Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

After Zhang He led his army into Wudu City, as military orders were issued one after another, the 15,000-strong army began to prepare for defense with the small Wudu City as the core.

Repairing the city walls, building antlers, and setting up camps, they were very busy.

Zhang He himself was not idle either. He personally inspected the military camps and checked the weapons, armor and food of each camp.

The next morning, Zhang He had just finished his breakfast when the military officer Chen Ping walked into the military tent uninvited, bowed and said:
"Reporting to Lord Zhang, a soldier outside the city has captured a man who claims to be the general's messenger. I have checked and it should be genuine. Lord Zhang, would you like to meet him in person?"

Zhang He asked, "What is this man's name?"

"Call me He Gui." Chen Ping said in a low voice.

Zhang He smiled and said, "I know He Gui. He has been with the general for many years. Bring him in. Nothing will go wrong."

"Yes."

After a while, Chen Ping led He Gui out. He Gui bowed quickly and said, "Greetings, Mr. Zhang. I am here with the general's order and have come to convey it to Mr. Zhang."

"Thank you for your hard work." Zhang He was very polite to Cao Zhen's confidant: "Where is the general's military order?"

He Gui simply took out a small bronze plate from his bosom and respectfully presented it to Chen Ping beside him with both hands, and then said: "What the general has passed on this time is a password, and this thing is a witness."

Zhang He only took a quick glance and confirmed the authenticity of the item. He then stood up and asked, "What military orders do you have, General?"

He Gui bowed and said, "General, please ask Mr. Zhang to seize the narrow mountain forty miles west of Xiabian when the time is right to block the passage from Wujie to Xiabian."

"Any more?"

"Mr. Zhang, this is the only order from the general." He Gui said respectfully.

Zhang He asked again: "Has the general set a time for me? When will we take over the narrow mountain?"

He Gui replied, "Mr. Zhang, this is exactly what the general ordered. I have already stated it to Mr. Zhang exactly as it is, without adding a single word."

"That's what the general said about 'choosing the right time'." Zhang He asked thoughtfully, "The military order has been delivered, so what is the military situation at the general's place?"

He Gui bowed and said, "Let Mr. Zhang know that I came from the general six days ago. At that time, the general had led 15,000 troops and stationed 20 miles east of Xiabian."

"Twenty miles. I know this place." Zhang He recalled the terrain in his mind.

He Gui added: "I set out on the 14th. On that day, the Shu army had already marched along the mountain road to the general's camp and had already started a small-scale battle."

For a veteran like Zhang He who had been on many battlefields, He Gui only needed to give a brief explanation and the situation there would already come to life vividly in Zhang He's mind.

Zhang He nodded: "I understand. Is it safe for you to return to the general from here?"

He Gui grinned and said, "They are all specially opened mountain paths. There is no mistake. Please rest assured, Mr. Zhang. The Shu army cannot reach that far."

Zhang He pointed at Chen Ping and said, "Give those two books to He Gui to take back."

Chen Ping nodded in agreement, and He Gui took it, but didn't understand its meaning for a moment.

Zhang He said, "You are illiterate, so you don't need to know what is written in these two books. You have been by the general's side for more than ten years. I only want to tell you one thing: this book is worth five thousand soldiers."

He Gui's expression froze for a moment, and he immediately leaned forward and saluted: "Please rest assured, Mr. Zhang, I understand how important this item is."

Zhang He calmly ordered, "Go ahead. I won't keep you here any longer. Keep this thing safe. If you need anything when you leave, feel free to ask Army Officer Chen for it."

"As you wish, I'll take my leave now." He Gui said.

After Chen Ping led He Gui out, they went to the baggage camp in the city to get supplies. He Gui came with a total of five people, one person riding two horses. In addition to bringing enough dry food and water hoses, Chen Ping also took five felt cloaks and stuffed them into He Gui's arms.

Chen Ping said with a smile: "It's windy in the mountains, so putting on an extra layer can help keep out the cold."

"Thank you for your kindness, General." He Gui was very surprised. He didn't expect that Chen Ping could pay attention to such a small matter. He quickly turned around and handed the cloak to the attendant behind him and bowed to Chen Ping.

The salute to Zhang He just now was for official business, but the salute to Chen Ping now was somewhat sentimental.

"Some trivial things are not worth mentioning."

Chen Ping smiled and pulled He Gui to the tent where clothes were stored. He Gui was puzzled, but did not ask much and followed Chen Ping in.

"Take it and put it away. You can buy more property when you return to Neihuang in the future." Chen Ping took out four gold cakes worth ten taels from his arms and stuffed them into He Gui's hands. "How can I do this?" He Gui was shocked: "What does Chen Canjun want me to do? These gold cakes are enough to buy my life!"

Chen Ping's face gradually became serious. "This is a gift from Lord Zhang. Just take it. The only thing I ask is that you bring these two books to the general intact."

"This book is more important than your life!"

He Gui immediately knelt down and bowed: "I understand, please rest assured, Mr. Zhang! He Gui will definitely do it."

After seeing off He Gui and his five companions, Chen Ping returned to Zhang He's tent to report the matter. Zhang He then ordered someone to invite Li Yan over.

Zhang He was quite respectful towards Li Yan.

Judging from Zhang He's own experience, he did not despise Li Yan's status as a surrendered general. Moreover, with the examples of Lu Xun and Bei Yan, if Li Yan surrendered with his status, the title of General Zhennan given to Huang Quan in the past might not be enough to reward him, and he might be rewarded with the title of General Zhengnan.

According to the current Majesty's style of using surrendered generals, it is possible that Li Yan will be sent to the Eastern Wu side to lead the troops again and take control of the real power.

There's no need to show displeasure to Li Yan. Wouldn't it be better to be more friendly and amicable?
After Li Yan entered the tent, Zhang He exchanged a few pleasantries with him and said without hesitation:

"Zheng Fang, I just received an order from the general, ordering me to march to the narrow mountain to cut off the food supply route of the Shu army. You have just walked this road, do you have any suggestions for me?"

Li Yan sat at the table, organized his words, and then said, "Mr. Zhang, I don't need to explain the geography of this place. Mr. Zhang must know it better than me. The only thing I want to tell you is to beware of Wei Yan, the leader of the opposing army."

"Please discuss this in detail." Zhang He said.

Li Yan said: "Wei Yan is the best general in Shu. He is brave in battle, but also cunning and treacherous in his use of troops. He is also accustomed to using ambushes. He is also extremely narrow-minded and vindictive."

"Mr. Zhang, you still need to be on guard against Wei Yan setting up ambushes along the way. Not to mention one, two or three ambushes are possible."

Zhang He did not follow Li Yan's advice. He had his own strategy on how to use the troops. Instead, he asked, "Does the enemy seem to hate this person very much?"

Li Yan nodded and said, "Just like Zhang Gong hated Guo Tu."

"Hahahaha." Zhang He laughed and said, "Well, if we can capture this man someday, I will hand him over to the Zhengfang for disposal."

Zhang He changed the subject and asked again, "As for the grain route from Wujie through Sazashan to Xiabian, is there anything I should pay attention to?"

Li Yan tried hard to recall, and then said:

"I don't know much about the specifics of the food and grass, but I have a humble request. I hope Mr. Zhang can listen to what I have to say."

"Please speak, the affirmative side." Zhang He laughed. He was not afraid that you would not make a request, but he was afraid that you would not speak!

Li Yan said, "Mr. Zhang also knows that I have a son, Li Feng, who is currently serving as a military officer in Zhuge Kongming's army, responsible for transporting grain and grass in Wujie."

"If Mr. Zhang can capture one or two Shu soldiers in the narrow mountain, I hope Mr. Zhang will personally ask about my son's whereabouts."

Zhang He sighed, "Everyone has a son, and we have to take care of him if we love him!"

"But on the positive side," Zhang He looked at Li Yan solemnly, "When I turned from evil to good thirty years ago, my wife was killed by Yuan's men. As to whether it was Yuan Benchu's personal order or the slander of Guo Tu and others, I still don't know after so many years. My four sons were all born after I surrendered to Emperor Wu."

"War is a dangerous time. If Zheng Fang surrenders this time, I don't know how angry Zhuge Liang will be. I will take what Zheng Fang said to heart and ask someone to investigate it carefully."

"But the positive side should not be too persistent."

Li Yan sighed: "Abandoning darkness and joining light, this is the path I chose. How could I have any other ideas? It's just that I can't feel at peace because of the thought in my heart day and night."

Zhang He nodded: "A real man should be more upright!"

"Yes." Li Yan nodded.

After that, Zhang He instructed Chen Ping in the tent, "Pass the order. Our army arrived at Wudu City yesterday morning. Including today and tomorrow, we will rest for three days. Leave one thousand soldiers to guard the city, and the remaining fourteen thousand will follow me to attack Xishan!"

"Yes, I understand." Chen Ping then asked, "From here to the narrow mountain, which is 120 miles away, how many miles does it take a day?"

Zhang He was silent for a few moments, then smiled and said, "It was Zhuge Liang who came to attack Wei, not me. Slow things down and things will be better. It is more important to march slowly and safely. One hundred and twenty miles, twenty-five miles a day, we can reach Sasso Mountain in five days."

"Also, you need to tell the generals and military commanders of each unit to tell their commanders and dubo officers to take precautions against ambushes today and tomorrow. According to Zheng Fang's words, we still need to guard against ambushes set by Wei Yan along the way."

"I understand. I will pass it on." Chen Ping replied with a bow. (End of this chapter)