Xu Shu Offers His Counsel

Upon seeing Su Ming so certain that the Sleeping Dragon still lived, Xu Shu was first startled, then delighted, and finally his face was clouded with worry.

His surprise was shared by Gan Ning, who marveled at Zhuge Liang’s luck in surviving the plunge into the Yangtze River. Gan Ning had said himself that even he, leaping into the river that stormy night, could not be sure of survival. Thus, if Zhuge Liang truly lived, it could only be attributed to exceptional fortune—there was no other explanation.

Xu Shu’s joy stemmed from his friendship with Zhuge Liang; naturally, he did not wish to see Zhuge Liang perish. If Zhuge Liang was alive, it was the best outcome imaginable.

Yet, worry overtook Xu Shu’s countenance. He feared that he and Zhuge Liang, once close companions, would soon meet as adversaries upon the battlefield.

Originally, Zhuge Liang had witnessed with his own eyes the massacre of Xuzhou by Cao Cao in his youth and thus refused to serve Cao Cao or his followers. Now, after this incident, it was even less likely Zhuge Liang would serve Su Ming. Therefore, a confrontation on the battlefield seemed inevitable.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Shu realized that if they were to meet on the field of war, he, Xu Yuanzhi, might not be a match for Zhuge Liang.

With this thought, Xu Shu turned to Su Ming and asked, “My lord, are you truly so certain that Kongming has not died?”

Su Ming nodded solemnly. “Indeed, I believe he still lives.”

Half in jest, half in earnest, Su Ming continued, “It is known to all that Master Water Mirror has three prized disciples: the Sleeping Dragon, the Young Phoenix, and the Clever Tiger.”

“Yuanzhi, matched with Zhuge Kongming, should not fear meeting him on the field of battle.”

Though Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang were friends, at present Xu Shu served as Su Ming’s strategist. As a strategist, duty to the greater cause must come before personal ties.

Upon hearing this, Xu Shu could not help but smile wryly. He explained, “My lord, you know only one part of the tale, not the whole. Though our teacher gave us these titles—Sleeping Dragon, Young Phoenix, Clever Tiger—and we are indeed spoken of together, I am little more than the third wheel. When it comes to true talent, it is the Sleeping Dragon and the Young Phoenix who shine.”

Zhuge Liang’s brilliance was undeniable; there was nothing more to be said. Whether in the official histories or the tales, his reputation was lofty. In the romances, he was nearly deified, and in the historical records, he was honored in the Temple of Martial Heroes. Had Shu possessed greater strength, Zhuge Liang might truly have reshaped fate.

As for the Young Phoenix, his life was cut short, making him hard to judge.

Su Ming felt that as a first-rate strategist, Xu Shu might not match Zhuge Liang, but the gap could not be too great. Yet, Xu Shu’s words betrayed a belief that he was far beneath Zhuge Liang.

“Do you truly believe yourself inferior to Zhuge Kongming?” Su Ming asked, his gaze sharp.

Su Ming’s question was earnest, and Xu Shu felt compelled to answer with equal seriousness. After much thought, Xu Shu replied cautiously, “If I faced Kongming on the battlefield today, it would be an even match, half and half. In three years, I would have four parts to his six. In five years, it might be three to his seven.”

Xu Shu’s answer was intriguing, and it was even a fluctuating estimate.

“Your answer is interesting, Yuanzhi. Why do you say so?” Su Ming asked with a smile.

Xu Shu took a breath and explained, “I am already twenty-seven, while Kongming is only nineteen. I have reached my peak, but Kongming is still growing. The later we meet on the battlefield, the lower my chances of victory. In five years, Kongming will likely reach his prime.”

In the Three Kingdoms, the average lifespan was around forty; reaching one’s late twenties or thirties meant one was at their peak.

Xu Shu then advised, “Since we cannot have the Sleeping Dragon, we must try to bring the Young Phoenix under our banner. His talent is no less than that of the Sleeping Dragon.”

Xu Shu knew Su Ming would need more than himself to achieve greatness. Jealousy was not in Xu Shu’s nature; thus, he recommended the Young Phoenix. If he, the Clever Tiger, might not be a match for Zhuge Liang, he must find someone who could rival him.

Zhuge Liang, being from Langya in Xuzhou, had witnessed Cao Cao’s massacre and refused to serve him. But the Young Phoenix, Pang Tong, bore no grudge against Cao Cao.

Thus, Xu Shu thought it possible to bring Pang Tong into their fold.

Su Ming looked at Xu Shu and asked, “Should we simply kidnap Pang Tong as well?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Shu shook his head emphatically.

He thought to himself, “Had I known earlier to suggest kidnapping, I might have chosen a gentler method than forcing Kongming to leap into the river. Kidnapping may yield quick results, but its side effects are severe. One misstep, and it backfires terribly.”

“No, absolutely not!”

“A talent like the Young Phoenix must never be forced!” Xu Shu insisted, “He must be invited, never coerced. Now is not the time. Let me devise a plan, and I will surely bring the Young Phoenix to aid you, my lord.”

Thus, he dispelled Su Ming’s idea of repeating his earlier tactic.

Su Ming considered that recruiting Pang Tong could wait. The urgent matter at hand was to win the loyalty of Huang Chengyan and his daughter, as well as Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei.

With Zhuge Liang’s leap into the river, they would surely be strongly opposed to him.

Kidnapping them would be simple, but persuading them to serve was another matter.

The plan to abduct Huang Chengyan and his daughter had been Xu Shu’s suggestion; thus, the problem fell to him to resolve. After all, the tradition was that whoever proposed the plan must solve the resulting issue.

“Yuanzhi, how can we persuade Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei to serve me?” Su Ming asked.

Huang Chengyan and his daughter could be managed—threatening the father for the daughter, and vice versa, would ensure their service.

But the three bachelors—Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei—were a tougher case. With Zhuge Liang’s incident fresh in their minds, they likely harbored deep resentment toward Su Ming.

Winning their loyalty would require careful thought, even for Xu Shu.

Xu Shu might not rival Zhuge Liang, but he was far superior when it came to dealing with these three.

After a brief moment of contemplation, an idea began to take shape in Xu Shu’s mind.

(End of this chapter)