Rebellion (1)
Yong Kai was the foremost chieftain among the powerful clans of southern Yi Province.
Backed by those clans, he nursed a burning ambition.
A mere mat-weaver managed to become emperor. Why shouldn't I sit on that throne myself?
After Liu Bei's disastrous flight from Yiling, Yong Kai's designs on the Shu kingdom only grew bolder. Li Yan had seen through his schemes and sent a letter warning him not to try anything foolish—Yong Kai ignored it. Instead he joined hands with Meng Huo and raised the banner of revolt.
Meng Huo had long cast greedy eyes on Yi Province himself, so the alliance came easily.
I'll listen to that savage barbarian only until Chengdu falls.
With that cold calculation, Yong Kai gathered strength, intending to use the "uncivilized" tribes for his own ends. He persuaded Gao Ding and Zhu Bao—both of whom counted Meng Huo, the most powerful figure in Nanzhong, as their patron—and together they forged an anti-Shu coalition.
At the head of that league, Yong Kai seized town after town throughout Yuesui Commandery. Before long most of the region lay under his control. Only Wang Hang and Lü Kai remained, holding out stubbornly at Anshang and refusing to answer his call.
Their resistance proved unexpectedly fierce, and the siege dragged on longer than planned. Then word arrived that made Yong Kai's blood run cold.
"What did you say? Zhuge Liang is leading an army south?!"
Shu, which had been quietly rebuilding its strength through careful administration, had finally moved.
"Yes, my lord. Seventy thousand troops are marching this way—straight for Yuesui!"
Yong Kai rushed to consult Gao Ding and Zhu Bao.
"Zhuge Liang is coming with seventy thousand men to relieve Anshang."
"What are we to do?!"
The moment they heard the name Zhuge Liang, Gao Ding and Zhu Bao blanched with fear. Yong Kai exploded at the sight of their terror.
"We fight, of course! What other choice is there?!"
"But they outnumber us, don't they? And the commander is Zhuge Liang himself!"
Where Yong Kai was all fire, Gao Ding remained doubtful. Shu fielded seventy thousand; their own forces numbered only thirty thousand. The disparity was stark, and their opponent was a master of strategy. It was only natural that men who had been sweet-talked into rebellion now felt their courage drain away.
"War is not decided by numbers alone. Did Shu not suffer a crushing defeat at Ma'an Mountain? Their spirit is broken."
"…True enough, yet this is the genius who even Cao Cao of the Central Plains could never overcome. Wouldn't surrender be wiser?"
"If the enemy is Zhuge Liang, then remember who stands behind us—Meng Huo, King of the Southern Man! What have we to fear from a kingdom that was routed only two years ago?!"
He pressed further, insisting that Zhuge Liang was notoriously merciless, a man who never overlooked a crime no matter how slight. Both men listened with growing dread.
If I surrender, I will certainly lose my head. Better to fight and take my chances.
Having already ignored Li Yan's warning, Yong Kai was fighting for his own life. After long hesitation between resistance and surrender, Gao Ding and Zhu Bao finally bowed to his will.
"Gao Ding—under your command is E Huan, the one they call the Fierce Beast of the Heavenly Halberd, is he not?"
Yong Kai deliberately named the warrior who terrorized all of Yuesui.
"…He is."
"Will you place E Huan at the vanguard?"
Yong Kai wanted Gao Ding's famous subordinate in the front precisely so that his own troops would not have to take the first losses.
"…Hmm."
Gao Ding did not like the idea of sacrificing his own men. He swallowed a low growl of displeasure.
"Or are you afraid of Shu's generals? If so, I shall say no more."
E Huan, who had been standing guard beside Gao Ding, stepped forward at once, voice ringing.
"Afraid? Of Shu's ragtag rabble? I alone am more than enough!"
Ugly and coarse of face though he was, E Huan radiated boldness and raw spirit. In sheer presence he seemed every inch a peerless warrior who could hold his own against ten thousand.
With his subordinate speaking so fiercely, Gao Ding could no longer hesitate.
"Very well. Break the enemy's edge and bring us victory."
"I receive your command!"
E Huan bowed his head.
"Zhu Bao, maintain the siege at Anshang and keep pressure on Wang Hang and Lü Kai. I will take the center and support the vanguard."
"Understood."
Zhu Bao remained to tighten the noose around Anshang, while Yong Kai and Gao Ding marched out to meet Zhuge Liang. E Huan, given the honor of the vanguard, led three thousand men forward.
"So that must be their general."
In the distance the command banners of Shu fluttered. E Huan raised his voice and bellowed toward the enemy camp.
"Cowards of Shu!"
"E Huan, foremost warrior of Yuesui, stands here! Come out and test your skill against me!!"
Whether the taunt struck home or not, the gates of the camp slowly swung open. A young man and woman rode at the head of the troops; the banner that flew above them bore the single character Guan.
…That pretty-boy gigolo is their vanguard?
The moment E Huan saw the face of the general who rode out, his features twisted in open disdain. He knew it was foolish to judge by looks alone—yet somehow he already felt as though he had lost before the fight even began.
Before striking deep into Nanzhong, the Shu army first moved to crush Yong Kai's rebellion. Once they reached Yuesui Commandery, Zhuge Liang ordered a fortified camp raised and summoned his generals for council.
"Their vanguard is a man named E Huan?"
"Yes, Chancellor. He is said to be a fierce general under Gao Ding."
According to the scouts, E Huan led the tip of the spear while Gao Ding himself commanded the main force. Zhuge Liang lightly brushed his lips with his white-feather fan and looked around the tent.
"Who among you wishes to take the vanguard?"
By rights Wei Yan should have stepped forward even on this distant campaign—
"Chancellor, send me."
"…Hm?"
Every gaze swung toward Guan Suo, who had spoken up unbidden. Wei Yan, who had been about to raise his own hand, scowled in open irritation.
I know Wei Yan has a foul temper, but I have my reasons.
There was a clear purpose behind volunteering.
At the Battle of Yiling they dismissed me as a green boy with neither experience nor merit.
Had I held higher rank then, I might have forced the army to withdraw without ever setting fire to the forests of Yiling.
I need to pile up achievements during the southern campaign.
If history simply repeated itself, Guan Suo would never amass any brilliant war record—at best he would capture a couple of officers in an ambush and take Meng Huo once. That was nowhere near enough.
I want a position high enough that Zhuge Liang will actually listen when I speak during the northern expeditions.
A mere lieutenant general of the lowest grade would never do. Only then could I climb quickly enough to put that arrogant Yang Yi in his place.
Even if the man standing in my way was Wei Yan—Yang Yi's famous rival—I still wanted the merit.
"…Out of the way, boy. Even cold water has an order of pouring. Know your place."
Wei Yan's brow furrowed as he spoke. Exactly as expected.
"I know well how brave you are, General. Yet is it wise to use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?"
I deliberately invoked the old proverb Hua Xiong had once flung at Lü Bu—using a butcher's knife meant for oxen to dress a mere fowl—and offered it as flattery. The unexpected praise cooled Wei Yan's fiery temper, if only for a moment.
"Calm yourself, Wenchang. I understand your desire for glory."
Zhuge Liang restrained Wei Yan and turned his gaze fully upon me.
"But Guan Suo—if you take the vanguard, what do you intend to do with E Huan?"
I answered with the plan already formed in my mind.
"I mean to capture him alive."
"…Oh?"
A look of deep satisfaction spread across Zhuge Liang's face.
"And why?"
"Once I have E Huan, I will use him in a counter-espionage scheme and throw Yong Kai's entire rebel army into chaos."
Zhuge Liang's smile grew intrigued. A moment later he decided who would lead the charge.
"Very well, Wenchang. Yield the honor to the young man this time. I promise you the vanguard in the next battle."
"…As you command."
With the Chancellor himself taking my side, Wei Yan had no choice but to step back and wait for another day.
Surprisingly, he gave in without more fuss.
In the old tales Wei Yan was the sort who, blinded by ambition, competed even with Huang Zhong for merit. His temper was every bit as foul as Yang Yi's, so his quiet withdrawal left me puzzled.
Perhaps this is still the period when he obeys Zhuge Liang without question.
"Guan Suo—be sure to bring E Huan back alive."
Expectation shone in Zhuge Liang's eyes as he looked at me.
You can butter me up all you like; I'm still not becoming a civil official.
I kept that thought private and clasped my fists in a formal salute.
"I shall give it my utmost, Chancellor."
I bowed respectfully and left the command tent.
"My lord, volunteering for the vanguard yourself… were you itching for a fight?"
Po Sanniang approached with a soft, teasing smile. She wore light armor and would once again serve as my adjutant. When I first awoke in Guan Suo's body the arrangement had felt awkward, yet two years had forged a comfortable closeness between us.
"…Mm. A little, yes."
While Shu rebuilt, I had been thoroughly hammered under Zhao Yun's tutelage. There had been days of bone-deep chill from exposure to killing intent so thick it made me feverish, and endless thrashings with spear shafts against my midsection. Somewhere along the way I seemed to have lost my fear of actual combat altogether.
"Lieutenant General! The enemy commander is issuing challenges!"
At the scout's report I led three thousand men out to face E Huan.
"So you're the enemy general?!"
The moment E Huan laid eyes on me he roared in fury.
"How dare you set foot on the borders of the Southern Man—die—!!"
"Hold it!"
I cut him off with a shout before he could finish.
"We're going to fight anyway, so skip the tired old taunts and just come at me!"
"…Wh-what?"
He could not deny the truth of it, yet the words still rankled. My looks already annoyed him; cutting him off mid-sentence only poured oil on the fire.
"I know full well that a long tongue never amounts to much."
"You—you insolent little—! I'll take that head of yours right now!"
Goaded past endurance, E Huan bellowed the order. His three thousand troops surged forward as one.