"Tengguling Mountain?"
Since Zhang He was taught a lesson by the Emperor on Mount Qi in front of him and made poems by facing the Western Han River, Zhang He no longer found it strange that the Emperor had any idea.
Dingjun Mountain is not a historical site or famous landmark; the only thing worth remembering about it is its status as the site of the war between Wei and Shu in the 24th year of the Jian'an era.
During that war, Zhang He was a direct participant. How could he not know the Emperor's thoughts?
Zhang He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Dingjun Mountain is located ten li south of Hanyang City. Although it is not far from Hanyang, the main force has not yet arrived there."
"At present, Hanzhong is not peaceful. It would be better to wait a few more days, and after I have swept and cleared the surrounding areas, then I will ask Your Majesty to make a stop there."
Cao Rui nodded lightly, just about to speak, but Zhang He continued talking:
"Your Majesty, after I arrived in Hanyang, I visited the tomb of Xiahou Zhaoxi, the former Western Commanding General. According to Mr. Fu Xin of Jue County, the former Xiahou Zhaoxi was buried by Liu Bei in a commoner's rite at the foot of Dingjun Mountain."
"And it is said that it was due to the advice of Xiahou Qing, the niece of the late Xiahou Zhaoxi, that Liu Bei allowed for her uncles proper burial."
Cao Rui nodded lightly, "Where is Xiahou He?"
Zhang He bowed, "Xiahou Yiqian should be in Chenggu at the moment. Would your Majesty like me to bring him here?"
"In Chenggu?" Cao Rui waved his hand, "Since he is engaged in military affairs, let's discuss it after he has completed his duties."
"Has it been eight days surrounded by the army at Chenggu?"
Zhang He nodded: "Your Majesty, the fortress commander at Chenggu refused to surrender. According to the general's intention, after Hanyang is captured, I will lead the infantry to attack Chenggu."
"This arrangement is reasonable," Cao Rui asked. "The deceased Zhang Kai was indeed unfortunate. Ask him if he has any descendants or relatives; choose one to inherit the title."
"There is also Mr. Fu Xin, the County magistrate of Ju County. Bring him to see the emperor personally."
Zhang He bowed: "I will go and summon Fu Xin now."
A moment later, in the Wei army camp west of Hanyang City.
"Your servant Fu Xin greets the king!" Fu Xin performed a large bow and remained prostrate, not daring to breathe or look up.
Cao Rui glanced at the kneeling Fu Xin, and asked in a voice, "Fu Xin, is that your name? Lift your head up! I heard that your family and clans are all in Zitong. Why did you turn to Wei while ignoring your clans?"
This is both a multiple-choice question and a trick question.
The key issue lies in the choice between loyalty and filial piety.
If Fu Xin answers well, he may even be appointed to an important real position by virtue of his recent merits.
If he does not answer well, he will have to rely on this title to retire and live off it.
Fu Xin listened and raised his head obediently, still not daring to look directly at the emperor, and continued to kneel on the ground, saying: "Your Majesty, although I once served Shu, since I have come to understand the will of heaven and have submitted to Wei, I have no thoughts of turning back."
"The Shu troops attempted to invade Wei but were beaten back by the imperial forces. I believe the Shu kingdom's collapse is imminent! How could I possibly care about my clan?"
Cao Rui turned to look at Zhang He, then at Sima Yi, clapped his hands and laughed, "You still have some quick thinking."
"Your Majesty is in a good mood today, so I will give you the opportunity to choose. Either you can become a treasurer at the ministry, or you can serve as a subordinate official at the Commandant of the Circuit of Yu Commandery, or you can become an adjutant at the Central Army."
"Choose one."
Fu Xin bowed again and replied, "Your Majesty's grace, I am deeply grateful. As long as I can serve the Great Wei, I am willing to take any position!"
Cao Rui chuckled and said, "Then go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. According to the general's report, you have talent in logistics, and I want you to gain experience in that department."
"Your Majesty's grace, I am deeply grateful!" Fu Xin bowed once again.
After waving his hand to dismiss Fu Xin, Cao Rui stood up and, accompanied by Zhang He, Sima Yi, and a group of personal guards, went to inspect the camp personally.
Just after noon, news came from the eastern side of the camp in Hanyang City.
The garrison commander Lu Kai, faced with the final ultimatum from the Wei army, although he had heard that the Emperor of Great Wei was personally at the gates of Hanyang City, still refused to surrender to the Wei. He took his own life by sword in his office within the city, and left a farewell letter asking for the Wei to treat the Shu soldiers in the city kindly.
After Lu Kai's death, the Shu soldiers in the city no longer hesitated and opened the gates to surrender to the Wei army.
Huo Zhao and Lu Ban led their troops into the city quickly, disarmed and kept the 2,000 Shu soldiers in the city under control, and took over all key locations in the city.
Upon hearing this news, Emperor Cao Rui merely sighed faintly, "With the collapse of the great trend, it's truly like mud and sand all falling together."
"There are people like Fu Xin and He Dan who, with the current trend, surrender and sell the city and army for their own wealth and prosperity. As for Zhang Kai, his fortune was not in his favor, and he met with a tragic end."
"There are also people like Lu Kai, who refuse to go against loyalty and commit suicide."
"General Zhang," Emperor Cao Rui turned his face towards Zhang He, "bury Lu Kai honorably. Such a loyal and righteous person deserves to be at peace in the earth."
"Your servant knows," Zhang He said. "Since the fall of Hanyang City, Your Majesty might as well rest in the city today. Since leaving Shu Commandery, Your Majesty has been camping in the army for two months."
"It's okay, I'm used to living in the army," the Emperor said to Zhang He. "You don't need to be so considerate. Since Hanyang has fallen, I won't go to the cities of Nanzheng and Chenggu on the east side."
"I will stay in Hanyang, leaving 2,000 infantrymen for me. The rest of the army, you go to attack Chenggu! The fortress commander in Chenggu has acted this way and also executed the newly enfeoffed Marquis of the Great Wei. There is no need to try to persuade him to surrender."
Zhang He answered, "I will set out for Chenggu tomorrow morning!"
……
On the twenty-fourth day, Emperor Cao Rui remained in Hanyang.
Zhang He led his army eastward to attack Chenggu, which is located one hundred and fifty miles to the east of Hanyang. With his eight thousand foot soldiers, he felt sufficient.
Four times the number of troops, with Zhang He leading the attack against only 2,000 Shu troops defending Chenggu. It should be a piece of cake.
With the support of the rear infantry troops, there was no need to waste the more valuable cavalry under Cao Zhen's command on a siege.
While staying in Hanyang, Cao Rui was not only because it served as a base for Yangping Pass, but also because it connected to Ju County and Wu Xing Commandery.
With Xiahou Xian's 10,000 cavalry under his command, timely reinforcement could still be provided if there was an alarm in Wu Xing or Yangping Pass.
On the other hand, the land of Hanzhong is rather monotonous and boring.
Besides, the land of Hanzhong is surrounded by mountains on all sides. With a few strategic locations scattered here and there, the rest of the area is mainly flat. So, it doesn't really matter where you are located here or there.
"Meng Da?" Cao Rui smiled and looked at Sima Yi, "How did you remember this person?"
Sima Yi stroked his beard and replied, "The Han River flows through Hanzhong. Meng Da is in Shangyong, and Chen Zhaoji is in Xiangyang, both of which are beside the Han River."
"Since Your Majesty ascended to the throne, Meng Da has never come to pay homage. Now that Your Majesty is in Hanzhong and is so close, it's about time he came."
Cao Rui laughed and said, "Meng Da is surrounded by Hanzhong and Xiangyang, so he has no leverage with me."
"Then as you say, issue an edict to Meng Da to come to Hanzhong to see me. How long will it take for him to arrive?"
Sima Yi answered, "As the general reported this morning, the city of Nancun has already been pacified. There will be no obstacles on the road from Hanzhong to Shangyong."
"From Hanyang to Shangyong is about nine hundred li. If we take a broad view, giving Meng Da twenty days should be enough."
Cao Rui nodded: "Very well, then. I will give Meng Da twenty days. Send an envoy today to inform Meng Da that he is to come to Hanyang within twenty days to see me!"
Sima Yi nodded with his hands.
During Cao Rui's journey from ChiTING, Zhuge Liang had remained motionless at Yang'an Pass.
It's not that Zhuge Liang didn't want to, but rather that he couldn't.
On the one hand, after the news of the defeat at ChiTing reached Chengdu, Liu An and many of his officials in Chengdu believed that Zhuge Liang should be cautious in his military strategies and not to lose more troops.
And issued orders in the form of imperial edict.
The saying "The administration is by Ge" is just a statement, nothing more.
How could Liu An not know Zhuge Liang's loyalty? And how could the officials in Chengdu not know that Zhuge Liang would comply with the edict?
The edict was issued, which was in line with the system and human relations, with no sign of incongruity.
The 80,000 soldiers Zhuge Liang gathered for the northern campaign were troops raised throughout the Yizhou region, not Zhuge Liang's private army.
If the front line wins one victory after another, Liu An would certainly not interfere with Zhuge Liang's military strategies.
Now, the Longjiang area has lost over 20,000 troops and ChiTing has lost another 10,000. Although the Battle of Baishui Pass was brilliantly won, how can Shuhan afford such military campaigns any longer?
If they lose one more battle and lose another 10,000 troops, it might be too late for Shu Han to recover from that.
Liu An was just a bit mediocre, not someone who couldn't tell the difference between circumstances.
Hanzhong is important, but when compared to the survival and demise of Shu Han, it is a choice that can be given up.
It is not being harsh to cut off an arm to save one's life. One day, it will be regained!
Zhuge Liang definitely wanted to fight, and believed he had 30,000 troops under his command, enough for another battle.
He either wanted to move north to recapture Wu Xing and then cut off the retreat route of the Wei army, or to capture Yangping Pass and hold out against the Wei in Hanzhong.
No matter which path, the possibility is not zero.
But the officials and officials in Chengdu were strongly opposed.
Facing the edict, Zhuge Liang had no choice but to accept it. On the one hand, he calmed the soldiers at Yangan Pass and tried to restore their fighting strength, and on the other hand, he continued to send petitions to Chengdu to seek Liu An's second approval.
As Zhang He's infantry advanced to the east, Cao Zhen divided his command among various generals under his banner and returned to Hanyang with Xiahou Hao's 3,000 cavalry.
At the foot of Dingjun Mountain, a light drizzle was falling.
Cao Rui sits quietly on the white horse, under a black and red imperial umbrella, watching the southern Dingjun Mountain calmly.
The shape of Dingjun Mountain is like a saddle, facing north towards Hanyang and Hanyang River, where the terrain is steep and easy to defend but hard to attack. The southern part of the mountain has a gentle terrain, which is more suitable for large military encampments.
In the past, Liu Bei held out against the Cao Wei for half a year at Dingjun Mountain, where he defeated Xiahou Yuan and forced Cao Cao to retreat, thus seizing the land of Hanzhong.
Sima Yi looked at the Emperor's serious expression and couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry in his heart.
What else could there be on Dingjun Mountain that would make the Emperor ponder so deeply?
As expected, Emperor Cao Rui turned his head and asked, "General Zhang He and Xiahou Hao haven't arrived yet?"
Sima Yi nodded with his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the general has reported that he will arrive by noon today. It is almost noon now, so he should be here soon."
In the midst of their conversation, a sound of horse hooves grew louder as they approached from the north. (End of this chapter)
