I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 4 The Confrontation between Han and Wei in the Fifth Northern Expedition

The crowd fell silent.

Sima Yi's words were never refuted.

Compared to his terrifying military capabilities, Zhuge Liang's domestic capabilities are even more terrifying.

This is an opponent that gives the entire Wei Dynasty a headache.

"The Commander-in-Chief," Guo Huai said, "I have no objection to stationing troops on the south bank of the Wei River. However, I would like to send an army to Beiyuan on the north bank of the Wei River. The terrain there is high. If our army is stationed there, we can occupy it." The advantageous terrain north of the Wei River is in an active position. If it is occupied by Zhuge Liang and the Shu army unites from the north to the south, it can cut off Chang'an and Longxi. Zhuge Liang will defend Beiyuan and Wuzhangyuan and go to Longxi. By then, our army will be at a loss!"

"Bo Ji is making alarmist remarks!" Zhang Hu couldn't help but sneered after hearing this, "Since the governor wants to station troops south of the Wei River, and now he sends a force to the north of the Wei River, wouldn't it weaken our army's power? When the Shu army attacks, the north and south will be separated. Looking at the river and not being able to respond is really a bad idea!"

Guo Huai ignored Zhang Hu and even felt that Zhang Hu was stupid and had not inherited any of his father's advantages.

Xiahou Ba also said: "Grand Governor, now is indeed not the time to divide our troops."

Sima Yi argued against all opinions and said: "Bo Ji is right! Zhuge Liang must be stationed in Wuzhangyuan. Wuzhangyuan is a highland to the south of the Wei River, and Beiyuan is a highland to the north of the Weihe River. If Zhuge Liang takes these two places, our army will There is nothing we can do!”

Everyone looked at each other, and Sima Yi said: "Bo Ji, I will give you five thousand soldiers and horses. You must occupy Beiyuan before the Shu army arrives!"

"The last general takes orders!"

Immediately, Sima Yi said to everyone: "In the beginning of the year, I heard that Zhuge Liang's body was acting strangely during the first month of the year, and he might be sick."

As soon as everyone heard the news, they immediately became excited.

Sima Yi also sneered: "Zhuge Liang will not survive this year."

A few days later, the Han army arrived in Guanzhong and camped under Wuzhangyuan on the south bank of the Wei River.

Jiang Wei walked into Zhuge Liang's camp and said: "Prime Minister, we have detected that Sima Yi's main force has been stationed south of the Wei River and east of the Xie River. Sima Yi should personally lead the troops. Another Wei army crossed the Wei River north and entered Beiyuan."

Zhuge Liang's face darkened slightly and he said: "Sima Yi was able to predict that I was going to take Beiyuan and sent troops in advance! No, no, no, it's not Sima Yi, it must be Guo Huai!"

Then he said to Jiang Wei: "Quickly lead five thousand soldiers and horses across the Wei River to attack Beiyuan and test the truth!"

Jiang Wei said: "The last general takes orders!"

Just as Jiang Wei was about to go out, he turned back and asked, "Prime Minister, how is your health?"

A few days ago, Jiang Wei began to worry when he heard what Yang Yi said.

The Prime Minister's serious illness was a secret. No one except Yang Yi and the guards at the Prime Minister's camp knew about it.

It happened that Jiang Wei was reorganizing military affairs, and he heard Yang Yi mention it later, and he did not dare to mention it to anyone else.

Zhuge Liang said: "I have taken Li Heng's medicine in the past few days, and I feel much better, especially my cough."

Jiang Wei was overjoyed and said, "He is the son of Imperial Physician Li. I have heard Duke Wei mention it before."

Zhuge Liang didn't say much. After all, he just felt a little better and couldn't be sure that it would be cured.

"Don't worry about me, military affairs are urgent."

"Yes!"

At this time, Li Heng also took action.

Because he was the son of an imperial doctor and did not need to participate in farming, Li Heng had enough time to make preparations.

He took a hundred craftsmen to the bank of the Wei River and began to lay the foundation there.

When he looked up at the north bank of the Wei River, he couldn't help but said in his heart: According to the development of history, Sima Yi should have deployed his troops in advance.

But this time the Prime Minister came prepared. If he had not died of illness in Wuzhangyuan, this fifth Northern Expedition would have been completely different from the previous four!
There are two reasons:
[-]. In the past three years, the prime minister has been farming extensively in Hanzhong County, and formulated a strategy of farming in Guanzhong to control Wei.

[-]. The Han army drilled day and night. The Han army's field combat capabilities in the Fifth Northern Expedition had reached its peak. The Wei army did not dare to fight the Han army in the field.

Sima Yi occupied Beiyuan and took the initiative in advance. The prime minister wanted to break the situation. First, he needed to take good care of his health. Second, he stepped up his farming.

"Li Lang, the bamboos are soaked." A craftsman named Xue Liang came over and called out.

Li Heng stood up, patted the dirt and grass on his body, and walked over to check.

The bamboos were all tied up and soaked in the Wei River.

Li Heng nodded with satisfaction and said, "Start making the water bucket!"

A few days later, Jiang Wei led his men across the Wei River and quickly advanced toward Beiyuan.

At this time, Guo Huai was not fully prepared and was forced to fight with Jiang Wei.

But after all, Guo Huai occupied the high ground and the Han army was repulsed.Jiang Wei had to withdraw and report the situation.

"Prime Minister, please punish me!"

Zhuge Liang said: "You are not to blame for this matter. The Wei army occupied Beiyuan first and took the advantage."

"Prime Minister, please give me [-] soldiers and horses, and I will go and capture Beiyuan now!" A man with a strong physique and a rough face said loudly. A great sense of oppression.

This person is Wei Yan.

"Since the Wei army has taken the upper hand, it is futile to add more troops now." Yang Yi said.

Wei Yan then said: "Then ask the Prime Minister to give the general [-] elite troops. The general will take the Ziwu Road and take advantage of Sima Yi being dragged east of Xieshui to launch a surprise attack on Chang'an!"

"Don't mention your Ziwu plan again!" Zhuge Liang closed his eyes slightly, his expression was indifferent, but he seemed to have something in mind, "I already have a plan."

Half a month later, on the banks of the Wei River.

Ten water hammers continuously beat out paper pulp.

"Can this thing make paper?" Liu Cuo asked.

This person is Yang Yi's chief clerk, and he made a special trip to check on the progress of papermaking.

After hearing this, Li Heng replied: "It's not possible now. We have to go through paper fishing, pressing and baking to make raw paper. Chief Liu, just report it truthfully."

When Liu Cuo heard this, he didn't ask any more questions and left.

After Liu Cuo left, a honest and honest young man came to Li Heng with excitement and said: "Li Langjun, the first batch of pulp has been made. According to your method, it is estimated that paper can be made in half a month." Come."

Xue Liang is a native of Weihe and is very familiar with the surrounding terrain.

During this period of time, in addition to doing his job well in the factory, this young man was very active in other dirty and tiring tasks such as picking, lifting, and moving. He would often talk to Li Heng in his spare time.
Li Heng inspected the pulp and felt it personally.

In fact, it is best to soak bamboo for two to three months, but this batch of paper was needed urgently, so Li Heng compressed the time. The quality of the paper produced in this way will definitely be affected, but it will definitely be usable.

Bamboo papermaking did not become fully popularized until the late Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty.

Even during the Tang Dynasty, except for rice paper, most paper was of average quality.

Right now, quantity is clearly more important than quality.

After equalizing the quantity, slowly improve the quality. Everything has a priority.

"Li Langjun, do you want those bamboos to be soaked for a while?" Xue Liang couldn't help but ask, "I think it would be better to soak them for a while."

"No need, this batch will be like this for now."

"it is good."

"Is there anything else for a while? If nothing happens, come with me to the camp."

Li Heng thought that he still had a lot of things to do in the future and could not be tied down in the papermaking workshop.

It's better to promote someone.

Stay with yourself first and act as an errand boy to deliver messages to see if you can trust him.

This Xue Liang is very good.

"Yes, Mr. Lang, the military has been heavily tasked with farming recently, and it's difficult to open fields now. Ergouzi's family and my family are really busy." Xue Liang replied, "Although we are making paper here, we have to Take some time out to go back and help, even if it’s not a lot.”

"Is it so difficult to farm?" Li Heng couldn't help but wonder.

After all, he is a time traveler, and the farm work in his previous life is still different from this era. The farm tools, fertilizers, etc. are all different.

The difficulty is naturally different.

Xue Liang said: "Some of the land is very hard and the number of cattle is limited. More efforts are needed."

"Hmm..." Li Heng started thinking and suddenly had an idea.

犁！
Yup!

Why didn't I think of it before!
Quyuanli!

Make a plow!

(End of this chapter)