The Shu Han army consists of a total of twelve thousand troops, of which Zhuge Liang personally led eight thousand.
Excluding the 10,000 garrisoned troops in Chengdu and Shu Province that cannot be mobilized, the 8,000 troops stationed in the various prefectures of Nanzhong and Hanchi Prefecture and Qianfu Prefecture, as well as the 5,000 troops guarding at Yong'an.
The only troops that can be mobilized are the more than ten thousand troops near Jiangzhou under the command of Li Yan.
In fact, Zhuge Liang's concerns were justified.
On April 10th, despite Li Yan having already departed from Jiangzhou, he had not yet left the prefecture of Ba.
There's still a long way to Han.
When Li Yan received Zhuge Liang's letter on the late part of March, after careful consideration, he believed that he couldn't mobilize troops solely based on Zhuge Liang's letter and without an imperial order.
We are all officials under the same roof, though you are the Prime Minister, but my forces do not belong to the northern campaign army, and they do not fall under your command!
How can I withdraw the entire garrison of Jiangzhou based on your Prime Minister's words? If the citizens of Jiangzhou rebel, what then? If Wu breaks through, what then?
In conflict with the system!
After contemplating for two days slowly in Jiangzhou, Li Yan wrote a long memorial document and directly sent it to Chengdu, instead of replying to Zhuge Liang's letter directly.
The letter roughly stated that with the whole of the Han Dynasty now possessing only twelve thousand troops, the Prime Minister had already taken away two-thirds and all of them were elite forces. What use can my one thousand troops have now?
Far away in Chengdu, Emperor Liu Shan, upon receiving Zhuge Liang's memorial requesting that Li Yan dispatch troops, immediately issued an order to Li Yan.
Just the next day after Li Yan sent his letter, he received an edict from Liu Shan. It was on April 1st.
With the edict in hand, Li Yan could no longer find excuses and began to gather his garrison, prepare provisions, military equipment, and so on. It took another five days.
By April 10th, Li Yan had just entered the jurisdiction of the Ba Commandery.
But all of this, Zhuge Liang at Yang'an Pass was none the wiser to.
If Yangping Pass had indeed been occupied by Wei troops, there would be no other route to communicate with Han.
Zhuge Liang bit his teeth and said, "Apart from sending a message through Yangping Pass, could we possibly go around to Shu and send a message to Han through the Milang Road instead!"
"Master!"
Yang Yi immediately bowed forward.
Zhuge Liang said, "Send someone along the route of Bai Shui, Langzhong, and Dangyu to find Li Yan! Have him stop at Han Chang for defense. When the civilian and military forces are withdrawn from Han, prepare to defend against the Wei army there!"
"Send someone ahead to Yangping Pass first! If Yangping Pass is blocked, we can take the old path that the late Emperor traveled from Yangping Pass to Dingjun Mountain, and detour around Yangping Pass to send messages to various cities in Han!"
"Following orders."
Although Yang Yi promptly agreed to Zhuge Liang's command, he couldn't help but have misgivings in his heart.
Can it be done? To detour around Yangping Pass and reach the various counties of Han just by climbing mountains? That would be giving Wei forces a gift!
Yang Yi did not dare to speak out. It was not because he was afraid, but because he also could not think of a better solution at the moment.
Zhuge Liang slowly looked at the people in the tent: "General Wu Yi will be responsible for defending Yang'an Pass, and I, as your Prime Minister, will go to Bai Shui Pass to command the repulsion of the enemy!"
The crowd all agreed.
Wu Yi sighed deeply in his heart.
Is it difficult to guard Yang'an Pass? Of course, it is not difficult.
Originally, the 10,000 people at Wu Xing were reduced to around 10,000 when they retreated to Yang'an Pass. With nightfall, it was considered a very good result.
Though it was a defeated army, with a stronghold to rely on and to restore their morale, it wasn't that difficult.
But what truly caused Wu Yi to sigh in despair was the fact that Zhuge Liang was once again going to go personally to Bai Shui Pass.
If it's impossible to head north to Wu Xing and Yangping Pass is hopeless, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang might as well bring all the officials under his command back to Bai Shui Pass and Chengdu!
It is obvious to everyone that Hanjiang is about to lose, and it would be good enough just to defend Shu.
But Zhuge Liang didn't even mention it.
On the one hand, he keeps the hope of heading north, and on the other hand, he doesn't trust Wei Yan and decides to personally go to Bai Shui Pass to command.
As an underling, Wu Yi had no way of expressing his views and could only watch as Zhuge Liang, with his body still weakened from the flu, continued his arduous journey southward.
...
At the Chiting Camp, Cao Ren also welcomed a person he had not seen for a long time.
Hearing that Guan Qiujian sought an audience, Cao Rui, who was seated in the tent and handling official documents, put them down abruptly and said with great interest: "Zhonggong has come from Luoyang? Quickly invite him in!"
After a moment, Guan Qiujian hurriedly stepped into the tent.
"Your servant Guan Qiujian greets the emperor!" Guan Qiujian bowed respectfully.
Cao Rui smiled: "Zhonggong, I haven't seen you for a long time! Don't bow anymore, please get up and sit closer to me!"
"According to your command," Guan Qiujian replied, his expression just as joyful.
Seeing this scene, Sima Yi's expression faintly smiled and nodded to Guan Qiujian, who bowed to himself and greeted him, yet even he couldn't help feeling some jealousy.
Of course, it's not about competing for favor! As the Third Grand Master of the Ministry of Justice, and a mere 2000 Shi Camp officer, what's there to compete over?
It's jealousy over the natural affinity and joy in their meeting between Guan Qiujian and the emperor, as if they were friends.
Once upon a time, Sima Yi, as one of the "Four Friends" of Cao Pi, had also interacted with the late Emperor Cao Pi in a similar way.
But times have changed, and the past cannot be returned.
As for him, Sima Yi, in the presence of the emperor, does not receive such intimate treatment.
In the tent, there was only one other high-ranking official, Servant-Attendant Wang Shu.
Chen Jiao, as the Governor of Qin State, returned to Qiushan City to deal with the newly established administrative affairs of Qin State. While Yang Fu, as the Governor of Yong State, also returned to Chang'an.
With the departure of Yang and Chen, the emperor entrusted Yang Fu to send a message to summon Xin Pi, who was in Chang'an.
Now there are only two Servants-Attendants, and it's hard to say who else the emperor will appoint.
After exchanging a few polite words, Guan Qiujian bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the Grand Master Wei has sent me a message to be delivered to Your Majesty."
Cao Rui shook his head and laughed, "How cautious is Teacher Wei? Can't it be said in a letter?"
Guan Qiujian hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, Teacher Wei wants Your Majesty to return to Luoyang as soon as possible and believes that the emperor shouldn't stay in the capital for too long outside."
Cao Rui sighed and turned to Sima Yi: "Grand Master Sima, we departed from Luoyang on December 6th, right?"
"Yes," Sima Yi replied, "As of today, April 11th, it has been a total of four months and five days."
Cao Rui gently shook his head: "I went to the Huainan region last time and it only took three months. It's already been four months, and the battle is still not over yet."
"I know Teacher Wei is right. Although I am also the emperor, the fact that this emperor has not yet unified the realm is slightly different from those emperors during peaceful years. It's not a problem."
"I will send a reply to Teacher Wei. This matter does not concern Zhonggong."
Guan Qiujian nodded and then spoke up: "I left on a tour of the northern regions on May 1st of last year and have been doing so for nearly a year now."
"I have not yet reported to Your Majesty on what I have seen and felt in the regions of Youzhou and Bingzhou."
"Then speak of it today, and there are not many trivial matters for today." Cao Rui looked at Guan Qiujian, "Firstly, let's talk about Gongsun Yuan. What are your opinions of this person, both you and Liu Xie?"
Guan Qiujian said: "Your Majesty, our views on Gongsun Yuan, Liu Xie, and myself are all the same. Gongsun Yuan has a cunning heart and evil intentions. He has both the capability and willingness to rebel."
"Does Your Majesty know the roads to Liaodong?"
Cao Rui said, "I have heard some about it, but I am not well-versed in the details. Zhonggong may as well try to explain."
Guan Qiujian hesitated for a moment and said: "The Wugong Emperor attacked Wuhan in July, and the coast route was blocked by floods. Under the guidance of the local man Tian Chou, the entire army set out from Lulong Pass and marched along the mountain path for 500 li before reaching Lincheng."
"I remember this incident," Cao Rui nodded, "That was the battle where Zhang Liao defeated the emperor of the Wuhuan people!"
Guan Qiujian said: "The reason why the Wugong Emperor chose this detour was not only because the coast route was muddy, but also because bandits blocked the road's strategic locations."
"Please forgive me for my frankness, but if the Grand Wei were to launch another expedition against the Gongsun family, it would be just as difficult as the Wugong Emperor's campaign then."
"Is it because of that coastal route again?" Cao Rui furrowed his brows, as if he remembered something and then suddenly became aware of it.
From Youbei to Liaodong, it's still the coastal route. Couldn't this be the same route as later's Shanhaiguan?
Guan Qiujian nodded: "Indeed, it is the coastal route. I arrived in Liaodong in August, and the coastal route from Liansi to Liaodong stretches for more than 400 li, with mud everywhere along the way. It is definitely not suitable for large armies to march through."
"And besides, even if we reach Liaodong, there is a marsh about 200 li wide in the way, known as Liaozai Marsh."
Cao Rui asked: "How could there be a marsh in that place like Liaodong?"
Sima Yi coughed lightly: "Your Majesty, the Liao River often overflows during the summer months, causing great inconvenience to farming and postal communication in Liaodong since the Han dynasty. This has been a long-standing problem."
Cao Rui thought for a moment: "So to attack Liaodong, one must cross the coastal route and the Liaozai Marsh before the rainy season, trying to finish the battle before winter?"
Sima Yi thought for a moment: "Your Majesty is correct. The local geography and the natural conditions in Liaodong cannot be changed by human effort."
Cao Rui laughed lightly: "With such geographical advantages, if it were not so far from the central plains, people would have fought over it during the chaos of the past!"
"I remember that the first governor of Liaodong, Gongsun Du, was appointed by Dong Zhuo, right?"
Guan Qiujian took over the conversation: "That's right. In the past, Gongsun Du and his hometownmate Xu Rong formed an alliance with Dong Zhuo, who was one of his generals. That's how Gongsun Du came to hold the position of governor of Liaodong."
Cao Rui snorted in derision: "A gold corner, a silver edge, and a grass belly. Gongsun Du chose a good place. This is how one survives in turbulent times!"
"Zhonggong, I have also heard about Gongsun Yuan's disrespectful behavior towards you and Liu Xie. How can I grant him an official position when he is so disrespectful and rebellious? It has been several months now since the court has practically ignored him."
After saying that, Cao Rui turned to Sima Yi: "Grand Master Sima, if I haven't defeated Wu and Shu before, perhaps I could reward him with some official positions to placate him."
"But now I no longer wish to do so. How could such a Gongsun Yuan be worth my efforts? This person's sudden usurpation, with internal strife inevitable, I will not give him a name."
"Shall we issue an edict inviting him to Luoyang?"
"Okay!" Sima Yi replied without thinking: "Now that the Grand Wei has won several battles against foreign enemies, there is no need to worry about a Gongsun Yuan."
"It is the right path for the court to summon him to Luoyang." Sima Yi looked at the emperor: "However, it would be better for Your Majesty to return to Luoyang and then issue this edict." (End of this chapter)
