Chapter 7: The Imperial Decree

At the break of dawn, Gan Jiu arrived at the gates of the Governor’s Mansion, waiting for his Chieftain.

Yesterday, after following Gan Ning to the mansion, the Governor, Liu, had taken his Chieftain away, leaving Gan Jiu to wait in a side room. After some time, a young boy had come out to tell him that the Chieftain would not be returning that night and asked him to go home and inform the Chieftain’s mother so the old lady wouldn't worry. Gan Jiu obeyed; he had always done whatever his Chieftain commanded.

By the time the sky grew light, he was at the Governor’s Mansion, impatient. The brothers back in Ba Commandery were waiting for him to bring the Chieftain back. He carried the hopes of twelve hundred men and had no time to waste. If he returned alone again, he feared the brothers would pierce him with hundreds of spear holes, hack him into paste with their ring-pommel sabers, and toss him into the Dangqu River to feed the fish. This was his third time in Shu Commandery; he knew that "three is the limit."

As usual, he was led to the side room to wait in boredom. The sun climbed slowly, creeping from the steps to the threshold, casting light upon the doorframe. Gan Jiu grew anxious. What time was it? Why hadn't the Chieftain emerged?

A figure walked into the sunlight—not his long-awaited Chieftain, but the boy from yesterday, carrying meat porridge and soup. Ignoring the refined food, Gan Jiu seized the moment to ask, "Young Master, has my master awakened yet?" He avoided calling Gan Ning "Chieftain," as such a title was inconvenient within the Governor’s Mansion.

Pang Que, hearing the address, looked at the man whom Liu Zhang had instructed to be treated well. He smiled slightly. "My name is Pang Que, courtesy name Ziman; you may call me Ziman. Your master is still sleeping; he will likely be a while yet."

Gan Jiu grew restless, his rough nature showing. "At this hour? Who is he sleeping with? Why is he still asleep?"

"Brother Ziman, can you wake my master? Or I can go call him myself," he urged, unable to wait any longer.

Pang Que’s eyes flickered. He set down the food and waved a hand to refuse. "Your master is sleeping in the same bed as Governor Liu. I dare not go and wake them."

Gan Jiu was startled. His impatience vanished as if blown away by a gale. He calmed down, tentatively confirming, "With Governor Liu? Sleeping with Governor Liu?"

"Indeed. Perhaps they slept late last night and are still resting," Pang Que replied with certainty, then reassured him, "Do not worry. I will inform you if there is any change. Please, have your meal."

Gan Jiu nodded and watched Pang Que depart, his mind reeling. How had his Chieftain ended up sharing a bed with the Governor? A sense of envy crept in; damn it, he had never even slept with the Chieftain, even though he had known him much longer.

It was not until noon, with the sun hanging high, that Gan Jiu finally saw his Chieftain—looking refreshed and radiant.

Gan Jiu stepped forward, his confusion plain. "Chieftain, did you truly share a bed with Governor Liu last night?" He still found it hard to believe that a Governor would sleep with a wanderer like them; it just wasn't the way of a noble lord.

"Would I lie about that?" Gan Ning replied firmly. "And one more thing—do not call me Chieftain anymore. Call me Colonel." He wanted to hear how it felt to be addressed by that rank.

"Colonel?" Gan Jiu was stunned. It seemed his brother had been granted a military commission. It was unbelievable. "Did Liu Jiyu appoint you as a Colonel?"

Gan Ning did not answer directly. Instead, he straightened his posture and replied with a solemn tone, "A-Jiu, do not call the Lord by his given name in my presence. You must address him as 'My Lord'."

'My Lord.' The title left Gan Jiu bewildered. Overnight, the man who had joined him in mocking the new Governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, had become his most steadfast supporter. He pondered what had transpired in those twenty-four hours to cause such a radical shift. Did this Liu Jiyu possess some sorcery to bewitch his Chieftain?

He watched from behind as Gan Ning faced the sun, his vibrant, radiant face etched into Gan Jiu's memory.

***

After sharing lunch with Gan Ning and letting him return to resign from his post as Commandery Assistant and tie up loose ends, Liu Zhang wandered alone into the back garden of the mansion to clear his head.

The sun was bright and the weather fair, mirroring Liu Zhang's mood. Summer had just begun, and the garden was lush and green, a scene of burgeoning life. He sat in a pavilion by the pond, where lotus buds were just beginning to peak. He sighed, feeling the beauty of life. To have reached the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and already secured the peerless warrior Gan Ning gave him a sense of accomplishment.

"My Lord, the Imperial Edict has arrived."

Just as Liu Zhang was enjoying the moment, a youthful voice interrupted his thoughts.

Liu Zhang shook his head and looked at Pang Que, who was hurrying toward him. "Ziman, don't tell tall tales. Based on the distance, the envoy should still be in Hanzhong." The roads of Shu were notoriously difficult, and the envoy would not be traveling with the speed of an urgent dispatch, nor would he rush day and night, given the dignity required of his station.

"The envoy has not arrived yet, but the contents of the edict have leaked and were sent ahead by fast horse," Pang Que said. "My father told me to inform you immediately. My Lord, would you care to guess what it says?" The young boy was full of smiles, bold enough to tease the Governor of Yizhou.

Liu Zhang looked at Pang Que. The boy was only sixteen and had served him since his arrival. Liu Zhang was naturally gentle, and Pang Que was lively; the boundaries of rank had blurred, and they often joked like brothers. Pang Que’s smile gave the game away—the boy could not keep a secret. Moreover, if his father, Pang Jing, had sent him, it was certainly good news.

Crucially, Liu Zhang had read *Records of the Three Kingdoms*. He had the advantage of foresight; the little brother couldn't stump him.

"What else could it be? It is simply the confirmation of my position as Governor of Yizhou."

Pang Que’s jaw dropped, his youthful surprise written all over his face. "My Lord, how did you know the Imperial Court would agree?"

Though Pang Que hoped for it, he had been skeptical; Liu Zhang’s reputation was not the best, and he had expected the court to refuse.

Liu Zhang decided to be honest. He pointed to himself. "Why did the court agree? It is because, my dear boy, I am a coward."