The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 410 Tomb Tiger issues a challenge to Crouching Dragon, Kongming insults Zhongda on the battlefield
It was late summer and early autumn.
The mountains around Hanzhong are lush and green, shrouded in mist and clouds.

Sima Yi stood before the military tent, dressed in the black robes of a prime minister.

Holding a feather fan, his eyes were piercing.

After Liu Bei revived the Han Dynasty three times, the political landscape of the world changed drastically.

This was his fourth expedition to the north.

The previous three attempts were all in vain.

Despite Sima Yi's best efforts, he still failed to acquire even half of Guanzhong.

Sima Yi's strategy was very similar to Zhuge Liang's strategy in history, which was to fight to the death in Guanzhong.

Only by taking Guanzhong can the base areas, led by Yizhou, have a good support.

But if Sima Yi could think of it, how could the Han Dynasty's high-ranking officials not have thought of it?

The imperial court appointed Zhuge Liang as the governor of the Yong and Liang armies.

Although since Li Yi's military reforms, the military power of the military commanders in each military region has been greatly restricted.

However, given the frequent wars in the Yongliang region, its situation is unique.

Therefore, the imperial court granted Zhuge Liang special permission to act expediently.

This includes, but is not limited to, allowing Zhuge Liang to establish the Protectorate of the Western Regions and open up the Silk Road.

They were allowed to engage in land reclamation in Guanzhong to achieve self-sufficiency.

This is actually very important.

The most effective way to weaken local military power is to separate the military from the government.

For example, the Governor of Jiangnan seemed to be able to control the military power of Yangzhou, Jiaozhou, and Jingzhou.

However, because he did not control the most important financial power, he was able to truly control the local army.

This is also the biggest difference between a governor and a prefect.

"Report——"

A scout arrived at high speed and reported, "Prime Minister, we have prepared enough firewood and fodder at all the passes, and plenty of fine grains to last for a month."

Sima Yi nodded slightly and said to Deng Ai beside him:

"The autumn rains are approaching, and the supply lines will be easily blocked. This northern expedition must be swift and decisive."

News of Sima Yi's renewed invasion of the border quickly reached Chang'an, the western capital.

Inside Chang'an, Zhuge Liang, the Grand Commander of Yong and Liang, was reviewing documents in his residence.

Suddenly, an urgent report arrived, saying that Sima Yi had already dispatched troops northward.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his expression solemn:

"Sima Yi has come in a great hurry this time."

Fei Yi offered his advice humbly:

"Grand Commander, the autumn harvest is imminent. If we send troops now, we fear we will miss the farming season."

"The people will suffer from famine."

"Wenwei is absolutely right,"

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, "However, Sima Yi's advance is fierce. If we do not meet him in battle, Guanzhong will be in danger."

A man stepped forward from below the steps; he was Lu Xun, a former general of Eastern Wu who had surrendered, and now served as a military advisor under Zhuge Liang.
"The Grand General reopened the Silk Road the year before last and established the Protectorate of the Western Regions."

"Why not order the kingdoms of the Western Regions to send troops to help?"

“They are newly allied and dare not disobey.”

A glint flashed in Zhuge Liang's eyes:
"Well said, Boyan's plan is brilliant!"

They immediately dispatched envoys to invite the Western Regions states to send troops to their aid.

Although the Western Regions were unwilling to participate in the Chinese civil war, they had just sworn allegiance to the Han Dynasty.

Now, faced with Zhuge Liang's "earnest invitation," they dared not refuse.

Within ten days, all thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions sent troops to provide assistance.

Although each nation has few soldiers, when combined, they number over ten thousand.

Zhuge Liang then mustered another 10,000 elite troops from Guanzhong, bringing the total to over 20,000 men.

We sped along the ancient road to Chencang under the starry night.

On the Chencang Road,

As the autumn wind rises, banners flutter in the wind.

Sima Yi's army arrived first and found that Hao Zhao, the general defending the city, was already in full battle array.

Facing Chencang, which he had been unable to break through during the last Northern Expedition.

Sima Yi again ordered his soldiers to shout urging them to surrender, but Hao Zhao, standing atop the city wall, responded sternly:

"I have received the Han's grace to defend this city. I will fight to the death; there is no reason for me to surrender!"

“Last time, I blocked you before Chencang, and you couldn’t advance an inch of land.”

"How dare you invade again now?"

Sima Yi was furious and immediately ordered an attack on the city.

The Wei army pushed battering rams and erected siege ladders, surging towards the city walls like a tidal wave.

Hao Zhao and his deputy Wang Shuang commanded with composure.

Rockets rained down from the city walls, and logs and stones rained down.

The Wei army suffered heavy casualties, and their first day of attack ended in failure.

Night came,

Sima Yi summoned Zhang Yi, Wang Ping, Deng Ai, and other generals to discuss matters.

"Prime Minister,"

Zhang Yi suggested, "Why not dig a tunnel into the city?"

Sima Yi nodded:
"This plan may be worth trying."

However, the Han army was very familiar with tunnel warfare.

In his early years, when Li Yi followed Liu Bei in conquering the world, he used tunnel warfare the most.

Hao Zhao had anticipated this, and dug a deep moat inside the city, covering the ground with earthenware urns.

With one's ear pressed against it, one can hear sounds from dozens of steps away.

The Wei army had only dug half of their tunnel when the Han army discovered it.

Boiling soup and smoke were poured in, and the Wei soldiers inside the tunnel screamed in agony.

Three days later,
The autumn rain came suddenly, and the roads became muddy.

Sima Yi was extremely anxious and personally went to the front lines to oversee the battle.

Seeing that Sima Yi's umbrella was conspicuous, Wang Shuang drew his bow and shot an arrow, which struck the umbrella ribs squarely.

Sima Yi was startled and fell off his horse. He was rescued by his generals, but he became even more furious.

"Prime Minister, please calm your anger,"

Deng Ai advised, "Chencang is a strategically important and fortified location, and Hao Zhao is skilled at defending it. A direct attack is not the best strategy."

"It would be better to divide our forces and attack San Pass, then advance by detour."

Sima Yi angrily flung his sleeves and said:

"I command an army of 100,000, yet I cannot even capture the small town of Chencang."

"How can I face the emperor and his ministers in Chengdu!"

Therefore, Sima Yi disregarded everything and ordered the Wei army to continue its strong attack on Chencang.

Just as Wei soldiers were setting up ladders on the city wall and the suicide squad was about to scale the walls.

Suddenly, a great dust storm arose in the west.

Sima Yi looked out from the high platform and saw an army in strange clothes rushing towards him.

The banners fluttered in the wind; they were all the flags of various kingdoms in the Western Regions.

"Report—Prime Minister! An army is attacking from the west."

"Judging from their attire, they seem to be people from the Western Regions!"

The scout rushed in with the news.

Sima Yi slammed his fist on the table in surprise:
"What? Troops from the Western Regions?"

When did Zhuge Liang manage to mobilize troops from the Western Regions?

Looking into the distance, he saw that the banners of the Han army were mixed with those of the Western Regions, such as Shanshan, Kucha, and Khotan.

Sima Yi's face immediately darkened.

Qin Mi whispered from the side:

"Prime Minister, Zhuge Liang has reopened the trade routes to the Western Regions and established a Protectorate."

"All the countries submitted."

"The sudden dispatch of troops to assist in the battle suggests that our forces may not be large enough."

The number of people he mentioned here does not refer to the disparity in troop strength between the enemy and ourselves.

Zhuge Liang brought troops from the Western Regions, totaling only 20,000 men.

On the one hand, he wanted to ensure the success of the autumn harvest.

On the other hand, this is also to shorten the supply line as much as possible and reduce losses.

Of course, the most important thing is that Zhuge Liang was on the defensive.

In war, the defending side has a greater advantage than the attacking side.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang was not worried about the number of people at all.

Qin Mi's concern here is that the people of the Western Regions are now shedding blood for the Han people.

There are already many Han people, but how much blood can we, the people of Shu, shed?

In a war of attrition, Sichuan will never be able to defeat China.

Before he finished speaking, the Western Regions allied forces had already reached the flank of the Wei army.

The cavalrymen on horseback drew their bows and nocked arrows, which rained down on the Wei army like locusts.

Although the Western Regions Allied Forces were not skilled in infantry combat, they were excellent at mounted archery.

The cavalry were divided into three groups, taking turns to attack the Wei army's flanks.

Prince Aruodo of Shanshan took the lead and fired three arrows in quick succession.

The arrows hit their mark perfectly, and three Wei soldiers fell to the ground.

He shouted:
"Long live the Emperor of the Great Han! Slay the traitors!"

General Kurban of the Kingdom of Kucha led his heavily armored cavalry straight into the center of the Wei army.

Although blocked by the spear formation, they still killed more than ten people before retreating.

The Khotanese infantry, armed with long spears, advanced in formation, though they were not as well-trained as the Han army.

However, relying on their superior numbers, they fought a fierce and evenly matched battle with the Wei army.

Sima Yi observed the battle from a high platform and saw that although the individual combat strength of the Western Region soldiers was inferior to that of the Wei army.

However, relying on their superior archery skills, they continuously depleted the Wei army's strength, and couldn't help but angrily say:

"It is truly unexpected that Zhuge Liang could command the kingdoms of the Western Regions!"

Wang Ping volunteered for the battle:
"This humble general is willing to lead five thousand elite cavalry to first defeat the Western Regions coalition!"

Sima Yi pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"...No."

"Although the Western Region troops are not to be feared, Zhuge Liang's military strategy is divine, and there must be elite troops lying in ambush behind him."

"If we fall for their scheme, the situation will be hopeless."

On the battlefield, the Western Regions allied forces and the Wei army have become embroiled in a chaotic battle.

Prince Aroldo led his cavalry to charge the right flank of the Wei army, but was stopped by Zhang Yi and his troops.

When the two armies clashed, the cavalry charged head-on, and men and horses fell to the ground.

Kurban shouted and charged straight at Wang Ping.

The two generals fought fiercely, their swords flashing, and neither gained the upper hand for twenty rounds.

Wang Ping feigned an opening, luring Kurban into a fierce attack.

Suddenly, he turned and thrust his spear, piercing Kurban's left shoulder.

Kurban was defeated and fled. When the Western Region troops saw that their commander was injured, their formation was slightly disrupted.

At this moment, Hao Zhao saw that the reinforcements had arrived from the city wall and hurriedly ordered the gates to be opened and an attack to be launched.

Wang Shuang led 500 elite soldiers and charged straight into the rear of the Wei army.

Seeing that he was attacked from both sides, and seeing that the Western Region troops, though gradually losing ground, were still fighting desperately, Sima Yi couldn't help but sigh:
"Although the Western Region troops are weak, our army will find it difficult to sustain such attrition."

Qin Mi's advice:

"Prime Minister, the Han region is already densely populated."

"Now that reinforcements from the Western Regions have arrived, we should retreat temporarily, regroup, and fight again."

Sima Yi saw the "Zhuge" banner approaching in the distance, knowing that Zhuge Liang was personally leading a large army. He could only sigh deeply.
"Heaven is not on my side!"

He then ordered the retreat to cease hostilities.

The Wei army retreated, leaving corpses strewn across the fields outside Chencang City.

Zhuge Liang led his army into the city, and Hao Zhao and Wang Shuang led their generals to greet him.

"We, your humble servants, failed in our defense of the city, thus trooping the commander-in-chief with our personal command. We deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Hao Zhao knelt down and begged for forgiveness.

Zhuge Liang hurriedly helped him up:

"The two generals held firm at Chencang and resisted Sima Yi with all their might; they have done nothing wrong!"

He then addressed the generals of the Western Regions:
"You gentlemen are generous and have come from afar to help us in this battle; your loyalty and righteousness are commendable."

"Liang will surely inform the Emperor and bestow a generous reward upon him."

Prince Arodo bowed and said:

"The might of the Han emperor extends throughout the four seas, and the kingdoms of the Western Regions are under his protection. How dare they not risk their lives for him?"

That night, Zhuge Liang hosted a banquet at the commander's mansion to reward the three armies.

During the banquet, Hao Zhao was specially bestowed with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of brocade.

Wang Shuangjin was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei and received generous rewards.

The generals of the Western Regions were each bestowed with gold, silver and jewels, and were permitted to increase the frequency of tribute missions and expand the size of their caravans.

The wind from Longxi, carrying sand and gravel, beat against the mottled city walls of Chencang.

Let me talk about two things.

Inside the Wei army camp, Sima Yi, having been defeated and forced to withdraw from the siege, returned to his military tent.

His fingertips traced the shallow Wei River on the sheepskin map when suddenly the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the tent.

"Report——!"

The scout lifted the curtain and entered, his armor billowing in the wind.

"Reporting to the Commander, the strength and weakness of the Qi troops have been ascertained!"

"Zhuge Liang commanded...only a little over 20,000 troops!"

The generals in the tent immediately erupted in uproar.

Zhang Yi clapped his hands and laughed:

"Heaven is on our side! The Qi bandits have been bluffing for too long!"

Deng Ai stroked his beard and pondered:
"Zhuge Liang's military tactics have always been unpredictable; there may be deception involved."

Sima Yi raised his hand to suppress the discussion, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He walked slowly outside the tent and saw sparse smoke rising from the Han army's cooking fires in the distance.

Suddenly, he burst into loud laughter, startling a flock of crows into flight.

"Do you all know?"

As he turned around, his sleeves billowed up in a biting wind.

"During the previous Northern Expeditions, I was always dealing with Zhuge Liang and never directly confronted him."

"It is because I know he is well-versed in military strategy, and our country is weak and cannot afford to lose."

Sima Yi was honest and readily admitted that he was not as good as Zhuge Liang.

Therefore, during his previous Northern Expeditions, he intentionally avoided direct confrontation with Zhuge Liang.

But this time,
"Now Kongming has himself trapped in a deadly situation—"

"This is a golden opportunity; it's time to fight it out!"

Yesterday, I was intimidated by Zhuge Liang's bluffing Western Region troops, but after coming down to investigate, I realized that...

So this guy only brought 20,000 men with him. That makes things much easier!

Immediately, Sima Yi ordered a declaration of war to be drafted and dispatched a messenger to the Han army camp overnight.

The ink marks on the silk scroll were as sharp as knives.

"Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), on the south bank of the Wei River, may I ask if your esteemed commander dares to engage in a fair and square battle?"

Inside the Han army's main tent, the candlelight flickered red.

Hao Zhao stepped forward quickly:

"Grand Commander, you must not fall for our trap! Sima Yi's 100,000-strong army is consuming thousands of bushels of grain every day."

"If we hold out for ten days, their army will fall into disarray!"

Wang Shuang handed over the map and said urgently:

"Chencang is a strategically important location; if they launch a strong attack, they will suffer heavy losses."

"To abandon the strong and side with the weak is not the way of military strategy."

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, cutting off the conversation.

He took the challenge letter and examined it closely, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"Zhongda knows my troops are few, but he doesn't know—"

He pointed the jade-handled whisk at a tributary of the Wei River on the sand table.

"The commander of an army can be captured, but the will of a common man cannot be taken away."

He gazed at the darkening western sky.

"His Majesty has entrusted me with a great responsibility in Guanzhong. If I encounter the enemy, I will avoid them."

"Wouldn't this discourage all righteous men in the world?"

"If the Han army knew that I dared not fight, wouldn't they think I feared Shu like a tiger?"

"Since Sima Yi has volunteered for battle, I will gladly accompany him to the end!"

At this moment, a personal guard led the two into the tent.

The young man on the left, with a golden crown binding his hair and a curved sword at his waist, is none other than Prince Aruodo of Shanshan.

The burly man with a thick beard on the right, carrying a chain hammer, is none other than Kurban, the famous general of Kucha, who rose to fame in yesterday's battle.

The two men bowed with their hands on their chests, the pearls on their Hu-style clothing shimmering under the lamplight.

"I am deeply grateful to the Governor for gifting me three thousand bushels of rice seeds from Shanshan!"

Aroldohan spoke with a slight accent, "I am willing to be the vanguard tomorrow!"

Kurban's voice was booming:
"Kucha has long benefited from the salt and iron of the Han Dynasty. I, with these two iron hammers, will break through the enemy's lines for the Grand Commander!"

Zhuge Liang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately summoned the two men to whisper his plan in their ears.

When the candle wick burst into a flower-like flame, the Hu generals all looked enlightened, clapped their hands in admiration, and left.

The next day,

On the banks of the Wei River, two armies faced each other.

The river murmured as if lamenting, and the mountains appeared desolate and weeping.

On the open field, banners obscured the sky, and spears and halberds stood in stark array.

The Han army's black armor gleamed in the sun, while the Wei army's red banners fluttered in the wind.

The two armies were three hundred paces apart, and the strong bows and crossbows were used to hold their positions.

Three drumbeats resounded, and the banners at the gates of the Wei army formation suddenly parted.

Sima Yi, clad in golden armor and a red robe, rode out on horseback, surrounded by generals such as Zhang Yi and Wang Ping.

A four-wheeled cart was slowly pushed out from the Han army formation.

Zhuge Liang, with his feather fan and silk turban, had eyes as bright as stars.

Behind him stood two young generals, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, with their hands on their swords.

They were sent to the front lines in Guanzhong by their father last year.

There was no other reason than to let them accumulate more military merits.

When he returns to the capital, he can be promoted legitimately.

"Zhuge the peasant!"

Sima Yi's voice boomed like a bell, "I am acting on the Emperor's decree to punish the rebels!"

"You are nothing but a farmer from Nanyang, yet you presumptuously try to observe celestial phenomena and forcefully obstruct the royal army."

"If one understands the will of Heaven, one should return to Guanzhong to prevent further bloodshed!"

Kongming gently waved his feather fan, his laughter clear and melodious:
"Today the emperor is in the north, which emperor's decree are you following?" "Has Zhongda not heard that 'the Han and the traitors cannot coexist'?"

“Your ancestors and descendants have enjoyed the Han dynasty’s bounty for three generations, yet now you’ve aided the Cao family in their rebellion.”

"If the historian's pen were to be as sharp as iron in the future, how would I face the late emperor in the netherworld?"

Sima Yi's face twitched slightly, then he suddenly raised his whip and pointed it directly at:
"Stop with your words today! Do you dare to fight me to the death?"

"If you win, I will relinquish my military command."

"If you lose, I will not kill you. You can just go back to your hometown and farm!"

"Oh? You wish to duel generals? Soldiers? Formations?"

Kongming paused slightly with his feather fan, "The choice is yours."

"Let's fight with formations first!"

Sima Yi unfurled his yellow flag, and the Wei army surged forth like a tidal wave.

Banners crisscrossed, and soldiers marched swiftly following the sound of watchtowers, quickly forming ranks.

The formation held an air of impending doom, its gates heavily guarded.

"Well, can you recognize my formation?"

"This is the Primordial Chaos Formation."

Kongming chuckled lightly at the two young generals beside him, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao:
“Even junior officers in our army can deploy them.”

He then drove his chariot into the enemy formation, and with a gentle wave of his feather fan, the Han army's formation suddenly changed.

The eight gates rotate, subtly corresponding to the Eight Trigrams, and there seems to be smoke and clouds swirling within the formation.

Zhuge Liang entered the formation, waved his feather fan, and returned to the front of the formation, asking:
Do you recognize my formation?

Sima Yi snorted:

"How could you not recognize this Bagua formation!"

Kongming smiled slightly:
"So you recognize me? Do you dare challenge me?"

Sima Yi said:

"Now that we know them, how can we not dare to fight!"

Zhuge Liang said:

"Just keep hitting me."

Sima Yi then returned to his formation and addressed his generals:
"When Zhuge Liang completed the Eight Trigrams Formation, he was determined to emulate the story of the Yellow Emperor capturing Chiyou."

He then summoned three generals: Dai Ling, Lü Fan, and Yue Chen.
“You shall enter through the Gate of Life and exit through the Gate of Rest, then open the gate and break through.”

"Remember: all illusions in the formation are false; only by guarding your true mind can you break through the illusion and reality."

So he ordered the three men to each lead thirty elite cavalry.

Dai Ling was in the center, Lü Fan charged forward, and Yue Lin brought up the rear, breaking in through the Life Gate.

Seeing the yellow flags waving in the formation, they charged out towards the Xiu Gate.

On the Bagua Platform of the Han Camp, Kongming lightly waved his feather fan, and seeing the dust rising in the west, he laughed:

"Sima Zhongda has sent someone to scout the enemy's formation."

He then ordered Guan Xing to take up the Azure Dragon Flag and command all directions, while Ma Dai led archers to lie in ambush at the heart of the formation.

Dai Ling took the lead, leading his iron cavalry like sharp blades cutting into the gate of life.

At first, the gates of the formation were wide open and the paths were clearly marked, but the Han troops on both sides retreated after a brief battle.

Lü Fan laughed loudly:

"People say Zhuge Liang's military strategy was divine, but now I see he was nothing special!"

So they spurred their horses and went deeper into the territory.

Suddenly, three drumbeats were heard from within the formation, and the flag gates on all four sides began to turn.

The once smooth road suddenly branched into eight forks, each marked by soldiers in blue flags and black armor.

Le Lin called out urgently:

"The formation has changed!"

Before he could finish speaking, a crater suddenly appeared in the ground.

The first five riders, along with their horses, fell into the water.

Dai Ling hastily led his army to the southwest, only to see hundreds of Han soldiers pushing chariots with swords at the gate.

The sharp blades on the chariot gleamed coldly in the autumn sun, and the Wei cavalrymen reined in their horses.

Lü Fan raised his spear and shouted:

"Follow me to defeat the enemy!"

He single-handedly leaped over the chariot of swords and used the tip of his spear to kill three Han soldiers.

Just as the Wei army was cheering, a thick fog suddenly rose from all around.

But the sound of gongs and drums could be heard from the mist, and the banners and flags from all directions kept changing.

Lu Fan's soldiers exclaimed in alarm:

"How did the Rest Gate become the Death Gate just now?!"

The array walls appeared to split and merge intermittently, with the same blue flags appearing in every passageway.

The Han army seemed to emerge from the ground, moving erratically from east to west.

Le Lin tried to find the way back, but discovered that the place where Mr. Yuan had come from had been transformed into a wooden city with steep cliffs.

In the chaos, the Wei soldiers charged at each other, their warhorses neighing and their men rearing up in fright.

Dai Ling sternly rebuked:

"Don't panic! All of you, move closer to me!"

Suddenly, a whooshing sound arose, and the crossbows in formation fired in unison, raining down arrows mixed with lime.

The most surprising one,
The Han army did not engage in close combat, but instead used long hooks and lassos to harass the enemy.

Whenever the Wei cavalry gathered, iron caltrops would be thrust underneath, startling the warhorses so much that they reared up.

Lu Fan's mount was startled and crashed into a gate, carrying him inside.

In the blink of an eye, he was tripped up by sixteen tripwires at the same time.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither was heard through the mist, and on the Bagua Platform, Kongming was seen burning incense and playing the zither.

Enraged, Dai Ling spurred his horse and charged straight at the central army.

However, they were always blocked by the rotating array wall when they were only a hundred paces away from the platform.

Le Lin noticed something amiss and exclaimed:
"This formation changes with the music of the zither! Quickly destroy the zither!"

The three generals then joined forces and rushed toward the source of the music.

Just as they were getting close to the platform, the ground suddenly cracked open.

The trench, more than ten feet deep, was exposed and filled with bamboo sticks.

Lu Fan couldn't rein in his horse in time, and he and his horse fell into the water.

Dai Ling urgently needed rescue, when suddenly iron nets descended from all sides.

Online, copper bells rang incessantly, signaling the Han army's ambush to be sprung.

But then Guan Xing took up the flag and directed the formation, and the Eight Trigrams Formation instantly came to life.

The Li position belongs to fire, the Kan position belongs to water, and the Zhen position resounds like thunder and drums.

The Wei army was utterly terrified.

Some were dragged underground by Han soldiers who emerged from the tunnels, while others were knocked off their horses by flying stones.

Even with his halberd broken, Yue Lin continued to fight fiercely.

Suddenly, he felt a chill on his neck; Zhang Bao had already held his sword to his side.

Seeing that all was lost, Dai Ling drew his sword, intending to commit suicide.

The string music suddenly stopped, and Kongming's voice broke through the fog:

"General, you are brave and valiant, why not serve the Han Dynasty?"

Dai Ling threw his sword to the ground:

"Having been defeated today, I only wish to die!"

However, the Han army did not harm them, but simply bound them with ropes and sent them to the central army.

When the battle broke out, none of the ninety elite cavalrymen escaped.

The Wei soldiers, who had been watching the entire battle break, were all stunned.

I marvel at Zhuge Liang; he was truly a god! What a magnificent Bagua formation he devised!

So exquisite!
……

Inside the central command tent of the Han camp north of the Wei River, torches illuminated the area as if it were daytime.

Lu Fan, Dai Ling, Yue Chen, and ninety other Wei soldiers were bound in three rows, their armor askew and their faces ashen.

Kongming gently waved his feather fan, and wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner at the corner of the tent.

Kongming smiled and said:
“I intend to use their mouths to convey my message.”

He then rose and walked to Dai Ling's side, looked up to the sky and laughed loudly:
"Even if we capture you, it's like catching sparrow chicks in a net; it's not worth mentioning!"

He ordered the soldiers to untie his ropes and take several buckets of ink.

Le Lin struggled and roared angrily:

"Kill me if you must, but why humiliate me!"

Kongming lightly tapped his feather fan:

"Return to Zhongda and tell him to reread Sun Tzu's military treatises and study Taigong's strategies again."

"If they dare to come again, then it will not be too late to decide who is the victor."

He further ordered: "Since your lives have been spared, you shall leave behind warhorses and weapons as tribute."

Ninety Wei soldiers, naked and covered in ink, staggered out of the camp.

Just then, a north wind suddenly rose, and the ink stains frosted over.

The Wei soldiers looked at them as if they were ghosts from the underworld, and they were all terrified.

Sima Yi saw this at the gate, and the command arrow in his hand snapped in two with a crack.
"How dare you, you rustic Zhuge!"

"These people have insulted me far too much!"

Deng Ai urgently advised:
"This is Zhuge Liang's tactic of provoking a man!"

Sima Yi had already thrown his helmet to the ground:

"I shall personally lead the three armies to defeat the enemy!"

He thought to himself, since he couldn't outwit Zhuge Liang in a battle of wits.

Let's have a battle between the two armies then.

Anyway, we outnumber you, so we're not going to lose!
then,

Sima Yi led 50,000 Wei troops, which, like dark clouds pressing down on the city, rushed straight towards the Han camp.

Sima Yi led a hundred elite generals to charge forward, their swords aimed at the center of the Han army:

"Today, we rely solely on our courage and disregard life and death!"

As soon as the two armies clashed, a thunderous bugle call suddenly resounded from the southwest.

The camel bells jingled, and three thousand cavalrymen from Shanshan swept in like a sandstorm.

Prince Arodo, wearing a golden crown and holding a scimitar, shouted:

"By order of the Grand Commander, I have come to assist in the battle!"

Although their armor was in disarray, their troops moved with lightning speed.

They specifically targeted the rear guard of the Wei army.

Sima Yi hastily divided his rear guard to defend, while personally urging his vanguard to launch a fierce attack on the Han formation.

Just as the Wei army was caught between two troublesome fronts, a sudden cloud of dust rose in the north.

The famous Kucha general Kurban led two thousand iron cavalry into the central army, all carrying eighteen-foot-long spears, which were used to stab the horses' bellies.

The Wei army's heavy cavalry were unable to turn back in time, and many men and horses fell to the ground.

The most surprising one,
The Western Regions army was not good at fighting, but at this moment, it unexpectedly coincided with the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams.

The Shanshan cavalry were divided into eight teams, which gathered and dispersed at will, guided by the red flag.

The Kucha spearmen formed ranks of seven and rolled forward like desert hedgehogs.

It turns out that Kongming had already sent people to help train him, teaching him the "Nine Palaces Linked Rings" method.

Sima Yi realized he had fallen into a trap and hastily ordered a retreat.

However, the three armies moved in a mechanical, interlocking manner.

The Han army pressed forward head-on, while the Western Regions flanked them from both sides.

The Wei army was squeezed into the bend of the Wei River, and countless soldiers trampled each other in the process.

Deng Ai desperately clung to Sima Yi, but his helmet had already been knocked off by a stray arrow.

Suddenly, the gate of the Bagua formation opened, and the Han army pushed out a hundred crossbow carts.

Kongming waved a white feather flag from the watchtower, and the crossbows fired not arrows, but oil.

The rocket then crashed to the ground like a meteor, turning the riverbank into a sea of ​​fire.

The cries of the Wei soldiers shook the heavens, and many jumped into the Wei River.

As dusk fell, the Wei River turned completely red.

After counting, it was found that as many as 10,000 Wei soldiers had been beheaded by the Han army.

Sima Yi had a pre-existing ailment, and after Zhuge Liang won such a brilliant battle, he felt a tightness in his chest that prevented him from escaping.

He let out a loud shout and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Everyone rushed forward to comfort him, and Sima Yi, leaning on his sword, sighed:

"Unexpectedly, the barbarian soldiers from the Western Regions were trained to be as nimble as their own arms!"

He then ordered the trenches to be dug deep and the walls to be built high, and dared not go out to fight again.

He then ordered his men to gather the defeated troops and return to camp. When they arrived back at Qishan Great Camp, the place was already devastated.

The remnants of the defeated army dragged their feet as they marched.

Banners fluttered upside down, armor was torn, and everyone's face was filled with fear.

Sima Yi sat in the tent, his face ashen and iron-like, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

The only sounds coming from inside the tent were this sound and the crackling of the candlelight.

"Report——"

"Commander Gou An has delivered the grain to the camp, requesting the Prime Minister to hand it over!"

Sima Yi frowned slightly:
"pass."

Soon,
Gou An staggered into the tent, reeking of alcohol, and knelt improperly.

Sima Yi gave him a cold look and asked, "When will the supplies depart?"

Gou An evaded the question:
"Ten, ten days ago..."

"According to military law, anyone who delays the supply of provisions for three days shall be executed."

Sima Yi's voice suddenly turned stern:
"You've delayed for ten days, and you still dare to come to see me, drunk and disheveled?"

Gou'an, mostly sober, kowtowed repeatedly.

"Prime Minister, please forgive me! The roads are muddy from the continuous rain..."

"presumptuous!"

Sima Yi slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying, "Our army has just suffered a defeat and needs supplies to regroup."

"How dare you use rain and mud as an excuse! Take him out and execute him!"

The warriors outside the tent responded and entered, grabbing Gou An and dragging him outside.

Gou An turned ashen-faced and begged for mercy repeatedly.

Just then, Chief Secretary Qin Mi rushed into the tent, cupped his hands, and said:

"Prime Minister, wait! Gou An was recommended by General Cao Zhen."

"Moreover, most of the money and grain in Xichuan passed through his hands."

“If we kill them, I fear it will discourage those who deliver the grain.”

"If the supply lines are disrupted in the future, the morale of the troops will be even more shaken!"

Sima Yi remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping across Gou An's terrified face like a knife, before finally waving his hand and saying:
"Enough! Spare him from the death penalty, but give him eighty strokes of the cane as a warning to others!"

Immediately outside the tent came the sound of being beaten with a stick and Gou An's shrill screams.

That night,

Gou An lay prone on the bed, his buttocks and thighs a bloody mess, his heart filled with surging hatred.

As the attendant applied the medicine to his wound, he gritted his teeth and asked:
"That old scoundrel Sima Yi has humiliated me so much; if I don't avenge this, I'll be unworthy to be a human being!"

The confidant whispered:
"The Commandant has suffered such a great humiliation, perhaps..."

Gou An's gaze suddenly turned fierce:

"Why not surrender to the Han?"

In the dead of night, five or six riders quietly left the Wei camp and headed straight for the Han village.

Zhuge Liang was studying a map in his tent when he suddenly heard that someone from the Wei camp had come to surrender. He smiled slightly.
"pass."

Gou An was helped into the tent, knelt on the ground, and tearfully recounted Sima Yi's beating.

With a gentle wave of his feather fan, Zhuge Liang's sharp eyes carefully examined his words.

"Sima Yi is strict, but he would not punish the grain officials without cause."

"Your words may contain inaccuracies."

Zhuge Liang said slowly, "If you want to gain my trust, you must perform a great service."

Gou An hurriedly kowtowed:

"I am willing to obey the Grand Commander's orders!"

"Sima Yi now holds supreme military power in Wei, and his achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor's authority."

Zhuge Liang paused briefly, then said, "You may sneak back to Chengdu and spread rumors."

"It is said that Sima Yi harbors resentment towards the emperor and intends to usurp the Cao family's throne sooner or later."

"If you can get your lord to recall Sima Yi, that will be your achievement."

Gou An looked troubled.

"This... I am a traitorous general who surrendered to the country, how can I return to Chengdu?"

Zhuge Liang chuckled:
"Liang has made arrangements; you just need to go."

Gou An then accepted the order and left.

Within days, undercurrents were stirring in Chengdu.

Rumors began to spread like wildfire through the streets and taverns.

The eunuch Huang Hao was having a banquet in his mansion when a trusted eunuch whispered to him:
"It is now widely rumored in the marketplace that Sima Yi harbors rebellious intentions."

Guo Xin paused, his wine cup tumbling.
"Is this true?"

Everyone says that Sima Yi is arrogant because of his great achievements.

He once said, "Half of the Cao family's empire was built by me," which seemed to indicate a sense of dissatisfaction.

Guo Xin's expression changed drastically, and he went to the palace to see the emperor the next day.

The young emperor Cao Rui was playing, with Grand Commandant Zhao Yan and General Cao Zhen by his side.

Guo Xin knelt and reported:
"Your Majesty, the whole city is in an uproar, with everyone saying that Sima Yi harbors rebellious intentions!"

Zhao Yan's expression changed drastically:

"How dare a eunuch speak such nonsense!"

Cao Zhen raised his hand to stop him:
"General, calm down."

"I have also heard of this matter. After Sima Yi's recent defeat, he has consolidated military power in his own hands, which may not be a good thing for the country."

Zhao Yan said angrily:
"Sima Zhongda is a loyal minister of three generations, and his loyalty is evident!"

"This must be a counter-espionage plot by the Qi invaders!"

However, the rumors grew stronger and eventually reached the inner palace.

Cao Rui summoned his ministers, his face showing deep worry:
"Sima Yi commands a large army; if he truly harbors disloyal intentions, what can be done?"

Cao Xiu reported:

"Your Majesty may issue an edict, under the pretext of rewarding the troops, to send envoys to investigate their intentions."

"Or perhaps he would follow the example of Emperor Gaozu who captured Han Xin at Yunmengze and lead a large army to Hanzhong to review the troops."

"If Sima Yi truly intends to rebel, capturing him on the spot would be as easy as turning one's hand."

"Hey! No way!"

This statement was immediately opposed by Huang Quan.

"Our army has just suffered a defeat, and morale is low."

"If we were to lose the commander-in-chief at the front, wouldn't the morale of the troops be shattered?"

"Your Majesty must not fall for the Qi people's divisive tactics!"

Cao Rui frowned, hesitating for a moment.

(End of this chapter)