Crouching Dragon: The Journey of Zhuge Liang sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
JavaScript is off/unavailable on your browser. You will not be able to experience this website as it was intended without JavaScript enabled.
Yuan Shao forgave you for Yuan Shu’s demise, and you fought Cao Cao together, only to be overwhelmed by stratagem. Yuan Shao was conceited, arrogant, and sadly doomed: to preserve your own chances of restoring the Han, you fled here… where the story ends, for now.”
“…So you consider me to always have the best of motives…?” Liu Bei asked plainly. “I would not be offended if you said otherwise.”
“I tell you only what I know,” Kongming insisted.
“But what then, of your full opinion of me…?” Liu Bei asked.
“…I believe that, in a world of chaos, where men like Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, Cao Cao and Sun Quan contend for purely selfish motives… that you sincerely wish to restore the Han dynasty, and that you try to do so by the most benevolent methods that are available,” Kongming suggested cautiously. “Cao Cao once said you and he are the only true heroes of the day, I understand… if he did, I believe that too.”
“…I see,” Liu Bei noted. “…And, even believing that… you will not join me…?”
Kongming fanned himself slowly, and pondered how best to answer.
*************
12
“And again, you said ‘no’.”
Mister Huang shook his head slowly as he pondered Kongming’s latest revelation to his family: Jun had walked out of the room as soon as his brother had stopped talking minutes earlier.
“That’s that, then,” Mister Huang added soberly. “A farmer’s life for you.”
“Father,” Yueying scolded. “My husband knows what he’s doing.”
“And besides, I didn’t say ‘No’,” Kongming insisted.
“You said ‘I am content to reside in this cottage’,” Mister Huang retorted flatly. “Does that have another interpretation I’m not aware of…?”
“…You’re angry,” Kongming supposed.
“… … …No, no, I’m not angry,” Mister Huang replied wearily. “I… I suppose that I am just surprised. I thought you wanted to be in Lord Liu Bei’s service… I thought that it was your intention, since you had already recommended Ma Liang and his family… now, I do not understand you at all.”
Kongming eyed Yueying, who smiled encouragingly.
“…I should take my leave of you,” Mister Huang sighed. “Take care.”
After an exchange of polite bows, Mister Huang left the cottage.
“…Are you angry too…?” Kongming asked of Yueying, who was still smiling.
“No,” Yueying replied. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Oh…?” Kongming chuckled.