Simai Zi couldn't help but sigh, to Wu, the Wu River near Wuchang was as good as Luoyang's eight passes as a defensive foundation. Sun Quan chose Wuchang as the capital, which was due to its geographical advantage.
Following the current eastward, one can directly reach Chaisang, Ruxu, and Jianye. If one travels upstream against the great river to the west, one can reach Jiangling and Xiling. If one follows the Han River to the northwest, Xiangyang also seems not to be far off.
At this time, it is late May and the weather is gradually getting hot.
Yong State, Chen Cang.
Zhang He led his troops out of Yixian and traveled westward, first staying the night in Chen Cang, and then setting off early the next morning to head towards San Guan.
There are five roads connecting Han Zhong with Yong and Liang, besides the western path to Tianshui via Qi Mountain. The remaining four roads lead to Guanzhong.
Although the westernmost Chen Cang road is winding and distant, not as near and quick as the Bao Xie road, it is relatively flat and easy to travel, with the advantage of the waterway of Jialing River.
While Zhang He was still in Luoyang earlier, he had discussed with the emperor and Cao Zhen among others about the reconstruction of San Guan Pass. This journey of Zhang He's was to inspect the construction of the pass city at San Guan.
Thirty li southwest from Chen Cang, gradually entering the mountains. On both sides, the cliffs are opposite, the peaks are rugged, and the deep valleys in the north and south are steep. Looking further ahead, a city gate stands in the valley.
When there were only a few hundred steps left to the San Guan Pass city, Zhang He reined in his horse and stopped. He carefully examined the surrounding terrain, lost in thought, when a rider came flying from under the San Guan Pass city.
Chen Shuang was a trusted subordinate of Zhang He, who had been stationed at the construction of the city at San Guan for nearly a month. Chen Shuang dismounted, knelt on one knee, and bowed his hands in greeting: "The commander has come personally. The low-ranking officer has failed to welcome him from afar. Please pardon me."
Zhang He nodded and motioned for Chen Shuang to rise. Then he raised his right hand and pointed at San Guan with a whip: "Such a formidable pass, enough to repel five hundred thousand troops."
After rising, Chen Shuang walked to Zhang He's front and naturally tugged at the reins of Zhang He's warhorse beneath him. As he led the horse forward, he said, "With such a distinguished reputation as yours, commander, who would dare to launch an attack with five hundred thousand troops? Only those who don't care about their lives."
Zhang He looked at Chen Shuang and chuckled, shaking his head. For a military man, it was already difficult for him to act in such a way.
Zhang He asked in a voice: "Is the military stable?"
Chen Shuang replied, "To answer the commander, everything is fine. But if the commander had not come here today, I would also have sent someone to send a message to you."
"Oh? What's happened?" Zhang He sat on his horse and looked at Chen Shuang.
Chen Shuang replied: "Last night at two o'clock, a man rode on horseback from the south with a fire and claimed to have a confidential matter to report to the commander."
"I asked him, but he wouldn't say anything. He only said that he could only speak after seeing the commander."
Zhang He furrowed his brow and asked, "What kind of person is it? How old is it?"
Chen Shuang thought for a while and replied, "It's from Shu region, about thirty-five years old. I checked the things he carried, which seems to be a merchant of Sichuan silk."
Sichuan silk is a rare product from Shu region, and the smuggling of Sichuan silk has never been eradicated. As the Du Yu of Yong and Liang, Zhang He would roughly be aware of this.
The routes taken by these merchants transporting Sichuan silk are either to go through Nanyang via Mengong, or to go through Longyou. Zhang He had never heard of the one taking the Chen Cang road to smuggle Sichuan silk.
Zhang He asked, "If it's a merchant of Sichuan silk, which route does he usually take?"
Chen Shuang smiled bitterly and said, "This person wouldn't say anything to me. As soon as I asked him, he would mention some military affairs, which was really frustrating."
Zhang He waved his whip and said, "Then call him over later. The commander will face him directly. If he still can't say it, just kill him on the spot."
Chen Shuang nodded, "I'll guide you into the city first."
Zhang He's party has already arrived at the foot of San Guan Pass. The city walls are about thirty feet high. Looking up from below, one can see birds flying in the sky and exposed rocks on the cliff walls.
Zhang He said, "Firstly, lead the commander to the city wall. I need to take a look at the terrain to the south of San Guan Pass."
"Understood."
The mountain range where San Guan Pass is located extends approximately from northeast to southwest. Zhang He stood on the city wall and looked southwest. There were stones in the riverbed between which streams flowed. Some roads could be seen, but they were all long neglected, overgrown with grass and shrubs.
This road is one that Zhang He has actually visited many times before.
In the year 213 of the Jian'an era, when Zhang He accompanied Xiahou Yuan in his western advance, he led a detachment out of San Guan Pass to attack Wudu County and suppress the indigenous resistance of the Di people who were residing there.
In the year 215 of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao led his army into Han Zhong from the Chen Cang road to attack Zhang Lu. Zhang He personally led five thousand infantry troops as the vanguard, emerging from San Guan Pass all the way to Yangping Pass.
If we talk about which commander in the Wei state is the most familiar with San Guan Pass and the Chen Cang road, there is no doubt that it is only Zhang He.
It is the comprehensive understanding of geography and military situation that has allowed Cao Rui to entrust all military affairs in Yong and Liang to Zhang He, who has been involved in campaigns in the western regions for nearly two decades.
The wind in the valley hit Zhang He's face, and he could hear the sound of people on the steps of the city wall. He turned around and saw a merchant dressed person being led up the wall by two soldiers on either side.
At the moment this person saw Zhang He, his eyes and demeanor seemed to change, completely unlike his earlier timidity.
He bowed and said: "Commander, I am Zhang Ding, the officer in charge of the office of the Commandant. I have urgent military affairs to report to the commander."
As soon as Zhang Ding spoke, he brought out a jade tablet and handed it to Zhang He.
Lieutenant Chen Shuang took up the jade tablet, walked a few steps forward, and handed it to Zhang He. Zhang He gave it a cursory glance and found that the patterns on it seemed to match those in his memory.
Zhang He lowered his voice and asked, "What military affairs do you have to report? Speak quickly."
Zhang Ding looked around a few times and bowed, "Please the commander to dismiss his subordinates. This is a matter of utmost secrecy."
Zhang He furrowed his brow and said, "These are all my trusted soldiers. There's nothing that can't be said in their presence."
Zhang Ding was quite direct: "Commander, the Prime Minister of Shu, Zhuge Liang, has led troops to Nanjing."
"Zhuge Liang has arrived in Nanjing? How many troops did he bring?" Zhang He raised his eyebrows and his voice increased by one degree.
Zhang Ding replied, "Commander, I have not been able to find out the exact number. I dare not snoop around the side of such a large army. However, from various signs, it can be inferred that there are at least over ten thousand troops."
Zhang He did not say anything and remained silent, deep in thought.
It is also necessary for the jiaoshi to investigate military affairs according to common sense. Most of them have another identity to cover up, just like Zhang Ding who calls himself a merchant.
"You said you are a merchant? What are you selling?" Zhang He asked.
Zhang Ding answered with a composed expression, "I usually sell Sichuan silk as my profession to gain intelligence."
"How did you learn that the Shu troops have ten thousand men coming to Han Zhong?" Zhang He asked further.
Zhang Ding said, "Commander, in late March, as usual, I was transporting Sichuan silk along the Jin Gu road from Han Zhong back to Chengdu. Just as I arrived at the Jiege Pass, local officials summoned me to one side of the city and asked me to let the army pass first."
"Although I was kept under surveillance, I could still see the flags of the army passing by. Moreover, during my conversation with local officials, I learned that there were definitely more than ten thousand troops."
"And after I returned to Han Zhong, from Mianyang to Nanjing, many places had already prohibited civilians from passing through."
Zhang He said solemnly, "Are you Zhang Ding, the officer of the Commandant's Office? Your name has been noted by this commander."
"The commander will report this to the court and reward you for your efforts."
Zhang Ding smiled slightly and bowed, "This is just a matter of duty. I hope the commander can take early precautions."
"Now that I have reported to the commander, please return the jade tablet to me. I will find a way to return to Han Zhong."
After Zhang Ding left, Zhang He walked around the inner and outer city of San Guan Pass, still satisfied with the construction of the city gate.
Within about two hours, Zhang He had prepared to return to Chen Cang.
Before leaving, Zhang He patted Chen Shuang on the shoulder and said, "Stay here for another month! By the end of June, I will send someone to relieve you."
Chen Shuang smiled and said, "Don't worry, commander! I will definitely not make any mistakes here."
When Zhang He was leaving, he also asked Chen Shuang for two knights, who rode quickly to Chang'an and summoned Guo Hui, the prefectural governor of Yong, to Mian County.
The establishment of Zhuge Liang's headquarters in Nanjing is a significant event, which cannot be taken lightly.
Although it is essential to report to the court, as the duke, Zhang He still needs to react first before reporting.
The reason for establishing du su (commanders-in-chief) in Yong and Liang, in Yangzhou, and in Jingzhou by the court is to be able to face and respond to issues in advance.
If everything has to be reported to Luoyang before making plans, the cauliflower would be wilted by now!
Zhang He, although sixty years old, still maintained the vigor and stamina of his youth when he accompanied Xiahou Yuan to conquer the west and marched 'three hundred li in three days, one thousand li in six days'.
Or, to put it another way, as the vanguard and able deputy under Xiahou Yuan, it was Zhang He himself who often fought with such speed.
Late at night, Zhang He arrived in Chen Chang city. After staying there for one night, he set off again on the second morning to return to Mian County.
In the evening, after Zhang He arrived at the camp of the large army in Mian County, the first thing he did was to call his left general's military advisor Chen Ping.
Zhang He asked in a low voice, "Aren't I the one who sent three detachments of soldiers to destroy the plank roads along the Baoxia, Tangluo, and Ziwu roads? Have there been any messages?"
Chen Ping replied, "Commander, none of the three teams have reported back so far. However, counting the days, except for the remote Ziwu road, both the Baoxia and Tangluo roads should have reached their destinations."
Zhang He shook his head slightly and said, "This is not right. Send the commander's order to the three teams. Communicate with them every three days and do not cut off communication! I want to know the situation in these three roads at all times."
Chen Ping bowed and replied, "Understood, commander. I will send someone to deliver the message early tomorrow morning."
Zhang He instructed, "Be off early tomorrow morning when the sun rises!"
"Yes, following orders," Chen Ping replied.
Three days later, Guo Hui finally arrived in Mian County.
In fact, the communication speed at that time was essentially the speed of a fast horse. Considering the distance between mountains and rivers, anything you do requires taking into account the time it takes to send a message.
Guo Hui was not a warrior, but he had spent many years in the west and was particularly skilled in military affairs, which earned his trust from Zhang He.
Guo Huai was born into the Guo family of Taiyuan, which was a prestigious family of the second rank in the Imperial bureaucracy. Guo Huai's grandfather, Guo Quan, served as one of the nine ministers under the Grand Administrator and his father, Guo Yun, served as the magistrate of Yanmen.
The official starting point of Guo Huai's career was when Cao Pi served as the commandant of the Prince of Guangfu's chamber, and he was appointed as the chief of guards under the Prince's retinue, becoming one of Cao Pi's closest confidants. (The end of this chapter)
