"You three will take ten thousand troops and set out at once. Proceed to the main camp at Mount Qi and join up with Yide. Then attack Tianshui according to the established plan." Liu Bei handed the command token to Pang Tong.
"Your servant accepts the command." Pang Tong accepted the token on behalf of Ma Chao and Pang Rou, and the three turned and walked out.
Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun watched Liu Bei eagerly, waiting for him to assign them duties. Yet Liu Bei directly called upon Huang Quan. "Gongheng, lead five thousand men from your command, fly my commander's banner, and head for Shangyong. Join Feng'er in sailing down the Han River, then coordinate with Yunchang in attacking Nanxiang Commandery."
"Your subordinate accepts the command."
Huang Quan had only just taken the command token and was about to leave when Fa Zheng stopped him and reminded him, "Gongheng, remember: there is no need to seize cities and occupy land. But you must make the spectacle enormous, enough to convince Cao Pi that our target is the Central Plains."
"I understand." Huang Quan clasped his fists and nodded.
"Yiyang, Wenjin, the two of you will lead ten thousand troops to garrison Hechi. Send men to fell timber and oversee the construction of siege engines. Yide has already made preparations beforehand, but Chencang's walls are sturdy and high—the more siege equipment, the better. Chencang's defender is Zhang He, a famed Wei general. This will likely be a hard battle." Liu Bei continued issuing orders.
"Your subordinates accept the command." Fu Rong and Zhang Nan clasped their fists together.
Liu Bei ordered Gao Xiang to remain at Yangping and receive the supplies arriving from Chengdu. He also ordered Deng Xian and Chen Shi to supervise the transport of provisions to