Deep within the courtyard lay a scattering of fallen leaves.
The bleak autumn wind swept across Qingzhou and into Linzi City, the great city charged with the mission of attacking Cao Cao.
Zhuge Liang was tall, imposing, and handsome, his bearing among the finest in Chu State. He meticulously straightened his clothes, then knocked on the Luo Residence's gate. The gatekeeper opened it, and his eyes immediately lit up at the sight of Zhuge Liang. "Please come in, Duke Ge."
Luo Qi was admiring the autumn chrysanthemums in the courtyard. Though late autumn had yet to arrive, he had already donned thick clothing, and his face looked somewhat sallow in the autumn wind. At the sight of Zhuge Liang, he smiled. "You're here?"
Zhuge Liang stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
The two went from the courtyard into the hall, where a maidservant poured Zhuge Liang some tea. Luo Qi looked up, noticed the weariness around his eyes, and admonished him, "Kongming, you are the chancellor, charged with bringing harmony to the people and balancing Yin and Yang, not a chief minister serving as a deputy. You mustn't attend to everything yourself.
"You've been married for ten years, yet you still haven't had a son or daughter. As your teacher, I truly worry."
In Luo Qi's eyes, Zhuge Liang was almost the perfect chancellor. His only flaw was his distrust of other people's abilities: whether it was a crucial policy or a trivial matter, every decision had to pass across his desk.
Persuasion did little good in such matters. This was simply his nature, and it had always worried Luo Qi.
Just as Luo Qi had expected, Zhuge Liang shook his head. "Teacher, I understand. Chu State is smaller and weaker than Cao Wei now. We must do everything to perfection