Chapter 43: Xu Shu's Question

Jiangxia Commandery.

Xiling County.

Prefecture Office.

“Yuan Zhi, I have already sent someone to Guandu, submitting a memorial to the Chancellor, requesting that you be appointed as the Governor of Jiangxia.”

“Although the Chancellor’s official decree has yet to arrive, for now, you shall act as the Governor of Jiangxia.” As Su Ming spoke, he personally draped the official robes of Jiangxia’s governor over Xu Shu’s shoulders.

Xu Shu did not protest. Over the past few days, he had come to realize that Su Ming was inclined toward the ways of a warrior.

Give Su Ming soldiers to train and battles to fight, and he would excel; but when it came to governing the people and managing the economy, he was at a loss.

Xu Shu, whom Master Water Mirror once called the “Clever Tiger,” was a peer of those with such monikers as the “Sleeping Dragon” and the “Young Phoenix.”

Though “Clever Tiger” might not sound as formidable as “Sleeping Dragon” or “Young Phoenix,” it was not far inferior.

Xu Shu was a man of many talents: he could command armies and devise strategies, and he was equally adept at administration and ensuring logistical support for the people.

With such exceptional wisdom, Su Ming could hardly conceal anything unusual from him.

Xu Shu had already surmised Su Ming’s intentions.

“My lord?”

“Are you planning to go to Jiangdong?” Xu Shu casually voiced Su Ming’s scheme.

Since capturing Jiangxia and seizing Huang Zu alive, Su Ming had been preparing to head to Jiangdong.

Moreover, he intended to bring Huang Zu with him.

Years ago, Sun Jian met his end at the hands of Huang Zu.

Before his death, Sun Ce’s greatest wish was to conquer Jiangxia and avenge his father by killing Huang Zu.

Now, Su Ming had fulfilled this wish on behalf of his elder brother.

Therefore, he wished to bring Huang Zu’s head to pay his respects to Sun Ce.

Beyond this, there was another reason...

It was a task.

At this moment, on Su Ming’s attribute panel, a new mission had appeared: Attending the Meeting Alone, Venturing Solo into Jiangdong.

[Name: Su Ming.]

[Age: 23.]

[Martial Prowess: 101.]

[Command: 90.]

[Strategy: 88.]

[Politics: 86.]

[Martial Soul: Yuwen Chengdu (Fusion Rate 92%), Qi Jiguang (Fusion Rate 50%)]

[Main Weapon: Phoenix-Winged Gilded Lance.]

[Secondary Weapon: Golden Mace.]

[Mount: Thunder-Leopard.]

[Task: Attending the Meeting Alone, Venturing Solo into Jiangdong.]

[Task Reward: Hundred-Refinement Steel Technique.]

In truth, Su Ming’s journey to Jiangdong was fraught with danger.

Since he disrupted Sun Ce’s funeral and exposed Sun Quan’s true nature, Sun Quan had harbored a deep hatred for Su Ming.

He wished nothing more than to devour him alive, to drink his blood. Su Ming, entering Jiangdong, stepping onto Sun Quan’s territory—Sun Quan would surely scheme to erase him completely.

Yet Su Ming could not avoid this journey.

The Hundred-Refinement Steel Technique.

This reward was far too tempting.

As a traveler from the future, Su Ming remembered clearly: the Hundred-Refinement Steel Technique was recorded in the Ming dynasty, penned by Song Yingxing in “The Exploitation of the Works of Nature.”

This steel-making method was Ming dynasty technology, more than a thousand years ahead of the era of the Three Kingdoms.

Su Ming, having inherited Qi Jiguang’s martial soul last time, acquired skills in shipbuilding, firearm casting, naval tactics, and waterborne warfare.

With Qi Jiguang’s martial soul, Su Ming could construct an invincible navy.

The Jiangdong navy, during the Three Kingdoms, was undoubtedly supreme.

But compared to the Ming dynasty navy a millennium later, it was nothing at all.

The Ming navy would utterly crush the Three Kingdoms.

Yet, to achieve such a leap, Su Ming must first forge warships and firearms.

To do so, he needed Hundred-Refinement Steel.

It could be said that Hundred-Refinement Steel was the essential ingredient for Su Ming to build an unbeatable navy.

For the sake of this steel-making method, Su Ming had no choice but to go to Jiangdong.

Su Ming’s journey served both brotherly loyalty and the necessity of acquiring the Hundred-Refinement Steel Technique.

His original plan was to hand over Jiangxia to Xu Shu and quietly depart.

After honoring Sun Ce with Huang Zu’s head and completing the mission, he would return.

Initially, Su Ming did not want Xu Shu to know.

After all, no strategist would allow his lord to take such risks.

Unexpectedly, Xu Shu lived up to his reputation; he saw through Su Ming’s intentions at a glance.

When Xu Shu directly voiced his thoughts, Su Ming felt a bit awkward.

“Master Strategist, you truly are remarkable!”

“My little scheme has been seen through so clearly!” Su Ming praised.

Xu Shu merely smiled and countered, “Did you think I would stop you, prevent you from going to Jiangdong?”

They were all on the same side, so there was no need for Su Ming to conceal his intentions any longer.

Moreover, since Xu Shu had already spoken his mind, hiding it further would be pointless.

“That’s right!”

“I feared you would intervene, so I didn’t consult you.” Su Ming admitted without reservation.

Yet, at that moment, Xu Shu shook his head and revealed something unexpected to Su Ming: “Not only will I not hinder your journey to Jiangdong, I support you undertaking it.”

“Do you know why?”

Xu Shu’s words were a great surprise to Su Ming.

By conventional wisdom, a strategist would certainly stop his lord from courting danger.

Xu Shu not only refrained from stopping him, but encouraged his journey.

For a moment, Su Ming could not fathom the reason.

But Xu Shu was one of the top strategists of the entire Three Kingdoms period.

Even if Su Ming’s mind ran at full speed, he could not unravel Xu Shu’s calculations.

Unable to guess, he simply asked directly.

“I do not know.”

“I beg you to explain, Master Strategist!” Su Ming said, gazing intently at Xu Shu, eager for his explanation.

Xu Shu, calm and composed, posed another question to Su Ming.

“To be frank, I once considered serving Liu Xuande. Yet I found him drifting from place to place, and even if I did, there would be nowhere to put my talents to use.”

“Thus, I journeyed to seek a wise lord. Had Liu Xuande possessed a county of his own back then, you and I would not have met today.”

“Do you know why Liu Xuande, despite wandering half his life and accomplishing nothing, attracts so many followers?”

It was indeed a question to ponder.

Liu Xuande, in half a lifetime, had failed at everything.

Yet, he commanded such warriors as Guan Zhang and Zhao Yun, and among his civil officials were Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, Sun Qian, and Jian Yong.

If not for Su Ming intercepting him, even Xu Shu would have served under him for a time.

Why was this?

Why did a man who had achieved nothing inspire such loyalty?

Thinking of this, Su Ming furrowed his brow in deep thought.

“Because of his benevolence?”

“Liu Xuande’s benevolence is renowned throughout the land; everyone knows of his virtue. Moreover, the Emperor recognized his lineage and called him Imperial Uncle.”

“Therefore, even though Liu Xuande has accomplished nothing, people have long admired his name and sought to follow him.” After much deliberation, Su Ming gave his answer.