Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

The terrain of Shu is generally a basin. Although there are multiple passes that can be used for defense, it also means that the enemy can attack from all sides.

Guo Huai had proposed advancing via the Micang Road several years ago. Since the second year of the Taihe era, Guo Huai had been stationed on the Hanzhong front for eleven years and had made many preparations for this. These included surveying the terrain, preparing supply wagons, and setting up outposts, all in preparation for the current advance.

Currently, there are two main routes available from Yizhou to the north.

The route from Chengdu, passing through Fuxian, Zitong, Jiange, Jiameng, Baishui, Yang'an, and Yangping to reach Hanzhong, is called the Jinniu Road. This is the widest and easiest Shu Road to travel, and it was also the site of many years of conflict between Wei and Shu. Another route starts from Dangqu in Bazhou County, passes through Hanchang, goes north through the Micang Mountains, and can reach Nanzheng in Hanzhong directly.

The Micang Road is shorter, but the road is more rugged and difficult to travel, and it is not frequently used.

Not commonly used, but not unusable.

During Zhuge Liang's previous five Northern Expeditions, regardless of the troop shortage, he always left 5,000 troops in Ba County to guard the area. In recent years, after the economic recovery of Shu, General Wu Ban, the General Who Guards the East, has increased his troop strength in Ba County to 10,000.

If Jingzhou is the key to the world and a strategic location fought over by military strategists, then Baxi, Badong, Xicheng, and Shangyong are peripheral areas that are not contested by military strategists.

Apart from Zhang He's 10,000-strong army marching from Micang Road twenty years ago, which was subsequently defeated by Zhang Fei, leaving only a dozen or so horsemen to escape back to Hanzhong, there are no other records of military operations in this area in previous war histories. Moreover, Brazil is remote and hilly, making it unsuitable and not worthwhile to build a pass here.

Wu Ban's garrison was located in Dangqu. After receiving a military report from Zhuge Liang in Chengdu, Wu Ban had already begun preparing for battle. On July 8th, Zhuge Liang urged Wu Ban to take the initiative to march north. By the time Wu Ban received this letter, it was already July 12th.

Wu Ban naturally took Zhuge Liang's military order seriously. He immediately left 3,000 troops to garrison Dangqu and personally led 6,000 troops north to Hanchang County the next day.

Hanchang is located in the northern section of Wuban's defense zone and is a necessary route for the southward advance of the Micang Road. A thousand soldiers have always been stationed here. It is only 140 li away from Dangqu, making it a relatively safe area.

On July 15th, when Wu Ban was about 30 li away from Hanchang County, he suddenly heard a report from Sima Fengtai, the garrison commander of Hanchang to the north.

Wu Ban felt a chill run down his spine: "Bring this man here! I want to see him in person!"

"Yes." Wang Xing, the military advisor, left and soon returned with the messenger.

"Greetings, General!" The messenger bowed and reported, "General, a large force of Wei troops arrived at Micang Road early this morning. Commander Feng sent his subordinates to report back before besieging the city, requesting that you send troops to support us."

Wu Ban scrutinized the man's face: "Are you Feng Zhao, the nephew of Feng Tai? I've seen you in Dangchang before."

"Yes, Your subordinate Feng Zhao." The messenger's voice was full of urgency: "Commander Feng said that the military situation is very urgent and he earnestly hopes that the general will come to our aid! I thought I would meet the general in Dangqu, but I did not expect to encounter the general's army here!"

Wu Ban put his hands on his hips and looked at the man: "Speak slowly. I am not far from Hanchang, so there is no need to worry. How many enemy troops are coming? Are they cavalry or infantry?"

Feng Zhao replied, "The terrain around Hanchang is narrow, and even I, Feng Sima, do not know the exact number of Wei troops. But judging from their military bearing, there are certainly more than five thousand soldiers! And they are all infantry!"

Wu Ban asked again, "I'll ask you one more time, didn't you see any cavalry in Hanchang City?"

"No!" Feng Zhao said confidently, "My subordinate and Commander Feng saw clearly from the city wall and did not see any cavalry!"

Wu Ban nodded, waved for Feng Zhao to leave, then put his hands behind his back and fell silent, surrounded by a group of guards.

The Prime Minister truly had a divine ability to predict the enemy's moves.

On the Jinniu Road, the Wei army had already besieged Baishui Pass. Along the Yinping Road, the Wei army had also reached the bridgehead and was in a standoff. And on the Micang Road, the Wei army had crossed the Micang Mountains and arrived in the Hanchang area.

As the commander-in-chief, he cannot abandon his troops and the nation's cities. But if he intends to send reinforcements, he must first know the enemy's strength. He only has six thousand soldiers here; what if the enemy has more? Going there now would only be a suicide mission!

To save or not to save?

Wu Ban had always been the undisputed leader in the army, and none of his attendants or advisors dared to dissuade him. It wasn't until after a quarter of an hour of deliberation that Wu Ban finally made up his mind:
"Pass on my order: advance another ten li and set up camp twenty li from Hanchang!"

Wang Xing, the military advisor, quickly responded, "Yes, sir. I will make the arrangements immediately."

Wu Ban didn't think twice and continued to lead his troops forward. But just as they were about to reach the designated campsite, a low thud of hooves came from a distance.

The Wei cavalry are here!

……

As the war progressed, military intelligence from various locations reached Zhuge Liang himself at Yang'an Pass.

July 21st, early morning.

A map of Shu was laid flat on a huge table, with a group of military advisors standing on either side of Zhuge Liang, their eyes fixed on the troop markings on the map.

Chen Zhi pointed to various places on the map and said, "General Wang led 5,000 soldiers to Yinping Bridge on July 15th to help General Ju stabilize the situation there. They are currently facing off against the Wei bandits across the Baishui River."

"General Wu reported this morning that five days ago, the Wei army besieged Hanchang. The vanguard encountered a Wei cavalry attack. Due to the mountainous terrain, the losses were not significant. After General Wu stabilized the army, the two sides were in a stalemate. However, Hanchang is likely to fall." "General Wei has withdrawn the entire army to the vicinity of Xiling Gorge. Sixteen days ago, the Wei army occupied Xiling City."

"Reporting from Chengdu to Nanzhong, Governor Ma said that he has conscripted local barbarian soldiers in Jianning County and is preparing to march towards Dianchi and Yuyuan areas to prevent the Wei army from taking advantage of the situation in Jiaozhou..."

Chen Zhi's voice reached everyone's ears, including Zhuge Liang's. However, Zhuge Liang remained silent, and no one nearby dared to disturb his thoughts.

The current situation is extremely unfavorable for the Han Dynasty.

The enemy was approaching from all three directions to the north.

Wang Ping should be safe in Yinping, but Wu Ban's situation between Hanchang and Dangqu is unclear, so he can only hope for the best. The Wei army has been outside Yang'an Pass for more than ten days, and a large camp spanning several miles has been built. Yesterday, they even brought catapults to test the placement and attack range outside the pass, but they were repelled by Gao Xiang and his men. Clearly, a large-scale attack is imminent.

There was no way to intervene in the southern and central regions. Although they disliked Sun Deng, it was necessary to order him to send troops to cooperate with Ma Zhong in the battle.

With Wei Yan on the east side, and the Xiling Gorge, Zigui, Baidi and other places being all treacherous, military affairs there could be less of a worry for Zhuge Liang, but it was still inevitable that he would be concerned.

A battle must be fought step by step, with repeated probing and attrition; any hasty approach is inappropriate...

At the easternmost point of the battle zone, in Xiling, Man Chong, a resident of Xiling City, looked displeased and angry.

"The agreed-upon fifteen days have passed, and Lu Boyan still hasn't sent troops. This is truly outrageous!" Man Chong retorted again in front of Huang Quan: "Minister Huang, you stay here. I will personally go to Lu Boyan's army! Let's see if he dares to make excuses like this in front of me!"

Huang Quan could only act as a peacemaker, lowering his stance and earnestly persuading, "Lord Man, why go to such lengths? How about this, I'll go to Lu Wang's ship from Xiling again and talk to him face to face. Is that feasible? We're both serving the country, there's no need to tear each other apart."

Man Chong said, "Don't worry, this has nothing to do with you. I'll go to the river myself, you just guard the camp."

"Sigh." Huang Quan shook his head slightly: "I understand, but please don't be upset, Lord Man."

"Yes." Man Chong nodded, and then led Cao Zhao and Zhang Hu along.

Man Chong set off, and the great banner representing the commander-in-chief was also carried along. A thousand cavalrymen escorted Man Chong out of Xiling City, and when they reached the riverbank, they boarded small boats and rowed towards Lu Xun's flagship.

Upon receiving the report, Wang Jun quickly ascended the steps to Lu Xun's room: "General, it seems that Lord Man is coming."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xun glanced outside and quickly replied with a smile, "I was just waiting for him today. Shizhi, come with me to the side of the boat and wait there."

“Okay.” Wang Jun, unaware of the situation, could only agree. But when Wang Jun and Lu Xun walked out of the cabin together, Wang Jun was stunned.

He had also served in the navy for many years, and in naval operations on the river, wind direction was a crucial factor that had to be considered.

The westerly and northerly winds that had persisted for several days gradually turned into easterly winds this morning!

Following behind Lu Xun, Wang Jun couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "How did Your Highness know that the wind would change direction today?"

Lu Xun also whispered, "I have been in Xiling for many years and I have recorded the wind direction here. In July, the winds are mostly from the north and west, but there will be one or two days when the winds are from the east."

"Since July, it has been northerly and westerly winds. Today is the 20th, so perhaps we will be able to wait for it."

Wang Jun took a deep breath: "What if Your Highness doesn't get to see him?"

Lu Xun turned and glanced at Wang Jun: "Didn't you say that even when I'm not in the army, I'm still the King of Chencang? How could you forget that today?"

Wang Jun lowered his head and remained silent.

Man Chong was no ordinary man; the flags on the boats on the river were not to be faked. The east wind had indeed begun to blow here. The change in wind direction made Man Chong swallow the questions he had prepared, leaving him quite uncomfortable.

Lu Xun's figure had already come into view. Man Chong gritted her teeth and went to meet him.

"Greetings, Lord Man." Lu Xun and his officers and advisors bowed in unison.

The imperial court had no regulations governing the etiquette between princes and dukes, nor even the etiquette for ordinary officials when meeting princes. This was not an oversight, but a deliberate act.

At this moment, Lu Xun was bowing to the commander-in-chief, not the county prince bowing to the county magistrate.

"Prince Lu," Man Chong cupped his hands in greeting, his expression utterly expressionless, "How is your unit's rest and recuperation on the river going?"

Lu Xun laughed and said, "It's not a rest, just waiting for the wind direction. I originally thought fifteen days would be enough, but I didn't expect to have to wait an extra day before it arrived. This is all thanks to Lord Man."

"As you can see, the wind direction has changed, and it will last for at least half a day to a day. Lord Man, today I will launch a major attack on the gorge!" (End of Chapter)