Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

After hearing what Cao Rui said, Liu Ye thought for a few moments, and then nodded decisively in agreement.

Man Chong, who was sitting nearby, also said, "Your Majesty is right. With the Wuwei Battalion and the 10,000 foreign troops coming to support us from the Right General, Fancheng is not short of infantry combat power."

"The 5,000 cavalrymen under General Guanqiu Zhonggong are all brave and sharp, and with the help of 3,000 Xiongnu light cavalry, they can run rampant north of the Han River. If the reinforcements are all cavalry, I think six days will be enough for a distance of 600 miles."

Cao Rui replied, "Six days is six days. Judging from the time, when Zhong Gong led his troops to Fancheng, Sun Quan should have known that Wei was building a city in Huainan."

"Let's see how Sun Quan responds and how Xu Yuanzhi interprets it. I use the strategies of General Man and Liu Qing, but deep down I still want to trust Xu Yuanzhi."

"Mr. Liu!" Cao Rui raised his eyes and looked at Liu Ye.

"I'm here." Liu Ye stood up and bowed in response.

Cao Rui said: "The Xiongnu light cavalry will be under the command of the Central Commander. And after these 8,000 light cavalry arrive at Fancheng, they will also be supervised by Xu Shu."

"I will go and talk to Zhong Gong myself. As for the Xiongnu light cavalry, Liu Qing will go and announce the order. We should remind them of military discipline and laws. This is the first battle, so it doesn't matter if they fight poorly. If they are afraid of fighting or don't obey orders, the court also has rules."

"I understand this." Liu Ye remembered something and asked, "Your Majesty, do you need to send a military supervisor or something like that to the Xiongnu?"

Cao Rui shook his head: "No, I don't count on them for the first battle, let's see how they fight."

"As you wish." Liu Ye replied.

……

That afternoon, thousands of miles away, in Wudu County, Qinzhou.

Under the command of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, 33,000 Shu Han troops set out from Wujie on October 3rd, marched northwest along the Pingluo River Valley, marched more than 200 miles in five days, and finally crossed the Xihan River on the afternoon of October 7th, and set up camp on the north bank of the Xihan River.

Setting up camp is not something the commander can do at will, but must be done according to the geography of the mountains and rivers. Given the terrain, there are many restrictions on where to set up camp, and they are almost all fixed.

Zhuge Liang's headquarters camp was built at the place where Xiahou Xian led 10,000 cavalrymen to temporarily station on the Baishui Road during the Qinzhou battle two years ago. Many relics of the former Wei army camps can still be seen here.

Of course, although this place is large, it is not large enough to station 30,000 people. General Wei Yan, who led 8,000 infantrymen, had already set up a camp in a valley 30 miles away as the vanguard of the army.

Zhuge Liang stood beside a huge rock by the water outside the camp, looking at the Xihan River flowing not far away, and remained silent. The guards behind him did not dare to disturb the prime minister's meditation, and they all stood guard several feet away.

The arrival of the military officer Fei Yi broke the peaceful atmosphere. When the guards saw Fei Yi's face, they made way for him and Fei Yi quickly approached.

"Prime Minister." Fei Yi bowed and greeted softly, bringing Zhuge Liang's wandering thoughts back.

"It's Wen Wei." Zhuge Liang came back to his senses and turned to look at Fei Yi: "It's getting late. Have you done everything like setting up camp, setting up camps, and keeping on alert?"

Fei Yi replied, "Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's troops, the troops of the General who Suppresses Bandits, and the troops of the General who Anbei has already set up camp. The troops of Generals Tiger Teeth and Eagle Yang will be the last to cross the river, and will be a little later."

Zhuge Liang nodded gently: "What else?"

Fei Yi said, "Prime Minister, the General Zhenbei has sent someone to ask about tomorrow's military strategy. Please give us your instructions."

The overall organization of the Shu Han army this time has become more streamlined and compact than it was two years ago.

From the perspective of structure, Zhuge Liang abandoned the previous model of dividing the army into three routes and united the 40,000 troops into one route, all of which were directly commanded by him. As for generals such as Wu Yi and Wei Yan, the number of troops they led was also reduced under the premise of a decrease in the total number of troops.

Among the 40,000 troops, Zhuge Liang's Prime Minister's headquarters led 12,000 people, led by General Wu Ban, General Huang Xi, the Left General Ju Fu, the Right General Zong Yu, and Meng Yan, the supervisor of the account.

Wei Yan was the vanguard of the army. In addition to his own 5,000 troops, he also led 3,000 troops under General Liu Yong, for a total of 8,000 troops.

Due to his outstanding performance two years ago and his meritorious service in the two battles last year, Wang Ping was promoted from General of Jianwu to General of Suppressing Bandits, commanding 4,000 troops.

In addition to the 7,000 troops under Wu Yi who remained in Wujie, General Anbei Ma Zhong, General Huya Gao Xiang, and General Yingyang Chen Shi each led 3,000 infantry.

Just as Fei Yi said, the ones who have not yet set up camp are Gao Xiang and Chen Shi's troops.

After hearing Fei Yi's message, Zhuge Liang said, "I know the truth about this matter. Wen Wei, please go back. I will order everyone to come to the big tent for a military meeting in half an hour, and then I will reply to Wen Chang."

"Yes, sir." Fei Yi replied with a bow.

After finishing the official business, Fei Yi also spoke tactfully:
"I have some official business to discuss, and I have disturbed the Prime Minister's meditation. This is truly my fault."

Zhuge Liang didn't care: "Wenwei, I went north with you to attack Wei. After two years, I came to the West Han River again. What I saw and felt, how can I not feel sad?" Fei Yi was stunned for a moment, not knowing why Zhuge Liang said such a thing. Zhuge Liang has always been a person who gives confidence to his subordinates. Is he showing some negative emotions today?

"Prime Minister..." Fei Yi didn't know what to say, so he could only utter two words in response.

Zhuge Liang asked in return: "Doesn't Wen Wei have this feeling in his heart?"

Fei Yi paused, lowered his head slightly and said, "I am not sad, but angry. The Han Dynasty is confined to a corner of Shu, unable to expand. The previous northern expedition was blocked by the Wei thieves. I only regret that I am a staff officer and cannot lead the Tiger Guards to fight for the Han Dynasty!"

Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Wen Wei is right. I am also angry. But I am not angry at the Wei thieves. I sigh and hate the two emperors Huan and Ling. If it weren't for these two people, how could the Han Dynasty fall to this point? Why should you and I work so hard?"

"The past cannot be retrieved, so it is sad!"

Fei Yi responded softly, "Your Excellency, you have worked so hard in Baishui for two years, and now it is time to test your achievements. All the soldiers in the army are ready to fight to the death, so please do not worry, just watch the soldiers perform their duties!"

Fei Yi had a delicate heart, how could he not understand Zhuge Liang's sadness? If he had not been defeated by Wei Emperor Cao Rui two years ago, and lost his army and land, why would he come to the banks of the West Han River again?
Zhuge Liang could feel sad, as it was normal for him to have mixed emotions as a commander. However, Fei Yi, as a subordinate and Zhuge Liang's assistant, could not show the same emotions, but had to show a fearless and fearless spirit.

This is what is called morale.

Zhuge Liang did not respond to Fei Yi's words, but patted Fei Yi on the shoulder and turned to walk towards the camp.

Fei Yi and his personal guards who were serving beside him also hurriedly followed.

In the evening, in the Shu Han central army tent, except for Wei Yan and Liu Yong who were vanguards in the north, all other generals had arrived.

The atmosphere in the tent was solemn. All the generals and officials were lined up neatly in the tent, and no one made a noise.

After the Chief Secretary Yang Yi called out the names one by one and confirmed that everyone was present, Zhuge Liang also received the news. He walked slowly into the big tent from outside, without looking around, until he arrived at the commander-in-chief's position, then he turned around and looked at everyone.

"Everyone," Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice, "General Wei Wenchang, the general who guards the north, has led 8,000 infantrymen as the vanguard of the army and has arrived at the narrow mountain 30 miles north of here. Once at the narrow mountain, the two cities of Xiabian and Wudu are not far away. In the Northern Expedition in the fifth year of Jianxing, most of you also followed us and are familiar with the geography of this place."

"From Sazashan, you can reach Xiabian forty miles to the east, and Hechi one hundred and twenty miles to the east. From Sazashan, you can reach Wudu one hundred and twenty miles to the west."

"This time, we will go north to annihilate the enemy first and then plunder the land. If nothing unexpected happens, the army will be within a hundred or two hundred miles to fight the Wei army. You have spent the past two years training the army and practicing military tactics. Now you can respond to the actual battle."

Everyone knows the summary of Zhuge Liang's first Northern Expedition after his defeat at Baishui two years ago. Many generals were also aware of the strategic direction of seeking a field battle with the Wei army rather than a siege.

But no matter whether they knew it or not, they did not feel at ease until they heard Zhuge Liang's assignments in person. The military strategy in the big tent was more of a choice to appease people, build consensus, and boost morale than to convey military orders.

"Duke Wei, explain this military strategy to the generals and officials." Zhuge Liang looked at Yang Yi, and then said to everyone, "If you have any questions, you can always ask Yang Changshi."

"Yes, sir." As the chief secretary, Yang Yi was in charge of the daily work of the prime minister's office in Baishui. After the army went out, he served as Zhuge Liang's deputy, and it was his duty to explain the military strategy.

Yang Yi took two steps forward, turned around and looked at everyone, then he looked around and said loudly:

"Everyone, the Northern Expedition is the foundation of the country. Restoring the Han Dynasty starts with war, and it all depends on your efforts."

"Right now, the Wei Central Army is far away in Henan, and Wu's Sun Quan is leading 70,000 troops to besiege Xiangfan. The Wei government and the people will definitely prioritize the Wu army. Now is the time for our army to fight the Wei Western Army. Our army is heading north for a long distance, and we must fight the Wei army quickly."

"According to the Prime Minister's instructions, we should select a general from among the armies to attack Wudu in the west to draw out Wei's troops from Qishan. The Prime Minister will lead the army eastward to besiege Xiabian."

"Does anyone have any questions?" Yang Yi looked at everyone.

No one responded; everyone was silent.

After two years of hard preparation, the time for battle has come and it is time for everyone to show their skills. How could anyone be afraid of fighting or have doubts?

Seeing this, Zhuge Liang nodded with satisfaction:
"Everyone, I will make the distribution then."

"Send a message to General Wei Yan, the Northern Guard, to march west tomorrow as a detachment of the main army, leading 8,000 soldiers to attack Wudu, and to arrive within three days."

"As you command, I will pass the message to General Zhenbei." Fei Yi replied.

Zhuge Liang said: "Order the Bandit Suppressing General Wang Ping to lead the vanguard, with 4,000 men from his own army, and supervise General Anbei Ma Zhong and General Tiger Teeth Gao Xiang, a total of 10,000 people, to attack Xiabian first."

"I will lead the remaining 15,000 men, 30 miles away as the rear wing!"

"As you command!" Wang Ping replied in a deep voice without any hesitation. (End of this chapter)