Sima Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you are wise. Deng Ai is indeed capable of doing things."
"He carefully interrogated the Shu army that surrendered in Lueyang, found out the Shu army's route and food supply, and divided several places along the way that might be heavily defended by the Shu army."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Knowing the geography of mountains and rivers before deploying troops is also the basic skill for a general. Deng Ai can understand geography and logistics, which means he has potential."
"What did Deng Ai say?"
"Your Majesty, please allow me to fetch the map. Although the map drawn by Zhang Yi before has the general idea, it lacks detailed details." Sima Yi bowed.
"Go, Sikong." Cao Rui ordered, "and call the general, the general who conquers the west, and Chen Jiao as well."
After a while, everyone arrived at the big tent.
After Sima Yi introduced the marching route, Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen and Zhang He and said, "The Minister of War just said it clearly. There are not many feasible routes."
"It goes without saying that the West Han River is a smooth route for transporting grain, but the army's march does not completely follow the course of the West Han River."
"From Qishan, we marched south along the Jian'an River to Jianwei, then along the Luogu River to Wudu, and then from Wudu to Xiabian in the southeast."
Wudu County was named after Wudu County, and the Wudu mentioned here is the county seat of Wudu County. However, the seat of Wudu County at that time was in Xiabian.
Cao Rui glanced at his ministers and said in a deep voice: "The specific strategy of the march will be decided by you all before me, and then the vanguard of the army will set out tomorrow!"
"What's the general's plan?"
Cao Zhen was silent for a few moments, then he bowed his hands and said in a firm tone: "Your Majesty, this march is indeed different from the past, and we should proceed with caution."
"From Qishan to the south, it is 40 miles to Jianwei. The river valley there is flat, just like the West Han River Valley near Qishan. The army can move freely."
"From Jianwei, it is another 100 miles to Wudu. The mountain road is narrow and the army must move slowly, just like the army did before when it went south from Shanggui and passed through Mumen Road to Lucheng and Qishan."
"From Wudu to Xiabian, it is about 140 li, and the roads are mountainous and hilly, so it is not a smooth road for the army to march."
Cao Zhen looked at the emperor and said, "My idea is to divide the troops here in Qishan."
"One part will be stationed at Qishan and Jianwei Road, and will assist the Qishan Fort garrison in defense. At the same time, they will guard the key point of Xihan River on the west side to prevent the Shu army from passing through Xihan River to the rear of the main army."
"Another group will attack Jianwei in the south, and then go south from Jianwei to Wudu."
"After we capture Wudu, we will seize the opportunity to capture Xiabian."
Cao Rui nodded slightly, then looked at Zhang He and asked, "General Zhengxi, how do you think we should deploy our troops?"
Zhang He replied in a deep voice: "I share the same opinion as the general."
"Jianwei is not a concern. The real key locations are Wudu, Xiabian, and Hechi to the east of Xiabian. If the Shu army defends, they will certainly deploy heavy troops in the area of Xiabian and Hechi to prevent the Wei army from encircling them from the east and west!"
"Well said!" Cao Rui nodded and said, "The army can march south from Qishan to capture Wudu, and the troops stationed in Chencang can also march southwest along the old road to Wudu!"
"I remember that there are still 18,500 foreign troops and 9,000 county soldiers in Guanzhong right now, right?"
"That's right." Cao Zhen replied, "You can order Zhu Gai or Xiahou Ru to lead the troops to march from Chencang."
Cao Rui thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we let Xiahou Ru lead the remaining 15,000 troops in Chang'an to march south along Chencang?"
"What do you think, sir?"
"Very good."
"Your Majesty is holy."
All the ministers agreed, and Cao Zhen said, "Leave the Right General Zhu Gai to guard Chencang, and the Guanzhong Guard General Xin Pi to guard Chang'an."
"General Xiahou Ru of Pingnan led the 10,000 soldiers he brought with him from Jingzhou, plus the 5,000 soldiers left by Qian Zhenxi, a total of 15,000."
"It takes about eight days to pass the message from Qishan to Chang'an along the Weishui Road. If Xiahou Ru marches from Chang'an, it will take at least 750 miles and more than 20 days." Cao Zhen added: "I took this road myself when I marched from Chang'an to Xiabian."
"So..." Cao Rui secretly calculated the time it would take for the army to reunite: "It will take at least a month for Xiahou Ru to lead 15,000 soldiers to march into Hechi?"
"That's right." Cao Zhen and Zhang He nodded at the same time.
Cao Rui turned to look at Sima Yi, Yang Fu and others. After thinking for a moment, Sima Yi, Yang Fu and Chen Jiao also agreed.
Since the approximate time for Xiahou Ru to travel from Chang'an to Wudu has been determined, Cao Rui looked at his ministers solemnly: "Xiahou Ru will reach Hechi in one month. From Qishan to Xiabian, there are only three cities and 280 miles in total."
"Can you conquer Xiabian for me within a month?"
Cao Zhen and Zhang He responded at the same time.
"Well, I will order the General of the Western Expedition to lead the troops in the front, and I and the General will be in the rear."
"General Zhang, how many soldiers do you want?" Cao Rui looked straight at Zhang He.
Zhang He thought for a few moments, bit his jaw and said, "Your Majesty, my troops, plus those of Generals Lu Pan and Hao Zhao, now number 11,000."
"Your Majesty, please give me 15,000 of the 20,000 infantrymen in the central army and 5,000 cavalrymen."
"30,000 troops as the vanguard are enough to capture Jianwei and Wudu. Any more troops will not be of much benefit."
Zhang He was telling the truth. Sometimes having more soldiers is not necessarily a good thing. Thirty thousand troops are enough to carry out offensive operations in the mountains of Longnan.
"What do you think, General?" Cao Rui asked Cao Zhen again. "I think it's possible!" Cao Zhen simply answered: "This place is only a hundred miles away from Wudu. Most of the cavalry is in Qishan. If there is any warning, they will be able to provide assistance!"
Cao Rui nodded and said, "General Zhang He, the Western Expedition Commander!"
"I'm here!" Zhang He stood up and walked into the hall, bowing.
"I will give you all the 5,000 cavalry led by Generals Dian Man and Xia Hou He, and I will also send General Wuwei Xu Chu to lead 15,000 infantry to be at your disposal."
"The army will march tomorrow! After we capture Wudu, I will personally go to Wudu to join you!"
"Your servant Zhang He obeys your order!" Zhang He responded seriously.
"Yang Qing!" Cao Rui looked at Yang Fu and said, "You will go south with General Zhang to assist in the military strategy."
"As you wish." Yang Fu stood up and agreed.
"General, send a messenger to Chang'an tomorrow morning with my edict, ordering Xiahou Ru to send troops to Chencang!"
"I obey your order." Cao Zhen replied.
Cao Zhen had already gotten used to leading the central army to follow His Majesty's arrangement. At some point, Cao Zhen's mentality had quietly changed. As a general, it was not bad to be at His Majesty's side and take charge of the overall situation.
……
On the tenth day of February, General Zhang He, the General of the Western Expedition, led 31,000 infantry and cavalry to march south. In the afternoon of the same day, the cavalry occupied the almost empty city of Jianwei.
On February 13, when Zhang He led his army to the city of Wudu, the 500 Shu soldiers guarding the city immediately abandoned the city and fled.
On the evening of the 14th, a military report from Zhang He at the front line arrived at the Qishan camp.
After Zhang He led 31,000 troops south, the remaining 28,000 central troops were busy building a military fortress for a long-term garrison based on Qishan Fort.
According to Sima Yi, the most appropriate order was to build fortifications first, then build cities, and finally relocate the Qiang people. Cao Rui also approved Sima Yi's suggestion.
However, Zhang He's military report surprised Cao Zhen, who was the first to receive it.
"Your Majesty, Zhang He's military report has been delivered. Wudu has been conquered." Holding the military report in his hand, Cao Zhen walked straight into the tent where the emperor lived.
"Wudu has been captured? This is good news. Why is the general frowning?" Cao Rui asked in confusion.
"The Shu army abandoned the city and fled. Wudu City was not defended." Cao Zhen handed the military report to the emperor with both hands: "I can't explain it in detail in a few words. Please take a look at the military report, Your Majesty."
The military report was jointly issued by Zhang He and Yang Fu.
In the document, Zhang He and Yang Fu speculated that the reason why the Shu army did not set up any defenses in Jianwei and Wudu cities was to lure the Wei army deep into Wudu County, intending to snipe the royal army in the area of Xiabian.
Cao Rui placed the bamboo slips in his hand on the table and looked up at Cao Zhen: "Luring the enemy deep into our territory? I remember that the two counties of Wudu and Yinping were almost deserted a long time ago, right? Were they all relocated by Emperor Wu?"
"That's right," Cao Zhen replied, "Zhang He also said in the military report that Wudu is almost like an empty city, with no people living there for a long time."
"The current situation is more like luring the enemy deep into our territory and then clearing the countryside."
Fortify the walls and clear the fields?
Cao Rui chuckled, but given Zhuge Liang's character, he would definitely not do something like opening the door to welcome thieves and waiting for the army to enter Hanzhong.
Xiabian, Hechi? Or maybe Ju County, which is closer to Hanzhong?
Where will Zhuge Liang be waiting for me?
"Send an order, have Zhang He send cavalry to Xiabian and Hechi quickly. Spread out and search these two places carefully. I don't believe that you can ambush my 60,000 troops by ambush."
That’s right, at this time the Wei army also had 60,000 troops.
Excluding the 31,000 infantry and cavalry taken away by Zhang He, Cao Rui still had 28,000 central troops left, mainly cavalry.
Except for the wounded, the remaining 9,000 infantrymen of Qian Zhao's army were almost all stationed in the three cities of Shanggui, Xinyang and Jixian, and coordinated the relocation of the local Qiang people to Guanzhong.
After capturing Ma Dai and Zhang Yi's troops, Cao Rui had a better understanding of the overall situation of Zhuge Liang's army.
At this moment, Zhuge Liang's remaining troops should be less than 60,000.
Given the strength of Wei's central army, what does the Shu army have to fear at this moment?
Cao Zhen agreed, and after a second thought, he suggested to the emperor: "Why don't Zhang He's troops remain in Wudu?"
"Don't move." Cao Rui paused, then replied: "I seem to have a feeling that Zhuge Liang wants to play the old game of the Battle of Hanzhong again and wear down my army near Hanzhong, just like in the 23rd year of Jian'an!"
"General, do you think Sun Quan will take action at this time?"
The territory of Wei was different from that of Wu and Shu.
The State of Shu was limited to Yizhou, and although the State of Wu spanned Jing and Yang, it had the Yangtze River as its support and could make adjustments from east to west.
The dispatch of things in Dawei has to be calculated on a monthly or even quarterly basis.
Cao Zhen was surprised for a few moments, thought for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, are you worrying too much? We killed and captured so many Wu soldiers in Huainan last year. How can they have room to continue to invade?"
"But it's a good idea to pass on the message. After all, it's better to be prepared."
Cao Rui nodded: "It is better to be prepared. I think Sun Quan dare not send troops. If he really dares to invade, my next step will be to take Jingzhou." (End of this chapter)
