After delivering the letter, Ma Su cheerfully returned to his post—back to guarding the gate—leaving the generals inside the hall staring at one another.
"Another letter?" someone asked.
Zhuge Liang smiled. "It must be Lu Zijing of Jiangdong. I can't think of anyone else who would write to me—and yet do so in such a roundabout, secretive way."
"Strategist," Zhang Fei said, "that Lu Zijing serves under Zhou Yu as an advising officer. Could this letter be asking you to persuade Big Brother to go to Jiangdong and get married?"
Zhuge Liang shook his head and sighed lightly.
"The light screen once said that Grand Commander Zhou Gongjin would fall ill and die at Baqiu while planning to take Shu. I personally witnessed Zhou Yu's heroic bearing at Red Cliffs—he was a man of vast ambition, someone who aimed to swallow the realm whole."
He paused, then continued calmly:
"But Lu Zijing's grasp of the greater strategic picture… may actually surpass Zhou Yu's."
Guan Yu and Huang Zhong looked utterly lost.
Zhao Yun, however, seemed thoughtful.
Only Zhang Fei slammed the table and burst out laughing.
"I get it now! So the Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix of Jiangdong aren't on the same page this time!"
Zhuge Liang smiled. "General Yide has it exactly right. If my guess is correct, Zhou Yu is strongly advocating the use of the Wu Marquis' sister as bait—to bind our lord, the true dragon, to Jiangdong."
"As for Lu Zijing, he likely wrote to us to explain the stakes. At the same time, he's maneuvering quietly with the Wu Marquis, hoping to prevent any harm from coming to our lord."
Guan Yu and Huang Zhong exchanged blank looks.
We heard every word, their expressions seemed to say.
So why did the plot suddenly leap three steps ahead?
Zhang Fei, seeing their confusion, grew even more animated.
"What's so complicated about this?" he said. "It's like selling meat back in Zhuo County during a famine! Zhou Yu's the type who jacks up the price to make a quick fortune. Lu Zijing's the one who lowers prices to help the refugees and build long-term goodwill."
"Right now, Zhou Yu and Lu Zijing are publicly raising prices together—but Lu Zijing secretly sends word to the refugees: 'Don't buy Zhou Yu's meat, it's too expensive.'"
Zhuge Liang laughed aloud. "That's an excellent analogy. Precisely so."
"Next time just call me General Who Subdues the Captives," Zhang Fei added smugly.
Zhuge Liang tapped him lightly with his fan, the gesture saying you rascal, then opened the letter and nodded.
"As expected."
He straightened and bowed slightly.
"In that case, my lord may consider making the trip. This journey will likely be alarming but not truly dangerous. All you need do is confide your difficulties to Lu Zijing—Sun Quan and the Jiangdong gentry will not make things hard for you."
"For now, we observe," Liu Bei said, setting the tone.
More importantly, in ten days the light screen would appear again—and fifteen days later would be the New Year.
The screen had already hinted it would speak of Shu Han next. Liu Bei had no intention of missing that.
As for the reply, it was simple.
Liu Bei took up his brush and wrote in one smooth flow: first recalling the achievements of the Sun–Liu alliance, then emphasizing Cao Cao's vast territories, horse-breeding lands, and military strength. Only afterward did he gently express his fondness for the Wu Marquis' sister—while suggesting that perhaps the wedding need not be held in Dantu, but somewhere more convenient for both sides. He also mentioned that with the Spring Festival approaching, long travel might be ill-advised.
The letter was sealed, and Ma Su was summoned once more to deliver it.
As Liu Bei handed it over, he clasped Ma Su's hands warmly, asking whether guarding the gate was cold or tiring. The attention left Ma Su so excited he nearly floated.
Watching his brother gather hearts so effortlessly, Zhang Fei scooted closer to Guan Yu.
"Is Ping'er not coming home for the New Year?"
Guan Yu's hand paused on his long beard before he replied evenly:
"A general must act as a general. If he alone returns home, how will he command respect?"
Guan Ping was currently stationed in Changsha, suppressing bandits and settling refugees.
Zhang Fei had no rebuttal.
Since coming of age, his nephew always seemed to be either garrisoning some frontier, escorting grain shipments, or riding out with Guan Yu. Worse still, he'd picked up his father's habit of speaking as little as possible.
Zhang Fei couldn't even remember the last time he'd had a proper conversation with the boy.
"You sent Ping'er to guard a region on his own," Zhang Fei said. "Doesn't he lack capable assistants?"
This time, a smile appeared on Guan Yu's face.
"Before Red Cliffs, a man named Wei Yan came to join us. Bold in tactics, quick of mind. He and Ping'er get along exceptionally well—like arm and bone. I'm at ease."
You didn't even smile when talking about your own son earlier, Zhang Fei thought sourly.
Now you're grinning like you're bragging about him.
Just then, Zhang Fei caught part of Zhuge Liang's words.
"…the side hall needs to be expanded."
"I fully agree!" Zhang Fei said immediately. "When we watch the light screen, our stomachs growl from hunger! Each of us should have our own table! Last time we watched Old Cao's segment without wine—what a tragedy!"
The others looked at him.
Huang Zhong reminded him gently, "General Zhang, the Strategist means expanding the side hall at his residence, so Lady Huang has space to work on mechanical designs."
Zhang Fei laughed awkwardly and refused to back down.
"I heard that! I just think this hall should be expanded too. Once Jian Yong and Mi Zhu return, there won't even be room to stand!"
That remark sparked realization in Liu Bei.
His circle wasn't limited to these generals. They were only all gathered now because the southern commanderies had just finished fighting and were recuperating.
Jian Yong was in Jiaozhou cultivating ties with Wu Ju.
Mi Zhu was off trading to raise funds.
Both would return before the New Year.
And then there was Sun Qian—who had followed Liu Bei since Xuzhou, kept a low profile, and worked diligently all along.
Liu Bei silently apologized to him.
Not to mention Pang Tong soon to join them…
And Ma Chao yet to come.
After a quick mental count, Liu Bei slapped the table.
"Expand it."
But the side hall was too important to risk heavy construction—what if it interfered with the light screen's descent?
A compromise was chosen: remove the doors and build an additional room connected outside.
Thus, when Jian Yong and Mi Zhu returned before the New Year, they were utterly stunned by the… aesthetically challenged appearance of the Gong'an county office.
Mi Zhu said earnestly, "If my lord lacks funds to renovate, Zhu will head out tonight. Xianhe just told me Jiaozhou's coast has pearls and shells—profit is guaranteed!"
Jian Yong, meanwhile, looked intrigued.
"My lord, is this a new architectural trend?"
Liu Bei pulled them both to sit and sighed deeply.
"Recently, I have received Heaven's favor—a divine omen has appeared…"
Jian Yong immediately jumped up.
"Who dared feed my lord such heretical nonsense?!"
Mi Zhu frowned as well.
"If my lord wishes to spend my family's wealth to raise troops or settle refugees, take all you need. But if some charlatan has misled you—even one coin must not be wasted!"
Liu Bei laughed helplessly and tried again.
"I truly have received Heaven's favor—"
"My lord, you've been deceived!" Jian Yong insisted.
"My lord, you just want to live in a bigger house!" Mi Zhu concluded.
"..."
Liu Bei gave up entirely and waved them off.
"Xianhe, Zizhong—you've traveled far. Go home and rest. Come back here the day after tomorrow to witness the divine light screen."
He strode off without sparing them another glance.
Behind him:
"My lord is surely surrounded by villains!" Jian Yong declared.
"How could Kongming fail to rein in such sycophants?" Mi Zhu added.
They exchanged a look.
"Once we return and prepare ourselves," they said in unison,
"such treacherous courtiers must be executed on the spot!"