Before Declaring Emperor 2

Recently, Wang Ping had become aware that he had been living without much worry or concern for a while.

To be precise, was it since he settled into the Luanling Army? It seems his last worry was about the jealousy and checks from others when he first joined the Luanling Army and received Zhang Ran’s favor.

That too naturally disappeared at some point as he melted in as a member. After that, he only had to do his best with what was given to him.

Fortunately, Wang Ping had the talent to carry out given tasks and overcome difficulties.

Even when he was promoted to General Who Maintains Vigor and became independent from the Luanling Army, he had no worries. Though there was regret in leaving Zhang Ran’s command.

But even that regret was smaller than the satisfaction of rising to a high position. Not out of desire for honor or power, but satisfaction in being able to repay the grace received from Zhang Ran.

Until now, there were few things that didn’t go Wang Ping’s way. What could have been difficult when his own ability was added to the backing of being employed by Zhang Ran and recognized by Liu Bei?

But finally, Wang Ping’s path of success hit a brake.

“I didn’t know dealing with people could be this difficult.”

Until now, the basic goodwill given by Wang Ping’s background meant his blunt and straightforward aspects caused no problems in dealing with others. This was even more so after his position rose as his rank increased.

But Xu Mao was not servile despite his status as a defeated general. Despite Wang Ping treating him quite generously due to Xu Mao’s reputation and personally respectable character, he maintained his stance as a minister of Wei.

Even when offered house arrest instead of prison, Xu Mao insisted on receiving the same treatment as other Wei prisoners, saying how could he alone be comfortable after becoming a defeated general.

Wang Ping was even more impressed by this, but Xu Mao remained stubborn.

Wang Ping lingered around unnecessarily and received reports on Xu Mao’s condition.

“Is he still the same?”

“Yes. He was in meditation while sitting upright.”

“I see. Alright. Good work.”

People around call Wang Ping a serious character, but Wang Ping himself knew he had an impatient personality.

The fact that he had only shown a weighty appearance externally until now was based on the calculation that he could resolve things sufficiently at his own level.

If he were truly a serious and patient person, he wouldn’t have requested cooperation from Zhang Ran.

“It would be easier to face a large army instead.”

Wang Ping let out a deep sigh at the situation not going as he wished. The way to win people’s hearts was too unfamiliar to Wang Ping.

When Zhang Fei, Zhang Ran’s father, personally untied the ropes binding Yan Yan, Yan Yan willingly became his guest. He tried to imitate this, but only reconfirmed Xu Mao’s integrity.

“It will be different when the Rear General comes.”

Zhang Ran has a strange charm that draws people in. Beyond just her outstanding appearance, Wang Ping clearly felt something that couldn’t be explained by that alone. He thought it might stem from confidence.

Wang Ping believed without doubt that Zhang Ran could turn the heart of the stubborn Xu Mao.

But the words coming from Xu Mao’s mouth when he faced Zhang Ran were no different from before.

“It’s not possible.”

§

Upon arriving in Anding, I met Wang Ping and caught up on things. Perhaps moved that I came right after he sent the request, Wang Ping welcomed me with an enthusiastic response.

After exchanging light pleasantries and casual conversation, I asked about Xu Mao, the purpose of this visit.

“So how is Lord Xu doing?”

“He’s staying in prison, saying he’ll receive the same treatment as the soldiers.”

“Then we should just release them all.”

“What? But they haven’t said they’ll surrender yet.”

In my view, the current situation was the result of everyone’s positions being tangled up.

Xu Mao stayed in prison saying he’d receive the same treatment as the soldiers.

The soldiers are holding out saying they can’t surrender while Xu Mao is like that.

Wang Ping, who values proper conduct, won’t release prisoners who haven’t surrendered.

Wouldn’t this problem resolve naturally if each side just took one step back?

“Just release them. If you release the soldiers, Lord Xu will come out too, so change it to house arrest. Give them two or three days to rest, then we can visit.”

Anyway, releasing the prisoners won’t affect the overall situation. What could they do even if they acted up?

Even when they had greater numbers, they were thoroughly defeated by Wang Ping, and now with the reinforcements I brought, they know they’re no match at all.

They’ve been holding out until now just to maintain loyalty to Xu Mao. As long as we don’t kill or torture Xu Mao, they won’t raise the banner of rebellion first.

Following my words, Wang Ping released the prisoners. Then Xu Mao also willingly came out of prison.

Though Wang Ping had treated him as humanely as possible, prison life couldn’t have been entirely comfortable. I sent medicinal herbs so he could rest and recover his strength at home.

It was something I had prepared in advance when leaving Chang’an, an herb called danggui. This herb, whose name literally translates to “should return,” was often used when urging defection.

Cao Cao once sent top quality Goguryeo danggui to Tian Shui, and Jiang Wei, who defected from Wei to Shu, also received danggui from his mother.

And when we visited him a few days later, Xu Mao no longer avoided us.

“An honorable guest has come.”

Xu Mao said politely, bowing his body upon seeing me. The atmosphere isn’t bad. Feeling hopeful that things might go well, I also greeted him in return.

“You flatter me. Isn’t Lord Xu truly the honorable one?”

“Haha, the general’s words are too kind. How could a defeated soldier like me deserve to be called honorable?”

Xu Mao referred to himself not as a defeated general but a defeated soldier, lowering himself. Even his home was truly a thatched cottage where ordinary people might live, and his humble attitude seemed ingrained.

“The behavior you’re showing now makes me think that even more. If our country’s Military Advisor Zhuge saw you, he would have welcomed you with admiration.”

“Haha, I’ve kept the guests standing too long. Please come inside.”

Even at my flattery, Xu Mao acted calmly without showing any signs of being excited.

Wang Ping and I entered Xu Mao’s thatched cottage and received the tea he brought. Though it wasn’t the high-quality product seen in Chengdu or Chang’an, it tasted quite good, perhaps due to Xu Mao’s tea-making skills.

As I glanced around the room, I narrowed my eyes upon seeing something. A silk-wrapped package. It was the danggui I had given. The silk knot was still in its original form, as if untouched.

Pretending not to have seen it, I calmly asked:

“Did you receive the medicinal herbs I sent well?”

“I was actually planning to return them, which is why I invited you two inside.”

“Why won’t you accept them?”

“The medicine you sent is danggui, isn’t it?”

When I nodded, Xu Mao said with a resolute face:

“A child does not serve two parents, and a subject does not serve two lords. However, to repay the sincerity you two have shown me, I have one request I’d like to make.”

“Please speak.”

“I would like to paint your portrait, General.”

“My portrait?”

I tilted my head at the unexpected proposal.

“Yes. I am also a potter. If you grant my request, I will repay you with a poem, though my skill is inadequate.”

“Hmm… a poem is good, but if you become a subject of our country, I’ll let you paint me as much as you want.”

Xu Mao shook his head with a faint smile.

“How could I betray the greater cause for personal pleasure? Please withdraw your words.”

“…I understand. I’ll grant your request as well.”

“Thank you, General.”

“Then should I change clothes?”

“No, this is fine. I want to paint you in armor, General.”

Actually, if he had asked me to wear fluttering silk clothes saying he was going to paint a beautiful person, I was planning to refuse saying it was rude and try to persuade him once more, but it turned out a bit disappointing.

Thus, the impromptu painting of my portrait by Xu Mao began.

At some point, the room in the thatched cottage had become his studio.

I stood still as he requested. He glanced at me and painted, then glanced at me again and painted, repeating this process as he transferred my image onto paper.

At first his hand moved smoothly across the paper with fluid brush strokes, but gradually slowed down until at some point he was almost just looking at me with his hand stopped.

“Is there a problem?”

“Umm… I apologize. It’s truly a difficult painting, so my deliberation has been long.”

Thinking “You just have to copy it, what part is difficult?” I rolled my eyes to peek at the portrait he was painting, and saw that everything else was drawn but the face part hadn’t been touched by ink at all.

“Take your time.”

“No. I think I can draw it now.”

They say inspiration comes in an instant.

As if all his hesitation until now was to gain momentum, Xu Mao finished drawing my face in one stroke.

The final touch. After drawing in the eyes last, Xu Mao wrote a poem in neat handwriting in the lower left corner.

Raising military banners instead of doing housework,

Resounding cheers shake the earth.

Try looking at the Unicorn Hall in years to come,

A portrait of a beauty painted first in vermilion.

“I have heard the poems exchanged between you and Emperor Wu. With my inadequate skill, I tried to match the couplets of your two poems.”

If it’s the poems exchanged between me and Cao Cao, it would be those from when we made the armistice agreement in Jingzhou.

After carefully pondering the content of the poem Xu Mao wrote, I rose from my seat without lingering.

“I have received a precious gift. Now that I understand Lord Xu’s intentions, we shall take our leave.”

As we left Xu Mao’s thatched cottage, Wang Ping, who had been keeping his mouth shut beside me, asked in a somewhat excited tone:

“How could you withdraw like this? I thought there was still room when I saw it.”

“As you thought, Zijun. There is room. You can tell just by looking at the content of the poem.”

As can be seen from the mention of the Unicorn Hall, Xu Mao recognized that the greater righteousness and trend had come to us.

What was the Unicorn Hall? Wasn’t it the hall where Emperor Wu of Han hung portraits of meritorious officials in the Chang’an palace? Saying my portrait would be hung in the Unicorn Hall was no different from saying we would be victorious.

Nevertheless, the reason I withdrew was because Xu Mao refused the danggui despite knowing this. It meant Xu Mao’s will was strong enough to refuse even while knowing the state of affairs.

So let’s entrust this matter to someone far more outstanding than Wang Ping or me.

“There is someone more suitable than us.”

“If you mean someone suitable…”

“I’ve already said it.”

That Zhuge Liang would come.