Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3674 The Copper Bell Startles the Tiger's Soul, the Sea Chart Feeds the Flood Dragon

After seeing Liu Bei off, Gu Yong did not leave the pavilion immediately.

He leaned alone against the railing, gazing at the lush mountain scenery outside the pavilion.

A mountain breeze swept by, bringing the fresh scent of grass and trees, but it could not dispel the heaviness that settled between his brows.

A trusted attendant quietly stepped forward and whispered, "Master, General Liu has safely descended the mountain. The men sent by Lord Sun have been lured to the county government office by our people and are entangled there; they won't be able to leave for the time being."

Gu Yong nodded slightly, signaling his trusted aide to step back.

He stood alone in the mountain pavilion, his gaze still fixed on the distant direction where Liu Bei had left, as if trying to see through the turbulent thoughts beneath the calm face of that ruthless hero.

Today's conversation felt like we talked, yet it also felt like we didn't talk at all.

How about we talk?

Gu Yong chuckled silently.

"As expected, he's no ordinary shoe seller..."

"Liu Bei, Liu Xuande... the bearing of a ruthless hero, his forbearance as deep as an abyss..."

Gu Yong muttered to himself, his voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the wind, as if speaking to himself to organize his thoughts. His words were vague, yet every sentence was agreeable and watertight. "Jiangdong is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources, a place I yearn for"? Ah, what a fine "yearning for"!

He recalled Liu Bei's demeanor while sipping tea in the pavilion. He appeared humble and easygoing, but his eyes, when they inadvertently swept over the guards outside the pavilion and the terrain, revealed a sharpness like that of a predator.

This is not the look that a "kind and honest" person would have...

When Gu Yong subtly mentioned "sea storms" and "exotic treasures of Jiaozhi," he clearly saw Liu Bei's fingers, holding the teacup, pause almost imperceptibly. Although Liu Bei quickly concealed it, that momentary hesitation revealed his true interest.

"This man is by no means content to remain hidden in Jiaozhi. Sun Quan's luring him here is more of a curse than a blessing."

Gu Yong snorted, "However, a fierce tiger can harm people, but it can also be used to my advantage. The key lies in... avoiding the harm of its claws and teeth..."

A mountain breeze begins to rise, causing the copper bells on the corner of the pavilion to ring out with a clear and melodious sound.

Gu Yong turned and, as he walked down from the pavilion, instructed his trusted attendant: "After we return, make a copy of the nautical chart from Ryukyu to Rinan... and send it to Liu Bei."

The trusted attendant responded.

Since Liu Bei is interested in maritime trade, we should strengthen our bargaining chips for the next round of negotiations.

Gu Yong knew that empty talk was useless; only tangible benefits that could sway Liu Bei's ambitions could make this ruthless hero willingly step into his carefully laid plan.

Gu Yong looked up at the direction of Wu County City, a smile playing on his lips. After a moment, he flicked his sleeves and drifted away.

……

……

Evening, Wu Jing's residence.

The study was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating.

The news that there was a warrant from the "General Yangwu" had somehow leaked out...

Perhaps it was because there were too many people around when Lü Meng was investigating.

Anyway, when the news reached Wu Jing, the piercing gazes coming from all directions made Wu Jing feel annoyed, angry, and even a little scared.

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious the transfer order seemed!
"Guards!" Wu Jing slammed his hand on the table, his face ashen. "Go! Gather all the troop deployment records from last year to the present that required my signature or were handled by me! Especially the documents related to the personnel deployment for the ships participating in this review! Quickly!"

The trusted advisors and personal guards received the order and immediately began searching through the mountain of documents.

As time passed, Wu Jing's brows furrowed more and more deeply.

Finally, the aide, holding a stack of files, said with a trembling voice, "General... we've checked... we've checked every single military order stub from the past three months... but... only the order concerning the deployment of naval personnel for this parade... we couldn't find its stub..."

"What?!" Wu Jingru was struck dumb, abruptly standing up. "What do you mean you couldn't find it?! That transfer order clearly bears the seal of a certain general! How can there be no copy? You all investigate carefully again!"

What is a transfer order without a stub?

A proper transfer order is made in triplicate, and Wu Jing should have at least one copy on file.

If I can't find the save file here, it means there's mud in my crotch...

Moreover, he didn't believe he was so stupid as to stamp an official seal on a transfer order without a copy. Wouldn't that be giving someone a handle to use against him?
The staff and guards searched through the files carefully several times, even spreading all the relevant documents out on the ground, but still found nothing.

That crucial stub seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Wu Jing's temples throbbed with veins, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

The absence of a stub means that the transfer order bearing his official seal is very likely a forgery!

"Damn it! Someone must have framed us!" Wu Jing roared, his eyes blazing with fury. "Go immediately! Order the Imperial Workshop to recast the General's Seal! The new seal must have its design altered and hidden markings added! The old seal is to be discarded immediately!"

His first reaction was that the seal had been forged and had to be replaced immediately to plug the loophole. At the same time, he could also show Sun Quan that he was innocent and had been framed.

"General, you mustn't!"

A clear and urgent voice rang out from outside the door.

Yu Fan strode in, dressed in a scholar's robe, looking travel-worn, clearly having rushed over after hearing the news.

Wu Jing was furious and shouted, "Zhong Xiang! What's wrong with that? My seal is likely to be counterfeited. If it's not changed quickly, the consequences will be dire!"

Yu Fan strode to Wu Jing, his expression grave, and bowed, saying, "General, please calm your anger! I know your innocence! However, changing the seal at this time is a terrible move, tantamount to throwing our own forces into disarray and giving the enemy a handle against us!"

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Wu Jingqiang suppressed his anger and asked.

Yu Fan explained meticulously, speaking rapidly, "The general's seal is not only used for military orders! Withdrawals from the treasury, appointments and dismissals of officials, correspondence, communication with various prefectures, and even with the lord himself—all require this seal as proof! Once a new seal is issued, the old one immediately becomes invalid. The general must dispatch messengers day and night to inform all relevant government offices, prefectures, and even the central Wu Marquis's residence, stating that the old seal is invalid and the new one is in use! Such a change is a massive undertaking, time-consuming and laborious, inevitably causing disruption and chaos in both political and military affairs! This is the first point!"

Secondly, the general's sudden change of seal is tantamount to announcing to the mastermind behind the scenes, "Your treacherous scheme has been exposed!" Upon realizing this, they will surely disappear like snakes into the grass, hiding even deeper and destroying all possible clues. Trying to trace them again will be as difficult as climbing to heaven! This is not a wise move!

"Thirdly, does the General think that simply replacing the seal with a new one and adding hidden markings will ensure peace of mind?" Yu Fan's eyes flashed with a sharp glint. "Jiangdong has many skilled craftsmen! If they can imitate the old seal, what difficulty is there in imitating the new one? If they have already placed people in the General's residence who can glean the design of the new seal, given time, what difficulty is there in imitating another one? At that time, wouldn't the General have to replace it again? This cycle will only exhaust you, leaving you exhausted. Where will your prestige be? This is the third point!"

As Wu Jing listened to Yu Fan's analysis, cold sweat gradually soaked through his inner shirt. He had only been thinking about plugging the immediate loopholes, without considering the chain reaction and potential disastrous consequences of changing the seal.

Yu Fan's words were absolutely to the point!
"Then... then what do you think, Zhongxiang?" Wu Jing's voice was hoarse with a hint of lingering fear.

Yu Fan's gaze was intense as he lowered his voice: "General, this is a vicious scheme! Everyone knows the importance of the grand review; with your intelligence, General, how could you not know its crucial points? Therefore, this is intended to frame you and sow discord between you and the lord!! However… there are flaws in this plan…"

"There's a flaw? Zhong Xiang, tell me quickly!" Wu Jing was immediately energized, as if injected with a stimulant.

Yu Fan analyzed, "The general rarely issues orders outside, so those who know the general's seal and can imitate his handwriting to sign military orders are few and far between! The general can start by checking with those close to him, or those subordinates who have access to the general's study and are in charge of documents and seals..." "According to regulations, the troop mobilization records and the official orders should be kept and verified by different clerks. The missing records indicate that the person keeping the records, or the person who handed over the official orders, must have been negligent, or even suspected of conspiracy!"

"Therefore," Yu Fan said solemnly, "I believe that the General's seal should be issued according to the old system, outwardly appearing as normal, feigning ignorance. However, internally, an urgent investigation is needed! A secret examination should be conducted of all close attendants, subordinates, and staff who have access to the seal, handle official documents, and are familiar with the General's handwriting. Investigate their recent behavior, whether there have been any unusual occurrences, and with whom they have been in close contact."

Secondly, a thorough investigation must be conducted into those responsible for the safekeeping, transmission, and verification of the stubs of the transfer orders on that day. Who handled them? When were they handed over? Where did the stubs ultimately end up? Who took advantage of the situation to destroy them? There must be traces left behind!

Thirdly, all those who have used the seal within the past month, even those whose contact was only a short time ago, shall be listed in a register and examined in detail.

"Furthermore, having launched their attack, if they see no response from the general, they may be pleased that their plan has succeeded, or they may feel uneasy and will surely make another move! They may hastily destroy any remaining evidence, secretly meet with their accomplices, or try to gauge the general's intentions. The general should simply secretly deploy spies and observe the situation quietly; perhaps then they can be captured on the spot!"

Yu Fan finished speaking in a series of sentences, which were well-organized, detailed and concise.

After listening, Wu Jing let out a long sigh, the slight panic in his eyes gradually replaced by a ruthless glint. "Zhong Xiang is truly a genius! If it weren't for your guidance, I would have made a grave mistake!"

That's right, he has to catch this forger!
Wu Jing immediately decided, "Let's follow Zhong Xiang's plan! Someone, relay my order: not a single word of today's events must be leaked! Secretly increase manpower and investigate thoroughly, as Zhong Xiang instructed! All clerks in the study should be thoroughly investigated! Don't let a single one escape! Report any findings immediately!"

The trusted confidant accepted the order and withdrew.

A flicker appeared in Wu Jing's eyes, as if he already had several key suspects in mind.

Yu Fan whispered from the side, "General, even if we find out who the forger is... I'm afraid this matter... may not end well..."

"What?!" Wu Jing exclaimed in shock. "What does Zhong Xiang mean by that?"

Yu Fan said in a low voice, "General... this military review... even if the lord knows you are innocent, the mistake has already been made, how can it be ignored? The person behind the scenes has grand ambitions, probably intending to stir up trouble in Jiangdong and fish in troubled waters... General, you should be more cautious... some things should be carefully considered..."

Wu Jing was taken aback. "Zhong Xiang means..."

Yu Fan cupped his hands and said, "My position is lowly and my words carry little weight... therefore, no one would forge my seal..."

"This..." Wu Jing hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, his eyes turning sinister, "Hmph! Whoever dares to set their sights on me... I'll make them pay!"

He turned to Yu Fan, "Zhong Xiang, I'll need your help in this matter; please assist me in catching this scoundrel!"

Yu Fan solemnly cupped his hands in greeting: "How dare I disobey!"

……

……

Wu County, Gu Mansion.

The candlelight flickered in the deep night, casting the shadows of the group of people sitting around onto the screen painted with the image of a great river, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, swaying precariously.

The air was so heavy it felt like you could wring water out of it.

Gu Yong sat at the head of the table, his usually calm face now covered with a layer of frost.

Key figures from various families, including Lu Xun and Zhang Wen, were all present, their faces somber.

"Gentlemen," Gu Yong's deep, clear voice broke the suffocating silence, "Sun Quan disregarded our advice and insisted on inviting a wolf into the house... Now Liu Bei has arrived in Jiangdong... Our Jiangdong foundation is truly as precarious as a pile of eggs."

Zhang Wen stroked his beard and interjected, "Brother Yuan Tan is quite right. I once visited Liu Bei at night; he appears honest and kind, but his true nature... hehe... My lord's actions are highly inappropriate. Seemingly trying to use one tiger to devour another, you're actually inviting disaster! The generals of Huai and Si have just suffered a defeat in Sichuan, losing many soldiers and generals, and their treasuries are empty. They are surrounded like hungry wolves, desperately needing money, provisions, and armor to replenish their strength... Looking across Jiangdong, who else can provide the necessary funds and provisions?"

Zhang Wen glanced around, his tone tinged with indignation, "The northerners see us as pigs and dogs, waiting to be slaughtered and their spoils divided; our lord even intends to use the Liu family to stir up trouble in Jiangdong, employing a balancing act to completely subdue us so he can seize absolute power!"

Lu Xun's eyebrows twitched. Although he served under Sun Quan, he was still closely connected with the Jiangdong gentry. "Back when Zhou Yu was alive, we still respected him. Now, Zhou Yu's body is barely cold, and he changes orders every morning and evening... However, I heard that during that military review, there were those who forged General Yangwu's orders..."

Zhang Wen waved his hand, "I am not capable enough to resort to such low tactics!"

Gu Yong smiled and said, "I've heard a little about it... I do have a guess..."

Lu Xun's eyes darted around. "I hadn't expected this either... but now that you mention it, I've guessed it..."

Zhang Wen looked at Gu Yong, then at Lu Xun, and asked, "Who is it?"

Gu Yong smiled.

Lu Xun smiled as well.

Zhang Wen scratched his head, but quickly put the matter aside and said with some worry, "The current situation is indeed extremely unfavorable for us. Although the Huai-Si faction's military power has been diminished, its foundation remains. Huang Gongfu has stationed troops in Jiangxia, eyeing us covetously; though his name is outwardly prominent, he is actually focused on internal affairs. As for Lu Zijing... he seems fair, but in reality, he favors Sun Quan... As for the rising stars like the Lü clan, they are sharpening their knives... Those guys in Jiangbei control the lifeline of money and supplies; they are happy to see us weakened... And that Liu Bei, with his ruthless and ambitious nature, is he the type to be content to live under someone else's roof? He has come to Jiangdong with grand ambitions! If we sit and wait for our doom, we will likely become fish on the chopping block."

Gu Yong nodded slowly, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, making a soft, rhythmic sound, as if questioning people's hearts.

"Brother Zhang's concerns about the perilous situation are not unfounded. Sun Quan's ambitions are far-reaching..." Gu Yong said softly, "If we are not careful, we may face the destruction of our families and the extermination of our clans! Hmph, Sun Quan invited Liu Bei here precisely to disrupt the power structure of Jiangdong, and the first step in doing so will inevitably be to target us, plundering our resources to support his army and stripping us of our power to consolidate his own position..."

A fierce glint flashed in Gu Yong's eyes. "The northerners want to use someone else to kill, the people of Huai and Si want to heal their wounds with blood, Sun Quan... has no integrity whatsoever, crossing the river and then burning the bridge. Are we, the sons of Jiangdong, merely to offer our necks for slaughter and watch our ancestral legacy be devoured?"

"Brother Yuan Tan, do you have a good plan?" Zhang Wen asked eagerly.

A glint flashed in Gu Yong's eyes, and his voice, though lowered, carried immense weight: "Liu Bei is an ambitious man; how can Jiaozhi tolerate him? He has come to Jiangdong with a purpose. Sun Quan wants to drive him away; why don't we preemptively strike first and make an even bigger deal with him?"

Lu Xun said in a low voice, "I'm afraid we're dealing with a tiger for its skin..."

Zhang Wen frowned and said, "This man is fickle; he appears benevolent and loyal on the surface... but wherever he goes, misfortune follows... Is he a good choice?"

"It is precisely because of his fickle nature that we can exploit his ambition!" Gu Yong said decisively. "What can Sun Zhongmou offer him? A nominal position as a guest? A few scraps? But we can offer him what Sun Zhongmou cannot!"

Lu Xun suddenly looked up, staring at Gu Yong. "Lord Gu, I'm afraid... this matter is quite inappropriate!"

Gu Yong turned to look at Lu Xun. "What's wrong with him? He has generals and soldiers, but no provisions or pay! The Sun family sees Jiangdong as their own territory and refuses to yield… Now they're sharpening their knives; are we just supposed to offer our necks to them?"

Gu Yong said, word by word, "Sun Zhongmou wants Liu Bei to deal with us, so why can't we do the opposite? We can either force Sun Zhongmou to submit... or even make him abdicate and install Sun Bofu's son as the new ruler! Once the situation has stabilized, we can either ally with the Huai and Si regions, or borrow resources from the northerners, or even... at that time, the struggle between Fei and Cao will likely be a foregone conclusion..."

"As for the Sun family..." Gu Yong gazed out the window at the deep night, towards the direction of the Wu Marquis's residence, a cold, sharp smile curving his lips. "He wants to play the trick of using someone else to kill, but he doesn't know how deep the waters of Jiangdong truly are... How can he alone manipulate this chessboard of the world? He wants all sides to fight to the death so he can reap the benefits? Then let's make this fire burn even brighter! Let's see in the end whether Sun Zhongmou can sit back and fish in peace, or... play with fire and get burned!"

The candlelight flickered, casting a half-light on Gu Yong's face, revealing a calm exterior concealing a powerful undercurrent of determination that sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

"The Battle of Fei and Cao..." Zhang Wen also let out a long breath, "The fate of the North is decided... Brother Gu, if the situation in Fei and Cao is settled, what are the chances of victory for Jiangdong?"

"If Zhou Gongjin were here..." Gu Yong sighed, then shook his head.

Lu Xun nodded and said, "So... my lord is in a hurry..."

"What's the use of rushing?" Gu Yong sighed. "Nine times out of ten, things in this world don't go as planned. How can you rush things? Rushing things makes it easier to make mistakes..."

After another moment of silence, Zhang Wen asked again, "Then the Zhu family..."

"His absence today means he's still standing by the Sun family's side..." Gu Yong picked up his teacup. "That's for the best, lest things become secret and cause trouble... Zhu Junli is getting old, only interested in sticking to the old ways..."

Lu and Zhang exchanged a glance and remained silent.

The moon casts its shimmering shadows outside the window; the land of Jiangdong has been transformed into a breeding ground for Gu poison.

All those who enter the game are Gu worms. In the early stages, they are wary of each other and keep their distance. However, as soon as there is a hint of blood, they will inevitably tear each other apart. They will not stop until a final winner is determined!