Three Reconstructions of the Han Dynasty: I Helped Zhuge Liang Perfect the Longzhong Plan

Liu Bei personally went out of the tent to invite Pang Tong back. After a brief exchange of apologies and reconciliation between the ruler and his minister, harmony returned to the tent. The previous minor unpleasantness vanished, and after a few more rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly relaxed and harmonious.

The wine wasn't too strong, and everyone was at peace. The arrogance and restlessness that had filled the camp had subsided considerably after the earlier candid discussions, replaced by a more composed demeanor. The men sat around the table, discussing the war in Shu and debating future strategies for governing the region. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan were still gesturing out deployments after the famous city was captured, while Fa Zheng quietly explained the water system defenses around Luo City to Gu Sulin. The tent was filled with the warmth of unity between ruler and subjects. It wasn't until late at night that everyone dispersed to rest, leaving only a few soldiers on night watch. The camp temporarily returned to tranquility.

Gu Sulin returned to his tent, but sleep eluded him. He sat at his desk, his fingertips lightly tapping the surface, the scene of the banquet replaying in his mind—Liu Bei's unrestrained joy after getting drunk, Pang Tong's earnest and frank advice, and his own careful consideration when offering his own words of advice. He knew all too well the trajectory of this history; every step he took now concerned the fate of the entire Liu Bei group, allowing no room for negligence.

He looked at the map on the table, his gaze focused on a valley between Mianzhu and Luocheng.

Luofengpo.

Pang Tong was killed by an arrow, and Liu Bei's group lost a strategist, thus hindering their advance into Sichuan.

Although some parts of the plot have been changed and morality is in hand, Zhang Ren no longer has the opportunity to ambush her, but we still cannot let our guard down.

Zhang Ren was a man who would rather die than surrender, and he was also well aware of the advantages of the terrain in Shu. He would never obediently retreat to Luocheng, and he would definitely lay out contingency plans along the way.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. So he got up, put on his clothes, and quickly walked out of the tent. He wanted to study the surrounding terrain with Fa Zheng again before he felt a little more at ease.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the first hint of light appeared in the east, a scout from the front lines galloped back to the central army camp. He scrambled into the tent to report urgently: "My lord! We've learned that Zhang Ren gathered the remaining troops from Fucheng and Mianzhu last night, abandoned the scattered passes along the way, and led his troops to retreat to Luocheng. They are holding their ground and reinforcing the city's defenses!"

Upon hearing the news, Liu Bei, Pang Tong, Gu Sulin, Fa Zheng, and others inside the tent all rose to their feet.

Pang Tong's gaze sharpened, and he immediately stepped forward, looking at Liu Bei. His tone was urgent yet clear: "My lord, Luocheng is the last fortified city north of Chengdu, strategically located with high walls and a formidable terrain. It is also a vital strategic point in Shu. Zhang Ren has just suffered a defeat; his army's morale is unstable, and his defenses are incomplete. If we allow him to establish a foothold and calmly deploy his defenses using Luocheng's advantageous terrain, any subsequent attack will come at a heavy cost. In my opinion, our army should press on while the enemy is ahead, not giving Zhang Ren time to regroup and prepare his defenses. We should strike at the city walls in one fell swoop, catching him completely off guard. This is the military principle of 'speed is of the essence'!"

Pang Tong's words were precisely the safest yet most aggressive strategy after a series of victories. The generals in the tent nodded in agreement, and even Huang Zhong stroked his beard and said, "The strategist is absolutely right. Our army's morale is high, and we should press on and take Luocheng in one fell swoop!"

Fa Zheng hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said calmly:

"My lord, there are two routes from Mianzhu to Luocheng. One is the main road, which is a bit longer, but flat and open, making it difficult to ambush the army and ensuring its safety. However, the journey is long, and it will inevitably delay our arrival in Luocheng for several days. The other is a mountain path, which is shorter and faster, allowing us to quickly reach the city. However, we must pass through a dangerous place called Luofeng Slope, which is flanked by two mountains and has a deep forest, making it very easy to be ambushed."

Fa Zheng paused for a moment, then continued, "If we want to be on the safe side, our army might as well take the main road. Although it will take a few days longer, it will allow us to avoid dangerous places and prevent us from falling into Zhang Ren's trap."

Upon hearing "a few days slower" or "a few days delayed," Pang Tong immediately frowned, waved his hand firmly, and refused to delay in the slightest:

"No! Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and opportunities are fleeting. Zhang Ren is still shaken and his defenses are not yet complete. The longer our army arrives, the more prepared he will be. Once Luocheng's defenses are in place and the people are at peace, attacking the city will be as difficult as climbing to heaven. Besides, I have already scouted the area ahead; it is just an ordinary mountain path, not particularly dangerous. If Zhang Ren sets up an ambush here, it will only be a waste of our troops."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with the idea of ​​a swift battle, and was about to give the order.

At that very moment, Gu Sulin strode forward and abruptly stopped them in a deep voice:

"My lord! Strategist! You must not take the shortcut!"

All eyes in the tent turned to him.

Gu Sulin's heart tightened, and historical images almost surged into his mind. He suppressed his emotions, his tone heavy and urgent:

"The strategist only thinks about a quick victory, but he forgets that Zhang Ren is most adept at using terrain. He suffered two defeats in a row and retreated to Luocheng, clearly calculating that our army was eager for quick success and would inevitably take the shortcut to save time! There must be an ambush at Luofeng Slope!"

He paused, his fingertips tracing the general terrain of Luofeng Slope on the table, and continued, "Zhang Ren has suffered two defeats at Fucheng and Mianzhu, so he must be burning with the will to fight to the death. Moreover, having lived in Sichuan for a long time, he knows the local terrain like the back of his hand. His retreat to Luocheng this time is by no means a simple avoidance of battle. It is most likely a deliberate show of weakness to lure our army into being impatient for victory, so that when our army advances to Luofeng Slope, he can cut off our retreat, block our valley entrance, and set up an ambush to annihilate us."

At this point, historical scenes flashed through Gu Sulin's mind again, and his heart tightened. His tone became increasingly urgent: "Our army has just won a victory, and the soldiers are blinded by their winning streak. Many are underestimating the enemy and only thinking about taking Luocheng quickly. They will certainly not take precautions against the dangerous places along the way. If we rashly rush into the ambush at Luofeng Slope, the valley entrance will be blocked, our retreat will be cut off, and the army will be trapped in the narrow valley, unable to advance or retreat. At that time, Zhang Ren will be able to shoot arrows and roll stones from his high position, and our army will be thrown into chaos. The consequences will be unimaginable!"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was precious, hitting the nail on the head.

Upon hearing this, Fa Zheng, who was standing to the side, immediately stepped forward and agreed, saying, "What Mr. Gu said is exactly in line with military strategy! I have been in Shu for many years and am very familiar with Luofeng Slope. Zhang Ren is most skilled in ambushes and has a deep understanding of terrain. If he wants to launch a desperate counterattack, Luofeng Slope will definitely be his first choice for setting up an ambush. Firstly, it can slow down our army's advance, and secondly, it can dampen our army's winning momentum. My lord, it is best to be cautious!"

Having been advised by Pang Tong the previous night, Liu Bei's temper had already calmed down. Now, after hearing Gu Sulin's warning and having received confirmation from Fa Zheng, his expression remained calm, without the slightest panic. He simply nodded slightly, looked at Pang Tong, and said in a steady tone: "Shiyuan, what Zimao and Xiaozhi said is all true. Although Luocheng must be attacked, we cannot be rash. The danger of Luofeng Slope must not be ignored."

Upon hearing this, Pang Tong frowned even more deeply. Although he knew there was merit to it, he was unwilling to give up the opportunity for a swift attack. After a moment's thought, he immediately proposed another strategy:

"My lord, since that's the case, why not divide our forces?"

I will personally lead a light detachment via a side path across Luofeng Slope to quickly distract Zhang Ren and disrupt his defenses; my lord, lead the main force along the main road, advancing steadily. In this way, we will neither miss the opportunity nor endanger the main force. Even if there is an ambush on the side path, my light detachment can easily advance and retreat, without affecting the entire army.