While Guo Hui was busy sending letters within the city, outside the city walls, Wu Yi, along with Ma Su and Wei Yan, had different attitudes.
At noon, as the sun slowly sank in the afternoon, Wu Yi had not even been an hour into his army's camp when he quickly dispatched people to rebuild the floating bridge across the Wei River.
Shanggui is bordered by the Wei River, but during winter, the water level is low and the distance between the north and south banks is less than thirty zhang. Although winter is cold, the thickness of ice on the Wei River cannot accommodate people and horses. The previous two days when Ma Su and Zhao Yun et al. went northward, they built a floating bridge across the Wei River.
As Wu Yi's forces moved, the lookout posts on the city wall immediately noticed and reported to Generals Guo Hui and Lu Pan.
Just as the letter was sent out, he heard that Wu Yi was advancing, and Generals Guo Hui's sense of urgency became even more urgent.
"General Guo, what should we do?" Lu Pan's voice also sounded anxious.
Guo Hui pondered for a moment: "If there are ten thousand defenders in Shanggui, or even twenty thousand, how should we fight?"
Lu Pan replied: "Is the general kidding? If there are twenty thousand defenders, why would we be this anxious? We should just push back the soldiers who are building the floating bridge!"
"Right!" Guo Hui stood personally at the city wall, closely watching the three detachments of about a thousand men each sent out from Wu Yi's camp to the southeast to build a floating bridge.
Guo Hui turned to Lu Pan beside him and said: "You bring 500 soldiers from the city, hold the easternmost part of the enemy army across the river, and I will provide another 500 laborers. We'll make it look like we have 1,000 people."
"I'll go to the camp outside the city and lead two detachments of a thousand men to hold back these two enemy armies on the west side."
"According to the general's orders! I'll lead the army out of the city right away." Lu Pan nodded solemnly, and together with Guo Hui, they descended from the city wall.
Lu Pan knew that Guo Hui was continuing the strategy of "mystery and deception" from yesterday, unwilling to show the slightest sign of weakness before the actual battle between the two armies.
For Guo Hui, it was nothing difficult to stop the enemy from building a floating bridge with a thousand men across the river.
Between the narrow Wei River, where only a thin layer of ice covered the water, and the enemy soldiers on the north bank, Wei and Shu forces were holding their ground, and in three places, they had become river-crossing snipers.
As the sun gradually set, both sides sounded their retreat. Just as Guo Hui had envisioned, today's struggle was another successful day for the city of Shanggui. Even if they only managed to delay the enemy by one day, it would still be beneficial for the city.
However, Wu Yi on the south bank of the Wei River was not at all as anxious as Guo Hui. Instead, after the sun began to set, he took advantage of the night to send a letter to Zhuge Liang in Xian County.
Guo Hui and Wu Yi have completely different perspectives.
At this point, on December 6th evening, from Wu Yi's perspective, the Eastern Route Army of 30,000 men had already advanced northward along the Longshan Pass, and the city of Jixian in Tianshui had already surrendered.
Shanggui is a strategic transportation hub.
However, for both the attacking and defending parties, the struggle for a strategic transportation hub is different.
From Wu Yi's perspective, half of Tianshui had already been secured, and the other half was merely a matter of capturing Shanggui.
With control of Shanggui, the Wei army could use it as a base to support the central forces in Guanzhong and even allow them to advance into Longyou.
However, from the opposite perspective, if the Shu army were to control Shanggui, they could easily consume Nan'an and Tianshui and even all of Liang. Even if the Shu army failed to capture Shanggui, blocking it would achieve the same effect.
When Wu Yi wrote to Zhuge Liang to inquire about the next military operation, it had been one and a half days since Jixian's surrender. In the distant Xian County, Zhuge Liang had already received a letter from Gao Xiang of Jixian and was preparing to leave for Jixian to take command there.
Xian County, where Zhuge Liang's main camp for commanding and controlling the entire army was located.
The Shu army camp at night was brightly lit. Outside Zhuge Liang's central command tent, several layers of soldiers were patrolling ceaselessly. Although the sun had set, there was considerable activity in the camp as envoys came and went.
At this moment, Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister, was instructing his longshou (senior aide) Xiang Lang on matters to be mindful of.
"Judda, the military situation is urgent. You must rush to Jixian tonight. If everything goes according to plan, you should be able to arrive there by morning of the eighth." Zhuge Liang sat back in his desk, his demeanor calm as he instructed: "When you arrive in Jixian, be mindful of strategy and avoid causing any unrest among the people."
Xiang Lang nodded repeatedly: "I have fully understood the general's intentions."
"Following your orders, Your Lordship, our great army has come from Hanzhong. The most important thing is the supply of grain and provisions. After I arrive in Jixian on the eighth, I will issue an order to mobilize local laborers to surround Shanggui with our troops and also try my best to gather grain in the surrounding areas."
"Zhuge Liang quietly listened and added: 'Regardless of the supervisor Yin Yan of Tianshui or the families Yan and Ren from Jixian who are loyal to the Han Dynasty and promptly surrender, they are all commendable.'"
"But in exceptional times, there are exceptional events. The strategy is to feed the troops as we advance. Grain gathering and mobilization of labor are as important as the surrender of the city! The royal army's conquest leaves no room for them to delay. If there are any who dare defy, they should be killed at any time!"
Xiang Lang pondered for a moment: "Since Jixian has surrendered, what if the cavalry sent by Gao Xiang to Nanshan and Longxi commanderies has made some gains in these two commanderies as well?"
"Zhuge Liang thought for a moment: 'We can't rush to mobilize labor for the two commanderies of Nanshan and Longxi. First, we need to gather grain! Tell Gao Xiang that although those who resist grain gathering may be punished by surrender, they can be killed if necessary.' "
"Those who pay grain will be rewarded by the Han Dynasty. If they do not pay, then they are definitely rebellious."
Xiang Lang nodded in agreement.
Unlike the other generals, after the Battle of Red Cliffs in year 208 of the Jiahan Era, Zhuge Liang had been responsible for most of the internal affairs of the Liu Bei group for many years. Although Zhuge Liang had made some significant military achievements during Liu Bei's lifetime, his administrative skills were weaker than his military ones.
After Liu Shuang succeeded his father, Zhuge Liang took charge of both military and political affairs. Especially after the campaign in Nanzhong, he established a considerable reputation within the Shu Han dynasty.
During the time when Liu Bei was in Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang was responsible for logistics and supplies for Liu Bei. Xian County, which was already within Tianshui County, could be considered enemy territory. Zhuge Liang would certainly not care about the well-being of the local big shots in enemy territory.
The provision of grain and provisions was arranged to be handled promptly.
Before setting off to Jixian, Zhuge Liang had one more matter to resolve.
After summoning the military advisor Yang Yi, Zhuge Liang instructed his trusted aide: "Xiang, for several days, all matters concerning communication with the magistrate of Xian have been handled by you alone."
"Tomorrow, I will be leaving for Jixian. In one night, can we capture Xian County?"
Yang Yi stood with reverence and bowed his hands: "General Zhuge, the great army has been in Xian County for more than seven or eight days. At first, the county magistrate was resolute in defending the city. After witnessing the northward advance of our army of more than 70,000, his determination began to waver."
"Please allow me, General Zhuge, to personally enter the city tonight to persuade the magistrate to surrender. I also request that someone outside make loud noises to create an impression of our forces."
"Yes, let's give it another try." Zhuge Liang lightly nodded: "Xiang, go in half an hour. I will order the 3,000 soldiers here to hold torches in their hands and disperse in front of the city as if we are attacking."
Yang Yi bowed and left, fulfilling his orders.
For Zhuge Liang's strategy for the Shu army's northern expedition this time, it was very clear. That is, use all kinds of means and methods to quickly occupy strategic positions.
Is the Qishan fortress easy to defend and hard to attack?
Then we don't attack, instead, we detour around it, don't delay the army's march.
Why does Xian County refuse to surrender?
Divide the entire army into three divisions and head directly north! Zhuge Liang will personally command here.
Yang Yi is also very capable. After receiving the order, he personally entered Xian County. Before half an hour had passed, the soldiers' torches were still being prepared. Starting from the city head, fires began to be lit, and the city gate slowly opened.
"Xian County has surrendered! Xian County has surrendered!"
The courier rushed into the camp, and from dozens of steps away, Zhuge Liang in his tent heard the courier's joyful report.
Zhuge Liang's face was as calm as a deep pool, with no trace of excitement caused by the gain or loss of a small Xian County.
With 80,000 troops heading north, Jixian has already surrendered and Xian County is just a small place. What truly deserves attention and careful handling is the entire Longyou region and the entire Liang State!
Zhuge Liang waved his hand, and the attendants, understanding the cue, blew out the oil lamps inside the tent. Zhuge Liang then changed into his sleeping attire and lay down.
Tomorrow we will set off for Jixian. The disputes over Shanggui and the progress of the Eastern Route Army on the Longshan Pass will all be decided by him alone.
Zhuge Liang lay down on the bed and slowly closed his eyes, preparing to fall asleep early to cultivate his spirit.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, the camp was loudly cheering "Long live the emperor" due to the recent surrender of Xian County right nearby.
...
The second day, December 7th.
The situation is growing increasingly unfavorable for Guo Hui.
The southwest side of the city of Shanggui had originally only 4,000 Shu forces. However, since this morning, more Shu forces began to arrive from the west.
The Shu army's main force had a total of 30,000 troops. General Wu Yi's 15,000 troops and Governor Liu Wei of Yanping's 4,000 troops had already arrived at the southern gate of Shanggui City.
And Commander Zong Yu's 6,000 infantry, after Wu Yi learned that Jixian had surrendered, were called back to Shanggui by Wu Yi on their way to Jixian.
Only five thousand people under the command of General Huang Xie, who were going to attack Xinyuan County and receive Jixian County. According to Wu Yi's expectations, Xinyuan County also surrendered after Jixian.
There are a total of six counties in Tianshui County, including the county seat of Jixian, Xian County, and Xinyang County. All these places have already surrendered. Shanggui City has been surrounded. The remaining Xian County and Chengji County are far from the main roads and have little value as targets for attack.
If this is the case, it seems that Tianshui County has become Zhuge Liang's easy prey.
In the Wu Yi army, there were Yin Mo and Yin Siqian, who were generals of Zhuge Liang's strategy and served as the military advisor of the minister of sacrifices. They alone crossed the Wei River according to Zhuge Liang's plan to persuade Guo Huai to surrender.
Unexpectedly, Guo Huai did not allow Yin Mo to enter the camp. Instead, he stood at the gate, over a yard away from Yin Mo, and began a conversation with him.
Without waiting for Yin Mo to speak, Guo Huai had already launched a series of questions: "Liu Can, who usurps and defends himself, and Zhuge Liang, who abuses power, you Yin Siqian, who are renowned scholars in Yizhou. How could you not know the overall situation of the world and the principles of changing dynasties? How could you join Liu Can and Zhuge Liang to serve and end up at my side to die?"
Yin Mo held an official position as a scholar in Yizhou after Liu Bei became the prefectural governor. Faced with Guo Huai's series of questions, Yin Mo, who intended to persuade Guo Huai to surrender and explain the will of heaven and human affairs to him, was temporarily rendered speechless.
When a scholar meets a soldier, it's hard to make a point.
Although Yin Mo was not good at argumentation, he knew in his heart that there was no chance of persuading Guo Huai to surrender. He immediately mounted his horse and turned to leave.
Now it was Guo Huai who was left behind, dumbfounded. (End of this chapter)
