My Deduction Was Wrong? Chen Gong's Death Remonstrance

My Deduction Was Wrong? Chen Gong's Death Remonstrance

Meanwhile, inside Xiapi City.

Leaving aside how Qin Tian plotted outside, after Attendant Wang saw Wang He "in person," he felt both disappointed and relieved.

He was disappointed because Wang He was not Qin Tian, proving Chen Gong's deduction wrong and making vengeance impossible.

Yet he was relieved because, thankfully, it was not Qin Tian!

Only those who had crossed paths with Qin Tian knew how difficult that man was to deal with!

He was like a hedgehog—untouchable and unapproachable. Once you faced him, someone would end up dead or wounded!

With such thoughts in mind, he made his way to the prison and saw Chen Gong once more.

After several days of imprisonment, Chen Gong had long since lost his former bearing.

His long hair hung loose, and he looked utterly listless.

But the moment he saw Wang Kai, Chen Gong perked up and hurried forward.

"Zifa, have you seen Wang He himself?"

"Is he Qin Tian using an alias?"

Seeing him like this, Wang Kai could only smile bitterly.

"Wrong. Gongtai, you were wrong!"

"Wang He is not Qin Tian. There truly is such a person!"

"I have seen his face. Though he bears some resemblance to Qin Tian in manner, he is far inferior!"

"Wrong? You mean my deduction was mistaken?"

Chen Gong's eyes flew wide open.

"Can there truly be such a coincidence in this world?"

These past few days in prison, he had nothing to entertain himself with, leaving him only his thoughts.

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that Wang He had to be Qin Tian!

Their styles of doing things were exactly the same!

He had even thought through how he would deal with Qin Tian after getting out.

Yet after seeing him, Wang Kai was telling him that his deduction had been wrong?

It was like estimating a score of one hundred on an exam, only for the teacher to announce that you had failed. It simply made no sense!

With that thought, Chen Gong looked coldly at Wang Kai.

"Zifa, did you truly see Wang He himself? Could someone else have impersonated him?"

Since his deduction could not be wrong, there was only one possibility: Wang Kai had seen the wrong person!

But Wang Kai considered himself a man of strategy as well. How could he endure such an insult? His face immediately darkened.

"If Gongtai does not trust me, then go see for yourself!"

"Why make me run back and forth these past few days?"

Though Chen Gong lacked social grace, he knew he had been somewhat unreasonable and hurriedly gave an awkward laugh.

"If I could go, why would I trouble Zifa?"

"It is precisely because I cannot leave this place that I troubled Zifa with this matter."

"I know Zifa has labored outside, but this matter is of great importance. We must ensure there is no mistake. I hope Zifa can forgive me!"

"If Qin Tian truly came here, how could we possibly let him leave?"

Seeing Chen Gong yield, Wang Kai's resentment faded considerably. He knew Qin Tian's danger as well, so he said gravely.

"It is not that I fear the trouble. Wang He simply is not Qin Tian!"

He laid out everything that had happened over the past two days, then continued.

"How could I fail to understand Qin Tian's importance? Yet what I saw and heard does not match Gongtai's deduction!"

"I entered the Liu Bei Army and saw their strategist. He truly was ill."

"That proves they were not being evasive. He really was sick and unable to receive guests!"

"His bearing was extraordinary. No commoner could possibly imitate it!"

"Nor did he act as forcefully as Qin Tian. They are clearly two different people. Why will Gongtai not believe me?"

Chen Gong found it hard to accept.

Could Wang He truly not be Qin Tian?

Then why did he feel so familiar?

It was not a feeling about the man himself, but about the overall situation.

Even now, he had yet to figure out the Liu Bei Army's exact plan.

The Liu Bei Army was indeed seeking whatever benefits it could, but everyone knew that seeking benefits from Lu Bu was like playing music to a cow.

Even if they gained something, it would only be a small profit.

It was not enough to make Liu Bei come running over so eagerly.

As the saying went, where there was abnormality, there had to be a reason!

Though Liu Bei knew he could not gain much, he still did all this. There could be only one explanation!

What Liu Bei sought was far greater than what had been revealed so far.

It was as if he could see a hand behind the Liu Bei Army, constantly pushing the entire affair forward.

Lu Bu, Yuan Shu, even Chen Gong himself—all of them were part of the calculation.

Only one person had ever given him this feeling: Qin Tian!

When that man plotted, it was as though he possessed heavenly sight. Every person and every detail was within his designs.

Yet now Wang Kai was telling him that his feeling was wrong.

Qin Tian was Qin Tian, Wang He was Wang He. They were not the same person at all!

What exactly was going on?

Had he truly been wrong?

Chen Gong paced back and forth through the cell with his hands behind his back. After a long while, he suddenly jolted awake and glared at Wang Kai.

"Zifa, you said just now that Liu Bei intends to leave?"

Wang Kai did not notice Chen Gong's strange reaction and merely said.

"That is right. Gongtai keeps saying their plans are grand. If they are leaving now, what more can they plot?"

But Chen Gong's eyes widened.

"Wang Zifa, how can you be so foolish!"

"If he says he intends to leave, does that mean he truly intends to leave?"

"Liu Bei has long borne a grudge against our army and would love nothing more than to destroy us. There was already bad blood between us, and now the general has broken his promise. How could he possibly let this go?"

"I heard the general intends to march south. What if Liu Bei's attack on Xiang County is merely a pretense, and he suddenly turns back to strike Xiapi?"

Wang Kai's heart trembled.

"Gongtai, are you saying Liu Bei's departure is a pretense, while revenge is his true aim?"

"But Wang He did not seem resentful, and Qin Tian is not here. Why would they do this?"

Seeing that he was still fixated on this matter, Chen Gong looked as though he hated iron for not becoming steel.

"Whether Wang He is Qin Tian or not, his intelligence is far from ordinary!"

"If he had such intentions, he would never tell you to your face!"

"You believed him just because you heard it from him. Who is to say he was not deceiving you?"

"His intentions are as sinister as Qin Tian's. Leaving him alive will bring disaster. We must immediately ask the general to attack them and never let Liu Bei leave!"

Hearing Chen Gong once again urge Lu Bu to attack Liu Bei, Wang Kai said helplessly.

"Gongtai, have you forgotten why you ended up here?"

"The general values his reputation so highly. How could he heed your words?"

At that, Chen Gong naturally recalled it. Lu Bu had always been unable to distinguish major matters clearly. Wang Kai likely could not persuade him!

After considering this, he said solemnly.

"Then Zifa, quickly go see the general. Tell him that I, Chen Gong, have urgent business to discuss. If he refuses to see me, I will kill myself here!"

Wang Kai was horrified.

"Gongtai, do you intend to remonstrate unto death? You must not be so rash!"

"If the general refuses to see you, will you truly kill yourself here?"

Chen Gong sneered.

"For affairs of the state, what does death matter?"

"But Zifa, there is no need for you to worry. Though the general does not trust me, he does not wish to kill me!"

"Just go. The general will certainly see me!"

He knew Lu Bu too well. Lu Bu could never grasp the big picture, yet he cared greatly about trivial matters. If Chen Gong threatened death, Lu Bu would see him no matter what!

Seeing Chen Gong's certainty, Wang Kai knew that he must have confidence in this plan. He could only urge.

"Very well. I will go see the general at once. Gongtai, take care of yourself!"

With that, he left the prison and headed toward the government residence.

Yet along the way, he saw soldiers constantly rushing about. Puzzled, he grabbed one and asked.

"Why are you all in such a hurry?"

The soldier hastily replied.

"Zhang Fei is outside the city demanding grain. The general fears he may attack the city, so he has ordered us to prepare defenses."

After the soldier left, Wang Kai frowned. This situation truly is chaotic!

He felt as though his mind could no longer keep up!

What exactly did the Liu Bei Army want?

According to Chen Gong's speculation, Liu Bei should have left without a word.

Yet now he had sent Zhang Fei to cause trouble.

That did not look like someone preparing to play dirty tricks at all!

If this too was part of their scheme, it was far too terrifying!

Lost in thought, he arrived at the commandery office. Before he reached the council hall, he heard Lu Bu roar.

"Yuanlong, stop trying to restrain me!"

"Zhang Fei dares humiliate me like this! I shall leave the city and fight him, so he may learn the might of our army!"

Then he heard Chen Deng attempting to persuade him.

"General, you must not do this. Our two sides are allied, and Yuan Shu remains our great enemy. How can we become estranged over this?"

"Besides, the city does not lack grain or supplies!"

"Why not give him some more and settle the matter?"

"He has fewer than a thousand soldiers, which shows Lord Liu does not know about this. If the general goes out to fight now, would that not damage the harmony between our two sides?"

Hearing this, Wang Kai entered the hall and saw Lu Bu, Han Xian, Yang Feng, and the others present.

Standing before Lu Bu, Chen Deng earnestly advised him.

"General, you must remember to put the greater situation first. Do not ruin great affairs over such a small matter!"

Under Chen Deng's repeated persuasion, Lu Bu suppressed his anger.

"How could I not know that great affairs come first?"

"I only hate that Zhang Fei repeatedly behaves this way. He truly is intolerable!"

Seeing Lu Bu's aggrieved appearance, Chen Deng inwardly thought that this man truly sought advantage in everything and never considered others.

"General, you must understand that Zhang Fei's actions are not without reason!"

"Marquis Wen first promised him grain for his troops, yet now refuses to give it. Naturally, he bears resentment!"

Lu Bu was in the wrong, but he was the sort who remained bold even without reason.

"It is not as though I refuse to give him anything at all! Our army requires money and grain for the southern campaign. Liu Xuande is unwilling to march south—what does that have to do with me?"

"Moreover, I already told Xuande that I would provide money and grain when we return. Why has he sent Zhang Fei here to make trouble?"

Chen Deng was speechless. Your old tricks may fool others, Lu Bu, but do not fool yourself as well!

Still, he knew Lu Bu's temperament and could only continue persuading him.

"Lord Liu must be unaware of this matter, or he certainly would not have sent Zhang Fei here!"

"Since Zhang Fei has already come, why not give him more grain to display the general's generosity?"

"Once the people of the realm hear of it, they will know the general is a man of his word!"

"After giving him money and grain, Zhang Fei will return, and Lord Liu will find it difficult to ask for more!"

These words struck right at Lu Bu's heart. On reflection, he found the reasoning sound. Zhang Fei was a brute, but he himself was not. Why bicker with that man?

If he gave a little more now, then should Liu Bei ask again later, he could use this as an excuse to put him off!

With that thought, Lu Bu finally nodded.

"Fine. I have no wish to argue with Zhang Fei either!"

"Allocate another five thousand shi of grain and one million coins for him."

"Yuanlong, you will be responsible for escorting it. Warn Liu Bei as well not to let this happen again, or I will not spare him!"

Seeing that Lu Bu had finally agreed, Chen Deng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly cupped his hands.

"I obey the general's command!"

As he spoke, he turned to leave, only to see Wang Kai upon turning around.

His brow furrowed at Wang Kai's arrival.

Lu Bu saw Wang Kai as well and asked.

"Why has Attendant Wang come?"

Seeing this, Wang Kai ignored who else was present and stepped forward.

"General, I have come at Gongtai's request. He says he has urgent business and wishes to see the general!"

At those words, Chen Deng halted.

What was Chen Gong trying to do now?