Chapter 111: Guo Jia: Your Majesty Has Ten Victories; Yuan Shao Faces Ten Defeats

Meanwhile, after leaving the imperial palace, Guo Jia first returned home before taking a carriage to Jia Xu’s residence.

Unlike their previous encounter, this time, as soon as he stepped out of the carriage, the gatekeeper warmly greeted him.

“Secretary Guo, our master has been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

Guo Jia noticed that the gatekeeper had changed—Jia Xu did not retain the one sent by Yuan Shao.

“Please lead the way,” said Guo Jia.

The gatekeeper hastily bowed and escorted Guo Jia inside, saying, “Pray, esteemed guest, take a seat in the main hall while I inform the family head immediately.”

Entering Jia Manor, Guo Jia briefly glanced around before being led by the gatekeeper to the main hall where he took his place.

Not long after sitting down, even before tea could be served, a hearty laughter echoed through the hall.

Turning, Guo Jia saw Jia Xu enter, dressed casually and waving a folding fan. With a smile, he remarked, “I thought Fengxiao might not make it today.”

“How dare I miss such an invitation?” Guo Jia rose to greet Jia Xu, expressing slight remorse, “Brother Wenhe, how could I ever break my promise upon receiving your gracious invitation? Some unforeseen matters delayed me, please forgive any inconvenience.”

Jia Xu hardly cared for such trivial matters; he stepped forward and clasped Guo Jia’s hand with a smile. “Fengxiao, your timing is perfect. It’s sweltering today, so I prepared some plum wine to beat the heat in the backyard—come along and let’s enjoy it together.”

With that, he led Guo Jia towards the rear courtyard.

Being a devoted lover of alcohol, how could Guo Jia possibly decline?

Jia Xu’s backyard was elegantly arranged, featuring a grapevine trellis covered in lush foliage laden with promising clusters of grapes. Beneath the trellis lay a cool shade, furnished with two chairs and a small wooden table. On top rested an unopened jar of chilled wine surrounded by ice, accompanied by two plates of freshly washed grapes—a clear indication that this gathering had been planned well in advance.

Jia Xu broke the clay seal on the wine jar and poured Guo Jia a cup, saying, “During our last retreat to the countryside villa for respite from the heat, the Great General treated us to this plum wine. Unfortunately, you couldn’t join us then.

“Knowing your fondness for wine, I specifically asked the Great General for several jars just for today. So, I’ve invited you over to taste it.”

As the wine filled the cups, its fragrant aroma quickly spread. However, contrary to his reputation as a heavy drinker, Guo Jia didn’t move an inch but stared intently at Jia Xu, asking, “Wenhe, did you invite me here today solely for drinking? If that’s the case, I must say I’d be truly disappointed.”

Jia Xu seemed not to hear and instead drank another cup, exclaiming with satisfaction, “Delightful!”

Guo Jia remained silent, watching him intently.

After downing several cups, Jia Xu casually remarked, “Some conversations are best had while intoxicated. If we don’t see eye to eye, it can simply be chalked up to drunken talk without harming our friendship, wouldn’t you agree?”

As he spoke, he poured a cup for Guo Jia and looked at him with an enigmatic smile.

Guo Jia smiled back, accepting the cup and drinking it in one gulp.

Between intelligent individuals, indirect approaches often paved the way for conversation.

If one failed to grasp the implications, there was little left to discuss. But if understood, it fostered mutual understanding between them.

“The taste of this wine is indeed exceptional. It seems Wenhe-brother still enjoys the Great General’s favor, receiving over ten jars of such fine liquor.”

“Ha ha ha ha! Fengxiao has quite the capacity!” Jia Xu laughed heartily but didn’t address Guo Jia’s mention of Yuan Shao. Instead, he refilled Guo Jia’s cup and asked pointedly, “My messengers couldn’t find you either at your residence or the governor’s office earlier. I assume Fengxiao must have just returned from the imperial palace? Out of curiosity, how does Fengxiao frequently visit the emperor without arousing suspicion from Yuan Shao?”

Guo Jia’s hand holding the cup paused slightly, seemingly pondering how to respond.

Jia Xu smiled faintly. “Our conversation today remains known only to heaven, earth, you, and me. Naturally, if Fengxiao doesn’t trust me, there’s no need to disclose anything; let us simply enjoy our wine.”

If Guo Jia chose not to speak, then indeed, their meeting would be solely about drinking wine.

After a moment of silence, Guo Jia drained his cup once more, looking directly into Jia Xu’s eyes. “Zhang He, the imperial guard commander, is loyal to His Majesty.”

Unlike previous cryptic exchanges, to win over Jia Xu today, he had to show genuine sincerity by revealing some of his cards. Otherwise, this conversation would stall.

“As expected, it was just as I anticipated.” Jia Xu seemed unsurprised, playing with the wine cup in his hand. “Visiting the secluded depths of the palace once or twice could be justified as seeing His Majesty, but frequent visits become suspicious to Great General Yuan Shao. Only with a high-ranking general, perhaps even the entire imperial guard, loyal to His Majesty can such secrecy be maintained under everyone’s noses.”

“I didn’t expect His Majesty to be so stealthy. In just a short time since arriving in Yecheng, he has quietly gained control of part of the imperial guard, along with your counsel, Fengxiao.”

During their meeting within the imperial palace, Liu Xie had left Jia Xu with neither a favorable nor unfavorable impression—merely average at best. Now it seemed those interactions were mere facades.

Guo Jia quoted, “A dragon can be vast or small, ascend or conceal; vast to summon clouds and mist, small to hide its form; ascending, soaring through the cosmos, concealing, lurking beneath waves.”

“Currently, His Majesty is like a hidden dragon, gathering strength for his ascent. Once the winds of opportunity rise, he will soar high, commanding all under heaven.”

“How could the insignificant Yuan Shao long imprison a true dragon?”

Unfazed by these remarks, Jia Xu asked, “Though His Majesty harbors lofty ambitions, Yuan Shao hails from four generations of eminent officials, controlling Bingzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou territories. Among all regional lords, none compare to him.”

“How does His Majesty plan to escape Yuan Shao’s control and reclaim the throne? Surely relying solely on a thousand imperial guards and Fengxiao alone is far insufficient?”

Compared to Yuan Shao’s formidable influence, the Emperor’s foundation was shallow, further confined within this tiny Yecheng. At present, there was no contest between them.

Jia Xu knew Guo Jia sought to enlist his support for the Emperor, but first, he needed clarity on what cards the Emperor held up his sleeve.

Without more assurance, Guo Jia found it difficult to commit himself to such a perilous struggle.

“Wenhe, you’re mistaken!”

Noticing that Jia Xu had shifted from addressing Yuan Shao as “Great General” to using his given name, Guo Jia understood his sentiment immediately.

He took another cup of wine from Jia Xu but felt unsatisfied. With a tug at his collar, he grabbed the entire jar of plum wine and began drinking voraciously, embodying the demeanor of a wild scholar.

After guzzling half the jar, Guo Jia’s face flushed red, his clothes damp with spilled wine.

“Wenhe, allow me to explain.”

Jia Xu watched Guo Jia reveal his true nature with keen interest, curious about the profound insights he would share next.

Guo Jia tossed aside the jar, his eyes gleaming intensely. He fixed his gaze on Jia Xu and declared confidently, “In my view, His Majesty possesses ten advantages, while Yuan Shao faces ten defeats!”

Jia Xu was startled by this proclamation, instinctively sitting upright and asking earnestly, “Pray tell, what are these ten advantages and defeats? I eagerly await your detailed explanation!”