Preparing for the Next

After defeating Xu Huang, I successively crushed Wei’s reinforcement units that had belatedly entered Nanyang.

When Xu Shang and Yu Jian heard of Xu Huang’s defeat, they were already trapped in our encirclement. They barely managed to save their lives and scattered, each fending for themselves.

In the process, Xu Shang was ultimately captured and killed by Yu Ye, while Yu Jian barely survived and succeeded in joining up with Xu Huang.

Xu Huang, Zhen Yi, Xu Shang, Yu Jian. The troops led by all of them combined were several times more numerous than our 10,000-strong Luanling Army. It must have been over 30,000 at least.

However, overly focused on the ripple effects of Guan Yu’s earth-shaking victory caused by the Han River flood, they fell prey to easy divide-and-conquer tactics due to their hasty response.

Regrettably, that too was now over. They’re not fools, and with Cao Cao taking the field personally, aiming for divide-and-conquer tactics like before would more likely result in us being swallowed instead.

And above all, the biggest problem was,

“Supplies are urgently needed.”

The shortage of materials.

Napoleon’s tactics had to bear the instability of supplies in exchange for rapid mobility. Napoleon resolved this problem through local procurement, or to be frank, through plunder, but that wasn’t a method I could emulate.

That was a choice only an invading army could make, and as someone who had to play the role of an occupying force under Liu Bei as the lord, I couldn’t ignore public sentiment.

Relying on supplies captured from the enemy had also reached its limit.

“Yes. We’ve rampaged enough, so now we should return to Yanxing.”

With Wang Ping, who had been keeping Xu Huang and Zhen Yi in check while they were holed up in Wan during our divide-and-conquer operations, also joining us, we returned to Guan Yu’s main force in truly grand style.

Returning in glory. Not like the foolish act of Xiang Yu that became the origin of the phrase, but a truly dignified return after achieving merit.

It’s no small feat to have allowed Guan Yu, who was almost reversely surrounded between Fancheng and Xu Huang’s army, to fully concentrate on attacking Fancheng.

Perhaps in recognition of this. Guan Yu came out to Yanxing in person to welcome us.

“Welcome back.”

The arrogant Guan Yu coming out to greet us like this, I really feel like I’ve made it.

Just 10 years ago, when I first met Liu Bei with my father, Guan Yu didn’t even show much interest in me. The first interest he probably showed me was when he reacted to my statement that someone of Guan Yu’s caliber might be considered husband material.

But now he’s welcoming me with a very pleased smile, so I felt a mix of emotions. More on the good side than bad.

Well, I was closer to being a Shu fan to begin with, and after recognizing Zhang Fei as my father, my attachment to Liu Bei and Guan Yu had deepened. Ah, of course, that doesn’t mean I intend to serve them as parents-in-law, but anyway.

Guan Yu, who entered Yanxing with us, showed consideration by saying I must be tired and we should meet the next day, even though he must have had many things he wanted to hear.

With Cao Cao still having time before arriving, and having bought time by repelling Xu Huang, there was no need to refuse this proposal.

No matter how much my body is a youthful physique full of vitality with a touch of superhuman strength, it’s bound to get heavy with fatigue by this point.

My body, exhausted from sleeping outdoors, immediately fell asleep, feeling even the crude bed in Yanxing like a modern scientific mattress. It had been a long time since I had such a deep sleep.

When I, who had fallen asleep as if fainting, opened my eyes again, it was still the dark dawn outside. Although the fatigue wasn’t completely gone, I got up with a much lighter body and went outside. Seeing a light on in a nearby room, I walked towards it without thinking.

Perhaps hearing my footsteps, a deep voice resonated from inside the room.

“Who is it?”

I hesitated at Guan Yu’s voice and answered.

“It’s Zhang Ran, Uncle.”

“Hmm, you’re up.”

Guan Yu opened the door himself. He must have been reading the Zuo Zhuan, as the book he always carries around was placed on the side table.

“Did you sleep well, Uncle?”

“Yes. Hmm, if you don’t mind, shall we walk for a bit?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

The inner courtyard wasn’t particularly large or fancy, but it wasn’t bad for a quiet walk. The weather, having entered autumn, was cool and perfect for an early morning stroll, and Guan Yu, usually always solemn, was unusually relaxed.

For a while, we just walked in silence. My loose hair fluttered in the breeze.

Looking at the faint light of dawn reflecting dimly on the mountainside, Guan Yu opened his mouth.

“How was Xu Gongming?”

In Guan Yu’s tone of calling Xu Huang by his courtesy name with his surname to distinguish him from Zhuge Liang who uses the same character, I could sense a faint longing for an old friend and comrade.

“He was amazing. His martial prowess and leadership were flawless.”

“But you won.”

“That’s…”

“There’s no point in mentioning the quality of the soldiers. In the end, you won. Everything else is excuses and justifications. If Xu Gongming thought he would lose, he shouldn’t have come out in the first place. Hold your head high. You have earned that right.”

It was unusual for Guan Yu to pour out praise and encouragement. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I fidgeted with my lips. However, I was so shocked by Guan Yu’s words that followed that I forgot to close my open mouth.

“I apologize for having been wary of you.”

“Ye-yes?”

Guan Yu is apologizing? And not because Liu Bei, who could uniquely control him, told him to, but voluntarily?

Faced with this shocking statement that was hard to believe, I stuttered out a foolish response.

Despite my reaction, Guan Yu calmly asked again.

“Do you remember when you competed with Tánzhì?”

“I remember. It was a time when I didn’t know any better.”

“There’s no need to put yourself down like that. The youthful spirit of that day brought you to where you are now, and you have become the foundation for the revival of the Han dynasty.”

What I’ve done is indeed not insignificant.

I saved Pang Tong, killed Cao Hong and Zhang He, and guided Guan Yu to continue fighting, leading to the legend of his earth-shaking victory.

Though no one knows, I had been removing one by one the triggers that would have led to Liu Bei’s downfall.

“I won’t ask how you predicted the Han River flood. You might have divined it like the diviners, or perhaps you knew by looking at the stars like the astronomers. But what meaning would that have? However, I will ask this.”

Guan Yu asked with a serious expression.

“Sun Quan’s betrayal and the internal betrayal in our country. Was that also true?”

By now, Lu Meng must be in full action. And Pang Tong as well.

Pang Tong, having detected this, would have conveyed that fact to Guan Yu as well. If it were just at the level of suspicion it might be different, but hiding it from Guan Yu, the commander-in-chief of Jingzhou, when the actual invasion had begun would be dereliction of duty and insubordination.

I nodded.

“…Yes.”

“How vexing. You discussed this matter with only the military, leaving me out.”

“That was because it was only a time of suspicion…”

Not only could we not say provocative words without evidence while conducting the northern expedition, but if we had told Guan Yu about this, he might have missed the opportune moment for his earth-shaking victory while being suspicious of Mi Fang or Fu Shiren.

As I was trying to explain the reason, Guan Yu smiled faintly and stroked his beard.

“I understand. I was just joking, so don’t be so flustered.”

My goodness. Today is a day of encountering several rare sights in my life. I’m seeing Guan Yu make a joke.

“But you must have countermeasures, right? If not, it’s a matter where we should consider retreating.”

“Of course we do.”

“Indeed. Siyuan, that man, I didn’t see him that way, but he had a cunning side. I should have known from when he didn’t join the northern expedition with us.”

Guan Yu was scolding Pang Tong, seemingly still bothered that preparations were made for Sun Quan’s betrayal without including him. Of course, it wasn’t serious, just showing a little disappointment.

“If Siyuan is there, I won’t have to worry about Jingzhou. I can focus only on Wei. Then what will you do? Will you go down to Jingzhou?”

“No. Military Advisor Pang will take care of Jingzhou, so I wish to remain here with you, Uncle.”

It’s not just Pang Tong. Pang De is with him. Not only that, the talents Pang Tong brought back with him when he returned to Jingzhou are not few.

Ma Liang, who was close to Zhuge Liang like a sworn brother and was called a genius; Zhang Yin, who was captured after bravely resisting in Luocheng and then defected along with Liu Zhang’s surrender; Meng Da, who repeatedly betrayed with “Shu for Shu” but was talented; Bu Rong, father of Bu Zhan, who earned merit participating in the battle for Hanzhong as my father’s lieutenant, and others.

For the defense of Jingzhou, Pang Tong paid attention to the personnel placement of those who would become his arms and legs.

And above all, he was also there, who planned this grand scheme together with me and Pang Tong.

At my confidence, Guan Yu nodded and said:

“Today, we will cross Fancheng.”

It was a statement full of confidence that it would naturally happen, as if saying the sun will rise in the east today.

“You stay in Yanxing and manage the army’s physical condition. If my help is not needed for Sun Quan’s betrayal, we will soon face him.”

“By that, you mean…”

“You know too, don’t you?”

Guan Yu narrowed his eyes and uttered that name of love and hate.

“Cao Cao will come.”