Yuan Shu Seeks a Marriage Alliance, Gao Shun Asks for Advice

Yuan Shu commanded elite troops and abundant provisions in Huainan, his power and influence immense. Having seized Xu Province and rekindled his ambitions, Lu Bu immediately agreed in the hall.

The sky had cleared, the rain had stopped, and Lu Bu felt like he was capable again.

Han Yin was overjoyed. He bade Lu Bu farewell and returned to Shouchun to report to Yuan Shu.

Lu Bu then held a banquet in the hall, celebrating in advance his new marriage alliance with Yuan Shu. The generals all felt that Xu Province had gained a powerful new ally, and they raised their cups in congratulations.

Only Gao Shun remained silent at the feast. However, since he had always abstained from alcohol, no one found it suspicious.

The generals drank themselves senseless and returned to their camps. Lu Bu was helped into the rear hall to rest, while Lady Yan attended to him with great care.

Seeing the smile on Lu Bu's face, Lu Lingqi assumed her father had encountered something pleasing. At that moment, one of Gao Shun's personal guards found her and told her in detail about Han Yin's marriage proposal.

Lu Lingqi was shocked when she learned the news. She had thought herself deeply loved by her father, yet when faced with the temptation of Yuan Shu's grain supplies, he had decisively offered her up as a bargaining chip for a marriage alliance. No wonder he had drunk so much.

Yuan Shu of Huainan came from a family that had produced Four Generations and Five Dukes, a man admired throughout the realm. Unfortunately, Lu Lingqi's heart was not with him.

In that era, marriages were decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. Lu Lingqi knew she could not defy her father's decision. Depressed, she changed into armor and secretly went to Gao Shun's Xianzhen Battalion.

"Young Lady, you came quickly." Gao Shun stepped forward to greet her.

"You know how I feel, so why did you not speak up in the hall? Father has already given his word. What am I supposed to do now?" Lu Lingqi demanded angrily.

"I wanted to dissuade him, but Wenyuan stopped me. He said this was my lord's family matter, so I didn't—"

"Hmph! Zhang Liao is a coward, and so are you! Boohoo..." Lu Lingqi cursed them a few times, then sat down and began wiping away her tears.

Lu Lingqi had always been resolute and strong. Gao Shun had never seen her cry before. He was filled with regret. He should have spoken up just now. Then an idea suddenly struck him, and he said excitedly, "Young Lady, do not cry. This matter may not be beyond saving."

"Really? You have a way?" Lu Lingqi stopped crying and asked joyfully.

"Master Ziyu is unfathomable. Since he could foresee our surprise attack on Xiapi, he may well have a way to call off the marriage. Why not send someone to ask him?" Gao Shun said.

Lu Lingqi immediately rose to her feet. "If you had not reminded me, I nearly forgot about that fellow. He has great wisdom hidden within him. My guards cannot conveniently leave the city, so I must trouble you with this matter."

Gao Shun nodded. "I will immediately send a trusted man to Xiaopei. If he rides hard, he can return tomorrow. But I will need a token from Young Lady so that he can win their trust."

"That is a good idea." Lu Lingqi thought for a moment, then removed the sachet from her waist and handed it over.

"Will Lan Ziyu recognize this?" Gao Shun asked.

"Mm."

The two had spent every day together for the past half year. Unless Lan Tian was blind, he would certainly remember Lu Lingqi's sachet.

Meanwhile, in Gan Family Village, Lan Tian was taking a walk around the village with his adoptive father, Gan Ji.

After Gan Ji returned, Lan Tian decisively relinquished the position of village master. After all, farmers remained constant while lords came and went, and the villagers had long grown accustomed to it.

Gan Ji and Lan Tian, this father-and-son pair, treated the villagers generously. Therefore, regardless of who became village master, the people were happy from the bottom of their hearts.

Having regained control of Gan Family Village these past few days, Gan Ji had vaguely noticed that Lan Tian's prestige far surpassed his own. Though these people were very respectful toward him in words, whenever they encountered difficulties, they all sought out Lan Tian to solve them.

Would such a man remain a farmer for life? Gan Ji did not believe it. Yet his adoptive son was so capable that he also felt greatly gratified.

The blazing July sun hung high overhead, and the fields were full of promising green shoots. After walking through the countryside for a while, Lan Tian saw Gan Ji drenched in sweat and advised, "Adoptive Father, let us return home and cool off first. Hardly anyone is guarding the fields at this hour. Once the sun sets, I will accompany you out again."

"Very well." Gan Ji had not visited the countryside in a long time and had become somewhat reluctant to leave.

As the two walked home, a guest had arrived at their humble house.

Gan Qian ladled out a gourd of cool water for the visitor. Covered in sweat, he lifted the water gourd and poured it straight down his throat.

After marrying Liu Bei, Gan Qian was no longer surprised by such rough behavior.

"Would you like more?" Gan Qian asked when she saw that he had quickly finished a gourd.

"I have had enough. May I ask when Master Ziyu will return?" the man asked anxiously.

Gan Qian looked up at the blazing sun. "The sun is at its fiercest now. I suppose he should be back soon."

As they spoke, Lan Tian and Gan Ji reached the courtyard gate. Seeing two horses tied beneath the tree, Lan Tian called loudly, "Sister, do we have guests?"

"Ziyu is back," Gan Qian said.

The visitor sprang to his feet. He dusted off his clothes, then stood perfectly straight, leaving Gan Qian quite curious. What exactly does this fellow do?

Lan Tian emerged from the shade of the tree. Seeing the alert look in the man's eyes, he seemed to be a soldier, so Lan Tian frowned and asked, "Sister, has someone come from Xiaopei to ask you to return?"

"No, he came to find you," Gan Qian replied.

Me? Lan Tian strode into the courtyard. The visitor stepped forward, cupped his fist, and said, "Master Ziyu, I have come from the south."

With that, he handed Lan Tian an exquisite sachet. Lan Tian accepted it and saw that it was actually Lu Lingqi's personal possession.

"Is something wrong?" Lan Tian's expression changed.

"Yuan Shu sent someone to Xiapi to seek a marriage alliance. My lord gladly agreed. The Young Lady and General Gao sent me to ask Master for advice on how this matter can be called off."

The moment those words were spoken, Gan Qian and Gan Ji beside them were both greatly shocked. If Yuan Shu and Lu Bu formed an alliance, would Liu Bei, confined to the tiny place that was Xiaopei, not be living on borrowed time?

"Give me a moment to think." Lan Tian frowned.

Seeing this, Gan Qian anxiously said, "Little Brother, this is a matter of great importance. You must come up with a foolproof plan."

"General, return to Xiapi at once. You need only spread the news that the Yuan and Lu families are joining through marriage," Lan Tian said with a nod.

"Is it really that simple?" the man asked with a bewildered look.

"Return without worry. As long as you do as I say, someone will naturally help when the time comes," Lan Tian said mysteriously.

"Then I will set off at once." Having received the message, the man prepared to leave.

"The sun is scorching at this hour. Why not wait until later before departing?" Lan Tian said.

"Delivering the message is more important. Farewell, Master Ziyu." The man cupped his fist.

Lan Tian remembered the two fast horses beneath the tree, so he did not insist on keeping him. He took down two clusters of half-ripe grapes from the rack. "These grapes are not fully ripe yet, but their sourness will make your mouth water and help quench your thirst on the road."

"Thank you, Master." The man accepted the grapes and withdrew. Hooves kicked up dust as he galloped away.

Gan Ji and his daughter were both bewildered. Just who was this Lan Tian? Could he have people inside Xiapi? Was he truly capable of stopping Lu Bu?

"Little Brother, what are you plotting? Though I advised you to forget Lady Lu, she came all this way to ask you for advice. You cannot just brush her off," Gan Qian could not help asking.

Holding the sachet, Lan Tian smiled. "Sister, do not worry. Lu Bu will not marry his daughter off to Huainan now."

Thanks to Yan Shisan, Yiyue, and that bookworm surnamed Duo for their rewards, and thanks as well to all the readers who voted and added this book to their collections.