Suppose.
Suppose the upper and lower reaches could reconcile this time, Sima Yu and Huan Wen could turn from opponents into allies, and both sides could work together on the Northern Expedition. In that case, Liu Acheng would not feel he had played any particularly great role.
For the heart of the matter lay in the balance of power between the upper and lower reaches, in Huan Wen's own strategic intentions, in Sima Yu's actual circumstances, in where loyalties lay at court and beyond, and in the prevailing momentum toward a Northern Expedition. Even the crucial impetus would essentially have to come from the Wuchang Military Review and the powerful execution that forced the lower reaches to face reality.
Liu Acheng's role was merely to explain these things accurately and clearly at the right moment.
Take Sima Yu's predicament. Even if Liu Cheng had said nothing today, if Sima Yu thought it over himself, with Gao Song helping him, for three days and three nights, could they really fail to work it out?
It was simply that Liu Cheng had now said it for him, and he had come to his senses, saving him further thought.
Then, by striking while the iron was hot, perhaps they could settle things much sooner, and everyone could go home to their wives with easy minds.
Sure enough, a dozen or so breaths later, the supposition became reality.
"Yuanzi wishes to form a marriage alliance with me?" Having calmed down, Sima Yu asked earnestly, "Between whom?"
"Your Highness has two County Princesses in your household who are not yet betrothed, while in our Duke Huan's household, his second son Huan Ji and Awu, who is waiting right here, are also unbetrothed. His second son was born to the Elder Princess, making him perfectly suited