Chapter 61: Lady Cai, Leader of the River Pirates?

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Southern Commandery, Xiangyang.

The eight commanderies of Jingxiang were governed by Liu Biao, with his provincial seat in Xiangyang. Within these eight commanderies, Liu Biao’s main sphere of influence was centered in Southern Commandery and Jiangxia. The lands north of the Han River—Nanxiang and Nanyang—were under Zhang Xiu’s control, while the southern reaches of Jing, such as Changsha, were more firmly ruled by Zhang Xian.

At that moment, the voice of the steward outside startled Liu Biao awake. Now advanced in years, he rose slowly and opened the door. “So early in the morning—what is it?”

“Master, a report has come from our spies in Nanyang. They say that Chu Feng has arrived in Nanyang and has paid a visit to Zhang Xiu.” The steward handed over a letter as he spoke.

“What business does Chu Feng have with Zhang Xiu?” Liu Biao muttered in surprise, taking the letter and waving dismissively. “All right, I understand.”

With that, Liu Biao shut the door.

“Husband, who was that?” From within the room, Lady Cai, clad only in her undergarments, stretched languidly, displaying her alluring figure to the fullest as she asked.

“It was a letter from our agent in Nanyang—Chu Feng has arrived there and has made a point of visiting Zhang Xiu. But Zhang Xiu and Chu Feng have never met. What business could they have together?” Liu Biao’s voice was tinged with bewilderment.

“Chu Feng met with Zhang Xiu?” Lady Cai narrowed her beautiful eyes, a glint of caution flashing within. “Husband, Zhang Xiu is already your enemy. When Cao Cao invaded, he was the first to surrender. Now, with Chu Feng seeking him out deliberately, I fear he intends to win Zhang Xiu over!”

As she spoke, her gaze turned as cold as a serpent’s, and her exquisite features were now frosted with murderous intent. Lady Cai had always been ruthless in her machinations.

“And what would you have me do?” Liu Biao asked, his brow furrowed.

“Summon Zhang Xiu to Jing. If he yields, keep him close—if not, have a general drive him out of Nanyang, or else the region may rebel at any moment!” Lady Cai’s voice was icy.

“That would be unwise. Zhang Xiu has submitted to me; if I kill him, what will the world think of Liu Biao?” Liu Biao waved off the suggestion. “Let him continue to hold Nanyang, but we must assign someone to keep a closer watch on him.”

How could Liu Biao not see through Lady Cai’s intentions? With Huang Zu commanding troops in Jiangxia, any campaign against Nanyang would inevitably involve the Cai clan, allowing them to grow ever more powerful. He would only become more constrained as a result.

Lady Cai glanced at Liu Biao with disdain. This old fox was truly shrewd—willing to let Zhang Xiu rule Nanyang just to keep the Cai family in check.

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“And what of Chu Feng? Now that he has come to Jing Province, how do you intend to respond?” Lady Cai rose and went to the bronze mirror, combing out her long hair as she made her toilette.

“Chu Feng is a scion of the Yuan clan, a distinguished family. Since he has come in person, we must treat him with utmost courtesy. As for whatever he requests, I shall simply evade.” Liu Biao replied.

Lady Cai frowned. Though Liu Biao was adept at balancing factions, he was far too cautious. Yuzhang bordered Jing Province, and she had petitioned many times for Liu Biao to send troops, but he never listened. Worse yet, to check the Cai family, he had allowed Huang Zu of the Huang clan to take the post of Grand Administrator of Jiangxia and train the river fleet, while the affairs of state were entrusted to the Kuai family—leaving only Southern Commandery firmly in his grasp.

Now, with her hair arranged and makeup complete, Lady Cai’s dark gown lent her an air of mature grace. Her stunning features possessed a unique allure, but her face was set, and her beautiful eyes gleamed with cunning and malice. This cold, forbidding beauty alone was enough to make countless men avert their gaze in fear.

“I’ll go check on Cong’er. I hear his calligraphy has improved greatly of late. Husband, if you have the time, you should spend it with him—he often speaks of how he misses you.” Lady Cai began to whisper her persuasions once more.

“Yes, I know.” Liu Biao’s beard was streaked with white; he was nearing sixty, and, truth be told, he had no ambition to contend for supremacy.

As for his two sons, Liu Qi and Liu Cong, he had always favored Liu Qi—first, because he was the elder son, and second, because Liu Qi resembled him. But ever since Liu Cong had married Lady Cai’s niece... Alas! Since ancient times, the usurpation of the eldest by the youngest has always sown chaos—how could he not know this?

But he was left with no choice. If he did not side with Liu Cong, his rule would be unstable, and even Liu Qi’s life might be at risk. He could only hope Liu Qi would understand his intentions.

All of this was for his own good.

...

North of Xiangyang, the Han River.

Aboard a riverboat, Chu Feng stood at the prow, gazing out at the broad expanse of water and the mountains flanking the river. He could not help but marvel: no wonder they say Xiangyang is easy to defend and hard to attack—its natural advantages were unparalleled.

To the east, it commanded Tongbai and Dahuang mountains; to the west, it guarded Wudang and Jing mountains. The Han River embraced it on three sides, and the city’s back rested on Xian Mountain. To capture Xiangyang would be an arduous task indeed!

It was little wonder that in later times, Guan Yu, when besieging Xiangfan, focused his attack on Fancheng, for Xiangyang itself was unassailable. Only by taking Fancheng and cutting off the defenders’ retreat could Xiangyang be forced to surrender without a fight.

The battle of Xiangfan established Guan Yu among the sixty-four generals, but in its later stages, his handling was somewhat flawed. With his forces already depleted, he still sought to defeat Xu Huang, only to be repulsed in the end.

Added to this, the betrayal by Mi Fang and Shi Ren in the rear, and the backstabbing by Eastern Wu, ultimately led to his bloody demise in Jing Province. The loss of Southern Commandery put an end to Shu’s two-pronged campaign to the north.

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Later, the reckless actions of “the runner” led to the loss of tens of thousands of Shu’s elite troops, turning the once-formidable state into the weakest of all. It was a pity that the humble villager, entrusted with the dying wish of another, gave his all to the end.

At this, Chu Feng sighed softly.

“My lord, Xiangyang is truly vast!” Xu Chu gazed at the distant city, sighing in admiration. “Look, my lord—there’s a group of fishermen over there!”

Chu Feng looked over. Among a dozen or so boats, a group of men seemed to be competing to see who could dive farther and stay underwater longer. The key was that this was the Han River—these men were truly skilled.

“General, those aren’t fishermen!” The old boatman at the oars gave a wry smile. “They’re officers under Liu Biao—said to be former river bandits, all of them excellent swimmers.”

“River bandits?” Chu Feng raised an eyebrow.

He hadn’t given much thought to the river pirates of the Three Kingdoms, though there were tales of several infamous bands. Now, recalling their presence in Nanyang, he asked, “Are they the Brocade Sail Pirates?”

“Yes, yes! That’s what the locals call them, though that was long ago. The leader later rebelled and was driven out of Yizhou by its governor,” the old man said wistfully, as if recalling a time when the Brocade Sail Pirates’ name was thunderous across the land—all because their chief loved the fine silks of Shu.

“Gan Xingba of the Brocade Sail Pirates?” Chu Feng narrowed his eyes. Naturally, he knew of Gan Ning: brave, an expert archer, generous to scholars, but also notorious for his brutality. He was a fierce general, who served three different lords, all because he’d never been truly valued.

“Old man, take us closer!”

“General, I wouldn’t dare! That man’s temper is unpredictable—at the slightest word, he’ll order his men to plunder the peasants.” The old man was terrified. Commoners should never meddle with officials.

“No harm—I merely wish to greet him from afar.”

In the end, the old man reluctantly rowed closer.

In the river, one subordinate whispered, “Boss, looks like that group is headed our way!”

Gan Ning raised an eyebrow, then sprang lightly onto the edge of the boat, one leg bent, the other dangling in the river, a picture of insouciance.

“I am Chu Feng, General of Pacification. Might you be Gan Ning, called Xingba?”