Peculiar Combinations
"General Gan Ning. How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thanks to you."
Having finished resting and reorganizing, I went to visit Gan Ning and Ling Tong, who were still being held as prisoners.
Before I left Jiangling, Gan Ning had collapsed coughing up blood. It had weighed on me ever since, but it seemed Xu Shu had taken great care of him in my absence, sending physicians and medicine.
His complexion was certainly far better than before, yet I still could not fully set my mind at ease. In the original history, his life had already run out by this point. Right now, he might simply be clinging to a lifespan that was already fraying.
"By the way, I hear Cao Cao himself has brought a great army all the way to Xiangfan?"
"Yes, that's right."
I had learned of it after returning to Jiangling — that once Xiangfan fell to Guan Yu, Cao Cao had personally led his forces south.
Ah… Why won't Cao Cao just move the way he did in history…? Originally, the man had been agonizing over whether or not to relocate the capital.
Still, the lineup at Xiangfan included Guan Yu, Pang Tong, Ma Chao, Pang De, Ma Dai, Guan Ping, Liao Hua, and more. And with Liu Feng, Fei Yi, Deng Zhi, and the others at Xiangyong coordinating as well, our own strength was nothing to sneeze at.
"Jingzhou's in complete chaos right now, and here we are lying around nice and warm, eating the food they give us. Talk about a leisurely break in the middle of a storm, eh?"
"Haha, it really is."
In truth, I was enjoying much the same kind of respite myself. The Wu army, having taken a hard blow from Zhang Fei, had pulled back for the moment — but there was no telling when they might come again. They had brought such a massive force; they were hardly going to just turn around and go home.
"That aside — and I know it's a bit odd coming from me — but honestly, when I heard General Jin had gone missing, I was worried."
"Hahaha. Thank you for your concern."
At that, Ling Tong, who had been sitting silently beside them, suddenly spoke up.
"Gan Ning! Watch your tongue!"
"What's the problem? What's wrong with saying I was worried?"
"Just spare your words. Saying something like that…"
Admitting you had fretted over an enemy general was the kind of statement that could become dangerous depending on who heard it. Ling Tong's reaction was perfectly understandable.
Ling Tong glared daggers, but Gan Ning only kept grinning.
"What are you on about? You fretted just as much yourself, didn't you?"
"When did I ever…?"
At Gan Ning's casual jab, Ling Tong's expression flickered with guilt.
"Don't even try to deny it. This guy may not look it, but do you know what he was like the moment he heard the General had gone missing? He completely wilted — wouldn't even eat properly. And that wasn't all. The way he kept heaving those heavy sighs… I couldn't even sleep at night with all that sighing…"
"Gan Ning…!"
Ling Tong's face flushed red as he shouted, and Gan Ning paused for a moment before breaking into another round of snickering, as if nothing could please him more.
The two of them bickered like that, yet somehow got along just fine — a peculiar combination if ever there was one.
Despite the small commotion, having confirmed that both of them were well, I decided to head back and get on with my duties. The thought that I might one day have to face them again as enemies left me a little melancholy — but a general could not afford to neglect what needed to be done.
"Well then, I have business to attend to, so I'll take my leave. I'll come visit again."
"Yes. Thank you for coming, busy as you must be."
"Yes. Until next time."
After parting from Gan Ning and Ling Tong, I stopped by the market that Xu Shu and Ban Jun had set up. Thanks to this market, they said, no gaps had opened in our supply lines.
I had only mentioned the idea once — I never imagined it would turn out this well.
In truth, Xu Shu had been handling overall military command in a role akin to supreme commander, so the market's management had been almost entirely Ban Jun's doing. Liu Bei had not recognized his abilities for nothing. I ought to go thank him in person.
The place was still bustling with lively barter and trade.
But is that Liu Shan and Ma Su?
As I looked around the market, a pair of familiar faces caught my eye. The two of them were so absorbed in conversation that they did not even notice me approaching.
"There are so many people. And so many things I've never seen before. I heard Ban Jun runs this place, but why are they exchanging supplies like this? There's so much food on display. I love food a lot, and the soldiers love it too, so is that why so much of it is coming and going? And there are so many horses. I heard they eat an enormous amount of hay — wouldn't it be better to feed the soldiers more if we have that kind of surplus? And my little cat will eat anything you give it, so why do big horses like that only eat grass? Also, horses can't understand speech, so why are they considered so important in war?"
"As the Art of War states, when an army of a hundred thousand campaigns a thousand li from home, it must consume vast quantities of supplies and expense. In war, skill in battle is important, but eating well is no less so — and equipment and matériel matter just as much. When a man starves, he can scarcely lift a brush, let alone a sword. Moreover, if supplies can be obtained here, there is no need to laboriously haul them in from distant places by ox, horse, and cart. The Art of War also warns that supply wagons are heavy and slow to move. And every living creature has its own proper diet. As for cavalry — though costly to maintain, they display tremendous might on the battlefield. Their superior mobility allows them to seize advantageous ground and fight from a position of strength, and their striking power is immense. That said, cavalry are not all-powerful. The Six Secret Teachings discusses several points of caution in their employment…"
When did those two start getting along so well…?
Liu Shan, at that curious age, was wandering about unleashing a relentless barrage of questions. Back in Xiangyong, dealing with him like that had nearly shattered my sanity…
Ma Su, for his part, was putting his gift for reciting ancient histories to full use, answering every single question one by one.
It was remarkable enough that he had memorized so much — even more so that he could pull it all out so readily. Was that why Zhuge Liang had been so fond of him?
Liu Shan, who peppered people with questions, and Ma Su, who always had some classical anecdote on his lips — they might actually make a rather decent combination.
Sensing that if I inserted myself between them I might never escape, I quietly turned and slipped away.
Leaving the curious child and the walking classical-anecdote dispenser behind, I made my way to the walls Zhang Fei was holding.
"Hey there, General Jin. You sure you should be out already? You could rest a bit more. Your face still looks pale."
Zhang Fei waved and greeted me warmly.
"I'm fine. I ate my fill and slept well — I'm all right now."
I exchanged cheerful greetings with Zhang Fei and his lieutenant, Wu Ban.
"Word came from Wuling."
"Ah — how did things go there?"
Come to think of it, Wuling had been under attack by Wu as well.
"They cooperated with the Wuling tribes and repelled the first offensive."
"Ah, that's a relief."
Wuling was currently being held by Xi Zhen, Fan Zhou, and others. Wu's forces had attacked, but Shamoke, chieftain of the Wuling tribes, had struck their rear and driven them off.
Wuling did not look likely to fall anytime soon — that was fortunate.
"Lu Xun will attack again someday. We've got to harden our defenses before then."
"Yes, I know. I hope reinforcements from Chengdu arrive soon."
Zhang Fei's support troops had come, but Wu still had the greater numbers. It was still too early to relax.
Before long, Lu Xun will come. And Ding Feng as well.
Ding Feng's real rise to prominence came later than this. That was why I had not been certain he would take part in the Jingzhou campaign.
Having crossed spears with him myself, I knew he was no easy opponent. I might well have to face him again soon.
Even with Gan Ning, Ling Tong, Lü Meng, and the others out of the picture, Wu remained a formidable threat.
And so we inspected the walls, posted the soldiers, and solidified our defenses.
Zhang Fei and I stood side by side, gazing out at the horizon beyond Jiangling.
Once again, I found myself matching my steps with Zhang Fei on the battlefield.
In the tent of Wu's Grand Commander, Lu Xun.
There, Lu Xun and Gu Yong sat facing each other. Both were among Wu's foremost ministers, yet neither could hide his dismay.
"I have nothing to say for myself before you, Lord Gu Yong. I boasted that I would take Jiangling…"
"No — it is I who should apologize to the Grand Commander. I only added to your burden…"
Gu Yong had not come to see Lu Xun for the pleasure of it. At their previous meeting, Lu Xun had told him this:
I will take Jiangling shortly.
And Gu Yong had relayed that to Sun Quan. Neither Lu Xun nor Gu Yong had truly wanted it that way.
Sun Quan had continually made his displeasure plain, applying silent pressure, and the decision had been made simply to ease their lord's mood even a little.
What followed, however, was news of defeat.
"It could not be helped. Zhang Fei and Jin Cheong are both among Shu's foremost warriors. Had they arrived even a little later, we might have succeeded."
Having barely managed to calm a raging Sun Quan, Gu Yong had come back to Lu Xun — and was doing his utmost to console him.
"I persuaded His Lordship, and he has calmed for now."
"Yes. Thank you…"
Sun Quan and Lu Xun — a precarious combination, yet one that was perhaps only holding together because Gu Yong stood between them as mediator.
"And His Lordship has promised further support."
"I see…. I shall spare no effort, however humble, to repay His Lordship's grace…"
More reinforcements was welcome news, yet Lu Xun could not simply rejoice. Greater support meant greater pressure as well.
"Ah — but… what do you intend to do this time…?"
Gu Yong asked hesitantly.
"Now we take it by force."
Though things had fallen quiet for a time, Lu Xun had not been idle. All the while, he had been constructing siege engines — battering rams, scaling towers, and more.
With every scheme rendered meaningless, the only remaining option was to overwhelm the city with sheer numbers.
"Grand Commander! Let me take the lead again this time!"
Ding Feng spoke up. With so many of Wu's fierce generals unavailable, Ding Feng was a card they could still trust.
"Very well! Ready the troops and march on Jiangling once more. This time, I will see that wall fall."