Interlude 2

Shen Tan and Shen Yi welcomed me and our troops warmly. The two, who had come out to greet us all the way to Xicheng County, personally guided us to our lodgings where we would rest, trying to demonstrate how sincere they were to Liu Bei.

‘I know you’ll betray us as soon as we’re at a disadvantage.’

In the original history, when Guan Yu died and Meng Da fled to Wei, the Shen Tan and Shen Yi brothers drove out Liu Feng and followed Meng Da to Wei.

Thorough self-preservationists. Do you think I don’t know you?

But while keeping such thoughts to myself, I praised them as unparalleled loyal subjects.

After taking a short rest and unpacking, we went to the banquet hall that the Shen brothers had prepared. The two brothers were already there waiting for us.

“Ah, come, come, please enter.”

I and the two Shen brothers sat at the head seat, with my generals who had accompanied me on the right, and the brothers’ retainers on the left.

I was displeased that they dared to put my lieutenants who held proper official positions on the same level as their retainers, but considering the face of the two brothers who had surrendered before fighting, I endured it.

‘But I can’t stand them staring at my face.’

Shen Yi had been glancing at my face since we first met, and now that I had taken off my mask, he was openly staring. At least Shen Tan knew to avert his gaze appropriately.

“Is there something on my face? You keep staring at me.”

“Ah, that is…”

“I, I’m sorry. This fellow is just naturally very curious. As an apology, let me offer you a drink.”

As Shen Yi stumbled over his words unable to make an excuse, Shen Tan quickly stepped in and poured the wine.

Shen Tan seems to be quite sincere about submitting to Liu Bei, but Shen Yi is not at all.

This point was clearly evident not only in their attitude towards me but also in their treatment of their families.

“I hear Chengdu is so good for education? With Duke Zhuge there, and that Sleeping Dragon teacher too.”

“Yes, it is good.”

“So I’m thinking of sending my wife and children to Chengdu on this occasion. After all, a man should play in big waters, shouldn’t he? I’m thinking of making a request to the Illustrious Lord for them to learn about the vastness of the world as well. What do you think, General?”

“If it’s our lord, he will gladly accept.”

What ruler would refuse when someone offers hostages with their own hands? In return, they would probably receive high official positions or maintain their governance rights over the Shangyong area.

Unlike Shen Tan, who seemed to be trying to properly board the Liu Bei train for once, Shen Yi had been quietly sipping his wine since he was scolded by me earlier.

“I heard that you also have a son, Lord Shen Yi?”

“Ah, yes… that’s right.”

“It seems he’s not very interested in studying?”

When I indirectly asked why he was staying quiet, unlike Shen Tan who was trying to send his children to Chengdu saying it was good for education, Shen Yi answered with an awkward expression.

“Well, yes. He’s a boy who really likes to move around.”

“Oh, is that so? Then how about having Lord Shen Yi’s son accompany me on the campaign? It’s good timing since I hear Lord Shen Yi’s family is in Xicheng, so we can ask for his opinion directly.”

“Ha, ha… well, he’s still a young lad who hasn’t even received his courtesy name…”

“I heard he’s already passed fifteen years of age.”

“Yes, my eldest turns eighteen this year.”

“Then he’s only a year younger than me. Hmm, is there a problem?”

“Even if we’re parent and child, how could parents decide something the child doesn’t want?”

“Then we can ask him directly.”

“…Servant, call Shen Hou and Shen Ping.”

At Shen Yi’s words, a few servants left the banquet hall and soon returned with two boys about my age.

The eldest, Shen Hou, was eighteen, and the second, Shen Ping, was seventeen, right? But the younger brother’s physique was actually larger.

“Fa-Father, you called for us?”

Shen Hou and Shen Ping, true to being Shen Yi’s sons, couldn’t easily take their eyes off my face. Whether it was the eldest stammering with a red face or the second gaping blankly, they were truly like father, like son.

Still, I spoke as if nothing was wrong.

“I’m thinking of taking you with me. What do you think?”

“To-To the army, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“If you would do that, it-it would be an honor!”

“Yes! I’ll gladly follow!”

They’re quick on the uptake. I looked at Shen Yi with a slight sneer. Shen Yi, who had a dumbfounded expression, lowered his head when he saw me.

“What do you think, now that you’ve heard your sons’ wishes?”

“…Do as you please.”

“Since they are your sons, I’ll be considerate and allow you to send soldiers to protect them.”

Though I said it was consideration, it was clearly a threat to anyone watching, taking his sons as hostages and demanding he hand over his private soldiers and military authority to me.

It’s better to quickly remove the seeds of betrayal if they can’t be used. If Shen Yi doesn’t follow my suggestion and resists, that wouldn’t be bad either.

Xicheng and Shangyong, the bases of Shen Tan and Shen Yi, are just counties, not even commanderies. Even if they gather troops, the numbers will be similar. If they recklessly charge at us, we can just crush them.

Shen Yi, quick-witted as ever, controlled his emotions well despite probably being quite angry.

“Thank… you.”

“I’m grateful for your cooperation. I’ll forget about the disrespect Lord Shen Yi showed me earlier.”

The banquet concluded with the achievement of extracting hostages and military authority from Shen Tan and Shen Yi. It feels a bit like I used the honey trap strategy on myself, but you have to use whatever you can.

Passing through Xicheng and reaching Shangyong, I headed towards Fangling with Shangyong’s troops in tow. When 5,500 soldiers, adding the private soldiers of the Shen brothers to the original 5,000, surrounded Fangling, an envoy arrived from Gui Gui.

“The Prefect says that you are oppressing us who are staying quiet, and that he rightfully follows the Han dynasty, so you should withdraw.”

“Is that so? Then go back and tell him this. Choose whether to die as a loyal subject of Wei who holds the Han imperial family, or to remain as a true loyal subject of the Han as the brother-in-law of the Military Advisor Zhuge. There is no neutrality.”

Gui Gui’s reply came back quickly.

The content was extremely concise.

No.

And my order was equally brief.

“Attack.”

The next day, I occupied the official residence of Fangling. Of course, the man kneeling before me was Gui Gui, who had chosen to resist.

“General, what will you do?”

“What do you all think?”

The opinions of the generals were divided.

Wang Ping, Gou Bo, Zhang Yi, and Ma Dai argued that he should be executed since he didn’t surrender, while Yu Ye, Ma Chong, Wang Si, and Bu Zhan thought it would be better to send him back as a prisoner, considering he’s Zhuge Liang’s brother-in-law.

“What does the Assistant Army Commandant think?”

“…I believe it’s right to follow the General’s will.”

It was quite an unexpected answer. Although Liu Feng had made the mistake of failing to save Guan Yu due to his quarrel with Meng Da, unlike the traitorous Meng Da, he returned to Liu Bei prepared for punishment and asked for forgiveness.

Zhuge Liang thought Liu Feng was too strong and would become a future threat, and although Liu Bei had affection for his adopted son, he executed him for the future.

Though Liu Feng was stubborn, his feelings toward Liu Bei were certainly sincere. Judging from the competitive consciousness he subtly showed towards me, it was clear that he didn’t entirely view me favorably.

I didn’t expect such a Liu Feng to yield to me so readily.

“Our lord has appointed you as the commander. I might understand for those who have submitted to our army, but Gui Gui resisted without surrendering, so his life and death are in your hands, General.”

“Good. All the generals’ words have merit. Our army has fought and defeated many enemies, capturing enemy generals, but we have prioritized reforming them when possible. It will be the same this time. Assistant Army Commandant.”

“Yes, General.”

“I’ll entrust you with the task of transporting the prisoners, including Gui Gui, and reporting our victory. Go with Dexin.”

With the surrender of Xicheng and Shangyong, and the occupation of Fangling, I had completed the orders given to me.

Just like with the Parsang army before, all that remained was to fill the power vacuum in Fangling and wait for the new officials Liu Bei would send.

Although the battle for Fangling ended so trivially that it’s embarrassing to even call it a proper fight, it still counts as a military achievement. With Liu Feng at the forefront, he’ll probably receive some words of praise from Liu Bei when he returns.

Liu Feng and Liu Shan. Even now, Liu Bei’s heart will have secretly shifted towards Liu Shan. So he must be worrying a lot about how to treat Liu Feng too. There will be people like Zhuge Liang who think they should remove any possibility of discord altogether.

‘Still, it’s better to keep him if possible. It’s not like Liu Feng is the type to forcibly covet Liu Bei’s successor position.’

If he was, he would have fled to Wei with Meng Da. What Liu Feng wants is recognition as Liu Bei’s son. If we appropriately pass on merits to him and guide him not to make mistakes, it’s possible for him to play an active role as a quite capable general.

With such thoughts, I included content defending Liu Feng in the report I submitted as the commander, and then focused on stabilizing the three counties in eastern Hanzhong for a while.

I worked to fully assimilate the private soldiers taken from Shen Tan and Shen Yi into Liu Bei’s army, and subtly pressured the local strongmen to show sincerity on their own.

Everything went smoothly as I assigned Wang Si to comfort the people, Zhang Yi to handle the local strongmen, and Wang Ping to train the soldiers.

This is why those at the top strive to have capable subordinates under them. But it’s also a bit sad thinking that most of them will probably become independent from under me after the upcoming awarding of merits.

Of course, thinking about the future, it’s right for each of them to go to higher positions, but when will I ever have such a luxurious lineup again? Maybe when I reach a much higher position myself?

Anyway, after waiting like that for a while, Liu Feng, who had left to report to Liu Bei, returned to Fangling as Liu Bei’s envoy himself.

And the news he brought was truly shocking.

“Our lord has submitted a memorial.”

The “memorial” (表) that came from Liu Feng’s mouth referred to a document that a subject submits to the emperor.

And now, there was only one memorial that Liu Bei would submit to the emperor.

The Memorial of the King of Hanzhong.

It was a declaration that, like Liu Bang who founded the Han dynasty in the past, he would ascend as the King of Hanzhong himself.

It was Liu Bei’s challenge, declaring that he would formally enter the struggle for the world against Cao Cao, the King of Wei.