Chapter Forty-Five: An Incident Occurs

The generals stood in their appointed places. Sun Ce sat on the throne, turning to the soldiers at his side. “Bring Tai Shici forward.”

“Yes, sir!”

A general with sharp brows, eyes like swords, and a handsome beard was bound in ropes, forced to kneel before them.

Zhou Tai, Jiang Qin, and Tai Shici all looked exhausted—Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin had spent no small effort to capture Tai Shici.

Sun Ce’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Do you remember loosing that arrow at me atop the walls of Moling?”

“If you are to kill me, then do so,” Tai Shici replied, his voice calm. “I only ask that my body be sent intact to my homeland for burial. I have nothing else to say.” With that, Tai Shici fell silent.

Gan Ning’s face darkened. He kicked Tai Shici. “You wounded our lord and still expect your corpse to remain whole? You should count yourself lucky if you aren’t torn apart by five horses!”

“Xingba, don’t be angry,” Sun Ce quickly rose, speaking as Jiang Wen helped him to Tai Shici’s side.

He helped Tai Shici up, brushing the dust from his armor with respect. “I have always admired talented generals. Though you are defeated, your abilities are too great for me to kill you. Untie him!”

Jiang Qin stepped forward and saluted. “General, you mustn’t. You are wounded. If he tries to attack in desperation, you might be injured again—”

“There’s no need for further words,” Sun Ce said firmly. “Untie him!”

Jiang Wen nodded to the other generals, and Gan Ning gestured for two soldiers to remove Tai Shici’s bonds.

Tai Shici stood. The other generals’ hands went to their sword hilts—should he make a false move, his blood would flow before he took five steps.

But Tai Shici paid them no mind. Instead, he bowed deeply to Sun Ce. “Thank you for your kindness, General. I wish to visit the tomb of my former lord and pay my respects. Afterward, I will travel north to find my mother. While in the north, I can also help you pacify the troops in Yangzhou. If you agree… my life will be yours from that day on!”

Jiang Qin eyed him warily. “There are at least ten thousand soldiers in Yangzhou. If you take them north and never return, what will our army do?”

Gan Ning bowed to Sun Ce. “He is a defeated enemy. If you let him take ten thousand troops north, I doubt he will ever return. I do not trust him!”

“Yes, how can we trust the enemy’s foremost general? He’s simply not trustworthy!”

The other generals echoed the sentiment, their faces full of suspicion. Tai Shici, however, stood silently, saying nothing.

Three men spreading a rumor can make a tiger of it—Sun Ce himself began to hesitate. Sensing this, Jiang Wen addressed the assembled generals. “General Tai Shici has always valued loyalty and honor. Once, when Kong Rong of Beihai was besieged by enemy forces, it was General Tai Shici who called for help, thus lifting the crisis. And Kong Rong had done nothing but treat General Tai Shici’s mother kindly. His trustworthiness is beyond doubt. I believe in him.”

Sun Ce nodded. Turning to Tai Shici, he spoke with conviction. “Very well! Since the adviser vouches for you, I shall grant your request. From this day, I appoint you Commander of Yangzhou’s troops under my command. Once Wu Commandery is reclaimed, you shall be promoted to General of the Garrison Cavalry. How long will you be gone, Ziyi?”

Tai Shici bowed solemnly. “Within forty days, I shall return without fail. Thank you, General Sun, for your high regard.”

After Tai Shici’s departure, Gan Ning and the others remained suspicious, but since both the adviser and the Grand Cavalry General had spoken, they could not object further.

At the Jiang residence, Tao’er rested her delicate chin in her hands, gazing dreamily at the lotus blossoms on the water. A pair of cranes played among the lilies, sending the fish darting below.

“Madam, madam! The master has triumphed! The master has triumphed!”

Tao’er blushed, her fair face enchanting in its shyness. “Don’t say such things, Li Er. We’re not even married yet!”

Li Er grinned and handed her a bamboo slip. “Isn’t it only a matter of time? The master has already taken Moling—Wu Commandery will surely follow. He’ll be back in Xiangyang soon.”

“So, I’ll be the mistress of the house!” Tao’er tried to look serious, but could not suppress her smile, her cheeks red as apples as she sat giggling in the pavilion, bamboo slip in hand.

“Madam, Yang Wu has returned!”

“Did the young master’s second uncle come back as well?”

“He did, but…”

Seeing Yang Wu’s expression, Tao’er realized something was wrong and quickly followed him to investigate.

In the guest room of the east wing lay a middle-aged man, his face wan and gaunt, his body swathed in bandages, one leg broken.

“How did this happen?” Tao’er demanded.

Yang Wu replied with embarrassment, “When I arrived, Yan Baihu had already fortified Wu Commandery. For days, I led Master Jiang through the forests, fleeing for our lives. We barely escaped, but the master was wounded. If Madam wishes to punish me, I have no complaint.”

“Enough, you may go.” Tao’er waved him away with a frown. Yang Wu bowed and withdrew.

Jiang Wen sat alone in his residence. Night had fallen, the stars sparkling across the sky. He finished writing a letter in cursive script and blew the ink dry. “Give this to Tao’er. Tell her to take good care of Second Uncle.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Ah…” Jiang Wen placed the bamboo slip on the bookshelf beside him. “Yan Baihu…”

After changing his clothes, Jiang Wen left the residence and walked out into the streets. The city glowed with lantern light. Taverns and brothels bustled in the night market, and the music of chimes and zithers drifted from nearby pleasure pavilions.

Scholars sat beneath covered galleries, reading by lamplight. A carriage rolled past, its noble occupants bejeweled, casting disdainful glances at the poor around them.

Though war had just been fought, the common people cared little—so long as their lives went undisturbed, it mattered little who ruled.

Jiang Wen entered the music house. The pavilion’s eight sides gleamed with satin and brocade, ancient screens and wooden windows, fine murals hanging from the beams, and the bronze incense burners sent up curling streams of fragrant smoke. Song and dance filled the air.

At the center was a wooden stage, encircled by clear water, where ornate lanterns floated. A beautiful young maiden sat at its heart, striking the chimes.

“Changsu!” Lu Meng stood and waved from afar. Nearby, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce were already warming their wine. Seeing Jiang Wen arrive, they rose to greet him.

Jiang Wen returned the salute and took his seat.

“Gongjin, Ziming, you must have suffered wind and frost on this journey. Come, let us drink to warm ourselves,” Sun Ce said with a laugh, pouring wine for the others. Jiang Wen received a cup as well. The four raised their cups and drank heartily.

Jiang Wen glanced around with a faint smile. “Why did you think to gather here tonight?”

Zhou Yu turned to Lu Meng. Lu Meng took a sip of wine. “If we returned to camp, we’d have to drink with all the generals—one cup here, one cup there—how could that be any fun? Here, we can drink to our heart’s content!”

ps: For now, only one chapter. Regular updates will resume in a few days.