Chapter 47

“Has Zaren… died?”

“…Yes, King Wei.”

Cao Cao tightly closed his eyes. Zhao Hong, what kind of person was Zhao Hong? A brother who had rushed to his side when everyone else had abandoned him, offering his own horse when death seemed inevitable.

Even if the world could do without Zhao Hong, Cao Cao must survive, he had said, giving Cao Cao a reason to cling to life once more.

Though there were relatives more capable than Zhao Hong, none were as loyal.

And now, Zhao Hong was dead.

Killed by none other than Liu Bei.

“Who was it?”

“My King…”

“I asked who it was! Who killed Zaren?!”

Cao Cao rose from his throne, pointing furiously, his eyes bloodshot and burning with rage.

Hua Xin, the Imperial Censor, bore the brunt of Cao Cao’s wrath but remained calm.

“It was Zhang Fei and his daughter, Chang-ran.”

“Chang-ran? The granddaughter of Miao Zai?”

“Yes, my King.”

Hearing the name, Cao Cao laughed hollowly and slumped back into his throne.

It was Cao Cao’s own decision to marry Xiahou He, Zhang Fei’s wife and Chang-ran’s mother, to Zhang Fei.

Cao Cao, who had coveted Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, had tried to bind them through marriage.

“My greed… has led to your death, Zaren.”

It was a disaster born of his own impetuous desire. If he hadn’t married Zhang Fei to Xiahou He, Chang-ran would never have been born. No, if he hadn’t been so confident in making the three brothers his own, he should have killed them from the start…

“Prepare the army.”

“My King!”

Hua Xin and the other officials tried to protest, but Cao Cao’s resolve was unshakable.

“Enough! I will not listen. From now on, anyone who opposes this expedition will be dealt with according to military law!”

With a sharp command, Cao Cao dismissed his ministers and vowed to his brother, who had left his side forever.

‘Zaren, I will hold a memorial for you in Hanzhong.’

A bloody revenge.

§

Upon receiving a messenger’s report that the main force had arrived at Yangping Pass and was preparing to attack, requesting reinforcements, my father and I discussed what to do with Habei.

Liu Bei had delegated the decision to my father, the field commander. Whether to hold Habei and contain Wudu or to abandon Habei and move to Yangping Pass was up to my father’s judgment.

“It would be better to go to Yangping Pass.”

My father chose the latter.

“We’ve already taken Mamingjiao, so Habei’s importance has diminished. It’s better to quickly capture Yangping Pass.”

Mamingjiao had been securely taken by Ma Chao and Chen Shi. Xu Huang had attacked to disrupt Chen Shi but was forced to retreat with little gain after Ma Chao’s forces, leading the surrendered Qiang tribes, counterattacked.

The Qiang chieftains, Gang Dan and Fu Shuang, had joined Liu Bei with over a thousand tribal soldiers. Or rather, they joined Ma Chao.

“I agree.”

Swift as the wind, following the Art of War’s principle of swift movement, we quickly withdrew from Habei.

It was a swift operation, done before the Wei army, lurking in Wudu, could notice.

Passing through Mamingjiao, guarded by Chen Shi, we reached Yangping Pass, where a flag bearing the character “Liu” fluttered.

“Has it already been taken?”

“…It seems so.”

My father’s bewildered expression was a rare sight.

After the victory at Habei, my father had regained his old vigor, confidently declaring that Yangping Pass would soon fall. But now, it felt like the steam had been suddenly released from a pressure cooker.

My father and I leisurely entered Yangping Pass, which welcomed us with open gates. Liu Bei himself stood at the gate, arms wide open.

Seeing him, my father and I quickly dismounted.

As if he couldn’t wait for us to approach, Liu Bei strode forward and embraced us both in turn.

“Welcome! Well done. Thanks to my brother and nephew, I have no days without laughter. Come, you’ve worked hard, let’s go inside.”

“My lord, I beg your pardon, but what happened at Yangping Pass?”

“Hahaha, you’ve truly become a general. Asking that right away. Let me explain as we walk.”

Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He, guarding Yangping Pass, had boldly abandoned it and retreated to the rear upon hearing that Xu Huang’s attempt to cut off Mamingjiao had failed and that we were descending from Habei.

Despite Hanzhong being ravaged by Liu Bei’s forces, Cao Cao remained silent. It wasn’t the calm before the storm. Cao Cao simply had no time to focus on Hanzhong.

In January 218, a rebellion broke out in Xudu led by Jin Yi, Jing Ji, Wei Huang, and Ji Ben.

In April 218, a rebellion led by Wuhuan tribesman Wu Shenzhe erupted in Youzhou.

And though it hadn’t happened yet, in October 218, a rebellion led by Hou Yin and Wei Kai would break out in Xiang Province.

Rebellions erupted everywhere, leaving no room for rest, along with secret plots among the palace officials.

Cao Cao was shuttling between Ye and Xudu, overwhelmed with quelling rebellions and plots.

Even if he were to come to Chang’an, it was doubtful he could effectively engage in the Hanzhong campaign.

Perhaps due to these calculations, Liu Bei held a banquet to celebrate the capture of Yangping Pass. The occasion was to commend my father and me for our great victory at Habei and to soothe the weary soldiers.

Soldiers aren’t machines; they can’t fight without rest. It was necessary to give them some respite.

With Ma Chao and Chen Shi holding Mamingjiao to contain Xu Huang, and Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong blocking Xiahou Yuan, it wasn’t as if we were blindly intoxicated by victory.

Moreover, with the situation unfolding better than expected, Liu Bei had requested more support from Zhuge Liang in Yi Province. Once reinforcements and supplies arrived from Yi Province, we would push forward and seize Hanzhong in one go. It was a moment to catch our breath before the final sprint.

As the banquet was prepared, a warm and relaxed atmosphere filled the air. The anxiety and fear of the Wei army were diluted by our consecutive victories, becoming faint.

Finally, the banquet began. Though no alcohol was served due to the war, the atmosphere alone made it enjoyable.

Just as the mood was reaching its peak.

Fa Zheng’s expression suddenly turned grim upon hearing a soldier’s whisper.

“Xiao Zhi, what’s the matter?”

“…My lord.”

Fa Zheng, his earlier calmness gone, looked at Liu Bei with a stiff face.

The relaxed atmosphere of the banquet vanished. The tension that started with Fa Zheng spread throughout the hall.

As everyone focused on Fa Zheng, his lips parted.

“Cao Cao has left Ye and is marching to Chang’an.”

Cao Cao!

Just the name alone was enough to tighten the souls of these great heroes.

But the name Cao Cao made it possible.

Liu Bei also wiped away his smile and set down his cup with a stern expression.

“The expressions around here aren’t good for continuing the banquet.”

At Liu Bei’s words, the generals began to manage their expressions. Except for a few like Zhao Yun, who remained unmoved, or Ma Chao and my father, who burned with even more fighting spirit at the news of Cao Cao’s approach.

In the heavy air, Liu Bei understood his generals instead of scolding them.

“I feel the same. Cao Cao! A terrifying man. I’ve suffered many defeats at his hands. I lost Xuzhou, failed to protect His Majesty, and had to flee. The power of Cao Cao, who holds Hebei and the Central Plains, is truly fearsome. Seeing him move so quickly despite continuous defeats and internal strife, he is indeed worthy of his reputation.”

Liu Bei rose and began to walk slowly through the banquet hall. Meeting each general’s eyes, he acted as if he were on a leisurely stroll.

“But what about now? Who was the victor at the Battle of Red Cliffs? Who was defeated in the struggle for Jing Province? Has anyone stopped us from coming to Hanzhong? Huh?”

Despite always losing to Cao Cao, Liu Bei never lost his confidence.

Whether it was genuine confidence or a performance of composure, it was clear that Liu Bei would not yield to Cao Cao.

Liu Bei called out each person’s name in the banquet hall, engaging them in conversation. He held hands with some, patted shoulders, and even put an arm around others.

Liu Bei didn’t offer empty words to overcome fear.

Instead, he reminded them that he was by their side. He reminded them that they too had memories of victory.

That was Liu Bei’s leadership.

Not the domineering charisma of Cao Cao, but a gentle charisma. A magnetism that drew people in and made them willing to lay down their lives for him.

Before long, the faces that had frozen at the news of Cao Cao’s approach melted with the heat of victory.

“How about now? Don’t you think it’s worth a try?”

After making a round through the banquet hall, Liu Bei stood before the main seat again. This time, everyone, united in heart, expression, and purpose, shouted in unison.

“Yes!”

Even with the shocking news of Cao Cao’s advance, our forces were more energized than ever.

But the same applied to the enemy.

The Wei army would fight to the death.

Their commander, Xiahou Yuan, would be furious over the death of his kin, and the soldiers would hold on, hoping that Cao Cao’s reinforcements would arrive soon.

The banquet was over.

Now, the real battle began.