"Didn't Bo Ji say that the Shu army was heading southwest? I heard it." Cao Zhen patted Guo Huai's arm and said softly. "Your Majesty and I have other arrangements for this matter. Let's go into the city first." Guo Huai didn't know why Cao Zhen was so calm, but since the general of the court and his former boss had spoken, Guo Huai could only nod and do as he was told. When approaching the west gate of Shanggui, Cao Zhen looked up at the slightly damaged city wall that had not yet been repaired, at the corpses of the Shu soldiers still lying stiffly under the city, and at the several arrows slanting on the plaque with the words "Shanggui" written on it. He could not help but sigh and shake his head slightly. Guo Huai, who was following Cao Zhen's horse, noticed Cao Zhen's gaze, and there was some sadness in Guo Huai's eyes. It is really difficult to defend the city this time. The means used by the attacking party throughout history are nothing more than siege and food cut-off, flooding, using equipment such as ladders and battering rams, or digging tunnels and building earthen hills, etc. Thanks to the severe cold weather in Tianshui County in winter, large-scale earthwork operations such as digging tunnels and building earth hills were extremely difficult, and there was no way to set up a siege. In addition, the Shu army's siege was short, and cutting off food supplies was not an option. After excluding these means, the only siege method the Shu army could use was to use siege equipment such as siege fences, ladders, and battering rams, and try to send soldiers to the top of the city to engage in real hand-to-hand combat with the Wei army.
As a result, the bloody fighting day after day would be even more torturous and torturous for both the attackers and the defenders. The Shu army had a large number of soldiers and could still rotate them. But Guo Huai in the city was not so calm. After Cao Zhen and Guo Huai entered the city, Lu Pan and Hu Zun came to see the emperor together. As the general, Cao Zhen also spoke words of comfort to these two meritorious generals and promised them official positions and rewards. After finishing their inspection of the city, including meeting with some garrison soldiers who had made great military achievements, Cao Zhen and Guo Huai climbed up the south city wall and looked toward the Wei River and the fields and mountains to the south of it. Guo Huai walked with Cao Zhen for an hour, and then followed behind him in silence without asking any more questions. At this moment, they were alone. Guo Huai could no longer bear it and asked, "General, what is the situation in Lueyang like? Can you tell me now?" "We won! But it wasn't a pretty victory." Cao Zhen shook his head. "What do you mean?" Guo Huai asked again. Cao Zhen calmly told Guo Huai about the battle of Lueyang, and Guo Huai was surprised after hearing it. "So, the Shu army is so good at defending the camp? More than half of the Wei army's casualties in this battle were caused by the attack on the camp?" Cao Zhen nodded gently: "The infantrymen who were led by Qian Zhao are either dead or injured, and the remaining soldiers will not be able to fight for a while. The casualties are really too heavy." "Your Majesty and I brought more than 20,000 cavalry from Luoyang. It is impossible for us to abandon our horses and use them as infantry every time. If we want to make a big move, we still have to wait for the infantry from the rear to arrive." The reason why Cao Zhen was outside the city just now and was oblivious to the direction of the Shu army mentioned by Guo Huai was that it was essentially not appropriate for him to advance in large numbers. Guo Huai had been suppressed in the city for a long time and was eager to fight, but the situation at the moment was such that he could not allow Cao Zhen to advance rashly. The Wei army had 49,000 soldiers fighting against the Shu army of 30,000. With nearly twice the number of troops, including more than 20,000 cavalry, they only achieved a one-for-two victory. And if he hurried south and chased in the direction of Xixian and Qishan, Cao Zhen didn't think that Zhuge Liang would be unprepared! Although cavalry could move freely in the valleys, it was not as unimpeded as on the plains. If they were ambushed or blocked by the Shu army, it would be a joke. Perhaps even Cao Zhen himself did not realize that the reason why he was unwilling to pursue in a hurry was mixed with a lot of lack of confidence. Eight years ago, Cao Zhen and Xu Huang blocked the Shu army's food supply route outside Yangping Pass. Although they defeated Gao Xiang on the opposite side, they were never able to achieve Cao Cao's strategic goal of cutting off food supply.
Twelve years ago, Zhang He, the only general of the Wei Dynasty who led troops to invade Shu, led more than 10,000 people to attack Baxi and Badong counties from the south along Micang Road. However, he was easily defeated by Zhang Fei and escaped back to Hanzhong with only a dozen cavalrymen. Now, in addition to Zhuge Liang, there are also generals such as Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, and Wu Yi on the opposite side. The Shu army still has at least 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers available. And his own cavalry... Cao Zhen was the Protector of Shu in those days, so it was understandable that he failed to win. But although Cao Zhen has become a general today, it does not mean that a general is necessarily better at fighting! At least subconsciously, Cao Zhen still believed that his ability to command tens of thousands of troops in battle was inferior to that of the veteran general Zhang He. Guo Huai sighed and said, "The general is right. However, since the Shu army has withdrawn, Guangwei County in the east can always be recovered. The troops of General Zuo stationed in the north of Xiali City can also move south today." "Perhaps General Zuo will be able to arrive here tonight." Cao Zhen nodded: "When I join forces with Zhang He, it will be safer." "I have just received a message from Dian Man in Xinyang, and Wen Qin has been sent to help him. Zhuge Liang is also in Ji County, just like Linwei, and it seems that more people have been relocated." Guo Huai sighed, "From what I saw from the city wall, the Shu army moved four to five thousand young men from Linwei, and there were no old or young among them, so their marching speed was not slow." "On the 24th, most of the Shu army returned. On the morning of the 25th, the Qiang and Hu outside the city and most of the Shu army withdrew together." "Yesterday, that is, in the afternoon of the 26th, the people of Linwei passed through Shanggui and headed west. This morning, the Shu army headed west again." Cao Zhen looked at the mountain pass in the distance leading to the southwest and responded softly: "It seems that the Shu army in Shanggui and Linwei has all withdrawn." "I heard from Dianman's military report that the Shu army and the people in Ji County are heading west to Luomen..." Guo Huai interrupted and said, "Could it be that the Shu army also withdrew from Longxi and Nangan counties?" Cao Zhen replied: "Perhaps, perhaps not. The news from Dian Man and Wen Qin will come back tomorrow, and we will know the answer then." "As for the current military situation, the first priority is to establish contact with Zhang He's troops and then take back Guangwei County in the east!" Guo Huai asked for battle, "General, I am the governor of Yongzhou, but I have been sitting in Shanggui doing nothing. Please allow me to lead two thousand cavalry to Linwei in the east to take back Guangwei County!" Cao Zhen turned to look at Guo Huai, whose eyes were filled with eagerness, and said with a sigh, "I will give you two thousand of Cheng Xi's three thousand cavalrymen!" "Boji, do you still need time to prepare?" "No need to prepare!" Guo Huai said proudly, "I have been preparing in Shanggui for 20 days, and we can set off immediately." Cao Zhen nodded slightly: "Reclaiming Guangwei is not just about military matters, there are also many administrative matters. If you meet Zhao Ling, the governor of Guangwei, bring him back to Shanggui and hand him over to Your Majesty to personally judge his crime!" "I understand." Guo Huai replied with a bow. The transportation in Longyou is inconvenient, which means that there are many mountains and the army can only move along a few conventional roads. To enter Longyou from Guanzhong along the Longshan Road, one must pass through the important place of Lueyang. If you want to continue going south from Lueyang, there are two roads to take, east and west. The western route starts from Lueyang, passes through Xianqin County, and finally arrives at Xinyang. The eastern route is closer. From Lueyang, go straight south, pass Lieliucheng and Xialicheng, and then arrive at Shanggui. The three cities of Xiangwu in Longxi County, Zhudao in Nangan County, Jixian, Xinyang and Shanggui in Tianshui County were all lined up from west to east along the Weihe River.
If they wanted to move troops south again, they would either have to go south from Luomen between Zhudao and Jixian, or advance from Shanggui to Xixian in the southwest. There was no other way to go. Therefore, the Shu army and people who retreated to the south from Ji County had to go west to Luomen and then go south. While Cao Zhen and Guo Huai were discussing military affairs on the top of Shanggui City, Zhuge Liang was leisurely marching southward. The mountain road was narrow, there was no danger on the south side, and there were heavy infantry defenses on the north side, so there was no danger at all for the retreating Shu army. On the morning of the 25th, Zhuge Liang led his troops to retreat southward. Within two and a half days, he had marched ninety miles. Seeing that they would reach Xi County in another thirty miles, Zhuge Liang reined in his horse. Zhuge Liang pointed to the narrow valley here and asked, "Lord Wei, what is the name of this place?" "Your Excellency," Yang Yi replied, bowing his hands. "The fifty-li road from Shanggui along the Jieshui River to Jiekou and then south to Xixian is called Mumen Road." "The place the Prime Minister pointed out has no scientific name. It is only called 'Hulu Valley' by the local people." "Hulu Valley?" Zhuge Liang shook his head and laughed. "This valley is about a mile long from north to south, and the narrowest part of the north entrance is only twenty feet wide. It is really a place that is difficult to get in and out of." "In my opinion, the name given to this valley by the local people is really appropriate. Let's call it Calabash Valley!" Seeing that Zhuge Liang was so concerned about this small valley, Yang Yi couldn't help but ask, "Prime Minister, do you want to station troops here?" "That's right!" Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Don't the Wei army have more cavalry? According to the time, the Wei army should have known that I moved the people of Linwei to the south." "If the Wei army doesn't dare to chase us, they will just sit back and watch me leave. If the Wei army rushes here, this place is perfect for their burial!" "Your Excellency, the Prime Minister has a good idea." Yang Yi said with a cupped hand, "Which unit would the Prime Minister like to send to guard Hulu Valley?" Zhuge Liang replied: "Let Wei Yan go! Haven't I already divided Wu Yi's army into Wei Yan's 8,000? Let Wei Yan guard this place!" Yang Yi showed a trace of hesitation, but still bowed in agreement, and prepared to turn around and ride his horse to look for Wei Yan in person. How could a clever man like Zhuge Liang not see the hesitation on Yang Yi's face? In his own prime minister's office, the most capable person in literary affairs was the prime minister's military advisor Yang Yi, and the general who was best at leading troops was naturally the prime minister Sima Wei Yan. However, Yang Yi and Wei Yan seemed to have incompatible personalities. They always quarreled when discussing matters, and this had happened three or four times. Zhuge Liang sent Yang Yi to find Wei Yan, more or less with the intention of getting the two of them to work together. If Ma Su can be of great use... With a slow sigh, Zhuge Liang continued to drive his horse south. (End of this chapter)