A New Wave

“Fei Yi. That’s a name I’ve heard before too.”

Had I just heard it? He was someone I had even thought of visiting directly.

At my words, Li Yan brightened and said:

“Oh! Is that so? Well, Fei Guan, that friend, kept praising him to me so much. He lamented that he was a talent who could raise the family, but couldn’t get an opportunity. When I saw him, he was certainly a talent.”

“Isn’t he at the forefront of Xichuan’s rising talents along with Dong Yun and Xu Shulong? Please tell Fei Yi to come to the Rear General’s Office tomorrow. Though I can’t promise a specific time since I’ve decided to receive other visitors too, tell him I’ll meet him even if I have to stay up all night.”

I had to maintain this much fairness. No matter how talented Fei Yi is, there are others who have been waiting to see me before him.

Whether because of my authority or because he genuinely thought so, Li Yan agreed with my words.

“Hoho, as expected of the fair and impartial Rear General. Well, I’ll have to tell him to come early in the morning.”

Looking at Li Yan laughing with joy, I also smiled back sincerely.

Though they’re grouped as Shu Han’s Four Ministers, there are naturally differences in talent even within that. Excluding Zhuge Liang who was overwhelmingly in the lead, Fei Yi’s talent was special among the other three.

Fei Yi was a master of multitasking. It’s said that he could play Go while handling work, and even while eating and chatting with close friends, he didn’t let go of work, and none of it was lacking.

Even Dong Yun, who succeeded him after Fei Yi’s death and was counted among the Four Ministers as an outstanding talent, lamented that he couldn’t keep up with Fei Yi’s speed of handling work.

While Fei Yi entrusted major tasks to his subordinates with trust, Dong Yun tended to take care of things meticulously himself, so there was also an influence from their work styles. However, it was clear that Fei Yi possessed extraordinary abilities.

The matter with Li Yan turned into a blessing in disguise. Even if I receive visitors all day, if I can gain just Fei Yi, it’s a complete gain. If I discover a few more decent people on top of that, it would be even better.

The next day, I went to work at the Rear General’s Office looking forward to meeting Fei Yi. This time too, as I arrived at the military department with Jiang Wei and Bu Zhi’s escort, Ma Dai, who had come first and was waiting, greeted us.

“You’ve arrived.”

“You came early. Is Master Wu inside too?”

“Yes, he’s inside.”

The Master Wu I was looking for referred to Wu Yi, who had briefly taken charge of the Rear General’s Office when I was away with the condolence delegation. Wu Yi, who had Liu Bei’s principal wife as his younger sister, was Liu Bei’s brother-in-law and held the position of Governor of Guanzhong.

Of course, since Guanzhong was not our country’s territory, he had no actual duties. It was close to an honorary position given out of consideration for him as a relative by marriage.

That doesn’t mean he lacked ability at all. Rather, the opposite. After Liu Bei’s death, Wu Yi was acknowledged by all as an excellent general to the extent of being among the core group of generals leading Zhuge Liang’s Northern Expedition along with Zhao Yun and Wei Yan.

Anyway, it was too much of a waste to just leave such a Wu Yi sitting in the position of Governor of Guanzhong, so I made him the Acting Rear General to act in my place.

He played his role so well that I’d like to keep him in charge of Nanling Army like this, but he was too senior in rank to use as my subordinate. Once this handover is all finished, he’ll probably be drafted for Northern Expedition preparations following his position as Governor of Guanzhong.

“Governor Wu, you’re working hard from the morning.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just doing my job. Rather, thanks to you attaching that friend to me, I was able to finish without much difficulty.”

The one Wu Yi was praising was Jiang Wei. As soon as he arrived, I officially appointed him as Assistant to the Rear General and sent him to learn the work from Wu Yi.

“This will be the last day, right?”

“I should treat you to show my appreciation for your hard work all this time, but I have a prior engagement today, so it’s difficult. I’ll invite you to my home soon.”

“Haha, I’ll look forward to it.”

The handover that started with laughter was almost at its end, so it finished quickly. With this, Wu Yi, who had completed all his duties as Acting Rear General, left the Rear General’s Office feeling unburdened.

As he left, Jiang Wei said with a bitter smile:

“The King of Hanzhong still hasn’t given up on you, General.”

“Well… that’s right.”

Didn’t I say earlier that Wu Yi was assigned as Acting Rear General because he had no duties commensurate with his ability? Actually, there was another reason why Liu Bei specifically appointed Wu Yi.

It was the fact that Wu Yi was a relative by marriage. It was to have family members get acquainted and become close in advance. Of course, I wasn’t formally adopted as Liu Bei’s daughter-in-law, but that’s probably how it was in Liu Bei’s mind.

“Anyway, let’s forget about that and prepare to receive guests.”

While Jiang Wei and I were receiving the handover of the Rear General’s Office from Wu Yi, Ma Dai and Bu Zhi were distributing waiting numbers to visitors outside and conveying guidance information.

And I just received a report that they would start bringing in visitors.

“I hope some good talents come besides Fei Yi.”

Facing what was essentially an interview, I quietly muttered my inner hope.

Though there were people within the Nanling Army who were being promoted considering their military merits so far, that alone wasn’t enough.

Not only had those in existing key positions left en masse, but as I was promoted from General Who Conquers the North to Rear General, the size of the army itself grew larger, requiring more commanders.

However, contrary to my expectations, the impression of the first visitor was ordinary. Despite his diligence in arriving earlier than anyone else, he failed to make any particular impression in conversation.

He should have at least not stuttered. Inwardly clicking my tongue, I sent him out. The person himself seemed to know he had blown his chance, as he left the Rear General’s Office with his head bowed low, trudging with powerless steps.

Perhaps because the first catch was ruined. Those who came in afterwards were not much different from the first visitor either. It was a series of dazed reactions as if a screw had come loose somewhere.

Giving character evaluations, recommending for official positions. That’s only possible when I can say, ah, this person has such thoughts and can make such judgments with this level of ability – but this was neither here nor there.

Is Fei Yi really the only one? As I was becoming disillusioned with interviews that were close to a waste of time, finally a talent appeared that met my expectations.

“This humble one is called Guo Yi. My courtesy name is Shaoxian.”

“Guo Yi? Are you perhaps the son of Master Guo Jun, who was Governor of Zitong?”

“Yes. He is my late father.”

Right. These are the kinds of talents that should come so it’s worth my time!

The abilities of Guo Jun, who achieved brilliant merits during the entry into Shu, are needless to say. His son Guo Yi was also like father, like son, a talent with both loyalty and ability.

The fact that both father and son devoted themselves to Liu Bei was similar to the Bu family of Bu Rong and Bu Zhi. However, while the Bu family were generals of the fierce warrior type, the Guo family possessed the insight of commanders in addition to the qualities of fierce warriors.

Guo Jun beheaded Shang Zun, who was leading 10,000 troops, with just a few hundred soldiers, and Guo Yi killed Sun Shu, the Governor of Jiaozhi appointed by Wu.

The more I conversed, the more I could feel that Guo Yi was a talent. His voice filled with strength had confidence, and everything he spoke was reasonable.

“How old are you?”

“I just came of age this year.”

Coming of age means twenty years old, the same age as Jiang Wei. He was one year younger than me.

“To have grasped principles at such a young age, the saying ‘like father, like son’ seems to have been made for you and your late father.”

“You flatter me.”

“If you’re willing, I’d like to bring you into the Rear General’s Office. What do you think?”

At my proposal, Guo Yi’s face, which had been serious, brightened as he said:

“How could I refuse an opportunity given by the Rear General? I will be eternally grateful.”

“Good. Then come to the Rear General’s Office starting tomorrow. I’ll decide on your position then based on the situation.”

No matter how talented Guo Yi is, the first position I can give will probably be around Instructor or Commandant level. Guo Yi will surely stand out even within that, and each time I promote him, he’ll soon rise to the position of general.

In Jiang Wei’s case, I pushed things a bit too much. It’s fortunate that Father gave a good evaluation and he showed his skills through sparring, otherwise there probably would have been a lot of resistance internally to Jiang Wei.

After dispelling my disappointment with Guo Yi’s recruitment, I met people again with renewed expectations, but there were no particular results afterwards.

There were some who appeared to be above average here and there, but not to the extent that I would give recommendations and nurture them.

Then finally, the best item of this interview appeared.

“The humble official Fei Yi greets the Rear General.”

“I’ve been waiting for you, please sit.”

I gestured in front and offered a seat. As Fei Yi sat opposite me, I examined his face for a while.

His face with an overall gentle impression was the likeable type that would evoke friendliness in anyone. If Jiang Wei was a cold handsome man exuding strong masculinity, Fei Yi was a warm handsome man with delicate features and a subtle smile that suited him well.

Beyond the good first impression, Fei Yi showed even better than expected afterwards.

Not only did he answer my questions coherently, but his insight that penetrated even parts I hadn’t grasped was truly worthy of the name of one of Shu Han’s Four Ministers.

Thinking there was no more value in testing through questions and answers, I asked in reverse:

“Don’t you have anything you’re curious about?”

“Ah, then may I ask one thing?”

I wonder what kind of question Fei Yi will ask.

The Northern Expedition? An evaluation of himself?

But what Fei Yi asked was completely unrelated to such things.

“I heard you’re so good at playing the flute, are you perhaps good at Go as well?”

Fei Yi, who said he liked Liubo or chess too, was more serious than ever.

What’s with this guy?