Chapter 077: Zhuge Qiao's Choice

What should one do when faced with a superior who refuses to listen to advice? There are three options: First, bypass your superior and report directly to his own superior; second, persist in advising until he either listens or loses his temper and fires you; third, leave matters to fate.

The third choice seems irresponsible and is hardly advisable. The second is even worse, for it accomplishes nothing and inflicts great harm upon oneself. Only the first method appears viable—yet what if there is no one above your superior? For instance, what can a minister do when faced with a king?

When your superior wields the power of life and death, or at least can easily determine your future, not only does the first option become a fantasy, even the second entails enormous risk. If you cannot remain in one company, you might move to another. But if you cannot remain in an empire, your options are few: death or defection. The former means your own end; the latter might spare your life, but might well bring doom upon your entire family.

Upon reflection, the third option becomes the only feasible course. This was the path that Zhao Yun chose.

Wei Ba could also have chosen the third path—if only his father, Wei Yan, had been as discreet as his master, Zhao Yun. But he knew clearly that changing his father's temperament would be harder than defeating the rival state of Cao Wei.

There is an old joke: God once said to a man, "I will grant you one wish." The man delightedly replied, "I wish for immortality." God said, "That is too much to ask, nearly impossible." So the man compromised: "Then let China's soccer team win the World Cup once." God fell silent for a long time, then said, "Let us reconsider your first wish."

For God, granting someone immortality is easier than letting China's soccer team win the World Cup.

For Wei Ba, defeating Cao Wei would be easier than persuading his father to change his terrible temper.

Because at least there was some hope.

There was hope to save himself, his parents, his siblings, perhaps even his entire family.

Wei Ba hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Master, if—"

"Say no more. I do not know." Before Wei Ba could finish, Zhao Guang cut him off and turned to enter the cabin. Wei Ba opened his mouth, then closed it in disappointment and looked awkwardly at Fu Xing. Fu Xing forced a bitter smile, shook his head, and gazed at the ever-flowing river. Suddenly, he sighed, "Winter is coming; even the water has grown shallow."

At Fu Xing's words, Wei Ba was suddenly reminded of the saying, "A dragon stranded in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp; a tiger fallen to the flatlands is bullied by dogs." He thought of that encounter on Yangping Mountain, the delicate figure of a young maiden, and his spirits began to rise—only to feel suddenly unlucky. If that girl was a tigress, would that make him a vicious dog? Bah, what nonsense!

Then another thought struck him: if he could not be a dragon or tiger, what was wrong with being a fierce dog? After all, father and son were both considered brash and overbearing warriors—never destined to be gentlemen. Rather than be boiled like a frog in warm water, why not make a desperate gamble? Perhaps he could turn his fate around, or at the very least, act with unrestrained abandon for once.

Having made up his mind, Wei Ba felt suddenly lighter. He laughed, "Zhongjian, I want to play this game with Zhuge Qiao. Are you interested?"

Fu Xing hesitated only briefly. "I'm quite enjoying myself, but Brother Zhongde is too steady—he lacks a killer instinct. Perhaps trying Zhuge the captain will be more challenging."

Wei Ba roared with laughter and pointed at Fu Xing. "You really are too impetuous—youthful, so very youthful!"

Fu Xing squinted, tilting his head to peer at the jade pendant hanging from Wei Ba's waist. "Right back at you. The Prime Minister's painstaking efforts have been utterly wasted."

Wei Ba replied solemnly, "For the sake of the people, I can hardly worry about the Prime Minister's kindness."

Fu Xing could not help but burst out laughing.

Wei Ba was always a man of action. He dragged Fu Xing off to find Zhuge Qiao. Zhuge Qiao, bored nearly to death these past days, at first declined the invitation with feigned restraint, but upon learning it was a tactical war game, he threw caution to the wind. Wei Ba explained the rules, and Zhuge Qiao quickly understood. The three of them enthusiastically began their simulation.

But they soon encountered a new problem. They disagreed on whether Zhuge Liang could easily conquer Longyou. Zhuge Qiao believed that the people's hearts yearned for the Han; as soon as the army marched out of Qishan, Longyou would surely rally in support. Thus, taking the cities would require little time—just a rapid advance through the Long Mountains, seizing the passes at Long County and Xiao Pass, and all of Longyou, even the entire Liang Province, would fall into Shu Han's grasp.

Their dispute centered on whether the people could truly be counted on. Wei Ba and Fu Xing felt that, while popular support might help, it could not be relied upon so heavily. Some might surrender, but the idea that all would capitulate without resistance seemed far-fetched.

Zhuge Qiao, however, insisted that once the army crossed Qishan, all of Longyou would surrender without a fight.

On this point, Wei Ba could not insist further—he did not wish to dampen their own morale while bolstering another's. In a time when the rallying cry of righteousness mattered greatly, he could not allow himself to be accused of undermining morale.

"Let's consider both scenarios, shall we?"

Zhuge Qiao pondered a moment, then reluctantly agreed.

They started again, this time factoring in the people's support. The odds for Shu Han improved, though only somewhat—not enough to tip the balance. The best outcome was Shu Han seizing Longyou and winning the initial campaign, but in the prolonged struggle that followed, their limited strength and the long supply lines remained insurmountable obstacles. Winning hearts and minds might cause cities to yield without a fight, but it would not turn mountains into plains or ravines into open roads.

After several rounds, Zhuge Qiao's face grew grim. He slowly set down the little flags representing troops and wearily waved his hand. "Ziyu, Zhongjian, I am tired. We will reach Anhan tomorrow, and there is much to arrange. Let us stop here."

Wei Ba exchanged a glance with Fu Xing, then rose to take his leave.

Neither spoke until they were back on their own boat. Then Fu Xing scoffed, "He just can't bear to lose. What nonsense about being tired—it’s just that he ran out of moves."

Wei Ba comforted him, "It's all right. As long as he understands the situation, I am sure he will convey these results to the Prime Minister. Whatever happens next, we've done our part. Let’s wait patiently for the outcome."

Fu Xing grunted, hesitated as if to say something, then sighed. After a while, he suddenly remarked, "Had I known the game would end this way, I wouldn't have played with you. Realizing it's a doomed cause is rather dispiriting."

Wei Ba shot him a look. "Have you ever met anyone who doesn't die?"

Fu Xing was taken aback. "Who could be immortal?"

"Exactly. Everyone is born to die—so why do you bother? Why not just drift through life?"

"Well..." Fu Xing was left speechless.

"The value of life lies in the journey, not the outcome." Mi Wei suddenly emerged from within. He looked at Wei Ba, his gaze flickering, then continued, "Since all must die, how one lives is what matters most. Ma Fubo once said, a true man would rather die on the battlefield, wrapped in a horsehide, than perish in bed, tended by wife and children. Better a short, glorious life like Huo Qu Bing, than a long, obscure one like Feng Tang."

Wei Ba and Fu Xing glanced at each other, then, after a moment, managed to ask, "Captain Mi, when did you get here?"

Mi Wei chuckled. "I heard you were playing games all night—I was curious and came to watch. I wonder if I might be permitted to observe?"

Wei Ba felt embarrassed. Mi Wei was deputy commander of the supply corps, and despite working in the same camp, Wei Ba had barely interacted with him. He hadn't invited Mi Wei to join the game—not out of contempt, but rather for fear Mi Wei would wish to keep his distance. Now, with Mi Wei expressing interest himself, Wei Ba was more than pleased.

"Why merely observe? Join us for a full contest, what do you say?" Wei Ba shot him a challenging look.

Mi Wei curled his lip. "You think the Mi family knows nothing of military matters? I may not have fought a war, but when it comes to calculations, I won't lose easily."

"Of course. The Mi family has traded for generations—how could you be anything but shrewd?" Zhao Guang emerged as well, winking at Wei Ba. "Ziyu, you have a worthy opponent today."

Wei Ba was overjoyed, rubbing his hands. "Nothing could be better!"

...

Zhuge Qiao sat slumped at his desk, head drooping, a blank sheet of paper spread before him, several crumpled balls lying to the side, gently stirred by his heavy breathing.

He was struggling.

After several rounds of simulation with Wei Ba, the impact he felt far exceeded Wei Ba's estimation. He knew very well that he had already exaggerated his own side's advantages to the utmost, yet still the odds of victory were far from reassuring. If things were as Wei Ba predicted, this northern campaign would be a disaster—not merely a defeat, but one that might destroy all hope of future expeditions.

If a war is lost before it even begins, what is left to fight for?

Zhuge Qiao wanted to warn his father, but he feared angering him. To admit defeat before the battle would not only sap morale; it might make his father think him cowardly and unfit for great deeds. He understood even better than Wei Ba just how strong his father's confidence was—and, now, how unreliable it had become.

If confidence alone could win wars, Emperor Liu Bei would not have suffered a disastrous defeat at Xiaoting, losing most of Shu Han's best troops in a single stroke.

To speak or not to speak—this was a difficult choice.

After much deliberation, Zhuge Qiao finally raised his pale face, wrote a few words on the paper, carefully folded it, called for a personal guard, and, his voice hoarse, said, "Deliver this to Staff Officer Wei Ba."

———Please recommend and bookmark!