Chapter 174

We set off from Gangnyeong Castle and raced at top speed to Yangyang Castle. Since it was a safe zone with no risk of ambush, we were able to run recklessly without a care.

A week. It took exactly a week to reach Yangfan from Gangnyeong Castle. By carrying only the minimum necessary supplies and leaving additional supplies to Ban Jun and Eun-gwan’s logistics unit, we minimized our load and achieved this speed.

Anyone who knows military affairs would be amazed, but I wasn’t satisfied.

From Yi Province to Hagu Fortress, and then several battles. From Hagu Fortress to Yangfan.

Despite the accumulated fatigue from repeated marches and battles, the Lanling Army’s dropout rate was significantly lower than other units.

It wasn’t haphazard training, but a systematic training curriculum proven by future sciences, and the effort of providing balanced meals by spending my own salary on meat paid off.

Even when setting out on expeditions, I always included jerky in the rations for the Lanling Army soldiers. Where else would you find a superior who, using personal funds, provided meat almost daily to soldiers, something even commoners rarely saw outside of feasts?

Thanks to Zhuge Liang’s efforts in expanding the south and securing Xiliang through the Northern Expedition, the circulation of meat increased, and even with the upper class reducing meat consumption due to tofu, it was barely possible.

An army marches on its stomach. Napoleon forgot this and made the irreversible mistake of the Russian campaign, but I won’t. Even if I starve, the soldiers must eat well.

These are the men who trust me with their lives. If I neglect even their meals, I would be too ashamed to lift my head.

And in return for my investment in them, they repaid me with achievements and victories. That’s what you call a win-win.

“If the Lanling Army had marched alone, it wouldn’t have taken five days. A bit disappointing.”

For a unit that hasn’t seen real combat yet, this is still praiseworthy. It’s also thanks to Seolje and Yu Min’s decent leadership.

Meanwhile, there was a unit that kept up with the Lanling Army’s speed. It was Wei Yan’s Rear General’s Office soldiers.

Wei Yan is already renowned for training soldiers. With my advice and discussions on training methods and unit organization, Wei Yan’s soldiers, trained by him, didn’t seem much inferior to the Lanling Army.

At least in terms of marching, whether they can match in real combat is another matter. Seeing them subtly showing rivalry with the Lanling Army, they must be confident in real combat too.

They even went as far as putting tiger designs on their uniforms. Using unit insignias to instill a sense of belonging and unity among soldiers isn’t a bad idea.

The beginning is hard, but it gets easier. Starting with Wei Yan, if other units follow suit, it will be quite a sight.

But that’s a matter for the future. For now, handling the immediate task is the priority. I let the army rest at Yangyang Castle and crossed to Bansheng with the leadership to meet Yao Hua.

Yao Hua was shocked to see my face.

“Good heavens. It’s really Commander Wei.”

“Of course. Didn’t I send word ahead?”

“I did receive it, but I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly. Even the Lanling Army’s reputation falls short of reality.”

Yao Hua’s shock was perhaps natural.

It took exactly one month from Hagu Fortress to Yangfan.

For an individual on horseback, a month is a long time, but for a large army of tens of thousands, it’s different. Especially when considering the need to conserve energy for immediate combat.

Even though Sima Yi’s marching speed was exceptional, we were no less. Considering it was a continuous long march, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say we surpassed even Sima Yi.

Pride swelled within me, but I composed my expression and steered the conversation back to its original purpose.

Leaving Yao Hua’s admiration behind, I immediately inquired about Guan Yu’s situation.

“Have you located the Supreme General?”

“That, I regret to inform you, we have not yet confirmed. Zhang Pei has taken position at Xinya Fortress, completely cutting off the route between Wancheng and Yangfan. Even if we try to bypass through Nanyang Commandery, Xu Huang’s army is there, making it difficult.”

Cao Wei was determined to block information.

They must be trying to prevent us from finding out Guan Yu’s condition and devising a rescue plan.

However, with Xu Huang and Zhang Pei’s positions, some speculation was possible.

“If the blockade at Xinya Fortress and Shangyong remains, it seems the Supreme General has judged it difficult to return to Yangfan.”

“Yes, I think so too. He is likely holding out at Wancheng, waiting for reinforcements.”

Just as Guan Yu placed Yao Hua at Yangfan, Yao Hua preferred defensive tactics over offensive ones. But that didn’t mean he was just holed up in the castle.

“We are deploying scouts extensively to gather information on Xingbu from all directions. We’ve tried disguising as merchants and sending small boats through Yuxu’s fog, but they were all discovered by the enemy.”

“Zhang Pei is no ordinary general. Ordinary methods won’t work.”

“As you say.”

“Are there enemy scouts or spies around Bansheng?”

“They periodically block the outer fortresses of Bansheng, including Maicheng. But their purpose seems to be only to check if our forces at Yangfan are moving, not being particularly aggressive.”

Yao Hua at Bansheng and Zhang Pei at Xinya Fortress.

The two were engaged in a fierce intelligence war.

Yao Hua was trying to ascertain Guan Yu’s situation, while Zhang Pei was blocking information within Nanyang Commandery and monitoring the movements of the Han Dynasty’s forces in the south.

With more experience, Zhang Pei blocked all of Yao Hua’s methods, but Yao Hua effectively countered Zhang Pei’s spying using the utility of defensive positions.

“Then it’s likely Zhang Pei doesn’t know we’re here.”

“It’s hard to be certain, but probably so.”

While external scouts are being repelled, if there are spies inside, there’s no way.

Before starting a formal meeting with those who crossed to Bansheng with me, new information came in.

“Scouts report that Zhang Pei is lifting the siege and moving north.”

“Zhang Pei? What about Xu Huang?”

“Xu Huang is also withdrawing troops blocking the Shangyong area. We haven’t confirmed the Wuguan side yet.”

Zhang Pei and Xu Huang are lifting the siege?

There’s only one reason for that.

‘They’re going all out to hunt Guan Yu.’

But what’s puzzling is why they would lift the entire siege.

If Xu Huang and Zhang Pei are moving, Sima Yi must be involved. They could maintain some level of siege while pressuring Guan Yu.

If Guan Yu is indeed at Wancheng and aware of the siege, he would surely try to inform Yangfan of his situation.

If he clearly recognizes the urgency, he would squeeze out reinforcements even if it means emptying Gangnyeong Castle.

Sima Yi must know this too, so why would he lift the siege so easily?

“Are they preparing for a quick decisive battle, aiming for the king?”

Just as we thought capturing Sun Deng would end the war, Sima Yi might think capturing Guan Yu would solve everything, but no one agreed with Ma Su’s words.

Then someone muttered.

“Northward march….”

Following the voice, everyone’s attention turned. Under many gazes, Kang Yu spoke calmly.

“Perhaps the Supreme General is continuing to march north….”

“That’s it!”

Before Kang Yu could finish, Wei Yan shouted.

“If it’s the Supreme General, he would have outmaneuvered such petty tricks! If he’s even outsmarted Sima Yi, then Luoyang is practically an empty house! The Supreme General must be marching on Luoyang.”

Wei Yan pounded Kang Yu’s shoulder almost like hitting him and turned to me.

“Commander Wei, shouldn’t we stop the Cao Wei forces in Nanyang from following the Supreme General? Just give the order. I’ll lead the vanguard and make sure those bastards don’t dare to hinder the Supreme General!”

Wei Yan thumped his chest and declared boldly.

He’s not wrong.

Unlike Xu Huang, who is guarding Wancheng and Nanyang Commandery, if we just hold Zhang Pei, who is closest to us, it becomes a one-on-one situation between Guan Yu and Sima Yi.

Xu Huang is probably preparing for a joint attack with Chang’an and guarding his original post in Nanyang, so he and Zhang Pei will face us.

But that’s not enough.

If Guan Yu is really heading to Luoyang, from our position at Yangfan, it’s almost impossible to catch up. Even without enemy interference, it’s tight, but we have to fight through enemy forces.

‘We’ve already made a forced march to get here. If it’s hard to join Guan Yu, we at least need to defeat the stragglers to make it worthwhile.’

Coincidentally, the enemy likely doesn’t know we’re here.

Following Wei Yan’s words, revealing ourselves openly would easily keep them here, but it would also give them time to prepare defenses. Even I find it daunting to break through the combination of Xu Huang and Zhang Pei.

So, we strike when they don’t know.

“Crisis and opportunity are two sides of the same coin. The moment has come.”

As Sun Tzu’s Art of War says in the chapter on the empty and the full.

Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace (微乎微乎 至於無形).

Mysterious and miraculous, he leaves no sound (神乎神乎 至於無聲).

Thus, he becomes the arbiter of the enemy’s fate (故能爲敵之司命).

“General Pingdong, double the number of scouts starting tomorrow. But keep the main force operating as before.”

“Understood.”

“All officers, have your troops refrain from cooking for a few days and eat dry rations. Absolutely no smoke.”

Zhang Pei is no ordinary general, and it’s inevitable he’ll monitor Bansheng’s movements while retreating.

At that time, while hiding ourselves, Yao Hua will increase scout numbers to reassure Zhang Pei. The doubled scouts will also block any spies trying to report our presence.

The moment Zhang Pei feels reassured and starts pursuing Guan Yu in earnest, that’s when we’ll bite their necks.

“If they dared to trap our Supreme General, they should have been prepared to pay the price.”

The wind’s direction in Xingbu began to change.