Chapter 64

At the moment Bansheng finally fell into Guan Yu’s hands, Ye Meng was leading his troops into Xiang Province. Guarding against Sun Quan’s forces stationed at Lukou, the occupation of the observation post built by Guan Yu was neutralized as planned.

Now, it was a race against time. Ye Meng didn’t particularly like Guan Yu, but he acknowledged his abilities. Moreover, thanks to Chang-ran holding off Xu Huang, Guan Yu had the luxury to focus solely on Bansheng.

‘Bansheng is falling. If we capture Zhao Yun as a prisoner, we’ll have leverage over Guan Yu. Cao Cao is untrustworthy. Once betrayed, betrayal comes easier the second time.’

It would be best if Cao Cao kept his promise to Sun Quan and held onto Guan Yu, but relying on others’ actions is the height of foolishness.

So, before Cao Cao can play any tricks, before Guan Yu can return, ‘We must occupy Xiang Province and isolate Guan Yu.’

Chang-ran’s actions have disrupted the plan to capture Guan Yu. Even in the worst-case scenario, we can abandon Xiang Province and head to Hanzhong via Shangyong.

‘There’s still a chance to take Xiang Province.’

Looking at Gong’an City, which was coming into view, Ye Meng steeled his resolve. As he did, a middle-aged man approached him.

More of a scholar than a warrior, with a refined appearance, towering height, and a dignified demeanor. To an outsider, this man might be mistaken for the commander-in-chief rather than the pale-faced Ye Meng.

Indeed, he had shown remarkable abilities, leading Ye Meng to designate him as his successor.

He was none other than Lu Xun, the man who would later succeed Ye Meng and stand at the pinnacle of Eastern Wu’s military authority, burning Liu Bei’s final dream to ashes.

Participating in this war as a deputy commander, Lu Xun formally reported to Ye Meng.

“Commander, Gong’an City is ahead.”

“Good. Bring Wu Fan here.”

Wu Fan was tasked with persuading Shi Ren, the general guarding Gong’an, to surrender.

As Wu Fan headed to Gong’an City with a white flag signaling an envoy, Ye Meng began the work of surrounding the city.

Gong’an City, once Liu Bei’s stronghold, had decent fortifications, so it was crucial to secure Shi Ren’s surrender without a fight.

“Wu Fan has entered the city.”

“Hmm… He must succeed.”

“Shi Ren was scorned by Guan Yu and fears him due to mismanagement of supplies. If he understands the situation, he will surely surrender.”

As Lu Xun said, Wu Fan, persuading Shi Ren inside Gong’an City, was confident of his mission’s success.

“While our great army approaches Gong’an, have you seen any messengers or signal fires? If not by heaven’s will, someone within your ranks must have deliberately blocked them. The former defies fate, the latter means a hopeless fight and a meaningless death. Please consider this, General.”

Look at Shi Ren’s face, tormented by Wu Fan’s eloquent persuasion.

If he had truly resolved to remain loyal to Liu Bei, there would be no need for hesitation. But Shi Ren sighed, closed his eyes, and groaned.

Finally, Shi Ren bowed his head and said, “I surrender.”

Shortly after, the gates of Gong’an City opened.

Wu Fan, having brilliantly opened the door to the occupation of Xiang Province, proudly welcomed Ye Meng with his shoulders squared.

“You have achieved a great feat.”

“I merely fulfilled my duty.”

A good start. Ye Meng was pressed for time. He felt something even more fearsome than Guan Yu closely following him.

In his haste, Ye Meng hurried past Gong’an towards Jiangling City. Wu Fan, feeling uneasy, spoke to Ye Meng.

“Commander, although Shi Ren opened the gates, we cannot rule out the possibility of a ruse. We should take Shi Ren with us and leave troops in Gong’an City.”

Ye Meng acknowledged his haste and acted accordingly. Leaving one of his deputies in charge of Gong’an, Ye Meng headed straight to Jiangling City with Shi Ren.

The Sun Quan army, having rushed to Jiangling City not far from Gong’an, did not prepare for a siege this time. They simply sent Shi Ren, who had surrendered first.

At first, the people of Jiangling mocked the surrendering Shi Ren, but soon they were stunned by the unbelievable scene unfolding before them, forgetting even to stop it.

The core of Xiang Province, the crucial Jiangling City, was guarded by Mi Fang, a trusted relative and founding hero who had followed Liu Bei from Xuzhou.

Yet, Mi Fang now personally opened the city gates and welcomed Ye Meng.

Mi Fang’s immediate hospitality, bringing out a feast to welcome Ye Meng, seemed as if he had been waiting for this day.

Wu Fan remained cautious. He insisted on entering Jiangling City immediately to prevent any counterattack, disregarding the feast prepared by Mi Fang.

Ye Meng quickly occupied the government offices and military camps within Jiangling City.

“Wu Jin and the Wei army are not here.”

“I heard the prisoners are managed by Pang De in Dangyang.”

Failing to secure Wei prisoners was regrettable, but Guan Yu’s family remained in Jiangling City.

Upon hearing that Guan Yu’s wife and daughter had been captured, Ye Meng personally went to see them.

“Do not worry. We mean you no harm.”

“Traitor…”

Unlike Guan Yu’s wife, his daughter glared sharply at Ye Meng, reminding him of an old connection, prompting a faint smile.

“Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are like tigers and bears, sworn brothers without a drop of blood relation, yet their daughters are quite alike.”

Guan Hui, Guan Yu’s daughter, captured as a hostage yet unyielding in her fierce nature, resembled Chang-ran.

Guan Hui, the same age as Chang-ran’s younger sister Chang-yeon, sharply retorted to Ye Meng.

“Do you think you’ll be safe when my father and sister arrive?”

“They won’t come. Cao Cao will capture them. Even if Cao Cao is cooked alive, it won’t matter. By then, the city will already be taken. What can they do?”

Though Ye Meng sneered, as he had said earlier, he did not harm Guan Yu’s family.

Not only them, but he also allowed the people of Jiangling City to continue their daily lives without interference, even distributing relief grain and supplies. Meanwhile, he refrained from using any government resources.

However, Guan Hui’s words stirred his latent anxiety. He deployed troops to control Jiangling City and began occupying the surrounding areas.

“Liu Bei, take six hundred men and march west to block the path to Yi Province.”

Ye Meng assigned 15,000 troops to Lu Xun to block the Yiling passage connecting Xiang Province and Yi Province.

“Zhu Yan, attack Pang De in Dangyang with Fan Wenqiu to secure Wei prisoners.”

He ordered Zhu Yan and Fan Zhang to attack Pang De in Dangyang.

Sun Quan’s occupation of Xiang Province proceeded smoothly like dominoes. Lu Xun quickly captured Yidu and Zhijiang, securing the Yidu region and swiftly approaching Yiling.

Everything was going smoothly. The only thing to watch out for was the situation in the north. Ye Meng focused most of his reconnaissance efforts on the north, towards Yangfan.

Yet, a strange unease gnawed at Ye Meng’s nerves. Suddenly, he remembered a name he had forgotten and jumped up from his seat. Why had he forgotten that name?

“Fengchu, what is Pang Tong doing?”

“Wasn’t he stationed at Qingni?”

As Wu Fan recited the information secured before departing from Lukou, Ye Meng irritably pressed him.

“Then why is there no reaction? No, was Pang Tong really at Qingni in the first place?”

Just as Ye Meng was about to take swift action, news arrived before he could.

“Gong’an City is under attack…?”

Liu Bei’s counterattack began from the south with Pang Tong’s appearance.

“What forces are south of Gong’an City… Could it be! The Wuling barbarians! He’s brought in the Wuling barbarians!”

Incorporating barbarians into their forces was an unfamiliar strategy for Sun Quan’s army. Unlike Liu Bei, who chose to befriend and coexist with barbarians, Sun Quan thoroughly subdued and suppressed them.

Thus, they hadn’t considered it. The approach was entirely different. Feeling a sense of defeat, Ye Meng asked to assess the situation.

“How many are there?”

“About ten thousand, it seems!”

The combat strength of barbarians was generally weaker than Han armies due to inferior weaponry and lack of systematic military organization. But ten thousand was more than enough to capture Gong’an City.

Moreover, Gong’an City had only recently been occupied, and unlike Jiangling, Ye Meng had no opportunity to pacify the people. If internal support arose, Gong’an would fall quickly.

“If Gong’an is taken, our retreat path is blocked.”

Ye Meng thought. Among the generals left in Jiangling City, only one could match Pang Tong.

That was Ye Meng himself.

“I must go myself.”

“But Commander, what about Jiangling?”

“I’ll leave Jiangling to Wu Fan. I’ll leave Sun Huan here to govern Jiangling City with him.”

At the mention of leaving Sun Huan, a capable general from Sun Quan’s family, Wu Fan fell silent.

Before Ye Meng hurriedly left Jiangling, he left a word of caution for Wu Fan.

“Keep a close eye on Mi Fang and Shi Ren. If they show any suspicious behavior, do not hesitate to kill them.”

However, Ye Meng’s warning was not heeded.

Not because Mi Fang and Shi Ren had sincerely surrendered to them.

Rather, the outcome was as Ye Meng had said.

Only, it was not Wu Fan who executed it, but someone else.

After Ye Meng left Jiangling City, two men faced each other in Mi Fang’s residence.

One was, of course, Mi Fang, the master of the house. The other was Mi Fang’s comrade who had agreed to surrender Jiangling City to Sun Quan. Or so he thought.

Mi Fang couldn’t believe it. Just a short while ago, this man had been chewing out Guan Yu with him, planning betrayal. Now, he was looking at Mi Fang with contempt.

“Didn’t we share the same goal…? You were also scorned by Guan Yu, Shengming!”

Ban Jun’s face was cold as he looked at Mi Fang’s trembling eyes.

“Could it be… you and Shi Ren were lying…?”

Ban Jun sneered without answering Mi Fang’s question, instead throwing out an unexpected remark.

“They say those who aided General Zhenbei in Hanzhong are called the Eight Wings of Lanling.”

Mi Fang looked at Ban Jun, puzzled by his words.

“Isn’t it ridiculous? Those who first built a relationship with General Zhenbei and Mingjing were not them.”

The comrade who had joined in cursing Guan Yu and plotting to surrender Xiang Province to Sun Quan was no longer there.

“If I were to list those who entered Mingjing’s inner circle, I would surely be the first. Isn’t that so?”

Ban Jun, who valued friendship with a comrade more than the humiliation from Guan Yu, had never truly been their ally. Mi Fang realized this far too late.

Trembling with shock, betrayal, and fear, Mi Fang looked up at Ban Jun as he declared.

“Thus, I, Ban Jun, can be called the First Strategy of Lanling.”

He had been with them from the beginning, for this very moment.