The plum rains finally passed, and with the arrival of August, the air itself seemed to tighten.
Le Jin began to stir.
But only just. He did not move any further.
Because on the other side, Zhou Gongjin, while recovering from his wounds in Chaisang, was at the same time making a grand show of summoning the generals of Sun Wu to gather troops at Baqiu, loudly declaring an intent to march on Yi Province.
Such momentum alone was enough to force Le Jin into caution.
After all, from Baqiu, sailing upstream to Jiangling would take less than half a day.
Thus, the two sides remained locked in a tense standoff, each watching the other, neither daring to make the first real move.
Yet while the frontlines stagnated, Liu Bei himself had not known a single idle moment.
With the list provided by the light screen in hand, he began inviting people one by one to private banquets.
Only then did he realize something almost shocking.
There were this many capable men available?
Fu Tong, Wei Yan, and Hao Pu were all veterans who had followed him since Jingzhou. Liu Bei hosted a small gathering, speaking only of old days in Jingzhou, and before long the three men were on the verge of tears.
Yet all three also felt something strange.
The way their lord looked at them… was difficult to describe.
Wei Yan sensed both appreciation and caution in Liu Bei's gaze.
Hao Pu felt something like pity.
As for Fu Tong, he was caught completely off guard by Liu Bei's very first question.
"Where is your son?"
Fu Tong froze for a moment before answering honestly,"I only married last year, my Lord. I do not have a son yet."
Liu Bei could only laugh awkwardly and pull him into his seat.
Feng Xi, Zhang Nan, Huo Jun, Chen Zhen, and the others had joined Liu Bei less than half a year ago. With them, Liu Bei could only host modest banquets, chatting about ordinary matters.
Then, in the middle of this suffocating stalemate, the news Liu Bei had long anticipated finally arrived in mid-August.
Zhou Gongjin's old illness had relapsed.
He died at Baqiu.
Even though they had been mentally prepared, those under Liu Bei could not help but sigh in regret.
Heaven envies talent.
But regret did not delay action.
Liu Bei set out for Dantu to pay his respects. Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Huang Zhong gathered at Jiangling, preparing to ambush Le Jin should he make a move.
Traveling by boat from Jiangling downstream would lead directly to Baqiu, but halfway there Liu Bei received word that Zhou Yu's body had already been transported to Dantu. He immediately changed course, taking Bu Zhi with him.
If his last visit to negotiate the ownership of Nan Commandery had carried a hint of supplication, then this time, as Liu Bei himself summed it up, he had come for one reason.
I'm here for the Fledgling Phoenix (Fengchu).
With Zhou Gongjin suddenly gone, Sun Quan was too occupied managing internal affairs to look outward. There was no way he would recklessly act against Liu Bei, who was bound to him by marriage ties. Liu Bei therefore traveled with ease.
As for bringing Bu Zhi, that was simply to show sincerity.
Jiaozhou could always be discussed again.
Passing Baqiu, then Chaisang, they finally arrived at Dantu.
Everywhere they looked was draped in plain white.
Though Liu Bei traveled lightly, arrangements had already been made for his lodging.
On the way, they passed by a residence, and Liu Bei caught sight of his brother-in-law standing on the rooftop, holding a brocade robe, facing the wind and crying out loudly:
"Zhou Gongjin!"
Liu Bei and Lu Su stopped to watch.
After shouting, Sun Quan climbed down, took another robe, and climbed back up, calling out again in grief.
"Zhou Gongjin!"
This repeated several times before it ended.
Liu Bei understood at once.
This was the summoning of the soul.
Later, the body would be washed and prepared, offerings placed in the mouth, and the funeral banner inscribed with the deceased's titles. At dawn the next day, the body would be dressed for burial, completing the hall for mourning.
Only then could guests formally pay their respects.
"Sun Quan is deeply unwilling to part with Grand Commander Zhou," Liu Bei said softly. Only close kin would perform such a rite.
"Gongjin… still in the prime of life, struck down like this," Lu Su replied, his expression dim. Whatever disagreements they had in policy, Zhou Yu's death was no less than the loss of an arm for Jiangdong.
After settling Liu Bei, Lu Su turned to Bu Zhi.
"Zishan, come with me to see the lord."
Bu Zhi's face looked like he had just swallowed something bitter as he was led away.
Liu Bei did not sleep well that night.
At dawn, a servant knocked, informing him that the mourning hall was ready.
After washing up, Liu Bei followed the same path as the day before.
At the entrance stood a white banner hung on bamboo poles, bearing the inscription:
"Administrator of Nan Commandery, General of Partial Command, Zhou Gongjin."
Inside, Zhou Yu lay quietly in the main hall, washed and dressed in fine robes.
His wife and children knelt beside him, nodding respectfully as Liu Bei approached.
With a soft sigh, Liu Bei placed the jade robe he had brought beside the bier, bowed deeply in tribute, and was escorted out by Zhou Yu's eldest son.
As he turned back for one last look, Liu Bei could not help but wonder.
When I die at Baidi City one day… what will my funeral look like?
Will it be Kongming who calls my soul, or A Dou?
As for the later rites, the encoffining, burial goods, ancestral farewell, and interment, those would no longer concern him.
Just then, someone called out behind him.
"Governor Liu?"
Liu Bei turned.
A scholar stood there, refined in bearing, graceful in demeanor. His features were plain, yet there was something about him that made people instinctively feel at ease.
"Shiyuan?"
Liu Bei broke into a smile, strode forward, and grabbed Pang Tong's hand without hesitation.
"To think we would meet here. Come, come, return with me. We will talk at length."
It wasn't until they were seated and a cup of hot tea had been pressed into his hands that Pang Tong felt reality catch up. Meeting Liu Bei's burning gaze, he thought: How did things progress this quickly?
"Your purpose in coming, Shiyuan, I already understand," Liu Bei said with a frank smile.
"Though Gongjin has just passed, you were not his subordinate, nor are you bound to Sun Quan. You are free to come and go."
"I wish to appoint you as Military Advisor General. What do you say?"
Straight to the point. No detours.
Pang Tong had imagined several possible reactions while waiting.
None of them looked like this.
This Liu Jingzhou seemed to already know his name. More than that, he had even guessed why Pang Tong had been waiting here.
After a moment of thought, Pang Tong asked,
"And Kongming… also serves under you as Military Advisor General?"
Liu Bei nodded.
"Kongming often says that your talent surpasses even his, that you are one who can assist the age, with a heart to save the people and restore the state."
Pang Tong forced a smile.
Surpasses him?
Zhuge Liang had clearly seen through him completely. How could he claim such a thing?
So this was the ability of the Crouching Dragon.
And yet, with Zhou Yu's death, there would surely be movements at Jiangling. Still, Pang Tong could not see through any of it.
But one thing was clear.
Liu Bei truly valued Zhuge Liang's words. The position he offered was the same. Such regard… how could Sun Quan compare?
Especially when Sun Quan had yet to even summon him.
Pang Tong sighed inwardly, then straightened.
"May I ask, Governor Liu, what is your ambition?"
"To destroy the traitor Cao, to subdue Sun Quan, to restore the Han and unify the realm. I wish only for peace under heaven, for the seas to be calm and the rivers clear."
Pang Tong's eyes widened. He lunged forward and clapped a hand over Liu Bei's mouth.
"My lord, this is Jiangdong. Speak carefully."
Liu Bei laughed, utterly unconcerned.
"With the Crouching Dragon and now the fledgling phoenix, my path will not be lonely. The Han shall rise again."
Pang Tong did not hesitate any further. He stood, bowed deeply once more, then leaned forward.
"If we take Yi Province, how certain are you?"
Liu Bei raised one hand.
"Originally, five parts out of ten."
Then he raised the other.
"Now, ten out of ten."
Emotion flickered across Pang Tong's face. He bowed deeply again.
"I, Pang Tong, am willing to take Yi Province and present it to my lord!"
Liu Bei waved it off, his expression turning slightly odd as something came to mind.
"That won't be necessary. Shiyuan, just help me hold Jing Province."
"There is a place in Yi called Fallen Phoenix Slope. The feng shui there is not favorable for you."
Pang Tong blinked, utterly baffled.
Before he could process that, Liu Bei had already issued his first instruction.
"Shiyuan, are you acquainted with Ma Zhong, a subordinate of Pan Zhang? I have heard he has a good reputation. Could you introduce him to me?"
Pang Tong fell silent.
This lord of his… seemed to know a little too much.