Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Since the recovery of the entire Wudu County in the second year of Taihe, Cao Zhen and the generals in Guanxi have done many small things that can be of great use at critical moments, and opening up mountain paths is one of them.

There are only a few routes that Zhuge Liang can take from the south. Either attack Dazhong, or attack Yangping Pass and Hanzhong. The rest are Wujie, Wudu and Xiabian areas.

A few days ago, when Cao Zhen sent He Gui to look for Zhang He, he followed the route that had been explored long ago.

However, no matter how well prepared they were, they could not match the speed of the Shu army which controlled the key roads.

Less than two full days after Wei Yan withdrew his troops from Wudu City, he received a reply from Zhuge Liang in Xiabian.

Fei Yi asked, "What did the Prime Minister say?"

Upon learning of the prime minister's letter, Fei Yi and Liu Yong both came to the central army where Wei Yan was, and rode on either side of Wei Yan.

Wei Yan said in a deep voice: "The Prime Minister ordered me to hold the narrow mountain passage to block Zhang He's way to come to the rescue. I must hold it firmly and wait for the Prime Minister's future orders."

Liu Yong looked at Wei Yan with a strange expression but said nothing.

Fei Yi had already become an instinctive person to read people's expressions, and he asked without reservation, "Wen Chang, does the Prime Minister have any response to Li Yan's matter?"

Wei Yan stuffed the silk with the military order into Fei Yi's hands and said, "Wen Wei, read it yourself. The Prime Minister only said that he already knew about the previous events, so I can lead the troops to fight without any worries."

"Wenwei, what do you think the Prime Minister meant by this? I have been thinking about it for the past two days. Is it that the Prime Minister wanted to force Li Yan into a corner? Or did I fail to understand the Prime Minister's deep meaning and secretly killed Li Yan in the army long ago?"

But Wei Yan did not expect that Fei Yi's face suddenly became serious, and he said slowly and firmly: "The Prime Minister is selfless and holds the power of the military and politics. If he really wants to kill Li Yan like killing a pig or a dog, how can he use you to do it? Don't tease the Prime Minister behind his back!"

Seeing Fei Yi getting serious, Wei Yan bowed his hands slightly to express his apology: "Wen Wei, I really didn't mean that. I understand the Prime Minister's intention. He just wants me to hold on to the narrow mountain. I am not afraid of any military difficulties! But the matter of Li Yan has no end, and I am really worried."

“Can you ask Wen Wei to go to the Prime Minister and ask him in person for me?” Wei Yan thought to himself and said, “I am in charge of eight thousand soldiers. I have been in a trance these past two days. I am really afraid that something might go wrong!”

Is this using the military as a cover? ?
Fei Yi was not a stubborn person. He looked up at the height of the sun and said, "It should be 3 p.m. It's still 80 miles from here to Xiabian. Why don't we go there tomorrow morning?"

Fei Yi knew that this was not an extremely urgent matter and it would not hurt to delay it for half a day. But who would be willing to stay up late in such cold weather to ask a question for Wei Yan just to comfort him?

"Thank you, Wen Wei." Wei Yan said sincerely, "In the Prime Minister's Mansion, only Wen Wei is wise and sincere, and he is worthy of being my friend!"

Fei Yi forced a smile and said, "Wen Chang, I will send someone else to tell you after I return to Xiabian tomorrow morning. The Prime Minister's office is full of things to do, and I still have a lot to do on my side."

"I understand." Wei Yan nodded.

……

As Guanqiu Jian's troops continued to move eastward, the small camp of the Wu army ten miles west of Xiangyang City became panic-stricken.

Since this camp was only set up by the Wu army to prevent the Wei army from Fancheng and Xiangyang from sneaking across the Han River, there were only a few thousand people in the camp. As Guanqiu Jian's cavalry approached quickly, there were signs of instability in the Wu army camp almost instantly.

The Supreme Lord ordered us to guard here to prevent the Wei army from crossing the river. How could we know that there would be several thousand cavalry charging here? How can we fight like this?
The cavalry approached and surrounded the camp. Almost without hesitation, about a thousand cavalrymen outside the encirclement dismounted and lined up to attack the camp from the east and west.

Although there were boats outside the camp, they could only accommodate more than a hundred people. The rest of the troops did not have time to get on the boats, so they abandoned their weapons and armor and went into the water, swimming towards the sandbar in the middle of the Han River.

Fighting depends on the situation. If the two sides are evenly matched, of course we have to fight, there is no reason to retreat. But the defense outside the camp here is just some wooden fences, how can it resist so many cavalry?

I can also make some excuses to the King of Wu!

"General, the Wu army is either escaping on boats or jumping into the water and swimming towards the Han River sandbar. Should we destroy this camp?"

The person who asked the question was Yin Zhong, who was recommended by Wen Qin and appointed as Sima in the past. Guanqiu Jian thought for a moment and ordered: "Your 1,000 men stay here and burn down the camp. After confirming that the Wu soldiers have left, come to Xiangyang in the east to find me."

"Yes, sir!" Yin Zhong responded by bowing, then quickly called on the soldiers in his camp to prepare to tear down and burn the camp.

Such a thing happened again outside the city of Xiangyang.

After Zhuge Jin was attacked by Niu Jin last time, he placed all his troops at the dock in the east of the city. After Quan Cong lost the siege of Fancheng, Sun Quan added another 5,000 troops outside Xiangyang, and there were 15,000 troops outside Xiangyang.

There were not many Wu soldiers guarding the southwest side of the city. There were only two small camps of a thousand men, separated by a distance of about half a mile.

If one has psychological expectations for marching and fighting, as long as the army is properly trained and bound by military discipline, they will not be defeated without a fight even if they are facing a strong enemy.

But the Wu soldiers on the southwest side of Xiangyang City only dug trenches and built walls towards the side of Xiangyang City. Have they ever thought that someone might come from behind them?

As soon as they found out about the cavalry, they nervously withdrew their troops and stayed inside the camp, not daring to go out at all. Facing the Wu army, Guanqiu Jian only left the east side for them to escape, and sent troops to attack the camp from the south and west. Before half a quarter of an hour had passed, the Wu army abandoned the camp and fled towards the east camp.

In fact, it is impossible to blame the Wu army. Even Zhuge Jin concentrated his forces in the east of the city, so how could he have the spare energy to take care of them?
After capturing this camp, Guanqiu Jian led his troops to the city of Xiangyang in a dignified manner and slowly entered the city through the south gate of Xiangyang which was opened by the defenders inside the city.

Zhao Yan gave the order to open the city without even communicating in advance. From the top of the city wall, the cavalry was at least five or six thousand strong, and it must be the reinforcements of the Wei Dynasty coming from upstream.

There is no possibility that it was Wu Jun.

If it was 500 or 600 cavalry, Zhao Yan would have confirmed it. This was 5,000 or 6,000 cavalry. Even if Sun Quan was squeezed dry, he couldn't gather these cavalry! There was absolutely no other possibility!

When the defenders in the city learned that the Wei cavalry had come to their aid, their morale was boosted and they cheered like a tsunami. Zhao Yan, who was in charge of the military affairs of Jingzhou, also went to the city gate to greet them in person.

"Greetings, Lord Zhao." Guanqiu Jian dismounted from his horse, walked forward and bowed to Zhao Yan.

"Zhong Gong came in person?" Zhao Yan stepped forward with a amiable look and held Guan Qiu Jian's hands. "General Niu and I have thought a lot about which army will come to rescue us, but we never thought that it would be Zhong Gong who came to rescue us!"

"I would like to thank General Zhong for coming from afar to support us!" Zhao Yan bowed slightly.

"Lord Zhao, you can't do that. This is all for the sake of state affairs, not my personal favor." Guanqiu Jian quickly supported Zhao Yan and said, "Lord Zhao has been guarding the city for more than a month, but he is still as elegant as ever!"

His face was ruddy and radiant, and he was indeed very charming. As the governor of Jingzhou, Zhao Yan was isolated in this city. Since the siege of Fancheng was lifted, there was nothing that could worry him.

Zhao Yan smiled slightly and gestured to the side: "Zhong Gong, this is Lieutenant General Niu Jinniu Shucai."

"Greetings, General Guanqiu." Although Niu Jin was twenty years older than Guanqiu Jian, he still bowed respectfully according to etiquette.

Guanqiu Jian was not arrogant and agreed, "General Niu has worked hard to defend the city, so please don't be too polite."

Zhao Yan smiled and introduced him: "Zhong Gong, please take a look. This man is Yin Fan Yin Shuping, a young talent and a meritorious official of the country!"

"Greetings, General Guanqiu." Yin Fan remained graceful and bowed slightly.

Guanqiu Jian did not know Yin Fan, but he just roughly remembered his face and smiled as he returned the gift to Yin Fan. Niu Jin's gift was high, while Yin Fan's was low, but Guanqiu Jian did not care at all, and did not even ask about Yin Fan's identity.

His Majesty's favorite minister is indeed extraordinary, so patient. Zhao Yan was filled with emotion.

Several people surrounded Zhao Yan and walked to the government office in the city. Since they had already entered Xiangyang City, there were people to arrange the cavalry's camping and food, so there was no need for Guanqiu Jian to worry about it.

After entering the government office, several people sat down. After Zhao Yan and Guanqiu Jian exchanged a few words, he immediately asked:
"Zhong Gong, who led the troops in the north to lift the siege of Fancheng a few days ago?" (End of this chapter)