Chapter 186

The feast had ended. What followed was a time of mourning, grieving the empty space left by those who had departed.

The people of Haehyun, without being told, donned white mourning clothes and prepared a coffin. It was a coffin for Guan Yu.

Although they knew it wouldn’t accompany Guan Yu to his grave, it was their tribute to the great hero born in Haehyun.

Among them, the highest-ranking official and eldest, the father, waited with the authority of a leader until the people of Haehyun finished making the coffin.

Though not known for his kindness, the father wasn’t so harsh as to trample on the sincerity of the people who voluntarily came forward to honor Guan Yu.

As the coffin was being made, Wei Yan returned to Haehyun, grinning as he reported capturing Zhao Yan, but his face stiffened upon sensing the somber atmosphere.

Even Wei Yan, stubborn and often oblivious, could immediately sense the weight of Guan Yu’s death and the solemnity it brought.

By the time Wei Yan returned, the coffin was complete.

Everyone gathered to watch as Guan Yu’s body, preserved to prevent decay, was placed into the coffin. It was a moment that made them realize they truly had to bid farewell to Guan Yu.

Guan Ping, Guan Yu’s son, took charge of the funeral procession. Guan Yu’s last words to Guan Ping, spoken during the feast, made no mention of the funeral or procession.

So, it might have been the father’s role, but ultimately, the son took precedence.

Guan Ping removed his armor and changed into mourning clothes. Seeing Guan Ping approach, I sent Jiang Yu away to discuss future matters and faced Guan Ping.

Thinking he might inform me of the departure time, Guan Ping suddenly handed me something.

“You lost your spear in the last battle, right? Father said to give this to you.”

It was Guan Yu’s spear, the one he had used in battle.

It was true that I had lost my spear while throwing it at Sima Yi, but receiving Guan Yu’s spear was somewhat bewildering.

Guan Yu had two sons, and Guan Ping had stayed by his side until the end. Why give it to me?

I tilted my head and asked Guan Ping for confirmation.

“This… for me?”

An heirloom from his father, and a weapon at that. Yet, Guan Ping’s face didn’t show any darkness.

In a somewhat weak but calm voice, he said, “Yes. It was Father’s wish.”

This was a conversation between family, not military roles.

“Why me…?”

“Perhaps it’s a request to capture Luoyang, or maybe he saw you as his successor.”

“…Are you okay, brother?”

It was a question laden with meaning.

Perhaps it touched a nerve, but I couldn’t help asking. Yet, Guan Ping remained composed.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

With that, I had nothing more to say.

As I hesitated, Guan Ping smiled faintly and placed Guan Yu’s spear in my hand.

“Don’t overthink it. Just consider it a gift from your uncle to his nephew.”

The weight of Guan Yu’s spear in my hand was noticeably heavier than my previous one.

Seeing me grasp the spear, Guan Ping let go and stepped back.

“And I inherited his horse. He left a share for Xing’er too. So, no need to feel guilty.”

As he left, Guan Ping gave one last piece of advice.

“Just… try to hold back on throwing spears, alright?”

To that, I could only nod.

§

All preparations were complete. Before leaving Haehyun to return to Guanzhong, one final task remained.

The question of who to leave in charge of Hadong Commandery, which we had captured after seizing Zhao Yan.

The father, holding the decision-making authority, announced his chosen candidate.

“Hadong Commandery will be left to Cheng Bo.”

Cheng Bo was Ma Ji’s son.

Though not a famous name, he was a trusted subordinate of the father, remembered even in later generations. If Guan Yu’s tomb had Zhou Cang and Guan Ping, the father’s tomb had Zhang Po and this Ma Ji.

Ma Ji had been the father’s subordinate since I recruited Ma Chong in Paser Army, and the father highly valued his abilities, even writing a recommendation to send him to the central government.

Later, he served in the Prime Minister’s Office, a gathering place for young talents of the Han Dynasty, and returned to the father’s side after the recovery of Guanzhong and the move to Chang’an.

In any case, Ma Ji was a suitable candidate for the position of prefect. However, my concern was not administrative but military.

“I know Ma Chengbo’s abilities, but Hadong Commandery connects not only to Luoyang but also to Bingzhou. Don’t we need someone skilled in military strategy?”

“That’s a valid point. But your troops are exhausted, so it would be best to leave my adjutant, Zhang Jin, there.”

The combination of Ma Ji and Zhang Jin. It was a measure that placed both the father’s right and left hands in Hadong.

With the frontlines now extending from Dongguan to Hadong, it made sense to have border guards stationed there.

In any case, with the decision to leave Hadong to these two, we finally began our return.

The procession stretched long as Guan Ping, dressed in mourning clothes, slowly led the coffin.

Passing through Pofan County and finally crossing the Yellow River into Guanzhong, Hadong Commandery was now effectively our territory, a safe zone. Yet, the feeling of stepping onto Guanzhong soil was uniquely comforting.

On the way back to Chang’an, news of Pang Tong’s advance into Hongnong and Zhao Yun’s actions at Wuguan also reached us.

Zhao Yun failed to break through Xu Huang’s defenses, but his movements at Wuguan allowed the infantry I had left with Wu Ban in Nanyang Commandery to return safely.

Wu Ban, Xue Ji, Yu Min, Ma Su, and Bu Chuan. Though I felt sorry for them, they were somewhat outmatched against Xu Huang, so I had instructed them to avoid battles and only hold the line. Thanks to Zhao Yun, they managed to retreat without major issues.

From my perspective, Zhao Yun’s contribution was significant, but the real hero was Pang Tong. Incredibly, Pang Tong had successfully advanced beyond Hongnong County, which was guarded by Zhao Zhen, to Shen County further west.

Securing Shen County meant we no longer had to worry about threats from Hongnong to Hadong, and beyond Quyang Valley lay Hangu Pass. It was a foothold for capturing Luoyang.

“How? The troops the Grand Commandant took and those under Zhao Zhen couldn’t have been that different.”

“I don’t know the details, but it’s said the Grand Commandant used a stratagem against Zhao Zhen.”

The rumor that Pang Tong mocked the overweight Zhao Zhen, saying he was too fat to chase them, was widespread even in Guanzhong.

‘I’ll have to ask Pang Tong for the details when he returns.’

Securing Hongnong was a big deal. A very big deal.

Luoyang had already been approached once from the south through Jing Province. Now, with a clear route from Guanzhong to Luoyang, we could employ a dual-pronged strategy, feinting from both directions, much like the historical strategy of Yang Yi’s dual advance.

The walls of Luoyang, which Guan Yu ultimately failed to breach, would soon be faced again.

Just as Liu Bei had once led all his forces to Yiling following Guan Yu’s death, Luoyang, the land Guan Yu had sought but failed to conquer, became not just a land for the restoration of the Han Dynasty but also a land of vengeance to appease Guan Yu’s spirit.

Even if Liu Bei maintained his composure and didn’t immediately launch a war of annihilation, Luoyang would be the primary target in the next war.

At that time, Pang Tong’s remarkable achievements would serve as a crucial foundation.

Everyone marveled at Pang Tong’s feat of defeating Zhao Zhen and securing Hongnong County and Shen County. Though it was only two counties, the value of the land Pang Tong secured was immense.

Thus, contemplating the gains and losses of this war, its repercussions, and what we needed to do in the next war, we finally arrived in Chang’an.

There, someone unbelievable awaited us.

“My brothers have arrived.”

The Emperor, Liu Bei, who should have been in Chengdu, was there.

Liu Bei had come out to the gates of Chang’an to welcome his brothers.