Mountain Climbing?
Xinye.
I was finally back. A place as close to a hometown as I had in this world — the very spot where I had first opened my eyes here.
I looked around, dredging up old memories, but the atmosphere of those days was, regrettably, not much in evidence anymore.
Looks like Wei never put much effort into rebuilding.
When Cao Cao’s great army had marched south, we had once centered a fire attack on Xinye itself. It had been an attempt to thin the enemy ranks even a little, but it had also been something that sat uneasily on my conscience.
Then again, I had more or less expected this from the moment the place fell so easily into our hands.
We had feinted pressure toward Wan and Jiangxia while launching a surprise assault on Xinye, yet it had still crumbled with almost insulting ease. The garrison had been thin, the defenses flimsy. Xinye was a small town — hard to hold and of limited strategic value. That was the message.
Taking a city so effortlessly was a good thing, and yet a strange bitterness lingered. An irony I could not quite shake.
Still, there was no time to wallow in sentiment.
The northern campaign had begun. The first button had been fastened cleanly; now it was time to think about the next stage.
“The occupation went smoother than I expected. General Jin. Now that we’ve reclaimed Xinye, shouldn’t you be drawing up the next set of operational guidelines?”
Zhang Fei asked me after we had secured the city.
By now, the main northern expedition force under Liu Bei and Pang Tong would have advanced toward Qishan, establishing positions and laying out their plans.
We were not the main force — only a diversionary army meant to deceive the enemy — so we had no intention of pushing aggressively north. Our numbers were far too few for that in any case.
North of Xinye lay Nanyang Commandery, anchored on Wan; to the east sat Jiangxia. With Xinye in hand, we could use it as a forward base and keep psychological pressure on Wei. If we dug in here and kept showing signs of advancing, Wei would find the situation thoroughly nerve-racking.
“Very well. Let us first examine the present geography and the broader strategic picture.”
Inside Xinye, Zhang Fei, the other generals, and I had gathered for a council. As the acting advisor, I stepped to the center of the hall and began laying out the plan.
Had Xu Shu been here, he would have filled that role — but he was in Jiangling with Ma Liang, Pan Jun, and the others, handling the city’s defense and civil administration.
No telling when Sun Quan might try another surprise attack.
So I was doubling as temporary military advisor. I would have been glad to have Xu Shu with us, but knowing he held the rear was reassuring in its own way.
I traced a finger across one corner of the map as I continued.
“By now, His Majesty and Military Advisor Pang, along with the main northern expedition force, should have passed through Hanzhong and be heading toward Qishan. They will soon be waging war to seize Yongzhou and Liangzhou. For all we know, the fighting may already have begun.”
“Right. So we press Nanyang from here and keep climbing.”
“Yes, General Zhang. We have also received word that Sun Quan of Wu is marching a great army on Hefei. Wei is now under attack from three directions at once.”
Looking at the whole of the Chinese continent, Liu Bei and Pang Tong were driving from the northwest, Zhang Fei and I held the center, and Sun Quan was pushing up from the east.
“What do you make of the Hefei front?”
“The commander of Hefei changed after the Jingzhou campaign. Cao Cao pulled Zhang Liao out of Hefei to relieve Xiangfan. Zhang Liao is currently stationed at Wan, and Man Chong has taken over at Hefei in his place.”
“So Zhang Liao falls to us, then. Hmm. With Zhang Liao gone, I wonder if Sun Quan’s feeling cheerful.”
“I would hope so, but…”
Two names stood out among the famous gatekeepers of Wei’s Hefei. One was the well-known Zhang Liao. The other was Man Chong.
Zhang Liao’s short-term impact was devastating, but Man Chong was renowned as the iron wall who had bottled Sun Quan up at Hefei for years. Underestimate Man Chong, and Sun Quan might well end up swallowing another bitter defeat.
“So who did Sun Quan bring with him?”
When Zhang Fei asked, I sorted through the information in my head before answering.
“He has sortied with Zhu Ran, Quan Cong, Xu Sheng, Pan Zhang, Song Qian, He Qi, and others. Zhu Ran is serving as temporary Grand Commander.”
“Took most of his key generals with him, then. But Zhu Ran as temporary Grand Commander? What about Lu Xun?”
“Yes. After the failure of the Jingzhou campaign, Lu Xun seems to have lost Sun Quan’s confidence. He is focused on rear-area security, suppressing rebellions, and hunting bandits — along with Ding Feng, whom he brought with him.”
“Tsk, tsk. Leaving the real talent in the rear of all places. We need Sun Quan to fight well if we’re going to benefit from this.”
In any case, back to our own business.
“The principal enemy commanders currently in the Nanyang theater are Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, and — as I mentioned earlier — Zhang Liao. Zhang Ji has also joined them as a staff officer.”
“Formidable opponents, but not men we can’t beat in a fight.”
“Yes. We may be able to defeat them in open battle, but occupying Nanyang Commandery itself looks beyond our reach.”
“Right. Holding ground is always harder than taking it.”
Nanyang was a critical crossroads. North of it lay Luoyang. Northwest, past Wuguan, the road ran through Hongnong all the way to Chang’an. To the east, it bordered Xuchang and Runan.
A vast mountain range stood between Nanyang and Luoyang, so rapid movement was difficult — but the fact remained that Nanyang abutted Wei’s major cities. Even if we seized Wan and the rest of Nanyang, we would almost certainly come under attack from every direction at once. The enemy would not hand it over lightly either.
“That is why our role is not to aggressively seize territory, but to keep striking and withdrawing in the vicinity, pinning Wei’s attention in place. That will allow His Majesty’s main force to concentrate on the northern campaign that much more freely.”
“Right. That was our purpose from the start.”
“There is one place we can still bite off and hold, however.”
“Oh? Where’s that?”
“Right here — a region we need to keep a close eye on as well.”
I pointed to a spot on the map, and Zhang Fei answered at once.
“Jiangxia.”
“Yes. A region a little southeast of Xinye.”
The northern part of Jiangxia was currently under Wei control, and from the perspective of our northward-advancing army, it was an enemy force sitting on our flank and rear.
“You say we can take it? That would be fine, but is it possible with our present strength?”
“Yes — Wei’s internal situation has opened that possibility for us.”
“Wei’s affairs are a mess right now, true enough.”
I continued the council, drawing on the intelligence I had been gathering since before we set out.
“For reasons we do not yet fully understand, Cao Zhi in Ye has been making ominous moves. The Xianbei tribes of the north also appear to be prowling along Wei’s borders. A portion of Wei’s main forces is currently watching the north — Ye itself — rather than the invaded south or west. In other words, they are bracing for something to happen in Ye. That means we likely will not have to face the full weight of the Central Plains’ vast armies. We can afford to be somewhat more aggressive.”
“I see. A headache for Wei, and an opportunity for us.”
“Exactly.”
“That aside — what’s the situation in Jiangxia right now?”
“Generals such as Wen Ping are currently deployed there. If he coordinates with the Wei forces at Wan, we risk being caught in a pincer. We need to take measures before that happens.”
Zhao Lou was currently holding the enemy’s attention on the Jiangxia front with a small force, but discovery was only a matter of time.
“Measures, eh. If you’re bringing it up like that, General Jin, it means you’ve already got a plan ready.”
Zhang Fei knew me well. I smiled and answered.
“Yes, that’s right. The moment this council ends, I intend to go out and execute the operation.”
“Where are you headed?”
From one side of the hall, Ma Su — who had been sitting there with a bright grin — answered in my place.
“General Jin and I are going mountain climbing.”
“Huh? Mountain climbing? All of a sudden?”
Zhang Fei looked at me in bewilderment at Ma Su’s words.
Ha. The moment this man so much as thinks about climbing a mountain, he lights up like a festival lantern…
I pressed my fingers lightly to my forehead and spoke.
“Ah — rather than mountain climbing, we will be moving through the surrounding terrain to carry out an operation I have already planned. There is work to be done between Xinye and Jiangxia. Lord Zhao Lou is deploying decoy troops toward Jiangxia, but he will not be able to maintain the deception for long. I mean to slip in and out quickly while that window lasts. Staff Officer Ma is thoroughly familiar with Jingzhou’s geography, so he is essential for this operation.”
“Yes, General Zhang. The terrain in that direction is all mountains, so it should make for excellent hiking.”
I shrugged once and spoke again. Zhang Fei nodded as if he understood.
“Fine. If it’s your work, General Jin, I’ve no mind to interfere. You’ll handle it well enough on your own.”
“Thank you. And what do you intend to do, General Zhang?”
“Hmm. In that case, I’ll put a bit more pressure on Wan to help you out. If I draw their eyes my way, your work should go a little smoother.”
That was Zhang Fei for you. We really were of one mind.
“I’m grateful. I was about to ask you for exactly that.”
“This much is only natural. I also plan to make contact with General Liu Feng, who is operating in the Xiangyong direction. I want to assess the situation and identify in advance where we might set camps or where the fighting is likely to be fiercest.”
“Understood. I will leave Wang Ping to hold Xinye and depart at once. It is also about time we made contact with Lord Zhao Lou.”
“Good. Let’s keep in regular communication as we move. Do well out there.”
“And you as well, General Zhang.”
Zhang Fei and I each led independent commands, directing our forces by our own judgment. We operated separately, but the coordination we had built from Tangqu through the Jingzhou campaign still held — we understood each other well even now.
Leaving Wang Ping behind to defend Xinye, I set out for the mountain country between Xinye and Jiangxia with a small force that included Yu Eun, Gou Fu, and Liu Min, along with Ma Su.
And so it was. In the middle of a northern campaign, I was heading out mountain climbing with Ma Su.
“How long has it been since I last went hiking with you, General Jin? I have always missed the mountains, so this is truly fortunate. I have been so busy with official duties that I have hardly been able to get out at all.”
Ah… calling it mountain climbing still felt a little off. Better to just call it an operation.