Chapter 15 - Realm of Peach Blossoms

Twin Jades of Jiangdong

"There was no spring busier than this one."

Translator(s): moon
Editor(s): jelly, namio

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Outside the city gates, Sun Ce had his hood on as he held the command tally, riding his horse against the snow as he rushed to the gates.

“I’m on important business for the gongcao office of the general’s manor,” Sun Ce said, pulling out the tally. “Has Zhou-gongcao, Zhou-daren already left the city?!”

The city guard replied, “There was indeed a gongcao who left the city.”

Sun Ce said, “Hurry and open the small gates, I have an urgent letter from General Yuan for the gongcao!”

Sun Ce pulled out an envelope from the general’s manor and brandished it at the city guard. The city guard didn’t dare to dally, and he brought a torch with him to come down and inspect it. Upon seeing that this was indeed a letter that had originated from Yuan Shao’s manor, he immediately ordered his men to open the small gates.

“Brothers, you’ve worked hard, get a cup of light wine and warm yourselves up!” Sun Ce said, and before he left, he didn’t forget to give them a little bit of broken silver pieces as a reward.

“We’ll keep the city gates open for you, lord!” the city guard said happily. “Have a good trip! Zhou-gongcao has probably not gone very far!”

Zhou Yu rode on his horse, the hand that was gripping the reins slick with sweat, only to see that a small crack opened on one of the side gates to Shouchun City. In the distance, a sliver of light shone through, and a single steed charged out. Zhou Yu’s entire person was about to collapse from relief, while Zhao Yun merely smiled and waved his long whip once.

“Jia!”

“Jia--” Sun Ce’s pleased voice traveled to them from afar. He caught up to the carriage procession, and they set off in the dark night.

The wheels rattled, and hoofbeats resounded. When they arrived at the inn, it was currently during the fifth geng, and Zhou Yu dismounted first, saying to the group of assassins waiting in the inn, disguised as if they were on official business, “Everyone’s worked hard, let’s set off right now. We’ll rest at night.”

The guards all rose, but they didn’t speak as they followed Zhou Yu, escorting the carriage on its way.

Sun Ce had already ducked into the carriage. Lady Wu lifted aside the curtain, asking Zhou Yu, “Yu’er, who are these people?”

“My subordinates,” Zhou Yu replied truthfully. “Aunt, please rest assured, they are all members of the gongcao office.”

Lady Wu nodded. She glanced at their followers, whose faces were each filled with murderous intent, veins bursting from the backs of their hands in complete focus.

Every now and then, the assassins would glance at Zhao Yun, clearly suspicious about why there was an extra person, so Zhou Yu explained that he was their carriage driver. At noon, this procession had already traveled almost a hundred li away, and Zhou Yu had climbed several times into the carriage to visit.

In the carriage, Zhou Yu said quietly, “By now, Yuan Shu definitely has discovered that you are no longer in the manor.”

“Not necessarily,” Sun Ce replied. “Yesterday night, he and Yuan Shao drank half the night away. The later he wakes today, the more beneficial it is to us.”

“There was no one keeping surveillance on you after you entered the manor?” Zhou Yu asked.

“En,” Sun Ce replied. “We should still go faster. If Yuan Shu were to send people in pursuit, I’m only afraid that we might not be able to run fast enough.”

Zhou Yu replied, “We can’t go any faster. If we look as if we are mussed and in a rush, the assassins will grow suspicious. They’re all experts, and there are twenty plus of them. Even if we can get rid of them all, I don’t have a handle on whether or not we can keep everyone safe.”

Zhou Yu glanced at Cao Pi, who tugged at Zhou Yu’s sleeve, his face writ with suffering.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Yu asked.

“I need to… relieve myself,” Cao Pi said.

Zhou Yu: “...”

“A little one or a big one?” Sun Ce asked.

“A little one,” Cao Pi said.

“Me too,” Sun Quan added.

Zhou Yu sucked in a deep breath and said, “Wait, let me think of something.”

This group of assassins were probably still unaware that Zhou Yu had brought several children with them, but he couldn’t let them grow suspicious. As Zhou Yu pondered, he figured that it would be best for them not to know, and he said, “You two take turns getting off to relieve yourselves, and in a bit, you’ll have to change your clothes.”

And saying this, Zhou Yu exited the carriage, ordering the group to halt.

Everyone waited to one side, and Zhou Yu said, “Madame Sun needs to rest for a bit, everyone go wait by the side of the road.”

Thankfully, Lady Wu was on the carriage, so the assembled party didn’t dare to get too close. They obeyed Zhou Yu’s orders, waiting by the roadside, while Zhao Yun stopped the carriage a little further away, helping Lady Wu down.

Cao PI was wearing Sun Quan’s clothes, and he came down as well, heading to the grass clumps by the roadside.

A moment later, Cao Pi went back to the carriage first, and not long after, Sun Quan ran off. Zhou Yu was putting in his utmost effort to speak with a group of the assassins, but most of them merely nodded or shook their heads, or replied shortly to avoid offending him. Zhou Yu thought to himself, this group of people might be very hard to deal with.

“Sun Quan!” Zhou Yu shouted. “Don’t run off!”

“Okay!” Sun Quan replied from within the tufts of grass.

A moment later, Lady Wu brought Sun Quan back to the carriage, and with Zhao Yun at the reins, the carriage set off again.

At noon, to gain some time, they ate some dried rations on the road. At twilight, Zhao Yun stopped the carriage at an inn on the side of the road, and Lady Wu led Sun Quan off the carriage. Zhou Yu then took this group of people into the inn to eat, pay, and order food. This inn was very small, and the boss was also the waiter. Upon seeing that a big business opportunity had come, he hurried back and forth, getting things ready.

“No need to trouble Zhou-daren,” a man who was clearly the leader of the assassins said. “We will eat dry rations.”

“You brothers have worked hard too,” Zhou Yu said to him quietly. “Even if you don’t eat, come sit inside for a bit. I’m afraid of Sun-furen growing suspicious; several times along the way, she asked me about your group’s origins… If, when the time comes, Sun Jian learns of this, he may grow suspicious.”

That leader thought for a bit, and after concluding that things were like Zhou Yu said, he called over all his men from the backyard and issued them a few simple orders. The group then flowed into the inn, took up a portion of the space, and began to eat rations on their own.

Zhou Yu took the water kettle over to the low platform, washing the cups for Lady Wu and Sun Quan. Zhao Yun was to one side, ready to carry out any orders, so Zhou Yu said to him, “You go to the kitchen to take a look, tell them to cut two plates of cured meat and bring them out.”

With that, Zhao Yun left. A group of assassins sat in the corner, eating their rations, and Zhou Yu used his gaze to alert Lady Wu as he poured the medicinal powder into the water kettle.

Lady Wu used her eyes to reply that she understood. Sun Quan was to one side, watching curiously, but he didn’t speak.

Presently, the dishes were brought out, and Zhou Yu, Lady Wu, and the rest of them waited to eat, but when the waiter brought the cured meat to the other table, no one moved. Someone rose to get water, but Zhou Yu said, “Drink some wine instead.” He then had the waiter bring on the wine, and at the same time lifted the kettle onto the counter. The waiter went to the backyard to get some wine, but that squad leader interrupted. “No need for this trouble, we can just drink some water.”

Saying this, the leader came over and lifted up the kettle. Zhou Yu said, “Let them boil some more.”

The leader waved his hand, meaning there was no need, and he took the kettle over, splitting it with his group.

Zhou Yu ate quietly, before saying to Sun Quan, “Though this place cannot compare to the general’s manor, you still have to eat a little more even if it doesn’t taste good, otherwise you won’t have strength.”

Sun Quan en-ed. Zhao Yun, who was squatting under the eaves of the hallway, digging into his food, didn’t turn his head either.

At this time, Zhou Yu’s heart was already racing along at top speed. He didn’t turn back to look, so he didn’t know whether the assassins had drunk that kettle of water or not. A moment later, he heard the squad leader rise and say, “I’ll go boil some more water.” Holding the kettle, he left for the backyard.

That squad leader was getting water from the backyard, while Zhao Yun was at one side, lifting some hay to feed a few horses. The squad leader said, “Feed our horses some too.”

“Yes, sir,” Zhao Yun said.

The leader put down the kettle and opened the back door. When he walked by the carriage, he suddenly had a thought, and he pulled aside the curtain, peeking in.

But with just this one glance, he immediately saw a sharp sword appear in front of him, while from behind came a pitchfork. Sun Ce stabbed out from within the curtains, and together with Zhao Yun, the two of them instantly struck down that leader right where he stood!

Zhao Yun immediately put down the pitchfork, took off his outer robe, and tossed it into the carriage. Sun Ce dragged the leader’s corpse off to one side, while Zhao Yun turned and went in. He sought out Zhou Yu inside the inn and made a gesture, indicating that they had been exposed and had to act.

Right at this time, the effects of the poison kicked in.

“Why is it dark?”

“The light went out?”

“There’s poison!”

“Watch out!”

The assassins instantly fell into chaos. Zhao Yun covered Sun Quan’s mouth, while Zhou Yu swept the food off the table. The two of them instantly rose, but just as they were about to escape, the sound of wind came from behind, and an assassin roared angrily, “Don’t let them escape! Attack!”

Zhou Yu turned, and with a clean move, he pulled out his sword. However, he did not wave it, instead pointing it at that assassin’s chest. As soon as the assassin rushed over, he immediately collided into the point of the blade with his chest, and he was swiftly and cleanly stabbed right through.

“You all get on the carriage first!” Sun Ce roared.

The waiter shouted loudly, “Masters! What are you doing?!”

Zhou Yu gripped that waiter’s collar, sending him out with a single kick. The hall of the inn was filled with chaos, and the blinded assassins all pulled out their swords and attacked. Sun Ce struck several times with his staff, but their opponents were actually able to discern those attacks by the sound of the wind, and Sun Ce shouted loudly, “You go first!”

Zhou Yu backed into the kitchen, and the two of them fought as they retreated. Sun Ce pulled out some lit firewood from within the stove, and it whooshed through the air. Because the enemies could not see, though they dodged the firewood, they could not escape the flames, and immediately their clothes were set alight. They let out wails as they patted wildly, fumbling about.

The two of them ran out of the backyard, where Zhao Yun had already readied the carriage. Zhou Yu untied the reins to the military steeds that the assassins had bound together, and Sun Ce vaulted onto a horse. With a wave of the long whip, Zhao Yun roared, “Go!”

In the inn, the waiter rushed out. Zhou Yu shouted towards him, “These horses are compensation for your inn! Go quickly! Go to Danyang!”

“Take this!”

Sun Ce handed the waiter a warrant, telling him to go find Sun Ce’s uncle, before he followed closely behind the rest of the group, galloping away onto the main road.

The curtain of night fell, and the entire sky was filled with drifting snow. When Zhou Yu turned back to look, he saw that fire had already started to burn the inn at the foot of the mountains. He figured that the waiter also knew that he couldn’t avoid what was coming, so he simply set the inn alight with a torch. 

“I feel really sorry for him,” Zhou Yu said. “An unexpected disaster befell him just like that.”

But Sun Ce replied, “Twenty horses is enough for him to start his business anew. Though they are military horses, I imagine that Yuan Shu has sent this group out often enough to silence people, and none of the horses are branded. Making them change hands is not difficult.”

Zhao Yun said, “I’m only afraid that Yuan Shu’s troops might already be in pursuit. You two xiandi should rest a little first, we’ll still have to rush ahead tonight.”

The entire way, Zhou Yu’s heart dangled from a string. He had to admit that being able to escape this time was three parts thanks to luck, and now that that taut thread had finally loosened, he and Sun Ce climbed into the carriage, taking a brief moment to rest.

There were so many people squeezed inside the carriage, so Zhou Yu held Sun Quan as Sun Ce hugged Cao Pi, finally managing to squeeze inside. Halfway through the night, Zhou Yu woke, only to find that Zhao Yun had taken Sun Ce’s spot, and Cao Pi was slumped in his embrace, sleeping very soundly.

“Yu’er.” Lady Wu was still awake, and now she spoke. “This time, it’s all thanks to you. If you hadn’t saved our family…”

“Aunty,” Zhou Yu replied, smiling, “if it wasn’t for Bofu, I would have long since died on Mt. Gu in Chaohu, or in Luoyang. Either way, I’d have left this world in who knows what kind of hellish nightmare, so please don’t say this.”

Lady Wu smiled. Zhou Yu continued, “The heavens did indeed smile upon us, but our escape today was also possible because we borrowed the luck of these two brats, Sun Quan and Cao Pi.”

“Very true,” Lady Wu replied. “I heard your uncle often mention Cao Mengde, so I imagine he is also an important figure. This time, everyone escaped thanks to his blessing.”

Zhou Yu smiled and exercised his sore, numb arms. Lady Wu took Sun Quan so that he could be a little more comfortable, and Zhou Yu opened the door to the carriage slightly, sitting onto the driver’s seat.

“You go sleep a little more,” Zhou Yu said to Sun Ce.

There was a lantern lit in front of Sun Ce’s carriage, and he was thoroughly focused on chivvying the carriage along during the night. He said to Zhou Yu, “Once we leave Mt. Bagong, we’ll be safe, and Yuan Shu will no longer be able to catch us.”

“There is one more pass,” Zhou Yu said. “You go recuperate and get your strength back, this sentry post may be difficult to pass.”

“No worries,” Sun Ce said, completely confidently. “They don’t have Feiyu.”

Feiyu flapped back, landing on the front of the carriage as it stared at its surroundings. Zhou Yu said, “Go a little slower on the downwards slopes.”

The narrow, winding mountain path passed through the depths of the valley, and then through a long canyon, before it exited the mountain. Zhou Yu and Sun Ce sat shoulder to shoulder against the door of the carriage, watching that single lamp sway away at the front.

“I feel like in this life of ours,” Sun Ce said, smiling, “we probably won’t run into a situation as dangerous as today’s was again. When I saw the gates to Shouchun close, I almost thought that I would never be able to see you again.”

“I hope it will be that way,” Zhou Yu responded mildly. “The coming days stretch long ahead of us, but they shouldn’t be more troublesome than these were.”

“Thankfully, my wits were quick in a moment of crisis!” Sun Ce chuckled.

Zhou Yu nudged Sun Ce’s head, and Sun Ce kept chuckling to himself. “I’m also good material for being a military advisor.”

Zhou Yu shot him a glance out of the corner of his eye, as if to say, you?

Sun Ce chuckled as he leaned against the front of the carriage, shutting his eyes. The sky filled with stars slowly faded as Zhou Yu took the whip, the carriage heading towards the northeast.

Early in the morning of the next day, outside Mt. Bagong, Zhao Yun lifted the sleepy-eyed Cao Pi onto his horse.

“I’ll take my leave now, my two xiandi.” Zhao Yun cupped his hands at Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.

“This kindness of coming to our aid is not something I will forget,” Sun Ce said to Zhao Yun. “If, in the coming days, you are intending to head to Jiangdong, please do come at any time to find Gongjin and I.”

Zhao Yun smiled and said, “We will meet again.”

Zhou Yu and Sun Ce sent Zhao Yun off with their eyes, and under the first rays of the morning sun, he passed through the thick white fog, leaving the valley behind. Sun Ce shook his head. “What a pity.”

“With how he is,” Zhou Yu said, climbing onto the carriage, “he will not give up his allegiance to Gongsun Zan to serve under you instead. Give up ba --”

Sun Ce leapt onto the carriage, smiling. “You have such a low opinion of me, don’t you know how many men with lofty ideals want to come follow me?”

“You!” Zhou Yu said. “Who knows which person with no vision wants to follow you.”

“There are naturally those with no vision,” Sun Ce said gleefully. “Isn’t there one right in front of me? Hm?”

The corners of Zhou Yu’s mouth quirked upwards, and he responded with whatever was on the tip of his tongue, before ignoring him altogether. Sun Ce, however, kept tugging on Zhou Yu, insisting that he explain, and the two of them scuffled as they brought the carriage out of Mt. Bagong.

But when they arrived at Shanyang County, the originally arranged-for Sun Jian had not arrived; instead, one of his subordinates, Cheng Pu, had come instead. Upon seeing Zhou Yu climb off the carriage, Cheng Pu came forward to kowtow, saying solemnly, “My family’s zhugong thanks Zhou-gongzi for his great benevolence.”

“A trifling matter, why be so hung up on it?” Zhou Yu hurried to lift Cheng Pu to his feet. Since he could not get Sun Jian to come, Sun Ce figured that he must have been caught up in some other matter, so he asked, “General Cheng, is my dad fighting?”

Cheng Pu took off his helmet. Though his head was streaked with white, his features were that of a young man’s, and his face bore scars. His hair, which had gone white in his youth, was especially eye-catching. He answered, “The general has accepted the written orders of Yuan-gong and has mobilized his troops in an expedition against Liu Biao.”

“What?” Zhou Yu’s heart thumped.

But Sun Ce replied, as if this was nothing, “What’s wrong with Liu Biao now?”

“Jingzhou is unwilling to take orders,” Cheng Pu said. “And because of that, zhugong is heading there on an expedition. He ordered that since it was on the way, that I escort the madame back to the south-east, to Danyang.”

Zhou Yu stayed silent as he pondered. He knew that this was a private matter of Sun Ce’s family, so he shouldn’t interject. Lady Wu lifted aside the curtain, asking what had happened, and Zhou Yu reported it just as he had heard.

Cheng Pu had brought five hundred men for Sun Ce to take command of, to head south along the river. Sun Ce climbed onto the carriage and discussed for a while with Zhou Yu, and though Zhou Yu was originally unwilling to say too much, the meaning of Sun Ce’s words showed that he was already treating Zhou Yu as one of his own. Zhou Yu thought for a bit -- before the new year, Sun Jian had already received the military rations, and now, the correct course of action would have been to stay at the Hangu Pass. But because Liu Biao of Jingzhou had delayed time and again in mobilizing his forces, and Jingzhou was historically a region that military forces had fought over, Sun Jian’s coveting of Jingzhou was also within reason.

Sun Jian probably also felt the pressure that Yuan Shu was exerting. If he didn’t take over a region and claim himself as its ruler soon, it would be hard to maintain a balance with Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, and the rest. But to select the location, Sili was out of the question, and as soon as they took Luoyang, enemies would come at them from all sides. They could only retreat and choose to head south this time.

The region of Jiangzuo was involved too heavily in too many things, and there were many aristocratic families there as well. It was also right next to Yuan Shu’s territory, and it was not as profitable as gaining Jingzhou would be. Of course, the preface to this was that they had to be able to slaughter Liu Biao. And for suppressing Liu Biao, they had just the right reason to wage war, if only because Liu Biao did not accept the orders of the King of Qin, nor did he participate in the campaign against Dong Zhuo. Killing Liu Biao was something that more or less the various marquises would be overjoyed to hear. No one would send out troops to aid Jingzhou.

Zhou Yu had to admit that this was indeed a miraculous strategy. The only question was when Sun Jian went south to Jingzhou, if he could win against Liu Biao.

“You must go forth to support your father,” Zhou Yu said.

“Five hundred men, what can be done with them?” Sun Ce said. “Relax, since he has sent out his troops, he has a plan.”

“My guess is that as soon as he touches Jingzhou, Yuan Shu will immediately be alerted,” Zhou Yu said. “We cannot head to Danyang. Otherwise, if Yuan Shu does move his troops towards Danyang, there are too many troubles to deal with there.”

Sun Ce stopped speaking. After Lady Wu listened to the narrative, she said, “Yu’er speaks rightly. If your father can gain Jingzhou, I’m afraid that Yuan Shu will only make things more difficult for us mother and son. Now, aside from returning to Changsha, there is no better alternative.”

“There is,” Zhou Yu said. “Come to my home.”

Lady Wu startled. Zhou Yu continued, “Right now, Yuan Shu is most definitely on his way to Danyang, and customs controls have been set up along the two roads to Changsha, but he definitely is not expecting us to head to Shu County. Aunty and Sun Quan can stay at my home for a while, and after General Sun gains Jingzhou, General Cheng Pu can escort you. We can then reunite in Jingzhou.” 

Lady Wu replied, “I’m afraid that that will trouble your mother…”

Zhou Yu said, “How could it? If you’re willing to go, she won’t even have the time to grow overjoyed before you arrive.”

Sun Ce knew that this action of Zhou Yu’s was undoubtedly giving him great help. In just the span of a few sentences, he had arranged it all clearly, so Sun Ce said, “Gongjin is also missing home, so Mother, there is no need to decline any further.”

Lady Wu smiled. She understood the meaning in Zhou Yu’s words, and she no longer pushed.

In the spring of the second year of Chuping, less than half a year after Zhou Yu went north, he led his troops back to Shu County.

The troops of Chengpu made camp in Mt. Gu, sending out only twenty or so people to protect them on the way. Zhou Yu returned home, and though he had only parted with his mother for half a year, it seemed as if many things had happened. Lady Wu and Madame Zhou, on the other hand, were reuniting for the first time in many years, and their eyes were filled with tears.

Things began to get lively in his household, and for Zhou Yu to settle them in one by one took another bout of effort. The spring light was bright and warm, and the cherry blossoms filled the air. Another spring had come, and finally the two of them could, peacefully and quietly, live carefreely for a few days.

But to Zhou Yu, there was no spring busier than this one.

He first reported to his mother of the happenings this time in Shouchun. Madame Zhou listened quietly in the garden, before saying, “Madame Sun also brought up this matter. The salary that Great General Yuan paid you, Mother has saved it all for you. Every month’s salary has been sealed well and placed in the back warehouse, and if you are unwilling to accept it, all you need to do is send someone to return it.”

Zhou Yu replied, “This child knows that Yuan Shu must hate me to death with this.”

Madame Zhou replied mildly, “What you have carried out is a righteous matter, while Yuan Shu is not a righteous person. Why be afraid of him?”

When Zhou Yu thought about it, that was indeed the case. People who were not righteous would naturally run out of paths of retreat. He continued, “There is no need to return it. When I was holding that position in the general’s manor, this child did do many things for him, more or less. After all, the jade seal is in his hands in the end, in exchange for the people of the Sun family, so he cannot go claim that we have out-maneuvered him.”

Madame Zhou then said, “Gaining Jingzhou, on the other hand, is something that Madame Sun is very worried about.”

Zhou Yu said, “As for this, this child has no way to deal with that either. According to rumors, General Sun has never been one to listen to outsiders’ words. This child still has one more request.”

Madame Zhou watched Zhou Yu, and after Zhou Yu voiced it, Madame Zhou said, “If you think it will work, then carry it out as you need.”

Zhou Yu en-ed, and that concluded his report to his mother. Several days afterwards, he withdrew the silver from their savings. In addition, he liquidated a portion of the business that they hadn’t touched in a few years, leaving behind four hundred mu of silk fields, which altogether turned into a sum of money.

Translator's Comment:

moon: fun fact, the phrase used as the title, though it transliterates to “peach garden”, is short for “garden/realm of peach blossoms” and is a reference to paradise

This chapter is migrated and/or formatted by our fellow chicken enthusiast(s), moon.