Waiting for the Time 2

Befitting an administrative city where palaces and government offices occupy the majority, Chang’an had government offices lined up right next to the palace. It was a city composition reminiscent of the Six Ministries Street of Joseon.

We arrived at the Imperial Uncle’s Office after just a short walk from Minyangdian Palace. The Imperial Uncle’s Office, adjacent to the headquarters of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, was smaller in scale than the Prime Minister’s Office and had fewer resident personnel.

Though they were the Three Excellencies standing at the apex of state officials on equal footing, unlike the Prime Minister’s Office which oversees all internal and external affairs, the Imperial Uncle specialized in military matters and inevitably had to be smaller in scale.

“Imperial Uncle, you’ve come.”

“Yes, I’m on my way back from seeing His Majesty. Ah, Mingjing, this is Lei Hong who serves as Attending Officer of the Imperial Uncle.”

Attending Officer is the highest position among subordinate officials, so this person could be said to be Pang Tong’s chief assistant. As Pang Tong introduced him, Lei Hong greeted me:

“General of the Guards has come too. I am Lei Hong, Attending Officer of the Imperial Uncle’s Office.”

“I’ve heard your name. That the son of the former Grand Secretary is an outstanding talent.”

The former Grand Secretary was Lei Xu, one of those who wrote a memorial urging Liu Bei to ascend to emperor. Wang Mou, who succeeded him as Grand Secretary, was also one of those who submitted a memorial, and both were recognized for their insight.

“You flatter me.”

“It’s what Prime Minister Zhuge said, so there’s no need for modesty.”

I heard that Lei Hong, who started his official career as Assistant in the Prime Minister’s Office, was previously under Zhuge Liang but was recognized for his ability and promoted to Attending Officer of the Imperial Uncle.

When I praised him even mentioning Zhuge Liang, Lei Hong no longer held back.

After the brief meeting with Lei Hong, on the way to Pang Tong’s office, Pang Tong said:

“He’s a pretty good talent, isn’t he?”

“Yes. He seems very capable.”

“His military talent is quite good too. He handles supplies without any problems, excellently. But he wasn’t greatly utilized in the Prime Minister’s Office.”

“Not the Prime Minister’s Office?”

It’s a bit sorry to say to Pang Tong, but the Prime Minister’s Office was on a different level from the Imperial Uncle’s Office. The number of subordinate offices called Cao differed from the start.

And because Han has a strong independence of generals due to their high reputation, there’s a sense that the status of the Imperial Uncle is relatively weak.

“But from now on, the importance of the Imperial Uncle’s Office will grow.”

“Because His Majesty is in Chang’an.”

“That’s right. In that sense, if you have any good talents, please recommend them. I heard from Kongming that if he cajoles you a little, you recommend good talents.”

No… Does Zhuge Liang really think I’m some kind of talent vending machine? I’ve long since run out of stock. I don’t know any more talents.

‘Come to think of it, is Luo Xian fifteen now?’

Luo Xian is a figure who could be said to be one of Shu Han’s last great generals along with Jiang Wei and Guo Yi. He proved his ability by holding out for 6 months in a siege against Lu Kang, Wu’s last great general.

Even after Shu Han was destroyed and he surrendered to Jin, Luo Xian was recognized for his ability and rose to a high position, so there’s no need to speak about his capabilities.

When I was appointing Guo Yi and Fei Yi back in Chengdu before, I thought about bringing Luo Xian too, but he was too young then so I couldn’t bring myself to mention it.

But at the age for capping ceremony, though slightly early, it’s not completely out of the question. Even Sun Quan started his official career from the capping ceremony.

Seeing me close my mouth and think about Luo Xian for a moment, Pang Tong pressed me with an expression that said ‘I knew it’:

“You, you have a talent in mind. Come on, tell me.”

“He’s still young…”

“Haha, you shouldn’t say such things. If he’s young, we’ll give him a position suitable for his age and watch over him, so hurry and tell me.”

I wonder if saying this will really stamp me with the label of talent vending machine.

Still, I have built up friendships with Pang Tong, so with the feeling that this is the last time, I opened my mouth:

“Governor Na Meng of Guanghan has a son named Luo Xian.”

“Na Meng. I’m acquainted with him too.”

“He should be of age for the capping ceremony this year. I heard he’s receiving teachings from Zhou Chu, the Libationer of Learning. His talent is extraordinary so I’ve been keeping an eye on him, but because of his young age I was going to watch him a bit longer.”

“Hohoho, your eye for talent is universally acknowledged, but you really have an extraordinary desire for talents. Even while constantly waging war and moving around the borders, you’re watching even Shu. Thank you for telling me, I should try to invite that Luo Xian.”

“Now it’s the Imperial Uncle’s turn.”

“Right. I should tell you.”

How did Pang Tong capture Hongnong Commandery which Cao Zhen was guarding?

Pang Tong began explaining while spreading out a map:

“I said the separated general wager was bait, right?”

“Yes.”

“As you know, Cao Zhen is quite a good general. Though inferior to Cao Cao’s generation of kinsmen generals, he’s material that can sufficiently do his part wherever he’s placed.”

A fierce general said to have caught a tiger with bare hands, yet also possessing decent judgment without lacking in any areas. That was Cao Zhen.

Of course, he wasn’t perfectly flawless, so in the original history he ambitiously attempted to conquer Shu Han but was counterattacked by Zhuge Liang after encountering heavy rain.

“Cao Zhen didn’t fall for the separated general wager. He saw through that it was a ploy to lure him out of the city.”

“Didn’t you say it was bait?”

“It’s true that it was bait, but I had also prepared for luring and ambushing in case he actually came out. In case Cao Zhen fell for the separated general wager and opened the gates to come out.”

Considering all possibilities and preparing countermeasures for them. It was a similar aspect to Zhuge Liang, with whom he studied together.

“But when Cao Zhen didn’t fall for it, I let him know he was right.”

“You leaked the fact that you had prepared an ambush.”

“That’s right.”

Pang Tong paused for a moment and suddenly asked:

“Do you know what makes people complacent?”

“You have to make them believe they’re right.”

“Correct. Success instills confidence in oneself. People surprisingly gain momentum for change more from failure than success. Success makes people complacent. I attacked Hongnong City to make Cao Zhen strongly hold confidence in himself.”

As Pang Tong launched a siege, Cao Zhen would have judged that Pang Tong was desperate because the separated general wager didn’t work.

Due to Pang Tong’s reputation, even as Cao Zhen tried to maintain his cool, a sense of arrogance would have unconsciously arisen.

“I showed an opening, but Cao Zhen didn’t come out of the city to counterattack. Judging that Cao Zhen was fixated on the thought of defending Hongnong City, I called Governor Wu and had him secretly advance to Shan County that night by riding merchant and fishing boats.”

Wei generals who found the boats suspicious would have reported it to Cao Zhen, but Cao Zhen didn’t move. This was because he thought it was also a ploy by Pang Tong to lure him out of the city.

However, contrary to Cao Zhen’s expectations, this time it was real.

“What followed was simple. Governor Wu succeeded in occupying Shan County, and Cao Zhen became trapped between our forces on both sides. Hedong Commandery falling was the decisive blow. Cao Zhen was completely isolated.”

Riding waterways to go around and attack the enemy’s rear, cutting them off. It’s like a small-scale localized version of the Incheon Landing Operation.

Though he would have stockpiled supplies in preparation for a siege, he couldn’t hold out forever once cut off from resupply. If he succeeded in securing a supply route again before supplies ran out that would be fine, but that wasn’t easy either.

Quyanggu between Luoyang and Hongnong is difficult to advance through, but conversely that also means it’s hard for the other side to come over. In other words, it’s possible to easily block enemy attacks even with small numbers.

“Cao Zhen was quick-thinking too. Seeing how he rushed out as soon as he heard Shan County had fallen.”

Leaving a small force in Hongnong to block Pang Tong’s siege, Cao Zhen recaptures Shan County with the main force. If recapture fails, retreating via Quyanggu is also an option.

If we had properly set up defense lines and formed an encirclement towards Quyanggu while the Wei army hesitated, it would have been difficult to escape even with reinforcements coming. Cao Zhen’s response was timely and agile.

“Of course, I had prepared for that as well, but Sima Yi’s movements were too fast beyond my expectations. If he hadn’t come out, I would have captured Cao Zhen and obtained all of Hongnong Commandery past Quyanggu. It’s regrettable.”

“But isn’t it something that you kept Shan County without losing it? If Sima Yi’s reinforcements had been added to Cao Zhen, it wouldn’t have been easy to hold Shan County.”

I think Governor of Guanzhong Wu Yi’s reputation will greatly rise because of this incident.

Though Pang Tong says it’s regrettable, from my perspective it was an enormous achievement that could be proudly called the best possible outcome. The military achievements Pang Tong and Wu Yi gained this time will serve as an invaluable foothold for aiming at Luoyang later.

“And as you know, Imperial Uncle, securing Hongnong County and Shan County has great significance.”

Originally, there were largely two routes for us to advance to Luoyang.

The route advancing north from Jingzhou and the route advancing east from Guanzhong.

And by securing Hedong Commandery and Shan County this time, one more route was created.

“From Guanzhong to Luoyang. Combined land and water operations have become possible.”

It was the route taking the Luo River.