Zhang He said with a smile, "The general can try to send someone to persuade the garrison commander of Yangping Pass to surrender."
"What if it doesn't work?" Cao Zhen asked in return.
Zhang He nodded respectfully and said, "If persuading the surrender doesn't work, my army will arrive tomorrow. I will lead them across the Horse Mountain Pass and attack Yangping Pass. The general can then proceed to advance towards the heart of Hanzhong."
After a moment's thought, Cao Zhen nodded: "Then I will rely on the general. I will send the newly surrendered Fu Xin to deliver the message in the morning."
...
The name Han people comes from the Han Dynasty, which was founded by Liu Bang, who was known as the Han King in his previous title as the King of Han. Han is derived from the Hanshui River, which flows through the land.
Interestingly, today's people often refer to the Han Water in the western segment of Hanzhong as the Mian River.
Yangping Pass is located at the westernmost end of the Hanzhong Plain, with the northern side facing the Horse Ridge and the southern side adjacent to the Mian River. It is a strategically important terrain, cradled between mountains and water, much like Tongguan Pass.
What's more interesting is that Yangping Pass guards the Qinian Road, which is also the road connecting Hanzhong to Sichuan.
Yangping Pass is there to defend Yizhou, not Longyou and Guanzhong.
When Liu Bei attacked Hanzhong, it was because he failed to capture Yangping Pass that he led his troops over the mountains to Dingjunshan, successfully separating the garrison commander Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He stationed at Yangping Pass.
Zhang He continued to stay at Yangping Pass, while Xiahou Yuan camped his troops under Dingjun Mountain.
This is what led to Fan Zheng's cunning strategy of hitting the enemy from the east while attacking from the west, and Huang Zhong's bravery in cutting down Xiahou Yuan on the battlefield.
Cao Zhen led his troops to Hanzhong from Ju County without passing through Yangping Pass. Instead, he directly passed through the Horse Ridge to the north of Yangping Pass and entered Hanzhong via the Masheng Gorge.
And the Masheng Gorge is just a straight-line distance of only six miles from Yangping Pass.
On the morning of the tenth day, Cao Zhen sent Fu Xin, the county magistrate of Ju, who had surrendered the previous day, to Yangping Pass. Within an hour of entering the city, Fu Xin returned to Cao Zhen's side.
Fu Xin bowed and reported, "Reporting to General Cao, the commandant of Yangping Pass, Zhang Kaida, has agreed to surrender to the Wei Dynasty."
"Ha ha ha..." Cao Zhen and Zhang He exchanged a glance, both of their faces showing joy.
"Count Fu did not disappoint the expectations of the people, persuading the commander of Yangping Pass to surrender. I will present your merits to the emperor tomorrow!"
Fu Xin bowed in response, "Commander Zhang Kaida of Yangping is just an ordinary person."
I told him about the three defeats of Zhuge Liang in Lueyang, Chiqing, and Wuxing, and his heart had already been shaken.
"General Cao and General Zhenxi have ten thousand horses outside Yangping Pass, and the might of their army is enough to awe this person. I merely took advantage of General Cao's tiger-like might and the strength of the army of the Great Wei to gently persuade him."
"How could I dare to claim merit in front of the general?"
Zhang He suddenly seemed to think of something and asked, "Does this Zhang Kaida know us?"
"Yes," Fu Xin nodded, "This Zhang Kaida was once the chamberlain in General Chen Shi's camp, and he had been stationed near Chengdu before."
"After Zhuge Liang moved north from Hanzhong, the Han Chinese troops originally garrisoned at various passes were withdrawn by the Wei general and replaced by troops from Chengdu."
"Zhang Kaida was promoted to the position of commandant just last half-year."
Zhang He turned to Cao Zhen and said, "Since he was once a chamberlain under Chen Shi's army, it's no wonder that he recognizes you and me."
"Several years ago, Chen Shi led over ten military camps across the Horse Ridge to cut off my army's supply route through the Masheng Gorge. He was defeated by Xu Rang and his troops, with corpses scattered throughout the valley. This Zhang Kaida should have been one of the survivors from that time."
Cao Zhen nodded. "Order, have Xiahou He lead his own troops to enter the pass first and control all the key locations."
"Also, collect and supervise all the surrendered soldiers of Shu Han, saying that the government will distribute rewards shortly!"
"Following the order!" The attendant standing beside the general nodded and left the tent to find Xiahou He and deliver the message.
Xiahou He...
Zhang He silently repeated the name twice in his mind, but did not speak.
Xiahou He was the seventh son of Xiahou Yuan, and Xiahou Yuan died not far from Yangping Pass on the east side at the foot of Dingjun Mountain.
Xiahou Yuan's death and the subsequent loss of Hanzhong by the Great Wei lasted for over eight years.
Now that the Wei forces have returned to this place, Cao Zhen chooses to let Xiahou He, the son of Xiahou Yuan, be the first to enter the city!
The general knows how to do things right!
General Cao Zhen, sitting in the center of the tent, was quite pleased with Fu Xin's praise, but his mind was as clear as crystal.
It's not just the fame of General Cao Zhen that makes things so easy. The reason for the commandant of Yangping Pass to surrender was merely because of his worries about the future of Shu Han and Cao Zhen's advancing army.
There were only these many troops at the foot of the city, and the troops of Shu Han are not here now. What can we do other than surrender?
Just as the three prefectures of Nanan, Tiannan, and Guangwei in Longyou submitted to Shu Han in days past, today, Ju County and Yangping submitted to Wei in the same way.
In general, things work like this.
No one is a fool, how can they not recognize the cavalry outside Yangping Pass? Do the troops of Shu Han have ten thousand horses?
However, while Cao Zhen may think this way, the rewards for County Magistrate Fu Xin of Ju County and Commandant Zhang Kaida of Yangping Pass still need to be reported and rewarded.
This is about the political credibility of the Great Wei! There are still many cities in Hanzhong to be captured, and they need models like Fu and Zhang to set an example.
Cao Zhen stood up, smiling at Zhang He, "It took less than half a day for Yangping Pass to surrender. Next is Mianyang."
"General Zhang, you will wait at Yangping Pass for the rear army to arrive. I am leaving Xiahou He and his three thousand cavalry under your command."
Zhang He stood up and bowed in response, "Understood! After the rear army arrives at Yangping Pass, I will have Guo Huai bring three thousand people to defend here."
"The rest of the infantry and Xiahou He's troops will follow General Cao in capturing various cities in Hanzhong."
"Very well," Cao Zhen nodded in agreement.
In the end, Cao Zhen did not enter Yangping Pass. With Zhang He in charge here, whether or not Cao Zhen enters would have no impact on the situation.
The most important thing was to march towards Mianyang, Nanzheng, and other counties to the east and south.
...
Zhuge Liang escaped from Wuxing in the small hours of the eighth day, just after midnight, when the sky was still dark.
Yang'an Pass was located to the south of Wuxing, about 100 li away. On the morning of the tenth day, when Cao Zhen sent someone to persuade Yangping Pass to surrender, Zhuge Liang had just arrived at Yang'an Pass.
Yang'an Pass and Yangping Pass only differ by one character, and unless these generals who have traveled through Hanzhong had passed through, there might still be some confusion among others.
Yangping Pass, which controls the Qinian Road and separates Hanzhong from Sichuan, becomes less important after Liu Bei held both Hanzhong and Sichuan at the same time.
Therefore, Liu Bei chose another location on the Qinian Road that was closer to Sichuan and also a crucial place for communication between Wu and Hanzhong to build Yang'an Pass.
In the original historical records, during the Northern Song Dynasty, Yang'an Pass was renamed Yangping Pass, and the Yangping Pass that was closer to Hanzhong was called "Ancient Yangping Pass".
On the tenth day of April, the Wei troops entered Yangping Pass, and Zhuge Liang returned to Yang'an Pass.
Further south, at Baishui Pass, Wei Yan was still facing off against Lu Su outside the pass.
Arriving at Yang'an Pass almost simultaneously with Zhuge Liang was the news of the death of Zhao Yun, the General of Eastward Town and Zhuo Zilong.
"Prime Minister, Prime Minister!"
The people in the hall saw and heard Zhuge Liang, who was hearing the news of Zhao Yun's death, was unstable and had a weak and tottering appearance, and everyone exclaimed in alarm.
Xiang Lang, the closest to Zhuge Liang, reacted quickly and took two steps forward to support Zhuge Liang from the side.
Zhuge Liang waved his right hand, regained his balance, and then raised the sleeve of his left hand to support his forehead.
Bloodshot eyes, throbbing temples, and a head that seems to be about to explode.
Zhuge Liang did not want the others to see him lose his composure, so he covered his forehead with a disguise of holding it.
If this had been the first time, Zhuge Liang might have been at a loss for what to do.
Both are important national generals, and before this, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were all killed in suspicious circumstances. Zhuge Yun's death from illness is already a good ending!
Zhuge Liang thought this in his heart, but the sorrow and sadness could not be suppressed and surged into his heart. His fingers trembled slightly, and his muscles stiffened all over.
Although it was not a bad way for Zhao Yun himself to die, the death of the General of Eastward Town meant that the country had lost another important general.
The previous military commanders of the King left in Chuan Prefecture were almost all dead. With Zhao Yun's death, there is no one else in the army with a deeper military experience than Zhuge Liang.
Zhao Yun was there, so I didn't notice anything. But as soon as Zhao Yun died, the Emperor of the dynasty and his time, it seems that both have been away from Zhuge Liang for three more divisions.
The revival of the Han dynasty is still on people's lips!
A series of memories of the past years when Zhao Yun and he served together in the same era flashed through his mind. The more Zhuge Liang grieved, the more resolute he became in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, Zhuge Liang lowered his arm.
Looking at the crowd again, there was only determination in his eyes.
"Order!"
Zhuge Liang said coldly, "Order the Yang'an Commandant, as well as the city guards of Mianyang, Haozhong, Nanzheng, Chenggu, Nanzhang, and Nanshi to defend their cities and wait for reinforcements!"
"Order General Wei Yan of the Northern Command to quickly drive back the Wei forces outside Baishui Pass!"
"Understood!" Yang Yi bowed and replied, but there was a hint of difficulty in his voice, "Prime Minister, I have a question that I'm not sure if it's appropriate to ask."
"Speak up!"
Yang Yi said, "If we send messages to all parts of Hanzhong, the fastest route would undoubtedly be through Yangping Pass. But if Yangping Pass is..."
Yang Yi did not continue, but the meaning behind his words was clear to everyone.
Of course, it is necessary to consider the possibility that Yangping Pass may fall.
Zhuge Liang asked himself in his heart, would Yangping Pass fall so quickly?
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly in a moment of reflection.
How was Xixian captured last year at the end of the year in Longyou? And how were the various large and small cities such as Jiexian, Linwei, and Linwei captured?
It's not because the Han army is near and the Wei army is far, that's all.
Just do what you can on your own, and don't let the Wei army take advantage of it. You have to consider the possibility of Yangping Pass falling.
Zhuge Liang sighed lightly, "Where should Li Yan be by now?"
On the 15th of March, Zhuge Liang sent a message to Li Yan in Jiangzhou from Chiting, asking him to take the Michang Road and lead an army of ten thousand north to Hanzhong.
From Chiting, it would first go to Nanzheng and then take the Michang Road south to Jiangzhou. It was a distance of 1,200 miles, and it would take messengers ten days to deliver the message.
If this is the case, then…
Yang Yi replied beside him, "Prime Minister, even if Li Yan managed to muster his troops and head north within three or five days, it would only have been about a dozen days by now. He should still be in Hanchang."
"Moreover, we haven't received a reply from Li Yan," Yang Yi said, gritting his teeth. "I think we shouldn't put our hope in Li Yan."
Zhuge Liang's heart pounded, as if he had a premonition of something ominous.
Did Li Yan really dispatch troops?
If he hasn't moved yet? (Chapter Complete)
