Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

This campaign against Wu mobilized 250,000 troops. The distance between Xiling in Jingzhou, the westernmost part of the battlefield, and Dantu in Yangzhou, the easternmost part, was a distance of 2,000 li (approximately 1,000 kilometers) in a straight line.

The Great Wei has not yet fully occupied the Yangtze River, and the journey by land is even longer, at least three thousand li. If General Man Chong, who is stationed in Jiangling, wants to communicate with the emperor, it will take even longer than before. After the documents arrive in Wancheng, they travel south into the river and upstream, which is equivalent to taking a large detour.

While Cao Rui was still inspecting the navy in Chaisang, the Prime Minister of Shu Han, Zhuge Liang, and his 20,000 elite troops finally arrived outside Xiling City.

Since Wei Yan occupied Xiling twenty days ago, the war situation in Jingzhou has become somewhat strange in Man Chong's eyes. He first learned from Xiahou He's report that the Wu army had blockaded Xiling City and avoided battle. Then, Xiahou He sent people to investigate, only to find that there were many reinforcements in Xiling.

The terrain here stretches from northwest to southeast along the great river. Xiahou He blocks the south and east sides, and the only place where reinforcements can be sent is the Shu Kingdom in Yizhou upstream!
Man Chong was still unsure of the Shu army's movements, so he temporarily ordered Xiahou He's troops to continue their vigilance. The distance from Xiling to Jiangling was over two hundred li, and with a sufficient number of cavalry on guard, it would be enough to prepare for any eventuality.

But...anything can happen on the battlefield. Let alone Man Chong, even Cao Rui couldn't have imagined that Shu would send 50,000 troops to Jingzhou.
This was truly an unexpected force.

"Prime Minister, you must be tired from your journey. Please come into the city and rest." General Wei Yan, who was leading the Eastern Expedition, bowed to greet him, and Fei Yi also bowed beside him. Wei Yan and Fei Yi had arrived at the north of the city early to wait, while Zong Yu remained in Xiling City to guard the city's defenses.

"It's alright," Zhuge Liang replied casually, but the weariness on his face was unmistakable. "Is General Zong inside the city?"

"Yes, we two will go out of the city to welcome them, but we must leave General Zong in the city to guard against the Wu people."

Zhuge Liang gave Wei Yan a meaningful look, said nothing, and walked straight into the city gate along the path guarded by the soldiers.

Wei Yan exchanged a forced smile and a glance with Fei Yi, then followed Zhuge Liang inside. Both were longtime subordinates of the Prime Minister, and with just a look from Zhuge Liang, they understood his meaning.

Half of it was an acknowledgment of Wei Yan's entry into Xiling City, and the other half was a subtle reprimand of his beloved general.

Wei Yan captured Bu Zhi alive in front of the two armies, and then used Bu Zhi's name to open the gates of Xiling City. Afterwards, he released Bu Zhi back to his camp, and Han and Wu each took control of half of the city's defenses.

In the end, Wei Yan took control of the situation near Xiling in a very short time, preparing for the arrival of Zhuge Liang's troops, and did not engage in any battle with the Wu army, which can be described as clean and efficient.

However, judging from the process... Wei Yan's actions were extremely unethical. As a general, Wei Yan could use deceit and cunning, but he couldn't save face for the prime minister. Han and Wu were allies; how would he explain this to Sun Quan and Bu Zhi later? It would be easier to explain to Zhuge Jin.

At this time, Zhuge Liang was unaware that Wei had already taken all the land east of Chaisang and that Wu was on the verge of destruction. Otherwise, Zhuge Liang would have taken the same swift and decisive approach.

Zhuge Liang's actions were more like those of a Legalist or military strategist than a Confucian one, and he was not bound by worldly morality in the slightest.

Now that they had entered the city, Zhuge Liang was bound to meet Bu Zhi, and Bu Zhi shared the same thought.

"General Bu, it has been many years since we last met. Han and Wu are allies, and General Bu has been guarding Xiling for many years. You and I can be considered neighbors." Zhuge Liang said with a cupped hand and a smile.

"Prime Minister Zhuge, how have you been?" Bu Zhi said with displeasure. "As allies, is it right to hold me hostage on the battlefield? Is it right to use the life of your commander as leverage to seize half a city? I have nothing to say to Wei Wenchang, but now that I have met you, please give me an explanation!" Zhuge Liang was unwilling to clean up Wei Yan's mess, but he had no choice but to do so. "The Wei army is pressing in, this is a temporary measure, not out of rudeness from the Han Dynasty. Please forgive me, General Bu."

"Forgive me?" Bu Zhi sneered, his tone resolute as if he disregarded life and death. Previously, Wei Yan had been released as soon as he entered the city, so Bu Zhi knew the bottom line of the Shu army's actions and was on the side of reason. Bu Zhi's words were even more uncompromising: "Wei Wenchang has been here for twenty days, guarding the city without making an inch of progress. I have urged him several times, but to no avail."

"Today, Prime Minister Zhuge has led his army here. I wonder how many troops your army has in total? And when will you go to rescue Jiangling?"

"Fifty thousand." Zhuge Liang replied solemnly, "Fifty thousand troops gathered here, needing only one day of rest, can then march east to relieve the siege of Jiangling. When friendly nations are in trouble, we should do our utmost to help them; this is the great principle of the Spring and Autumn Annals. General Bu, I intend to march out tomorrow!"

Bu Zhi sighed, "I am the General of the Cavalry of Wu, but unfortunately my troops are few and weak, and I am helpless against Your Majesty's military campaign. Tomorrow, Prime Minister Zhuge, you may proceed eastward with peace of mind, and I will guard your rear!"

Zhuge Liang frowned, and his voice gradually turned cold: "Does General Bu mean that I am leading troops to rescue Wu, while General Bu is sitting in the rear watching us fight?"

Bu Zhi also argued vehemently: "Xiling is the territory of Great Wu, and it is my duty to defend this land. It must not be lost without authorization!"

Zhuge Liang said, "I know this place is under Wu's jurisdiction. How about this, General Bu, leave five hundred men behind, and the rest of the troops will follow me eastward. Let's relieve the siege of Wu. Don't the people of Wu need to strengthen themselves?"

"But……"

Just as Bu Zhi was about to speak, Wei Yan, who was also standing behind Zhuge Liang with a gloomy face, said, "General Bu, there is still some decorum between Han and Wu. Let's not tear that decorum apart here. The Prime Minister is absolutely right. How can the Wu people not be the vanguard in relieving the siege of Jiangling?"

"Whether to send troops tomorrow or not, General, please think it over carefully today. If you can't figure it out, I'll help you think it over!"

The following day, March 6, the Han and Wu armies at Xiling set off eastward at dawn.

Despite his inner turmoil, Bu Zhi followed Zhuge Liang's instructions. As the General of Chariots and Cavalry of Wu, Bu Zhi understood which was more important, Jiangling or Xiling, and which was the foundation of Wu.

Most importantly, he knew the significance behind Shu's deployment of 50,000 troops. If he truly intended to defend the city, then those 50,000 troops would not be targeting Jiangling today, but rather him.

Previously, when Wei Yan entered the city and sent Bu Zhi back to his camp, Bu Zhi did not immediately lead his troops to attack, which already showed his true feelings.

That's often how things are in this world; if you can retreat once, you can retreat a second time. If he had truly held firm to his position, Bu Zhi should have fought to the death twenty days ago. How could he have waited until Zhuge Liang arrived with 20,000 troops?
In any case, at least troops will be sent to relieve the siege.

The simultaneous mobilization of 50,000 troops astonished Xiahou He, who was besieging the eastern part of Xiling City. He immediately dispatched scouts to inform Man Chong of the matter. (End of Chapter)