Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Alliance of Chu and Lu—A Marriage Bond
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Lujiang, the military camp.
Liu Ye hurried over, looking anxiously at Liu Xun, and asked, “My lord, why have you assembled the troops?”
“Ziyang, you’ve come at the right time. Chu Feng in Jiujiang has usurped power and seized the throne, killing my benefactor Yuan Shu with his own hands. I intend to raise the army against him. Draft a proclamation for me to denounce the traitor and transmit it to the provinces and commanderies,” Liu Xun said with a smile, resting his hand on his sword.
“My lord, Chu Feng is Yuan Gong’s eldest son, merely succeeding his father’s cause. How can there be talk of usurpation? Moreover, Chu Feng commands tens of thousands of soldiers—how do you expect to defeat him?” Liu Ye pressed urgently.
“Ziyang, do you know that villain Chu Feng executed Generals Lei Bo and Chen Lan on unfounded charges? I hold troops under my command—do you think he would spare me?” A fierce gleam flashed in Liu Xun’s eyes.
“Cao Cao has said: as long as I slay Chu Feng, he will appoint me Governor of Yangzhou. Besides, Chu Feng is but a green youth—it will be a simple matter to defeat him.”
“But—”
“Enough, my mind is made up. Do not try to dissuade me again!” Liu Xun waved his hand, displeased. Had Liu Ye not some local reputation, he would not have bothered with him at all.
With that, Liu Xun strode away to muster his troops.
Liu Ye, however, remained standing, lost in thought.
——
In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
Liu Xun of Lujiang, as a former officer of Yuan Shu, composed a grand proclamation denouncing the traitor, raised over twenty thousand troops of infantry and cavalry—claiming a force of a hundred thousand—and marched to campaign against Chu Feng.
The Jianghuai region was shaken.
Countless supporters rallied to his cause!
————
Meanwhile,
In the governor’s residence, Xiapi, Xuzhou.
“Under the command of the General Who Quells Rebellions, Chief Clerk Yan Xiang pays his respects to the Marquis Wen,” Yan Xiang announced, cupping his fists to Lü Bu.
“Haha, no need for such formality! Chief Clerk Yan, what brings you here?” Lü Bu laughed heartily.
“By my lord’s command, I have come to safeguard the Marquis Wen’s life,” Yan Xiang replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
“Heh, what a jest! I am Lü Bu, with the Sky Piercer Halberd and Red Hare steed—who in this world can stand in my way?” Lü Bu dismissed him with a contemptuous smile.
“How does the Marquis Wen compare to Xiang Yu, the Conqueror of Chu?” Yan Xiang countered with a light laugh.
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“Xiang Yu could lift cauldrons and rout tens of thousands—I count myself second only to him,” Lü Bu replied, arrogant as ever, but conceding his inferiority to Xiang Yu for the moment.
“King Xiang Yu’s valor was unmatched, yet he was still defeated by Liu Bang. In that case, why does Marquis Wen boast so?” Yan Xiang retorted, smiling.
Lü Bu: “!!!”
At the side, Chen Gong chuckled, “Chief Clerk Yan, my lord is no Xiang Yu, and there is no Liu Bang in this realm either. Who is there to compare with?”
“Heh, but in Yuzhou there is Cao Mengde, wielding the Emperor’s authority to command the lords. He has tens of thousands of elite troops and thousands of fierce generals, and has long coveted Xuzhou. May I ask, Marquis Wen, how will you resist him?” Yan Xiang demanded with a resounding voice.
“Hmph, men like Cao Cao are nothing but empty fame! I alone could break him on horseback!” Lü Bu clenched his fist, exclaiming in anger.
Yan Xiang smiled, “Marquis, if I recall, did you not flee from Yan Province to Xuzhou? If you had such skill, would you have fled in such haste?”
“You old fool, how dare you insult me! Do you think I wouldn’t dare kill you?” Lü Bu slammed the table and shouted, for his expulsion from Yan Province was his deepest pain.
“The world claims Marquis Wen is broad-minded and receptive to advice. Today, it seems that is not so. My life is but worthless—take it if you will!” Yan Xiang lifted his head, prepared for death.
“You—”
Chen Gong quickly signaled with his eyes, then smiled, “Chief Clerk Yan, my lord is straightforward by nature and means no offense. I hope you’ll forgive him.”
“Though Cao Mengde has strong troops and fierce generals, my lord also commands a thousand elite cavalry. At the battle of Puyang, with only a few hundred horsemen, my lord routed Cao Cao—how much more now?”
“Moreover, my lord is allied with Liu Bei—they stand as horns on either side and can resist Cao together. What is there to fear?”
Yan Xiang laughed, “Does Gongtai refer to Liu Xuande, the weaver and sandal seller?”
“Indeed. Liu Bei’s generals Guan and Zhang are both mighty men of the age. United with my lord, how could Cao Cao advance an inch?” Chen Gong countered.
“Forgive me, but I cannot agree. If Marquis Wen garrisons Xiaopei and Liu Bei holds Xiapi, perhaps you could resist together. Yet you seized Xuzhou from Liu Bei and took his foundation—how could he not be angered?”
“Moreover, his third brother Zhang Fei is furious over the seizure of his city. If Cao Cao attacks urgently, you may resist together; but if he waits and plots, strife will surely grow between you and you will turn on each other.”
“In that case, what alliance is there to speak of?” Yan Xiang finished with a light laugh.
Chen Gong was momentarily speechless.
Lü Bu frowned slightly—Yan Xiang had struck home. Liu Bei was gathering troops at Xiaopei, growing stronger by the day. If Cao Cao came, it would be well; if not, Lü Bu would never let him grow unchecked.
“Chief Clerk Yan, I am a man of action. Let us not beat around the bush—speak plainly,” Lü Bu said, spreading his hands, now seriously considering Yan Xiang’s words.
“In that case, I will be direct.”
“By my lord’s command, I am here to propose a marriage alliance with Marquis Wen, to resist Cao Cao together,” Yan Xiang declared loudly.
“A marriage alliance?” Lü Bu narrowed his eyes in thought.
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“That’s right. Cao Cao covets the realm. Now he attacks Zhang Xiu at Wancheng; once Zhang Xiu is destroyed, his next target will surely be the Xu and Huai regions.”
“If you and my lord each fight alone, you will be defeated in turn. If you form an alliance and support each other, even if Cao Cao commands a million troops, he will be helpless.”
Yan Xiang waved his hand as he spoke, his bearing impressive.
“Haha, that makes sense! I am willing to form a marriage alliance with your lord and resist Cao—”
Before Lü Bu could finish, Chen Gong interjected urgently. Lü Bu was still as reckless as ever. He quickly said, “My lord, Chief Clerk Yan has traveled far and must be weary. Why not have someone escort him to rest first?”
“After fulfilling the duties of hospitality, we can decide this matter. I’m sure Chief Clerk Yan is not pressed for time in such an important affair, am I right?”
As he spoke, Chen Gong smiled at Yan Xiang.
Lü Bu came to his senses and laughed, “Gongtai is right. I nearly forgot the duties of a host. Someone, see Chief Clerk Yan to rest. Tonight we shall host a grand banquet.”
“Thank you, Marquis Wen.”
As he spoke, Yan Xiang stared fixedly at Chen Gong, enunciating every word.
——
Watching Yan Xiang leave, Lü Bu asked in confusion, “Gongtai, what he said makes sense. Chu Feng has inherited Yuan Shu’s forces and cleared his name as a traitor. If we join with him, what need have we to fear Cao Cao?”
“You are mistaken, my lord—grievously mistaken!”
“What do you mean?”
“My lord, Chu Feng has only just established himself in Jianghuai. The officials and people do not yet follow him, and his territory is not secure. Now he sends someone to propose an alliance by marriage—he simply wants to tie you to his chariot and use you for his purposes.”
Chen Gong said angrily.
“Hmph, does he dare?” Lü Bu retorted.
“My lord, in my opinion, at tonight’s banquet you should agree to an alliance in name but decline the marriage and observe his reaction. If he later truly dominates Jianghuai and sends another proposal, would that not be perfect?”
Chen Gong suggested with a smile.
“Well said, Gongtai,” Lü Bu replied, stroking his chin. “That fellow simply wants a backer before he’s even secured his position—what wishful thinking.”
“In that case, at tonight’s banquet, I’ll discuss the matter with him. Also, my lord, you could send ten fine horses as a token of your intent to unite against Cao Cao,” Chen Gong offered, worried Lü Bu would be swayed by Yan Xiang.
“Excellent!”
Meanwhile, in Jingzhou, Liu Biao gladly accepted the alliance and sent three thousand bushels of grain to Chu Feng as a gesture of goodwill.