Chapter 026: Setting a New Trend

Wei Ba suppressed his anger with great effort. “Yes, sir. I wonder what guidance you might have for me?”

“So this is your so-called new method of accounting?” Yang Yi extended a thin, bony finger and pointed at the ledger in Wei Ba’s arms.

Wei Ba lowered his head, glancing at the disorderly ledgers. “Is the reason for your outrage truly just these ledgers?”

“Hmph! Always trying to stand out, thinking yourself clever. If everyone acted like you, taking matters into their own hands and inventing new tricks, how could I ever audit these accounts? Is it that Wei Yan failed in his duties and now seeks to cover up his shortcomings with these innovations? Such behavior is childish.”

Wei Ba felt utterly disappointed. Yang Yi was simply looking for an excuse to stir up trouble; he hadn’t even looked at the ledgers. The moment he saw their unusual format, he condemned it as ostentatious, then inferred that Wei Yan must have been negligent and was trying to cover it up. This was no longer a matter of professional judgment—it was pure spite. Wei Ba had hoped to compromise, but Yang Yi had no intention of allowing such a thing.

Yang Yi repeatedly addressed Wei Yan by name in front of Wei Ba, the insult now unmistakable. If Wei Ba continued to swallow his anger, not only would it be useless, but Yang Yi would surely hold him in even greater contempt.

He was already despised by his father; could he bear to be despised by Yang Yi as well?

Anger surged in Wei Ba’s heart, emboldening him. He straightened his back, towering over Yang Yi. Though only eighteen and not particularly robust, he had inherited Wei Yan’s tall stature. Now, with Yang Yi seated and Wei Ba standing, the balance of power shifted. When Wei Ba looked down at him, Yang Yi suddenly felt the change.

Yang Yi’s expression faltered, but he quickly exploded in fury, slamming the desk and shouting, “How dare you show such disrespect before me!”

Wei Ba curled his lips into a faint smile, ignoring Yang Yi’s posturing. He shook the ledger in his hand. “My father, though merely the General Who Guards the North, has defended Hanzhong for nearly ten years since being appointed by the late Emperor. He may not claim merit, but he has served diligently, never allowing a single soldier of Cao Wei into Hanzhong. This alone proves the late Emperor’s choice was wise. Yet you, without any evidence, accuse my father of negligence and question the late Emperor’s judgment. Is that not rash?”

Yang Yi paused, then sneered, “Evidence? Isn’t the evidence right in your hands? If Wei Yan had fulfilled his duties, why invent these new tricks? Isn’t this an attempt to confuse me, so you can slip by unnoticed? Do you think invoking the late Emperor will make me back down?”

“Sir, your words are misguided,” Wei Ba interrupted bluntly. “You are famed for your acumen and calculation in Shu, hardly someone who could be fooled by a novel method of accounting. If that were so, your skills would not be worth much. Besides, our new method is not complicated; any sensible person could quickly grasp its advantages. Its purpose is to make entries clearer and lighten your workload—why would we want you to be confused? You haven’t even looked at it, yet you denounce it as a gimmick and accuse my father of ulterior motives. This is the classic case of seeking to punish without cause. Though I am but a youth, I must say, sir, your words are chilling.”

“Impudent brat! You dare question my abilities in calculation?” Yang Yi erupted and stood abruptly. “Do you dare compete with me in mathematics?”

Wei Ba snorted dismissively. When it came to poetry and classics, he would readily admit defeat, but in mathematics, he could leave Yang Yi far behind. Still, this was not the time for contests; resolving the accounts was the priority. “If you wish to discuss mathematics, I am at your disposal. But I advise you to calm your anger and examine the ledgers first. Your dispute with my father is a personal matter and should not interfere with state affairs. What do you think, sir?”

Yang Yi was incensed, his anger fully provoked by Wei Ba. How could he possibly look over the ledgers now? He had never shown any courtesy to Wei Yan; why would he yield to Wei Yan’s son? With a wave, he declared, “If you want me to look, bring the ledgers in the current format. Otherwise, I won’t even glance at them. If everyone tries to be clever and unconventional, how can I do my job?”

Wei Ba’s gaze sharpened. “You truly won’t look?”

“Of course not.”

“Don’t regret it later!”

Yang Yi stared at Wei Ba in surprise, then laughed mockingly. He stepped up to Wei Ba and realized he was half a head shorter; looking up at him felt foolish, so he hesitated, then decided not to retreat. After a moment’s indecision, he purposefully waved his sleeve with feigned disdain. “Rest assured, even if you complain to the Chancellor, I will not regret it.”

“That’s ideal.” Wei Ba smiled slightly. “In that case, I will submit Hanzhong’s accounts directly to the Chancellor. I want to see if the Chancellor is as arbitrary, as stubborn, and as resistant to change as certain others.”

Without waiting for a reply, Wei Ba turned and strode out of the tent. Yang Yi took a while to react, then began cursing furiously, but Wei Ba was already gone, and shouting would do nothing.

Cheng An walked beside Wei Ba, listening to Yang Yi’s distant, angry shouts. He sighed, “Young General, are you truly going to see the Chancellor? Shouldn’t we just copy the accounts over again? It might be troublesome, but it’s better than causing a huge uproar. The Chancellor is busy; it seems improper to trouble him with such a minor matter.”

Wei Ba shook his head. “Master Cheng, this is no minor matter and not merely a dispute between my father and Yang Yi. It concerns whether the Chancellor’s northern campaign can succeed. I believe the Chancellor will see me. If he disagrees with my method, I will take full responsibility and never implicate you or other virtuous men.”

Cheng An, exposed by Wei Ba’s words, coughed awkwardly and said nothing more.

The tent of Zhuge Liang was not far from Yang Yi’s, just a dozen steps away. Wei Ba asked Cheng An to wait outside and went forward, ledger in hand. His heart was pounding—he was about to meet his idol. He knew Zhuge Liang wouldn’t appear as he did in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, with feather fan and scholar’s robe, but he couldn’t suppress his excitement. This was the sage of the Three Kingdoms era, revered for a thousand years.

Though Wei Ba hadn’t read many ancient texts, his respect for Zhuge Liang was profound, and he knew his deeds well, especially the famous “Memorial Before the Expedition,” which he could recite backward. He even liked the supposed “Later Memorial Before the Expedition,” and treasured lines such as “Without calmness, there can be no clarity of purpose; without tranquility, there can be no achievement in the long term.” He also knew Zhuge Liang, though a scholar, excelled at mechanical inventions and had developed wonders like the wooden ox, flowing horse, and repeating crossbow. How could such a man reject new technologies and innovations?

At the tent, Wei Ba gave his name and purpose to the guards. Soon, a young man in his early twenties came out, sizing Wei Ba up with a hint of surprise before returning to a calm demeanor. He clasped his hands and smiled warmly. “Wei Ba, son of the General Who Guards the North?”

Wei Ba nodded. “Yes, that’s me.”

“I am Zhuge Qiao, courtesy name Boxiong. I’ve just arrived in Hanzhong; I hope you, a learned man of Hanzhong, will guide me in the future.”

Wei Ba was surprised, looking Zhuge Qiao over again. So this was the adopted son of Zhuge Liang, grown so much. He smiled, “You are too modest, Brother Zhuge. My father and I are originally from Yiyang, and we’ve only spent a few years in Hanzhong guarding the borders. If you would honor me with your company, I would be delighted.”

Zhuge Qiao laughed heartily. “I’ve long heard the second son of the General Who Guards the North is unlike the others. Seeing you today, it’s true. Come in, the Chancellor awaits you. Let’s not delay; we’ll have plenty of time for discussion later.”

Wei Ba smiled, though he felt a strange sensation. But there was no time to dwell on it; he followed Zhuge Qiao into the tent and immediately saw the Chancellor working behind his desk. Zhuge Liang was tall, even taller than Wei Yan. Even seated behind a mountain of bamboo slips, his presence was unmistakable. His face was lean, his features clear, his beard not thick but giving him a refined air. There was a quiet authority about him—calm yet commanding. He didn’t smile, but he wasn’t cold; his whole being radiated warmth, fitting the phrase “a gentleman as gentle as jade.”

Wei Ba was momentarily entranced. Truly, he was a remarkable man. Although now in his forties and better described as a distinguished gentleman than a handsome youth, his presence was captivating.

Zhuge Liang looked up and met Wei Ba’s dazed gaze, smiling slightly. He set down his pen and rubbed his tired fingers. “You are Wei Ba, second son of Wen Chang?”

Wei Ba stood motionless. Zhuge Qiao found it amusing and coughed to prompt him. Wei Ba snapped out of his reverie, blushing as he bowed. As he moved, the ledgers in his arms tumbled to the floor. He quickly bent to retrieve them, stammering, “Sorry, sorry…” He realized his embarrassment and shut his mouth, hiding behind the task of gathering the ledgers.

The father and son exchanged a glance, puzzled—they hadn’t caught what Wei Ba had said. Seeing his nervousness, Zhuge Liang’s interest was piqued. He signaled Zhuge Qiao, who stepped forward to help gather the ledgers. He glanced at a few pages and suddenly asked, “Brother Wei, is this the new accounting method you invented?”

Wei Ba nodded. “It is. I just went to submit the accounts to General Yang, but he accused me of trying to stand out and wouldn’t look at them no matter how I pleaded; he threw me out. After thinking it over, I realized only the Chancellor might appreciate my intent, so I have come, despite my lack of ability, to ask for your impartial judgment.”

Hearing this, Zhuge Liang furrowed his brow, speaking slowly, “When it comes to accounting, I may not be better than Yang Yi.”

Wei Ba shook his head. “Chancellor, I do not doubt General Yang’s skill in accounting. I simply believe he is too rigid, lacking a broad mind, unwilling to accept new ideas—a trait that harms both the nation and himself, and especially hinders your northern campaign.”

Zhuge Liang raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress a smile. “Is it really so serious?”

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