Rest Period

Han, Wei, Wu.

When the great battle where the three kingdoms poured out all the forces they could mobilize ended, the only one who could be called a pure victor was Wu.

While Wu couldn’t overcome Guan Yu’s Yangping, they not only swept the four counties of Xingnan – Changsha, Guiyang, Lingling, and Wuling – but also took part of Nanzhong, occupying 2/3 of Jingzhou.

Wuling County, which they occupied this time, wasn’t particularly good productive land with many ethnic minorities. However, Lingling County is a different story. The value of Lingling County, with a population comparable to Nanzhong which we managed to keep, is considerable.

Wuling County also has its own value. Han had cooperated with ethnic groups like Wuling Man to cultivate it, and just the fact that land and population increased was an achievement to be proud of.

Then does Han have no gains? That’s not the case either.

Although we lost Xingnan, we fully digested Yongzhou and Guanzhong, and included the Hetao area, where Wei’s influence had been overwhelming, into our sphere of influence.

Losing Xingnan is painful, but it’s encouraging that we defended Nanzhong. Protecting the route connecting Yizhou, Shangyong to Jingzhou implies that re-entry into Jingzhou is possible anytime.

‘Of course, we can’t do anything about Jingzhou right away.’

Now was the time to take a rest, not talk about revenge.

While there were tangible achievements like a bridgehead for re-entering Jingzhou, there were also intangible achievements that couldn’t be seen.

Namely, the greater cause.

The greater cause of always keeping one’s righteousness even if the opponent is an ethnic minority.

It was a meaningful achievement that reaffirmed the value of Liu Bei’s Han gathered under the banner of righteousness and virtue.

However, as there can be no war where everyone has only good results, while Wu had one-sided gains and Han gained both benefits and losses simultaneously, Wei suffered one-sided losses.

First, they lost people. Though manpower loss was common to all three kingdoms, Wei suffered too many casualties without achieving even a single victory.

Cao Zhang died, subordinate ethnic minorities including the Southern Xiongnu disappeared, and tens of thousands of soldiers lost their lives. If there had been some achievement gained, it might have been a meaningful sacrifice, but there wasn’t even that.

They lost face and wasted resources, so Wei’s internal situation must be quite difficult.

There might be a large-scale restructuring of the power structure. The military authority centered on relatives that had continued due to Cao Cao’s last wishes was likely to be transferred to non-relative generals following meritocracy as in the original history.

In the original history, after the failure of Cao Xiu’s expedition to Wu in 228 and Cao Zhen’s conquest of Shu in 230, military authority centered on relatives gradually passed to the nobles.

But here, it seemed that Sima Yi, Chen Qun and others would advance to high positions in the military sooner than that.

That’s enough discussing the results of the war.

I set out on the road returning to Chang’an from Tong Pass.

With the siege of Yangping lifted, continuing to stay at Tong Pass would be a waste of manpower.

In addition to this, Father remained at Tong Pass alone, and even sent Zhao Yun, who had been guarding the Tong Pass area since the northern expedition until now, back to Chang’an with me.

We who returned to Chang’an received truly triumphant general treatment.

Starting with Liu Bei personally coming out to the city gates to welcome us, we marched to the imperial palace amidst flower petals scattered by the people and their cheers.

I doubt whether that was really the people voluntarily coming out, but the sincerity in preparing this triumphal entry was real. It’s amazing how much they prepared in such a short time.

But Liu Bei went even further. He had me ride alongside him in the imperial carriage, the Yu Jia.

Riding in the carriage together with the emperor was an extraordinary privilege. On top of that, for someone who isn’t even a Sanqi Changshi to accompany the emperor’s side? That was tantamount to the emperor personally declaring this person as one he favors.

In the original history, Cao Pi appointed Meng Da as Sanqi Changshi and gave him the seat beside him, and here he invites me to sit together – it might seem trivial, but its value was tremendous.

Would Cao Pi not know that symbolism? While he might have liked Meng Da’s appearance, there was probably a lot of showing off too, like how we treated Xiahou Mao generously by giving him the title of Xian Hou, the first-rank marquis.

The hospitality continued even after arriving at the imperial palace.

“I have prepared a banquet for you all. Rest your tired bodies well today, and let’s enjoy ourselves to the fullest tomorrow.”

Though he said it was a banquet to honor those who returned after achieving great merit, it seemed Liu Bei himself was looking forward to it the most.

They say he liked playing more than studying even when he was under Lu Zhi. Old habits die hard. Where would that nature go?

Even when waging war against Liu Zhang over Yizhou, Liu Bei held banquets rejoicing in small victories and was scolded by Fang Tong.

He had been holding back due to his position until now, but now that he has justification, he must be planning to thoroughly enjoy himself this time.

I hear that with Lu Xun’s rapid advance, Yangping was in crisis and Guan Yu’s fate was hanging by a thread. How joyful must he be to have protected Guan Yu.

However, while that might be fine for Liu Bei the person, it’s not for Liu Bei the emperor.

“Your Majesty, may this minor official dare to say a word?”

“Oh, yes. If you have something to say, by all means.”

“Although our country has blocked the offensive of two enemies, Cao-Wei and Sun-Wu, with relatively little damage, that damage is by no means small. Also, though we repelled the enemy, we failed to protect our territory, so this cannot be called a complete victory for our country.”

As my words began, Liu Bei’s face, which had been full of smiles, slowly hardened.

Objectively speaking, this war was successfully defended. However, unlike Wuling County which mainly had the Wuling Man, the loss of Lingling County is quite painful.

Wouldn’t the population that crossed over as we lost Lingling County be double the population that increased as we fully made Xiliang ours this time?

Considering the soldiers who died at Lu Xun’s hands on top of this, it’s to the extent where using the expression “defeat” wouldn’t be inappropriate.

“The war is wrapped up, but it’s not over. They will invade again anytime, and our country must engage in battle again. I dare to request, save the resources to be spent on the banquet to comfort the soldiers tired from war, and lighten the heavy burden of the people.”

There were generals looking forward to the banquet, I wonder if my words sound annoying to them.

But originally, people who speak right words are bound to receive resentment from those around. If I wasn’t prepared to endure that, I wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.

Fortunately, the one right next to me was Zhao Yun. When rewarding meritorious service after pacifying Yizhou, he had set an example of putting the country first by taking the lead in refusing fiefs.

And Zhao Yun’s thoughts were still the same.

“The General of the Guards’ words are right. Fighting against invading enemies is a natural duty as a general, so it would be proper to prioritize the people and soldiers before honoring the generals.”

With Zhao Yun’s supporting fire as well, Liu Bei immediately nodded.

“I am ashamed. Intoxicated by a small victory, I momentarily forgot the greater cause. Not only first in military merit, but the loyal heart offering remonstration is also truly first. I will gladly follow your words.”

“Your imperial grace is boundless.”

As expected of Liu Bei.

He’s ready to accept and correct his mistakes.

Because he has the attitude of listening, which is the most important virtue as a ruler, I too could express my opinion like this.

Fang Tong, who had been listening to our conversation from the side, nodded at me as if to say well done and smiled, then added:

“Your Majesty, many soldiers died in Xingnan. I believe sufficient support is needed for their bereaved families as well.”

“The Grand Commander’s words are right too. Not only that, I should personally hold a memorial service to commemorate the patriotic death of the Governor of Xingnan and his soldiers, and erect a memorial stone. Grand Commander, discuss with the Director of the Imperial Secretariat and prepare for this as well.”

“I will follow the imperial command.”

Since the banquet fell through, he seems to have decided to go in a completely different direction.

Liu Bei planned to personally visit the soldiers to commend their merits and even erect a monument for military merit in Chang’an, with the determination to completely win over the hearts of the soldiers and people at this opportunity.

Certainly, there is no one like Liu Bei when it comes to how to capture the hearts of the people.

How can you not be moved when the emperor personally mourns the deaths of soldiers, holds memorial services, and erects monuments for military merit to honor the achievements of soldiers?

On top of this, there weren’t just showpiece events, but actual rewards and support followed, so it would be strange not to praise Liu Bei.

The reaction of the generals who might have been dissatisfied with the cancellation of the banquet wasn’t as bad as expected.

Perhaps it was thanks to watching Liu Bei grieve, reciting one by one the names of the dead generals including Feng Xi.

Generals are those who always go to the battlefield with death by their side. The fact that the country will take care of their families even if they die, and that the emperor will honor their death, wasn’t something that only moved the soldiers.

Although postponed, meritorious service would be rewarded eventually.

When the work of erecting the memorial stone and military merit monument was finished, Liu Bei opened his mouth about it at the court assembly where all civil and military officials had gathered.

“We will return to Chengdu. The postponed rewarding of meritorious service will be carried out in Chengdu.”

It was concluded that Grand Commander Fang Tong would remain in Chang’an to manage Guanzhong together with Father, who is the Sili Jiaowei.

I was also included in the journey back to Chengdu after a long time.

‘I wonder how my family is doing.’