Chapter 93

“It’s hard for me to dare to evaluate.”

At Liu Bei’s urging, I reluctantly spoke.

“Unmatched in the Kingdom.”

Unmatched in the Kingdom.

A scholar without equal in the nation.

A phrase used by Xiao He when introducing Han Xin, one of the Three Heroes of Han, which later became a symbol of Han Xin.

“If you say ‘Unmatched in the Kingdom,’ does that mean even the renowned strategist Zhuge Liang, whom you once praised, cannot compare?”

“Though I feel guilty towards both of you, yes. You, my lord, embody all the Three Heroes of Han, so you need not worry.”

“Haha, you really know my heart. But to say I embody all the Three Heroes of Han… I didn’t realize you held Zhuge Liang in such high regard.”

Hearing my evaluation, Liu Bei seemed to relax, his expression easing.

But with his worries lessened, Liu Bei’s interest was piqued, and he continued to question.

“Still, if you had to find someone comparable to Zhuge Liang, who would it be?”

I was half-resigned. It’s hard to go against the words of a king and lord like Liu Bei, and since it’s a private audience, what harm could it do? So I spoke my mind.

“In military strategy, Pang Tong and Chief Minister Huang Quan are comparable.”

“And in governance?”

“There is none.”

“None?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I answered directly, and Liu Bei’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Not even Zichu (Yu Pa), Zhuge Liang, or Zhengfang (Yi Yan)?”

“No. They cannot compare.”

Though I cherish Ban Jun, comparisons must be made where due.

To find a talent comparable to Zhuge Liang in politics and governance, only Xun Yu comes to mind. But even Xun Yu has long passed, so the ‘Kingdom’ in ‘Unmatched in the Kingdom’ refers to the entire continent.

To compare, we’d have to bring talents from other eras.

“Hmm, then besides those mentioned, is there any talent you have your eye on?”

“Do you mean among civil officials?”

“Yes. The military has plenty of young talents. You, of course, the Eight Generals you discovered, the young officers I personally nurtured, and recently, Feng Shu, Shang Cong, and Chen Shi—so many.”

In recent years, I’ve been constantly on the battlefield, so how much time have I spent in Chengdu to know the abilities of civil officials?

Unlike me, who relies on knowledge from a past life, Liu Bei truly has the insight to see through people.

As I hesitated to speak, Liu Bei added his reasoning.

“Zhuge Liang is good at seeing people’s abilities, but he tends to get too caught up in that. He overuses people like Ma Su, which worries me. But hearing your evaluations, perhaps Zhuge Liang will think twice.”

Ma Su… a name of both love and hate for Zhuge Liang.

In terms of judging people, Liu Bei was a step above Zhuge Liang, as proven by Ma Su.

Even before bringing up Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei had asked about Ma Su, so he must have had this in mind.

“Moreover, he cherishes even lazy talents like Zhang Gongyan, which worries me.”

Zhang Gongyan refers to Zhang Wan. Though the name might be unfamiliar, he was the official successor to Zhuge Liang, continuing the lineage of the Four Ministers of Shu.

In the novel, only Jiang Wei is highlighted as Zhuge Liang’s successor, but in reality, it should be divided between Zhang Wan in governance and Jiang Wei in military affairs.

But why is Liu Bei wary of Zhang Wan? Seeing my puzzled expression, Liu Bei explained.

“Once, I entrusted Guangdu County to Zhang Wan, but he drank and neglected his duties. I intended to execute him, but Zhuge Liang stopped me, saying he was not just a talent for managing a hundred li but a vessel for the nation.”

This is exactly the anecdote of Pang Tong from the novel. It seems Luo Guanzhong took Zhang Wan’s records and attached them to Pang Tong.

“And how did you handle it, my lord?”

“I stripped him of his position. But since Zhuge Liang repeatedly recommended him, he’s now a Lower-ranked Minister.”

A Lower-ranked Minister is a mid-level official. It seems Liu Bei had firmly marked Zhang Wan. Despite Zhuge Liang’s strong recommendation, he’s only a Lower-ranked Minister.

While Liu Bei was right about Ma Su, this time Zhuge Liang was correct. Letting a talent like Zhang Wan rot as a junior official was a national loss, so I defended Zhuge Liang.

“In my humble opinion, this time Zhuge Liang has judged the talent correctly.”

“Oh… even you say so. Are you favoring Zhang Gongyan because he’s Zhuge Liang’s brother-in-law?”

“My lord?”

Is this how you see it? Seeing my indignant and bewildered face, Liu Bei coughed and apologized.

“Well, I’m sorry. I misspoke.”

Come to think of it, Zhang Wan and Ban Jun were related by marriage. Perhaps in the original history, Liu Bei’s wariness of Zhang Wan was also due to Ban Jun becoming a turncoat who defected to Wu.

But the current Ban Jun, despite Guan Yu’s disdain, remained loyal and rose to become a key figure in Jing Province.

With both me and Zhuge Liang praising Zhang Wan, Liu Bei reconsidered his judgment.

“I should take another look at Zhang Gongyan. I understand.”

The exchange of evaluations with Liu Bei ended here.

Since the private audience began with concerns about Zhuge Liang, there was no reason to detain me further.

As soon as I left, Liu Bei, seemingly to make up for his earlier mistake, immediately summoned Zhang Wan.

And before I could even leave the palace.

Liu Bei promoted Zhang Wan from a Lower-ranked Minister, not even a seasoned official but a mere newcomer, to the position of Chief Minister.

It was an unprecedented promotion. In modern terms, it’s like a sixth-grade civil servant suddenly becoming the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. Though not a perfect analogy, it’s close enough.

With the negative first impression stripped away by me and Zhuge Liang, the true face of Zhang Wan must have been revealed.

‘If only all the Four Ministers of Shu could rise to key positions now.’

Zhuge Liang. Zhang Wan. Bi Yi. Dong Yun.

The renowned ministers who led Shu after Liu Bei’s death.

In the original history, they managed the impoverished Shu excellently, achieving a strong nation and military. They would surely fulfill their roles well in any position.

‘Zhuge Liang and Zhang Wan are set. Dong Yun is already a rising star, so Bi Yi is the issue.’

In this era without an examination system, rising to an official position depended entirely on connections.

Academic, regional, and familial ties.

Though these three will remain important far into the future, now they are truly the beginning and the end. In that regard, Dong Yun had no issues.

Born into a powerful family in Paju, his father Dong Hua was a high official in Shu.

Moreover, before becoming the King of Hanzhong, he had taken care of the Left General’s Office with Zhuge Liang, forming a close bond. Dong Yun had even received teachings from Zhuge Liang, his father’s close friend.

Truly achieving the grand slam of familial-regional-academic ties, Dong Yun’s future was a solid path, a flower-strewn road.

‘Bi Yi’s connections are not lacking either.’

His relative Bi Guan, along with Yi Yan, had surrendered and taken the position of Paju Prefect. Though from Jing Province, he had studied in Yi Province, so his academic and regional ties were sufficient.

He wasn’t lacking in personal fame either. Alongside Xu Shulong and Dong Yun, he was often mentioned as a rising star. But in reality, his position remained low-level.

‘Is it because of his age?’

Unlike Dong Yun, who was in his thirties, Bi Yi was only in his mid-twenties, just a few years older than me. For military officers, where merit is paramount, it’s different, but for civil officials, rising to a high position at a young age is difficult.

‘If it’s too hard, we can always transfer him to the Rear General’s Office.’

Until now, I hadn’t thought much of this matter. The content of my private audience with Liu Bei—could it really spread?—such complacency.

But the impact this private audience would bring was beyond imagination, something I had not foreseen.

§

Even what’s done under the covers gets known, and word without feet travels a thousand miles.

The story of Zhang Ran’s private audience with Liu Bei, where she gave her evaluations, and the rumor that Zhang Wan, recommended by her, was rapidly promoted from Lower-ranked Minister to Chief Minister in a single day, reached even Zhuge Liang’s ears in the distant south.

“My lord, have you heard? The world is praising you as a talent among the Three Heroes. Surpassing even Xun Yu’s throne-worthy talent, isn’t it?”

The voice of Ma Su, who accompanied this southern campaign as a staff officer, was filled with excitement.

Zhuge Liang was the person Ma Su respected most in the world. Ma Su, who secretly prided himself on being superior to his brother Ma Liang, had for the first time sincerely admired and acknowledged someone as superior to himself.

Zhang Ran was the same. Though Ma Su’s position was civil, he always longed for a military post, aiming to one day sit in a general’s seat.

To Ma Su, Zhang Ran, who at a younger age had risen to the fourth rank in the military, was an object of admiration.

The object of his admiration, Zhang Ran, had highly praised the object of his respect, Zhuge Liang, making Ma Su’s heart flutter as if he himself had been praised.

But seeing Ma Su’s elated face, spreading rumors far and wide across Shu, Zhuge Liang frowned.

Far from being pleased, Zhuge Liang looked displeased, and Ma Su, noticing his expression, lowered his voice.

“My lord…?”

Ma Su wondered if he had made some mistake.

He never thought Zhuge Liang would be uncomfortable with Zhang Ran’s evaluations. So Zhuge Liang’s reaction must be due to his own mistake.

But Zhuge Liang’s displeasure was not because of Ma Su or Zhang Ran.

“How could our lord compare talents like this?”

This was not the behavior of a gentleman. Though Zhuge Liang acknowledged and found Zhang Ran’s insight into talent interesting, this method was undoubtedly wrong.

“Though I am in the south, I must submit a memorial to our lord.”

Whether those evaluated by Zhang Ran accepted it or not, their hearts would not be entirely pleased.

To say that Zhuge Liang is the best in the world and they are not comparable—this evaluation did not consider the reputations of those mentioned.

Only then did Ma Su understand what Zhuge Liang was worried about. He felt ashamed for being happy about the mutual praise between his favorite people.

As Ma Su left to let Zhuge Liang focus on writing the memorial, Zhuge Liang quickly penned it.

While writing, Zhuge Liang thought of another concern.

‘Zhang Mingjing will be troubled by the world for a while. Mingjing is the shield to protect the nation and the spear to repel enemies. I can only hope he doesn’t get entangled in unnecessary political strife.’

Had I known this would happen, I should have summoned Ban Jun and Pang Tong to Chengdu. With just one of them, they could have skillfully dealt with the troublemakers around Zhang Ran.

‘At least General Zhang Fei is here, so it’s fortunate.’

With Zhang Fei in Chengdu, it won’t escalate into a major issue. Though he seems to be in seclusion, Liu Bei is also properly overseeing governance, so in the worst case, if Liu Bei comes out of seclusion, all will be well.

‘Cao Biao will soon ascend the throne. The grand plan is proceeding smoothly.’

Calculating that there would be no major issues, Zhuge Liang’s expression relaxed.

Then suddenly, Zhuge Liang made a mistake with his brush, writing a wrong character.

“Oops.”

True to his virtue of frugality, Zhuge Liang was writing on bamboo slips, so he used a knife to scrape off the mistake.

“Liang, your cultivation is still shallow.”

To be so elated like this.

But it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Thus, somewhere in the south, the sound of a knife scraping bamboo and Zhuge Liang’s soft laughter echoed.