Chapter 96: Two Scholars

Wei Ba summoned the Wei officer. His wounds had been bandaged, and though his life was no longer in danger, he was dispirited from defeat and injury.

“What is your name?” Wei Ba asked.

“Jin Dongliu.”

“What kind of name is that? Is it a compound surname?” Wei Ba frowned. In these times, double-character given names were rare, but compound surnames were not uncommon. Just a few days ago, he’d encountered someone surnamed Chenggong, almost making a fool of himself. Hearing this man called Jin Dongliu, he couldn’t help but grow wary.

“No, my surname is Jin, given name Dongliu, courtesy name Zhaoming,” Jin Dongliu replied, his face flushing in embarrassment, with a hint of annoyance. “I am of humble birth.”

Wei Ba was inexplicably confused—what did that have to do with anything? He was just asking a name; why such agitation?

Seeing Wei Ba’s blank expression, Jin Dongliu now grew uncertain. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Do you… know about the Nine Ranks System?”

Wei Ba had to think for a while before recalling it. He slapped his forehead, feeling a strange sense of dislocation. The Nine Ranks System—he remembered hearing of it, and knew it was somewhat related to the bureaucratic ranking system of later generations, but the details eluded him.

“Is that the thing Chen Qun established?” he asked.

Jin Dongliu nodded, then after a long silence, sighed softly. “My family is of humble status. If not for the General of Chariots and Cavalry’s recommendation, I would forever remain in the lowest rank.” He paused, then gave a bitter smile. “Even being in the lowest rank is no easy feat. More likely, I’d have no rank at all—destined to be a farmer or a minor clerk, with no chance to command troops and win merit. So, abandon any hope of recruiting me. You might as well take my head and claim your reward, rather than waste medicine on me. I will never surrender to you.”

Wei Ba ignored his outburst and instead asked, “So Sima Yi has become General of Chariots and Cavalry?”

“You didn’t know?” Jin Dongliu was genuinely surprised. In his view, with Zhuge Liang stationed in Hanzhong for nearly a year and Wei Ba serving in the Prime Minister’s office, how could he be ignorant of such a major event as Sima Yi’s promotion? “It happened not long ago. By now, your spies should have brought the news.”

Jin Dongliu suddenly laughed, his formerly strained demeanor relaxing a little. “I see now—you, as an adjutant… it’s a title in name only.”

Wei Ba raised an eyebrow. “Indeed, my post as adjutant is in name only. I rely on my father’s influence. In the Prime Minister’s office, I’m the quintessential spoiled young master—just good at talking, clueless about warfare.”

Jin Dongliu’s fleeting ease vanished; his face tensed, and his eyes twitched uncontrollably. He snapped, “Even if you were a prodigy, your rebellious Shu is no match for Great Wei. Zhuge Liang is a mere scholar—he might handle the southern barbarians, but to challenge Wei in open war is like striking stone with an egg, courting destruction.”

“Don’t forget, your patron Sima Yi is also a scholar-turned-general.” The more agitated Jin Dongliu became, the calmer Wei Ba grew. Watching this Wei officer fume with humiliation, Wei Ba felt a certain perverse satisfaction. He knew Sima Yi was indeed a renowned commander, but, truth be told, he had yet to achieve any notable victories—just as Jin Dongliu looked down on Zhuge Liang, so too did the world judge Sima Yi.

“The General of Chariots and Cavalry may be new to commanding troops, but he’s seasoned in military affairs. He only lacks an opportunity—there’s no comparison with Zhuge Liang.”

“Some may be clever strategists but make poor generals,” Wei Ba scoffed. “If you can’t grasp that, I’d be embarrassed to send you for a reward. And if Sima Yi employs the likes of you, it says little for his wisdom—how could he not be doomed to fail?”

Jin Dongliu was speechless. However eloquent he might be, he couldn’t deny one fact: Sima Yi had supposedly recognized him as a talent, yet here he was, bested by a so-called wastrel from Zhuge Liang’s office—not only was Anqiao Fortress captured, but he himself had been taken alive.

Regret gnawed at Jin Dongliu—not just for his defeat, but for tarnishing Sima Yi’s reputation. Since Wei Ba had reached this point and breached Anqiao, it was certain Hu Zun, tasked with blocking the Shu army at Mulan Fortress, must also have failed. With both Wei and Shu armies converging, how could the General of Chariots and Cavalry not suffer defeat?

Jin Dongliu looked skyward and sighed in despair.

Wei Ba wore a mischievous smile, but inwardly he was deeply irritated. Sima Yi’s promotion to General of Chariots and Cavalry was a matter of great importance; surely the Prime Minister’s office had received word, and Zhuge Qiao must also have known. Yet all this time, Zhuge Qiao hadn’t said a word—an outright slight to Wei Ba. If such news was withheld from him, how many other critical matters were being kept secret?

The little brat—did he take Wei Ba for nothing at all?

…

Suddenly, Zhuge Qiao shivered; his hand, gripping the brush, froze, and the brush slowly slipped from his fingers, falling to the desk with a dull thud.

“What did you say?” he asked.

Fu Xing stared at the dumbfounded Zhuge Qiao in confusion. Was it really so shocking that Wei Feng had taken Mulan Fortress? Though surprising, it was all part of the plan—was there any need for such astonishment?

“Captain Wei… has taken Mulan Fortress. He is now positioned behind Shen Yi, awaiting orders for a pincer attack.”

“He really took Mulan Fortress?” Zhuge Qiao could scarcely believe his ears. Wei Feng had only four thousand men, while the Wei defenders numbered three thousand and held the advantage of the fort—how could he have captured it in one stroke?

“It’s true. If you doubt me, I can have the scout come and report in person.”

Zhuge Qiao nodded repeatedly. Fu Xing, helpless, summoned the scout sent by Wei Feng to report directly. Zhuge Qiao sized up the young man.

“What is your name, and what post do you hold under Captain Wei?”

“My name is Chen Xiang, courtesy name Xingrui. I was originally a bodyguard for Adjutant Wei. When the forces split at Shangyong, I was ordered to assist Captain Wei in taking Mulan Fortress and to coordinate with you, sir.”

Zhuge Qiao gave a knowing “oh”—so it had all been Wei Ba’s arrangement. He suddenly found himself annoyed. Wei Ba acted independently, refusing to join forces with him, detouring behind Mulan Fortress instead. That could be overlooked, but now, having gone to Fangling, Wei Ba had even sent someone to oversee Wei Feng?

After listening to Chen Xiang describe Wei Feng’s surprise attack on Mulan Fortress and the Wei army’s hasty retreat, Zhuge Qiao frowned deeply, thinking hard for a long while.

“Captain Wei has marched hard and fought a tough battle. Does he still have the strength for another engagement?”

Chen Xiang bowed. “Our army has won a great victory and morale is high. With no more reinforcements at Xunkou, the enemy is shaken—now is the perfect opportunity. Furthermore, Sima Yi has besieged Fangling for half a month. Adjutant Wei has only a thousand men, merely a decoy. If you do not provide timely support, Fangling will fall. Should Sima Yi capture the stores and supplies accumulated by Meng Da, he will establish a stronghold at Fangling to our great disadvantage. Please consider carefully, sir.”

“I understand. You may withdraw.” Zhuge Qiao waved Chen Xiang away. Fu Xing, still uncertain, remained standing. Zhuge Qiao glanced at him. “Zhongjian, Shen Yi’s nerves are frayed—he may make a sudden move. The vanguard must stay alert and not be careless.”

Fu Xing understood, sighed inwardly, and left the tent.

Zhuge Qiao then discussed the matter with Yang Wei. Whether to join with Wei Feng in a pincer attack on Shen Yi and take the main camp at Xunkou involved two questions: one, could they succeed in the assault; two, if they succeeded, should they then go to aid Fangling? The goal was not to rescue Meng Da, but to tie down Sima Yi. However, if Meng Da fell to Sima Yi, their objective would also fail.

If they did not intervene, Meng Da might be swiftly defeated; if they did, and Meng Da survived, he could become a potential threat to Shu Han. What then?

Zhuge Qiao could not decide. Though Yang Wei was eloquent and knowledgeable, he dared not draw conclusions about such a sensitive matter. As Zhuge Qiao’s confidant—his father, Yang Yi, was also the Prime Minister’s trusted aide—he knew well the delicate relationship between father and son.

Zhuge Qiao could not afford any mistakes, and Yang Wei likewise could not shoulder such responsibility.

“Why not summon Adjutant Zong for consultation?” Yang Wei suggested, unwilling to make the decision himself.

Zhuge Qiao gave a silent, bitter smile and nodded.

Zong Yu soon arrived. On hearing that Wei Feng had taken Mulan Fortress and was preparing to join Zhuge Qiao in attacking Xunkou, he glanced at Zhuge Qiao in surprise.

“Sir, what is there to hesitate about? Attack at once, seize Xunkou, and rush to Meng Da’s aid. Meng Da’s hold on the three eastern counties is a hidden danger but not an immediate threat; there is time to deal with him. If Sima Yi takes Fangling, our mission in the eastern three counties is a failure. How will the Prime Minister then launch a campaign to Longyou?”

Zhuge Qiao was stunned, speechless for a moment.

Zong Yu continued, “If we take Xunkou, our army can march straight to Fangling. Then, with Shangyong and Xicheng both in our hands, could Meng Da drive us out? But if we hesitate now, and Sima Yi captures Fangling, using Meng Da’s stores to counterattack Xicheng and Shangyong, can we withstand him? Attack—attack at once!”

Faced with Zong Yu’s impassioned insistence, Zhuge Qiao dared not hesitate further and immediately ordered the attack.

Before that, Zong Yu devised another strategy—sending someone to persuade Shen Yi to surrender. The Shen family’s roots were in Shangyong, and with Meng Da having defected from Wei, if Shen Yi refused to submit, he would be caught between Shu Han and Meng Da. Given the enmity between them, Meng Da would eventually move against Shen Yi, and the Wei army would be unable to save him in time. If Shen Yi surrendered now, he could keep his position, and with the Prime Minister’s protection, Meng Da, as a colleague, would not dare openly move against him.

Shen Yi, defending the Xunkou main camp, saw the Shu army suddenly appear at his rear, bringing with them a horde of captured Wei soldiers. He knew then that Mulan Fortress had fallen and the Wei army was defeated. He was unsure of Fangling’s fate, but had little faith in Sima Yi and feared, as Zong Yu predicted, that if Meng Da triumphed, he himself would be caught between two enemies and become the target of Meng Da’s personal vendetta. After much deliberation, he decided to surrender.

With Shen Yi’s surrender, Wei Feng and Zhuge Qiao joined forces. They took control of Shen Yi’s men, left a small garrison to secure Xunkou and Mulan Fortress, and led eight thousand troops, along with Shen Yi and his more than two thousand followers, in a march toward Fangling.

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