there was such a person, they might not even look at you. If you want to invite someone, invite Eldest Brother instead!"

  "Big brother is big brother! I am me! Big brother emphasizes literary governance, I pursue military governance! Different ideas!"

  The first man on the right said, "The world is in great chaos, and the people are living in a sea of flames. Ruling by literature can spare the people from the suffering of war, but ruling by military force will only add to the chaos!"

  The first man on the left said, "I disagree with this. Although Wen's method is gentle, it takes a long time, and as the saying goes, 'prolonged pain is not better than brief pain.' Our great Han dynasty is already critically ill, so we should use strong medicine to save the people from water and fire!"

  The four men looked at the person in the middle. The man had his eyes closed, wore a high crown on his head, and had a calm expression. His two eyebrows were exceptionally thick, with a white hair in the left eyebrow. The four men waited for half a day before he slowly opened his eyes: "Whether it's civil or military rule, we need wise rulers and good ministers. Do you think our great Han has wise rulers and good ministers?" One sentence made the four men fall into deep thought.

  Long Fei listened for half a day, then suddenly clapped his hands and said: "If I'm not mistaken, you five are the Ma family's Five Constants? I, Long Fei, am honored to have heard the lofty views of the Ma family's Five Constants. It's truly enlightening!" The five people were taken aback, all staring at this young man who had suddenly appeared.