"You are Ma Youchang?"
At the gates of Gong'an County's government office, Ma Su stood with a calm expression as he looked at the towering, dark-faced man questioning him.
With the information given by his elder brother Ma Liang, Ma Su only needed a glance at the man's appearance and tone to identify him.
Zhang Fei, styled Yide, a Zhenglu General under Liu Bei.
"Reporting to the General, I am Ma Su of Yicheng."
Zhang Fei raised an eyebrow. "Wrong! I am now General Zhenglu. Attendant Ma, try again."
Ma Su inclined slightly. "Reporting to the General Zhenglu, I am Ma Su of Yicheng."
Zhang Fei burst into laughter and slapped his shoulder. "Good, good. Attendant Ma, work hard. I think highly of you!"
No, your expression does not look like you think highly of me at all. You are clearly still laughing.
Beneath his composed exterior, Ma Su was inwardly aggrieved.
From a young age he had read widely, with a particular fondness for military texts. His fourth brother Ma Liang had gained a reputation for talent and was recruited by Liu Bei as an Attendant. At nineteen, Ma Su had envied him greatly.
After much pleading, his brother finally secured him an opportunity to enter service.
And not just anywhere, but under the renowned Zhuge Kongming.
Yet reality did not match his expectations.
After arriving at Gong'an, Ma Su saw Zhuge Liang. The latter was extremely warm toward Ma Liang, chatting with him arm in arm before assigning him to inspect the tax situation in Wuling Commandery and conduct field visits among the people. A proper, practical post.
But once Ma Liang left, Zhuge Liang's smile turned polite and distant. With a light remark, "There happens to be a vacant gate post at the county office. If Youchang is willing, you may take it temporarily and familiarize yourself with Gong'an," Ma Su was sent here to guard the gate.
I, Ma Su, who has studied military texts for twelve years, reduced to a mere gatekeeper.
After the grievance came confusion.
Why did it feel as though he was somehow famous?
Earlier, Liu Bei had come, asked his name, stared at him for a moment, then shook his head and walked inside.
General Zhao Yun and General Huang Zhong did not stop, but their gazes were filled with curiosity.
General Guan Yu said nothing, merely patted his shoulder as if they were already acquainted.
And this General Zhang seemed to deliberately come and make things difficult.
Ma Su was utterly perplexed.
Inside the Gong'an County office, the side hall had now become a restricted area. Only Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Huang Zhong could enter without Liu Bei's written order.
Zhuge Liang had even moved his office here, spending most of each day inside.
Zhang Fei nudged a frozen persimmon closer to the fire and said, "This Ma Su doesn't look very bright to me."
"You must have made things difficult for him," Zhao Yun said with a smile. "From what I saw, being treated thus by Kongming without showing resentment, he is no ordinary man."
"What is so special about guarding a gate? I, Zhang Fei, could do that too," Zhang Fei snorted. "More importantly, if not for him, the strategist would not have died so early. And if the strategist died early, that useless Ah Dou would have no one to guide him, Ah Dou…"
"Enough, enough!" Liu Bei slapped his forehead, wishing he could stuff a persimmon into Zhang Fei's mouth.
Setting Zhang Fei aside, Liu Bei crouched by the brazier like an old farmer warming himself. Though Gong'an did not see snow, the winter chill still bit deep into the bones.
Clearing his throat, he said, "I called everyone here today to formally announce something. Guan Yunchang is promoted to General Dangkou. Zhang Yide to Zhenglu. Zilong is advanced to Pian . Han Sheng to Taolu."
The responses were a mess of overlapping voices. "Many thanks, elder brother" or "Many thanks, my lord."
This was no surprise. Everyone had already known. Liu Bei had deliberated long, and the memorial for these promotions had already been sent to Xudu. It was essentially settled.
"How are the curved plow and the round wheel?" Liu Bei asked Zhao Yun.
He had intended to work on them together, but as year's end approached, his affairs multiplied. Trusting Zhao Yun's reliability, he handed the matter over entirely.
Because the new plow handle was curved and the waterwheel perfectly round, they were simply called the curved plow and the round wheel.
"A great success. The common people praise them highly." Zhao Yun spoke with enthusiasm, then cupped his hands toward Zhuge Liang. "During construction, there were many uncertainties. Fortunately, Madam Huang sent over detailed notes. The craftsmen completed them according to her instructions. My lord may inspect them later."
"Madam Huang is skilled in such matters?" Liu Bei asked, surprised.
"My wife has been adept at mechanical craft since childhood," Zhuge Liang said modestly. "After seeing the diagrams, she studied them through the night and produced them within three days."
"Such talent!" Liu Bei praised. "Assign a group of women to assist Madam Huang in studying these devices. Any future techniques shown on the light screen are to be delivered to her immediately."
"I thank my lord on her behalf," Zhuge Liang said, bowing.
Then he produced a letter.
"My lord, a message arrived from Jiangdong this morning."
"Oh?" Liu Bei opened the letter and read swiftly. His expression gradually filled with surprise.
"Zhou Gongjin invites me to Dantu. Jiangdong intends to marry Sun Quan's younger sister to me, forming an alliance and strengthening ties between our two sides."
Without the light screen's revelations, this would have been cause for joy. But now, a shadow fell over everyone's faces.
Zhang Fei reacted most fiercely.
"I spit on it! If they truly wanted peace, they should send our sister-in-law back directly!"
He jumped up, shouting, "If elder brother gives the word, I will lead the vanguard into Dantu. I will turn it upside down, drag out that Lu Xun who set the fire, and then burn—"
He suddenly faltered, realizing Lu Xun had not yet committed any crime in this timeline.
Liu Bei felt both touched and exasperated, waving for Guan Yu to drag Zhang Fei aside.
Zhao Yun spoke more calmly. "My lord, Jiangdong cannot be trusted. I request to lead the Bai Ma Yicong to guard your safety."
Guan Yu and Huang Zhong exchanged a glance and bowed as well.
"My lord, I shall serve as your personal guard."
"My lord, I shall serve as your personal guard."
Liu Bei did not answer immediately. He exchanged a look with Zhuge Liang, whose eyes were equally troubled.
At that moment, Ma Su's voice came from outside.
"My lord, a letter has arrived for the strategist. The messenger claims to be an old acquaintance from Jiangdong."
After only two breaths, Liu Bei's steady voice responded, "Bring it in."
Ma Su entered, holding the letter respectfully.
To his surprise, the hall was utterly ordinary. Nothing like the rumors of secret maps and documents. Liu Bei and his generals simply sat around a brazier as if chatting at home, though the atmosphere was slightly tense.
Before he could think further, Liu Bei stood, took the letter, and patted Ma Su's shoulder.
"Attendant Ma, serve well under the strategist. I think highly of you."
The same words Zhang Fei had said, yet they felt completely different.
The lord truly values me.
Ma Su's body stiffened, and he bowed deeply.
"I am willing to give my life for my lord!"
Guan Yu and Huang Zhong stroked their beards and smiled. Zhang Fei muttered from the side, "When I praised you, you were not this serious…"
Note:
At the time of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Sun Quan moved his seat from Kuaiji to Dantu to better face Cao Cao. In 211, he moved again to Moling, later renaming it Jianye in 212. In 229, he proclaimed himself emperor at Wuchang, establishing it as the capital. In his later years, after relations with Shu Han eased, he returned the capital to Jianye.
He moved quite a lot.