Huang Xi turned around and left to execute military law, and did not dare to argue with Wei Yan.
On the one hand, Huang Xi had two camps captured by Zhang He in a row, and Wei Yan came personally to help him hold on. Huang Xi should be grateful to Wei Yan.
On the other hand, Wei Yan's rank was higher than Huang Xi's. As the General Zhenbei and Prime Minister's Sima, he was stationed behind Huang Xi and had the power to supervise Huang Xi.
With Wei Yan's help, Huang Xi finally gained a foothold behind the third camp. Huang Xi's military report was also delivered to Zhuge Liang's account.
"Huang Xi lost a camp?" Zhuge Liang looked at everyone and said, "Huang Xi had fought with the Wei army for ten days before, but he didn't lose a camp. The Wei army's behavior today is really abnormal."
"Jun Ze, go to Huang Xi's camp to take a look at the battle situation, and then come back and discuss it with me!"
Chen Shi clasped his hands and said, "I will obey the Prime Minister's order!"
After saying that, without any delay, he turned around and walked out of the tent.
During this Northern Expedition, each general was assigned a duty and scattered to various places in Longyou.
Only Chen Shi, a general, always stayed by Zhuge Liang's side and served as his personal guard. He was well versed in military strategy and was brave and skilled in fighting, which won him great respect.
In just over an hour, Chen Shi returned to the tent.
"Prime Minister, I have checked with General Huang. The Wei army's offensive today was indeed fierce. The divisions continued to attack, and General Huang retreated to preserve his strength. General Wei has personally stepped forward to help General Huang stabilize the situation at the third camp."
"And there are Wei soldiers who were captured due to injuries, saying that the general in charge is Zhang He."
"Zhang He? Zhang He personally led the army to attack?" Fei Yi was slightly surprised and turned to look at Chen Shi.
"That's what the Wei prisoners said," Chen Shi replied, "and both Generals Huang and Wei said that if it weren't for the Wei army's important generals, they wouldn't be able to rotate like this. By noon, the Wei army had already rotated ten divisions."
"Then let's just pretend it's Zhang He himself." Zhuge Liang turned to look at Fei Yi and said, "Wen Wei, tell Huang Xi and Wei Yan that the two camps are not a big deal."
"But today and tomorrow, we must not let the Wei army take over the camp again, even at the cost of our soldiers' lives! The Wei army's offensive is so urgent, I want to see what Cao Rui is planning!"
"I understand." Fei Yi said, "I will give orders to Generals Huang Xi and Wei Yan right away."
……
Until night fell, the Wei army failed to capture the third camp.
However, the casualties of both the Wei and Shu armies today were the highest since the battle at Chiting.
The Shu army lost over a thousand soldiers, while the Wei army lost 1,500 infantrymen. The infantrymen divided into twenty groups by Zhang He lost more than a hundred men in some groups and thirty or forty in others.
For Zhuge Liang, the loss of a thousand infantrymen was a big deal, but it was far from destabilizing the situation. Moreover, since Wei Yan's rescue, the third camp had not been lost again.
As evening approached, Zhuge Liang ordered Generals Huang Xi and Wei Yan to step up vigilance at night to prevent a night attack by the Wei army.
It can be said that everything that should be done has been done.
The passage of time is not controlled by anyone, but flows at a constant speed according to its own laws, neither fast nor slow.
The moon moved slowly in the night sky, the night wind and river water flowed in the valley, and the Shu army camp stood quietly in the night.
It was three quarters past the hour of the Chou, already the second half of the night.
Yang Yi, a soldier on duty tonight, unexpectedly saw a familiar face that should not be here.
"Zhao Tong? Why are you here at Chiting so late at night?"
Zhao Tong was obviously extremely exhausted. He took out a handwritten military report from Zhao Yun from his bosom and said breathlessly: "The Wei army came from Yinping and attacked Baishui Pass. My father received the letter yesterday and immediately led the army to the south to rescue."
"Wei troops?" Yang Yi stood up suddenly from the table: "How could there be Wei troops in Yinping? How many people are there?"
Zhao Tongyi panted as he spoke, "Meng Li, the commander of Baishui, said that the Wei army is coming from the direction of Yinping Bridge. The number is at least over ten thousand!"
Yang Yi kept silent. After thinking seriously for a while, he looked straight at Zhao Tong and asked, "When you came to Chiting Camp, did you tell anyone about this?"
"No, absolutely not." Zhao Tong denied repeatedly: "Father has already told me that after I came to the camp, I only saw Yang Canjun!"
"That's good." Yang Yi said with a straight face, "Come with me and go to see the Prime Minister together. Don't disturb others."
"I understand." Zhao Tong nodded: "Please ask General Yang to lead the way."
Without Zhuge Liang's order, even Yang Yi was not allowed to enter the tent at night. After calling out in a low voice for a while and getting Zhuge Liang's personal permission, Yang Yi brought Zhao Tong into the tent.
When Zhuge Liang saw Zhao Tong late at night, he became alert as quickly as Yang Yi and started asking questions.
"Prime Minister, I have already asked." Yang Yi handed forward the military report written by Zhao Yun himself: "More than 10,000 Wei cavalrymen attacked from the Yinping direction to the outside of Baishui Pass. General Zhao learned of the military situation yesterday evening and led 8,000 infantrymen to the south to rescue without asking for instructions."
"Yinping, Yinping, Yinping..."
Zhuge Liang read Zhao Yun's military report while repeating the word "Yinping" in his mouth. He sat on the couch, wearing a robe, and closed his eyes in deep thought like an old monk in meditation.
Zhuge Liang did not need to look at any maps. He had all the details of the mountains, rivers, cities and passes in Shu in his mind.
Time passed by moment by moment. Yang Yi and Zhao Tong did not dare to breathe. They stood not far away, silently watching the prime minister who closed his eyes in thought.
After about an incense stick of time, Zhuge Liang opened his eyes.
"Lord Wei, send someone to call Xiang Juda, Fei Wenwei, Wei Wenchang, Wu Ziyuan, Yuan Gongfeng, and Chen Junze!" Zhuge Liang ordered, "Call Wei Wenchang and Wu Ziyuan first, then Yuan Gongfeng, and finally the remaining three!"
"They must arrive at the main tent at the same time. Do not disturb the other camps. Act in secrecy!"
Yang Yi cupped his hands and said, "I understand. I will do it right away."
After turning around and taking two steps, Yang Yi was almost at the tent door. He turned to look at Zhuge Liang, then glanced at Zhao Tong.
Zhuge Liang did not respond, but raised his finger. Yang Yi understood and turned away.
"Bo Cheng, please sit down." Zhuge Liang glanced at Zhao Tong and said, "We came here so fast in the middle of the night, so you should rest in the tent for a while."
Zhao Tong had met Zhuge Liang many times before with his father Zhao Yun, but never had such close contact between the two of them.
But Zhuge Liang's words were majestic and friendly, and there was a sense of not being able to refuse. Zhao Tong had no choice but to accept and sit at the table.
"Bocheng, how is your father's health? When you came to the camp today, have you discussed this with others?"
"I haven't told anyone else." Zhao Tong quickly shook his head: "My father said that this matter can only be mentioned to the Prime Minister. I didn't tell General Yang just now."
"My father's health is not really due to illness, but more to old age."
Zhuge Liang raised his eyebrows slightly.
Zhao Tong noticed Zhuge Liang's expression, but tears still shone in his eyes as he continued, "Since returning from Qishan at the end of the year, I have been experiencing unbearable pain in my waist, back, and shoulders. My father said that it was because I fought too many battles in my early years and accumulated too many injuries."
Zhuge Liang let out a long sigh, his eyes revealing a look of reluctance.
"Of the old generals who followed the late emperor from Hebei, only General Zhao remains." Zhuge Liang looked at Zhao Tong and said, "Bocheng, you are less than 20 years old this year. You were born after the late emperor occupied Jingzhou and General Zhao got married."
"Logically, you are also from Hebei. But you were born in Jingzhou and have never been to Hebei."
"Yes, yes." Zhao Tong looked at Zhuge Liang in a daze, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Zhuge Liang continued, "Bocheng, did you know that your father had another son before?"
Zhao Tong was surprised and said, "My father has a son? I don't know about this!"
"It's right that you don't know. After all, no one has told you. I'm waiting for everyone here today and I want to talk to you for a few more words." Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and looked at Zhao Tong.
"Bo Cheng, I was the prime minister who surrendered to the late emperor in the 12th year of Jian'an. At that time, the late emperor had been stationed in Xinye for several years. Xinye, do you know where it is?"
"I know." Zhao Tong nodded. "Jingzhou is a county located to the north of Xiangyang, across the Han River. My father told me about it."
"It is Xinye." Zhuge Liang said slowly, "The late emperor stationed in Xinye in the sixth year of Jian'an and did not leave until the thirteenth year of Jian'an, when Cao Cao's army marched south. He stationed in the small city of Xinye for seven years. Your father's first son was born at that time."
Zhao Tong was at a loss and could only nod continuously.
Zhuge Liang continued, "Not only General Zhao, but all the other generals in the army married and had children in Xinye. Your Majesty was also born in Xinye in the 12th year of Jian'an by the late emperor."
"But in the 13th year of Jian'an, the late emperor led his army southward, and was chased by the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry of Cao's army all the way, traveling 300 miles in one day and one night. The people had no choice but to abandon their wives, children and people."
"When the late emperor arrived at Hanjin, his subordinates were only Zhang, Zhao, the prime minister, and dozens of knights. Your Majesty was protected by General Zhao, and the late emperor's two daughters died in the chaos."
Zhuge Liang looked at Zhao Tong and said, "If the two daughters of the late emperor were like this, what about the families of the other generals? Not only did General Zhao lose his wife and children, but General Zhang's wife and children were also lost. The other generals in the army have lost countless family members."
"After the Battle of Red Cliff, the generals settled down and had offspring again."
Zhao Tong opened his mouth and said after a while: "If the Prime Minister hadn't told me, I really wouldn't know these old stories!"
Zhuge Liang's eyes were still filled with sadness. "It's a long time ago. The late emperor is gone, and General Guan and General Zhang are gone. Of all the generals in Hebei, only General Zhao is left."
"Now, despite his illness, he has rushed to Baishui overnight." Zhuge Liang sighed, "It will be so difficult to revive the Han Dynasty!"
"Bocheng, don't forget your father's ambition to fight in the south and the north!"
Zhao Tong nodded heavily.
It was not until everyone arrived outside the tent and came in to invite Zhao Tong out that Zhao Tong stood alone outside the tent, feeling the cool breeze before dawn, that he suddenly understood.
How could the Prime Minister be talking to me about old things?
If you weren't too worried, why would you have to talk so much to a junior like me? (End of this chapter)
