Chapter Sixty-Three: Schemes and Intrigue, No Banquet Without Trouble

After reading the letter and examining the seal below it, Liu Biao fell into deep thought. He had never imagined that this Sun Ce had already begun to lay plans for Jing Province. What was more, the credibility of this information was exceedingly high—after all, Cao Cao had already attacked Nanyang.

According to the letter, they would likely aim to destroy Chu Feng first. For a coalition of Sun and Cao to eliminate Chu Feng would be as easy as turning a hand. If things were allowed to proceed in this way, would it not soon be Jing Province’s turn to face the blade?

No, he could not allow Chu Feng to fall. Otherwise, he truly would be isolated and without allies. Yet he could not let a tiger grow to menace him, either. It would be best if both sides suffered losses—that was the outcome he wished to see.

With this in mind, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Yunqing, I have given the matter careful consideration. Sun and Cao are cunning and cannot be taken lightly. Thus, I shall dispatch some warships for your use from Jiangxia and from the generals leading the anti-bandit campaigns,”

“How many?” asked Chu Feng.

“I can grant you two tower ships, fifty duel ships, fifty mengchongs, and, including other boats and vessels, a total of three hundred warships to assist you in taking Jiangdong!” Liu Biao spoke with a pained expression.

“Far too few,” Chu Feng waved his hand. If he remembered correctly, Jing Province boasted at least a thousand ships, large and small, and his expectations had been for at least eight hundred.

What’s more, he was here to barter, not to beg for gifts.

Liu Biao’s face darkened.

“Governor, when it comes to the safety of Jing Province versus these mere ships, surely you know what choice you must make. If I fail against Sun Ce and lose Yuzhang, then Jiangxia may well...”

Chu Feng made his meaning clear—not only for Liu Biao’s sake, but also for the gentry present, so that they would understand Jing Province’s precarious position.

All fell silent. Chu Feng pressed his advantage: “Furthermore, Jing Province lacks iron, and armor is in short supply. I have developed a type of cloth armor, which I can offer to you for mutual benefit!”

Saying this, he took from Xu Chu the latest, finest specimen of the cloth armor he had crafted.

“This is called a stab-resistant vest. Though not as protective as iron armor, it is lightweight and easy to wear, and its defensive effect is excellent.”

Liu Biao’s eyes flashed. After ruling Jing Province for so many years, he had still failed to procure much armor. This was far more tempting to him than even salt.

“General Cai, go and test this armor at once!”

Cai Mao stepped forward, a hint of skepticism in his eyes, and had a guard don the armor. Then he drew his sword and struck several times in quick succession, forcing the guard to retreat again and again, yet the cloth armor only lost a few threads.

To do real harm, it would likely take at least a dozen, perhaps several dozen, blows.

“Remarkable! This is truly fine armor!”

Cai Mao sheathed his sword, his surprise evident. Especially considering how light and comfortable it felt—on campaign, it was in no way inferior to iron armor.

Seeing this, Liu Biao’s gaze grew more intense. “Yunqing, how much of this armor do you possess?”

“This armor is made from silk thread, easily sourced. My troops are all equipped with it—at least ten thousand suits. The only question is whether you are truly sincere in forming an alliance with me.”

Chu Feng’s voice rang with conviction.

Xu Chu: “...”

The big man pressed his lips together. His lord was at it again—showing off the best armor to lure them in, only to sell the worst after, and claiming there were ten thousand suits.

Not a word of it was true!

“Not less than ten thousand?” Liu Biao was startled. Part of him was wary, but another part was tempted. If he could have this cloth armor, would he not...?

“Yunqing, Jing Province does not lack for armor, but since you are so sincere, there is no harm in a little exchange.” Liu Biao donned an air of indifference, as if he had no interest in the armor at all.

Chu Feng smiled, but did not expose him.

“Governor, as I said before, a thousand warships—if you can provide them, consider it a fair exchange. You control the middle reaches of the Yangtze, I the lower, and together we stand against Cao Cao!”

“Yunqing, a thousand is far too many. All the warships in Jing Province combined are not that many!” Liu Biao quickly denied him. “In any case, it grows late,”

“After tonight’s banquet in your honor, I will discuss the matter with the various families and give you a satisfactory answer. Will that suffice?” Liu Biao wished to stall for time, at least to bring Chu Feng’s expectations down a notch.

“Naturally!” Chu Feng replied warmly. “Then I shall trouble you for your hospitality, Governor!”

“General Cai, see that Yunqing is settled properly—do not neglect him,” Liu Biao ordered with a wave.

“Yes!” Cai Mao saluted. “General, this way, please!”

——

At the post station, Chu Feng and his men settled in.

Xu Chu, idly polishing his blade, asked, “Lord, do you think Liu Biao will really give us so many ships? And where are we supposed to get all that armor for them?”

“Zhongkang, remember this in business—never show your hand until the very end. If you do, you’ll only end up on the losing side.”

“As for how much armor there is, that’s not his concern!”

With that, Chu Feng produced the reward he had received earlier: the blueprints for warships. As he sipped tea and studied them, he could not help but be impressed by their detail—a complete set of plans for various types of warships.

There were tower ships, duel ships, mengchongs, and so on—each with structural variations, complete with keels and not mere flat-bottomed boats, suitable even for voyages overseas.

When he saw this, Chu Feng’s eyes narrowed. “Thirty-eight zhang long, twelve zhang wide—and they even include the compartmentalized hull technique?”

A ship nearly a hundred meters in length was no small thing. Most importantly, with the compartmentalized hull, even if the ship leaked, it would not sink. If he could build a fleet of such warships, even for commercial use, it would be a great boon!

With this, Chu Feng felt a surge of anticipation.

He believed that before long, Shouchun’s warships would be able to roam the rivers and seas unhindered.

For a time, Chu Feng was utterly absorbed.

——

At dusk, in Liu Biao’s residence.

Chu Feng arrived, and representatives of every family were present. The banquet began amid laughter and merriment. In all the vast Han Empire, there were few places left where song and dance could still be heard. Chu Feng partook only symbolically.

Night fell.

Wine had circled thrice, and every dish had been tasted. The guests, having sipped a little too much, were feeling tipsy. Liu Biao himself had drunk plenty. As the guests began to take their leave, Liu Biao instructed his steward to see them out.

When most had departed, Chu Feng clasped his hands in salute, about to speak, when Liu Biao called out, “Yunqing, I feel as if we are old friends at first meeting. Tonight, do not go back—let us drink deep and sleep here together!”

“This...” Chu Feng frowned.

“Ah, Yunqing, it is not that I am unwilling to grant you warships—you have seen for yourself, every clan inside and outside Jing Province holds sway. I am governor in name only!”

Liu Biao sighed, perhaps loosened by drink and wanting to unburden himself.

“You flatter me, Governor. Though the realm is in chaos, only in Jing Province do the people prosper. It is all thanks to your virtue.” Chu Feng raised a cup and drank with him.

“Prosper? What use is prosperity? I have an elder son, Liu Qi, and a younger son, Liu Cong. I have always favored Liu Qi, but now Liu Cong has married the niece of the Cai family—it could not be clearer that they wish me to depose the elder and set up the younger!

How could I not know that to depose the elder for the younger is the road to ruin? But Jing Province is not mine to command alone. The Cai family holds overwhelming power, and the Kuai, Xi, and Yang families act as counterweights.

If not for my lingering authority, the Cai family would surely have installed Liu Cong as governor of Jing Province by now!” Liu Biao lamented, draining another cup.

Chu Feng said nothing. This was only natural—since ancient times, the conflict between elder and younger, and the competition among clans, had always existed. Now Liu Qi represented Liu Biao, Liu Cong the great families, so Liu Cong naturally took precedence.

Indeed, after Liu Biao’s death, Liu Cong immediately succeeded him, ensuring at least that Liu Qi’s life was spared. With only a single horse, any man in Jing Province could only ride the currents.

Yet what puzzled Chu Feng was why Liu Biao would share these confidences. Was it merely drunken rambling, or did he have some purpose?

As Chu Feng pondered, a figure approached from the hall outside.