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

Chapter 418 I see that Prime Minister Li is so wise as to be almost supernatural, and I foresee that Kongming will be the same.

In the fifteenth year of Zhangwu, autumn was in full swing.

On both banks of the Wei River, reeds bloom like snow.

The Wei army camp was filled with the bitter smell of medicine.

Inside the central command tent, Sima Yi leaned against the couch, his face ashen.

The military doctor knelt and reported:

"The Prime Minister's pulse is weak and thready, indicating that excessive thinking has caused internal stagnation."

"If you don't rest for more than a month, you might damage your health."

Sima Yi abruptly sat up, the brocade quilt slipping down to reveal his bony shoulder bones:

"That scoundrel Zhuge sends women's clothes to humiliate us every day. If we continue to avoid battle, the morale of our army will be completely lost!"

Before he could finish speaking, he coughed violently.

The servant hurriedly handed over the medicine cup, but he waved it over.

The brown medicinal liquid splattered on the sheepskin map, staining the location of Wuzhangyuan.

Sima Yi was originally a person who could remain calm and composed, but a series of experiences greatly changed the course of his life.

Faced with Zhuge Liang's repeated offerings of "women's clothing," it was no wonder that Sima Yi lost his composure.

Rather, they knew their days were numbered.

If we don't work harder now, the day of revenge will truly be far away.

That night, a sudden frost-covered wind arose.

Tens of thousands of Wei soldiers left their camp under cover of darkness.

Sima Yi, wrapped in a black cloak, mounted his warhorse. His personal guard, noticing the bulging veins on the back of his hand holding the reins, whispered a word of advice:

"The Prime Minister is seriously ill; why doesn't he take command of the central army?"

"But I have to do it all myself."

A cold glint flashed in Sima Yi's eyes as he said in a deep voice:
"For months, I have avoided fighting the Qi army."

"You all say I fear Liang like a tiger, but today I will show him the true strength."

"I want to see for myself whether Zhuge Liang can truly summon wind and rain!"

At 11:45 AM, the vanguard of the Wei army had just reached the outpost of the Han army's fortifications.

Suddenly, the sound of drums thundering from the mountaintop reached the heavens.

The flames flickered like dragons and snakes as countless Han soldiers emerged from the mountain pass.

The one holding the feather fan and wearing a turban was none other than Zhuge Liang.

They pushed out a four-wheeled vehicle from the left and right, and the crossbows on the vehicle fired simultaneously.

"Zhongda, Liang has been waiting here for a long time."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and smiled slightly.

As soon as he finished speaking, a rain of arrows, carrying the smell of sulfur, poured down.

The Wei army's front-line shield formation immediately collapsed.

Amidst screams, Sima Yi saw that the plain white banners fluttering in the Han army formation actually bore the four black characters "Sweep Away the Wei Traitors".

"Shu Zi'an dare!"

Sima Yi seized the drumsticks and struck the drum himself, and the Wei army's heavy infantry phalanx began to advance.

Unexpectedly, the Han army's formation suddenly changed.

Hundreds of sidecars were linked end to end to form an iron wall, with long spears suddenly thrusting out from between the cars.

The Wei army's warhorses were startled and stood up, trampling each other in countless numbers.

Military advisor Liang Ji grabbed Sima Yi's horse reins and tearfully remonstrated:
"Has the Prime Minister forgotten the defeat at Weibin? Zhuge Liang was adept at setting ambushes!"

Just then, torches suddenly appeared like stars on both flanks of the Han army.

Jiang Wei led a swift army out of the dense forest on the left, while Guan Xing and Zhang Bao led the Cong troops to advance from the river valley on the right flank.

The Wei army was attacked from both sides, and its formation was thrown into chaos.

Sima Yi drew his sword and roared:
"Today, there is no turning back!"

Suddenly, a mournful bugle call sounded from the Han army formation. Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, and the Eight Trigrams Formation activated in response.

The Wei army felt dizzy and disoriented.

The Han camp was right there, yet they kept getting lost among the jumbled rocks and forks in the road.

What's even more puzzling is that their Prime Minister Sima clearly studied the Bagua formation and taught it to them.

Why were people still helpless in the face of Zhuge Liang's Bagua Formation?

Sima Yi's helmet was askew when he suddenly noticed a plain silk cloth hanging from a withered tree by the roadside, its ink stains so vivid they looked as if it had just been written:

"Sima Zhongda died here."

"what!!"

Upon seeing this line of text, Sima Yi immediately shouted.

He felt a metallic taste in his throat and fell off his horse.

The crowd quickly rescued them.

At dawn, the remaining soldiers retreated to the entrance of Hulu Valley.

Sima Yi looked back and saw that the Wei River had been bathed in the blood-red light of dawn.

The soldier handed him a water bag, but he pushed it away and gazed southeast, sighing deeply.

"I am confident in my strategic talents, yet I still cannot cross this Wuzhang Plain..."

The voice has not fallen,

The drums and gongs sounded again from both sides of the valley, and the Han army ambushed troops rose up, with arrows raining down and pinning the remaining Wei troops to the bottom of the valley.

When his personal guards risked their lives to protect Sima Yi and break through the encirclement, the Wei prime minister's hair ornament had long since disappeared.

Her hair was white and stained with blood.

As he passed the Qian River, he suddenly reined in his horse, gazed at his reflection in the water, reached out to catch a falling paulownia leaf, and murmured:

"The autumn wind rises again, I wonder how many more times I will see the sycamore trees of my old home..."

The smoke rising from the Han camp on the opposite bank carried the faint strains of the melody of "Liangfu Yin".

This stands in stark contrast to the disastrous defeat of the Wei army once again.

Autumn deepens, and the Wei River weeps.

In the Wei army camp, the usual solemn atmosphere was replaced by a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere.

After the Wei army's desperate and disastrous defeat, Sima Yi vomited blood and fell off his saddle.

After being rescued by his personal guards at great risk, he fell seriously ill and never recovered.

He was delirious with a high fever, and the tent was filled with the strong smell of medicine all day long.

Military affairs fell entirely on the shoulders of the brothers Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, as well as General Deng Ai.

Sima Shi was old and resolute, patrolling the camp day and night to stabilize the morale of the troops.

Although Sima Zhao was somewhat impatient, he knew that the survival of his family was at stake at this moment, and he did his best to assist him.

Deng Ai then strengthened defenses and fortified the walls to prevent the Han army from launching a counterattack after their victory.

Sima Yi, after all, had commanded the army for many years.
Therefore, although he fell ill, he did not lose power.

Instead, military power fell into the hands of his two sons and his trusted generals.

Of course, Sima Yi did not control the entire nation's army.

The Cao clan also controlled an army strong enough to confront Sima Yi.

This was also a contingency plan that Cao Rui left behind to guard against Sima Yi.

How could Zhuge Liang on the other side of the river let such a good opportunity slip by?

Having finally lured the Wei army out, they inflicted a crushing defeat on them and were about to press their advantage.

Therefore, the Han army sent elite cavalry to challenge the Wei forces in front of their camp for several days.

Banners fluttered and drums roared.

The soldiers who were cursing Sima Yi used sharp words to accuse him of being afraid of the Han dynasty and hiding in his shell.

The soldiers of Wei were all indignant and eagerly requested to fight.

However, Sima Shi strictly adhered to his father's orders.

He knew that morale was wavering within the army at this time.

If we act rashly again, we will surely suffer annihilation.

He stood inside the gate, watching the Han army displaying their might, and said in a deep voice to his generals:
"The Prime Minister has ordered that we fortify our defenses and refrain from fighting."

"Their army is at the height of its morale. We should remain calm and wait for them to move. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

The Wei army had no choice but to suppress their anger, guard the gate, and endure the insults.

In the Han army camp, Zhuge Liang discussed matters with his generals.

Seeing that the Wei army had raised their truce signs and remained out of battle for a long time, he subtly waved his feather fan and already had a plan.

At this moment, Lu Xun slowly spoke:

"Commander, that old scoundrel Sima Yi has repeatedly tried to emulate our army by garrisoning farmland along the Wei River to establish a long-term base."

"This year's autumn wheat harvest was bountiful, and most of the grain and fodder were stored south of the Wei River."

"The defenses may have been relaxed due to Sima Yi's serious illness."

"If we can send a strong army across the river to burn and plunder their wheat, their morale will surely be thrown into chaos."

"If the supplies are lost, even if Sima Yi can get up, he will find it difficult to cook without rice."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang nodded and smiled.
"Boyan's strategy is exactly what I was thinking."

“Sima Yi wants to wear me down through protracted warfare, but I will cut off his foundation.”

He then summoned Jiang Wei and Wei Yan to his tent:

"Boyue, Wenchang, I hereby grant you two five thousand elite soldiers, and prepare plenty of tinder."

"Take advantage of the dark moon and high wind tonight, and ride swiftly to the banks of the Wei River."

"Burn their wheat fields and seize their grain and fodder."

"A swift and decisive battle is necessary; do not linger!"

That night,

Dark clouds obscured the moon, and the roar of the Wei River drowned out the sounds of men and horses moving about.

Jiang Wei and Wei Yan were both bold and meticulous.

He led his troops across the Wei River silently and headed straight for the Wei army's garrison.

But on the banks of the Wei River, the fertile fields were covered with rolling waves of golden wheat.

The Wei army had set up a long stretch of grain depots. Although there were sentries patrolling, they were somewhat lax due to the continuous avoidance of battle.

At Jiang Wei's command, the Han army charged out like tigers released from their cages.

The outer outposts were dealt with first.

Immediately, fire arrows shot into the wheat fields and grain bins like meteors.

The night wind fanned the flames, and in an instant, the flames soared into the sky, turning the Wei River red.

Wei Yan then led his troops to charge and kill the Wei soldiers guarding the grain supply.

Caught off guard by the flash of swords, the Wei soldiers were routed.

The Han soldiers set fires while simultaneously harvesting ripe wheat.

Or they could be transported by horse-drawn carriage at breakneck speed, their movements exceptionally swift.

Cries, screams, and the crackling of flames echoed through the night sky.

Wei army camp,

The soldiers on the watchtower saw flames rising into the sky and thick smoke billowing from the southeast, and they immediately reported to the central army.

Sima Shi and Sima Zhao were discussing military matters with Deng Ai when they heard the news and were greatly alarmed.

Sima Zhao, young and impetuous, slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"How dare this traitor Qi!"

"Brother, I am willing to lead the troops there. We will surely defeat Jiang Wei and Wei Yan and secure our supplies!"

Although Sima Shi was also extremely anxious, he remained calm and grabbed his younger brother:
"Brother Zhao, you must not be rash!"

"This is clearly a scheme by Zhuge Liang to lure the tiger away from the mountain!"

"Where there is fire, how can we know there may be an ambush?"

"Our army has just suffered a defeat, and my father is seriously ill."

"If the main force is deployed carelessly and the main camp is lost, then everything will be over!"

He turned to Deng Ai and asked urgently:

"General Deng, how many troops are defending Weibin? Can they hold out for a while?"

Deng Ai cupped his hands, his expression solemn:
"Young Master, the garrison only numbers a little over a thousand; I fear they cannot hold out for long."

"However, what the second young master said is also reasonable. Zhuge Liang's military tactics are cunning and deceitful, and we must be wary of them."

Sima Shi pondered for a moment, then decisively gave the order:

"Quickly send fast horses to investigate the situation. If there is no large force of ambushes, then send General Deng with 5,000 elite cavalry to provide reinforcements."

"Sound the retreat signal, repel the enemy and return immediately; do not pursue them too far!"

"Brother Zhao, you and I will guard the gates of the camp closely to prevent the main force of the Qi army from taking advantage of the chaos to launch an attack!"

He looked out at the towering flames outside the tent, his fists clenched.

Her nails dug almost into her flesh as she said hatefully:

"Zhuge, you old man... I will avenge this grudge one day!"

Although Sima Zhao was unwilling, seeing his elder brother's decisive action, he had no choice but to obey, gritting his teeth as he said:
"Once Father recovers, we will make those traitors pay for their crimes in blood!"

When Deng Ai led reinforcements to Weibin, he found the place in complete disarray.

The wheat fields have turned to scorched earth, and the embers of the grain storage remain unextinguished.

The grain sacks that were lucky enough to escape burning were also looted.

Jiang Wei and Wei Yan had already safely retreated back to the Han camp with the looted wheat and grain.

Deng Ai could only gather his remaining troops, extinguish the remaining flames, and return in frustration.

When the news reached them, Sima Shi remained silent for a long time before sighing to Sima Zhao:
"With the supplies burned, the morale of the army wavered even more."

"Zhuge Liang's plan was exceptionally ruthless."

"Right now, the most important things are my father's illness and the safety of the camp."

He looked toward the direction of the Prime Minister's sleeping quarters, his eyes filled with worry.

In the Wei army camp,
Sima Shi and Sima Zhao sat facing each other in the tent, the military reports on the table wrinkled like withered leaves.

The former pressed his fist to his forehead, while the latter gripped the hilt of his sword tightly at his waist. Outside the tent, the autumn wind howled like a sob as it tossed the flags.

"Half a month's worth of provisions have been lost to the east. Even if my father is kind, how can we face returning to Chengdu?"

Sima Shi's voice was deep and resonant, like iron.

Yesterday, the Han army launched a surprise attack on the supply route with light cavalry, and fire arrows rained down like locusts, turning thousands of carts of millet into scorched earth.

Although the two ponies now held great power, they had little experience in battle.

Compared to the seasoned and shrewd Zhuge Liang, who had been tempered over many years, he appeared quite naive.

While anxious,

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves cracking the ground was heard, and the scout tumbled into the tent:
"Report! The Han army's provisions are all stored in Shangfang Valley, and the garrison is no more than three thousand strong!"

Sima Zhao suddenly stood up, a strange light igniting in his eyes:

"This is a golden opportunity! If we can seize this grain, we can solve our immediate crisis!"

Before he could finish speaking, the tent flap was lifted, and Deng Ai strode in:

"No! Zhuge Liang's military tactics are like those of a ghost; how could he possibly reveal such a flaw?"

"This must be a trap to lure us in; you two gentlemen must not fall for it!"

He pointed to the sheepskin map and analyzed it methodically and carefully:
"Shangfang Valley is shaped like a bag, with a narrow and dangerous entrance."

"If we fall into an ambush, the entire army will be wiped out!"

"How could I not know the danger?"

Sima Zhao gritted his teeth and said bitterly:
"However, the army's food supplies are running low. If we don't take this gamble, are we going to force the soldiers to eat dirt to stave off hunger?"

The brothers looked at each other for a moment, then Sima Shi sighed:

"General Deng will remain to guard the main camp. If the two of us do not return by sunset, we shall immediately retreat to Qishan."

Deng Ai wanted to remonstrate again, but seeing that Sima Zhao was already in armor and holding a halberd, he had no choice but to obey.

Shangfang Valley is hidden among towering mountains, shrouded in mist like a giant beast swallowing and exhaling.

The Wei army's light cavalry advanced swiftly, their hands gagged, and found only a few scattered sentry posts at the valley entrance.

Sima Zhao charged into the valley first, and upon seeing over a hundred grain granaries standing like a mountain, he burst into laughter:
Even the wise strategist Zhuge Liang made a miscalculation!

Suddenly, the sound of drums thundered from the mountaintop, and a large flag bearing the character "陆" (Lu) unfurled in the wind.

"Lu Boyan, the Chief Clerk of the Western Expedition of Han, is here!"

"Sima brat, you've fallen for my trap!"

Amidst the shouts, rockets rained down from the top of the valley like a storm.

Dry grain bins ignite instantly when exposed to fire, turning the valley floor into a furnace in a flash.

Sima Shi hurriedly ordered a retreat, only to find that the route they had come from was blocked by rolling logs and rocks.

The fire spread with the help of the wind, and the armor of the Wei soldiers was as hot as branding iron.

Warhorses neighed in terror, rearing up, and countless horses trampled each other.

Through the thick smoke, Sima Zhao saw his elder brother's hair and beard were charred and curly, and he hissed:

"I have brought this upon my brother!"

Sima Shi snatched the water bag from his deputy general, splashed it on his battle robe, and then pushed his brother into a crevice.

"There are vines on the valley wall that you can climb; hurry!"

Before he could finish speaking, a stray arrow pierced his shoulder blade.

Flames licked at the cries of the dying.

The tributary of the Wei River at the bottom of the valley was boiling like soup, and countless Wei soldiers jumped into the river, their skin and flesh torn open in an instant.

Sima Zhao crouched in the crevice of the rock and watched as his elder brother used a broken spear to support himself on the ground, guarding the narrow path that was only three zhang wide.

As the flames swept past, Sima Shi turned around and shouted sharply:
"Tell Father that the Sima family bloodline must not be extinguished here!"

Suddenly, a thunderclap exploded, and raindrops the size of beans pelted down into the sea of ​​fire.

It turns out that the entrance to Shangfang Valley is narrow, but the interior is vast.

It is high on both sides and low in the middle.

The terrain here is not conducive to air circulation.

Once a fire starts in the valley, the temperature begins to rise, and the air near the ground rapidly heats up, expands, and rises.

The cold air in the upper and surrounding areas contracts and sinks, thus forming strong convective valley winds.

This is why strong winds occur.

At the same time, when a large amount of hot air rises to a certain height from the bottom of the valley.

Water vapor in the air condenses into clouds and fog as the temperature drops.

In addition, the large amount of smoke and dust produced by burning firewood and straw rises into the sky with the air, providing ideal condensation nuclei for water vapor condensation.

This accelerates the condensation of vapor.

As these tiny water droplets in the clouds collide and merge, their volume gradually increases.

This ultimately led to a situation where torrential rain poured down.

Just as the surviving Wei soldiers were about to cheer, they heard a sharp whistling sound as the fire broke through the air—in the still-burning fire, iron caltrops rolled everywhere, and the clicking of Zhuge's repeating crossbows sounded like a swarm of locusts flapping their wings.

It turned out that Kongming had calculated the timing in advance, and his crossbowmen were hidden in the high caves, specifically to shoot at escape routes.

As the Wei army, which had just escaped the inferno, was finished off by repeating crossbows and caltrops.

Lu Xun approached Zhuge Liang and couldn't help but sigh:
"People only thought Li Ziyu was so wise that he was almost like a demon, but they never expected that the Grand Commander also understood the timing of events."

"Having anticipated a heavy rain today, we deployed crossbows and caltrops in advance."

"I admire him greatly."

Lu Xun sincerely admired Zhuge Liang's strategy.

As a notorious arsonist in Eastern Wu, he conspired with Zhuge Liang to set up the great fire at Shangfang Valley.

However, if Lu Xun's plan is followed, the Wei army will fall into the trap and mistakenly enter Shangfang Valley.

That huge fire would surely burn them all to death.

But who would have thought that a torrential downpour would fall from the sky?

"This was also taught by the Prime Minister."

Zhuge Liang answered truthfully.

In the past, Zhuge Liang certainly wouldn't have cared that the weather would affect Shangfang Valley.

But Zhuge Liang personally experienced the Battle of Red Cliffs.

He witnessed firsthand how Li Yi "borrowed the east wind" back then.

To this end, Li Yi also wrote a geographical work, explaining the weather effects that geographical environment may cause.

At that time, Li Yi instructed Zhuge Liang to study this subject carefully.

Zhuge Liang kept it in mind and never forgot it.

Even when he was in Jiaozhou, he often studied it.

Therefore, after designing the Shangfang Valley, it was anticipated that ignition might trigger heavy rain.

Therefore, barbed wire and repeating crossbows were deployed in advance to finish off the remaining enemies.

Unexpectedly, my guess was indeed proven correct.

In retrospect, it was the right thing to remember the Prime Minister's teachings back then.

Zhuge Liang secretly rejoiced.

At this moment, Sima Shi had already been hit by several arrows.

He continued to wield his sword to deflect the stray arrows, but finally collapsed to his knees, exhausted.

As Sima Zhao climbed the vine with tears in his eyes, the last thing he saw was his brother smiling amidst the blood.

He then turned and charged into the rain of arrows, using his body to block the pursuers' path.

When the waning moon rises,

Sima Zhao lay atop Deng Ai's reinforcements' horses, looking back over his shoulder.

The embers of fire still flickered in Shangfang Valley, like the eyes of an elder brother who could not close them.

Deng Ai sighed:

"When Zhuge Liang and Lu Xun joined forces, they even considered rain as a killing move."

Suddenly, I felt a damp heat on my back. It turned out that Sima Zhao had gritted his teeth and was shedding tears of blood.
"The grudge we wield today will one day be settled with the Liu family's empire!"

The valley wind carried the stench of burning grain, mingled with the faint triumphant songs of the Han army atop the cliff.

This great fire burned not only tens of thousands of bushels of grain, but also reduced the ambitions of the Wei Kingdom to ashes.

Meanwhile, Sima Zhao, his body charred black and his armor shattered, staggered back to the Wei army camp on horseback.

Upon reaching the central command tent, he finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell from his horse.

His attendants hurriedly helped him up, but his eyes were bloodshot and he was making hoarse noises.

Only a persistent wheezing sound in his throat:
"Shangfang Valley...brother...fire..."

Before he could finish speaking, he fainted.

Inside the tent, Sima Yi lay on a couch.

Overwhelmed by grief and anger, coupled with a cold, he fell seriously ill and never recovered.

In a daze, I heard a commotion outside the tent.

He forced himself to sit up and saw his personal guards carrying the unconscious Sima Zhao inside.

The old prime minister's heart tightened suddenly, and he looked around.

The sight of the eldest son sent a chill down my spine.

"Zi...Zi Shang?"

Sima Yi's voice was hoarse as he tapped the bed with his fingers, "Where is your brother?"

Sima Zhao was awakened by being splashed with cold water. When he saw his father's withered face, he felt as if a thousand arrows had pierced his heart.

He prostrated himself before the bed, banged his head on the ground, and wept blood-red cries of grief:

"Father! Your son deserves to die!"

"Ambushed in Shangfang Valley, my elder brother was trapped in a sea of ​​fire while protecting me during my escape."

"Surrounded by arrows... he... he died for his country!"

After saying this, he collapsed to the ground and wept uncontrollably.

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi was struck dumb.

He stared blankly at the top of the tent, tears streaming down his face, and murmured:

"Shi'er! Shi'er!"

"My family's thoroughbred horse is indeed..."

Suddenly, he felt a metallic taste in his throat and leaned forward abruptly.

With a "Wow!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering his clothes and the bed with a dark red stain.

His body went limp, and he fainted again.

Chaos erupted inside the tent. Sima Zhao was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Father! It's all Zhao's fault!"

"It's all Zhao's fault!"

After several days in a daze, Sima Yi finally awoke.

However, after this severe injury, he was physically and mentally damaged.

His former eagle-like and wolf-like demeanor has completely vanished.

Only a withered, sickly body remained, with sunken eyes and a sallow complexion.

Sima Zhao served his father day and night at his bedside, and seeing his father in such a state, his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

That morning, a personal guard urgently reported:

"Grand Commander Cao Zhen, accompanied by Xiahou Ba, has come to visit the sick man and has already arrived at the camp gate!"

Sima Yi's eyes narrowed.

Though his breath was barely a whisper, his mind instantly became clear.

He gripped Sima Zhao's hand tightly and whispered:

"Cao Zidan's visit was not to inquire about the illness, but to test the strength of the defenses."

"If he sees me on the verge of death, he will surely report to the King of Wei and have me stripped of my military power."

"Son, help your father put on a play."

Sima Zhao understood and quickly helped his father sit up.

She covered her lower body with a brocade quilt and then brought a warm towel.

I quickly wiped his face and tried to cheer him up.

The voice just fell,

The curtain was lifted, and Cao Zhen and Xiahou Ba strode in.

Cao Zhen, clad in gleaming armor, stood out starkly against the medicinal scent emanating from the tent. He cupped his hands and smiled, saying:
"Brother Zhongda, I heard that you are not feeling well, so I came here to visit you."

"How did you become so ill?"

Although he appeared concerned, his gaze, like that of a hawk, carefully swept over Sima Yi's face and the filth beside the bed.

Sima Yi coughed violently several times, and with difficulty raised his hand to return the greeting; his voice was weak but clear.

"Thank you for your concern, Grand Commander."

"I am old and have caught a cold, which has caused trouble for the army. I am ashamed and do not deserve such treatment..."

"Zi Yuan, he..."

When Sima Shi was mentioned, he choked up and tears welled up in his eyes.

His grief was palpable.

This only highlights his deep paternal love, making it hard for anyone to doubt him.

Cao Zhen feigned comfort:

"Zhongda, please accept our condolences. General Sima Xiao sacrificed his life for the country. His heroic name will live on forever."

"I hope you take good care of yourself. We still need to rely on the old general for important military matters."

He looked around the tent and saw that the weapon racks were spotless.

The military reports on the table were neatly stacked, which made me slightly suspicious.

Sima Yi gasped for breath:

"Rest assured, Grand Commander... I will recover a little."

"I will personally go to the camp gate... to prepare the army for military training, in order to repay the country's kindness..."

Having finished speaking,
Another bout of heart-wrenching coughing erupted, as if he were coughing up his internal organs.

Sima Zhao handed over the medicine bowl at the right moment, his movements steady, his face showing worry but no panic.

Cao Zhen exchanged a few more perfunctory greetings, but finding no further clues, he rose to take his leave.

Sima Yi insisted that Sima Zhao escort him to the outside of the tent to show proper etiquette.

Once out of the camp,
Cao Zhen's face instantly lost its sorrow, turning into a cold and sarcastic expression.

He whispered to Xiahou Ba beside him:

“This scoundrel Zhongda is clearly terminally ill, like a lamp whose oil has run out.”

"But he still had to put on a brave face, afraid that I would take away his military power."

Xiahou Ba frowned:
"Grand Commander, although Sima Yi has been defeated, his influence still remains."

"His son, Sima Zhao, was no ordinary man either."

"How should we respond?"

Cao Zhen mounted his horse, glanced back at the silent central command tent, and sneered:

"What's the rush? Zhuge Liang's fire, though it didn't take his life, has already destroyed his foundation."

"Grieved by the loss of his son and plagued by serious illness, how long can he hold on?"

"We only need to observe the situation and wait for it to perish on its own."

"At that time, the troops in Hanzhong will naturally fall into my hands."

"Pass down the order: all units must guard their camps."

"Without my order, do not act rashly!"

Having said that, he whipped his horse and rode away.

Xiahou Ba followed closely behind, but he had a vague feeling in his heart.

The dying old man in the tent had a faint, almost imperceptible glint in his eyes, like a lurking snake.

Sima Yi, that old turtle, seems to be holding back a big move.

Inside the tent, hearing the distant sound of horses' hooves, Sima Yi felt as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant.

He lay limp on the couch, only one hand gripping the corner of the blanket tightly, his knuckles white.

He gazed into the void, muttering as if in a trance:
"Ziyuan...Cao Zhen...Zhuge Liang..."

"Okay, very good..."

Sima Zhao stood to the side with his head bowed, his eyes filled with a mixture of grief and determination.

Sima Yi lay ill in his tent, barely breathing, yet his mind was as clear as a mirror.

He knew that Cao Zhen was like a hungry wolf, waiting for him to die so he could swallow up the Sima family's foundation.

this day,
After the medicine cup was finished, he gripped Sima Zhao's hand tightly, his eyes flashing with cold light:

“Cao Zidan deceived me because I was seriously ill, but even though the tiger is dead, its might still remains.”

“I should follow the example of Chong’er, who was safe abroad, and lure him into our trap.”

Sima Yi knew his life was nearing its end.
But he absolutely must not allow Cao Zhen to seize his military power after his death.

Because the Cao family certainly couldn't be as dedicated to the Northern Expeditions as the Sima family.

Therefore, Sima Yi, despite his illness, ordered his attendants to wrap himself in brocade robes.

He rode in a sedan chair and went straight into Cao Zhen's main tent.

Cao Zhen was discussing matters with Xiahou Ba when Sima Yi arrived. He was inwardly surprised and suspicious, but outwardly feigned concern.

"Brother Zhongda, you are still ill, why have you come in person?"

Sima Yi trembled as he cupped his hands, his voice weak yet each word clear:

"Grand Commander... Zhuge Liang divided his troops to transport grain, and a detachment in Longxi exposed a weakness."

"This is a golden opportunity. I am willing to join forces with the Governor to attack it, which may turn the tide of the war."

Cao Zhen stroked his beard and sneered:

"Zhuge Liang is cunning; how can we be sure this isn't a scheme to lure the enemy?"

"Brother Zhongda, please don't make a misdiagnosis while you are ill."

"I guarantee it with my own head!"

Sima Yi suddenly raised his voice, and then coughed violently.

"The grain transport convoy's banners are disheveled, and the soldiers are exhausted... cough cough..."

"I have investigated thoroughly for a month and there is absolutely no error!"

"If the Commander-in-Chief has any doubts, I am willing to personally lead the vanguard!"

Cao Zhen thought to himself: "That old thief wants to fight to the death for military merit. I'll just sit back and watch him fail."

He then feigned agreement and said:

"In that case, I'll truly stand guard for you, brother."

"If there is an opportunity to fight, we will definitely send troops to provide support."

Three days later, on the banks of the Wei River.

Sima Yi lay on a leather cart, his face ashen like a ghost, yet he personally supervised the battle.

The Wei army pounced on the Han army's grain transport convoy like wolves and tigers, taking it as easily as picking something out of a bag.

Han general Zhang Bao feigned defeat and retreated, abandoning countless supplies.

Cao Zhen climbed to a high place and saw this, then clapped his hands and laughed loudly:
"That old man Sima actually won the bet!"

He immediately wanted to lead his troops in pursuit, but Sima Zhao drew his sword and blocked his horse:

"Grand Commander! My father fought the enemy while ill; how can you take credit for him?"

Cao Zhen's expression darkened:

"As the pillar of the nation, how dare a mere child utter a word of dissent!"

Suddenly, Sima Yi arrived in his carriage, panting, and said:

“Your son is rude… If the Grand Commander wishes to achieve merit, I am willing to relinquish this honor.”

"I only beg the Governor to remember the arduous battle fought by my son and me, and to grant us leniency in the court in the future..."

After speaking, he covered his face with his sleeve, looking extremely sorrowful.

Cao Zhenzhi was full of pride and said loudly:

"Rest assured, Zhongda, I will certainly not let you down!"

They then mobilized all their elite cavalry and pursued the fleeing enemy to the north.

Xiahou Ba advised:
"Sima Yi is cunning and treacherous; Commander, be cautious!"

Cao Zhen pointed his whip directly at the routed army:

"How can their defeat and abandonment of armor be considered a fabrication?"

"Today we will capture Zhuge Liang alive to avenge our national humiliation!"

They pursued them to the wooden gate, where the terrain suddenly became treacherous.

When Cao Zhen suddenly awoke and reined in his horse, he could already hear the thunderous sound of drums from the mountaintop.

Zhuge Liang, wielding a feather fan and wearing a silk turban, appeared atop the cliff and saw that it was Cao Zhen.

Then he sighed to Jiang Wei and said:

“Boyue, look! Sima Zhongda has actually sent Cao Zidan into a trap. His plan to kill with a borrowed knife is now in its most refined form.”

Jiang Wei pressed his crossbow and replied:

“General, Cao Zhen, though not Sima Yi, is still a pillar of the Wei state.”

"Eliminating it would cut off one of King Wei's arms."

"Of course."

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan lightly, "Then let's grant Zhongda's wish."

In an instant, crossbows fired in unison, and rolling logs and rocks rained down.

Cao Zhen charged left and right, fighting fiercely despite being hit by three arrows.

The Wei army was squeezed into the narrow valley, and countless soldiers trampled each other in the process.

Xiahou Ba fought desperately to protect his master, crying out:

"Commander! We've fallen for that old scoundrel Sima's trap!"

Cao Zhen looked up at the sky, coughing up blood, and said hatefully:

"After my death, Sima will surely usurp the Wei throne, and I will not accept that."

Before he could finish speaking, an arrow pierced his throat.

Upon seeing this, the Wei army collapsed in disarray, their corpses blocking the wooden gate, turning the Wei River red with blood.

When the news reached the Wei camp, Sima Yi was being given medicine by Sima Zhao.

Upon hearing the news, he threw his bowl to the ground, stamped his feet, and wept bitterly.
"Heavens have lost our Grand Commander! The nation has lost such a pillar, as if a beam has been broken!"

He cried until he fainted, and all the generals under his command were moved by his loyalty and righteousness.

That night, Sima Zhao secretly asked:

"Now that Father has eliminated Cao Zhen, why is he so grief-stricken?"

Sima Yi wiped away his tears, his eyes gleaming:

"Although Cao Zhen is dead, his followers still exist."

"Now that we have eliminated a major threat and gained a reputation for tragedy, this is the perfect solution."

Suddenly, he heard the wind howling outside the tent like the wailing of ghosts. He gazed towards the wooden door and said softly:
"Next, it's time to finish this game of chess with Commander Zhuge."

The autumn wind in Weinan stirs up a bloody scene on Wuzhangyuan, thirty miles away.

Zhuge Liang gently placed the last chess piece.

……

(End of this chapter)