"By Imperial Decree, Zhou Yu is to return to Hanzhong to report for duty, and Lu Xun will lead the army to occupy Yiling."
A decree from the Emperor of Great Wei was read out before Zhou Yu and Lu Xun.
Lu Xun opened his mouth, somewhat puzzled, while Zhou Yu's brows furrowed tightly. After the eunuch who delivered the decree departed.
Lu Xun then said, "Commander Zhou, by rights... Guan Yu is dead. Liu Bei, in his grief and rage, will surely pour the entire might of Shu into avenging Guan Yu by attacking from Yiling. Why, at this time, does His Majesty summon you away and leave me here?"
This...
Zhou Yu's brows gradually relaxed. He lightly stroked his beard, "His Majesty has always been a perfect strategist. Perhaps in his view, you, Lu Boyan, are more suited to defeating the opponent Liu Bei than I, Zhou Gongjin. Or perhaps His Majesty has calculated that Liu Bei, driven by fury, will make a reckless advance, and has deliberately left you here to allow Liu Bei to underestimate us!" Hiss.
Lu Xun took a breath, and suddenly felt the weight on his shoulders increase considerably.
Zhou Yu patted his shoulder, "In short, the upcoming battle is extremely important for you, for Great Wei, and for the unification of the realm. You must be extremely careful!"
"I shall obey the Great Commander's orders..." Lu Xun cupped his hands.
Zhou Yu turned his head to survey the generals below the city walls...
For the sake of one Guan Yu, Cao Cao had come, Lü Bu had come, Ma Chao had come, Xu Huang had come, Gan Ning had come, Zhang Liao had come...
So many people seeing off just one man. "Alas," Zhou Yu sighed, thinking that Guan Yu was not worthy of such a send-off.
Yet, an inexplicable envy welled up in his eyes.
Everyone must die, but... Seven heroes fighting against Guan Yu. This honor, this reputation bestowed upon him by His Majesty, was a death that shook the heavens and earth!
And in this world, only Guan Yu could die in such a manner, shaking the heavens and earth!
Ultimately, His Majesty and the King of Wei still admired Guan Yu more.
A fine sentiment, "I offer my life for loyalty and righteousness!"
— For loyalty and righteousness!
...
...
Guan Yu's coffin had already been transported back to Hanzhong and was placed in the center of the Hanzhong Palace.
In the imperial court, all officials were solemn.
No one could believe that Guan Yu, Guan Yun Chang, who had flooded Jiangling and made the world tremble, was... was gone just like that, had perished!
"Speak."
Lu Yu calmly rose from the dragon throne and asked the ministers, "How should Guan Yu's funeral be handled?" Xun Yu stepped forward first, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject specially inquired of the Grand Emperor's wishes regarding this matter. Although the Grand Emperor said that everything is to be arranged by Your Majesty, he revealed his respect for Guan Yu in his words. In my humble opinion, Your Majesty could appropriately bestow a posthumous title upon Guan Yu, place his remains in a jade coffin, and give him a grand burial outside the south gate of Luoyang... and at the interment, civil and military officials will escort the coffin together!"
At these words...
It was evident that the entire court erupted in discussion.
But not a single person dared to openly object...
Although this arrangement was conveyed by Xun Yu, it was Cao Cao's intention...
Since it was Cao Cao's intention, who would dare to object?
Lu Yu keenly observed the expressions of all the court officials.
Hoo...
Lu Yu let out a soft sigh and raised his dragon sleeves, "Since Father Emperor has entrusted me with the arrangements, I shall arrange them according to Great Wei's rites..."
"According to Guan Yu's dying wish, he shall be buried in Jieliang, Hedong, with a tombstone inscribed: Tomb of Guan Changsheng of Jieliang, Hedong!"
That's it?
Lu Yu's words greatly surprised Xun Yu.
No grand burial? No escort by civil and military officials, just... sent back to Guan Yu's hometown in Hedong?
This...
Gou Can wanted to speak, but suddenly thought of something and immediately closed his mouth.
Zhou Yu reminded him, "Your Majesty, Guan Yu's son Guan Ping, Guan Yu's daughter Guan Yinping, Guan Yu's lieutenants Zhou Cang, Liao Hua, Zhao Lei, and others also died in battle!"
"In consideration of their loyalty and righteousness," Lu Yu continued, "they shall all be buried alongside Guan Yu. To honor loyalty with righteousness, let us establish a Shrine of Loyalty and Righteousness in Jieliang County, Hedong, so that these individuals may be offered incense and worshipped for generations."
"Yes," Zhou Yu cupped his hands.
Guan Yu's affair...
Seemed to have been concluded so casually.
Lu Yu changed the subject, "Next, Liu Bei, in his fury, will surely launch a full-scale offensive. As the saying goes, if the enemy does not move, I do not move; if the enemy moves, there must be a flaw. Everyone, pull yourselves together... the time to decide the unification of the realm has arrived!"
At these words...
All the ministers cried out in unison, "Great Wei is divine! His Majesty is wise!"
And so...
The court assembly ended with much fanfare but little substance. After the adjournment, Xi Zhicai approached Xun Yu, blinking his eyes, and asked, "Regarding the grand burial of Guan Yu, why did you not press the matter further, Wen Ruo?" He seemed to be asking this deliberately...
Guo Yu gave him a glare, "I realized later that Your Majesty burying Guan Yu in Jieliang County, Hedong, was already quite generous and showed enough respect to the Grand Emperor. After all, his loyalty was not directed towards Your Majesty and Great Wei, and his crime of flooding Jiangling was unforgivable. Your Majesty's actions are thus more equitable!"
"Hahaha..." Xi Zhicai laughed, "I almost thought that after becoming Prime Minister, your mind had become blocked... I never imagined you would clear it so quickly!"
After a joke, Xi Zhicai burst into hearty laughter again.
...
...
In Xichuan, Zitong.
The candlelight in the oil lamp flickered in the night breeze.
Liu Bei was in his yamen, reviewing memorials. In a daze, he felt as if someone was standing before him. He suddenly looked up, and who else but his second brother Guan Yu appeared before his eyes.
"Yun Chang?"
Liu Bei was greatly surprised. "Why are you here? Isn't second brother in Jiangling? Did second brother not say in his last letter that he would capture Xiangfan within a month?"
Liu Bei stood up and walked closer to Guan Yu. "Second brother, you are not in Jingzhou, why have you come here?" "Brother..." Guan Yu's voice was ethereal, like a dream. "I am here to bid farewell to my brother! I must leave."
"Where are you going?" Liu Bei's brows knitted.
"To the Yellow Springs..." Guan Yu replied with a smile. "Your foolish brother has helped you get into this ceremonial chariot. From now on, it depends on you yourself! Brother, take care..."
Liu Bei felt that Guan Yu before him was illusory. He was trying to stretch out his hand to bid Liu Bei farewell.
"Yun Chang? Where are you going?"
"Yun Chang, where are you going....."
Liu Bei wanted to grab Guan Yu, but... where was his second brother in front of him?
He rubbed his eyes desperately... but the more he rubbed, the less he could see his second brother...
"Yun Chang, where are you going? Stop... stop for me!"
Finally, Liu Bei realized something...
"Yun Chang... Yun Chang!"
He cried out... but in the vast room, who was there to respond?
Only... the candlelight in the night breeze continued to sway erratically.
Thump...
Thump!
At this moment, a low and heavy voice came from outside the door.
"Who is outside the door? Is it Yun Chang?" Liu Bei asked in surprise.
But the man who appeared before Liu Bei was a scholarly man holding a feather fan...
"Kong Ming?"
Liu Bei exclaimed.
Zhuge Liang walked closer slowly, tears in his eyes, and his words were filled with immense helplessness, "Your Majesty, a messenger from Jiangling has reported that Jiangling has fallen. They were afraid to see Your Majesty, so they saw me first!"
This...
Liu Bei's eyes widened. He opened his mouth several times, but closed them several times. The words in his heart, he dared not ask.
Zhuge Liang's words echoed again, "My Lord, no matter what you hear, do not get too agitated!"
"Where is the messenger? Let him in, let him in!" Liu Bei's entire head was shaking...
At this moment, a blood-soaked messenger burst into the room and knelt on the ground, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Marquis is currently locked in fierce battle with the Cao army in Fancheng. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yu had set a surprise force in Jingnan. With white-clad soldiers crossing the river, they suddenly attacked Jiangling. The Marquis was caught between the enemy's front and rear, and the Wei army broke through his encampment. Wounded, he retreated to Maicheng. He... he..."
"What happened to him?" Liu Bei grabbed the messenger.
"The Marquis... he died in battle. Before his death, the Marquis still cried out—I offer my life for loyalty and righteousness!" Every word, every sentence of the messenger's voice entered Liu Bei's ears. Liu Bei seemed numb. He was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, shaking it violently.
"Impossible!"
Liu Bei's tone was incredibly calm, "How can Yun Chang die?"
"Impossible!" Liu Bei pointed at Zhuge Liang, at the messenger, "My second brother he... he..."
"My Lord," Zhuge Liang opened his mouth, "the Marquis has indeed passed away... Lü Bu, Ma Chao, Gan Ning, Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, Lü Meng, and Tai Shi Ci, seven of them surrounded the Marquis, yet he still stood firm, fighting until the last moment! Guan Ping, Liao Hua, Zhou Cang, and Zhao Lei all died in battle."
Boom...
Rumbling!
It was as if a bolt of lightning struck Liu Bei.
His mouth was wide open, his expression was one of extreme pain, yet he still sighed, "You all go out, you all go out... Impossible! My second brother is invincible in the world! He is the one who kills the enemy, how can he be killed by the enemy! You all retreat, retreat! You are deceiving me, you are deceiving me! " "I just saw him! Impossible!"
Liu Bei turned around and walked back into the room, but his legs gave way. With a thud, he fell to the ground...
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!" Zhuge Liang quickly went to help him... "Imperial physician, Imperial physician..."
In an instant, the entire yamen in Zitong descended into chaos!
...
...
Jieliang County, Hedong. The shrine had not yet begun construction. On the bare mountain, there was only a slope of yellow earth, and on the yellow earth, the tombstone was inscribed: Tomb of Guan Changsheng of Jieliang, Hedong!
This was Guan Yu's dying wish, and Lu Yu had complied with everything.
However, today, a special guest had arrived before Guan Yu's tombstone—Cao Cao!
After years of recuperation, he looked energetic and in good spirits. He dismounted slowly and walked to Guan Yu's tombstone.
"Yun Chang, I, Cao Cao, really do not visit many graves in my life... The last time before this was for Qiao Xuan. That was because he and I made a vow that if I passed by his tombstone without offering a dou of wine and a chicken, and if my carriage did not stop three steps past, my stomach would hurt. I didn't believe it and deliberately didn't offer sacrifice. Guess what? After three steps, my stomach really hurt!"
"The last time I offered sacrifice was for Yuan Shao. That time, I cried. My crying... my tears drew the hearts of all the scholars in the northern territories to my side...
Hahaha, Yuan Shao was my elder brother when he was alive, and he took care of me for many years. Even in death, he helped me seize his four northern prefectures!"
At this point...
Cao Cao sat down on the ground. He took the wine handed to him by the Tiger Guards, opened it slowly, "This is my Jiu Niang Chun wine from Qiao Pei. Legend has it that the water used to brew the wine was drawn from an ancient well. It is now tribute wine. It's a pity you didn't get to taste a drop of it when you were alive, but it's alright, from now on, I will often come to accompany you for drinks!"
Cao Cao treated Guan Yu like a pair of long-lost, yet still kindred spirits. Cao Cao poured the wine into the earth, his expression turning melancholic. He sighed, "People, as they age, like to reminisce. These past few days, I've been thinking a lot about the old days, thinking of you toasting wine and slaying Hua Xiong, capturing Yan Liang and slaying Wen Chou, resigning my seals and passing five passes and slaying six generals. Truly a sharp blade. I also remember...
It was you who personally sent my son, Cao Cao's son, to your elder brother Liu Bei. He must be eight or nine years old now. He should know the truth by now!"
"Enough, let's not talk about this... lest you cannot rest in peace in the Yellow Springs... Let's talk about why you died, why you died?"
Cao Cao's expression became more and more serious, "Because you lacked a good master. If you had followed me, then in my Great Wei, we would have my son Yu strategizing and planning, and you, Guan Yun Chang, fighting on the battlefield. Who in the world could be your opponent?
How could you have been decapitated?
Liu Bei... pretends to be benevolent and righteous, saying 'we will not coexist with the Han rebels, and our royal enterprise cannot be confined to a corner.' He just wants to sit on that ceremonial chariot!
I, Cao Cao... am the true overlord of the world, and after me, my son Cao Yu will be the overlord of the world!
You... you lack nothing, except a good master!"
"However, speaking of which, if you had truly followed me back then and not sought out your former master, I would have looked down on you, and my son Yu's plan would have failed. After all, Yu calculated your loyalty, and I, Cao Cao, also like loyal people! But it's best if it's loyalty to me! Never mind, never mind... if you want to be Guan Changsheng of Jieliang, Hedong, then be Guan Changsheng. The name Guan Yun Chang ultimately does not belong to me. He did not belong to me when he was alive, and he does not belong to me in death... Yun Chang, eat well, drink well, and we shall meet again in the next life!"
"Yun Chang... rest. If you have spirits in heaven, then watch, watch how my son unifies the mountains and rivers, how he establishes a prosperous and flourishing era. You and I fought each other, isn't this what we lived for our entire lives?"
At this point...
Cao Cao slowly stood up, turned around, and looked up at the sky.
"Old friends are gradually withering away, like leaves in the wind... Who will be the next old friend to wither?"
At that moment, Liu Xuande and Zhang Yide's figures appeared in Cao Cao's mind.
— "Leaves in the wind..."
— "Old friends withering!"
...
...
As dawn began to break, Yang Xiu in Hanzhong had just woken up. He got up with difficulty... and slowly walked to the window, frowning as he looked at the eastern sky, which was the color of fish belly. The sun had not yet cast its shadow.
He had intended to doze off for a bit longer, but unexpectedly... his eyes fixed on something.
"Your Majesty?"
Yang Xiu was surprised that Lu Yu appeared at his door so early in the morning.
"Slept restlessly?"
Lu Yu asked, looking at Yang Xiu's listless appearance.
"Cough cough..." Yang Xiu coughed lightly, "I didn't sleep restlessly, I slept too well... If I continue to rest like this, I'm afraid I'll become useless."
These words clearly had a hidden meaning.
How could Lu Yu not know that Yang Xiu's words had a double meaning? He envied other generals who were either leading troops in Jinniu Road, Micang Road, or Lizhi Road... or were responsible for coordinating grain and supplies, military equipment...
Even his peer Sima Yi had been entrusted with a heavy responsibility.
Yang Xiu was bored to death...
"Hehe..." Lu Yu smiled lightly, then directly stuffed a decree into Yang Xiu's arms. "Your Majesty... this..." Yang Xiu was stunned.
Lu Yu turned around, walking towards the door, and said softly, "Bring me Zhang Yide's head!"
...
...