Meanwhile, Over There

The atmosphere enveloping Chang’an was gloomy.

Hetao, Tong Pass, Wu Pass, Yangping, Xingnan, Nanzhong.

The attacks of the Wei-Wu alliance forces coming from 6 directions were sweeping over Liu Bei’s Han like a tidal wave.

In Chengdu and Yizhou, barely a few thousand troops remained, precariously maintaining public order, and Ma Chao’s forces, dealing with ethnic minorities allied with Wei and Wei’s remaining forces conducting guerrilla warfare, had been pulled as much as possible.

There was nowhere left to draw support from. There was still the Sanqi, the emperor’s personal troops, but if these were pulled out too, the forces to defend Chang’an would disappear.

The situation was already tight, and now even the bandits who had been living quietly under Han rule were reemerging.

During the previous Battle for Hanzhong, Yi Yan had suppressed bandit groups with a small force. That poor environment had been recreated now.

If Zhuge Liang hadn’t cleared the west and south of Yizhou through his Southern Campaign in advance, it wouldn’t have been strange if a major rebellion had broken out.

The current position of Han was extremely precarious.

Given such a situation, the atmosphere inside the imperial palace in Chang’an couldn’t possibly be bright.

“A memorial has come up from the Chancellor of Yizhou.”

“What does it say?”

When Liu Bei asked, Huang Quan, the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, answered in the brightest voice possible:

“It says that by having Zhong Du Hu Yi Yan lead an army to suppress the bandits, Yizhou has regained peace and is praising Your Majesty’s virtue.”

“Is that so. As expected of Zhengfang. He takes on difficult tasks whenever times are hard, his efforts are admirable. Tell the Chancellor to open the storehouse in Chengdu and reward him.”

“I will do so, Your Majesty.”

Even such a small positive report seemed to thaw the frozen atmosphere a little.

“Is there no word from other places?”

“Yes, it seems the defense on all fronts is still proceeding successfully.”

“I see. That’s very fortunate.”

“Please don’t worry too much, Your Majesty. Isn’t it said that no news is good news?”

“The Director’s words are right. If I lose my spirit, who will be encouraged?”

Contrary to the words he spoke outwardly, Liu Bei inwardly thought bitterly that he too had aged.

His younger self would have calmly dealt with this level of crisis. But now, his worries wouldn’t easily subside.

But perhaps that was the manifestation of the instinct sent by Liu Bei’s body, which had accumulated numerous experiences over a long time.

When Grand Commander Fang Tong, who was overseeing the Guanzhong area including Tong Pass, Pofang Fortress, and Wu Pass, entered the main hall without even properly dressing:

Liu Bei rose from his throne with a chilling sensation running down his spine.

“Your, Your Majesty!”

“Propriety is done, Grand Commander, speak quickly!”

“Governor of Xingnan Feng Xi has been greatly defeated by Lu Xun…!”

Liu Bei clenched his jaw so hard to suppress the scream hitting his throat that the sound of his teeth grinding was clearly audible even to the eunuchs standing far away.

“Report, in detail.”

Liu Bei’s voice leaked through his clenched teeth.

Enduring the anger burning his insides, Liu Bei tried his best to maintain calm. However, his words spoken through tightly clenched teeth fully conveyed Liu Bei’s pain.

Fang Tong’s report continued.

Initially, Feng Xi and Wei Yan, along with Fan Jun who had been steadily preparing by strengthening defenses since the previous Battle for Jingzhou, focused on defense.

Before the appearance of gunpowder weapons, when such well-trained soldiers entered a siege battle based on abundant resources, it was nearly impossible to break through.

Even Zhuge Liang was blocked by Hao Zhao, and Li Shimin, the master strategist and unifier of the Central Plains who became Emperor Taizong of Tang, drank bitter defeat at Ansi Fortress of Goguryeo.

Even the world’s strongest Mongol army, which seemed about to conquer the whole world, took as long as 5 years to break through Yangping.

So even if Lu Xun was a great general on par with Zhou Yu as Zhang Ran had evaluated, they expected it would be difficult for him to have much impact.

However, Lu Xun attacked a different place than Gong’an or Jiangling as he had during the previous Jingzhou raid. What Lu Xun aimed for was none other than Wuling.

“Lu Xun succeeded in drawing our army out to open battle by attacking Wuling.”

Liu Bei’s grand principle is virtue.

The fundamental principle he advocated when ascending to emperor was also virtue.

Wuling had helped Han. They fought together against Sun Quan while recapturing Gong’an with Fang Tong. At Wuling’s request for support, Feng Xi eventually opened the gates and came out.

Fan Jun and Wei Yan came out opposing Feng Xi’s assertion, but Feng Xi’s will was firm.

‘If we betray our righteousness with Wuling here and forget their favor, how can we look up to heaven and speak of virtue? Lost land can be regained, but departed hearts of the people cannot be returned, so we shall leave the city.’

Leaving those words, Fan Jun and Wei Yan eventually followed Feng Xi’s will. There was also the fact that it was Feng Xi whom Liu Bei had originally appointed as the overall commander of Xingnan by giving him the tally.

Feng Xi, who set out to defeat Lu Xun together with Wuling, was subsequently killed by Lu Xun’s fire strategy. It was a great defeat where Sima Jia, the king of Wuling, also lost his life.

Wei Yan and Fan Jun barely gathered the defeated troops and returned to Jiangling. They had neither the troops nor the time to defend Gong’an.

At the final words that they were fortifying defenses in Jiangling, Liu Bei tightly closed his eyes.

‘It was my mistake…’

Feng Xi’s talent was no lie. He had talent and accumulated experience.

Feng Xi, who had served Liu Bei since before entering Shu like Wei Yan, had no major shortcomings in taking on the role of governor. Liu Bei thought so.

But hadn’t he dealt too rashly with Zhang Ran’s advice that Feng Xi would have difficulty stopping Lu Xun?

Hadn’t entrusting an army to him and then sending Wei Yan, thinking in hindsight that he might be insufficient, instilled a sense of compulsion in Feng Xi?

Liu Bei let out a deep sigh, belatedly filled with such regrets.

“Lu Xun, how is Lu Xun moving?”

Though he knew the possibility was low even in his own thinking, Liu Bei prayed that Lu Xun would be tied down at Jiangling.

Then, though the deaths of Feng Xi, Sima Jia, and numerous officers and soldiers would be regrettable, it could be glossed over from a big picture perspective.

“…It is said he is advancing north towards Yangping together with the navy. Your Majesty, the General-in-Chief is in danger.”

Wei controls Fancheng in the north.

Wu controls Xiangyang in the south.

Even the Han River flowing between the two cities was likely not properly guarded due to the Wu navy.

It was truly a situation of being besieged on all sides.

“What about sending Zhang Yi from Shangyong as support?”

“…Your Majesty, if Lord Zhang Bai leaves Shangyong, we cannot stop Lu Xun…”

The forces in Hanzhong, like Yizhou, are only enough to maintain minimal public order. It’s an all-out war where they’ve drafted as many troops as possible from non-border areas and thrown them into the front lines.

In this situation, if Zhang Yi guarding Shangyong leaves his post, Hanzhong would be undefended land for Lu Xun.

If that happens, it’s not just a problem for Hanzhong. There was the risk of cutting off the connection between Yizhou and Chang’an while also being able to put pressure on either side.

Moreover, would Lu Xun have stayed still during the time it took for news from Xingnan to reach Chang’an? He might have already reached Xiangyang.

Liu Bei was no stranger to this. Liu Bei had lived longer as a military commander than as a ruler. Of course he knew such things.

But.

“…Then, are you telling me to abandon Yunchang as he is?”

Not as the burden of an emperor, but simply as the person Liu Bei.

Liu Bei cannot abandon Guan Yu.

“Your Majesty…”

Fang Tong and Huang Quan, understanding Liu Bei’s feelings, knew they should dissuade him but couldn’t bring themselves to say it out loud.

“Summon the Sanqi. I will personally go through Wu Pass to rescue Yunchang.”

“Your Majesty!”

“I have given my order. I will not accept any further objections.”

Liu Bei’s will was firm.

“If Tong Pass is breached, the Grand Commander and Director should immediately organize Guanzhong and return to Hanzhong. Zhang Yi is strong-willed and will defend Shangyong even against Lu Xun. If we hold Hanzhong and Yongzhou, someday there will be another opportunity to cross Guanzhong and aim for the Central Plains.”

Liu Bei’s words were proceeding on the assumption of failure. Deep down, Liu Bei was also basing his thoughts on the slim probability of their success.

If someone saw this, they would call it foolish.

That’s right. This is a foolish decision. No matter how painful, it was right to cut out parts difficult to defend and somehow expand the areas that could be protected.

But when had Liu Bei ever made only such calculatedly correct decisions?

He was the person who, even when fleeing Jingzhou, couldn’t abandon 100,000 civilians and gave up the rear to Cao Cao.

Even now that he had ascended to emperor, the essence of the person Liu Bei remained the same.

His brothers were fighting. Brothers who had only suffered following their incompetent elder brother. Talents who would have received the highest offices and treatment in any other faction.

All Liu Bei could give such brothers was only sincerity.

He would keep that single-mindedness to the end.

“Grand Commander and Director, listen.”

Who wouldn’t know that Liu Bei’s words to follow would be an early entrusting of orphans?

Just as Huang Quan and Fang Tong were about to kneel, overcome with sorrow.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Urgent news!”

Is there anything that could get worse from here?

Everyone gathered had the same thought.

The idea penetrating everyone’s minds in the main hall was the despairing guess that Yangping had already fallen.

But the messenger who hurriedly entered the main hall with Liu Bei’s permission was wearing a uniform that no one had ever thought of.

The cloth draped over the shoulders. And the blue silk phoenix pattern embroidered on it.

It was the Luanling Army’s brocade uniform. Liu Bei got goosebumps before even hearing the words, at the appearance of someone he couldn’t believe even seeing with his own eyes.

If by any chance, even Zhang Ran couldn’t stop Cao Zhang and was defeated… it would become a situation where even Yongzhou would be difficult to defend.

Then Han would fall straight to the ground just as it was about to soar, reduced to the shabby state of relying only on Yizhou and Hanzhong.

However, the Luanling Army messenger’s words were the exact opposite.

“The General of the Guards has defeated the enemy and taken the head of their leader Cao Zhang! Tens of thousands of enemies were killed or captured, while our casualties are less than 10,000, a great victory to be recorded in history!”

“What? Say that, say that again!”

The first good news to arrive. And not just successfully defending against Cao Zhang’s invasion, but completely shattering and grinding up the invading army – at this shocking news of victory, Liu Bei shouted, stumbling over his words.

The messenger spoke clearly, conveying joy with his voice, expression, and whole body:

“The General of the Guards has killed Cao Zhang and killed or captured tens of thousands of enemy soldiers!”

It didn’t end there. The truly shocking part was the messenger’s following words.

“Also, the General of the Guards is returning directly to Guanzhong via the old Qin Direct Road to help at Tong Pass, so he requests your forgiveness for the rudeness of not coming to see Your Majesty in person!!”

The tension that had been stretched to the limit suddenly snapped.

Liu Bei, who had been prepared to lead troops personally even at the risk of becoming a great criminal of history beyond death, collapsed back onto his throne, strength leaving him.

His limbs began to tremble. His body, released from extreme tension, wouldn’t listen to Liu Bei’s commands.

But now that was alright.

With the invading army defeated, once Zhang Ran cleans up Tong Pass, the Wei army will no longer be able to focus on attacking Fancheng.

They might even come out of Tong Pass and attack Luoyang. Then they would have to pull back troops from Fancheng to defend Luoyang.

Like attacking Wei to save Zhao, it would result in threatening Luoyang to lift the siege of Fancheng.

They had won.

The sense of defeat that had dominated the main hall until just moments ago vanished as if washed away, and was covered over with a sense of victory.

It wasn’t just Liu Bei whose strength gave out; the sound of people collapsing could be heard here and there. But Liu Bei didn’t rebuke them. He didn’t even when they were smiling despite making mistakes.

Instead, Liu Bei began to laugh along with them.

“We did it… we really did it. We did it!!”