Preparations
Not long after our meeting, Pang Tong set out for Chengdu on Liu Bei's orders.
Ma Chao, too, departed Jingzhou with Pang De, Ma Dai, and his troops in tow.
Come to think of it, neither Pang Tong nor Ma Chao and Pang De would have been part of our forces at this point in the original history. I looked forward to the great contributions they would make in the Northern Expedition.
Remaining in Jingzhou, I began drawing up concrete plans for the Northern Expedition alongside Xu Shu, Zhang Fei, and the others.
"If we march from Fancheng at the northernmost tip, Xinye is practically at our doorstep. According to the scouts we've sent, Xinye's defenses are far from solid. It's a small fortress sitting exposed on open plains, so Wei seems to place little strategic value on it. If we move our army as swiftly as possible once the Northern Expedition begins and seize Xinye first, it would be an efficient way to hold Wei's attention."
"General Jin's thinking is that speed is the essence of war. I agree with that. We have the authority to launch an offensive of that scale."
Zhang Fei sided with my proposal, and while Xu Shu didn't oppose it either, he offered a different concern.
"Taking Xinye would also be useful for pressuring Nanyang going forward—Nanyang being the commandery in northern Jingzhou, with Wan as its principal city. That much is fine. What worries me more is Eastern Wu."
"Yes. Wu may well prove the greater variable in this Northern Expedition."
Xu Shu had repelled Wu's surprise attack during the previous battle for Jingzhou and clashed with them directly several times since, so his wariness of Wu ran deep.
The possibility that Cao Pi might have sown discord only sharpened that vigilance further.
"Lord Deng Zhi has gone to propose a two-front campaign, so let us wait for his answer. Once he returns, we can examine Wu's response and their subsequent movements, then discuss alternatives."
We nodded at Xu Shu's counsel.
Eastern Wu.
Meanwhile, Deng Zhi, who had returned to Eastern Wu as an envoy, was working to persuade Sun Quan.
"And so, His Majesty proposes that Your Highness, King of Wu, join him in punishing those treacherous Cao usurpers."
"Hmm…"
Deng Zhi poured out his passion trying to convince Sun Quan, but the king's reaction remained lukewarm at best.
"Our Shu will advance north from Hanzhong and Jingzhou. At that time, Your Highness need only lead Eastern Wu's mighty army and march on Hefei. If you form a two-front war simultaneous with Shu, Eastern Wu will surely profit as well."
"Hefei…"
Deng Zhi was right. Pushing north alongside Shu would clearly be more advantageous than facing Wei alone.
Even so, Sun Quan's response stayed tepid. There were two reasons.
The lingering resentment toward Shu that had yet to fully dissolve.
And the other—the terror of Hefei that still hadn't been washed clean.
"Your Highness, allow me to say once more—"
"I understand the intent well enough. I shall consult with my ministers. For today, withdraw and rest."
After Deng Zhi withdrew, Sun Quan discussed the matter with Zhang Zhao and his other ministers.
Zhang Zhao spoke.
"Your Highness. Accept the proposal. Even if we do not march, Shu will. If the two nations fight, one side or the other will gain something in the end. If that happens, our Wu stands to gain nothing."
"What if, as before, we strike Jingzhou by surprise while Shu and Wei are locked in battle? When two nations fight, damage is done and openings appear."
"Because we previously attempted a sudden assault on Jingzhou, they will be prepared this time as well. And looking to the future, the alliance with Shu must be maintained longer still. Even if we eventually face Shu as an enemy, that time is not now. If we are to oppose them, it should be after we have broken Wei's strength to some degree and grown Wu's power."
"Hmm…"
Zhang Zhao's words were sound, yet Sun Quan could not bring himself to a clean decision. Sensing the reason, Zhang Zhao pressed on with further persuasion.
"Your Highness. I have obtained a piece of intelligence from Hefei."
"From Hefei?"
"Yes. At present, Zhang Liao is not at Hefei Castle."
"What? Zhang Liao is not there?"
"That is correct. During the previous Jingzhou campaign, Cao Cao summoned Zhang Liao from Hefei and deployed him. Afterward, Zhang Liao never returned to Hefei and remains now at Wan—right on the border with Jingzhou."
At those words, Sun Quan's face brightened.
"Is that true? Then who holds Hefei now?"
"Man Chong currently serves as the commander of Hefei."
"Man Chong, is it. So. Zhang Liao is not at Hefei."
Hefei and Zhang Liao. Two words that made Sun Quan's teeth grind. If one of them was gone, what then?
If Zhang Liao is at Wan, he'll clash with the Shu army advancing from Jingzhou.
A picture formed in Sun Quan's mind. The Shu forces from Jingzhou would be broken by Zhang Liao, while Eastern Wu seized the Hefei that no longer held him.
Hefei was a bridgehead for Eastern Wu's advance into the Central Plains.
If they could only take Hefei, they could invade Shouchun—and push even farther into Xuzhou or Yuzhou. There was a reason Sun Quan had strained so desperately to take Hefei in days past.
Then this two-front campaign with Shu is a golden opportunity!
Having reached that conclusion, Sun Quan made his decision.
"Very well! We accept Shu's proposal! From this moment, Eastern Wu will inspect our armies and equipment and prepare to march. This time, we will take Hefei for certain!"
"Yes!"
Sun Quan's shoulders, once drawn in, squared themselves. The ministers, hearing their king's spirited cry for the first time in a long while, squared their own shoulders and answered with vigor.
"Lord Deng Zhi. Welcome back. You've gone to great trouble traveling to Wu once again."
Xu Shu and I greeted Deng Zhi upon his return from Eastern Wu.
"And what answer did Sun Quan give?"
Xu Shu asked the question that mattered most.
"He has agreed to accept our proposal, for now. He replied that Wu will lead a great army to Hefei in concert with the timing of Shu's northern advance."
"Hmm. If his word holds, a two-front war will take shape. Provided that word is not a lie."
"Was there anything suspicious about Sun Quan's behavior?"
At my question, Deng Zhi stroked his chin thoughtfully before answering.
"He did consent to our proposal, but throughout my persuasion he seemed lost in other thoughts. No matter how I tried to convince him, he answered halfheartedly. I couldn't tell what he was thinking."
"I see."
"Still, after consulting with his ministers, he gave his assent."
"The ministers must have persuaded him. Joining forces with us is the advantageous path for them as well."
If only I could read minds at times like this. Now that history had been thrown off course, not knowing how Sun Quan would act later was the frustrating part. Looking back, knowing the history up through the battle for Jingzhou had been a real advantage.
"The fact that Sun Quan's reaction was less than favorable until his ministers persuaded him suggests he did not initially view our proposal with goodwill. There's no telling what whim he might indulge next…"
Xu Shu quietly offered his assessment from beside me.
"This time, I will not join the advance. I will remain here in Jiangling and prepare for any contingency."
"Military Advisor Xu? Having you hold this place is reassuring, of course, but it's a bit of a shame. Our Northern Expedition force will need a capable strategist as well."
Defending the home base was important, but we were about to fight Wei—and not having a strategist of Xu Shu's caliber was a real regret. Ma Liang and Pan Jun were essential to Jingzhou's internal administration, so they would remain here as well.
"In that case, what if General Jin served as strategist?"
"Me?"
"I believe General Jin could do it as well as anyone."
A strategist. I'd spent plenty of time charging at the front with a spear, but I'd never considered playing the advisor.
I thought for a moment, then nodded.
"All right. I'll do it."
I'd decided to take the role, but it would be good to bring along at least one person who could use their head. Someone to cover my shortcomings.
One person came immediately to mind.
Ma Su. I should take him.
I looked forward to his contributions here—instead of at Jieting.
As the time for war drew near, Eastern Wu—having agreed to coordinate with Shu—began to move.
A great army led personally by Sun Quan crossed the Yangtze River.
The magnificent walls of Hefei Castle entered the Eastern Wu army's field of vision.
A place that had dealt them bitter defeats time and again.
The loss to Zhang Liao in particular still weighed on him as a crushing psychological burden. But this time, he was confident.
Now that we've agreed to a joint front with Shu, this is the perfect chance to expand our territory. First, I'll settle the old grudge from Hefei.
Sun Quan glared at Hefei Castle with eyes burning like fire.
A Hefei without Zhang Liao—I'll crush it in a single stroke!
Drawing his sword, Sun Quan rallied his troops. The renowned generals and soldiers behind him answered, raising their weapons and roaring in cheer.
From behind him, a searing heat exploded as if it would swallow Hefei whole at any moment.