Chapter 039: Words Within Words

Chapter 039: Words Concealed Within Words

Ma Su rose to take his leave. Wei Yan stood up as well, escorting Ma Su out of the tent with a respectful bow. Wei Ba naturally assumed the role of seeing the guests off, accompanying Ma Su and Zhuge Qiao as they walked toward the edge of the camp.

Zhuge Qiao, leading his warhorse and walking shoulder to shoulder with Wei Ba, praised, “The late emperor truly had the wisdom to recognize talent. I recall, back then, he went against the consensus and appointed your esteemed father as the Governor of Hanzhong, causing an uproar among the assembled officials. Since your father lacked reputation, the late emperor even held a special gathering to confer the general’s mantle and test his strategic acumen—only then did he convince the ministers. Looking at it now, such foresight is beyond what ordinary men could hope for.”

Wei Ba replied modestly, “You flatter me, Brother Zhuge. My father, to fulfill the late emperor’s trust and not betray his recognition, has always been cautious, as if treading on thin ice. Now that the prime minister has come to Hanzhong to oversee affairs and the late emperor’s wishes are on the verge of realization, he is overjoyed beyond measure.”

Zhuge Qiao gave a slight smile, glancing at Ma Su who stood nearby with a silent smile, and continued, “His Majesty has keen eyes for talent, and your father reciprocated with loyalty. The mutual understanding between sovereign and minister is indeed a tale worth recounting. From your father’s story, it is clear that the world never lacks talented people; what it lacks are the eyes to discover them.”

He paused, then resumed, “But discovering talent is not enough; one must have the determination not to be swayed by others, so as to boldly employ them. Wei, among your brothers, each is gifted, yet I value you most. The prime minister and Staff Officer Ma have repeatedly urged me to grow closer to you. Today, I came not only to hear your father’s strategies, but also to meet you and seek your friendship.”

Wei Ba pondered silently. Having experienced the incident at Ancheng, he was gradually adapting to the way these men spoke. No matter what was said, one must never take it at face value; only by digging deeper, even two layers beneath, could one uncover the true meaning. Though he wasn’t adept at this, he had to strive toward it, or else he would find it hard to interact with such people in the future. If he couldn’t grasp the implied meaning, how could he communicate?

He reviewed Zhuge Qiao’s words carefully, identifying two main points: recognizing talent and employing talent, with the emphasis clearly on the latter. The late emperor’s promotion of his father was a matter of the past—apart from polite conversation, it held little significance unless it related to the current situation. And what was the current situation? A thought struck Wei Ba as he glanced at the silent Ma Su beside him, and he suddenly understood.

Later, Zhuge Liang would assign Ma Su to guard Jieting, again promoting him against the consensus. Though that event had not yet occurred, these men never acted on impulse; their plans began now, merely hindered by potential opposition, so they sought to lay groundwork in advance.

His father, Wei Yan, was one of the most important generals in the army and a native of Jingzhou. If he supported Ma Su, then Zhuge Liang’s decision to promote Ma Su would have justification and confidence. Zhuge Qiao’s earlier remarks must have hinted at this.

Wei Ba looked up at Ma Su, then at Zhuge Qiao. Zhuge Qiao was watching him closely; seeing his expression, a knowing smile flickered at the corner of his lips. Wei Ba realized he had guessed correctly, but felt no joy.

Ma Su was another Zhao Kuo reborn—a man who could not be entrusted with such responsibility.

He deliberated for a long while, then forced a smile and said, “Brother Zhuge, you are far too generous. The prime minister is a wise man of his era, blessed with the late emperor’s trust. If there is talent, how could he possibly neglect it? As for me, I possess only a little cleverness, hardly worthy of the prime minister and Staff Officer Ma’s praise. I take it as encouragement from you two for a younger brother. Staff Officer Ma, I hope you will guide me often in the future.”

Ma Su arched his thick brows, nodded, and smiled, “Nephew, you are too polite. Your father is a famed general of our realm, guarding a decisive region. With him by your side, what could you not learn? Why seek to test me?” He paused briefly, observing Wei Ba’s expression, then continued, “I just heard your father say you do not approve of his plan. May I ask your reasons?”

Wei Ba scratched his head, troubled, knowing his father must have boasted excessively and spilled their private conversations to Ma Su. Alas, does he not know one should never harm others, but must always guard against them? Trusting people blindly can lead to disaster.

“In truth, I do not support the plan because it has too many uncertain factors and is highly risky. Beyond that, I know little and have no further opinions.” Wei Ba replied lightly, adding nothing more. He had arrived halfway through, unsure how much his father had shared with Ma Su, and feared he might let something slip. Ma Su waited a moment; seeing Wei Ba unwilling to elaborate, assumed he was merely cautious. Yet Wei Ba’s assessment matched Ma Su’s own. He couldn’t speak frankly before Wei Yan, but hearing Wei Yan’s son echo his concerns, Ma Su smiled inwardly, gaining confidence.

“Your opinion is of great importance.” As they spoke, they reached the camp gates. Ma Su stopped, looking at Wei Ba solemnly. “If your father’s plan succeeds, it would be a tremendous achievement. However, in military campaigns, it is common sense to calculate defeat before victory, so though the plan holds promise, it must be thoroughly considered, and that is where the matter lies.”

Wei Ba nodded, “The staff officer speaks true. That is why I have been thinking about how to help my father perfect his plan.”

Ma Su looked at Wei Ba in surprise, silent for a good while. He himself was strongly opposed to Wei Yan’s plan but could not embarrass him in person. Thus, he took the chance of Wei Ba seeing him off to hint at his reservations, hoping Wei Ba would pass them on to his father so he might be prepared. For he believed the prime minister would surely veto the plan, and Wei Yan would be doused with cold water; with mental preparation, perhaps he wouldn’t erupt in anger.

Yet Wei Ba said he was working to improve the plan, which clearly meant he supported it, only deemed it imperfect. Was Wei Ba missing the underlying meaning, or pretending not to notice, genuinely backing the plan?

Ma Su was momentarily uncertain. He said nothing, only exchanged a glance with Zhuge Qiao. Zhuge Qiao caught on, smiling as he asked, “You support your father’s plan, Wei?”

Just as Ma Su suspected, Wei Ba had discerned his underlying message, but his perspective differed from theirs. In his view, the plan was risky, but if successful, the rewards would be immense. Should Shu Han conquer Guanzhong, it would be like Liu Bang defeating the Three Qin, establishing a foundation for contesting the realm. If they followed Zhuge Liang’s historical route through Qishan, regardless of the outcome, victory was unlikely.

This was the one chance. If lost, it might never come again.

Thus, he spoke of improving, not rejecting, the plan.

“As the staff officer said, military campaigns must be considered carefully. Yet by the same token, how can warfare ever be without risk? If one always proceeds cautiously, never daring to lose, then victory belongs more to legend than reality. Therefore, what we must do is find ways to minimize risk and increase the odds of success, rather than simply dismissing the plan. Staff officer, would you not agree?”

Ma Su stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, his gaze flickering before he burst out laughing. He slapped Wei Ba’s shoulder, exclaiming, “Well said, young man! Your father has underestimated you. I see no timidity in you; on the contrary, you are mature beyond your years. Hearing your words, you seem more thoughtful than we elders. The prime minister truly has vision—he called you a talent, and I was skeptical, but now I believe it. The prime minister is indeed extraordinary.”

Wei Ba was embarrassed by the praise, shaking his head repeatedly.

Ma Su turned to Zhuge Qiao, “Bosong, the prime minister cherishes you. Look, he has found you such an outstanding companion. If you associate closely with such a gifted youth, your future gains will surely be great. Bosong, treasure him.”

Zhuge Qiao laughed, “Exactly so. I shall visit often to linger with Brother Wei, so please do not find me troublesome.”

“Not at all, not at all,” replied Wei Ba, knowing they were exchanging pleasantries, yet still feeling somewhat unworthy. After a few more courteous exchanges, Ma Su and Zhuge Qiao mounted their horses and bade farewell to Wei Ba.

Wei Ba stood at the camp gate, watching until their figures vanished into the distance before returning to the camp. He noticed the soldiers on duty at the gate were looking at him differently now. He had no memory of previous times, but in recent days, he had observed their attitudes. Every morning he went out running, their glances were mixed with pity and admiration, as strong men viewing a weaker one. But now, their eyes showed respect and even awe.

Why? Was it simply because Ma Su had praised him? Wei Ba shook his head and smiled quietly. Though he cared little for the soldiers’ opinions, being praised face-to-face by Ma Su did inflate his spirits a little, even knowing most of it was mere courtesy and lacked sincerity. Returning to his tent, he found his father already gone to drill the troops. Wanting to report back, he had no chance, so he sat down to read documents, continuing his daily tasks—helping his father with paperwork, and reviewing correspondence, hoping to glean insights into the current situation from official dispatches.

Official documents, whether past, present, or future, are like history: they record facts, but seldom detail the struggles behind them. Sometimes, even those facts aren’t the truth, merely what those in power wish you to see. In this sense, it is wise for contemporaries not to write history; only future generations, free from the constraints of their era and able to consult all official archives, can attempt a fair and comprehensive account of events.

Thus, reading documents without discerning eyes reveals little of the truth. Wei Yan had always refused to explain the real reasons for Guan Yu’s defeat, instead urging Wei Ba to study the documents—not because he dared not speak, but because he hoped Wei Ba would develop the ability to see the essence beneath the surface. Wei Yan himself was not well-read, his eldest son Wei Feng much the same, and Wei Wu was clearly a warrior. If he wished to see progress in scholarly matters, he could only place his hopes in Wei Ba.

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