Waiting for the Time 3

Guan Yu’s seemingly endless funeral finally concluded. Though the pain of loss still lingered deep within Han, on the surface it appeared everyone had recovered their daily routines, fulfilling their roles as if they had overcome it.

The irony that this “daily routine” was, as always, preparation for war, is an aspect of the chaotic times where the abnormal had become normal.

During the harvest season when autumn reaping was in full swing, the Nanling Army that had been away from under my command returned. Not through the route of crossing the Qinling Mountains via Jingzhou, Hanzhong, or Shangyong, but through Wuguan Pass.

How did they, who were checking Xu Huang in Nanyang under Wu Fan’s command with Fu Qian and Ma Su directing, cross Wuguan Pass? The answer was in the words from their mouths after finishing their report:

“Those Cao bandits have started relocating the military and civilians of Nanxiang and Nanyang Commanderies.”

Fu Qian vented his anger, burning with rage. The policy of relocating people. In an era where population directly equated to national power, Wei boldly relocated people when they felt it difficult to defend the land. They had a precedent of taking away the people when they lost Hanzhong to Liu Bei in the past.

Even if we occupied Nanxiang or Nanyang Commanderies like this, with no people there, taking the land would be largely meaningless.

It’s understandable to feel frustrated at the thought of gaining nothing despite fighting so desperately and losing Guan Yu, one of Han’s pillars.

“It seems they intend to abandon even Wancheng. Since it’s impossible to hide that our country is preparing for war, they must be planning to concentrate on places good for defense.”

Ma Su, maintaining his composure compared to Fu Qian, said.

The Nanyang region, being flat plains without particular terrain features and able to be attacked from three directions – Fancheng, Shangyong, and Wuguan – is difficult to defend. Seeing there were issues with Wancheng as well, it seemed they acknowledged the difficulty of defending Nanyang and boldly gave it up.

“But in the end, if our army just reaches Luoyang, they will have no choice but to respond to a decisive battle.”

“Yes, just His Majesty being in front of Luoyang will be an enormous pressure.”

Though it would be welcome on our side if things flowed as Ma Su and Fu Qian said, in my opinion the possibility of that happening was very low.

‘If they aimed to capture Guan Yu to use Liu Bei’s desire for revenge, Sima Yi wouldn’t have failed to consider our army approaching Luoyang. He’s probably the type to choose holing up in Luoyang Castle to defend even if we come right up to Luoyang.’

This was Sima Yi, who noticed Zhuge Liang wanted a decisive battle and refused to engage in battle until the end. He would focus on defending the pass areas to prevent us from reaching Luoyang first, but even if we break through that and arrive at Luoyang, it didn’t seem like he would engage in a decisive battle.

However, I didn’t bother telling them such concerns. They were tired from traveling a long distance. Was there any need to give them such worries to make their heads ache?

It would be better to casually bring it up after they’ve recovered from the journey’s fatigue and their minds are working well.

“Anyway, you’ve worked hard coming here. For the time being, rest and build up your strength.”

Having already heard the news that we would raise an army next year to hold Guan Yu’s revenge war, Fu Qian asked with a grim expression:

“Then are we staying stationed in Guanzhong like this?”

“Since the Governor of Guanzhong and General of Chariots who were guarding Guanzhong are both away from their posts, we’re filling in their empty places.”

To be precise, Father, the General of Chariots, is in Chang’an, but since his main force is in Hedong Commandery, it amounts to the same thing.

Though the Wei army appears to be preparing defenses in anticipation of our large-scale offensive, you never know when they might launch a surprise attack. If they really do launch a surprise attack, the Nanling Army needs to stay in Guanzhong as a support force.

‘It’s just preparing for the worst case, and in reality the Wei army won’t be crazy enough to attack, but.’

That doesn’t mean we’re just waiting idly in Guanzhong. Though not to the extent of tuntian, we should go out to support the people in harvesting the increased production due to Zhengguo Canal.

As there wasn’t particularly anything for me to help with regarding internal affairs, I and the Nanling Army spent our days taking a long-awaited rest and occasionally going out to help with the harvest.

Ma Liang, in charge of Guanzhong’s administration, and Pang Tong, responsible for overall preparation of next year’s war, were so busy with their respective duties that they had no time to spare for me.

Especially Ma Liang, who was already preoccupied just with repairing Dujiangyan, was now suffering from excessive work reminiscent of Zhuge Liang as he took on administration as well when Pang Tong left for war preparations. Because of this, support personnel were sent from Chengdu, and even Emperor Liu Bei was coming out to court audiences every day, diligently attending to state affairs.

And the official dispatched from Chengdu to Chang’an was someone I knew well.

“Wenwei! It’s been a long time, you’ve put on some weight staying only in Chengdu.”

“Haha, I did live comfortably. Perhaps that’s why the Prime Minister sent me.”

The representative of Chengdu’s support personnel was Fei Yi, who had gone out with me even to the northern expedition. Fei Yi joked that Zhuge Liang sent him to exercise, but thinking about it, there was no better personnel selection than Fei Yi.

Physical strength enough to accompany me on campaigns, actual experience handling practical affairs in Chang’an and Guanzhong, and the ability to multitask various duties simultaneously.

He also had military insight, so he was an optimized talent who could help with Guanzhong’s administration while also contributing to preparations for next year’s war.

The familiar face wasn’t just Fei Yi.

“My, it seems you’ve forgotten my face.”

“Good heavens, is it really Zhang Boji?”

It was Zhang Yi, whom I had sent to Nanzhong with Ma Chong. Since Zhuge Liang took him along when departing for the southern campaign, it was a reunion after a full 3 years.

Zhang Yi, whose skin color had been difficult to call white but was that of an ordinary East Asian, had become so tanned as to be unrecognizable.

Even though Nanzhong has higher temperatures, this was too dramatic a change. In fact, I hadn’t noticed his identity until Zhang Yi spoke.

‘Though it’s partly because I didn’t think Zhang Yi would come here, still, this is…’

As I was dumbfounded, Zhang Yi laughed heartily and said:

“The scorching sun of Nanzhong was no joke.”

“Even so, did you work outside to this extent?”

“It couldn’t be helped. To make the strong-willed Qiang people of Qingyi completely follow us, I had to personally set an example.”

“Qingyi?”

Come to think of it, I was so distracted by Zhang Yi and Fei Yi that I only just noticed, but the troops accompanying them were uniformly dressed in blue clothing, like how the Nanling Army wore golden lion uniforms.

Seeing the unified dress of the soldiers along with the name Qingyi, a name I had forgotten suddenly popped into my mind.

The Wudang Flying Army.

A special foreign tribe unit created by Zhuge Liang, who had dominion over Nanzhong, by relocating a Qiang tribe called Qingsou from Nanzhong to Shu territory and gathering outstanding warriors from among them.

They were also called the Five Regiments of Wudang, but commonly called the Flying Army, and in the original history they made their name under Wang Ping of Wudang.

“Yes. The Prime Minister personally selected the elite from the Qingyi tribe to form the Five Regiments of Wudang, and their martial prowess is so outstanding that they’re also called the Wudang Flying Army. I was appointed as the General of Wudang to command them.”

This was a unit that Wang Ping would have led originally, but it seems the role went to Zhang Yi, who had joined the southern campaign, as Wang Ping followed an even faster promotion path than in the original history.

“You’ve left the Nanling Army and gained your own troops. What’s losing a bit of skin color compared to gaining people’s hearts? Congratulations.”

“They’re still not up to par with the Nanling Army. But I heard rumors even in Nanzhong that the General of the Guards traveled all over the world gaining military achievements, yet you still have snow-white skin and jade-like arms.”

Snow-white skin and jade-like arms were both expressions praising the beauty of white skin.

I don’t particularly like compliments about appearance, so if someone else had said it I might not have accepted it gladly, but words from Zhang Yi, who had been with me since the early days of the Nanling Army, were different.

“You’ve come back from the warm south, and it’s not just your skin that’s tanned, your wit has grown too.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“You’ve gained composure. It’s good to see.”

They are growing.

Zhang Yi, Fei Yi, and I too. Because we are still young, we are renewing ourselves day by day and developing further.

The fact that even in places I couldn’t see, the seeds I had sown were growing vigorously to become great trees supporting the next generation of Han filled me with emotion.

“By the way, did you come to find me right after seeing His Majesty?”

“That’s right. Today we’ll recover from the journey’s fatigue, and from tomorrow we’ll start helping with government affairs. In General Zhang’s case, he’s been temporarily assigned under the General of the Guards until his formal organization is issued.”

“Is that so? Then I should show you where the Wudang Flying Army will be stationed. Let’s not stand around, come with me. I’ll guide you personally.”

“Ah, you don’t need to do that. It’s enough if you assign one subordinate officer.”

I shook my head at Zhang Yi’s words and stood up.

“How can I end it with just assigning one subordinate officer when we’re meeting after so long?”

“It’s not that, there’s someone coming to see the General of the Guards…”

As Zhang Yi was trying to dissuade me, voices were heard from outside the room, interrupting Zhang Yi’s words.

“Mingjing, are you there?”

This voice…? At the familiar voice, I reflexively said to come in, and as the door opened, a visitor entered.

He had a clear appearance with a tall stature, wore a round hat on his head, was dressed in a white crane-feather robe, and held a white feather fan in his hand.

“Have you been well?”

Add to that a clear and low voice.

Without a doubt, it was Zhuge Liang.