Lu Bu Breaks His Word

Liu Bei was still trembling with fear in Xiaopei, while Lu Bu had only just woken up from a heavy hangover.

Lady Yan drew water for him to wash his face. Once Lu Bu had cleared his head slightly, he asked, "Where has Lingqi gone?"

"Where else? To the training grounds to practice martial arts," Lady Yan replied.

Lu Bu wiped his hands dry and continued, "Lingqi has never liked needlework since she was a child. Starting tomorrow, keep her at home and teach her how to support a husband and raise children. She is not exactly young anymore."

"You only just realized she isn't young? Lingqi is nearly seventeen this year. You indulged her in martial arts all these years, and now that she is about to be married, you are finally in a rush," Lady Yan complained.

"What is wrong with my, Lu Bu's, daughter practicing martial arts? Wait, how do you know Lingqi is getting married?" Lu Bu asked, puzzled.

Lady Yan shook her head and smiled, "The whole city of Xiapi is talking about it. We are to form a marriage alliance with Yuan Shu of Huainan. Yuan Yao is his legitimate eldest son; I imagine it wouldn't be bad for Lingqi to marry into that family."

Lu Bu had intended to keep the news under wraps for a while, waiting until Yuan Shu delivered the betrothal gifts (grain and fodder) before making an announcement. He had not expected those people to have such loose lips.

At high noon, Chen Deng and his father invited Lu Bu to their estate for a banquet.

It was like someone handing him a pillow just as he felt sleepy. Lu Bu was overjoyed and readily accepted; after seizing the position of Governor of Xuzhou, he had been worried about failing to secure his footing.

Firstly, the regions of Qing and Xu had been ravaged by years of war and the Yellow Turban Rebellion; the common people's grain had been squeezed dry by Tao Qian, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei, leaving his own army's supplies unsustainable. Secondly, the Mi family, a powerful clan in Donghai, had openly defected to Liu Bei. If he wanted to secure the financial and material support of the local gentry, the Chen family of Xiapi was his only hope.

Lu Bu had been fretting over how to approach the Chen family. Having self-appointed himself Governor of Xuzhou, he did not yet know how they would react, so he had not taken the initiative to build ties.

The Chen father and son hosted him with great enthusiasm. Throughout the banquet, they showered Lu Bu with praise for his martial prowess and made no unreasonable demands. As the saying goes, everyone likes a smooth ride; as long as people are willing to speak kindly, one is bound to be pleased. This left Lu Bu with a favorable impression of them.

Lu Bu ate and drank until he was dead drunk, and was escorted back to his estate by his personal guards.

"Father, in your view, do we have a firm grasp on the situation?" After sending Lu Bu away, Chen Deng asked Chen Gui.

Chen Gui stroked his beard, his eyes sharp and profound. "Lu Bu is but a brute. However, this matter must be handled slowly. For now, we must first befriend him."

With Xuzhou changing masters so frequently, a great clan like the Chens, who had managed affairs across Xu and Yang for generations, would not easily pick a side like Mi Zhu—not when the future and fate of their entire family were at stake.

The rumor circulating in the city that morning had left the father and son unable to sit still. If Lu Bu were to form a marriage alliance with Yuan Shu, the Chen family of Xiapi would instantly become fish on a chopping block.

Over the next few days, Chen Deng and Chen Gui took turns inviting Lu Bu to drink, even gifting him some grain to relieve his immediate crisis. The actions of the father and son left Lu Bu feeling quite smug.

In early August, Yuan Shu ordered Han Yin to deliver the prepared grain and supplies to Xiapi.

Han Yin's return infuriated Lu Lingqi. She took leave of Lady Yan and went to Gao Shun's camp to sulk.

Gao Shun advised, "Although I have never seen Master Ziyu use strategy, since this concerns your happiness and his own, I believe there will be a resolution. Why don't we wait a little longer?"

"Wait for what? I have waited for over twenty days; who could possibly come to help? Now that Han Yin has brought so many betrothal gifts, Father was so happy today he nearly jumped for joy. That wretch Lan Tian likely looks down on my plain appearance and is eager for me to marry someone else," Lu Lingqi stomped her foot in resentment.

"My Lady, you should return first, lest others become suspicious. I will go and inquire about the situation."

Gao Shun felt that since Lu Bu had not yet made a formal declaration, he might be able to probe Han Yin for information.

Upon arriving at the Xiapi post house, the official told him that the Registrar, Chen Gong, had already arrived to see Han Yin before him. Gao Shun was puzzled: Why exactly had Master Gongtai come here?

Gao Shun told the official not to make a scene. He slipped inside alone and pressed his ear against the door of Han Yin's room. To his shock, Chen Gong was actually expressing his intent to facilitate this marriage as quickly as possible.

Gao Shun was horrified and slipped away quietly, instructing the official not to mention that he had been there.

Although the post house was a place for receiving guests, it was under military control. As a high-ranking general under Lu Bu, Gao Shun's word carried more weight there than Chen Gong's.

Chen Gong deeply loathed Cao the Rebel, and since Yuan Shu was also at odds with Cao the Rebel, Gao Shun understood why Chen Gong would push for the Lu-Yuan alliance.

With Yuan Shu's marriage envoy having returned, Gao Shun had no time to seek advice from Lan Tian. In desperation, he could only spread the newly acquired news throughout the city, hoping that the "helper" Lan Tian spoke of would appear.

After leaving the post house, Chen Gong went straight to the government office to advise Lu Bu, detailing the benefits of the alliance with Yuan Shu and suggesting that Lu Lingqi be sent to Shouchun immediately.

Lu Bu had never seen Chen Gong so anxious, but since he had already accepted Yuan Shu's betrothal gifts, she would have to marry sooner or later. He ordered someone to summon Gao Shun and instructed, "You are both teacher and friend to Lingqi. I intend to send her to Shouchun tomorrow to complete the wedding. I appoint you as the General of the Escort to accompany her. Go and prepare."

Gao Shun froze for a moment before cupping his hands. "Understood."

As he walked away, Gao Shun felt as if he were treading on air. Was this truly beyond saving? Just as he stepped out of the office, he bumped into the old man, Chen Gui.

He often heard people say that the Chen father and son were sycophants. Gao Shun despised such behavior and brushed past him with a cold snort.

Gao Shun felt stifled, yet he still carried out Lu Bu's orders.

The next morning, Gao Shun led his troops, having prepared the red ceremonial regalia and carriages, and waited in formation outside the government office. Chen Gong also arrived to see Han Yin off.

When the auspicious hour arrived, the crowd did not see Lu Bu bringing his daughter out. Chen Gong said to Han Yin in embarrassment, "My Lord was dead drunk last night; perhaps he lost track of time. You wait here a moment, I will go and return shortly."

After saying this, Chen Gong hitched up his robes and trotted into the estate.

Lu Bu was indeed still suffering from his hangover. Chen Gong hurried to the inner hall and encountered Lady Yan, asking, "Madam, where is the Lord?"

"The General was dead drunk last night and is still resting on his couch," Lady Yan replied.

"Oh, this is a disaster! The wedding procession has been waiting for a long time. Please, Madam, go and wake the General," Chen Gong said anxiously.

Lady Yan agreed and pushed open the door to the room, waking the sleeping Lu Bu. "General, are you sending Lingqi to be married today? I fear the hour has already passed."

"Married today? No, no..." Lu Bu mumbled through his drunken haze before lying back down.

Listening from outside the door, Chen Gong was so anxious he pounded on the door. Lu Bu sat up in a rage and shouted, "Who is disturbing my dreams outside?"

Chen Gong pushed the door open and bowed, saying, "My Lord, Han Yin and General Gao have been waiting outside the gate for a long time."

"Why are they waiting there?" Lu Bu asked, looking confused.

"My Lord, did you not say yesterday that at the hour of the dragon today, you would send Lady Lingqi to Shouchun to be married?" Chen Gong asked in shock.

"Did I really say that? Could it be that I was babbling while drunk?" Lu Bu asked, completely bewildered.

"Yesterday, you even appointed General Gao to escort her! My Lord, how much did you drink last night? To forget such a major event?" Chen Gong was heartbroken, thinking to himself, If you are this addicted to the cup, how can you plot great things?

Lu Bu scratched his head and said, "Now that Gongtai mentions it, I seem to recall something. But my, Lu Bu's, daughter is to be married as a primary wife; how can there be such a rush? The three letters and six rites must not be missing. Tell Han Yin to go and prepare first."

Chen Gong stood frozen on the spot. How had his Lord, a mere man of war, suddenly become so concerned with propriety?