Finally Marching Out
The wind felt frigid in February. I stepped out of the barracks, gripped my sword, and swung it repeatedly. It was to practice the movements and stances Hahou Don had taught me last time. After practicing for a good while and catching my breath, I spotted Guan Yu and Zhang Fei off in the distance, tending to their weapons. I hesitated for a moment before approaching them.
"I've come to ask if I might learn even a little of your martial prowess, generals."
I couldn't pass up the chance to learn from Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. At my request for instruction, Zhang Fei burst into booming laughter and welcomed me warmly.
"Hah hah! What brings a scholar like you here? Fine by me—I'll show you how to wield a weapon myself!"
But Guan Yu, without taking his eyes off his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, replied coldly.
"A weapon is no toy to be mastered overnight. Young master, you'd best stick to your brush."
It was a refusal as firm as his ruddy face. The air threatened to freeze solid in that instant, but Hahou Don, who had been watching us from afar, strode over shouting.
"Jang Myeong! Has my teaching already fallen short, driving you to seek a new master?"
"No, not at all! It's not that I'm dissatisfied—it's just that learning from different perspectives would be beneficial—"
"No need for excuses. Everyone knows the peerless martial skill of Generals Guan Yunjang and Zhang Yide, so I can see why you'd want to switch teachers!"
Thanks to Hahou Don's jest, the chilly tension thawed. Of course, I still had to wring out excuses for him.
It took a full month for Jojo's smiling face to harden. And another month for that hardened face to crumple. The greenery stretched its verdant limbs wide, but the grand cause slumbered steadfastly, showing no signs of waking. Judging by their sorry state, they'd clearly planted the grand cause on the cheap from some market stall.
Chuping 1st year (190 AD), April, at Sanjo in Yanzhou Chenliu Commandery. Lately, I'd been discussing improvements to the farming tools we used during garrison duty with the local artisans. Better to make productive use of our time than let it slip away without advancing.
First, the ox plow should be designed for two oxen to pull—
One ox pulling a plow lacked power and often veered off course. Better to use two for quicker fieldwork. I sketched the ox plow in my strategy notes, pondering the details.
"Have you ever seen such vermin!"
As I revised my notes in the barracks, Jojo stormed in fuming. The way he clutched his head suggested the meeting had gone south again.
"What happened?"
I closed my notes and asked.
"Do you know what excuses those shameless fools came up with? 'Today isn't auspicious—wait another fortnight,' they say."
The gathering at Sanjo had used their brilliant minds to conjure up pathetic reasons to delay the march: lack of intel, bad weather, poor omens, old ailments. Now they were citing unlucky days. Yet they never outright admitted they didn't want to fight, always fretting over their reputations.
Right. This is group homework.
They'd risen grandly in the name of the grand cause, but in truth, they were just country bumpkins resentful of Dong Zhuo hogging the power. They weren't entirely lacking in loyalty, but apparently not enough to sacrifice themselves.
"At this rate, when will we reclaim Luoyang and march to Chang'an to rescue the Emperor?!"
Dong Zhuo had relocated the capital to Chang'an two months prior. Survivors who barely escaped Luoyang with their lives reported that he'd looted imperial tombs, slaughtered the wealthy for their riches, and burned the city to the ground. Rumors also spread that he'd wiped out the Yuan clan entirely, sending Yuan Shao's fame skyrocketing.
Yuan Shao. I wondered if he'd try to save his family, but of course not.
I'd half-hoped he'd send someone to Luoyang to spirit them away, but now it was clear. Yuan Shao was the type who could abandon even his family for politics.
"Somyeng, are our supplies sufficient?"
Of course they were overflowing, but I couldn't answer honestly. Saying we had plenty would be a sly probe to see if we should march alone. Answering casually would push the eager-to-leave Jojo out the door.
"Lord Jo, marching is a matter for the army as a whole—I can't decide alone. We should consult the Adjutant, Captains, and Majors."
His intentions were so blatant that I blocked him by insisting on a formal council. Jojo stared at me piercingly, then snapped irritably.
"Convene the council in half a shichen. Gather everyone."
Jojo left the barracks after delivering his order.
I hope they can be persuaded.
I dragged my troubled thoughts and called over a sentry on guard duty.
Eight men sat at the council. Jojo and I were a given, along with Adjutant Hahou Don, Separate Adjutant Xiahou Yuan and Liu Bei, Captain Jao In, Major Jo Hong, and Cavalry Lieutenant Guan Yu.
Guan Yu had tagged along with Liu Bei since he had time, while Zhang Fei couldn't attend as soldier training wasn't finished. Though not strictly a Lieutenant's council, no one griped, knowing Guan Yu's exceptional martial skill.
"Everyone's here. Today's council is about marching. We can't waste more time bound to this coalition."
With seats settled, Jojo spoke up.
"Dong Zhuo has deposed the Emperor, hijacked the court, and plunged the people into misery. The coalition gathered under the grand cause, yet they delay with endless excuses. At this rate, we'll miss our chance."
In just two sentences, Jojo justified breaking ranks unilaterally. In the original history, he'd drawn famed talents by his reputation for upholding the cause. Moths to a flame, yes—but also chasing prestige.
"Indeed. As time passes, the enemy grows stronger while we fracture. The longer we hesitate, the slimmer our odds."
Xiahou Yuan backed the push to move out alone. Sharp insight: now was the least unfavorable moment.
"But with only 6,000 irregulars, facing Dong Zhuo's elite is daunting. We need at least 10,000."
Yet we couldn't go alone as Jojo urged. Even in real history, he barely survived Lu Bu at Sishui Pass and lost most of his men to Sun Jian. I wasn't a martial god like Lu Bu to escape peril, so we needed safeguards.
"As the Quartermaster says, our own troops alone won't suffice. Better to watch cautiously and draw in others."
Jao In supported the prudent approach. I'd worried no one would back me, but relief washed over.
"Waiting will see dawn break. How do we persuade those with no will to fight?"
Jo Hong said, voice somewhat excited. I'd thought his wealth would make him cautious—my mistake.
"One cup of water can't douse a cart's flames. We must fetch more from elsewhere."
Hahou Don quoted Mencius. The council split: me, Jao In, and Hahou Don for caution; Jojo, Xiahou Yuan, and Jo Hong for advance. Liu Bei had nothing to add, and Guan Yu followed his sworn brother's lead in silence.
"Distant water saves no nearby fire. They're too far—how can we drag them here to convince?"
Jojo wielded his eloquent tongue masterfully.
"Not all reject marching outright. Amid the mix of jade and stone, some surely uphold the cause. We can seek them one by one and gain allies."
I emphasized sticking to the march while softening my tone—Jojo was already grumpy with a headache.
The nonstop council reached consensus after a shichen.
"We march in ten days, recruiting as many as possible meantime. Target isn't Luoyang but the midpoint stronghold Hulao Pass. We'll decide next based on the coalition's moves. Any objections?"
""None.""
"Then we're adjourned. Good work, all."
Heading back to my barracks, I picked likely joiners. Fo Shin had hinted at joining Jojo, so he'd come easily. Zhang Miao, with his sense of justice, would follow thanks to his long friendship with Jojo. But with only five days left, who else might join was uncertain.
Ten days later, the vanguard departing Sanjo totaled 20,000. All 6,000 of Jojo's army marched, plus 10,000 from Fo Shin and 4,000 from Zhang Miao led by General Weiza.
Sanjo to Hulao Pass was roughly 250 li. Normal march: eight days. Forced with stragglers: four. Factoring sieges, they'd plan eight—and indeed, they marched at that pace.
To minimize command and organization issues, Jojo's army took vanguard, Fo Shin's center, Zhang Miao's rearguard. Personally, I hated vanguard duty, but bailing to center or rear after leading the van would've looked odd.
Jojo, thrilled to finally march, cheered again today.
"At last, we move for the grand cause. Three years since raising militia back home."
I swallowed my warning about uneven terrain risking ambushes. That was for subordinates, not musing superiors. Couldn't douse Jojo's first smile in two months.
"Dangun. Take scouts and survey the surroundings."
At end of day's march, I summoned my scout captain and ordered recon. No telling where Dong Zhuo's forces might strike—frequent scouting eased the mind.
"Sending scouts again?"
The voice from behind was Separate Adjutant Liu Bei. He approached with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei flanking him. Liu Bei led just 300 cavalry, but with those two, his was the vanguard's strongest unit.
"Know thyself and thy enemy, and in a hundred battles you'll emerge unscathed. How could I neglect scouting?"
I quoted The Art of War. Lacking other famed generals' talents, I couldn't skimp on recon.
As I finished, Guan Yu—arms crossed, staring ahead silently—spoke coldly.
"The Quartermaster trusts scout reports more than our army's valor, it seems."
I gave an awkward smile at his blunt words. Zhang Fei respected scholars, making friendship easy, but Guan Yu's disdain left me clueless how to bond.
"Hey now, Yunchang. That's too harsh."
"Brother Yunchang, that's going too far. The Quartermaster's diligence lets us rest easy, no?"
Unexpected backup thawed my frozen face a bit. To defuse, I replied.
"General Guan is a match for ten thousand like General Zhang, so ordinary valor pales. But for less valiant soldiers, reports are vital."
"No, no. Talent isn't just martial skill. Forgive my brother's rudeness."
Thankfully, Liu Bei wrapped it neatly without red faces. He seemed unbiased toward me, reining in his brothers, but Liu Bei's depths were hard to fathom for certainty.
"Quartermaster, scouts returned from recon."
A bit under a shichen later, Dangun reported back. I set down the map and asked.
"Checked within 10 li? No suspicious ambush signs?"
"Yes, sir. Scoured all hills and woods within 10 li radius. No enemy traces or signs."
We hadn't even covered thirty percent to Hulao Pass, so ambushes here were unlikely anyway. I thanked Dangun for his efforts and sent him back to barracks. Looked safe for today.