So this was the famed Baishui Army of Yi Province?
Zhao Yun sized them up silently and found that, frankly, they looked even easier to handle than the Hu tribesmen of Liaodong.
These Yi Province soldiers had already surrendered, yet the looks they cast toward Zhao Yun and his men were filled with awe—and disbelief.
Zhao Yun shook his head inwardly. If these troops were ever to be taken north to fight Cao Wei, training them would demand no small amount of effort.
Zhao Zuo, on the other hand, felt as though he had been forced to reevaluate Prefect Pang Xi entirely.
Just yesterday, Pang Xi had been so anxious that panic practically bubbled out of his mouth. In private, he had even discussed with his retainers whether surrendering to Liu Zhang might at least preserve their lives.
And now?
Now he stood before Zhao Yun, smiling obsequiously, praising famed generals at every turn, posturing everywhere as a loyal servant of "Imperial Uncle Liu," deeply worried for the fate of the Han.
Bah.
Zhao Zuo spat inwardly, then stepped forward, squeezing Pang Xi aside. He spoke with righteous fervor:
"Since we have won such a great victory, I, Zhao Zuo, am willing to ride day and night back to Jiangzhou to report this triumph to the General!"
Zhao Yun did not respond immediately. He gazed across the battlefield, fell silent for a moment, then said softly:
"I have my own personal riders to deliver the report. There is no need to trouble Prefect Zhao…"
He paused.
"There is, however, one small request."
"My cavalrymen have followed me for many years…"
"Rest assured!" Zhao Zuo thumped his chest. "We will find a place of fine scenery and see them properly buried. It would be an honor."
Zhao Yun shook his head.
"No need for ceremony. When Cao Wei is defeated, I will move their remains back north."
Zhao Zuo felt genuine admiration rise in his chest. He straightened and accepted solemnly.
"Yide captured Gao Pei with a single blade!
Zilong charged the enemy ranks and slew Yang Huai!
The Baishui Army is shattered, Baishui Pass has fallen—
Liu Jiyu is now truly only the shepherd of Chengdu!"
Two battle reports arrived at Jiangzhou almost back-to-back.
Pang Tong was so excited he nearly danced.
Liu Bei smiled as he read each report carefully, then said:
"Yide showed quick wit in battle. Zilong's valor remains undiminished. Worthy of celebration."
Pang Tong straightened, suddenly serious.
"Does my lord know how General Zilong achieved such a great victory?"
Liu Bei leaned in attentively.
"General Zilong had Zhang Yi lead the main force at a slow pace, while he himself charged the formation with only a hundred cavalry."
Pang Tong grinned.
"Had he personally led the full army, the victory would never have come so easily."
As he spoke, Pang Tong broke into laughter.
Liu Bei's smile froze.
He rubbed his face and asked:
"Then what should we do next, Shiyuan?"
Pang Tong snapped back to himself. He reached beneath his desk and pulled out a single sheet of paper, sighing:
"Before setting out to take Yi Province, I never imagined matters would proceed so smoothly."
Based on the battles at Langzhong and Baishui Pass, Pang Tong had extrapolated several scenarios.
"I once assumed the worst case: General Zilong locked in stalemate with the Baishui Army, and General Yide unable to take Baishui Pass."
"In that case, my lord would need to march personally toward Chengdu to break the deadlock."
"But now that both fronts have won decisively, we should…"
Pang Tong laid out his strategy in detail, feeling only one word describe this arrangement—one that should have belonged to Kongming.
Exhilarating.
By early September, Chengdu's oppressive heat had eased slightly.
But the pressure hanging over the city had not.
Fa Zheng stared listlessly at the tea before him, watching the leaves rise and sink in the hot water. It felt disturbingly similar to the fate of Chengdu's current ruler.
These quiet meetings were nothing new.
When Liu Bei first took Jiangzhou, those present had reached a consensus:
"A rebellious traitor from Jingzhou is advancing on Yi Province."
Afterward, some went to remonstrate with the governor. Others weighed the situation. Still others—like Fa Zheng—found their thoughts drifting elsewhere.
As battle reports continued to arrive in Chengdu, meetings at this teahouse grew more frequent.
"Shameless thief of the state colluding with the traitor Pang Xi!"
"A mat-weaving shoe-seller used trickery to kill General Yang Huai!"
"Liu Bei now holds Baishui Pass with heavy troops!"
"Imperial Uncle Liu is marching on Chengdu!"
Fa Zheng watched coldly, yet inwardly he was quite satisfied with Imperial Uncle Liu's methods.
Recently, a new type of proclamation had begun circulating in Chengdu—small slips of paper, palm-sized, concise, easy to carry, easy to destroy.
Fa Zheng had quietly collected quite a few.
Each pamphlet stated only one accusation.
"Liu Zhang Betrayed Pang Xi."
"Pang Xi Governs the People Well."
These recent ones described Pang Xi's assistance during the suppression of Zhao Wei's rebellion—and Liu Zhang's ingratitude afterward.
Fa Zheng didn't believe such things outright.
But he knew the common people absolutely would.
After all—it's written down. How could it be fake?
Other pamphlets were more vicious still:
"Liu Yan Plotted Rebellion."
"Liu Zhang Forced Zhang Lu into Revolt."
"Liu Zhang Secretly Submitted to Cao Wei."
"Liu Yan Executed Imperial Envoys."
These dusty old scandals resurfaced. The people didn't fully understand them—but mentions of Zhang Lu's mother and Liu Yan were irresistible bait.
The crowd reaction was unanimous:
"I've got a friend who loves reading this stuff—can't get enough of it."
And so, from their own perspective, the people formed a simple conclusion:
Imperial Uncle Liu has come to demand justice.
Chengdu posted rebuttals—Liu Zhang angrily denouncing the rumors—but a handful of notices could hardly compete with pamphlets everyone carried in their sleeves.
Ignoring the teahouse's noise, Fa Zheng knew these men argued loudly in public while privately scrambling to secure favor with Imperial Uncle Liu.
Servants of great clans had begun slipping out of the city at night, ropes tied around their waists, vanishing beyond the walls—no doubt seeking Liu of Jingzhou.
Rumor claimed that guards on the eastern gate had already bought two estates from their "fees."
Fa Zheng felt both envy—and joy.
Chengdu had been stagnant far too long.
Interesting things like this… it had been ages.
Oh—right.
That Mr. Xianhe he met earlier had been quite amusing. Perhaps he might speak a word on Fa Zheng's behalf?
And when, exactly, would Imperial Uncle Liu arrive at his loyal Chengdu?
Fa Zheng waited eagerly.
But Liu Bei only slowed his pace.
Ten days from Jiangzhou to Langzhong.
Five more to Zitong.
Eight more to Fu County.
Then Li Yan of Mianzhu defected—slowing things even further.
Partly deliberate.
Partly because so many came to swear loyalty.
Some magnates even brought their own provisions and volunteered as guards. Liu Bei's momentum grew by the day.
Beyond Mianzhu lay Luo City.
Liu Bei had no particular desire to go there—the defender was Liu Xun, Liu Zhang's son.
With that relationship, avoiding awkwardness seemed wiser.
Yet before they even reached the city, Liu Xun was delivered—bound—before Liu Bei.
Liu Bei blinked.
He looked at the great clans of Luo City, whose faces screamed "Praise me!", and eventually dismissed them with rewards and promises.
This easy?
It felt unreal.
Until Liu Xun's furious shouting snapped him back.
"Gag him," Liu Bei said, shaking his head.
He examined Liu Xun carefully.
"A fine gift, this."
Liu Xun's heart nearly stopped.
None of the dire fates he imagined came to pass.
He was escorted toward Chengdu under guard—led by Jian Yong.
"I will not fail!" Jian Yong declared enthusiastically.
"Xianhe, do not indulge your tongue," Liu Bei cautioned.
One hard day's ride brought Jian Yong to Chengdu.
Liu Xun was taken by Liu Zhang's men.
Jian Yong was brought directly before Liu Zhang.
It was their first meeting.
Liu Zhang was richly dressed, jeweled crown, broad face with little excess flesh—noble, yet weak in presence.
More a wealthy gentleman than a governor.
And his tone was calm:
"Is Liu Xuande determined to take Yi Province?"
Jian Yong bowed, neither humble nor arrogant.
"My lord seeks to restore the Han and suppress traitors. Thus he must take Han lands to bar the enemy."
Liu Zhang snorted.
"Fine tactics. Now all under Heaven call me disloyal, unrighteous, unfilial."
Jian Yong hesitated—then stood tall.
"Is that not so?"
"You receive Han stipends as a Han minister. When the state is in peril, you think not of service, but of preserving wealth and comfort. Is that loyalty?"
"A ruler is father to the state. When ruler and father suffer, you stand idle. Is that filial?"
Liu Zhang flushed red.
Jian Yong held his head high, prepared for execution.
But Liu Zhang finally slumped into his chair.
"…Even so, these matters should not be broadcast to the world…"
Jian Yong pretended not to hear.
After much hesitation, Liu Zhang asked:
"If… if…"
Jian Yong smiled gently.
"If the Governor recommends Xuande as Governor of Yi Province, then he will not sack Chengdu nor disturb the people."
Liu Zhang stared hopefully.
"The seals, estates, wealth—Xuande will take not a single coin."
Liu Zhang exhaled.
"Then… good."
Thus the intent was set.
Procedures followed.
At month's end, Liu Bei entered Chengdu under Zhao Yun's guard.
The people lined the streets—curious.
Liu Bei smiled stiffly, gazing at the low houses, broken roads, murky canals.
This… is Chengdu?
It felt poorer than Jiangling.
Liu Bei fell into deep self-doubt.
What has Liu Jiyu been doing?
Pang Tong sighed beside him.
I, Pang Shiyuan, took two lifetimes to reach Chengdu?
Fa Zheng watched from the roadside and silently added:
On this day, the Great Han's Imperial Uncle arrived at his loyal Chengdu.