The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 331 The Battle of Hanzhong: The Struggle for Hegemony between Cao Cao and Liu Bei

In the autumn of the sixteenth year of Jian'an, the Wei banner on the walls of Chang'an fell with a crash.

Ma Chao, clad in silver armor and riding a white horse, stood before Weiyang Palace, his silver spear still dripping with blood.

Pang Tong strode over:

"General, a spy reports that Han Sui has already broken camp and fled west overnight!"

It turned out that, due to Yan Xing's death in battle, Ma Chao used a blitzkrieg to capture Chang'an.

Han Sui, who was originally stationed in Fufeng, immediately chickened out and simply led his troops back to Xiliang.

They chose to continue observing the situation.

"Hmph, the old thief does know what's good for him."

Ma Chao sneered, having Pang Tong, his external brain, as his assistant.

He almost never makes mistakes.

Even Ma Chao himself did not expect that the battle to capture Chang'an would proceed so smoothly.

Suddenly, a great commotion of drums and music was heard outside the city. It turned out that Liu Bei was leading his army to Baling.

Ma Chao, Pang Tong, and others led their troops to greet him, and Liu Bei encouraged them.

After entering Chang'an, Liu Bei sent out proclamations to various regions, urging them to submit to the imperial court.

The people of Jingzhao, Fufeng, Fengyi and other places then submitted petitions to surrender.

Liu Bei then swallowed up Henan and the Guanzhong region in one fell swoop.

The next step is to digest it slowly.

Meanwhile, when the Cao Wei army carried out a strategic retreat, a large number of people were relocated and farmhouses were burned.

This caused great damage to production in Henan, which will be a headache for Liu Bei in the future.

Of course, before that, there was one last thing that Liu Bei had to decide.

……

Chang'an, inside the front hall of Weiyang Palace.

The charcoal brazier was burning brightly, and Liu Bei sat in the main seat.

"All of you generals have fought bravely and risked your lives all the way to this day, which is why I have been able to possess the two capitals."

Liu Bei looked up and around, "I have summoned you all here today to discuss our army's next course of action."

"Now, the lands of Henan and Guanzhong are all mine."

"However, the Wei rebels fled south to Shu, attempting to continue their opposition to the imperial court."

"Therefore, in your opinion, should I continue the war, or should I temporarily cease hostilities and recuperate?"

"All of you here are people I trust, so please feel free to speak your mind."

Liu Bei was unsure of what to do, or rather, he was unsure whether his idea would be supported by the public.

The sudden suffocation of the Guanzhong Plain and Henan Province will certainly take a long time to process.

But then he thought again, his own army was winning victory after victory, while the Wei army was suffering a crushing defeat.

Why not strike while the iron is hot and take over the entire Western Sichuan region in one fell swoop?

Once Cao Wei is destroyed, Liu Bei is confident that he can easily subdue the remaining Eastern Wu with a simple proclamation.

Wouldn't that mean the whole world would be unified?
"Brother!"

Zhang Fei suddenly slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups to rattle and clatter.

"Now that Cao Cao only has that little territory in Yizhou left, if we don't eliminate him now, when will we?"

"As long as my brother gives the order, I, Old Zhang, will immediately lead my troops into Sichuan!"

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly and stroked his long beard as he said:

"After Emperor Guangwu pacified Longyou, he immediately took over Bashu in the south."

He also said: "People are never satisfied. After conquering Longxi, they want to conquer Shu."

"Now that you, brother, have conquered Longyou, why not take Shu?"

The idiom "having gained Long, one desires Shu" (得陇望蜀), influenced by Cao Cao, has come to satirize people's insatiable greed.

However, it originated from Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, whose original words meant that since he had obtained Longyou, he should take Shu.

You subordinates better work hard for me!
Now that Guan Yu has cited Liu Xiu's example, it is clear that he intends to encourage Liu Bei.

Liu Bei pondered for a long time, then asked his subordinates:
Do you all think that I should take the land of Shu?

Ma Chao suddenly knelt on one knee, his armor clanging loudly.
"This humble general is willing to lead the Xiliang Iron Cavalry as the vanguard! We will surely break through Yangping Pass within ten days!"

His eyes, hidden beneath the silver helmet, gleamed with a wolf-like light. "Now that Cao Wei has suffered a crushing defeat in the Central Plains, the scholars of Yizhou are wavering and may not be willing to continue aiding the traitor Cao."

"If we don't seize this opportunity now, it will be too late to regret it once Cao Wei has established itself firmly in power."

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh:
"How could I not know of your lofty ambitions, gentlemen?"

"However, since the battle began in Chen, the soldiers' armor and uniforms have not yet been washed."

"I only fear that you will all be exhausted."

"Since you all have such high morale, I am relieved."

"To be honest, I also have the intention to take Shu."

After speaking, he immediately ordered all officers and generals to begin preparations for the conquest of Shu.

Someone might advise:
"When the strategy was first formulated, we only talked about taking Henan and Guanzhong."

"Now that the two capitals have been recovered, our initial aspirations have been fulfilled."

"A campaign against Shu is beyond the scope of our original plan; we should consult Prime Minister Li."

This is a reminder to Liu Bei that when the strategy was initially set, it was stated that only Henan and Guanzhong would be conquered.

Now that the two capitals have been successfully recovered, everyone has achieved their established goals.

Taking over Shu was not part of the original plan; we should discuss it with Prime Minister Li.

Liu Bei readily agreed and immediately sent someone to inform Li Yi, who was still in Luoyang pacifying Jingzhao.

At the time, Li Yi and Chen Deng were both in Luoyang. Upon learning that Liu Bei was going to conquer Shu, they were both extremely shocked.

"Didn't we agree to only attack Henan and Guanzhong? Why is the King of Qi saying he wants to take Shu?" Chen Deng asked in surprise.

Li Yi frowned and said helplessly:

"The war must have been progressing very smoothly, and the King of Qi was arrogant and complacent."

"He felt that he could unify the world right now without any trouble."

"However, King Qi overlooked one thing—"

"The reason why the war went so smoothly is because we have been preparing for it for several years, and everything was within our plans."

"To suddenly decide to take Shu is beyond our capabilities."

Seeing that Li Yi also held a pessimistic attitude, Chen Deng couldn't help but sigh:

"...He who wins a battle before it is fought has a lot of calculations in his mind."

"Those who lose before the battle is fought have made few calculations."

"More calculations lead to better results than fewer calculations, let alone no calculations at all?"

"Sichuan was not originally planned, Ziyu should give King Qi a good talking-to."

In private, Chen Deng and Li Yi addressed each other by their courtesy names.

"...Hehe, this is indeed a difficult matter."

“Yuanlong is well aware of the temperament of the King of Qi. Once he has made up his mind about a certain mission, even I, Li, will find it difficult to persuade him otherwise.”

Liu Bei was a man who, when he got carried away, dared to brave a hail of arrows and personally go to kill Cao Cao.

Moreover, the current overwhelming advantage of the State of Qi makes it difficult for Liu Bei to misjudge the current situation.

They believed that with their existing national strength, unifying the world in one fell swoop was entirely feasible.

However, what it overlooks is that behind a powerful nation lies the need for strategic planning.

"Li can only give it a try..."

Li Yi glanced at the map on the table, which recorded the registered population of the Jingzhao region.

During this period, he was busy working with Chen Deng to clear up the household registration and send the people from Henan back to their hometowns.

The subsequent organization of land reclamation and post-war production work were still in the works.

The thought of coming to the post-war Sichuan region is enough to give me a headache.

Therefore, Li Yi took up his pen and wrote a memorial entitled "Admonition to Stop the Attack on Shu".

The book states briefly:

"Your subject Yi is filled with trepidation and fears death to speak this out."

"Your Majesty, with your divine martial prowess, has recovered both capitals, a feat that surpasses all others in the world."

"However, when I heard that a southern expedition was to be planned, I clutched my chest in the middle of the night and could not contain myself."

"Since the start of the campaign, the soldiers of the three armies have fought across thousands of miles."

"Flies have infested the nail seams, and the blade is chipped and worn; only now can I take a short rest."

“To drive them back into Shu is not something a benevolent ruler would do.”

“Ma Chao, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and others are all fierce generals, holding high positions in the command tent. How could they know the suffering of the soldiers with ‘skins covered in wounds and palms cracked’?”

"Now that the soldiers have returned in triumph and are eager to go home, if we force them to go on a distant expedition, I fear that before the rewards are even distributed, complaints will already be raised."

"Moreover, in the Guanzhong region, the bones of the dead have not yet been collected."

"The fields of Henan are scarred and devastated."

"Only those who resort to cannibalism can breathe a sigh of relief. Your Majesty's benevolence extends throughout the land; how can you bear to impose corvée labor again?"

"I recently inspected the treasury and found that the grain reserves are only enough for two months, the arrowheads are less than 100,000, and the wound medicine is almost gone."

"If we were to launch a distant expedition to Sichuan and Chongqing, the cost would be twice as high as before."

"Emperor Guangwu of the past was greedy for more after gaining Long, because Gongsun Shu was already trapped in a jar."

"Although Cao Cao has been defeated, his clan is still alive and the elite troops in Hanzhong have not been lost. They will surely fight to the death to defend the city."

"Moreover, the roads of Shu are treacherous, and it is said that the roads of Shu are more difficult than ascending to the heavens. Is this an exaggeration?"

"Your Majesty, I urge you to temporarily abandon the plan for the southern expedition and generously reward the meritorious generals and soldiers."

"To comfort the newly arrived people and build up strength to await the opportune moment."

"Now that the two capitals have been recovered and the Han dynasty has regained its glory, it is time to recuperate and rebuild, and gradually plan for a great undertaking."

“If war breaks out suddenly, I fear that ‘the previous achievements have not been secured, and future troubles have already arisen.’”

"I weep and plead my case, humbly beseeching Your Majesty's judgment."

"Your subject Yi bows and respectfully reports."

"In the autumn of the sixteenth year of Jian'an, on the day of Jiazi in the ninth month."

In his memorial advising Liu Bei against continuing the attack on Shu, Li Yi provided ample reasons for his actions.

It can be roughly divided into three points.

First, the soldiers were exhausted from continuous battles.

While figures like Ma Chao, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei advocated continuing the war, it was actually because they were the supreme military commanders and didn't know how hard the lower-ranking soldiers suffered.

Leaders only need to make decisions, but the employees below have to consider many things.

Even though Guan Yu loved his soldiers like his own children, he was still the supreme military commander.

What he hears and sees is certainly limited.

It's impossible to truly empathize with the rank-and-file soldiers.

Secondly, now that they have won a battle, the soldiers are all looking forward to going home to receive their rewards.

If we send them to attack Shu, their morale will be greatly diminished.

Moreover, Henan and Guanzhong are devastated and in dire need of recuperation.

Your Majesty, how can you bear to continue the war and exhaust the people's strength?
It should be noted that the cost of conquering Shu is a considerable expense, and the current treasury of Qi is probably insufficient to support Your Majesty in continuing your campaign against Shu.

Furthermore, Li Yi specifically pointed out that it was inappropriate to use Liu Xiu's example of "having obtained Longxi, he then coveted Shu" as an example.

Gongsun Shu's defeat was inevitable back then, while Cao Cao's core base remained intact.

They will definitely do everything in their power to defend Hanzhong, and will not give it up as easily as they did with Chang'an and Luoyang.

Moreover, the Shu Road is so difficult that it is harder than ascending to heaven, and its difficulty in attacking it is no less than that in attacking Guanzhong in Henan.

Based on these three points, Li Yi advised Liu Bei to carefully consider whether to continue the advance.

After reading Li Yi's memorial, Liu Bei was filled with emotion.

I replied immediately.

"To Prime Minister Ziyu:"

"Upon receiving the letter of remonstrance, I read it repeatedly."

"Your Excellency governs the people of the capital with tireless dedication, day and night, which greatly pleases me."

"Now, with his far-sighted and profound plans, he is truly a trusted and capable minister."

"Upon careful consideration of your words, the plan to attack Shu is indeed radical."

"However, now that our Qi army has just won a victory and the Wei army has suffered repeated defeats, if we stop fighting completely, we may miss the opportunity that Heaven has given us."

"I believe we should take Hanzhong—it is the throat of Yizhou. If we get it, Shu will be as easy as putting it in our pocket."

"Wouldn't it be easy to recuperate and prepare for another westward advance?"

"As for the strategy, we plan to use a large army to press on the border."

"Cao Cao has suffered repeated defeats at my hands and has become a frightened bird."

"Now that they see banners obscuring the sun, they will surely abandon the city and flee."

"When Emperor Guangwu conquered Longyou, he also seized the initiative by striking first."

"You can rest assured, I will not let the soldiers waste their lives in vain."

"Autumn is deep and frost is heavy, you should take good care of yourself."

"All matters concerning the capital still depend on your hard work."

"A letter from King Qi."

In his letter, Liu Bei affirmed Li Yi's loyalty and admitted that the idea of ​​conquering Shu was indeed too radical.

But the arrow has to be fired when it is on the string.

No matter what, we have to take Hanzhong.

Without Hanzhong, there would be no Shu.

As long as we capture this gateway to Yizhou, even if we withdraw our troops, we can return after we have recovered our strength.

Taking Xichuan would be a piece of cake.

As for the series of issues raised by Li Yi, Liu Bei's view was to take a gamble.

If the supplies can only last for two months at most, then we'll only fight for two months.

After failing to capture Hanzhong for two months, they withdrew to avoid further losses.

As for the morale of the troops being low, it was a sign of instability and a significant drop in morale.

Liu Bei's solution was to scare Cao Cao away by amassing a large number of troops in Hanzhong.

After all, Cao Cao had almost always been defeated by him throughout his life.

Now that he has gathered so many troops in Hanzhong, he might suddenly lose his nerve and abandon Luoyang and Chang'an just like he did back then.

They gave up Hanzhong as well.

Liu Bei did indeed harbor a bit of wishful thinking.

Anyway, our own people are already in Chang'an, which is only a stone's throw away from Hanzhong.

If we don't go, wouldn't our trip be in vain?

Moreover, Hanzhong, as the birthplace of Emperor Gaozu, holds a special emotional bond with the Liu family.

Liu Bei was determined to give it his all.

After explaining the matter to Li Yi, Liu Bei temporarily entrusted Li Yi with the management of the affairs of the State of Qi.

He finally decided to launch the Battle of Hanzhong.

On the command platform outside Chang'an City, the autumn wind blew Liu Bei's robes.

The 50,000 troops below the stage were lined up in neat rows, but a closer look revealed that many soldiers had weariness in their eyes.

"Your Majesty, are you really not going to listen to the Prime Minister's opinion?"

"The Prime Minister said that if the fighting continues, there is a risk of a mutiny."

"Moreover, Cao Wei will risk everything to defend the Hanzhong region."

"It would be unwise to force an exhausted army to fight."

Jian Yong said to Liu Bei with a worried expression.

"I understand."

Liu Bei interrupted, his gaze sweeping over the military formation below the stage.

"But the opportunity is fleeting."

"Cao Cao has just suffered a defeat; if we don't seize Hanzhong now, when will we ever get another chance?"

As he spoke, Liu Bei's gaze couldn't help but fall on his childhood friend.

“Xianhe, sometimes you won’t understand, and neither will the Prime Minister.” “Oh?”

Jian Yong raised an eyebrow, intending to make a joke, but seeing Liu Bei's serious expression, he also changed to a more serious tone and said:
"Is there anything in this world that Prime Minister Li doesn't understand?"

"……Um."

Liu Bei nodded; he couldn't tell anyone about his unspeakable secret.

At this moment, occasional commotions could be heard from below the stage.

Several veterans were at the back of the line, complaining in hushed tones.

"We agreed that we would go home after we conquered Luoyang..."

"Later they said they wanted to take Chang'an."

"Now we're going to Hanzhong again..."

When will this war end?

Xu Chu rode his black horse past the ranks, glaring at them and shouting:

"No noise is allowed in the army."

"Anyone who disrupts morale will be dealt with according to military law!"

Everyone feared Xu Chu and dared not speak again.

Guan Yu stroked his long beard, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed:

"I have already ordered the provisions to be sent ahead, and we should be able to reach Chencang Road in three days."

"If Your Majesty is ready, you may depart now."

Liu Bei nodded, mounted his horse, drew his longsword, and shouted:

"Let's go! Conquer Hanzhong!"

As the bugle sounded, the army slowly set off.

It disappeared into the billowing dust.

……

"Liu Bei's army marches on Hanzhong!"

When the news reached Chengdu, it shocked every official of Cao Wei in the imperial court.

They could hardly believe that Liu Bei, having already gained control of Henan and Guanzhong, was still planning to attack Hanzhong.

Just how big is this heart?

"You big-eared thief, how dare you do this!"

Cao Cao slammed the battle report to the ground, his hair and beard standing on end, his eyes bloodshot.

"Taking Henan and Guanzhong is not enough; they dare to covet my Hanzhong!"

Cao Pi hurriedly advised, "Father, please calm down..."

"Calm down!"

Cao Cao kicked over the table and cursed:

"Hanzhong is the gateway to Sichuan. If Hanzhong is lost, the land of Shu will not belong to the Cao family."

How can you not be angry?

After saying this, he immediately gave the order:
"Summon all civil and military officials to the main hall immediately for a meeting!"

Half an hour later, Cao's relatives and important officials from other clans gathered in the main hall.

Cao Cao looked around at everyone, his voice almost hoarse.

"This battle concerns the very survival of the Cao family."

"Even if we win, we still have half of the country."

"defeat……"

He suddenly drew his sword and cleaved the table and chair in front of him in two. "Let it be like this table!"

The room fell silent.

Xiahou Dun's single eye was bloodshot.

"I am willing to fight to the death!"

Cao Ren also slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

"That's right, Hanzhong must not be lost!"

Cao Hong immediately ripped open his shirt and said, "I'm going to organize the troops right now!"

Cao Cao successfully boosted the morale of his men.

But these are not enough.

That night, Cao Cao secretly summoned Qin Mi, Li Hui, and others from powerful clans in Shu.

By candlelight, he personally poured wine for everyone.

"I'm sure you all know that Liu Bei has sent troops to Hanzhong."

"Let's not beat around the bush. Everyone says that I, Cao Cao, am treacherous."

"Today, I, Cao, will speak frankly with you all and say a few words from my heart."

The crowd looked at each other, completely bewildered by Cao Cao's true intentions.

"To be honest, the reason you invited me to Shu was because Liu Zhang was weak and incompetent and unable to defend Yizhou."

"Now that I, Cao, have taken control of Sichuan, I am now in the same boat as you all."

"With Liu Bei's army approaching, I, Cao Cao, earnestly request your assistance!"

Cao Cao knew that for these powerful clans in Shu...

Whether they surrender to Cao Cao or Liu Bei doesn't matter; it's just a matter of how to sell them for a higher price.

Because Cao Cao lost the war in the Central Plains, he naturally did not have an advantage at the negotiating table.

To gain the support of these powerful families, one must first learn to bow down.

We invited you in to be our henchmen, not to be in charge.

"If we can protect Hanzhong, the well-being of Yizhou will be shared with you all."

Cao Cao's words were a wake-up call.

Previously, Cao Cao had consistently chosen to support members of the imperial clan while suppressing the Dongzhou and Yizhou factions in Shu.

Although the internal conflicts were not yet intense, Cao Cao thought he could take it slow.

Unexpectedly, Liu Bei launched a surprise attack on Hanzhong without stopping.

Therefore, Cao Cao had no choice but to cede some of his profits.

If you are willing to help in the Battle of Hanzhong, then all the important positions in the country can be given to you Shu people.

We'll each take half, and the two families will manage it together.

After this condition was presented, a slight change indeed appeared on the faces of the various scholars and powerful families.

Qin Mi stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before asking:

"Does Lord Wei know of the difficulties in transporting grain along the Shu Road?"

Cao Cao's eyes sharpened, and he said solemnly:

"Now is an extraordinary time, and extraordinary measures should be taken."

"Thank you all for your help. It is possible to enable the men of Shu to fight and the women to transport supplies!"

"All young men from Sichuan who join the army shall be exempt from taxes for three years!"

A glint of light flashed in Li Hui's eyes:
"If that's the case... I'm willing to return to my hometown and mobilize the younger members of my clan."

Winter of the sixteenth year of Jian'an.

Cao Cao personally led an army of 100,000 (including laborers) north to Hanzhong.

On the day of the expedition, Cao Cao personally took to the platform to swear an oath to his troops.

"In the Battle of Hanzhong, there was no turning back."

After saying this, he drew his sword and cut his palm, the blood dripping into the wine jar.

The soldiers shouted in unison.

"We must win! We must win!"

Cao Cao even staked out his entire elite force—the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry—which he had accumulated over many years.

In any case, for him, losing Hanzhong meant losing the entire country.

We have nothing left to lose, so let's go all in!

Cao Cao, clad in black armor, stood on the command platform, his voice booming like a bell:

"Cao Xiu, Cao Hong, Cao Zhen, listen to my command!"

The three generals stepped forward in unison: "Your subordinate is here!"

"You shall lead 30,000 elite troops and take the route through Wudu."

Cao Cao pointed northwest and said, "Move all the Di people to Zitong, and don't leave Liu Bei a single grain of food!"

Cao Hong clasped his hands in a fist salute, "What if we encounter resistance?"

A cold glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, "Kill without mercy!"

Throughout the wars of the Three Kingdoms period, the fundamental issue remained constant: the "people" and the "population."

Cao Cao was very aware of the importance of population resources, so whether in history or in this world, he was a "migrant" fanatic.

However, don't think that relocating people is a very simple task.

Its negative impact is equally enormous.

First, any large-scale relocation of people usually amounts to random executions.

A large number of people will die on the road.

Second, forced immigration will lead to a lot of public resentment in the destination countries.

The local people will definitely complain, feeling that the newcomers will take away their living space.

The influx of refugees is a problem that would stump modern governments, let alone those in ancient times.
Not to mention the many differences in dialects, customs, and established rules that need to be worked out.

Tens of thousands more mouths are now filled with complaints, either eating or grumbling.

No one in the new settlement could tolerate it.

Therefore, Cao Cao attached great importance to this plan to relocate people from Wudu.

He directly dispatched three members of the imperial clan as ministers: Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, and Cao Hong.

Before leaving, Cao Cao privately said to Cao Xiu:

"Although you have joined the army, you are in fact a commander."

This means that although you, Cao Xiu, are the military advisor of this army, you are actually the commander-in-chief of this army.

Your Uncle Hong actually went with you to help you out.

As Cao Cao grew older, he began to intentionally cultivate the next generation of generals.

Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, and Cao Zhang were all talented generals among the younger generation.

Wudu is mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities such as the Di people, who are brave and fearless, but also simple-minded.

Cao Cao was very afraid that they would be subdued by Liu Bei and then turn against him.

After all, Wudu is adjacent to Hanzhong, and it would be disgusting for the Di people there to be turned against them.

After making arrangements in Wudu, Cao Cao addressed his generals:
"Hanzhong is the throat of Yizhou, and Yangping Pass is the gateway to Hanzhong. I should personally go and guard it."

Amidst the howling wind, two large armies set off simultaneously from Chengdu.

The Western Route Army consisted of Cao Xiu, Cao Hong, and Cao Zhen.

A total of 30,000 people (including conscripts).
The strategic objective was to reach Wudu and forcibly relocate its inhabitants.

They burned down the Di villages and drove the people to Zitong.

The Northern Route Army consisted of Cao Cao, Cao Ren, and Xiahou Dun.

A total of 70,000 people (including laborers).
The strategic objective was to hold Yangping Pass, protect Hanzhong, wear down Liu Bei, and force him to withdraw his troops.

The snow-capped peaks of the Qinling Mountains silently watched this decisive battle that would determine the fate of the world.

Cao Cao led his army to Baishui Pass.

As the year grew colder, the soldiers were freezing and starving, and complaints began to rise.

That night, Cao Cao secretly summoned Cao Ren and Cheng Yu into his tent and showed them an ancient sword.

"This is the sword that Emperor Gaozu used to slay the python. I obtained it by the Qiao River when I was young."

The sword is covered in rust, but the two characters "Dang Xing" are still faintly discernible.

Cao Ren was about to ask when he realized he didn't remember Cao Cao having acquired such a precious sword in his youth.

Cheng Yu quickly interrupted:
"What does Lord Wei wish to order us to do?"

Cao Cao handed the ancient sword to Cao Ren and instructed him:

"I had already scouted the area before the army set off."

"There is an ancient temple in front of Baishui Pass. You may place this sword inside the ancient temple."

Cao Ren then understood and accepted the order.

At dawn the next day, a scout suddenly rushed into the camp:
"Report! A divine sword has been discovered in the collapsed ground of the ancient temple in front of the pass!"

The army was in an uproar. Cao Cao feigned surprise and went to see for himself.

The earth in front of the temple was cracked three feet deep, and the sword box was half exposed.

The box is inscribed with the words "The Han Dynasty is about to be restored, and the Duke of Wei should be established."

Cao Cao stepped forward from the crowd, his hands trembling as he picked up the sword box and took out the ancient sword.

The ministers, led by Cheng Yu, hurriedly knelt down and shouted:
"This is the sword that Emperor Gaozu used to slay the white serpent! Heaven's will is clear! Heaven's will is clear!"

As he spoke, he prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed.

Upon hearing this, all the soldiers were horrified.

Cao Cao seized the opportunity to draw his sword and point it at the sky:

"Heaven has bestowed this sword upon us; victory in this battle is assured!"

As luck would have it, a flock of wild geese flew over Cao Cao's head at that very moment.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers of the three prefectures all knelt down and shouted:
"May Heaven bless Lord Wei! Hanzhong will surely be captured!"

"May Heaven bless Lord Wei! Hanzhong will surely be captured!"

"..."

Thick frost covered the walls of Yangping Pass.

Cao Cao, wearing a sable fur coat, gently tapped his fingers on the "Divine Sword of Emperor Gaozu" as he gazed at the endless enemy camps beyond the pass.

"Report! Liu Bei's vanguard Xu Chu and Zang Ba have already set up camp ten miles in front of the pass!"

Cao Cao only ordered his troops to hold their ground and did not engage in battle.

During this period, Cao Cao repeatedly came to observe the surrounding situation and saw that there was a hill at the headwaters of the Han River, which could ambush more than a thousand people.

He then returned to the pass and summoned Yue Jin, instructing him:

“You may lead eight hundred men, all carrying drums and horns, and lie in ambush beneath the earthen mound.”

"Whether it's midnight or dusk, you can only hear the bugle call from my camp."

"The horn sounds once, the drum is beaten once."

"Just don't go into battle."

"If the Qi army attacks, I will come to their rescue myself."

Le Jin accepted the order and left.

The next day, a surprise force arrived to challenge them to battle, but no one from the Wei camp came out, and no arrows or crossbows were fired.

Seeing that the Wei army did not fight, the Qi soldiers also became weary and withdrew their troops.

As the night deepened, Cao Cao saw that the lights in the Qi camp had just gone out and the soldiers had settled down for the night, so he sounded the bugle.

Upon hearing this, Yue Jin ordered the drums and horns to sound simultaneously.

The Qi soldiers were alarmed, suspecting that the Wei people had come to raid their camp.

Upon leaving the camp, not a single soldier was to be seen.

Just as they returned to camp to rest, the bugle sounded again, the drums and horns blared, and shouts shook the earth, echoing through the valleys.

The Qi soldiers were restless all night.

The already exhausted Qi army became even more agitated.

For three nights in a row, I was filled with such astonishment and doubt.

Fearing that his men would not be able to hold out, Zang Ba consulted with Xu Chu and decided to break camp and retreat thirty miles to set up camp in an open area.

Xu Chu said, "If we leave now, it will be difficult to explain when the King of Qi arrives."

Zang Badao said, "Now that the soldiers have no will to fight, it would be better to wait for King Qi to personally take command."

Since Zang Ba was the commander-in-chief of this battle, Xu Chu had no choice but to obey.

Two days later, Liu Bei led his army to Hanzhong.

……

(End of this chapter)