Chapter 146

As soon as Jang-ran’s question was heard, Zhuge Ge immediately grasped what she truly wanted to ask.

‘The answer is already decided. What Jang-ran is asking is not how, but why.’

There are three elements of reasoning: who did it, how it was done, and why it was done.

Here, Jang-ran’s question focused on the last ‘why’.

Like Pang Tong’s case, the answer Zhuge Ge could provide was already predetermined.

The west and south had been organized by Zhuge Liang’s southern campaign, and to expand further would mean stepping out of the defined realm of the world. Or, they could attack Jiao Province, which is under Sun Quan’s sphere of influence.

However, they couldn’t argue for the recovery of Jing Province in the east, so Zhuge Ge’s choice was undoubtedly clear.

“Attack Cao’s forces and capture Luoyang.”

It was the Northern Expedition.

“Attack Cao Wei?”

“Yes.”

The main point was from now on.

That Zhuge Ge would propose the Northern Expedition as an answer was something everyone had anticipated.

The key was whether Zhuge Ge could present arguments convincing enough to persuade them.

Zhuge Ge, enjoying the attention focused on him, thought. He had known from the start that the purpose of this meeting was to test him.

Announcing that he would perform the mourning rites while meeting his younger brother? That was a signal for Zhuge Ge to come as well.

‘If you want to know about this Zhuge Ge so much, I will gladly oblige.’

In Zhuge Ge’s view, this place was more than sufficient to showcase his innate talent, a talent that was second to none in the heavens.

Zhuge Ge, in high spirits, momentarily forgot his father’s warning. He began to speak, forgetting the caution to never express personal opinions outside without his permission.

“Currently, among the Three Kingdoms, where is the strongest power?”

“The Three Kingdoms…”

For the Han Dynasty, which did not officially recognize Wei and Wu as states, the choice of words might have been grating. Zhuge Ge quickly continued after Jang-ran softly recited the term ‘Three Kingdoms’.

“It would be Cao’s forces.”

“Attack Cao because he is strong? Isn’t that laughable even as you say it?”

It was a pointed remark, questioning whether they had allied with Wei to attack them together, knowing this.

“Of course, when comparing the strength of powers, it’s not just simple numbers but also the momentum that must be considered. And that is a consideration based on long-term trends. War is extremely heavy, and one cannot ignore the long-term changes it will bring.”

Zhuge Ge rambled on. It was flashy but, to put it bluntly, it was about seeing the big picture.

With the success of the Northern Expedition, the Han Dynasty, holding Guanzhong, declared itself emperor and seized the flow of the world.

If left unchecked, the hegemony would have completely shifted to the Han Dynasty, which had the most justification and currently appeared the most prosperous.

Especially for Wu, which had the weakest justification, it wouldn’t be strange if the aristocrats rebelled. Therefore, Wu had to raise an army to maintain internal order.

“Now that the balance of the tripod, as my uncle said, has been achieved, what Han and Wu must guard against is Cao’s forces regaining their strength.”

Zhuge Ge’s argument was orthodox.

If the Han Dynasty had held Jing Province, it might have been almost equal in strength to Wei.

But now that Jing Province has passed to Wu, Wei still leads in national power among the Three Kingdoms.

“Although Han has secured Guanzhong and Yongyang with a rising momentum, they still have the fertile Hebei and Central Plains, so time is still on their side.”

Wei, despite suffering the most losses among the Three Kingdoms, still had the largest population.

Of course, the military losses have been too great, making it impossible to launch expeditions abroad for a while.

Looking at Wei’s military stance alone, it has shifted from maintaining hegemony through active offensives to prioritizing the preservation of territory.

Wei’s change wasn’t just due to defeat. The successive deaths of key figures like Jia Xu, Zhao Yun, and Zhang Liao also had a significant impact.

Yet, the strength that held the hegemony was still there. Talents to fill their void would emerge from somewhere.

‘But there’s always a gap in between!’

Sun Quan boldly raised an army and marched to Huainan, convinced that now was the right time.

“Now, Cao’s forces are weary from your Northern Expedition and are fighting us in the east, exhausted. With the old guards who defended the borders dead and the pillars of the state gone, they are almost half-collapsed. Before time revives them, now that Cao’s forces are immersed in fatigue, is the time to advance.”

Zhuge Ge’s long tirade ended.

Noticing the changed gazes towards him, Zhuge Ge subtly smiled.

It was a convincing argument that the currently strongest Wei was staggering, so let’s finish them off now.

However, not everyone actually accepted Zhuge Ge’s argument.

“Han and the enemy cannot coexist. From our perspective, the Sun Quan you follow is also our enemy. Moreover, you mentioned that momentum cannot be excluded. If we are blocked by Cao’s forces and Sun Quan takes Huainan, that momentum could pierce the heavens.”

The one who stepped forward with these words was Dong Yun. Seeing Dong Yun, who had been pushed back by him before Jang-ran appeared, Zhuge Ge unconsciously snorted and said.

“If you want to uphold the principle that Han and the enemy cannot coexist, it’s even more correct to attack Cao’s forces. Cao dares to claim the title of emperor, but our lord does not.”

“Didn’t he claim the title of King of Wu?”

As if to repay the bitter defeat, Ma Su provided supporting fire.

“King of Wu? Who gave him that title? Cao Pi? Have you forgotten? Our lord is currently fighting that very Cao Pi. With swords clashing, what meaning does a title have? Do you use the name given by your enemy?”

Zhuge Ge retorted sarcastically to Ma Su’s words and spoke even more spiritedly.

“Even if it’s King of Wu, how can it compare to claiming the title of emperor? It’s unheard of to catch the small thief far away while the big thief is right in front.”

Ma Su, with a flushed face, tried to rebut again, but seeing Jang-ran’s raised hand, he suppressed his anger and stepped back.

Jang-ran calmed the heated room with a simple gesture of raising her hand. Like Cao Cao, who dominated the meeting hall in front of Fancheng in the distant past.

Although the scale and weight were less than before, there was something similar in the way she encompassed the assembly.

“Let’s stop here. Zhuge Ge, I have heard your words well.”

“It was a shallow insight.”

Unlike when dealing with Ma Su earlier, Zhuge Ge’s attitude was extremely respectful.

If he always maintained such an attitude, Zhuge Jin might shed tears of joy.

To such Zhuge Ge, Jang-ran said.

“You are like Zi Gong.”

Zi Gong (子貢). His real name was Duanmu Si, and Zi Gong was his courtesy name.

He was one of Confucius’s beloved disciples, excelling in commerce and politics, and served as Confucius’s troubleshooter.

Among the many anecdotes with Confucius, the most famous is undoubtedly the Five Kingdoms Tour Debate.

When Confucius’s home state of Lu was in crisis due to an attack from Qi, Confucius chose Zi Gong among his disciples to seek help.

Zi Gong went to Qi and persuaded Tian Heng, a senior official of Qi, that attacking the powerful state of Wu would be more beneficial than attacking Lu.

Then he went to Wu and persuaded Fu Chai, one of the protagonists of the story of perseverance, to stop attacking Lu and instead attack Qi.

Next, he went to Yue and advised them to wait for Wu to fight Qi and then launch a surprise attack, while also warning Wu to be wary of Yue and fight against Jin.

Finally, he advised Jin to prepare for an attack from Wu, causing Qi to be greatly shaken, Wu to perish, Jin to become prosperous, and Yue to become a hegemon.

And as Zi Gong intended, Lu succeeded in surviving amidst the struggles of the powerful states.

The five states surrounding Lu were manipulated by Zi Gong’s three-inch tongue to protect Lu.

Regarding Zi Gong’s deeds, it is said in the Records of the Grand Historian (史記).

‘Thus, Zi Gong’s single journey caused cracks in the situation of various states, leading to significant changes in five states over ten years.’

This shows how great Zi Gong’s diplomatic skills were and how far his three-inch tongue could move the world.

Comparing him to Zi Gong might seem like a compliment praising his abilities, but it could also feel like a critique suggesting manipulation with his three-inch tongue.

Zhuge Ge also furrowed his brow slightly, pondering which side it was. But, quick-witted as he was, he bowed his head and took the lead.

“It’s an excessive compliment. I’m worried that my words might have sounded like they were disturbing your state, but I believe Commander Wei has understood my sincerity.”

“It’s a compliment indeed. Zi Gong was Confucius’s disciple and a minister of various states, so it speaks of his outstanding abilities.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

Zhuge Ge was indeed witty and talented. He could be considered the leader of the second generation of the Three Kingdoms.

He was clearly a talent that made one think of the Zhuge family.

But when evaluating Zhuge Jin’s two sons, it was said.

The elder Zhuge Ge has good abilities but lacks character, while the younger Zhuge Jiao, though not as talented as his brother, has an incomparably excellent character.

Jang-ran, witnessing Zhuge Ge’s abilities, felt relieved instead.

People don’t change easily, do they?

Zhuge Ge was the same. Confirming that his nature hadn’t changed, Jang-ran felt relieved and drew a smile on her lips.

“Let’s start the mourning rites now. Let’s sing the funeral song given by the Prime Minister together.”

As the final mourning for the departed began, naturally, the attention on Zhuge Ge also subsided.

§

After the mourning rites ended and the guests left the banquet hall.

Only the people of Commander Wei’s office remained, discussing the aftermath.

“But, the evaluation as Zi Gong, how…”

In Ma Su’s cautiously brought up words, there was a faint mix of displeasure and envy.

“Is there a problem?”

“Isn’t it excessive? Zi Gong is among Confucius’s disciples, one of the most talented…”

Perhaps it was because he didn’t like praising the person who had just rebuked him. Ma Su didn’t hide his disappointment.

“Zi Gong…”

I quietly pondered the evaluation I had given to Zhuge Ge.

“Confucius said to Zi Gong, ‘You are a vessel.’ When Zi Gong asked what kind of vessel, Confucius answered, ‘A hu lian (瑚璉).'”

The hu lian that Confucius compared Zi Gong to was a precious sacrificial vessel used to offer grains to the gods. It was a metaphor praising Zi Gong’s outstanding talents and wealth.

“But before that, Confucius said this.”

However, it wasn’t just a compliment.

“The gentleman is not a vessel.”

But to Zi Gong, he said, ‘You are a very precious vessel,’ which, while praising Zi Gong’s value, was also saying that he could not become a gentleman.

“Zhuge Ge is the same.”

In the original history, Zhuge Ge’s innate arrogance and desire for self-display led to his own destruction.

Hearing my explanation, Ma Su finally relaxed his expression.

And I, like Ma Su, brushed off my concerns about Zhuge Ge.

An enemy with clear weaknesses could no longer be an object of fear.

Rather, now it was something to look forward to.

‘Authority has been given.’

Will Zhuge Ge accept the hidden meaning in the evaluation as Zi Gong and restrain himself?

Or will he, intoxicated by this performance, step forward even more?