Chapter 63

Guan Yu watched his horse.

At dawn, as he had told me, he took the lead and finally crossed the walls of Bansheng.

Despite the deep, throbbing pain from an old arm injury, his mental strength was astonishing.

Of course, Zhao Yun had excuses too. The defeats of Xu Huang and Ye Meng crushed the soldiers’ hopes of reinforcements, allowing Guan Yu to focus entirely on capturing Bansheng without worrying about the rear. The soldiers of Bansheng were already beyond exhaustion.

Realizing they could no longer defend Bansheng, Zhao Yun attempted a grand escape.

In the original history, Guan Yu was captured during such a reckless escape. Now, ironically, Guan Yu was on the side of the besiegers.

Zhao Yun’s fate was no different from Guan Yu’s. Despite Zhao Yun’s superhuman martial prowess and leadership, Guan Yu was still Guan Yu.

Guan Yu personally confronted Zhao Yun, who was tearing through the encirclement with terrifying momentum, and captured him.

Although Zhao Yun wasn’t in his best condition, Guan Yu’s feat reminded one of his past glory when he single-handedly charged through enemy lines and beheaded Yan Liang.

“Uncle, it’s Chang-ran.”

After moving our camp from Yunsheng to Bansheng, I immediately sought Guan Yu upon hearing the news of capturing Zhao Yun and Man Chong.

Guan Yu, having taken the official residence of Bansheng, was resting while delegating the city’s restoration and prisoner management to his subordinates.

Upon entering with his permission, I saw Guan Yu with his upper garment undone, his left shoulder and arm covered in acupuncture needles.

Though blood flowed from the thicker needles, Guan Yu nonchalantly wrote a report with his right hand.

“You’re here.”

“Your arm…”

“It’s nothing. Fighting someone like Zhao Yun and only suffering this much is a gain. You came to discuss the next steps, didn’t you?”

Guan Yu pushed aside the report he was writing and set down his brush.

His complexion suggested it wasn’t a new injury but the lingering effects of an old one. On rainy days, it particularly ached, and after fighting Zhao Yun, it was unlikely he was unscathed.

Guan Yu was nearing sixty. Despite his and my father’s seemingly blessed vitality, time spares no one.

His physical prime was long past, and the toll of his youth would demand its due.

“Don’t look at me like that. Even Yan Pu, older than me, could eat a horse’s meal and ten catties of meat. What about General Fu Pa? Didn’t he reach his true prime past sixty? I’m still strong.”

“…I apologize for my rudeness.”

“Enough. So, what did you come to say?”

Guan Yu removed the needles, wiped the blood, and dressed. Since I wasn’t a formal military doctor, I cautiously began.

“The military’s direction should be discussed formally with the generals, but there’s something I need to discuss with you beforehand.”

“It’s about Sun Quan, isn’t it?”

“Exactly.”

“This will take a while. Sit.”

As I sat in the seat Guan Yu offered, he unfolded a map covering from Jiangling to Yangfan in northern Jing Province.

“You’re also a general who received the axe from the King of Hanzhong. Though not a formal military meeting, speak freely.”

Guan Yu treated me not just as a nephew or subordinate but as a general with whom he could discuss major affairs.

Though Guan Yu and my father’s personalities were polar opposites, they shared common traits.

They showed utmost respect to those they acknowledged.

However, Guan Yu’s standards were even higher. While my father respected scholars and despised the petty, Guan Yu, who generally scorned scholars, applied even stricter criteria.

But those who met his criteria earned his genuine trust and respect.

Liu Bei was one, as was Zhuge Liang. Initially dismissive of Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu came to trust and praise him after recognizing his abilities and character.

I must have met his criteria too. The trust in Guan Yu’s gaze made my chest tingle.

The hardships were worth it. Unknowingly, I had blended into their ranks, establishing myself as one of them.

I struggled to suppress my surging emotions. Fueled by renewed vigor, I spoke boldly.

“Now, our army has two paths: attack Cao Cao or defend.”

The latter was orthodox, the former unorthodox.

This time, Cao Cao was different from the likes of Xu Huang and Ye Meng I had defeated. He brought Wei’s finest, unmatched in quality and quantity.

Unlike the Hanzhong campaign, which was an all-star battle, this time Wei was closer to their base, making supplies easier.

Joining from Wancheng were Xu Huang, Zhen Ye, Zhang Liao from Hefei, Xiahou Dun, a representative of the Cao clan, and Huan Jie, whom Cao Pi wanted as his guardian.

Against them stood Guan Yu, a representative of Shu, and me, now a seasoned general. Along with the formidable Eight Wings of Lanling following me, it wasn’t a bad matchup.

But numerical inferiority, accumulated fatigue, and supply shortages were insurmountable.

Naturally, attacking posed significant risks, so Guan Yu leaned towards defense.

“What about negotiating a truce through the prisoners and counterattacking Sun Quan? This might be a good chance to fully secure Jing Province for our kingdom.”

Negotiate with Wei and counterattack Sun Quan, who had walked into the trap of Jing Province?

Not a bad idea. But doing so would isolate us. Sun Quan, having lost Jing Province, would ally with Wei, creating a two-front war.

Even though Shu’s forces were stronger than in the original history, could we handle both Wei and Wu simultaneously?

Difficult. Not impossible, but resisting the combined might of Wei and Wu, even if weakened, would drain our growth momentum.

Why did Sun Quan choose to re-ally with Shu after Liu Bei burned the kingdom’s foundation at Yiling?

Perhaps fearing a counterattack from Wei if they tried to annihilate Shu.

Guan Yu, though uncomfortable, seemed to understand my point.

“Then, it will come down to a standoff at Bansheng.”

A switch of offense and defense.

This time, we would defend Yangfan, and Cao Cao would attack.

But there was a significant difference: we had prisoners.

“With Zhao Yun captured, Cao Cao won’t dare attack first. He’ll likely pressure us through encirclement. He’ll want to announce Sun Quan’s betrayal and gain a negotiating advantage.”

“Hmm, Sun Quan’s coordination must be a secret pact.”

“They only joined hands for mutual benefit, with no loyalty or trust. If selling out the other brings greater gain, they’ll do it.”

Indeed, Cao Cao ignored Sun Quan’s request to keep their attack secret and spread the news.

Contrary to their expectation of our retreat, Guan Yu held his ground, half-regretting the imminent fall of Yangfan and half-hoping Sun Quan wouldn’t betray them. But that became Guan Yu’s worst mistake.

However, with Yangfan secured and Zhao Yun captured, Guan Yu had more options. Even upon hearing of Sun Quan’s betrayal and internal treachery, he remained calm.

Having predicted Sun Quan’s betrayal, Pang Tong and I had prepared countermeasures. Trusting us, Guan Yu objectively assessed the situation.

“They’re just temporary allies.”

“Exactly. They hope we retreat first upon Sun Quan’s betrayal. They won’t pursue, and by offering to return Zhao Yun and Man Chong, they lose little.”

“They want us and Sun Quan to destroy each other.”

“Exactly.”

Guan Yu nodded in understanding.

“I see why you suggested attacking. The initiative is ours.”

Cao Cao couldn’t attack us. The prisoners, Yangfan, and our preparations for Sun Quan’s betrayal all worked against him.

Rather than attacking and risking escalation, maintaining a standoff was more beneficial.

The worst scenario for Cao Cao would be us killing all the prisoners in a desperate fight.

With Sun Quan’s betrayal thwarted, the option to attack was effectively gone for Wei.

Meanwhile, we held Yangfan, controlled the Han River with our navy, and had outposts at key locations like Yunsheng, Weidu, and Shicong.

We could employ hit-and-run tactics at will.

“But attacking is still risky. If our generals are captured, we could lose our advantage.”

“I agree. There’s no need to fight first. I just wanted to present the option.”

“I understand your point. Since we hold the advantage, we should remain calm and let Cao Cao request negotiations. Make him anxious by appearing ready to attack.”

Exactly.

Having anticipated Sun Quan’s betrayal and prepared countermeasures, if we act as if we’re ready to fight to the death, Cao Cao will have no choice but to hurry.

I smiled and replied.

“Yes. Even with preparations, it’s best to resolve the two-front war quickly and focus on one side.”

With our already limited forces, fighting on two fronts would be challenging.

Even if plans go awry, I trust Pang Tong to adapt, but our opponents are no pushovers.

Lu Meng, Lu Xun, and Zhu Yan—Wu’s three great generals—are all mobilized. Pang Tong alone might struggle.

“Good. I’ll think about how to draw Cao Cao to the negotiating table. We’ll formally propose it at the upcoming military meeting.”

A few days later, the military meeting convened.

All my subordinates and Guan Yu’s generals attended.

Guan Ping, Liao Hua, Zhao Lei, Xi Zhen, and Wang Fu. Though their names might not be impressive, their loyalty was unmatched—true loyalists of Guan Yu.

The meeting proceeded as Guan Yu and I had discussed. As it ended and we prepared to disperse, Guan Ping called me.

“I have much to say, but it’s wartime, so I’ll ask just one thing.”

Though my rank was higher than Guan Ping’s, he still saw me as his younger brother.

Before my subordinates could show displeasure, I quickly replied.

“Speak, Brother Guan Ping.”

By addressing him familiarly, I signaled this was a personal, not official, matter.

Guan Ping, realizing his mistake, gave me a look mixed with apology and gratitude.

“Ahem, can Jing Province really hold? After the Han River flood, we’ve even drawn soldiers from Jing Province. Even with General Bang Deok’s forces, Sun Quan won’t act lightly.”

It’s understandable to worry. The remaining forces in Jing Province, even if scraped together, don’t exceed 20,000. Facing Sun Quan’s tens of thousands, it’s insufficient.

Guan Yu’s trust in Pang Tong and me was almost excessive.

This question likely reflected the concerns of many here. Guan Ping, with whom I had a close relationship, probably spoke on their behalf.

And my answer was simple.

“Trust and wait. Those defending Jing Province will show results.”