The night was cloudless, and the stars and moon hung high in the night sky.
The entire river valley is shrouded in a shallow layer of gray light, and the trunks of white birch trees stand sparsely on the rolling hills, reflecting the moonlight eerily. From a distance, they look like an upside-down corpse hanging from the sky.
The new wind, which was already chilling, became even more unscrupulous after nightfall.
They roared into the mountain col, passed through the heavily guarded night guard soldiers, and broke into the Chinese army tent, swaying with the light and shadow of the grease lamp.
Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, who was under the command of Eguan Bo, sat quietly behind the desk alone, frowning as he read the military information spread out on the desk.
Liang Yuanbi, the leader of the Huns who was temporarily transferred from Zheng Pu's command, was very familiar with the terrain in this area. He led more than a hundred tribesmen to go out for only three days and deduced all the arrangements from the routes of the troops of the Wei Dynasty.
In other words, Cao Zhen, who rebelled against Wei, had no intention of concealing his strategic intentions.
The absolute strength of hundreds of thousands of Guanzhong troops and tens of thousands of Liangzhou defenders allowed him to fully control the initiative on the battlefield and make the war develop according to his wishes.
For example, only 20,000 soldiers and horses restrained the Prime Minister's 40,000-strong army, which is a manifestation of ease.
However, the Prime Minister did not think that Cao Zhen was superior in chess.
Don't send Zheng Pu and Jiang Wei to guard the rear of Xiaoguandao, and personally lead the army here to intimidate the Liangdao of Ni Wei, all in order to prevent the main force of Ni Wei from entering Longyou.
As long as Ni Wei does not attack Pingxiang and the Second City of Ayang, it does not matter whether he can attack Ni Wei's grain road.
Wei Yan, Guan Xing, Zhang Bao and others who were guarding Zuli County and Jiyin Fortress had long known that there would be no reinforcements and had to defend until the Wei army retreated spontaneously.
The soldiers under their command are all veterans. In addition, the prime minister has stored enough food for them for a year, as well as a large number of Yuanrong crossbows, large yellow crossbows, grease and other military supplies. There will be no chance of being isolated and helpless or running out of supplies, which will cause the army to collapse.
worries.
In fact, the prime minister was relieved about Wei's move to divide the army into three groups.
Cao Zhen spread his troops too thinly.
According to common sense, it would be useless to send Feiyao to attack Zheng Pu and Jiang Wei's camp.
There are two cavalrymen, Ma Dai and Zhao Guang, in the Changlishui (Hulu River) Valley. With Fei Yao's 30,000 soldiers, even if they broke through the other camps, they could not continue to attack Xiaoguan deeply; they had no spare power to capture Wu Ban's guard.
Ayang City.
In this case, it is better to dispatch these soldiers and horses to join forces with Xiahou Ru and attack Zuli County day and night!
This is where the prime minister's doubts lie.
It would not be beneficial to the war situation, so why would Wei Cao Zhen make such arrangements?
Could it be that Cao Zhen, who was captured by Wei soldiers, called Zheng Pu a "big trouble for Wei" and wanted to get rid of it quickly; or did he have a deeper meaning?
The Prime Minister hesitated.
However, after thinking about it carefully, I am more willing to believe that the reason is the latter.
After all, he was Cao Zhen, who had been in the military for decades, and he was the most capable commander in the war against Wei today.
However, Rao and his assistants had deduced many times and speculated on many possibilities, but the prime minister was still unable to confirm Cao Zhen's subsequent intention. However, Fu Qian and other minor officials who stayed by his side made the prime minister think of another idea.
A possibility.
That was Fu Qian showing off Zheng Pu's achievements in guarding Xiaoguandao in the past.
"With my husband and General Jiang guarding Xiaoguandao, what should I fear if Wei's army of 30,000 comes to attack! If Cao Zhen hadn't personally led the army, the farewell camp at Xiaoguandao would be worry-free!"
As the saying goes, the speaker has no intention, but the listener has intention.
These words made the Prime Minister's eyes light up: Perhaps, Cao Zhen meant Xiao Guan?
The cause of this war is clear.
It was because the Han army captured the Anyin Fortress and completely cut off the connection between the Three Assistants in Guanzhong against the Wei Dynasty and the Hexi Corridor that Cao Zhen came to Guanzhong with all his strength.
Its strategic intentions are also obvious.
Capture Zuli County at all costs, cut off the connection between Longyou and Hexi, and recapture the Jianyin Fortress.
But now the Prime Minister suddenly felt that the forced attack on Zuli County was just a pretense.
Because from the perspective of rebelling against the Wei Dynasty, a better way than besieging Zuli County is to capture Xiao Pass.
Just like the Han Dynasty could attack Liangzhou by capturing the Anyin Fortress, as long as Xiaoguan falls into the hands of Wei, the main force in Guanzhong can continuously enter the land of Longyou.
By then, Longyou had lost the protection of its geographical location and became the main battlefield for both Han and Wei. How could the Han Dynasty have any spare energy to invade the Hexi Corridor?
Can An not give up the solitary Guanyinpao in the north?
Unless, the Han Dynasty captured Jincheng County and provided supplies and fodder from the Wuting Nishui (Zhuanglang River) valley to defend the Eanyin Fortress.
But this is not possible.
If Jincheng County was easy to capture, there would be no need for Jiang Wei's near-death escape attack.
For this reason, Cao Zhen sent Governor Fei Yao to attack the other camps of Zheng Pu and Jiang Wei.
Once Fei Yao was able to break through, or when the other camp was in danger, Cao Zhen gathered all his troops and moved here to occupy Xiaoguandao!
Ma Dai and Zhao Guang's cavalry and the Wu squad in Ayang City could not prevent his army of hundreds of thousands from capturing Xiaoguan and marching south to Lueyang to capture Jieting.
In other words, Niwei can be conquered in one fell swoop, and it is related to Xiaoguandao and Guanlongdao, which belong to Longyou!
It can suddenly turn the war between the two sides into the situation of the Han Dynasty's first Northern Expedition.
There is no need to worry about the food channel being cut off by the Prime Minister.
At that time, he can completely transfer grain from Guanzhong.
And Gaoping City is known as the "First City".
With only three to five thousand soldiers guarding it, the Prime Minister's 40,000-strong army could not capture it and could not circle back to Xiaoguan from the Wushui River Valley for rescue.
As for why, Cao Zhen is still attacking Zuli County now?
Once it comes, it activates the whole body.
If he had a clear purpose and personally mentioned that the army was coming to attack Xiaoguandao, it would be impossible for the Han army to fail to respond.
For example, Wu Banbu will definitely send troops and horses to reinforce Xiao Pass; Ma Dai and Zhao Guang will lead their cavalry to harass; the prime minister who originally threatened the grain road will return to guard Xiao Pass with Zheng Pu and Jiang Wei.
Even Wei Yan's tribe in Zuli County may leave the city and try to attack his retreat.
With so many constraints, it was difficult for him to achieve success.
Therefore, it is a very good choice to send Fei Yao to lead a group of troops to try it out first.
Anyway, Zuli County will be captured sooner or later.
Moreover, as long as Xia Houru and Guo Huai continue to besiege Zuli County, the prime minister will not retreat to Longyou in order to contain them, and the Han troops on Xiaoguandao will not increase.
Furthermore, he could also take advantage of this opportunity to transfer all the troops, horses, grain and baggage out of the Wushui River Valley and make preparations in advance.
If Feiyao's attack goes smoothly, he will have gained time to advance forward.
At that time, it would be impossible for the Prime Minister to come back in time!
On the other hand, the battlefield is changing rapidly and anything can happen.
As a commander-in-chief, you should not risk everything unless absolutely necessary.
For example, the war with Soochow was not over yet, and even the emperor Cao Rui went to conquer it himself.
All the troops of Wei State have set off to the battlefield.
If anything goes wrong in the battlefields of Jingzhou or Huainan, similar to what happened in the Battle of Shiting, which made it difficult for Wei to continue, he will have to retreat no matter how unwilling he is.
Because the emperor Cao Rui, who supported him completely, would also change his original intention.
The purpose of attacking is to benefit the country.
What would be the point if he captured Longyou at the cost of losing Jingzhou or Huainan?
Therefore, besieging Zuli County is essential.
Regardless of the outcome, at least he achieved his goals of consuming the Han's war reserves, delaying the Han army's attack on Liangzhou, and maintaining the status quo of the Hexi Corridor.
Staying upright, avoiding ambiguity, and being prepared for all changes are the guarantee for taking the initiative to hold the battlefield in your hands.
The prime minister pondered, roughly understanding Cao Zhen's intention, but he could only smile bitterly.
In order to protect the foundation for sending troops to seize Liangzhou in the future, try to avoid being too passive in the war against the powerful Han Dynasty who fought against the Wei Dynasty.
It was not impossible for him to break Cao Zhen's hidden plan.
It's very simple, all he needs to do is give up the geographical advantage, lead the army out of the valley and settle down in camp.
At that time, Cao Zhen will without thinking, give up the siege of Zuli County or the plan to capture Xiao Pass, and instead use all his troops to besiege him.
After all, as long as the main force led by him is destroyed, Wei will gain Longyou.
This is equivalent to forcing the Han Dynasty back to Hanzhong County to guard it.
It was precisely because of this that he, walking on thin ice, had no choice but to sit and watch Cao Zhen step by step, helpless.
well.
I sighed slightly in my heart.
The prime minister, who put away the general's love cloth one by one, stood up from his case and walked out of the military tent.
The soldiers on duty outside saw him and quickly ran into the tent to get a thick cloak and put it on him, then followed him respectfully.
Winter is about to begin, and the temperature difference between day and night here is huge. They are in their prime and cannot bear the cold night, let alone the prime minister whose beard and hair are stained with frost.
However, there are many fires for lighting and warning in the military camp.
The Prime Minister walked slowly and stopped in front of the fire, not afraid of the bleak autumn wind.
After the Han army settled in this valley, Mi Wei and Zong Yu of the rear army went out every day to collect firewood in preparation for the army to hold on until the spring of next year.
Yes, in the Prime Minister's expectation, this war will not end until next year's spring plowing at the earliest.
In other words, if Cao Zhen still doesn't retreat by next spring and March, he will take the initiative to force him to retreat.
It's not about attacking Gaoping City.
Instead, he returned to Longyou, sent troops from Xiaoguan to Jingzhao, and met with General Wu Yi of the left who was guarding Hanzhong County in Chang'an City!
Put Wei Yan’s Ziwu Valley plan into action!
There is no need to worry about the inconvenience of Wu Yi's troops marching.
In the past, when Cao Zhen launched a large-scale attack on Hanzhong County, he did not send partial troops to go through Ziwu Valley, and the road conditions were more convenient than before.
Moreover, thanks to the Battle of Xicheng, there were no guards at the entrance to Ziwu Valley, and Wu Yi would not be noticed by the Wei army when he walked through Ziwu Valley. Cao Zhen's army of hundreds of thousands was on the right side of Longyou. Who would have expected that the Han Dynasty would attack Chang'an?
Of course, sending troops out of Chang'an is a completely desperate move.
No matter how ideal it is, both sides suffer.
It's like the Han Dynasty regarded Longyou as a bet, betting that Cao Cao was really willing to preserve a complete Guanzhong Sanfu, or reap the ruined Guanzhong and Longyou.
But the Prime Minister had no other option.
Or in other words, it is inevitable for a big man.
After providing enough food and fodder for a year's worth of troops totaling 20,000 in Zuli County and Jianyinsai, the food and fodder left for the troops in Longyou could not last long.
In recent years, wars have been too frequent.
Following the Battle of Xiangfan and the Battle of Yiling, Yizhou had long been exhausted.
Most of the grain used previously was accumulated by seclusion and letting the soldiers work in the fields of Shu.
Now that soldiers and horses have gathered in various places in Longyou and Hanzhong County to guard, the military settlements have long been difficult to maintain; and the government did not take much from the farmland produced by recruiting poor people as tenants.
After all, the Han Dynasty was not against the Wei Dynasty, and could not achieve six or eight out of ten gains from farming.
Alas, I hope it won't come to that point.
Otherwise, all the gains of my great Han Dynasty's conquests in the past ten years will be destroyed in one fell swoop.
I felt greedy again.
The prime minister spread his hands and leaned against the fire, trying to draw warmth from the virtue of fire that the great man admired.
He had never thought about whether Soochow would have another great victory similar to the "Battle of Shiting", which forced Cao Zhen to retreat.
That possibility is really slim.
After all, Ni Wei had suffered a loss once and had already turned defensive, making it impossible for him to get into the battlefield that Sun Quan expected again.
And the ability of Soochow to go ashore to attack the city and fight fiercely?
Just don’t mention it.
If it can contain the garrison of Luoyang who rebelled against the Wei Dynasty and did not come to Longyou, it will be a good ally that will make the Han Dynasty proud.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister did not pin his hopes on others.
"Prime Minister, give it, warm it."
Just as he was sighing with squinted eyes, his thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
Looking sideways, he saw Fu Qian, who was fully armored, smiling and handing over a bag of mare's milk wine.
He is now a general of the Yamen. The prime minister had previously accepted him as a member of the Prime Minister's Office to join the army, but later thinking that he was a general, he allowed him to also lead a school of soldiers and horses to serve as a guard in the central army.
The Prime Minister nodded and smiled, and when he took the wine bag, he also asked, "You are not on duty tonight, why don't you rest?"
"The night is still early and I am not tired yet."
Fu Qian also smiled and said softly, "I happened to see the Prime Minister leaving the tent, so I went to find some drinks."
"Um"
The Prime Minister nodded slightly and said nothing.
He uncorked the wine bag and took a few sips.
Kumis is always sour and astringent, making people frown when it hits their mouth.
However, the Prime Minister has gradually gotten used to this taste.
On the one hand, I have become accustomed to it.
On the other hand, since he often drank this wine, many soldiers and subordinates no longer drank wine brewed from grain.
This can be regarded as slightly easing the food shortage of the Han Dynasty.
After a short silence, the Prime Minister returned the wine bag to Fu Qian. Just as he was about to tell him to go back and rest, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of several bamboo slips stuck sideways at his waist.
The Prime Minister knows what those bamboo slips are for.
When the Han Dynasty first came out of Longyou and Ma Su's greedy army was defeated, Zheng Pu, Wang Ping, Gofu, Zhang Yi and others defended Xiaoguandao to the death.
When the situation was declining, he tore open the military curtain and wrote the pen himself, so that all the soldiers who were still alive had the opportunity to leave a message to their families.
Now, Fu Qian has begun to take charge of the army, and he has followed suit.
When he was not on duty, he found scraps of ordnance and cut bamboo slips for use on the eve of future wars.
A bamboo slip contains very few words, which seem to be just for comfort, but it can make the soldiers march into formation without fear or regret.
Perhaps this is the reason why the Xuanwu Army in the past was still able to hold its position even after ten years.
The Prime Minister said secretly.
I also let go of my worries.
Zheng Pu can make his soldiers fight to the death, Jiang Wei can make his soldiers willing to risk their lives to follow him thousands of miles away, and Feiyao can only lead an army of 30,000 to attack Wei, so why worry!
