Chapter 131

Liu Song, who had plunged Feng Shu’s Xingnan army into a pit of fire and annihilated them, bypassed Ban Jun and Wei Yan, who were holed up in Gangnyeong Castle, and continued northward.

This attack secured the Wuling and Yongling armies, each left under the command of Zhong and Sesheng by Liu Song. The plan was to firmly incorporate these two armies into Eastern Wu’s territory.

Liu Song was meticulous. Having once been defeated by Ban Jun and Wei Yan, he never forgot the past and became even more cautious.

Appointing the experienced Han Dang as the supreme general, Liu Song entrusted the actual military authority to his deputy, Zhu Yan, and ordered the containment of Gangnyeong Castle.

This was similar to how Cao Cao had appointed Zhao Hong as the supreme general but made the more militarily capable Zhao Yu the actual commander.

Additionally, Liu Song attached rising talents like Haje, who had proven himself in Hefei, and the promising newcomer Sun Huan from the Sun family, allowing them to gain experience and prepare for the future.

After solidifying the defenses in Xingnan, Liu Song headed straight for Yangfan, bypassing Dangyang.

Unlike before, Dangyang held little strategic value. There were no Wei prisoners, nor was there a formidable general like Bang Deok stationed there with a significant force.

However, some were still uneasy about leaving Dangyang untouched.

“Grand Commander, is it really alright to leave Dangyang as it is?”

“No problem.”

“Wouldn’t it be more reassuring to capture it? It wouldn’t take much. Just lend me 500 swift soldiers, and I’ll capture the city without a single casualty, just like General Gan Ning did at the Battle of Yushui.”

He referenced Gan Ning’s night raid on Wei with just 100 soldiers to argue for the siege.

It was absurd to discuss a siege with only 500 troops, let alone claiming to return without a single casualty.

Yet, Liu Song didn’t dismiss this as mere bravado. He believed there was credibility in those words.

In the distant future, those who knew his name would nod in agreement with Liu Song’s thoughts.

The name Ding Feng carried that much weight.

However, Liu Song shook his head.

Capturing Gangnyeong Castle would be difficult. They likely had supplies stockpiled, and the combination of Ban Jun and Wei Yan was not an easy opponent, even for Liu Song.

No matter how skilled Liu Song was in psychological warfare and strategy, siege warfare couldn’t be resolved with tricks alone.

Without capturing Gangnyeong and Yangfan, holding Dangyang would be difficult, and it would soon be lost.

Moreover, the primary objective of this war wasn’t to capture small territories like Dangyang.

“Our target is Guan Yu.”

While Cao Wei seemed to view the attack on Hatu as a decisive blow, Liu Song’s thoughts differed. There was a gap in perspectives between Cao Wei and Eastern Wu.

Cao Wei aimed for the short-term goal of reclaiming lost territory.

Eastern Wu, looking at the bigger picture, aimed for long-term gains.

Thus, the goals of Eastern Wu and Cao Wei were bound to differ. Seizing Shu’s territory was merely a secondary achievement; what Liu Song truly sought was Guan Yu’s life.

If Guan Yu were killed, Liu Bei would burn his life to avenge his sworn brothers, even if it meant leaping off a cliff or betraying the expectations of those who followed him.

Liu Bei would willingly choose that path.

‘What we must avoid most is Liu Bei leveraging terrain advantages to prolong the war. Our nation’s strength can no longer keep up with Wei and Shu. The more time they have, the more disadvantageous it becomes for Eastern Wu.’

Thus, Liu Song wanted Guan Yu’s head to force Liu Bei into a decisive battle.

Fortunately, this aligned with Cao Wei’s intentions as well.

Cao Wei, seeking to stabilize its shaky regime, desired achievements. As a fallback plan in case the recapture of Guanzhong failed, they targeted Guan Yu and Yangfan.

The head of Guan Yu, the renowned general of Shu-Han, and the recovery of Yangfan, lost by the late Cao Cao, would be unparalleled achievements.

The plans of Cao Wei and Eastern Wu were on the brink of success.

Zhang Liao led Cao Wei’s army to attack Bansheng, while Liu Song led Eastern Wu’s army to attack Yangyang. With the combined assault from the north and south, and Zhu Huan and Pan Zhang pressuring Shu’s naval forces along the Han River, even the impregnable Yangfan and the legendary Guan Yu couldn’t withstand such an onslaught.

The once-sturdy Yangfan’s repairs after the last flood were questionable, and Guan Yu, weakened by age and injuries, was vulnerable. Now was the perfect time to capture Yangfan.

However, Liu Song’s predictions were off.

Due to external influences, not internal issues.

“Grand Commander… the Wei army has signaled their retreat.”

For the first time, Liu Song showed emotion on his face. His furrowed brow and trembling lips revealed his anger.

“Why?”

“It seems Zhao Chang, who detoured to attack Hatu, was defeated by Chang-ran. Zhao Chang is dead, and over half of his army was destroyed…”

“Then we should attack Yangfan even more!”

“Chang-ran immediately moved to Dongguan and halted Xu Huang’s attack. There are also reports that Liu Bei is mobilizing his direct forces, prioritizing the defense of Luoyang over Yangfan’s capture.”

“Chang-ran… that name again.”

The mastermind who thwarted the Jingzhou campaign and now this massive offensive.

Liu Song envisioned the face of the person who had brought about such a significant change.

The pinnacle of beauty. If Liu Song’s cultivation had been slightly weaker, he might have been swayed.

He thought that if Zhou Yu had been born a woman, she might have looked like this. Even the beauty of Jiangdong couldn’t compare.

Chang-ran, who had completely thwarted the surprise attack on Jingzhou, had visited Liu Song on her way back to Chengdu after capturing him as a prisoner.

There, Liu Song saw the deep-seated wariness hidden in Chang-ran’s eyes.

At the same time, he read the killing intent within them.

He was certain that if she were spared, she would become his worst enemy, and he wanted to eliminate her beforehand.

Her expression and demeanor were perfectly controlled, but her eyes betrayed her.

Or perhaps Liu Song’s perception was too sharp.

Chang-ran, almost uniquely in Shu-Han, burned with vigilance against Liu Song, despite being intoxicated by victory and ignoring Eastern Wu after the deaths of Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Lü Meng.

Her insight into people was said to surpass even Liu Bei’s.

Facing this, Liu Song realized that toppling Shu would require overcoming Chang-ran, not Guan Yu or Zhang Fei.

“Did Lord Mi Zhu truly see this in a nine-year-old girl? Her radiant beauty, her eyes filled with wisdom, will last for millennia. Immeasurable depth, unfathomable grace. If she were still alive, Eastern Wu would have opened a new era long ago… What a pity. What a pity.”

Liu Song sighed, lamenting the void left by the departed.

“With the Wei army retreating, it’s difficult for us alone. Even if we take Yangyang, Bansheng remains. We must be content with what we’ve gained.”

Taking solace in securing the two Xingnan armies, Liu Song ordered a retreat, determined to firmly hold the achievements of this campaign.

The war concluded with Shu-Han’s miraculous victory, Cao Wei’s complete defeat, and Eastern Wu’s partial success.

§

“Father! The enemy is retreating!!”

“Yes. So it seems.”

Guan Yu, who had personally defended Bansheng, responded indifferently to his son’s cheers at the retreating Wei army.

Despite injuries from arrows and leading the desperate fight against Zhang Liao, Guan Yu immediately checked the situation elsewhere.

“What about Yangyang?”

“No word yet from General Yao, but with the Wei army retreating, it’s only a matter of time, right?”

“It’s not over yet. This could be a feigned retreat to lure us into complacency. Calm down and tell the soldiers not to let their guard down.”

Yao Hua and Xi Zhen defended Yangyang, while Zhao Lu commanded the naval forces on the Han River. No reports had come from them yet.

Even though the attack on Bansheng had ceased, with Eastern Wu still strong, the battle wasn’t over.

However, Guan Yu’s caution was merely precautionary. Before long, Eastern Wu’s army also began to retreat.

Even then, Guan Yu didn’t lower his guard. Only when a messenger from Jin Dou’s Baiyi troops arrived, confirming the Wei army’s retreat, did Guan Yu accept that this wasn’t a deception.

“Mingjing has done another great deed.”

While receiving treatment for his injuries and listening to the messenger’s report, Guan Yu fell into contemplation.

He felt that one era was ending, and a new one was rising.

‘My place will continue to shrink.’

Repeated injuries and the aging brought by time had left Guan Yu’s body not what it once was.

His younger brother Zhang Fei was still vigorous, but that was because Zhang Fei hadn’t suffered major injuries. Guan Yu, fighting in worse conditions, had undergone surgeries and fought relentlessly.

His left arm, pierced by a poisoned arrow, had almost lost all strength.

‘I envy my brother.’

Being able to step back and pass on his legacy to his children was a great blessing.

Guan Ping and Guan Xing, his two sons, still didn’t meet Guan Yu’s expectations.

After Chang-ran’s prominence in the Jingzhou campaign, Guan Yu had even taught his daughter Guan Hui martial arts, just in case.

Unfortunately, Guan Hui was ordinary. With effort, she might reach Lady Son’s level, but she couldn’t compare to Chang-ran, who was far beyond the norm.

Ultimately, none of Guan Yu’s children had satisfied him.

But now, Guan Yu felt the need to prepare for a successor.

‘Heaven, grant me more time. At least until I can raise a child to carry on my legacy.’