Originally, Liu Bei prepares to declare himself emperor as soon as Cao Pi receives the abdication. He starts building justification for his own ascension to the throne, saying that divine creatures have appeared or celestial phenomena signifying good omens have been observed.

However, the current Liu Bei was not focused on such justification building, but was dedicating himself to laying the groundwork for the Northern Expedition.

Advancing troops and moving military supplies to the border. Even in the midst of holding Emperor Xian’s funeral, administration continued to run and soldiers’ training did not stop.

In Yizhou, an expeditionary force was being organized under Father’s leadership, and Ma Chao returned to Tianshui to rally ethnic minorities including the Qiang and Di tribes.

Hanzhong and Jingzhou also showed movements in line with this, managing soldiers’ physical condition and inspecting supplies.

The clouds of war, carrying the fishy scent of blood, were spreading thickly and heavily across the world, noticeable even to villagers in remote mountain valleys.

And I too was spending busy days without a moment to spare, preparing for the great war that was approaching moment by moment to bring about upheaval in the world.

Fei Yi, who received the position of Military Assistant General, moved his registration to the Rear General’s Office and immediately took on the important task of calculating and requesting supplies for the expedition, handling the work smoothly without any hesitation.

His skillful handling, which was not inferior to Jiang Wei who had received the handover from Wu Yi with me, and perhaps even more adept, was astonishing even to central civil officials. It wasn’t for nothing that he was counted among Shu Han’s Four Ministers.

Seeing Jiang Wei and Fei Yi’s abilities, Zhuge Liang subtly coveted the two and hinted at me, but I firmly refused. I would struggle without Jiang Wei and Fei Yi too, so how could he try to take them away for free?

Trying to repay kindness with enmity when it hasn’t been long since he thanked me for elevating Zhang Wan… truly devilish.

Still, worried about Zhuge Liang’s excessive workload, I recommended Xu Shulong and Guo Yuzhi instead of Fei Yi. But that might have been a mistake. Zhuge Liang’s gaze was somewhat strange. It felt like he saw me as a vending machine that would spit out talents if he just poked me.

While Jiang Wei and Fei Yi were responsible for the internal affairs of the Rear General’s Office, I focused on managing the middle-ranking positions like Commandants and Governors and the soldiers, together with Bu Zhi, Ma Dai, and Guo Yi.

No matter how elite the Nanling Army was, honed through hundreds of battles, there was bound to be some shaking with a large-scale personnel change and the corps commander being absent at the same time. There was a need to strengthen unity and bonds before the war.

In that aspect, the Nanling Army had many superior points in various ways. Like armies of later times, they had symbols for a sense of belonging, and the reputation the name Nanling Army carried was enough to instill pride in them.

By the time the Nanling Army finished all preparations to depart for the battlefield, the armament of all of Shu Han was also nearing its final stages.

As underground work for the Northern Expedition had been going on for some time, Shu succeeded in switching to a wartime footing in an instant.

The process of leaving behind soldiers who had accumulated fatigue from the southern expedition as defense forces for Chengdu and public security forces for Yizhou, and converting the existing Yizhou army that had been storing up physical strength and conducting training in the meantime into an expeditionary force, went as smoothly as if they had rehearsed.

Finally, after all military preparations were complete. While everyone was waiting for Liu Bei’s orders, I received a summons from Liu Bei.

“You’ve come.”

The atmosphere was completely different from the private audience held to ask about Zhuge Liang. Unlike usual when he was surrounded by composure and benevolence, his serious and sharp aura was closer to a general on the battlefield than a king.

Perhaps even Liu Bei of the world couldn’t help but be nervous before the great undertaking of the Northern Expedition, which could be called the crossroads of achieving long-cherished desires, where everything would be poured in.

He stared only at the map of the world hung on one side, without even turning to look at me.

“Yes, Your Majesty. You called for me?”

“Yes. Come closer, here.”

As I approached behind him, Liu Bei spoke with his hands behind his back:

“The grand plan for the Northern Expedition. You said you drafted a plan for attacking Guanzhong within it?”

“That is correct.”

“Then I want to ask. In this Northern Expedition, can our country really occupy Guanzhong?”

Guanzhong. The abundant resources given by fertile land and the people who gathered seeking it.

Militarily also a fortress given by heaven, so from ancient times, those who occupied Guanzhong grasped the world.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang did so, Emperor Gao of Han who founded the Former Han did so, and Emperor Wen of Sui who put an end to the chaos of the Sixteen Kingdoms period did so.

So Liu Bei’s words could be said to be a question encompassing the world, beyond simply occupying Guanzhong.

I answered his question, clasping my hands:

“We will make it so, Your Majesty.”

“Advance from Jing and Yi. I had my eye on Ma Mengqi to lead the advance on Guanzhong. With his experience and reputation in Liangzhou, and his brave martial prowess, I thought Ma Mengqi was the most suitable choice.”

It was an indisputable theory without room for objection. Honestly, for Liangzhou specifically, Ma Chao would be much more effective than Guan Yu or Father. Unless Liu Bei himself took the field.

The current Ma Chao is not the Ma Chao who just let time pass after being ruined by Cao Cao.

He was the Golden Horse of Liangzhou who had gloriously revived in the battle for Hanzhong and once again chilled Cao Cao’s guts. It wasn’t for nothing that when Guan Yu captured Fancheng, the Qiang people rushed to submit when Tianshui was attacked.

As a result of considering such points. When submitting the grand plan for the Northern Expedition, we had also recommended Ma Chao as the overall commander for the Guanzhong direction.

“Your Majesty’s thoughts are truly correct.”

“So I called for Ma Mengqi. To bestow the tally and sword and appoint him as the overall commander of the Hanzhong army to occupy Guanzhong.”

From Liu Bei’s tone, it seems like some problem arose, but surely Ma Chao’s health didn’t suddenly deteriorate? He was perfectly fine the last time I saw him.

As I feared, Liu Bei’s next words contained a denial.

“But he refused.”

“Surely the General of the Left hasn’t had some problem with his health?”

“Hahaha, it’s not that. Rather, he rejoiced saying he had been longing for this day.”

“Then why…”

“Ma Mengqi said.”

Cutting off my words, Liu Bei turned to look at me.

“This position is too much for this humble one to take on, so I wish to recommend a suitable talent to Your Majesty, he said.”

Who else but Ma Chao could take that position?

Ah, come to think of it, Ma Chao and Father have been meeting often lately. If he recommended Father, I can understand to some extent.

After all, Ma Chao might feel burdened about surrendering to Liu Bei so late. There could also be trauma from the rebellion of the Liangzhou warlord who was the overall commander.

“Who did he recommend?”

“The Rear General.”

“I think the General of the Left is not bad either. If it’s the General of the Right, he would be able… Pardon?”

“He said the Rear General.”

The Rear General means me.

Ma Chao recommended me as the overall commander? Why?

Thinking about it calmly, there were reasons. Ma Chao always said he would repay his debt of gratitude to me.

Gratitude for saving his family, for giving him another chance to aim for Cao Cao’s life.

The face of Ma Chao in Liangzhou saying he would definitely return the favor came to mind. And the words he said to me when we met in Tianshui echoed like an auditory hallucination.

‘At that time, you might be above me.’

‘Keep it in mind.’

‘Let me tell you in advance, I don’t think too badly of it.’

Could it be that Ma Chao had made up his mind to give me his higher position since then?

I was dumbfounded and at a loss for words. Even as I was in a daze like that, Liu Bei’s words did not stop.

“Rear General Zhang Ran not only has the insight to draw up the grand plan as the drafter of this Northern Expedition, but also the discernment to see through the battlefield, so naturally the Rear General should take on the role of overall commander. That was Ma Mengqi’s argument. And I don’t think he’s wrong.”

“However, Your Majesty, this humble one is…”

“Young? What problem is that? From ancient times, generals are those who speak through military achievements. And isn’t the position of overall commander for the Guanzhong direction in the grand plan not one that can oversee everything?”

Liu Bei had already made a decision, it seemed, as he handed me the metal rod he had been holding like a cane.

“This is the tally I will bestow upon you.”

“Your Majesty.”

If the axe and halberd are symbols of military authority, the tally is a symbol of executive authority.

One who holds the tally and sword has the authority to summarily execute even those holding the same tally, based on military law.

It was truly absolute power. In Liu Bei’s subordinates, there were precedents of Father and Ma Chao receiving the tally, and me receiving the sword, but Guan Yu was the only one who had received both the tally and sword.

To put it bluntly, if I receive the tally and sword and become the overall commander of the Guanzhong direction, I could even execute Ma Chao if he did something wrong.

Liu Bei was now trying to give me such a tally and sword.

Even though the Guanzhong direction is not a battlefield where the overall commander can control everything, it was too excessive a measure. Clearly Liu Bei must be intending to suppress those who might resist me with overwhelming authority.

“Rear General Zhang Ran, follow the royal command.”

I prostrated myself and cupped my hands.

“In addition to the axe and halberd bestowed in the past, I now bestow the tally, so Zhang Ran shall recover Guanzhong as the overall commander of the Hanzhong army.”

“I will follow the order with all my life.”

I receive the tally Liu Bei is bestowing with both hands. Though the weight was not much different from the Hundred Blade Diagram Cao Cao gave, the weight pressing down on my hands was incomparable.

As I firmly grasped the tally while maintaining that posture, Liu Bei grabbed my shoulders and raised me up.

“I entrust Guanzhong to you.”

“…I swear.”

Unparalleled trust.

The most important position in the Northern Expedition. The position that determines the success or failure of everything.

There is only one thing I can do to repay those who placed me in that position.

“I will welcome my lord in Chang’an.”

To be victorious.

§

Autumn of the 26th year of Jian’an (221 AD).

When Zhuge Liang returned after completing the southern expedition, the Ardent Emperor finally raised the banner of the Northern Expedition, with the number of troops reaching as many as 100,000. The Ardent Emperor personally advanced to Jingzhou and marched towards Luoyang, assisted by Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Quan and others.

Meanwhile, to follow Zhuge Liang’s advance from Jing and Yi, Ma Chao led his subordinates including Pang De, Pang Tong, Wang Ping, and Gu Pu to advance towards the Tianshui direction, and Wei considered Ma Chao to be the overall commander of the Yizhou army based on that formation.

However, before departing on the personal campaign, the Ardent Emperor followed Ma Chao’s advice and bestowed the tally and sword on Zhang Ran, appointing her as the overall commander of the Yizhou army, and sent Wu Yi, Governor of Guanzhong, and Liu Yan, General Who Pacifies the West, to assist on her left and right.

The Ardent Emperor’s talent for employing people, comparable to Emperor Wu who made Huo Qubing, who had just come of age (20 years old), a corps commander to subjugate the Xiongnu, was like this.

《From the Annals of the Ardent Emperor in the Continuation of the Han Book》