Although Dian Man is not as brave and strong as his father, roughly speaking, he has 40% of his father's charm.
This was enough in this hastily formed battlefield outside Xiabian City.
To the west were the elite Wei cavalry who were surrounded and eager to return home. To the east were the Shu infantry who had never encountered a cavalry charge and were hastily forming a battle formation.
With just a brief collision, a gap was created in the Shu army's formation almost instantly.
First, Dian Man himself charged forward, and more and more knights followed behind him.
Either the cavalry's spears would hit the infantry's heads and chests, or the infantry would find an opportunity and thrust their spears into the horse's belly from the side, causing the cavalry to fall down along with their horses.
Fifteen hundred cavalrymen and two thousand infantrymen were fighting and taking each other's lives.
Wei Yan originally hoped that Ju Fu could block the Wei army's retreat route, and he would lead most of the infantry forward to end the battlefield.
After seeing the Wei cavalry change their formation and rush towards Jufu, Wei Yan realized almost instantly that his plan had failed, and hurriedly drove the army formation to move eastward.
In the end, I didn't catch up.
In less than half an incense stick of time, Dian Man's cavalry broke through the Shu army's formation and fled to the east.
Although it is customary that when cavalry and infantry fight, the infantry suffer more casualties, this is a situation where the infantry loses their formation and the cavalry is able to charge and pursue.
In the current battlefield situation, for Dian Man, it was a blessing to be able to lead his troops to escape, as most of Wei Yan's Shu army was still chasing after them.
He was not allowed to continue leading the cavalry to chase and kill the Shu army's infantry.
Therefore, when Wei Yan arrived at the foot of Xiabian City, he sought shelter at the foot of the mountains and the city walls on both sides, and the scattered Shu soldiers gathered after receiving rescue.
All in all, the casualties of both the Shu and Wei armies were about 500. Although such a one-to-one exchange ratio was considered a good record for infantry, Wei Yan's plan to ambush the Wei army failed after all.
"Captain, the Shu army is still on the west side. What should we do now?" Feng Hua was no longer so panicked at this time. He rushed behind the army and gained a lot of courage.
Dian Man sighed at this time: "The road to Wudu is blocked. Although I have brought these soldiers out now, I still have to pass the military information back to the governor no matter what."
"How to pass it on?"
"Fight back!" Dian Man stared intently at the west, looking at the Shu army infantry who were gradually blocking Xiabian City and the gaps between the mountains.
"Wait until later today, after dark, and light a fire and escape from the riverbank on the south bank! Even if I have to leave half of these cavalrymen here, I will charge back tonight!"
Feng Hua bowed and replied, "I will follow the captain!"
That night, taking advantage of the dim sky before nightfall, Dian Man led the remaining one thousand cavalrymen across the river south of Xiabian City, and hurried westward with fire.
The Shu army stationed in Xiabian could only fire a few rounds of bows and crossbows, killing and wounding more than a hundred cavalrymen, and had no spare energy to stop Dian Man from returning west.
……
While the Wei army was still sending the message, Wei Yan, who was stationed in Xiabian, had already passed the military intelligence to Prime Minister Zhuge in the rear.
At this time, Zhuge Liang was stationed in Chiting, a hundred miles southeast of Xiabian.
Within a ten-mile radius of Chiting, Zhuge Liang stationed a total of 30,000 troops, relying on the rivers and mountains, and divided them into more than 30 camps stationed along the river.
When Liu Bei and Lu Xun were confronting each other at Yiling in the past, Liu Bei led an army of 50,000 and set up dozens of camps, and held out against the Wu army led by Lu Xun for half a year.
The mountains and rivers in Chiting are more dangerous and easier to defend than those in Yiting at that time.
Moreover, the Han Dynasty inherited the virtue of fire and valued the color red. The name Chiting seemed to be somehow connected with Yanhan.
The reason why Zhuge Liang was able to drive the army to the north to attack Longyou and coordinate smoothly both the advance and retreat was largely due to the convenient water transport from Hanzhong to Longyou.
In addition to the West Han River, which originates in Tianshui County and goes directly to Yang'an Pass through Lucheng and Qishan, another major river is the Gudao River, which originates in Chencang.
These two rivers are the source of the Jialing River, which was later called the Jialing River and then flowed into the Yangtze River.
The West Han River flows from northwest to southeast, and the Old Dao River flows from northeast to southwest. After the two rivers merge, it is only about 40 miles south of the river to Wuxing, the important town at the western end of Hanzhong.
Chiting is located to the north of Wuxing, in an important position between Xiabian and Wuxing.
The West Han River is navigable, but not all roads along the river are suitable for marching.
When Zhuge Liang launched the Northern Expedition, the army's route was to go north along Wuxing to Chiting, northwest to Xiabian, and then north along Wudu to Qishan.
In short, Chiting is located at an important position where Qingni River and Gudao River meet. If Chiting is controlled, the Wei army will not be able to attack from Xiabian.
It is a dangerous place like Tongguan.
It is not uncommon to find terrain that can be called a strategic location, but it often becomes popular and unpopular due to the deployment of personnel and wars. Chiting was the place chosen by Zhuge Liang at this moment. Zhuge Liang's central army camp was stationed on the mountain plain located on the east bank of the Gudao River in Chiting.
Yang Yi, holding Wei Yan's military report, slowly walked into the prime minister's tent:
"Reporting to the Prime Minister, General Wei Yan of Zhenbei reported that the Wei army had escaped from Xiabian last night. We captured more than a thousand Wei cavalrymen, and Wei Yan's troops suffered no more than a thousand casualties."
Zhuge Liang stared at the map on the table and said, "The Wei army has obviously known our movements. Next, we just have to wait for the Wei army to attack."
"How is the progress of Wuxing's city construction?"
"Reporting to the Prime Minister, General Zhao said in the military report that Wuxing City had been nearly half built before the troops were dispatched. In another five days, the city will surely be completely repaired."
Zhuge Liang nodded. "Five days is enough time. Lord Wei, tell Wei Yan to send out scouts far away and report the attack as soon as he learns of the Wei army's attack."
"If the Wei army is too numerous, allow him to retreat from Xiabian City along the Qingni River back to Chiting. Let him decide based on the situation. I will not set any limits for him."
"As you command." Yang Yi responded, but remained motionless. After a few seconds, he asked:
"Prime Minister, I have been thinking about this for two days and still don't understand why you didn't defend Xiabian and Hechi, but had to camp in Chiting?"
After Zhuge Liang returned from Qishan and led his army to Chiting, he simply chose to garrison there.
Of the more than 50,000 troops in his hands, except for leaving Wei Yan to ambush south of Xiabian, sending Zhao Yun to lead 10,000 people to garrison Wuxing and build the city, and some to transport civilians, almost all the rest of the troops remained in Chiting.
Although some generals and officials in the government were puzzled, Zhuge Liang did not explain, but suppressed them with orders.
Until today, the Shu army finally set up camp near Chiting. Seeing that the time had come, Yang Yi finally asked the question that had been buried in his heart for several days.
Zhuge Liang sighed and said, "It's not that I didn't tell you a few days ago, but after retreating south from Qishan, all the soldiers in the army wanted to go home and thought they could retreat to Hanzhong."
"But I have thought about it for a long time and I think we cannot just resist the enemy in Wuxing and Juxian, as they are too close to Hanzhong."
"The Chiting area is dangerous and desolate. Only after the camp is built, the generals and soldiers will feel at ease. In addition, this place is not far from Hanzhong, so we can be safe from the enemy here."
"Lord Wei, please follow me out." Zhuge Liang walked out of the big tent slowly, and Yang Yi followed closely behind him.
The central army camp is located on the east bank of the Gudao River, and it is the critical location where the Qingni River flows into the Gudao River.
There is water on the west and mountains on the north and south sides. Living here can control the whole view of Chiting, which is the most important place in Chiting.
Zhuge Liang pointed to the surging river not far away and said, "This place in Chiting is where the three rivers Qingnishui, Gudaoshui and Baishui converge. The mountains are extremely dangerous and there is no place for cavalry to use their skills."
“Starting from Chiting, you can go to Xiabian by following the Qingni River, to Hechi by following the Baishui River, and to Chencang by following the Gudao River.”
"The Han army has to rely on roads and mountains to build camps, so what can the Wei army do when they come from afar? They will definitely retreat after a stalemate."
Yang Yi thought for a moment, gritted his teeth and said, "Prime Minister, it's not that I don't understand the geography of mountains and rivers. I also understand the dangers of Chiting."
"But with 50,000 troops stationed at Xiabian and Chiting, what difference does it make? Isn't it too cautious?"
"Xiabian and Chiting are only a hundred miles apart. Chiting is a wilderness, but Xiabian has a city to rely on!"
Zhuge Liang glanced at Yang Yi and said: "What we are talking about now is not a matter of attack and defense for a short period of time, but an attack and defense for several years!"
"When the army was still in Longyou, the shortcomings of the royal army compared to the Wei army were already exposed. The most important thing now is to force the Wei army to retreat and then reorganize the army in Hanzhong!"
"There are no people and no grain in the area of Xiabian and Hechi. Whether the Wei army stationed troops here or relocated people here, it would cost a lot."
Wasteful? Yang Yi frowned and gradually fell into thought. It seems that the Prime Minister is considering this from the perspective of logistics and finances?
Zhuge Liang continued, "Xiabian is a hundred miles away from Chiting, and Chiting is a hundred and eighty miles away from Yangping Pass. If the Han Dynasty occupies Xiabian, it will only be a hundred miles closer to Longyou in the future."
"But if the Wei thieves occupy Xiabian and Hechi, there will be no people and no grain here, so how many soldiers can be stationed here? I can lead the army to attack from Hanzhong every time, and the Wei army can come to Wudu now, but can they come every time?"
"Xiabian is, after all, a place that is easy to attack but difficult to defend."
Yang Yi nodded gently: "Prime Minister, your opinion is profound. I understand it. But how long can we stay here?"
"Can we delay here for another year like we did when we attacked Hanzhong?"
"Why not?" Zhuge Liang smiled and pointed to the old watercourse that flows south through Chiting.
"This place is only 180 miles away from Hanzhong. There are two strategic locations, Chiting and Wuxing, where garrisons are stationed. Even if Wei has a million-strong army, how can it pass through here?"
"The Han army has both favorable terrain and favorable people!" Zhuge Liang looked at the Shu army camps nearby and far away with a sharp gaze: "It doesn't matter if it's half a year or a year, we can afford it!"
"Prime Minister, you are wise and decisive." Yang Yi cupped his hands and said, "But Prime Minister, the imperial edict has arrived three days ago. Is that matter..."
Zhuge Liang turned around, looked at Yang Yi deeply, and sighed, "It's time to do this. Lord Wei, send someone to inform the government officials and the two thousand stone generals to come to my tent in an hour to discuss the matter." (End of this chapter)
