Aftermath

"It's perfect."

Of course it was- Xiao Chi had made it. The perfect design for the perfect office for the perfect Strategist. Now that Xiao Chi had shot to worldwide fame, he needed to ensure that nobody showed him disrespect again.

Xiao Chi relaxed in his chair, cupping his hands behind his head in a gesture of total superiority. He closed his eyes, inspecting his masterpiece one last time. The building may not be real yet, but Xiao Chi could already see it as clearly as his own body.

"Mind", as Xiao Chi was already calling it, was slightly smaller than the Governor's Building of Lord Jing, but was in an open space to allow it's expansion into an office worthy of a Great Man. The outer hall could be used to meet with inferiors, but the inner section was the real masterpiece.

On each side were not only candles to light the room, but paintings commissioned to commemorate Xiao Chi's great deeds. The Battle of Huan River, in which Xiao Chi's genius had overwhelmed an army ten times his size. Ping Yuan, in which Zhang Jue himself had fled in fear at the power of Xiao Chi's armies. The Imperial Court, in which Xiao Chi had gained worldwide fame. Surely more would follow in time.

Those, however, were only temporary. When the time came, Xiao Chi would put the old paintings somewhere else and comission a new and improved set. Xiao Chi as Han General Han Xin, launching an ambush at the Battle of Gaixia to destroy Xiang Yu and found the Han dynasty. Xiao Chi as Zhang Liang, Liu Bang's critical advisor, laying out the plans for the Han Dynasty. Xiao Chi as Bai Qi at the Battle of Yique, losing less than a tenth of his army and destroying over half the enemy when outnumbered ten to one.

In the centre of the room was a glorious table made of bronze. Next to it was a box filled with superior, Xiao Chi-written maps of the world, written notes on military deployments, and the rest of the work. Several short stools surrounded the table, towered over by the main throne laid out for GaoMing, or perhaps his Lord should he deign to use it.

Finally there was the main table, for when Xiao Chi was working alone. Purchased from Wang Yun after Xiao Chi had stabbed a few holes in it, Xiao Chi had repaired it and had it transported to Jin Yang for a specific purpose. This would the work table of Xiao Chi's central office for the rest of his life.

It was at this table that Xiao Chi had doubted himself and his ability, only to later realise that no Strategist was omniscient. It was here that Xiao Chi had first had the courage to spit in the face of History and tell it's fraudulent writers they were wrong.

Above all, it was a reminder that he should never doubt himself again.

"Strategist", announced a voice. Chuang Shuang had apparently gotten back from his tasks. Although the man's tendency to doubt Xiao Chi's superior wisdom was annoying, he was far too useful to punish for it. When Xiao Chi had first explained how great he was, Chuang Shuang had been suspicious. Now he knew better.

"Chuang Shuang", replied Xiao Chi calmly. Chuang Shuang was larger than Xiao Chi, but the look of fearful deference in his eyes made it obvious he was feeling twice as short. Chuang Shuang had taken longer than most, but even a man as stubborn as him had to bend when Xiao Chi had told him about his favourite foods growing up. Still, although he was very deferential nowadays something was clearly unusual here.

"Forgive my insolence", began Chuang Shuang, head bowed almost in shame, "But- but I need to know something."

He was still doubting? On top of everything else, why did Chuang Shuang have to be so skeptical? Why couldn't he just accept that some men were beyond mortal comprehension? Xiao Chi repressed a glare, realising from Chuang Shang's obvious shame that there had to be a deeper reason for this.

"Go on", replied Xiao Chi, giving a false look of utter unconcern. "You are a trusted vassal. I have no reason to keep secrets from you."

"Strategist", replied Chuang Shuang, emboldened a little by those words, "If Yuan Shao was planning to denounce you in the Imperial Court why did you not ask the Spymaster to put a spy there to investigate court politics? Why did you need to embarass yourself by going to the treacherous Wang Yun for a favour?"

How DARE he! How could be that damn insolent? Xiao Chi was the greatest Strategist the world had ever seen! How DARE he qustion that!

"I- I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" cried Chuang Shuang, as if he were sorry now. "I- I shouldn't have said anything! Please, Sir Strategist, please don't punish me for-"

"It's fine", replied Xiao Chi, repressing a glare. He couldn't afford to punish Chuang Shuang at a time like this. It would not fit with his Lord's policy of benevolence, and might drive away those who wished to serve him in the future.

"First", Xiao Chi began, "Yuan Shao's power within the Court was too great. His agents would constantly be searching for Mao Tun's, and might have compromised them. Second, I wanted to appear as if I was desperate at all times so as to conceal my movements. Third, we have a limited number of spies and cannot afford to risk them so easily."

The truth was that there were three powers circling Jizhou- Yuan Shao, Lord Jing, and Cao Cao. If Xiao Chi had died, Lord Jing would have been angry and wanted to seek vengance. Far from ending the threat to Yuan Shao, this would have driven him into Cao Cao's hands. Cao Cao would then be in a commanding posistion to take Jizhou for himself. Tian Feng and Guo Tu were brilliant men- how could they have not seen that?

But little men like Chuang Shuang would never understand that. Their petty minds saw only the superficial level. Even in their wisdom, they were ten times less sophisticated than the folly of wise men. Even if Xiao Chi drilled it into him a hundred times, Chuang Shuang would assume he was an imperfect Strategist merely because he had a mistake.

Sadly, that was Xiao Chi's lot in life.