Luoyang and Jingzhou 3

Meanwhile, Zhuge Ke was under a quasi-confinement in the lodgings provided for the envoy group. It was a punishment tinged with anger from Zhuge Jin, who had heard about what happened at Zhang Ran’s end of mourning ceremony.

While Zhuge Jin went to meet Sun Lü, the second prince of Wu who was being held hostage in Han,

Zhuge Jin, upon hearing that Zhuge Ke had gone to Zhang Ran’s end of mourning ceremony, immediately summoned Zhuge Ke.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t utter personal opinions without my permission!”

“Father, wasn’t the end of mourning ceremony a private gathering held by Zhang Ran, not an official occasion? Moreover, I merely answered Zhang Ran’s question, so it won’t escalate into a diplomatic issue.”

Zhuge Ke eloquently defended himself even in the face of Zhuge Jin’s anger.

“How can you say that was merely a private gathering? I heard Zhang Ran is Shu’s General of the Guards, and those gathered there were all in key positions. How can you pretend not to know that such a gathering is an official occasion disguised as a private one!”

Zhuge Jin also knew that there was little room for this incident to be used diplomatically.

As Zhuge Ke said, it was merely answering Zhang Ran’s question, and attacking Luoyang was the mainstream opinion within Han as well.

But everything usually starts small. If this incident is overlooked because there’s no diplomatic problem, who knows if next time he’ll wag his tongue freely in an even more important place.

Therefore, Zhuge Jin firmly handed down his decision.

“From now on, you are not to leave the envoys’ quarters without my permission, and even if someone comes looking for you, you must ask for understanding and turn them away. Stay confined in the quarters.”

It was a half-hearted confinement that could be broken if the Han side cited official reasons, given that he came as a member of the envoy group, but confinement was confinement.

Thus, Zhuge Ke ended up confined to a corner of the room in the quarters given to the envoy group, but surprisingly, he didn’t particularly mind.

‘Anyway, if Shu calls, even Father can’t stop it.’

In the end, the lifting of the confinement was just a matter of time.

There was no problem with his reputation either.

In the envoy group, there were many who were displeased with the situation of having to be mindful of Han despite achieving the feat of conquering southern Jing in the last war. Although they were enduring because they understood the current situation, discontent was building up inside.

In this situation, Zhuge Ke had refreshingly refuted Han’s famous rising talents. If it had been an official diplomatic occasion, they too would have been more worried than satisfied, but wasn’t the place where Zhuge Ke had shown his prowess private?

The majority viewed Zhuge Ke positively, saying he had shown Wu’s spirit as a representative. Within Wu’s envoy group, it even reached the point where some said it wasn’t Zhuge Ke but Zhuge Jin who was going too far.

Some people followed Zhuge Jin’s words but still provided conveniences to Zhuge Ke. Such as relaying news from outside, or letting him take a short walk when Zhuge Jin was away.

In such a situation, what did Zhuge Ke have to worry about? It wasn’t anything new for his father to find Zhuge Ke himself uncomfortable.

Rather, what dominated Zhuge Ke’s mind was something else.

‘Zigong… Zigong, Zigong… what exactly did he mean by that evaluation?’

Zhuge Ke was preoccupied with analyzing the true meaning of Zhang Ran’s character evaluation of him.

He was even grateful for the leisure to think quietly alone through this confinement.

Zigong was said to be even more excellent than his teacher Confucius. If looking only at worldly ability rather than scholarship, he was by far the best among Confucius’s disciples.

To be compared to such a person must mean that Zhang Ran had properly seen through Zhuge Ke’s talent. On the surface, that is.

‘If it were just praising ability, there are others like Guan Zhong or Yue Yi, not just Zigong. There must be a hidden meaning.’

It didn’t take long for Zhuge Ke’s thoughts to reach the connection between the hu lian and “a gentleman is not a vessel” that Zhang Ran had said to Ma Su.

‘Is she saying I can’t become a gentleman? Did Zhang Ran also want to criticize me for acting rashly, like Father?’

As soon as he thought of this, Zhuge Ke denied it.

‘That can’t be.’

He and Zhang Ran are of the same kind. Possessors of innate talent recognized and bestowed by heaven.

Just as Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, who have now passed away, did, those born with heaven’s favor recognize each other and become understanding companions.

There must be some hint in Zhang Ran’s Zigong metaphor that Zhuge Ke hadn’t yet noticed.

‘It’s difficult to understand from my perspective. Zhang Ran and I are on different levels of scholarship.’

Everyone acknowledged that Zhang Ran had risen to one of the top positions in the Three Kingdoms in terms of martial arts.

But her level in literary arts wasn’t the same. Although she had accumulated some scholarship as she came from a scholar-official background and had been in official positions for quite some time, it was well known that she wasn’t at the level comparable to civil officials.

It was said that she became close friends with Pan Jun, a disciple of the great scholar Song Zhong, and had just finished studying the Four Books and Five Classics. To put it bluntly, Zhang Ran’s scholarship was shallow.

‘I’ll think only within the realm of the Analects.’

As he narrowed down the area like this, another passage came to mind.

There was a time when Zigong went to Confucius and boldly recited his aspirations. To Zigong, who said he would not do to others what he did not want others to do to him, Confucius said:

‘Fei er suo ji ye (非爾所及也).’

That is still beyond your reach – he said.

Perhaps Zhang Ran’s saying that he resembled Zigong meant that he was not yet in a position to discuss the world like that?

‘Come to think of it, Zhang Ran hasn’t met our envoy group separately except for me.’

You’re still lacking. But you’re the only person worth paying attention to.

Zhuge Ke’s thought process became complicated.

The innate arrogance.

The desire to win against a peer he acknowledged for the first time.

The desire for self-display, wanting recognition while also seeing the other as a rival.

As these mixed together, Zhuge Ke drew this conclusion:

‘Is she telling me to grow more? To grasp military authority like herself? Then, just as Confucius treated Zigong, she too would discuss the great affairs of the state…’

Zhuge Ke’s thoughts were close to a leap. It was the result based on the absolute premise that he was superior, and Zhang Ran acknowledged that. He had fallen into what would be called confirmation bias in the distant future.

Once a thought tilted, without recognizing the inclination of thought, it continued to increase its angle of inclination.

‘To rise to a high position and grasp military authority like Zhang Ran, I need merit.’

How can I rise to the same level as Zhang Ran?

Frankly speaking, in Zhang Ran’s case, the ruler’s favor played a significant role as fertilizer.

Without the ruler’s favor that transcended the constraints of being a woman, would Zhang Ran really be in that position now?

Putting it nicely, one could say Liu Bei’s insight was remarkable, but seen negatively, it was no different from giving excessive preferential treatment to a relative.

However, Zhang Ran proved through her achievements that Liu Bei’s judgment was correct, that she was worthy of that position.

If so, then Zhuge Ke himself should be able to do it too.

When it comes to favor received from the ruler, Zhuge Ke is no less.

As the son of Zhuge Jin, who had Sun Quan’s absolute trust, and having shown intelligence from childhood, Sun Quan treated Zhuge Ke like his own nephew.

Needless to say about having the ability to live up to that favor. Until now, Zhuge Ke had lacked opportunities, but there was never a time when he lacked ability.

‘This is a test. A test telling this Zhuge Ke to come to where she stands.’

It’s not difficult. In the past, his feet might have been bound by the shackles of age, but now that has long been removed.

The current personnel trend in the Three Kingdoms has greatly changed from the past, trying to employ young talents and give them many opportunities.

It was the aftermath of the appearance of a figure who shook the world at just twenty years old.

If one could prove their ability, they could break through the limits of age as much as they wanted.

The pioneer had opened the path, so the latecomers just had to follow.

Creating a virtuous cycle of military achievements and positions like rolling a snowball and running on the road to success. That’s how Zhang Ran achieved fame and success at such a young age.

‘It’s difficult for me to be involved in this northern expedition. But after the northern expedition ends, the Three Kingdoms will enter a period of catching their breath. At that time, I will pacify Danyang, our country’s internal worry.’

The pacification of Danyang was originally an event that would happen 10 years later. But for Zhuge Ke, who was gripped by the anxiety that he would keep hearing “it’s still too early for you” from Zhang Ran at this rate, 10 years later was too far away.

‘But even if I propose the pacification of Danyang, will our lord accept it?’

No matter how much Sun Quan favored Zhuge Ke, Zhuge Ke had yet to achieve any proper external results.

And assuming we gain Huainan, wouldn’t stabilizing Huainan be prioritized over pacifying Danyang, which is teeming with barbarians?

‘I need achievements.’

Just as the fame gained from the end of mourning ceremony had widened his range of movement even under confinement.

Only the fame given by achievements was Zhuge Ke’s breakthrough.

And the opportunity to gain merit was right in front of Zhuge Ke’s eyes.

‘I must make Shu attack Luoyang.’

If only he, Zhuge Ke himself, could take the lead in drawing out Han’s supporting attack, rather than the lukewarm Zhuge Jin.

Then Zhuge Ke could move on to the next step of pacifying Danyang.

With such a plan in his heart, Zhuge Ke waited for the right moment.

The moment when the confinement order would come to an end would arrive. Since they were in Han, not Wu, Zhuge Jin would inevitably have to send Zhuge Ke out to an official occasion at least once.

‘The emperor, Liu Bei’s summons.’

At that time, even Zhuge Jin wouldn’t dare to keep Zhuge Ke confined to the quarters.

The moment Liu Bei calls all the envoys. A farewell banquet for the envoys would be held.