The Heroes' Debate in the Feast Tent

Jiangxia Commandery.

Pingchun County.

Beside the official road stood a food stall.

Caravans and travelers passed along the road; when hunger struck, they would stop before the stall, partake in wine and dishes, then hurry on their way.

"Shopkeeper, bring me a jar of good wine."

"This fragrant meat is excellent—so savory!" The Taoist tied his horse to the hitching stone and called out to the proprietor.

Fragrant meat meant dog meat.

In the Han dynasty, dog meat was the most popular fare. The founding general of Han, Fan Kuai, had begun his career selling dog meat. The founding emperor, Liu Bang, was especially fond of it. For four centuries, the custom of eating dog meat endured throughout the Han.

The shopkeeper looked up and saw the visitor was a Taoist, so he teased, "Oh? Even Taoists drink wine and eat meat?"

The Taoist smiled, unconcerned, and replied with a question: "Does a Taoist drinking wine and eating meat break any Han law?"

At these words, the shopkeeper was momentarily stunned. Then he burst into laughter. "Hah! Not breaking the law, not breaking the law. Even if you did break the law, so long as you have silver, I’d still sell to you."

Hearing this, the Taoist couldn’t help but smile knowingly.

In these turbulent times, the law meant little. Even if one broke it, money could buy freedom.

The Taoist’s real name was Xu Shu, though he now traveled under the alias Shan Fu.

In his youth, he had avenged a friend and killed a man, landing himself in prison awaiting execution. It was only thanks to his friend’s bribes that he escaped the dungeon.

The shopkeeper’s words had struck a chord.

Xu Shu touched his purse. Since resigning from Liu Biao’s service and wandering the land, he had healed the sick, earning little, and often spent his own money to buy medicines for the poor.

Now, his funds were running low.

"Ah," Xu Shu sighed. "I have always loved dogs, but I haven’t much left. Today, I’ll settle for half."

"Shopkeeper, a jar of wine and half a dog."

Just as Xu Shu sat down, he saw in the distance a magnificent horse galloping toward them.

What a splendid beast!

The horse was a full ten feet long, eight feet tall, its coat a deep bluish-black, with a fleshy lump on its head sprouting a tuft of white hair.

Xu Shu couldn’t help but gaze at it, thinking it looked almost like a dragon transformed. Even the famous Red Hare of Lü Bu paled beside it.

The blue-black horse was tied to the hitching stone like Xu Shu’s own, and his own horse immediately shrank into a corner.

The steed easily bore two riders—a man and a woman: Su Ming and Sun Shangxiang.

"I too am a dog lover. We are kindred spirits," Su Ming declared. "Shall we dine together?"

"This meal’s on me!" Without waiting for Xu Shu’s consent, Su Ming seated himself.

Xu Shu was taken aback by Su Ming’s arrival.

Though Xu Shu now traveled as Shan Fu, he was versed in Taoist arts, medicine, and even physiognomy.

A glance at Su Ming’s face left Xu Shu with but one thought: destined for greatness!

He recalled the uneasy feeling he'd had all along, as if someone had been secretly following him. Now, as soon as he stopped, this person appeared.

Immediately, Xu Shu understood: Su Ming had come for him.

This was Jiangxia territory, and Xu Shu pondered the recent change of power here. With his sharp wit, he had already guessed Su Ming’s identity.

Years of wandering had made Xu Shu straightforward; he readily agreed, "Very well!"

"Shopkeeper!"

"Bring your best wine and meat—and the same for my horse!" Su Ming called out.

The shopkeeper mused: strange things happen every day, but this year is especially odd.

A Taoist drinking wine and eating meat was one thing, but now even the horses partook?

He was puzzled, but all doubts vanished when Su Ming tossed him a piece of hoof-shaped gold.

The shopkeeper trembled as he received it. With that gold, not only could he buy all the wine and meat he wished, he could purchase a dozen stalls.

He knew he had met a nobleman.

Soon the wine and meat arrived.

Before the mighty Thunder Leopard were set two large basins—one of dog meat, one of fine wine.

Thunder Leopard curled its tongue, snatched a large piece of dog meat, and chewed it down, then licked at the wine.

Watching the horse take meat and wine, Xu Shu was full of amazement.

"In all my life, this is the first time I’ve seen a horse eat meat and drink wine!" He realized his own excitement, and offered an explanation.

Su Ming smiled and said, "Men differ, and so do horses. Some men spend their lives in mediocrity, while others live boldly and become heroes. Horses are the same. Mine is a hero among horses."

Xu Shu’s interest was piqued. Laughing, he asked, "If he is a hero among horses, has he performed any great deeds?"

"My steed surpasses Red Hare, and has kicked Guan Yu himself!"

"Such a feat—would you not call that a hero among horses?" Su Ming countered.

Xu Shu answered without hesitation, "Indeed, such a horse is truly heroic."

Xu Shu then continued, "Brother, would you care to discuss the heroes among men?"

Su Ming raised his cup, drank deeply, and spoke slowly: "Sun Bofu of Jiangdong traded the Imperial Seal to Yuan Gonglu for two thousand troops. With two thousand men, he held Jiangdong, dominated the region, and became a lord. He was a hero indeed. Yet, he was betrayed and died young—a tragic hero."

As Su Ming spoke, Sun Shangxiang, seated nearby, felt her eyes grow moist.

She missed her elder brother dearly.

After Su Ming finished, Xu Shu drank a cup himself and nodded in agreement. "For Sun Bofu to part with the Imperial Seal alone, he deserves the title of hero."

After a moment’s thought, Xu Shu asked, "Would Liu Bei, Xuande, count as a hero?"

As he spoke, Xu Shu fixed his gaze on Su Ming.

Xu Shu was seeking a place to serve. He had once hoped to assist Liu Biao of Jingzhou.

Alas, Liu Biao was but a withered bone in a coffin, neglecting worthy talents.

Xu Shu judged Liu Biao incapable of great deeds—Jingzhou would inevitably fall, so he resigned and wandered.

Afterward, he considered seeking out Liu Bei, Xuande. Though he had never met him, he had long heard of the fame of the Imperial Uncle.

But now, Liu Bei himself was adrift, without a settled domain. Even if Xu Shu went to him, he would have no place to exercise his skills.

Had Liu Bei possessed a secure territory, perhaps Xu Shu would have gone straight to him after resigning.

Xu Shu had heard that once, Cao Cao and Liu Bei boiled wine and debated heroes.

Cao Cao declared that, under heaven, only he and Liu Bei were true heroes.

So today, Xu Shu deliberately asked whether Liu Bei counted as a hero.