"Huang Xiu turned and left, executing military law, without dared to argue with Wei Yan."
On the one hand, Huang Xi was taken by Zhang He two camps and then Wei Yan personally came to help him hold up. Huang Xi should bear Wei Yan's favor.
On the other hand, Wei Yan's rank was also higher than Huang Xi, as he held the position of General Governor of the Northern Frontier and Marquis, serving as the military advisor to the Prime Minister, and thus inherently had supervisory authority over Huang Xi.
With Wei Yan's decisive support, Huang Xi finally managed to gain a foothold in the third camp. Huang Xi's military report was also delivered to Zhuge Liang's tent.
"Did Huang Xi lose a camp?" Zhuge Liang looked at everyone: "Before, Huang Xi and Wei army to and fro for ten days, but did not lose a single camp. Today Wei army's behavior is truly abnormal."
"Junze, go take a look at the battle situation at Huang Xi's camp, and then come back to explain to me!"
Chen Shi nodded and said, "I will comply with the Prime Minister's order!"
After saying that, without a moment's delay, he turned and walked out of the tent.
During this northern campaign, each general has been assigned their duties and have been deployed to various places in Long Right.
Only Chen Shi and Chen Junze have always been by Zhuge Liang's side, acting as Zhuge Liang's personal troops. This person is knowledgeable in military strategies and brave in battle, earning Zhuge Liang's great respect.
But within an hour and a half, Chen Shi returned to the tent.
"Report to the Prime Minister, I have checked with General Huang. The Wei army's offensive today was indeed fierce. They attacked continuously, and General Huang retreated in order to conserve military strength. General Wei has personally gone out to help stabilize the situation at the third camp."
"Moreover, an injured Wei army officer claimed that the commander-in-chief was Zhang He."
"Zhang He? Is Zhang He personally leading the attack?" Fei Yi felt slightly surprised and turned to look at Chen Shi.
"The captive Wei army soldiers said so," Chen Shi replied. "And both Generals Huang and Wei said that if it were not for the senior general of the Wei army leading the troops, they could not have made such rotations. By noon, the Wei army had already rotated ten divisions."
"Then let it be Zhang He personally," Zhuge Liang turned to look at Fei Yi and said, "Xun Wei, inform Generals Huang Xi and Wei Yan that two camps are not significant matters."
"But today and tomorrow, do not spare the soldiers' lives, but also cannot let the Wei army capture another camp! The Wei army's offensive is so urgent, and I want to see what Cao Rui has planned!"
"Understood," Fei Yi bowed and replied: "I will issue orders to Generals Huang Xi and Wei Yan immediately."
...
It wasn't until nightfall that the Wei army was unable to capture the third camp.
However, the casualties on both sides of the Wei and Shu armies today were the highest after the battle at Chiting.
The Shu army lost over a thousand soldiers, while the Wei army lost 1,500 foot soldiers. Among the foot soldiers of Wei, who were divided into twenty battalions, some lost more than a hundred people, while others lost as few as three or forty people.
For Zhuge Liang, losing a thousand foot soldiers was a major matter, but it was far from shaking the situation. Moreover, since Wei Yan's aid after the rescue, the third fortress has not been lost again.
As evening approached, Zhuge Liang ordered Generals Huang Xi and Wei Yan to strengthen their night-time vigilance to prevent a night raid by the Wei army.
It can be said that all the tasks have been carried out.
The flow of time is not controlled by anyone, but follows its own laws, neither hastening nor slowing its uniform passage.
The moon slowly moved across the night sky, the night breeze between the valleys flowing with the river, and the Shu army camp stood quietly in the darkness.
At the third watch of the hour, it was already the middle of the night.
This evening, the officer on duty, Yang Yi, unexpectedly saw a familiar face that should not have been there.
"Zhao Tong? How did you come to Chiting at this late hour?"
"Zhao Tong was clearly exhausted. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a personally written military report by Zhao Yun. He gasped and said, 'The Wei army is coming from Yinping. They have attacked Bai Shui Pass. My father received the news yesterday and has already led the army to head south for aid.' "
"How could there be Wei army at Yinping?" Yang Yi suddenly stood up from the chair: "How many are they?"
While gasping for breath, Zhao Tong said, "Commander Meng Li of Bai Shui said that the Wei army is coming from the direction of Yinping Bridge, and their numbers are at least above ten thousand!"
"Yang Yi remained silent and seriously considered it for half a while before staring straight at Zhao Tong and asked, 'When you came to the Chiting Grand Camp, did you mention this to anyone else?'"
"No, absolutely not," Zhao Tong kept denying: "My father has informed me. After I came to the grand camp, I only saw Yang Garrison one person!"
"That's good," Yang Yi said, his face stern: "Come with me, let's go see the Prime Minister. Don't disturb others."
"Understood, my lord," Zhao Tong nodded: "Please allow me to follow General Yang."
Since there was no order from Zhuge Liang, even Yang Yi could not enter the tent at night. After whispering outside for a moment, with the personal permission of Zhuge Liang, Yang Yi led Zhao Tong into the tent.
Zhuge Liang, upon seeing Zhao Tong at night, was as quickly alert as Yang Yi, and began asking questions right away.
"Prime Minister, I have already asked. Please take this personally written military report by Zhao Yun," Yang Yi handed forward the personally written military report by Zhao Yun: "The Wei army, with over ten thousand horsemen, has attacked Bai Shui Pass from the direction of Yinping. Last evening, General Zhao was informed of the situation and could not obtain approval. He led eight thousand foot soldiers to head south for aid."
"Yinping, Yinping, Yinping..."
Zhuge Liang kept looking at Zhao Yun's military report while repeatedly muttering the words 'Yinping'.
Sitting on the bed, wearing a robe, as if a old monk in meditation, he closed his eyes and began to think deeply.
For Zhuge Liang, there was no need to look at the maps. Every detail of the mountains, rivers, cities, and passes in Shu were all in Zhuge Liang's mind.
Time slipped away moment by moment. Yang Yi and Zhao Tong dared not breathe, standing a short distance away, silently watching the Prime Minister who was lost in thought with his eyes closed.
Approximately one column of incense had passed before Zhuge Liang opened his eyes.
"General Wei, send someone to summon six people: Xiang Jida, Fei Wenwei, Wei Wen Chang, Wu Zi Yuan, Yuan Gong Feng, and Chen Junze!" Zhuge Liang ordered: "First call Wei Wen Chang and Wu Zi Yuan, then call Yuan Gong Feng. After that, call the remaining three!"
"Based on their simultaneous arrival at the grand tent, do not disturb the camps, and act in secret!"
"Understood, my lord," Yang Yi bowed and said, "I will do it immediately."
After turning around and taking two steps, Yang Yi turned back and looked at Zhuge Liang by the tent door, then glanced at Zhao Tong.
Zhuge Liang did not respond, but merely flicked his finger. Yang Yi understood and turned away directly.
"Please sit down, Bao Cheng," Zhuge Liang looked at Zhao Tong and said, "You have come in a hurry at this late hour. Rest in the tent for a while."
Zhao Tong had met Zhuge Liang several times before, accompanying his father Zhao Yun, but never this close with only two people.
However, Zhuge Liang's words were authoritative yet approachable, with an air of inevitability that left no room for refusal. Zhao Tong could only bow and agree, taking a seat on the mat.
"Bao Cheng, how is your father's health? Did you discuss it with others when you came to the grand camp?"
"I haven't told anyone," Zhao Tong shook his head hurriedly: "My father said that I could only mention this matter to the Prime Minister. Just now, when I saw Yang Garrison, I didn't say anything."
"My father's health, to be honest, it's not really about illness, it looks more like the effects of aging."
Zhuge Liang slightly raised his eyebrows.
Zhao Tong noticed the change in Zhuge Liang's expression, but still had tears in his eyes as he continued, "Since returning from Qi Mountain at the end of the year, my father has experienced severe pain in his back and shoulders. As my father says, it is due to too many injuries accumulated from years of combat."
Zhuge Liang let out a long sigh, and his eyebrows and eyes revealed a great deal of compassion.
"Among the old generals who followed the late emperor from Hebei to here, only General Zhao remains," Zhuge Liang looked at Zhao Tong and said, "Bao Cheng, you are not yet twenty years old. You were born after General Zhao married following our capture of Jingzhou."
"As you should know, you are also from Hebei. But you were born in Jingzhou and have never been to Hebei."
"Yes, yes," Zhao Tong looked at Zhuge Liang in a daze, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Zhuge Liang continued, "Bao Cheng, do you know that your father had another son before?"
Zhao Tong was astonished, "My father has another son? I am unaware of this!"
"It's understandable that you don't know. After all, no one has ever told you. Today, the Prime Minister is waiting for everyone and chatting with you a bit more." Zhuge Liang nodded gently and looked at Zhao Tong.
"Bao Cheng, the Prime Minister was under the banner of the late emperor in 212 AD. At that time, the late emperor had already been stationed at Xinwei for several years. Xinwei, do you know where it is?"
"Yes," Zhao Tong nodded, "I know. It's a county in Jingzhou, north of Xiangyang, opposite the Han River. My father has told me about it."
"That's right. It was Xinwei," Zhuge Liang slowly said, "The late emperor had been stationed at Xinwei since 208 AD, and left in 213 AD after the great army of Cao crossed the south. He spent seven years in the small town of Xinwei." "And your father's first son was born during that time."
Zhao Tong was at a loss and could only nod continuously.
Zhuge Liang continued, "Not only General Zhao, but many other officers in the army also married and had children in Xinwei. Even the current emperor was born in 212 AD, when the late emperor was at Xinwei."
"But in 213 AD, the late emperor led his army south, and was pursued by Cao's tiger and leopard cavalry, traveling 300 li in a day and night. The people could not bear it, so they had to leave their families and troops behind."
"When the late emperor reached Hanjin, his entourage was only composed of Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, myself, and dozens of knights. The current emperor was protected by General Zhao and was safe. However, the late emperor's two daughters perished in the midst of the chaos."
Zhuge Liang looked at Zhao Tong and said, "Even the two daughters of the late emperor were thus, how much more so for the families of other generals? Not only has General Zhao lost his wife and children, but also those of General Zhang. Furthermore, many other generals have lost their families."
"After the Battle of Red Cliffs, the generals settled down, and only then did they have children again."
Zhao Tong opened his mouth, and after a long moment, he said, "If it were not for your lordship telling me these ancient stories, I would have been unaware of these things!"
"The sadness in your majesty's eyes has not yet dispersed," "These are ancient stories. The late emperor is no longer with us, General Guan Yu and General Zhang Fei have also passed away. Now, the generals in Hebei only have General Zhao remaining."
"Now, he disregards his illness and personally rushes to Bai Shui at night," Zhuge Liang sighed, "How difficult is the restoration of the Han Dynasty!"
"Bao Cheng, do not forget your father's resolve to fight south and north!"
Zhao Tong nodded heavily.
It was not until all the people arrived at the tent entrance and invited Zhao Tong out that he stood alone outside, blowing the cool morning breeze, and his heart suddenly became clear.
What Zhuge Liang had talked about with him was not just ancient stories, was it?
"If it weren't for the great concerns in your heart, would you need to talk to me, a little grandson, like so much?" (Chapter ends)
