Chapter Seventeen: Troops March Toward Jingzhou

"Tao'er, hand me those logs," Jiang Wen called out.

"Let Tao'er do it instead. How could a young master like you be burdened with such heavy work?" she protested.

"What heavy work? Not long ago, I was tilling the fields myself. You go and prepare today's meal." Jiang Wen hefted a bundle of timber and passed it up to the soldiers above. "Look at Ziming—he's doing the same things and still grinning from ear to ear."

Tao'er's bright eyes glanced at Lü Meng, who was laughing heartily in the distance, and she muttered, "That's because he's not as clever as you, young master, so he can laugh so easily."

"Hey, little scribe, if you keep talking like that, I'll ask Changsu to marry you off to me right now! Once we're husband and wife, I'll let you know what real happiness is!"

Taoer's cheeks flushed crimson. "Shameless!"

The soldiers all burst into laughter, making Tao'er stamp her feet in embarrassment, her face burning as she hurried away. Jiang Wen called out, "Enough, quiet down—all of you, behave yourselves!"

Lü Meng pouted. "Bo Fu, just look at him. Clearly, he dotes on his little scribe, but he always pretends otherwise!"

"Why are you so concerned with other people's affairs?" Sun Ce replied irritably, stacking stones together.

Lü Meng hauled another stone. "But if that scribe falls for someone else, what a pity! Changsu is her master—if it were me, I'd be more forceful, and just sweep her off her feet!"

Sun Ce took the stone Lü Meng handed him. "Why are you so enthusiastic about such things? Do you fancy someone? Before we set out against Dong Zhuo, didn't your mother arrange a match for you? That girl was quite lovely, from a good family too—why didn't you like her?"

Lü Meng pulled a face. "She was indeed beautiful, noble, and virtuous—everything was perfect, except for one flaw. And that flaw, I simply couldn't abide, so I refused outright."

"Oh? And what was that flaw?"

"Her family had conditions. Even though I'm a deputy commander, they didn't want their daughter marrying a general who barely knows his letters. If she became my wife, I'd have to study hard with her help. She said a true man should be learned as well as brave. But how could I stand that?"

Sun Ce leapt down, stretching his limbs. "Changsu always says if you were willing to study, you'd become a renowned general known throughout the world."

"No, no!" Lü Meng shook his head quickly. "Studying is pure torment. Staring at those bamboo slips all day, no weapons, no riding, no fighting... just thinking about it makes me miserable."

"You, really. The men have all finished their work—go eat and rest. In three hours, we'll resume!"

Sun Ce wiped his face with a damp cloth handed by a servant. Tao'er, carrying a basin of water, walked over to Jiang Wen. "Bo Fu, how many days has it been since the general went after Dong Zhuo?"

"Fifteen, I think," Jiang Wen replied, a hint of worry in his voice. By his count, they should have returned by now; even for a force of ten thousand heavy cavalry, it was time enough for a round trip. Sun Ce handed his water bucket to a servant. "Don't worry. With my father's might, nothing will happen to him."

"It's precisely because of his boldness that accidents are possible," Jiang Wen muttered.

"The general has returned!"

Jiang Wen tossed his damp towel into Tao'er's water basin and quickly strode towards the city gate. Around him, the soldiers dropped what they were doing and surged toward the entrance.

Jiang Wen saw that, besides Sun Jian, there were also many commoners following behind.

A wagon was surrounded by Sun Jian, Cheng Pu, and Huang Gai.

"Did Dong Zhuo's household get raided?" Jiang Wen tried to conceal his excitement. The soldiers instantly parted for him, and he approached Sun Jian's horse, bowing low. "I congratulate the general on his triumphant return!"

Sun Jian smiled at Jiang Wen, and from the coach behind, a young boy stepped out.

"Brave soldiers, today the one you should honor is not me, Sun Wentai, but our Emperor!"

Lü Meng and all the veterans and soldiers dismounted and knelt. Lü Meng blinked and muttered, "Goodness, how did the Emperor get rescued?"

Jiang Wen straightened his robe and prostrated himself. "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

Liu Xie clung tightly to Sun Jian's hand, his voice still childish. "Sun Aiqing, are these all your men?"

Sun Jian knelt on one knee with clasped fists. "These are all Your Majesty's soldiers!"

Liu Xie's face shone with hope. "It's only a pity you couldn't save more loyal ministers. But for Sun Aiqing to slay Dong Zhuo is an act of Heaven!"

He hesitated, glancing around at the soldiers, unsure how to speak in imperial style, but seeing no hostility, he relaxed. "By imperial decree, from this day forth, Prefect Sun Jian is promoted to Grand General, commander-in-chief of all the empire's forces, to punish the traitors in my name!"

Sun Jian's face showed wild delight, though years of experience allowed him to restrain it. Jiang Wen bowed again. "Congratulations to Your Majesty and to the Grand General. Long live the Emperor!"

All the soldiers, sixty thousand men, knelt and echoed, "Congratulations to Your Majesty and to the Grand General! Long live the Emperor!"

Jiang Wen looked at the spirited young Emperor, hope for the Han dynasty's restoration shining in his eyes. He sighed inwardly; though this boy was destined to be the last puppet emperor of the Han, his fate would be a peaceful one.

Sun Jian stood tall. "Military attendant!"

"At your command!"

"Where should our army march now?"

Jiang Wen replied, "I believe we should pass through Jing Province and return to Changsha."

"But you know that Liu Biao and I have clashed before. If we pass through Jing Province, won't that be difficult?"

"It's not just passing, but taking it for ourselves. Your family is in Lujiang, but now with the Emperor in our hands, Liu Biao is old and has no ambition for the realm—he only seeks to secure his own territory. All we need is to demand troops and provisions from him. If he refuses, we can accuse him of disloyalty and call the country to arms. With our sixty thousand troops, Jing Province will be ours!"

"Hahaha! But that old fox Liu Biao is known for his patience. If your plan fails, what then?"

"Even simpler. Issue an imperial edict, grant you the post of Governor of Jing Province, and demand Liu Biao hand over military command. If he refuses, he's defying imperial orders!"

Cheng Pu stroked his beard, and the old generals laughed. "Well done, lad—what a shameless scheme!"

"The whole army will move out—destination: Jing Province!"

At the alliance of warlords, Cao Cao listened to the scout's report and sighed. "I always thought my greatest rival would be Yuan Shao. But this bluff general, Sun Wentai, has such insight—ha!"

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu sat nearby. Yuan Shu's face was stormy. The Imperial Seal! He had purposely withheld grain from Sun Jian, expecting him to fail for lack of supplies. Who would have guessed that Hua Xiong and Li Jue would be defeated, and Sun Jian would gain thirty thousand more men?

When he heard Sun Jian had pursued Dong Zhuo with only ten thousand troops against eighty thousand, Yuan Shu mocked his arrogance, certain he would be crushed. Yet Dong Zhuo was slain, and the Emperor rescued by Sun Jian!

All his schemes for the Imperial Seal had come to nothing. How could he dare attack the Emperor's protectors now?

Still, with Sun Jian having taken the Emperor, he would be drawn into imperial politics—life would not be easy for him! Yuan Shu consoled himself with this thought.

Most of the warlords had already departed. The alliance had accomplished nothing but deepen their mutual resentments.

Cao Cao took his leave of Yuan Shao and exited as well.