"I've told him countless times to take it easier—yet when has he ever listened?"
The speaker's voice was clear and gentle, with a lilting softness to it. Though dusk was already settling in, she still wore a veiled hat, hiding her features from view.
Zhuge Liang's expression stiffened slightly. He hurried forward at once.
"Madam! Why did you come so early today?"
The veil concealed Huang Yueying's face, but her tone remained unhurried.
"Even if nothing had happened, I planned to come early and bring you home. Today, however, an old acquaintance of yours came calling. I had him leave his calling card and asked him to return later."
Only then did Zhuge Liang notice the bamboo slip in her hand. Curious, he accepted it.
Calling cards were still written on bamboo at this time. Zhuge Liang turned it over and softly read aloud the inscription:
Attendant Officer Ma Liang—paying respects and inquiring after your health—
Yicheng native, styled Jichang.
"An old friend of yours?" Huang Yueying asked.
"No," Zhuge Liang shook his head with a smile. "He is a provincial attendant officer whom Lord Xuande recruited half a year ago. At the time, I noticed he was quick-witted and carried himself with propriety, so I offered him a few words of guidance. Four months ago, Lord Xuande sent him to Lingling on official business. He must have just returned."
"That works out nicely," Huang Yueying said. "Wait here for a moment while you finish up, and then we'll go home together."
Zhuge Liang nodded. Holding the bamboo card, he returned to the hall and carefully sorted the day's documents into neat categories. As for the words spoken by the luminous screen, he copied them with great care onto precious Zuo Bo paper. After a moment's hesitation, he rolled the paper up, sealed it in a bamboo tube, and kept it on his person.
By the time they returned home, night had already fallen.
They had barely sat down when a servant came rushing in to report that Ma Liang had arrived again.
"Invite him to the side hall," Zhuge Liang said. He straightened his robes slightly and went to receive his guest.
Just as before, the most striking thing about Ma Liang was his eyebrows—flecked with scattered white hairs. From a distance, they looked almost entirely gray, which explained why many people called him White-Brow Ma.
"Have you eaten yet, Jichang?" Zhuge Liang asked. "Why don't we talk over dinner?"
"Then I'll trouble you," Ma Liang replied evenly.
Zhuge Liang inwardly praised him: neither servile nor arrogant—this man truly has promise.
The food in Zhuge Liang's household was far from lavish. At best, it was modestly better than plain tea and coarse rice. That could hardly be helped—Zhuge Liang had never been one to indulge, and at present Liu Bei controlled only four commanderies in Jing Province. From top to bottom, the army lived frugally.
Ma Liang showed no dissatisfaction. What surprised him instead was the warm, lively atmosphere of the family meal. A son and a daughter laughed together happily, and the famed "fearsome-looking" Lady Huang turned out to be quite fair and pleasant—nothing like the rumors claimed.
That said, Zhuge Liang's two young sons kept stealing curious glances at Ma Liang's eyebrows, which made him more than a little uncomfortable.
Zhuge Liang noticed this and smiled, serving food to the children as he asked, "How was your trip to Lingling this time, Jichang?"
Once business was mentioned, Ma Liang visibly relaxed. He gathered his thoughts and answered point by point, while Zhuge Liang occasionally shared his own experiences handling official affairs. Before long, the two were talking animatedly.
"The people of Lingling are simple and honest," Ma Liang sighed. "If Lord Xuande one day restores the Han, I would gladly spend the rest of my life there."
Then he added with a chuckle, "On this trip, we also happened to wipe out a band of mountain brigands. Their leader claimed to be the 'Supreme General of Lingling.'"
"The Supreme General of Lingling?" Zhuge Liang burst out laughing. "And how strong was his force?"
"One wooden barricade, three worn-out horses, fifty conscripted peasants," Ma Liang recited easily.
"Ten long sabers, ten spears, and half a suit of bamboo armor. He claimed to be a grand general under Administrator Liu Du of Lingling."
"Unfortunately for him," Ma Liang continued, "when we arrived, Administrator Liu was present in person. This fellow claimed to serve under Liu Du, yet didn't even recognize him. Liu Du's son, Liu Xian, charged once and knocked him clean off his horse."
"Given that the villagers testified this 'Supreme General' had never looted, destroyed crops, or harmed lives, Administrator Liu chose to spare him and recruited him instead—as the gate commander of Lingling."
"That's probably for the best," Zhuge Liang nodded. "Offering amnesty to those who haven't crossed the line is often the wisest choice. Next time I go to Lingling, I must meet this gate-guarding 'supreme general' myself."
Once the dishes had been cleared and the children were led off to the back courtyard to play, Huang Yueying remained by Zhuge Liang's side.
Only then did Ma Liang finally raise the true purpose of his visit.
"I have a younger brother," he said. "Since childhood, he's devoured books endlessly and dreams of winning rank on horseback. Recently, he's written to me again and again, begging for an opportunity. I couldn't refuse him any longer, so I've come to trouble you, Military Advisor. If you happen to be short of a clerk who can run errands…"
Zhuge Liang laughed heartily.
"Jichang, you yourself are a rare talent. Lord Xuande is desperate for capable men—bring him at once! Just tell me his name and place of origin, and I'll write an order."
Ma Liang was overjoyed.
"Many thanks, Military Advisor. My brother is styled Youchang, a native of Yicheng. His name is Ma Su."
Zhuge Liang dutifully wrote it down.
Yicheng… Ma Su… Ma Youchang…
Ma Su?!
Ma Liang didn't notice anything amiss, but Huang Yueying saw it clearly. Her husband's entire body tensed, drawn taut like a bowstring. The last time she'd seen him like this was before his mission to Eastern Wu.
Just a name—and such a reaction?
If Ma Su were some renowned sage, she should have heard of him before. Yet she was certain she hadn't.
Ma Liang took the written order, thanked Zhuge Liang profusely, and departed in high spirits.
Huang Yueying looked at Zhuge Liang standing dazed in the doorway and felt a flicker of concern.
"Did you hear some troubling news, my lord?"
Zhuge Liang seemed to wake from a dream. For a long moment, he didn't know where to begin. At last, he let out a long sigh.
"Madam… it isn't that I don't wish to speak. It's just that what I know is too absurd to explain."
"Then don't," Huang Yueying smiled gently. "When you've thought it through and wish to speak, I'll listen."
Zhuge Liang shook his head, then straightened, forcing himself to refocus.
"Let's set future matters aside for now. Today, I obtained drawings of two unusual farming tools. I'd like your opinion."
"Future matters?" Huang Yueying was puzzled—but her interest was immediately captured.
"New farming tools?"
"Yes. Supposedly much more efficient."
"Then what use are drawings?" she said briskly. "Why not go see them in the fields?"
"Well…" Zhuge Liang hesitated. "They're said to have come from… Yuzhou… Jizhou… so we only have illustrations."
"Really?"
"..."
"Then for now, I'll pretend they truly came from Jizhou."
Night was quiet.
Yet on the training grounds of Gong'an County, two powerfully built men were still grappling shirtless, their bodies like bears and tigers colliding.
The red-faced man locked his elbow around the black-faced man's neck and shouted,
"Third Brother—are you convinced yet?!"
The black-faced man didn't struggle. He planted his feet, muscles bulging, veins standing out along his neck. With sheer brute force, he forced the red-faced man's arm apart.
Dropping into a horse stance, he grabbed the other's arm and roared,
"Up!"
He flipped him clean over his shoulder.
The red-faced man rolled and landed solidly on his feet.
"Again!" he bellowed.
Nearby, two small boys stood shoulder to shoulder, whispering in boredom.
"Hey… how long do you think Father and Uncle are going to fight?"
"No idea. Probably until my dad gets hungry."
"Hey, but a few days ago my dad was talking in his sleep—he said Uncle died."
"Your dad's the one who died!"
"My dad also said your big brother died too. Both of them got their heads chopped off. He was crying really loud in his dream."
"Zhang Bao! Are you looking for a beating?!"
"Guan Xing! Like I'm afraid of you! I said it was my dad's dream, not me!"
"I think you're just asking for it!"
"If I back down, I'm no son of Zhang Yide of Yan!"
With that, the two boys tumbled into a heap, trading wild punches and shameless low blows.