Zhengdan, the New Year's Day, was customarily a day off from official duties, and the entire Gong'an County was wrapped in a festive atmosphere.
The locals mostly went to the wine shops early, buying pepper and cypress wine before heading out to perform ancestral rites.
What was unexpected this year was the sudden arrival of fifty thousand newcomers right before the year ended. Even today, on the western side of the county, laborers were still busy constructing houses. Since it was the New Year, their wages were naturally paid in full without any stinginess.
The massive population surge caused the county's only two wine shops to have long queues. These past few days, every time Ma Su passed by, he would see the shop owner grinning from ear to ear.
He looks exactly like General Zhang Fei, Ma Su thought.
Yesterday, his fourth brother Ma Liang had already taken leave early to return to Yicheng. But Ma Su, who had only arrived in Gong'an from Yicheng a month ago, chose to stay behind and take a look around this new city.
At a street corner, vendors had already set up stalls selling peach soup and sticky malt candy. Ma Su remembered that his fourth brother had mentioned the strategist's household had two children.
"How much is the sticky malt candy?"
"Half a jin for five coins, a full jin for nine coins. How much would you like, young master?"
The vendor eagerly lifted the lid of his steamer to show the yellowish-brown candy inside. "They were just boiled last night."
"Not bad." Ma Su did some quick mental math. "Give me two jin... actually, make it two and a half."
Taking the wrapped candy from the vendor, Ma Su counted out twenty-three Wuzhu coins and handed them over.
With the sale made, the vendor became even more enthusiastic. "Would the young master like anything else? We also have peach soup and pre-packed Five Spice Platters!"
Seeing Ma Su shake his head, the vendor was not disappointed and wrapped up the transaction with an auspicious greeting. "May you attain a high position!"
Ma Su nodded and replied, "May your daily profits reach ten thousand!"
He struck out at the strategist's residence, finding no one home. It seemed even the gatekeeper had gone out to have fun. Thinking for a moment, Ma Su carried the candy and strolled over to the county office.
As expected, before he even stepped through the gate, he heard Zhang Fei's signature booming voice. "Kongming, why are you drinking so delicately!"
The main hall was filled with thick steam. A bronze cauldron had plenty of firewood burning beneath it, and pale lamb meat bobbed up and down in the bubbling broth. Both sides of the hall were packed with people, cups clinking and voices lively.
"Youchang is here!" Liu Bei was in high spirits, his cheeks slightly flushed. "Come, come, take a seat. Do not be polite!"
Ma Su bowed deeply first. "May my lord enjoy eternal peace and take care of yourself for the sake of the nation!"
Liu Bei laughed heartily, pulled him up, and then pressed a cup of wine and a lucky charm coin into his hands. "No need for formalities, Youchang. Drink this cup to the bottom!"
After downing the cup, Ma Su felt himself momentarily become part of this gathering.
Back in Yicheng, his big brother had taken him to the prefect's New Year banquet, but those banquets were cold and rigid, completely unlike the one before him now.
Ma Su shuffled over to Zhuge Liang's side, placed his gift nearby, and explained the situation.
"You are very thoughtful, Youchang." Zhuge Liang smiled, holding a lacquered ear-cup inscribed with the words "May you enjoy your food," and did not say much else.
Ma Su's gaze shifted and he saw Lady Huang sitting properly beside him, also holding an identical lacquered ear-cup inscribed with "May you enjoy your wine."
Looks like I am interrupting Kongming and his wife, Ma Su thought to himself, and took his leave.
Looking at the hall filled with civil and military officials accompanied by their wives, Ma Su suddenly felt a bit like an outsider. Fortunately, at the very end of the seating arrangement sat another solitary figure.
A new face? Ma Su moved over curiously.
"My name is Ma Su, courtesy name Youchang, currently serving as an attendant to Chief Strategist Zhuge Liang. How should I address you, brother?"
"Jiang Wan, courtesy name Gongyan." The scholar across from him looked a bit sleepy-eyed but returned the greeting amicably. "I am a clerk under the Left General."
A clerk? Ma Su was greatly surprised. Such a low position, yet he gets to attend this banquet? He could not help but regard Jiang Wan with a bit more respect.
Actually, Jiang Wan himself was completely bewildered. He had been comfortably slacking off in his clerk position, only to suddenly be notified today to attend a small banquet. After arriving, both the lord and Kongming took turns toasting him, leaving him feeling like he was floating in the clouds.
'It feels like my days of slacking off are drifting further and further away...'
Having Jiang Wan to keep him company finally kept Ma Su from feeling too awkward. But after chatting for a while, Ma Su was secretly shocked. This Jiang Wan was not only handsome, but his talent and learning were also incredibly outstanding! If Ma Su had not thoroughly studied military texts, he might have embarrassed himself during their conversation.
Jiang Wan stared at Ma Su's chin, which was just starting to sprout a beard, and felt quite admiring. "You just recently came of age, yet you already possess such insight into the art of war? You are truly worthy of being Kongming's attendant!"
For a time, their conversation grew even more animated. Seeing this, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang at the head of the hall could not help but exchange a glance and smile.
After drinking another cup, Liu Bei stared at the peach soup on the table in a daze.
Lady Gan, who was accompanying him, noticed it in an instant and spoke in a low voice. "Husband... the wells connect to the rivers and seas. Tonight, how about we bring some pepper and cypress wine to the riverbank to offer rites to your sister Lady Mi?"
Gripping Lady Gan's hand tightly, Liu Bei nodded heavily. "Good!"
Down below, Zhang Fei had just opened his mouth to speak when Lady Xiahou sharply pinched his waist, cutting his words off instantly. His face twisted into a grimace.
"Yide, is there something wrong with your body?" Liu Bei asked curiously, looking at Zhang Fei, whose face looked even uglier now.
Feeling the slender hand still resting on his waist, Zhang Fei shouted loudly. "I just wanted to wish big brother eternal peace!"
His voice boomed like a bell, loud and powerful. Seeing this, the others also raised their wine cups one after another.
Their voices were not in unison, but they all said the same thing. "May you eat more, live in eternal peace, and take care of yourself for the sake of the nation!"
Liu Bei also gathered his mood, laughed loudly, and raised his cup with them. "The handle of the Dipper turns back to Yin, another year has passed. In the new year, let us all join hands and accomplish our great cause together!"
The banquet did not last very long, ending before it was even time for the midday meal. Ma Su felt it was a huge pity, as he did not have the nerve to ask his lord for some of the lamb from the cauldron in the end.
Before leaving, Ma Su looked back at the side hall that had become Zhuge Liang's office. A large lock hung on the door of this hall. Having been in Gong'an for a while, Ma Su had already heard that being allowed into this side hall seemed to be the mark of entering the core circle under Liu Bei.
The lord Liu Bei, along with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Zhuge Liang, would gather there regularly to discuss who knows what. These were the absolute core of the core. Last month, after Jian Yong and Mister Mi Zhu returned, they were also allowed to enter the discussions. Both of these gentlemen were people who worked wholeheartedly for the lord.
When will it be my turn? Touching the short stubble on his chin, Ma Su had his own troubles to worry about.
Although custom dictated that everyone should rest on New Year's Day today, the Jianghuai refugees who had just crossed Mount Tianzhu clearly did not care about that. They only wanted to secure a stable livelihood as soon as possible.
Leaving the county office, Ma Su crossed the main street and came to a large willow tree on the west side of the city. After waiting for a while until the sun passed noon, a group of thirty to fifty people had already gathered in front of him.
"Are all of you craftsmen?" Ma Su asked loudly.
"Little Young master, my family has been blacksmiths for generations!"
" Little Young master, I heard you sent someone to recruit workers the day before yesterday, and I have been waiting for today! I am truly a papermaker!"
"I would not dare lie to you, little young master, my family has been carpenters for generations!"
'Young master is fine, but why add 'little' in front of it!' Ma Su thought angrily, and an idea immediately popped into his mind.
"Alright then! Now follow me! We are heading to the riverbank in the north first!"
The group was noisy and completely lacked discipline, but he could not demand too much. Enduring the clamor, Ma Su led them to the riverbank. Pointing at the river, he smiled.
"Alright, all of you, jump in!"
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Historical Note:
The New Year was traditionally called Zhengdan. I am just not used to it, so I only used this term in the opening and the title. As long as everyone knows what it means, we are good.