Chapter Twenty-Four: Arrangements in Lujiang, The Day of Great Joy

After a long while, Yuan Shu departed.

Chu Feng contemplated the developments to come. Once the wedding was over, he would need to prepare for Yuan Shu’s demise. Then, he would move south to Yuzhang, seeking the opportunity to seize Lujiang and Danyang.

As Chu Feng was deep in thought, Steward Li entered and said, “Young Master, Liu Ye came by earlier. He wished to take his leave, but since you were receiving another guest, he asked this old servant to pass on his farewell.”

“Liu Ye has left?” Chu Feng was surprised.

“He left just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Lu Su went to see him off,” Steward Li replied.

“Prepare my horse!” Chu Feng called. But just as he was about to rise, he frowned, took a piece of silk, wrote two characters, and placed it in a brocade pouch before setting out.

…

After a while, Chu Feng had ridden more than ten li in pursuit.

He soon saw Lu Su returning and asked, “Zijing, where is Ziyang?”

“My lord, you—”

Before Lu Su could finish, Chu Feng had already spurred his horse forward.

Soon, catching sight of Liu Ye galloping in the distance, Chu Feng called out, “Sir, please wait! Wait!”

Liu Ye turned at the sound, surprise flickering in his eyes. He had been deeply disappointed when Chu Feng refused to see him earlier, claiming to be receiving guests. Why now had Chu Feng pursued him in person?

Yet he waited quietly.

Chu Feng caught up with him, reined in his horse, and all the words he had prepared melted away. He simply smiled warmly. “Ziyang, why did you leave without a word?”

Hearing this, Liu Ye’s heart trembled again. He felt a pang of disappointment—for Chu Feng had not come to persuade him to stay.

“Come, let me see you off for a way.”

With that, Chu Feng led his horse ahead. Liu Ye, dazed, followed in silence, as did the three or five guards behind, keeping a respectful distance.

Half a li passed in silence before Liu Ye finally spoke, voicing the confusion in his heart. “Master Chu, there is something I do not understand. If you so eagerly seek talent, why do you treat me thus?”

Chu Feng forced a bitter smile and gazed toward the horizon. “I do indeed thirst for talent, but I would not hinder your future. The realm is in chaos, heroes rise on all sides. With your abilities, Ziyang, you could cross the river to join Sun Ce, go to the Central Plains to serve Cao Cao, head north to Yuan Shao, or, at worst, to Jingzhou under Liu Biao. These lords each command mighty armies and hold countless cities. I do not even possess a foothold of my own. To ask Zijing to serve me, I already feel ashamed; how could I dare waste your future, Ziyang? I only hope that, should fate permit, we may again share wine and laughter as friends.”

As these words fell, Liu Ye’s entire body quivered.

He had never imagined that Chu Feng thought thus. All along, he had misunderstood, believing Chu Feng looked down on him.

Shame! What shame!

Their perspectives were as different as heaven and earth. Chu Feng had thought only for his sake, while he, Liu Ye, had measured a gentleman’s heart with the pettiness of his own. Laughable, truly laughable!

With the misunderstanding gone, a burning desire to serve surged in Liu Ye’s heart.

“Master Chu, when Xiao He followed the High Ancestor, the latter had but a few hundred soldiers, a single county under his rule. I dare not compare myself to Xiao He, but I hope to devote all I have learned in your service!” Liu Ye declared earnestly, bowing with both fists.

“Ziyang, you are not Xiao He, and I am not Liu Bang. Today, I am only here to see you off. As for the future, should I be fortunate enough to command three or five cities, it won’t be too late to discuss this again,” Chu Feng responded firmly.

Once more, Liu Ye was at a loss, thoroughly moved by Chu Feng’s integrity. Such a man, brilliant in both civil and military affairs, and possessing such magnanimity—even if he could not unify the realm, his name would surely be remembered through the ages.

He followed in silence for a long time before Chu Feng halted, gazing over the vast land. “Ziyang, there are still countless common folk suffering in this troubled world. Forgive me, but I cannot accompany you further.”

With that, Chu Feng took out the brocade pouch and handed it to Liu Ye, laughing aloud. “If fate allows us to meet again, and you are still willing to join me in great endeavors, open this pouch and lend me your strength!”

“This…” Liu Ye was at a loss.

At last, after a few words of farewell, Liu Ye mounted his horse and rode away.

Watching Liu Ye depart, Chu Feng stood motionless for a long time. At that moment, Lu Su, who had been waiting behind, approached. “My lord, why do you trouble yourself so?”

Chu Feng did not reply, but mounted his horse and returned to the manor. Yet he believed he had made the right choice. Today, he was not in urgent need of followers; having Liu Ye lay his plans was worth more than a thousand troops.

Moreover, winning a man’s heart was more important than winning the man himself, was it not?

Elsewhere,

Liu Ye rode hard for a long distance before stopping to rest. He took out the brocade pouch, curiosity gnawing at him. Chu Feng had said it could only be opened if, on their next meeting, Liu Ye was still willing to follow him—such a test of patience! It made his heart itch with anticipation.

But then he thought, if he was truly willing to follow, why not open it now?

Understanding this, he opened the pouch.

Inside was a piece of silk, on which were written two characters: Lujiang.

In that instant, Liu Ye’s pupils contracted sharply. He looked back in the direction of Shouchun, emotions swirling in his heart. Chu Feng wanted him to lay plans for Lujiang!

He laughed quietly. So, Chu Feng did not despise him at all; on the contrary, he had set a snare for him all along. It was Liu Ye who had been slow-witted, who had allowed himself to be maneuvered!

Yet this token of allegiance pleased him.

Such a wise lord was truly worthy of his loyalty.

As for Lujiang—nothing but a trifle!

……

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-June.

On this day, Chu Manor was bustling with excitement.

The whole estate was festooned with red banners and celebratory characters, for today was the joyous occasion of their lord marrying a lady from the Qiao family.

And best of all, there would be a feast for all.

Word had spread that this time, the banquet would offer chicken, sheep, pork, and beef aplenty, with as much fine wheat bread as they could eat. The villagers’ mouths watered in anticipation—they had not tasted such meat in years.

Chu Feng, dressed in his wedding robes, a red blossom at his chest, rode his black steed at the head of a grand procession, eight sedan chairs in tow, joy radiating from his face as he made his way to the Qiao residence.

At length, the procession entered Shouchun.

The city resounded with drums and gongs as the wedding party entered. Yet, atop the city gate, Yuan Yao watched the jubilant Chu Feng with cold, murderous eyes.

“Chu Feng, I wonder if you’ll still be able to laugh tonight,” Yuan Yao muttered, his eyes narrow, his fingers curling into a fist, a wicked smile flickering on his lips.

“But rest assured, as for Daqiao, I’ll make sure she enjoys herself thoroughly!”

He laughed wantonly, then turned to his retainer, “Are the death warriors ready?”

“Rest easy, young master. Everything is prepared. Tonight, Chu Feng will die without a grave,” the retainer replied, bowing.

“Haha, good. A mere bastard wishes to contend with me—he truly does not know his place!” Yuan Yao sneered.

“Young master, Chu Feng has trained a considerable number of armored soldiers. We must not be careless,” Yang Hong cautioned from the side.

“Heh, what a joke. My household’s death warriors each fight like ten men, fearless of death. As for those so-called soldiers Chu Feng’s trained, even if he brings them, they’ll merely be throwing their lives away!”

Yuan Yao let out a cold laugh, full of confidence, sparing not a thought for the handful of men Chu Feng had drilled in just two or three months—could they be truly formidable?

Yang Hong said nothing more, only hoping that everything would go smoothly tonight and that Chu Feng could be slain. Yet...