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

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“No, you see… before he left, Lord Liu asked indirectly if I knew any other men of talent besides myself and Young Phoenix… since Mister Sima had mentioned nobody else to him,” Kongming rambled. “I… well… I mentioned you.”
Ma Liang’s gaze turned sideways as he absorbed the information.
“I told him that silly ditty,” Kongming continued, “you know… ‘Of the wise brothers Ma in Xiangyang, the best is white-browed Liang’, and… well… I didn’t expect him to do anything straight away, but…”
“…He wants to recruit me…?” Ma Liang realised with a sudden rush of adrenalin.
“…He wants to recruit your entire family,” Kongming admitted. “I… I shouldn’t have been so casual about it, I should have discussed it with you first, it’s just that, well, the opportunity, and previously, you said…”
“Brother…!” Ma Liang exclaimed with tears in his eyes. “I… if we were not already sworn to brotherhood, I would not know what else to say…!”
Ma Liang got up, knelt down, and prostrated himself on the ground at Kongming’s feet, pressing his forehead to the ground: this gesture - a kowtow - was the largest bow of respect that one could make. Distressed at the sudden show of overwhelming gratitude, Kongming reached down, took Ma Liang’s hands, and pulled him to his feet.
“Please, please, brother Jichang…!” Kongming chuckled uncomfortably. “I…”
“You have done for me a great service, brother!” Ma Liang sobbed. “We… we will all of us be indebted to you for the rest of our days!”
“He’d have come looking for you eventually,” Kongming insisted. “He’d heard of the Mas, he’d have…”
“I swear that I will repay you!” Ma Liang bleated as he kowtowed once again.
“Would you stop doing that…?” Kongming said with a nervous laugh. “We’re sworn to brotherhood, you and I… no need for such ceremony. I did for you what I would do for any of my family… I’m just glad it’s what you wanted.”

“…Kongming,” Ma Liang said as Kongming helped him back to his feet, “I… I know this is more of another request than reciprocation, but… my brother, Su, is-”
“Quite the burgeoning talent,” Kongming interrupted. “I understand that he reads diligently, and is already versing himself in military stratagems: even at the tender age of fifteen, I hear his knowledge equals mine.”
“Nonsense…!” Ma Liang chuckled dismissively. “He is really more a reader than a thinker: his words outshine his deeds, I think. He’s a little arrogant… he tries to think, but he makes bad choices. I see him trying to understand things… Kongming, you could help him. If you would take him under your wing, tutor him…”
“Mm, well…” Kongming replied uneasily.
“Not now, not now!” Ma Liang insisted. “I know, you and Lady Huang have too much to do for now… when you are not so busy… or maybe when - or if - you yourself join Lord Liu, then we’ll all be working together…”
“…So you intend to accept the offer…?” Kongming prompted.
“Of course…!” Ma Liang replied. “I know you have your doubts, Kongming… but you are a man whose talents extend beyond the ordinary. I’m no prodigy, nor are my kin, though we’re well read. I… I can do no better.”
“…I forget, you don’t want to work for Liu Biao,” Kongming sighed as he started to fan himself again.
“Liu Biao and Cao Cao… never,” Ma Liang declared. “Sun Quan… I hear he has the aura of a man that will live long and rule well, but he is selfish: he will put his own interests before the Han. Lord Liu is magnanimous, and-”

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