Chapter 173

When Chang-ran left Gangnyeong Castle and swiftly marched north, Guan Yu was also charging towards the north.

Following the river along Yuxu, pushing through the mountain paths of the Jin Ling Mountain Range, they simply moved forward along the road ahead.

Even amidst the thick dust clouds kicked up by the horse’s hooves, Guan Yu’s eyes clearly saw the path rising before him.

Passing through the plains of Nanyang Commandery in Xiang Province, Luoyang County, the first flatland after leaving the Jin Ling Mountain Range.

Guan Yu and his troops simply moved north, step by step.

From Xiang Province to Sili Province, from Nanyang Commandery to Henan, from Luoyang County to Yang County.

Perhaps because Sima Yi had drafted troops from the region, there were no enemy forces to block Guan Yu. The gates of Yang County swung open upon seeing Guan Yu’s Supreme General flag, and at Guangcheng Pass, one of the two gates needed to enter Luoyang, a white flag was raised.

Even counties off his route sent messengers to avoid provoking Guan Yu. Luhun County to the west, Yunzhi County to the east, and Xincheng County to the north all responded to Guan Yu as he passed Guangcheng Pass.

A rumor began to circulate in Henan.

Guan Yu had returned.

Guan Yu had returned to capture Luoyang.

The shocking might of Guan Yu, who had flooded Yangfan and captured Wugong, was revived with every step he took.

Just as in the past when Guan Yu captured Yangfan and shook the world, counties like Die County, Yang County, and Luhun County had surrendered to him.

Even with Sima Yi wide awake and alert, the people of Henan not only failed to stop Guan Yu but welcomed him.

The reasons were varied.

Even though time had passed, Cao Pi’s control over the state was weaker than Cao Cao’s.

The mere flooding of Yangfan had shaken the world, and now the Han Dynasty held Chang’an in its grasp.

Sima Yi had mobilized Zhang Pei and Xu Huang to capture Guan Yu, but with Guan Yu right before their eyes, they had failed.

There were countless other reasons, but did they really matter?

It had only been four years since the fall of the Later Han and the founding of Cao Wei. It was too short a time to erase the shadow of the Han Dynasty from the hearts of the people.

Though Sima Yi was closely following Guan Yu, the distance between them was not easily closed.

Like a bamboo splitting with ease. Though the original owner of this ancient tale was too young to even exist in the world yet, no phrase better described Guan Yu’s rapid advance.

The only place Guan Yu’s relentless march finally halted was at Yiguan Pass, the last gate before entering Luoyang. Beyond Yiguan Pass, the road to Luoyang’s walls was wide open.

Guan Yu pulled the reins, calming his excited horse.

On the tightly closed walls of Yiguan Pass, archers stood ready, their bows drawn taut.

Guan Yu slowly urged his horse forward towards the walls. Guan Ping tried to stop him, but Guan Yu extended his arm to halt him.

Guan Yu advanced to the very edge of the archers’ range and looked at the face of the gatekeeper guarding Yiguan Pass. A familiar face. Though time had changed it, the features were still recognizable.

Feeling a slight sense of nostalgia, Guan Yu spoke.

“Long time no see, Lord Fenghai.”

“…What do you mean, long time no see?”

“Though it was a short time, we shared camaraderie under the same command.”

During Guan Yu’s time under Cao Cao, Fenghai had also served Cao Cao.

Unlike Guan Yu, who had climbed the ranks under Cao Cao’s favor, Fenghai had been a deputy general. Yet, he felt a strange satisfaction that Guan Yu remembered him.

“Do you remember me?”

“Of course. In memory of our past camaraderie, I urge you to open the gates and surrender to the Han Dynasty. I will write a recommendation to His Majesty on your behalf.”

“…Have you defeated the Governor of Henan?”

Henan was originally an official title before becoming a geographical name. It was correct to call it the Governor of Henan, but during the Later Han, when Luoyang was designated the capital, the Governor of Henan, who oversaw Luoyang County, was elevated to Henan Yin.

This had continued secretly even after the capital was moved to Ye. And the Henan Yin appointed by Cao Wei was Sima Yi.

Guan Yu answered honestly.

“No.”

“Then isn’t it right for me to defend this place and repel you alongside the Governor of Henan?”

In response to Fenghai’s negative retort, Guan Yu instead laughed.

He realized that Fenghai’s words were not to reject his offer but to seek persuasion.

Over time, Guan Yu’s arrogance had deepened, but his stubbornness had gradually weakened. Even in his arrogance, Guan Yu had learned to acknowledge others and was now ready to accept their words.

Looking back at Guan Yu’s life trajectory, it did not stray far from Confucius’s description of life’s flow.

Around the age of thirty, when one is said to establish their resolve, Guan Yu had made his name known throughout the land.

Around forty, when one is said to be unshaken, Guan Yu had rejected the wealth and glory offered by Cao Cao and returned to Liu Bei.

Around fifty, when one is said to understand destiny, Guan Yu had shaken the world by capturing Yangfan.

And now, at sixty.

The age when one’s ears become attuned, able to accept any words with ease.

Thus, Guan Yu simply smiled and said.

“Do you not feel that the heavens and earth have destined the Han Dynasty’s mandate? If you open Yiguan Pass and welcome our nation, will Luoyang remain idle? If His Majesty captures Luoyang, the world will naturally fall into his embrace, and you will become a first-class meritorious official, recorded in the annals of history.”

Adding the lure of being treated as a meritorious official if he opened the gates while showcasing the Han Dynasty’s regained strength, Fenghai’s expression lightened.

“I once fought against your nation’s Commander Wei.”

“That was when Zhuge Liang lost.”

“Yes. I saw it. The martial prowess of the female general who slew General Zhu Ling. And I thought, she is no ordinary mortal. How could a woman be like that? She must be a demoness or a divine maiden sent by the heavens to favor your nation.”

Fenghai calmly recounted the shock of that day. Recalling the incident that had planted a fundamental doubt about Cao Wei in his heart, Fenghai’s resolve gradually solidified.

“And now I understand. She is a divine maiden.”

As Fenghai accepted the legitimacy of the Han Dynasty, Guan Yu watched him with a pleased expression. Soon, the gates would open. Beyond Yiguan Pass, there would be no more gates to stop Guan Yu before Luoyang.

Only the river flowed alone, crossing before Luoyang.

“Open the gates…”

Just as Fenghai was about to give the order to open the gates, a blade burst forth from his chest.

Fenghai’s eyes lost focus, his expression one of disbelief at what had just happened.

The one who had ambushed Fenghai from behind pulled out the blade and shouted.

“Behold! This is the fate of a traitor! It has been nearly ten years since the late emperor founded Wei! Have you forgotten that everything we wear, eat, and sleep under is the late emperor’s grace?”

It was a young man. Judging by his armor, he seemed to be a deputy under Fenghai.

“Shoot your arrows! I swear by Guan Gusu’s name to reward anyone who hits Guan Yu with a hundred gold pieces!”

Guan Gusu. Only upon hearing that name did Guan Yu understand the young general’s fierce desire for revenge.

His father, Guan Guxing, had lost his life in the northern expedition to the Han army. The hatred of losing a father. How could it not be deep? While accepting Guan Gusu’s desire for revenge, Guan Yu also felt a desire for revenge against the one who had killed Fenghai, who had sought to surrender to the Han.

As the saying goes, to seek revenge, one must dig two graves. To seek revenge against someone always meant that one could also be avenged upon.

As Guan Yu deflected the incoming arrows, his troops charged forward with fiery determination. Guan Ping led the vanguard, with Zhao Lu and Xi Zhen commanding the flanks.

To stop Guan Yu and his elite troops, even with sharp military discipline, would be a stretch. For a disorganized army that had just witnessed the killing of their commander, it was an impossible task.

Though Guan Gusu’s desire for revenge was commendable, his skills were lacking.

Enraged by the cowardly ambush during the commanders’ meeting, Guan Yu’s soldiers, not sparing their lives, stormed Yiguan Pass.

Guan Yu, who was ruthless to the nobility but kind to the common people, was strict in training his soldiers but treated them like his own children. His soldiers truly believed in and followed him.

In contrast, the soldiers of Yiguan Pass were in disarray after Fenghai’s death and Guan Gusu’s seizure of command. The Wei army, confused about whether to attack, was no match for the Han army.

In less than a day, the gates of Yiguan Pass were opened.

Unlike Guangcheng Pass, which had been opened from within, Yiguan Pass was opened from the outside, but the time taken to open both gates was not much different.

After personally beheading the captured Guan Gusu, Guan Yu continued his charge towards Luoyang.

Now, his eyes were not just following the road. His gaze chased time.

Guan Yu had visited Luoyang three times in his life.

The first was when he fled his hometown of Hedong. But at that time, Guan Yu was too busy escaping to properly see Luoyang. Luoyang was merely a stopover, not a destination.

The second time he came to Luoyang, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei were with him. Liu Bei, aspiring for greatness, had left his position as a county magistrate and traveled to Luoyang. There, the three brothers met Cao Cao for the first time and followed him to Pei. Luoyang was but a brief stop.

The last time he saw Luoyang, it was a tragic scene of ashes. After Dong Zhuo left, the burned Luoyang had lost all its former glory and had fallen into ruin. What was once a destination now brought only emptiness.

And now, once again, Luoyang had become Guan Yu’s destination.

Passing through the past, transcending the present, Guan Yu’s eyes now chased the future.

What he wanted to see, the scene he desired, the hope he held in his heart.

It was not the glory of conquering Luoyang, nor the honor of surpassing Chang-ran, who had captured Chang’an, as the greatest general of the Han Dynasty, nor the fame of being the pioneer of unifying the land.

What Guan Yu now chased was the figure of his beloved sworn brother.

Dressed in ceremonial robes, wearing a crown, building an altar by the southern Luoshui River in Luoyang, offering sacrifices to the heavens.

The image of Liu Bei, conducting the suburban sacrifice to announce the continuation of the Han Dynasty’s mandate to the world, shimmered in Guan Yu’s vision.

‘The oath to present the world to you, brother. This younger brother has not forgotten.’

Following Emperor Gaozu, ascending the throne in Chang’an.

Following Emperor Guangwu, conducting the suburban sacrifice in Luoyang.

What greater proof of the Han Dynasty’s legitimacy and mandate could there be?

With a fervent hope in his heart, Guan Yu arrived.

The sound of flowing water brought Guan Yu’s gaze back to reality.

The leisurely flowing Luoshui River.

Even the feelings of Jing Ke standing before the Yi River could not compare to what Guan Yu felt at this moment.

Beyond the Luoshui River.

There, stood Luoyang.