Chapter 586
“If it rains, this old man will apologize to you in public.” Huang Gai laughed.
“Apologize?” Zhuge Liang laughed. If he loses he dies but if he win he only gets an apology?
“Gong…” Sun Ce wanted to stop Huang Gai from saying anymore but he was stopped by Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu shook his head telling Sun Ce not to interfere. This is because if Huang Gai wins, they would have an excuse to kill Zhuge Liang.
Sun Ce naturally listened to Zhou Yu’s advice but as though making things worse, Huang Gai was stirred by Zhuge Liang’s words. “If I lose, I will be like you. I can only apologize by committing suicide!” Huang Gai shouted in anger.
Sun Ce and Zhou Yu frowned at this. The matter was becoming even more serious. If it was just an apology in exchange for Zhuge Liang’s life then Sun Ce and Zhou Yu can watch this farce. However, if Huang Gai were to die from this then the joke would be on them.
Zhuge Liang also looked at Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. He wondered if they approved of this nonsense.
“Gongfu! Withdraw!” Sun Ce was a bit afraid and shouted at Huang Gai. He was concerned about Huang Gai as the man was an old subject of the Sun Family. At this time, Zhuge Liang interjected.
“I agree.”
“Master Zhuge. General Gongfu is muddle headed, please do not take offense!” Sun Ce cupped his fist at Zhuge Liang.
“The General still hale and hearty despite the years. How is he muddle headed? If that was so, he would not allow him to lead the soldiers!” Zhuge Liang said indifferently as he lifted up a cup towards Sun Ce. He was saying that if Huang Gai was muddle headed, Sun Ce would also be muddle headed.
Sun Ce’s expression darkened. Did Zhuge Liang not understand his words? He simply did not want the two to gamble. Yet, Zhuge Liang ignored him.
“General Gongfu simply drank too much.” Zhou Yu interjected.
“Milord, I have not!” Huang Gai said loudly.
Zhou Yu furrowed his brows when his attempt to help Huang Gai was rejected. Although he wanted Huang Gai to win, he also believed that Zhuge Liang would not speak without thinking as Zhuge Liang had already schemed against them successfully several times. The Jiangdong Army had suffered under Zhuge Liang’s hands. Zhou Yu fully believed that Huang Gai would lose but if it was only losing face, then it was worth gambling. On the other hand, if Huang Gai were to lose his life, there would immediately be disorder within the army.
“Ignorant Zhuge. Do you dare make this a military order?” Huang Gai asked.
Setting up a military order was like setting up an ultimatum. With a military order, everyone would have to follow through with it even if they were unhappy with it. It was just like when Zhuge Liang had to regretfully execute Ma Su in the original timeline. If the military order was not followed, no one would listen to it in the future.
Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were at a loss. They wanted to defuse this incident but it ended up blowing out of proportions. Now that Huang Gai had brought up this military order, he could not go back on his words or his career would be over. The only way out of it was to win the gamble.
“Alright! Write a military order!” Zhuge Liang said as he put down the cup. His confidence only made Sun Ce and Zhou Yu even more nervous. It would be a huge deficit if Huang Gai were to die.
“Good! Men! Bring a paper over!” Huang Gai said.
“Gongfu?” Sun Ce still wanted to stop this but Huang Gai said to Sun Ce that he would no longer have any face to see anyone if he turned back now.
Sun Ce sighed. He knew that Huang Gai and Han Dang were close to each other. He also knew that Huang Gai would pick a fight with Zhuge Liang. This is not because Huang Gai was hot headed but because of Han Dang getting severely injured by Zhuge Liang. Huang Gai would never be able to forgive himself if he did not kill Han Dang’s enemy when the enemy was right in front of him.
The paper was brought over and the military order was about to be written.
“Wait!” Zhuge Liang said after holding onto the pen.
“Is the Ignorant Zhuge afraid now?” Huang Gai asked coldly.
“General Huang. I respect that you have striven for the Han but that does not mean you can keep calling me ignorant. Based on military rank alone, I am your superior.” Zhuge Liang said coldly. He was actually one rank higher than Huang Gai. Although they served different Lords, the Han Dynasty was not truly over yet. That means that they were all subjects of the Han and needed to show each other that respect.
Huang Gai naturally did not care and only sneerd. Zhuge Liang also understood that he would not address Zhuge Liang respectfully.
“General Huang. I am not afraid of you. I simply think it is a waste if General Huang were to die like this. It is better for you to enjoy your later years!” Zhuge Liang laughed. On the surface he was saying that he would hate to see Huang Gai die. However, he was actually saying that Huang Gai is so old that he would pretty much die in a few years. Killing him here was meaningless.
“You…!” Huang Gai wanted to curse at Zhuge Liang
“Because of this, my part of the bet will stay the same but General Huang’s part would need to change.” Zhuge Liang added. As Zhuge Liang was still gambling with his life, Huang Gai swallowed his urge to curse at Zhuge Liang.
“What do you want? Just say it! If I have it, I will naturally dare to gamble it!” Huang Gai said to Zhuge Liang.
“It is very simple. If you lose, I want General Huang to be my guard for a few days and help me with miscellaneous things.” Zhuge Liang’s words shocked everyone.
Huang Gai became angry. Zhuge Liang basically asked Huang Gai to become his servant for a few days. For a general like him to become a servant of his and Jiangdong’s mortal enemy, it would be a humiliation to both him and the Jiangdong Navy. More importantly, Huang Gai was a senior figure who once guarded Sun Jian so there were times when Sun Ce called him uncle. If Huang Gai were to become Zhuge Liang’s servant, Sun Ce would also lose face.
“You…” Huang Gai pointed speechlessly. He was not afraid of death but he had to hesitate if it involves Sun Ce and the Jiangdong Navy’s reputation.
“Is General Huang afraid?” Zhuge Liang poured himself another cup as he asked.
“Why would I be afraid?” Huang Gai shouted back impulsively.
“Then sign your name.” Zhuge Liang said as he handed over the paper and pen to Huang Gai.
“Do it.” Sun Ce also nodded agreeing to the bet. It was good enough if Huang Gai did not need to die. Sun Ce still felt hopeful because like the other people of that era, they believed that the Heavens decided the weather. Zhuge Liang was not any sort of divine figure. How could observing the stars be enough? Sun Ce fully believed that Zhuge Liang was a skilled tactician but he drew the line at controlling the weather.
After the two signed the paper and had Sun Ce stamping it, the military order became official.
“General Huang. I wish you good luck. Feel free to accept it.” Zhuge Liang said and poured Huang Gai a cup.
Since Zhuge Liang said Huang Gai was free to accept it, he felt compelled to accept the drink. He then poured Zhuge Liang a drink to say that he was done. Zhuge Liang also calmly accepted this drink.
Time continued to pass but the sun could still be seen clearly. It didn’t look like it was going to rain.
The feast slowly ended after two hours but everyone who was supposed to return to their camps were still there because of Huang Gai and Zhuge Liang’s bet.
“What is the time now?” Zhuge Liang asked.
“Report. It is about two o clock.”
“No hurry.” Zhuge Liang mumbled to himself.
“Hmph!” Huang Gai sneered. It was noon but the sun is still shining brightly. After about half an hour, someone started to complain. “Master Zhuge. You said it will rain today but around what time will it rain? We cannot wait until tomorrow or else we would not be able to set out tomorrow as well!”
This military officer was forcing Zhuge Liang to specify the time which would make it easier for Huang Gai to win the bet. It was unfair as even weather forecasts would not be so accurate. His words were definitely not the words of a military officer. When Zhuge Liang looked at the man’s hands, he found that those hands were clenched and he was holding something white. Clearly, that was paper that instructed him on what to say.
“Yes! Yes! We cannot wait forever! Master Zhuge. Give us a time period!” The others agreed.
“What is the meaning of this? Teacher Zhuge isn’t a deity. How could he give you the exact time?” One of Zhuge Liang’s people spoke up for him.
“Then are we going to keep waiting? We have important military affairs to settle!”
“That’s right! Also, this is a military camp! A book servant like you have no qualifications to speak!”
The book servant wanted to argue but he was stopped by Zhuge Liang. This is because during this period, Zhuge Liang had identified the culprit that wrote the instruction. This person was Zhou Yu and the evidence was the pen that was near Zhou Yu. Although Huang Gai also had a pen near him, he was too prideful to pull such a stunt.
“Is it almost three now?” Zhuge Liang asked.
“Yes.” The book servant replied.
Zhuge Liang suddenly stood up and walked towards the exit of the tent.
“Where are you going?”
“I am unable to hold my alcohol. So I am going out to breathe in some fresh air.” Zhuge Liang replied to Jiangdong’s officers.
“Breathe in some fresh air? I think you are just afraid!”
“Haha!” Zhuge Liang laughed but did not reply. He took in a deep breath and stretched his hand out. He soon went back in after he was satisfied.
“It will start raining at approximately ‘between three to five’1 (shenshi).” Zhuge Liang declared. The others present became astounded.
“Are you serious? Master Zhuge. Do not pick the wrong time on account of us!” One person said. This is because it was almost shenshi.
“Haha. If it still doesn’t rain, it would mean that I lose.” Zhuge Liang replied.
“Alright. If that is the case, we will see if it will rain!” Since the military order was already announced, there was no harm in waiting a while longer. Jiangdong’s officers were not worried at all as the sun was still shining brightly. How could it rain in such clear weather?
“Milord. Everyone. It is already time!” One person reported.
“It is shenshi now, Master Zhuge.” Jiangdong’s officers said cruelly as they started to mock Zhuge Liang.
“Ah, so quickly?” Zhuge Liang pretended to be astonished.
“Yes. It is already shenshi. Master Zhuge. Do you admit defeat?”
“That means it is going to rain.” Zhuge Liang said, while ignoring the mocking he received.
They continued to wait until it was almost four. Yet the rain still did not come.
“Master Zhuge. Where is the rain?” Jiangdong’s officers became more insolent. “Military orders are not a joking matter!”
“That’s right. Even if you are part of Jiangdong, we cannot help you. We must obey military orders!”
The mocking continued to the extent that even Sun Ce got fed up with it.
Sun Ce waved his hand. “Alright, everyone withdraw. Master Zhuge have already been ridiculed. How about letting go of this military order? As long as Master Zhuge concedes and apologizes to the army, then we can let go of this matter.” Sun Ce said magnanimously.
“Milord. This is a military order!” Huang Gai objected. He would not be happy if Zhuge Liang was spared.
“Gongfu. Right now, Master Zhuge is a guest and our ally. It is more important that we destroy Yangzhou’s navy. There is no need to bicker about other things for now!” Zhou Yu added as he stared at Huang Gai. He was telling Huang Gai that killing Zhuge Liang now would destroy their alliance and make the Jingzhou Navy attack them instead. That does not mean that they would not kill Zhuge Liang in the future.
This was Sun Ce and Zhou Yu being cruel. If they really wanted to be magnanimous, they would have already torn the military order to shreds instead of keeping it. They simply wanted to use this on another day.
“No need.” Zhuge Liang sneered at the two’s obvious antics. “Just arrest me, I have nothing to say.”
“Hm?” Zhou Yu and Sun Ce looked at each other for a while. This Zhuge Liang does not act according to common sense. It was as though Zhuge Liang refused the only way out that is offered by Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.
“Men must live up to their promises. Since I lost the bet, I must accept the price.” Zhuge Liang said remorsefully.
“Milord. Since Military Advisor Zhuge already said this much, let us arrest him.” Huang Gai also said to Sun Ce.
Sun Ce also really wanted to kill Zhuge Liang but he could not afford the problems that would come out if he killed Zhuge Liang now.
“Marquis Wu, there is no need to worry about the alliance. I am sure they would understand Marquis Wu’s dilemma.” Zhuge Liang said
“I…”
“Milord. Since Master Zhuge already said this, then just arrest him.” Zhou Yu suggested. Zhuge Liang already said there will be no problems with the alliance.
“Alright. Men! Take Master Zhuge away!” Sun Ce was easily persuaded as he wanted to kill Zhuge Liang anyway.
“Teacher! You cannot arrest him!” Zhuge Liang’s book servant shouted loudly and tried to stop Jiangdong’s men.
“Que Xuan. Go back to Sanjiangkou. Go and tell General Wen Pin that I did this willingly and admitted defeat.” Zhuge Liang’s devotion to righteousness made Jiangdong’s officers dumbstruck. Does Zhuge Liang not know how to be flexible?
“Teacher!” The book servant still wanted to dispute but after seeing Zhuge Liang’s expression, he understood that Zhuge Liang must have made some preparations. Although he still had his misgivings he decided to keep quiet.
“Take Master Zhuge away.” Sun Ce waved his hand. “Remember to treat him well.” Sun Ce added.
“Understood!” Sun Ce’s subordinates accepted the order and escorted Zhuge Liang away. However, they allowed Zhuge Liang a large degree of freedom.
When Zhuge Liang was escorted away, he was naturally seen by Jiangdong’s troops. Some pointed at him, wondering what happened. The ones that knew of the bet explained the circumstances.
“Did you know that Master Zhuge can predict the weather?”
“Haha. If that is the case, he would not be arrested. It is because this Zhuge Liang said he could predict the weather that General Huang Gai gambled with him using a military order!”
“A military order? No wonder!”
“Do not call him Master Zhuge anymore. He is just an ordinary man. My fellow soldiers died because of him!”
“However, Master Zhuge also gave us provisions! Isn’t the provisions from Jingzhou?”
“What do you know? Do you think he had good intentions when he provided us with provisions? They just want us to help them defeat Yangzhou!”
“But aren’t they afraid we would start a war with Jingzhou by arresting him?”
“This showed that our Lord is strict! So what if this man is Jingzhou’s Military Advisor? He signed a military order so he has to carry it out!”
The ongoing conversation made the soldiers disrespect Zhuge Liang even more as they respected Sun Ce more. However, Zhuge Liang simply looked around the camp without care.
“Is Zhuge Liang courting death?” One person asked ever since he saw Zhuge Liang taken away. Shouldn’t Zhuge Liang be begging for mercy or try and deny his loss?
“Yigong. I have avenged you!” Huang Gai cupped his fist and shouted towards the East, where Han Dang was sent away to recuperate. Since Huang Gai won the bet, Zhuge Liang would be executed.
“General Gongfu. Killing Zhuge Liang would be easy but we cannot kill him now. Please look at the bigger picture!” Zhou Yu advised. As their alliance with Jingzhou was not yet over, they could not kill Zhuge Liang. This had to wait until Yangzhou was defeated.
Huang Gai thought for a while after listening to Zhou Yu’s explanation and then nodded. It would not be too late to kill Zhuge Liang later.
“If there is nothing else, Milord. I will take my leave.” Huang Gai bid his farewells and left to find a place to calm down after feeling the excitement of capturing Zhuge Liang.
“Go!” Sun Ce waved his hand at Huang Gai.
“General Huang. Where are you going?” A calm voice asked as a youngster with a feathered fan entered the tent.
“You!” Huang Gai’s eyes grew wide as he stared at Zhuge Liang. “Weren’t you taken away?”
“How do I explain this? After all, I did concede.” Zhuge Liang laughed in reply. He walked back to where he had been sitting earlier without even greeting Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.
“Teacher! Are you alright?” Zhuge Liang’s book servant asked. Sun Ce had been preparing to send the book servant back to the Jingzhou Navy to explain the situation.
“Does it look like I am not alright?” Zhuge Liang laughed as he shook his head. He then turned to Huang Gai and said calmly. “General Huang. If I had lost, I would have been taken to prison. But I did not lose.”
“You did not lose?” The sun was still shining so brightly.
“What happened?” Sun Ce asked his subordinates.
“Mi… Milord. It is raining!” The soldiers stammered.
“It is raining? Impossible! The sun is still shining so brightly! How could it rain?” Huang Gai shouted in disbelief.
“We…! General Huang! It is really raining!” The soldiers stammered under Huang Gai’s fierce glare.
“Liars!” Huang Gai was about to attack the soldiers when Zhuge Liang interrupted.
“General Huang. Who said there would be no rain if the sun is shining brightly?” Zhuge Liang laughed.
“General Huang. Please take a look.” Zhuge Liang added as he pulled open the tent.
It was drizzling but drizzle was still considered rain.
“Impossible!”
“A sunshower?” Zhou Yu also saw it. As there were no clouds, it was usually impossible for there to be rain. However, he had forgotten about the phenomenon known as a sunshower.
“Didn’t he say shenshi?” One person purposefully picked fault with this.
“Haha. Teacher said approximately. Isn’t it still within that time period?” The book servant spoke for Zhuge Liang.
“General Huang. It seems like I did not lose so that military order is no longer of any use. I do not need to be punished!” Zhuge Liang said calmly.
“But for you… Sigh. Nevermind it.” Zhuge Liang purposefully added and then shook his head. “General Huang, you are already aged. Let us just forget it. Let us pretend this did not happen.”
Seeing Zhuge Liang’s attitude, Jiangdong’s officers nodded with respect. Winning a gamble is normal but letting an opponent off after winning a gamble was worthy of respect. Some also did not want to see Huang Gai become Zhuge Liang’s servant.
Only Zhou Yu smiled bitterly wondering if Zhuge Liang really wanted Huang Gai to become his servant.
Zhuge Liang walked towards the military order and tore it apart. “I am tired. If there is nothing else, I will go back and take a rest. Goodbye.”
“Wait!” Huang Gai shouted. His eyes were bloodshot.
“What’s wrong, General Huang?” Zhuge Liang asked with doubt.
“I, Huang Gai Huang Gongfu have no need for your sympathy! I know how to concede!” Huang Gai said.
“Concede? Do you think I will let you escape?” Zhuge Liang silently sneered in his heart but on the surface, he still rejected Huang Gai’s proposal. “No need. What I said earlier was just a joke. Just forget it.”
“No! I will do as I promised!” Huang Gai remained stubborn. “Men!”
Huang Gai called his guards over and handed his sword and helmet to them. He kept his armor as there was nothing else besides his undergarments under it.
“General? Are you really going to be Zhuge Liang’s servant?”
“It will just be a few day’s work.” Huang Gai said coldly. After handing over his sword and helmet, he stood behind Zhuge Liang like a servant.
“How could this be acceptable?” Zhuge Liang said superficially. Kill Huang Gai? If this was written in the military order, Huang Gai would definitely be spared. Sun Ce would just turn hostile and tear the military order.
However, Huang Gai was now his servant. Humiliating Huang Gai was a better option as it would humiliate both the Jiangdong Army and Sun Ce. To have Jiangdong’s general and Sun Ce’s uncle become his servant was a refreshing feeling.
Besides that, to prevent Sun Ce from being shameless, he purposefully feigned defeat so that rumors of the military order would spread. If Sun Ce acts shamelessly now, he would only be slapping his own face.
As a result, Sun Ce became passive and confused.
“I hope Master Zhuge would treat General Huang well.” Zhou Yu spoke in Sun Ce’s stead. They could no longer go against Zhuge Liang.
“Of course! It will only be for a few days. The General would not be too troubled!” Zhuge Liang laughed.
After bidding his farewell, the book servant escorted Zhuge Liang by holding one of Zhuge Liang’s hand but Huang Gai was still standing still.
“Why are you still standing there? Do you still think you are a general?” The book servant shouted at Huang Gai.
“How dare you speak this way to General Huang!” Huang Gai’s guards shouted back.
“General Huang, just stay here. I do not dare to use you.” Zhuge Liang shook his head while sighing bitterly. “Que Xuan, let us go.”
“Withdraw!” Huang Gai shouted at his subordinates while feeling indignant after hearing Zhuge Liang’s words. He endured his anger and held on to Zhuge Liang’s other hand.
“Haha.” Zhuge Liang gave a strange smile as he left.
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- A reminder that shenshi is 3-5. A 2 hour leeway for dramatic nonsense.
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