It was already late April.
Yet the Guanzhong region—where blood had flowed freely just last year—had fallen into an eerie quiet.
Seated in the Han Zhong Prefectural Office, Pang Tong finished reading the latest military dispatch. He set it aside, then slipped into the courtyard and slowly went through a series of stretching movements.
After learning from the light screen just how many brilliant figures in history had died of illness or sudden collapse, Pang Tong had become noticeably more careful with his own life.
That infamous Falling Phoenix Slope in Jingzhou?
Looks like this lifetime, he and it were fated never to meet.
Only after finishing his stretches did Pang Tong notice that young Jiang Wei had somehow appeared beside him.
The boy was wobbling along, clumsily copying the movements.
Pang Tong burst out laughing, squatted down, and patiently explained each posture.
"Master," Jiang Wei asked curiously,
"what is this called?"
"It's known as the Five-Animal Exercises," Pang Tong replied.
"They're said to extend one's lifespan."
Jiang Wei's eyes widened.
"Then isn't this an immortal technique?
Can Master teach it to my grandfather too?"
Pang Tong smiled.
"Why not? The great sage who created it hoped everyone would learn."
As he spoke, Pang Tong guided Jiang Wei's posture—left hand lowering, left leg bent, right leg extended, center of gravity sinking. He gestured for the boy's hands to curl like claws, slowly pressing downward in the shape of a tiger.
Jiang Wei grew even more curious.
"Then where is this great sage now?
If Grandpa learns this, he'll owe a great kindness.
As a son, one must repay such debts."
Pang Tong hesitated for several seconds.
Then he replied vaguely,
"The great sage was among the immortals.
He rode the clouds away long ago. No one knows where he went."
He deliberately avoided Jiang Wei's expression—full of awe and wonder—and sighed quietly to himself.
After the light screen revealed the immense value of medicine, Zhuge Liang had immediately begun searching for another renowned physician:
Hua Yuanhua.
The divine healer who once treated Chen Yuanlong.
But tragically, Hua Yuanhua had refused to serve Cao Cao. Accused of deceiving the ruler and disobeying conscription, he was imprisoned, tortured, and killed.
After his wrongful death, his disciples—Wu Pu, Fan E, Li Dang, and others—fled to Jiangdong. They were later recruited by Zhuge Liang to Jingzhou.
It was from them that news of their master's death arrived.
They also brought with them some of Hua Yuanhua's surviving medical writings.
The Five-Animal Exercises were among them.
Zhuge Liang had sighed over it for a long time.
So had Pang Tong.
Pang Tong patted Jiang Wei's head, set his heavy thoughts aside, and continued teaching the movements by hand.
Children's attention shifts quickly.
After debating whether riding a crane or a wild goose would look cooler, Jiang Wei suddenly remembered something else.
"Master," he asked,
"I saw that red-faced general lead troops north yesterday.
Is there going to be another battle?"
Pang Tong didn't even look up.
"When speaking face to face, don't call him that.
Remember—call him General Wei."
After Jiang Wei nodded obediently, Pang Tong continued casually,
"General Huo has already led troops ahead to fortify defenses.
General Wei's mission is to reinforce him."
Then he added,
"But those two generals are marching—
so that they won't have to fight."
Marching out… to avoid fighting?
Jiang Wei half understood, half didn't.
He didn't understand—
But Wei Yan understood perfectly.
Leading elite troops out of the Bao–Xie Road, Wei Yan suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of openness as the Guanzhong Plain unfolded before him.
Most striking of all was the camp that had risen sharply atop Wuzhang Plains to the left.
Upon hearing of Wei Yan's arrival, Huo Jun came out to greet him.
Before Huo Jun could speak, Wei Yan clasped his hands politely.
"I've long heard that Zhongmiao excels at defense.
Seeing this camp—its discipline, its order—I see the reputation is well deserved."
Huo Jun replied modestly,
"Wuzhang Plains is easy to defend and hard to attack.
Its advance and retreat are flexible.
I merely followed the strategist's plan—how could I claim credit?"
"Even the strongest fortress needs elite soldiers to guard it.
With Wen Chang here, I have no worries."
After exchanging pleasantries, the two entered the central command tent.
Wei Yan straightened his expression.
"I bring four thousand elite troops.
I place them entirely under Zhongmiao's command."
Huo Jun immediately felt the weight of responsibility.
Thanks to his achievements in Yi Province and the rear attack at Yangping Pass, Huo Jun had been promoted to Assistant General.
After Cheng Gongying visited Hanzhong, Pang Tong and Fa Zheng discussed matters and assigned Huo Jun to the Bao–Xie Road—playing to his defensive strengths by fortifying its entrance.
If Xiahou Yuan secretly allied with Han Sui and launched a surprise attack into Longxi to pincer Ma Chao—
Hanzhong would never be able to send reinforcements in time.
This deployment was meant to support Ma Chao indirectly—by splitting the battlefield.
After all, Pang Tong still needed Ma Chao to be beaten half to death.
Just not beaten all the way to death.
With new grain still unharvested, Huo Jun's three thousand troops plus Wei Yan's four thousand were already the absolute limit of what Hanzhong could spare.
As for Guan Ping from Jingzhou and Zhang Fei, who would soon return—
Pang Tong had other plans for them.
"Scouts confirm," Wei Yan said,
"Xiahou Dun has around forty thousand troops stationed in Chang'an—claiming fifty."
Huo Jun chuckled.
"With Wen Chang's reinforcements, my burden is much lighter."
"The five thousand troops stationed at Mei County aren't worth worrying about."
Wei Yan suddenly recalled what he had seen on the light screen—
More than twenty years later, Chancellor Zhuge would lead troops here, facing Sima Yi across the Wei River.
Unable to provoke battle.
Ultimately lamenting to the heavens: Why are you so cruel?
Almost immediately, Wei Yan rose and proposed:
"My troops have just arrived.
Strike before they're prepared—attack Mei County?"
Huo Jun shook his head instantly.
"No."
"Between offense and defense, everything depends on supplies."
"Guanzhong is ruined.
Xiahou Yuan's forty thousand troops—men and horses alike—must be supplied from Hebei."
"Transported by water and over long distances—only two or three tenths arrive intact."
"They won't last long.
The Cao army will grow desperate for battle."
"If you defeat them now, Wen Chang,
you reduce mouths consuming grain—but gain nothing strategically."
Watching Huo Jun explain calmly, Wei Yan couldn't help but marvel at fate's irony.
The roles of aggressor and defender had completely reversed.
"If Xiahou Yuan grows anxious and presses with his full force…"
Wei Yan answered himself:
"We have only seven thousand men.
We retreat into the Bao–Xie Road."
"Even facing a hundred thousand troops—we need not fear."
After all, the road was narrow.
Twenty thousand or two hundred thousand—it made no difference if they couldn't deploy.
Huo Jun nodded.
"Back in Jingzhou, Strategist Zhuge once invoked ancient masters to describe guerrilla warfare."
"Today, we follow it."
"When the enemy advances, we retreat.
When they camp, we harass.
We wait for them to collapse on their own."
As expected, even though the Mei County garrison saw reinforcements at Wuzhang Plains—
The next day, they still shouted insults and challenged the camp.
From the watchtower, Wei Yan narrowed his eyes at the enemy general yelling below.
He turned and asked,
"Does Zhongmiao know who commands Mei County?"
Huo Jun frowned, thought, then answered decisively:
"It should be Xu Huang—Xu Gongming."
Wei Yan instantly remembered the light screen.
During the flooding of the Seven Armies, it was this man who had feigned camaraderie with General Guan—only to strike viciously at the critical moment.
Killing intent flared in Wei Yan's chest.
But it was immediately pressed down by reason.
With regret, he said,
"Let this scoundrel live—for now."
Yet once killing intent is sparked, it rarely fades.
Wei Yan exchanged a few words with Huo Jun, then descended the tower.
Huo Jun watched clearly.
The main gate opened just a crack.
Wei Yan rode out.
The enemy general barely had time to turn his horse before—
He was cleanly skewered off his mount by a single thrust.
Wei Yan did not hurry.
He calmly turned his horse and rode back.
The morale of Wuzhang Plains surged.
The Cao army fell into brief chaos, then someone shouted orders and pressed troops forward.
But to their frustration—
Once the red-faced young general returned, the gates shut again.
They never reopened.
Left with nothing but curses, the Cao troops eventually withdrew.
"Wen Chang's valor is unmatched," Huo Jun congratulated.
Wei Yan replied modestly,
"I merely saved Cao's army some grain."
Then he gazed southeast.
How was General Guan faring now?
After Liu Bei arrived in Chengdu, the city had been steadily expanding.
On one hand, refugees kept arriving.
Yi Province was isolated; many had never heard of Liu Bei's reputation.
But rumors spread faster than banners.
And now Liu Bei's proclamations were posted across every commandery:
Simple. Plain.
Land redistribution.
Craft training.
Government credit to build new homes.
On the other hand, Chengdu itself was being renovated.
Roads replanned.
Canals dredged.
Impoverished households relocated to the outskirts.
With Sun Qian's guidance, families carefully calculated their savings and built homes that could finally block wind and rain.
One day, Chengdu's locals suddenly realized—
The city had grown.
Among the most self-satisfied was Elder Li of Zigui.
Fleeing south from the north, his two sons had complained bitterly.
After settling in Zigui, both began thinking about marriage. Matchmakers even came for their younger sister.
Then their old father raised his cane and declared:
"To Chengdu!"
Their grand Zigui residence became a modest Chengdu home.
Respected Elder Li became simply Old Li.
The sons dared not disobey—but their dissatisfaction seeped out in words.
Before Old Li could scold them—
Chengdu itself silenced all complaints.
That evening at dinner, after a small cup of wine, Old Li tapped his bowl with chopsticks.
"How goes the sugar workshop, First Son?"
The honest-looking eldest immediately set down his bowl and answered properly:
"The supervisor praised my diligence today.
If this month's output meets quota, there will be extra pay."
Old Li nodded.
Reliable. Hardworking.
Back in Zigui, matchmakers had come often—but he despised their rustic ways.
Now in Chengdu, with stable work—
A good match might finally be possible.
Turning to his second son, Old Li felt a headache coming.
Before he could ask, the second son—sporting a black eye—blurted out:
"Someone at the paper mill harassed Widow Qian.
I couldn't stand it, so I beat him."
"The supervisor fined the scoundrel two days' pay.
Told me to report it first next time."
"But he still gave me fifteen reward coins!"
Old Li wanted to smash this idiot's head with his cane.
Fifteen coins wouldn't even cover the medicine.
"Oh—right!"
The second son added suddenly,
"Widow Qian asked if I was married.
I said no."
"She said she'll come thank us in a couple days."
Old Li covered his face.
He was seriously considering finding this boy a new job.
At the end of the table, the youngest daughter timidly raised her hand.
"I… I took the weavers' exam today.
The brocade official said I passed."
She hesitated.
"But he said I'm still young…
Maybe I should attend the junior academy first."
"What does Father think?"
"Study."
Old Li answered instantly.
"Forget weaving.
As long as the academy doesn't chase us out, you'll keep studying."
He even regretted having sons too early.
Otherwise, he would've stuffed both boys into school as well.