Chapter 89: Sister, I’m afraid [Subscription Request]

Lord, outside the city, an envoy from Lu Bu seeks an audience, and with him are two women, said to be the wives of Liu Bei.

Liu Bei's wives?

Chu Feng raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Beside him, Lu Su narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly. "My lord, this is Lu Bu sending an envoy to seek an alliance. He must be worried that Cao Cao means to seize Xuzhou."

"Then why bring Liu Bei's women?" Chu Feng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"My lord, Liu Bei has been named Governor of Yuzhou by Cao Cao and given the rank of General of the Left, and has returned to garrison Xiaopei. Clearly, Liu Bei and Cao Cao are now bound together. Lu Bu fears he cannot withstand them."

"So he sent Liu Bei's wives here. If my lord keeps them, Liu Bei will surely become your enemy; if you dismiss them, then you will offend Lu Bu."

Lu Su explained with a light smile.

"Hah, Lu Bu is merely a brute. I imagine this scheme must have been devised by Chen Gong. He means to force me to make a choice. Zijing, what is your view?"

Chu Feng sneered. Lu Bu did not strike him as a clever man.

"My lord, Zhang Xiu in Nanyang has already been badly weakened, and now Liu Bei has become Cao Cao's hound. Yuan Shao in Ji Province has yet to defeat Gongsun Zan. If Lu Bu is broken by Cao Cao, then my lord will have to face Sun and Cao alone, and that will surely end in defeat.

"So, in my opinion, for the sake of a worthless Liu Bei, there is no need to turn Lu Bu into an enemy.

"Though Lu Bu is fickle, he is brave and has some strategic ability. If he holds Xuzhou, he can keep Cao Cao in check, which is to our advantage."

Lu Su explained with clasped fists.

After hearing this, Chu Feng nodded repeatedly. Liu Bei had not yet risen to power; though he possessed a reputation for benevolence and righteousness, few scholar-officials dared attach themselves to him. Besides, his surrender to Cao Cao had made him an enemy already.

"Then I think," Lu Su continued with a faint smile, "my lord can take these two women together. First, it will humiliate both Liu and Cao; second, it will proclaim to the world that my lord is a man of generosity and tolerance.

"Most importantly, Mi Shi is of the Mi family. If my lord takes Mi Shi, how could Liu Bei not suspect Mi Zhu and Mi Fang? Those two command immense wealth and enjoy great prestige in Xuzhou.

"If my lord can gain their support, he can not only widen trade routes, but also prepare for the future conquest of Xuzhou. That would be killing three birds with one stone!"

Lu Su smiled as he spoke.

"Haha, Lu Zijing, Lu Zijing, how I adore your great talent! Then let us ally with Lu Bu and resist Sun and Cao together!" Chu Feng laughed heartily.

Only then did he realize Lu Su's new usefulness.

His strategic vision truly was first-rate. The decision was immediate: though Lu Bu was unreliable, at present there was only gain in uniting with him to oppose Sun and Cao.

"My lord flatters me too much. One must sometimes hesitate and decide later, so as to bargain for the best terms," Lu Su said with a slight smile, bowing his fists.

"Good. Go and bring Lu Bu's envoy to see me," Chu Feng said with a smile and a nod. Lu Su was telling him not to agree too quickly, and to show Lu Bu a little of his temper.

Outside the city stood a company of a hundred or so men.

Qin Yilu walked at the front with a sword at his waist, while behind him was a carriage. Xiapi was not far from Shouchun, but the heavy snow earlier had blocked the roads, so they had advanced and halted by turns.

Inside the carriage, Gan Qian and Mi Zhen wore long dresses and looked toward the distant city of Shouchun, both of them faintly frightened.

At last they had arrived, after all the drifting and dislocation, at Chu Feng's territory.

At this moment, the words Chen Gong had warned them of earlier echoed in their ears, making their already tense faces even more anxious.

"Sister, I, I'm afraid!" Mi Zhen's slender fingers twisted together. Her lovely eyes turned toward Gan Qian, and fear deepened her unease before this unknown danger.

"Your husband... he'll find a way to save us," Gan Qian said, patting Mi Zhen on the back.

She forced herself to remain calm, though no one knew when Liu Bei might come to rescue them. In truth, knowing Liu Bei as she did, he might very well abandon them. After all, when she had once been seized by Lu Bu, Liu Bei had already done this once before.

"But we've already reached Shouchun. If Chu Feng he..." Mi Zhen lowered her head, her exquisite face filling with more and more unease. She truly did not know what to do.

"Alas!" Gan Qian sighed.

She saw things more clearly than Mi Zhen did. In these chaotic times, fate was uncertain; they were nothing more than grains of dust in the storm. Heaven had already shown her mercy by giving her a beautiful body. How could she dare ask for more?

At that moment, someone from the city arrived to summon them for an audience. Qin Yilu was delighted. It meant Chu Feng had likely agreed to the alliance. He immediately placed a hand on his sword and said coldly, "Ladies, Liu Bei has long since abandoned you. This is Shouchun. A wise person knows when to follow the times. If by chance you win Lord Chu's favor, then do not do anything foolish.

"Otherwise, those harmed will not be only yourselves. Come on, think it through carefully before the meeting."

After speaking, Qin Yilu adjusted his armor and strode ahead.

The two women froze. Gan Qian bit her silver teeth, unwilling to accept it. Her father was still in Xiapi. If...

Thinking of this, her heart struggled violently. In the end, she made her choice.

Soon after, within the general's residence.

Looking at the young man seated in the place of honor, Qin Yilu hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "This humble officer, Qin Yilu, an underling of Marquis Wen of Xuzhou, has been ordered to pay respects to the general."

"Qin Yilu?" Chu Feng repeated in surprise, slowly setting down the memorial in his hand. He studied the man from head to toe with a curious expression.

"The general knows me?"

Qin Yilu was overjoyed. He was indeed a student of the Yuan family, but there were countless students of the Yuan family. For Chu Feng to know his name meant he must value him greatly.

"I have heard a little about you," Chu Feng replied.

In his heart, however, he was thinking: perhaps you are not famous, but your wife certainly is.

Du Shi, with her rare beauty.

A woman whose husband was still alive and who even had children, yet Guanyu repeatedly went to Cao Cao to ask for her. In the end, Cao Cao grew suspicious, received her in person, and took her as a concubine.

That she could make Cao Cao and Guanyu contend over her said enough.

Most astonishing of all was Cao Cao's care for her husband and child. Qin Lang, in later generations, also became a notable general. On this point alone, one had to admire Lord Cao.

Qin Yilu grew even more pleased, almost excited.

"Tell me, why have you come here?" Chu Feng asked, raising a hand.

"To be honest, General, my lord has sent me here to seek an alliance with the general against Cao Cao," Qin Yilu said.

"And the reason?" Chu Feng asked, unhurried.

"General, Cao Cao is holding the Son of Heaven to command the lords. He has already stationed Liu Bei at Xiaopei, and his intention to seize Xuzhou is plain to all. If Xuzhou falls, Cao Cao will certainly turn his eyes toward Shouchun!

"You have great ambitions, General; you surely understand the principle that when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. If the general agrees to an alliance, my lord will place you first."

Qin Yilu spoke concisely and to the point.

"Heh. Earlier, when I sent envoys to Xuzhou to discuss marriage ties, Marquis Wen did not seem to care about lips and teeth keeping each other warm. Yet now that Cao Cao threatens his borders, he is eager for an alliance. Tell me, should I agree?"

Chu Feng gave a cold laugh. He had no intention of agreeing so readily.

"General, my lord is deeply ashamed of that matter. In sending me here, he wishes first to discuss an alliance, and second to seek a marriage alliance with the general," Qin Yilu said hurriedly.

"Enough. This is a grave matter. I must discuss it with the civil and military officers under my command before giving the general an answer. As for you, General Qin, since this is your first visit to Shouchun, I, as host, should do my duty."

Chu Feng raised a hand, offering no immediate reply.

Qin Yilu grew anxious, but found it difficult to say more. He could only clasp his fists and accept.

"Oh, by the way, General," he said, "the wives of Liu Bei, the ladies Mi and Gan, are still outside the residence seeking an audience."

"What have they come here for?"

"General, the two of them have long admired your great name. Now that Liu Bei has abandoned wife and children, and my lord has been fighting for years with many rough and savage men under his command, they worry for their safety.

"So the two ladies took it upon themselves to come to Shouchun with us, seek an audience with the general, and ask for your protection."

Qin Yilu said solemnly with clasped fists.

"They asked on their own to seek my protection? Then I cannot let their hearts grow cold. Xuande has no fixed home and is often driven from place to place. I may as well care for them in his stead."

Chu Feng said gravely. "Bring them in."

...