Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Compared to the combined force of approximately 200,000 troops on the eastern and northern routes, Guanqiu Jian's army on the southern route was significantly smaller. However, even with only 30,000 troops, it was still the largest regular military campaign in Jiaozhi Commandery in many years.

Of the 30,000 troops, 6,000 were soldiers brought by Guanqiu Jian from Hepu, while the remaining 24,000 were reorganized from the rebel forces of Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, and Rinan. The troops that Guanqiu Jian had brought from the north several years ago had all been sent back to Cangwu County and remained untouched.

It was obvious that the combat effectiveness of these troops was highly questionable. However, one of Guanqiu Jian's purposes in sending troops was to wear down these former rebel forces. He wanted to obtain a streamlined and usable army through combat and attrition, and use it as the cornerstone for rebuilding Jiaozhou.

The newly appointed Governor of Guangzhou, Zheng Hun, has already arrived in Guangxin County, the capital of Guangzhou, Cangwu Commandery, to direct the various commanderies in the province to collect grain and fodder, build ships, and transport military supplies to Jiaozhi Commandery along the coastal route. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Governor of Jiaozhou, Sima Fu, is closer and arrived earlier, having already been in Longbian City for over a month.

Sima Fu originally intended to return to the Central Plains to take up an official post, but the court transferred him to be the governor of Jiaozhou, a promotion he found hard to refuse. Having been demoted to commoner status from his previous post as governor of Liangzhou, Sima Fu would never refuse the opportunity to return to the governorship.

So what if it's a land of miasma?
This is the governor of a prefecture!
After Zhu Yi returned in mid-May, he brought back an imperial decree authorizing Guanqiu Jian to lead the expedition.

Guanqiu Jian offered sacrifices to Heaven on the first day of the sixth lunar month and set out with his troops. It took him twenty days to reach Jincheng County, the southeasternmost part of the ancient county of Nanzhongxing in Shu Kingdom.

In terms of development, Jiaozhi Commandery, with its dense population and convenient maritime transportation, far surpassed the southern part of Shu Kingdom, and its governance system was also closer to that of the Central Plains. Furthermore, marching from Jiaozhi to the capital was effortless, as waterways facilitated the transport of provisions and military supplies, ensuring unimpeded passage. Jiaozhou and Yizhou were geographically connected, with no treacherous passes or fortifications between them.

The climate of southern China was difficult for soldiers from the Central Plains, Henan, Hebei, and Huainan to adapt to, but it was just right for soldiers from Jiaozhi, and even slightly milder and more suitable.

However, things were not so pleasant for Guanqiu Jian, Sima Shi, Pu Zhong, and others who were also from the north.

A group of messengers came from the northwest. Sima Shi, who was in the vanguard, stepped forward to greet them. After asking questions for a while, he went to the central army to find Guanqiu Jian: "General, General Pu reported from the front that Jincheng County has been captured. Please lead the rear guard into the city."

"Good." Guanqiu Jian nodded slightly: "How did you capture it? What were the casualties?"

Sima Shi said, "According to scouts from General Pu's troops, there are no city walls in Jincheng County, only high fences made of bamboo and wood. The rebel army under Sun Deng in the city numbered no more than a hundred. When they saw the imperial army arrive, they led their troops to flee."

Guanqiu Jian nodded listlessly: "Jincheng is just a remote and desolate county, not a strategically important place, so it should be like this. This area in the south has been poorly governed for hundreds of years. Even when General Ma Yuan attacked Jiaozhi, he did not pass through here."

"Sima, you should send someone to find the local barbarian leader. On the one hand, let him see the army's military might to show his power, and on the other hand, grant him an official position. Use the gold and jewels carried by the army to exchange for some grain with him, no matter how much, just some exchange is fine."

"Understood, Your Majesty," Sima Shi replied, bowing. "Does the General wish to linger here?"

Guanqiu Jian nodded calmly: "The army will halt for five days. This march will last for twenty days. The discipline of the various units in the army is inconsistent, and there have been occasional disturbances. We should clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments to establish military regulations. You go and do your work; you don't need to worry about the rest of the military affairs."

"Yes, sir." Sima Shi bowed.

Although the army numbered 30,000, Guanqiu Jian did not have many capable generals. The 6,000 most elite troops from the prefectures and counties were directly commanded by Guanqiu Jian. Pu Zhong, a lieutenant general who had served diligently for many years, was finally promoted to General of Pacification and led 8,000 slightly better soldiers from the recruited army as the vanguard. The remaining 16,000 soldiers were divided among Shi Bao and Zhu Yi and marched forward under the supervision of Guanqiu Jian's central army.

Having left their homeland, the soldiers were without a leader and could only rely on the army for survival, making Guanqiu Jian's reorganization of the army exceptionally smooth. Meanwhile, Sima Shi also established contact with the local tribes and clans, granting nearly ten minor officials of the rank of one hundred shi to the surrounding areas.

Of course, the local tribes weren't fools. The Wei army was coming in a massive force, far outnumbering their individual tribes. What did it matter what official positions they received? They wouldn't be paid a salary anyway.

For them, the names of Wei, Wu, and Han are irrelevant; whoever sends troops, they will temporarily submit. This place is shrouded in towering mountains, dense forests, and miasma; if they can't afford to provoke them, can't they at least avoid them?

Before setting off again, Sima Shi sought out Guanqiu Jian.

"General." Sima Shi bowed slightly. "This place is the southeastern border of Yizhou. Your army's march through here is an achievement that the Central Plains army has not accomplished in hundreds of years. It is worthy of being recorded in history."

"In the past, Ma Fubo erected a bronze pillar in Jiaozhi to demonstrate the king's rule. Now that you have invaded Shu, why don't you follow Ma Fubo's example and inscribe a stone here to commemorate your achievements and pass them on to future generations?"

Guanqiu Jian was taken aback by Sima Shi's question. Clutching his riding whip, he hesitated for a long time before finally shaking his head and replying:
"Sima, you know I have never liked to boast. I led 30,000 troops from the south into Shu, and before we even entered the Shu territory, I wanted to celebrate my victory. I fear it would make me a laughingstock. Moreover, Ma Yuan erected a bronze pillar in Rinan Commandery, which is the southernmost point of the world. This place is not the border of the imperial court. Conquering Yizhou is my duty as a subject. How can I have any reason to boast about it!"

"This matter need not be mentioned again."

"Understood, Your subordinate." Sima Shi bowed slightly and replied softly.

……

Outside Yangping Pass in Hanzhong. Under the escort of Bei Yan's cavalry, Cao Rui set off from Mianyang and traveled more than ten miles to reach the outside of Yangping Pass.

Unlike his usual inspection tours, this trip was accompanied not only by his father, the two Chamberlains Wang Su and Cui Lin, but also by his thirteen-year-old son, Prince Cao Qi of Ye, who rode alongside him on horseback.

The journey of more than ten miles will be completed in no time.

Cao Rui raised his whip, pointed at the magnificent walls of Yangping Pass, and asked Cao Qi beside him:
"Qi'er, this is Yangping Pass."

"Some time ago, you and I came from Wuxing, passing through Zouma Ridge and Mamingge Road to enter Hanzhong, but we did not pass through this pass. After passing Yangping Pass and heading southwest, we will reach the Jinniu Road, which leads from Shu to Hanzhong."

"This pass is so treacherous, Qi'er, why don't you come closer and take a look?"

"Your subject obeys the decree." Cao Qi nodded to his father, then lightly nudged his horse's flank and spurred it forward with short, quick steps. Cao Rui waved slightly, and the knights behind him followed.

After the arrival of the central army, the defense of Yangping Pass, the most crucial pass, was taken over by Cao Tai's Left Guard Army. Before their departure, Cao Rui had sent someone to inform Cao Tai of the itinerary, so Cao Tai personally stood on the northeast side of the city wall to watch the group approach.

Cao Rui did not deliberately set a schedule for Cao Qi, so the thirteen-year-old boy rode around the entire area below the walls of Yangping Pass without restraint before galloping towards his father.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Yangping Pass is indeed treacherous." Cao Qi said, bowing from his horse. "Master Wei once taught me that when Your Majesty led troops to take Hanzhong in the second year of Taihe, you obtained this pass. If it weren't for Your Majesty's brilliant military prowess, this pass would not have been able to be taken."

Cao Rui smiled, thinking that being able to flatter was a sign of intelligence. He then said, "Qi'er is quite right. If it weren't for my swift rescue from Luoyang and my victories in Lueyang and Chiting, I'm afraid we would have had a hard time getting through this pass."

"Qi'er, this pass was not captured by the imperial generals, but by the generals of Guanzhong who voluntarily surrendered to the Great Wei."

Cao Qi seemed to understand but not quite. He had no estrangement from his father, so he asked again, "If they couldn't take it, why did the generals here surrender?"

Cao Rui said, "We were forced to surrender by the prevailing circumstances."

Cao Rui raised his whip and pointed to the walls of Yangping Pass, saying, "Such a magnificent pass, if we were to attack it by force, we would probably lose at least several thousand soldiers. Back when Emperor Wu and Liu Bei were fighting for Hanzhong, Liu Bei did not take Yangping Pass. Instead, he chose to take the mountain road to bypass Yangping Pass, win the battle at Dingjun Mountain, and then confront the imperial army."

Do you know the geography of Dingjun Mountain?

Cao Qi replied, "Your Majesty, I know. A few days ago, when Your Majesty ordered Minister Wei to take me to Dingjun Mountain, Minister Wei explained the geographical situation and military strategies of the place to me."

Cao Rui nodded: "It's good that you know. Even though Liu Bei won at Dingjun Mountain, Emperor Wu and the imperial army were not defeated. Instead, due to the gradual depletion of supplies, they took the initiative to relocate the people and retreat. More than 60,000 households were relocated from Hanzhong to Guanzhong, and the army and laborers were all withdrawn. About 400,000 people needed logistical support, and Guanzhong's resources were exhausted in a short time. This is also the reason why the Wei Dynasty's Yongliang region has been afraid of war for many years."

"Qi'er, do you think Emperor Wu was defeated back then?"

Cao Qi dared not speak ill of his great-grandfather, and with a slight hesitation, cupped his hands and said, "Your subject does not know."

Cao Rui laughed and said, "It was a defeat, but not a defeat. To describe it more accurately, back then, Liu Bei had already established a strong position in Hanzhong and used that position to force Emperor Wu to retreat."

Cao Qi nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Cao Rui said, "Such passes are extremely difficult to conquer, but they are not impossible. Attacking a city with human lives is a poor strategy; using overwhelming force to pressure the enemy is the best strategy."

"This time, after the imperial army leaves Yangping Pass, there is Yang'an Pass, and after Yang'an Pass, there is Jiameng Pass, and even the most dangerous pass in the world, Jiange. In order to accumulate momentum, I ordered General Fei and others to send troops from Yinping, and ordered General Guo to send troops from Nanzheng. This is to put the Shu army in a difficult situation from both inside and outside, so as to accumulate momentum to break through these passes."

Cao Qi nodded slowly: "Your subject understands. When doing things, it is essential to accumulate the necessary momentum."

Cao Rui smiled and glanced at Cao Qi, then asked, "What if the situation is not on your side?"

Cao Qi gritted his teeth: "We must persevere and overcome the difficulties."

Cao Rui laughed heartily: "Take a step back, accumulate momentum again, and we can start all over again another day!" (End of this chapter)