Layers of Doubt Upon Doubt: The Vertical Alliance
The strategy of vertical alliance, when layers of doubt stack upon layers of doubt. It's even recorded in the Masters of the Hundred Schools. The six states united their spears against Qin to halt it. The chains that bound the hegemon who devoured the world.
"Th-that's... that's why you came here, isn't it!!!"
The moment Chen Soyoung's words hit him, a flash of insight streaked through Guo Jia's mind.
Wei now was just like Qin back then, and the vassals of the realm were like those six states.
"In that one year?"
"Y-yes! In that one year!!!"
Persuading the scattered vassals and forging them into a single massive spear.
Was such a thing even possible? Serving as chancellor in four states in just one year?
If true, it was diplomatic mastery on the level of the divine.
There was no way it could lack credibility.
Otherwise, why would that brilliant woman he held in such high regard stake her neck and walk into the tiger's den?
*
As Guo Jia walked toward the war council chamber, his anger gradually subsided, leaving him unable to hold back a wry chuckle.
How long had it been since someone had toyed with him like this?
"You're late, Advisor."
It was hardly a full council—just four of them.
Given the hour, that made sense.
"Take a seat."
Xun Yu gestured carefully for him to sit.
"And the Lord?"
"His hangover was severe, so we advised him to rest in his chambers first."
"How can we discuss military matters without our lord?"
Everyone gathered here would agree with that.
Xun Yu, Xun You, and Jia Xu.
Wait... what kind of meeting is this?
Doubt crept in, so he voiced it.
"But why are only we here? Where are the others?"
"Does that matter? Don't we have other issues?"
Jia Xu ignored his question and jumped straight to the main topic.
But that topic... was downright bizarre.
"So, let's hear your thoughts. What did you make of Chen Soyoung?"
"Isn't this a war council? Such idle chatter is..."
Jia Xu cut him off.
"Our lord has already made up his mind. Do you think our opinions will sway him? Still, it was a fine judgment. He's withdrawing the army, reorganizing defenses, and marching straight to Chang'an."
Guo Jia cried out in shock.
"Has our lord fallen for that scheme?"
He'd heard Chen Soyoung had tripped up Sima Yi. If the lord had discussed it with these men, they'd all know the details.
Xun You spoke.
"Once our lord starts suspecting something, he sees it through to the end. That's why we must weigh the substance. If he's moving personally, striking Hanzhong's Elder first to eliminate future threats seems the best course."
As expected.
Admiration escaped his lips.
But there was a problem.
"The Elder is beloved throughout Hanzhong. Striking him would surely lose us the people's hearts."
Seizing Hanzhong, the stepping stone from Chang'an to Yizhou, would place Yizhou under the lord's feet.
Yet the Elder ruling Hanzhong enjoyed such overwhelming popular support that the people had nearly crowned him king.
Easy to conquer, hard to govern.
"Our lord might need a pretext. But the conversation's drifting. How was your meeting with Chen Soyoung, Advisor?"
Xun Yu pressed again.
They all knew about it.
"You knew?"
"He summoned us separately and chatted about it. We also know you received a secret mission. Is she trustworthy?"
Guo Jia shook his head.
"She's not."
Xun You asked.
"Could we win her over?"
He shook his head again.
Thinking about it made his blood boil.
He spat on the floor and vented his frustration at the three men.
"She came alone into enemy territory, debated the realm, and with brush and feather fan, set great armies in motion right before my eyes. In all my life, I've never seen such bold, flawless cunning!"
The three looked baffled, unable to grasp what he meant.
Well, he'd skipped too much context.
He'd just unilaterally vented his rage.
"Urgent report!"
A messenger dashed in.
"Jingzhou's force of 50,000 marches toward Mount Pa!"
Xun Yu replied to the kneeling messenger.
"Understood. Dismissed!"
"Yes, sir!"
An oddly tense atmosphere hung in the air.
Jia Xu spoke first.
"Mount Pa? Why raise such a force and head into the mountains? No... Mount Pa?"
Hold on.
A year ago, he'd had a similar conversation with Chen Soyoung.
She'd said she wouldn't target Chang'an unless he raised troops in Soyang.
They'd traded jokes. He'd dismissed it lightly.
To seize Chang'an, one must take Wuguan Pass—a natural fortress impossible to assault with Jingzhou's forces.
But... Mount Pa? Mount Pa?
That's what Chen Soyoung had said.
Wouldn't it be fun if Hanzhong's Han Sui responded?
"Ha...!"
"What's wrong, Advisor?"
"Mount Pa... Mount Pa?"
His head throbbed. It was logically impossible.
Why did it feel possible...?
"It's an incomprehensible maneuver. To advance on Chang'an, they must pass through Wuguan. Are you saying a great army will march that treacherous mountain path? It's absurd, a notion born of ignorance of both strategy and warfare."
Straightforward orthodoxy.
Xun You brushed it off casually.
"Then they'll go via Zhaogou. As you say, Advisor, it's likely enemy deception on a grand scale."
"However."
This was quite the amusing situation.
"If it's coordinating with Hanzhong's Han Sui to encircle the Guanzhong region entirely, that changes everything."
"......"
Xun You nodded, as if realizing something.
"Seize Shangyong and push north? That would split their forces, yes? It makes sense. Han Sui in the west responds. That must be their aim. Can't dismiss it lightly."
Hearing Xun You's response, Guo Jia's words sped up.
"Turn Chang'an into a rat in a trap, with Wuhuan and Sun Quan invading the Central Plains. Doesn't something feel off?"
It was off. Too perfectly timed—these armies rising just now.
And Wuhuan had been under Wei garrison until recently!
"To relieve Chang'an, we'd need a massive force. Meaning one front takes heavy losses. That's why... we need this meeting."
Xun Yu's calm reply restored Guo Jia's composure.
"Lord Cao will surely concentrate main forces at Wuguan for Chang'an's defense. But if the enemy crosses the mountains... assuming they somehow navigate that brutal terrain... you get what I mean."
Xun You laughed in disbelief.
"Impossible, I know. But hearing you take it so seriously makes it feel plausible somehow."
Hah. Guo Jia rubbed his forehead and spat it out.
"Zhaogou after all."
"To bypass, they'd have to traverse those brutal peaks."
"What about terrain countermeasures? Supplies?"
"No idea."
Silence fell.
Zhaogou.
The place where, during Zhuge Liang's northern expeditions, Wei Yan proposed crossing to Zhuge Liang, only to be refused.
Why refuse?
Because it was a mountain range straight out of a wuxia novel.
The kind where you'd find a supreme expert's corpse and secret manual if you fell off.
Guo Jia's thinking differed from Zhuge Liang's.
If this happened, Chang'an would fall for sure.
That's how the situation would unfold.
Already strained by Hanzhong's Han Sui, with main forces tied at Wuguan, and enemy elites crossing the mountains toward Chang'an? In Guo Jia's mind's eye, Chang'an crumbled.
He conveyed that line of thought directly.
"Cross Shangyong to Zhaogou, and Chang'an's right there. With forces focused on Wuguan, defenses are useless."
Frustrated, he raised his voice again. "Heading for Wuguan? Shangyong? Give me your opinions!"
He shouted without regard for rank.
Only then might his chest ease a bit. Unable to bear the frustration, he pressed on relentlessly.
"Block Wuguan, and they'll head for Zhaogou. Say Shangyong, and they'll swing through Hanzhong to Shanguan. Isn't that the fun part?"
"...Fun?"
Xun Yu eyed him suspiciously, leaving Guo Jia dumbfounded.
"No, just sarcasm from the frustration of this mess."
"Advisor, are you drunk too? Your face is awfully red."
Suspicion lingered. Damn suspicion.
Now he realized—that suspicion was what boiled his guts.
'Fun, you say?'
Hardly.
"We must withdraw the army. Station more troops than anticipated. It's... infuriating, but sound doctrine."
Truly. Utterly profound.
Enough to suspect she'd orchestrated this board a year in advance.
Even just deploying to Wuguan indirectly aided Liu Bei's Han Sui in the west.
And now marching on Mount Pa?
Whether deception or not didn't matter.
Chang'an must not fall. They had to prepare. And she'd pierced that gap precisely.
She's forcing us to unilaterally extend our fronts.
"But we still haven't heard a clear answer to my first question. What do you make of Chen Soyoung, Advisor?"
Now he could coldly rebuff Jia Xu.
"She must die. I'll go to the Chancellor myself and report it."
Hoo... Must he follow? No one disagreed on fortifying Chang'an. But... no. They couldn't let Chen Soyoung toy with them any longer.
*
Guo Jia said he'd be back soon, but ages passed with no sign of him.
Stuck here alone with Zhang Liao, the awkwardness was killing me.
"Um."
"Speak."
"Do you even believe what I told you?"
I barely remembered what I'd said myself.
All I recalled was rambling this and that for a few minutes until Guo Jia clutched his head with a groan and stormed out.
"Does it matter? You fulfilled your duty, and that's what counts."
"Did I?"
Awkward.
So. Damn. Awkward...!
"What if it all goes wrong?"
"You asking me?"
"Who else? Honestly? I'm scared to death."
Zhang Liao's expression turned troubled.
"It won't come to that. Rest easy."
Hah... No clue.
Liu Bei's off to deal with Liu Zhang now, so no reinforcements coming.
The situation's utterly hopeless.
I thought Liu Bei would come to my aid... How did things end up like this?
Ah... What the hell am I gonna do...?