Chapter 82: The Dragon-Slaying Emperor's Aura

Upon witnessing the throngs of people outside the city, the deafening clamor of drums and gongs, Cui Zhouping’s brow furrowed deeply and he spoke in a somber tone, “Su Ming clearly has a master strategist by his side.”

On their way here, Gan Ning and Taishi Ci had already revealed their true identities. Thus, Cui Zhouping and his companions now knew who had orchestrated their abduction. Yet, while Gan Ning and Taishi Ci had mentioned Xu Shu—Xu Yuanzhi—before the steward in Huang’s manor, they had not spoken of him in Cui Zhouping’s presence. As such, Cui Zhouping and the others remained ignorant that the mysterious adviser aiding Su Ming was none other than Xu Shu himself.

Seeing Cui Zhouping’s grave expression, Shi Guangyuan asked with confusion, “Zhouping, what do you mean by that?”

It was clear that in matters of strategy and learning, Cui Zhouping had the sharper mind among them. Shi Guangyuan could not discern Xu Shu’s ploy, but Cui Zhouping had already seen through it.

“This is a stratagem,” Cui Zhouping declared. “Alas, it is a scheme of praise meant to destroy us—leaving us caught between a rock and a hard place!” he sighed.

At first, Shi Guangyuan and Meng Gongwei failed to recognize the plot for what it was. Yet they were no fools; with Cui Zhouping’s pointed words, both men quickly grasped the crux of the matter.

They had been abducted on Su Ming’s orders, and their refusal to serve him, even to the point of death, was only natural. Should Su Ming truly lose his temper and kill them, word would spread and they would be remembered with honor after their deaths. As so-called scholars, what they valued most was not their lives but their reputation. Death itself did not frighten them; so long as they could die with a reputation for defying tyranny, meeting the executioner without fear, it would be enough.

But now, Su Ming had arranged for the townsfolk to welcome them with fanfare—gongs, drums, lion dances, and celebrations three miles beyond the city. This stratagem was nothing short of brilliant! With this, Su Ming transformed from a mere bandit chief into a wise ruler who honors the learned and virtuous.

Now, the entire city knew they had been “invited” by Su Ming, and that he treated them with the utmost respect. If they refused to serve him, others would say they were arrogant and ungrateful, unworthy of their talents.

Realizing all this, the faces of Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei grew darker still. The three of them felt as if they had swallowed a lump of phlegm, unable to spit it out or force it down—a most nauseating sensation.

Though they had been kidnapped, now it seemed they had been cordially invited. If they refused to serve Su Ming, the blame would fall upon them.

At that moment, the expressions on Cui Zhouping and his two companions were as though they had bitten into something vile and could not bear to swallow.

Meng Gongwei turned to Cui Zhouping and asked, “Zhouping, how might we break this stratagem?”

As he spoke, Shi Guangyuan’s gaze snapped to Cui Zhouping as well. The looks from both men seemed to say, “Since you have seen through this scheme, you ought to be the one to break it.”

Under the twin pressure of their stares, Cui Zhouping felt utterly ill at ease. He thought to himself, “The fact that I can see through it does not mean I can break it. Where would I find such ability?”

He sighed bitterly and said, “You give me too much credit, my friends! This is a stratagem I cannot break. The one who devised it possesses talents far above our own. If only Kongming were still with us, perhaps there might be hope.”

He spoke the name of Zhuge Liang, and all three men’s expressions dimmed. The thought that Zhuge Liang, so young, had perished in the great river filled them with sorrow for their departed friend.

“Under the traitor’s banner, there are countless fierce generals and strategists—sending one or two to advise him is only to be expected,” Meng Gongwei said ruefully.

By now, Cao Cao’s power was unassailable. Cui Zhouping and his companions were unwilling to join him—not only for their own reputations, but because it would be difficult to distinguish themselves among Cao Cao’s many advisors. With so many brilliant minds—Guo Jia, Xun Yu, Xun You, Jia Xu—they would find it near impossible to rise to prominence.

Having understood this, the three men fell silent. They resolved to remain steady and adapt as circumstances unfolded, awaiting their meeting with Su Ming before making any move.

Yet all these thoughts and intentions were already within Xu Shu’s calculations.

…

Gan Ning escorted the convoy into the city, and upon entering, Cui Zhouping and his two friends were “invited” into a courtyard—though in truth, it was a comfortable confinement. Meanwhile, Huang Chengyan and his daughter were taken directly to the official residence to meet Su Ming.

Huang Chengyan and his daughter were like tender meat, while Cui Zhouping and his companions were tough bones. Su Ming intended to enjoy the meat first, then gnaw at the bones.

Inside the official hall, Su Ming sat reading a small booklet.

“Your humble general Gan Ning pays respects to my lord.”

“Taishi Ci of Qu’a pays respects to my lord.” Gan Ning, Taishi Ci, and Qu’a all knelt in unison.

At the same time, Huang Chengyan was quietly sizing up Su Ming. Along the way, he had already discerned that Gan Ning, Taishi Ci, and Qu’a were all rare and formidable warriors. He was eager to see what kind of man could win the loyalty of such men and inspire them to serve him willingly.

One look at Su Ming and Huang Chengyan was inwardly startled.

Unlike other renowned scholars, who devoted themselves to the arts of strategy and distant victory, Huang Chengyan had mastered arcane techniques—mechanical arts, geomancy, and the like. His skill in physiognomy was unparalleled; otherwise, he would never have chosen Zhuge Liang as a son-in-law.

Now, upon examining Su Ming’s features, Huang Chengyan was taken aback.

This… This was the visage of an emperor!

This man was destined for the throne.

Su Ming’s physiognomy was known as the “Dragon-Slaying Emperor’s Aspect.” The last man to possess such a visage had been the First Emperor of Qin. In his day, the First Emperor conquered the six kingdoms and unified the realm, becoming the founding emperor. From the perspective of geomancy, such an act was called “slaying six dragons.”

Huang Chengyan saw at once that Su Ming was destined to vanquish all who aspired to greatness and concentrate the fate of the empire upon himself—just as Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Gaozu of Han had done before him.

At this moment, Su Ming raised his hand, signaling Gan Ning and the others to rise. Then he spoke: “See if you can fashion the items described here.”

With that, Su Ming tossed down the booklet in his hand. Gan Ning, quick-witted, caught it and intended to hand it to Huang Chengyan. However, Huang Chengyan’s eyes were distant and profound, as if his spirit wandered the heavens.

Helpless, Gan Ning handed the booklet instead to Huang Yueying.

(End of chapter)