Xiahou Xian flipped through the military report and asked, "General Lu, His Majesty asked me to take appropriate measures at Baishui Pass."
"How should the word 'consider' be interpreted?"
Lu Xun was silent for a moment, then replied, "Your Majesty asked us to make our own decisions without knowing the military situation here."
"It takes almost half a month to send a message from Baishui Pass to Xiabian and Chiting. How can we execute the accurate military information if it is delayed for half a month?"
Lu Xun stroked his beard and sighed: "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Yes, Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise." Xiahou Xian bowed to the north and asked Lu Xun for advice:
"Then General Lu, how long do you and I have to guard here?"
Lu Xun responded, "Since Zhuge Liang has already retreated from Chiting, then the purpose of you and I dividing Shu's forces has been achieved."
Xiahou Xian frowned and looked at Lu Xun.
Lu Xun further explained: "But the longer you and I tie up the Shu army here, the more advantageous it will be for Your Majesty."
"I still say the same thing. We should hold out as long as we can! If there are signs that we can't hold out, it won't be too late for you and me to retreat!"
"General Lu is right." Xiahou Xian responded.
However, on the next day, April 12, the Shu army's offensive became more fierce.
On the one hand, Zhuge Liang's personal presence aroused the enthusiasm of the generals.
On the other hand, the Shu army's military situation was already extremely critical. If they did not force the Wei army back and turn north, the situation would be difficult to reverse!
A total of 24,000 Shu troops have been stationed at Baishui Pass.
Early in the morning of the 12th, the entire Shu army came out in full force and advanced in two directions.
Zhuge Liang's offensive was extremely fierce.
According to Lu Xun's original plan, the Wei army divided its forces into three parts outside Baishui Pass.
Zhi Wudai's 4,000 Qiang troops provided support for the rear and built a camp in the north to serve as a cover for the retreat.
The remaining 9,000 central cavalry and 5,000 Qiang cavalry were divided into two parts.
Lu Xun himself, five thousand Qiang people and four thousand central cavalry were stationed in the main camp. The remaining five thousand central cavalry, led by Xiahou Xian, set up another camp next to them to support each other.
If the Shu army attacked normally, there would be no problem with Lu Xun's arrangement.
But now, Zhuge Liang sent out his entire army to attack.
Wei Yan led the 4,000 soldiers originally under Zhao Yun, and combined them with the 6,000 soldiers of Wu Ban and Zong Yu.
A total of 10,000 troops rushed straight into the center of the two camps of the Wei army.
The Wei cavalry could not penetrate such a heavy infantry formation no matter what.
Zhuge Liang led the remaining 10,000 troops and advanced towards Lu Xun's camp from the east and south.
When Lu Xun personally looked out from the watchtower and saw the Shu army forming a battle formation, he ordered all the soldiers in the camp to mount their horses and get ready.
Seeing that the Shu army was really attacking so decisively, Lu Xun decisively withdrew the camp and the entire army headed towards Xiahou Xian's small camp.
There is really no way to fight.
The bravest of the two sides will win when they meet on a narrow road. The side with the stronger fighting will win, and the advantage of victory will become greater and greater as the war progresses.
The most crucial aspect of this fighting will is the determination to sacrifice troops.
For the Shu army, in order to defeat or repel this Wei army, it didn't matter if there were 3,000 or 5,000 casualties. As long as the Shu Han could withdraw troops to the north and to Yang'an Pass, the goal would be achieved.
As for the Wei army, Lu Xun had no way to fight back.
Although the Qiang army obeyed orders, it was based on the fact that they were profitable and had been fighting smoothly in Dazhong, Dangchang and other places.
If the Qiang army and the Shu army were to engage in a head-on confrontation, the Qiang people are not fools and would probably choose to run away in a moment.
And let the central cavalry fight against the Shu army?
The Great Wei had already won at Chiting, there was no need to waste time here.
Lu Xun doesn't have such great authority yet! Even if Xiahou Xian really agreed, he wouldn't dare to do so.
Considering the political significance of the Central Army Cavalry and its importance in the Wei army, Lu Xun knew that his head was not worth a few thousand cavalrymen.
Lu Xun had a clear understanding of the pros and cons of this matter.
The order to retreat was also issued in a straightforward manner. After Lu Xun and Xiahou Xian joined forces, they withdrew to the north and confronted Wei Yan's army, which was at the forefront of the Shu army, in a narrow area between the mountains.
Xiahou Xian came to Lu Xun's side and sighed with concern:
"General Lu, yesterday you and I were still discussing the issue of stationing in Baishui. How could the situation change so quickly in just half a day?"
Lu Xun helplessly spread his hands and said: "The Shu army will fight to the death. How many deaths can we accept?"
"Since we can't stay here for long, we'd better retreat." Lu Xun looked at Xiahou Xian: "Besides, General Xiahou can lead the elite cavalry of the central army and return to your majesty as soon as possible."
"It's the only way!" Xiahou Xian sighed, "Although it's a pity, at least I didn't let your majesty down."
"If we take Wujie to Xiabian from here, it is more than 700 miles away from Chiting. I can return to your majesty's side in seven days."
Lu Xun nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble General Xiahou again. The 1,000 cavalrymen in Dazhong, please send someone to take them back."
"General Lu, what about you?" Xiahou Xian asked back.
"Me?" Lu Xun laughed dumbly: "Let's exchange it! General Xiahou goes first, and I will stay here and fight with the Shu army."
"If the Shu army retreats a little, I will advance a little. If the Shu army advances too fast, I will retreat further, or at most retreat to Dazhong!" "In short, we still have to tie up some of the Shu army here, and we can't let them live in peace."
Xiahou Xian bowed and saluted: "It is noon now. I will lead my troops back now. I hope General Lu takes care!"
"Take care, General Xiahou too!" Lu Xun returned the salute.
That’s right, Lu Xun ordered all the cavalry in the central army to return, without leaving a single one behind.
Lu Xun's calculations were very clever. It was enough to keep his 9,000 Qiang cavalry here to tie up the Shu army. Why would they really engage in battle?
……
At noon on the 12th, Xiahou Xian led his troops to leave the vicinity of Baishui Pass and began to return along the roads of Yinping Qiaotou, Wujie and Xiabian.
Throughout the day on the 13th, Zhuge Liang determined that the Wei army had lost a lot of manpower.
On the morning of the 14th, Zhuge Liang left only Wei Yan and 8,000 soldiers outside Baishui Pass, and led the rest northward towards Yang'an Pass.
It was inevitable that the soldiers would be exhausted by such repeated dispatch of troops. However, Zhuge Liang could not care less and it was the right thing to do to send all the reinforcements to Yang'an Pass.
And Hanzhong is in the north!
But on the 15th, when Zhuge Liang was on the road, he received a message from Yang Yi from Yang'an Pass.
Yangping Pass was lost.
Although Zhuge Liang had already prepared for this, when he heard the news, he felt frustrated, disappointed, and angry...
A complex array of emotions came over me.
But there is no way.
The road is right under our feet, Yang'an Pass is still in the north, and the Han Dynasty and His Majesty are still in the south. Can we just sit back and do nothing?
The more difficult and harsh the times, the more we should hone our transcendental ambitions!
Zhuge Liang continued to march towards Yang'an Pass and only led his army back to Yang'an Pass on the 17th.
During these days, the battle situation in Hanzhong changed almost every day.
On the tenth day, Cao Zhen persuaded the enemy to surrender at Yangping Pass.
On the 11th, Cao Zhen led his cavalry to surround Mianyang in the east.
On the same day, most of Zhang He's infantry arrived at Yangping Pass.
On the 12th, Cao Zhen continued to lead his army eastward. Zhang He left Guo Huai's 3,000 soldiers to guard Yangping Pass, and led 10,000 infantrymen to replace Cao Zhen and surrounded Mianyang.
On the 13th, Cao Zhen led his army to besiege Nanzheng. Two days later, on the 15th, after the news that the emperor had conferred titles of nobility on Fu Xin and Zhang Kai reached Nanzheng, the Nanzheng garrison commander He Dan opened the city gates and surrendered.
On the 16th, Cao Zhen led his troops eastward and arrived at Chenggu City. The defenders of Chenggu became even more determined and killed Zhang Kai who came into the city to persuade him to surrender, and threw his head outside the city.
Cao Zhen had no choice but to leave 5,000 soldiers to continue to besiege Chenggu, and then personally led his troops to the northern entrance of Migang Road to intercept the Shu Han people who were retreating southward.
On the 18th, Cao Rui received the news of Nanzheng's surrender in Chiting.
"Once Nanzheng surrenders, the situation in Hanzhong will never change again." Sima Yi said with a smile: "Your Majesty, please allow me to congratulate you now. The land of Hanzhong has all belonged to Your Majesty!"
"It's just a small city like Mianyang. It won't be difficult for Zhang He to conquer it."
Cao Rui nodded: "Prince is right! Nanzheng is the seat of Hanzhong County. We can celebrate now."
"I have decided to go to Hanzhong in person!"
……
The next day, when Cao Rui was about to set off for Hanzhong, he received news that Xiahou Xian was about to return.
Cao Rui had to wait for another day before all of Xiahou Xian's cavalry arrived at Chiting.
"Not bad, not bad!" Cao Rui smiled and patted Xiahou Xian's arm: "I was right about you, you did a good job on this mission!"
Xiahou Xian bowed and said, "It was all due to the proper arrangements by your Majesty and the court. How dare I take credit for it? Besides, General Lu should still be confronting the Shu army at this time, and he has given me a lot of advice."
"It's right to learn from Lu Xun." Cao Rui nodded and smiled, "But we can't think the same as Lu Xun in everything. Learning military strategies from him and then using them for our own benefit is the right thing to do."
"Don't forget your last name is Xiahou!"
Xiahou Xian bowed solemnly and said, "Your Majesty is right. When I came to the camp, I heard that Your Majesty wanted to go south yesterday and waited for me for a whole day. I am really ashamed."
"That's fine." Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "Since you have joined forces with me, you can lead your army to Hanzhong with me."
"Yes, sir!" Xiahou Xian replied.
……
The Shu army did not send out troops after all.
After Zhuge Liang returned to Yang'an Pass, he was shocked to find that the morale of the troops was not good, so he could only stay in Yang'an Pass for training and rest.
Cao Rui passed through Wuxing, Juxian and other places and arrived at Zhang He's camp south of Mianyang City.
Cao Rui looked at Zhang He and said, "General Zhang, send someone to inform the Shu army commander in the city."
"Now I am in Mianyang in person. If he surrenders today, I can still count him as surrendering. If he still refuses to surrender, after the city is captured, the defending general and his entire family will be treated as traitors."
Zhang He nodded: "I understand. But does Your Majesty have any other plans? In addition to Mianyang, Chenggu is still holding out."
Cao Rui said: "I want to go and see Dingjun Mountain in person!" (End of this chapter)
