Although the Cao army had withdrawn, Guan Yu, Xu Shu, and the others found themselves busier than ever due to their acute shortage of manpower.
Surrendered troops had to be escorted to the rear, broken up, and placed under guard. The corpses beneath Fan Castle needed to be cleared. The waterways of the Yu River and the Han River—damaged by the great battles—required correction and dredging. These were all urgent matters.
Beyond that, the people of northern Jing Province needed to be pacified, while scattered Cao remnants hiding among the countryside had to be either persuaded to surrender or eliminated. These tasks would not be completed quickly and demanded sustained effort.
As for the simultaneous promotion of agricultural officials and water-powered workshops, that went without saying—it required a large number of clerks and administrators as well.
When all these requirements were passed to Jiang Wan in the rear, he merely did a rough tally of the personnel needed and couldn't help but smack his lips.
"Jing Province may need to open an official academy," he muttered. "Otherwise, we'll never keep up."
For those stationed at Wancheng, however, the most pressing issue was still troop deployment and defense.
"Guan Ping requests permission to attack Duyang!"
Seeing his eldest son step forward to volunteer, Guan Yu hesitated for a moment.
Duyang lay between Mount Yao and Mount Fuyu, serving as the northern gateway of Jing Province. Yet its terrain was broad and open, difficult to defend. Beyond Duyang lay Yingchuan and Xuchang—strategically vital regions of the utmost importance.
Moreover, once the new grain ripened in the seventh month, even if only to restore morale, the Cao army would certainly attempt another incursion. When that happened, Duyang would inevitably become a contested battleground.
Zhang Fei glanced at his stubborn-looking nephew, then at his second brother, who had closed his eyes in contemplation.
"If Guan Ping guarding Duyang is risky," Zhang Fei ventured, "then why not send Old General Huang—"
Huang Zhong's face lit up—only for Guan Yu to issue his decision with decisive finality:
"Very well. Let Guan Ping first take Wuyin, then advance on Duyang."
"Huang Zhong will head east to attack Ping County and Biyang."
Guan Ping showed no change in expression. Huang Zhong was overjoyed. Both accepted their orders.
Biyang lay east of Jing Province. Farther east lay Runan—and beyond that, Shouchun, beside an unremarkable city known as Hefei.
"I wonder if my brother-in-law Sun Quan lost," Zhang Fei muttered. "Did he earn himself that 'Shiwan' title?"
Guan Yu's expression darkened slightly.
"With Lu Zijing at his side, it should not come to such calamity."
"That's not necessarily so," came a reply from outside.
Xu Shu entered, sighing as he spoke.
"News from Jiangdong: Marquis Sun raised an army of one hundred thousand, personally taking command. He attacked Hefei from Chaohu—and suffered a crushing defeat."
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stared at one another.
"Shouldn't it be that he failed to take the city and withdrew?" Zhang Fei asked.
More reports soon arrived, and only then did the two fully understand.
Lu Su accompanied the army as chief commander and repeatedly offered counsel, so when Jiangdong forces reached Hefei, their formation at least appeared orderly.
However, because of earlier hesitation, Xiahou Dun had already shifted his troops. The forces from Shouchun and Hefei merged—thirty thousand strong—and had been waiting for Sun Quan for days.
Xiahou Dun, thinking in simpler terms, believed Sun Quan's delay was a feint meant to lull him. As a result, he prepared even more thoroughly.
Despite Lu Su's efforts, Jiangdong's military system lacked unity of command. By the time they reached Hefei's walls, their formations were still chaotic.
At dusk, just as cooking fires were being lit, Zhang Liao led eight thousand cavalry charging straight out of the city. Those who met him died. Zhang Liao cut through the ranks with composure, personally slaying Chen Wu. Jiangdong's army collapsed.
Had Lu Su and Ling Tong not rallied their units at the critical moment, Jiangdong's forces might have trampled themselves to death that very night.
"How could they not lose?" Zhang Fei shook his head.
Then he sighed in regret for his clansman.
"A pity. Zhang Eight Hundred lost his name."
"Lu Zijing has it hard," Xu Shu said quietly.
Recent intelligence from Jiangling had also arrived in Wancheng. Linking Lu Su's sudden departure with Sun Quan's abrupt mobilization, Xu Shu could easily infer most of what had happened.
Under such circumstances, Lu Su would inevitably be pushed into the storm's eye.
Still… Xu Shu shook his head.
"This too is the result of Marquis Sun's indulgence."
"At Red Cliffs, Jiangdong could still stand against Cao and win."
"But once Zhou Gongjin died, Jiangdong's elite troops became private armies of great families. Fight ten more times, and they'll still lose."
Guan Yu stroked his beard. If Lu Su were to be scapegoated for this, he would find a way to intervene.
His reasoning was simple.
He admired true gentlemen and respected great men.
Xu Shu understood at a glance and smiled, steering the conversation back.
"The immediate priority is for the two generals to report Jing Province's situation and the merits of Xiangfan to our lord."
This was only proper.
Three days later, Zhang Fei carried the memorial and led an elite cavalry detachment back along the original route, passing Fangling and Shangyong to return to Hanzhong.
When they passed Fangling, the defending general spotted Zhang Fei from afar and shouted:
"Third Uncle!"
Zhang Fei saw Liu Feng ride out from the gates and felt a measure of relief.
Liu Feng's position was delicate, and what Ma Su and Mi Fang knew was equally sensitive. Zhang Fei had therefore not dared bring him to the Jingxiang battlefield.
As a compromise, Pang Tong had recalled two thousand troops from Wuzhang Plains after Zhang Fei's departure, scraped together another thousand from Hanzhong, appointed Fu Rong as commander, and made Liu Feng the vanguard—securing Fangling and Shangyong in earnest.
Judging by appearances, Liu Feng was doing well.
"Third Uncle, I caught someone. Take him back and present him to Father."
Liu Feng led out a haggard prisoner. When the man raised his head, Zhang Fei was startled.
"Cai Mao? He escaped all the way here?"
When merits were tallied in Wancheng, Huang Zhong had reported no kill of Cai Mao. They had assumed he died amid the chaos. Instead, here he was.
"I'll take him, then—and secure merit for you," Zhang Fei promised.
Setting aside idle talk, Zhang Fei continued onward with Cai Mao. Along the road, with nothing better to do, he questioned him thoroughly.
Cai Mao had fled at night, lost his bearings, been swept along by routed troops, and eventually decided to seek troops at Fangling to redeem himself—only to be picked up by Liu Feng.
Once Zhang Fei understood this, he lost interest, which threw Cai Mao into a panic.
"I am of the Cai clan of Jing Province! I can help Duke Xuande pacify Jing!"
Zhang Fei snapped impatiently.
"A man who sells his lord still dares prattle? Jing Province is already recovered. We have no need of the like of you."
Privately, a thought crossed his mind:
Cai Mao in Jing Province had been both a great family head and naval commander. Now the great families were gone, and the navy was inferior even to Jiangling's. What use was Cai Mao?
Upon reaching Hanzhong, Zhang Fei had not even dismounted before Pang Tong came to him.
"Yide must be carrying Yun Chang's merit report. This cannot be delayed—send it to our lord at once."
Zhang Fei agreed readily, but as they set out together, he pulled another letter from his robes.
"Xu Junshi wrote this for you."
As Pang Tong read, Zhang Fei glanced around and noticed a scholar beside him.
"Military Adviser Pang, who is this?"
The man bore a gentle demeanor and even had the leisure to bow politely.
"Him?" Pang Tong glanced over, unconcerned. "A captive."
"Where'd you catch him?" Zhang Fei asked curiously.
"Not mine. Adviser Jian caught him and had Ma Chao send him back. Oh—right."
Pang Tong looked up from the letter and smiled.
"His name is Sima Yi."
Zhang Fei's eyes flared with murderous light.
"So this is that Jin Emperor Xuan?"
The matter was grave, so Zhang Fei kept his voice low—but Sima Yi still recoiled inwardly, despair swelling in his heart.
Where had things gone wrong?
Everything had gone smoothly before meeting Ma Chao. Yet Ma Chao's elegant aide had nearly spilled his wine upon hearing his name.
Sima Yi had sensed danger then and planned to defect to Han Sui—but before he could act, Ma Chao's guards burst in at night, bound him, and stuffed him into a sack.
When he emerged, Pang Tong had circled him, clicking his tongue after hearing his name.
And now Zhang Fei—he had even humbled himself to bow, yet after a few words with Pang Tong, Zhang Fei looked ready to devour him alive.
Fear and confusion warred within him.
What had he misjudged?
Pang Tong laughed and stopped Zhang Fei.
"If the Light Screen calls him Kongming's destined rival, then bring him to Chengdu and let our lord and Kongming decide."
"Here, without clan or Cao forces, what could he possibly do?"
Zhang Fei considered and agreed. Then he glanced around.
"Military Adviser, aren't you taking your 'disciple' back for Zhuge Junshi to see?"
Pang Tong panicked.
"What disciple?! What disciple is that?!"
Zhang Fei roared with laughter, ignored Pang Tong's fury, and rode west through Yangping Pass.
Behind them, Sima Yi quietly questioned Cai Mao, then exclaimed in shock:
"Jing Province has fallen?"
Seeing Cai Mao's lifeless expression, Sima Yi fell silent.
Perhaps… Liu Xuande was also a viable destination.
After all, he had never truly served Cao with sincerity.
And if that were so—had Liu Xuande heard of his reputation and thus abducted him?
After all, hadn't Liu Xuande sought talent three times in Jing Province?
If so… perhaps he should hold himself a little higher.
Sima Yi, for a moment, felt a strange self-pity.
First Cao Cao, now Liu Bei—why did none of them respect his own wishes?
Meanwhile, in Chengdu, Old Li could barely suppress his laughter.
News of the Jingxiang war had not yet arrived. He was simply delighted by his own foresight.
It was now the seventh month. Chengdu's fields had yielded a bountiful harvest. After paying Duke Xuande's land tax, every household still had surplus—so much that containers ran short.
The prices of jars and vats rose sharply, unable to meet demand.
The harvest drew refugees from surrounding commanderies into Chengdu. Land Old Li had once bought in poor locations was now highly sought-after—its value nearly tripling.
His daughter, studying at the small academy, told him Liu Xuande planned to redistribute Chengdu's new population to Pi County, Fan County, and Jiangyuan, developing the entire plain.
Old Li had vision.
He felt Chengdu's future was bright indeed.
Eldest Son's sugar workshop job was going smoothly—becoming a junior supervisor this year wasn't impossible.
Second Son remained idle, but somehow caught the fancy of a young widow. Old Li decided not to interfere—widow or not, perhaps it would cure the boy's laziness.
As for Little Miss—no, Li Shu…
Lost in thought, Old Li lifted the steamer lid—and exploded in fury.
"Li Shu! Why did you take three meat buns again?! Are you sneaking them to that Hu-surnamed boy?!"
Outside, Li Shu—no longer timid—fled with a small bamboo basket.
"That young boy has no parents!" she shouted back. "Only his grandfather supports him!"
"If we can help, we should!"
Old Li stood stunned in the courtyard for a long while, then shook his head and sighed, turning back inside.
A vague sense of loss lingered in his heart.