Sun Quan failed—and retreated.
Pang Tong glanced at Kongming and let out a soft chuckle.
"So this," he said, "is what they call an ally who endures for the sake of the state."
Kongming said nothing.
Zhang Fei, however, had no such restraint.
"Our Sun Shiwan-troop brother-in-law sure knows how to calculate!" he snorted.
"At Qishan and Shiting, he was more than happy to pick scraps and force our strategist to campaign in the dead of winter!"
"But when Cao the Traitor marched one hundred and fifty thousand troops into Shu—what did he do?"
"Took his precious hundred thousand down to Hefei for a spring outing!"
Wei Yan hesitated, trying to be reasonable. He lowered his voice.
"General Zhang… perhaps Hefei really is well-defended? Deep moats, high walls—"
"Bullshit," Zhang Fei said flatly.
Then, with rare seriousness, he added,
"Wen-chang, stay the night in Gong'an. Have Ji Chang give you the records of the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford. Read them carefully."
"And remember this—never learn how to wage war from that green-eyed bandit of Jiangdong rats."
Wei Yan didn't quite understand, but he nodded anyway.
Even Guan Yu couldn't help but sigh.
If he were in Kongming's position, he wouldn't have any good options against Jiangdong either.
That Sun Shiwan still carried the title "King of Wu" as a retreat path. Push him too hard, and he could simply turn around and surrender to Cao Wei again.
If that happened, Yi Province would truly be left to fight the entire realm alone—
exactly what the Light-screen once called "one mine fighting nine."
Yet on the other hand, Guan Yu still approved of the campaign.
"The Strategist's deployment is steady," he said.
"The roads of Shu are treacherous, yet he still fortified Hanzhong in advance."
"Even without rain, Cao Zhen would not have prevailed."
Liu Bei, however, barely cared about the battlefield.
What troubled him was something the Light-screen had mentioned in passing—
that Kongming and Li Yan did not get along.
The Light-screen never spoke without reason.
That thought tightened Liu Bei's chest.
Chang'an · Ganlu Hall
Here, ruler and ministers alike were well-versed in the histories of Wei and Jin.
"So it seems," someone remarked, "that Marquis Wu of Zhuge actually did Cao Rui a favor."
Li Shimin found this later-generation perspective oddly fascinating.
"Had there been no Northern Expeditions," he said,
"Chen Qun, Sima Yi, Cao Zhen, and Cao Xiu—all four regents—would have remained in Luoyang."
"Cao Rui was already over twenty. With five factions fighting for power in the capital, the court would have rotted from within."
"But once war ignited on two fronts," Li Shimin continued,
"the two Cao and Sima Yi were forced out of the center to command armies."
"What remained was Chen Qun alone—utterly incapable."
"Thus Cao Rui seized sole authority, and Wei stabilized."
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui remained silent.
Some topics simply resisted judgment.
Zhangsun Wuji, however, spoke without hesitation.
"Cao Rui had his tricks," he said coolly,
"but indulged in palace women and clouded judgment. He does not compare to His Majesty in the slightest."
Li Shimin waved a hand dismissively.
"Cao Cao's talent was merely passable—why even mention Cao Rui?"
Then, lowering his gaze, he fell into thought.
"Both Cao Pi and Cao Rui died young. Hence the Disaster of Gaoping Tombs."
"It seems the study of medicine," he added slowly,
"cannot be delayed."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted to Du Ruhui.
Du's chronic illness had already been cured by the Imperial Physician—
a narrow escape that still made Li Shimin shudder.
If not for the Light-screen's warning, regret would have come far too late.
Fang Xuanling smoothly followed up,
"Establishing medical studies at the Imperial Academy is a fine policy. Your Majesty is benevolent and enlightened."
Li Shimin shook his head.
"Not enough. Every prefecture should establish medical institutions."
"Gather ancient and modern prescriptions."
"Study medicine to save the people, to stabilize the realm."
"Investigate the people's illnesses—heal the people's bodies."
Ignoring the flood of praise from his ministers,
Li Shimin felt himself inch closer to the title 'Emperor for the Ages.'
[Light-screen]
[ Sun Quan's 'failure and retreat' at Hefei erased the last of Cao Rui's lingering worries after Shiting.
Brother Sun"Shiwan"Quan—you truly never disappoint.
With this, the Yangtze defense line was secure.
The King of Wu of Great Wei—oh wait, now he's the Grand Emperor of Eastern Wu.
No real difference.
If he were even slightly useful, he wouldn't be completely useless.
Thus Cao Rui issued a critical redeployment:
Sima Yi transferred from the Xiangfan Command to garrison Chang'an.
Zhang He, Fei Yao, Dai Ling, and Guo Huai appointed to oppose the Chancellor.
At last, two of the late Three Kingdoms' greatest figures would collide head-on—on the battlefield.]
"Emperor Xuan of Jin…"
Kongming softly repeated the title he had seen earlier.
"Xuan"—a posthumous honor meaning sagacity, reach, command of virtue.
Pang Tong smiled, though regret flickered beneath it.
He was pleased that his judgment had proven correct:
Sun Quan was unreliable not only as an ally—even Cao Wei didn't think much of him.
Yet that only made it more tragic.
The ally Kongming had painstakingly cultivated never fulfilled his intended role.
What was meant to be two wolves fighting a tiger had turned into
a wolf and tiger locked in combat—while the second wolf lurked nearby, hoping to steal scraps.
If that wasn't insanity, what was?
Pang Tong shook his head again, increasingly feeling it wasn't worth it—for Kongming.
The generals sat bolt upright.
Each refined explanation from the Light-screen was a lesson worth its weight in gold.
From Ganlu Hall in Chang'an came a long, distant sigh.
"To be unable to witness this with my own eyes—such regret for a military man."
Then the voice instructed,
"Ke-ming, Xuan-ling—record everything carefully.
Wu-ji, you assist them."
[Light-screen]
[ As before, we begin with background. War is not a turn-based game.
During Cao Zhen's invasion of Shu:
Eastern route: Sima Yi was defeated at the Han River.
Main route: Cao Zhen was trapped in the Ziwu Path.
Meanwhile, on the western line—hidden between the cracks of history—was a great victory: the Battle of Yangxi.
Once again, heavy rains forced a full Wei withdrawal.
But given Longyou's strategic importance and Shu's accumulated strength in Hanzhong, the Chancellor ordered pursuit.
Wei Yan and Wu Yi led forces west into Qiang and Liang territory.
Wei Yan advanced first, exiting Qishan and reaching Yangxi—where he encountered Fei Yao and Guo Huai, returning home.
Due to Wei Yan's later controversial fate and the historians' economy of words, the records offer only one description:
"A Great Rout."
That phrase alone spoke volumes.
Before the battle, Wei Yan held the rank of Staff General to the Chancellor, Governor of Liang Province, titled Marquis of a Commandery Pavilion.
Afterward?
Promoted to Marquis of Nanzheng County
Advanced to Front Army Strategist and General Who Conquers the West
Granted Imperial Authority (Jiajie)
Wu Yi was also rewarded—promoted to Left General, ennobled as Marquis of Gaoyang Township.
Under Shu-Han's system, noble ranks ascended as:
Pavilion Marquis → Township Marquis → County Marquis.
Wei Yan leapt four ranks in one stroke—
the only general under the Chancellor ever granted jiajie.
From this alone, the scale of Yangxi became clear.]
"County Marquis…"
Just two words—and hearts everywhere stirred.
Wei Yan's face flushed as if drunk. His body even swayed.
Steadying himself, he rose and bowed deeply.
"Yan will never betray Han's grace!"
Guan Yu's expression turned strange.
Pang Tong and Kongming exchanged subtle glances.
Liu Bei, however, sincerely helped Wei Yan to his feet.
"Only today do I see it clearly," Liu Bei said warmly.
"Wen-chang—you are truly a fierce general."
Wei Yan sat back down, barely containing his excitement—
Only to hear Zhang Fei mutter darkly,
"Then perhaps Wei Yan's death was suspicious too?"
Wei Yan went pale.
He knew the Light-screen preserved written records,
but his rank had always kept him on the margins.
Had it already revealed his fate?
Liu Bei smiled reassuringly.
Guan Yu clapped Wei Yan's shoulder.
"Think no further. Twenty years hence—useless to worry now."
Wei Yan nodded, forcing calm.
Then—unbidden—Ma Su's face flashed through his mind.
He quickly reassured himself:
With merit like this, how could I end up like that useless fellow?
In a corner, Jian Yong drained his cup of sour plum drink and burped softly.
"To miss seeing such a victory—what a shame."
Mi Zhu laughed.
"If later generations lack records, why not write one yourself, Xian-he?"
"Record these years, the customs of this chaotic age."
"Add your wit. Correct rumors."
Jian Yong grew increasingly tempted.
He had traveled everywhere—Hebei, Jiaozhou, Jiangdong, Liangzhou.
Still, one man was not enough.
He turned eagerly to Mi Zhu.
"Zi-zhong, you are widely learned as well. Paper is cheap now—why not write together?"
Mi Zhu hesitated, clearly tempted.
"Let me think it over."
[Light-screen]
[ Wei Yan's pursuit shattered morale across Longyou.
Meanwhile, the weather turned strange.
Records state:
"From the tenth month of last winter to the third month—no rain."
Drought was rising.
Sensing this, the Chancellor seized the moment.
In 231 CE, the year after Cao Zhen's invasion, the Chancellor marched again—laying siege to Qishan.
The ancients said: before armies move, provisions go first.
We say: war is logistics.
Having been tormented by Shu roads countless times, the Chancellor knew this well.
Thus, the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse entered history.
Sima Yi, stationed in Chang'an, didn't need to worry about supply lines.
If the Chancellor didn't innovate, there would be no battle to fight.
This time, his approach was calm and measured:
encircle Qishan, build Fort Lu to the northeast, and wait—for Sima Yi.]
"Encircle the point, strike the reinforcements!" Zhang Fei blurted out.
He'd been reading military texts lately—sometimes.
Guan Yu disagreed.
"Seems like encirclement," he said,
"but in truth it is control after restraint.
To wait calmly, seize victory through orthodoxy, then surprise—this aligns with the Way."
Zhang Fei suddenly felt all his reading had been for nothing.
He understood every word his brother said—
just not what they meant together.
"General Zhang," Wei Yan kindly explained,
"by building Fort Lu, the intent is to secure an undefeated position first, then strike vital points."
Guan Yu shook his head.
All of that was secondary.
What truly caught his attention was something else.
"Later generations speak from a lofty vantage," he said quietly.
"Logistics truly are the lifeline of war."
Liu Bei laughed.
"No wonder later ages praise Kongming's methods so highly."
"The logistics of Hanzhong—thinking back, still astonishing!"
To this day, Liu Bei couldn't figure out how Kongming, sitting in Chengdu,
had managed to send grain all the way to Mount Dingjun.
Without that support, charging to Dingjun would've been suicide.
Kongming gently waved his feather fan, smiling but silent.
Wasn't all this obvious?
To Zhuge Kongming, these were merely fundamentals.
Still…
He gazed at the Light-screen.
This Sima Yi—named as his lifelong rival—
How would he respond?
And though the Light-screen did not say it aloud, Kongming remembered:
Another year had passed.
Chancellor Zhuge Liang had only four years left to live.