Han Ji

Chapter 169 Military Review in Hanzhong

Chapter 169 Military Review in Hanzhong

The last day of February in the fifth year of Zhongping.

Ten thousand people stood on the Nanzheng drill ground.

The tips of the spears gleamed in the morning light, like a forest of iron. A wind blew from the Mian River, carrying moisture that felt damp and cold on our faces. No one moved; even the horses were quiet, only occasionally snorting.

On the platform for reviewing generals, Liu Bei stood with his hand on his sword.

On the left, Guan Yu, in a blue robe and bronze armor, his phoenix eyes half-closed, gazed westward. On the right, Zhang Fei, in black armor and robe, rested his hand on the shaft of his eighteen-foot spear, his knuckles thick and large. Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, and Zhang Wu stood slightly behind, all clad in armor.

Below the stage, Li Shun stood at the very front of the veterans from Zhuojun, his back ramrod straight. Behind him were three hundred men, all handpicked from the veterans of Zhuojun, who had served Liu Bei for four years and were now the backbone of his personal guard.

"What a formidable army!" Liu Bei exclaimed, his voice not loud, but carried on the wind. "These are our soldiers."

Guan Yu stepped forward: "Brother, I've examined the terrain of Ba Commandery. If Zhao Zhi occupies Jiangzhou, he will control the strategic pass of the Yangtze River and establish a separatist regime. We should cut off his retreat route first."

"How do we decide?" Zhang Fei shouted. "Give me a thousand soldiers, and I'll take Chengdu straight! I'll capture that fake emperor!"

Liu Bei waved his hand.

He walked to the edge of the platform and pointed west: "Yun Chang will lead two thousand elite troops out of the Micang Road and reach Jiangzhou in five days. Do not attack the city, but block the main road from Jiangzhou to Chengdu and wait for the main force."

Guan Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Understood."

"I will lead five thousand main forces out of the Golden Ox Road and besiege Chengdu in ten days." Liu Bei turned to look at Zhang Fei, "Yide, you will guard Hanzhong."

"Leave two thousand soldiers for you to protect the foundation."

Zhang Fei glared: "Brother! I want to lead the charge!"

"Hanzhong is the front line." Liu Bei stared at him. "Our families, provisions, and escape route are all here. If we lose Hanzhong, we'll be like a rootless duckweed."

Zhang Fei gritted his teeth, and finally clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I will defend."

Liu Bei looked at Jian Yong: "Xianhe, you go with Yunchang first. You will be in charge of all military documents, orders, and intelligence."

Jian Yong nodded: "Yes."

"Zijing," Liu Bei called to Qian Zhao, "you lead three hundred cavalry to scout ahead. The Golden Ox Road is treacherous; thoroughly investigate every plank road."

pass."

Qian Zhao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Understood."

"Zhang Wu," Liu Bei called out last.

"exist."

"The personal guards number five hundred. You will take three hundred to accompany Yun Chang. Leave two hundred to guard the Nanzheng residence and protect the mistress."

Zhang Wu knelt on one knee: "I will protect you with my life."

After distributing the tasks, Liu Bei walked back to the center of the platform.

He was silent for a moment.

"There's one more thing." He lowered his voice, so that only a few people on the stage could hear him, "The connection with Liu Jun and Ma Xiang ends here. Anyone who knew anything outside of our brothers has been wiped out."

Everyone's expression tightened.

"From now on," Liu Bei said, emphasizing each word, "the reason we entered Yizhou was because of Xi Jian's tyranny. We are here to quell the rebellion. As for the matter of starting the fire, we'll keep it to ourselves."

Guan Yu nodded: "That's only right."

Zhang Fei scratched his head: "He rebelled on his own."

Jian Yong lowered his eyes, recalling the yellow flag in the dilapidated temple in Mianzhu. He didn't speak.

"Alright," Liu Bei raised his voice, addressing the audience, "We will march tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM)!"

"Victory! Victory!"

The roar shook the willow trees beside the training ground, causing them to shed leaves.

In the inner quarters, Xun Cai was managing the accounts.

A dozen or so bamboo scrolls were spread out on the table, recording the amount of grain and fodder. Her pregnant belly was already showing, and her back ached from sitting for a long time, so she stood up, supporting her back with one hand and using the other to count the grains.

The door opened, and Liu Bei entered.

"Husband," Xun Cai put down his abacus, "Have you made the assignments?"

"Alright." Liu Bei walked to her side and placed his hand on her abdomen. "We'll set off tomorrow."

Xun Cai's fingers trembled.

She lowered her head and continued calculating: "The grain supply is sufficient. The first batch of 30,000 shi has been loaded onto ships, traveling along the Mian River into the Han River, and then overland to the Micang Road. The second batch of 50,000 shi will be shipped in ten days."

Liu Bei didn't speak, he just looked at her.

The candlelight illuminated her profile, casting faint shadows beneath her eyelashes. Her fingers, steady as she manipulated the counting rods, were pale at the tips.

"Cai'er," Liu Bei called to her.

Xun Cai looked up.

"I will return," Liu Bei said, "before the child is born."

Xun Cai laughed, tears streaming down her face. She raised her hand to wipe them away: "I believe you."

She took a small bundle from under the table, opened it, and inside was a soft armor. "I modified it, added a cotton lining, and moved the breastplate so it won't hinder movement." She unfolded the armor and held it up to Liu Bei's body, "Try it, my husband."

Liu Bei took off his outer robe and put on soft armor.

fit.

"Good craftsmanship," he said.

Xun Cai helped him tie the straps, slowly, pulling them tight one by one. When she got to the last strap, she stopped, her forehead pressed against his chest.

"You must come back."

"must."

Outside the window, the night watchman strikes his clapper.

It's past midnight.

The same night, Chengdu.

The Dacheng Hall was brightly lit, but only half of it was illuminated. The shadows cast by the pillars were long, dividing Wang Rao's face into two halves of light and shadow.

He was drinking.

The wine was a fine wine that Xi Jian had privately collected; it was amber in color and poured into a jade cup. He didn't use the cup, but poured it directly from the spout, drinking half and spilling the other half, soaking a large patch of his front.

"Your Majesty!" He wiped his mouth. "That scoundrel Zhao Zhi is at it again, threatening to crack down on military discipline! Crack down on him, damn it!"

Ma Xiang sat on the tiger-skin chair without saying a word.

He was wearing the ceremonial robes of a feudal lord, but without the crown. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Several generals, all of Wang Rao's men, stood beside His Highness and echoed, "That's right! Our brothers fought tooth and nail to build this empire; what's wrong with enjoying a few days of leisure?"

"Zhao Zhi is just a poor scholar, what does he know!"

Ma Xiang raised his eyes and looked at them.

These faces, just a month ago, were eating dry biscuits in a dilapidated temple in Mianzhu. Now they wear silk, adorn themselves with gold seals, and have bulging bellies.

"Where is Zhao Zhi?" he asked.

"They went to Jiangzhou," Wang Rao grinned. "They took two thousand men, saying they're going to attack Jiangzhou. Hmph, just trying to steal the credit!"

Ma Xiang tapped his fingers on the armrest.

Jiangzhou.

The throat of the Yangtze River, the seat of Ba Commandery. Capture Jiangzhou, and half of Yizhou in the east will be secure.

Zhao Zhi understood better than him.

"Let him fight," said Ma Xiang. "It would be a good thing if he won."

"Your Majesty!" Wang Rao stood up, dropping his wine jug with a clatter. "You can't be biased! That brat Zhao Zhi has been hooking up with a few civil officials lately; who knows what he's up to!"

Ma Xiang stared at him.

He stared for three breaths.

"Wang Rao," he said, his voice hoarse, "do you still remember the oath we made in the dilapidated temple in Mianzhu?"

Wang Rao was taken aback.

"I remember... I remember," he said, his voice lowering. "We share the good times and the bad."

"And now?" Ma Xiang stood up, walked over to him, and said, "The good fortune is here, but what about the difficulties?"

Wang Rao opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Zhao Zhi is looking ahead," Ma Xiang pointed eastward, "He's thinking about how to defend this land. And you? You're thinking about how to divide the money and how to seize women."

The hall fell silent.

Several generals lowered their heads.

"Starting tomorrow," Prime Minister Ma turned and returned to his seat, "the Imperial Guards are not allowed to leave their camps. Thirty percent of what is looted shall be deposited into the treasury. Those who commit murder will pay with their lives."

"Your Majesty!" Wang Rao exclaimed anxiously.

"This is a military order," Ma Xiang interrupted him. "Anyone who disobeys will be executed."

Wang Rao's face flushed red, his fists clenched, but he finally knelt on one knee: "Your subject... obeys the decree."

He stood up, glared fiercely at Ma Xiang, and turned to leave the hall. Several generals followed, their footsteps thumping loudly.