Wu Kingdom 2

As soon as Zhuge Jin arrived at Gong’an City, Lu Xun departed for Jianye following Sun Quan’s summons.

Luo Tong remained in Jingzhou. He wanted to follow Lu Xun, but stayed behind to manage Jingzhou, following Lu Xun’s insistence that Luo Tong needed to remain for Jingzhou’s administration.

On his way to Jianye, Lu Xun realized the situation was more inflated than he had expected.

Everywhere he stopped on the way to Jianye, everyone asked him about the marriage with Zhang Ran, and even common people talked about it all day long.

‘No matter how great Zhang Ran’s reputation is, this level can’t come out without intentional spreading. Those Shu bastards are determined to blow this up.’

Contrary to Lu Xun’s prediction, Shu Han hadn’t really taken any measures that could be called machinations. They simply didn’t hide it.

The rumor that the Zhang Ran would finally form a marital bond after remaining single was riding the wind, crossing mountains and rivers, spreading to every corner of the world.

Even in Wei, Cao Pi had issued a stern order to verify the truth of what he had heard.

Though under suspicion, Lu Xun was still treated as a meritorious official, not a criminal. Sun Quan, considering Lu Xun not just as his general but also privately as his niece’s husband, allowed him to rest from his journey at his private residence.

The court audience was scheduled for the day after Lu Xun’s arrival.

Even after arriving at his home, Lu Xun couldn’t escape that tiresome question he had heard so many times.

“My lord, is the rumor circulating true?”

Sun Ce’s daughter and Lu Xun’s wife, Lady Sun, asked the same question. Unable to get angry at his wife, Lu Xun swallowed a sigh and calmly said:

“How could that be? This is Shu’s scheme to sow discord between King Wu and me, so my lady, please don’t pay too much attention to baseless rumors.”

Lu Xun was about to move to the bedroom saying he needed to rest now, but he stopped after just a few steps.

“Father, you’ve returned?”

“Yan. Didn’t I tell you there’s no need to come out separately, just rest inside?”

“How could I just wait in the room when you’ve returned from your official trip, as a son’s duty?”

“I see. Thank you. But this father wants you not to be sick more than anything, so let’s go back inside. I’ll support you.”

Lu Xun’s attitude changed to gentleness towards his precious only son.

Though not to the level of Zhang Bao, Zhang Fei’s eldest son who was on his deathbed, Lu Yan was also a child too weak to go around freely.

Lu Xun quickly approached and supported Lu Yan’s body. Though not a general who directly wields weapons against enemies, Lu Xun’s body, befitting a military commander who leads armies, firmly supported Lu Yan.

“By the way, Father. Is it true that I’m getting married?”

On the way to the room, Lu Yan brought up that topic again.

If it had been others, Lu Xun might have gotten angry by now, but Lu Yan was Lu Xun’s irreplaceable precious only son. And as the subject of the rumor, it was natural for him to have greater curiosity about this matter than anyone else.

Lu Xun exercised patience to calm his anger and tried his best to understand his son’s position.

“You’re saying that too?”

“I’m sorry. If I’ve made you uncomfortable, please forget it.”

“No. How could you not be interested in a rumor related to your marriage?”

After laying his son on the bed, Lu Xun sat in front of him for a while and continued talking.

“What do you think? It’s true that a marriage proposal came from Zhang Fei, as people are saying. Do you want to get married?”

“I will follow Father’s will.”

“I want to hear your true thoughts, not my will.”

At Lu Xun’s words, Lu Yan hesitated for a moment before carefully opening his mouth.

“She is the most beautiful and strongest woman in the world. As a descendant of the Lu family, how could I dislike it?”

“Even though Zhang Ran is ten years older than you?”

Lu Yan had not yet reached the age of purpose (志學, zhixue).

“Though I have not yet passed the age of purpose, I have seen and heard things. I’m more worried about the bad relationship between our two countries than the age difference, but if we form a friendly alliance through this marriage, what could be more joyous in the world?”

“…Your intentions are admirable. But I don’t think I can grant your wish.”

“Please don’t worry. I will always follow Father’s will.”

“I see. Thank you.”

The warmth transmitted from his son’s hand, firmly grasping his own, instilled determination in Lu Xun.

Sun family blood flows in his son. His only son is indeed the fruit of reconciliation proving that the Sun and Lu families have reconciled and become one.

Lu Xun made a resolution. He would remain a subject of the Sun family.

That determination continued to the royal court the next day.

Despite the suspicious glances pouring from around, Lu Xun’s attitude remained upright. He squared his shoulders and straightened his back.

Lu Xun’s posture as he entered the court, with a dignified bearing that could never be seen as that of a guilty person, did not waver even under Sun Quan’s questioning.

“Your Majesty, the marriage proposal they sent to me is no different from Jin Ping’s ploy to sow discord against Fan Zeng. My burning and destroying the letter they sent was only to prevent their scheme in advance, so please, Your Majesty, show your brilliant wisdom and consider not to fall for the mistake of Xiang Yu.”

Despite Lu Xun’s earnest plea, Sun Quan snorted. No, beyond that, Sun Quan was even getting angry.

“Fan Zeng! So you’re comparing me to Xiang Yu? Right, Xiang Yu also rose to power based on this Jiangdong!”

Seeing Sun Quan raging while even mentioning Sun Ce, who was called the Little Conqueror, Lu Xun gritted his teeth.

Where had the ruler with cool judgment and bold courage gone, leaving only this stubborn general?

Though he could have despaired at this lamentable reality, Lu Xun continued to try to express his loyalty.

“That’s not it, Your Majesty. This subject…”

“Enough! I don’t want to hear it. I can’t stand the sight of you now, so withdraw and reflect on yourself. When the time comes, I will call for you again.”

“Your Majesty! The situation is urgent. Please…”

As Lu Xun was about to offer advice with the resolve to even lay down his life, hoping for Sun Quan to return to his former self, someone stepped forward and stood between Lu Xun and Sun Quan.

“Your Majesty, it seems Governor Lu has not yet recovered from his travel fatigue. If Your Majesty allows, this subject will escort him safely back to his residence.”

“Wenyan…”

It was Zheng Chun, the Taizhong Dafu. As Lu Xun called his courtesy name in amazement, Zheng Chun whispered in a very low voice that only the two of them could hear.

“The hour of the Ox. Come out without anyone knowing.”

Zheng Chun was almost the only person allowed to touch Sun Quan’s reverse scale. His words were Sun Quan’s true intentions, so this was no different from Sun Quan speaking to him.

Hearing those words, Lu Xun instinctively understood what Sun Quan wanted.

But even as he was half-dragged out of the royal court by Zheng Chun, Lu Xun continued to call out for Sun Quan. It was an act.

‘The hour of the Ox. The time when oxen prepare for plowing in the morning. His Majesty is aiming for something with this incident.’

It was a message that dispelled all his worries and concerns at once.

And as Zheng Chun had said, when he slipped out of his residence secretly without even his family knowing, someone approached Lu Xun as if they had been waiting and began to guide him.

At the destination, a guest was already waiting for Lu Xun.

“Have you come, Nephew-in-law Lu?”

There was only one person in the world who could call Lu Xun nephew-in-law and speak down to him, and that was Sun Quan.

“Your Majesty.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Sun Quan said as he patted Lu Xun’s shoulder. At those words, Lu Xun felt as if all his inner turmoil was being washed away.

“Not at all. I am merely grateful that you recognize this subject’s unwavering loyalty.”

As the time given to them was not long, Sun Quan immediately got to the point.

“And I need you to work a bit harder in the future.”

“Please command me.”

“I plan to use the Empty Fort Strategy. The Lu clan will have a hard time for a while.”

Sun Quan had already talked with Lu Mu, Lu Xun’s younger brother who was looking after the Lu clan in place of Lu Xun, who was moving around as a military commander.

“But my brother and I have received great grace from Your Majesty, so would Wei and Shu really believe it?”

“The one to carry out the Empty Fort Strategy will be Lu Kai. The target is Cao Wei.”

“Cao Wei… Have you set your sights on Huainan?”

Instead of giving a clear yes or no, Sun Quan gave his next order.

“Boyan, pretend as if you want to accept the marriage. It would be good to send someone to coordinate opinions. But drag out the time by slowing down progress. They made the proposal first, so they won’t attack while marriage talks are ongoing. Isn’t Liu Bei someone who cares terribly about justification?”

He blocks the problem of how to prepare against Han while fighting Wei by reversing and using the scheme the other side has initiated.

Though overshadowed by the prestige of Cao Cao and Liu Bei, this response clearly showed that Sun Quan too was not an easy ruler to deal with.

However, a thought suddenly crossed Lu Xun’s mind that perhaps this was exactly what they wanted.

It felt as if there was an invisible hand of someone pushing us, saying we’ll stay still so go ahead and fight a big battle with Wei.

But Lu Xun held his tongue. If it wasn’t a ploy to sow discord, he was willing to accept it. It wasn’t like they were completely letting their guard down and exposing their backs.

‘If we can take Huainan in one breath and make the Huai River our border, our country too can proudly issue a challenge for supremacy over the realm.’

If the Empty Fort Strategy succeeds, it might not be impossible to gain Huainan before Liu Bei and Shu can try to interfere.

“As expected of Your Majesty. Truly a brilliance that ordinary people like me cannot follow.”

“Haha! To hear such words from you is like receiving a kowtow. It’s important to deceive people’s eyes, so I can’t leave my seat empty for too long. Let’s return now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lu Xun returned with a light heart, shaking off all his worries.

His mind, free of concerns, was filled with thoughts of how to perfectly succeed with the Empty Fort Strategy and take over Huainan in one go.

But Lu Xun did not know that this was too early an optimism.

Nor did he know the fact that in the pupils of Sun Quan watching his retreating figure, a very dark and gloomy shadow was wavering.

And the world called this:

Suspicion breeds ghosts (疑心暗鬼, yixin angui).

It was a ghost born of suspicion.