Chapter 109

If there are those who are disappointed and angry, there are also those who are happy and cheering. That’s the way of the world.

The atmosphere in Cao Wei’s court, which had sunk due to Cao Biao’s rising anger, was completely different. Liu Bei’s military camp, now fully established, was filled with excitement.

The messenger’s expression was different from the start. The emotional gap visible on his sweat-drenched face soon influenced the entire atmosphere of the room.

The messenger sent by He Xie to Ye City was pale with anxiety and urgency, but the messenger sent by Chang-ran to Liu Bei, though tired, was beaming with joy.

Both sides had ministers maintaining silence, but the underlying reasons were completely opposite.

While Cao Wei’s ministers kept their mouths shut out of fear of offending Cao Biao, Liu Bei’s generals were holding back their words as Liu Bei read the report brought by the messenger.

They were barely holding back their desire to speak, waiting for Liu Bei to open his mouth.

Huang Quan followed Liu Bei’s eyes as they moved up and down, gauging the length of the report. Feng Shu, who had become Liu Bei’s deputy commander instead of Jin Dou, fidgeted nervously, twiddling his fingers and toes.

It wasn’t just civil officials like Huang Quan or generals like Feng Shu who were anxious.

Even Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who held the highest positions and had been with Liu Bei the longest, couldn’t remain calm.

Guan Yu, who usually stroked his long beard slowly and leisurely, was unusually hurried today.

But Zhang Fei was on a whole different level compared to the others.

Usually a man of cold composure, he was particularly restless today. He twitched his limbs slightly and kept licking his dry lips with his tongue.

Guan Yu, who wasn’t entirely composed himself, scolded Zhang Fei for his lack of decorum.

“Brother, maintain your dignity. This is the royal court.”

“Cough, my apologies.”

Hearing his brothers’ voices, Liu Bei put down the report he was holding. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you two like this.”

Liu Bei handed the report from Chang-ran to Huang Quan, the Chief Minister.

Huang Quan’s eyes moved quickly. Soon, his pupils dilated, and his face lit up with joy.

“How could I not understand the heart of the third brother? The great undertaking of the Northern Expedition. The heavy responsibility rests on the shoulders of his beloved daughter, so it’s only natural for a father to anxiously await the results.”

Liu Bei apologized to Zhang Fei for not considering his feelings. Zhang Fei, who received the apology, was even more flustered.

“Chief Minister, everyone is curious. If you’ve finished reading, please announce it.”

“Y-yes, I will read it now.”

Ahem, ahem. Huang Quan’s fake cough echoed through the silent camp, and the reading began.

As Huang Quan’s report continued, the atmosphere in the camp grew increasingly heated.

The content was long, as if Liu Bei had been holding onto it for a while.

Chang-ran, who usually preferred simplicity and used bamboo slips, had used silk for this report for a reason.

From luring Zhao Chang into Yongyang Province by pretending to head to Tianshui, to tricking Hahu Mu and capturing Chang’an City.

Chang-ran’s detailed report on the progress of the Northern Expedition continued. Finally, the last sentence was read aloud by Huang Quan.

“……Thus, I have fulfilled my duty and reclaimed Guanzhong. As per my oath to my lord, I await your arrival in Chang’an City.”

Even as Huang Quan finished reading and put away the report, the camp remained silent.

Everyone present knew. The Northern Expedition had succeeded. The messenger’s expression had already revealed the outcome.

But hearing the confirmation aloud was a completely different experience.

Guanzhong. And Chang’an.

The land where Emperor Gaozu of Han had risen. At the same time, a land none of them had ever set foot on.

Also, the land they had all longed for with one heart.

Realizing that this land had finally come into their embrace, they forgot what to say.

They couldn’t think of what to say.

Thus, the voice that broke the silence and spoke out was all the more clear to them.

“Ascend the throne…….”

The softly spoken word awakened the dazed crowd.

“Ascend the throne……!”

One person led, and soon everyone followed.

“Ascend the throne, Your Majesty!”

“Ascend the throne, Your Majesty!”

The words to ascend the throne.

In the midst of his ministers’ urging, Liu Bei saw the past.

The childish vow of his youth to ride in a carriage adorned with feathers was becoming a reality.

The position he had longed for was now within his grasp, almost in his hands.

“Brother.”

The call broke Liu Bei’s reverie, and he refocused his blurred vision.

His eyes fell on the weathered faces of his two brothers, aged by time.

Their once smooth skin was now wrinkled, and their once raven-black beards and hair were now turning white like egrets.

The two brothers spoke.

“This position is for you, brother. You must ascend.”

“Yunchang….”

“The world awaits you, brother. You must ascend.”

“Yide….”

Liu Bei’s voice was choked with emotion.

Had age softened his heart? Tears welled up, and Liu Bei raised his head.

Sixty years since he was thrown into this turbulent world.

He was at the end of his sixtieth year.

Suddenly, in a moment, he returned to his origins.

To the dream he had in his youth.

§

I confirmed that Zhao Chang had completely retreated and returned to Chang’an.

We didn’t have enough soldiers to pursue him recklessly. If we had 20,000 to 30,000 more, we could have spared some to guard Guanzhong and still had enough to engage in battle.

It was a pity, but it was too greedy. Even now, we had pulled all the soldiers from Hanzhong and Yi Province to make them available.

When I returned to Chang’an City and took back command from Wei Yan, a messenger sent by Liu Bei arrived.

He conveyed Liu Bei’s intention to retreat safely to Yangfan via Sesheng and then head to Chang’an, as the rear could be attacked.

“It will take quite some time.”

“We should tidy up the palace in Chang’an City in the meantime.”

As the former capital, Chang’an City had a palace for the emperor. However, it had been left unattended for so long that the palace’s condition was not good.

We couldn’t fix everything, but at least we should prepare a place for Liu Bei to reside.

“Military Advisor Pang Tong has also sent word.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, he said he will come to Chang’an with Sima Yi, who has recently submitted, to pay his respects to Your Majesty. General Ma Chao will remain in Xiliang to secure the support of the Qiang people and the public sentiment in Xiliang.”

“General Ma Chao’s dedication is remarkable.”

Although we had achieved a great victory, some of Cao Wei’s territories still remained in Yongyang Province, including high-ranking officials like Governor Guanqiu Xing of Wuwei and Inspector Zhang Ji of Yang Province.

Places like Zhangye and Dunhuang, remote border regions, weren’t worth worrying about, but it would be good to secure those two. Ma Chao seemed to share that thought.

‘After all, now that Guanzhong is in our hands, capturing Cao Wei’s isolated territories in Xiliang is only a matter of time.’

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to do it quickly. Though the soldiers, exhausted from fatigue, might complain.

‘We should make sure to reward them well.’

We’ll need the soldiers to be active in many places in the future, so we should manage them properly.

The issue of Yongyang Province would be handled well by Ma Chao and Pang Tong, so I focused more on matters in Guanzhong.

“I should also order Governor Wu to return to Chang’an. It would be strange for the Governor of Guanzhong to be absent when Your Majesty arrives.”

With Zhao Chang gone, there was little need to guard Wugong County. It was more important to guard the northern gates.

The more outgoing Jiang Wei sent a messenger and left the office to deliver the instructions.

Bi Yi, who had stayed in Chang’an City with Wei Yan to manage administrative affairs, had almost finished his tasks. He quietly brought a Go board and placed it between us, offering me the first move.

“Your duties?”

“I’ve pretty much finished everything I needed to do.”

Bi Yi was remarkably efficient at his work. He had somehow managed to win over Cao Wei’s officials, who now followed his orders without question.

In the original history, I had stationed a few of my personal guards near Bi Yi in case of an assassination attempt by Cao Wei’s agents, but fortunately, it was just a precaution.

Anyway, with a smiling face, I picked up a white stone, playing along with Bi Yi’s sly move of saying, “As the junior, I’ll go first.”

About halfway through the game, when it started to become clear who was winning, Bi Yi asked.

“Rear General, I heard that many generals have urged His Majesty to ascend the throne…….”

So that’s why he brought out the Go board. The matter of the emperor’s throne was not something to be discussed lightly, so he created a casual setting to bring it up.

‘He’s quite cunning.’

“That’s right.”

“I heard he declined, but will he eventually ascend?”

“Probably.”

“If it’s to be held in Chang’an City, shouldn’t we start preparing now?”

“Not sure. If that happens, Military Advisor Zhuge will also come, so there’s no need to rush. Ah, I’ve got you.”

“Huh? That can’t be.”

After a few more moves, Bi Yi realized his large group was indeed captured and looked dejected.

While alternating between work and rest like this, news arrived that Liu Bei had entered Guanzhong. Coming from the south, he was now close to Chang’an.

To welcome Liu Bei, I opened all the gates of Chang’an City. Following royal protocol, I led the troops out to meet him ten li away.

It felt like déjà vu. Though our positions were reversed.

Was this how Liu Bei felt when he came out to welcome me after I returned to Chengdu from the Jing Province campaign?

And was Liu Bei’s heart, as he approached Chang’an City, the same as mine had been then?

As soon as Liu Bei saw me, he got down from his carriage and walked towards me.

“Rise.”

Liu Bei placed his hand on my shoulder and spoke. I stood up, still bowing, and lowered my head to him.

“You’ve done well.”

“I merely kept my oath.”

“……You’re a cruel child.”

What does that mean? As I was puzzled, Liu Bei smiled bitterly and continued.

“You make it hard for me to let you go.”

Only after hearing his next words did I understand why Liu Bei called me cruel.

“But now I’ve made up my mind.”

In a voice so soft that only the two of us could hear, Liu Bei declared.

“On the day I ascend the throne, I will establish a crown prince.”

The crown prince would be Yi De’s second daughter.

Having obtained Chang’an City, Liu Bei thus declared that he would let me go.