Under the hazy moonlight, Dian Wei stood on the corridor outside Guo Jia's study, holding the imperial edict in his hands.
"By His Majesty's decree."
Guo Jia immediately knelt down on the steps.
"Immediately, deploy the special forces and cross Yinping stealthily! It is hereby decreed that Guo Jia shall depart from the East Gate tomorrow morning, and the special forces shall carry only provisions for the journey!"
Hmm...
Hearing this, Guo Jia's spirit immediately perked up. He stood up abruptly and asked Dian Wei, "Has Liu Bei re-employed Zhuge Liang?"
"Feng Xiao, the strategist, is as sharp as ever; he guessed it correctly," Dian Wei did not hide anything.
Guo Jia then blinked his eyes, "Could it be that Zhuge Kongming did not set up defenses at Motian Cliff?" "He did!" As if anticipating Guo Jia's question, Dian Wei, through Lu Yu, already had the answer.
"Then..."
Before Guo Jia could speak, Dian Wei's words came first, "The one guarding Motian Cliff is Zhuge Kongming's most trusted general—Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong!"
Ah...
Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong!
Upon hearing this name, Guo Jia was stunned. He stood there dumbfounded...
Is it that coincidental?
He suddenly felt a sense of dizziness...
Of course, Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, belonged to Great Wei. This was Great Wei's biggest secret...
Even within the Ba Residence, very few people knew about it, but Guo Jia, with his dual identity in the Ba Residence and the Xiaoshi Fu, was aware of Zhao Yun's identity.
This meant to say...
In the end, Zhuge Liang's carefully chosen guardian of Yinping... was one of his own people?
Damn it...
"Does Feng Xiao, the strategist, have any other questions?" Dian Wei asked again with a calm expression.
"No!" Guo Jia felt his mood instantly become at ease. He felt... that this special forces expedition was as stable as a rock!
Hoo...
Taking a long breath, Guo Jia looked up at the sky and sighed, "What a plan to stealthily cross Yinping and strike directly at Shu Han. It seems the timing is just right!"
...
...
Hanzhong, Lu Yu's sleeping quarters.
Today, it was Zhang Qiying, the saintess of the Five Pecks of Rice religion, who was supposed to attend to him.
However, for some reason, after receiving an urgent dispatch, Lu Yu lost all desire to sleep. He sat at his desk, with Zhang Qiying grinding ink for him.
After writing a letter, Lu Yu blew dry the ink and carefully handed it to Zhang Qiying.
"Please arrange for trustworthy members of your religion to send this by carrier pigeon to Yiling immediately and deliver it to Lu Xun!"
Hmm...
This was the first time Zhang Qiying had seen His Majesty... no, to be precise, she had seen her husband so serious.
She carefully put away the letter, quickly put on her robes, and ran out.
For a moment, only Lu Yu remained alone in the vast sleeping quarters...
He opened the window and looked at the pond in the courtyard, filled with emotion.
Finally, he murmured, "This is destiny... Liu Bei, oh Liu Bei, with your two hundred and fifty thousand troops marching east... you will ultimately not escape Yiling, and you will ultimately not escape the continuous thousand-mile Wu Mountains!"
In "Yanyi," when describing Liu Bei's westward expedition against Eastern Wu, it mentions seven hundred thousand troops and a continuous eight-hundred-mile formation...
But in reality, Liu Bei did not have so many troops, at most over a hundred thousand, or two hundred thousand... which was quite similar to the current situation.
The enemy commander was still Liu Bei...
Our commander was still Lu Xun...
Although the fire consuming the eight-hundred-mile camp could not be replicated... something ten times more terrifying and a hundred times more direct was waiting for Liu Bei.
As the saying goes...
—A single punch thrown in self-defense prevents a hundred blows from coming!
...
....
Jiameng Pass.
Zhuge Liang wrote three letters in a row... he handed them to Yang Yi.
"Remember this clearly, the first letter is for Zhao Zilong, stationed in Chengdu, the second for Ma Su, guarding Lizhi Road, and the third for His Majesty..."
Yang Yi carefully collected them.
Zhuge Liang had not deliberately avoided him while writing the letters, so... Yang Yi was very clear about the contents of the three letters.
Regarding the first letter to Zhao Yun...
Zhuge Liang repeatedly instructed that Chengdu was the heart of Shu Han. If Chengdu stands, Shu Han stands; if Chengdu falls, Shu Han falls. Therefore... Mianyang Pass in Chengdu must be guarded carefully, and also... Motian Ridge... Lu Yu's greatest skill was psychological warfare, and no blind spot could be neglected. Motian Ridge was even more important than Mianyang Pass.
Of course...
Yang Yi felt that Zhuge Liang was being overly cautious with the wording. Motian Ridge... it was a mountain range so steep that even birds could not fly over it. How could it be crossed by Wei troops?
This inference was too bold...
As for the second letter, it was for Ma Su.
Unlike the swift defeat at Jinniu Road and Micang Road, Lizhi Road, due to the outstanding performance of Zhao Yun, Ma Su, and Wang Ping, had fought to a standstill against Wei's Sima Yi, with neither side gaining a clear advantage.
Now, Zhuge Liang's main strategy was to "defend." He had also transferred Zhao Yun away... therefore, Zhuge Liang's arrangement for Ma Su was to hold the strategic passes and await changes in the situation.
Moreover, Zhuge Liang had drawn out the locations that needed to be garrisoned... As long as these few points were impregnable, even if the Wei army had a larger number of troops, they would not be able to break through.
Lizhi Road was crucial for... whether the enemy could open another road leading to Jiameng Pass. Yang Yi knew it was of utmost importance.
The third letter, written to Liu Bei...
was filled with Zhuge Liang's great concern for Liu Bei.
He instructed Liu Bei to sketch the enemy's defenses, the surrounding environment, and any strange situations upon arriving at Yiling, and send them back. In the end, Zhuge Liang was still worried that... Liu Bei would follow in Guan Yu's footsteps on this journey.
After writing these three letters and handing them over, Zhuge Liang let out a long sigh of relief.
It couldn't be called a sense of relief... it could only be said to be a brief respite.
"Chancellor..."
At this moment... a fierce-looking man burst into the room, "Since the Chancellor recalled Zhao Zilong, he should have sent me to Lizhi Road. If Lizhi Road defeats the Wei army, the situation will be completely different!"
The speaker was Wei Yan...
He was not highly regarded when Li Yan was in command. Now... even with Zhuge Liang in command, he had not been assigned any troops. Wei Yan, with his martial arts skills unused, felt stifled!
"If you go to Lizhi Road, how will the situation be different?" Zhuge Liang raised his eyes, his tired gaze sweeping over Wei Yan. "Don't tell me you think you can directly strike Hanzhong through Lizhi Road? And directly capture that Cao Yu?"
Wei Yan paused, "Naturally not Hanzhong"...
Apparently, when saying this, Wei Yan was filled with apprehension towards the ruler of Great Wei, but he quickly took out a map from his懷. He pointed to it, "If Lizhi Road is captured, everyone in Hanzhong will be in a state of panic. I can deploy a force to feign an attack, and then dispatch five thousand troops through Ziwu Valley to bypass Hanzhong and directly attack Chang'an. If Chang'an falls, then Cao Yu in Hanzhong will become an isolated army, unable to coordinate effectively! Our Shu Han will achieve a great victory!"
This...
Zhuge Liang pondered briefly, then waved his hand, "This plan is too risky. Regardless of whether you can defeat Sima Yi on Lizhi Road, just the Ziwu Valley stratagem—if that Cao Yu has any ambushes, our Shu Han army will be trapped there and controlled by them... No, absolutely not!"
Zhuge Liang directly rejected Wei Yan's proposal...
"Then..."
Wei Yan opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but suddenly realized that with his plan completely rejected, he had nothing to say.
"Whether it's Lizhi Road or Ziwu Valley, do not mention them again. Follow my orders and hold your positions!" Zhuge Liang emphasized again...
"Yes..." Wei Yan reluctantly bowed and accepted the order.
Just then...
"Report..." A school captain entered the room, "Outside Jianmen Pass... there is... a Wei envoy seeking an audience with the Chancellor..." "A Wei envoy?" Zhuge Liang's eyes narrowed slightly...
"The envoy said that he... he calls the Chancellor brother!"
Hmm... this...
Did Zhuge Liang know who it was?
But he maintained his usual caution, "How many escorts did he bring?"
"Only him!"
"Then..." Zhuge Liang hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand, "Let him enter Jianmen!"
The last time brothers met was at Chibi... on the river!
That time, they were playing chess...
Parting ways amicably...
Now, both the younger brother and elder brother were on the same side!
Thinking of this, Zhuge Liang's eyes held a trace of... melancholy about the current situation and a longing and anticipation to see his brother again, but his gaze was much more complex!
...
....
Thirty miles away from Yiling, a continuous hundred-mile Shu army camp, and supply carts were being delivered to this location...
Liu Bei was stationed in the central military tent.
On his right stood Guan Xing, son of Guan Yu, and Zhang Bao, son of Zhang Fei.
Also present were Chen Dao, Wu Lan, Zhang Yi, Xiang Chong, Wu Ban, Li Yan, and other generals.
On the left stood a group of strategists, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Deng Zhi...
This was already the most "luxurious" lineup Liu Bei could muster.
He had to defeat Cao Wei once...
Lu Yu was in Hanzhong, avoiding his sharp edge, so... he would start from Yiling!
At this moment... a school captain entered the tent and reported, "Your Majesty, Lu Xun of Yiling City has sent an envoy to see you!"
Liu Bei, who was looking at a map, looked up slightly, "Call him in!"
"As you command!"
As the command was given, a scholar slowly walked in, "I am the envoy from Great Wei's Yiling City, Zhuge Jin, paying respects to General Liu!"
Zhuge Jin...
Hearing this name, Liu Bei, who had been deliberately maintaining a high posture, his gaze sharpened, "So it is the elder brother of our Chancellor Zhuge. If anyone else dared to address me as 'General Liu,' I would have their noses and ears cut off immediately. But you, speaking this way, out of respect for the Chancellor, I will let you off this time. Continue speaking!"
Facing Liu Bei's condescending tone, Zhuge Jin replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "I am acting under the orders of Great Wei's Grand Admiral of the Navy, Lu Xun, Lu Boyan. I have come to request General Liu to withdraw from Yiling. As a token of our sincerity, Grand Admiral Lu is willing to send the surrendered generals Mi Fang and Liu Feng as vanguards, or even Zhang Da and Fan Qiang as vanguards, so that General Liu may defeat them... and take their heads to console the spirit of Guan Yunchang in the afterlife!"
Hmm...
To Liu Bei's surprise, Lu Xun of Yiling actually seemed to be afraid.
Of course... Liu Bei, who was adept at concealing his thoughts, was equally adept at mind-reading. He laughed heartily, "Heh heh, do you think I cannot see that this is that brat Lu Xun's strategy of provoking the enemy into arrogance?"
"General Liu..." Zhuge Jin continued, "My brother is the Chancellor in Bashu. To speak frankly, you and I both know who is stronger between Shu and Wei. The key does not lie in Yiling, but in Hanzhong, because the Emperor of Great Wei is in Hanzhong."
At this point... Zhuge Jin paused, "As a subject of Wei, and as the elder brother of Shu's Chancellor Zhuge, there are some things that, from my standpoint, I should not say. However, today, I must speak my mind. Bashu's true opponent is not Lu Xun, nor is it me, Zhuge Jin. Bashu's true opponent is none other than the Emperor of Great Wei. As long as he does not lose, Great Wei will not lose... Therefore, Grand Admiral Lu has asked me to act as an envoy to meet the Emperor of Shu Han and implore you to return... to Hanzhong, and engage in a decisive battle with the Emperor of Great Wei on the Shu Road. Let us not cause the people of Yiling to suffer!"
This...
Not to mention, Zhuge Jin's words had their own unique logic.
From the current situation, the decisive battlefield between Great Wei and Bashu... would undoubtedly be Hanzhong!
It was... King versus King!
But... Liu Bei did not dare, nor could he. Before a decisive battle with Cao Yu, he needed more victories and more courage.
"Seize the envoy!"
As Liu Bei's voice fell, the school captains outside the door immediately entered and apprehended Zhuge Jin. "Execute this envoy to console the spirits of my second and third brothers in the afterlife!"
This...
Immediately, the school captains dragged Zhuge Jin out.
Sun Qian and Jian Yong both took a step forward. Sun Qian said, "Your Majesty, there is a precedent from ancient times that in times of war between two armies, envoys are not to be executed."
Jian Yong also agreed:
"Yes, that Cao Yu most admires 'Dao, Tian, Di, Jiang, Fa' from 'The Art of War.' By sacrificing Zhuge Jin, Your Majesty would lose 'Dao,' which would delight our allies and grieve our enemies!"
"Fine!" Liu Bei waved his hand, and immediately, the school captains brought Zhuge Jin back.
Liu Bei then slowly stood up and pointed at Zhuge Jin's nose, saying, "All the generals have seen it, right? Even before engaging in battle, the Grand Admiral of the Navy of Great Wei already fears us by three points. Yiling City is the gateway of our Bashu, and now it can become the graveyard of that Grand Admiral of the Navy of Great Wei! What nonsense about a decisive battle in Hanzhong, hmph. Once Yiling is broken, the gateway of Cao Wei will be wide open. Our army can advance by land and sea... conquer Jingzhou, conquer Jiangdong, and divide the land with Cao Wei along the Yangtze River. Just as King Gao could defeat Hegemon King Xiang Yu in the past, today, I too can defeat his ruler of Cao Wei, that junior—Cao Ziyu!"
After an impassioned speech, Liu Bei issued the final military order: "Zhang Bao, Guan Xing, receive your orders!"
"Here!"
"Here!"
Guan Xing and Zhang Bao both stepped forward.
Liu Bei's voice continued, "I order you two to attack Yiling urgently. The army has a large number of catapults. Within five days, I want you to smash open the gates of Yiling!"
"As you command!"
Guan Xing and Zhang Bao accepted the order and were about to go and muster troops.
Deng Zhi quickly stepped forward, "Your Majesty, the Chancellor's letter stated that after Your Majesty arrived at Yiling, you should temporarily suspend military operations... and send back the terrain map and the enemy's defense map..."
Before Deng Zhi could finish speaking.
Liu Bei directly interrupted, "I have been fighting wars for so many years! Am I not capable of commanding troops? Do I not understand the terrain? And the defenses?"
Perhaps due to Deng Zhi's reminder, Liu Bei suddenly thought of something, "Guan Xing, Zhang Bao..."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"When flying balls appear in the sky, if you spot artillery in the enemy formation, or enemy flying balls ascending, send out a signal immediately!"
"Understood!" Guan Xing and Zhang Bao accepted the order!
Evidently... Liu Bei was also taking precautions.
As for Zhuge Jin, although the school captain had released his arm, his mood plummeted due to Liu Bei's words. It seemed... Yiling was bound to suffer a "calamity of blood and tears."
...
....
A bloody sunset filled the sky, dyeing the battlefield reeking of blood.
"Dong! Dong! Dong..."
The drums outside Yiling City roared like thunder... countless Shu soldiers surged towards the city walls like a tide...
"Boom! Rumble!"
The continuous line of catapults hurled massive stones into Yiling City... the stones were wrapped in cloth, soaked in oil, and plummeted down like giant fireballs.
For a moment...
The battle here was exceptionally fierce.
"Charge in!"
"Han bandits cannot coexist... The royal enterprise cannot be confined to a corner!"
A group of Shu soldiers... they used their faith, their spines, to paint a picture of unyielding, soaring offense!
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....