"Xingba, please."
"My lord, please."
After Liu Zhang and Gan Ning each drank a cup of wine, they extended their arms and turned their cups upside down, showing the empty bottoms to each other as a sign of finishing their drinks.
Three rounds of wine later, the atmosphere grew warm and congenial.
Liu Zhang was the first to speak, voicing his curiosity, "Xingba, I recall that you were renowned in Ba Commandery for your martial prowess. How did you end up becoming the Chief Clerk of Shu Commandery, trading the sword for the brush?"
Gan Ning answered frankly, without concealment, "It was my mother's advice. She believed that a warrior's path was not a proper one, so I abandoned martial pursuits for civil service, dedicating myself to an official career."
Liu Zhang nodded in understanding. In this era, warriors were often viewed with disdain. A prime example was the famous Jing-Chu scholar Liu Ba's attitude toward Zhang Fei. When Zhang Fei sought lodging at Liu Ba's residence, Liu Ba refused to speak a single word to him, infuriating the mighty Zhang Fei.
Later, even when Zhuge Liang tried to mediate, saying, "Though Zhang Fei is a military man, he deeply admires you, sir. Our lord is gathering both civil and martial talents to achieve great things. Though you are naturally of noble character, you might consider lowering your standards a little."
Liu Ba remained unmoved, replying bluntly, "A true man should associate with heroes from all corners of the land. How can you expect me to converse with a mere warrior?"
Even a figure like Zhang Fei—not to mention Zhuge Liang's intervention—could not earn Liu Ba's respect. It was no wonder Gan Ning's mother held such views.
Though warriors could earn noble titles through military achievements, in the eyes of scholarly aristocratic families, they were little more than soldiers. Aristocrats disdained rising through military exploits. For instance, when Emperor Wu of Jin was mocked by Consort Hu—"You campaigned against Gongsun in the north and resisted Zhuge in the west. If not a descendant of generals, what are you?"—he was visibly ashamed of his martial lineage.
Setting down his cup, Liu Zhang straightened his posture and addressed Gan Ning solemnly, "In times of peace, it would indeed be proper to abandon martial pursuits for scholarly ones, delving into the classics to achieve greatness. But now, the realm is in chaos, and the world is embroiled in endless conflict. This is the time to set aside civil pursuits and revive martial discipline. With your bravery, Xingba, surely you aspire to achieve great deeds. In my estimation, attaining the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households would not be difficult for you."
"Marquis of Ten Thousand Households..." Gan Ning murmured the words, his eyes flickering with emotion. Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, had sworn an oath with his ministers over the blood of a white horse, "No kings but those of Liu; no marquises but those who merit it." Thus, those not of the Liu surname could only rise to the rank of marquis, with Marquis of Ten Thousand Households being the highest honor.
Straightening his posture, Gan Ning asked Liu Zhang, "Earlier in the marketplace, I heard Your Lordship promise the Dongzhou people that, should circumstances change, you would lead them back to their homeland. It seems Your Lordship has far-reaching plans."
"Thus, I presume to ask—what is Your Lordship's ambition?"
Hearing this question, Liu Zhang knew the main course had arrived. A fine bird chooses its tree; a worthy minister chooses his lord. In the late Eastern Han, ministers carefully selected their masters. Just as Zhang Song, deeming Liu Zhang weak and incompetent, defected to Liu Bei, such choices were commonplace.
Answering Gan Ning's test—an open-book exam for him—was no challenge, "The Han dynasty lies in ruins, treacherous ministers seize power, and the emperor suffers in exile. Though I lack virtue and strength, I aspire to uphold righteousness in the world."
Liu Zhang's eyes burned with intensity as he met Gan Ning's gaze, continuing, "Villains like Li Jue and Guo Si run rampant across the land. As a kinsman of the Han, it is my duty to cut through thorns and brambles, to cleanse the dynasty of its filth."
"Would you, Xingba, be willing to lend me your strength and serve as my vanguard?"
Gan Ning felt his blood surge as if it might burst forth at any moment. Such ambition! Such spirit! This was the enlightened lord he had been waiting for.
Rising, he stepped before Liu Zhang, knelt, and pledged his loyalty, "Though I lack talent, I vow to serve you, my lord, even at the cost of my life."
Hearing Gan Ning address him as "my lord" and swear fealty, Liu Zhang felt neither joy nor surprise. Instead, his thoughts turned to Gan Ning's history.
The Gan Ning of history was a man of great ambition—and ill fate. After Liu Zhang succeeded as Governor of Yi Province, Gan Ning, unwilling to endure the oppression of the Dongzhou faction, rebelled. But he failed and was forced to flee his homeland.
He sought refuge in Jing Province under Huang Zu, who treated him as a mere soldier, never rewarding his merits. Disheartened, Gan Ning left for Jiangdong.
There, he finally met Sun Quan and proposed a strategy to conquer Jing and gradually seize Ba-Shu. Gan Ning believed he had found his enlightened lord at last.
But what sort of man was Sun Quan? What sort of place was Jiangdong? Gan Ning's talents were never fully realized.
He could only strive to climb higher by proving his martial prowess, hoping to fulfill his ambitions.
Thus came his fearless defense of Yiling with a few hundred men against Cao Ren's six thousand.
His bold claim to Lu Su—"Give me five hundred more, and I can hold off Guan Yu's thirty thousand!"—when he had only three hundred soldiers.
His heroic scaling of the walls of Wan City, leading the charge himself, to secure victory.
And finally, his most legendary feat—the hundred-ride raid on Cao Cao's camp.
Yet after all this, Gan Ning was only granted the minor title of General Who Charges Across the Land. In Eastern Wu, he never even earned a marquisate—all because he was not one of Sun Quan's old retainers.
After his death, Sun Quan merely lamented the loss of a fine warrior. Gan Ning's son, Gan Gui, was exiled to Kuaiji for a crime and soon died, receiving no favor or consideration for his father's contributions.
Gan Ning's life was filled with regrets.
He wandered all his life—from Ba-Shu to Jing-Chu, from Jing-Chu to Jiangdong.
He longed to achieve greatness and earn noble titles, yet never attained a marquisate.
A man of such strategy, vision, and unparalleled martial skill—truly, he was wasted under a lord like Sun Quan.
At this thought, Liu Zhang's gaze softened. In this life, I will not let Gan Ning leave with regrets.
He would ensure that Gan Xingba—the man who once raised his brocade sails in his youth, whose bronze bells chimed with the wind, whose might shook Ba—could once again unfurl those sails and roam the seas unopposed.
Stepping forward, Liu Zhang helped Gan Ning to his feet and clasped his hand, speaking with deep sincerity, "Xingba, as lord and vassal, we shall never betray each other."
"Never betray," Gan Ning echoed firmly, gripping Liu Zhang's hand.
Liu Zhang smiled faintly and teased, "Also, Xingba—I don't want your 'life at the cost of your brains splattered on the ground.'" Seeing Gan Ning's puzzled look, he continued, "I want you to join me in bringing peace to the realm, rescuing the people from suffering, and witnessing a prosperous world together."
"Understood!" Gan Ning responded loudly.
"Xingba, resign as Chief Clerk. Such scholarly work does not suit you."
"I want you to serve as a Colonel first. Are you willing?"
Liu Zhang stated his intentions plainly. A man like Gan Ning was wasted in a civil post—waste was shameful.
Only the military was Gan Ning's true calling, the place where he could fulfill his ambitions.
He offered the rank of Colonel—a prestigious position at the time.
Some might consider a colonel too lowly, but this impression stems from the devaluation of military ranks during the late Eastern Han.
Emperor Ling, seeking to counterbalance the power of General-in-Chief He Jin, established the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden (西园八校尉) in Luoyang. Among these eight colonels were future luminaries like Yuan Shao and Cao Cao—proof of the rank's significance.
Before military titles were inflated, Colonel was the highest rank Liu Zhang could grant.
'Colonel...' Gan Ning was momentarily dazed. A Colonel held a salary of 2,000 dan—his current post as Chief Clerk paid only 600 dan. In an instant, his income had tripled.
But salary was secondary. What truly mattered was the rank itself. Gan Ning had expected Liu Zhang to offer the lower position of Commandant (都尉). Instead, Liu Zhang went straight to Colonel.
Such boldness!
Such grandeur!
It perfectly suited a man of his adventurous spirit.
"Xingba?" Liu Zhang prompted when Gan Ning remained silent.
"Thank you, my lord!" Gan Ning replied joyfully, accepting without false modesty.