Chapter 71

The road back after finishing all negotiations with Cao Cao and Sun Quan was incredibly light-hearted.

From Hanzhong to Shangyong, from Shangyong to Yangfan, and then from Yangfan to Gong’an, my grateful and admirable Lanling Army had been running, fighting, and running again without a moment’s rest. For the first time in a long while, a proper sense of vitality returned to them.

Gangnyeong Castle, the location of the Nan Commandery’s administrative office and one of the largest fortresses in Xiang Province, had turned into a sleepless city. The government warehouses were wide open, revealing empty bellies, and the smoke from cooking rice and the smell of roasting meat spread across the night sky.

The soldiers who fought with all their might, the people who kept their loyalty, and the civil and military officials who did their best in their respective positions—everyone, without exception, was filled with laughter and lively conversation.

Especially those who had accumulated significant military achievements in this battle were eagerly looking forward to the upcoming rewards, dreaming of a bright future.

Some boasted about their achievements, saying they might become a governor, while others talked about how they had captured someone and would be promoted.

Amidst this joyful chatter, I noticed someone with a dark expression and approached him.

“Hyohung, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Caught up in the festive atmosphere that enveloped Gangnyeong Castle, my tone was unusually light, more like chatting with a friend than a superior addressing a subordinate.

At my call, Gubu quickly changed his expression and fidgeted.

“Ah, I’m sorry. On such a good day, I made a mistake. I’m not feeling unwell. No, not at all.”

“It’s fine. You can relax now. If something’s bothering you, speak up. Don’t keep it bottled up. I’ll listen if you’re okay with it.”

Gubu, who was always bold and sociable, now acted like a timid boy, just caressing his wine cup.

Well, everyone has things they find hard to talk about. Not wanting to make Gubu uncomfortable, I silently stood by his side.

After a while, Gubu cautiously asked, “General, we’ve achieved a great feat, haven’t we?”

“Huh?”

“We defeated both Cao Cao and Sun Quan.”

“Hmm… that’s right. We’ve won against the world, so it’s okay to be proud.”

“Then the rewards will be great too. We might even receive high positions, haha.”

It was a dry laugh. We had achieved a great feat and would receive rewards commensurate with it, so what was there to worry about?

‘Ah, is it the burden of achieving such a feat at a young age!’

Gubu was still in his twenties, practically a greenhorn among the seasoned officers.

Most of my generals were like that. Even Ma Dai, the oldest among them, had just passed thirty.

“Are you worried about rising too quickly at a young age?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry about that. Look at Huo Qubing—he became a general at 21. Don’t overthink it.”

“Ah, yes, thank you.”

Hmm? That doesn’t seem to be it. Gubu’s reaction is lukewarm.

As I was about to say more, members of the Eight Generals started gathering around us, having noticed Gubu and me talking.

“What are you two chatting about so happily?”

“Don’t leave us out, that’s not fair.”

The sociable Wang Sha and Ma Chong approached, while the taciturn trio—Wang Ping, Yu En, and Bu Chuan—naturally took their seats.

Unlike the truly quiet Wang Ping and Yu En, Bu Chuan, the “fashionably taciturn,” was visibly eager to join the conversation, his shoulders twitching.

What was it again? As my personal guard captain, he had to maintain dignity. Anyway, he was a funny guy.

“Where are Baek Chum and Seungjong?”

“Ah, I saw Seungjong drinking with his hometown friends.”

“Those friends who followed Seungjong into the army from the start?”

“That seems to be the case.”

What a great friendship.

“And Baek Chum?”

“He’s drinking with General Bang.”

It made sense, given how long it had been since they last met.

So, everyone who should be here is here.

“From the side, it looked like you were listening to Hyohung’s worries. His complexion didn’t look good.”

“Well, everyone has worries.”

Now that I looked, behind their smiles, the others also seemed to be hiding some dissatisfaction or concern.

The sharp-eyed Ma Chong seemed to have noticed that they shared the same worry.

“It seems I’m not the only one with this concern.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Again, they’re talking among themselves, leaving me out. Feeling a bit left out, I watched as Ma Chong chuckled awkwardly and spoke.

“If we’re recognized for our achievements and receive official positions, will we ever get to stand by the General’s side again? That’s what worries us, right, Hyohung?”

“That’s right.”

It wasn’t just Ma Chong and Gubu. Everyone gathered around me nodded in unison, looking at me with the same thought.

Though Ma Chong was the one who awkwardly brought it up, I was the one who felt truly embarrassed.

“Ahem, ahem. Why are you all worrying about such things?”

“We were all personally chosen by you, General.”

Yu En’s quiet words carried even more sincerity.

“Regardless of age or background. You saw only the person. I’ve been studying, and there’s a saying: ‘A scholar dies for the one who understands him.'”

“That’s right! If it weren’t for the General, who would have recognized us?”

As Wang Ping, who had been studying even while moving through battlefields, opened the floodgates, Bu Chuan, who had been itching to speak, quickly added.

Their heartfelt desire to stay by my side, even if they had to part ways, made my heart heavy.

Afraid that tears might come, I tightened my stomach and declared to them, “I will become the Supreme General.”

The chaotic times are not over yet. The Three Kingdoms have just been established. Wars will continue.

“So, follow me. Achieve merits, and when I become the Supreme General, stand by my side as you do now.”

Becoming the Supreme General means the entire military will be under my command.

By then, I hope they will be in high positions. I hope they will rise to positions where I can entrust them with armies.

If that happens, when we march beyond Guanzhong toward the Central Plains, they will once again stand by my side as they do now.

§

As the seemingly endless festival was coming to an end, I met with Ban Jun at his private residence instead of the official residence in Gangnyeong Castle.

With tea instead of wine between us, I teased him, “You said it was the Lanling Strategy, right?”

“Hmm, I did.”

I asked with a playful tone, but Ban Jun responded calmly.

Pfft, no fun. Pouting my lips, Ban Jun chuckled.

“It’s not wrong, is it?”

“You’re not my subordinate, Ban Jun. There’s no Lanling either.”

“Do you have to be a subordinate? Isn’t it enough to share the same heart? And do you need Lanling to be comrades with Mingjing? If you carry Lanling in your heart, aren’t you all part of the Lanling Army?”

“I can’t win with words.”

To beat Ban Jun in a debate, I’d need someone like Zhuge Liang. I thought my rhetoric had improved, but the orthodox school is different.

But what makes his unwavering words so joyful is that his actions prove the sincerity of his words.

Originally, due to conflicts with Guan Yu, Ban Jun neglected his duties and was swayed by Sun Quan’s earnest persuasion to become a renowned official of Eastern Wu. But to protect his friendship with me, he stepped forward as the executor of the most dangerous plan.

“General Guan gave you a hard time, didn’t he?”

“You can just call me Zhongbu.”

I called him General Guan to avoid sounding like I was siding with him, but was it too obvious? Or is Ban Jun just quick to pick up on my thoughts?

Anyway, despite my concerns, Ban Jun shrugged as if it were nothing.

“It’s fine. I understand a bit.”

“Understand?”

“General Guan hates my teacher.”

Guan Yu didn’t hate Ban Jun without reason.

Though Guan Yu looked down on scholars, he didn’t reject those with ability and character. Even if not in the original history, the Ban Jun before me certainly fits that description.

Yet, Guan Yu didn’t acknowledge Ban Jun largely due to the influence of his teacher.

Ban Jun’s teacher, Song Chong, was the one who informed Liu Bei of Liu Zong’s surrender to Cao Cao.

And it wasn’t Liu Zong who informed him first—Song Chong didn’t tell Liu Bei until Liu Bei pressed him. Enraged that he hadn’t been informed earlier, Liu Bei tried to kill Song Chong but eventually let him go.

The somewhat narrow-minded Guan Yu held a grudge against him and, by extension, treated Ban Jun poorly. In the original history, Ban Jun acted out in response.

“And Mingjing told me something.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You pointed out to General Guan that he was looking down on me, right?”

“Hmm, well, yes.”

“Who else could dare say such a thing to the great General Guan? Just the fact that Mingjing stood up for me like that is enough reward for my efforts.”

“That’s not enough.”

Seeing my chance, I brought out something I had prepared in advance.

“This is…”

Ban Jun’s face showed surprise as he saw what I had brought out. It was a Jin Sa. I had hurriedly prepared it during our stay in Gangnyeong for rest and banquets.

“A gift.”

“May I try it on?”

Ban Jun’s eyes sparkled like a child receiving a birthday gift. As I gestured for him to go ahead, Ban Jun quickly stood up and draped the Jin Sa over his shoulders.

“Hmm? It seems a bit short, Mingjing?”

“I made it that way on purpose. Not that way, this way. There.”

I personally adjusted the Jin Sa on his shoulders, making sure it sat properly.

The Jin Sa I prepared for Ban Jun was different from others, covering only one shoulder. Since Ban Jun was far from marching and camping, a long, heavy cloak would only be inconvenient.

With the Jin Sa properly draped, Ban Jun looked like a Western philosopher in a toga.

Ban Jun looked down at his shoulder, where the blue Lanling pattern was engraved.

“Did you make this yourself?”

“I’m not skilled at sewing, but I did draw the design. Since there’s only one Lanling, I thought a unique Jin Sa would suit you.”

“This is the best gift. I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life.”

“You can throw it away if it gets too worn.”

“Haha, then I’ll have to take good care of it.”

Ban Jun stroked the Lanling on his shoulder and laughed happily.

This was the day before we left Gangnyeong Castle to return to Chengdu.

§

“General, there, it’s Chengdu.”

The end of our long journey was in sight.

After nearly four years since our last visit to receive rewards for the Battle of Tangge, Chengdu looked different from my memories. The area outside the city gates was filled with people, orderly and unlike the usual floating population.

“Ziyun, am I seeing this right?”

The scene before me was so astonishing that I couldn’t help but ask if it was real.

I pulled the reins and stopped my horse. Then, I dismounted and started walking on foot toward the people welcoming me at Chengdu’s gates.

Those waiting for me at the city gates also slowly approached.

And at the forefront was Liu Bei.

“Welcome back.”

I knelt before him, bowing with clasped hands, and replied, “I have returned.”

It was the end of the 24th year of Jian’an.