The Battle of Hanbian

Jian’an 23rd year (218 AD), Chengdu, Yi Province.

Liu Bei sat on the upper seat of the great hall, looking down at his officials, both great and small. They were the fruits of his lifelong efforts.

Zhuge Liang, Fa Zheng, Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Liu Ba, Li Yan, Li Yi, Huang Quan. They were all talented individuals of the time with brilliant abilities. Heroes who would make their names known throughout the world were by his side.

Not just civil officials. Zhao Yun, Chen Dao, Huang Zhong, Ma Chao, Fang Qin, Wei Yan. Even among the military officials, there were numerous renowned generals with outstanding bravery.

The talents gathered in his own base, which he had finally established after putting an end to his long life of wandering, were the most solid proof that Liu Bei’s path had not been wrong.

And with them, Liu Bei would set out for the decisive battle with his lifelong enemy, his life’s nemesis. The first move was Fa Zheng’s excellent strategy.

“Cao Cao has presumptuously claimed the title of King of Wei, and thus rebellions do not cease in the Central Plains. Even in the past, when Cao Cao occupied Hanzhong but did not lead his entire army to invade the south, it was for a similar reason. Despite having the resources, Cao Cao had no choice but to leave Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He behind and return. The generals of Cao Cao guarding Hanzhong are no match for our army’s generals, so now is the perfect time to attack Hanzhong.”

“Xiaozheng’s words are correct.”

There was no more hesitation.

Liu Bei had already made up his mind. There was nothing to postpone or turn away from. There was only the path of confrontation.

“Issue mobilization orders to the entire army. I will lead personally.”

At Liu Bei’s declaration, the atmosphere in the great hall became tense as if struck by lightning. No matter how many times they had defeated Cao Cao’s army at Chibi, Nanjun, and Tangge, the name Cao Cao was never taken lightly.

The enormous shadow cast by the hegemon of the Central Plains had subtly extended even into their hearts. This was no exception even for Liu Bei. However, Liu Bei and those who bravely faced the inevitable battle also possessed the courage and conviction to overcome it.

Not everyone was like that. Among those gathered in the great hall, there were ordinary people, and even those who harbored resentment deep in their hearts while under Liu Bei’s command.

They did not want war. But knowing that ordinary arguments would not be enough to overturn Fa Zheng’s assertion and Liu Bei’s decision, they borrowed the power of heaven.

“The Confucian Education Officer Zhu Jun reports.”

Zhu Jun was one who made it his profession to read the future by observing astronomy and climate. Although superstitions like astrology were sometimes accepted as academic disciplines in that era, Zhu Jun’s predictions were often accurate and highly trusted.

Liu Bei, perhaps still harboring some faint anxiety, willingly allowed Zhu Jun to speak.

“Speak.”

“This humble one has read the flow of the heavens, and if you raise a great army, you will gain land but not people. Therefore, it seems right to build up strength and consolidate internally while waiting for an even better opportunity that will come later.”

At Zhu Jun’s words, Liu Bei remained silent without answering. Instead of responding immediately, Liu Bei sought the opinion of another.

“What does Nanhua see?”

Nanhua was Zhang Yu’s courtesy name. Having superior talent in divination and physiognomy compared to Zhu Jun, Liu Zhang had made him an Yi Province Attending Officer.

To Zhang Yu, who had followed Liu Zhang, Liu Bei, who had betrayed his own clan and taken Yi Province, was not a lord to whom he could pledge loyalty, but merely a usurper he had to follow out of necessity.

Liu Bei was not unaware of this. Liu Bei and Zhang Yu had mocked each other under the guise of jokes. Liu Bei had laughed at Zhang Yu’s bushy beard, and Zhang Yu had sneered at Liu Bei’s lack of a beard.

It was to this Zhang Yu that Liu Bei directly posed a question. It was partly because he was Yi Province’s foremost diviner, but some, including Zhuge Liang, understood Liu Bei’s hidden intentions.

Zhuge Liang secretly sighed.

‘Our lord is determined to strike down Zhang Yu.’

Zhang Yu was not the type to speak pleasant words just to save his life. He would surely speak his thoughts openly, and making negative statements before such an important matter as planning for Hanzhong would be sufficient grounds for purging.

Zhang Yu, who stepped forward at Liu Bei’s question, could not speak immediately and only moved his lips.

“Why is there no answer?”

“…When I looked at the stars, I saw that the world would change to the Cao family, and you would lose everything you gained within ten years.”

It was the height of insolence. For Zhang Yu to say to Liu Bei’s face that his cause was meaningless and his power would collapse, when Liu Bei had raised the banner of the Liu family’s rule of the world, was an act of foolishness and recklessness rather than courage.

At such an outrageous statement, even Zhuge Liang, who valued his talent, turned pale and lowered his head, but Liu Bei asked again.

“By saying ‘would’, do you mean it’s different now?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Zhang Yu spoke reluctantly, showing his unwillingness to say such words without hiding it. The fierce atmosphere in the great hall, which seemed ready to call for his head immediately, subsided.

“Then how is it now?”

Zhang Yu seemed unwilling to open his mouth. Although Zhang Yu had been able to boldly say that Liu Bei’s power would collapse, the reversed divination he had recently seen was something he absolutely did not want to utter.

However, as a diviner, concealing a divination also went against his beliefs. In the internal conflict between his loyalty as Liu Zhang’s servant and his pride as a diviner, the latter ultimately won.

“…The Purple Star in the north is dim, but a comet runs from the south, so the chaotic world has once again fallen into a fog. With my meager skills, I dare not gauge victory or defeat, so now the affairs of the world depend solely on human effort.”

Zhang Yu’s words were irresponsible, but coming from Zhang Yu, they were rather positive in meaning.

Although Cao Cao had suffered a great defeat at Chibi, he was already the hegemon who held the core of the Central Plains. In comparison, all Liu Bei had was less than a third of Jing Province, which wasn’t even half, and Yi Province with Hanzhong detached.

Nevertheless, to say that if you do well, you might have a chance, was an extremely high evaluation of Liu Bei’s forces.

Liu Bei stood up. And he drew the sword at his waist.

The sound of the sword ringing through the great hall was the prelude to the coming war.

“There is nothing more to hear. Prepare for war.”

Clang!

Liu Bei thrust down the drawn sword vertically, as if to say he would not tolerate any opposition. The sword stuck in the table was a symbol of Liu Bei’s unyielding resolve.

“I will entrust Chengdu to the Army General. Xiaozheng and Gongxing, follow me. Zhengfang will be in charge of Yi Province’s public security, and Shuzhi will assist him. All other military officers will head to Hanzhong with me.”

Liu Bei entrusted Yi Province to Zhuge Liang, assigned the army to Li Yan and Chen Dao, and chose Fa Zheng and Huang Quan as strategists for this war.

Before Liu Bei’s stern command, all those gathered in the great hall bowed in unison.

“Having raised an army, we must move as swiftly as lightning. Send orders to Wulan and Leidong to advance to Hanbian in Wudu. And I will have Yide and Mingjing support them. Proceed without the slightest deviation.”

§

“Is that so? So that’s what was said.”

Having received Liu Bei’s orders along with the news of what happened in Chengdu, I muttered in slight surprise at the content.

Although I don’t know much about what kind of person Zhang Yu was, I do know that he was executed by Liu Bei despite Zhuge Liang’s opposition. Judging from that, Zhang Yu must have really irritated Liu Bei, but for him to have said such things…

‘He might have really read that the future had changed.’

However, I quickly erased Zhang Yu from my mind. Relying on such things won’t change anything. If there’s anything most correct in his words, it would be that everything depends on human effort.

The subordinate generals gathered in the meeting room were also raising their fighting spirit after hearing Ma Chong’s explanation.

They had already experienced victory in a battle against Cao Cao’s general Zhang He. The experience of victory had eliminated fear and instilled courage.

“Since our lord has ordered support for Generals Wu Lan and Lei Tong along with the Pacification General, we should first go to Jiamen Pass.”

Jiamen Pass was like the first gateway of Yi Province. It was the place where Gao Pei was sent to guard during the conquest of Yi Province, and also the entrance from Yi Province to Hanzhong and Wudu.

“I will also send a messenger to the Pacification General. To say that we will join at Jiamen Pass.”

When Wang Si, who was in charge of messengers, spoke, there was no particular response from the assembly, seemingly agreeing with his opinion. I asked Ma Chong:

“Dexin, where are Generals Lei Tong and Wu Lan?”

“They are stationed at Jianjiao.”

“It will be an instant to Jiamen Pass. They will have already entered Hanbian before I and the Pacification General join.”

“That’s likely.”

On the tactical map showing the terrain, following the path from Jianjiao to Jiamen Pass to Hanbian, Tianshui was located further up. And to the east of Tianshui was Chang’an.

Cao Cao’s core stronghold, Chang’an.

“When the two generals pass Jiamen Pass, Cao Cao will also send troops to Hanbian.”

“Of course.”

“Then he’ll send cavalry.”

Looking at the terrain, it’s extremely difficult to bring cavalry from Chang’an to Hanzhong. To begin with, Hanzhong is a basin, and between Hanzhong and Chang’an lies the very rugged Qinling Mountains.

They could barely enter through the perilous path called the Plank Road, but bringing horses was even more dangerous.

So Cao Cao would have no reason to move cavalry to Hanzhong through the Plank Road. Rather, he would send them through Tianshui to detour to Hanbian.

As I said this far, the generals realized what I was thinking. They were also excellent generals responsible for the middle and late periods of Shu Han. Although they had the limitation of little experience, they had the talent to immediately grasp the battle situation and more when given clues.

“You’re worried about divide and conquer tactics.”

“Yes. If there’s cavalry, there will be a confrontation at Hanbian before we arrive. They’ll try to decide the battle before our forces join.”

We needed to hurry. The cavalry led by Cao Cao was the famous Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. And their commander was Cao Xiu, one of Cao Cao’s boasted family generals.

Unless it was after my father and Ma Chao had fully joined, they were too formidable to face with just Wu Lan and Lei Tong.

“We need to hurry.”

“Xiaoxing and I will assist. Divide the cavalry and infantry.”

At Ma Dai’s words, Gou Bo also nodded.

“That’s right. If we ride with just cavalry, it’s possible to arrive even faster than the Pacification General.”

“Good. We’ll leave the horse armor for Xiaoxing’s heavy cavalry to the following troops.”

It was an absolutely necessary measure given the importance of mobility.

“I’ll leave my vacant position to Zijun. Dexin and Shengzong, come with them.”

Appointing Wang Ping as the private secretary to take charge of the infantry, I immediately rushed to Jiamen Pass with my personal guards, Ma Dai, and Gou Bo.

Thanks to the reduced fatigue of horse riding due to stirrups, we traveled at a fast pace and reached Jiamen Pass in just a few days.

“We’ll take a break here and then go up to Hanbian.”

The distance between Langzhong and Jiamen Pass was shorter than that between Langzhong and Tangge. By the time we arrived at Jiamen Pass, my father’s army had already passed through.

“Father is also moving quickly.”

My father was also aware of the danger of divide and conquer tactics.

After a short rest of one day, I immediately left Jiamen.

‘It really is a race against time.’

It was a battle between whether I would arrive first to provide support, or whether Wu Lan and Lei Tong would collapse first.