Chapter 55: When the Dust Settles

Thump! Thump! Thump!
The war drums thundered as the gates of the stronghold opened once more.

Hua Xiong reined in his horse, unmoving, watching from afar as a man of about seven feet approached. At once, his spirits lifted. To be safe, he shouted, "Name yourself!"

"I am Yu She, a great general under the Rear General's command, come to take your head!"

Upon confirming the name, Hua Xiong spurred his horse forward. As he drew near, he yanked the reins abruptly, causing his steed to rear up. Borrowing the horse’s momentum, he swung his blade in a mighty arc.

Poor Yu She could not parry in time and was cleaved in two by a thunderous stroke.

It seemed that for every one sent to die, another would come. Could it be that Chen Cong was not in the camp?

The thought sent excitement coursing through Hua Xiong. Today was the day to forge his name in glory!

Brandishing his long blade, he pointed it once more at the allied camp. "Go, send out the next offering!"

...

Yuan Shu had barely warmed his seat when a breathless soldier burst in, eyes darting between Yuan Shu in the main seat and Yuan Shao standing beside him, uncertain whom to address.

Yuan Shu sipped his tea leisurely, glancing at the messenger with disinterest. "Well? Has Hua Xiong’s head been brought in yet?"

The soldier swallowed nervously and saluted. "Reporting to the Rear General: General Yu engaged the enemy but, after a single bout, was struck down by Hua Xiong."

"What?" Yuan Shu’s hand jerked, spilling tea across his robes, scalding him so badly he bared his teeth and grimaced. Still, he muttered, "Such a minor Hua Xiong, and yet so fierce?"

Chen Cong rolled his eyes. "Idiot."

Uh...

Couldn’t he insult people a bit more quietly?

Yuan Shu flushed, forcing composure. "No matter. I’ll trouble Zi Ning to capture this villain."

Chen Cong stepped forward, scowling, and named his price outright: "No trouble at all. If I seize Hua Xiong, grant me a marquisate as a reward."

What?

Yuan Shu was stunned for a long moment before he recovered. "Zi Ning, do you mistake my meaning? I am not the Son of Heaven; how can I confer a marquisate?"

Chen Cong replied calmly, "You are the Alliance Leader, acting by imperial edict to quell traitors. Who better than you to confer titles on Heaven’s behalf?"

Cao Cao pulled Chen Cong back, feigning sternness. "You impudent youth, keep silent! Matters of the Alliance Leader are not for you to discuss."

Cao Cao’s hint could not have been more obvious.

He spoke not of overstepping, not of rebellion, only that the Alliance Leader’s business was not up for discussion. Should Yuan Shu follow the cue, all would be well.

Yet Yuan Shu, usually attuned to such things, seemed oblivious, clenching his jaw and revealing not a hint of weakness.

To confer titles as Heaven’s surrogate! To confer as Heaven’s surrogate? To confer...

"The Emperor still lives! How can Zi Ning utter such treasonous words?" Liu Bei sprang up, incensed, bowing to Yuan Shu. "Rear General, there’s no need to send him. My second and third brothers possess the strength to face ten thousand. Send either, and Hua Xiong shall fall. If not, you may take my head!"

Guan Yu raised his great blade, standing steadfast behind Liu Bei.

As for Zhang Fei, he could not meet Chen Cong’s eyes, tugging at Liu Bei’s sleeve before being shrugged off.

But that was all.

Aside from Liu Bei, even Liu Dai, a fellow kinsman of the imperial clan, remained silent.

The Han dynasty’s rot ran deep, from crown to root.

The talk of a righteous alliance to punish traitors was nothing but empty words. Who were the real traitors? Everyone present knew the truth.

Had Yuan Shao not advised He Jin to summon outside forces to Luoyang to exterminate the eunuchs, would the world’s chaos have reached this point?

The original instigators had now become the commanders against traitors. If Yuan Shu could confer titles as Heaven’s surrogate, why not another?

Today it’s Chen Cong; tomorrow, it could be anyone.

"Have you sat long enough?" Yuan Shu glanced at Yuan Shao and shifted uneasily in his seat. For the first time, he felt the position was uncomfortably hot.

Yuan Shao adjusted his sleeves, clasped his hands, and sat, visibly relieved. Then he flashed a bright, victorious smile.

In the struggle for leadership, he had finally triumphed.

His gaze swept across the faces of his fellow lords.

He declared, "The Emperor is in peril, wolves lurk at his side, and the government’s edicts cannot leave Luoyang. Though we act by imperial command to punish traitors, we have not the authority to confer military power. Without legitimacy, our words lack force, our deeds will fail. In urgent times, we must act expediently. The proposal by Chen Cong is hereby approved by this Alliance Leader. From this day forth, all who achieve merit on the field shall be rewarded to honor loyalty and righteousness. Should Heaven object, let Yuan Shao bear all blame alone."

Yuan Shao’s words were like a drop of water in boiling oil, instantly igniting the ambitions buried deep within these men’s hearts.

Did conferring titles as Heaven's surrogate matter? Of course it did.

With the backing of eighteen regional lords, Yuan Shao’s rewards held more weight than any imperial edict stamped with the jade seal.

After all, the Emperor was a puppet of traitors; the imperial decrees were words of thieves.

They claimed to serve the Emperor’s will, to act in justice and righteousness. Who else could better represent the Emperor’s intent?

Anyone who questioned them was a traitor’s lackey.

Anyone who refused their authority would face the eighteen warlords and their armies.

If the Emperor would not yield, the imperial bloodline was not yet extinct!

"Brilliant, Alliance Leader!"
"Brilliant, Alliance Leader!"
"Brilliant, Alliance Leader!"

Liu Bei’s faint protest was drowned in the chorus, stirring not a ripple.

Cao Cao gave his assent; Gongsun Zan joined in; even Yuan Shu himself raised his voice.

Yuan Shu could coerce the lords with food and provisions; Yuan Shao could now bind them with rewards and titles.

As for previous grievances?

They could be weighty or inconsequential; the alliance was built on shared interest.

Besides, Yuan Shao had made a promise: those who achieved merit would be rewarded. He’d said nothing of punishing faults.

To put it plainly: everyone would share the spoils, and Yuan Shao would shoulder the blame. Anyone dissatisfied could leave the table.

Should enough leave, the surrogate conferral of titles would be rendered a joke.

Together, all would win; divided, all would lose.

When the cheers subsided, Yuan Shao raised his hand for silence.

Only now did he truly feel the weight of being Alliance Leader.

When it came to playing the game, Chen Cong was a master.

A pity Yuan Shu could not seize the moment...

Steadying himself, Yuan Shao began to assign the next task. "Chen Cong."

Chen Cong stepped forward with his spear. "At your command."

"You are ordered to ride forth and capture Hua Xiong, to restore our army’s morale. Accomplish this, and you shall claim the highest merit."

"Understood!"

As he passed Yuan Shu, Chen Cong paused and murmured, "Your own incompetence voided our agreement. I won’t be returning the land deed."

Yuan Shu shook his head with a bitter smile. "So be it, let it serve as your dowry."

Chen Cong pressed, "Any regrets?"

Yuan Shu pondered for a long time.

He had dared to covet the Imperial Seal, yet shrank before conferring titles as Heaven’s surrogate. It was not for lack of ambition, but for having too much—his caution kept him from showing his true intentions.

That concubine’s son, in this respect, was braver than he.

But in the end, it hardly mattered.

After all these years, his only real goal had been to surpass Yuan Shao. That was his obsession.

Now that Yuan Shao had triumphed, the obsession was gone. Whether he was Alliance Leader or not mattered little.

Confronted with tangible gain, Yuan Shu felt little resentment.

Did he regret it...

"A little."

By the time Yuan Shu looked up again, Chen Cong was already gone.

...

The drums sounded once more, but now they were feeble, lacking all strength.

They resembled the timid knocking of a neighbor late at night, afraid to disturb those living nearby.

"Put some strength into it! Have you not eaten?"

The drummer glanced back, muttering, "Sending someone to their death, yet so fierce about it..."

He hadn’t finished before a boot landed on his backside.

"Wang Erniu, why did you kick me?"

"You dare talk back to General Chen in person? Do you have a death wish?"

"General Chen? Which General Chen?"

"You blockhead, I’ve no words for you."

Chen... wait, what?

Zhang Dadan’s eyes flew wide as he slapped his own cheeks twice, then threw himself into drumming with abandon, pausing now and then to crane his neck for a look outside.

After a long wait, Hua Xiong nearly dozed off atop his horse.

Suddenly, the deafening drumbeats shook the heavens, nearly sending him to the next world right then.

At the far end of his gaze, the allied camp gates swung wide.

A tall warhorse sauntered out, nibbling at the grass as it pleased.

The general atop did not urge it on, swaying lazily in the saddle, more like a man being sent to his death than a challenger.

As the figure drew closer, Hua Xiong couldn’t shake the feeling that the man looked strangely familiar...