The Wind Blows Towards Jingbei

When Guan Yu heard that Liu Bei had designated Zhang Ran as the commander of the expeditionary force for reclaiming Jingzhou in Chengdu, he agreed with the decision but couldn’t hide his inner disappointment.

It had been like this for a while. After Liu Bei properly established a foundation in Jingzhou, he began to actively employ newly recruited talents instead of his existing close associates.

Still water becomes stagnant, but a rolling stone gathers no moss. It was based on the judgment that a force should always seek newness.

Therefore, when leaving Jingzhou for Yizhou, Liu Bei left Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang and others in Jingzhou, while taking Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, Pang Tong, Fa Zheng and others to enter Shu.

Although he called in Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun as supporting forces to fully bring Yizhou under control, their roles were limited to peripheral cleanup.

The subsequent Hanzhong offensive and defensive battle followed the same logic. Instead of Pang Tong, who had made great contributions to entering Shu, he made Fa Zheng the core advisor, and entrusted important tasks to Huang Zhong, Ma Chao, and Zhang Ran who was gaining fame as a rising star at the time.

After that, Liu Bei’s efforts for generational change continued.

He appointed latecomers like Zhang Ran, Wei Yan, and Feng Xi to high positions, and placed Shang Cong in his direct army instead of Chen Dao.

He placed his two most trusted brothers in the most important frontlines of Jingbei and Guanzhong, but put new talents in positions where it was easier to achieve merits.

It’s not that he thought it was bad. Guan Yu himself was also nurturing successors like Liao Hua, Xi Zhen, and Zhao Lei, and he was even blocking Liu Bei’s attempt to appoint his son Guan Ping as General of the Chariots and Cavalry, keeping him under his command to teach him more.

He just felt regretful. Feeling in his skin that now their generation’s era was coming to an end.

In this situation, the news that reached him lit the last spark in Guan Yu’s cooling heart.

‘Cao Biao from Xuchang and Xu Huang from Wancheng have come out.’

Perhaps this is the last chance given to him.

It was inevitable to have such thoughts.

Guan Yu is crossing the twilight of his life. Guan Yu, who had wandered the world all his life writing numerous histories, did not want a quiet death. Isn’t the story of shaking Huaxia enough? For Guan Yu, that alone was not enough.

Once again, he wished for the world to tremble and shudder at his might. He wanted to let the whole world know that the existence called Guan Yu was still standing as the guardian deity of Han.

Before meeting his end, how could there not be a desire to rebuke the world one last time?

And at the same time, as a country’s Grand General, this opportunity was extremely attractive from a big picture perspective.

Through the previous Jingzhou offensive and defensive battle, Guan Yu had subjugated Nanxiang to Han. Although he didn’t send troops separately, after Fu Fang, the Governor of Nanxiang appointed by Cao Cao, came to surrender to Guan Yu in person, Guan Yu appointed a separate Governor of Nanxiang to secure control.

Nanxiang, which was created by cutting off the western part of Nanyang north of Fancheng, was a suitable place to serve as a bridgehead connecting Fancheng-Shangyong-Wuguan.

Therefore, after succeeding in the northern expedition and securing Guanzhong, using Nanxiang as an advance base and attacking simultaneously from three directions – Fancheng, Shangyong, and Wuguan – to surround the enemy had been considered.

However, right after the northern expedition, when the Wei-Wu alliance attacked Han, Xingnan fell to Wu and Nanxiang fell back to Wei. As a result, the connection between Guanzhong and Fancheng through Wuguan was naturally cut off, and the above plan fizzled out.

In this situation, can we secure Wancheng? Then it would be possible not only to recover Nanxiang again in cooperation with Guanzhong, but even to take all of Nanyang.

If Zhang Ran comes to Xingnan and Jiangxia, and Guan Yu himself occupies Nanxiang and Nanyang, then it could be said that truly all of Jingzhou has been returned to Han’s embrace.

‘And if we secure Wancheng, next is Luoyang.’

Luoyang!

How thrilling a resonance this is.

It’s not just Luoyang. Wancheng, as the administrative center and heart of Nanyang, and with the waterway of the Yu River, is a strategic point with access in all directions.

It can extend to the neighboring Xuchang, and if you turn your eyes a little, it reaches the Huai River through Runan and Yiyang.

Using the surrounding mountains, it’s not very difficult to defend Nanyang, so the importance of Wancheng is at a level where it’s pointless to even mention.

‘If we block Yexian and Daoyang counties in Nanyang, we can shut off entry from the north. Even if Sima Yi grasps the situation and moves south, how could he set foot here if I personally block that place?’

The process of reclaiming Nanyang was becoming concrete in Guan Yu’s mind.

Defeat Xu Huang who came out of the city in a field battle, occupy Wancheng. Station troops in Biyang and Daoyang counties to block Wei army’s entry into Jingzhou.

Once Wancheng is occupied, Nanxiang will surely surrender as is. Call in Zhang Ying from Shangyong to strengthen Nanyang’s defenses, while drawing help from Guanzhong through Wuguan to completely solidify Nanyang as Han territory.

‘After that is Luoyang. If Yide advances from Tong Pass, and this Guan Yunchang moves north, even the fall of Luoyang is not a dream.’

And occupying Luoyang is tantamount to putting a virtual end to the great undertaking of unifying the world.

He can see the end of the chaotic era with his own eyes.

He can achieve the reunification of the world once again with his own hands.

If there was no possibility at all it would be one thing, but in Guan Yu’s thinking, it was really worth trying now.

After Huaxia Trembled, Guan Yu finally admitted that he had held wrong preconceptions. However, this did not mean that Guan Yu had completely shed his arrogance.

Guan Yu set his eyes on the Gajiebyeol that his brother had entrusted to him with faith.

As much as he had aged, Liu Bei had aged more. Guan Yu was now sixty years old. Both Liu Bei and Guan Yu had reached an age where it was difficult to guarantee how much longer they could live.

It would be right to repay the trust his brother had shown him before it was too late.

Guan Yu picked up the Gajiebyeol as he raised his old body.

“Ping.”

“Yes, Father.”

Time is fair to everyone, and Guan Ping had also aged.

Guan Ping was now entering his mid to late thirties, having passed thirty. After this war ends, now I should let my eldest son go, Guan Yu thought.

Is that what being a father is? Whenever you look at your child, they still seem young and you see untrustworthy aspects. That’s why he kept him by his side. But now he somewhat regretted that.

Perhaps by confining him too much, he prevented him from fully displaying his innate talents.

‘I’ve gotten old too.’

As he suddenly realized his aging, the resolve in his heart grew even firmer.

If not this time, the world would no longer give him another chance.

“Gather the army. We will set out.”

Shocked by the sudden order to set out, Guan Ping asked in astonishment:

“Set out? What do you mean?”

“Xu Gongming has come out of Wancheng. I will defeat Xu Gongming in a field battle, and advance by water and land along the Yu River to take Wancheng.”

“Grand General, I understand the importance of Wancheng, but the importance of Fancheng is no less. Sima Yi and Cao Biao are Cao Cao’s descendants that even His Majesty and the General of the Guards warned us to be cautious of. Will they sit idle?”

Guan Ping emphasized the importance of guarding Fancheng, calling Guan Yu ‘Grand General’ unlike before. However, Guan Yu’s determination was unwavering.

“I will leave Yuan Qin in Fancheng.”

Liao Hua, as General Who Pacifies the East, currently held the highest rank under Guan Yu.

“Yuan Qin was evaluated as not lacking to be entrusted with a full army, and capable of handling great affairs of state. With Yuan Qin, there should be no problem guarding Fancheng.”

Liao Hua, who advocated caution while opposing Jiang Wei but kept pace with Jiang Wei’s moves, was a capable general who did his part well from Shu Han’s middle to late period.

With a general of Liao Hua’s caliber, and Fancheng being a natural fortress, they should be able to endure no matter how many enemies come. Even Guan Ping couldn’t find room to refute this.

But Guan Ping hesitated, wondering if this was really alright. Liu Bei’s order to Guan Yu was to defend Fancheng, and now Han was at war with Wu with Zhang Ran as commander.

Would it be right to expand the front in this situation? If it were someone else, they would have firmly refused, but because it was Guan Yu, Guan Ping couldn’t easily answer.

Normally, Guan Yu’s thunderous rebuke would have fallen at Guan Ping’s hesitant attitude, but this time was different.

When Guan Yu’s wrinkled hand was placed on his shoulder, Guan Ping looked at Guan Yu in surprise.

However, contrary to his worry, Guan Yu’s face showed a calm expression, not one with anger rising.

“Who is this father of yours?”

“…The God of War that All Fear, Guan Yunchang.”

“That’s right. Trust me. Let’s go together.”

“…I will follow you.”

The army was mobilized in an instant.

This showed how great Guan Yu’s control over the army was, and was also due to the deep hearts of the soldiers who admired and followed Guan Yu, who was generous to his men.

At last, the gates of Fancheng opened, and the fleet spread its sails wide.

Setting out.

It was the moment when Han’s fierce tiger, which had been crouching in Fancheng for a long time, revealed itself to the world once again.

And that news was immediately delivered to a man who had been waiting for Guan Yu to come out.

“…He took the bait.”

It was Sima Yi.