Crouching Dragon: The Journey of Zhuge Liang sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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8
Over the next few years, Kongming’s life was very quiet. Cao Cao turned his attentions to other concerns, and Jing Province enjoyed a brief respite from war. After three years of silence, southern warlord Sun Quan finally began his campaign of revenge by launching - as expected - an attack on Huang Zu, the prefect of Jiangxia in eastern Jing, and the man considered responsible for the death of Sun Quan’s father. This new conflict made for an uneasy time in Xinye City, where Liu Bei’s army was mostly based, and where he was cultivating popularity amongst the people while he waited for orders from his landlord, Liu Biao.
Kongming returned home from a day of hard work, and noted that a familiar coat had been placed, neatly folded, by the door.
“…Elder Brother…?” Kongming mused: he pondered the possible meaning of the visit as he entered the living quarters.
“Liang…!” Zhuge Jin hailed.
Kongming took a moment to observe the scene.
Zhuge Jin was dressed in casual robes, not those of an official. His face was weathered with age, but he was still the kindly, familiar man that Kongming remembered. Yueying was sat quietly, her head hung low, as though something was upsetting her; Jun, Kongming’s younger brother, was also sat uncomfortably.
“…Elder Brother Jin,” Kongming said with a smile: he bowed slightly, and then the two brothers embraced.
“…I have been speaking with your lady wife,” Jin explained. “Lady Huang is an extraordinary woman… very insightful, and worldly. You’ve chosen your lifetime companion well.”
“My thanks for your accolades,” Kongming replied numbly: he could now guess why his wife was so quietly distressed.
“…How is your family…?” Kongming asked plainly.
“Very well,” Jin replied. “Our oldest son is now more than two, and still healthy… our second son, born only so very recently, is also doing well. The air in Jiangdong is good, the likelihood of stability and peace increasing day by day… you and your family should visit us someday, and see it for yourself.”
“…I expect that business will take me in that direction sooner or later,” Kongming replied as he took up his fan and started waving it slowly to calm himself.
“I hope so,” Jin said warmly.
“…So in general, you are prosperous,” Kongming supposed.
“Sun Quan is a good, wise ruler,” Jin suggested as the youngest brother, Jun, left the room. “He treats all of his vassals with courtesy… he avoids needless conflict, pursuing only noble endeavours, and is magnanimous.”
“…Forgive my directness, Elder Brother, but to say that he avoids needless conflict is entirely the opposite of the truth,” Kongming said with an irritated laugh.
“You…!” Jin exclaimed: Kongming walked past him slowly, and sat next to Yueying, who was grateful for his presence.
“By continuing to ignore the situation north of the Great River, here in the real world, your master continues to forsake the true for the false,” Kongming suggested. “He disregards the usurpation of Han by seditious traitors, instead looking only at expanding the territory he governs, and continuing his feud with Liu Biao. How is petty revenge a noble endeavour, and saving the royal house from Cao Cao a needless conflict…?”
“…You understand nothing, being here in this thatched cottage,” Jin retorted cuttingly. “You labour on fields, and pontificate with little groups of friends, ignorant of the true state of the world!”
“On the contrary,” Kongming chuckled, “I am renowned for my understanding of the age we live in.”