Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Chapter 105 Standoff

When Sima Yi arrived at Chencang, all the Qiang and Hu leaders in Guanzhong had already arrived there, while the Qiang and Hu leaders in Longyou were still on their way and would arrive in two more days.

Within the territory of Wudu Commandery, Jiang Wei left 1,000 infantrymen stationed in Xiabian and Hechi to oversee the relocation of the Qiangduan and Fu Shuang tribes.

Jiang Wei himself led his 5,000 Tiger Infantry troops to confront the Wei general Niu Jin's troops across the river at a strategic point 90 li east of Hechi, where the Chencang Road and the Gudao River meet.

The Han army had 5,000 elite infantrymen, while the Wei army had 5,000 light cavalry.

That said, the three kingdoms of Han and Wei, Han and Wu, and Wei and Wu fought each other for many years, and thus gained a great deal of understanding of each other's generals.

Niu Jin was formerly a general under Cao Ren. He was valued by Sima Yi when Sima Yi was in charge of Jing and Yu provinces, perhaps because of his meritorious service in the battle to kill Meng Da. Later, when Sima Yi took charge of Yong and Liang provinces, Niu Jin followed him and became Sima Yi's commander of light cavalry. His troops were often stationed in the Chencang area, ready to respond at any time.

If anything happens in Guanzhong, Niu Jin's light cavalry will definitely be the first army that Sima Yi sends out.

Several years ago, when the Prime Minister launched his four campaigns, Sima Yi had just arrived in Shanggui and attempted to send Niu Jin's troops to attack the Han army camp.

At this juncture, Jiang Wei naturally desires war, and even hopes that Niu Jin's troops can cross the river upstream to attack his own forces.

The reasons for this are multifaceted.

First, Jiang Wei was confident in his martial prowess and military strategy. His Tiger Infantry Army was the result of his years of training and had been the central army under Prime Minister Zhuge Liang in the past. They were exceptionally elite and never feared using infantry to subdue cavalry.

Secondly, the imperial court has already dispatched 10,000 elite troops, who should have arrived in Hechi by now.

The imperial court appointed Xu Yun, the Minister of War, as the Protector of the Army, along with 10,000 elite troops under the command of General Wu Ban, the Left Protector, and General Wang Ping, the Northern Expeditionary General. Of these, the court allocated 4,000 of the 8,000 men formerly under Wei Yan to Wang Ping, and 2,000 each to Wu Yi and Wu Ban.

In other words, Jiang Wei's 5,000 soldiers, along with Wu Ban and Wang Ping's 10,000 soldiers behind him, constitute the most elite 15,000 troops in the Han army at present. Moreover, the imperial court has also ordered 20,000 infantrymen to prepare for battle in Hanzhong, so there is no need to worry about subsequent reinforcements.

In addition, Jiang Wei was eager to make meritorious contributions—how could he not want to fight?

"Did the Shu army send a challenge?"

At this moment, Niu Jin, the general of Wei, was on a hillside not far from the east bank of the Gudao River, looking towards the opposite bank. Upon hearing this news, he frowned, took a burlap sack from his subordinate, and took out two bamboo strips from it. On them, two lines of writing were clearly written in ink.

"I've heard that Sima Zhongda of Wei feared the Han like a tiger," and today I see that scene again. How can we not fight? "Hmph, child's play." Niu Jin shook his head, his gaze fixed solemnly on the opposite bank.

Across the Gudao River, the eastern bank where Niu Jin is located is flat and surrounded by mountains. It should be a flat area formed by the summer alluvial deposits of the Gudao River. Historically, the Wei state would advance its troops through Chencang via this route.

Jiang Wei's army camp opposite them was set up on a slope, relying on the terrain, with the left and right camps supporting each other. Niu Jin's troops were all cavalry, so why would they attack the enemy camp on the hillside? Were they crazy?

Just then, the trusted officer who had handed Niu Jin the declaration of war asked, "General, should we fight or not?"

"You're going to fight?" Niu Jin picked up his riding whip and lashed it at the man's helmet. "You're going to charge the mountain with light cavalry?"

"You're going to fight?"

"General, please calm down." The trusted aide, realizing he had spoken out of turn, apologized repeatedly.

Niu Jin wasn't really angry. Instead, he took the two bamboo strips out of the burlap sack again and examined them carefully once more.

"Who sent this?"

The confidant replied, "General, the messenger was probably a wild Di person that the Shu army found somewhere. He said he had received money from the Shu army before rowing over. He's a Di person, so he probably doesn't know anything about Shu or Wei. I didn't keep him and let this wild Di person go."

"Go, send this letter of challenge to Chencang by fast horse. If I'm not mistaken, the Grand Commandant should be in Chencang by now." Niu Jin tossed the cloth bag into his trusted aide's arms: "Don't waste a horse's strength, go quickly!"

"Your subordinate obeys." The trusted confidant took the order and left.

Although Niu Jin was unwilling to cross the river to fight Jiang Wei, he had something to rely on.

Chencang is located two hundred li northeast of here. Grand Commandant Sima Yi has already arrived at Chencang, and the infantry led by Guo Huai is about to set out. Niu Jin is not afraid of battle.

However, Niu Jin was concerned that as a military commander, he could not rashly start a war. If the Shu army did not come, he could go to their aid. But since the Shu army had arrived, why risk taking a detour? For Niu Jin, a standoff across the river was the best option.

The message took another day to reach Chencang.

When Sima Yi received Niu Jin's message, he also received a map of the confrontation location drawn by Niu Jin's military advisor.

On this day, the army of Guo Huai, the governor of Yongzhou, was also ready.

Just as Guo Huai arrived at Sima Yi's place to report that the army could set out, Sima Yi, holding two bamboo slips written by Jiang Wei, said calmly, "Bo Ji, do not send out troops."

"Why?" Guo Huai raised an eyebrow at Sima Yi, who sat upright in the center of the hall. "I have already prepared the army. My troops and General Hu's 10,000 infantrymen are ready to depart. Why are you not going now?"

"Boji, don't be hasty." Sima Yi appeared calm and composed: "Take a look. This is the battlefield situation drawn by Niu Jin's troops, and this is the Shu army's request for battle."

Sima Yi shook his head and smiled: "When I saw this letter of challenge, I was reminded of the letter of challenge I saw from Zhuge Liang in Mei County last year. The handwriting was the same, the tone was the same, and the same attempt to provoke me into battle. This is not a place for war, and it is not advantageous for our army."

Guo Huai frowned, stepped forward to examine the two bamboo slips carefully, and then asked, "Grand Commandant, does His Majesty have an explanation?"

"His Majesty's document states that the people of Henan are undertaking large-scale palace construction in Luoyang this year, making it difficult for them to fulfill their corvée duties. He warns me not to fall into the Shu army's trap in Guanzhong and that a major battle is not advisable." Sima Yi's expression was quite calm: "If His Majesty is unwilling to wage war, what is the point of me fighting over Wudu, a remote and desolate place with only a few Di people? Since that's the case, let Shu have what it wants if they don't want to come. If Shu wants to fight, then let them have it."

Guo Huai's chest heaved for a moment, then he put the bamboo strip back into his bag, walked to the seat to Sima Yi's left, and sighed, "Now that the Grand Commandant has news from Luoyang, how many people will be needed to build the palace there?"

Sima Yi glanced at Guo Huai: "We want to build a Taiji Hall in the South Palace of Luoyang, a Zhaoyang Hall in the North Palace, and a Zongzhang Temple, saying it will be built like the Bronze Sparrow Terrace—big and small, at least 50,000 people will be needed."

Guo Huai thought for a long time before asking again, "The Qiang and Hu leaders have already arrived in Chencang. What should we tell them then?"

Sima Yi said casually, "Qiang Duan promised to come to Shu in Wudu Commandery but didn't. What's there to say? Just let's not talk about it."

Guo Huai nodded and remained silent.