Undercover - In China - Book 7

Part 74 - Do not applaud too soon

We followed Dr Zhang back to a creek where Wu Jun's boat was hidden. Denny, Chen Ling, Wu Jun and his crew greeted us joyfully. Wu Jun had recovered Grandpa Chen's boat from the beach where Wang Bang had left it. 

 Wang Bang was sitting on a thwart blindfolded with his hands tied. Dr Zhang untied the blindfold and the moon reappeared as Dr Zhang pulled off his helmet and goggles causing Wang Bang to fall off the thwart squealing in terror. We all laughed. 

 As we got underway, toward Xuande's new base at Gong An, we described our adventures. Dr Zhang, Denny and Chen Ling had been picked up by Zhang Fei's men in the Black Forest and they had been looking for Licia, Miguel and me ever since.

I took all day to reach Gong An, a small city just down the Long River (Yangste) from Jiangling.

 Kongming was practically dancing with glee when we arrived. He thanked us for the seals but they had arrived too late to warn Zhou Yu about Cho Cho's trap and so he had been wounded. But Zhou Yu had used this to advantage. He had sent false defectors to Jiangling to inform Cho Ren that Zhou Yu was dying of his wounds and his troops were demoralized. Cho Ren, believing this tale, had attacked Zhou Yu's war camp and charged straight into a trap. 

 Meanwhile, Zhang Fei had taken the undefended Jiangling city and closed the gates against Zhou Yu. Meanwhile Kongming had used the seals to forge a message begging Cho Cho's general, Xiahou Dun, to send all his men from Xiangyang to aid Cho Ren in Jiangling urgently. And, as soon as Xiahou Dun had left Xiangyang undefended, Lord Guan had occupied the city without resistance. 

 'But, what about Zhou Yu?' I asked. 

 Kongming laughed as Dr Zhang translated. 'He is not seriously injured but he will be very angry as soon as he finds out he has been outwitted. Lu Su will have to be very persuasive to prevent him from attacking us!' 

 Kongming jumped to his feet and stalked up and down the room impersonating Zhou Yu in a rage. Dr Zhang marched behind him providing an equally entertaining translation. 'Xuande's men have occupied all of the principal cities of Jingzhou Province without the slightest effort! We have done all the fighting and they steal our reward! I will put an end to Kongming and Xuande. I WILL DESTROY GONG AN . . . IMMEDIATELY!'

Kongming grinned at us as he spun around, tucked his hands into his sleeves in an excellent imitation of Lu Su, and bowed toward an imaginary Zhou Yu. 'Supreme Commander Zhou Yu. I cannot recommend that course of action. We know that Lord Guan captured Cho Cho and deliberately let him go. If we attack Xuande, he may unite with Cho Cho and you can imagine our fate if Kongming and Cho Cho combine against us. Also, we can expect no help from our Lord Sun Quan. He is worried Cho Cho will attack from the east. I beg you to let me negotiate with Xuande.'

We all applauded, laughing at Kongming's impersonation of Zhou Yu and Lu Su.

'Do not applaud too soon,' Kongming admonished with an infectious grin. 'I predict Lu Su will arrive in person at any moment and try to persuade Xuande to surrender all the cities of Jingzhou that we now occupy.'

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 But the boat carrying Lu Su did not arrive until the next day.

 Kongming immediately ordered the city gate opened wide and welcomed him as an honoured guest. After the formal greetings and refreshments, Lu Su began his speech. 'Supreme Commander Zhou Yu has sent me to reason with you. When we undertook this campaign . . . at your request . . . Cho Cho commanded a million men and apparently threatened the Southland. But his real objective was Imperial Uncle Lui Bei Xuande,' (Lu Su used the formal title bestowed by Emperor Xian.) 'Imperial Uncle Xuande was saved from defeat only by a massive Southland campaign that drove Cho Cho back. By right of conquest, the nine imperial districts of Jingzhou Province belong to the Southland. 

 However, by subterfuge . . . Imperial Uncle Xuande has seized the province and reaped the benefits for which the Southland has expended its cash, grain and men. I do not think this is in accord with accepted practices.'

'My friend,' Kongming replied. 'How can a scholar, like yourself, make such a claim? It is generally agreed that things belong to their owners. Jingzhou's nine imperial districts are not Sun Quan's but rather the estate of the late Protector Lui Biao.  And, before he died, Lord Lui Biao adopted Xuande as his younger brother. Although Lui Biao is dead, his son and heir still lives . . . and who can object to an uncle supporting a nephew in holding his territory.'