Tiger Owl

Chapter 130 Patrolling the Swamp
Wen Ping returned to his residence, feeling deeply moved. He had been a strong supporter of the Northern Expedition, as the governor had previously instructed him to prepare to lead 20,000 troops to join Liu Bei on the expedition.

Wen Ping was thrilled. He had been training his troops and was eager to fight alongside Liu Bei.

Unexpectedly, he received an urgent secret order from Governor Liu Biao last night, forbidding him from sending troops, which made Wen Ping extremely disappointed and frustrated.

Wen Ping is not yet thirty years old. He is from Wancheng in Nanyang County. He is a man of both literary and martial talents, with a broad back and thick waist and deep eyes.

He had followed Liu Biao for ten years, always hiding in Jingxiang, without any opportunity to realize his ambitions. Those he once looked down on and thought were inferior to him were now doing better than him.

Wenping did not want to stay in one place. He did not seek such comfort. Deep down, he wanted to go out and fight, and he longed for that opportunity.

But now…
Wen Ping sighed deeply in the mansion when the steward announced from below, "General, Mr. Shui Jing has arrived."

Wenping perked up and quickly said, "Please invite your master to the guest room. I'll be right there."

Sima Hui, also known as Mr. Shui Jing, was Wen Ping's mentor. Wen Ping studied under Sima Hui for five years more than ten years ago before becoming a general.

Wenping arrived at the VIP hall, where his mentor Sima Hui was sitting and drinking tea.

Wenping immediately knelt down and bowed deeply, saying, "Student Wenping greets his revered teacher!"

Sima Hui sighed and said, "As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement. This was my parting advice to you when you entered officialdom, hoping that you would take it upon yourself to support the Han Dynasty. But ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you have accomplished nothing, which greatly disappoints me."

Wenping said with shame, "I always keep in mind my teacher's teachings and want to serve my country, but the opportunity has not come, and I can do nothing about it."

"Is it simply a matter of bad luck?"

Sima Hui stroked his beard and sneered, "Today you could have followed Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition, why didn't you go?"

Wen Ping was stunned. After a long while, he said, "Of course I want to go, but the governor's order forbids it. I dare not disobey the order."

"Liu Biao initially agreed to send 100,000 troops on a northern expedition, but later changed his mind and said he would only send 20,000, and finally refused to send any troops at all. Do you know why?"

"Disciple doesn't know!"

Sima Hui sighed and said, "Liu Jingsheng is no longer the Liu Jingsheng of yesteryear. He is only the nominal lord of Jingzhou. In reality, he has been controlled by the Jingxiang aristocratic families. It is because the Jingxiang aristocratic families are unwilling to send troops that I have come to Wancheng this time, at the invitation of Prince Liu Qi."

"Ah! It's the eldest son..."

Sima Hui nodded. "There are already signs of internal strife in Jingxiang. It's clear that Liu Biao won't live for more than a few years. Once he dies, the powerful families of Jingxiang will definitely support his second son, Liu Cong, to succeed him. What will happen to the eldest son? He will only have one way out: death."

"Now, the only external ally for the eldest son is Liu Bei, and the eldest son hopes that you will lead the army to follow Liu Bei on his northern expedition."

Sima Hui took out a letter and handed it to Wen Ping, "Take a look!"

Wen Ping took the letter and was surprised to find that it was written to him by Liu Qi. He quickly opened the letter and read it carefully. He was stunned to find that Liu Qi wanted him to follow Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition.

“Master, I don’t understand what the eldest son means. He wants me to follow Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition, but if I send troops without the governor’s order, wouldn’t that be betraying my lord?”

"Yes! It seems contradictory, but this is the only way out for the eldest son. In Jingzhou and Xiangyang now, Liu Biao has gradually become a puppet. It was Cai Mao who arranged for Liu Cong to be stationed in Jiangling, and it was also Cai Mao who arranged for Liu Cong to follow the army on the expedition. Once Liu Biao dies and Liu Cong takes the throne, he will be a puppet without any scruples. Liu Qi hopes that Liu Huangshu can help him."

"But Master, don't you understand? Without the governor's order, I set out to follow Liu Bei on his northern expedition. I can't go back now, which means I've become Liu Bei's subordinate."

Sima Hui sighed, "So you've forgotten all the principles I taught you. You are a subject of the Han Dynasty, not a retainer of Liu Biao. You should support the Han Dynasty, not be a dog guarding the gates of the Jingxiang aristocratic families."

All the warlords in the land are acting in their own self-interest; only Liu Bei's faction remains wholeheartedly dedicated to restoring the Han Dynasty. As your teacher, I hope you will follow Liu Bei, hoping that you can contribute your modest efforts to restoring the Han Dynasty.

Wen Ping lowered his head for a long while and said, "Master wants me to serve Liu Bei. I understand that Master thinks highly of Liu Bei, but I don't understand why the eldest son also wants me to serve Liu Bei? Is this a transaction?"

“It’s not a deal. I wouldn’t use you or anyone else as a bargaining chip. I persuaded Liu Qi, and Liu Qi agreed to give Liu Huangshu some resources to strengthen his power and become his support.” “Has Liu Huangshu had any contact with the eldest son?”

"Of course there was contact, and more than once. Liu Bei clearly expressed his support for Liu Qi."

Wen Ping sighed, "I completely understand what Master means. Let me think about it!"

“You can consider it, but I promise to destroy Liu Qi’s letter afterward.”

Sima Hui took his leave, and Wen Ping returned to his study, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, feeling truly anxious.

At this moment, his wife, Liu, brought in tea and asked softly, "Husband, have you encountered a problem?"

Wenping nodded. He did not hide anything from his wife and explained Sima Hui's purpose and Liu Qi's statement.

He sighed and said, "My master didn't say it outright, but it was actually a deal between Liu Qi and Liu Bei. He gave me and 20,000 troops to Liu Bei in exchange for Liu Bei's full support for Liu Qi. In the end, it was my betrayal of the governor. Of course, following Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition was a respectable excuse. I couldn't make up my mind."

After thinking for a moment, Liu said, "The key is Mr. Shui Jing. Why did he step forward?"

A single sentence jolted Wen Ping awake from his reverie, and he suddenly slapped his forehead, exclaiming, "I was so foolish!"

"Husband, what's wrong?"

Wen Ping slowly said, "The eight great families of Jingxiang are actually two factions. One faction consists of Cai Mao, Huang Zu, Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang and others, while the other faction consists of Sima Hui, Pang Degong, Huang Chengyan, Pang Tong and others. It should be Sima Hui's faction that supports Liu Bei."

What are the differences between these two factions?

“There is a difference. One faction supports the legitimacy of the Han Dynasty and takes it as their responsibility to restore the Han Dynasty. The other faction demands to establish their own country and hopes to carve out a territory. This group currently controls the power in Jingzhou and Xiangyang.”

"So what's so difficult for you to choose, my husband? Which side do you support?"

"Of course I'm on the same side as my master."

"That's settled then. My husband follows Liu Bei to restore the Han Dynasty. You are not Liu Biao's retainer or lackey. You have your own choice. As for your troops, if they are willing to follow you, you can take them with you. If they are not willing to follow you, you can send them back to Xiangyang."

Wen Ping sighed and said, "That's true, but I'm worried about my reputation!"

"Liu Bei is a benevolent and righteous man, as everyone knows. If you follow him on the Northern Expedition, it will only benefit your reputation. Besides, your master will also protect your honor."

Wen Ping nodded, "I'll talk to Master again tomorrow!"

..........
The following morning, Sima Hui found Wen Pin again.

"What's your decision, Zhongye?" Sima Hui asked with a smile.

Wen Ping nodded. "I can lead the army to follow Liu Bei on his northern expedition, but I have two conditions."

"Please say!"

"First, my master must protect my reputation and not let me bear the infamy of betraying my lord; second, I followed Liu Bei to restore the Han Dynasty, and if one day Liu Bei betrays the purpose of restoring the Han Dynasty, then I will choose to leave."

Sima Hui nodded. “Don’t worry! You are my disciple. I will not let my disciple bear a bad reputation. I will explain to the gentry of Jingzhou that you did it to support the Han Dynasty. With Liu Bei’s reputation, I believe everyone will understand your choice.”

At this moment, Wenping finally made up his mind.

(End of this chapter)