Fake Emperor (6): Advisors Divided
One thing I want to make clear: what we're about to do isn't about tormenting Pang Tong. It's to grasp the state of the realm, rally and maneuver the troops, and set a clear direction. That way, if Liu Biao's army takes the field, we can minimize casualties among Jingzhou's people and maximize survivors.
I've been through real battles myself. I've devised strategies with brilliant minds like Sima Yi, Zhuge Liang, and Seo Seo, and stepped onto the battlefield alongside them. Even when everything went according to plan and theory—no one was supposed to die—people still fell. A battle with zero deaths is impossible. It was in the fight against Zhang Je that I truly understood a strategist's role: the one who minimizes friendly losses.
"From now on, I'll assign each of you as advisors to specific armies. First up, Pang Tong—you're advisor to Yuan Shu's forces."
I handed Pang Tong the role of Yuan Shu's brain trust. It wasn't because she's got an ugly mug, or she's arrogant, or to punish her loose tongue. She needs to think from Yuan Shu's perspective to appreciate the others' intellect. Otherwise, she'd stay drunk on her own talents, dismissing and mocking everyone else.
"How can you ask me to play the rebel's head? Are you trying to get me killed?"
"Sounds like you lack confidence."
Zhuge Liang immediately jabbed at her. In normal circumstances, she'd have ignored it, but she sharpened her blade at Pang Tong because the girl held surprisingly positive views on Cao Cao's army.
"Why are your eyes so wide? Don't like me?"
"Right now, you're showing more flaws than strengths."
Zhuge Liang doesn't hate those hungry for fame and glory. She just despises that the target is Cao Cao.
"Hmph. Just watch—I'll flatten that nose of yours."
"You know personal grudges between advisors can't cloud your judgment in these mock tactics, right?"
Sima Yi chided her softly, sweetly.
"Just because you dislike Zhuge Liang doesn't mean you attack her army first in the upcoming simulation without reason."
"Hmph. As long as there's a reason, it's fine, isn't it?"
"Already scheming excuses when we don't even know which army she'll command? Hehe, how intriguing."
Sima Yi spoke with a smile, but she didn't respect Pang Tong yet. Smart as she seemed, Sima Yi didn't see her as a rival like Zhuge Liang—despite being the same age.
"Can I pick first? I'll take Cao Cao's army."
"Y-you're volunteering for Cao Cao's side?"
"Yes."
Unexpected... or not. The woman who could be called Sima Yi's tactical mentor—Xun You—serves as Cao Cao's chief strategist. Xun You's strategies mirror Sima Yi's. Despite the age gap, with Sima Yi learning much from her, Xun You had absorbed Sima Yi's boldness and decisiveness, growing through mutual teaching.
Their bonds were intertwined. It wasn't odd for Sima Yi to seize command of Cao Cao's forces.
"Cao Cao's army is the central pillar against Yuan Shu. With the Emperor in tow, they must strike the rebels first, naturally. To guard against any threat to Heodo, leave minimal forces there and pour everything into Shouchun."
"Everything?"
"Cao Cao leads personally. Sure, her pride took a hit at Wan once, but leaving the supreme authority idle during a rebel purge is a problem. For now, she needs to move out and make her name resound."
Cao Cao marches on Shouchun.
Sima Yi redirected Cao Cao's troops toward Shouchun.
"Th-then we'll hit Cao Cao from behind. Use Lü Bu first."
"I'll handle Lü Bu's army."
"Wh-why?"
"We have a lot in common."
One: strives to view everything from his own angle. Two: turns into a mad dog when drunk. Three: has multiple "fathers." No one grasps Lü Bu's moves better than me.
"Lü Bu has two paths. Advisor to Yuan Shu—you requested an alliance with his army?"
"Yes."
"He'll do it. Yuan Shu eyes Seoju, but he's already coordinating a united front with Lü Bu."
"Then he'll obviously aid Yuan Shu."
"Wrong."
I realized anew how soft Pang Tong's—Yuan Shu's—viewpoint was.
"What kind of man is Lü Bu? He swaps foster fathers like meals, stole everything from a warehouse owner who sheltered him and chased the man out with a blade when he returned. His judgments prioritize only his own safety—not loyalty or righteousness."
If I were dumb and strong, I'd have lived like Lü Bu.
"He's always right. It's an unavoidable choice for survival. You can't judge Lü Bu with ordinary logic. His mindset differs from normal folk. So Lü Bu..."
I glanced at Sima Yi; she nodded at once.
"Lord Lü. Though we growl and clash, aren't we both vassals of the Han court? How could you collude with traitors against the Han?"
Sima Yi spoke just like Cao Cao. Pang Tong urgently shifted stance and appealed to me.
"Listen, General Lü. Last time against Liu Bei, didn't I heed your mediation? Don't forget how I saved your face."
"Ah, the time an arrow hit my Fangtian Halberd?"
"Yes. Yuan Shu couldn't attack Liu Bei because of you."
Lü Bu owed Yuan Shu. By righteousness or conscience, aiding him makes sense. But if I were Lü Bu...
"What can the Chung Emperor offer me?"
"Wh-what?"
"What can he give this Lü Bu? I am the heroic general who freed the Emperor from Dong Zhuo. Though I feud with Cao Cao as fellow vassals, my loyalty to Han remains unchanged."
Lü Bu's life achievement: slaying Dong Zhuo. He could milk that till death, squeezing broth from bare bones.
"If you're pushing me as Chung's minister over Han's, what office does the Chung Emperor grant me?"
"Uh, well... Grand General?"
"Ha!"
Just like Lü Bu.
"Han’s heroic general, sold for a mere Grand Generalship?!"
"Then how do we lure Lü Bu if not with rank?"
"Focus! To tempt Lü Bu, offer what he needs most!"
"What Lü Bu needs? Red Hare? Weapons? Or a woman prettier than that Diaochan?"
"Guarantee of survival."
Seo Seo's answer left Pang Tong's jaw dropping.
"Lü Bu craves his own survival more than anyone. Between Yuan Shu and Cao Cao, who threatens his neck more? Obviously Yuan Shu."
"Which army's advisor are you?"
"I'm... Son Bo's army."
Son Bo's army.
"No, Son! Weren't you my subordinate?!"
"The long era of scorn and oppression is over. Now's the time for the true tiger—the Little Conqueror of Jiangdong—to rise."
"What?!"
"A tiger can't play lapdog forever."
Son Bo moved to fully break from Yuan Shu.
"Lord Cao, let's crush the traitor Yuan Shu together. The Sun clan will handle the south."
"Then we'll take the north."
"Our Lü Bu army claims the east."
Roles assigned. The encirclement net around Shouchun spread wide, trapping Yuan Shu inescapably.
"No way—this makes no sense. How does Lü Bu side with Cao Cao, and Son Bo declare independence from Yuan Shu?"
"That's the tianxia for you."
"Impossible."
"Impossible? Of course it works. Survival is what matters most to the warlords."
Cao Cao attacks Yuan Shu to protect her Emperor-backed power. Lü Bu sacrifices Yuan Shu for temporary safety from Cao Cao. Son Bo strikes Yuan Shu to forge his independent fiefdom and live like a man.
"If they'd stayed quiet, maybe. But Yuan Shu handed them perfect pretexts on a platter. No reason not to strike. Heh heh."
"...Can't he just abdicate now?"
"No. A deal's a deal. Once you've founded a new state, it either thrives or crashes—no middle ground."
"Why'd you assign me to Yuan Shu? There's no escape visible... wait, actually there is."
Something clicked. Pang Tong clapped and pointed north.
"Request aid from Yuan Shao!"
"That won't work."
A new voice came from outside. We all rose to greet its owner.
"Sima Hui? Teacher?"
"Yes. I stepped out briefly and returned early. You're Mun Bing's nephew?"
"Y-yes! Pang Tong here!"
"Good. Geum Taeyang has already begun the lecture. Hehe. Pang Tong, to call yourself 'Phoenix Chick,' answer Geum Taeyang's questions honestly. That's your entrance exam."
"It's... too hard..."
What path saves Yuan Shu? Pang Tong had to wring out her wits.
"Requesting Yuan Shao's aid isn't the answer? Why not?"
"I'll join your game as Yuan Shao's advisor. His army has many voices, of course, but one who knows his will well advises..."
Sima Hui whispered behind Pang Tong.
"My lord, perfect timing. Use this to purge every Yuan Shu supporter from the Yuan clan. Show who the true Yuan heir is."
"Th-that...!"
"Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu hate each other most. Same clan? Just sharing a surname."
Yuan Shao rejects Yuan Shu's plea for reinforcements.
"B-but they're Yuan kin...!"
"By the Han Grand General's decree and the Son of Heaven's edict."
Sima Yi stated flatly.
"Punish the vile killer of imperial kin Liu Hyun-deok, slayer of loyal vassal Gongsun Zan."
"No, that's...!"
Pang Tong clutched her nape. Even I marveled at the ploy.
"While Seoju's great war rages, Yuan Shao will smash Gongsun Zan completely."
"With Cao Cao's focus sold to Yuan Shu, it's the perfect chance."
"Th-then linking with Gongsun Zan... pointless. Sigh, really...!"
This was true desperation on all sides. Pang Tong's crumbling face was a sight.
"That leaves only Liang. Yuan Shu: Pang Tong. Cao Cao: Sima Yi. Son Bo: Seo Seo. Lü Bu: Geum Taeyang. Yuan Shao: Sima Hui."
"Then I command Liu Biao's army?"
"Yes. Just march from Jiangxia to Shouchun."
"Ah, about that."
Sima Hui shook her head bitterly.
"Liu Jing Sheng refused."
"...Pardon?"
"No troop dispatch, she said. I just chewed out some scholar friends over it."
"......Liu Jing Sheng."
How can she sit idle with rebels rampant!
My honey brew! My land prices!
Liu Biao's forces are needed to seal the west. Without them, a three-sided trap becomes an escape route.
"Is Liu Jing Sheng in league with Yuan Shu...?"
"Doesn't seem so."
"......Then it's that."
We'd discussed Liu Biao before with Sima Hui. She nodded gravely; I sighed deeply.
"Liu Jing Sheng, that shortsighted fool."
Plotting excuses for future woes, fearing he'll end up like Yuan Shu someday.
"What now? Without Liu Biao..."
"One more."
Zhuge Liang moved the 'Liu' banner from Jingzhou elsewhere.
"I'll be advisor to Liu Bei's army."
Liu Bei's army. Zhuge Liang.