Chapter 44

In the year 218 AD, in Chengdu, Yi Province.

Liu Bei sat in the grand hall, overlooking his officials. The achievements of his life were embodied in them.

Zhuge Liang, Fa Zheng, Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Yu Pa, Yi Yan, Yi Jeok, Huang Quan—all were brilliant talents of the era, renowned figures destined to make their mark in the world, standing by his side.

Not just civil officials. Zhao Yun, Jin Dou, Huang Zhong, Ma Chao, Pang De, Wei Yan—military officers of unmatched bravery were also present.

The talents gathered in his newly established base were the most solid proof that Liu Bei’s journey had not been in vain.

And with them, Liu Bei would embark on the lifelong battle against his sworn enemy. The first step was Fa Zheng’s strategy.

“Cao Cao has arrogantly declared himself King of Wei, and rebellions in the Central Plains are endless. When Cao Cao occupied Hanzhong but did not lead his entire army south, it was for similar reasons. Even with his resources, he had to leave Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He behind. The generals guarding Hanzhong are no match for ours. Now is the time to attack Hanzhong.”

“Fa Zheng is right.”

There was no more hesitation.

Liu Bei had already made up his mind. There was no delaying or turning away. Only facing it head-on.

“Order the entire army to assemble. I will lead them myself.”

At Liu Bei’s declaration, the atmosphere in the hall tensed like a thunderclap. Despite defeating Cao Cao’s forces at Chibi, Nan Commandery, and Tangqu, the name Cao Cao was not to be taken lightly.

The shadow of the Central Plains’ overlord loomed large, even in their hearts. Liu Bei was no exception. But Liu Bei and those who bravely faced the impending battle also possessed the courage and conviction to overcome it.

Not everyone felt the same. Among those gathered in the hall were ordinary men, and even some who, while serving under Liu Bei, harbored resentment deep in their hearts.

They did not want war. But knowing that ordinary arguments would not overturn Fa Zheng’s proposal and Liu Bei’s decision, they invoked the power of heaven.

“Lord Zhujun, the Commander of the Forest, speaks.”

Lord Zhujun, who observed the heavens and weather to predict the future, was highly trusted for his accurate predictions.

Liu Bei, perhaps still harboring a faint unease, allowed Lord Zhujun to speak.

“Speak.”

“Reading the flow of the heavens, if you raise a great army, you will gain land but not the people. It would be better to build strength and wait for a more opportune time.”

Liu Bei remained silent, pondering Lord Zhujun’s words. Instead of responding immediately, he sought another opinion.

“What does Nanhua think?”

Nanhua, the son of Zhang Yu, was even more talented in divination and physiognomy than Lord Zhujun, and Liu Zhang had appointed him as an official in Yi Province.

To Zhang Yu, who had followed Liu Zhang, Liu Bei was not a lord to whom he could pledge loyalty but a usurper he had no choice but to follow.

Liu Bei was not unaware of this. Liu Bei and Zhang Yu had mocked each other in jest. Liu Bei had ridiculed Zhang Yu’s unkempt beard, and Zhang Yu had mocked Liu Bei’s lack of one.

Now, Liu Bei was directly questioning Zhang Yu, not just because he was the foremost diviner in Yi Province, but also because some, like Zhuge Liang, understood Liu Bei’s hidden intentions.

Zhuge Liang sighed secretly.

‘Our lord is determined to eliminate Zhang Yu.’

Zhang Yu was not one to hold back his words to save himself. He would surely speak his mind, and making negative remarks before a major campaign like the Hanzhong campaign was grounds for execution.

Stepping forward at Liu Bei’s question, Zhang Yu hesitated, his lips twitching.

“Why no answer?”

“…I observed the stars, and it seems the world will change according to its course, and within ten years, you will lose all you have gained.”

It was the height of insolence. To Liu Bei, who had declared the Liu family’s rightful rule, Zhang Yu’s words were not just bold but foolish.

Even Zhuge Liang, who valued Zhang Yu’s talent, turned pale and bowed his head. Yet Liu Bei pressed on.

“Does that mean it is different now?”

“…Yes, it is.”

Zhang Yu reluctantly spoke, clearly unwilling. The tense atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.

“Then what is it now?”

Zhang Yu seemed unwilling to speak. Though he had boldly predicted Liu Bei’s downfall, the recent omens he had seen were too dire to voice.

But as a diviner, hiding the omens went against his principles. The internal conflict between his loyalty as Liu Zhang’s official and his pride as a diviner was ultimately won by the latter.

“…The North Star is dim, but a comet in the south suggests chaos will return. With my limited skill, I dare not predict the outcome. The fate of the world now rests solely on human effort.”

Zhang Yu’s words were irresponsible, but coming from him, they carried a positive meaning.

Despite the defeat at Chibi, Cao Cao was already the overlord of the Central Plains. In comparison, Liu Bei held only a fraction of Jing Province and Yi Province, which had lost Hanzhong.

Yet Zhang Yu’s words implied that with effort, Liu Bei could still contend.

Liu Bei stood up and drew his sword.

The sound of the sword echoed through the hall, a prelude to the coming war.

“There is no more to hear. Prepare for war.”

Clang!

Liu Bei thrust his sword vertically into the table, a symbol of his unyielding resolve.

“I leave Chengdu to the Military General. Fa Zheng and Gong Xing will follow me. Zheng Fang will handle Yi Province’s security, assisted by Shu Zhi. The rest of the generals will join me in marching to Hanzhong.”

Entrusting Yi Province to Zhuge Liang and the army to Yi Yan and Jin Dou, Liu Bei chose Fa Zheng and Huang Quan as his strategists for this campaign.

Before Liu Bei’s commanding presence, all in the hall bowed deeply.

“With the army raised, we must move swiftly like thunder. Order Wu Lan and Lei Tong to advance to Habei. And have Yi De and Mingjing support them. Proceed without a single misstep.”

§

“Is that so? Such words were spoken.”

I muttered in surprise upon hearing the report of what had happened in Chengdu following Liu Bei’s orders.

Though I didn’t know much about Zhang Yu, I knew he had been executed by Liu Bei despite Zhuge Liang’s opposition. Given that, Zhang Yu must have truly provoked Liu Bei, but to say such things…

‘Perhaps he truly saw the future changing.’

But I quickly dismissed thoughts of Zhang Yu. Relying on such things wouldn’t change anything. The most accurate part of his words was that everything depended on human effort.

The generals gathered in the meeting hall were also roused by Ma Chong’s explanation.

Having already defeated Cao Cao’s general Zhang He in battle, their experience of victory dispelled fear and instilled courage.

“Since our lord has ordered General Zheng Lu to support Generals Wu Lan and Lei Tong, we must first head to Gamyeongguan.”

Gamyeongguan was like the first gate of Yi Province. It was where Gao Guojun had been sent to guard during the Yi Province campaign and was also the entrance to Hanzhong and Wudu from Yi Province.

“I will send a messenger to General Zheng Lu as well. Inform him that we will meet at Gamyeongguan.”

As Wang Sha, in charge of messengers, spoke, the assembly agreed without further comment. I asked Ma Chong.

“Deoksin, where are Generals Lei Tong and Wu Lan stationed?”

“At Jian’ge.”

“It will be a quick journey to Gamyeongguan. They will likely enter Habei before General Zheng Lu and I can join them.”

“Probably so.”

On the tactical map, the route from Jian’ge to Gamyeongguan to Habei led further to Tianshui. And east of Tianshui was Chang’an.

Cao Cao’s stronghold, Chang’an.

“If the two generals pass Gamyeongguan, Cao Cao will also send troops to Habei.”

“Of course.”

“Then he will send cavalry.”

Given the terrain, bringing cavalry from Chang’an to Hanzhong would be extremely difficult. Hanzhong was a basin, and between Hanzhong and Chang’an lay the formidable Jinling Mountain Range.

Only by traversing the perilous paths known as Zhandao could one enter, and bringing horses would be even more dangerous.

Thus, Cao Cao had no reason to move cavalry through Zhandao to Hanzhong. Instead, he would send them via Tianshui to Habei.

At this point, the generals understood my thoughts. They were also outstanding officers responsible for Shu Han’s heavy cavalry. Though limited by their lack of experience, they could quickly grasp the situation with just a hint.

“You’re concerned about being defeated in detail.”

“Yes. If there’s cavalry, they will engage at Habei before we arrive. They will try to decide the battle before our forces can join.”

We needed to hurry. The cavalry under Cao Cao’s command was the famous Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, led by one of Cao Cao’s prized generals, Zhao Xiu.

Unless my father and Ma Chao fully joined, Wu Lan and Lei Tong alone were no match for such a force.

“We need to hurry.”

“Xiao Xing and I will assist. Divide the cavalry and infantry.”

Gu Bu also nodded at Ma Dai’s words.

“Right. With just cavalry, we can arrive faster than General Zheng Lu.”

“Good. The heavy armor for Xiao Xing’s heavy cavalry will be left to the following units.”

Mobility was crucial, and this was a necessary measure.

“I will leave my position to Zi Jun. Deoksin and Seungjong will come with them.”

Appointing Wang Ping as deputy commander to lead the infantry, I, along with my guards, Ma Dai, Gu Bu, and others, quickly rode to Gamyeongguan.

Thanks to stirrups reducing the fatigue of riding, we covered the distance quickly and reached Gamyeongguan in just a few days.

“Rest here once, then head to Habei.”

The distance from Langzhong to Gamyeongguan was shorter than from Langzhong to Tangqu. By the time we arrived at Gamyeongguan, my father’s army had already passed.

“Father is moving quickly too.”

My father also recognized the danger of being defeated in detail.

After a brief rest of one day, I left Gamyeongguan immediately.

‘It’s truly a race against time.’

It was a battle of whether I would arrive first to provide support or if Wu Lan and Lei Tong would be defeated first.