Chapter 176

The eye of the typhoon is said to be calm.

The war between the Han Dynasty and Cao Wei, with Guan Yu at its center, was just like that.

While a fierce chase was ongoing in the south, Guan Yu, the one who caused it, was not in a hurry. He even seemed somewhat relaxed.

Knowing that hastily building a floating bridge could lead to small gains but big losses, Guan Yu silently waited for the river-crossing preparations to be completed.

Unlike the Yangtze River, the Luoshui River, as a tributary, was not very wide. For Guan Yu’s proud Engineering Corps, building a floating bridge to cross the Luoshui was a simple task.

Guan Yu had previously rebuilt the walls of Gangnyeong Castle, reconstructed the Xiang Province naval forces while stationed there, and after capturing Yangfan, he created siege weapons for the Northern Expedition.

If Chang-ran’s Lanling Army was exhausted from marching across the nine provinces, it would be no exaggeration to say that Guan Yu’s Supreme General’s Office had mastered the art of creating things.

In Luoyang, despite Guan Yu crossing the Luoshui right before their eyes, they couldn’t mount any significant interference. Sima Yi had taken Luoyang’s troops away, leaving them short-handed, and they were also wary that Guan Yu might possess the powerful crossbows or Yuan Rong crossbows developed by the Han Dynasty.

Cutting the bridge across the Luoshui in advance was the best they could do.

After completing the river crossing, Guan Yu followed the Wei Army’s actions at Luoyang Castle. He set fire to the floating bridge to prevent Sima Yi from using it.

For Sima Yi to reach Guan Yu, he would have to break through Yiguan Pass, where Guan Yu had left a garrison, and then build another floating bridge to cross the Luoshui.

Unfortunately, no troops were left at Guangcheng Pass, located further downstream. Guan Yu judged it unwise to split his forces when there was still Yiguan Pass to cross beyond Guangcheng Pass.

Moreover, he saw no need to provoke Guangcheng Pass, which had voluntarily opened its gates. Since they had cooperated with Guan Yu, the soldiers of Guangcheng Pass were seen as collaborators by Cao Wei. It was unlikely they would switch sides twice.

“Guangcheng Pass, Yiguan Pass, and the Luoshui. How much time will it take to pass these three places and reach here? Whether we can take Luoyang within that time will determine the outcome.”

Calculating the remaining time, Guan Yu looked at Luoyang Castle.

The Luoyang before his eyes was completely different from the last memory he had of it. It was also quite different from its appearance in the distant past.

Surrounded by high and sturdy walls, with the rebuilt Northern Palace, Luoyang Castle had risen so prosperously that it was hard to imagine the ruins that had once been nothing but ashes.

In the revival of Luoyang Castle from the ashes, Guan Yu saw the pulse of the Han Dynasty.

Originally intended as the capital by Emperor Gaozu of Han when he established the Western Han Dynasty, Luoyang became the capital again when Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty rose to power after the fall of the Western Han Dynasty to Wang Mang.

Then, after suffering the calamity of being burned down by the traitor Dong Zhuo, comparable to Wang Mang… behold, Luoyang stood tall once more.

The Han Dynasty, which had effectively ended under Cao Cao, would be the same.

Like Luoyang rising from the ashes, the Han Dynasty would continue its history through Liu Bei.

“Brother… please wait a little longer. I, your younger brother, will surely deliver Luoyang to you.”

Though more emotionally charged than ever in his life, Guan Yu closed his eyes and calmed his heart.

Not yet. He was still outside Luoyang, still on the battlefield.

Recalling the advice he always gave Guan Ping to remain calm, Guan Yu slowly subdued his excitement.

“Father, Luoyang is before us.”

Perhaps moved by the sight of Luoyang for the first time, Guan Ping addressed Guan Yu as “Father” instead of “Supreme General.”

But this time, Guan Yu did not scold Guan Ping. The city of Luoyang had a mesmerizing charm. Guan Yu himself thought that if he were even ten, no, five years younger, he might not have been able to control his emotions.

Unlike when he was running towards Luoyang without looking back, now that he was actually there, Guan Yu felt somewhat lost about what to do next. He pressed down the floating atmosphere like a weight.

“Tan Zhi, send an envoy to Luoyang. We must first hold talks.”

If they could resolve things through dialogue like Feng Hai, it would be good.

Guan Yu knew well that, given the precedent of Hahu Mu, they had placed untrustworthy individuals in key positions. But human hearts are not eternal.

Who would have thought Wugong would surrender, or that Hahu Mu would betray?

If they could feign defeating Sima Yi and return, pretending to be at ease to deceive the enemy, they might admit the shift in power and surrender.

With a faint hope, the envoy sent returned with a neither positive nor negative answer.

They would only engage in talks if Guan Yu approached the city gates, not if he came out of the castle.

“They are testing me.”

Guan Yu sneered. Personally, they were testing his courage; strategically, they were trying to deduce from his attitude whether he had truly defeated Sima Yi.

The condition was transparent. And knowing this, Guan Yu did not back down.

“Fine. Deliver my message.”

“Supreme General, wouldn’t it be better to bring an entourage?”

Seeing Guan Yu ready to rush in alone, Zhao Lu asked. Guan Yu shook his head.

“No. Now is the time to show confidence. The entourage will be minimal.”

“That won’t do.”

The firm refusal startled Zhao Lu, who then sought the opinion of the person who had objected.

Who could speak so bluntly to Guan Yu, who was practically an absolute authority in the Han military? Not even Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, or Chang-ran, whom Guan Yu respected, could do such a thing.

Only Liu Bei could, but now there was another who showed such demeanor.

The person, Guan Ping, continued without stopping.

“Supreme General, you are currently the pillar of our army. This is enemy territory. Our army is effectively isolated. Our troops have followed you here solely on your trust. If anything happens to you here, our army will not hold.”

“Nonsense. Who would dare harm me?”

“Have you forgotten? The surgery you underwent to scrape the bone from the arrow’s poison. Supreme General, no, Father… please take care of yourself.”

As a general, and as a son.

The heartfelt plea from his eldest son, genuinely worried for him, shook even Guan Yu’s stubbornness.

And Guan Ping was right.

Initially, Guan Yu thought the Wei Army in Luoyang would not attack him. His mere presence would stir the hearts of Luoyang’s people. He judged they would not commit such a cowardly act that would lose them the people’s hearts.

But a cornered rat will bite a cat. If they came out in a desperate, mutual destruction stance, Guan Yu could not guarantee his safety.

“…Still, showing strength is important.”

“But…!”

“Then. Reduce the number as much as possible.”

It was clear to everyone that this decision was a concession to Guan Ping’s wishes.

Guan Yu had bent his stubbornness and followed Guan Ping’s advice.

Guan Ping’s face lit up with joy as he vigorously shouted.

“Yes, Supreme General! I will select them immediately!”

Filled with enthusiasm, Guan Ping quickly assembled an escort. And he personally led them as the commander. While Guan Yu briefly stepped away, Zhao Lu managed the army as the commander, and Guan Yu approached Luoyang Castle.

The walls were high. Comparable to Chang’an City. But it was not difficult to discern the faces of those on the walls.

Though it was unpleasant to be looked down upon, Guan Yu concealed his feelings and observed their faces. He didn’t recognize anyone.

“Who is in charge here!”

Unlike with Feng Hai, Guan Yu opened with a somewhat forceful tone.

A man in civil official attire but wearing armor stepped forward.

“I, Yu Ye, have been entrusted with the defense of Luoyang by the Governor of Henan!”

Yu Ye. Even if he didn’t recognize the face, the name was unmistakable.

Having joined Cao Cao later than Guan Yu, they had no personal acquaintance, but as a collateral imperial family member and one who best predicted the Han Dynasty’s moves, Yu Ye was a key figure of concern.

The fact that Yu Ye, with much thicker imperial blood than Liu Bei, was active under the Cao family, who had destroyed the Han Dynasty, greatly irritated Guan Yu.

But now, Yu Ye’s background came as a pleasant surprise to Guan Yu.

“So, that’s Yu Ye.”

Even if he had joined Cao Cao’s ranks, Guan Yu himself had once been under Cao Cao, and even Liu Bei had been under Cao Cao’s command.

Guan Yu broke free from his preconceptions about Yu Ye and inwardly placed his hopes on him.

As an imperial family member, Yu Ye might recognize the legitimacy of the current Han Dynasty, which claimed succession from the Western Han, and follow the trend by opening Luoyang’s gates.

Thus, Guan Yu spoke to Yu Ye in a softened tone, urging him, as a member of the Yu imperial family, to return to the embrace of the Han imperial family and join in the revival of the Han Dynasty.

And Yu Ye replied.