Guanqiu Jian sat in his carriage clad in armor, his expression solemn. He looked at Sun Shu beside him, his gaze perfectly calm.
"You are Sun Shu?"
"The guilty Sun Shu pays his respects to the General of Chariots and Grand General!"
Sun Shu had bound himself and now bowed deeply before Guanqiu Jian.
Guanqiu Jian stepped down from the carriage and untied him personally. "General Sun, there is no need for such ceremony."
The smell of wine coming off Sun Shu made Guanqiu Jian frown briefly. Then, his expression giving nothing away, he said, "You look very familiar, General. May I ask what relation General Sun Xin is to you?"
Sun Shu was astonished. "He is my brother!"
Understanding dawned on Guanqiu Jian. "So that is it. No wonder you look so alike. Your brother is in Luoyang now. It seems you two brothers can finally be reunited."
Sun Shu hastily said, "It is all thanks to your kindness, General!"
Guanqiu Jian then followed him into the town.
Sun Shu explained what Ding Feng and Shi Ji had instructed him to do, along with the situation inside and outside the county town.
Guanqiu Jian listened attentively. Only after Sun Shu had finished explaining everything did he say with feeling, "What righteousness, General! As a member of the Imperial Clan, you abandoned glory and riches, turning away from darkness toward the light for the sake of the common people. Truly admirable!"
Sun Shu had originally felt rather embarrassed about surrendering, but Guanqiu Jian's words immediately made him feel much better.
He raised his head, as though he really were the worthy man with aspirations for the world that Guanqiu Jian had described.
"General, I merely wished to spare the local people the ravages of war..."
Guanqiu Jian chatted with him