In the second year of Taihe, after the Greater Wei captured the land of Han in the hands of the Shu Han, the most northern border fortress of Shu Han became Yanchuan Pass.
In the fourth month of Taihe 3 years, Zhuge Liang attacked the top of Mount Ta. By December 31st that year, he attacked Yangping Pass again. Each time he launched his troops, both for attacking Ta and Yangping, were around 20,000 elite soldiers.
While Cao Rui was in Yecheng and conducting political and ethical education for his ministers on the Tongque Tower, the Chancellor of Shu Han, Zhuge Kongming, retreated within the confines of Yang'an Pass under the dual pressure of the two generals Zhang He and Guo Hui.
If we place the three places - Yang'an Pass, Yangping Pass, and Wu Xing Pass - on a map, they will form a triangle.
Wu Xing Pass is in the northwest, Yang'an Pass is in the southwest, and Yangping Pass is in the west.
Both Wei and Shu maintained caution and restraint in their battles, with several small-scale engagements mainly involving scouts and vanguard forces, without large-scale confrontations of the main forces.
To an unarmed literati who did not know military matters, Zhuge Liang's timid retreat could be seen as an almost unarmed procession. On the other hand, Guo Hui was feared by enemies like a tiger, holding a strong fortress but not daring to engage in battle and instead treating the enemy as if they were being escorted out.
Both of them are cowardly individuals.
In fact, Zhuge Liang's and Guo Hui's actions both aligned with their respective strategic considerations.
If we really compare it, the defensive pressure of Wei and Shu cannot be said to be significantly larger or smaller.
When Xin Zhi was still at Yangping Pass, he discussed strategy with Guo Hui and Hao Zhao, emphasizing the importance of defense in the Han, Wudu, and Ta middle regions for the Greater Wei's western guard.
And the defensive focus of Shu Han is also centered on three locations.
Wu Ban, the Commandant of Yinping, was stationed in Yinping to counter the Wei forces led by Lu Xun in Dazhong.
Zhenbei General Wei Yan was responsible for defending Yang'an Pass and countering the Wei forces from Wudu and Hanzhong.
General Wang Ping, known as the Commander of Jianwu, was stationed in Hanchang to defend the southern entrance of the Milang Pass, preventing the Wei forces from Hanzhong from taking advantage to advance southward.
In a three-on-three battle, no one can be much easier than the other.
In the second year of Taihe, after defeat, the Han loyalists in Shu Han were in turmoil and resentment. It seemed that Zhuge Liang had become the nation's common enemy.
But when Zhuge Liang himself returned to Chengdu, these rumors and whispers truly dissipated like the wind. Those who had written criticisms of Zhuge Liang were all reprimanded by Emperor Liu Shan with imperial edicts.
Zhuge Liang submitted a memorandum of self-deprecation, demoting himself to General Commanding Cavalry, Acting as the Chancellor, and this matter was simply set aside.
The logic is self-evident.
If Zhuge Premier is facing Wei troops and behaves in such a manner, how could you do any better than him? If you cannot, then do not speak empty words in the court.
By the end of May of the third year of Taihe, Zhuge Liang led an army of 20,000 back from Ta. With the merit of having beheaded 1,500 enemy soldiers, Emperor Liu Shan issued an urgent edict to restore Zhuge Liang to the position of Chancellor.
The office of the Chancellor of Shu Han was established in Bailushan County, White Water, which was the ancient Baisui Pass that Lu Xun had failed to conquer.
This winter's outing and withdrawal was simply Zhuge Liang's "drill the troops" move with his own troops, without large-scale recruitment in Shu.
Of course, constrained by the national strength, Zhuge Liang could also no longer afford to conduct large-scale recruitments temporarily.
Zhuge Liang was sitting on the dais in the general's residence inside Yang'an Pass. The generals and attendants of the Premier's office stood in attendance on either side.
The Chancellor's chief of staff, Xiang Lang, bowed and said: "I congratulate the Chancellor on this successful campaign. Generals Zhang He and Guo Hui are precisely within the Chancellor's calculations, with not a single error."
Fei Yi also spoke up: "Since the first month of last year, the Chancellor has been training the troops at Bailushan. In less than a year's time, matters such as marching, forming arrays, confronting enemies, and relocating camps have already changed drastically from when he led the first northern campaign!"
In fact, Zhuge Liang's campaign this time did not have the intention of conquering strong fortresses. This was not contradictory to what Xin Pi deduced within Yangping Pass.
One was to train the troops, and the other was to rearrange the Wei troops.
Although the predetermined objectives were achieved, Zhuge Liang showed no joy on his face. He calmly said, "Ju Da and Wenwei, you two should not say any congratulatory words."
"Hanzhong is the land of our country. For over a year, it has been occupied by Wei bandits and has not been retaken. Although I have trained the troops successfully, I dare not say I'm happy."
Zhenbei nodded and spoke up from the side: "The Chancellor has wise insight."
"Most of the main forces are stationed at Bailushan, which is not far from Yang'an Pass. Even if we send troops to Yangping Pass, there are roads and waterways along the way that can be relied upon."
"And the Wei forces, coming from Chencang and Wu Du, have traveled a long way. After all the hardships and expenses, it is impossible for them to defeat our army."
"The king's troops can continue to launch attacks, while the Wei bandits, with their long distances for maneuvering, will inevitably become tired and lax in the long run."
"Whether to the east or to the west, the court will surely have territories that can be taken."
Zhuge Liang nodded in agreement: "What the Minister of Culture has said makes sense."
"If the future campaigns are as successful as these two, Wei troops in Henan will surely not come to their aid, thereby making it convenient for the court to attack. If Sun Quan of Wu can also simultaneously launch an attack, the chances of victory will be even greater."
"General Jiang Gongyan left Bailushan southward towards the end of the year, returning to Chengdu first, and then heading east to Wu country to meet Sun Quan in Wusong. I suppose he should have arrived by now."
Yang Yi bowed and said, "Your servant believes that Sun Quan is indecisive and cannot be relied upon as an army's support."
"Last year, during the great battle between Han and Wei, Sun Quan sat in Jingzhou watching the outcome of the battle without any intention to take action. Moreover, according to the returning envoy, Sun Quan's daughter Sun Luan also gave birth to a son for that small Wei bandit."
As he spoke, Yang Yi shook his head and sighed, "At present, although the two countries are allies, I still worry about Sun Quan's stance."
Fei Yi also bowed and advised: "Your servant believes that when Jiang Gongyan was southbound, the Premier's Office decided to let Jiang Gongyan persuade Sun Quan to attack the Huainan region first and the Chuan region second."
"From the perspective of the Grand Han, Sun Quan's advancement to Huainan and the Premier's advance to Dazhong, one being the farthest east and the other being the farthest west, can complement each other, exhausting Wei's central forces in maneuvering."
"But Sun Quan has already attacked Xiangyang in Jingzhou, yet each time he fought at Hefei, it was in vain. How can we persuade Sun Quan to attack Huainan?"
Zhuge Liang swept his gaze around the audience and sighed softly: "At this point, there is something I need to discuss with everyone."
"Last autumn, when the Chancellor returned to Chengdu, he had a deep conversation with the Emperor about the alliance between Han and Wu. Given Wei's growing strength, if our two countries cannot put aside past grievances and unite to resist the north, I fear the situation will be unsustainable."
"The Emperor also has concerns about the situation. The Chancellor and the Emperor have agreed that if Sun Quan is fearful of Wei or because of his daughter's marital relationship with the enemy, and he hesitates to launch an attack, then it can be allowed for Jiang Gongyan to propose a condition to Sun Quan that he cannot refuse."
"What condition?" Yang Yi's temperament is the most impulsive, and he asked out of turn.
Zhuge Liang spoke slowly: "The Grand Han can support Sun Quan in becoming an emperor."
For a moment, there was silence in the hall, and everyone's faces showed signs of resentment.
Among them, the most passionate ones were Wei Yan and Yang Yi.
Wei Yan stood in place with clenched fists, his eyes like tiger's fixated on the ground, his hatred seemingly wanting to tear Sun Quan apart.
Yang Yi also furrowed his brow, biting his jaws tightly, and struggled to remain silent.
The assorted expressions of the subordinates were all seen by Zhuge Liang. Although the Chancellor himself appeared calm and relaxed, his mind also sighed in contemplation.
Wei is the enemy of the Great Han, and on the battlefield, it is all about fighting to the death.
Although Sun Quan is a nominal ally, the word "ally" for him is no better than tissue paper, causing more jealousy and resentment.
The late emperor struggled greatly to establish the dynasty and spent a half lifetime before finally securing the throne.
Fleeing north to south without cease, if we were to accumulate and calculate the accounts of the past years, the hatred for Wu might even exceed that for Cao Wei!
Relations and Zhang Fei were naturally included, but even Emperor Liu himself camped at Baibei after the Yiling Battle, ultimately passing away.
The Battle of Yiling decimated the Han army's elite forces. Today, everyone here, their relatives, friends, and colleagues—how many of them lost their lives in Yiling?
It cannot be calculated, and it cannot be done.
Now it is to support Sun Quan's claim to the throne?
Emotionally speaking, everyone present, including Zhuge Liang himself, has a very poor impression of Sun Quan.
However, from a rational perspective, uniting with Sun Quan to attack from the east and the west has become the only opportunity for the Grand Han to continue existing.
The mutual struggle between emotions and reason is what makes this the most difficult to accept.
After a long while, Zhuge Liang heaved a deep sigh and said, "This is my idea, as well as the Emperor's decree. I have already discussed this with Jiang Gongyan."
"Sun Quan has been occupying the territory for nearly thirty years. If he still has any ambitions or aspirations, he should not refuse this. His subjects in Jing, Yang, and Jiao states would not allow him to refuse either."
Yang Yi bowed and said: "The grand policy of the state is not something that common people can discuss. Since the Chancellor has made up his mind, we will wait for good news from Jiang Gongyan in Bailushan."
The others expressed themselves in different tones, but generally, they all conveyed this sentiment.
Dreams have to yield to reality.
If there is room for compromise, that is already a blessing.
Zhuge Liang said, "The Wei troops are currently camping twenty li outside the passes. I estimate they will withdraw by the latest at the end of February."
"After the Wei bandits withdraw from the battlefield, the main force will return to Bailushan camp and deal with matters related to transportation and training during this campaign."
"If Sun Quan responds, next autumn and winter, or at the latest the following year, the Grand Han will again launch simultaneous attacks with Wu!"
"Respectfully comply with the Chancellor's order." The crowd bowed together.
"……"
As Zhuge Liang had predicted, the Chancellor's office counselor Jiang Wan, also known as Jiang Gongyan, had already arrived in Wusong.
When Zhuge Liang first launched the campaign to conquer the Loess region, Jiang Wan stayed in the rear as an envoy and became a bridge between Han and Wu.
Over the next one and a half years, Jiang Wan alone shouldered the responsibility of communication between the court and Wu, making two round trips between Chengdu and Wusong each year.
With such frequent official missions, even the officials in charge of the relay stations outside Wusong City knew this military counselor from the west.
However, when Jiang Wan arrived in Wusong, he did not receive an audience with Sun Quan immediately and instead stayed in the relay station for three days.
"In the afternoon, Jiang Wan, addressing Hu Zong who came to greet him, made a slight bow: "I have been in Wusong for three days, Brother Weize. When can I expect an audience with King Wu?"
Hu Zong smiled apologetically, "Don't worry, Gongyan. King Wu has had a cold these past two days and is feeling unwell. He cannot be exposed to the wind or light, so he is only resting in the palace."
"It is not intentional to slight you, Gongyan. If you are unhappy, please allow me to apologize here."
After speaking, Hu Zong slightly bent his waist and bowed respectfully.
Jiang Wan sighed, "Brother Weize, when can King Wu's health improve?" (Chapter ends)
