On the Lantern Festival, the Public Security County office granted another day of leave, yet Jiang Wan felt not the slightest joy.
Ever since attending Liu Jingzhou's banquet during the New Year, it seemed that the people around him had begun pointing and whispering more often. Yet whenever Jiang Wan focused his gaze upon them, all appeared perfectly normal again.
Another change was that the already sparse workload had now dwindled to almost nothing.
"Either they are preparing to assign me more difficult duties, or they are planning to send me back to my home in Lingling?"
Jiang Wan found neither possibility agreeable. In his current position as a clerk, he only needed to copy official documents when required, and for the rest of the time he could watch birds, admire flowers, or sit by the doorway observing the common folk hawking their wares. It was an easy and pleasant life.
Lingling might be his home, but affairs there were troublesome. One had to flatter and ingratiate oneself with the commandery governor at every turn. It was precisely because he could not tolerate that kind of conduct that he had come to Gong'an.
As for promotion…
The moment Jiang Wan recalled the name Zhuge Liang, a pained expression crept onto his handsome face.
It was said that the daily copying workload of the three clerks in Jiang Wan's office amounted to no more than half a day's work for that Military Adviser General. If he were transferred to serve under him…
He sighed again, yet a holiday on the Lantern Festival was still worth going out to see.
It was said that in places like Xudu, Luoyang, and Chang'an, this day was celebrated with lanterns and decorations. Gong'an County, newly settled, had none of that grandeur. Only a few vendors had made crude paper lanterns, pale white, with crooked depictions of the fierce door gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei painted upon them.
Jiang Wan walked past without glancing sideways. He was heading to watch the Nuo exorcism.
A stage had already been erected in front of the county office, and the surrounding crowd was packed so tightly that not even water could pass through. Taking advantage of his tall stature, Jiang Wan squeezed into a spot with a good view. As he looked out, he suddenly let out a laugh.
He spotted Ma Youchang, with whom he had spoken at the banquet, now wearing a crooked Nuo mask, his face full of misery as he spoke to Zhuge Liang, who looked even more handsome than himself.
As time passed, more and more people gathered. Even the rooftops were filled with onlookers, all craning their necks in anticipation. There was not an inch of empty space.
Good thing I came early.
Jiang Wan felt quite fortunate.
As the sun finally sank behind the mountains, bonfires and torches around the stage were lit all at once. For a moment, the surroundings shone as bright as day, and the crowd fell silent in solemnity.
Jiang Wan saw Ma Youchang draw in a deep breath and shout in a long, resonant voice:
"The attendants are prepared, commence the expulsion of pestilence..."
Dozens of men and women stepped onto the stage in solemn formation, wearing a variety of masks. Barefoot, they moved on tiptoe in strange, rhythmic Nuo steps.
Among them, a tall figure wearing a bronze demon mask let out a shout, and the others followed in chant:
"…Jiazuo devours foul calamities, Yuefu devours the tiger, Xiongbo devours specters, Tengjian devours misfortune, Lanzhu devours disaster, Boqi devours dreams!"
"Qiangliang and Zuming devour malignant spirits, Weisui devours omens, Cuoduan devours giants, Qiongqi and Tenggen devour gu poisons! Let the Twelve Spirits..."
The surrounding people softly joined in the chant. Jiang Wan lightly tapped the rhythm and sang along as well.
This was the most familiar Nuo exorcism chant of the Han people. By singing it, they hoped to summon the twelve divine beasts to devour the twelve forms of calamity and pestilence.
After repeating the chant twice, those on stage wearing the masks of the twelve divine beasts began chasing the figures wearing plague-demon masks. In the end, the plague spirits were driven off the stage, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
Once the expulsion was complete, more masked performers climbed back onto the stage. Led again by the bronze-masked figure, they began a new chant:
"…In past years Lord Liu Xuande rose in fury, at Chibi flames stretched across the heavens… thus he brought peace to the realm and secured the state, the Han shall endure for generations…"
"By this the Grand Protector is appeased, benevolent spirits guard our lands, Jing Province stands in peace, the Son of Heaven rests by the Qu River… the people all give thanks to the governor, wishing him ten thousand years of fortune."
The common people did not fully understand, but they could tell it spoke of Liu Jingzhou's past victories, sparing them from the depredations of Cao's forces.
Thus many hummed along.
Before the county office, Kongming and Guan Yu stood together watching the performance. Stroking his beard, Guan Yu said softly:
"I did not expect Third Brother to possess such skill."
"The Third General's voice carries like a great bell. He is the best candidate for this role," Kongming replied.
They watched Zhang Fei on stage, wearing the bronze demon mask, clearly enjoying himself immensely.
After some hesitation, Guan Yu finally asked, "With only Zilong protecting our elder brother, will it suffice?"
" Marquis Sun seeks sincere friendship. General Guan need not worry," Kongming explained. "Moreover, General Zilong's 'mixed-color cavalry' is no weaker than the Baima Yichong. They move like the wind. Our lord will face no danger to his life."
"And besides…"
Perhaps sensing that what he was about to say was somewhat inappropriate, Kongming still continued:
"Zhou Gongjin, though planning Jing and Yi while burdened by illness, has not been granted years by Heaven. Talent such as his is envied by fate itself. With such strain, how can his plans succeed?"
There were other thoughts he did not voice. From Kongming's perspective, the moment Lu Su's secret letter arrived, Zhou Gongjin's scheme had already been doomed to fail.
Though Zhou was peerless in talent and strategy, Sun Quan was indecisive, lacking the ruthless ambition of a hero like Sun Ce.
Thinking of Sun Ce, of Lu Su who had died at only forty, and of Zhou Yu whose lifespan was already nearing its end, Kongming let out a quiet sigh.
Was it that the land of Jiangdong produced only short-lived talents?
"There is another matter Yunchang should note," Kongming said softly. "Lady Sun, newly arrived, will surely be headstrong and domineering."
He had already begun planning the next steps.
"As for restraining her, I ask that you and Yide make some arrangements, so that our lord's inner household may remain at peace."
"Elder brother's wife… this…" Guan Yu hesitated. This did not seem appropriate.
"During the Battle of Xiangfan, Marquis Sunstruck from behind," Kongming said suddenly, shifting to an apparently unrelated topic.
"For ten years he watched as our lord took Jing and Yi and seized Hanzhong. Only when Yunchang advanced upon Xiangfan did he act with a backstab."
At the mention of this, Guan Yu's expression darkened. To fall at the hands of a worthy enemy would bring no regret, but to be defeated by such conduct…
"After taking Xiangfan, as the auspicious light screen put it, it was as though a blade had been placed at Cao's throat."
"But that blade was also at Sun Hou's throat. Such circumstances led to the fracture of the alliance."
"From this, it is clear that Marquis Sun deeply fears our lord."
"Therefore, Yunchang may act freely, so long as propriety is not overstepped."
In recent days, through studying the words of the light screen, Kongming had gained a new understanding of contradictions and saw clearly into Sun Quan's situation.
Even though Zhou Yu had been entrusted by Sun Ce on his deathbed, Sun Quan had never fully trusted him. Though of Jianghuai origin, Sun Quan conduct did not fully favor either the Jianghuai faction or the Jiangdong faction.
Sun Quan seemed to trust everyone, yet trust no one.
To him, Sun Shangxiang was merely a piece on the board, to be summoned and dismissed at will.
Perhaps she was also meant to monitor affairs within Gong'an?
On the stage, Zhang Fei had begun the third chant:
"…Ghosts of the past year, be driven beyond the borders. May cattle and sheep fill the land, grain rise like Tianzhu Mountain. Brothers provide, younger follow, sisters-in-law stand united…"
"Men and women show respect, generations of fathers and sons remain together… let all the youths raise their voices in harmony, wishing for the longevity of Pengzu."
This time Jiang Wan and the crowd shouted and sang together, striving to let the spirits hear their wishes for the coming year.
Among them, some wept quietly.
A-lang… Father… perhaps now they could rest in peace.
Watching the people, their faces illuminated by the bright firelight, Kongming suddenly found an intriguing question arising in his heart:
Did Marquis Sun… know of Grand Commander Zhou's condition?