Crouching Dragon: The Journey of Zhuge Liang sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“…That went very well,” Kongming said through a false, pride-saving grin.
“…Sorry,” Xu Shu sighed. “Maybe you should leave.”
“No, I’m here now,” Kongming chuckled miserably. “Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll get insulted again later.”
The festivities continued. Many of the scholars left early, and eventually, many generals - including Zhao Yun, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei - left to pursue other things. Those that remained moved closer to Liu Bei so that he could talk to them: Kongming silently noted Liu Bei’s charismatic air as he took a new seat.
“…Master Xu,” Liu Bei hailed with a slight bow: Xu Shu smiled, and returned the gesture appropriately with a lower bow. “…Your knowledge of the topography and your agreed suggestion that we use fire was what won the day,” Liu Bei praised.
“As you say,” Xu Shu replied awkwardly, “the suggestion was shared by wiser men than I, and the topography was not entirely of my design either.”
“Oh…?” a middle-aged man in adviser’s robes chuckled: Liu Bei struggled to hide a smile as the man - his old friend Jian Yong - added, “It was my understanding that you planted every tree in Bowang yourself only last week.”
“Master Jian,” Xu Shu giggled nervously, “I meant that…!”
“Please,” Liu Bei snickered, “leave the man be. Master Xu, your talent is obvious… might I ask, good sir, who the young man in Taoist robes is that sits with you…?”
All eyes turned to Kongming, who fanned himself calmly, and nodded slightly in small respect of Liu Bei.
“….Bow,” Xu Shu urged desperately.
Kongming grinned, and bowed a little.
“You… you are twenty, if that,” Jian Yong suggested. “Tell me, son, who let you in here, and what fool scholar let you play with his fan…?”
Many of those present smiled as Kongming failed to answer.
“…His age should not be an issue,” Liu Bei said after an overly long period of awkward silence. “…After all, how old were we, when we set out of our village together to vanquish the rebels…?”
“…True,” Jian Yong admitted. “…But this one has an air of the self-important about him; sorry, but you still haven’t provided your name, friend.”
“…My family name is Zhuge, given name, Liang,” Kongming replied politely. “My style name is Kongming… my Taoist name, Crouching Dragon. I am twenty-two, and I tend farmland in Longzhong by day.”
“…My, haven’t you a lot of names,” Jian Yong cooed sarcastically.
“…‘Crouching Dragon’…?” Liu Bei noted.
“The local literati talk a lot about you,” Mister Sun said as he rubbed his chin. “They say you’re a gifted mind… tell me, what reputed works have you read…?”
“…I have perused the odes, and I am aware of other literary works,” Kongming replied. “I consider the pursuit of knowledge to be about what one learns, rather than what one can recall.”
“Do you now…?” Jian Yong chuckled as Mister Sun huffed irritably.
“As for the local men speaking well of me… well, I am fond of reciting poetry, but pretty words do not win wars,” Kongming continued calmly as he made eye contact with Liu Bei. “…Strategies, like those laid-down by the great Zhang Liang, Jiang Ziya, or perhaps, more relevantly, Yue Yi and Guan Zhong, are what win the day.”