Yang'an Pass or Hanzhong?
In this not very spacious hall in Wuxing City, the officials of Shu Han almost unanimously chose Yang'an Pass and abandoned Hanzhong.
In fact, we cannot say that it is abandoned, but there is really nothing we can do.
Wuxing is located in the mountain plain east of the Jialing River. It is a new city built by Zhao Yun in recent days on the basis of the fortress built by Zhuge Liang last year.
Although it was a city, the city was too small and the army had little fighting spirit. Facing the advance of the Wei army outside the city, it was difficult to defend for a long time.
Didn't you see that even Zhuge Liang's ministers and generals had to go south to Yang'an Pass? How much fighting spirit could the soldiers still have?
Let's discard the prediction that those heading east and Yangpingguan would be attacked from both sides, and let's also discard the fear of difficulties among the people in the city.
From a purely military perspective, the only feasible option is to move south.
"General Wu, what's the military situation outside the city? Tell everyone briefly about the situation from this afternoon until now." Zhuge Liang looked at Wu Yi.
"Yes."
Wu Yi replied in a low voice: "The Wei army came from the north this afternoon, defeated the ambush troops that my subordinates had prepared, and then drove the defeated troops south."
"I had no choice but to order the entire army to defend the city. As it was getting late, except for a cavalry of about 10,000 people who passed the north of the city and headed towards Ju County, the rest of the Wei army set up camps on the north and east sides."
Yang Yi interrupted, "Wuxing is bordered by the Jialing River to the west, and surrounded by the east, south, and north. So it's not that the Wei army didn't want to besiege the south of the city, but that they just didn't have enough time."
Wu Yi replied: "On the one hand, we didn't have enough time, and on the other hand, we were blocked by the soldiers in the city."
"This is a three-sided plan with one missing..." Yang Yi sighed.
In fact, what Yang Yi said was roughly correct, but to be more precise, it was to surround two and leave one.
What Yang Yi did not say yet, of course, was that the Wei army deliberately opened up the south today and wanted the Han army to go south.
But as Wu Yi said, the Wei army only surrounded two sides because they did not have enough time.
What about tomorrow?
If the Wei army arrives in time tomorrow, what will they do?
Although no one spoke, everyone looked at Zhuge Liang with eyes full of expectation and trust, which still made Zhuge Liang feel under great pressure.
After a while, Zhuge Liang sighed again.
A person's emotions and physical fitness are also related. When the body is weak, although one can withstand pressure and make decisions, it will ultimately further amplify various negative emotions.
"Then let's go to Yang'an Pass." Zhuge Liang said with a bleak expression: "Let's set off at midnight tonight with a fire, and each person should carry three days' worth of food. It will be enough to reach Yang'an Pass within three days."
After saying this, Zhuge Liang glanced at the generals in the hall again.
"Generals, who can cover the rear of the army?"
As soon as Zhuge Liang finished speaking, Chen Shi took a half step forward and immediately said, "Prime Minister, please allow me to cover your retreat!"
The atmosphere in the hall froze for a moment, then seemed to start flowing again after a few moments.
The rear guard must naturally be organized by the generals.
At present, the Wei army has more troops and better morale, and the danger and possibility of death of being left behind are infinitely increased.
At this time, if Zhuge Liang saw a general who was unwilling to take the responsibility of covering the retreat, he would most likely be punished by military law on the spot!
Chen Shi's initiative to volunteer made the generals, including Wu Yi, feel relieved. Besides, Zhuge Liang treated Chen Shi so well and even made him his own general. Now it was time for Chen Shi to repay his kindness!
Zhuge Liang said nothing, but just looked straight at Chen Shi and nodded slightly.
In the court, civil officials and military generals each had their proper positions, and covering the rear was the duty of a military general. From this point of view, Chen Shi was just doing his job.
But in terms of personal friendship, Chen Shi had been with Zhuge Liang for a long time, and the two knew each other well, so there was no need for much words; they could understand each other with just a glance.
As orders were passed down one after another, the small city of Wuxing suddenly became bustling with noise.
Although it was night, everyone's enthusiasm was aroused when they heard the word "retreat south".
Retreat? Escape!
Who wouldn’t be eager to escape?
After a busy midnight, it was already the hour of Chou.
Just a quarter of an hour ago, Chen Shi led two thousand elite soldiers out of the south gate and roughly maintained a formation with the help of moonlight.
"Raise fire!"
At Chen Shi's command, two thousand soldiers lit up their torches. With the light of the torches, Chen Shi used the city walls and the terrain to establish his formation.
At the same time, the remaining civil officials and military officers in the city poured out from the south gate and headed quickly towards the southern road.
Zhuge Liang led the prime minister's staff and a thousand elite soldiers in the front, while Wu Yi and the generals led the remaining soldiers in the middle, and they marched southward without stopping for a moment.
……
"What? The Shu army is moving?"
After being awakened by Chen Ping, Zhang He looked at the officer in front of him and said, "How did the Shu army move? Tell me the military situation!"
Chen Ping cupped his hands and replied, "The Shu army just poured out from the south of the city, and it seems that a large number of Shu troops are lined up outside the south gate to fight against them, as if they are covering up the Shu army retreating southward!"
"When did the Shu army start moving?" Zhang He asked again. "Half a quarter of an hour ago," Chen Ping replied.
Zhang He stood up and put on his outer robe. Seeing this, Chen Ping tactfully helped Zhang He put on his armor.
Zhang He didn't say a word, but Chen Ping knew that Zhang He was thinking about military strategy, so he didn't dare to interrupt him at this time.
"South Gate... Chen Tai's troops are closest! Let Chen Tai's troops advance first!"
Zhang He looked at Chen Ping and said, "Let Chen Tai attack first. I will bring Xiahou Ru to help him! Go quickly!"
"Yes, sir." After receiving the order, Chen Ping trotted out of the tent, mounted his horse himself, and galloped towards Chen Tai's camp.
That’s right, Chen Tai is still a general with a salary of two thousand stones.
Shortly after he ascended the throne, Cao Rui sent Chen Qun to Jingzhou and asked Chen Tai, who was the captain of the central army, to go south with his father.
In less than two years, Xiahou Xian, who used to be by the emperor's side like Chen Tai, commanded 10,000 soldiers, while Chen Tai was just a general with 2,000 soldiers.
First, Chen Tai did not catch up with the great reward after the Huainan War, and because Chen Qun suffered defeats along the way, he was still a military officer.
Second, when Cao Rui set out from Luoyang and ordered Chen Qun to transfer troops to Chang'an, Chen Qun finally recommended Chen Tai as a lieutenant general.
From a captain to a military officer, and then from a military officer to a lieutenant general, it took less than two years, which was not slow in reality. However, Chen Tai followed Xiahou Ru to Chang'an and then to Chiting, but he never won a single victory!
A person's destiny is determined not only by his or her birth, but also by luck.
Chen Tai was not afraid of fighting. He even felt eager to try when he heard that he was assigned as a vanguard.
But reality soon poured a pot of cold water on him.
When Chen Tai had gathered his troops and hastily formed their battle array, and was just within an arrow's reach of the Shu army, a sharp sound of breaking air was heard from the night sky.
Chen Tai hurriedly ordered his guards to raise their shields, but an arrow flew through the gap in the shield and hit Chen Tai's helmet.
After a crisp collision sound, Chen Tai leaned back and finally managed to stabilize himself hastily.
Chen Tai was stunned for a few moments, first touched his helmet, then covered his face with both hands and relaxed for a moment, it seemed that he had not yet calmed down.
"General! How are you?" The guards beside him also looked incredulous.
"Is my head still there?" Chen Tai turned to look at his personal guards with a distraught look.
"Of course! How else can the general talk to his subordinates?" The guards looked helpless: "General, please give the order! Although the enemy's bows and arrows are not accurate at night, we should still deal with them!"
Chen Tai came to his senses, but he didn't know whether he was angry at the arrows from the Shu army or was afraid of the extremely small chance that he would be shot in the helmet. He shouted:
"The governor ordered our entire army to attack. The Shu thieves are at the end of their rope. How can we retreat?"
"The formation remains unchanged, move forward!"
After receiving the order, the personal guards quickly ordered people to continue beating the drums for the march.
Chen Tai gave the order to march, and he also marched forward without retreating. However, this was not due to the courage of a general, but to the judgment of the pros and cons.
There was no other reason. As the son of General Chen Qun and born into such a noble family, Chen Tai could not afford the reputation of being timid.
Scholars pass down their names from generation to generation!
But after returning to the court, I must ask my father to seek grace from His Majesty to transfer me from a military general to a civil official!
Whether it's serving in the Shangshu Tai in Luoyang or being sent to a capital, a prefecture or a county, it's all fine, I'm not picky!
Chen Tai never wanted to experience being shot in the helmet while marching in the middle of the night again in his life.
As Chen Tai's entire army pressed forward, Xiahou Ru urgently mobilized 8,000 infantrymen to support Chen Tai from behind while advancing to seize Wuxing City.
Night battles are not easy, for both the attackers and defenders. Although they can raise fire, it is still quite difficult. This is reflected in the actual battle, that is, the speed of the battle is very slow.
After holding out for more than half an hour, Chen Shi saw that all the Han troops except himself had withdrawn, so he took advantage of the interval between the two waves of offensive by the Wei army and ordered his remaining troops to retreat as well.
The party fleeing will of course hold nothing back and will do their best to escape at night.
It was nothing more than holding a torch, throwing away the armor, and running away. But the pursuers had more things to consider.
For example, whether the night pursuit system can be intact, whether there will be an ambush, etc.
Of the 20,000 Wei troops, only 10,000 were deployed to fight the enemy according to Zhang He's order. Although the remaining 10,000 were also awakened, they were all required to guard the camp and not to move lightly, in order to provide support in case of an emergency.
"Mr. Zhang, the Shu army has retreated. What should we do now?" Guo Huai asked, standing beside Zhang He.
"What does Boji think?"
"Don't chase them, occupying Wuxing is enough!" Guo Huai said decisively: "If the Shu army flees south, they will definitely flee to Yang'an Pass in the south."
"Before we set out, Your Majesty made it clear to the General, Lord Zhang, General Xiahou, and our subordinates that we should seek real benefits instead of empty fame!"
Guo Huai's eyes were piercing, and the fire reflected in his pupils became brighter and brighter. "When we were chasing the Shu army a few days ago, we already knew that Wei Yan was heading south. And if there are Shu troops waiting for us at Yang'an Pass, how should we respond?"
"How can we chase after a few defeated soldiers who are escaping at night?" Guo Huai shook his head repeatedly: "It's impossible."
Zhang He asked in a deep voice: "Then should we go to Hanzhong?"
"Yes!" Guo Huai nodded: "We should go to Hanzhong!" (End of this chapter)
