When that night, it was the hour of the second watch.
On the north side of the plateau, outside the central tent of the newly constructed Wei army camp, tiger guards were still carrying torches and patrolling around the camp even though it was late at night, showing no signs of laxity.
Outside the central tent where the emperor resided, in a smaller tent, Chen Zhenzheng, the Grand Secretary, was sorting through documents related to the various military units and their subordinates, illuminated by an oil lamp.
Among the four Grand Secretaries, Xin Zhi remained in Chang'an to oversee logistics and various matters in the Pass of Guan. Yang Fu was responsible for military strategy and critical affairs. Naturally, the burden of managing logistics and coordinating with troops on the battlefield fell on Chen Xiao, the former Minister of Shangshu.
At present, Your Majesty has led two campaigns in person. There has never been a military advisor or an official of such stature as during the reign of Emperor Wu. It was relatively manageable at the beginning of the year when we marched to Huaihai, but this time, with Your Majesty leading the troops personally, the burden on the Grand Secretaries has grown even heavier.
From the perspective of officials in the court at Luoyang, this was seen as a means of the inner court controlling the outer court. However, Chen Xiao enjoyed feeling tired in this way.
A guard outside the tent whispered, "Viscount Chen, there is military dispatch from the camp of the Left General."
Chen Jiao put down the brush on the stand, got up to go outside and take the military dispatch, glanced at it after opening it, and then held it in his hand as he walked towards the emperor's tent, which had already been extinguished.
As a Grand Secretary, Chen Jiao was an official who accompanied the inner court. Therefore, no one stopped him from walking straight to the emperor's tent. The guard stationed outside, named Duan Yu, heard that there was an urgent military situation at night. Immediately taking out a small bronze bell from his chest, he shook it non-stop outside the tent.
Chen Xiao was already used to it.
After this campaign, the emperor, in order not to miss any military affairs, handed over this bronze bell called the "alarm bell" to the Tiger Guards.
Just as Cao Rui was fast asleep for half an hour, he woke up from his bed, sat up, and asked in a deep voice, "Who is on guard outside?"
"My lord, this is General Duan Yu on duty. It is already the second watch of the night. Viscount Chen Xiao has reported an urgent matter from the Left General's camp and is waiting outside."
Chen Jiao also spoke out clearly, "Your Majesty, it is I, Grand Secretary Chen Jiao, outside the tent."
Cao Rui donned his greatcoat, sat up, put on his shoes, and stood up, saying, "Bring both of you in."
Duan Yu skillfully lit the lamp, Chen Jiao entered the tent and bowed, then handed over the military dispatch.
Cao Rui looked through the dispatch without much surprise and asked, "Zhao Yun has indeed advanced southward. What department is this northern army from? Has General Zhang and General Han managed to find out?"
Chen Jiao replied, "The Left General does not know this at the moment." "It's too late to march at night. Following the emperor's orders in the evening, he hasn't sent anyone to pursue."
Cao Rui let out a light laugh and shook his head. "I thought we would determine the conclusion in the morning, but it seems we'll have to find out tonight. I don't think Zhuge Liang can sleep now, and I'm not planning to sleep either."
"Grand Secretary Chen, go and bring the General, the Minister of Righteousness, and Grand Secretary Yang," Cao Rui ordered Chen Jiao. "Also, have Wen Qin lead 500 riders to accompany me. I want to go to the camp of the Left General and take a look for myself."
"Understood." Chen Jiao responded and then quickly went out to make the arrangements.
About 15 minutes later, Cao Rui and a few people rode on their horses, heading south towards the camp at the pass of the Broken Mountain. The camp supervisor, Wen Qin, led 500 riders each holding torches, providing protection on both sides.
"Should Your Majesty still be awake?" Cao Zhen tried to probe.
"About half an hour, give or take," Cao Rui asked back. "How about you, General? Are you still up to it?"
Cao Zhen was quite rare to remain silent for a moment, and only after a few seconds did he mutter with a bitter smile, "If I said that everything is still as good as it was ten years ago when we were in Longyou, then I would be lying."
"I'm forty-five years old this year, and my body is generally in good condition, except that my vigor is not what it used to be. Occasionally, I get dizzy and have ringing in my ears. It only happened for half an incense's time this afternoon."
Cao Rui extended his left hand to signal a stop, and then personally took a torch from a tiger guard, holding it up to carefully inspect Cao Zhen from head to toe as he rode on his horse.
Not only was Cao Zhen confused, but all the officials by the emperor's side, including Sima Yi, Yang Fu, and Chen Jiao, were also surprised.
Obesity, stress, anxiety, drinking alcohol, dizziness and tinnitus... This is clearly hypertension!
Cao Rui said with a stern face to Cao Zhen, "I have a plan that can extend the General's life by twenty years."
"I, Your Majesty, how could I not know that you have studied medicine..." Cao Zhen started to say, but seeing the emperor's stern face without any trace of a joke, he also gathered his expression, bowed his hand and asked, "Please show us."
"General Cao, just do as I say," Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen and then pointed to the figure of Sima Yi behind him, slowly saying, "Starting from today, avoid alcohol and lose weight. You should reach the weight of the Minister of Righteousness."
"Do not follow the example of the late emperor and leave us too early!"
After saying that, Cao Rui lightly tapped his horse's stomach and continued onwards, and the team followed him immediately.
Although Cao Zhen did not understand the emperor's intentions, he heard "the late emperor" and "early departure", and his heart tightened. He became serious. Sima Yi helplessly shrugged his shoulders and then followed along.
Entering the camp encountered no obstacles, and the group rode straight to Zhang He's grand tent. Hearing the noise, Zhang He also came out of his tent to greet them.
"Your servant greets the emperor." Zhang He was also awake at this time. When he saw the emperor and everyone else appear in front of his tent, he was surprised but quickly paid a deep respect.
"General Zhang, please rise." Cao Rui dismounted and helped Zhang He up. Looking at the old general's more gaunt face, he said, "It has been a year since I entrusted you with the matters of Huantang in Luoyang last year. Have we not seen each other since then?"
"Last night, I was talking to Qian Zhao and wondering if I would see you tonight." Cao Rui laughed softly, "Since it's not yet midnight, your words did not come to naught."
"Come in, I have military strategy to discuss with you."
Zhang He nodded, and when Cao Zhen and Sima Yi entered, he went inside.
Cao Rui made no delay and immediately asked, "Zhao Yun has fled south, and the Shu army in Lueyang has been defeated by the Great Wei. The real concern is how to drive the Shu soldiers back to Hanzhong."
"The road from Lüyang to Shouchuan is narrow, and in a distance of 120 miles, there are only Liuli and Xilü two cities. It is not suitable for the army to fight."
"Today I have reviewed the situation with all the generals. The Great Wei has a total of 49,000 infantry and cavalry. We have sustained 11,000 casualties. Qian Zhao's force suffered heavy losses in attacking Shu fortifications, and the entire army is exhausted and cannot fight for a short time."
"Excluding Qian Zhao's current 8,000 infantry, there are only 30,000 soldiers available for battle."
"How should we fight in the next battle?" Cao Rui looked directly at Zhang He and asked, "Left General, you are the governor of Yong and Ning. Speak first!"
Zhang He stood up and bowed his hand in response, "Today I have sent people to ask all the Shu captives about 500-stone generals or above. None of them have heard that Gaoguan has been captured."
"Judging from Zhuge Liang's ability to gather such a large army, I fear that most of the four commanderies of Longxi, Nan'an, Tianning, and Guangwei have probably fallen into enemy hands."
"The critical issue is now two places: one in Gaoguan, and the other in the Longxi commandery where Xiahou Biao and Lu Sun from Liangzhou met."
"Gaoguan, Xiangwu." Cao Rui softly recited the names of the two cities and then asked, "Do we have any news from Longxi commandery?"
Zhang He shook his head, "There is no news from Longxi commandery in my area."
Yang Fu also spoke up, "I have no news from Longxi commandery either."
Cao Rui said, "Then we'll see how much the two, Lu Sun and Xiahou Biao, can do for me in the west."
"In general, there are two routes: from Lüyang to Shouchuan and from Lüyang to Nan'an in the east, and from Lüyang to Longxi and Jixian in the west."
Cao Zhen, Zhang He, Sima Yi, and Yang Fu all nodded in agreement.
Cao Rui continued to look at Zhang He and asked, "How do we take Gaoguan? Do you have a plan in mind, Left General?"
During the ten days that Zhang He and his forces were entrenched in Lüyang, Zhang He had already come up with a plan for the overall battle situation. Without hesitation, he said directly, "Divide our forces into two routes: one goes to Jixian and the other goes south to Gaoguan!"
"The two cities of Gaoguan and Jixian, located at the east and west ends of the commandery of Tianning, respectively. Tianning is sandwiched between Guangwei commandery and Nan'an commandery. Capturing these two cities will allow us to control the overall situation in Liangzhi."
Cao Rui nodded, "General Zhang, General Zhang He, you two will split your forces into two groups! Do you have a plan to report to me?"
Cao Zhen immediately answered, "I will go to Jixian!"
Before Zhang He could respond, Cao Zhen spoke to Zhang He, "How many troops will you bring, Left General?"
Zhang He lightly bowed to Cao Zhen, "General, my own force still has nearly 7,000 men. Since the mountain road is narrow, adding more troops would be of no benefit."
"Is that enough?" Cao Rui smiled and said to Zhang He, "Left General, do not overdo it. I will add the 3,000 riders of Xiahou He with yours, so you will have a total of 10,000 men."
"Many years ago, the Left General accompanied the late Xiahou He in his campaign to the west. Today, I entrust his son to your side. Remember to avenge him for him."
Zhang He solemnly replied, "I will follow your command! I will not fail your trust!"
Cao Rui immediately turned to Cao Zhen, "General, except for Fei Yao's 4,000 riders and Wen Qin's 3,000 riders, I will give you Sun Li, Dan Man, and Cheng Xiang's three commands a total of 8,000 riders!"
"15,000 riders, go and scare the hell out of Zhuge Liang for me!"
Cao Zhen immediately accepted the order.
Cao Rui sighed lightly, "I will stay in Lüyang with Huán Fan, to watch over your rear guard and supervise supplies."
"Remember, do not worry about the casualties in battle with Shu. I only want Liangzhi!"
All the people in the tent stood up and bowed in salute.
...
The night journey was difficult, and the lack of provisions for their army became even more apparent as the men, including Zhao Yun's troops, carried no baggage. The only food available was supplied by Wu Yi's forces.
On the 23rd morning, the sun gradually rose higher.
Zhuge Liang personally stood outside the Liuli city to welcome the remnants of the Eastern Army who had fled here.
Wu Yi, Ma Nü, Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, Wu Ban, Ju Fu and others bowed to Zhuge Liang in turn. Zhuge Liang's expression changed slightly, but he still managed to suppress the turmoil in his heart. He looked at the tired and weary crowd before him.
"First, let's enter the city. I will discuss with you after I enter."
After saying that, Zhuge Liang turned around and walked towards the city gate. His figure seemed to be somewhat melancholic.
"Mr. Chancellort..." Ma Nü just lightly uttered the first two characters when he realized it was inappropriate and forced himself to hold back. He wiped away the tears that had rolled down his cheeks and then followed closely.
More than a small city, Liuli was actually a large fortified villa built during the time of the Qiang rebellion and frequent banditry in the former Liang region.
Xiang Lang stood at the gate, watching the various generals enter the city one after another, his worries increasing as he began to arrange for the scattered troops to set up camp.
The heartfelt tears in Ma Nü's eyes just now made Xiang Lang feel a great deal of pain.
However, as he had important matters to attend to, after all the generals had entered the city, Xiang Lang sighed and still went to arrange matters with the officials.
