Chapter 69

Even after the negotiations with Cao Cao were successfully concluded, Guan Yu and I had no time to rest. The threats in Jing Province were not entirely resolved. Although Cao Cao, the greatest threat, had retreated, Sun Quan’s forces still remained.

Although a truce had been established, to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, we stationed Guan Ping in Fancheng and Yaohua in Yangyang City. Guan Yu and I then set out on our journey once again.

Guan Yu, who commanded naval forces, decided to confront Zhang Qin by navigating the waterways near Qingni. Meanwhile, with my cavalry-heavy forces, I was on the way to provide support via land.

“General, may I ask you something?” It was Yu En, who was riding at the forefront with me.

I had a rough idea of what he was going to ask. Yu En had been glancing at the item hanging from my waist.

When I gave him permission, Yu En asked the expected question. “How did you come to possess the Baekbyeokdo?”

“Didn’t Dexin tell you that much?” “Yes. He only said that it was a situation where you had no choice but to accept it.”

“The reason is simple. If you’re worried about a spy scheme, there’s no need to worry, as I trust the loyalty between our lord and myself. Even if it was a small concern for me, it doesn’t deviate from reason, so it’s not worth worrying about.”

“What do you mean by reason…?”

In the past, when I met Pang Tong, I quoted a passage from a Huainanzi scholar to explain why I joined him. The passage was about how the phoenix gave birth to the chaotic bird, and the chaotic bird gave birth to all other birds.

“According to that, even a sparrow is born from the chaotic bird. So, what problem would there be if I received it?” Depending on how you spin it, this could even be used as propaganda.

For example, Cao Cao, who created the sparrow-like Baekbyeokdo, returned it to me, the chaotic bird, as if returning what he had taken.

“Rather than that, let’s worry about where to go in this complicated battlefield. The situation will change depending on how the battle progresses by the time we arrive.”

“Wherever we aim, we must first pass through Dangyang, right?”

Currently, there are three battlefields in Jing Province.

Dangyang, where Ban Zhang and Bang Deok are clashing.

Yiling, where Wei Yan is holding off Lu Xun.

And Gong’an, where Pang Tong and Lü Meng, the top commanders of each faction, are currently colliding.

Geographically, Dangyang is the first to appear as you go down. But in my opinion, Dangyang is not a big problem.

If it were Ban Zhang, I wouldn’t know, but Zhu Yan is a commander who knows how to read the battlefield. If he discovers us, he will likely retreat immediately.

If he doesn’t retreat, it would be a welcome situation for us, as the one in charge of Dangyang is the White Horse General, Bang Deok.

He is defending the city due to being outnumbered, but if we join forces, Bang Deok will come out of the city gates and prove why he is called the strongest warrior of Xiliang.

During a brief rest, a meeting was held. Among the gathered generals, Wang Ping was the first to express his opinion.

“Ban Zhang and Zhu Yan are highly likely to retreat to Jiangling.” “The junior officers think the same.”

The opinion that they would retreat to Jiangling was dominant.

Only Ma Chong mentioned the possibility of battle, citing Ban Zhang’s reckless and impatient nature, but even he didn’t seem to place much credibility in it.

Thus, the direction of the meeting shifted from the battle at Dangyang to where to go after passing Dangyang.

Should we go to Jiangling or Yiling?

Objectively, the former was correct. Although Jiangling Castle and Gong’an City seemed to be trapping Lü Meng, the internal situation was not entirely favorable.

Unlike Lü Meng, who had nearly 20,000 troops, Jiangling Castle had only a few thousand. Gong’an City had over 10,000, but most of them were from Wuling, so their combat power was lower.

Despite this, Gong’an City was holding out because its commander was none other than Pang Tong, and Lü Meng couldn’t concentrate all his forces on Gong’an due to the rear support from Jiangling Castle.

If Ban Zhang and Zhu Yan joined Lü Meng and blocked Jiangling, Lü Meng might be able to capture Gong’an City. Pang Tong is remarkable, but Lü Meng is also a commander who once dominated an era.

However, I couldn’t easily say we would go to Jiangling.

‘If we miss this opportunity, I can’t guarantee when we’ll be able to capture him.’

It was because of Lu Xun.

Among the exceptionally capable line of Eastern Wu’s grand commanders, he was the only one comparable to Zhou Yu.

Others still didn’t realize the danger of Lu Xun. Despite his feat of seeing through Meng Da’s scheme and killing him in return, almost everyone in our country and those watching this war were focused on Lü Meng.

They believed that the battle between Lü Meng and Pang Tong would determine the outcome of this war.

‘If I divide part of my army to Shengming to keep Ban Zhang and Zhu Yan in check, and General Bang can showcase the White Horse General’s prowess…’

Perhaps I can buy time until I capture Lu Xun.

As my worries deepened, the generals, sensing something, silently waited for my decision. Finally, a report came in that made me decide to head to Jiangling Castle.

It was news that a follow-up force led by Sun Jiao had appeared.

“And, Sun Quan is also on the move!”

A bold move. Sun Quan, who had not lost his edge, truly possessed the abilities of a ruler in chaotic times.

Realizing that if things continued like this, both Lü Meng and Lu Xun would be trapped and wither in Jing Province, he gathered all his remaining forces and struck.

His determination to reclaim at least his subordinates was palpable even from a thousand miles away.

It was regrettable. But now, no matter how pitiful, there was nothing to be done.

If I went to Yiling to kill Lu Xun, Gong’an and Jiangling would fall. I couldn’t lose Pang Tong and Ban Jun just to eliminate Lu Xun.

“We are going to Jiangling Castle. Prepare a messenger to send to General Bang. Since we have a truce with Wei, we no longer need to monitor Wei prisoners. Tell them to join us at Jiangling Castle.”

The generals left to prepare for departure again. I turned my head and looked across to a place far from our direction.

My mouth felt bitter. If Meng Da had succeeded in luring Lu Xun to Zigui as planned, I wouldn’t have to worry like this.

Now, regretting further would only hinder my focus on the present. I forcibly shook off my thoughts about Lu Xun.

§

How did it come to this?

Lü Meng swallowed the blood rising in his throat and asked himself.

Looking back at the process so far, there had been no major mistakes, so why?

“Commander… our lord is coming. Stay strong.”

The encouragement from his adjutant tore Lü Meng’s heart even more.

What could he say to his lord, Sun Quan, who had trusted him with the position of supreme commander? How could he explain this situation?

Should he bury his head and confess his sins? Or should he make ugly excuses? And what excuses could he make?

Lu Xun, whom he had considered his successor, was trapped in Yiling, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive. Ban Zhang and Zhu Yan, whom he had trusted and sent out, were blocked by Ban Jun and attacked from the rear by Chang-ran and Bang Deok, fleeing in disarray.

There was not a single piece of land captured. The only achievement Lü Meng had was preventing Liu Bei’s forces from gaining more territory despite their great victories at Yangfan.

“Hahaha, Ah Meng, Ah Meng… you’ve tarnished our lord’s reputation without knowing your place. You fool…”

The saying “Oh Ha Ah Meng” was indeed correct. Lü Meng himself was the most foolish person in the land of Wu.

But even in self-mockery and lament, Lü Meng was fully aware of his surroundings.

He tried to attack Gong’an City to leave some room, and he didn’t miss even the smallest reports.

Although Chang-ran and Bang Deok, formidable enemies, were running rampant on the other side, the fierce efforts of generals like Ban Zhang, Zhu Yan, and Ye Dai managed to maintain the front line.

Pang Tong’s command, which had been holding out with the unfamiliar Wuling troops, was also beginning to falter.

If things continued like this, it might be possible to secure Gong’an City, exchange Pang Tong and Lu Xun, and use Gong’an as a base to push further south into Wuling.

Lü Meng was barely keeping the thin thread of hope alive by burning his lifespan as fuel.

Driven by the compulsion to recover, Lü Meng frowned and pressed his adjutant when he noticed that the adjutant had received a report but hadn’t relayed it to him.

“Commander Xi, why haven’t you reported to me after receiving the information?” “That, that is…”

Xi, who had been entrusted by Lü Meng to evaluate the plan to subdue Guan Yu and had actively supported it, hesitated to speak even after incurring Lü Meng’s anger.

This naturally irritated Lü Meng, who was already on edge.

“Speak now!”

As Lü Meng pressed with the intensity of drawing a sword, Xi lowered his head and spoke weakly.

“General Tang Gu… has died in battle against Guan Yu. The cause of death is presumed to be illness.”

General Tang Gu, under Sun Quan’s command, was one of the Twelve Tiger Generals of Jiangdong who had been blocking Guan Yu.

Despite suffering from illness alongside Lü Meng, he had joined the campaign, burning his last flame for the importance of this matter.

His death meant there was no one left to hold Guan Yu back.

Xi had tried to hide the news, fearing that Lü Meng would be shocked.

Tragically for them, Xi’s concern was accurate.

“Cough! Cough… gurgle, gurgle!”

Lü Meng, who had been barely holding back, vomited blood and staggered.

“Commander!” “Commander!”

Xi managed to catch Lü Meng as he fell, but he couldn’t hold onto Lü Meng’s consciousness.

With the supreme commander collapsing, chaos spread through Sun Quan’s army.

There was no time to hide it. Lü Meng had been commanding from the front, and the soldiers’ morale plummeted instantly.

The front line, which had been barely maintained, collapsed in an instant.

In his fading vision, Lü Meng saw not just anyone, but a girl he had seen ten years ago, flowing past.

Now a woman, riding at the forefront and sweeping through Sun Quan’s army.

When the only man Lü Meng respected more than his lord wanted to take that girl as his daughter-in-law, what had Lü Meng thought?

He remembered dismissing it as an overestimation.

“You were…”

But now, with death approaching, Lü Meng admitted it. Once again, he was wrong, and Zhou Yu was right.

“You were right, Commander.”