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Both Huang Cheng and Huang Zhong were trained martial artists with sharp senses. Though Yi Ji believed he was moving silently, Huang Cheng's ears still picked up the faint, irregular sounds, prompting him to investigate.
Huang Zhong also sat up in bed, soundlessly gripping the ring-pommeled sword at his side. Seeing Huang Cheng merely standing by the door without further action, he deduced it wasn't an intruder and remained seated.
Huang Cheng quietly watched Yi Ji slip out of the courtyard before turning back to Huang Zhong. "Hansheng, Deputy Envoy Yi just left alone in secret. It's suspicious. I'll report this to Chief Envoy Fei."
Huang Zhong nodded. "Go ahead. If there are orders, summon me quickly." Though preoccupied with his son's illness, Huang Zhong never neglected his duties.
Huang Cheng knocked on Fei Qian's door. Fei Qian, still awake and planning his itinerary, asked what the matter was.
Huang Cheng recounted what he had witnessed.
'Oh? This Huang Cheng is quite sharp—I didn't hear anything, yet he noticed.'
Noticing Fei Qian's expression, Huang Cheng added, "I wasn't deliberately spying. It's just that Hansheng and I, as martial artists, are sensitive to disturbances..."
Fei Qian smiled and patted Huang Cheng's shoulder. "No blame intended. I'm just wondering where this Ji Bo is off to."
After a moment's thought, Fei Qian guessed Yi Ji was likely sneaking off to meet Yuan Shu. It wasn't as if he'd gone out for a midnight snack...
What to do?
Stopping Yi Ji wasn't practical. As a deputy envoy, Yi Ji had every right to meet Yuan Shu. Fei Qian had no grounds to interfere, and even if he did, Yi Ji would just find another opportunity, straining their relationship further. 'Let him go, then.'
But precautions were necessary. "Shuye, please coordinate with Hansheng to take turns keeping watch tonight. Split the guards into two shifts as well, so we're prepared for any trouble."
As Huang Cheng turned to leave, Fei Qian suddenly called him back. "By the way, between you and Hansheng, who's the better fighter?"
Huang Cheng scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Naturally, Hansheng is stronger." Seeing no further questions, he left to arrange the thirty guards in the courtyard.
As envoys, they couldn't bring all thousand troops into Luyang County, but traveling completely unguarded was unthinkable. Typically, thirty to fifty guards accompanied the mission. These men now crowded into shared rooms—less comfortable than Fei Qian's quarters but still better than tents in the wild.
After Huang Cheng left, Fei Qian closed the door, amused. 'This Huang Cheng is quite the character...'
---
Meanwhile, Yi Ji arrived at Yuan Shu's residence, nervously awaiting an audience.
Yuan Shu, already asleep, was roused by the news that Liu Biao's deputy envoy, Yi Ji, sought an urgent meeting. Though annoyed, his curiosity outweighed his irritation. 'A secret midnight visit? No wonder the official missive today was as bland as water—Liu Biao must have other plans.'
The hall was brightly lit with dozens of candles, as if it were daytime.
Yuan Shu received Yi Ji in a side chamber. After exchanging pleasantries, Yuan Shu narrowed his eyes and forced a smile. "Ji Bo, what brings you here at this hour?" Though phrased lightly, his tone carried a clear warning: 'This had better be good.'
Yi Ji bowed solemnly. "I come for the sake of your great cause." Cutting straight to the point, Yi Ji, as a seasoned diplomat, excelled at dramatic persuasion.
"Do elaborate," Yuan Shu said, straightening slightly.
"The court is corrupt, and the tyrant Dong Zhuo runs rampant. The people suffer as if hanging by a thread, awaiting your deliverance. My lord admires your loyalty and righteousness and wished to join your cause. Yet Jing Province is in turmoil—internally, corrupt officials defy the law; externally, bandit warlords ravage the countryside. His hands are tied." With this, Yi Ji clarified Liu Biao's stance and difficulties: 'Governor Liu is not your enemy but your ally.'
Of course, Yuan Shu took such claims with a grain of salt. "Governor Liu's loyalty to the realm is commendable. But I am but a humble man—hardly fit to speak of state affairs." His emphasis on "speak" hinted that words alone meant little.
Yi Ji understood. Producing Liu Biao's letter, he said, "This is my lord's personal message to you. Please review it."
A servant took the letter and presented it to Yuan Shu.
After scanning the contents, Yuan Shu set the letter down, his expression unchanged but his eyes flickering with thought.
The letter indeed addressed Yuan Shu's concerns. He had long planned to march north but feared Liu Biao might exploit his absence to seize Nanyang Commandery—a disaster given the region's lack of strategic depth.
"Why not present this letter openly during the day?" Yuan Shu suddenly asked after a pause. His question carried deeper implications: 'Why the secrecy?'
Yi Ji replied smoothly, "My lord's public missive followed protocol; this private letter serves the people's welfare. There is no contradiction." His answer, too, was layered.
Yuan Shu nodded. "This matter is weighty. Allow me time to consider before responding."
Naturally, Yi Ji didn't expect an immediate answer. After bidding farewell, he withdrew.
Alone, Yuan Shu tapped the letter thoughtfully, his mind racing. Soon, he summoned advisors Yang Hong and Yan Xiang. Though he already leaned toward acceptance, such a decision required counsel...
---
A/N:
- In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Shu's chief clerk is named "Yang Dajiang"—likely because Luo Guanzhong misread the historical record. I made a similar mistake earlier, mixing up Yi Ji's courtesy name (Ji Bo) as "Yi Boji."
- Historical text: "After Yuan Shu's death, Chief Clerk Yang Hong and General Zhang Xun sought to join Sun Ce's forces, but Liu Xun, Governor of Lujiang, ambushed them, capturing their treasures." (Sun Ce's Biography)
- Classical texts lacked punctuation. Luo Guanzhong missed the character "Hong" (弘), misreading "Chief Clerk Yang, General Zhang Xun" as "Chief Clerk Yang Dajiang, Zhang Xun." Hence, the novel names Yuan Shu's clerk "Yang Dajiang."
With more characters entering the plot, writing grows tricky. I doubt readers want clichés like "Fei Qian stood by as Hua Xiong slaughtered countless men before summoning Lord Guan to defeat him..."
*
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