Chapter 56

Liu Bei’s momentum, having taken control of Jing Province, Yi Province, and now Hanzhong through the recent Hanzhong offensive, was soaring like the rising sun. Even Cao Cao had failed to defeat Liu Bei, and now Liu Bei’s confidence was at an all-time high.

This ascension to the title of King of Hanzhong was an expression of that confidence.

Although he submitted a memorial, the emperor’s approval wasn’t particularly important.

Liu Bei declared to the world that he would ascend to the title of King of Hanzhong under the banner of righteousness, and his ministers and people supported his decision. That was enough.

Upon becoming King of Hanzhong, Liu Bei immediately reorganized the positions of his loyal ministers.

He appointed Fa Zheng as Chief Minister and General of the Household, and Huang Quan as Director of the Secretariat.

A somewhat unusual point was that Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, Liu Bei’s right and left hands in civil affairs, remained as military advisors. Of course, they were promoted from Middle Cavalry Commander to General.

In addition, honorary positions with high ranks were given to elders like Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and Mi Zhu, while practical positions were assigned to Yu Pa, Yi Jeok, and Dong He.

Civil positions had clear hierarchies and well-defined responsibilities, so there were no complaints about them. The problem arose with military positions.

While subordinates might grumble and complain, discord among higher-ups was a different story.

The highest military position Liu Bei could bestow as King of Hanzhong was the Four Direction Generals. Among them, he appointed Guan Yu as Front General, Ma Chao as Left General (his former position), Zhang Fei as Right General, and Huang Zhong as Rear General.

This became the root of trouble.

“What? I’m the Front General and Huang Zhong is the Rear General? This is unacceptable! How could my elder brother place me in the same rank as an old soldier like Huang Zhong? I cannot accept this. Take the seal and go back.”

When Guan Yu angrily refused to accept the position, Guan Ping, who was watching nearby, urgently spoke up.

“Father, this is our lord’s command.”

“It is also a minister’s duty to point out what is wrong.”

Even so, when Liu Bei’s name was mentioned, Guan Yu regained some rationality and explained his reasoning to support his argument.

“Ma Chao was the leader of a force opposing Cao Cao even before he joined us, and Zhang Fei, though my younger brother, has achievements and abilities that are not inferior to mine. But how can Huang Zhong be placed in the same rank based solely on his capture of Xiahou Yuan in Hanzhong?”

Bi Xi immediately countered Guan Yu’s logic.

“General Guan, there is a flaw in your words. General Huang Zhong had already made contributions by assisting our lord in capturing Yi Province before capturing Xiahou Yuan at Zhengjun Mountain.”

“Hmph, how can that be Huang Zhong’s achievement? It was Chang-ran who saved the military advisor and captured the fallen city. Wasn’t it Chang-ran who suggested Ma Chao’s surrender of Liu Zhang?”

Unintentionally, Chang-ran’s name came up, but upon reflection, it didn’t seem like a bad point.

While Huang Zhong had the merit of killing Xiahou Yuan, Chang-ran had beheaded both Zhao Hong and Zhang He.

As Guan Yu pondered this, he found it somewhat convincing and nodded his head.

“Fine. If Chang-ran had been appointed Rear General, I might have accepted it, despite some shortcomings, given her potential. But Huang Zhong, an old soldier? What use is he now?”

“General of the North also said that General Huang is fully qualified to be Rear General.”

Chang-ran had been appointed General of the North by Liu Bei after he became King of Hanzhong.

It was a position just below the Four Direction Generals, and considering she was in charge of the crucial northern region, it was no exaggeration to say it was the highest position in the military outside of the Four Direction Generals.

Of course, there were military officers like Jin Dou, who held a slightly lower position, and Zhao Yun, who had more experience and was closer to Liu Bei, but Chang-ran was undoubtedly in a high position.

“Still, isn’t that lower than Rear General?”

“During Emperor Wu’s time, Jing Huanhou was below Marquis Liehou but was revered as the foremost in the military. Although General of the North is of a lower rank than Rear General, who would dare belittle or slander her?”

Bi Xi’s words implied that Chang-ran, like Huo Qubing, enjoyed the favor of the ruler, Liu Bei, so her slightly lower position wasn’t an issue.

“Moreover, Xiao He and Cao Shen, who had been with Emperor Gaozu since his youth, held lower positions than Chen Ping and Han Xin, who joined later, but they never harbored resentment or complained. Although our lord appointed General Huang as Rear General, how could he place him on the same level as you, General Guan?”

Using examples from Emperor Gaozu’s reign, Bi Xi pointed out Guan Yu’s narrow-mindedness, and Guan Yu finally admitted he had been stubborn and accepted the position of Front General.

What Liu Bei gave Guan Yu wasn’t just the position of Front General. Along with the seal of Front General, Bi Xi handed over another item.

“The King of Hanzhong has also bestowed upon you the authority of ‘Jia Jie Yue’.”

Jia Jie Yue (假节鉞).

“Jia” means temporary, “Jie” is a symbol of authority, and “Yue” is a symbol of military power.

In other words, it was the highest authority a subordinate could receive, temporarily granting the power of life and death over subordinates and the authority to launch military operations.

“Bestowing the Yue… means my elder brother has accepted it.”

Unlike his earlier stubbornness, Guan Yu accepted the Jia Jie Yue with utmost seriousness.

“Yes, that is correct.”

Bi Xi, who had been calm when speaking to Guan Yu, now showed clear tension.

“The King of Hanzhong has launched the Northern Expedition.”

In the original history, Guan Yu’s northern campaign began in the summer, but now it had started a season earlier.

§

After Liu Bei’s ascension to King of Hanzhong in Nanzheng County, Hanzhong, I was stationed in Shangyong.

Shen Yi and Shen Tam, who had immediately submitted, were promised the preservation of their existing power, but military authority was transferred to me. This was evidence that Liu Bei was exerting even greater influence than in the original history.

Additionally, Ma Chong was stationed in Xicheng, and Wang Ping was stationed in Fangling.

Looking at their positions, it was clear that most of the eight generals who had distinguished themselves under my command remained under me. Although their ranks had increased, I had also been promoted, increasing my standing.

A General of the Four Directions has the authority to establish a headquarters. In my case, as General of the North, I could open a headquarters and command my own generals.

Considering military achievements, talent, and positions, Liu Bei granted independent general positions to Wang Ping and Ma Chong, but since they were stationed in Xicheng and Fangling, they were effectively still under my command.

By the way, Wang Ping was General of the North, and Ma Chong was General of the West.

In the hierarchy of the Four Directions, Four Fronts, Four Supports, and Four Pacifications, they were two ranks below me.

In the headquarters established in Shangyong, I was busy maintaining my weapons.

The spear and sword made by Po-won, and a small axe.

This axe, the Yue, was what I had received from Liu Bei during the recent merit evaluation.

When Liu Bei was torn between me and Huang Zhong for the position of Rear General, I offered to yield the position to Huang Zhong in exchange for the Yue.

Although Fa Zheng opposed this somewhat presumptuous proposal, Liu Bei, recognizing my ability to see the flow of war, granted me the Yue.

Guan Yu, as Front General, received Jia Jie Yue.

Ma Chao, as Left General, received Jia Jie.

My father, as Right General, received Jia Jie.

Following the hierarchy, Huang Zhong should have been next as Rear General, but as General of the North, I also received the Yue, making me the fourth in line.

Jin Dou, as General of the West, and Zhao Yun, as General of the South, were nominally below me. Of course, as elders in the military and Liu Bei’s closest confidants, they held more real power than I did.

While I was diligently polishing my precious little axe, a servant outside the door announced that someone had come to see me.

“Middle Cavalry Commander Zhang E and Adjutant of the General of the North’s Headquarters, Wang Sha, request an audience.”

“Let them in.”

Zhang E and Wang Sha greeted me and began their report. Although Ma Chong was absent, the two were also outstanding talents, and their work was flawless.

There were some differences in their work styles and directions—Zhang E was stricter than Ma Chong, while Wang Sha was more lenient—but their balance was perfect.

“And Sun Quan has proposed a marriage alliance to Front General.”

Here it comes.

“He must have refused.”

“Yes. He was furious and refused, saying, ‘How could I marry a tiger’s cub to a dog’s offspring?'”

“Of course.”

Perhaps feeling a bit frustrated by my indifferent response, Wang Sha added,

“Even if Front General dislikes Sun Quan, this is too much. Although there is the matter of Lady Sun, he is still our ally, isn’t he?”

“Hmm, is that so? What does Shengzong think? What about Bai Qi?”

At first glance, Wang Sha’s opinion seemed reasonable, but Zhang E firmly shook his head and replied,

“Sun Quan is up to his tricks again.”

Zhang E even omitted Sun Quan’s title of General Who Pacifies the East, lowering his status. I chuckled and said,

“Right. I think the same.”

“Huh? Tricks?”

“Shengzong, your tendency to see people in a good light is both a strength and a weakness.”

“What do you mean?”

Zhang E looked at me as if asking if he could explain. When I nodded, Zhang E began his explanation.

“Look. Sun Quan has already formed a marriage alliance with His Majesty the King of Hanzhong. Yet he proposes another marriage to Front General? This is tantamount to placing His Majesty and Front General on the same level.”

Wang Sha wasn’t lacking in understanding or foresight. Once Zhang E explained, Wang Sha fully understood, and his face turned pale.

“If Front General had accepted Sun Quan’s marriage proposal, it could have been seen as a sign of disloyalty to His Majesty.”

“No! How could that be? The special bond between His Majesty and Front General is known throughout the land…”

“Even if His Majesty and Front General are of one mind, public perception would not change. From my perspective, Front General had no choice but to refuse so strongly.”

A strong refusal would invite suspicion.

But conversely, a strong refusal would give Sun Quan a pretext for invasion.

Sun Quan was truly playing with fire.

And Sun Quan’s scheming foreshadowed the coming turmoil.

The revival of the struggle among the Three Kingdoms over Jing Province.