Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1462 Pretend to be real
In the winter of the thirteenth year of Yanxi, the wind and snow covered the sky, and the cold was biting. However, the conflicts in the world continued to escalate and did not subside even in the harsh winter.

With the strong support of the Han Dynasty, Zhuge Ke took the initiative to build the Dongxing Dike at Ruxukou and constructed two cities, east and west, at strategic locations on both sides of the river to guard key points, aiming to consolidate the defense line and deter the northern border.

This move was seen as an open provocation against the State of Wei, and it particularly angered Zhuge Dan, the acting governor who was stationed in Huainan.

He repeatedly submitted memorials, strongly arguing that the construction of the city wall in Dongxing would become a major threat if not eliminated in time.

After Zhuge Dan's repeated pleas, which were almost like a coercion, the ailing Grand Tutor Sima Yi was finally forced to relent and grant him the power to wage war.

He not only approved Zhuge Dan's southward campaign against Wu, but also granted him the power to act arbitrarily, ordering him to lead his army to break through dikes, destroy cities, and eliminate Wu's strongholds.

To demonstrate the importance attached to this battle, Sima Yi even dispatched his son Sima Zhao, holding the important position of holding the imperial insignia and participating in the military campaign in the east, to personally supervise the army at the Huainan front, in order to show the central government's attention to and support for this battle.

However, just as this seemingly united army was marching south to punish the enemy, a group of Sima clan assassins secretly crossed the snow and delivered a secret letter from Sima Taifu to Zhuge Ke, the commander-in-chief of the Wu army.

To Yuanxun:
I have long heard that you, sir, have been in charge of Jiangdong and are determined to make reforms. However, you are hampered by powerful figures within the country and watched by aristocratic families without. Even with lofty ambitions, you will inevitably face difficulties.

The floods in Danyang have not yet subsided, and the treasury is empty. Yet you still insist on leading your elite troops north to Ruxu. Is your intention merely to build a city? In reality, you want to use external forces to suppress internal troubles and consolidate your power through military achievements.

Even though Yi is old and perverse, he can still understand the painstaking efforts behind this.

The art of war lies in the interplay of deception and reality.

Since you, my lord, need a great victory to secure Jiangdong, I am willing to help you achieve your goal.

We have now dispatched an envoy with a treaty: the two places of Huainan and Qiao County can be ceded to us without hesitation.

However, there are three matters that require your assistance:
First, feign victory. Yi should order Zhuge Dan to lead an army in a feigned attack on Dongxing, while you set fire to signal the attack and cut off their retreat. When our army retreats, leave the ferry crossing on the north bank, allowing them to return with their entire army.

Secondly, preserve your son's dignity. Your son Zhao is in charge of the army in Shouchun. When you breach the city, you should show leniency and allow him to burn the grain and destroy the armory before retreating. If you can preserve the army's discipline and order, he will surely remember this favor in the future.

Thirdly, let's keep this secret. The matter of ceding territory is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me. Externally, we should claim that you, with fewer troops, defeated a larger force, and marched like a tiger across Huaibei. In this way, you will gain real benefits and prestige, while Yi will gain respite and preserve his life. Isn't this beneficial to both sides?
The Han state now possesses a mighty army and is eyeing the world with predatory intent. If you, my lord, gain control of Huainan, you can block the Han army's eastward advance to the west; if Yi guards Qing and Xu, he can defend your north against the harassment of the Han cavalry.

If we fight, it will only benefit the fisherman, and a wise person will not do that.

The letter was brief and incomplete, failing to fully express my thoughts. Success or failure hinges on your single thought.

Sima Yi's handwritten letter

Winter of the second year of Jiaping

It was common for the commanders-in-chief of two countries to exchange letters during wartime.

After receiving the letter, Zhuge Ke thought that Sima Yi was just using ordinary persuasion and threats.

Upon first reading it, a disdainful sneer crept onto his lips:

"Hmph, you old scoundrel!"

It was not surprising that Sima Yi could see through his intention to "use external forces to suppress internal troubles and consolidate his power through military achievements".

This was an open conspiracy; anyone with a discerning eye, whether in the court or among the common people, could see it.

However, as his gaze moved downwards, his sneer gradually froze on his face.

A huge sense of astonishment welled up inside me.

"what?!"

If it weren't for the black ink on white silk, Zhuge Ke would hardly have believed his eyes.

Huainan?

Qiao County!

This is a strategically important location for the State of Wei in the southeast, especially Huainan, which is a place that military strategists must fight for.

Sima Yi was willing to give up so easily?
Zhuge Ke couldn't help but look up at the northeast, his eyes filled with doubt.

Is this old scoundrel truly terminally ill, acting recklessly now?

Or was the internal crisis in Wei far more severe than he imagined, forcing Sima Yi to resort to this desperate measure of cutting off an arm to save the day?
When Zhuge Ke saw Sima Yi's request to "pretend to have won" and "preserve his son's reputation," he frowned slightly and felt somewhat reassured.

It turns out that he wanted a dignified "retreat," both to preserve his army and to enhance his son's reputation to pave the way for his future. His calculations were indeed shrewd.

But is it worth it?
Or is Sima Yi... plotting something else?
Zhuge Ke was somewhat hesitant.

When he saw the words, "The Han state now possesses a mighty army and is eyeing the world with predatory intent... If you and I were to fight, it would only benefit the fishermen, and a wise man would not do such a thing," Zhuge Ke's slightly furrowed brows immediately tightened, and his back straightened involuntarily.

His first instinctive reaction was: provocation! Blatant provocation!
Sima Yi's move was undoubtedly an attempt to divert the trouble westward, drawing Wu's attention and even military force towards Han, so that he could profit from it. His intentions are despicable!

However… reason told Zhuge Ke that although this was Sima Yi's treacherous scheme, it also revealed a cold and cruel reality:

The foundation of the Han-Wu alliance was never morality, but a common enemy.

What if the State of Wei were to disappear?
After reading it, Zhuge Ke crumpled the secret letter into a ball, held it in his hand, and stared at the vast river surface, remaining silent.

From the day the Han-Wu alliance was formed, there was an unspoken consensus: to join forces against Wei.

However, the court in Jianye maintained a collective and deliberate silence regarding the vision of "after the fall of Wei".

Perhaps it's not that no one has thought about it, but rather that no one dares to think about it, and even less willing to mention it.

The oppressive feeling emanating from the increasingly powerful Han state, which already showed signs of conquering the world, was clearly perceptible.

At present, this alliance is advantageous to the Wu Kingdom for the foreseeable future.

Deliberately obscuring the inevitable conflict has become the most convenient option for maintaining immediate interests.

Sima Yi's secret letter ruthlessly tore away this facade of tenderness.

The poisonous thorn hidden beneath the brocade of the alliance was thrust directly into Zhuge Ke's eyes, forcing him to confront the ultimate problem concerning the fate of the nation that the entire Wu Kingdom had been avoiding.

The Shu Han dynasty never shied away from the fact that it had restored the Han dynasty three times and unified the world.

The harsher reality is that the Han army has now occupied Xuchang and Runan, and its advance is pointing directly at Shandong.

If the Han state were to truly destroy Wei, who would be the next target?

The answer speaks for itself.

Any progress Zhuge Ke makes in Huainan today could become a target for the Han army after it destroys Wei.

Sima Yi's proposal offered a cruel but tempting option:

Rather than facing the powerful Han state alone in the future, it is better to seize as many strategic locations as possible and strengthen ourselves now while Wei still exists and Han is unable to focus its full attention on the east.

The purpose is obvious, and not even bothered to conceal it: to use one wolf to devour another.

But for Zhuge Ke, although it was like dealing with a tiger for its skin, this "meat" was too lucrative and its strategic value could not be ignored.

Not only could they acquire the long-desired Huainan region effortlessly, greatly expanding their strategic depth—a wish that the late emperor had been unable to fulfill for decades.

Only by advancing the defense line to the Huai River and forming a tiered defense with the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, thus integrating the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, could the survival of the Wu Kingdom be truly guaranteed.

This is the most profound lesson Da Wu has learned over the years.

In addition, Zhuge Ke could use this unprecedented victory to completely suppress all dissenting voices in the country and firmly grasp power in his hands.

What's the risk? The risk lies in completely trusting Sima Yi's integrity.

This old scoundrel is cunning; could this be a huge trap?

“Sima, you old scoundrel, though you harbor malicious intentions, what you say… is indeed reasonable.”

Zhuge Ke gazed at the surging river and muttered to himself, "The situation of Han being strong and Wu being weak is something we will have to face sooner or later."

"In that case, taking this opportunity to conquer Huainan and strengthen our national power in preparation for the future is the best course of action."

"As for your schemes, Sima Yi... Hmph, let's see who uses whom in the future!"

In December of the thirteenth year of the Yanxi reign, the cold wind was like a knife, and the Huai River was frozen.

Zhuge Dan, the acting governor of Yangzhou in Wei, personally led 70,000 infantry and cavalry out of Hefei. He built a pontoon bridge outside the Dongxing Dike, with banners covering the sky and a grand display of force, showing the posture of launching a major attack on Wu.

Upon hearing the news, Zhuge Ke, who had just returned to Jianye, immediately led 30,000 elite troops across the river to the north again.

When he arrived at Ruxukou, the Wei army had already occupied the Dongxing Dike and was launching a fierce attack on the east and west cities.

Fortunately, the weather was freezing cold and the mountain city was steep, so although the Wei army's offensive was fierce, it was difficult to conquer it for a while.

To relieve the siege of the two cities, Zhuge Ke ordered his army to advance along the west bank of the mountain, intending to attack the enemy from the flank.

Champion General Ding Fengzhi requests orders from the central army:
"Grand Tutor, the various troops are advancing slowly. If we wait for the Wei rebels to secure the embankment before launching an attack, it will be like attacking an egg on its back! I request permission to lead my three thousand elite soldiers in light boats to advance swiftly and strike directly at their front!"

Zhuge Ke pondered for a moment, then said, "Granted! General, go immediately!"

Ding Feng then led his 3,000 men on a fast boat. With a north wind blowing, they arrived at Xutang in two days.

As heavy snow fell, the Wei army's vanguard, due to the harsh weather, became complacent and their generals gathered in their tents to drink wine to ward off the cold.

Ding Feng gazed at the enemy camp and saw that their formation was loose. Overjoyed, he shouted to his men, "Today is the day to be ennobled and granted titles!"

In the freezing cold, armor freezes and becomes a burden.

Ding Feng decisively ordered: "Remove all heavy armor and long weapons, take short swords and shields, and follow me to defeat the enemy!"

Three thousand Wu soldiers, bare-chested and bare-breasted, like a pack of wolves hunting in the snow, silently approached the Wei camp and then launched a thunderous attack.

Ding Feng led the charge, and with a flash of swords, blood splattered across the snow-covered plains. The Wei army was caught off guard, and their forward camp collapsed in an instant.

After half a day of fighting, Wu's vanguard, including Lü Ju and Tang Zi, arrived one after another, launching a pincer attack from the east and west.

The Wei army had come to put on a show, and their morale was low. When they were attacked, their entire line collapsed and they rushed to the pontoon bridge to escape.

The pontoon bridge, unable to withstand the weight, collapsed with a crash. The defeated soldiers fell into the icy water like dumplings, trampling each other and dying in countless numbers. The Huai River was stained red with blood.

At this critical moment, Wei general Wang Ji displayed the demeanor of a master general, slaying more than a dozen panicked captains amidst the chaos of battle, and sternly rebuking them to barely stabilize the situation.

Upon hearing of the great defeat of his vanguard, Sima Zhao, who was stationed in the old city of Hefei, remained calm despite the shock and immediately ordered the repair of a pontoon bridge to receive the remaining troops.

Zhuge Ke led the main force to Dongxing Embankment. Seeing that the Wei army had been defeated, he immediately reorganized his troops and used the pontoon bridge abandoned by the Wei army to march north and head straight for Hefei.

Their decisiveness in advancing the army was so great that it seemed completely unfeigned.

At this moment, Sima Zhao had just rallied his defeated troops in the old city of Hefei, and the morale of his army was low.

The old city walls of Hefei had long been demolished by Sun Quan, leaving it with no natural defenses.

Zhuge Dan suggested retreating to the more fortified new city of Hefei, but Sima Zhao and Wang Ji, after careful consideration, believed that:
Wu's pursuing troops have arrived. If they retreat hastily, it could easily lead to the annihilation of the entire army.

Therefore, it was decided to abandon Hefei and the entire army would quickly retreat north to Shouchun.

However, at this point, Zhuge Ke was clearly not satisfied with simply escorting the Wei army out of the country.

He personally led the main force in hot pursuit. Even more deadly was the appearance of a nearly 4,000-strong Wu light cavalry force on the battlefield like ghosts, led by Zhu Ju's sons, Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun.

At this moment, Sun Quan's decision to borrow money, grain, horses, and weapons to build a cavalry army finally came into play a decisive role.

After Sun Quan's death, Zhuge Ke took over the mess that was Wu. He knew that with Wu's nearly empty treasury, it was impossible to support an armored cavalry.

Furthermore, with the cavalry general Zhu Ju dead, there was no one to command this extremely costly armored cavalry force.

Zhuge Ke then decided to disband the armored cavalry, and the remaining armor and weapons were to be used by the infantry in the army. Those that could not be used were to be melted down and recast.

Of the nearly 6,000 warhorses left, nearly 4,000 were carefully selected to form a light cavalry, led by Zhu Ju's sons Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun, while the remaining 2,000 were used for scouts.

Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun had studied cavalry warfare with their father in the Han state. Although they were not as elite as the Han army, they were more than capable of pursuing and killing fleeing soldiers with their stirrups, saddles and other weapons.

In the wind and snow, Wu cavalry galloped across the land, and where their blades flashed, Wei soldiers fell in droves.

Sima Zhao narrowly escaped capture multiple times, despite being fiercely protected by his personal guards, and was left in a sorry state.

He was filled with shock and rage, and couldn't help but curse, "Zhuge Ke, you scoundrel! How dare you do this! You are a traitor! I swear to avenge you!"

By the time they fled to Shouchun, the Huainan army had gone from feigning defeat to a real rout, losing more than half of its troops.

Sima Zhao was filled with shame and indignation and wanted to defend the city to the death to avenge his previous humiliation.

Seeing this, Wang Ji grabbed him tightly: "General! The defeated soldiers are beyond saving, their morale has collapsed, Shouchun cannot be defended. We must retreat across the Huai River to have any chance of survival."

Having said that, without further ado, he ordered the burning of the grain and military supplies in Shouchun, and continued his northward escape with a heart full of grief and indignation.

The remnants of the army finally crossed the Huai River and temporarily established a foothold on the north bank.

The wind and snow continued, lashing against the faces of every still-shaken Wei soldier, and also against Sima Zhao's cold heart.

His personal guards draped a cloak over him, but he was oblivious. He staggered to the shore and stared blankly at the south bank.

There, the once-flying Wei banners have vanished, and only the Wu army's banners are faintly visible in the wind and snow.

The lieutenant presented the preliminary inventory results, his voice low and trembling:
"General, according to the initial count, fewer than 20,000 soldiers have returned, and less than one-tenth of the grain, weapons, and other supplies have been recovered..."

“Less than 20,000… less than one in ten survives…” Sima Zhao murmured these words repeatedly, as if he did not understand their meaning.

His body began to tremble uncontrollably, not from the cold, but from a deep-seated regret and despair.

Suddenly, his legs gave way and he collapsed heavily to his knees in the cold mud and snow with a thud.

"My lord! My lord!" he roared suddenly, his voice trembling with grief, tears mingling with snow water, instantly covering his cheeks.

"Fool! Fool!" He pounded the ground with his fist. "Because of my stupidity, tens of thousands of soldiers have perished!"

His cries changed from roars to a suppressed, intermittent sob, filled with endless regret:
"I have failed my father's teachings... I have betrayed my father's trust! How can I face my father? How can I face the soldiers?"

He lowered his head, his forehead pressed against the cold snow, his shoulders heaving violently, emitting a wail like that of a wounded beast.

Seeing this, the surrounding generals and soldiers all lowered their heads in dejection, and a bleak and desolate atmosphere permeated the entire north bank of the Huai River.

"General, please accept my condolences and take care of your health."

Wang Ji had appeared behind him without him noticing. Although the old general also looked tired, his gaze remained steady.

He bent down, not to help, but to kneel down with Sima Zhao, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"General, why blame yourself so much? The primary responsibility for this defeat does not lie with you. As the commander-in-chief, Zhuge Liang underestimated the enemy and acted rashly, eager for quick success, which led to the army being isolated on the embankment and exploited by the enemy."

"The general was appointed to command the army in a time of crisis. He was able to decisively order the burning of the grain and fodder in Shouchun during the rout, thus ensuring the safe crossing of 20,000 soldiers to the north. This is truly commendable."

These words forcibly pulled Sima Zhao back from the brink of collapse.

He suddenly raised his head, tears and snow mingling on his face, his blurred vision meeting Wang Ji's calm, ancient eyes, which held a deep meaning.

"The primary responsibility... lies with Commander Zhuge?"

Sima Zhao repeated the sentence almost subconsciously, his instincts nearly compelling him to blurt out a rebuttal:

No, underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly was a shared mistake, but hesitation in the face of battle was his own decision. How can we attribute it all to others?

However, the undeniable depth in Wang Ji's eyes acted like an invisible wall, forcefully blocking his unspoken words and leaving only a sharp sense of shame, like a thorn in his back, causing him unbearable pain.

At this moment, Wang Ji's hand on his shoulder tightened slightly, the heavy touch seeming to silently remind him of the precarious situation of the Sima family and the heavy burden he, as the heir, must bear.

This made Sima Zhao's lips tremble slightly, but in the end he didn't say anything.

In that instant, an immense pressure, in an almost cruel way, completely crushed that insignificant moral struggle.

At the same time, a voice resounded in his heart:
Zhuge Dan was a piece on his father's chessboard that needed to be guarded against. Taking this opportunity to weaken him was exactly what he was doing.

After a long while, just as the wind and snow were about to bury Sima Zhao, he finally managed to stand up slowly with the help of Wang Ji's arm.

Taking a deep breath of the crisp air, it felt as if all the vulnerability, confusion, and unnecessary guilt were completely suppressed and pushed back to the deepest part of my heart.

“General Wang,” Sima Zhao’s voice was still hoarse, but there was no trace of sobbing. Only the exhaustion of surviving a disaster and an unquestionable determination remained. His tone was firm. “Reorganize the troops, take stock of the casualties, and properly compensate them. We… will return to Pengcheng immediately.”

"Also, send someone to Qiao County to inform General Guo to take advantage of the snowstorm and retreat to Xuzhou."

In the Battle of Dongxing, the Wu Kingdom achieved a great victory, capturing the entire territory south of the Huai River and Qiao County. They seized thousands of carts, cattle, horses, mules, and donkeys, and their supplies piled up like mountains. They returned home in triumph, thus ending the campaign.

It is worth mentioning that Han Zong, a traitorous general of Wu, repeatedly led his troops to invade Wu territory and massacre soldiers and officials after surrendering to Wei. Emperor Wu hated him with a vengeance, and Zhuge Ke ordered that his head be sent to the Emperor's temple. (Chapter 0566 Defection)
When the news that "more than 10,000 Wei soldiers were killed in battle, the enemy commander Zhuge Dan was forced to retreat hundreds of miles, and all the lost lands of Huainan were recovered" reached Jianye, the entire city was in an uproar.

However, more profound than the celebrations in the city was the sudden change in the power structure inside and outside the Jianye Palace.

Sun Liang, the ruler of Wu, promoted Zhuge Ke to the title of Marquis of Yangdu, and also appointed him as Chancellor, Governor of Jing and Yang Provinces, and Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital. He also bestowed upon him 100 catties of gold, 200 horses, and 10,000 bolts of silk.

It can be said that he controlled both military and political affairs, and held all the power in the Wu Kingdom in his hands.

Zhuge Ke's power reached an unprecedented peak at this moment.

(End of this chapter)