Chapter 108

The news of Chang’an City’s fall spread across the Central Plains in an instant. Not even the outcome of the Battle of Red Cliffs was known this quickly. The ripple effects of Huaxia’s tremors were never this intense or vast. In Xichuan, Hanzhong, and Xiang Province, wherever she stepped, Chang-ran’s name was already known throughout the land. In Wei, Chang-ran was not feared as a formidable general but was famous as the beautiful envoy from Shu. Now, that had completely changed. She was now known as the fierce general of Shu who defeated Guo Huai and captured Chang’an City. The Wei leadership, who had long recognized Chang-ran’s danger, was in turmoil over the catastrophic loss of Guanzhong. “What kind of dog’s work is this?!” Cao Biao’s furious roar echoed in the Great Hall. At the end of his gaze was a trembling messenger, prostrate on the ground. Though the frightened messenger looked pitiful, no one had the time to care. They were too busy trying to avoid Cao Biao’s wrath. “Zhao Chang! Guo Huai! What are those fools doing?! After all the warnings, they couldn’t even handle this?!” “Y-Your Majesty, Prince Zhao Chang successfully retreated against Ma Chao and Pang Tong…” “Nonsense!” Chief Minister Huan Jie cautiously defended Zhao Chang, but Cao Biao cut him off. “What kind of achievement is that?! It’s just the stupidity of being trapped in Yongyang by the enemy’s tricks!” Though Cao Biao criticized harshly, Zhao Chang and Guo Huai’s efforts were not entirely dismissible. Following Xiao Ce’s betrayal and the Qiang tribes’ arrival due to Ma Chao’s revival, Zhao Chang was not in a numerically superior position. Moreover, Pang Tong and Ma Chao were diligent in keeping Zhao Chang occupied. They didn’t engage in proper battles but would pounce like ghosts if Zhao Chang tried to retreat to Guanzhong. Even after Guo Huai joined, the situation remained the same. No, it was worse. When Guo Huai tried to head to Guanzhong to stop Chang-ran, the enemy launched an aggressive offensive. In the end, Ma Chao and Pang Tong held Zhao Chang back until Chang-ran captured Chang’an City. Upon hearing the news, Zhao Chang and Guo Huai desperately attempted a counterattack. They suffered losses to break out of Xiliang, and while a suicide squad blocked Jiading, they retreated through Bingzhou. Those left at Jiading met their deaths as the name “suicide squad” suggested. Knowing this, Guo Huai volunteered for the suicide squad. Feeling responsible for losing Guanzhong, he paid with his life. Zhao Chang also gave his all. Leaving Guo Huai behind, Zhao Chang escaped Yongyang and brought back the people from the border regions that would fall to Shu. In an era where population equated to national power, people were more important than land. It was a kind of resettlement policy. But Guo Huai and Zhao Chang’s efforts were beneath Cao Biao’s notice. What did it matter? Wei had already lost the vast regions of Yongyang and Guanzhong. What irked Cao Biao even more was Hahu Mu. “How dare he! Has he forgotten the grace I showed by making him my son-in-law?! Though I cherished my loyal Marquis Hahu Dun, his clan must pay for this crime!” Even those who usually tried to calm Cao Biao’s temper remained silent. No matter how much Hahu Dun was a founding hero, Hahu Mu’s betrayal was too great a crime. Similarly, Xiao Ce’s defection to Shu was overshadowed and not even mentioned. Especially when contrasted with He Xie’s death after fighting to the end, Hahu Mu’s cowardice was magnified. Cao Biao knew. He knew that Guo Huai prioritized Zhao Chang in Yongyang, trusting in Chang’an City’s fortifications. But even if Hahu Mu hadn’t betrayed them, it wasn’t certain they could have held Chang’an City and Guanzhong. Chang-ran’s strategy targeted the aftermath more than Hahu Mu himself. But from Cao Biao and Wei’s perspective, it seemed like the foolish Hahu Mu had ruined a won war, like sprinkling ashes on a perfectly cooked meal. “Strip Hahu Mu of all his titles and positions! Erase everything related to him! His marriage to Princess Qinghe is null and void! I will wipe all traces of him from Wei!” For a long time, Cao Biao poured out his anger and curses. Even after that, his anger didn’t subside as he fumed and shrugged his shoulders. “Grand Commandant! Grand Commandant, say something!” Jia Xu, who had been keeping a low profile like the others, sighed inwardly at Cao Biao’s call. With Cao Biao’s anger at its peak, he had to be even more careful with his words. “Your Majesty.” “I won’t question how this happened despite following your advice. You couldn’t have anticipated Hahu Mu’s betrayal either. So tell me, what should we do now?” Jia Xu closed his eyes briefly to organize his thoughts. Cao Biao didn’t interrupt. First, Jia Xu reviewed the process of losing Guanzhong again. ‘Losing Guanzhong wasn’t solely due to Hahu Mu’s betrayal.’ Though the loss was shocking, Chang-ran had employed many tricks before capturing Chang’an City. While others condemned Hahu Mu, Jia Xu focused on Chang-ran’s actions. ‘Chang-ran has been involved with our state three times: Hanzhong, Bansheng, and Ye. Though she didn’t act alone in all, she likely chose her moves herself. Chang-ran excels at forcing her opponents into a corner.’ Chang-ran resembled a hunter driving prey. She enjoyed forcing the enemy’s hand. She blocks options and drives them where she wants. Dividing the army to pick them off one by one was also her usual tactic. She did this to Xu Huang and other reinforcements during the Bansheng siege. It wasn’t just military strategy. Her Tan-ki game with Cao Biao. Even then, she forced Cao Biao into a corner. It was the same at Chang’an City. Jia Xu saw through Chang-ran’s efforts to guide He Xie and Hahu Mu where she wanted. ‘But at the same time, she doesn’t hesitate to pounce when she sees an opening. She combines the cunning of a fox with the bravery of a tiger.’ In Jia Xu’s view, even without Hahu Mu’s surrender, Chang-ran would have taken Chang’an City. Of course, with more losses. ‘If that had happened, it would have been right to break through Tong Pass and retake Guanzhong at any cost. But the immediate result is almost a bloodless occupation. Retaking Guanzhong will be difficult.’ After a few breaths to gather his thoughts, Jia Xu spoke. “Your Majesty, with my limited wisdom, I cannot think of a short-term solution to retake Guanzhong.” “Then? Is there a long-term plan? If it’s just the cliché of winning public sentiment and strengthening internal affairs to wait for an opportunity, don’t bother. I want to hear something not just anyone can say from you.” “Forgive me, but what I propose aligns with Your Majesty’s thoughts.” “So there’s still something different? Speak.” Cao Biao’s tone shifted from formal to informal as his expectations waned. His gaze turned toward Sima Yi, as if planning to call on him next. “Now, it’s difficult for us alone to break Liu Bei’s momentum. We must bring Sun Quan into the fold.” “Sun Quan? Sun Quan? The one who first bowed to my father and then attacked Hefei when things didn’t go his way? How can we trust him?” “You don’t have to trust him.” Jia Xu’s eyes filled with certainty. “What will bind Sun Quan and us is not trust, but a sense of crisis.” Liu Bei and Sun Quan joined hands against Cao Cao and ultimately shattered his dream of unifying the land at Red Cliffs. No matter how much Liu Bei was on a winning streak, Wei still held the hegemony. All three powers knew this, which was why Sun Quan had been observing this northern expedition. But now, that was no longer possible. With Xiliang and Guanzhong in Liu Bei’s hands, the direction of hegemony was uncertain. Objectively, Wei still held the upper hand, but there’s such a thing as momentum. Clearly, the tide was turning in Liu Bei’s favor. The trust between Sun Quan and Wei was broken. ‘But now, both sides share a massive sense of crisis that overshadows that broken trust.’ If this war ends in Shu’s victory, Wei and Sun Quan will unite against the threat Liu Bei poses. Now, it’s Liu Bei’s turn to be broken. “Enfeoff Sun Quan as the King of Wu. Then, Sun Quan will sever ties with Liu Bei and join hands with us.”