Cao Rui looked at Jiang Wei intently several times before nodding in satisfaction and saying, "Since Boyaoyu doesn't want it, this jade pendant will be placed here by the emperor."
"Once the Shu region is pacified in the future, if Zhuge Liang is still alive, let Boyaoyu return it to him personally."
Jiang Wei replied, "Your Majesty is most sagacious."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "However, I cannot neglect the talents of those who have served the country."
"Boyaoyu, your three visits to the Shu camp have greatly relieved my concerns. Let me temporarily appoint you as a middle protectant, for my own troops!"
Jiang Wei did not hesitate but bowed directly to the ground, "I accept your command, willing to die for the benefit of the Great Wei!"
Cao Rui nodded gently.
In fact, Cao Rui had already made many calculations about Jiang Wei in his heart.
At present, among the young talents of the Great Wei, Cao Rui places the highest value on only three individuals: Mai Qijian, Jiang Wei, and Xiahou Yuan.
When he first ascended to the throne, Cao Rui appointed Mai Qijian as the Yueqi Commandant, making him one of the officials in the two-thousand-liang rank. This was because Mai Qijian had been serving in the palace as a court official.
Traditionally, court officials of the East Palace were immediately assigned to high-ranking positions after a new emperor took the throne. Compared to Cao Wei's past acts of rewarding merit, Cao Rui had already demonstrated great restraint.
As a personal aide to Cao Rui, Mai Qijian, acting as an envoy, toured the borders of You and Bing with Liu Ye, all in order to cultivate his sense of the big picture and his perspective.
With the wisdom of a man like Liu Ye, who taught him for half a year, Mai Qijian's strategic abilities improved rapidly.
It was precisely because Mai Qijian's talent did not belong to the very top tier among the talents of the Great Wei, that Cao Rui had to cultivate him in such a manner.
Compared to Mai Qijian, Jiang Wei and Xiahou Yuan have even greater talents.
Xiahou Yuan is talented in literature, while Jiang Wei excels in martial arts.
Their uses lie not in the present, but five or even ten years from now.
Therefore, Cao Rui wants to have Jiang Wei accompany him in military campaigns, send him as an envoy to the enemy camp, and have him serve as a general in the central army.
And Xiahou Yuan......
Xiahou Yuan needs to be continuously honed and become more pragmatic.
Unlike military affairs, in order to become a qualified political figure, one must learn to accumulate strength during periods of adversity, continuously enrich oneself, gain patience and resilience, so as to be worthy of great responsibilities.
Letting Xiahou Yuan go home to study during his period of self-satisfaction after the Fuhua Case was also a rare form of experience.
With the emperor personally concerned about him, and considering Xiahou Yuan's abilities, what is there to worry about not being utilized in the future? Whether it's earlier or later, what difference does it make?
After Jiang Wei had finished bowing, Cao Rui turned to Cao Zhen and said, "Huan Fan led four thousand horsemen, which should belong to the Great General. Let Boyaoyu take them over."
Cao Zhen replied, "I understand. I will arrange it shortly."
Cao Rui pointed at Jiang Wei, "Since you are now a general, don't follow by my side any longer. Go back to your own camp and wait there, for the Great General's assignment."
Jiang Wei's eyes showed a hint of reluctance, but he quickly straightened his mind and bowed his hands before departing.
At this moment, Sima Yi felt a sense of awe in his heart.
On the day when the Tai Xue (University) was first established, Your Majesty came twice to give lectures at the Tai Xue, and at that time, Sima Yi still harbored a bit of doubt in his heart.
However, after witnessing Jiang Wei's rapid promotion to the position of middle protectant, Sima Yi not only felt admiration for Jiang Wei's swift rise but also remembered many other things.
The term "row middle protectant" literally means acting as a temporary middle protectant.
It is obvious that Jiang Wei is still young in terms of experience, and the emperor has not tasked Jiang Wei with matters within the duties of the middle protectant, such as the election of military officers.
Instead, he has used the title of "row middle protectant" to command Huan Fan's four thousand horsemen.
This level of favor, after the emperor's accession to the throne, is unprecedented.
If given time, Jiang Wei will surely rise to the level of today's Qian Zhao and Zhang He, leading military affairs in a region. However, it is still too early to discuss this matter now; we should just watch and see as things unfold.
Thinking about it, Sima Yi found himself sighing in his heart.
Both students of the Tai Xue (University), Jiang Wei can serve the emperor and receive a prominent position, whereas Sima Yi can only teach in the classroom.
The nearly one hundred Tai Xue scholars who traveled with the army to Longyou will be responsible for the Jialing people's paddy fields here, adding a bold stroke to their resumes.
And his own son, Sima Xuer, ...
If the return army returns to Luoyang this time, I will definitely use my achievements in politics to gain the release of Sima Shi!
...
However, two days later, Guo Hu posted the news that Wei Yan had withdrawn from the encampment at Qingniyu Valley.
Out of caution, Guo Hu sent people to follow at a distance. After confirming that the Shu troops were indeed retreating and not setting up an ambush, he reported the situation to the rear.
After hearing Cao Zhen's report on the military news, Cao Rui nodded calmly and composedly, "Wei Yan has withdrawn? I roughly guess it's because of the three letters between me and Zhuge Liang that he has completely lost the will to fight and has chosen to defend a strategic position instead."
"Is Guo Hu's report about Chiting confirmed?"
Cao Zhen replied, "Guo Hu has not confirmed the report in his message. He only mentioned that scouts encountered a small Shu camp along the road, about twenty li away from Chiting."
"That must be Chiting." Cao Rui looked at the gathered ministers in the tent, "Zhuge Liang is choosing to defend a strategic position, which is a sign of weakness. How could I not follow suit?"
"How should we advance?"
Cao Zhen replied, "At present, the strength of the Great Wei in Xianzhen exceeds forty thousand. In Hechi, there are also fifteen thousand troops. According to my rough estimate, the Shu troops in Chiting and its surrounding area should not exceed fifty thousand."
"Why?" asked Cao Rui.
Cao Zhen bowed and said, "As the prefect of Yong Province said, Chiting is not a wide area. The rivers converge and the mountains enclose it, making it strategic but difficult to concentrate the defense."
"Zhuge Liang had only about six thousand troops left after retreating from Qiushan. How could he not reinforce some troops to defend the rear path?"
Cao Rui asked, "So, what is your suggestion, General?"
Cao Zhen bowed and said, "In my opinion, we should launch attacks from Xianzhen and Hechi!"
"Two detachments of cavalry should be left behind to respond and preserve the two cities of Xianzhen and Hechi."
"The remaining army should advance along the Qingni Water towards the southeast and confront the Shu troops at Chiting in a standoff. Meanwhile, Xiahou Ju's fifteen thousand infantry can move from Hechi, along the Bai Water towards the south, to surround Chiting from another direction."
"The confluence of Qingni Water and Bai Water into the old course of the Soong River is only about five li away. If an opportunity arises at one place, assistance can be provided from the other!"
Cao Rui thought for a moment and said, "It depends on whether Xiahou Ju can coordinate with my main army."
Cao Zhen nodded.
Cao Rui looked at Qian Zhao and said, "How about you, General Qian, take charge of the campaign for me and station yourself at Xiahou Ju's camp?"
"Uh...," Qian Zhao looked hesitant for a moment, "Your Majesty, General Xiahou has led a separate army from Jingzhou to Chang'an and then to Hechi. If I suddenly appear, I'm afraid I won't be able to calm his troops!"
Cao Rui waved his hand, "Among Xiahou Ju's fifteen thousand soldiers, aren't there five thousand from the troops you left in Chang'an? Go and lead them."
"However, General Qian is right. With a great enemy in front of us, we can't afford to disclose anything. I will send a imperial edict to Xiahou Ju to reassure him and let him follow your lead."
"Don't worry." Cao Rui smiled at Qian Zhao, "There won't be any trouble."
Qian Zhao, who had been a general without troops from Shangguan to the south, was finally able to continue leading troops in battle and naturally agreed to the emperor's dispatch.
"Leave ten thousand horsemen as the rear guard, and the rest will set out early tomorrow morning," Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen, Sima Yi, and others, "Is this plan suitable?"
"Cao Zhen responded, "Your Majesty is wise."
Sima Yi also concurred with a general statement.
...
On the morning of March 16, the Wei army, which had been waiting in Xianzhen and Hechi for a week and a half, advanced from two lines simultaneously towards Chiting.
If described simply and abstractly, the terrain at Chiting resembles a three-way intersection.
Cao Rui and Qian Zhao led the army from two of the three openings in the three-way intersection and advanced towards the gathering point, while Zhuge Liang was defending at the intersection.
Although Zhuge Liang set up some small camps along the route, each camp had only a few hundred people defending them. Under the fierce attack of several tens of thousands of Wei troops, these small camps were forced to abandon one after another.
In less than two days, Cao Rui's army had reached ten li west of Chiting, along the Qingni Water Valley, where they faced off against Zhuge Liang.
...
Inside the Shu camp.
After receiving intelligence of the Wei army's simultaneous attack from both sides, all the officers and soldiers in the Shu camp prepared for battle and made every effort to counter the offensive.
However, bizarrely, during the first two days of the standoff, the Wei army's main forces repeatedly attacked the Shu camp with foot soldiers from the east. Although they were all repelled, this also put a lot of pressure on the Shu Han.
However, on the third day, the Wei army ceased all offensive actions and showed no signs of attack.
In the evening, in Zhuge Liang's tent, people gathered together to discuss the military situation of the day.
"Wei Yan, bowing his hands, said, "My lord, I did not see the Wei army attacking our camp today. According to reason, the number of casualties for the Wei army in the past two days did not exceed a thousand, which should not affect their offensive momentum."
"The truce today is indeed mysterious."
Zhuge Liang looked at Wu Yi, "What movements are the Wei troops at the mouth of the Bai Water making?"
Wu Yi answered solemnly, "My lord, the Wei troops at the mouth of the Bai Water have come from the direction of Hechi. Since they arrived three days ago, they have not attacked like the Wei troops along the Qingni Water."
"Understood. I believe that the Wei army has divided its forces into two parts, one being weaker and the other being stronger. Therefore, the Wei troops at Bai Water should be the weaker of the two."
"Please allow me to send troops out tomorrow to test an attack against these Wei troops."
Zhuge Liang answered in a low voice, "The Wei army's attack from both sides is fierce, but it is not as strong as their combined forces."
"The Wei army divided into two forces, separated by mountains and rivers. It is reasonable to seek opportunities to attack and break them."
"But the situation with the Wei army is not yet clear." Zhuge Liang looked at Wu Yi, "Starting tomorrow, your troops will attack the Wei camp for three consecutive days!"
"The Prime Minister wants to see where the Wei army's weakness is and where their strength lies!" (Chapter ends)
