Chapter Thirty-Two: The Open Conspiracy

At the place of judgment, a succession of box carts arrived, and Sun Ce watched them with a calm, unreadable expression. Kuai Yue lowered the curtain of his cart and said to Kuai Liang, “Brother, fortunately this man will be our ally in the future.”

Kuai Liang shook his head with a bitter smile. “I cannot say whether entrusting this matter to him is right or wrong. If the Minister vents his anger this time, he will surely face disaster.”

A plain cart rolled up, and Cai Mao stepped out, dressed in mourning attire and wearing a white headband. He bowed to Sun Ce. “This humble servant greets the Tiger Knight Commander.”

Sun Ce quickly rose from his seat and hurried to help Cai Mao up. “In terms of rank, Uncle Cai is above me. How can you call yourself a humble servant?”

“Now I wear mourning for my father, and for three years I hold no office or title. I ought to call myself a humble servant.” Cai Mao broke free from Sun Ce’s support, then knelt and bowed deeply. “This bow is to thank the Commander for settling my father’s grievance!”

Sun Ce’s face was solemn. After Cai Mao’s formal bow, he helped him up, saying, “Uncle Cai, this matter was the fault of the Sun family. You and my father ought to have been allies. These past days, my father neglected you and chilled your heart. Today, let this stand as a proper answer to Uncle Cai.”

“This humble servant dares not resent the Minister, but today the Commander treats me with such generosity. If ever the Commander faces hardship, the Cai clan will help with all our strength!”

At the Minister’s mansion in Xiangyang, Sun Jian was troubled, and beside him sat a noble lady, her face streaked with tears and full of worry.

Lady Wu wiped her tears and pleaded, “Wentai, our younger son is in trouble. You must save him. Over the years, we raised him as our own flesh and blood. Such a heavy punishment—how could he bear it?”

“But what can be done now? It was my son who set up the judgment post. If I turn a deaf ear at this moment, Bofu will lose the trust of the officials and the world. How will the Sun family ever achieve its ambitions?” Sun Jian spoke coolly, but the calmer he was, the more chilling his words became. “The one who devised this plan is forcing me to kill my own son. What a cunning scheme!”

Lady Wu wiped her tears with her handkerchief and suddenly thought, “Wentai, did Bofu not say that as long as our younger son arrives at the judgment post by midday, his punishment will be lessened? Let us take him there at once. Bofu will not be seen as breaking his word, and our son may escape disaster!”

“A woman’s view! To lessen the sentence? In the face of death, any lesser punishment is still death for our son. No matter if it is execution or exile, once the verdict is given, he is doomed!”

“What should we do then, Wentai?” Lady Wu’s face was pale, her eyes once again brimming with tears. “Though our son has erred, he is still a Sun. How could we allow an outsider to humiliate him so?”

“Let us speak no more of it,” Sun Jian slowly exhaled, his majestic face returning to calm. “There is only one person behind this scheme.”

In the grand hall of Xiangyang, the officials entered, bowing deeply. “Long live Your Majesty!”

The Son of Heaven sat on his throne. Liu Xie glanced at Sun Jian, who sat beside him with eyes closed, leaving Liu Xie uncertain how to speak.

The officials knelt for nearly a quarter of an hour before Sun Jian opened his eyes and signaled to Liu Xie, who finally spoke, “Rise, my loyal ministers.”

“We thank Your Majesty!”

“Where is the Chief Justice?”

“I, Kuai Liang, Chief Justice, greet Your Majesty and the Minister!”

“Read it.”

Kuai Liang took the memorial and stepped forward, reading aloud to the assembly, “The case of Wei Miao Tower has stirred great public resentment. At the request of all officials, I hereby sentence the Minister’s son, Sun Zhong, to death, execution to take place after the autumn.”

“We thank Your Majesty for your wise and decisive judgment!” The officials bowed in gratitude.

Kuai Liang returned to his seat. Sun Jian stood abruptly, laughing loudly as he looked down at the officials, walking to stand beside Jiang Wen. “It seems you are all quite satisfied with this outcome. Strategist, would you not say a few words?”

The sword at Sun Jian’s waist slowly revealed its cold gleam, a murderous intent radiating from it. The air seemed to chill; the blade was drawn, pressed against Jiang Wen’s neck. “This result, I suppose, is exactly what you wished for?”

Liu Xie’s heart trembled. The scene recalled the days of Dong Zhuo. None of the officials dared move, their bodies shrinking back in fear.

Lu Meng glanced anxiously at Sun Jian, about to intervene but held back firmly by Zhou Yu, his heart filled with worry.

The chill at his throat penetrated Jiang Wen’s bones, his heartbeat quickening, sweat breaking on his brow. “I… I thank Your Majesty for your wise and decisive judgment, and thank the Minister for his great righteousness… Sacrificing kin for the greater good, the people will surely respect and honor you from now on…”

“Is that all you have to say?” Sun Jian whispered in Jiang Wen’s ear, “On the surface, you seem uninvolved. At the judgment post, all officials appeared, but you were absent. Every action was orchestrated from the shadows.”

“But among the court, there is no one with such insight but you. You pushed my son forward as a shield. If I kill you, must I also kill my own son?”

Sun Jian stepped back, squinting with a smile as he patted Jiang Wen’s shoulder. “Truly a man of great wisdom. You found a good path of retreat.”

“Minister! When the General and I toured Wu Commandery, a local named Yan Baihu proclaimed himself King of Virtue of Eastern Wu. This is treason. I, the Tiger Knight Commander, ask for twenty thousand troops to reclaim Wu Commandery, and I swear to bring back Yan Baihu’s head for Your Majesty and the Minister!”

Sun Jian looked at Sun Ce, his gaze flickering, and glanced at Jiang Wen before finally sheathing his sword. “Granted. I appoint the Strategist as your adjutant. The rest of the officers you may select yourself. Strategist, are you willing?”

“Minister, I shall devote myself, without hesitation!”

“Very well. Today’s council ends here. Dismissed!”

The officials departed. Jiang Wen and the other three put on their shoes and headed to the Jiang residence.

Inside Jiang’s residence, Jiang Wen poured Du Kang wine from the stove into the bowls for the three. “To Chang Su, Jing Zi Ming, Gong Jin, and Bo Fu.”

Sun Ce drained his wine and refilled his cup. “Had I known this plan would put Chang Su in such peril, I never would have done it!”

Lu Meng was uneasy. “The Minister restrained his murderous intent this time, but there is still a lingering grudge. If Chang Su makes another mistake, the built-up anger will erupt, and he will certainly die!”

Zhou Yu spoke coolly, “This campaign against Wu Commandery serves two purposes. First, to expand our influence; second, to use time to gradually dissipate the Minister’s anger. I believe that’s why he appointed Chang Su as your adjutant, Bo Fu.”

As Tao’er poured wine for them, her heart was tightly gripped. Only now did she learn of the young master’s scheme—it was as if he’d placed his own head on the chopping block.

Sun Ce shook his head. “Fortunately, Chang Su has done much for my father, which allowed him to tolerate it. Had it been someone else, they would already be dead. It's a close call, but no real harm was done. Once the four of us pacify Jiangdong, we must have a good feast!”

“This campaign will surely bring us dominance. Cheers!”

…

Night fell, and the city was under curfew. A carriage left through Xiangyang’s eastern gate, carrying a pale, frail man with two beautiful wives beside him. Sun Zhong’s face was extremely pale. He never imagined that the death of one old man could cause so much trouble!

In the mountains near Xiangjiang, Cai Mao held his bowstring, flanked by twenty elite soldiers. Watching the approaching carriage, arrows flew, their sharp tips gleaming coldly. The horses were pierced, letting out cries and falling dead. “Leave no survivors. I want to kill that brat with my own hands and avenge my father!”

After seeing off the three, the servants tidied the living room. In Jiang Wen's room, candlelight flickered in the evening breeze.

Tao’er, her eyes reddened, gazed at the brilliant stars. “Young master is going to war again?”

Jiang Wen nodded. “We depart tomorrow, leading the troops of Lujiang to Jiangdong.”

“Young master…”

“This time, you must stay. There are matters in the residence that need your care. When this campaign is over, I will give you your rightful place.”

Tao’er blushed, her delicate face showing dimples, a warm current surging in her heart. She spoke softly, “You knew I was a woman?”

“Of course. I’m not blind.”

Jiang Wen felt a pain at his waist and gasped, as Tao’er left the room in a huff.