Zhengdan, the New Year, was by custom a day without official duties, and the entire Gong'an County was wrapped in a festive atmosphere.
The locals mostly went to the wine shops early, buying pepper cypress wine before heading out to perform ancestral rites. What was unexpected this year was the sudden arrival of fifty thousand newcomers before the year's end. Even today, on the western side of the county, laborers were still busy constructing houses, though since it was the New Year, wages were paid in full without stinginess.
The population surge caused the county's only two wine shops to have long queues. These past few days, every time Ma Su passed by, he would see the shop owner grinning ear to ear.
Exactly like General Zhang Fei, Ma Su thought.
At a street corner, vendors had already set up stalls selling peach soup and jiaoya tang. Ma Su remembered that his fourth brother had mentioned the strategist's household had two children.
"How much for the jiaoya tang?"
"Half a jin for five coins, one jin for nine coins. How much would you like, young lord?"
The vendor eagerly lifted the lid to show the yellow-brown sweets inside.
"Freshly made last night."
"Not bad." Ma Su calculated briefly. "Give me two jin… no, make it two and a half."
He took the wrapped sweets and handed over twenty-three wuzhu coins.
With the deal done, the vendor became even more enthusiastic.
"Anything else, young lord? We also have peach soup and ready-made five-spice trays!"
Ma Su shook his head. The vendor still ended the transaction with auspicious words:
"May you rise in rank."
Ma Su nodded and replied, "May profit increase tenfold each day."
At the strategist's residence, he found no one home. Even the gatekeeper seemed to have gone out to celebrate. After thinking for a moment, Ma Su carried the sweets and wandered toward the county office.
As expected, before even entering, he heard Zhang Fei's booming voice:
"Strategist, why do you even drink so delicately!"
The main hall was filled with steam. A bronze cauldron burned with strong fire beneath it, and within the bubbling broth floated pale lamb meat.
Both sides of the hall were packed with people, cups raised and voices lively.
"Youchang has arrived!"
Liu Bei was in high spirits, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"Come, come, take a seat. No need to be polite!"
Ma Su bowed first.
"May my lord enjoy eternal peace and take care of your body for the sake of the realm."
Liu Bei laughed heartily, pulled him up, then pressed a cup of wine and a suppression coin into his hand.
"No need for formalities. Drink this first!"
After a cup, Ma Su felt himself momentarily become part this gathering. He had attended a prefect's New Year banquet back in Yicheng with his elder brother before, but those banquets had been cold and rigid, nothing like this one.
He moved to Zhuge Liang's side and placed the sweets down, explaining briefly.
"You have a thoughtful heart, Youchang."
Zhuge Liang smiled, holding a lacquered ear cup inscribed with "May you enjoy food."
Ma Su's gaze shifted and he saw Lady Huang sitting beside him, holding a matching cup inscribed "May you enjoy wine."
Seems I interrupted them, Ma Su thought, and quietly excused himself.
Looking at the hall filled with officials accompanied by their wives, Ma Su suddenly felt somewhat out of place. Fortunately, at the far end sat another solitary figure.
A new face?
He moved over curiously.
"My name is Ma Su, courtesy name Youchang, currently serving under the strategist. And you are?"
"Jiang Wan, courtesy name Gongyan."
The scholar across from him looked slightly drowsy but returned the greeting kindly.
"A clerk under the Left General."
A clerk?
Ma Su was surprised. Such a low position, yet attending this banquet? He immediately regarded Jiang Wan with greater respect.
Jiang Wan himself was equally confused. He had been comfortably idling in his clerk position, only to suddenly be summoned today to attend a banquet, where both the lord and the strategist took turns toasting him.
It felt unreal.
Seems like the days of slacking off are drifting further away…
With Jiang Wan as company, Ma Su no longer felt awkward. After some conversation, he was astonished.
This Jiang Wan was not only handsome but also incredibly learned. If not for his own study of military texts, he might have embarrassed himself.
Jiang Wan, meanwhile, looked at Ma Su's barely-grown beard with admiration.
"Just recently came of age, yet already possessing such insight into military strategy. Truly worthy of serving under the strategist."
Their conversation grew even more animated.
At the head of the hall, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang exchanged a glance and smiled.
After another drink, Liu Bei stared at the peach soup on the table in silence.
Madam Gan, seated beside him, immediately noticed and spoke softly:
"Husband… tonight, shall we bring pepper wine to the river and offer rites to Lady Mi?"
Liu Bei tightened his grip on her hand and nodded firmly.
"Good."
Below, Zhang Fei had just opened his mouth to speak when Lady Xiahou pinched his waist sharply, cutting him off mid-sentence. His expression twisted instantly.
"Yide, are you unwell?" Liu Bei asked.
Feeling the hand still on his waist, Zhang Fei raised his voice:
"I was only wishing elder brother eternal peace!"
His voice boomed like a bell. Others followed suit, raising their cups:
"May you enjoy food, live in eternal peace, and care for your body for the realm!"
Liu Bei gathered himself and raised his cup as well.
"The handle of the Dipper turns to the east, another year has passed. In the new year, let us work together to achieve our great cause!"
The banquet did not last long. Before midday, it had already ended. Ma Su felt it somewhat regrettable, as he never managed to ask for some of the lamb from the cauldron.
Before leaving, he glanced back at the side hall that had become Zhuge Liang's office. The door was locked.
He had heard that being allowed into that hall meant entering the core circle of Liu Bei's forces.
The lord, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Zhuge Liang would gather there regularly for confidential discussions. Recently, Jian Yong and Mi Zhu had also been allowed entry.
All of them were trusted aides.
When would it be his turn?
Touching the faint stubble on his chin, Ma Su found himself troubled.
Although tradition dictated rest during the New Year, the Jianghuai refugees who had just crossed Tianzhu Mountain clearly did not care. They only wanted to secure a stable livelihood as soon as possible.
Leaving the county office, Ma Su walked westward and waited beneath a large willow tree. By noon, several dozen people had gathered before him.
"Are you all craftsmen?" he called out loudly.
"My family has been blacksmiths for generations!"
"I heard you were recruiting the other day, young lord! I'm a papermaker!"
"No lies, young lord, my family are carpenters!"
Young lord this, young lord that, why add 'young' every time!
Ma Su grumbled internally, and then an idea struck him.
"Good! Then follow me. We're heading to the river in the north!"
The group was noisy and disorganized, but expectations could not be too high. Ma Su endured the chaos and led them to the riverside.
Pointing at the water, he smiled.
"Alright, all of you, jump in!"