"Bo Ji isn't it said that the Shu army is advancing southwest? I heard it." Cao Zhen lightly patted Guo Hui's arm and said softly.
"This matter has other arrangements between me and the emperor. Let's go, first enter the city."
Guo Hui was unaware of why Cao Zhen remained calm, but since the supreme commander of the court and his former senior leader spoke up, Guo Hui could only nod and follow.
As they approached the west gate of Gaigu, Cao Zhen looked up at the somewhat dilapidated city wall, at the stiff corpses of the Shu troops still lying below, and at the plaque with the characters 'Gaigu' written on it, with several arrows skewered at an angle, he couldn't help but sigh deeply and gently shake his head.
Guo Hui, riding beside Cao Zhen, noticed the direction of Cao Zhen's gaze, and there was also a trace of sorrow in Guo Hui's eyes.
The defense of this city has been extremely difficult.
The methods traditionally used by attacking forces to capture a city include sieging and cutting off supplies, flooding the city, using ladders and siege engines, or digging tunnels or building earthen mounds.
Due to the severe cold weather in the winter of Tianshui Prefecture, large-scale earthwork such as digging tunnels and constructing earthen mounds became extremely difficult, and it was also impossible to encircle and besiege the city.
Moreover, the Shu army has been encircled for a short period, and it is not feasible to cut off their supplies.
Excluding these methods, the Shu army can only use siege engines such as wells, clouds, and charges to send troops to the city wall and engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Wei troops.
In this way, for both the attacking and defending sides, the day after day of bloody and fierce fighting becomes even more torturous and arduous.
Although the Shu army has more troops, they can still rotate them. But Guo Hui inside the city doesn't have such a leisurely time.
After Cao Zhen and Guo Hui entered the city, Lu Ban and Hu Zun both came to pay their respects. As the supreme commander, Cao Zhen also consoled these two deserving generals with his words and promised them official positions and honors.
After completing the inspection of the city, including meeting some soldiers with records of war achievements, Cao Zhen and Guo Hui climbed onto the southern city wall and looked out over the plains and mountains south of the Wei River.
Guo Hui followed Cao Zhen for an hour, remaining silent and did not ask any further questions.
At the moment, there were only the two of them left, and Guo Hui finally couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked, "General, how is the situation on the Lüe River? Can you tell me now?"
"It's a victory! But it's not a pleasing one," Cao Zhen said, shaking his head.
"What do you mean?" Guo Hui asked again.
Cao Zhen slowly told Guo Hui about the situation in Lüe River, and Guo Hui was also shocked when he heard it.
"So, the Shu army's defense camp was so formidable? More than half of the losses of the Great Wei were sustained during the attack on the camp?"
Cao Zhen gently nodded, "Qian Zhāo's foot soldiers are either dead or wounded, and the remaining soldiers will find it difficult to fight for a while. It's just that the losses are too heavy."
"I and the emperor brought over 20,000 central cavalry from Luoyang. They cannot be used as infantry every time we attack. If there is a large move, we should wait for the arrival of the main army."
The reason why Cao Zhen appeared oblivious to Guo Hui's mention of the Shu army's direction outside the city was essentially because it was not advisable to advance in large numbers any further.
Guo Hui, who had been pent up in the city for a long time and was eager to fight, but at this moment, the situation was absolutely not suitable for Cao Zhen to take risks.
Almost two times the amount of troops, with more than 20,000 cavalry included, there were 49,000 Wei troops fighting against 30,000 Shu troops. But they only achieved a one-for-two victory.
And if we rush southward, heading towards Xian County and Qiyuan Mountain, Cao Zhen does not believe that Zhuge Liang has not made any preparations at all!
In the hundred-li mountain valley, cavalry combat is swift and free, but it is not as smooth as in the plains. If the Shu army ambushes or blocks our path, it would be a major embarrassment.
Perhaps even Cao Zhen himself wasn't fully aware that his reluctance to pursue the enemy swiftly was rooted in deep-seated uncertainty and a lack of confidence.
Eight years ago, Cao Zhen and Xu Yang intercepted the Shu army's supply route outside Yangping Pass together. Although they had once defeated Gao Xiang on the other side, they had never managed to achieve Cao Cao's strategic goal of cutting off supplies.
Twelve years ago, Zhang He, as the only general of the Great Wei to lead troops into Shu territory, led over ten thousand soldiers south from the Mi Cang Road to attack the commanderies of Bashu and Badong. However, he was calmly defeated by Zhang Fei and managed to escape back to Hanzhong with only a dozen or so cavalrymen.
Nowadays, in front of us, there are not only Zhuge Liang but also Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, Wu Yi and other generals. The Shu army has at least several tens of thousands of available troops.
And his ten thousand cavalry...
Back then, Cao Zhen was the military governor sent to conquer Shu, and it was understandable if he did not win. But today, although Cao Zhen has become the Grand General, that does not necessarily mean that the Grand General is always better at fighting!
At the very least, from a subconscious level, Cao Zhen still believes that his ability to command thousands of troops to fight is still a little weaker than that of this old general Zhang He.
Guo Hui sighed, "The general is right. However, since the Shu army has retreated, Guangwei County to the east can always be recaptured. The troops under General Zheng of the Left Army, which are stationed to the north of Duli City, can also move south today."
"Perhaps by tonight, General Zheng will be here."
Cao Zhen nodded, "When I join forces with Zhang He, it will be more secure."
"Just now, I received a message from Dian Man at Xinyang. I have already sent Wen Qin to assist him. Zhuge Liang is also very cautious at Ji County, and it seems that more civilians have been moved away."
Guo Hui sighed, "I got a general idea from the city wall that the Shu army moved about four or five thousand young and strong soldiers, without any elderly or children among them, and their march was not slow."
"The Shu army returned in large numbers on the 24th day. On the morning of the 25th, the Qiang and Hu tribes outside the city, along with most of the Shu troops, withdrew together."
"On the 26th, that is, yesterday afternoon, the people of Linyi passed through Shanggu to the west. This morning, there were also Shu troops heading west."
Cao Zhen gazed towards the distant mountain pass leading southwest and softly replied, "It seems that all the Shu troops in the areas of Shanggu and Linyi have withdrawn."
"Heard from Dian Man's military report, the Shu troops and civilians in Ji County are heading west to Luomen..."
Guo Hui interjected, "Could it be that the Shu army has also withdrawn from Longxi and Nan'an commanderies?"
Cao Zhen replied, "It may be so, or it may not be. Dian Man and Wen Qin's messages will return tomorrow, and we will then know for sure."
"If we consider the current military situation, the first priority should be to establish contact with the troops under Zhang He and then retake Guangwei County to the east!"
Guo Hui cupped his hands and volunteered for battle, "General Cao, as the Governor of Yongzhou, I have been confined to Shanggu and done nothing. I humbly request that you allow me to lead two thousand cavalry east to Linyi and retrieve Guangwei County!"
Cao Zhen turned to look at Guo Hui, whose eyes were full of enthusiasm, and sighed, "I will assign two thousand from the three thousand cavalry under Cheng Xih to you!"
"Can we still prepare some time?"
"No need for preparation!" Guo Hui said boldly, "I have been preparing at Shanggu for twenty days, and we can set out immediately."
Cao Zhen nodded slightly, "Recovering Guangwei is not just a matter of military affairs, but also involves many administrative matters. If we meet Vae Ling, the governor of Guangwei, bring him back to Shanggu and leave him to the emperor to personally judge!"
"Understood," Guo Hui said, bowing and responding.
The term "relatively difficult to access in the northwest" refers to the rugged terrain with mountains running in all directions, where the only way for large armies to move is along a few established routes.
To enter the region of Longyou from the Guanzhong area via the Longshan Road, it is inevitable to pass through Lueyang, a crucial place.
If we continue to move south from Lueyang, there are two routes available: the eastern and western ones.
The western route starts from Lueyang, passes through the Xian County, and finally reaches Xinyang.
The eastern route is closer. From Lueyang, it goes straight south through Lie Liu City, then down to Duli City, and finally reaches Shanggu.
The three cities of Xiangwu, Nanchuan, and Ji counties in the Longxi Circuit, as well as Jia County in the Tianshui Circuit, and three cities in the Xinyang Circuit - all along the Wei River from west to east.
If we want to move south again, we have two options: one is from Luomen between Luodao and Ji County, and the other is to advance southwest from Shanggu towards the Xixian County. There are no other major roads available for travel.
Therefore, the Shu army and civilians withdrawing from Ji County to the south will have to head west to Luomen before heading south again.
While Cao Zhen and Guo Hui were discussing military affairs on the city walls of Shanggu, Zhuge Liang was marching leisurely southwards.
The mountain road is narrow, with no danger to the south and heavy infantry defense to the north. For the retreating Shu troops, there is no danger at all.
On the morning of the 25th, Zhuge Liang led his troops to withdraw south. In two and a half days, he had already marched ninety miles with his troops.
As they were getting closer to Xixian County, with only thirty miles to go, Zhuge Liang ordered his troops to halt their horses.
Zhuge Liang pointed to the narrow valley with rugged terrain and asked, "Xu, what is this place called?"
"Report to the Marquis," Yang Yi answered with a bow, "The fifty miles from Shanggu along the Jie River to Jiekou and then south to Xixian County is known as the Mumen Road."
"The place you are pointing at now has no official name, only the local name of 'Hu Lu Valley' used by the local people," Zhuge Liang said.
"Gourd Valley?" Zhuge Liang shook his head and laughed, "This valley is about one li long from north to south, with the narrowest point of the north entrance not exceeding 20 taels. It is indeed a difficult place to enter but hard to exit."
"In my opinion, the local people's choice of this valley's name is quite fitting. Let's call it Gourd Valley!" Zhuge Liang said.
Yang Yi saw Zhuge Liang's intense interest in this small valley and couldn't help but ask, "Will the Marquis be stationing troops here?"
"Yes!" Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "The Wei army has many cavalry, right? According to the time, the Wei army should know by now that I have moved the civilians of Linyi south."
"If the Wei army dare not pursue us, they will have to let us leave freely. If they hurry here, this place is a perfect natural trap for them!" Zhuge Liang said.
"Your Highness is wise." Yang Yi bowed and said, "I wonder which department the Marquis wants to guard this Gourd Valley?"
Zhuge Liang replied, "Send Wei Yan! Have I not already divided Wu Yi's troops into an eight-thousand-strong contingent for Wei Yan? Let Wei Yan guard this place!"
Yang Yi's face showed a slight hint of hesitation, but he still bowed and agreed, preparing to turn his horse and personally search for Wei Yan.
As cunning as Zhuge Liang, how could he not see the hesitation on Yang Yi's face?
In his own government, the most capable in terms of civil matters is Marquis Yan's military advisor, Yang Yi, while the general most skilled in leading troops is Marquis Wei Yan.
However, Yang Yi and Wei Yan seem to have an incompatible relationship, and they always argue when discussing matters, which has already happened three or four times.
Zhuge Liang sent Yang Yi to find Wei Yan, harboring a slight intention for them to work together.
If Ma Su is capable of being used effectively...
Taking a deep breath, Zhuge Liang continued driving his horse southwards. (This chapter ends.)
