Chapter 53 Autumn Wind at Wuzhang Plains Upon returning, Cao Mengde would personally witness the...

This is Zhuge Liang, after all.

I'm so glad I waited for you and didn't give up!

Who would have thought that Jiang Ge would one day have Zhuge Liang become her prime minister?

Zhuge Liang was incredibly capable; she was a true all-rounder. She even managed to help a lord like Liu Shan (A Dou) who only needed to be obedient to rise to power. She must have been a bit better than Liu Shan, right?

The recruitment has been confirmed; now we just need to wait for the Prime Minister's arrival.

As for the other spot, Django immediately took a liking to someone.

——-

As the autumn wind swept across the Wei River, the camp at Wuzhangyuan grew increasingly cold.

Inside the tent, the lamplight was dim, and military reports piled up on the desk, the ink still wet. Zhuge Liang bent his head, pen in hand, his wrist thin and bony; the veins on his wrists were like gnarled branches. He paused, and a drop of vermilion ink fell, spreading a dark red stain on the bamboo slip, like blood.

Outside the tent, the banners of the Shu army still fluttered in the night wind, but the bugle calls had faded. Zhuge Liang knew that Sima Yi would not come out to fight—he could not wait any longer.

The Seven Star Lamps had long since gone out; the prayers to prolong his life were futile. Fate cannot be defied, but Zhuge Liang did not believe in fate, only in human effort. Yet at this moment, his fingers touched his own pulse, weak as the fluttering of a cicada's wings before its death.

He coughed, and blood appeared on his handkerchief.

Jiang Wei entered the tent and saw Zhuge Liang still sitting there in his robes. He was alarmed and hurriedly tried to persuade him to stop. Zhuge Liang simply shook his head, his gaze passing over the tent flap and looking south—towards Chengdu. There lay Liu Shan, his unfinished great undertaking, and the Shu Han dynasty he had painstakingly built over half his life.

"Prime Minister, please take care of your health..."

Zhuge Liang closed his eyes, but a faint smile appeared on his lips. Was it self-mockery? Or relief?

After ten years of Northern Expeditions and six expeditions to Qishan, Zhuge Liang was ultimately thwarted by the timing of events, human effort, and fate. He could calculate everything under heaven, but he could not predict life and death.

The wind rustled the pages of "Memorial on Dispatching the Troops" on the desk, each word sharp as a knife: "I will dedicate myself to the cause until my dying breath."

How much it resembled a grand dream. In the dream, he was still a young man studying and farming in Nanyang; when he awoke, he was a dying man with graying temples.

Is this the fate of Zhuge Liang, the Crouching Dragon?

Oh, vast and boundless heavens, what...?

As if something had landed in front of him, Zhuge Liang opened his eyes. A snow-white sheet of paper floated in front of him, and some different thoughts appeared in his mind.

He smiled slightly, thankfully, there's always a way out.

——

Early in the morning, Jiang Ge had been waiting in the office for a long time.

She specially changed into a brand-new official robe, cleaned the hall spotless, and even wiped the tables until they shone. This welcoming manner surprised everyone who arrived one after another.

Today, Zhou Yu wore a moon-white brocade robe, with flowing cloud patterns embroidered in silver thread on the lapel, and the jade belt at his waist gleamed warmly in the morning light. He gently waved a folding fan in his hand, his handsome face radiating an irrepressible smile, and his whole being was as radiant as a spring breeze.

Huo Qubing strode in, his armor clattering with each step. He had just achieved a great victory in suppressing bandits and was planning to ask Magistrate Jiang for a reward. He didn't even have time to say hello before heading out—he needed to check if the prisoners were all properly imprisoned.

"Wait a minute!"

Jiang Ge swiftly grabbed Huo Qubing's arm armor, causing Huo Qubing to stumble and turn around in surprise, the armor rattling loudly.

"A new person has arrived today," Django said mysteriously.

"A newcomer?" Huo Qubing raised a thick eyebrow. "Aren't I the newest one?"

Yuchi Jingde's gruff voice came from behind: "Magistrate Jiang, which hero has come this time? Do I recognize him?" He stroked his bushy beard with his large, fan-like hand, his eyes full of curiosity.

Before the Ming Dynasty, people could still communicate, but after that, they were completely lost.

Jiang Ge looked around at everyone, his gaze lingering on Zhou Yu's face for a moment longer: "This man is older than all of you, Brother Gongjin should be very familiar with him."

"Could it be..." Zhou Yu suddenly stopped folding his fan, a hint of anticipation flashing across his jade-like face. He subconsciously took half a step forward, the hem of his brocade robe swaying gracefully.

Could it be Bo Fu?

This thought made his heart suddenly beat a few beats faster.

Just then, a clear, melodious sound of jade pendants rang out from inside the room. Everyone turned to look in the direction of the sound, and saw a tall, slender figure standing against the light. The newcomer wore a turban, held a feather fan, and wore a spotless white robe.

Zhuge Liang!!!

As soon as they saw it, everyone couldn't help but praise it:

"Is this Zhuge Liang? He's quite handsome. I think his Empty City Stratagem was really brilliant."

"Prime Minister, please enlighten me, Prime Minister."

A group of people became fans, getting closer and closer to Zhuge Liang, their eyes shining.

At this moment, Zhou Yu...

"Zhuge Kongming?!" Zhou Yu exclaimed in shock, his voice almost choked with rage, and his folding fan fell to the ground with a thud.

Ever since reading "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," Zhou Yu has felt a burning resentment. Why is Zhuge Liang the flower, while Zhou Yu is relegated to a supporting role? Why is Zhou Yu being belittled to highlight Zhuge Liang?

Even though he's gone, they're still tarnishing his reputation.

They're ruining his reputation!

Zhou Yu looked closely and realized that Zhuge Liang's hair and beard were all white, and he was so thin that his clothes hung loosely on his body.

It just so happens that he was also wearing a plain color today. It's not scary to wear the same clothes as someone else; it's embarrassing if someone looks worse.

Zhou Yu gently waved his feather fan, slowly circling Zhuge Liang and examining him: "Tsk tsk, Kongming, how spirited you were when you debated with the Confucian scholars in Jiangdong back then? How did you end up like this now?"

"How did you become such an old man?"

Faced with Zhou Yu's sarcasm, Zhuge Liang gently stroked his feather fan, looked at Zhou Yu with calm and composed eyes, and said in a gentle voice:

"Zhou Yu's heroic bearing is even more impressive than in his prime. I often think, if only Heaven could grant Zhou Yu more years..."

He paused briefly, his tone carrying a hint of genuine regret:

"With your talent, you could have helped the ruler of Wu achieve even greater things. What a pity..."

He gently waved his feather fan and gazed at Zhou Yu with a tender expression:

"Although I am dull-witted, I was fortunate to have met the late lord, which allowed me to fully utilize my talents. These past years..."

Zhuge Liang stroked his beard and smiled calmly:

"Whenever I think of Gongjin's lofty ambitions, I cannot help but lament that heaven is jealous of talent."

He slowly rose and bowed to Zhou Yu:

"Today, seeing an old friend makes me realize even more that in life, we should prioritize achievements and accomplishments, rather than engaging in momentary disputes."

The words had barely left his mouth.

The feather fan that Zhou Yu was gently waving in his hand suddenly stopped in mid-air, and his wide sleeves faltered slightly in the wind.

"Kongming, oh Kongming, you..." The rest of the words were left unsaid.

I was going to say, so what if you live a long life?

But seeing Kongming's aged face, I suddenly couldn't say anything. We were all serving different masters, so how future generations would judge us is up to them.

He gazed at Zhuge Liang for a moment, then suddenly smiled, a smile as gentle and soothing as the fine rain of March in Jiangnan.

Zhuge Liang searched among the crowd, wondering who these people were besides Zhou Yu.

Django walked up to Zhuge Liang and began to welcome him.

"Welcome to Songyang County, Prime Minister. I am the magistrate of Songyang County. You may call me Magistrate Jiang."

Zhuge Liang bowed respectfully and said, "Magistrate Jiang."

As for how to introduce the others? After all, for the Prime Minister, everyone else's dynasty came after his.

Qin Shubao tugged at Jiang Ge.

"Magistrate Jiang, let me speak."

Should we let Qin Shubao speak?

The dynasty was after Zhuge Liang, and he was a man of principle, which was acceptable.

Django nodded in agreement.

"In the autumn of the twelfth year of Jianxing, the Prime Minister passed away. The three armies wore mourning clothes and the whole country was filled with grief. However, Shu Han had not yet fallen. Jiang Boyue carried on the emperor's will and launched nine expeditions to the Central Plains. Although the campaigns were ultimately unsuccessful, his integrity remained undiminished."

The subsequent developments can be summarized in just a few sentences, until Qin Shubao mentioned Liu Shan's "enjoying life in Shu and forgetting his homeland," at which point Zhuge Liang, pale-faced, waved his hand.

"Rise and fall are predetermined, beyond human control. All I ask for is to have a clear conscience."

Sima Yi patiently plotted to seize the throne, and by chance, he gained the right opportunity.

I only ask to have a clear conscience.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yu burst into loud laughter, "Cao Mengde is deeply suspicious. He killed someone in his dream and guarded against it his whole life, yet he couldn't even guard against the wolves in his own den!"

"Kongming, you've spent half your life battling this cowardly old turtle, have you ever considered that what he truly desires is the world?"

Zhou Yu angrily flung his sleeves.

How could Zhuge Liang not have noticed Sima Yi's wolfish ambitions?

He had long seen that Sima Yi was not the type of a loyal subject, and sending him women's clothing was a way of provoking him and testing his ambitions.

The will is willing, but the ability is insufficient.

Zhuge Liang didn't have that much time left.

He looked at Zhou Yu, this handsome young man in his prime, full of vigor and spirit, just like the Commander Zhou he had met at the Battle of Red Cliffs.

But he has grown old...

Time can take away many things; it has taken away many old friends, and it has also taken away a part of Zhuge Liang.

"Don't worry, these histories can definitely be changed once we come to Songyang County." Zhou Yu was not a hard-hearted person, and besides, he and Zhuge Liang had the same experiences and unfulfilled ambitions. Heroes cherish heroes.

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly, but there was a hint of helplessness in his smile. His lifespan was coming to an end; how could he change it?

Seeing Zhuge Liang like this, Zhou Yu said with a hint of disappointment.

"When I get back, I'll make Cao Mengde see for himself Sima Yi's wolfish ambitions!"