Enemies on All Sides (2)
By decisively defeating Rear General Yuan Shu, who had threatened Jing Province, Governor Liu Biao earned fervent support and respect from the local gentry and common people.
The news that a mere cadet imperial clansman, once only a scholar studying the classics, had toppled the legitimate lineage of a Great Noble House with Four Generations of Three Dukes spread throughout the realm. When word broke that Yuan Shu's army would attack Xiangyang City, the connoisseurs of the realm had predicted a total victory for Yuan Shu. That made Liu Biao's triumph all the more astonishing.
"They say Yuan Shu, who had fled to Runan Prefecture, was destroyed by Cao Cao's army!"
"The whereabouts of Yuan Shu and his household remain unknown... but won't they eventually be captured by Cao Cao's forces?"
Yuan Shu had barely managed to rally his defeated troops and fled to Runan Prefecture in Yu Province, the ancestral home of the Runan Yuan Clan. But before he could regroup, Cao Cao's army launched a surprise attack and annihilated him.
The tyrant Yuan Shu had fallen.
The officers of Liu Biao's army cheered at the news.
"If Yuan Shu's army, which viciously plundered the people of Nanyang Prefecture, had seized Xiangyang City... then Xiangyang Prefecture, Jiangxia Prefecture, and even Nanjun Prefecture would have all turned into a living hell!"
"It is a relief that the great villain of the realm has met a karmic end."
The Xiangyang Cai Clan and the Xiangyang Kuai Clan.
He had allied with Cai Mao and Kuai Liang, who represented the Jing Province gentry, and defeated Yuan Shu's army.
Compared to the other warlords who had jumped into the race, Liu Biao's army was merely a late starter. But with the addition of Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, and numerous other talents from Jing Province, he demonstrated the strength to rapidly expand his sphere of influence into Xiangyang, Jiangxia, and Nanjun Prefectures.
"Please become the new master of Jing Province, sir."
"Put an end to the chaos where countless gentry families jostle only for their own gain! You, Governor Liu, must unify Jing Province!"
Cai Mao and Kuai Liang paid their respects and urged him.
Liu Biao nodded in agreement.
"Of course. I will unify the prefectures and counties scattered like grains of sand and prepare for external threats."
Originally, Liu Biao was merely a local official appointed by the Han Imperial Court controlled by Dong Zhuo's army, so he lacked the justification and legitimacy to govern the scholar-officials and gentry of Jing Province.
He had only created a temporary current.
The Jing Province gentry enthusiastically supporting him could turn at any moment.
Taking Lady Cai, Cai Mao's younger sister, as his second wife after his first wife's early death, Liu Biao forged a marriage alliance. He then expanded his influence by placing the Jing Province gentry who supported his uprising in key positions.
"Deploy Jing Province's warships and prepare for a surprise attack by Liu Chong's forces."
"Of course. Hundreds of warships are deployed and on high alert. If Liu Chong's fleet dares to invade Jing Province, we will sink every last one of them."
For a long time, the Jing Province gentry had controlled trade along the Yangtze River.
Domestic trade connecting goods from the Central Plains and the south.
And foreign trade reaching across the sea to Samhan and Wa.
Their hundreds of merchant vessels were nearly indistinguishable from warships that could be deployed immediately. The merchant ships of Xu Province, which Liu Chong's forces had subjugated, were insignificant in comparison. The merchant fleet of Jing Province, which had long handled the Han Dynasty's foreign trade, boasted naval might comparable to an Iron Fortress.
"How many troops can we mobilize immediately?"
"For now, only thirty thousand. But... once you have fully consolidated the three northern prefectures of Jing Province and then subjugate the four southern prefectures, you could easily raise a great army of one hundred thousand."
Jing Province was a blessed, fertile land abundant with people and resources.
If he could swiftly unify Jing Province, which had been mired in chaos and division, he might just be able to wage a decisive all-or-nothing war against the forces of Dong Zhuo and Liu Chong. The potential was there. He could easily catch up to the frontrunners. As a late starter, he also possessed many advantageous strengths.
"Do you know why Dong Zhuo appointed me Governor of Jing Province?"
"If I may be so bold... Is it not so that Dong Zhuo's army can establish a bridgehead in Jing Province and then suppress the rebels in the south?"
Dong Zhuo's forces had left Jing Province to its own devices as the local gentry fell into chaos and division. Dong Zhuo's sudden appointment of Liu Biao as Governor of Jing Province was meant to check Liu Chong's forces. An overland route to attack Chen Kingdom through Nanyang Prefecture. And a naval route to attack Danyang Prefecture through Jiangxia Prefecture. With Jing Province as a bridgehead, the great armies of Guanxi and Guanzhong could be fully committed to subjugating the south. In preparation for this southern campaign, Dong Zhuo ordered Liu Biao to requisition as many Jing Province warships as possible.
"A descendant of the Han Imperial House acting as a lackey to the greatest traitor in history... I will surely face criticism and condemnation from the renowned scholars of the realm."
"S-sir...!"
"Of course, I have no intention of meekly submitting to Dong Zhuo. After we defeat Liu Chong and Liu Seong-hwi, I will hunt down and kill Dong Zhuo to restore the realm's collapsed order and righteousness."
"..."
He had no intention of obeying the eternal traitor,
nor of assisting the young Emperor.
They were all enemies.
Political rivals he had to destroy.
To seize hegemony over the realm, all political rivals had to be eliminated.
A descendant of Liu Yu, Prince Gong of Lu, the fourth son of Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Biao was, like the southern rebels, plotting Usurpation. He had thrown himself into these turbulent times harboring the grand ambition of overthrowing the corrupt and incompetent Imperial Court and founding a new dynasty.
* * *
The reason Liu Yan's forces in Yi Province had submitted to Dong Zhuo was because of his four sons, who were held hostage in Chang'an. Liu Yan's sons, who had been studying in Luoyang, had been unfortunate enough to be captured by Dong Zhuo's army when they seized control of the Han Imperial Court.
But—
Liu Yan was a cold-blooded man who would readily abandon his children's safety for the sake of his ambition. The claim that he had no choice but to side with the arch-traitor because his sons were held hostage was a mere pretense. Liu Yan was deliberately helping Dong Zhuo's army by presenting taxes and military provisions to encourage them to mobilize a massive force.
Mutual destruction, perishing together.
Liu Yan's goal was for both Dong Zhuo's and Liu Chong's armies to annihilate each other.
He was waiting for Liu Chong's southern forces to be destroyed and Dong Zhuo's forces in Guanzhong to be weakened. Once Dong Zhuo's military strength was thus depleted, he planned to immediately lead his Capital Expedition Army to raid Chang'an City and secure the person of the young Emperor and the key court officials.
"Liu Biao must be playing the same cheap trick. Damned old schemers."
Push aside the first and second-place contenders and seize the realm.
For a late starter, it's the best strategy.
Liu Yan would provide provisions and supplies, while Liu Biao would offer routes and warships, urging an all-out war. With cadet imperial clansmen flanking him on both sides, Dong Zhuo would be greatly encouraged and would proclaim a campaign to subjugate the south.
"Then... how will the Governor of You Province, Liu Yu, move?"
"Liu Yu is a loyal official blindly devoted to the Han Imperial Court. He's the complete opposite of Liu Biao and Liu Yan, who are secretly working toward mutual destruction."
If he had been a man who acted on ambition and desire like Liu Yan and Liu Biao, his moves would have been easy to read. There is no creature simpler than a man who acts purely for his own benefit.
But Liu Yu was the complete opposite.
He prioritized righteousness over practical gain.
He was someone who valued the Han Imperial Court and the imperial house above his own safety.
"Has Governor of Ji Province Yuan Shao joined Liu Yu?" "I'm not sure..."
I don't know.
She's a woman whose true intentions are impossible to read.
The more enigmatic a woman is, the more single-hearted she tends to be toward her lover.
"Little brother, why are you staring at your big sister's face like that?"
"...It's nothing."
A woman whose true feelings are hidden.
There is no one more two-faced than the beauty before me.
I stared intently at her face, framed by her flowing white hair. In response, Liu Bei offered an innocent, radiant smile, beaming as if to say, 'I'm a completely harmless big sister~.'
"It'll be a real headache if Yuan Shao has joined Liu Yu..."
Just as I was letting out a deep sigh and worrying about this unfavorable situation,
a girl in a gray official's robe approached.
"It's highly likely she has. No, she may have already joined him. The moment she opposes Liu Yu, all the renowned scholars of the realm would turn their backs on her."
"Well... you're probably right."
The girl with short crimson hair spoke in a bold voice.
Sun Quan.
The second daughter of Sun Jian and younger sister of Sun Ce.
I had recommended her as Filial and Incorrupt and appointed her as Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat.
"By the way, I heard from rumors that Liu Yu also has large and long ears like a certain someone... People with long, large ears simply cannot be trusted, you know? How could anyone trust a person who is as two-faced as a pervert? They're worthless old antiques that even peddlers wouldn't bother with."
"The daughter of the General of Agile Cavalry has quite the sharp tongue. Whomever could you be describing? Would you care to enlighten this old antique who is so two-faced?"
Sun Quan had thrown out a mocking provocation.
Liu Bei responded with a bright smile and a question.
"The official robes suit you well. But they look a bit oversized."
"It's fine! I'll be growing quickly in no time."
The sleeves were so large and voluminous that her hands were completely hidden.
Even the hem of the robe was dragging on the floor.
I even began to wonder if she had stolen and worn her older sister's official robe.
"I look forward to working with you."
"I will faithfully repay the great favor of Your Highness the Crown Prince, who recommended me!"
Sun Quan sidled right up to me and linked her arm with mine.
It was a bold and daring action, unlike her much more bashful older sister.
"Hmph...! For a little brat who just took office today, you're quite bold."
"Stay out of this, old hag."
A crack appeared in Liu Bei's normally calm and unhurried smile.
In response, Sun Quan landed a provocative verbal jab.