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

Fa Zheng walked to the edge of the mountaintop and looked down. He saw that the soldiers of Hanzhong were all in high spirits. Their morale was high at dawn, and their formation was neat. They were obviously determined to take the mountain at the cost of their lives.

He slowly shook his head and said to Wei Yan, "General Wenchang, you must not attack at this moment."

Our soldiers, having traversed the mountains overnight, are exhausted and their strength has not yet recovered; while Zhang Wei's troops arrived at dawn, their morale high. To descend the mountain and engage in battle now would be like a weary army facing a well-trained elite force—a defeat is inevitable.

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan nodded in agreement and then asked, "What do you think should be done, sir?"

Fa Zheng's gaze was firm as he pointed down the mountain and said, "General, you only need to hold your ground and let them rant and rave. Our army will wait in comfort and wear down their morale."

I will go up to the top of the mountain. When noon comes, the enemy will have been cursing all morning. They will be tired and their morale will be low. They will definitely rest on the spot. At that time, I will raise the white command flag on the top of the mountain. When you see the white flag, you should immediately lead your elite troops to rush down the mountain and strike the enemy's formation. We will surely defeat the enemy in one battle!

Military strategy states: "The spirit is sharp in the morning, sluggish at midday, and returns to its peak at dusk." This strategy aims to strike when the spirit is sluggish at midday.

General, please do not kill Zhang Wei; capture him alive. Zhang Wei is Zhang Lu's brother; if you kill him, Zhang Lu will stop at nothing to become my enemy.

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan's mind cleared, and he bowed respectfully, accepting the order: "I will follow your plan, sir!"

After giving his instructions, Fa Zheng immediately turned around, strode up the mountain, and waited quietly, constantly observing the battle situation below Dingjun Mountain.

At the foot of Dingjun Mountain, Zhang Wei led 5,000 garrison troops, cursing from dawn until noon.

Under the scorching sun, the soldiers of Hanzhong were parched and exhausted. At first, they could still shout and curse, but later, their voices grew softer and softer, everyone looked tired, they could barely hold their weapons, and their formation gradually loosened.

Zhang Wei himself was also hoarse from cursing. He was dizzy and lightheaded on his horse. Seeing that the Shu army on the mountaintop still did not come out, he was both angry and anxious, but he was helpless.

Seeing that his soldiers were exhausted, he could not hold on any longer. He immediately ordered the entire army to rest on the spot, put down their weapons, sit on the ground, drink water and rest, intending to recharge their energy before continuing their provocations.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers of Hanzhong were as if granted a pardon. They dropped their weapons and collapsed to the ground, completely unprepared. The morale of the entire army had plummeted to its lowest point. Their so-called morning vigor had been completely worn away by a morning of futile shouting and cursing.

Standing atop the mountain, Fa Zheng had a clear view and immediately ordered the soldiers beside him to raise the white command flags they had prepared and wave them vigorously.

Halfway up the mountain, Wei Yan kept his eyes fixed on the summit. Seeing Fa Zheng raise the white flag, a fierce fighting spirit instantly ignited in his eyes. He immediately drew his sword, mounted his horse, and shouted, "Soldiers, the time has come! Charge with me! Capture Zhang Wei alive, defeat the enemy, and achieve victory!"

Before he finished speaking, Wei Yan took the lead, leading three thousand elite Shu soldiers like tigers descending a mountain, charging down the mountain path towards the exhausted and disorganized Hanzhong army below. The Shu soldiers, positioned on higher ground and taking advantage of the mountain's momentum, were unstoppable, each soldier fighting bravely, their battle cries shaking the heavens and the earth.

The Hanzhong army at the foot of the mountain was resting on the ground, completely unprepared. Hearing the deafening shouts of battle, they looked up and saw the Shu army charging down the mountain. They were all terrified and panicked, not having time to pick up their weapons or form ranks to resist.

Wei Yan charged forward on horseback as if he were in an empty field. He spotted Zhang Wei, who was in a panic, and immediately spurred his horse to gallop towards Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei was terrified when he saw the Shu army charging towards him. He tried to turn his horse and flee for his life, but he was already surrounded by the Shu soldiers and could not move.

Wei Yan rode up and immediately swung his sword, striking Zhang Wei's horse's back with the back of the blade, knocking Zhang Wei off his horse.

Zhang Wei rolled to the ground, and the Shu army swarmed forward and captured him alive.

Upon seeing their commander captured, the soldiers of Hanzhong were leaderless and completely collapsed, scattering and fleeing without any resistance. The Shu army pursued their victory, inflicting a crushing defeat on the Hanzhong army and seizing countless provisions and weapons. The Battle of Dingjun Mountain was a resounding victory for Shu.

……

Early the next morning, in Liu Bei's camp outside the pass.

A scout, covered in dust, galloped into the camp: "Reporting to the lord! Yesterday morning, General Wei led his troops to seize Dingjun Mountain. In the afternoon, following your advice, sir, he decisively defeated the enemy army and captured Zhang Weisheng alive. Dingjun Mountain is now entirely ours!"

The people inside the tent were thrilled to hear the news of Zhang Wei's capture and the great victory at Dingjun Mountain.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was overjoyed. He immediately stood up, drew his sword, and said loudly, "Excellent! Wenchang and Xiaozhi have made great contributions again!"

"Issue my order: the entire army shall launch a full-scale attack on Yangping Pass. We will surely breach this pass today!"

The generals under his command responded in unison, with Huang Zhong being the most eager.

Previously, Wei Yan had been ordered to launch a surprise attack and Wu Yi had been ordered to defend the Ju River. Both of them had made great contributions, and this veteran general had long been eager to make his mark.

Upon hearing this, he immediately drew his sword, mounted his horse, and took the lead, commanding the main force of the central army to carry ladders and push battering rams, heading straight for the walls of Yangping Pass.

The atmosphere among the garrison at Yangping Pass was quite the opposite. Overnight, morale plummeted, everyone was filled with fear and unease, rumors spread throughout the camp, and the soldiers on duty were all terrified, their hands trembling as they struggled to hold their weapons.

The drums and bugles sounded, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens.

The Shu soldiers bravely scaled the pass and soon appeared poised to breach the gates of Yangping Pass.

Although the morale of the garrison at the pass was low, fortunately, Yang Ren and Yang Ang were still in command, so they could only fight desperately.

Unfortunately, Zhang Wei took away a large number of troops, leaving the garrison inside the pass with sparse forces.

Yangping Pass was on the verge of being completely captured by the Shu army.

At this critical moment, a deafening sound of hooves suddenly came from the west side of Yangping Pass. A heavy cavalry force dressed in Xiliang armor rushed over like lightning, heading straight for the Shu army that had besieged the pass.

……

At that time, Ma Chao was still fighting Xiahou Yuan on the front line of Qishan. When he received Zhang Lu's document ordering him to "rush back to Hanzhong", he was reining in his horse at the foot of Qishan Fortress, looking at Xiahou Yuan's command flag on the city wall in the distance.

He took the urgent report from the messenger, glanced at the words "Liu Bei's army is attacking Yangping Pass, and Hanzhong is in imminent danger," and his eyes suddenly widened. The document in his hand clenched tightly and wrinkled instantly. His body under the Xiliang armor trembled slightly, with worry about the safety of his return journey and resentment at being unable to "establish a foothold in Hanzhong and seek revenge against Cao Cao."

"That traitor Liu Bei, how dare you launch a sneak attack on Hanzhong while I am far away in Qishan!" Ma Chao shouted angrily, his voice shaking the surrounding area and startling the soldiers around him into holding their breath.

"Ma Dai, Pang De!" Ma Chao turned to look at the two men beside him, his eyes sharp as knives. "Order the army to immediately break camp and return to reinforce Hanzhong."

Ma Dai mustered his three thousand cavalry, abandoned their baggage, and traveled lightly and swiftly to set off ahead of me.

Pang De, the 30,000 troops in Hanzhong are marching slowly. You should lead the army behind them, take good care of the provisions and supplies, and withdraw the entire army as well.

"We must march at top speed and return to Hanzhong before Liu Bei breaks through Yangping Pass!"

"yes!"