Chapter 038: Joyful Reunion

Chapter 038: A Joyous Meeting

The saying goes, "Good people die young, while troublemakers live for three thousand years." At first glance, it seems reasonable. But if you look at it from another angle: the mighty Guan Yu is dead, the brash Zhang Fei is dead as well, and soon, Wei Yan—who idolized Guan Yu and strove to imitate him in all things—would be branded a traitor. Yet Zhao Yun, known for his kindness, remained unharmed, one of the few generals of Shu to meet a peaceful end. Is that not a kind of victory in itself?

Wei Ba mused silently over this. In the distance, he saw wisps of smoke curling upward as the torches atop the lookout tower at the camp gate gradually dimmed. The once-quiet camp rang with the sound of war drums, rousing soldiers from slumber, and squads began their morning drills. Knowing a new day had begun, he set off down the mountain with Dun Wu.

As they rounded a bend, a young woman from the Ma family appeared ahead, clad in a fitted white riding outfit, accompanied by a maid. She approached on horseback. Wei Ba quickly stepped to the side, jogging in place as he waited for her to pass.

"Whoa—" The young woman gently pulled the reins, bringing her mount to a halt before Wei Ba. She regarded him, noting the flush on his cheeks, and a faint blush crept across her own. Biting her lip, her long lashes fluttered twice before she suddenly greeted him, "Good morning!"

Wei Ba paused, then smiled instinctively. "Good morning!"

With a light tug of the reins, the young woman guided her horse aside, clearing the path. "After you, Master Wei."

Wei Ba, unbothered, nodded with a smile. "Thank you." He jogged past. The young woman turned in her saddle, watching him bound down the mountain with a lively stride, falling silent for a moment. She then urged her horse up the slope and stopped at the spot where Wei Ba usually turned, gazing at the fresh bend in the wild grass. With a soft sigh, she lingered a moment longer.

...

Wei Ba returned to camp, where Peng Xiaoyu had already prepared breakfast. Wei Wu was awake, cradling a bowl of lamb porridge and slurping noisily. Spotting Wei Ba, he called out eagerly, "Brother, come quick! This lamb porridge is delicious—Miss Peng's cooking is second to none!"

Wei Ba accepted the cloth Peng Xiaoyu handed over, wiping sweat from his brow as he asked, "Did you practice your sword forms yet?"

"Not yet. I just woke up, and the scent of this porridge was too tempting—I had to have two bowls first," Wei Wu replied, patting his rounded belly and letting out a satisfied burp. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "You need energy to train! Today, I can swing the sword two thousand times!"

"Enough of that. You ate so much—how can you possibly practice?" Wei Ba laughed and threw the cloth at him. "You’re about to get married; don’t wipe your mouth with your sleeve anymore. Anyone who sees your sleeve can tell exactly what you’ve been eating."

"Really? I can’t see it," Wei Wu replied, wide-eyed and looking at his brother with admiration.

Wei Ba was at a loss for words.

"Young General, it’s no trouble—I’ll wash it for him right away," Peng Xiaoyu said, bringing over a fresh bowl of porridge. "This is leftover meat from yesterday, stewed on the stove overnight—perfect for the wounded. I’ve set aside a portion for Commandant Fu, and this bowl is for you. There’s some for Lord Dun Wu as well."

"For me too?" Dun Wu, drawn by the aroma, sniffed eagerly, rubbed his hands together, and hurried to the stove for a bowl.

Wei Ba took a sip and was genuinely impressed. The lamb had simmered all night, melding completely into the porridge, with no trace of the original meat left—yet the fragrance was richer than ever, making one's appetite soar. Well, this maid, despite her plain looks, was truly skilled in the kitchen. Judging by the big cauldron, she’d prepared not only for Fu Xing and himself but likely for his father as well. Did this girl really want to stay on as a maid? Ah, in the face of survival, freedom is a trivial thing. No wonder Baoyu drove Qingwen away, and Qingwen would rather die than give in.

After finishing his porridge, Wei Ba rested a while, then practiced two sword forms with Dun Wu before heading to his father’s tent. Approaching, he noticed two fine Xiliang warhorses outside and was surprised. Horses were scarce in Shu; ordinary soldiers couldn't afford them, and even officials often rode inferior horses or ox carts. Xiliang warhorses were rare indeed—riding one was like owning a luxury car in modern terms, perhaps not quite a BMW, but at least a high-end Buick. Even Wei Yan, as General Who Guards the North, only had a regular mount. The sudden appearance of two fine warhorses was as conspicuous as a Rolls-Royce parked in an average neighborhood.

The Ma family’s cavalry regiment, though only two or three thousand strong, was the elite among Shu's cavalry, and at least a third of their men rode Xiliang warhorses.

Could that young woman have come again? At the thought of the cold, beautiful face of the girl in white, Wei Ba felt a headache coming on. If he'd known she would be such trouble, he would have given ground from the start.

He fought the urge to turn back, forced himself into the tent, and was stunned by what he saw.

It was not the girl in white, but another Ma: Ma Su, with Zhuge Qiao seated beside him.

Before Wei Ba could speak, his father Wei Yan, beaming with joy, called out, "Boy, what took you so long? You’ve kept Staff Officer Ma and Commandant Zhuge waiting. Come, greet Staff Officer Ma and Commandant Zhuge properly!"

Wei Ba was bewildered—he’d never seen his father so courteous to anyone. He stepped forward and bowed. Ma Su remained seated, nodding slightly in return. Zhuge Qiao, however, stood up and returned the salute with a warm smile. "You went for a run, Brother Wei? Your perseverance is admirable. Clearly, your hard work is paying off—you no longer look the least bit frail. No wonder Staff Officer Yang had such a hard time with you."

Wei Ba was mortified. Zhuge Qiao laughed heartily, clapping Wei Ba on the shoulder. "Just a joke, brother, just a joke—don’t take it to heart."

Wei Ba forced a smile and asked earnestly, "Staff Officer Yang...is he all right?"

"All is well," Zhuge Qiao replied graciously, waving it off. "The Prime Minister scolded him, and he’s realized his mistake. He’s just too embarrassed to apologize in person, so he asked Staff Officer Ma and me to deliver his regrets. The General has already agreed to let the matter rest—now it’s up to you, Brother Wei, to be magnanimous."

Wei Ba glanced at his father. Wei Yan, looking pleased, stroked his beard and said solemnly, "Ba’er, Yang Yi and I may have our differences, but we’re both ministers of state. Now that the Prime Minister is preparing to campaign north and restore the Han, how can we let personal grievances hinder the nation’s affairs? Since he’s willing to apologize, there’s no need to pursue it further."

Wei Ba secretly scoffed—easy for you to say. If you had been the one to strike yesterday, Yang Yi might have ended up worse than Liu Yan. He quickly agreed, "I’ll follow your wishes, Father. Should I go visit Staff Officer Yang later?"

"That won't be necessary. We have more important matters," Wei Yan waved him off and motioned for him to sit. He turned to Ma Su. "Youchang, let’s continue."

Ma Su smiled. "By all means." He leaned over Wei Yan’s desk, pointing to the map spread out before them, and began discussing military plans.

Wei Ba listened for a while and realized that Ma Su and Zhuge Qiao had come on behalf of Zhuge Liang to consult with Wei Yan. Ma Su was a close confidant of Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Qiao was his son. The two of them together carried almost as much weight as Zhuge Liang himself. Wei Yan was visibly excited, feeling honored by the Prime Minister’s attention, and poured out his entire Ziwu Valley plan in detail.

Ma Su listened intently, pausing at intervals to ponder, then raising questions, which Wei Yan answered earnestly. Wei Yan was rarely so composed, showing no impatience at all. His spirits were high, thumping his chest occasionally, vowing to serve as the Prime Minister’s vanguard and to fight to the death, repaying the late Emperor’s trust and the Prime Minister’s favor.

The harmony of this scene left Wei Ba confused. Had his presence altered history? Was Zhuge Liang actually considering his father’s Ziwu Valley plan to strike at Chang’an? If so, history was truly about to change. The Ziwu Valley plan, while not perfect, had great potential—and Zhuge Liang, famed for his caution, would not consider it unless it had a real chance of success.

Yet the plan’s inherent flaws were undeniable. Unless these were addressed, success could not be guaranteed. Could it be that the Prime Minister had found a solution?

As he listened, Wei Ba pondered Zhuge Liang’s intentions. But facing this legendary figure, revered for his wisdom, he felt uneasy. In mechanical matters, he had some confidence, but beyond that, he dared not presume to fathom the mind of such a genius.

"This plan is truly inspired," Ma Su praised. "If it can be carried out, it will lay a solid foundation for the restoration of the Han. Your strategies, General, are indeed extraordinary. However, while the plan is ingenious, there are some details to resolve. As much as I admire your skill, I cannot yet offer any guarantees. I must report to the Prime Minister and consult with the other generals before any decision can be made. I hope you’ll understand."

Wei Yan laughed heartily. "Of course! Youchang, do you take me for some obstinate fool? I’ve guarded Hanzhong for nearly a decade and know this terrain better than anyone, but the Prime Minister is in command here. How could I act without his approval? Don’t worry—so long as the Prime Minister values me, I will follow his lead without question."

Ma Su smiled broadly and clasped his hands. "With your loyalty, it’s no wonder the Prime Minister trusts you so. I’ll return at once and report your entire plan to him. All you need do is await good news. But until the Prime Minister decides, I must ask you to keep this confidential."

"Do you need to say that?" Wei Yan gave Ma Su a reproachful look. "Youchang, do you take me for a child who doesn’t know the simplest discretion?"

Ma Su laughed and slapped his forehead. "That was thoughtless of me. You’re a seasoned commander—who am I to remind you? My apologies."

Wei Yan joined in the laughter, and master and guests alike were all smiles.

—The May Day holiday is over, and the battle resumes. This week’s results have been disappointing; the new book’s ranking is slipping fast, almost off the front page. I ask for your support and encouragement.