Meanwhile, Over There 3

Lu Xun, who had thrown Feng Xi’s Xingnan army into a fiery pit and annihilated them, bypassed Fan Jun and Wei Yan holed up in Jiangling and continued northward.

Lu Xun left Zhu Zong and Xu Sheng in Wuling and Yiling Counties respectively, which he had secured through this attack. It was an arrangement to firmly incorporate the two counties into Wu territory.

Lu Xun was thorough. Having been defeated by Fan Jun and Wei Yan once before, Lu Xun hadn’t forgotten the past and became even more cautious.

He made Han Dang, who had gravitas from his long career, the commander, but entrusted actual military authority to his lieutenant Zhou Yan, instructing him to keep Jiangling in check.

It was similar to how Cao Cao had made Cao Hong the commander in the past but appointed Cao Xiu, who had superior military ability, as the actual commander.

In addition to this, he attached talents who would shoulder the next generation – He Zhi, who had been active in Hefei, and Sun Huan, a new talent from the Sun family whose abilities had been proven – to gain experience, showing foresight in preparing for the future.

After solidifying the defenses against Xingnan, Lu Xun headed straight for Yangping without occupying Dangyang.

Unlike before, Dangyang had almost no strategic value. There were no Wei prisoners held there, nor was a fierce general like Fang De with considerable forces stationed there.

But there was someone who had his eye on it.

“Grand Commander, is it alright to leave Dangyang as it is?”

“It’s not a problem.”

“But wouldn’t it be more reassuring to occupy it rather than leaving it as is? We don’t need much. Just entrust this minor official with 500 swift elite troops. I’ll show you how to capture the city without losing a single man, just like the General of Light Cavalry did.”

He advocated for attacking the city, mentioning Gan Ning at the time of the Battle of Yushui, when he had raided Wei with just 100 soldiers.

It was already a far-fetched story to talk about besieging with just 500 troops, but saying he’d return without losing a single man was beyond ridiculous.

However, Lu Xun didn’t think this was mere bluster. He considered those words to have credibility.

People in the distant future who know his name would nod in agreement with Lu Xun’s thinking.

The name Ding Feng had that much worth.

But Lu Xun shook his head.

Capturing Jiangling would be difficult. They would have stockpiled supplies, and the combination of Fan Jun and Wei Yan was not an easy opponent even for Lu Xun.

No matter how skilled Lu Xun was in psychological warfare and strategy, there was a large part of siege warfare that couldn’t be solved by tactics alone.

As long as Jiangling and Yangping weren’t captured, Dangyang was land that would be difficult to defend and quickly lost even if occupied.

And the top priority of this war wasn’t occupying small patches of land like Dangyang.

“Our target is Guan Yu.”

Cao-Wei seemed to consider attacking Hetao as their trump card, but Lu Xun’s thoughts were different. There was a gap stemming from the difference in positions between Cao-Wei and Sun-Wu.

Cao-Wei with the short-term goal of recovering lost territory.

Sun-Wu with long-term results in mind, looking at the big picture.

Therefore, Sun-Wu’s goals and Cao-Wei’s goals had to be different. Seizing Shu’s territory was only a secondary achievement; what Lu Xun was truly aiming for was Guan Yu’s life.

If Guan Yu were killed, Liu Bei would burn his life to destroy his enemies, even if it meant staking everything he had.

Even if what lay at the end was a cliff.

Even if it meant betraying all the expectations of those who followed him.

Liu Bei would gladly choose that path.

‘What we must avoid most is Liu Bei using the advantages of terrain to prolong the war. Our country’s strength can no longer keep up with Wei and Shu. The longer they are given time, the more disadvantageous it becomes for us in Dongwu.’

Therefore, Lu Xun wanted Guan Yu’s head to make Liu Bei wage an all-out battle staking his Mandate of Heaven.

And fortunately, this intention aligned with Wei’s as well.

Wei wanted achievements to stabilize their shaking regime. As a backup plan in case they failed to recapture Guanzhong, they chose Guan Yu and Yangping.

Because the head of Guan Yu, worth ten thousand men and Shu-Han’s General-in-Chief, and the recovery of Yangping lost by the previous generation Cao Cao, were unparalleled achievements.

And Cao-Wei and Sun-Wu’s plans were on the verge of success.

Cao-Wei’s army led by Zhang Liao attacks Fancheng, and Sun-Wu’s army led by Lu Xun attacks Xiangyang. In addition to the joint attack from north and south, Zhou Huan and Pan Zhang pressure Shu’s navy along the Han River.

No matter how much of a natural fortress Yangping is and how Guan Yu is called worth ten thousand men, how could they withstand such a major offensive?

It’s questionable whether that supposedly solid Yangping was properly repaired after the previous flooding. Guan Yu too has grown old and weakened from injuries like being shot by arrows. Now was the perfect time to capture Yangping.

However, Lu Xun’s prediction went awry.

Due to external influences rather than internal causes.

“Grand Commander… the Wei army has conveyed their intention to retreat.”

Lu Xun showed emotion on his face for the first time. His furrowed brow and trembling lips showed his anger.

“Why?”

“It seems that Cao Zhang, who invaded through Hetao, was defeated by Zhang Ran. Cao Zhang was killed, and it was a great defeat with more than half the army destroyed…”

“Then! Shouldn’t we attack Yangping all the more!”

“It’s said that Zhang Ran immediately moved to Tong Pass and stopped Xiahou Yuan’s attack as well. There are also reports that Liu Bei is trying to mobilize his personal troops, so it seems they prioritized defending Luoyang over capturing Yangping.”

“Zhang Ran… that name again.”

The very person who had blocked this major offensive following the Battle for Jingzhou.

Lu Xun drew the face of the one who had brought about such a great change.

The epitome of beauty. If Lu Xun’s cultivation had been even a little shallower, he would have been shaken.

A beauty that made him think this is what Zhou Yu, whom he thought was unparalleled in the world, would look like if born a woman. Lu Xun had unconsciously thought that even the Two Qiaos of Jiangdong, said to be beautiful, couldn’t compare to this.

Zhang Ran, who had completely frustrated the surprise attack aimed at Jingzhou, had visited Lu Xun, who was being held prisoner, on her way back to Chengdu.

And there, Lu Xun saw it. The strong wariness hidden deep in Zhang Ran’s eyes.

At the same time, Lu Xun read it. The killing intent contained within.

She must have wanted to eliminate him in advance, certain that he would become the worst enemy if released.

Though she perfectly controlled her expression and attitude, she couldn’t quite hide her gaze.

No, it was because Lu Xun’s senses were too sharp.

Zhang Ran, who almost uniquely in Shu-Han burned with vigilance towards Lu Xun while they were ignoring Dongwu, intoxicated with victory after Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Lu Meng had disappeared.

It was befitting of someone said to surpass even Liu Bei in judging people.

Lu Xun, faced with this, also realized. To bring down Shu, it was this Zhang Ran, not Guan Yu or Zhang Fei, who would be the greatest wall.

“Did Lord Zhou truly see this form in a 9-year-old girl? His brilliant appearance, eyes imbued with wisdom, will continue for a thousand years. Immeasurable depth, unfathomable capacity. If he had lived until now, our Dongwu would have opened a new world long ago… It’s regrettable. Truly regrettable.”

Lu Xun let out a sigh with lamentation caused by the empty space left by one who had departed.

“With the Wei army withdrawn, it’s difficult for us alone. Even if we cross Xiangyang, Fancheng would remain. We must be satisfied with what we’ve gained.”

Taking comfort in acquiring two counties in Xingnan, Lu Xun ordered a retreat with the thought of at least firmly securing the gains made this time.

It was the moment when the outcome of this war was decided with Shu-Han’s miraculous victory, Cao-Wei’s complete defeat, and Sun-Wu’s half-victory.

§

“Father! The enemy is retreating!!”

“Yes. I see.”

Guan Yu, who was personally leading the defense of Fancheng, responded bluntly to his son’s shout of jubilation at seeing the retreating Wei army.

At the end of a desperate fight against the formidable opponent Zhang Liao, even sustaining an arrow wound, it should be a welcome rest for Guan Yu who had fought at the forefront more than anyone, but he immediately checked on the situation elsewhere.

“What about Xiangyang?”

“There’s still no word from General Liao, but with the Wei army withdrawn, isn’t it just a matter of time over there too?”

“It’s not over. That too could be a false retreat to draw out our carelessness, so calm your excitement and tell the soldiers not to carelessly relax their posture.”

There was still no report from Yao Hua and Xi Zhen guarding Xiangyang, or Zhao Lu commanding the navy on the Han River.

Even if the attack on Fancheng had stopped, the battle wasn’t over as long as Wu remained intact.

However, Guan Yu’s caution proved to be excessive. Not long after, Wu’s army also began to retreat.

Even then, Guan Yu didn’t let down his guard. Only when Bai Yibing, the messenger sent by Zhen Du, arrived reporting that the Wei army at Wu Pass had also withdrawn, did Guan Yu accept that this was not a deception by the enemy.

“Mingjing has accomplished another great feat.”

Receiving treatment for his wounds while listening to the messenger’s report, Guan Yu fell into some contemplation.

It was the thought that one era was setting and the next era was rising.

‘The space for me to stand will continue to narrow from now on.’

Due to repeated injuries and aging brought by time, Guan Yu’s body was not what it used to be.

His younger brother Zhang Fei still seems vigorous, but that’s because Zhang Fei hadn’t had any major injuries. Guan Yu, who had fought in even worse situations than Zhang Fei, had continued to fight desperately, even undergoing surgery for his injuries.

Especially his left arm, which had been pierced by a poisoned arrow, had reached the point where he could barely put strength into it.

‘I envy my brother for this.’

What a great blessing it is to be able to step back confidently and pass on one’s will to one’s children.

Guan Ping and Guan Xing, his two sons, still didn’t satisfy Guan Yu.

After Zhang Ran showed her prominence in the Battle for Jingzhou, Guan Yu had been teaching martial arts to his daughter Guan Hui as well, just in case.

Unfortunately, Guan Hui was ordinary. Depending on her effort, she might become like Lady Sun, but she wouldn’t reach Zhang Ran who far surpassed the general category.

As a result, none of his children had satisfied Guan Yu so far.

However, Guan Yu was now feeling that he must prepare for his succession.

‘Heaven, grant me more time. At least until I can raise a child to entrust with what comes after me.’