Han Ji

Thirty li west of Chang'an, they reached a fork in the road. Liu Bei reined in his horse and looked at Guan Yu and Qian Zhao.

"Yun Chang will take the Tangluo Road, and Zi Jing will take the Ziwu Road. Each will lead twenty elite cavalry, lightly armed. Remember, don't look at the scenery, look at the terrain. Record in detail where there are ambushes, where you can hold your position, where the water sources are clean, and where the miasma is heavy."

Guan Yu nodded: "Understood."

"Meet me at Baogu Pass in fifteen days." Liu Bei paused. "If danger arises, retreat. People are more important than intelligence."

The two clasped their hands in a fist salute and then went their separate ways.

The main force headed south from Mei County and entered the Baoxie Road.

A stone tablet stands at the entrance, inscribed with the four characters "Baoxie Official Road," the clerical script weathered and blurred. The road is over ten feet wide, with a rammed earth surface and drainage ditches beside it. Further in, a plank road gradually appears, with wooden beams embedded in the stone wall, covered with wooden planks, and guardrails on the outside.

In some sections, the plank road is suspended in mid-air, overlooking a deep ravine with the roar of rushing water. However, the wooden planks are thick and the railings are sturdy, indicating that it has not been neglected due to official maintenance.

Zhang Fei peered down and gasped, "If we fall..."

"I'll definitely be able to smash you to death, you black devil," Zhang Wu said from the front.

The group led their horses slowly. The plank road creaked, but it was sturdy enough to support the weight. Xun Cai got off the carriage and walked, his hand on the inner stone wall, his face somewhat pale.

"Afraid of heights?" Liu Bei asked.

"A little," Xun Cai said honestly, "but it's better than I imagined. This road was built with care."

It was indeed meticulously crafted. At regular intervals, there were stone niches containing tablets of the mountain god. Stone stakes were also placed at dangerous points for securing ropes. Jian Yong explained that these were relics from the Former Han Dynasty, still in use today.

After walking for most of the day, we left the valley.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

Nestled amidst mountains, the Hanzhong Basin boasts expansive fields and a network of irrigation canals. In early spring, rapeseed flowers bloom in full glory, a golden expanse that meets the distant, verdant mountains. A tributary of the Wei River meanders through the area, its waters crystal clear.

Zhang Fei's mouth dropped open: "This...this is a damn poor place?"

Jian Yong smiled wryly: "Sichuan is a land of plenty, and Hanzhong is especially fertile. Su Gu occupied this treasure land for eight years; do you think he amassed a fortune?"

Liu Bei stopped his horse for a long time.

The wind blew by, carrying the scent of rice. He thought of the scorched earth outside Guangzong City, the children who starved to death by the Yellow River, and the music and singing in the West Garden of Luoyang.

Then he spoke, his voice barely audible to himself: "I want this place."

Behind him, 1,037 people stood silently. Their swords and armor reflected the setting sun, gleaming red.

Xun Cai spurred her horse forward and rode alongside him. She didn't speak, but simply took the dried peony from her sleeve and tucked it into his saddlebag.

Liu Bei glanced at her and shook the reins.

The convoy descended the slope, kicking up dust, and headed towards Nanzheng.

Guan Yu and Qian Zhao met at Baogu Pass as scheduled. Each of them presented a rolled-up map, the ink still fresh.

Liu Bei spread out the three diagrams in his tent and examined them, the candlelight crackling.

Guan Yu said, "The Tangluo Road is full of dangerous passes, with three places where one man can hold the pass alone."

Qian Zhao said, "The Ziwu Road has insufficient water supply. It is passable in summer and autumn, but difficult to travel in winter and spring."

The city of Nanzheng was ten miles away, with gray walls and black tiles, and a towering city gate. Han flags fluttered on the city walls, and soldiers could be vaguely seen patrolling.

Five miles from the city, there were people waiting by the roadside.

The entourage was led by Prefect Chen Lun, with Chief Clerk Zhao Lü and Inspector Wang Mo beside him, followed by dozens of prefectural officials and county lieutenants. Upon seeing Liu Bei's party arrive, Chen Lun stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled politely.

"Is this Commandant Liu? I am Chen Lun, and I have been waiting here for a long time on the orders of Prefect Su."

Liu Bei dismounted and returned the greeting: "Thank you for your trouble, Prefect Chen."

"Commander, you must be tired from your journey." Chen Lun stepped aside to indicate, "Prefect Su has prepared a banquet at his residence to welcome you back. Please."

The group mounted their horses and headed into the city.

The streets of Nanzheng were cleaner than he had imagined, lined with shops, and the pedestrians were neatly dressed. However, Liu Bei noticed that although the patrolling soldiers wore gleaming armor, their eyes were unfocused, and they chatted and laughed in small groups. An old man selling pancakes pushed his cart past, and a soldier reached out to take a pancake without paying. The old man lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Zhang Fei frowned, about to speak, but was stopped by Guan Yu's gaze.

The prefectural governor's residence was located in the north of the city, with vermilion gates and high walls. After the gatekeeper announced his arrival, Su Gu went out to greet him.

He was about fifty years old, with a round face and a light beard, wearing a brocade robe and a scholar's cap. He had a broad smile and a loud voice:

"Commander Liu! I've heard so much about you! The hero who quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion and slew Zhang Jiao, I'm finally able to meet you today! Please come in!"

The banquet was held in the front hall. Everyone sat on the floor, each with their own table. The dishes were plentiful: stewed mutton, roasted fish, leek and egg soup, pickled cabbage, and the wine was clear sake, warmed and poured into lacquered cups.

Su Gu raised his cup: "This first cup is to welcome the Commandant back from his journey!"

Everyone drank together.

After several rounds of drinks, Su Gu put down his cup and said with a smile, "Now that you, Commandant, have come to Hanzhong, we will be colleagues from now on. Military and political affairs in Hanzhong have always been integrated. The Commandant's office and the prefectural government will share offices, making it convenient to discuss matters and mobilize troops. What do you think, Commandant?"

The hall fell silent.

Liu Bei slowly swirled his wine cup, the surface reflecting the candlelight. He looked up, his smile gentle:

"A joint office is certainly a good thing. However, I am new here, unfamiliar with the border situation and military affairs, and my soldiers are not yet accustomed to the local conditions. If we hastily establish a joint office, there is a risk of confusion and disruption to defense. It would be better to allow me three months to familiarize myself with the border situation and reorganize my troops before discussing a joint office. What does the Prefect think?"

Su Gu's smile remained unchanged: "The Commandant's considerations are thorough. Very well, then let's proceed in March."

The banquet continued, and musicians began to play their instruments. Dancers entered the hall, their long sleeves fluttering in the breeze.

Zhang Fei ate meat with gusto, seemingly unconcerned, but his eyes darted around the people in the hall. Guan Yu sat quietly drinking, his gaze lowered, his hand always three feet away from the hilt of his sword.

Xun Cai and the women of the household sat at a separate table in the back hall. She ate quietly, listening to the prefect's wife and the women of the county chat, occasionally responding with a word, but mostly listening with a smile. From these snippets of conversation, she gleaned some information: which family owned more land, which family was close to Su Gu, and which family had a history of grudges.

When the banquet ended, the moon was already high in the sky.

Su Gu escorted Liu Bei to the gate of the mansion, took his hand and said, "The Commandant's camp is located in the west of the city. It was originally an old military camp, and I have already sent people to clean it up. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Thank you, Prefect."

On the way back to camp, Zhang Fei couldn't hold back any longer: "Brother, that old bastard is a wolf in sheep's clothing! 'Joint command'? What a load of rubbish! He clearly wants to control our troops!"

"Otherwise," Liu Bei said. "Before I arrived, they held both military and political power, so how could they easily relinquish it?"

"What about after three months?"

"There are no three months. Making excuses is tantamount to refusing, and Su Gu knows that perfectly well." Liu Bei looked towards the western camp. "If he wants to keep me in his grasp, he'll have to see if it's too much of a burden."

The camp was indeed an old military camp. The earthen walls showed signs of repair, the fence had been newly replaced, and there were more than twenty rooms inside, complete with a stable and kitchen. The soldiers had already settled in and were cooking.

Inside the central command tent, candles were lit.

Liu Bei took off his official robes and put on an old linen robe. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, and Zhang Wu were waiting in the tent.

"Listen up, everyone." Liu Bei spread out a map of Hanzhong. "Su Gu has given us three months. We must use these three months to establish a firm foothold."

"Brother, tell me what to do," Zhang Fei asked.

"Let's find out the surrounding area first." Liu Bei pointed to the mountains. "Zhang Wu, tomorrow you will take twenty men, disguised as hunters and medicine merchants, and go into the mountains. I need to know: how many bandit groups are there within a hundred miles, who is the strongest, who is the richest, and who is most hated by the people. Report back in detail."

"Yes, sir!"