Chapter 196

As spring arrived, the clouds of war began to envelop the land. Generals and troops from various regions of the Han Dynasty gradually gathered in Guanzhong. The granaries were filled to the brim, while the armories were wide open, transforming ordinary men into soldiers.

Maps with supply routes were delivered to the logistics units, and Ma Liang, who remained in Guanzhong to oversee supplies, saw his workload double. However, thanks to the swift support from Chengdu, especially the efficient Bi Yi, tasks were handled smoothly.

In reality, Liu Bei’s forces were ready to march at a moment’s notice. Yet, the declaration of war was delayed because the planting season wasn’t over, and the final preparations before mobilizing the army were incomplete.

The main issue was establishing a command structure. With Guan Yu’s death, the question of who would inherit the command of the Supreme General’s office loomed large. Despite suffering heavy losses, the Supreme General’s office still commanded a significant number of troops.

If the authority wasn’t directly handed to Emperor Liu Bei, the supreme commander of all forces, then appointing a new commander or disbanding and reorganizing the Supreme General’s office seemed necessary. However, Liu Bei, perhaps due to his lingering attachment to Guan Yu, had left the Supreme General’s office in limbo.

The problem extended to assigning the gathered troops to various commanders. While Liu Bei would naturally take the role of supreme commander, the vastness of the battlefield and the size of the army meant he couldn’t manage everything alone. Thus, high-ranking generals like Zhang Fei would be entrusted with leading their own units to achieve strategic objectives within Liu Bei’s grand plan.

Without these arrangements, how could a grand strategy be formulated, and how could detailed coordination be achieved? Pang Tong and others had submitted memorials and advice, but Liu Bei remained indecisive, only repeating that he was still considering.

During military meetings to plan operations, Pang Tong sighed deeply at Liu Bei’s hesitation. Though they were close enough to discuss most matters openly, in the presence of others, they maintained a composed demeanor.

The basic outline of the war strategy was already in place. Before fully mobilizing the army, Ma Chao would strike Bing Province with the help of allied tribes, dispersing Cao Wei’s forces. Then, simultaneous advances from Guanzhong and Jing Province would converge at Luoyang for a decisive battle. Supply lines would rely heavily on the Luo River, while Zhuge Liang would defend Jing Province against Eastern Wu’s attacks.

However, to successfully execute these steps, detailed planning was necessary, and Liu Bei’s indecision was causing delays. To resolve this, I sought out my father, Zhang Fei.

“Father, if you speak to His Majesty, perhaps he will make a decision,” I suggested.

“His Majesty will issue orders when the time is right. We must trust him and focus on our duties,” my father replied.

But how could we focus when Liu Bei’s indecision was holding everything up? I swallowed my words, knowing that arguing would only lead to a sparring match with my father, whose strength, even at sixty, was formidable.

Leaving my father’s residence without success, I submitted a memorial to Liu Bei, though I shared my father’s belief that Liu Bei, the man who had risen to become emperor through sheer determination, would act when the time was right.

The most likely time for the campaign to begin was at the start of summer, after the planting season. With two weeks left before planting began, there was still time for a decision.

If the war dragged into the farming season, it would severely impact agriculture, especially since many men would be conscripted. Even with the use of allied tribes to supplement the labor force, the loss of manpower would inevitably reduce harvests.

This was why Pang Tong and Ma Liang were so anxious. The stakes of this war were high. Jiang Wei suggested that a slight setback might be acceptable, but it was better to avoid any losses.

If we lost, we would have to close our borders and focus on internal stability and recovery, much like Zhuge Liang did after the Battle of Yiling. Perhaps waiting until next year would have been better, but by then, Cao Wei and Eastern Wu would have recovered and strengthened their alliance.

Thus, it was better to gamble now, even though the stakes were high. As I pondered these matters, Liu Bei’s response to my memorial arrived: “Come to the palace.”

I hurriedly dressed and rushed to the palace. The grand hall was empty, save for Liu Bei seated on the throne.

“Your Majesty, General of the North Chang-ran, reporting as summoned,” I said.

“You’ve come,” Liu Bei replied calmly, despite the impending war.

“I read your memorial. You suggested reorganizing the military and preparing for mobilization,” Liu Bei said.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I replied.

“Indeed. I’ve caused much worry among my people,” Liu Bei said, picking up a memorial from the pile before him.

“Many have asked what to do with the Supreme General’s office. At first, I thought to take it upon myself. After all, Guan Yu’s subordinates should be taken care of by his elder brother,” Liu Bei said.

But he hesitated, unwilling to erase Guan Yu’s legacy. I suggested temporarily entrusting the Supreme General’s office to someone else until after the war.

“An interim position, you say,” Liu Bei mused, stepping down from the throne.

“Then, will you take it?” Liu Bei asked.

“Me?” I was stunned.

“Guan Yu left you his spear. A warrior entrusting his weapon to another speaks volumes,” Liu Bei said firmly.

“You will take command of the Supreme General’s office,” Liu Bei declared.

Despite my shock, Liu Bei continued, “You will be Acting Supreme General. From now on, that will be your title.”

Thus, I found myself at the pinnacle of the military hierarchy, albeit temporarily.

—

In the fourth year of Zhangwu (225 AD), at the start of summer, Emperor Liu Bei mobilized a million-strong army to avenge Guan Yu. The borders were heavily guarded, yet the allied tribes dared not cross, instead joining the emperor’s forces. Liu Bei appointed General of the North Chang-ran as Acting Supreme General, commanding generals like Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Wei Yan, and marched towards Luoyang, shaking the world with their might.

—

《Records of the Later Han Dynasty, Chronicles of Emperor Liu Bei》