Chang'an lay wrapped in silver in the first lunar month. A snowfall several days earlier had left its already desolate streets lonelier still.
At that moment, Chang'an's gates were shut tight, and soldiers continually patrolled its towering walls.
Inside the residence of the General Who Pacifies the West, Xiahou Mao sat on a couch, his cheeks flushed.
He held a beautiful concubine at his side, while a maid behind him kneaded his shoulders. Below the dais, a troupe of household entertainers danced gracefully, their long sleeves swirling.
Suddenly, a household servant hurried in from outside.
"General! General!"
Xiahou Mao shot him an irritated glance. "What is it?"
"Young Master Xian is here," the servant said.
"Oh?" Xiahou Mao raised his brows. "Xian'er is here? Then hurry and invite him in! Why bother announcing him?"
"Well... also-" The servant tried to say more, but Xiahou Mao felt his enjoyment had been spoiled and immediately snapped, "Enough nonsense! Leave!"
The servant dared not say anything further. He cupped his hands and withdrew.
Before long, Xiahou Xian entered the residence's main hall.
"Father." Xiahou Xian bowed.
"No need for ceremony, Xian'er." Xiahou Mao beckoned him over. "It's been years, and you've grown so much! When you reach twenty, I'll choose a fine courtesy name for you!"
"Father, I already underwent my capping ceremony this year. My courtesy name is Fengming," Xiahou Xian replied, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, Fengming. Xiahou Fengming. A fine courtesy name! Hahaha." As he spoke, Xiahou Mao extended a hand and directed the maid beside him, "What are you standing there for? Go and attend to the young master."
This father of mine really is unreliable, Xiahou Xian thought. But since this concerned the family's fate, Xiahou Xian kindly gave him a reminder anyway.
"Father, you should dismiss these women first."
Xiahou Mao froze. "Why? Does my son have no interest in women?"
"That's not it. It's just..." Xiahou Xian paused. "Mother came this time too."
"What?" Xiahou Mao, who had still been somewhat tipsy, instantly sobered up.
But it was already too late. Qinghe had strode into the hall. "You're certainly enjoying yourself, Imperial Son-in-Law Xiahou."
Xiahou Xian discreetly stepped aside.
Who would have thought that, realizing his deeds had been exposed, Xiahou Mao would instead straighten his back and stop pretending? "To what important business do I owe the Princess Royal's distinguished visit?"
"I suggest you dismiss every one of these people at once, or bear the consequences yourself!" Qinghe said bluntly, bristling with anger.
"Ah..." Xiahou Mao sidled up to Qinghe and lowered his head to sniff her delicate fragrance. "And if I refuse, what can you do to me, Princess?"
"Hmph!" Qinghe flicked her sleeve, unwilling to speak to him any further.
Just then, Xiahou Xian cleared his throat, leaned close to Xiahou Mao, and whispered, "Father, you'd better do as Mother says. His Majesty will be here soon."
"What?!" Xiahou Mao turned pale with shock and nearly toppled headfirst onto Qinghe. He hastily waved a hand, swiftly dismissing all the household entertainers and concubines.
Only then did Xiahou Mao learn that the emperor was personally leading the campaign. He hurriedly changed into his official robes and had the servants tidy up the residence.
He had thought that, with the General-in-Chief stationed in Mei County, he could sit securely in Chang'an without a care. Who knew the situation was far more serious than he had imagined?
An hour later, Cao Rui arrived.
Fortunately, Cao Rui had not witnessed Xiahou Mao's disgraceful behavior when he arrived. Otherwise, Xiahou Xian suspected that even he would have suffered His Majesty's displaced anger.
As soon as Cao Rui entered the hall, Xiahou Mao bowed to welcome him. "Your subject Xiahou Mao failed to greet Your Majesty farther afield. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
"You are not at fault." Cao Rui surveyed his surroundings, then looked back at Xiahou Mao. "You have guarded Guanzhong for many years, rendering great service through your toil. Now that the fighting in Longxi has become critical, We had no choice but to lead the campaign here in person. Yet, away from Luoyang, We cannot spare Our attention for the affairs of court, and must therefore rely on you to share Our burdens."
This was plainly stripping him of military authority and sending him back to Luoyang to hold an idle post. Xiahou Mao was no fool; he immediately understood Cao Rui's intention. Yet he could say nothing. He knew this had been inevitable.
"Your subject obeys the decree," Xiahou Mao answered with his head lowered.
After a few brief pleasantries, Cao Rui departed.
Xiahou Mao bowed to see him off.
Suddenly, he sensed a chilling gaze lingering beside him, making him distinctly uncomfortable.
Fortunately, his son Xiahou Xian was there too and could mediate, sparing him from facing Princess Qinghe's wrath alone.
Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, he discovered to his astonishment that Xiahou Xian was walking toward the door.
"Where are you going, Fengming?"
Halfway out, Xiahou Xian turned back and said to Xiahou Mao, "Oh, Father, I won't be staying at the residence tonight. I'm now a military adviser, and tonight I'll be discussing military affairs at His Majesty's temporary palace."
Xiahou Mao murmured an acknowledgment, then suddenly registered what he had said. "What??"
The Han army's main camp at Mount Qi, Tianshui Commandery.
The north wind howled. During the day, faint traces of spring could still be felt, but once night fell, a thin layer of white frost would form over the earth again.
That night, dim firelight still glowed inside the camp's command tent.
Outside the tent, a man in blue-gray scholar's robes approached in haste.
"Adviser Ma." The junior official on duty cupped his hands in greeting and, understanding his purpose without being told, immediately turned and entered the tent to announce him.
Before long, Ma Su walked slowly into the main tent. He saw Zhuge Liang kneeling before a low desk, his head bent over documents as his brush flew across them.
"Chancellor..."
"Youchang, you've come at just the right time." Before Ma Su could finish, Zhuge Liang picked up the bamboo slips whose ink had yet to dry and gently blew on them several times, then tied them with a thin cord and placed them inside a cloth bag prepared beforehand.
"Have someone deliver this to Chengdu and present it to His Majesty." As his words fell, Zhuge Liang picked up another blank roll of slips and began writing again.
"Yes!" Ma Su accepted the slips. After a brief pause, he suddenly remembered the purpose of his visit. He stepped forward, took a letter from his sleeve, and said, "Chancellor, an urgent report from Guanzhong."
"Youchang, read it aloud to me."
Zhuge Liang did not look up. Having received his instruction, Ma Su broke the clay seal, took out the letter, and read aloud:
"The false emperor of Wei, Cao Rui, has personally led a campaign to Chang'an and ordered General-in-Chief Cao Zhen to march fifty thousand infantry and cavalry along Guanlong Road toward Longxi."
At these words, Zhuge Liang's brush tip skewed slightly.
Chang'an was roughly six or seven hundred li from Tianshui, which meant that by the time he received this letter, Cao Zhen's army had already set out.
By his reckoning, if Cao Zhen's army marched at speed, it could reach Jieting within seven days.
Although the Han army could reach Jieting in about a day, it would be difficult to establish effective defensive works in so little time.
To think Cao Wei's new emperor possessed such resolve, daring to risk losing Guanzhong by sending a great army into Longyou first. It seemed he was determined to retake the three commanderies.
Zhuge sighed inwardly, then collected himself and spoke slowly:
"Youchang, first go and take stock of the provisions transported here from Hanzhong this time."
Seeing this, Ma Su said nothing and was about to cup his hands and withdraw.
"Wait, Youchang!" Zhuge Liang's voice rang out again. "Go at once and summon the generals to the main tent for a council."
"Yes!"
Only then did Ma Su notice that Zhuge Liang's expression seemed to have undergone a subtle change. But he said nothing more and left to carry out his orders.