While Guo Huai was busy sending letters in the city, Wu Yi outside the city was different from Ma Su, Wei Yan and other generals. In the afternoon, when the sun was slowly setting, Wu Yi's army had not been in the camp for an hour when he quickly sent people to build a pontoon bridge over the Wei River again. Although Shanggui is close to the Wei River, the water is shallow in winter, and the distance between the north and south banks is less than 30 meters. It is cold in winter, but the thickness of the ice on the Wei River is not enough for people and horses to pass. When Ma Su, Zhao Yun and others went north two days ago, they built a floating bridge on the Wei River. As soon as Wu Yi's troops moved, the sentries on the city wall noticed it and reported it to Generals Guo Huai and Lu Pan. Just after sending the letter, Guo Huai heard that Wu Yi was advancing, and he became even more anxious. "Envoy Guo, what should we do?" Lu Pan's voice also sounded anxious. Guo Huai pondered for a moment: "If Shanggui has 10,000 or 20,000 defenders, how should we fight?" Lu Pan responded: "You are kidding, sir? If there were 20,000 defenders, why would you and I be so anxious? Of course we should push back the soldiers who are building the pontoon bridge!" "That's right!" Guo Huai personally stood on the top of the city wall, staring closely at the three teams sent from the southeast and Wu Yi's camp to build pontoon bridges. Each team had about a thousand people. Guo Huai said to Lu Pan beside him, "You lead 500 soldiers from the city to hold off the Shu army on the eastern side across the river. I will also assign 500 civilians to you to form a thousand-man army."
"I will go to the camp below the city and lead two more thousand-man teams to hold off the two Shu armies in the west." "I obey your order! I will lead the troops out of the city now." Lu Pan nodded solemnly, and walked down the city wall with Guo Huai. Lu Pan knew that Guo Huai was continuing with yesterday's "bluffing" strategy, and was unwilling to show any sign of weakness before the two armies actually engaged in battle. It was not a difficult task for Guo Huai to lead a thousand men to prevent the Shu army from building a pontoon bridge across the river. The Shu army, which was trying to build a floating bridge, and the Wei army on the north bank of the Wei River, which was only 30 meters wide and covered with a thin layer of ice, were in a stalemate and were reduced to shooting at each other across the river in three places. As the sun gradually set, both sides called off the battle. Just as Guo Huai had imagined, today was another day that had passed. Even if it was only delayed for one more day, it would be good for Shanggui City at this time. However, Wu Yi on the south bank of the Weishui River was not as anxious as Guo Huai. Instead, he sent a letter to Zhuge Liang in Xi County at night after the sun had set. Guo Huai and Wu Yi have completely different perspectives. It was already the evening of December 6th. From Wu Yi's perspective, the 30,000-strong Eastern Army had already advanced northward along the Longshan Road, and Ji County in Tianshui County had already surrendered. Shanggui is an important transportation hub. But for the attacking and defending sides, the competition for important transportation locations is different. In Wu Yi's opinion, he had already obtained half of Tianshui County, and the other half was nothing more than Shanggui. The Wei army occupied Shanggui, which could be used as a base to support the central army in Guanzhong and even Luoyang to enter Longyou. But on the other hand, if the Shu army occupied Shanggui, they could calmly move westward to swallow up Nan'an County, Tianshui County, and even the entire Liangzhou! If the Shu army failed to take Shanggui, blocking Shanggui would have the same effect. When Wu Yi wrote to Zhuge Liang to ask for instructions on how to fight next, a day and a half had passed since Ji County surrendered. Zhuge Liang, who was far away in Xi County, had already received a letter from Gao Xiang of Ji County and began to prepare to leave for Ji County to take charge. Xi County was where Zhuge Liang stationed his army's main camp. The Shu army camp was brightly lit at night. Outside the central army tent where Zhuge Liang was, several layers of soldiers were patrolling non-stop. Although the sun had already set, the messengers coming in and out of the camp were quite lively. At this moment, Prime Minister Zhuge was instructing his chief secretary Xiang Lang on some matters to pay attention to. "Juda, the military situation is urgent. I'm sorry to trouble you to rush to Ji County overnight. If the time is right, you should be there on the morning of the 8th." Zhuge Liang sat upright behind the desk and instructed calmly: "When you arrive in Ji County, you must pay attention to strategy and do not provoke civil unrest."
Xiang Lang nodded repeatedly: "I already know everything the Prime Minister meant." "According to the Prime Minister's instructions, my army has come all the way from Hanzhong, and the most important thing is to replenish food and grass. After I arrive in Ji County on the eighth day, I will use the Prime Minister's military order to recruit local civilians to besiege Shanggui, and then try my best to collect food in the surrounding areas." Zhuge Liang listened quietly and added: "Whether it is the Tianshui chief clerk Yin Shang or the two big families Yan and Ren in Ji County, they are all worthy of praise for their loyalty to the Han Dynasty and their timely submission." "But in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures should be taken. When the army goes out to fight, it is best to seek food from the land. Collecting food and recruiting civilians are as important as surrendering the city! The king's army cannot afford to delay the attack. If there are those who disobey us, they can be killed at any time!" Xiang Lang thought for a moment and said, "Ji County has already surrendered. What if the cavalry that Gao Xiang sent to Nan'an County and Longxi County also gained something in these two counties?" Zhuge Liang thought for a moment and said: "Don't rush to recruit laborers from these two counties, collect grain first! Tell Gao Xiang that those who resist the grain collection can be punished even if they surrender, and can be beheaded if necessary." "Those who pay taxes will be rewarded by the Han. If you don't pay taxes, you will definitely be considered a rebel." Xiang Lang nodded in agreement. Zhuge Liang was different from other commanders. After the Battle of Red Cliffs in the 13th year of Jian'an, Zhuge Liang was responsible for most of the political affairs within Liu Bei's group. Before Liu Bei's death, Zhuge Liang had made some achievements in military affairs, but he was much weaker than in political affairs. After Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Zhuge Liang was able to shoulder both military and political responsibilities. Especially after the conquest of Nanzhong, he established a great reputation within Shu Han with this military achievement. When Liu Bei was in Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang was in charge of Liu Bei's food and logistics. Xi County was already in Tianshui County, which was considered a standard enemy territory. How could Zhuge Liang feel sorry for the wealthy families in the enemy territory? The matter of raising food and fodder was also arranged in a swift and resolute manner. Before leaving for Ji County, Zhuge Liang had one thing to resolve. After summoning the military officer Yang Yi, Zhuge Liang instructed his right-hand man, "Mr. Wei, you will be solely responsible for communicating with the governor of Xi County in the next few days." "Tomorrow the Prime Minister will go to Ji County. There is still one night left. Can Xi County be taken?" Yang Yi bowed his hands respectfully and said, "Prime Minister, the army has arrived in Xi County for seven or eight days. The mayor of Xi County was determined to hold on from the beginning, but after witnessing the 70,000-strong royal army marching north from the city wall, his original determination gradually faded." "Please allow me to personally enter the city tonight to persuade them to surrender. Please also order people to make noise outside to show their support." "Okay, let's try again." Zhuge Liang nodded gently: "Lord Wei, you go in half an hour. I will then order the 3,000 soldiers here to disperse under the city with torches in both hands and pretend to attack the city." Yang Yi took the order, bowed, and slowly left. Zhuge Liang's strategy for the Northern Expedition of the Shu Army was very clear, which was to use all means and do everything possible to quickly occupy strategic locations. Qishan Fort is easy to defend but difficult to attack? Then don’t fight, just go around and don’t delay the army’s march. Xi County refuses to surrender? The whole army will go north in three groups! Zhuge Liang will be in charge here personally. Yang Yi was also capable. After receiving the order, he personally entered Xi County. Before half an hour had passed, the soldiers were still preparing torches, and the city gates of Xi County not far away began to raise fire to signal, and the city gates slowly opened. "Xi County has surrendered, Xi County has surrendered!" The messenger hurried into the camp. From a few dozen steps away, Zhuge Liang heard the good news from the messenger in his tent. Zhuge Liang's face was as calm as a deep pool, and his mood was not at all affected by the gains and losses of a small Xi County. The 80,000-man army marched north, Ji County had already surrendered, and Xi County was just a tiny piece of land. What we should really focus on and take seriously is the entire Longyou and the entire Liangzhou! Zhuge Liang waved his hand, and the guard tactfully blew out the oil lamp in the tent. Zhuge Liang then changed his clothes and lay down.
He will set out for Ji County tomorrow. The battle for Shanggui and the progress of the Eastern Army's Longshan Road will all be decided by him alone. Zhuge Liang lay on the couch and slowly closed his eyes, preparing to go to sleep early to conserve his spirit. At this time, the camp outside the tent shouted "Long live the emperor" loudly because the nearby Xi County surrendered. …… The next day, December 7th. The situation was becoming increasingly worse for Guo Huai. There were originally only 4,000 Shu troops on the southwest side of Shanggui City, but starting this morning, more Shu troops arrived from the west. The Shu army's central army totaled 30,000 troops. The 15,000 troops of General Wu Yi, the General of the Northern Expedition, and the 4,000 troops of Liao Hua, the governor of Yinping, had already arrived south of Shanggui City. After Wu Yi learned that Ji County had surrendered, the 6,000 infantrymen of Right General Zong Yu were called back to Shanggui on their way to Ji County. Only the 5,000 men of Huang Xi, the general of Ningyuan, went to attack Xinyang County and take over Ji County. As Wu Yi expected, Xinyang County also surrendered after Ji County. Tianshui County had a total of six counties, and the county seat Ji County, Xi County, and Xinyang County had all surrendered, and Shanggui City had been besieged. The remaining Xianqin County and Chengji County were far away from the main transportation routes and had little attack value. If this is the case, Tianshui County has already become Zhuge Liang's possession. Yin Mo and Yin Siqian, who were with Wu Yi's army and served as the military advisor of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, crossed the Weishui River alone according to Zhuge Liang's strategy, intending to persuade Guo Huai to surrender. Unexpectedly, Guo Huai did not allow Yin Mo to enter the camp, but stood at the camp gate and talked to Yin Mo from a distance of ten feet. Before Yin Mo could speak, Guo Huai had already started to question him: "Liu Chan is a traitor who has established his own regime, and Zhuge Liang is a man who abuses his power. You, Yin Siqian, are a famous scholar in Yizhou. How come you don't know the general trend of the world and the change of dynasties? You work for Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang and come to me to seek death?" After Liu Bei became governor of Yizhou, Yin Mo also served as a school official in Yizhou. Facing Guo Huai's series of questions, Yin Mo, who wanted to persuade Guo Huai to surrender and explain the fate and human affairs to Guo Huai, was stunned for a moment. When a scholar meets a soldier, he cannot explain his reason clearly. Although Yin Mo was not good at debate, he knew in his heart that there was no possibility of persuading Guo Huai to surrender, so he mounted his horse and turned away. Now it was Guo Huai's turn to be stunned. (End of this chapter)