Although the mention of white bears stirred something primal in Zhang Fei, when weighed against the urgency of rescuing Jian Yong, there was no real contest.
People first. Bears later.
Following the ragged attendant, the group departed from Linju and marched southwest for several dozen li before the river came into view. Zhang Fei knew this stretch well. If one followed the river upstream for another hundred li, one would reach Zigui, still within Nan Commandery and serving as a gateway into Yizhou.
That was the very route Jian Yong had taken when entering Yizhou, and judging by the situation, he had simply retraced his steps. Unfortunately, luck had not been on his side this time.
The attendant continued explaining as they hurried along.
"From here, if we follow the river northward, about ten li ahead there is a band of mountain bandits. They are not particularly skilled fighters, but their numbers are large. Master Jian was traveling with an honored guest, so I fought my way out to seek reinforcements."
Zhang Fei frowned.
"Bandits? Not river pirates?"
The man shook his head quickly.
"General, you may not know. Once you enter the Bingshu Baojian Gorge ahead, the river becomes treacherous, filled with jagged rocks, boiling currents, and swirling whirlpools. No merchant ships pass through there at all. Where would river pirates even come from?"
"Instead, most travelers heading into Yizhou take the narrow paths along the riverbank. The terrain is steep and easy to defend. Those bandits rely on it to rob passing merchants. Despicable, every last one of them."
Zhang Fei understood immediately, and his urgency only increased.
"Lead the way. Quickly. If anything happens to Xianhe, heads will roll."
They arrived just in time.
Five li further ahead, they spotted a miserable-looking group of bandits with crude weapons, surrounding an even more miserable group of travelers.
Jian Yong's attendant moved like a startled rabbit. In the blink of an eye, he scrambled up to higher ground and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Master Jian! General Zhang has come to save you!"
Why did you scream? We needed a surprise attack. Zhang Fei cursed inwardly.
"Surround them. Not a single one escapes!" he barked.
Fortunately, the battle itself posed little challenge.
Three hundred elite soldiers might not fully deploy in such narrow terrain, but their mere presence was overwhelming enough. The bandits broke almost immediately, attempting to flee in disarray.
"Those who surrender will not be killed!" Zhang Fei ordered.
His men relayed the command swiftly, and before long, weapons of every crude variety clattered to the ground.
Zhang Fei strode forward, stepping over the discarded arms without even sparing them a glance.
"Master Jian, you have suffered greatly on this journey."
Jian Yong, now darker by three shades and thinner by five, grinned broadly, revealing a row of bright white teeth. His easy elegance remained intact despite everything.
"If Yide had not come, I would have lost my life today."
The two clasped hands and burst into laughter.
"Ah, in escaping death I nearly forgot our honored guest!"
Jian Yong turned and pulled forward a man from behind him.
The man was short, with sharp features and a narrow face. His appearance... not exactly impressive.
"This is Zhang Song, styled Ziqiao, Inspector of Yizhou. He has come from Yizhou with me and is an honored guest."
Zhang Fei's expression immediately grew serious. He stepped forward and offered a proper greeting.
That simple gesture alone caused Zhang Song's eyes to narrow in satisfaction.
"Inspector Zhang comes bearing orders from Liu Jiyu of Yizhou, regarding matters of Hanzhong," Jian Yong explained from the side.
Zhang Fei thought for a moment, then nodded.
"The road here is rough. How about I send one hundred and twenty of my best men to escort Inspector Zhang to Gong'an to meet my Big Brother?"
"That would be excellent. The sooner we depart, the better," Zhang Song replied without hesitation.
Zhang Fei immediately issued orders.
"Fan Jiang, you will lead one hundred and twenty men to escort Inspector Zhang safely to Gong'an to meet my Big Brother."
"Zhang Da, take one hundred men and escort these prisoners back to Linju."
Then, Zhang Fei's voice dropped, his eyes lighting up like a kid who had just spotted a candy stall.
"Xianhe... I hear there are white bears nearby. Want to go take a look?"
Jian Yong's exhaustion vanished on the spot.
"Absolutely."
---
Gong'an County.
The moment Zhang Song set foot inside the city, he felt something stirring within him.
This place was still in the midst of growth, not yet fully formed, yet already brimming with vitality. People moved with purpose, the streets were lively, and everywhere there was a sense of rising momentum.
As he walked step by step through the city, looking at the bustling crowds and the unmistakable energy of development, the decision buried deep in his heart became firmer and firmer.
His appearance was something given by his parents, something he could not change.
But in this life, what he desired was simple.
To realize his ambitions. To display his talent.
And yet, Liu Zhang had never given him that chance.
When Zhang Song was received by Liu Bei, he rose to bow, only to be firmly held in place.
"Ziqiao has come from afar and must be weary. Sit and speak, there is no need for ceremony."
"Liu Huangsu," Zhang Song said, still addressing him formally, and then bowed from his seated position.
"Why such formality?" Liu Bei tried to help him up. "You are an envoy of Yizhou. Liu Zhang and I are both of the Han imperial clan, both servants of the Han. There is no need for such rigid courtesy."
But Zhang Song seemed determined.
Even Liu Bei found himself unable to lift him.
The envoy pressed his forehead to the ground and spoke loudly.
"What if Liu Zhang does not care for his identity as a member of the Han imperial clan, and instead wishes to submit to Cao Cao?"
He did not wait for Liu Bei to respond before continuing.
"Before Cao Cao marched on Jingzhou, Liu Zhang sent my brother to Xuchang to curry favor. My brother was thus appointed Administrator of Guanghan."
"The following spring, when Cao Cao stationed troops in Xiangyang, Liu Zhang again sent Yin Pu to ingratiate himself. Yin Pu was granted the title of Weiwu Jiangjun, General Who Inspires Awe, and Liu Jiyu's brother Liu Mao was named Pingkou Jiangjun, General Who Pacifies Bandits."
"Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Liu Zhang even sent me to Cao Cao, seeking friendly relations. Had Liu Zhang not joined forces with Zhou Yu to defeat Cao Cao, Yizhou might already have been handed over to Xuchang!"
Liu Bei's brows slowly knit together.
He looked at Zhang Song, still prostrated on the ground, and spoke gently.
"I understand your meaning... but in the end, you are still Liu Zhang's subject."
"I am an Inspector of Yizhou," Zhang Song declared without raising his head, "but I never forget that I am also a subject of the Han!"
"And the land of Yizhou, from Liu Yan until now, has been plagued by endless turmoil. Where lies the fault? Men of wisdom seek a brilliant ruler. I pray that Liu Huangsu enters Yizhou."
This time, Liu Bei remained silent for a long while.
Finally, he spoke calmly.
"Inspector Zhang, rise."
When Zhang Song stood, he saw only Liu Bei's back.
Liu Bei's voice came, steady and resolute.
"I accept your intentions. You are willing to bear the stain of disloyalty to realize your ambitions, but I am not willing to build my foundation upon the ruined reputation of a loyal minister."
"What was said today remains between us. You remain a loyal subject."
"As for Yizhou... I will take it myself."
"When that day comes, that will be the time for you, Ziqiao, to serve the Han with all your heart."
Zhang Song stood there for a long moment, his throat tight. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but no words came out. In the end, he simply bowed deeply, turned, and walked toward the door.
His steps were unsteady.
Liu Bei watched him go, sighing deeply.
"Yizhou is full of talent... yet Liu Zhang fails to use them."
"Why did my lord not agree?" a voice suddenly exclaimed.
From behind a screen, two figures stepped out.
Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.
The one who spoke was Pang Tong, clearly unable to hold back.
"With Zhang Song and Fa Zheng as internal allies, and an elite force sent in, the foundation could be secured in one stroke!"
"Zhang Song may be plain in appearance, but his talent is extraordinary. With him as an insider, Yizhou would be ours. When Heaven presents an opportunity and we do not take it, what are we waiting for?"
"But such an act would violate righteousness," Zhuge Liang said, gently waving his feather fan. "It would stain the virtue of a loyal subject. It is not appropriate."
"Yizhou is protected by natural defenses. At the very least, we should have made Zhang Song leave behind a map of the Two Chuan! How could we let him go so easily?" Pang Tong protested.
Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang exchanged a glance.
Then both burst into laughter.
Pang Tong was no fool. Seeing their expressions, he immediately understood.
"Could it be... the map of the Two Chuan is already in our hands?"
Liu Bei turned serious.
"What happened today must not be spread."
Zhuge Liang nodded and gestured lightly.
"Shiyuan, come with me."
The small hall once used for war simulations was now one of the most heavily guarded locations in Gong'an.
After verifying their identity tokens, the guards opened the door.
Inside, all furniture had been cleared away.
At the center stood a massive table, large enough for three men to lie upon.
On it was spread a vast sand table, constructed with colored stones, grains of rice, branches, leaves, and various other materials, forming a detailed model of the terrain.
Pang Tong had spent a year under Zhou Yu handling military affairs. The moment he saw it, recognition struck like lightning.
"Jiangling... Zigui... Chengdu... this level of detail...?!"