Novel The Great Game - The Young Master (Ch.308) [finished]

In the midst of a hectic schedule, apologies.

 

Away from the wars and bloodshed...

***

“The best strategy is to let your opponent know your next move. Even better is to let your opponent know your next two moves.”
--The Ravages of Time

INTERMISSION

In the infinite cosmos, the two mystical beings that were playing an unimaginable tabletop game paused, unsettled by what they have seen.


“That was unexpected,” the hooded female said coldly. Her looks were cloaked in shadows, yet one could almost imagine a frown on her unseen face. From underneath the hood, her glimmering black eyes swirling and glowing with the deadly might of black holes.


The male with his crown of flames returned her challenging stare. The embers that were his eyes pulsed with the power of a billion exploding suns, unrelenting and refusing to back down.


“I am as eager as you are to reach a resolution to our conflict, but I would never tamper with our contest,” he said, his voice rumbling with displeasure.


The clouds of nebulae surrounding their space crackled with discordant energy, reflecting the moods of the two competitors.


“This round is not like the others,” the female said.


“That is so,” the male admitted. “This is proceeding much slower than usual. It is as if…”


“As if some force is deliberately dragging this out,” she finished for him. “But to what end?”


“To annoy us,” the flame-wreathed man answered. “But who could have done this. We have been here all this time.”


“We had a recent visitor,” the woman reminded him. The swirling mists surrounding her condensed.


“Outrageous!” the male thundered. “We have to find out if anything else has been tampered with!”


“You are suggesting we intervene directly?” the female queried.


“What choice do we have?”


“We could wipe the round entirely.”


A smile flitted on the man’s fiery features. “Are you trying to take advantage of the situation? Your Avatar is not so disadvantaged to warrant a re-do.”


“You seem to have benefited from the tampering of the game,” the female scoffed.


“You accuse me of being in league with the one responsible?” the man asked softly, violence trembling beneath his words.


“Merely stating the facts. The irregularities are too much to ignore, and your Avatar has been given a handicap as a result,” she replied coolly.


“Then it would please me to dispel your suspicions. Go ahead, I grant you leeway for a one-time benefit for your Avatar. Within limits, of course,” the man growled.


“Very well, I accept,” the woman replied.


Both stellar beings nodded at the compromise reached. They leaned back on their thrones, their eyes once again drawn back to their game.


Yet, both had hidden smiles on their faces, as if each had gained something over the other despite the negative circumstances surrounding their negotiations…



Chapter 196 – Seeds


The ship rocked violently, feeling the effects of a rogue wave. It jolted Huang Ming awake, and he blearily climbed out of his bunk.


Huang Ming stretched widely, feeling the knots on his shoulders struggling to unravel from the rough journey.


It had been a hectic time since he had been relieved from Beihai. Now the winter city was distant… both as a memory and as a place. Since Yin Yanzhao had marched triumphantly to ‘save’ the city, there were numerous redeployments.


One might wonder how Yin Yanzhao could manipulate the news so that he emerged as the main hero, but it was a simple matter of keeping the people busy with repairs and rebuilding. They say people are fickle, quick to forgive and even quicker to forget, and this was the case here. The people of Beihai who had praised and cheered for Huang Ming now had the name Yin Yanzhao on their lips.


He generously compensated those who had suffered during the siege and thus reinforced his reputation further. The survivors were encouraged to stay and rebuild their lives. People are eager to forget the bitter past and enjoy the sweet present, thus all the heroics and strategies of Huang Ming became mere stories told during breaks or embellished during drunken revelries. Those who left Beihai were already embittered from personal loss and preferred to forget their harrowing experiences.


In the past, Huang Ming might feel short-changed having his merits taken by someone else. After all, the King of Wu did give him some gifts. The monetary rewards were bordering on lavish: a chest of gold and jewels, bolts of silk and so on.


But it did not include a title or a rise in rank. One might say that Huang Ming’s current role as ‘Royal Inspector’ was already unprecedented and unsuited for an increased in authority. Perhaps the bureaucrats and sages in the capital have yet to fully flesh out the newly made office. Or perhaps the King thought Huang Ming did not care. After all, didn’t he even refuse to refuse an offer to marry Princess Wu Liying? Did that not mean Huang Ming preferred a sedentary life?


It was true to some extent. Yet all this were unsaid. The king’s decree recorded thanks and congratulations in the customary flowery language, and made no mention about the glaring lack of a noble title.


Huang Ming did not care for it, but there was a difference of refusing a gift and not being offered one in the first place. It was a difference of night and day. Reading the decree caused him to smile cynically, he was not even given the time for a detour to visit his family but to proceed directly to Chu and then rendezvous with the diplomatic mission which was already on its way there.


It was an austere decree that left little wiggle room for him.


‘He has taken my advice, and now I’m the one emulating Shang Yang,’ Huang Ming thought to himself, evoking memories of the famous personage from ancient China. Shang Yang had introduced many reforms in Qin, but in the process had offended the powerful establishment. In the end he was forced to flee, but the strict laws he had enacted led to his own capture and demise.


Ancient Chinese history is littered with examples of meritorious people who suffered tragic ends, and Huang Ming had no interest in becoming one such example in this life.


It was just as well that things turn out the way it did. It gave the excuse and impetus for Huang Ming to write several fateful letters to his family and several friends. He gave them to Sunli and Qiong Ying, even as they argued to follow him in his mission to Chu.


“I am a soldier, not a postman,” Sunli had growled.


“This is not your last will and testament, is it?” Qiong Ying asked warily.


“Nonsense. The faster you accomplish this, the sooner you can join me,” he said. “And this is no light task, it’s a matter of life and death for all of us,” he emphasised.


They were understandably upset, but considering the responsibilities he had entrusted them, they did not kick up a bigger fuss. They slipped away before Yin Yanzhao had arrived. The general was probably aware of Sunli’s role in the siege of Beihai, but made no mention of her. Perhaps he saw no need in dispersing the thinly veiled cover story. Perhaps the general thought Huang Ming strange for accepting the decree so meekly.


Whatever the case, Sunli and Qiong Ying left unnoticed with the various things, escorted by trusted personnel.


His affairs temporarily settled, Huang Ming then took the long journey south, eventually taking a ship to cross the Great Southern River.


The vessel rocked once more, shaking the cobwebs from Huang Ming’s mind. It would be cause for alarm if not for the jubilant cries of the sailors of the ship.


Huang Ming stepped out to the deck, and saw that the ship was approaching the lands of Chu.


‘If I cannot get a foothold in Wu, then I’ll get one here,’ he thought.

On his own pace,
To find a new base.​

 

Chapter tomorrow, crashing to bed after a long drive. gnite

 

Posted at 6am local time -_-

***

“I don't even have time to explain why I don't have time to explain.”
--The Exo Stranger, Destiny

Chapter 197 – In the thick of it

Xuzhou City,
Capital of Chu

In the annals of history, the balance of power had rotated between the four powerful states of Jin, Wei, Wu and Chu.


Chu was the land of vast rivers, great mountains and tropical jungles. These majestic geographical features formed natural barriers that deterred serious attempts of complete subjugation, but they also hindered any permanent outward expansion by Chu.


Like their northern counterpart the Jins, the Chu often raid towards the central plains throughout history, only to be beaten back to their traditional territories time and again.


Whereas the Jins were known for their horses, the Chus prided itself on its ships. In times of peace they ply the trade routes up and down the network of rivers, in times of war they were used to conduct raids and acts of piracy.


Huang Ming’s destination was the source of these ships, the city of Xuzhou. The capital of Chu sat on an estuary where several rivers meet, an ideal focal point for its harbours and shipbuilding yards. It smacks of arrogance for Chu to situate their capital so openly. From their vantage points on the other side of the Great Southern River, the leaders of Wu and Wei watch on helplessly; knowing that they could not challenge Chu’s mastery of sailing.


The ship that was currently ferrying Huang Ming seemed puny and lacking when compared to the mighty Chu vessels in Xuzhou. It was a calculated intimidation when his vessel was guided to berth in between two particularly large ships that cast a looming shadow over his.


Indeed, Huang Ming arrived almost anonymously; the Chu officers of the day almost bored and dismissive as they escorted him to the Wu embassy.


“Well, about time you got here,” one of the Chu officers had growled. “The rest of your diplomatic party have been asking for you almost every day.”


Huang Ming shrugged. “What can I say except that my ship is lacking and the captain is not used to these waters?” he said depreciatingly while silently apologizing to the jovial captain that had ferried him.


“I don’t know what you people are doing here. Aren’t you guys busy fighting with Jin?” one of them asked.


Huang Ming sighed. “Some fool saw that your warships were coming too close to our cities and thought it was an invasion, and now I’m here bringing presents to your nobles to make sure our nobles are able to sleep well at night.”


The Chu officers laughed at his candour and left in a good mood.


The Wu diplomats were not as welcoming. The head of the embassy was a disgruntled, portly man called Liu Han who seemed to sweat unceasingly in the humid weather.


“You’re the new diplomat? Are the gifts all accounted for?” Liu Han asked, eyeing Huang Ming up and down.


“Yes. Here are my papers-”


“About time you got here,” Liu Han interrupted, echoing the earlier Chu complaint. “We had to postpone our plans repeatedly just for you.”


Huang Ming was mystified. “Why?”


“No time to waste, we need to make haste,” Liu Han said briskly.


“Eh?” Huang Ming managed to say intelligently.


“We’re going to meet Prince Chu Xiong.”


“What? But I just got here,” Huang Ming said even as Liu Han pulled him into the carriage.


“You have kept the prince waiting for too long!” Liu Han said as the carriage started to move.


“What prince?” Huang Ming demanded exasperatedly.


Liu Han was taken aback. “You don’t know?”


“Know what?”


“There is a power struggle in Chu as the King of Chu is on his deathbed. The two princes Xiong and Feng are vying for the kingship,” Liu Han informed him.


“Ah. So we’re here to muddy the waters, and drag out the conflict as long as possible? To keep Chu distracted and weak?” Huang Ming asked.


“Were it so simple,” Liu Han shook his head. “Prince Chu Feng has the upper hand, he holds sway many influential officials and captains. It is rumoured that he had personally led some raiding fleets in the past, and he seems most eager to expand on his ventures.”


“And Chu Xiong?”


“Prince Chu Xiong is inferior to his brother in every way. It is said that he spent much of his youth in dissipation, and only the threat of being removed as a potential threat permanently had forced him out of his stupor.”


Huang Ming’s eyebrow twitched. “So… he used to be wastrel, a dissolute young master?”


“Yes. He spent money like it was water, and some say he beds a different woman every night,” Liu Han sniffed in derision. “But he’s the better choice compared to Chu Feng, at least for us. The last thing we need is for Chu to have a warlike ruler when we are already troubled by Jin and Wei.”


“You are assuming that Chu is targeting our kingdom, when they could easily strike at Wei instead,” Huang Ming said.


“Prince Chu Feng greatly admires General Ran Wei,” Liu Han said. “In fact, I heard the prince was depressed when Ran Wei was defeated by Huang Ming in that wasteful expedition into Wei.”


Huang Ming grimaced. ‘So this is my fault too?’


“Nobody benefited from that Wei campaign. Huang Ming only made the best out of a terrible situation,” he pointed out.


“A fat lot of good that did us,” Liu Han grumbled as he mopped his face with a handkerchief. “If that Huang Ming was so clever, he should have killed Ran Wei or found a way to avoid the conflict entirely. But Ran Wei is still alive and bearing a grudge, and somehow we have managed to antagonize his greatest admirer too. Now I heard that Huang Ming is even responsible for Jin’s recent hostilities as well? That name is a curse to diplomats such as ourselves, don’t you agree?”


When Liu Han did not hear an immediate agreement, he stopped wiping away his sweat and saw that the young man was looking at him strangely.


“What’s wrong?” Liu Han asked.


Huang Ming smiled wanly and stuck out his hand. “Hi. I’m Huang Ming.”

Straight into the mire,
Another baptism of fire.​

 

No, I'm not dead yet. Close, but things should be better soon.

----

“There comes a time, thief, when the jewels cease to sparkle, when the gold loses its luster, when the throne room becomes a prison…”
--King Osric, ‘Conan the Barbarian’

Chapter 198 – Standing

The stately home of the Chu royal family was as large as the grand palace of Wu, but lacked its extravagant refinements. There was a distinct martial bearing to the complex: roaring dragons and pouncing tigers being the main motif.


Unlike the pretentious and gaudy uniforms of Wu’s palatial soldiers, the men guarding the Chu palace had murderous aura leaking from their pores, their eyes gleaming with killing intent as they glared at the Wu diplomats.


In contrast, the prince that they were protecting was a languid young man who lay sprawling on his dragon couch being casually fed slices of chilled fruit by a beautiful maid. It was a bubble of luxurious comfort, surrounded by menacing men who could strike to kill at an instant.


Liu Han, Huang Ming and the rest of the Wu delegation made their greetings, but Prince Chu Xiong remained aloof as his maid fed him; neither acknowledging nor caring at their arrival.


The Wu delegation still had their bodies bent in obeisance, unsure on how to proceed. They were beginning to sweat from the strain as well as the fierce pressure emitted by the Chu guards. Each were looking at the other nervously. Liu Han turned back to look at Huang Ming, and was shocked to find the younger man standing upright without a care, his lackadaisical attitude a mirror to the Chu prince. Because Huang Ming had trailed off at the very end, nobody in the Wu delegation had seen what he was doing.


‘This brat, he’s one causing the guards to stare at us with killing intent!’ Liu Han swore. A quick glance up at the guards confirmed his suspicions: the scarred and hardened men had all their attention towards Huang Ming. Before Liu Han could hiss a rebuke, Huang Ming stretched his arms upwards and yawned widely.


And it wasn’t just any casual yawn, but a magnificent exhalation of relief. In the pin-drop silence of the hall, one could even hear the crunching and popping sounds as Huang Ming stretched mightily.


“Impudent!” one of the guards growled. Liu Han’s heart leapt to his mouth and urgently signalled at Huang Ming to stop, but the young man ignored his desperate looks.


“Well, I think that’s the end of the tour. We should go back now,” he said loudly.


It took all of Liu Han’s self control and years of experience as a diplomat not to scream. He drew a deep breath but managed to clamp his mouth shut just before he unleashed a stream of invectives. Instead, the portly man kept his breath in, causing his cheeks to puff and his eyes to bulge.


The young prince lounging on the dragon seat clapped his hands and laughed, the first signs of liveliness that he had shown ever since the Wu delegation had arrived.


Huang Ming feigned a look of shock. “You’re alive!” he exclaimed.


“What do you mean?” the prince asked.


“Well, you have been quiet for so long that I have mistaken you for a carven idol,” Huang Ming answered with a shrug.


The rest of the Wu delegation drew deep breathes, their faces all mimicking the puffed look Liu Han earlier. The Chu guards all around them were immediately angered, their grips around their spears tightened so that the whites were showing on their knuckles.


The prince waved a hand to calm his guardians down. As if on cue, his maid retrieved the fruit platter and replaced it with a cup of tea.


“You have a glib tongue. What’s your name?” the prince asked and sipped at his drink.


Huang Ming sketched a bow. “I am just a lowly aide in this delegation.”


The prince smiled. “If the King of Wu have more ‘lowly aides’ like you, then the world would belong to him.”


“I’d like to think that if there are more of me, then the world will be trouble,” Huang Ming replied.


The Prince of Chu smirked. “Did you think we are completely cut off by the great river? I know who you are, you’re the one who had defeated that coarse lout Ran Wei and thus is the source of my brother’s vexations,” he said while peering over the rim of his tea-cup.


The faces on the guards changed at their prince’s words. Their severe glares of anger changed as they scrutinized Huang Ming, wondering if the stories that they have heard was true. Was this thin, unassuming dandy truly the one who had given the fearsome Ran Wei the first taste of defeat?


“If you guys keep staring at me so intensely, I would wilt like a flower,” Huang Ming said shyly.


Prince Chu Xiong guffawed and slapped his knee in delight, nearly spilling the contents of his cup. “You are just as frivolous as the stories say! A man after my own heart!”


That gave Huang Ming a pause. “What sort of stories?” he asked with genuine curiosity.


“That you’re a gifted in the literary arts as well. Why don’t you demonstrate your prowess?”


“I’m retired from poetry,” Huang Ming said with a grimace. This was partly true: there was not an ounce of originality in the ‘works’ that he had produced in this world.


The good humour vanished from Prince Chu Xiong. “Are you saying I’m not good enough to hear your poetry?” he asked coldly.


“Rather than poetry, why don’t you listen to advice instead?” Huang Ming said nonchalantly.


“What do you mean?”


“Do you really think you can defeat your brother while you’re whiling your time away like this?” Huang Ming said bluntly.


“You’re the one to talk,” the prince fired back. “What have you achieved since your victory over Wei? Why haven’t you been ennobled and enjoying your fame and riches?”


Huang Ming smiled wryly, finding his words to be so familiar. He had asked himself the same many times in the past, even in this life.


It felt like his tribulations in Beihai was just a diversion and an unnecessary detour. His efforts have not given him any return on investment. Now he was in Chu, yanked further away from the enemy Avatar. His family were physically distant, and he had sent away the women in his life.


What had he been doing? Where was his usual drive to build a base, recruit an army, introduce technological weapons and outlandish tactics to overwhelm his enemy Avatar?


The prince would never know just how profound his questions were.


Huang Ming raised an eyebrow at the prince, wondering if he really had the standing to criticize him.

A few simple words,
Causes one to be stirred.​

 

“It wasn’t much!”
--Souma Yukihira, ‘Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Souma’

Chapter 199 – Rude

Suddenly, the doors were thrown open violently.


A tall and powerfully built man strode dramatically into the room without waiting for the doors to open fully, a sign of a confident man who was used for things to simply happen because he had wished for it. He was handsomely dressed in beautiful ornate military armour with a flowing cape. He had a prominent widow’s peak, his jaw was square and there was a contemptuous sneer carved on his lips.


Huang Ming saw at once that this was Prince Chu Feng, for he looked every inch a bigger and healthier version of the dandy Prince Chu Xiong who was still lounging on his seat.


“I heard you have guests, dear brother!” Prince Chu Feng boomed imperiously without pausing his stride.


His powerful motions meant the Wu delegation who were in his path parted to make way for him, keeping their heads low as they retreated to the sides.


Except for one.


Prince Chu Feng brow furrowed and he came to a stop when he realized that the young scholar standing between him and his royal brother was not budging.


Huang Ming looked up at the prince who was a full head taller than him. The prince looked just as imposing as his brother Huang Ke, yet there was something different... something lacking. Huang Ming gazed at the prince frankly, looking up and down at the taller man blatantly.


“Who are you?” the prince demanded, arching a displeased eyebrow at the scholarly looking young man in his way.


“I am the envoy of Wu,” Huang Ming said casually.


“A mere envoy dares to block the path of a prince in his very own kingdom? A good dog should know better than to block the road, lest it receive a kick!” Prince Chu Feng smiled coldly.


“Why would a rock fear a strike from an egg?” Huang Ming asked blandly.


Prince Chu Feng’s visage twisted with fury. “Who’s the egg-”


“Well, it’s definitely not me,” Huang Ming interrupted.


The prince was outraged, having never experienced such flippancy before. “How dare you! I am a Prince of Chu!” he shouted.


Huang Ming squinted at him. “You’re lying,” he said. “A prince should know better than to barge uninvited into a private meeting.”


Prince Chu Feng’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly as he pointed a shaking finger at Huang Ming. Despite his towering rage, the prince found himself unable to refute Huang Ming’s words. Whatever regal bearing that he had brought with him when he entered the room had now vanished, replaced by lost composure.


From his seat, Prince Chu Xiong clapped. “Looks like he had you there, dear brother,” he chuckled.


“You would do well to disassociate yourself from these insolent Wu scoundrels!” Chu Feng said quickly, switching his focus from Huang Ming to his brother.


“We all have our own quirks and interests, brother. If you can entertain guests from Wei, why couldn’t I entertain guests from Wu?”


“We have more in common with Wei than these glib Wu devils,” Chu Feng said vehemently.


“Don’t be too quick to judge, dear brother,” Chu Xiong said with a smile. “They are not just all bark and no bite. For instance, that envoy is more than meets the eye.”


Huang Ming frowned, not liking the mischievous tone in Chu Xiong’s voice.


‘He’s going to tell him my name, any second now…’


Chu Feng snorted derisively. “From what I have seen, he is nothing but all talk.”


“You of all people should be interested in him, brother. For this envoy is the one called Huang Ming, the one who had orchestrated Ran Wei’s defeat,” Chu Xiong said impishly.


‘There you go…’ Huang Ming thought, mentally rolling his eyes in exasperation.


“What?” Chu Feng was genuinely shocked; he whipped his head back towards the unassuming but rude scholar from Wu.


“This scrawny guy defeated Ran Wei?” Chu Feng exclaimed, pointing a finger in disbelief. It was Prince Chu Feng’s turn to stare at Huang Ming from head to toe.


“Impossible. I refuse to believe it,” he declared.


“I defeated Ran Wei in war, not in a duel,” Huang Ming replied. “Size has nothing to do with it,” he added. From the corner of his eye he could see that Chu Xiong was leaning back on his seat, as if he was savouring the entire situation.


Chu Feng seized on that statement. “So you never actually faced Ran Wei in personal combat?”


“Of course not…” Huang Ming answered honestly.


“You see what I mean? These Wu devils rely on deceit and cheap tricks!” Chu Feng announced triumphantly.


“Ran Wei was defeated long before I could even see his face,” Huang Ming continued smoothly.


“Only with treachery!” Chu Feng said hotly.


“Yes, but I still defeated him,” Huang Ming said calmly. ‘He sounds like one of those obsessive fans whose idol had been badmouthed.’


Once more, Chu Feng was stunned into gaping silence as his brother Chu Xiong erupted into laughter.


For some reason, Huang Ming found the foppish prince’s laughter to be annoying.


‘Having fun at my expense, eh?’


Huang Ming clasped his hands together and bowed. “Prince Chu Xiong, I think we can adjourn for now. I will draft the agreement document for your perusal within the day.”


Chu Xiong’s good humour vanished.


“What document?” the two Chu princes said simultaneously, albeit in very different tones.


“Why, a formal treaty between Chu and Wu, of course,” Huang Ming said matter-of-factly.


Chu Feng glared at his brother Chu Xiong. “You pretend to be disinterested, yet how quick you are to act, ‘dear’ brother,” he said with cold fury.


Chu Xiong thought of explaining himself. But in that moment he saw the eyes of his royal brother: they were full of anger and hate. It was then that he knew that his brother was implacable.


The truth did not matter, the mere possibility was sufficient for Chu Feng. Such suspicion was enough justification for blood to be shed in countless power struggles throughout history. No matter how Chu Xiong would protest his innocence, his brother would never believe him. Once Chu Feng had secured the throne, Chu Xiong would be ‘invited’ to go Onward to ease the new king’s mind.


Seeing his brother’s becoming quiet, Chu Feng snorted. With a flourish of his cape, he turned and stomped out of the room.


A deathly silence was left in his wake.


All the casual, easy-going and lackadaisical attitude disappeared from Chu Xiong.


“Feeling proud of yourself?” he asked Huang Ming directly. “With just a few words, you have plunged us brothers to a deadly struggle.”


“The moment you allowed us in here, you had already anticipated this. All you can do now is win and become the king,” Huang Ming said.


“Oh, is that all?” Chu Xiong asked sarcastically. “You call yourself a rock, but as you can see, my brother is as big as a mountain.”


“My brother is bigger than your brother.”


Prince Chu Xiong frowned. “Please be serious, this is no time for perverted jokes.”


Huang Ming rolled his eyes. ‘You’re the pervert!’


“Let’s not waste any more time,” he said instead. “It was bound to happen anyway. What do you have to lose?”


The prince stared at him.


“My wealth? My women? My life?” he said glumly.

Stirred into action,
Committed into a faction.​

 

'twas my birthday weekend. wee.

--------------------------

“Oh, honey-bunny!”
“Oh, love cup!”
--Roger and Jessica Rabbit, 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'

Chapter 200 – Enough

Qiong Ying leaned back into her chair and sighed with relief.


‘I could use one of his massages,’ she thought ruefully. She looked around the room and saw signs of Huang Ming everywhere.


At first, she had returned to the Li Chun Brothel, only going to the Huangs for dinners. But soon Madam Li made it clear that it was inconvenient for Qiong Ying to shuttle back and forth. Even if she was using her Quan Lu disguise, the constant to and fro would raise suspicions. It was simple convenience for her to stay at the Huang residence.


Initially Qiong Ying demurred due to her ambiguous situation. She was not a legal wife, yet also not a concubine. Legally, she haven’t married into the Huangs yet, but they had all but accepted her into the family; even going as far as giving her Huang Ming’s room.


Fortunately, the awkwardness was mostly avoided due to the relative emptiness of the Huang residence. The patriarch Huang Zheng was stationed at the strategic Tigertrap Fort. Huang Ke and his wife Liu Yuchun followed to assist him. The eldest brother Huang Lang was home handling the family businesses, but he and Madam Li spent most of their free time with Cao Tianyun who was heavily pregnant.


Thus Qiong Ying was mostly left to her own devices, a fact that she utilized fully as it enabled her to conduct her own matters in private. Huang Ming had given her several tasks after the events in Beihai, and she took them seriously.


And what of Zhao Sunli? The Amazon had escorted Qiong Ying back to Tianxin City, but once this was accomplished she had quickly made her way elsewhere, presumably to join up with her father Zhao Tong. She too had her own list of missions given to her by Huang Ming.


Before Liu Yuchun followed her husband Huang Ke to Tigertrap Fort, Qiong Ying gave her a bundle of schematics drawn up by Huang Ming.


“What are these designs for?” Qiong Ying had asked Huang Ming.


“Wonder weapons,” he had answered vaguely. Perhaps he did not know it, but Qiong Ying noticed that he had a shadow on his face as he handed over the schematics; as if he had second thoughts about his decision.


He did not seal the bundle, implicitly allowing Qiong Ying to study them on her carriage ride back to Tianxin City. There were arrows that flew on fire, devious traps that explode on contact and gigantic barrels of iron that launch heavy projectiles.


She was no technical expert, but she was intelligent enough to grasp the implications of the designs. To her consternation, she could recognize some of the designs: she had seen the remnants of the so-called “cannons” that the Jins had brought to bear against the city of Beihai.


How did Huang Ming dissect the remains and reverse-engineered them so quickly?


Her suspicions were reinforced by Liu Yuchun who was overwhelmed to receive the schematics, before she had left for Tigertrap Fort.


“He did this all by himself?” Liu Yuchun had asked with astonishment.


“As far as I know,” Qiong Ying answered cautiously. “Do you understand them?”


“He has made it easy for me. Look, every part is drawn in detail and I know what needs to be fitted together, like a puzzle,” Liu Yuchun marvelled. But as she leafed through the pages, her expression turned grave.


“Is something wrong?”


“This goes even further than the mechanical crossbow he had drawn up before. I thought that was deadly enough, but this…” Liu Yuchun murmured. The tomboyish woman sat down and exhaled heavily.


“I have just started production of the crossbow, but these… these things have already made them obsolete,” she sighed.


Qiong Ying pointed to Huang Ming’s meticulous notes that had accompanied the designs. “But he says here that the formula for the, what did he call it, ‘powder’, isn’t perfected yet.”


“Mmm, but that is your responsibility, not mine,” Liu Yuchun said unsympathetically. “I’m only responsible for the hardware, you’re the one who have to hire the alchemists, miners and craftsmen to make the powder.”


Qiong Ying grimaced. “Can you imagine the looks on the faces of their guilds when I request them to collect sulfur, saltpetre and to venture into deep caves to gather the dung from bats? Finding them would be difficult enough, let alone recruiting the people who are willing to work with such materials.”


“Well, I’m sure you can handle it,” Liu Yuchun smiled.


“I am not ‘handling’ the dung. That is what money is for, so that other people can be hired to do it,” Qiong Ying said firmly.


Liu Yuchun chuckled. “But let us talk of other things. How are you and Huang Ming?”


Qiong Ying arched a pretty eyebrow. “Not as good as you and Huang Ke. You miss him so much that you’re going to him to that fort. What, him returning once a month isn’t enough for you?” she deflected.


“That’s not it!” Liu Yuchun protested, even as her face turned a shade of pink. “I just can’t bear to stay here any longer!”


Qiong Ying’s other eyebrow went up. “Are you being bullied here?” she asked disbelievingly.


“No, of course not,” Liu Yuchun denied vehemently. She glanced around conspiratorially, as if afraid of being found out. Qiong Ying automatically leaned closer to listen.


“You have just returned, so you have no idea,” Liu Yuchun said in a quieter voice.


“Well, don’t keep me in suspense,” Qiong Ying nudged eagerly.


Liu Yuchun opened her mouth to explain, but then closed it and smiled mischievously. “You’ll find out soon enough,” she said smugly. “Also, don’t be shocked if Madam Li eats fast.”


“What?” Qiong Ying demanded anxiously, but Liu Yuchun refused to elaborate and thereafter departed to Tigertrap Fort. The sister-in-law left for Tigertrap that day with a big smile, as if enjoying a private joke.


It took several days, but Qiong Ying later understood, and found herself wanting to leave as well.


Though she was kept busy with the tasks Huang Ming had given her; she still made the effort to show up for meal times with Madam Li, Huang Lang and Cao Tianyun.


“Here, this is the best part,” Huang Lang said gently as he placed a chicken drumstick on Cao Tianyun’s plate.


“Then, here’s the second best piece for you,” Cao Tianyun said shyly as she placed a chicken thigh on Huang Lang’s plate.


It was as if the husband-and-wife were in their own bubble. Qiong Ying could almost imagine flowers and a pink atmosphere surrounding them.


Qiong Ying was not embarrassed by their public display of affection, but she noticed the attending maids and servants were looking everywhere else. Their emotionless faces were comparable to those of guards who had to stand stoically on duty for hours.


She gave Madam Li a sidelong glance to see her reaction. To her astonishment, the matriarch was shovelling food as quickly as possible, her chopsticks and mouth working non-stop, pausing only to wash the food down with soup or tea.


“I am done, but you young people can take your time,” Madam Li announced after finishing her bowl of rice. She smiled at Qiong Ying and left with her personal maids.


Was it Qiong Ying’s imagination, or were their steps hurried? And was she mistaken, but did one of the maids quietly request the kitchen maids for additional dishes to be delivered to Madam Li’s private quarters later?


The days passed like this, and Qiong Ying witnessed more unbearably sweet, loving scenes between Huang Lang and Cao Tianyun. It was as if they were re-enacting the corniest scenes from romantic novels.


One day, Qiong Ying happened to come across a distressed Cao Tianyun being comforted by Huang Lang. The usually graceful and gentle Cao Tianyun exhibited all the hormonal mood swings of a heavily pregnant woman.


“Tell me the truth, you are disgusted by me, aren’t you? You are going to throw me away!” Cao Tianyun demanded, her eyes red with unreasonable anger.


“Of course not. You belong to me,” Huang Lang replied unflappably.


“Even when I am so bloated and fat?”


“Even your fat belongs to me,” Huang Lang said.


Cao Tianyun was moved and she gave her husband a hug, and the situation was resolved.


In the shadows, Qiong Ying shuddered as she felt the goose pimples on her arms.


‘I can’t stay here. I’d better finish everything quickly so I can leave to join Huang Ming in Chu!’

Sweet interludes,
So sticky, like glue.​

 

Apologies, but delayed. Pulled an all-weekend shift.

 

“We have no way of knowing what lays ahead for us in the future. All we can do is use the information at hand to make the decision possible. It's gonna be fine. Your whole life is gonna be fine.”
--William Cleary, ‘Wedding Crashers’

Chapter 201 – Father and daughter

Zhao Sunli the War Goddess looked every inch the imposing Amazon, clad in her black armour as she stood quietly on a spot overlooking the army camp below. The red trimmings on the armour and the spear that was stuck into the ground beside her gave off a menacing aura. The impassive expression on her face would send chills down the spines on those who saw her. It was as if she was a Valkyrie surveying her charge below, her cold eyes scanning for faults and disciplinary infractions among her troops.


“Stop that, you’re scaring my soldiers,” a rough voice complained from behind her.


Sunli stiffened but did not turn back for she recognized the voice of her father, Zhao Tong the Thunderer. On the hand, Zhao Tong huffed and puffed as he laboriously climbed up the vantage point to join her. While he did not expect his daughter to help him up, he was still slightly disappointed that he was completely ignored.


He deliberately made his grunts louder, hoping to elicit guilt from Sunli but she was like a rock: silent, emotionless and unfeeling. When he finally stood beside her, she wordlessly shuffled to the side to make room.


“Well, good to know I’m not completely dead to you,” Zhao Tong said sarcastically.


“You’re sweaty,” Sunli replied. A small smile carved on her lips took the sting out of her words.


“Anyone would sweat climbing up here!” Zhao Tung retorted.


“I don’t sweat,” Sunli said in an even tone, the flash in her eyes warning her father not to broach further on the subject.


“You’ve changed, I never thought you’re one for mountain hikes,” Zhao Tong said instead.


“It’s cool and relaxing here,” Sunli said calmly.


Zhao Tong leered at her. “Is that it? I remembered you and Huang Ming assaulted Tigertrap Fort by jumping off a cliff. You sure you’re not reminiscing?”


He did not expect his reticent daughter to suddenly swing a punch at him, but fortunately he was still limber enough to react and narrowly avoided the blow. The veteran of a hundred battles was frightened by the killing intent behind the punch, his skin trembling by the cut of the wind.


“Are you mad, attacking your own father!” he gasped, his eyes bulging and his short beard bristling with indignation.


“There was a fly,” Sunli replied without batting an eye.


“Even if there is one, do you expect to kill it with a punch!?”


“...Yes.”


Zhao Tong stared at his daughter in disbelief. If it wasn’t for the twinkle of mischief in her eyes, he would not have discovered the humour beneath her laconic attitude.


He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You have changed,” he repeated. “Ever since you ran off to Tianxin City with Little Hongqi that time, you have changed.”


“And how is Hongqi?” Sunli asked.


“She has been fending off bugs for you,” her father said.


“I will thank her later,” Sunli said softly.


Zhao Tong squinted at her. “You sure you don’t have anything going on with that General Yin? He has been sending emissaries here every week to look for you.”


A murderous aura radiated from Sunli as she glowered at him.


“Good, good,” Zhao Tong said hastily. “…Otherwise I wouldn’t have the face to look at Ol’ Huang in the eyes,” he mumbled.


The murderous aura intensified. “What?” Sunli hissed.


“Ahem. I said, they told his envoys that you are not here, but they can’t keep up the fiction forever,” Zhao Tong diverted.


“Why not?” Sunli asked icily.


“You’re not helping matters by standing here in full view for anyone who only needed to look up! You’re hiding in plain sight!” Zhao Tong said exasperatedly.


Sunli blinked. “Oh,” she muttered, as if the thought had never occurred to her at all.


“The last shipment of parts is ready. You can set off whenever you like.”


The look on Sunli’s face brightened.


Zhao Tong turned surly. “Look at you, so happy to be leaving your poor father.”


“Nothing of the sort. I just wanted to see the power of these new weapons for myself,” Sunli said, though her eyes were elsewhere.


Zhao Tong snorted. “These crossbows are powerful, but their range is too short. They are only useful for defensive purposes.”


“Which is why they are being sent to Tigertrap Fort,” Sunli reminded him.


“You had my soldiers turn into woodcutters and craftsmen to make these unfinished pieces, but I don’t even get to have one complete weapon for myself,” Zhao Tong complained.


“I’ll ask Liu Yuchun to make one personally for you,” Sunli said.


“Only one? What about the rest of my men?”


“You are stationed as a strategic reserve and away from the border, it is only logical for the front-line defences to get them first. And there are plans for your soldiers to get get better weapons than these crossbows.”


“Really? What sort of weapons?” Zhao Tong asked excitedly.


“Something that produces fire and thunder, I think.”


“Has this something to do with you telling Zhang Ping to use his mining background to search for? The poor lad have been getting an earful from Little Hongqi for returning every night covered in soot and dirt.”


“Yes. Once he has found the resources needed, you will get the new weapons soon enough.”


Zhao Tong’s unhappy countenance grew deeper. “And when would that be? The crossbows are already ready now. You haven’t ridden the sedan chair and cross the fireplate yet but you’re already favouring your in-laws,” he grumbled.


Sunli flushed. “This is a military decision, not a wedding gift!”


“What, you think sending some new-fangled crossbows are too shabby a dowry gift? Don’t worry; I your father do have some savings prepared just for you.” Zhao Tong said loudly.


“Enough!” Sunli snarled and punched Zhao Tong in the gut.


This time her father did not evade and took the punch. Sunli was more shocked that her blow landed. Her mouth fell open as she worriedly looked up at his face.


“Another mosquito?” Zhao Tong asked bemusedly, showing no ill effect from the hit.


Seeing that he was fine, Sunli regained her composure. She crossed her arms in a show of indifference, but she kept a sidelong glance on her father.


“You need to work on that temper of yours, otherwise you’ll drive your husband away,” Zhao Tong said genially.


Sunli bared her gritted teeth but otherwise did not respond to her father’s teasing.


“You shouldn’t be too hard on him,” he continued. “He pulled our fat out of the fire in Wei and did a respectable job fighting Jin in Beihai. Now the king’s seen fit to take charge of diplomacy with Chu. The young man has seen more of our continent than I have.”


He paused to study her stoic face.


“Has he ill-treated you?”


“... No.”


“Mmm, of course not, you’d probably break his arm. So he never made a move on you?”


“No,” Sunli answered curtly.


Zhao Tong raised an eyebrow. “Is he ‘incapable’? No, that can’t be right, how else did he lay his claws into that Lady Qiong? You mean he has never tried to, ah, force the issue?”


“He left the decision to me,” Sunli growled through gritted teeth.


“Rah haha, a true gentleman eh? What are you waiting for then? Well? You do like the boy, don’t you?”


Zhao Tong frowned. “Have you made a move on him?”


The incinerating glare from her told him the answer.


“He already has someone.”


“So? It’s common for a man to have three wives and four concubines,” Zhao Tong said dismissively.


“You never remarried,” Sunli pointed out.


“That is because I’ve never met anyone else like your mother. Had I really wanted some bedwarmers, all I needed to do is to stroke my beard and give the ladies a wink and they will jump right in,” Zhao Tong said and laughed uproariously.


Sunli rolled her eyes.


“She truly was one in a million,” Zhao Tong said wistfully, his eyes softening. Then he added, “Besides, from what I’ve heard; Lady Qiong Ying is no power-hungry, jealous harpy. Didn’t she offer to be the concubine so that you can be the main wife?”


She stared at him incredulously. “How did you-”


“I’m old, not senile. I have my ways of keeping tabs on my daughter.”


He sighed.


“Listen, I’m not rushing you into anything you don’t want to do. But tell me honestly, have you met anyone like him?”


“No,” she admitted.


“Well then, get on with it,” Zhao Tong said gruffly. “If you tarry too long, he will end up taking orders from Lady Qiong Ying more than from you.


Sunli grimaced, feeling wholly uncomfortable about discussing the matter with her father. Thus she merely nodded.


Zhao Tong shook his head, wishing that his wife was present to give better advice to their daughter. He slowly reached out a hand and gently stroked her face.


For the first time, Sunli noticed the the wrinkles on his hands, the visible veins and bones underneath the aged skin.


Her eyes turned moist when she saw that her father was old.


Zhao Tong gave her no time to wallow in her realization. He gently smacked her face, startling her out of her gloominess.


“Mosquito,” he said.


Sunli finally cracked a smile.


“Get going, lass; and don’t be afraid. You have weapons of your own. Use them.”


“I will.”

The stoic daughter,
The rough father.​

 

Friends surprised and dragged me off for some Avengin'!

 

Apologies all. Back from a weekend filled with Marvel marathon with a surprise visit from a couple of friends, capped off with Infinity War. In other words: how to cram 10 years of the MCU into two days. Answer: Not pretty. /yawn

Text might feel unedited, because it is. Gonna sleep the Avengin' off.

---

“What does love have to do with marriage?”
--Londo Mollari, ‘Babylon 5’

Chapter 202 – Daughter and father

“Royal father, you called for me? Is something wrong?” a female voice called out before the doors were fully open. There was more than a hint of impatience in her voice, and accompanying the feminine voice were not-so-feminine sounds of quick booted feet thumping on the marble flooring.


“Can’t I see my daughter without particular reason?” the King of Wu sighed. The furrows on his brow deepened when he saw his daughter’s attire.


Princess Wu Liying returned a frown of her own when she saw the judgemental eyes of her father.


“What is it? I am very busy,” she said testily.


Ever since the restoration of his sovereign power and the rebuilding of his kingdom, his only daughter had adopted manly mannerisms.


‘No, that’s not right,’ the king thought wryly. ‘She had always been a tomboy, but only now does she have the freedom to act as she wish.’


The silk dresses were replaced with wool and cotton clothing for ease of movement and utility. They were not even the scholarly robes with long, voluminous sleeves so favoured by the intelligentsia; but cut in the manner of the common folk who actually work with their hands.


Perhaps she was inspired by Zhao Sunli the War Goddess and the Princess of Jin. One was a terror on the battlefield, the other was said to have single-handedly welded the previously nomadic tribes of the north into a powerful, feudal kingdom. They too were women, but their deeds rang far and wide.


In emulating their exploits, she spent her energies overseeing the education ministry, diving feet first into reforming a centralized and standardized system to train the new recruits of the growing bureaucracy. Later, she terrorized the young noblemen of the kingdom by challenging them to contests of archery and horse riding.


The king had tried to admonish her, but she ignored his remonstrations. She scoffed at his suggestions to return to the gentle arts like flower arranging and poetry.


‘You should have been born as a prince,’ the King thought as he gazed at his daughter.


“Father?” Wu Liying asked, concerned at his absent-minded look.


“I was wondering how many people you have fired today,” the king said instead.


“Only two, but they deserved it!” she said defensively.


“I’m sure they do,” the king replied dryly and smiled.


Under the previous patronage of Gao Fang and Tong Xuan, much of the existing machineries of the state government had been corrupted. Princess Wu Liying was more than eager to remove the sycophants and low caliber personnel.


No longer would the new officials be recruited and introduced at the whims and patronage of established ministers, but for them to be tested to ensure that they were actually qualified and not taken in due to the influence of someone of authority.


At first the king thought that his daughter was simply enjoying her new-found authority, but she demonstrated considerable acumen to reform the bureaucracy. For a while, the government was crippled because the sheer scale of her purge. But on her advice and suggestions, a few key people were promoted. Combined with Huang Ming’s suggestion of a ‘cabinet-style’ system, the kingdom of Wu quickly regained its vigour.


Princess Wu Liying who currently did not look very princessly at the moment rolled her eyes.


“Come, sit with me,” the king said genially.


She stared at him warily. “If you’re trying to get me to attend a flower-viewing picnic…”


“Nothing like that,” King Wu said, mentally making a note to cancel the event that was scheduled for the next week.


“Or a poetry exhibition,” she added.


“No, not that too,” the King said as he added another mental note.


“What then?” she asked as she trudged to sit beside him.


“Well, it’s about your marriage…” he began.


He had to react quickly and grab hold of her wrist as she shot to her feet to escape.


“I don’t want to talk about this!”


“Sit down,” he growled, “We need to have a serious talk about the future of our kingdom.”


“I don’t want to get married yet!” the princess said emphatically.


“Who said anything about getting married now?” the king demanded.


“Eh?”


“Like it or not, you will have to get married one day. One day,” he repeated. “And since you are my sole heir, your consort would be sitting on my throne once I am gone. So obviously I am going to be very, very careful and thorough when it comes to your marriage,” the king said slowly.


“Oh,” his daughter mumbled.


“Of course, unless you already have someone in mind?” the king asked.


Wu Liying flushed. “No!”


“Really?” the king was intrigued by her reaction. “What about that Huang Ming? Do you fancy him?”


Her head jerked up, her face the colour of ash. “No! Stop talking about this!”


“Mmm, just as well. He had refused the honour multiple times, damned brat,” the king muttered.


“He is too… nonsensical, frivolous,” she said unhappily.


“Don’t worry, daddy has punished him for you,” the king said in a pampering tone.


“Is that why you have sent him to Chu? But I didn’t ask for that! I am not even offended, he already has his hands full with women,” Wu Liying exclaimed.


“I was joking, of course. The situation in Chu is quite tense, and he seems to be the best man for the job.”


“He doesn’t have a good track record regarding contact with foreign countries,” the princess pointed out.


“True. But he had defeated Wei and Jin in the field of battle, and that should give him enough prestige to deal with Chu.”


“Are you not afraid that you would drive him away? He might feel aggrieved by such treatment, especially considering what he had accomplished at Beihai,” Wu Liying said.


“Oh, I will be sure to reward him when he finishes his mission. Gold and jewels, that sort of thing.”


“Is that all?”


“Since he did not refuse the last time, I assume he prefers the material. Remember, he did not want to marry you and take the throne himself. When I made him a Royal Inspector, he was more surprised than anybody else.”


“He doesn’t strike me as someone who is greedy for wealth,” the princess remarked. “But what if he fails?”


The king turned up his palms and shook his head. “Then we’re doomed anyway, surrounded by three hostile kingdoms. But I am confident he is clever enough to pull through.”


“I hope so,” the princess mumbled.


“Are you really sure he is not someone you want?”


She rolled her eyes once more. “For the last time: No.”


“Then what sort of man do you want?” her father asked bluntly.


“I… honestly never given it any thought,” Princess Wu Liying admitted, unmindful on how her father had guided the course of conversation back to marriage.


“Hmm. Maybe you should meet some prospects.”


The princess was horrified by the suggestion. “Matchmaking meetings? No! I have too many things to do!”


“Like what? Archery with those foppish kids?” he asked.


“It is not my fault that I am surrounded by the spoiled children from the nobility. You should have seen them, acting as if they are Gods of War now that they aren’t spending their time trying to flatter the likes of Tong and Gao. Now they are toadying up to me.”


“So you’re trying to frighten them off by being manly?”


She took umbrage at his question. “I am not playing around,” she said stiffly.


“If you want to be serious in the art of war, maybe you should get a real teacher. There is only so much you can learn from books and your bodyguards.”


“Is this a trick?” the princess asked suspiciously.


“If you are going to do something, you should learn to do it properly. Heaven knows that I can’t stop you from trying,” the king sighed.


Then he brightened: “How do you feel having General Yin giving you lessons personally? He is already in the capital, I am sure he can spare some time for you.”


“Really? The North Star himself? But… he is a real war hero, surely he will be offended to be asked to train me…” Wu Liying said hesitantly.


The king noted the lack of a refusal. “We will order it,” he said with all seriousness.


“Don’t!” she interrupted. “Let me... let me write a letter instead. You know, to show my sincerity. Yes, that’s it,” she trailed off as her mind began to draft the text.


The king hid his smile.


‘I’m not rushing you into marriage, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have candidates for you of my own’.

The daughter, passionate and idealistic,
The father, harsh and realistic.​

 

Just for info: Malaysia's general election is being held this mid-week. Am attending the local political events and talk to the local rep. Hope to post the chapter tomorrow before casting my vote.

 

Thank you to Jaideep for your patronage!

My country goes to vote tomorrow. Decisions, decisions.

---

“All right, you primitive screw-heads, listen up! See this? This... is my boomstick!”
--Ash Williams, ‘Army of the Dead’

Chapter 203 - Weapon of destruction

A thunderous crack split the morning calm, the booming sound echoing around the valley. The startled birds took to the air, the animals on the ground bolted in fear.


Then silence reigned, as if the living were afraid of provoking whatever deity that had made the tremendous blast.


But it was no supernatural being that had caused it. Deep within a secluded branch of Tigertrap Pass, a small elite group of Wu soldiers stand slack-jawed at the culprit.


“What do you think?” Huang Ke asked as he waved away the smoky residue that hung in the air. His ears were ringing and his eyes watery, but he still managed to maintain a smug look on his face. He was glad to be wearing his gloves, for he could feel the heat and vibration from the metallic tube in his hands.


“What do I think? I think it’s the devil’s work,” Huang Zheng mumbled.


“Let me remind you that this is Ah Ming’s work,” Huang Ke said to his father.


The patriarch of the Huangs stood rooted to his spot, eyeing the smoking, metallic tube in his second son’s hands warily. The wisp of smoke smelled like hot steam and sulphur, as if someone had relieved himself onto burning coals.


Huang Ke mischievously twirled and waved the tube around. Huang Zheng could not help but flinch whenever he stared down the tube. So did his elite soldiers: one could almost see the knees of these grizzled veterans shaking whenever the smoking end was


“Stop that,” he ordered tersely.


“Don’t worry, it’s inert,” Huang Ke chuckled.


“So you say. But I will feel infinitely better if you stop pointing that at me!”


Huang Ke relented and shouldered the tube easily.


“When I heard that my daughters-in-law are sending me a gift, I did not expect a fire-breathing stick from hell,” Huang Zheng grumbled. “How did they even think of this…”


His burly son shrugged. “This is all Ah Ming’s design. Younger brother has always been a weird one. You know how he is… first he was obsessed with music, then with the drink. Then he turns out to be a military genius. Now he’s an inventor too!” he said with some sarcasm.


Huang Ke took the sting out of his words by patting the metal tube affectionately. “What matters is that we have this… ‘firearm’, and surely you can see the advantages of such a weapon.”


“Some weapon,” Huang Zheng grunted. “I prefer those new crossbows your wife is making for us. A trained archer can let loose three bolts in the time for you to prepare and light the firearm, and there is no resulting smoke to block the view of everyone else either.”


“This is just a test version,” Huang Ke stressed. “Huang Ming’s notes say that once we have thoroughly refined the gunpowder, we will be able to fire and reload much more quickly. And with less smoke.”


“I do not like it,” his father said sourly. “It will frighten the horses. And they will be of no good if it’s raining.”


“I have already thought of those, father,” Huang Ke replied. “You are right, as it is now this weapon is slow and clumsy. But a row of soldiers firing all at once… a single volley can stop an enemy charge dead in its tracks.”


He paused to allow the scenario to sink in. Then he frowned as he came to a realization.


“In fact, what if we did not have a single row, but two or three rows of soldiers armed with this? They do not need to all fire at once, but to take turns. The front row would fire and then step back to reload while the second row step forward to fire.”


Huang Ke’s eyes widened with excitement as he continued: “And if we drilled the soldiers just right, we can maintain a uninterrupted rate of fire! Without stopping! Just imagine it!”


His father did not share his enthusiasm. The Great General Huang Zheng shuddered.


“I pray that we do not see the need for such a day,” he muttered. Huang Zheng had vast experience in warfare, and one of the most harrowing sights he had seen was the sight of his enemies being showered by arrows. The enemy leader had been lured to a muddy, swampy area and got bogged down. They were helpless against his archers, and the resulting slaughter had been great.


A similar scene but with cascading storms of metallic projectiles that can tear through flesh and armour would be several magnitudes of horrific more more than his old, experienced eyes could bear.


“You like it too much,” the father said to his son.


“Yes, I do,” Huang Ke admitted. “We may not have a choice. Huang Ming’s letters are quite depressing. And nagging. Hard to believe that he was the same guy who drank himself senseless every night,” Huang Ke said.


Huang Zheng sighed. Huang Ming’s letters were dire indeed: warning the family to be on guard against Yin Yanzhao of all people.


“That boy might be overstating things.”


“Qiong Ying and Ah Lang agreed with his advice. And you know they have people everywhere,” Huang Ke reminded him.


“Is our country so cursed? After Gao Fang and Tong Xuan, we have yet another internal scourge to deal with?” Huang Zheng shook his head.


“I find it hard to believe it myself, but at the very least, we have to be prepared for anything,” Huang Ke said grimly. He patted the metal tube once more, this time with solemn consideration.


“Yes. Yes we should,” his father exhaled heavily. “Tell your wife to step up assembly of the crossbows.”


Huang Ke frowned.


His father raised a hand to forestall him. “Yes, this… this ‘firearm’ may prove useful, but if things are going to escalate as badly as your brother prophesied, then we do not have the luxury of time to research and fine-tune it for mass production. Whereas the crossbows are more easily understood. Besides, making the gunpowder and transporting it safely is still a chore, isn’t it?”


His son grimaced. “Yes. Ugh, I never knew saltpetre was so scarce until now. No wonder the apothecaries and medicine men were so secretive. And the smell during the manufacturing process…!”


“And expensive,” Huang Zheng added. “Let us hope that Old Zhao Tong and his son-in-law can find alternate sources, because no matter how powerful this weapon is, it would be too prohibitive to produce otherwise.”


“Hope so,” Huang Ke agreed. “I don’t want to go around the countryside collecting dung from the farmers.”


Huang Zheng laughed heartily. “That is a great idea. You can start right here in our fort.”


“What?” Huang Ke blanched.


Huang Zheng smiled evilly. “We do have horses, you know. Lots of them. Since you like the weapon so much, you can start preparing the gunpowder for future use.”


“My wife can-”


“Your wife will be busy making the crossbows,” Huang Zheng reminded him. He patted his son affectionately on the shoulder.


“Gather shit, my son.”

Power grows from a gun,
More responsibility than fun.​

 

Thank you to Miguel Razo for your patronage!

Best wishes to those observing Ramadan.

----------------

“Drink responsibly. Enjoy more.”
--Slogan for Heineken

Chapter 204 - Blunt truths

Despite their rocky first meeting, Prince Chu Xiong reluctantly accepted his fate and allied himself with Huang Ming and the Wu delegations.


However, it did not begin the way Chu Xiong had imagined. Sure, he had invited Huang Ming for a private discussion. Tea was drank and pleasantries were exchanged, but when Chu Xiong finally broached the subject, it took a wholly unexpected turn.


“So, how can Wu help me secure the throne?” Chu Xiong had asked directly.


Huang Ming folded his arms across his chest and gave him a frank stare.


“First, you will need to help yourself,” he said.


“Eh?”


Huang Ming sighed as his eyes travelled up and down at the prince. Now that they are in private audience, Huang Ming finally had a good, close look at Prince Chu Xiong. Chu Xiong looked almost delicate to the point of being effeminate.


Chu Xiong was thoroughly mystified by Huang Ming’s frank stare, having never been treated in this manner. He stood up and spread his arms, looking this way and that to check if he had disgraced himself in some way.


Satisfied that there was no obvious defect on his clothes, Chu Xiong gave Huang Ming a questioning look.


“I do not see anything wrong?”


“It’s not your clothes, garish as they are,” Huang Ming replied.


“Garish? These are the latest in fashion!” Chu Xiong said indignantly.


“When was the last time you actually stepped out of your palace?” Huang Ming asked instead.


“I do not remember, there was never any need. I can get whatever I want just by asking someone to bring it to me,” the prince replied promptly. “Why? Is this already out of fashion?”


“What’s the point of keeping up with fashion if you stay in the palace all the time? They make you look like woman,” Huang Ming said as he stood up.


“Look at you. Hmm? Eh? Neh?” he punctuated as he gestured at the prince from head to toe.


For a few seconds, Prince Chu Xiong, a contender to the throne of the mighty state of Chu; stood still, his mind in disbelief at the vast insult that was thrown directly to his face.


“Do you not value your life?” he asked icily.


“I enjoy my life, thank you very much,” Huang Ming said flippantly. “On the contrary, you don’t seem to value yours at all.”


“What the hell is that supposed to mean? I was living perfectly well in my lazy luxury before you came along,” the prince snarled.


“We have only just met, but bear with me here. You live all day in the palace?”


“Of course I do. Where else do you expect a member of the royal family to be?”


“Do you know how to ride a horse?”


“No. We have carriages for a reason.”


“Do you know how to handle a sword? Pull a bow?”


“We have guards,” the prince answered, his annoyance growing. “Why are you asking all these trivial questions? Are you just here to waste my time?”


“No, what I mean is, what exactly do you do? Besides eating, drinking, sleeping.”


“Nothing!” the prince exploded, his pale face now flushed with anger. “I did nothing all day, and I enjoyed living that way!”


“So you have never worked a day in your life? Is your royal father the same way?”


Chu Xiong clutched his forehead, unable to comprehend the wild tangents Huang Ming was taking in their conversation. He sat back down heavily and exhaled to calm himself down.


“We are royalty, what need is there for us to use our hands? Isn’t your own king the same?”


“Not by choice.”


“That’s right, there was that little matter with Tong Xuan and Gao Fang, wasn’t there?” Chu Xiong said with a cold smile. “Your own sovereign had troubles of his own, who are you to insult me?”


“Calm down, have some tea. I do have a point,” Huang Ming said unperturbedly.


“I suggest you get to it quickly, before your head flies off your shoulders,” the prince hissed.


“I am just trying to discern if you have any good reasons to warrant your claim to the throne. Besides your birthright, I mean.”


Chu Xiong chuckled humourlessly. “You should have thought of that before throwing in your lot with me. My brother is far more meritorious than me.”


“Your brother is enamoured with befriending Wei, otherwise we would have approached him,” Huang Ming said bluntly.


“Are you trying to offend me?”


“I’m just being honest,” Huang Ming replied in modest fashion as he refilled their cups with tea.


The prince stared at him suspiciously.


“Can I speak frankly?” Huang Ming asked.


“You already have,” Chu Xiong reminded him.


“Alright. You have no military support beyond your personal guards. You have no support among the bureaucrats. You have no popular support among the people-”


“How do you know that?” the prince interrupted.


“You eat, drink and sleep all day, how popular are you going to be?”


“...” the prince said, because he was speechless.


“Other than the fact you’re the issue of the Queen of Chu, you have absolutely no standing whatsoever. Am I right?”


“...Yes,” the prince admitted.


“You say you enjoy living day-to-day without a care, but have you consider what would happen to your mother the queen if Chu Feng is to replace you as the crown prince?”


“She would probably be deposed, forced to abdicate in favour of Chu Feng’s mother, the Concubine Yang.”


“Do they get along?”


“What do you think?” the prince returned sarcastically.


“I think you and your mother the queen would have very short retirement lives if your brother goes on to be the next king.”


“No thanks to you.”


“Your mothers don’t get along in the first place, and if I know my palace tv dramas, it is pretty much inevitable.”


“What is ‘teevee’?”


Huang Ming waved it off. “I mean, previous precedents. I’m sure you have been taught some historical lessons. This sort of thing happens all the time”


The prince nodded reluctantly.


“You can claim to have no interest in the throne at all, but I doubt Chu Feng or Concubine Yang would ever believe you.”


“I was planning for exile. All I wanted was a sizable stipend for a comfortable life,” the prince muttered.


Huang Ming shook his head. “You will never get it. As long as you and the queen remain alive, you will always be a threat to their ambitions. Even if you are crippled or made mute, there is always a chance someone somewhere who would take you in as a figurehead to advance their own cause.”


Chu Xiong sighed.


“Yep, you’re pretty much doomed,” Huang Ming confirmed.


The prince glared at him. “I see you are taking delight in this. Perhaps brother is right. The people of Wu are a glib and treacherous lot.”


“Why? Because I simply stated the truth?”


“Because you wanted this to happen. Nothing would please Wu more than to see Chu descend into civil war!” Chu Xiong seethed.


But Huang Ming wagged a finger. “No such thing. As you know, Wu have already crossed swords with Jin and Wei. We’re not going to make an enemy out of Chu as well. Civil war? Far from it! We want a smooth transition of power, someone who would be friendly to Wu. Or, at the very least, not join with the others against us. This is of course in our own best interests, so how is it treacherous?”


“How else are we going to avoid a conflict with Chu Feng?” the prince demanded. Then his face turned ashen. “You don’t mean… assassination?”


“What? No, not yet. Why are you so hasty?”


“But… but you just outlined my weaknesses. How else am I going to take the throne?”


“Your father is ill, not dead,” Huang Ming said wryly. “People can scheme and plot as they like, but the final decision lies with the King of Chu. So don’t worry about your brother, at least not at this moment. Rather, take the time to get closer to your father.”


“Get closer?” the prince repeated, as if the concept was totally alien to him.


“What exactly is his illness anyway?”


The prince shrugged.


“You don’t know?” Huang Ming demanded.


“I’m not a doctor, there wasn’t any need for me to know about the specifics!” the prince responded defensively.


“See? This is what I mean that you don’t value your own life. How are you going to survive palace politics and rule the country if you don’t even have any interest in the well-being of your own father?”


“You sure are taking the roundabout way to get to the point,” the prince complained.


“Find out what you can. Stop overindulging yourself, and don’t drink so much.”


The prince snorted. “You’re the last one that should be saying that. The stories I’ve heard of you…”


“Trust me, I’m the one who can say this. Have you experienced near-death by choking on your own vomit from too much drinking? I have. So grow up, it’s time for you to be a man and take charge of your life.”


The prince stared at him in stunned silence.


“I’m not asking you turn into a monk. Just rein in your excesses. When this is all said and done, you will need to live long enough to enjoy your life. Go look up history: most of the tyrants and fatuous monarchs who are infamous for their debauchery did not live very long.”


Then he added: “And lose the clothes. They make you look like a woman.”


Huang Ming made his goodbyes, leaving the prince to wallow in his thoughts.


“That young man is sharper than he had revealed,” a voice interrupted his thoughts.


The prince turned around to see his mother, the Queen of Chu. She was a regal woman with slanted brows, giving her a severe and stern outlook despite her beautiful face.


“Mother, he is very rude,” Chu Xiong said, still slightly peeved.


“But honest. There were many truths in his casual speech,” the queen said.


“Then you agree?” Chu Xiong asked.


“He is correct. We cannot avoid a conflict with Chu Feng and Concubine Yang. They will never let us off. And I plan to do the same.”


“Mother…”


“You would do well to take his advice and change your lifestyle. As to be closer to your father, I will make the necessary arrangements,” the queen said.


Chu Xiong sighed resignedly. “I understand,” he said, and bowed reverently to his mother.

In intrigue,
Much fatigue.​

 

Some disturbing personal health news came to my attention, hence the delay. Apologies.

----

“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”
--Niccolò Machiavelli, ‘The Prince’

Chapter 205 - First lesson

Under the subtle guidance of Huang Ming, Prince Chu Xiong began to change his ways. His attendants and maids were stunned to see their prince go to bed early and rise at the crack of the dawn. It took all of their self-control not to gasp in shock when they saw their master actually taking the initiative to study and take interest in government affairs.


Huang Ming smiled wryly at their reaction, he had seen the same looks of disbelief before in his own family when he had first arrived in this body. It seemed like a lifetime ago when he was just a degenerate son of a military household, instead of being his country’s leading diplomat interfering in the succession troubles of a foreign nation.


That was not to say it was easy for Chu Xiong. Huang Ming was different, he had done it before. The prince on the other hand was like a drug addict unceremoniously thrown into rehabilitation. The first few days went fine, but by the third day the prince was visibly suffering from withdrawal. He had beads of cold sweat, his face was pale and his hands were shaky.


“What are you doing here? I did not summon you,” the prince asked.


“I am here to give you your first lesson,” Huang Ming answered. Then he stopped to gaze frankly at the prince’s pallid outlook.


“Are you done staring at this prince or are you going to offer actual advice?” the prince asked coldly.


“I did offer you advice,” Huang Ming reminded. “I told you to get closer to your royal father.”


“I am working on it,” the prince replied stiffly. “You cannot expect me to barge into his royal quarters and act the sobbing, filial son so suddenly.”


“Actually you should do it soon. Have your men spread the word that you are restraining yourself in this time of heartache at your royal father’s illness.”


“You are so cynical,” the prince said through gritted teeth.


“You already look the part, so you might as well take advantage of it. But why did you completely stop drinking?”


The prince gawked at him. “You’re the one who told me to!” he exclaimed as he pointed accusingly at him.


“I told you to rein it in, not to completely turn clean at one go. It’s admirable, but you’re silly in making it harder on yourself at this time,” Huang Ming stated.


The prince stared at him for a few pregnant seconds before mustering his dignity to lower his finger slowly.


“If I’m doing something, I might as well do it all the way,” he coughed to cover his embarrassment.


Still, Huang Ming could see the immense sense of relief on Chu Xiong’s face. Perhaps at the moment the prince would like nothing better than to rush to retrieve his stash of alcohol.


It was amusing, but Huang Ming was troubled by what he saw.


“Are you sure you’re not taking in other substances?” Huang Ming had asked.


“Like what?” the prince asked waspishly.


Huang Ming furrowed his brows as remembered General Li Jing of Beihai’s expensive habit. “What about srih leaves? I heard they are addictive.”


Prince Chu Xiong shook his head. “And ruin my teeth? That is disgusting,” he sneered.


Huang Ming saw that the prince’s teeth were indeed pristine. Speaking of which, when Huang Ming had first arrived in this world he had wondered on how the native people had maintained their personal hygiene. The lack of toilet paper aside, he was relieved that they had similar habits to those of the ancient Chinese. For example, chewing on willow twigs and gargling with thickly brewed tea for oral hygiene. It seemed the fantasy trope of Chinese dramas that had jade-like beauties and dashingly handsome men with perfect teeth were not far off…


The prince frowned when he saw Huang Ming drift off in thought.


“What is wrong?” he demanded impatiently.


“Your symptoms seem much more severe than just a craving for alcohol. I am just wondering if there is something else at play here.”


“What is that supposed to mean-” the prince started to say, but then paused when he realized the implications. “You think someone is tampering with my food?” he whispered instead.


“Always nice to see a man who is quick on the uptake,” Huang Ming nodded approvingly. “When is the last time you seen a doctor?”


“I have never been sick,” the prince declared.


Huang Ming arched a brow. “Never?”


“Never,” the prince repeated emphatically with pride.


“Then it might be disease-related. You indulge in the flesh quite often, correct? With different partners each time?” Huang Ming asked casually, as if he was talking about the weather.


The prince was horrified. “B-b-but that only affect the lower classes!” he shuddered.


“Do you really think a disease would stop to check whether if you’re highborn or not before entering your body? What, you think the microbes and viruses would say ‘Right, this guy’s a prince, lets not infect him!’?” Huang Ming scoffed.


Even though the prince had no idea what microbe or a virus was, he could grasp what Huang Ming was saying. Now he was truly trembling from fear and not from a lack of alcohol.


The prince was not completely ignorant and naive: he had heard of the deadly disease that would waste away a man in a few short years. Ironically, that was one reason he was such a homebody: he was fearful of the houses of pleasure where such complications were said to originate.


“The women of the palace are clean! They are checked regularly!” the prince insisted.


“What are they checked for, and how?” Huang Ming asked with a faint smile.


“For… well, you know…” the prince stuttered.


“No, I don’t. Do tell,” Huang Ming drawled, his smirk becoming wider as the prince’s face turned redder.


“Are you suggesting that my royal brother would stoop to such lengths?” the prince said instead, his heart chilled by the thought.


“You’d be surprised by the lengths people go to to achieve their aims.”


“Like you,” the prince shot back.


“Yeah, like me. Look at me, pulling myself down to slum around with you to secure the safety of my country,” Huang Ming sighed exaggeratedly.


Just when the prince was going to explode, Huang Ming clapped his hands and laughed.


“I’m just joking, don’t worry!” he said.


“Joking? You planted this seed of doubt in me, how am I ever going to relax my guard from now on!” the prince scowled.


Huang Ming snapped his fingers. “That is exactly the point. You’re a prince, you’re going to be surrounded evil plots. You have to find people that you can trust, but also people who would trust you. And that, dear prince, is my first lesson.”

Simple advice,
Against devious device.​

 

Thanks for the chapter.

I hope everything's well with your health.

 

Spoke too soon...

 

You OK?

 

Still alive. Could be better.

 

What's the illness?