Yuan Chen's 5,000 soldiers were transferred to the front line, representing Zhuge Liang's last available troops in Chiting, and they were also thrown into the battlefield by him.
Today is the last day of the Shu army in Chiting.
However, Zhuge Liang's personal presence at the front did play a role. The two days he gained allowed Xiang Lang, Yang Yi and others in the main camp to arrange for the retreat, and he also transformed the original central army camp into a more solid line of defense.
The main camp was located on the east side of the Gudao River, and the road that Zhuge Liang would use to withdraw his troops tomorrow was also to the south of the main camp, serving as a shield.
At night, Wu Yi quietly led his troops to retreat to the original Shu army camp, and filled the camp with a lot of wood and other flammable materials.
After dawn the next day, Qian Zhao was about to send his men to attack, but he discovered that the Shu army camp opposite was on fire. The fierce fire was like a barrier, blocking Qian Zhao's advance.
On the other side of the battlefield, Zhuge Liang, taking advantage of the cover of the rear camp, led the remaining troops across the floating bridge built on the old water at daybreak.
It was not that Zhang He did not send people to attack, but that Zhuge Liang built a camp and dug trenches overnight in a dangerous position in front of the ferry. With the help of the terrain and the cover of arrows shot from boats on the river, he was able to cross the river calmly.
"Zhuge Liang has retired?"
In the morning, Cao Rui personally came to the bank of Gudao River and looked at the Shu army camp east of Gudao River.
"Your Majesty, the Shu army has lost all its will to fight and has completely withdrawn from the Baishui River Valley and the Qingnishui River Valley," Zhang He replied.
"General, what will Zhuge Liang do next?" Cao Rui asked again.
Zhang He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Zhuge Liang occupies the eastern camp and controls the southern road. His army is smaller than ours and his fighting ability is not as good as ours. He has been defeated for several days and has been retreating again and again. His fighting ability must be low."
"In my opinion, Zhuge Liang should be retreating."
Cao Rui said with emotion: "When I fought against the Wu army in Huainan in the past, I never encountered a strong enemy like Zhuge Liang. Longyou is mountainous, Qinzhou is mountainous, Hanzhong and Yizhou are also mountainous."
"I wonder how many more battles like this will happen between valleys and rivers."
"General Zhang, how many casualties have been suffered in the past two days?"
Zhang He bowed his hands with a resolute expression and replied: "Your Majesty, we have lost about 6,000 soldiers in the past two days, and 4,000 of them are injured."
"With such casualties, I'm afraid that of the 30,000 infantrymen I lead, only less than 10,000 are still strong enough to continue the pursuit."
Cao Rui raised his eyes and looked at Cao Zhen and Sima Yi.
Sima Yi guessed what the emperor meant and said, "Your Majesty, the fighting in the valley has been extremely fierce these past two days. It is only natural that the soldiers will not be able to fight again in a short time."
"However," Sima Yi coughed twice, "There are still 10,000 cavalry in Xiabian, and more than 10,000 soldiers in General Qian and General Xiahou's positions. It is enough to pursue the Shu army here!"
Cao Zhen also cupped his hands and said, "The remaining Shu army camp is now on the east side of the river, just separated by a river. The Shu army will surely retreat in a moment."
"I ask your Majesty not to worry about casualties and send people to continue the pursuit."
Cao Rui sighed: "The general and the prime minister are right!"
"The Wei army and the Shu army fought for the past two days, and in the end, the Wei army won and the Shu army was defeated. Now I have more soldiers than Zhuge Liang, stronger generals than Zhuge Liang, and higher morale than him, so how can I retreat?"
"General." Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen.
Cao Zhen seemed to have some enlightenment in his heart: "I am here!"
"The general will lead the way for me, and lead the 13,000 troops of Qian Zhao and Xiahou Ru, the 10,000 troops of Zhang He, and the 10,000 cavalry of Cao Hong. After we capture the Shu army's camp here, we will pursue them towards Wuxing and Juxian!"
"I obey your order!" Cao Zhen bowed in response.
As the general of Wei, Cao Zhen was of great use at this time.
It was impossible for the emperor to go deep into enemy territory to pursue the enemy, and the front needed an important official with high enough status and qualifications to command all the troops.
The central army cavalry under Cao Hong, the army composed of the mixed Yongliang foreign army and the central army infantry under Zhang He, and the Jingzhou and Yangzhou army under Qian Zhao and Xiahou Ru.
Such an army with complex origins and varying combat strengths can only be mobilized by the title of general.
On the other side across the water, Zhuge Liang was lying on the couch in the camp, coughing loudly and uncontrollably.
Since we set out from Hanzhong at the end of October last year, it is now early April.
For almost half a year, Zhuge Liang, as the leader of the Northern Expedition of Shu Han, was busy every day.
Zhuge Liang originally thought that it was possible to capture Longyou and even Liangzhou. Otherwise, he would not have drawn troops from various places in Yizhou to piece together an army of 80,000.
Today, half a year later, when Zhuge Liang looked back on the military situation during this period, he could not suppress a strong sense of sadness.
Of the 80,000-strong army, more than 20,000 were lost in Longyou.
The troops stationed at Chiting were used to fight against the Wei army, but the Wei cavalry went around to Baishui Pass behind them. In desperation, they sent troops to rescue, but they were met with a fierce attack from the Wei army at Chiting.
More than 6,000 soldiers were lost in Qingnishui and Baishui, and the number of wounded reached 10,000.
Man lives by will.
For more than half a year, Zhuge Liang's style of doing everything himself had strained his body and mind to the limit. Now, after a series of blows, Zhuge Liang's body could no longer bear it. After barely supporting himself and retreating, he fell ill on the bed.
"The Prime Minister has caught a cold, what should you and I do?" Xiang Lang asked Yang Yi anxiously. Yang Yi and Xiang Lang were standing outside the big tent, while a doctor was treating Zhuge Liang inside the tent.
Yang Yi raised his eyebrows slightly: "Lord Juda, Wu Yi's troops have been ordered to withdraw first. And the Prime Minister did not say when to withdraw the 8,000 remnants he brought back!"
Xiang Lang stamped his feet anxiously: "I can see clearly from here that the Wei army has already reached the west of Gudao River! If it weren't for the Gudao River, you and I really don't know what to do!"
Chen Shi looked at Xiang Lang and Yang Yi coldly from the side and said, "Mr. Xiang, Mr. Yang, what is the meaning of you two discussing the withdrawal of the army in front of the Prime Minister's tent?"
Yang Yi looked displeased: "What else can we do if we don't withdraw our troops now?"
Chen Shi pointed to the tent and said, "The Prime Minister just has a cold and a fever and is lying on the couch to rest. It's not like he can't speak."
"Why don't you just ask the Prime Minister about how to retreat?"
Yang Yi retorted: "How can we let the Prime Minister be distracted by such an urgent matter when he is ill?"
But as soon as Yang Yi said this, he realized that Chen Shi was right.
The Prime Minister is not speechless!
How could such an urgent matter not be made known to the Prime Minister?
Yang Yi bowed to Chen Shi and said, "General Chen is right. I am sorry for being rude."
After that, Yang Yi and Xiang Lang entered the tent and asked Zhuge Liang directly about the arrangements for the retreat.
Zhuge Liang closed his eyes and thought for a long time.
But when a person has a fever, the more he tries to think, the more confused he becomes. His mind is as muddled as a cloud. Zhuge Liang was no exception when he was ill.
After all, this world is still governed by the laws of physics.
After an incense stick of time, Zhuge Liang waved his hand and said, "Hold on for one day and then withdraw. Wu Yi is in Wuxing."
Although some of his words were inconsistent, Yang Yi finally understood them.
After paying his respects to Zhuge Liang, Yang Yi dragged Xiang Lang out of the tent.
"Mr. Juda, the prime minister is ill now, and you are the prime minister's chief secretary. The entire army should follow your lead." Yang Yi pulled Xiang Lang's sleeve tightly.
"What the Prime Minister meant just now is that you and I should lead the army to hold out here for another day! Leave all the baggage behind and retreat tomorrow morning!"
"If you agree, give the order to do it immediately!"
Xiang Lang stood there pondering, seemingly undecided: "Lord Wei, there are so many Wei troops on the opposite side, how should we fight? I really..."
"Don't be so real!"
Yang Yi's eyes widened with anger, and he shouted sternly: "It's time now! If you don't want to take responsibility, just hand this place over to me!"
"Send someone to take the Prime Minister down the river to Wuxing first, and then you, me, and the entire army will guard here for a day. No one is allowed to leave. We will withdraw tomorrow!"
Xiang Lang was about to get angry at first, but then he sighed and said, "Just do as Lord Wei said!"
……
In just over two days, less than three days, the ownership of the Chiting area changed.
Early the next morning, the Shu army retreated southward, and Cao Zhen led 30,000 troops to follow closely behind.
Cao Rui and other officials stayed in Chiting, bringing Guo Huai, Hao Zhao, Lu Pan and other generals, as well as more than 10,000 remnants of Zhang He's army, to clean up the battlefield and collect the remains of the soldiers from both armies.
At the same time, he is also in charge of logistics.
After taking Chiting, the food and grass transported from Guanzhong could finally be transported along the ancient waterway. As the battle progressed, the transportation of food and grass became more convenient.
Zhuge Liang completely lost Chiting, and the remaining troops all retreated to Wuxing in the south. Cao Zhen personally led the troops in pursuit, and it was unknown how many people could return.
On the other hand, outside Baishui Pass further south, Lu Xun and Xiahou Xian were facing a difficult problem.
Baishui Pass is worthy of the name of the key to Shu.
Baishui Pass is not a city wall or a mountain pass, but a pass city nestled between mountains and rivers.
As an important town on the Jinniu Road, Baishui Pass faces water in the west and mountains in the east. When Liu Zhang was in power, he stationed a large number of troops here to curb the offensive of Zhang Lu in the north.
Lu Xun and Xiahou Xian had been here for six days but still failed to capture such a strategic place.
"General Lu, you and I have been here for six days. I'm afraid the reinforcements from Shu will arrive in a moment. What should we do?" Xiahou Xian asked in the Wei army camp north of Baishui Pass.
"General Xiahou," Lu Xun looked at Xiahou Xian, "When you and I first came here, we failed to intimidate the garrison commander, nor did we succeed in harassing them by taking a detour. The mountains and rivers here are precipitous, something I have never encountered before."
"The few siege weapons we have built may not be enough to capture Baishui Pass in a short time. Besides, the Qiang people are useless and the lives of the knights in the central army cannot be thrown away in vain." Lu Xun said slowly: "Why don't you and I hold on here?"
"Hold on? Hold on for how many days?" Xiahou Xian asked.
Lu Xun said with a smile: "We can defend it for as many days as we can!" (End of this chapter)
