Mythical Three Kingdoms

”...” Sima Lang felt at a loss for words; such a simple problem had stumped them, and the inadequacy of Li Jue’s intellect was truly troubling. However, considering his own status, it was probably best not to criticize too openly at this moment.

”Ah, Boda, there’s no need to worry.” Li Jue, seated opposite Sima Lang, patted his shoulder with a smile, ”Even if we can’t bear it, Ma Shoucheng won’t fare any better, so relax.”

”General, although Lang has no solution at hand, there is definitely someone within Chang’an City who can address this issue.” A flicker of thought crossed Sima Lang’s eyes as he recalled someone, realizing that making contact could indeed be very beneficial.

”Eh? There’s such a person in Chang’an City? I really didn’t know that. Tell me about it, Boda.” Li Jue’s face lit up with interest; while the Xiliang Soldiers’ food supply wasn’t vast, surviving half a year wasn’t a problem. But he understood the saying that a lack of long-term concerns surely leads to immediate worries, and with Zhang Ji and others pressing him for grain, it was understandably stressing him out.

”Yingchuan’s Zhong Yuanchang is a man of overflowing talent, and his mind brims with countless strategies,” Sima Lang said with a smile, reciting the evaluation given by Xun Yu.

”Oh, you’re talking about Zhong Yuanchang?” Li Jue’s eager demeanor instantly deflated, ”That guy always looks like he hasn’t had enough sleep, irregular in attending court sessions, and it’s anyone’s guess where he spends his time. He’s also one of our Minister Dong’s lineage, but all he’s done is idly pass his days.”

It was true that Li Jue and his company were quite loyal. When they had fought their way back, most of Dong Zhuo’s people had died, but they had taken all the survivors under their wing. Even those they hadn’t known before received rewards. It was because of this loyalty that Li Jue had some impression of Zhong Yao, a rather distant relation.

However, precisely because this group was still led by a sense of loyalty, there had yet to be great chaos. Once that loyalty gradually eroded away, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry would have no other fate but to disintegrate.

”General, do not underestimate Zhong Yuanchang. If you are out of options, why not try approaching him? It might just yield unexpected results,” Sima Lang said with a smile.

Sima Lang’s smile helped Li Jue to relax. Upon further thought, he realized it made sense; since he had no other recourse, why not give it a try? Success or failure, it didn’t really matter.

”Hmm, your point is valid. Well, there’s no better day than today; I’ll bring gifts and pay him a visit.” Despite his attempts at appearing cultured, Li Jue was at heart a simple brute, and it showed within three sentences, ”Servants, prepare paper, brush, inkstone, jewels, beautiful jade, luxurious carriages, and beautiful women.”

”General, General, there’s no need for all that,” Sima Lang hastily interjected, knowing that Zhong Yao wouldn’t lack for these things and that such gifts would be pointless.

”Why is that?” Li Jue asked, puzzled by Sima Lang’s protest.

”General, as for Zhong Yuanchang, he actually has little interest in jewels or beauties. He has but one passion – calligraphy, especially that of Cai Bojie. With such a gift, even if Zhong Yuanchang cannot find a way, he will make one,” Sima Lang declared without hesitation, pinpointing Zhong Yao’s weakness.

Zhong Yao was a fervent admirer of Cai Yong, obsessive to the point of relocating to the capital just to be near his calligraphy. As someone who would go so far as to dig up a friend’s grave for the sake of Cai Yong’s handwriting, for Zhong Yao, procuring works of Cai Yong meant everything else was inconsequential.

”Cai Bojie’s calligraphy?” Li Jue pondered, then recalled, ”Right, when we took over Chang’an, Cai Bojie had already died, and his daughter was gone too. When I sorted through his household, I acquired many manuscripts handwritten by him. Why not gift all of them to Zhong Yuanchang?”

To Li Jue, those handwritten manuscripts by Cai Bojie held no significance, as he did not read them anyway.

”Hahaha, General, since you have such an item in hand, why not take a scroll and try your luck with Zhong Yuanchang!” Sima Lang said with laughter.

”Alright, let’s go now,” Li Jue said, abandoning the fragrant carriage and beautiful women, taking these items and riding to find Zhong Yao.

”Master, the General of Chariots and Cavalry has come to visit,” Zhong Yao’s old servant approached and said respectfully, bowing his head to Zhong Yao.

”I will not meet him, I will not meet him, I am studying Great Scholar Cai’s calligraphy!” Zhong Yao said without lifting his head, ”Just say I’m not here.”

”Minister Zhong wields such great official authority, to think that he wouldn’t even meet with me,” Li Jue said discontentedly, who, during this period, could be described as second only to the emperor, of course with the exception that his orders did not extend beyond Sili.

Zhong Yao did not lift his head, his heart filled with dissatisfaction. He reluctantly gestured in the direction of the voice and then lowered his head to continue studying Cai Yong’s calligraphy. It was evident he hadn’t taken Li Jue to heart at all, infuriating Li Jue to the point where he almost turned around and left.

Seeing the situation, Sima Lang quickly stepped in to smooth things over, ”Mr. Zhong, General Li has come to bring you a gift. Look, this is a manuscript from Cai Bojie himself. The General heard you cherish such items greatly, so he searched specifically for this, and hurriedly brought it to you as soon as he found it...”

Before Sima Lang could finish his sentence, the scroll had already fallen into the eagerly awaiting hands of Zhong Yao, ”The genuine article, from Great Scholar Cai himself, wonderful, wonderful, General, take a seat, the seat of honor, quickly!”

Zhong Yao, with the scroll in mind, was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, ordering tea and water to be served and summoning singers, then quickly directing a feast to be prepared—yet from start to finish, his head never lifted, his gaze fixed on the scroll in his hands.

Li Jue, of course, understood that Zhong Yao’s enthusiasm wasn’t personal, just focused on the scroll, which left him feeling even more discontent. He twisted his body, intending to leave, but Sima Lang urgently reached out to hold him back.

”Mr. Zhong, it’s like this, my Household General is troubled by a matter and would like to seek your advice...” Sima Lang said, covering the letter with his hand, upon which Zhong Yao immediately lifted his head, dark-faced, to look at the two men. He hated nothing more than being disturbed while reading; typically, those who did so ended up dead.

”Ah, the Cavalry General,” Zhong Yao finally realized upon raising his head that the visitor was Li Jue, momentarily stunned, he hurriedly gave a formal greeting.

Li Jue, with a darkened face, returned the gesture to Zhong Yao, his opinion of him dropping further. If it weren’t for Sima Lang holding onto him, he would have already turned and left.

Sima Lang quickly recounted the whole matter, ”Mr. Zhong, do you have a brilliant strategy? As long as we can break through this situation, there are more of Great Scholar Cai’s scrolls to be offered.”

”There’s more?” Zhong Yao exclaimed. The reason for his recent laxness was that he had scoured all of Chang’an City for Cai Yong’s written works and thought them all gone. But to learn that there were still more, he immediately looked at Li Jue with a burning gaze, sending shivers down Li Jue’s spine.

”Yes, more. Just solve this issue, and all the scrolls in my possession are yours,” Li Jue said impatiently. He couldn’t stand Zhong Yao’s gaze any longer, which resembled someone ogling a beautiful woman, especially when directed at him.

In an instant, Zhong Yao’s intellect skyrocketed, his thoughts racing like a whirlwind to the level of the contemporary first-class. His Spiritual Talent activated, enhancing his ability to make swift decisions. In just a few seconds, countless possibilities flowed through his mind. Then, he looked up sharply, sweeping a glance over Sima Lang and spoke, ”The matter is simple!” (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)