Ripple Effect

The news of Chang’an’s fall spread across the Central Plains in an instant.

Even the outcome of the Battle of Red Cliffs wasn’t known this quickly.

Even the ripple effect of Huaxia’s trembling wasn’t this intense and massive.

The name of Zhang Ran, who had been writing myths of ascension with every step, was already known throughout the world.

However, in Wei, Zhang Ran’s name was famous not as a terrifying general but as the beauty from Shu Han who came as an envoy. That has now completely changed.

To the fierce general of Shu who defeated Guo Huai and occupied Chang’an.

And the top brass of Wei, who had been aware of Zhang Ran’s danger from before, were in turmoil at the great calamity of losing Guanzhong.

“What the hell is this nonsense!!”

Cao Pi’s furious shout reverberated in the great hall. At the end of his gaze was a messenger prostrated flat and trembling.

The frightened messenger’s appearance was quite pitiful, but others had no time to pay attention to him. They too only lowered their bodies further, trying to avoid Cao Pi’s eyes twisted with anger.

“Cao Zhang! Guo Huai! What the hell were those bastards doing! Even after hearing so many warnings, they couldn’t accomplish that one thing!!”

“Y-Your Majesty. The King of Yingcheng has the merit of safely retreating against Ma Chao and Pang Tong…”

“Nonsense!”

When the Minister of Works Huan Ji carefully tried to defend Cao Zhang, Cao Pi cut him off sharply.

“What merit is that! It’s just the foolishness of an idiot who fell for the enemy’s trick and got trapped in Yongyang!”

Though Cao Pi harshly criticized them, the efforts of Cao Zhang and Guo Huai shouldn’t be disparaged that much.

Following Shu Zhi’s betrayal, Cao Zhang wasn’t numerically superior due to the Qiang people who came rushing at Ma Chao’s revival. On top of that, Pang Tong and Ma Chao were dedicated to their role of holding Cao Zhang in place.

They weren’t fighting properly, but if he tried to retreat his army to Guanzhong, they would sense it like ghosts and rush in.

Even after Guo Huai joined, the situation remained the same. No, the positions were reversed. When they tried to go to Guanzhong to block Zhang Ran, this time the other side launched an active offensive.

Until Zhang Ran finally captured Chang’an, Ma Chao and Pang Tong clung to Cao Zhang.

When Cao Zhang and Guo Huai heard the news that Zhang Ran had occupied Guanzhong, they attempted a desperate return march.

Escaping Xiliang at the cost of losses, they retreated through Bingzhou while a suicide squad blocked Jieting. Those left at Jieting could not avoid death, true to the name suicide squad.

Knowing this, Guo Huai volunteered for the suicide squad. Feeling that losing Guanzhong was his fault, he paid with his life.

Cao Zhang also gave his all. Leaving Guo Huai behind and escaping Yongyang, Cao Zhang returned with the people from areas that would fall to Shu Han or become border regions.

In an era where population was national power, what mattered was not land but people. It was a kind of forced migration policy.

But such efforts by Guo Huai or Cao Zhang were outside of Cao Pi’s consideration. What did that matter? Wei had already lost the vast regions of Yongyang and Guanzhong.

More than that, what irritated Cao Pi’s nerves even more was something else.

It was Xiahou Mao, who might as well be said to have sold off Guanzhong.

“How dare he! Has he forgotten the grace I showed in making him my son-in-law! Though I cherish Zhong Hou (Duke of Loyalty = Xiahou Dun), it’s right to punish his whole clan for this crime!!”

Even those who usually actively dissuaded Cao Pi when he ranted about killing those who fell out of favor couldn’t easily open their mouths this time.

No matter how much of a founding contributor Xiahou Dun was, Xiahou Mao’s betrayal this time was too great a crime. So much so that Shu Zhi’s defection to Shu Han, which was similar, wasn’t even mentioned as it was overshadowed.

Especially compared to Xue Xiao’s death fighting to the end with his life on the line, Xiahou Mao’s pettiness was maximized.

How could Cao Pi not know? That Guo Huai prioritized Cao Zhang in Yongyang, trusting in Chang’an’s fortifications.

That’s not to say Chang’an and Guanzhong could have been securely defended if Xiahou Mao hadn’t betrayed them. Zhang Ran’s aim was targeting the aftermath more than Xiahou Mao himself.

But from Cao Pi and Wei’s perspective, it couldn’t help but look like the stupid Xiahou Mao had sprinkled ashes on rice that was already cooked, in a war that was already won.

“Strip Xiahou Mao of all official positions and titles I’ve given him! Erase everything related to that bastard! Even his marriage to Princess Qinghe will be treated as if it never happened! I will completely erase all traces of him from this Wei!”

For quite a while, Cao Pi poured out punishments and curses full of anger. Even after that, his anger didn’t seem to have subsided as he panted with heaving shoulders.

“Grand Tutor! Grand Tutor, step forward and say something!”

Jia Xu, who had been bending his body and suppressing his presence like others, inwardly sighed at Cao Pi’s voice singling him out. He had to be several times more careful with his words now than usual, with Cao Pi’s anger filling to the brim.

“Your Majesty.”

“I won’t ask how this result came about when we should have done as you advised. Even you couldn’t have predicted that Xiahou Mao bastard would betray us. So I ask you. What should we do from now on?”

Jia Xu closed his eyes for a moment to organize his thoughts. Cao Pi didn’t interfere and let him be.

First, Jia Xu checked once more the process of losing Guanzhong.

‘It’s hard to say losing Guanzhong was simply due to Xiahou Mao’s defection.’

They hadn’t realized it because losing Guanzhong was so shocking, but Zhang Ran had pulled quite a lot of tricks until the fall of Chang’an.

While others denounced Xiahou Mao’s defection, only Jia Xu focused on Zhang Ran’s actions.

‘Zhang Ran has been entangled with our country three times. Hanzhong, Fancheng, Ye. Though not everything was led by her alone, the choices of which to take must have been made by Zhang Ran herself. Zhang Ran is skilled at inducing the opponent to choose one path.’

Zhang Ran resembled a hunter conducting a drive hunt. She enjoys moves that force the enemy’s actions.

She blocks off options to drive them where she wants. Splitting armies to aim for divide and conquer was also a method Zhang Ran often used. That’s how she ground up reinforcements including Xiahou Yuan during the Battle of Fancheng.

It’s not just in military strategy. The qin competition with Cao Pi. Even then, Zhang Ran forced Cao Pi to play the qin.

It was the same this time in Chang’an. Jia Xu could clearly see Zhang Ran’s work trying to guide Xue Xiao and Xiahou Mao where she wanted.

‘But at the same time, she doesn’t hesitate to rush in boldly when she sees an opening and prefers it. She possesses both the cunning of a fox and the courage of a tiger in one body.’

In Jia Xu’s view, Zhang Ran would have taken Chang’an even without Xiahou Mao’s surrender. Of course, she would have suffered more casualties.

‘If that had happened, it would have been right to break through Dongguan and reclaim Guanzhong even at great cost. But the immediate result is practically a bloodless occupation. It’s difficult to reclaim Guanzhong.’

After organizing his thoughts in just a few breaths, Jia Xu immediately opened his mouth.

“Though I am afraid to say it, with this humble one’s limited wisdom, no short-term method to reclaim Guanzhong comes to mind.”

“Then? Is there a long-term one? If it’s just the trite words of capturing people’s hearts, strengthening internal affairs, and watching for opportunities, don’t say it. What I want to hear from you isn’t such words anyone could say.”

“I apologize, but what this humble one is about to say does have some similarities with what Your Majesty pointed out.”

“But there must be some differences? Well, let’s hear it.”

As his expectations lowered, Cao Pi’s speech changed from semi-honorific to informal. His gaze was turning towards Sima Yi, as if he was about to call on him next after roughly listening to Jia Xu’s words.

“It has become difficult for our country alone to break Liu Bei’s momentum now. So we must draw in Sun Quan.”

“Sun Quan? Sun Quan, you say. Isn’t he the one who first bowed his head to the previous emperor, then attacked Hefei when things didn’t go his way? How can we trust such a person.”

“You don’t need to trust him.”

Conviction filled Jia Xu’s eyes.

“What will connect Sun Quan and our country is not trust, but a sense of crisis.”

Liu Bei and Sun Quan joined hands to face the common enemy Cao Cao, and finally shattered Cao Cao’s unification of the realm at Red Cliffs.

No matter how much Liu Bei was on a winning streak, Cao Wei still held the hegemony. Because all three powers recognized this, Sun Quan had been observing this Northern Expedition.

But now he could no longer do so. At the point where Xiliang and Guanzhong fell into Liu Bei’s hands, the direction of hegemony became uncertain.

Comparing objective military strength, Cao Wei would still have the advantage, but there’s such a thing as momentum, isn’t there?

The current of the times was clearly rushing towards Liu Bei.

The trust between Sun Quan and Cao Wei was broken.

‘However, now both sides share an enormous sense of crisis that will cover even that broken trust.’

Since this war ended in Shu’s victory, the two forces of Cao Wei and Sun Quan will be bound by the sense of crisis posed by the behemoth Liu Bei.

Now it was Liu Bei’s turn to be broken.

“Enfeoff Sun Quan as the King of Wu. Then Sun Quan will break his alliance with Liu Bei and take our hand.”