The troops of 5,000 led by Yuan Cong represent the last available troops at Zhongteng, commanded by Zhuge Liang, and they have been sent into the battle.
Today is the last day for the Shu army at Chiting.
However, Zhuge Liang personally led troops to the front line, which did make a difference. The two days he gained allowed Zhao Lang and Yang Yi and others in the main camp to arrange for the retreat of troops. They also changed the original central camp into a more solid defensive line.
The camp is located to the east of the old road, and the route that Zhuge Liang will use for the retreat tomorrow is to the south of the camp, providing a shielding effect.
As night fell, Wu Yi secretly led his troops to retreat to the original Shu army camp and filled it with many wood and other flammable materials inside.
On the second day after dawn, Qian Zhao was about to dispatch troops to attack when he noticed that the Shu camp opposite him burst into flames. The fire raged ferociously like a barrier, blocking Qian Zhao's path as he intended to advance.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Zhuge Liang, at the first light of dawn, took advantage of the shelter provided by the rear camp, leading his remnants to cross the floating bridge over the Gudao River.
It was not that Zhang Heng did not dispatch troops to attack, but that Zhuge Liang occupied a strategic position at the crossing before dawn and had constructed fortifications and trenches overnight, taking advantage of the concealment provided by the terrain and the arrow volleys from boats on the river, which allowed him to cross with composure.
"Has Zhuge Liang retreated?"
In the morning, Cao Rui personally came to the bank of Gudao River and looked at the Shu camp located east of Gudao River.
"Report to Your Majesty, the Shu troops have completely lost their will to fight and have withdrawn from the White Water Valley and Qingni Water Valley." Zhang Heng replied.
"What do you think, General, will Zhuge Liang do next?" Cao Rui asked again.
"General Zhang Hui paid respect and advised, 'Your Majesty, Zhuge Liang occupies the eastern camp and controls the south road, with fewer troops and weaker military capabilities compared to our army. He has already suffered consecutive defeats and retreated several times. His military strength must be low.'"
"I believe Zhuge Liang is about to retreat according to my assessment."
Cao Rui sighed, "In my days of fighting against the Wu army in Huai'an, I never encountered an enemy as formidable as Zhuge Liang. The Long right region is full of mountains, and so is Qinzhou. Hanzhong and Yizhou are also mountainous."
"I don't know how many more battles like this among the valleys and gorges will I encounter."
"General Zhang, how are the casualties for the past two days of battle?"
Zhang He answered with a resolute expression, "Your Majesty, over the past two days, we have suffered a total loss of approximately 6,000 soldiers, with an additional 4,000 wounded."
"With such heavy casualties, I fear that the 30,000 foot soldiers under my command may have fewer than 10,000 who can continue to pursue the enemy."
Cao Rui raised his eyes to look at Cao Zhen and Sima Yi.
Sima Yi sensed the emperor's intentions and said, "Your Majesty, the battle in the valley has been fierce these two days, and it's only natural that the soldiers find it difficult to engage in short-term combat again."
"However," Sima Yi coughed twice, "there are still 10,000 mounted troops at Xianjian and over 10,000 under Qian Zhao and Xiahou Generals. It's sufficient to pursue the Shu army here!"
Cao Zhen also paid respect and said, "The remnants of the Shu army are just on the east side of the river. They are separated by only one river. The Shu troops must retreat and it will only take a moment."
"I humbly request Your Majesty not to worry about the casualties and to send people to continue the pursuit."
Cao Rui sighed and said, "Zhuge Liang is a formidable enemy, and it's wise to pursue him relentlessly. The words of General Zhang and General Cao Zhen are indeed good advice."
"The Great Wei army has fought the Shu army these past two days, and ultimately, the Great Wei has emerged victorious while the Shu army has retreated. Now that Our Majesty's troops are greater in number than Zhuge Liang's, our generals are stronger than his, and our morale is higher than his, how can we retreat? This is not an option."
"General Cao." Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen.
Cao Zhen seemed to have gained some understanding in his heart, "I am here!"
"General Cao, take the lead for Our Majesty and command 13,000 troops under Qian Zhao and Xiahou Yu, 10,000 troops under General Zhang He, and 10,000 cavalry under General Cao Hong. Once the Shu camp here is captured, pursue them to Wuxing and Ju counties!"
"I will carry out the order!" Cao Zhen bowed respectfully in response.
As the General of the Great Wei, Cao Zhen was in the perfect position to demonstrate his leadership and effectiveness at this critical moment.
The emperor could not venture into enemy territory to pursue the enemy, and the front needed a high-ranking and experienced grand minister to lead all the troops.
The middle army cavalry under Cao Hong is from the middle army, while the army mixed with outer army and middle army foot soldiers under Zhang He is from Yongnan. The troops under Qian Zhao and Xiahou Yu are from Jing Province and Yang Province.
Such a complex and heterogeneous army, with varying levels of combat power, can only be mobilized by the title of General Cao.
Across the river, Zhuge Liang lay in his tent, coughing repeatedly and quite loudly.
From the beginning of October last year to early April this year, it has been nearly six months.
Over nearly half a year, Zhuge Liang, as the supreme commander of the Northern Expedition of Shu Han, has been sparing no effort every day.
Zhuge Liang had originally believed that capturing Long Right and even occupying Liangzhou were possible. Otherwise, he would not have mobilized forces from various places in Yizhou to gather an army of 80,000.
Half a year later, today, Zhuge Liang reviewed the military situation of that time and couldn't help but feel a strong sense of regret.
The 80,000 troops had been reduced by 20,000 in Long Right.
Stationed at Chiting to confront the Wei army, they were surrounded by Wei cavalry at Bai Shui Pass behind them. Faced with no choice, they sent troops to rescue but encountered the Wei army's fierce offensive in Chiting.
The losses at Qingni Water and Bai Shui Pass amounted to over 6,000 soldiers, with an additional 10,000 or so wounded.
People live on willpower.
Over half a year, Zhuge Liang's tireless style of leadership has strained his body and mind to the breaking point. The consecutive defeats have made it impossible for his body to endure any longer, and he falls ill on his bed after barely managing to retreat.
"Chancellor has caught a cold, what should we do?" Xiang Lang asked with anxiety to Yang Yi beside him.
Yang Yi and Xiang Lang stood outside the grand tent as a physician was treating Zhuge Liang's illness inside.
"General Yang Yi slightly raised his eyebrows: 'Zhuge Gong, Wu Yi's troops have already been ordered to withdraw. But Your Excellency has not said when the remaining 8,000 soldiers should withdraw!'"
Xiang Lang was so anxious that he stomped his feet, "I have seen it clearly here. The Wei army has already advanced to the west side of Gudao River! If it wasn't for the Gudao River separating us, I don't know what we should do!"
Chen Shi watched coldly at Xiang Lang and Yang Yi: "Xiang Gong, Yang Changshi, discussing the withdrawal in front of the Chancellor's tent, what do you intend?"
"Now that we cannot retreat, what else can we do?" Yang Yi revealed his dissatisfaction.
Chen Shi pointed to the tent, "The Chancellor is just suffering from a cold fever and resting in bed. He can still speak."
"Then why don't you go ask the Chancellor about how to withdraw?"
"General Yang Yi refutes, 'Such an urgent matter, how can you expect the Chancellor to attend to it while he is in a state of illness?'"
But as soon as General Yang Yi spoke, he realized the correctness of Chen Shi's statement.
The Chancellor is not unable to speak!
Then how can you not let the Chancellor know about such an urgent matter?
Yang Yi bowed to Chen Shi in a respectful manner, "General Chen is absolutely right, and it was indeed my mistake."
Upon saying this, Yang Yi and Xiang Lang entered the tent and frankly asked Zhuge Liang about the arrangements for the retreat.
Zhuge Liang closed his eyes and pondered for a long time.
But when a person is feverish, the more they try to think, the more confused they often become. Zhuge Liang, despite being sick, could not escape this common human tendency.
This world is ultimately governed by the laws of physics.
After a bamboo stick of incense, Zhuge Liang waved his hand and said, "Hold for one day and then withdraw. Wu Yi is in Wu Xing."
Although the words were a bit disjointed, Yang Yi still understood the message.
After bowing to Zhuge Liang, Yang Yi pulled Xiang Lang out of the tent.
"Zhuge Gong, now that the Chancellor is ill, as his Prime Minister, you should be the one to make decisions for the entire army." Yang Yi grabbed Xiang Lang's sleeve tightly.
"The Chancellor's meaning was for us to hold the position here for one more day! Tomorrow morning, we will leave behind all the supplies and retreat!"
"If you agree, give the order immediately!"
Xiang Lang stood still, deep in thought, and seemed undecided: "General Wei, with so many Wei troops across the river, how should we engage in battle? I really don't know..."
"Don't talk about what's difficult or not!"
"What is the meaning of talking about difficulties! If you don't want to take responsibility, let me handle it here!" Yang Yi shouted angrily.
"First, send someone to row the Chancellor downstream to Wu Xing. Then you, me, and the entire army will stay here and hold our position for one day. No one is to leave until tomorrow!"
Xiang Lang was about to be angry, but then he sighed and said, "As General Wei has instructed!"
...
Within two and a half to three days, the territory of Chiting changed hands.
The next morning, the Shu army retreated southward, followed closely by Cao Zhen leading a force of 30,000 troops south.
Cao Rui and the other officials stayed behind in Chiting, bringing along Guo Huai, Hao Zhao, and LuPan, as well as over 10,000 remnants of Zhang He's army. They were cleaning up the battlefield and collecting the remains of both armies' soldiers.
Also managing logistics matters.
After capturing Chiting, the grain and forage transported from Guanzhong could finally be transported along the Gudao River. In the midst of the battle, the transportation of grain and forage actually became more convenient.
Zhuge Liang has completely lost Chiting, and the remaining troops have retreated to the south-bound Wu Xing, while Cao Zhen is personally leading the pursuit. It remains to be seen how many of them will make it back alive.
On the other side, at the southern White Water Pass, Lu Xun and Xiahou Xian faced a dilemma.
The White Water Pass is worthy of its reputation as the key to Shu.
The White Water Pass is not a walled city, nor a pass through the mountains, but a fortress built on a mountain by the water.
As an important town on the Qinian Road, the White Water Pass faces water to the west and mountains to the east. In the past, Liu Zhang had stationed heavy troops here to block Zhou Yu's advances from the north.
Being such a strategically important location, Lu Sun and Xiahou Xian have been here for six days but have still been unable to capture it.
"General Lu, we have been here for six days, I fear that Shu forces will send reinforcements at any moment. What should we do?" Xiahou Xian asked from the Wei camp north of the White Water Pass.
"General Xiahou," Lu Sun looked at Xiahou Xian, "When we first arrived here, we could not scare the garrison, nor did our diversionary attacks work. The terrain and rivers in this area are truly formidable, something I have not encountered before."
"The siege equipment we've made may not be enough to capture the White Water Pass in a short time. Moreover, the Qiang people are not reliable, and it would be a waste of our central cavalry's lives," Lu Sun said slowly. "Why don't we just hold our position here?"
"Hold out for how long?" Xiahou Xian asked.
Lu Sun laughed and said, "We'll hold out for as long as we can!" (This chapter ends)
