"So, there is an epidemic in Jingnan. If our army goes there, disaster will surely follow?"
By mid-December of the fifth year of the Jian'an Era, the first snow had already fallen in the north, while Jiaozhou remained pleasantly mild.
Qin Tian sat in a newly made yellow rosewood chair, watching Zhang Ji before him with great interest as he said:
"Then if Liu Biao's forces march south, will a great epidemic break out in Changsha?"
Zhang Ji frowned upon hearing this. After pondering for a moment, he said gravely:
"No matter whose forces go, the great epidemic in Jingnan may rise again!"
As soon as he finished, Qin Tian lifted the porcelain teacup beside him and smiled.
"If that is so, why does sir not head north to persuade Liu Biao to cease hostilities, yet instead urges my army to halt? What is the meaning of this?"
"You must know that our army goes to rescue Prefect Zhang, not to harm him!"
"On the contrary, Liu Biao sees the Prefect as a grave threat and will surely raise troops sooner or later!"
"Since sir is related to the Prefect, why help the enemy army rather than your own family?"
As he spoke, he raised the teacup and took a sip of fresh tea. Zhang Ji was stumped by the question on the spot and did not know how to reply.
Looking at Qin Tian, the man making the decisions before him, a trace of complexity appeared in his eyes.
Back in November, Lu Xun had gone as an envoy to Jingnan and received Zhang Xian's letter requesting aid.
Since Zhang Ji had argued that troops must not be raised, Lu Xun had brought him all the way to Jiaozhou to report back.
Originally, Lu Xun believed that since there