Chapter 53: Scolding Zhang Fei

The second day. Atop the walls of Changshe City. Liu Yao and Tian Feng stood together, gazing across at the Yellow Turban encampment.

“Yuanhao, do you have any clever ideas for dealing with the Yellow Turbans opposite us? Yesterday, you seemed to be on the verge of saying something, but held back. Is there something you cannot tell Huangfu Song and the others?” Liu Yao asked.

Tian Feng stroked his beard and nodded, “Indeed, my lord, I have devised a strategy to break the enemy. However, the time is not yet right, and it is unwise to share it with the two generals. Both are soldiers by trade, with naturally impatient tempers. If they lose their composure, the plan might be spoiled.”

“Oh? Please, Yuanhao, teach me,” Liu Yao inquired curiously.

“I would not dare,” Tian Feng squinted, “But, my lord, have you noticed anything near the Yellow Turban camp?”

Liu Yao looked out, seeing nothing but a patch of wild, overgrown woods around the enemy camp, and felt perplexed. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he nodded knowingly, “Yuanhao, are you referring to that?”

Tian Feng smiled, “It seems you have guessed, my lord. I am confident that this time, Bo Cai will not escape our grasp.”

Liu Yao asked, “Yuanhao, what should we do, then? The Yellow Turban camp is quite a distance from those woods.”

Tian Feng wiped the sweat from his brow and pointed toward the blazing sun overhead. He uttered a single word, “Wait!”

“Wait! I see.” Liu Yao smiled, a hint of amusement curling at his lips.

Thus, they waited for five days. Throughout these days, neither the Yellow Turbans nor Changshe City made a single move against the other, as if they had never crossed paths.

At this time, Liu Yao and Tian Feng were in the study, engaged in a game—not of go, but chess, which Liu Yao had “invented.” Since arriving in Youzhou, Liu Yao often passed the time playing chess with Tian Feng and Ju Shou. Tian Feng believed the game contained profound wisdom, so whenever he had a moment, he would pull Youzhou’s most leisurely gentleman, Liu Yao, into a match.

While Liu Yao and Tian Feng enjoyed their leisure, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were thoroughly vexed. They had expected that Liu Yao’s arrival would swiftly resolve the Yellow Turban threat, but now Liu Yao seemed content to drink tea and play chess.

After all, Liu Yao’s troops were outside their command and jurisdiction. Moreover, neither dared to confront him directly. First, Liu Yao’s rank was higher than theirs: General of the North, second only to He Jin, the Grand General. Second, Liu Yao was the great imperial prince, the future emperor in all likelihood. Neither dared to overstep their bounds. The two generals were left anxious and at a loss.

In the end, it was Zhu Jun who devised a solution. The old fox secretly sought out Zhang Fei, bribing him with two jugs of fine wine. Zhang Fei had recently tasted a bit of alcohol, but had since abstained, so his craving was gnawing at him. Provided Liu Yao did not find out, a couple jugs in secret would go unnoticed.

Zhu Jun’s request was simple: Zhang Fei was to discreetly learn Liu Yao’s intentions. Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song dared not do so themselves, but Zhang Fei and his companions had no such scruples. After years in Liu Yao’s service, they knew his temperament well, and such a minor matter would not provoke his wrath.

“My lord, my lord, Zhang Fei is here!” Zhang Fei shouted, bursting into the study.

“Hahahahaha! I knew Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun would not come themselves. My lord, you’ve lost the wager. The two jars of your treasured wine are mine!” Tian Feng’s laughter rang out as Zhang Fei entered.

Liu Yao shook his head, smiling wryly, “A loss is a loss. I, Liu Yao, do not renege. When we return to Youzhou, the wine will be delivered to your residence.” He cast a resentful glance at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei, baffled by their exchange, found himself unable to speak, only realizing that Liu Yao and Tian Feng seemed to be gambling, and the bet somehow involved him. In the end, his lord lost, and Tian Feng had won two jars of wine.

Liu Yao regarded Zhang Fei and asked coldly, “Yide, how many jars of wine did Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun offer you to bring you here?”

Still dazed, Zhang Fei blurted, “Two!”

“Ah!” Zhang Fei quickly recovered, nervously asking, “My lord, how did you know?”

“Hmph! Do you think I don’t know your habits, you big oaf?” Liu Yao replied with a radiant smile. “Very good, Yide. Now you’ve learned to sneak around and drink in defiance of my orders, even accepting bribes. I’m truly impressed.”

Seeing Liu Yao’s increasingly gleaming smile, cold sweat broke out on Zhang Fei’s back. Every official in Youzhou knew that whenever Liu Yao wore such a smile, someone was bound for misfortune. He was nicknamed the ‘Smiling Tiger,’ a reputation proven time and again. This time, the unfortunate subject was none other than himself.

“Yide, do you admit your fault?” Liu Yao said sternly.

Zhang Fei dropped to his knees and replied, “Old Zhang admits his mistake.”

“Ordinarily, violating my orders would earn you fifty strokes of the cane, but since you’ve confessed, and we are in wartime, I’ll temporarily suspend the punishment. You may redeem yourself through service,” Liu Yao said leisurely.

“Thank you, my lord, for your mercy!” Zhang Fei exclaimed in relief. He hadn’t expected that a mere beating would suffice; even fifty strokes would hardly keep him down for a day.

Tian Feng watched Zhang Fei’s excitement and couldn’t help but cover his forehead, silently mourning for the simpleton. If Liu Yao ended matters so easily, he wouldn’t deserve the title ‘Smiling Tiger.’

As Tian Feng foresaw, Liu Yao continued, smiling, “Yide, don’t rush—I haven’t finished yet. This time, you secretly drank behind my back. Who’s to say you won’t do it again? You need a lasting lesson. Therefore, your punishment is: for one year, not a drop of wine.”

“What!” Zhang Fei leapt up in protest. Just a few days without wine had been hard enough; a year would be unbearable. Helpless, he pleaded, “My lord, isn’t a year too much? How about a month? Hehe.”

“Don’t even think about it! Do you realize what could happen if you cause trouble by drinking on duty? Thousands of brothers could die because of you. Could you bear that responsibility?” Liu Yao said sternly.

“...My lord, old Zhang understands. I promise: not a drop for a year, and never again on campaign.” Zhang Fei declared with conviction. Though rough, he was not without sense, and knew Liu Yao’s intentions were for his own good.

Liu Yao gave a satisfied nod. “As long as you know your fault. You may go. And tell Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun: if they trust me, let them wait a while longer.”

“Yes, my lord.” With that, Zhang Fei departed.

“Congratulations, my lord,” Tian Feng said. “Yide is rough on the outside but meticulous within. If he can change his bad habits, perhaps he’ll one day command an army himself.”

Liu Yao chuckled, “Indeed. Yide appears boorish, but he’s thoughtful. Whether he can lead his own troops, that depends on how he grows.”

He watched Zhang Fei’s figure disappear, his voice drifting pensively.