Chapter 57: Zhang Song

Liu Zhang looked at Zhang Song, the double-dealer walking into the council chamber. He was exceedingly ugly, with a protruding forehead resembling a hoe, a sunken nose, and buckteeth. Coupled with his short stature, even Wu Dalang could have easily towered over him in comparison.

'No wonder Cao Cao couldn't stand him.'

Cao Cao's preferences in history could be glimpsed through his appreciation for Guan Yu. Of course, Guan Yu's character was paramount—he was utterly loyal, serving in Cao's camp while his heart remained with the Han. However, Guan Yu's towering stature, imposing appearance, and magnificent beard undoubtedly added significant points to his overall impression.

Most people in this world harbored biases, favoring the handsome and shunning the ugly. Judging people by their appearance was a common occurrence; yet because Cao Cao had thus cast Zhang Song aside, he lost the opportunity to unify the realm—truly a case of losing a major prize over a minor grievance.

Hearing the ripples of laughter around him, Zhang Song's expression remained completely unshaken. With his eyes half-closed, he seemed entirely accustomed to such treatment.

Standing directly opposite Liu Zhang, he took in every nuance of Liu Zhang's expression. Unlike the gathered officials who could not help but sneer upon seeing him, the Governor Liu before him wore an ordinary expression, completely devoid of any mocking demeanor.

He walked to the center of the council chamber, raised his hands in a salute, and spoke in a voice like a great bell: "Zhang Song of Shu Commandery pays his respects to Governor Liu."

Liu Zhang nodded in acknowledgment, waved for the other officials present to withdraw first, and then motioned for attendants to set up a banquet so he could speak with Zhang Song in private. He had a task to entrust to Zhang Song.

Before long, the banquet was laid out, and Liu Zhang raised his cup in a toast.

"Ziqiao, please."

"Governor, please." Zhang Song also raised his cup in return. He could not quite figure out what this Governor Liu had up his sleeve—first bringing him along as a commoner on the expedition to Ba Commandery, and then bringing him all the way to Baidi.

However, he did not care about these things; what he valued was Liu Zhang's attitude toward him.

"Just now, as I entered the hall, the entire assembly burst into laughter. Everyone could not help but chuckle at my appearance. Why did the Governor not laugh?"

"Physical stature and appearance are born of heaven and bestowed by parents. Even if someone's appearance and physique are slightly peculiar, what is there to laugh at?" Liu Zhang picked up the wine flagon, poured a cup for Zhang Song to refill his empty vessel, and thus answered Zhang Song's puzzlement.

Although he said this, in reality, it was the habits and character from his past life acting up. Toward vulnerable groups who were short in stature and ugly in appearance, he could never bring himself to mock them openly to their faces; at most, he would only find it unusual inwardly.

Hearing Liu Zhang's words, Zhang Song felt a warmth stir within his heart. Few people could ever keep from laughing when seeing him for the first time; even the domestic servants at home, while not daring to openly laugh and offend him, likely derided his appearance behind his back.

"Thank you, Governor." He looked at Liu Zhang personally pouring his wine, offered his thanks, and included gratitude for Liu Zhang's preceding warm and gentle words in his bow.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew harmonious.

Zhang Song raised the real business at hand: "Governor, I wonder if having me accompany the army all the way signifies some matter you wish to instruct me on?"

"There is indeed a matter, and none other than Ziqiao can accomplish it." Liu Zhang stated the mission he intended to entrust to Zhang Song.

"Liu He, the Assistant Officer of Jingzhou, entered our Bashu to incite the major clans and the Zongyi tribes into rebellion. Although it has now been suppressed, looking eastward toward Jingchu, we cannot afford to be without worry."

"I observe that Governor Liu of Jingzhou harbors no intention of marching westward to manage Bashu. I fear this scoundrel Liu He acted entirely on his own accord, so I wish to ask Ziqiao to make a trip to Jingzhou and clarify this for me."

"Governor, why burden me with such a heavy responsibility, acting as an envoy between two states?" Zhang Song did not refuse, but instead raised this probing question.

He was slightly perplexed as to why Liu Zhang would assign the task of a diplomatic mission to Jingchu to him. Communication between Bashu and Jingchu, should any misstep occur, could easily lead to a state of mutual hostility and war between the two nations.

Judging by the meaning of Liu Zhang's words, he did not wish to come into conflict with Jingzhou, but merely wanted to send someone to ascertain the truth of the matter—which all the more required a cautious and prudent person to travel to Jingzhou.

Liu Zhang stated his reasoning: "Governor Liu of Jingzhou patronizes scholars, and the literary culture in Jingchu flourishes greatly. Among them, there must be many eloquent and articulate men. If I were to send someone else, I fear they might fall short in debate and cause Jingchu to look down upon Bashu."

"Although Ziqiao studies at home and has never held official office, I have heard tell that Ziqiao's literary compositions soar and his debating skills are peerless. You are truly the only person fit for a diplomatic mission to Jingchu."

At this, Liu Zhang looked sincerely at Zhang Song. Although the historical Zhang Song held Liu Zhang in low regard and constantly sought to betray him, Zhang Song's erudition and eloquence were beyond question. Yang Xiu, the famous scholar from Zhongzhou, held Zhang Song in high respect; it was only Cao Cao, that physiognomy enthusiast, who looked down upon Zhang Song.

"So that is how it is. I never imagined the Governor would hold me in such high regard." Zhang Song was somewhat moved. He had heard from his elder brother, Zhang Su, about Liu Zhang's character. Unlike the former Governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, Liu Zhang actively befriended the learned scholars of Yizhou and employed them according to their abilities.

"Since the Governor entrusts this to me, and I am a subject under the Governor's rule, I ought to exert myself for the Governor." He accepted the commission.

"With Ziqiao undertaking this mission, I have no worries." Liu Zhang offered a word of praise, then continued, "There are some intimate words from the bottom of my heart that I ought to make clear to Ziqiao."

The two men then continued to drink while holding a secret discussion.

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As night fell, Liu Zhang hosted a grand banquet to send off Zhang Song, who was to depart for Jingzhou on the morrow.

"Does my lord harbor designs on Jingzhou?" Gan Ning asked inquiringly.

After subduing the rebels in Ba Commandery, Liu Zhang did not immediately return to Jiangzhou, the commandery seat of Ba, but instead traveled eastward to Baidi, which led him to harbor certain suspicions.

Liu Zhang nodded and smiled slightly. "I have somewhat of this intention."

Jingzhou was a fine place; just as stated in the Longzhong Plan, Jingzhou was guarded by the Han and Mian rivers to the north, reaped the full profits of the South Sea, connected to Wu and Kuaiji to the east, and communicated with Ba and Shu to the west—this was a land for military contention.

It could be described as the most crucial of strategic locations. Whenever one had the opportunity to seize it into one's hands, one naturally should. Naturally, he also harbored ambitions regarding Jingzhou.

Seeing this, Gan Ning spoke directly, "My lord, the lands of southern Jing feature terrain molded by mountains and ridges, with rivers and waterways flowing freely. Truly, it is the eastern springboard of the state."

"With my lord's divine martial prowess, taking advantage of Governor Liu's literary weakness, and furthermore occupying the superior geographical position upstream, sending troops to strike eastward would be like splitting bamboo."

"Moreover, now that we hold the Jingzhou Assistant Officer Liu He in our grasp, we lack no moral justification; sending troops is entirely justified."

"If we first secure the land of Jingchu, we can then plot for Yangzhou. Have you not heard of the separatist bandits of Jiangdong? They are all petty scoundrels. My lord need not go personally; dispatching a single army would suffice to subjugate Jiangdong."

"In this way, you would fully command the Great River, reach the utmost limits of the Yangtze, and possess it entirely. Since my lord is also a scion of the imperial house, your future accomplishments would be immeasurable."

Liu Zhang nodded repeatedly. Gan Ning was not a pure martial artist; he understood the state of the world to some extent and held his own perspectives as well. Being able to utter such words meant he could no longer be regarded merely as a military general.

One must know that when Gan Ning went to Jiangdong in history and gained an audience with Sun Quan, it was because he had secured letters of recommendation from both Zhou Yu and Lu Meng, both great marshals of Soochow who held Gan Ning in high regard.

When Gan Ning met Sun Quan, he put forth a strategic outline for plotting against Jingzhou and gradually subverting Bashu—bearing a striking similarity to Lu Su's Strategy on the Mat. His vision and capability were exceptionally formidable.

Yet because he was not an old vassal of Dong Wu, had previously shot and killed Ling Cao, and possessed a somewhat difficult temperament at the time, he was ultimately used merely as a fierce vanguard fighter until his dying day.

Liu Zhang bared his innermost thoughts, explaining the priorities and urgency of the situation, and said to Gan Ning, "Xingba, the rebels in Ba Commandery have just been pacified, and the main army cannot march immediately. Zhang Lu in Hanzhong harbors disloyal ambitions, and the Sou and Yi tribes in Nanzhong are rebelling one after another. If we wish to repel external threats, we must first secure peace within."

"Once Bashu is firmly pacified, we shall discuss our grand strategy."

"Understood. When my lord undertakes the conquest of Jingzhou in the future, Ning is quite versed in naval warfare and wishes to serve as the vanguard." After a moment of thought, Gan Ning assented, offering a smile as he made his request.

Liu Zhang nodded in agreement, raised his cup, and said, "Xingba, please."

The night banquet concluded, and the guests dispersed.

Although he had consumed quite a bit of wine, the alcohol content was too low for Liu Zhang to feel any dizziness.

Returning to his quarters alone, he did not sleep; instead, he pondered on Gan Ning. Through this period of observation, he found that Gan Ning was not as violently bloodthirsty or wantonly murderous toward people who displeased him as portrayed in history.

Be that as it may, Gan Ning had served as a commandery丞 (assistant administrator), was somewhat versed in literature and ink, and understood ritual and propriety. As for why Gan Ning was violently bloodthirsty in history, he mused upon it and reckoned it was largely due to environmental influences. In history, Gan Ning first relied on Huang Zu, who did not treat him with courtesy and failed to reward his merits. Driven to desperation, Gan Ning fled to Soochow—a place that had once been his enemy territory.

Yet what kind of person was Sun Quan? Chen Shou compared him to Goujian's eccentricity; on one hand, Sun Quan could endure humiliation and play the obedient subordinate like Goujian, while on the other hand, Sun Quan was as harsh, cold, and ungrateful as Goujian—marginalizing Zhang Zhao, driving Lu Xun to death with his rebukes, and the affair of the Prince of Changsha were all clear proofs of this.

Serving under Sun Quan's command, the living felt stifled, and most of those who died met tragic ends.

Liu Zhang figured that eight times out of ten, this was the reason. When people lived in a depressed environment, their mindset was bound to develop some problems.