Cao Cao’s Condolences and Cao Pi 2

“This insolent bastard!!”

It was Liu Bei’s extreme anger that I hadn’t seen in a long time. Was it the first time since that tactless fellow Zhang Zun or whatever his name was who spoke rudely?

Liu Bei, who was clutching Cao Pi’s reply letter as if to tear it, seemed unsatisfied with just that and threw it down at his feet.

The reply letter made of silk, befitting Cao Pi’s reply, rolled on the floor. Liu Bei, who kicked away the reply letter lying at his feet, leaned back on his throne and shook his shoulders.

At Liu Bei’s rare extreme anger, the palace hall fell into a chilling silence where not even breathing could be heard.

“What are you eunuchs doing? Quickly remove that abomination from my sight.”

Calling for eunuchs rather than the officials who manage documents was an expression of Liu Bei’s intention to not even consider Cao Pi’s reply as a proper diplomatic document.

The officials, not wanting to incur Liu Bei’s wrath, not only didn’t try to stop Liu Bei’s actions but kept silent.

“My lord, please calm down first.”

Except for one person.

Even when Fa Zheng and Pang Tong were hesitating whether to step forward or not, there was only one in the palace hall who could calmly step forward. It was Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei’s Zhang Liang, who took action.

“Military Advisor. You heard it too, didn’t you? The content sent by that arrogant bastard. That fellow who would have been nothing but a petty laborer if he weren’t Cao Cao’s son, not knowing his place…”

“This is rather something to rejoice about.”

“What?”

Oh, so Liu Bei can make such an expression towards Zhuge Liang. It’s funny to think that the reason is me, but it makes me feel somewhat proud.

Despite Liu Bei’s anger, Zhuge Liang was as usual. Bending his body with a measured posture, he spoke in a calm tone:

“Although Cao Cao somewhat tidied things up before he died, there are still various potential problems within Wei. Cao Cao’s successor must necessarily resolve these, but looking at Cao Pi’s qualities, it seems he won’t be able to. The incompetence of the enemy’s ruler is good fortune for our country, so it’s something to rejoice about.”

“Hmm, Military Advisor’s words have a point. But still, I can’t forgive this insolent fellow.”

Thanks to Zhuge Liang, who was Liu Bei’s perfect anger control device except for Guan Yu’s death, Liu Bei regained his reason and lowered his tone.

“Since things have come to this, tell Han Dang to return to Chengdu.”

At Liu Bei’s words to cancel sending the condolence delegation, the faces of the existing opposition lit up. As I watched their faces nodding slightly as if to say ‘this is right’, I stepped forward to the center of the palace hall.

“My lord, please send me as the condolence delegation.”

At my words, as the person directly designated by Cao Pi, Liu Bei couldn’t even get angry and asked back with a bewildered face:

“What are you saying? You too must have heard Cao Pi’s words and actions, so why do you say such a thing?”

“Even the words of a mere man should be as important as a thousand gold pieces, but you, my lord, are the King of Hanzhong. A king’s words should be heavier than heaven. Moreover, you, my lord, have already set forth to check on His Majesty’s well-being under the pretext of a condolence delegation. Although I am boundlessly happy for your care for me, people will criticize prioritizing personal feelings over the greater cause. Please do not let me commit the disloyalty of tarnishing your prestige because of me.”

At my words elaborating point by point, Liu Bei looked troubled and cleared his throat.

If it were others, it might be different, but when the person directly involved speaks like this, it would be difficult for Liu Bei to refute.

Moreover, Cao Pi hadn’t properly shown his craziness yet. At most, just this reply letter incident.

Of course, from my perspective knowing Cao Pi’s true nature, it might look like a gamble. But there was a calculation behind this too. Currently, Wei is in a transitional state where Cao Cao, who had been ruling with an iron fist, has died and Cao Pi is succeeding.

It’s fortunate that Cao Cao handled things well before he died, but if you look closely inside Wei, it’s a dormant volcano full of bubbling magma.

In such a situation, to harm a condolence delegation that didn’t come arbitrarily but which Cao Pi himself said he would receive? From then on, Wei would fall to nothing more than a band of thieves without any justification or prestige.

Would people like Jia Xu, Sima Yi, Hua Xin, and Zhong Yao, who clearly know this, let Cao Pi do as he pleases? When he hasn’t even ascended to Emperor yet?

And no matter how crazy Cao Pi is, he’s still quite clever and did listen to Jia Xu and Sima Yi’s words.

However, since the opponent is Cao Pi, it’s absolutely not something that can be certain. He did so many crazy things in the original history after all. He was someone who committed the unfilial act of enjoying feasts and luxuries during Cao Cao’s mourning period, so who knows what he might do to the condolence delegation.

‘If that happens, I’ll have to take Cao Pi hostage or something.’

For that purpose, if I go as the condolence delegation, I was thinking of taking fierce generals with me. Pang De, a comrade who has fought together several times, wouldn’t refuse if I ask.

As I was organizing my thoughts, Liu Bei opened his mouth which had been tightly shut for a long time.

“I understand your admirable heart and your concerns. However, it’s difficult for me to make a cold judgment. Therefore.”

The words that came out of his mouth were neither permission, nor refusal, nor even reservation.

“I will entrust the decision on whether to send you or not to someone who can judge more fairly and neutrally than anyone else.”

Regarding sending the condolence delegation, without expressing an opinion for or against.

Someone who can exclude personal feelings towards me.

And someone who can make a wise judgment that fits the situation.

If it’s such a person, I could only think of one person.

And it was the same for Liu Bei.

“I will entrust this matter to you, Kongming. You two have a detailed conversation, and report that decision to me. The court session is hereby adjourned.”

§

After the court session ended, I had a one-on-one meeting with Zhuge Liang. In Zhuge Liang’s personal office, the scents of tea and ink deeply permeating the room gave a hint of the owner’s character.

Instead of immediately bringing up the topic of the condolence delegation, Zhuge Liang first brought up light casual conversation. It was a simple ice-breaking.

“It’s already been 10 years since I first saw the Rear General. At that time, I didn’t know you would grow up to be this excellent.”

“Please lower your words. It’s too much praise.”

“Not at all. The Rear General has the qualifications. You may be proud.”

Zhuge Liang’s words didn’t seem to be just flattery intended to break down my guard. Because he is so much the embodiment of righteousness itself, it’s rather difficult to discern Zhuge Liang’s true intentions, but now I could vaguely feel his sincerity.

“To be honest, I failed to predict Sun Quan’s betrayal. Xiaozheng and Gongxing, who defeated Cao Cao in Hanzhong, were the same. But Siyuan was different. There were not a few who found it strange that he gave up Hanzhong where he could achieve great merit and went to Jingzhou.”

To put it bluntly, if Pang Tong had stepped forward as the architect of the Battle for Hanzhong, could Fa Zheng have risen to such a high position as he is now?

Fa Zheng caught the opportunity because Pang Tong, who anticipated Sun Quan’s betrayal and wanted to prepare for it, gave up participating in the Battle for Hanzhong and chose to go to Jingzhou.

“I knew that Wu and Yue in the southeast would eventually turn their backs, but I didn’t know it would be right now. But the Rear General was wary of Sun Quan along with Siyuan, so if the Rear General hadn’t been there, and if Siyuan had been harmed in Nancheng because of that, our country would have been in a very embarrassing situation due to Sun Quan’s betrayal.”

Zhuge Liang’s words were accurately mentioning the flow of the original history. The fact that none other than that Zhuge Liang recognized my merit was an overwhelming emotion incomparable to anything else.

To suppress the corners of my mouth rising up like a fool and the exclamation that I didn’t know whether it was laughter or crying, I clenched my mouth shut, trying to grasp my trembling lips.

“Surely the Rear General must have a justification for going as the condolence delegation that I don’t know. So I won’t try to evaluate the Rear General with my shallow insight. I just want to listen.”

Zhuge Liang asked.

“What is the Rear General’s true intention in wanting to go as the condolence delegation?”

Although he said he just wanted to hear my intention, Zhuge Liang looked at me steadily with a faint smile full of composure, as if he already knew everything.

As we were talking about our innermost thoughts like this, just the two of us with Zhuge Liang, I suddenly recalled a scene I had seen in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

“In my opinion, Military Advisor, you already seem to know my intentions.”

“Well, I wonder.”

“Then how about we write on our palms and show them at the same time?”

When I suggested the anecdote of Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu discussing the fire attack in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang put down the crane-feather fan he was holding.

“An interesting suggestion. Alright. I brought brush and ink for the report, so we can use that.”

The preparations were quickly finished. Zhuge Liang and I silently wrote characters on our palms.

“Are you done?”

“Yes. Let’s count to three and show them.”

To my question, Zhuge Liang put down his brush and started counting the numbers himself.

When Zhuge Liang counted to three, we showed our palms at the same time. And the same character was written on both of our palms.

It was the character for “North” (北).

“Indeed.”

Seeing the character written on my palm, Zhuge Liang nodded as if it was as he had expected.

Yes. The reason I wanted to go as the condolence delegation. That intention was none other than the Northern Expedition.

Before the Northern Expedition, it would undoubtedly have a huge impact to grasp in advance the terrain of that land, its fortresses, and the people’s sentiment. And above all, I needed to see with my own eyes how much the original history had changed due to my intervention.

Only then could I establish the grand strategy for the Northern Expedition based on the knowledge I have.

“It’s a long journey to Ye. This will surely be the first and last opportunity to see the interior of Wei.”

Long words were unnecessary.

Hearing one and knowing ten (聞一知十). Zhuge Liang, who understands everything from just a few words, grasped all the inner workings from just this short statement of mine.

And so my journey as part of the condolence delegation was decided.