Chapter 123: Taking on a Student

Guangling, part of Yangzhou, is famous for a renowned musical composition: "Guangling San."

One thousand li southeast of Changsha lies Guangling. After Changsha fell, Lu Meng led his troops to occupy the surrounding major cities. Han Xuan had been soundly defeated, and the soldiers within the cities surrendered immediately.

Jiang Wen led his troops into Xiangtan, the birthplace of Jiang Wan—one of the Four Ministers of Shu—as well as the ancestral home of Chairman Mao. The townspeople were filled with dread, their faces pale with terror as they looked at Jiang Wen.

Seeing their fear, Jiang Wen noticed a child’s toy drop into the middle of the road. The child stood panic-stricken, like a newborn fawn. The parents pulled the child close, while the soldiers looked fierce and formidable, like starving wolves patrolling their territory, their raised weapons glistening with terrifying, silver-bright blades.

Jiang Wen dismounted, picked up the toy from the road, and walked toward the child. The parents held their child tightly in sturdy arms, the father’s eyes wide. He took a step forward, nervous and fearful. "My lord, my child was just being careless. Please, I beg you, do not blame him!"

Jiang Wen smiled, held up a finger, and shook it. "Which of you is going to die?"

The parents trembled. The child in their arms instinctively expressed pure fear; to him, this smiling man looked like a wild wolf from outside the village. The bystanders retreated, panicked and uneasy, not wanting to be associated with this man for fear of being implicated.

The father suddenly knelt, pleading bitterly, "The child was just careless. I beg you, my lord, please show mercy!"

"Life is not easy; you are a good man." Jiang Wen glanced at them. "Someone, bring one hundred coins and a stone of grain. Reward this family!"

Seeing the money and grain on the ground, the father’s panic vanished. His deathly pale face gradually regained its color. Forgetting the dust on the ground, he kowtowed several times. The townspeople, who had been like mice seeing a cat, suddenly lost their fear. Seeing profit to be made, they looked eager, though the sight of the gleaming weapons kept them in check.

The county magistrate approached, wearing his official cap. He was thin, standing straight like a stalk of rice, his official robes immaculate, a piece of fine jade hanging at his waist. He bowed to Jiang Wen, "This subordinate greets the General."

"Bring me the household registers and land records of the city."

"Yes!"

"Hey, I heard that Jiang Wen has brought his army and broken into the city."

Jiang Wan read his book calmly, glancing at the scholar who was rummaging through boxes. "Jiang Wen is not a bandit. Even if he has entered the city, have you seen him slaughter the people? Why are you afraid?"

"Have you heard of this Jiang Wen?" Jiang Wan nodded.

The scholar smiled, relieved, and said with a mischievous grin, "Come to think of it, you’ve been mimicking someone’s manner of speech and behavior lately. Could it be..."

Jiang Wan’s face flushed slightly. He stood up, blushing, and chased the scholar with his book, causing the other to beg for mercy. Both were but youths, yet Jiang Wan was already renowned in Xiangtan for his superior intelligence and dignified bearing. He possessed a spirited integrity.

Many scholars had heard of Jiang Wen, and even Jiang Wan admired him. He and the scholar had been playmates since childhood. With the recent passing of Jiang Wan’s father, he had been worried, but seeing the youth’s composure now, he felt reassured.

Jiang Wan’s expression calmed, then his eyes widened slightly as a group of people walked into the courtyard. Leading them was the obsequious-looking magistrate, who was fawning over a general with a look of disgustingly servile flattery. Beside him stood a man who moved with an air of effortless confidence.

Jiang Wan studied this man: handsome in appearance, heroic in spirit, his eyes as calm and deep as still water, impossible to fathom.

*Still waters run deep...*

Jiang Wan’s heart steadied. A man like this would be hard to get close to; unless one possessed great talent, he would likely be nothing more than a passing shadow in his eyes. While Jiang Wan had some literary talent, he knew that compared to such a man, the gap was vast.

"Jiang Wan, the General wishes to see you!"

The magistrate wore a sycophantic grin; with his gaunt features, his cunning smile was somewhat frightening. The scholar beside him was in a state of utter panic, his limbs numb and unresponsive—a reaction born of sheer tension and fear. The aura of slaughter emanating from the soldiers was hard to mask, and for these young, earnest, and simple-minded scholars, the dread was visceral. Furthermore, no one knew why Jiang Wen had come.

"There is a youth in Xiangtan famous for his wit and talent. Seeing you today, you truly have an extraordinary bearing," Jiang Wen said with a smile.

Jiang Wan suppressed his excitement, bowing calmly and naturally, without any trace of fear or nervousness. "Student Jiang Wan greets General Jiang Wen!" His speech was clear, without a hint of stutter. His friend, however, acted like a small puppy encountering a natural predator, dodging and weaving, unsure of how to conduct himself.

Jiang Wen looked at Jiang Wan—the Four Ministers of Shu were indeed worthy of their reputation. "I am currently seeking talent for the imperial court. Would you be willing to return to Xiangyang with me? With my recommendation, I can suggest you to the Prime Minister."

"Jiang Wan’s learning is shallow. Please forgive my presumption, but officialdom is too inconceivable for me at this moment. I must decline." Jiang Wan bowed again, deeply and respectfully before Jiang Wen. The scholar’s eyes went wide, wanting to speak but unable to; in his view, his friend was being incredibly tactless! Jiang Wen had brought an army here; it was common knowledge that those who refused were often executed in a fit of rage. To the scholar, a man who fought incessantly on the battlefield and won every engagement could hardly be a soft-hearted person.

Jiang Wen looked left and right, signaling for the magistrate to withdraw. The magistrate bowed subserviently and stood outside the door. Jiang Wen then looked at the scholar and beckoned, "You, come here."

The scholar shuffled over, careful not to offend Jiang Wen, yet not slow to move. He soon stood before the General, bowing his head and stealing glances at him. Jiang Wan stood to the side, his expression dark, his fingers clenched so tightly they turned white and flushed with blood. Had his nails been sharper, he would have drawn blood from his own palms.

"How long have you known Jiang Wan?" Jiang Wen asked.

The youth looked at Jiang Wan for help, then, seeing his friend's expression and actions, steeled his heart. "I do not know Jiang Wan, my lord."

"Oh?" Jiang Wen smiled like an old fox—at least to the scholar, it was a smile that seemed kind yet felt treacherous. Jiang Wen touched the ring-pommel saber at his waist. The scholar followed his gaze, his teeth clenching in helplessness. *Is he really going to kill me?*

Jiang Wen said, "If you knew Jiang Wan, I wouldn't kill you. But since you don't know him, I have no choice but to kill you. After all, useless people have no purpose. Are you sure you don't know him?"

"I don't know him, I really don't! Even if you kill me, I still won't know him!"

Jiang Wen burst into laughter, let go of the scholar, stood up, and looked at him with an intriguing expression. "Interesting. Would the two of you like to come with me to Xiangyang? Not as officials, but as my students."

The scholar and Jiang Wan exchanged glances, both clearly relieved. To them, officialdom was indeed too distant, but becoming the student of such a man was a heaven-sent opportunity. In this era, a student had to visit a teacher’s home to ask for instruction, and sometimes it depended entirely on the teacher's mood.

"We are willing!"

"And what is your name?" Jiang Wen asked. The scholar replied shyly and respectfully, "Student is called Liu Min, without a courtesy name."

"No courtesy name? When you turn twenty, I shall choose one for you."

"Of course, General. You are now my teacher, like a parent to me," Liu Min said with a joyful smile.

Jiang Wan bowed, "Student Jiang Wan, courtesy name Gongyan, greets Teacher!"

"Pack your books. We continue our journey at noon."

As the army continued its campaign, Liu Min looked at the magistrate and asked Jiang Wen, "Teacher must know that this man is a corrupt official?"

Jiang Wen replied flatly, "Naturally. The land and tax records have all been tampered with."

"Then why does Teacher not bring him to justice?"

Jiang Wan interjected confidently, "Because Teacher has no one else to use right now. You only have soldiers and no generals. If we don't want Xiangtan to descend into chaos or rebellion, we must continue to employ this magistrate."

"Am I right, Teacher?"

Like a child seeking praise, Jiang Wan looked expectant. Jiang Wen smiled and shook his head, though he also nodded.

Jiang Wan was momentarily confused. Liu Min laughed, teasing, "So much for your arrogance, you’ve been humbled now."

Jiang Wan, like a student who didn't know why his answer was wrong, ignored Liu Min and bowed to Jiang Wen. "I do not know where I went wrong, please enlighten me, Teacher."

Jiang Wen said, "You were half right. Now that the Prefect of Changsha is dead, it is impossible for the magistrate to continue his tyranny. Before long, there will likely be a civil uprising. I am busy with the campaign and have no time to preside over legal cases for the people; I will leave it to them to take back what is theirs."

"But if the magistrate is killed, won't there be a lack of officials?"

"Xiangyang has already dispatched officials. You need not worry about these matters."

Pengcheng.

"This is General Cao’s eldest son, Cao Ang, courtesy name Anmin," a sickly, frail-looking young man said, bowing to Liu Bei. "I am Guo Jia, courtesy name Fengxiao. Greetings to Governor Liu."

"Cao Anmin greets Governor Liu."

Liu Bei smiled, half-genuine and half-feigned, making it impossible to gauge his true thoughts. Guo Fengxiao coughed once or twice, his narrow eyes slightly squinted as he observed this seemingly kind man. Both men exchanged a look, assessed each other’s depths, and immediately withdrew their gazes.

Behind Liu Bei stood two warriors. One had beautiful long whiskers, a crimson face, and phoenix-like eyebrows, looking exceptionally heroic. Cao Ang stepped past Liu Bei and approached Guan Yu. Guan Yu closed his eyes, ignoring him, simply stroking his beard with an arrogant air.

"My father is very fond of you. Now that your eldest brother has surrendered to my father, are you willing to serve him?"

"Hey! My eldest brother only surrendered due to circumstances; that doesn't mean we brothers must pledge allegiance to your father! Don't make trouble in front of my second brother!"

"Yide, do not be rude!" Liu Bei intervened. Zhang Fei snorted, puffed out his beard, and stood aside.

"A surrendered general now bowing to my father—what face do you have to be shouting here!"

"You little brat! Your grandfather here has taken the heads of enemy generals amidst thousands of troops, while you were still suckling!"

"I have heard that the General was formerly just a pig butcher. How could you take heads amidst thousands of troops?"

"Fine, fine! Today I shall teach you a lesson on behalf of your father. Dare to go to the training ground and spar with me?!"

"I’ll go! Do you think I’m afraid of you?"

"Yide!" Liu Bei called out, but Zhang Fei and Cao Ang ignored him and walked out of the residence. Guo Jia smiled and said, "My young master is hot-blooded. Please forgive any offense, Governor."

Liu Bei sighed. Guan Yu spoke up from the side, "My eldest brother isn't worried about that. He’s worried that our third brother won't know his own strength and will hurt the young master."

"There is no need to worry. My young master has followed the General on many campaigns and can also take the heads of generals on the battlefield," Guo Jia smiled, covering his mouth with his sleeve. He spat a mouthful of blood into it, his expression darkening—he knew his time was running out.

He had come this time to gauge Sun Ce’s strength. If possible, he wanted to see the strategist named Jiang Wen. That man was his lord’s greatest enemy and Guo Jia’s own deep-seated anxiety. He worried about this Jiang Wen day and night. He only regretted that heaven was so unkind to him, denying him the chance to drink from the Yellow River and sing drunken songs with his lord.

Guo Jia lowered his sleeve. Liu Bei said, "Please take care of your health, official. But for now, let us go out and see. I fear my third brother might truly hurt the young master!"

Guo Jia nodded, "Since the Governor is worried, let us go and see."

On the training ground, Zhang Fei and Cao Ang faced each other with weapons. Cao Ang looked at Zhang Fei’s weapon and laughed, "Such an awkward weapon. Did the General design it to amuse children?"

"On the battlefield, one does not judge a weapon. My weapon is a tool for slaughter. I didn't want to use it against you, fearing it would be bullying, but now I will let you see it. After all, this is the first time in your life you’ve faced your grandfather!"

"All you do is shout and use crude language!" Cao Ang glared. "Today I shall teach you manners on behalf of your parents!"

"Come and fight, you bastard!" Zhang Fei roared, his voice so loud that Cao Ang felt a sharp pain in his ears!

The serpent-spear struck out like a long-dormant viper, swift and fierce. The twisted blade struck Cao Ang’s broadsword. Cao Ang’s expression froze, shock in his eyes. "What strength this ruffian has!" Zhang Fei roared and gave a violent twist, knocking Cao Ang’s weapon aside, pressing in on him until he was forced back, tumbling twice on the ground.