Chapter 088: Zhuge Liang Is Dismissed (Seeking Monthly Votes)

After Su Ming and his two companions had left, Huang Chengyan turned to Xu Shu and asked, “Yuan Zhi, do you think those three will yield?”

Xu Shu smiled faintly, answering with great confidence, “Within three days, they will agree to serve as officials in Jiangxia for three years.”

Su Ming had just said that as long as they agreed to serve for three years in Jiangxia, after that term, they could choose to stay or leave as they pleased. At present, Su Ming was indeed in desperate need of talented individuals, but in three years' time, he would surely have made significant progress. By then, Jiangxia would no longer be lacking in talent. Even if Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei all chose to depart, it would no longer have any impact on Jiangxia.

Moreover, the three of them currently misunderstood Su Ming because of Zhuge Liang's plunge into the river. If they truly agreed to serve in Jiangxia for three years and got to know Su Ming and the region well, it might come to pass that, when the time came, even if you tried to drive them away, they would be unwilling to leave.

Xu Shu’s abilities far exceeded those of Cui Zhouping and his brothers. If Su Ming could win Xu Shu’s loyalty, why should he fear that these three would be difficult to sway?

Seeing Xu Shu’s confidence, Huang Chengyan’s worries were finally eased. Although he had just been berated in turn by Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei, he still hoped the three could be put to Su Ming’s use. In any position, one should devote themselves to that role. Since Huang Chengyan had already pledged himself to Su Ming, it was only natural to wish that men of talent such as Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei would aid Su Ming in forging his imperial enterprise.

As for Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei, their hearts were in great turmoil. Deep down, they did not wish to serve Su Ming, but if they refused, they would be imprisoned here for life. In their eyes, Su Ming might as well kill them. At least then, they could die with the reputation of men who would not bend to authority. Now, they faced an agonizing choice.

Particularly now, with Su Ming’s promise that, if they served Jiangxia for three years, they would be free to go. Cui Zhouping, after much deliberation and with a sigh, said, “If there is no other way, let us serve as officials in Jiangxia for three years.”

“Three years hence, the three of us shall resign and leave, never to linger.”

As soon as Cui Zhouping spoke, Shi Guangyuan’s heart was moved. After all, compared to being caged for life, or taking up a sword to end it all, or hanging oneself—serving in Jiangxia for three years and then departing seemed the best option.

Cui Zhouping said no more. He picked up the tray before him and returned to his room. Although he had provisionally accepted the official robes and the seal, he still needed to consider and weigh the pros and cons before making his final decision.

Shi Guangyuan, seeing Cui Zhouping leave, also picked up his tray with the official garb and seal and went back to his room. Both needed time to think things over.

Now only Meng Gongwei was left standing there. He reached out to take his tray as the others had, but grasped at empty air—the tray before him had just been knocked over by himself. The official robe, the seal, and the tray lay scattered on the floor.

Looking around to make sure no one was watching, Meng Gongwei stooped to gather up the robe and seal, folded the robe neatly, placed the seal in order, and with these in hand, returned to his own room.

Ever since that day when Zhuge Liang survived his desperate leap into the river, he had been swept along by the current to the riverbank. He had no idea where he had ended up, but fortunately, a woodcutter driving a donkey cart found him and brought him to the nearest county town.

By the time Zhuge Liang entered the town, he was exhausted, hungry, and injured. Worse yet, he had not a coin to his name. Luckily, he still wore a jade pendant at his waist. Zhuge Liang was of a noble lineage; his farming life at Wolong Ridge in Nanyang was but the gentry’s way of experiencing rustic life. He was not truly poor.

Upon reaching the town, Zhuge Liang sold his jade pendant for some money. He first ate a hearty meal, then bought himself some new clothes, and purchased some medicine for his wounds. His injuries were mostly bruises and scrapes from the river’s current and from being battered by pebbles—nothing severe, and nothing to hinder his journey.

Once all was taken care of, Zhuge Liang bought a horse and set out for Wolong Ridge in Nanyang as swiftly as he could. His brother Zhuge Jun still lived with him, and Zhuge Liang feared that, once his escape was discovered, they might come after him or even try to kill him. In his anxiety, he hurried home to warn his brother to move at once.

In these times, all the good horses had been requisitioned for the army. The one Zhuge Liang purchased was an old nag, barely faster than a donkey or a mule. By the time he reached Wolong Ridge, nearly a month had passed since his river plunge.

At Wolong Ridge in Nanyang—

“Brother, you have returned!” Zhuge Jun exclaimed in surprise at Zhuge Liang’s haggard appearance. “Why do you look so worn and wretched?”

Having traveled so long, Zhuge Liang’s face was darkened by the sun, his skin rough, and he was covered in dust. Only upon seeing that his younger brother was safe did Zhuge Liang finally breathe easy.

“Brother, have you had any trouble these days?” he asked, still catching his breath.

Zhuge Jun was momentarily stunned, then said, “No, I haven’t encountered any trouble—but it’s you who may be in trouble.”

With that, he led Zhuge Liang into the house. Once inside the main hall, Zhuge Liang saw that there were many betrothal gifts still adorned with bright red bows. On the table lay a letter, the title in bold red characters: ‘Letter of Divorce.’

“Brother, what has happened?” Zhuge Jun asked, bewildered. “The Huang family, for reasons unknown, sent someone to return the engagement gifts, and even delivered this letter of divorce!”

Upon seeing all this, Zhuge Liang was struck as if by lightning. He, Zhuge Liang, had been repudiated! There was no mistaking it—the letter of divorce was here at his very home.

Faced with his brother’s questioning, Zhuge Liang said nothing. He walked dazedly to the table, picked up the letter, and examined it closely. He recognized the handwriting—it was indeed that of his former father-in-law, Huang Chengyan.

Having read the letter, Zhuge Liang clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. In these times, a woman might be too ashamed to return home after being repudiated; now he, a grown man, had been dismissed. He would surely become the laughing stock of all.

At this thought, Zhuge Liang spat a mouthful of blood, wiped it away with his sleeve, and cried out to the heavens, “Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—do not scorn the poor youth!”

(End of chapter)