Cao Zhen's cavalry of 8,000 will arrive at Lueyang in one more day, while Cao Rui's cavalry of 16,000 will also arrive in three days.
As everyone like Qian Zhao, Cao Zhen, and Yang Fu were worried, the Wei army is short of supplies at Lueyang and urgently needs a swift victory. Deng Ai, who was highly expected by the emperor, is currently leading thousands of supply carts along the Longshan Road.
"Inspector Deng, Inspector Deng, please wait a moment." A middle-aged clerk rushed up to Deng Yi on horseback, gasping for breath and calling out.
Deng Ai reined in his horse and stopped. "What business calls for me?"
The clerk bowed and said, "Master Deng, it's urgent to take a look at the rear guard. A man died today."
Deng Yi's supply convoy has a small number of local soldiers from the Fuwind District and a larger number of commoners who are conscripted from Chenping and Mian County. It is unnecessary to lose people without reason, so this could potentially lead to punishment.
Deng Ai is very conscientious in his actions, and it's impossible for him to turn a blind eye to such matters.
"Give you a horse, lead the way quickly and bring me over there immediately," Deng Ai couldn't delay and rushed to the rear guard to investigate.
A middle-aged man's body, lying curled up and crumpled on the wagon carrying grain, and next to him, the chief of the team was sitting on the side of the road, looking worried.
After a few looks up and down, Deng Ai summoned the chief of the team over and asked, "How did this man die? As the chief of this team, you should have an explanation."
The team leader bowed and kowtowed, then explained in a heavy Guanzhong dialect, "Master Deng, Zhang Li and I are neighbors in the same village. About eight years ago, when the government was fighting in Han China, after the army withdrew, about a hundred people were placed here in the middle of our village. Zhang Li was one of them."
"When the supply convoy departed, each village and district was informed to bring extra clothing. Zhang Li remained silent, assuming the clothes were thick enough, who knew they were filled with reeds and willow fluff?"
The team leader kept talking in a rambling manner, but Deng Ai had already understood the situation. Zhang Li was originally from Nanzheng in Han China. During the chaotic late Han Dynasty, Zhang Lu occupied Han China, and the people there rarely suffered from hunger.
In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, Emperor Cao Cao attacked Han China.
After suffering a defeat in battle against Liu Bei, Cao Cao, who had retreated to the Guanzhong region, ordered Du Xi to relocate approximately 80,000 local people from Han China to the Guanzhong and Henan regions. Zhang Li, whose original hometown was Nanzheng, was clearly among the relocated population.
Deng Ai whispered, "Is it because they are too poor?"
The team leader continued his explanation, trying to absolve himself of responsibility. Hearing Deng Ai's question, the team leader quickly agreed, "The Inspector is correct! Zhang Li was too poor, lacking winter clothes and unwilling to speak up or borrow from others. This is what caused his death from freezing. It was indeed an accident... "
Deng Ai did not want to argue about such trivial matters. Pointing at the team leader, he said, "Since you are from the same village, lead ten men to find a conspicuous place by the roadside and bury Zhang Li first. When we return, we can have him moved back to Chenping."
"Alright, alright. Let's do as the Inspector said." Seeing that Deng Ai did not mind anything, the team leader was overjoyed and quickly called out to the other people to dig up the ground by the roadside.
Deng Ai did not say much and simply remounted his horse, riding back to the front of the convoy.
Deng Ai, who came from humble origins, was best able to understand the thoughts of these rural farmers. Zhang Li's death from the cold might have been due to wearing too little, or perhaps because as an outsider he was excluded by locals, or maybe he had some underlying illness, or perhaps it was because of pride and not having friends, so he couldn't ask for help from others...
In summary, during Deng Ai's 30-year life journey, there have been many people like Zhang Li who died unnecessarily and without a trace.
Deng Ai was originally from Xinwei, the small city where Liu Bei had camped for a long time in Jingzhou. He shared the same hometown with Deng Zhi and Wei Yan, who were generals of the Shu Han state. At the age of eleven, after Cao Cao captured Jingzhou, he forcibly relocated all the people from Xiangfan and Xinwei to the Guanzhong region, and Deng Ai also moved to Yuzhan with his mother, making a living by herding cattle.
Deng Ai was well aware of the hardships faced by these outsiders who were forcibly relocated by the court.
At the age of twenty, Deng Ai might still show some compassion for these unlucky people.
At the age of thirty, when such incidents happened in front of Deng Ai again, it would only arouse anger in his heart.
At the grand office of the Ministry of Agriculture in Luoyang, where Deng Ai had been personally appointed to an official position by the emperor, he was invited by Xu Shu, the Minister of Agriculture, to dine at his home that night.
Deng Ai was still young, and after just three rounds of drinks, he had already been drawn out by Xu Shu about his entire life's experiences, and asked in detail. As Xu Shu knew that Deng Ai was a talent for the ages, he also chatted with him extensively about the overall situation of the world.
As he was about to leave, half-drunk Deng Ai asked Xu Shu, "Mr. Xu, I have seen so many impoverished peasants and so much suffering. Will the world really improve?"
Xu Shu was taken aback at the time, then he smiled wryly and shook his head. "Shizai, all things in the world have their roots. You were in charge of the agrarian affairs in Yingchuan Commandery. Where did you use the grain taken from the people?"
Deng Ai answered without hesitation, "All of it was transported to Shouchun! From the early years of Huang Chuang, to Huang Chuang in the fifth year, and the end of Huang Chuang in the seventh year, three years of fighting against Wu have been consecutive. All the available grain in the county has been sent to Huainan and Shouchun!"
"Where is the grain used in Shouchun?" Xu Shu asked again.
Deng Ai replied, "To fight against Wu!"
Xu Shu looked at Deng Ai and asked, "Why do you want to conquer Wu?"
Deng Ai opened his mouth slightly and was about to continue speaking when, even while half-drunk and somewhat confused, he understood Xu Shu's meaning.
The people are suffering because of the court's grain collection. The court collects grain to pacify Wu and Shu, but as Wu and Shu have not been pacified... Even if the emperor in the court is like a sage-king, he can only reduce the grain collection from the demesne by one-tenth.
Ultimately, the root of all things is the fact that Wu and Shu are in chaos, causing the whole world to be unquiet!
Deng Ai took a deep breath, rode his horse to the front of the convoy by himself, and then galloped forward again for quite a distance, about a quarter of an hour later stopping.
The continuous mountains along the Longshan Road were obscured by the afternoon sun's slanting rays, blocking the path. At the end of the road lay Longyou, the territory of those separatists who kept to themselves and invaded the great state of Wei.
"We must accomplish something there!"
……
Around the same time, still in the afternoon of the nineteenth day, an envoy sent from near Lueyang reached the outskirts of Shangguan City and had to exert great effort to find General Wu Yi's central command camp.
On the nineteenth day, Zhuge Liang would meet with officials in the capital of Shuangguan, and this matter had already been communicated to Generals Ma Zhuo, Zhao Cloud, and Wei Yan in the area of Lueyang. The envoy who had come to Wu Yi's camp was actually looking for Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister.
"Is it an envoy from Ma Zhuo? What news does he bring, young Cousin?"
Outside the camp and south of the Wei River, Wu Yi was observing the progress of the siege from a distant watchtower that had been set up.
"The sentinel bows and salutes: 'General, the messenger sent by Ma Zhuo says he is looking for the Prime Minister, and has found your camp.' "
Wu Yi's face grew impatient as he said, "He can find the Prime Minister if he wants to. What does he need to come to me for? Tell young Cousin Ma that if it's not a matter of utmost urgency, he should not send anyone to find me. I don't want any more disturbances."
The sentinel hesitated before responding. According to protocol, it was necessary to inform the general of the arrival of such an envoy. The general was in a bad mood, and the sentinel could only do his best to cover for him, speaking kindly to the messenger and telling him that the Prime Minister had gone in the direction of Linyu in the afternoon.
After thanking the sentinel, the messenger turned to mount his horse to leave. But the sentinel called him back from behind: "Excuse me, brother, why is your message so urgent? Is there some pressing military situation?"
"Relief troops from Wei have arrived northeast of Lueyang, with about 15,000 infantry!" The messenger said this as he rode his horse and then sped up to leave.
The sentinel hesitated for a moment, and after confirming that he had not heard wrong, he jumped onto his horse quickly to inform Wu Yi.
At dusk, the messenger finally caught up with Zhuge Liang's army as it was moving eastward.
General Fei Yu took the letter and read it several times carefully, then conversed with the messenger for more than ten sentences before speaking to him kindly and in detail, "The army has begun to camp. Please wait here for a moment. The Prime Minister should send a reply to Marquis Ma. When that time comes, you can leave with the messenger sent by this officer."
The messenger bowed and said, "Thank you, general."
Fei Yu walked a few steps as usual, but seemed to think it was not quite right and began to jog towards Zhuge Liang.
Panting heavily, Fei Yu handed the letter to Zhuge Liang personally and, after saying a few more words, Zhuge Liang's expression also grew serious.
"Xun Wei, gather all the officials in the palace!"
"Obediently." Fei Yu quickly dispatched someone to summon all the officials in the palace.
The officials in the Prime Minister's Mansion had their respective duties. Changshi Xiang Lang was in charge of general affairs, Congjun Yang Yi was in charge of important matters, and Congjun Ma Zhuo was responsible for military strategy. After Ma Zhuo was sent to supervise the eastern army, Fei Yu took over the role of planning military strategies beside Zhuge Liang.
After the officials in Zhuge Liang's mansion had all arrived, Fei Yu went over the situation where 15,000 Wei troops had reached northeast of Lueyang. The expressions of everyone inside the tent also grew serious.
Zhuge Liang sat in the center of the tent and asked loudly, "Xun Wei, what do you think of this matter?"
Fei Yu bowed and said, "Your servant Fei Yu reports to the Prime Minister: According to the letter from young Master Ma, this time it is a relief force of 15,000 infantry."
"This year, Zhang He built a fortress at San Guan. Then, about half a year ago, the private trade routes between Hanjiang and Wei for Huadu brocade were only in Longyou and Shangyong. Therefore, the military situation in Wei's capital was not well known."
"When I was in Ji County, I heard from the Prefect of TianShui County, Yin Shang, that the court in Luoyang had sent an additional 20,000 troops to Chang'an under the command of Qian Zhao and Zhu Gai. Now it seems that the Wei army appearing north of Lueyang must indeed be the army from Chang'an."
Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Yes, those must be the troops from Chang'an. As for you, Xun Wei, what do you think should be done about this Wei army?"
Fei Yu paused for a moment and then answered, "Your servant Fei Yu reports to the Prime Minister: If Qian Zhao is leading the infantry here, it must be that he set out immediately after receiving the message."
"Your servant believes that the Wei army, having traveled far from Chang'an, must be exhausted, while our army has been in Lueyang for nearly ten days. We should wait for them to be tired and strike when they are unprepared. Both Zhao and Wei are seasoned generals; we should attack this Wei army immediately and not let the opportunity slip away." (The chapter ends)
