Chapter 97

Originally, Liu Bei began preparations to declare himself emperor as soon as Cao Pi received the abdication. He created justifications for his ascension by citing the appearance of divine creatures or auspicious celestial phenomena, suggesting that it was only right for him to become emperor.

However, at present, Liu Bei was not focused on building such justifications but was instead dedicated to laying the groundwork for the Northern Expedition.

He moved troops forward and transported military supplies to the border. Even while mourning the death of Emperor Xian, administrative tasks continued, and the training of soldiers did not stop.

In Yi Province, an expeditionary force was being organized under the leadership of his father, and Ma Chao returned to Tianshui to rally ethnic groups, including the Qiang and Di tribes.

Hanzhong and Xiang Province also coordinated efforts to manage the soldiers’ physical condition and inspect supplies.

The scent of blood and the thick, heavy atmosphere of impending war spread across the land, so palpable that even the villagers in the remote valleys could sense it.

And I, too, was busy preparing for the great war that was approaching moment by moment, aiming to bring about a cataclysmic change in the world.

Bi Yi, who had been appointed as the Middle Cavalry Commander, immediately took on the heavy responsibility of calculating and requesting supplies for the expedition after being transferred to the Rear General’s Office. He handled the tasks smoothly without any hesitation.

His skill, which rivaled or perhaps even surpassed that of Jiang Wei, whom I had taken over from alongside O Yi, was so impressive that even the central civil officials were astonished. It was no wonder he was counted among the Four Forms of Shu.

Zhuge Liang, seeing the abilities of Jiang Wei and Bi Yi, subtly hinted at wanting to take them, but I firmly refused. I would struggle without Jiang Wei and Bi Yi, so how could I let them go?

It hadn’t been long since I thanked him for promoting Zhang Wan, and now he was trying to repay kindness with malice… Truly devilish.

Still, concerned about Zhuge Liang’s excessive workload, I recommended Xu Shulong and Guo Youzhi in place of Bi Yi. But that might have been a mistake. There was something strange in Zhuge Liang’s gaze, as if he saw me as a vending machine that dispensed talent whenever poked.

While Jiang Wei and Bi Yi were responsible for the internal affairs of the Rear General’s Office, I focused on managing the middle-ranking officers and soldiers alongside Bu Chuan, Ma Dai, and Guo Yi.

Even though the Lanling Army was a well-trained elite force, there was bound to be some instability with a large-scale reshuffle and my absence as the corps commander. It was necessary to strengthen unity and bonds before the war.

In that regard, the Lanling Army had many superior aspects. Like future armies, they had symbols for a sense of belonging, and the reputation of the Lanling Army name was enough to instill pride in them.

By the time the Lanling Army completed all preparations to depart for the battlefield, Shu’s overall military preparations were almost finished.

Since groundwork for the Northern Expedition had been laid earlier, Shu quickly transitioned to a wartime posture.

Soldiers fatigued from the southern campaign were left to defend Chengdu and maintain public order in Yi Province, while the existing Yi Province troops, who had been conserving strength and training, were smoothly converted into an expeditionary force as if they had rehearsed it.

Finally, after all military preparations were complete, everyone awaited Liu Bei’s command, and I was summoned by him.

“Have you arrived?”

The atmosphere was entirely different from the private audience I had with him to discuss Zhuge Liang. Unlike his usual calm and benevolent demeanor, he was serious and sharp, more like a battlefield general than a king.

Facing the great undertaking of the Northern Expedition, where everything was at stake, even Liu Bei couldn’t help but be tense.

Without turning to look at me, he stared at the map of the world hanging on one side.

“Yes, Your Majesty. You summoned me.”

“Indeed. Come closer.”

As I approached behind him, Liu Bei spoke with his hands clasped behind his back.

“The grand strategy of the Northern Expedition. You proposed a plan to capture Guanzhong within it, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Then I want to ask. Can our country truly seize Guanzhong in this Northern Expedition?”

Guanzhong. A fertile land with abundant resources and the people drawn to it.

Militarily, it was a fortress bestowed by heaven. Since ancient times, those who held Guanzhong grasped the world.

The First Emperor of Qin did so, as did Emperor Gaozu of Han, and Emperor Wen of Sui, who ended the chaos of the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms.

Thus, Liu Bei’s question was not merely about capturing Guanzhong but about unifying the world.

I clasped my hands and answered his question.

“We will make it so, Your Majesty.”

“Xingyi Bingzhen. I had marked Ma Chao as the one to advance on Guanzhong. His experience and reputation in Liangzhou, along with his brave martial prowess, made him the most suitable choice.”

It was an indisputable argument. Honestly, in Liangzhou alone, Ma Chao would be far more effective than Guan Yu or my father. Unless Liu Bei himself took the field.

The current Ma Chao was not the one who had fallen after being defeated by Cao Cao and spent his days idly.

He was the Golden Ma Chao of Liangzhou, who had made a spectacular comeback during the Hanzhong Campaign, chilling Cao Cao’s heart once more. It was no coincidence that the Qiang tribes flocked to surrender when he attacked Tianshui during Guan Yu’s capture of Yangfan.

Considering this, we had recommended Ma Chao as the overall commander for the Guanzhong front when presenting the grand strategy for the Northern Expedition.

“Your Majesty’s decision is indeed correct.”

“Thus, I summoned Ma Chao. To bestow upon him the authority of acting with imperial discretion and appoint him as the overall commander of the Hanzhong Army to capture Guanzhong.”

From Liu Bei’s tone, it seemed something had gone wrong. Could Ma Chao’s health have suddenly deteriorated? He seemed fine the last time I saw him.

As I feared, Liu Bei’s next words carried a negative tone.

“But he refused.”

“Could General Ma have encountered some personal issue?”

“Hahaha, no. On the contrary, he was delighted, saying he had longed for this day.”

“Then why…?”

“Ma Chao said.”

Liu Bei interrupted me and turned to look at me.

“The position is too great for a minor general like me, so I wish to recommend a more suitable candidate to Your Majesty.”

If not Ma Chao, then who would take that position?

Ah, recently, Ma Chao and my father often shared positions, so if he recommended my father, it would make some sense.

Perhaps Ma Chao felt the burden of having submitted to Liu Bei late. There might also be trauma from the rebellion of the Liangzhou warlords when he was the overall commander.

“Whom did he recommend?”

“The Rear General.”

“I also think it’s not a bad choice. If it’s the Right General, he could certainly… Huh?”

“He recommended the Rear General.”

The Rear General? That’s me.

Ma Chao recommended me as the overall commander? Why?

Calmly pondering, there was a reason. Ma Chao always spoke of repaying his debt to me.

The gratitude for saving his family, the thanks for giving him another chance to target Cao Cao’s life.

I recalled Ma Chao’s face, always saying that in Liangzhou, debts must be repaid. And his words to me when we met in Tianshui echoed like an auditory hallucination.

‘By then, you might be above me.’

‘Keep that in mind.’

‘Let me say this in advance, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.’

Could it be that Ma Chao had decided to give me his position from that moment?

I was so stunned that I was at a loss for words. While I was in a daze, Liu Bei continued speaking.

“Rear General Chang-ran, as the proposer of this Northern Expedition, possesses not only the insight to outline the grand strategy but also the vision to see through the battlefield. Thus, Rear General should rightfully take command. That was Ma Chao’s argument. And I do not think he is wrong.”

“But Your Majesty, I…”

“Too young? What problem does that pose? Since ancient times, generals have been judged by their military achievements. And the position of overall commander for the Guanzhong front is not one that requires overseeing everything.”

Liu Bei, having already made his decision, handed me a metal rod he had been leaning on like a cane.

“This is the authority of acting with imperial discretion that I bestow upon you.”

“Your Majesty.”

If the tiger tally symbolized military authority, the authority of acting with imperial discretion symbolized the power to execute.

One who held this authority could execute others on the spot according to military law, even if they held the same authority.

It was truly absolute power. Under Liu Bei, only my father and Ma Chao had received the tiger tally, and only Guan Yu had received the authority of acting with imperial discretion.

In short, if I received this authority and became the overall commander for the Guanzhong front, I could execute Ma Chao if he made a mistake.

Liu Bei was now about to bestow this authority upon me.

Even though the Guanzhong front was a battlefield where the overall commander couldn’t oversee everything, this was an excessive measure. Clearly, Liu Bei intended to suppress any potential dissent with overwhelming authority.

“Rear General Chang-ran, obey the king’s command.”

I bowed deeply and clasped my hands.

“In addition to the tiger tally previously bestowed, I grant you the authority of acting with imperial discretion. As the overall commander of the Hanzhong Army, recover Guanzhong.”

“I will obey the command with all my life.”

I grasped the authority Liu Bei bestowed with both hands. Though it weighed no more than the Baekbyeokdo sword Cao Cao had given me, the weight pressing down on my hands was incomparable.

As I firmly gripped the authority and maintained my posture, Liu Bei grabbed my shoulders and lifted me up.

“I entrust Guanzhong to you.”

“…I swear.”

Utmost trust.

The most crucial position in the Northern Expedition. The position that would determine the success or failure of everything.

To repay those who placed me there, there was only one thing I could do.

“I will welcome you in Chang’an City.”

Victory.

§

In the autumn of the 26th year of Jian’an (221 AD).

When Zhuge Liang returned from the southern campaign, Emperor Lie finally raised the banner of the Northern Expedition, amassing an army of up to 100,000. Emperor Lie personally advanced to Xiang Province, marching towards Luoyang, supported by Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Huang Quan.

Meanwhile, following Zhuge Liang’s strategy of Xingyi Bingzhen, Ma Chao led Fang De, Pang Tong, Wang Ping, and Gu Bu to advance towards Tianshui. Wei considered Ma Chao the overall commander of the Yi Province Army.

However, before departing on the campaign, Emperor Lie, following Ma Chao’s recommendation, bestowed the authority of acting with imperial discretion upon Chang-ran, appointing her as the overall commander of the Yi Province Army, supported by Guanzhong Governor O Yi and General of the West Yu En.

Emperor Lie’s talent for employing people, comparable to Emperor Wu who appointed the 20-year-old Huo Qubing as a corps commander to subdue the Xiongnu, was evident.

《Records of Emperor Lie of Shu 中》