Chapter 14: Could There Be Another Master Under Liu Bei’s Banner?

Gazing upon Cai He's severed head, Wei Yan exhaled deeply. The long-standing resentment that had weighed heavily on his heart was finally unleashed in this moment.

Laughter rang out joyfully atop the city walls.

Wei Yan swiftly approached the ramparts and hoisted Cai He's head high, displaying it to the Jingzhou soldiers gathered below.

“I have slain Cai He and resolutely pledge allegiance to Liu Yuzhou!”

“Any of you who still possess a shred of courage and refuse to surrender to Cao, follow me and submit to Liu Yuzhou!”

“Those who seek vengeance for Cai He, I, Wei Yan, await you here!”

With that, Wei Yan cast Cai He's head down from the walls, standing proudly with his sword drawn, formidable as an iron tower.

The Jingzhou troops below erupted in chaos.

Those loyal to the Cai family saw their morale shatter at the death of Cai He and scattered in disarray.

But those unwilling to surrender to Cao knelt en masse, shouting with fervor that they would follow Wei Yan in allegiance to Liu Bei.

Over four thousand Jingzhou soldiers at the East Gate surrendered without a fight.

Moments later, Zhang Fei led three thousand Liu troops, surging like a tidal wave through the East Gate.

“General Wei Yan reporting to General Yide!” Wei Yan stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully.

Zhang Fei eyed the ranks of Jingzhou troops standing solemnly along the main street, suspicion flickering in his gaze.

He had expected a fierce battle after breaking through the gate, but instead saw over three thousand Jingzhou soldiers standing at attention, already bearing Liu Bei’s banners.

“General Yide, I report that my Jingzhou men are not all cowards. Many admire our lord and refuse to surrender to Cao. I...” Wei Yan proceeded to recount how he had slain Cai He and persuaded the East Gate garrison to defect to Liu Bei.

Zhang Fei suddenly understood, laughing heartily as he clapped Wei Yan on the shoulder.

“Wei Wenchang, you’re quite the tactician! No wonder that Mr. Xiao said you had the makings of a great general—he truly was right.”

“Mr. Xiao?” Wei Yan’s eyes flickered as he hurriedly asked, “The same Mr. Sun mentioned, the brilliant adviser newly gained by our lord, the Xiao Bowen who recognized a nobody like me?”

“None other,” Zhang Fei nodded solemnly. “This Mr. Xiao's wisdom is unfathomable. Not only did he recognize you as a hero of the age, but he was also the mastermind behind the surprise attack on Xiangyang.”

“And more, he predicted Liu Jingsheng’s death from illness and Liu Cong’s surrender to Cao in advance...” Zhang Fei went on to lavish praise upon Xiao He, waving his hand.

“Enough for now, I can’t finish in just a moment. Tomorrow, Mr. Xiao will cross the river to Xiangyang. You’ll understand as soon as you meet him.”

“But for now, let’s take Xiangyang and win this battle!”

With no time for further talk, Zhang Fei spurred his horse forward, rallying his men as they charged deeper into Xiangyang.

“Xiao He, Xiao Bowen... such rare talents hidden within Jingzhou...” Wei Yan’s eyes shone with admiration.

Only after the Liu troops surged past him like a flood did he snap back to the present.

His resolve rekindled, Wei Yan drew his sword, leading his followers alongside Zhang Fei into the city.

…

At the Provincial Governor’s Mansion, Liu Cong paced anxiously, glancing repeatedly toward the door as if expecting Liu Bei’s army to burst in at any moment, sword drawn.

“Our walls are high and thick, our forces far outnumber Liu Bei’s, and with Cai Deguai personally commanding the defenses from the ramparts, there’s no way Liu Bei can break through.”

“Master, please calm yourself. Sit and share some tea with me for peace of mind.” Kuai Yue rose, handing Liu Cong a cup.

Liu Cong paused, meeting Kuai Yue’s calm, composed smile, and felt some of his tension ease.

“Your reasoning is sound. No matter how skilled Liu Bei is, he’s no Cao Cao. With fewer than ten thousand troops, how could he possibly breach Xiangyang?”

“I must have been overthinking it—overthinking.”

He smiled wryly and sat back down, raising the tea cup.

Just as he was about to drink, hurried footsteps sounded.

General Wang Wei burst in, breathless and frantic.

“Master, Kuai Commander, grave news!”

“There’s a mutiny—one Wei Yan has rebelled, slain General Cai Deping, and opened the East Gate for Liu Bei’s forces to enter!”

Crash!

Liu Cong’s face turned pale as the tea cup slipped from his grasp and shattered on the floor.

Even the usually serene Kuai Yue’s expression darkened, and he sprang to his feet.

“What did you say? Say that again!”

Kuai Yue strode forward, glaring at Wang Wei.

“There’s a mutiny at the East Gate. Cai He has been killed, and Liu Bei’s army has entered!”

“Most of our defenders have surrendered to Liu Bei; the enemy troops have stormed the city. Along the way, our soldiers either surrendered or collapsed at the first clash!”

“The enemy is already approaching the provincial government building!”

Wang Wei’s voice trembled, panic writ large on his face as he repeated the grim news.

Kuai Yue stood dumbfounded, frozen in place.

Liu Cong’s face drained of color as he staggered to his feet.

“Kuai Commander, what is going on? You said Xiangyang was impregnable.”

“Then how has Liu Bei suddenly broken in?”

“How could there be a mutiny, and Cai He killed all of a sudden?”

“What... what exactly is happening?”

Clutching Kuai Yue, Liu Cong unleashed a barrage of questions.

Kuai Yue’s breath grew heavy as his mind raced.

Suddenly, he drew a sharp breath, awakening to realization.

“It must be that Liu Bei secretly bribed Wei Yan. Wei Yan pretended to lead the main force to attack the North Gate, but in secret ambushed the East Gate, where he suddenly rebelled, killed Cai He, and opened the gate for Liu Bei’s troops!”

“This is Liu Bei’s classic feint—he had planned this deception from the start!”

Kuai Yue, regarded as Jingzhou’s greatest strategist, could no longer fail to see the truth.

Liu Cong suddenly grasped the situation and complained bitterly.

“Kuai Yue, you predicted Liu Bei wouldn’t come with an army to punish us, and you were sure he couldn’t breach Xiangyang.”

“But now, all your judgments have been wrong—completely wrong!”

Kuai Yue’s face flushed with shame, sweat rolling down his forehead.

“How strange! Liu Bei calls himself benevolent and righteous; ordinarily, he wouldn’t attempt to seize Xiangyang. Who could have persuaded him?”

“And who devised this plan to capture Xiangyang? Could it be that disciple of Water Mirror, Zhuge Liang?”

“But Wei Yan is nothing more than an obscure soldier. How could Zhuge Liang have chosen such a man as an inside agent?”

“Or is there another mysterious figure under Liu Bei’s command?”

Kuai Yue murmured to himself, his thoughts spinning as he tried to unravel the puzzle.

Outside the provincial mansion, shouts echoed from all directions.

“We will never surrender to Cao!”

“The Jingzhou army pledges allegiance to Liu Yuzhou!”

“Heavy rewards for those who capture the traitors Cai Mao and Kuai Yue!”

“Liu Cong does not deserve to be our governor!”

From every corner, the cries thundered—as if overnight, the entire city had turned against him.

“Kuai Yidu, they have rebelled, all of them!”

“What are we to do? You must decide!”

Liu Cong, abandoning further complaint, clung to Kuai Yue, almost begging.

Kuai Yue cast a glance outside, paused thoughtfully, then sighed in helpless resignation.

“The city was rife with unrest. Many were unhappy with you surrendering to Cao. Now that Liu Bei has broken in, these scoundrels have naturally emerged.”

“The situation is dire. Xiangyang cannot be held. We must abandon the city, retreat southward to Jiangling.”

“Alas—”