Crouching Dragon: The Journey of Zhuge Liang sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne

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“…An opportunity beckons,” Yueying supposed encouragingly.
“…Perhaps,” Kongming admitted reluctantly. “But who knows what Liu Biao will do… an edict has been discovered, written by the Emperor himself, declaring Cao Cao to be a seditious traitor, and that he should be executed … with Liu Bei as one of the named conspirators, Liu Biao must risk going up against Cao Cao directly by taking him in. Such a thing may take strength that Liu Biao just doesn’t have anymore.”
“Jing Province is threatened,” Yueying mused. “War will come… Cao will win.”
“…Either way, Liu Biao cannot move closer to Cao, and with Sun Ce commanding so much of the land… interesting,” Kongming pondered. “So… three distinct rival powers already begin to emerge from the chaos… interesting.”
“It sits well with the ‘tripod of power’ theory,” Yueying mused.
“…It does,” Kongming replied. “Liu Bei in the west, Sun Ce in the south, and Cao Cao in the north… but as for Jing…”
“Liu Biao,” Yueying corrected. “…Liu Biao in the west.”
“…Liu Bei,” Kongming insisted. “Liu Bei has ambition… he’ll be one of those three powers, I know it. Liu Zhang is nothing like the warlord his father was… he is a craven weakling that will lose the support of his followers. His subordinate Zhang Lu is already breaking away from him; he’s doomed. And Liu Biao is old, his children weak, so neither he nor his progeny will ever govern in the west, that much is certain.”
Yueying continued to potter about the room silently, moving things needlessly and deliberately refusing to remain still for a moment.
“I’m going into Xiangyang in a few days,” Kongming announced. “Hopefully, I should bump into Xu Shu and Shi Tao… see what they’re up to.”
“Yes, Xu Shu hasn’t been by for a while,” Yueying replied thoughtlessly. “If you see Ma Liang, and young Ma Su of course, you should say hello for me.”
“I’ll see if I can get them to come back with me,” Kongming replied. “Sometimes I am ashamed at how little two men sworn to brotherhood see of each other!”

Yueying smiled warmly, and continued her work as Kongming picked up a text and started to read quietly.

As he had promised, Kongming travelled southward and over the River Han to Xiangyang a few days later, and travelled to what he knew were Xu Shu’s current dwellings.

“…Kongming,” Xu Shu hailed as he greeted his friend. “How are you…?”
“You seem thoughtful,” Kongming suggested.
“…I am,” Xu Shu admitted. “Liu Bei… his advance scouts have been going through this city and others, and I think that he will be here soon.”
“A pity he brings war with him,” Kongming sighed sadly.
“…He will also bring opportunity,” Xu Shu retorted. “I have something of a good reputation here… I have decided that I will try to approach him.”
“To render what service…?” Kongming enquired further.
“…A strategist,” Xu Shu replied.
Kongming smirked silently.
“I can prove myself,” Xu Shu insisted as he gestured for Kongming to follow him to his room.
“…It is unlikely,” Kongming chuckled. “Remember that he has two intolerant generals in his service… some say they are like brothers, and would die for each other.

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