Chapter Thirty-Three: Calculations

Neither Wang Yun nor Yuan Wei was willing to be the first to broach the subject of Dong Zhuo. Like two fencers feinting and parrying, they circled each other with probes and insinuations for several rounds. Sensing that they were evenly matched and that continuing this aimless dance would result in nothing by tomorrow, they both fell silent simultaneously.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

After a long while, Yuan Wei broke the silence: "His growing power is no good omen." Although no name was spoken, both men understood exactly who was being discussed.

Wang Yun nodded. Both were well aware of the current situation; the question was how to handle it. "The Xiliang region is harsh and barren, but one can lose oneself in the corrupting influence of wealth and luxury." He implied that since Dong Zhuo and his men were mere bumpkins from the Xiliang frontier, unaccustomed to true grandeur, perhaps their ambitions could be dulled and distracted by indulgence.

"In that case, I shall provide twenty songstresses and five thousand taels of gold," Yuan Wei agreed. This was the standard practice of the gentry. Yet, beyond targeting Dong Zhuo himself, they wondered if there were other avenues.

"Under Dong Zhuo... there is Li Ru." As Yuan Wei tallied the figures in Dong Zhuo’s camp, they both exchanged a glance at the mention of Li Ru and shook their heads. Calculating against Li Ru was less effective than targeting others; not only was it difficult, but they risked having their own schemes turned against them.

"Hua Xiong..." Yuan Wei folded down a second finger and shook his head again. "He is a veteran subordinate of Dong Zhuo, loyal to a fault..."

"Li Jue and Guo Si are still beyond the pass..." Wang Yun pointed out, tapping the table lightly. "Among the newcomers, there is only Lu Bu."

At the mention of Lu Bu, Yuan Wei sneered, his disdain evident. "A man who betrays his master—perhaps we can lure him."

Wang Yun frowned. "However, Dong Zhuo treats him with great favor. As a Cavalry Commandant, a General of the Household, and the Marquis of Duting, he has already reached the pinnacle of wealth and status. What more can we offer?" They could not grant him a prestigious title reserved for those with military merit, and even if they were willing, the imperial court would never permit it.

Suddenly, Wang Yun’s eyes gleamed. He looked toward Yuan Wei, who happened to be looking at him as well. Both spoke in unison: "A beauty!"

They exchanged a smile, feeling a sense of mutual understanding.

Wang Yun stroked his long beard, looking somewhat pained. "I have a songstress in my household who is a peerless beauty, clever and nimble, just sixteen years of age..." *My poor, delicate cabbage that I have spent so much effort raising...*

Yuan Wei smiled, grasping the intent. "If we are to accomplish a great task, why begrudge a single woman?"

Wang Yun cursed inwardly. *It is not your person being offered, Yuan Wei, so of course you feel no regret.* He realized he would have to handle the bribery and the seduction of Lu Bu himself. He could not let Yuan Wei sit back, remain detached, and reap the rewards without lifting a finger.

"The soldiers of the Western Garden are nearly half under the influence of the Yuan clan. If the situation becomes urgent, can they be utilized?" Wang Yun did not mince words. He had done his part, and now it was time for Yuan Wei to contribute. If circumstances shifted and military force became necessary, he needed to know if the Yuan clan would step up. He pointedly reminded Yuan Wei that he was well aware of how much effort the Yuan family had invested in infiltrating the new Western Garden troops.

Yuan Wei looked at Wang Yun, acknowledging that his foundation was clearly exposed. He did not dodge the question, lowering his voice: "If things take a turn for the worse, you may exit..." He did not finish his sentence, but instead pointed his finger slightly to the west. If things truly fell apart, the western gate was the only viable path; he could not guarantee the others.

Wang Yun nodded silently. He hoped it would not come to that, but knowing there was an escape route provided some small comfort.

With that, the two men had established a general direction. They would wait to see how the subsequent operations unfolded. Notably, neither man mentioned the young Emperor Liu Bian, as if they had collectively and selectively forgotten his existence.

The scholar-officials governed the world alongside the Emperor. What did "co-governance" mean? In modern parlance, they were colleagues, with the Emperor at most being a superior. If a superior were to fall, would subordinates risk their lives to protect him? There might be a few, but the vast majority would simply watch quietly, playing the part of indifferent bystanders.

***

At the Cai residence, Fei Qian met a man who could be described as an elderly version of a handsome gentleman: thick brows, large eyes, snow-white beard, a ruddy complexion, and a dignified bearing.

Upon arriving at Cai Yong’s estate, Fei Qian learned that Liu Yuanzhuo was a master of mathematics and astronomy. Upon visiting Cai Yong, Liu had heard of a young man who had invented a new system of numerical notation and, out of great interest, had requested that Cai Yong invite Fei Qian to meet him.

In the Han Dynasty, mathematics and astronomy were closely linked, and those who studied such subjects were a rare few. Most people would likely suffer from "trypophobia" just looking at the dense and complex astronomical charts.

Liu Yuanzhuo, whose given name was Hong, was a renowned figure in the Eastern Han. If Cai Yong was a titan of literature, then Liu Hong was a master of mathematics.

It was only after Cai Yong’s introduction that Fei Qian recalled the figure from his memories. It was hardly surprising; most people remembered the figures of the Three Kingdoms by their intelligence or martial prowess. Since Liu Hong did not appear in any Three Kingdoms video game databases, it was natural that Fei Qian had not immediately placed him.

While Cai Yong was serving as the Grand Historian, he had recommended Liu Hong to Emperor Ling. After arriving in the capital, Liu Hong dedicated himself to calendrical research. During this time, in addition to participating in the "verification of the sun and moon" as ordered by the Emperor, and auditing the research results submitted by others, he compiled his years of study into the *Annotations on the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art*. However, after the book was completed, Liu Hong was transferred away from Luoyang to serve in a local post. He had not seen Cai Yong for over a decade, only having been recalled to the capital earlier that year.

Because of this, Liu Hong and Cai Yong shared a deep bond. Upon returning to the capital, he often visited the Cai residence to discuss scholarship. It was precisely for this reason that when he learned during their conversation that day of a young man who had not only achieved success in mathematics but had also created a new counting method based on Indian and Western symbols, he was filled with curiosity and insisted on meeting him.

Cai Yong, a true gentleman, had no intention of claiming Fei Qian’s symbols and numbers for his own. Instead, he honestly summoned Fei Qian to explain them to Liu Hong himself.

After hearing Fei Qian’s explanation, Liu Hong felt as if a new door had been opened to him. Previously, ancient numerical values were limited by text, making them difficult to express and obscure to understand. Now, replacing them with Fei Qian’s numbers and symbols made them concise and clear. For Liu Hong, who had dedicated his life to mathematical research, this was akin to discovering a powerful new tool.

Liu Hong looked at Fei Qian with excitement, thinking he could not let such a brilliant talent slip away. He blurted out, "Would you be willing to take me as your master?"