News Reaches the Northern Expedition
Shanggui. The region where Guo Huai, Wei’s Inspector of Yong Province, was stationed.
Guo Huai, too, was clutching his head and fretting over the shadow of threat that had fallen across Yong and Liang Provinces.
“At Micheng, the Shu general Zhao Yun is locked in a standoff with Cao Zhen’s army.”
“Shu forces have seized Qishan.”
“The vanguard under the Shu general Ma Chao is advancing on Tianshui Commandery.”
“…”
Every report that came flying in was grim, without exception.
On top of that, Yong and Liang had once been Ma Chao’s domain, so from Wei’s standpoint the Ma Chao army leading the charge was a thoroughly dangerous opponent. Moreover, Wei had only recently pacified the two provinces, so central control remained relatively weak. As a result, Yong and Liang still held a number of counties that nursed grievances against Wei’s treatment of them—counties that might well throw in with Shu at any moment.
Guo Huai did not yet know the full particulars, but several counties in Tianshui, Nan’an, and elsewhere already showed signs of cooperating with the Shu army; only You Chu, Administrator of Longxi, was preparing for a fight to the death.
Even so, Guo Huai calmly read the board.
Xu Mu, Inspector of Liang Province, is not a man who will collapse so easily. Our Great Wei will not be brought low so lightly. If we can simply hold out until reinforcements arrive from Guanzhong, we can drive Shu back well enough. General Zhang He has already set out from Chang’an with relief troops, so any moment now…
Yet the next report that arrived cast another dark shadow across that hope.
“The Shu general Guo Jun has blocked the approaches to Jieting and is holding Zhang He’s army in check. The two forces are said to be locked in a chaotic melee.”
“What?!”
For Guo Huai, who had been waiting on pins and needles for Zhang He’s reinforcements, it was a blow to the back of the head. Simultaneous movements on every front—Shu had clearly planned this campaign with far more cunning and care than he had imagined.
The enemy seized Jieting first, but so long as Zhang He’s army has not been broken, there is still a way.
Guo Huai coolly turned the problem over in his mind.
Behind Jieting lies a place called Lieyu Fortress. If we occupy that ground and strike in concert with General Zhang He, we can smash Guo Jun.
Deciding he could not simply sit and take the beating, Guo Huai immediately led his army out of Shanggui. Following the river upstream, he reached the vicinity of Lieyu Fortress and surveyed the situation.
“Lieyu Fortress is held by a Shu general named Gao Xiang. His numbers are not great, and they have only recently occupied the place, so the defenses do not look especially thorough.”
“Good. Fortune is with us.”
Guo Huai allowed himself a smile of satisfaction. He had heard that this Gao Xiang was no outstanding commander. So far the plan seemed to be unfolding well.
“Assault Lieyu Fortress at once. There is no need to waste time here. Take the walls in a single rush.”
The soldiers who received the charge order raised a war cry and surged toward Lieyu Fortress.
“E-enemy attack!”
While the Shu troops scrambled in confusion, Wei infantry flung up ladders and began climbing the walls; archers loosed covering fire.
“C-counterattack!”
The Shu forces mastered their panic and answered with arrows of their own, but their numbers were few to begin with, so the resistance held little terror. Once Wei troops gained the ramparts they drove the Shu soldiers back with terrifying force.
“Inspector! The gates are opening!”
“Excellent. We’ve done it.”
The siege had not taken long. Just as the adjutant said, the gates were swinging open from within.
“Good. Commit the reserves and secure the fortress completely!”
Guo Huai threw even the reserve units he had kept in the rear into the fight, determined to finish the occupation.
Once we drive the Shu troops out of here we head straight for Jieting. Then we link up with Zhang He’s army, smash the enemy, and race to save Yong Province.
He had already begun calculating the march to Jieting. Those calculations, however, were soon thrown into disarray by the uproar that erupted inside the walls.
“Waaaaaah!”
The roar sounded wrong for a victorious cheer from his own men. Guo Huai at once ordered the situation investigated.
“What is this racket? Find out at once!”
“Yes, sir!”
The adjutant immediately sent a courier toward the fortress. While the man raced off, the shouting from within grew louder still, and screams began to mingle with the din.
What is this? It sounds as though heavy casualties are being taken. Our men massacring the enemy? No… it doesn’t feel like that.
Unease settled over Guo Huai like a tightening noose. Then the courier came bolting back, white-faced with terror.
“Disaster, sir! The Shu army had laid a trap inside the fortress and was waiting for us! The moment our troops entered, Shu soldiers hidden throughout the place burst out and ambushed them. Our losses are severe—we need reinforcements at once—”
“Damn it all! Gather whatever reserves are still left!”
Yet even as he tried to send help, most of the reserves had already been committed; there were few soldiers left to dispatch. In his haste to clear the place quickly and march for Jieting he had pressed the attack too hard—and now he was paying for it. Even if more reserves had remained, whether they could have broken through the trap was another question entirely.
What Guo Huai did not know at that moment was that this was Pang Tong’s scheme. They had deliberately made Lieyu Fortress look poorly defended, lured the enemy into attacking, and then sprung the ambush with the units of Wu Lan and Lei Tong that had been concealed inside the walls.
While Guo Huai frantically scraped together the last of his reserves, Shu troops came pouring out of the fortress.
“There—the enemy general’s banner! Take him!”
“That’s Guo Huai, Inspector of Yong Province, without a doubt! Capture him and the reward will be enormous!”
Sighting Guo Huai’s standard, the Shu soldiers shouted and charged straight at him.
“General! The enemy is coming in force! We haven’t the numbers to face them!”
The troops that had entered the fortress were already broken or taken prisoner.
“It seems we’re too late… Fall back to Shanggui!”
Guo Huai clenched his teeth and ordered the retreat. Far from reaching Jieting, he had been defeated in a place he had never even considered—an error that stung beyond words. At least he managed to slip away from the enemy and escape.
Guo Huai came scrambling back to Shanggui.
“This is Guo Huai! Open the gates!”
Yet Shanggui Fortress merely stood there, unmoving, despite his command.
“Can you not hear me? Why do you not open the gates at once?”
When a second order rang out, the fortress finally answered—but not in the way Guo Huai had hoped.
“Enemy general! Loose!”
“Wha—?!”
Arrows rained down from the walls of Shanggui. Startled, Guo Huai shouted.
“You dogs! What is the meaning of this? Have you gone blind? I am Guo Huai! Can you not even recognize your own commander?”
At that moment the gates swung wide and a single general came charging out at the head of a body of troops. The man in the lead raised a gleaming blade high and drove straight at Guo Huai.
“I know perfectly well you’re Guo Huai—that’s why I’m doing this! I am Wei Yan of Shu!”
“What?!”
“So you’re Guo Huai, Inspector of Yong Province! Count yourself honored that Wei Wenchang himself has come for you!”
“You—!”
Guo Huai barely twisted aside from Wei Yan’s slash, then spun his horse about and fled.
“Stand and fight! What kind of inspector turns his back and runs?”
Wei Yan taunted him, but Guo Huai had already made the swift judgment that flight was his only path; he spurred his mount without so much as a glance behind.
Qishan. The main camp of the Shu army.
To Liu Bei, who had only just begun the Northern Expedition, glad tidings arrived one after another.
“Your Majesty, a courier has arrived. Guo Huai’s army that came against Lieyu Fortress has been defeated. Moreover, General Wei Yan has occupied the Shanggui Fortress that Guo Huai left empty.”
“Excellent. A fine beginning. And since Jieting is also holding well, we may concentrate on the conquest of Yong Province.”
Liu Bei and Pang Tong laughed heartily.
“General Seyoung’s foresight has proven true once again.”
“I have often wondered whether that child possesses some divine gift. Of course, Military Advisor Pang, who devised the actual plan, has done splendidly as well.”
Beside them, Jin Do wore a look of quiet pride at his daughter’s achievements.
“General Sukji can never quite hide his joy whenever Seyoung’s name comes up.”
“Ah—no, Your Majesty. It is only that good news has arrived…”
When Liu Bei teased him playfully, Jin Do’s face snapped back into the stern expression of the elite guard commander. Even so, he could not entirely conceal his pleasure.
While Liu Bei remained at Qishan and took stock of the war, further good news continued to reach him.
“Word from General Ma Chao. He reports that the occupation of Tianshui Commandery is imminent. In addition, a number of counties that harbor resentment toward Wei are cooperating with us.”
“As expected of General Ma Chao.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. When the moment is right, our main force should advance as well, and we can send supporting troops to Micheng and Jieting.”
Zhang Fei, who had pushed into the Nanyang region, also sent a courier.
“A dispatch from General Zhang Fei. He reports that he has taken Xinye and Jiangxia and is now applying pressure south of Wan.”
“Haha. Xinye I expected, but to have already swallowed Jiangxia as well… As expected of Yide and Seyoung.”
Liu Bei and Pang Tong were ready to rejoice again—until the courier’s next words wiped the smiles from their faces.
“However… General Jin Cheong, while engaged with General Zhang Liao, has…”
“Hm? What happened?”
“Both of them were wounded in the clash. At present General Jin Cheong is recovering in Xinye.”
“…!”
Liu Bei and Pang Tong were startled, but Jin Do nearly shot up from his seat.
“What did you say? Is she badly hurt?”
“Not so badly as to endanger her life. Until she recovers, however, General Wang Ping is leading her troops in her place. She asked that this be taken into account.”
That was some relief, yet neither Liu Bei’s nor Jin Do’s expression lightened. Jin Do in particular was so deeply worried that Pang Tong worked hard to console him from the side.
“She is a strong child; she will be on her feet soon enough. If anything, I find myself wondering what new scheme that girl is already cooking up.”
Liu Bei, too, could not hide his concern at the news that a general he held in such high regard had been wounded.
“Send an envoy of consolation to Xinye at once, and learn the full particulars of her condition.”
Without delay, a messenger left Liu Bei’s camp to offer comfort to Jin Cheong.