A Shift in Perspective
Cao Pi, defeated by our forces, was said to have withdrawn past Wan and retreated even farther. For the time being, at least, he would not be leading an army back down against us.
“The Wei emperor Cao Pi is returning to Luoyang,” came the report from our spies some time later. We had failed to finish him off, yet the blow to his prestige must have been severe.
After Cao Pi’s defeat, the Wei army no longer dared venture beyond their walls.
By any measure, the northern campaign on my front could be called a success—greater even than our original aims.
And what of Liu Bei’s main northern expedition? Word of that reached us soon enough as well.
“A dispatch from His Majesty’s northern army. The main force has taken Yongzhou and pressed on to occupy Liangzhou as well.”
Good. I had expected as much.
“Any further advance, however, appears difficult. Wei has concentrated its central armies, and their defenses are solid.”
The Wei commanders deployed in that direction included Grand General Cao Ren, along with Cao Zhen, Zhang He, Guo Huai, Hao Zhao, Sun Li, and others. If they set their minds to holding the line, even our main army would find it no easy task to break through.
“His Majesty has judged the gains sufficient and ordered the offensive halted. He intends instead to stabilize the newly occupied territories.”
Fair enough. The war had dragged on long enough; the soldiers were exhausted, and securing the conquered lands was more important than anything else.
“Thus His Majesty commands: cease all further advances and devote yourselves to defense and the winning of the people’s hearts.”
I heard that Liu Bei would leave Pang Tong and most of the generals who had joined the northern campaign in Yongzhou and Liangzhou, while he himself returned to Chengdu.
We, too, watched the Wei army’s movements. When they showed no further sign of stirring, we completed our own full withdrawal.
Zhang Fei and Zhao Lou remained at Xinye and Jiangxia—the northernmost reaches of Jingzhou—while Guan Yu stayed to hold Xiangyang.
As for me, I returned to my own base at Jiangling.
Wei still tried to reclaim the lost ground, probing across the frontier with their troops, but the firm defenses of Zhao Yun, Guo Jun, Wei Yan, Wu Yi, and the others kept them from approaching too boldly.
And so the first northern campaign effectively came to an end. Failing to reach Chang’an was a mild regret, yet the results we had achieved were already considerable.
“Congratulations on the victory, General Seyoung!”
“We hear you have rendered great service. Congratulations, General Jin!”
Upon our return to Jiangling, a welcoming throng that included Gan Yong and Xu Shu greeted us.
A banquet had been prepared to celebrate the triumph. Cups were raised, ten thousand years of long life were shouted toward the heavens, and the musicians struck up their tunes.
I was truly glad we could close the first northern campaign with laughter. There was still a long road ahead, but we would use this foothold to leap even higher.
Meanwhile, Cao Pi—who had been driven back by Jin Cheong and the others—was now in Luoyang. Shu’s offensive had halted, allowing him a moment’s breath, yet headaches still piled high around him.
After the defeat, Cao Pi had spent a long while grinding his teeth in rage, until Sima Yi somehow managed to soothe him into calm.
“Zhongda. What of Cao Zhi’s movements?”
“We continue to watch him, yet we have detected no sign that he is raising troops.”
“Is it mere spite, or does he truly harbor treasonous intent?”
“This humble servant cannot say with certainty. Forgive me.”
At Cao Pi’s question, Sima Yi lowered his head.
Are Cao Zhi and Yang Xiu simply buying time while they plot some other scheme, or is this truly nothing more than a whim?
The present situation made Sima Yi feel as though his head might split. The conflict with Shu was bad enough, yet Cao Zhi and Yang Xiu continued to act in that ambiguous, neither-here-nor-there fashion.
Cao Zhi was one matter; the greater problem right now was Shu.
Having withdrawn all the way to Luoyang after the great battle with Shu, Cao Pi kept a constant eye on the movements of the enemy states.
After seizing Yongzhou and Liangzhou, Shu showed no further signs of invasion and concentrated solely on defense. Their clear intent was to turn those provinces fully into their own territory and govern them as such.
Cao Ren, Guo Huai, and the others were attempting to recover the lost lands, yet Shu focused entirely on defense and on winning the people’s hearts, so even that effort was going nowhere.
And that was not the only problem.
Cao Zhi in Ye.
Cao Pi had half expected that Cao Zhi in Ye might launch a full-scale rebellion the moment the central armies were drawn away for the decisive clash with Shu.
Yet even after Cao Pi himself had been defeated by Jin Cheong and forced to flee, Ye remained surprisingly quiet.
He had considered using their failure to cooperate in the war against Shu as a pretext for a punitive campaign, but the situation was far from favorable.
First, Cao Zhi in Ye held the hearts of the people in that region firmly in his grasp, and he also possessed a considerable military force.
Having suffered heavy losses against Shu, the Wei army could not move rashly. Moreover, the lost territories still had to be recovered.
On top of that, unwelcome reports kept arriving from the north.
The Xianbei tribes of the northern frontier show signs of mobilizing.
Rumors are circulating that the Gongsun clan of Liaodong may invade.
Liaodong lay at the far northeastern edge of the continent. For generations the Gongsun family had held that land.
Even if one wished to subjugate them, the distance was enormous, and they had never been judged a serious threat, so they had been left alone.
But if they chose this moment of defeat to strike? That, too, would be a headache.
Perhaps these are merely false rumors spread by that Yang Xiu.
Yang Xiu, who had always been insufferably arrogant, had for some time now been acting with quiet, sinister subtlety—so much so that no one could read his mind. A man that clever, behaving in ways that hid his true intentions, was a particularly troublesome opponent.
“I hear the King of Rencheng’s campaign against the Wuhuan is proceeding smoothly.”
“Yes. Not long ago we received word that he defeated the Wuhuan chieftain in battle.”
“That is some relief, at least. Once the Wuhuan are pacified, we shall increase the King of Rencheng’s fief and order him to finish the subjugation of Liaodong as well before returning.”
“Yes… Your Majesty…”
Sima Yi almost said, Is that not too many unreasonable demands to place upon His Highness the King of Rencheng one after another?—but he held his tongue, wary of drawing unwanted sparks upon himself.
“Be that as it may. What of Wu? I heard they fought Shu and lost; are they still sitting quietly?”
“Yes. Between Shu and Wu there is no sign of either alliance or war.”
“A pity. It would serve us well if the two of them tore into each other.”
“Liu Bei knows that as well; that is why he refrains from war.”
“Hmph. The scheme we laid last time was only half-successful. Is there no way to drive a complete wedge between the two states…?”
Cao Pi stroked his chin, then turned to Sima Yi.
“Ah, that is right. Did not Sun Quan’s younger sister marry Liu Bei?”
“Yes. They even have a son named Liu Li. To Sun Quan he is a nephew by his sister.”
“And Liu Bei’s eldest son is Liu Shan?”
“Yes, that is so. Liu Shan is the crown prince who will succeed Liu Bei. His birth mother, however, died long ago.”
Cao Pi pondered deeply for a moment, then struck the table with his palm.
“That is it, Zhongda. I have thought of a scheme.”
“A scheme, Your Majesty?”
“Indeed. We shall set brother against brother.”
“You mean to drive a wedge between Liu Bei’s sons?”
“Exactly. Thinking of that bothersome Cao Zhi put the idea in my head. We Cao brothers have already turned against one another—why should the Liu brothers be any different?”
“Y-Your Majesty… Cao Zhi has not yet committed actual treason. I beg you to withdraw such words…”
Cao Pi remained perfectly composed, while Sima Yi bowed his head all the way to the floor in an effort to keep his expression under control.
The rift between the brothers is largely of his own making, yet he speaks of it as if it were nothing. And now he has even come up with a new scheme. Is the man bold, or simply shameless…?
Whether Sima Yi was inwardly reeling or not, Cao Pi continued.
“Liu Bei’s wife, Lady Sun, is Sun Quan’s younger sister. If we make use of that, we can easily stir internal strife within Shu itself—or, failing that, sow discord between the two states.”
“Yes. Hearing it put that way, Your Majesty’s words seem sound.”
Shaking off the brief confusion, Sima Yi focused on Cao Pi’s words. After all, was not a shift in perspective itself rather ingenious?
“Lady Sun has also borne Liu Bei a son and keeps him at her side, does she not? She can hardly be without the desire to place her own child upon the throne.”
“Yes. Lady Sun’s temperament is said to be bold as well, so the possibility is not small. Yet Liu Shan has considerable support, beginning with Jin Cheong. How much support Lady Sun and her son can muster remains an open question.”
“Not all of Shu will support Liu Shan. There will also be those who harbor grievances against Liu Bei. Not long ago, were there not men in Jiangling who tried to collude with Wu? They failed and were arrested, I heard.”
“Yes—the faction of Shen Tan, Shen Yi, Huang Hao, and the like. The ringleaders were all executed; those who had been forced to join them were allowed to live, as I understand it.”
“Good. Zhongda, seek out any others within Shu who nurse discontent.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Leave it to this humble servant.”
And so, in the darkness, emperor and minister together spun yet another plot.