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

Chapter 434 Who will rule the Crown Prince in the future is His Majesty's family matter, and it is not for his subjects to concern themselves with.
Meanwhile, Deng Ai was stationed with troops in Tazhong, and on this day he was studying a map in his tent.

Suddenly, a scout reported that Zhuge Liang was personally leading a large army in three routes, and the vanguard had already crossed Yinping Bridge.

Deng Ai slammed his fist on the table and ordered Wang Ping, Zhang Yi, and Dong Jue to be summoned immediately to lead troops to provide support.

Military advisor Zuan advised:
"General, Zhuge Liang's attack is fierce. We should avoid his advance and wait for him to run out of supplies before he retreats."

Deng Ai, however, disagreed and said in a deep voice:
If we retreat, the connection between Hanzhong and Chengdu will be severed, and the situation will be hopeless!

"I have been operating here for a long time, how can I give up so easily?"

As they were discussing this, they suddenly heard the deafening sound of drums outside the village, along with shouts from men and neighing from horses.

A guard rushed in to report:
"General, the Qi troops have arrived at the camp!"

Deng Ai, clad in armor and armed with a spear, led his generals out of the camp to form ranks.

The banners of the Han army were so prominent they blotted out the sun. Leading the charge was a general in silver armor and a white robe, none other than Wang Qi, the Prefect of Tianshui.

Wang Qi spurred his horse into battle, cracking his whip and shouting:
"Deng Ai! I have come here today on the orders of the Prime Minister to punish the rebels."

"The Prime Minister has led a million soldiers and a thousand generals, advancing in twenty routes, and has already arrived in Chengdu."

"If you know what's good for you, you'd better surrender now to avoid being slaughtered!"

Upon hearing this, Deng Ai flew into a rage and charged straight at Wang Qi with his spear:

"How dare you, you brat, speak such nonsense!"

When the two horses clashed, they fought for less than three rounds.

Wang Qi then felt his strength failing him, so he feinted with his spear and rode away.

Deng Ai led his troops in pursuit for more than twenty li when suddenly a group of men emerged from a valley ahead, their banners bearing the inscription "Qian Hong, Prefect of Longxi".

Deputy General Shi Zuan urgently advised:

"General, there may be an ambush!"

Deng Ai laughed loudly:

"What's there to fear from such scoundrels, even if there are ambushes!"

He then urged his troops to advance rapidly.

Seeing that Deng Ai was coming with great force, Qian Hong put up a brief resistance and then led his troops to retreat.

Deng Ai pursued them to a narrow valley ten miles away, when suddenly he heard drums and horns sounding from all four mountain peaks. Jiang Wei personally led his elite troops out of the valley.

"Deng Ai, don't run! Jiang Boyue from Tianshui is here!"

Jiang Wei, clad in golden armor and a red robe, held a long spear, exuding an imposing aura.

Deng Ai knew he had fallen into a trap, but he was not afraid and raised his spear to meet the attack:
"I have long admired Boyue's reputation, and today is the perfect opportunity to learn from him!"

The two fierce generals were locked in combat, their spears clashing and sparks flying.

They fought for more than ten rounds without a clear winner.

Deng Ai was secretly astonished: "Jiang Boyue truly lives up to his reputation!"

In the midst of the fierce battle, the rear guard suddenly fell into chaos.

It turned out that Yang Xin, the prefect of Jincheng, had launched a surprise attack on Gansong stronghold while Deng Ai was fighting Jiang Wei.

Upon receiving the report, Deng Ai hurriedly ordered his deputy to set up a false banner to distract Jiang Wei, while he himself led his personal troops back to rescue Gan Song.

Halfway there, they encountered Yang Xin leading his troops in a retreat with their supplies.

Deng Ai was furious:
"Yang Xin, you scoundrel, how dare you attack my camp!"

Seeing Deng Ai's fierce advance, Yang Xin dared not engage in battle and led his troops to flee along the mountain road.

Deng Ai pursued relentlessly, until they reached the foot of a rocky outcrop.

Suddenly, a clapper sounded overhead, and logs and rocks rained down from the cliff.

"General, be careful!"

The captain of the personal guards bravely pushed Deng Ai away, but was himself struck by a boulder and died on the spot.

Deng Ai's eyes were bloodshot with rage, but he was helpless and had no choice but to lead his troops back.

Upon returning to the main battlefield, they found that the Wei soldiers had been decimated by Jiang Wei, and the Han soldiers were closing in from all sides.

"General, hurry up!"

Shi Zuan, covered in blood, led his personal guards to fight his way through.

Deng Ai led his remaining troops into the main camp, where he counted his soldiers and found that nearly half of them had been lost.

Just as they were about to reorganize their defenses, a meteor-horse galloped in, bringing devastating news:
"General! Zhuge Liang has already breached Yangping Pass."

"Jiang Shu surrendered, Fu Qian was killed in battle, and the entire territory of Hanzhong fell!"

"King Han of Lecheng and Jiang Bin of Hancheng have both surrendered!"

Deng Ai felt dizzy and the world was spinning. He barely managed to hold onto the stockade wall to avoid falling.

Shi Zuan said urgently:

"General, Tazhong is now isolated; we should retreat now!"

Deng Ai surveyed his generals, seeing only fear on their faces, realizing the army's morale was in turmoil, and sighed deeply:
"Order the troops to break camp and retreat!"

At this time, Jiang Wei had already led his army to surround Tazhong.

Night came,

The Han army camp was brightly lit, filled with loud singing, and high morale.

Jiang Wei celebrated his victory with his generals in the central command tent. Wang Qi raised his cup and said:
"Today's great victory over Deng Ai is entirely due to Boyue's brilliant strategy!"

Qian Hong smiled and said:

"Deng Ai, who calls himself a famous general, has fallen for Boyue's trap to lure the enemy today, hasn't he?"

Jiang Wei, however, showed no joy:
"...Gentlemen, don't be too happy yet."

Although Deng Ai was defeated, he still had troops at his disposal that could be used to relieve Hanzhong.

"This man is cunning in his military tactics and will not easily admit defeat."

Sure enough, around midnight that night...

Suddenly, a fire broke out in Deng Ai Village, and shouts of battle filled the air.

Jiang Wei urgently ordered all camps to maintain strict defenses and not to make any rash moves.

It wasn't until dawn that they realized Deng Ai had used a clever escape tactic.

The lights were set up vainly at night, while the main force had already retreated via a side path.

Upon hearing the report, Jiang Wei couldn't help but admire him:
"Deng Shizai truly lives up to his reputation!"

……

On the Hanzhong Plain, golden waves of wheat ripple in the autumn wind.

Zhuge Liang personally inspected the agricultural settlements and saw soldiers working alongside the common people.

The fields were bustling with activity, and I couldn't help but nod and smile.

Back in the central command tent, Zhuge Liang summoned his generals for a meeting.

Fei Yi stepped forward and offered his advice:

"Prime Minister, a spy recently reported that Cao Rui favors the eunuch Huang Hao and listens to his every word."

"If we can bribe this person with a large sum of money and get him to slander the emperor before the Wei ruler, it might have a remarkable effect."

Yang Yi frowned and said:
"This plan is ingenious, but Huang Hao has gained favor and trust, so why would he be easily used by me?"

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his gaze deep and profound:

"...Wenwei's plan is feasible."

"Huang Hao is a greedy and avaricious man, and he has a long-standing feud with Deng Ai."

"If you can offer substantial benefits and explain the advantages and disadvantages, you may still be able to succeed."

He immediately appointed Fei Yi to take full charge of the matter, allocating him a thousand taels of gold and countless treasures.

He secretly dispatched eloquent and persuasive individuals to Chengdu to carry out his mission.

Meanwhile, in the Chengdu palace, Huang Hao was massaging Cao Rui's shoulders and back.

"Your Majesty, good news has been coming from the front lines recently."

"General Cao Zhang has broken through several Qi army camps in succession, and Zhuge Liang has retreated to Qishan and dares not come out."

Huang Hao reported the completely fabricated battle situation in a soft voice.

Cao Rui lazily squinted his eyes:
"Really? Why do I only see minor victories in the military reports?"

Huang Hao hurriedly said:

“Those generals are all trying to exaggerate the enemy situation to get more supplies and pay. I am just doing this for Your Majesty to see the truth!”

He then took out a forged victory report from his sleeve. "Look, this is a secret report that General Cao Zhang just sent."

Just then, a eunuch came to report:

"Your Majesty, a memorial from General Cao Xiu, who is in charge of the Southern Expedition, has arrived with urgent news from eight hundred li away."

Huang Hao's expression changed slightly, and he quickly took the memorial:
"Your Majesty must be tired. Please allow me to prepare the important memorials for you."

Cao Rui had no suspicions and waved for Huang Hao to handle the matter.

Huang Hao left the hall and quickly scanned the contents of the memorial.

Seeing that Cao Xiu detailed the critical situation of Yong'an's defenses in his memorial, he requested that reinforcements be sent.

He couldn't help but sneer and stuffed the memorial into his sleeve.

That night, Huang Hao secretly met with a secret envoy from the Han Dynasty.

Looking at the chest full of gold and silver jewelry, Huang Hao's eyes lit up, but he pretended to be reserved:

"What do you mean by this? I am utterly loyal to the Great Wei..."

The secret envoy laughed:

"Lord Huang is naturally loyal, but Deng Ai and other generals outside the capital are holding onto their troops and acting arrogantly."

"If one day your achievements become too great and threaten the emperor's authority, will you still have a place in the court?"

"Why not cooperate with us and each get what we need?"

Huang Hao pondered for a moment, then finally nodded.

The next day, Huang Hao reported to Cao Rui:
"Your Majesty, General Cao Xiu has sent another report of victory."

"It is said that they have repelled three attacks by the Qi army and beheaded more than 10,000."

Cao Rui was overjoyed:

"Uncle is indeed a pillar of our dynasty! Issue an imperial decree to commend him."

Huang Hao, however, said:

"Your Majesty, General Cao Xiu is brave, but he still has old wounds."

"I've heard that he's often ill in the army. Perhaps we should send a younger general to replace him?"

Cao Rui shook his head:
“My uncle has been stationed in Yong’an for many years and is familiar with the defenses. He should not be replaced lightly.”

Seeing this, Huang Hao had no choice but to give up.

On the one hand, he secretly dispatched trusted confidants to firmly control communication within the palace.

Meanwhile, in the Chengdu palace, many ministers lived in constant fear.

Their loyalty to the Wei state was questionable; their cooperation with the Cao family was essentially an exchange of interests.

Today, the Cao family is in decline.

Most people chose to remain on the sidelines, and very few were truly willing to die for the Cao family.

Therefore, no one reacted much to the fact that Huang Hao had begun to gain control of the palace.

Huang Hao also became increasingly arrogant.

But the crowd didn't take it seriously.

In everyone's eyes, this was just a clown's last struggle.

Because Chengdu is about to undergo a major transformation.

Everyone is now looking for a way out for themselves.

The atmosphere in the entire Chengdu Royal Palace became extremely oppressive.

at the same time,

In Yong'an City, Cao Xiu was anxiously awaiting a reply from the imperial court.

He had submitted seven memorials in succession, but they all seemed to sink without a trace.

Deputy General Wang Chan advised:
"General, how about I go to Chengdu myself?"

Cao Xiu sighed:

"Since the imperial court has not responded, someone must be interfering."

"If you and I leave our defensive positions without authorization, we will give others a handle to use against us."

At this moment, a scout reported that Han general Huang Zhong was leading 30,000 naval troops to approach Yong'an.

Despite his illness, Cao Xiu climbed the city wall to inspect the area.

"Report! A hundred Qi warships have appeared on the river!"

Cao Xiu gazed at the river and saw banners obscuring the sun and warships like clouds, which filled him with anxiety.

That night, Cao Xiu's old injury flared up again, and he coughed up blood incessantly.

After examining the officers, the military doctor quietly said to the generals:

"The general has fallen ill from worry and overwork. If he cannot rest and recuperate soon, I fear..."

Wang Chan knelt before Cao Xiu's bed:

"General, may I send another memorial?"

Cao Xiu shook his head weakly:
"No need... If Your Majesty still trusts me, you should have replied long ago."

"It must be someone in the court who slandered me... I, Cao Xiu, have been loyal and brave all my life, yet I have come to such an end..."

Having finished speaking,
He vomited several liters of blood and fainted.

Just as Cao Xiu was on the verge of death, Huang Hao was in the Chengdu palace advising Cao Rui:

"Your Majesty, General Cao Xiu has sent another report of victory, saying that he has decisively defeated the Qi army and captured several of Huang Zhong's generals alive..."

Cao Rui finally became suspicious:

"Since you've won so many battles, why do you keep requesting reinforcements?"

Huang Hao was prepared:

"Well... General Cao Xiu said he would pacify Jingzhou and Xiangyang in one fell swoop within the year, so he requested reinforcements."

Cao Rui pondered for a moment and said:
"The people of Qi have been governing Jingxiang for more than twenty years. How can they be easily defeated?"

"Send an edict to Cao Xiu, instructing him to hold firm and not to be greedy for merit or advance rashly."

When the imperial edict was issued, Cao Xiu was already on his deathbed.

When Wang Chan received the imperial edict, he noticed that it made no mention of sending more troops.

Instead, he blamed Cao Xiu for being greedy for credit, and was filled with grief and indignation.

"General! The court... how could the court treat a loyal minister like this!"

The generals and soldiers knelt before Cao Xiu's bed and wept bitterly.

Cao Xiu barely opened his eyes, read the imperial edict, and sighed deeply:
"It's fate...it's fate..."

He suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and died.

The sudden death of their commander threw the Yong'an garrison into chaos.

Although the deputy general wanted to stabilize morale, the generals at all levels had their own agendas, making it difficult to enforce military orders.

When the news reached the other side of the river, King Liu Yong of Wu was overjoyed:

"A golden opportunity! General Huang, send out your troops immediately!"

Huang Zhong's silver beard flowed freely, exuding a heroic spirit:
"This old minister is willing to be the vanguard!"

That night, the Han army launched a fierce attack on Yong'an by both land and water.

Liu Yong personally donned armor and took up arms, standing at the bow of the ship to oversee the battle:
"Today we will surely conquer Yong'an and show those ministers in Luoyang that I am not just a figurehead!"

Huang Zhong took the lead and led the suicide squad to scale the city wall.

Although the old general is old, his skills are still sharp, and his phoenix-beak saber is invincible.

Wang Chan fought desperately on the city wall. Seeing Huang Zhong charging towards him, he roared:

"You old scoundrel, stop your arrogance!"

Having said that, he drew his gun and charged into battle.

The two generals fought a fierce battle on the city wall, and Wang Chan gradually lost ground.

Just when things were at their most critical, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from within the city—

It turned out that Han general Liu Pan led a surprise force to sneak in through a secret passage and opened the city gate.

"Heaven will kill me!"

Seeing that all was lost, Wang Chan drew his sword and committed suicide.

With Yong'an captured, all the cities in Badong surrendered upon hearing the news.

In less than half a month, the entire Badong Commandery fell under the control of the Han army.

When the news of the victory reached Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang was discussing matters with his generals.

Upon hearing the news of Cao Xiu's death, Zhuge Liang remained silent for a long time, then sighed:
"Cao Wenlie was a famous general of his time, yet he ended up like this. It is both tragic and lamentable."

Fei Yi smiled and said:

"This is all thanks to the Prime Minister's brilliant strategy; we should be pleased."

Zhuge Liang said solemnly:

"This is not a cause for celebration."

"Although using spies may be effective in the short term, it is ultimately not the right way."

"If the court is of one mind, what harm is there in having ten Huang Haos?"

Yang Yi thought to himself, "As long as we can defeat the enemy, what does it matter whether it's the right path or not?"
However, he dared not explicitly state this view to Zhuge Liang, but instead asked:
"Prime Minister, now that Badong has fallen, should we press on and advance?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head:
"Our army has just captured Hanzhong and Badong has been pacified. We should focus on consolidation."

"Moreover... Cao Rui will surely rectify the court after learning this lesson."

"Prime Minister Li often said that we should always respect the battlefield."

"Respect the lives of our soldiers, and also respect our opponents."

"The real battle is about to begin."

Sure enough, Cao Rui finally noticed something was amiss in the Chengdu palace.

Upon receiving successive reports of the fall of Yong'an and the fall of Badong, he was furious:
"Huang Hao! What exactly is going on?"

Huang Hao knelt down and cried out:

"Your Majesty is wise; it must have been General Cao Xiu who underestimated the enemy and acted rashly, which led to this defeat..."

"shut up!"

Cao Rui kicked Huang Hao aside, "Summon Zhao Yan!"

When Zhao Yan rushed into the palace, Cao Rui threw a pile of military reports in front of him:

"Zhao Qing, tell me, what is the situation at the front?" Zhao Yan carefully read through the military reports, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"Your Majesty, there are many contradictions in these military reports."

"In my opinion, someone is probably giving false military intelligence."

Huang Hao tried to argue, but Cao Rui had already given the order:
"Detain Huang Hao and interrogate him thoroughly!"

"Not a single official who handled military reports shall be spared!"

After a thorough investigation, the truth about Huang Hao accepting bribes and falsifying military intelligence came to light.

Cao Rui was filled with remorse and wept bitterly before Cao Xiu's memorial tablet:
"Uncle, it was your nephew who was misled by slander, causing you to die unjustly!"

However, the mistake had already been made.

The State of Wei not only lost the strategic location of Badong, but also lost a key general.

From then on, Cao Rui devoted himself to governing the country and personally handled important military and state affairs.

However, everyone understands.

The future of the State of Wei will not be one of improvement.

……

On the banks of the Han River, banners obscured the sun.

The Jingxiang army led by Liu Yong and Huang Zhong finally joined forces with the Qi-Han army commanded by Zhuge Liang.

The camps stretched for dozens of miles, creating a magnificent sight.

That night, Zhuge Liang ordered a banquet to be held in front of the central command tent.

They cooked lamb and slaughtered cattle to reward the army.

Under the torchlight, the soldiers toasted each other and cheered loudly.

Liu Yong, dressed in golden armor, entered the banquet surrounded by Zhang Wen and other trusted confidants.

Upon seeing Zhuge Liang, he quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"I have long admired the Prime Minister's name; to meet you today is truly an honor!"

Zhuge Liang returned the courtesy as per custom:
"The King of Wu personally led a large army to aid us, and Liang was extremely grateful."

During the banquet, Liu Yong flattered Zhuge Liang to the extreme.

Whenever we raise our glasses, we always pay our respects to Zhuge Liang first.

After several rounds of drinks, Liu Yong, seemingly drunk but not quite, said:

“When your elder brother Zhuge Jin was prime minister in Jiangdong, he often taught me to be diligent in governing and to love the people.”

"Seeing the Prime Minister now is even more rewarding than seeing your brother back then!"

Zhuge Liang smiled calmly:
"...My elder brother's talent and virtue are beyond my reach."

"Your Highness, you flatter me."

Seeing that Zhuge Liang remained unmoved, Liu Yong probed again:

"Prime Minister, do you know that when I was in Jiangdong, I often read your 'Memorial on Dispatching the Troops'?"

"Every time I read the line 'I will dedicate myself to the cause until my dying breath,' I cannot help but shed tears."

"With such a wise minister as the Prime Minister assisting us, how can we worry about the stability of the realm?"

These words were almost a blatant solicitation, and the room immediately fell silent.

All the generals held their breath, watching how Zhuge Liang would respond.

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan and calmly replied:

"...King Wu is too kind."

"Since I have received Your Majesty's favor, I will do my utmost to serve you with unwavering loyalty."

"As for who will become the Crown Prince in the future, that is a matter for Your Majesty's family and is not something a subject should concern himself with."

This statement not only demonstrated his loyalty to the Han Dynasty but also implied that he would not participate in the struggle for succession among the princes.

It can be described as watertight.

Liu Yong's expression changed slightly, but he forced a smile and said:

"...The Prime Minister is loyal, righteous, and of noble character, which is admirable."

He then changed the subject and began discussing military affairs with everyone.

After the banquet, Liu Yong returned to his tent in a sullen mood.

Seeing this, Zhang Wen, a trusted advisor, dismissed his attendants and asked in a low voice:
Why is Your Majesty displeased?

Liu Yongmeng gulped down a mouthful of wine and said angrily:

"Zhuge Liang clearly and firmly supports the Crown Prince!"

“My younger brother, the King of Yue, is now serving our father in Luoyang, trying to win his favor.”

"The Crown Prince has the support of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, and the King of Yue is favored by his father, the Emperor."

Will I even have a chance to survive in the future?

Zhang Wen pondered for a moment and slowly said:

"...Your Majesty need not worry."

"You have achieved great merit in conquering Badong today, and your prestige in the army is growing day by day."

"As long as the conquest of Shu goes smoothly, their future may not be worse than that of the Crown Prince and the King of Yue."

"really?"

Hope rekindled in Liu Yong's eyes.

Zhang Wen leaned closer and whispered:

"The King of Yue serves His Majesty every day, which is a case of being in a favorable position to benefit from his proximity."

"The Crown Prince, on the other hand, has legal backing."

"If Your Majesty can win the merit of destroying Shu, you will be on the same starting line as them."

"When we achieve the merit of conquering Shu, our prestige will soar, and we will have no worries about failing to accomplish great things."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yong was overjoyed and slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming:

"Very well! We will do as you say, sir!"

The following morning, Zhuge Liang held a meeting in his tent.

Liu Yong arrived early, and his attitude was even more respectful than yesterday.

"Prime Minister, I am willing to lead the soldiers of Eastern Wu as the vanguard and take Chengdu directly!"

Liu Yong volunteered for the mission.

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment and said:

"King Wu is commendable for his bravery, but Chengdu is well-defended and should not be entered lightly."

"It would be better to take Mianzhu first and cut off its external support."

Just as Liu Yong was about to argue, Zhang Wen quietly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to follow Zhuge Liang's instructions.

"The Prime Minister has profound foresight, and I will obey the general's orders."

Liu Yong reluctantly agreed.

Dissatisfied, he asked Zhang Wen in a low voice:

Why not let me claim the credit?

Zhang Wen whispered:
"Your Majesty, Zhuge Liang's military strategy is divine. Since he made such an arrangement, there must be a deeper meaning behind it."

"Your Majesty might as well bide your time and wait for the right opportunity to display your prowess."

Liu Yong could only remain silent.

At this moment, Jiang Wei and Lu Xun rushed back, covered in dust, and went straight to the council hall without even changing their clothes.

"Prime Minister, Deng Ai has retreated to Jiange, burning down the plank roads along the way and holding his ground."

Jiang Wei reported, "However, the capture of Hanzhong is a great fortune for the court. We should press on and make a grand plan as soon as possible."

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the hall:

What are your thoughts on this?

Wei Yan immediately stepped forward, his voice booming:
"In my humble opinion, we can send an army out of the Yinping Trail to Han Deyang Pavilion to take Chengdu as a surprise attack."

"Upon hearing the news, Deng Ai will surely return with his troops to provide reinforcements. At that time, the Prime Minister can take advantage of the situation to attack Jiange, and then the entire campaign will be accomplished!"

Wei Yan once again proposed the ingenious plan to secretly cross Yinping.

These words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion in the hall.

Many generals nodded in agreement, while others said the plan was too risky.

Zhuge Liang frowned slightly and pondered for a long time.

"...Wen Chang's plan is too dangerous."

Zhuge Liang said slowly, "The Yinping Trail is surrounded by high mountains and steep ridges."

"If the Wei army defends its strategic location with only a hundred or so men and cuts off our retreat, then tens of thousands of soldiers will starve to death."

"The way of war is to engage with the enemy through orthodox means and to win through unorthodox means."

"Now that we have captured Hanzhong, why not advance honorably and attack Jiange?"

Wei Yan's face immediately darkened, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"I am feeling unwell and must take my leave now."

Having said that, he disregarded etiquette and stormed off.

After the meeting, Jiang Wei stayed behind alone.

He stepped forward and whispered:
"Prime Minister, Wen Chang's plan, though risky, is not necessarily impossible."

"Wei has lived in Longxi for many years and knows the difficulty of the Shu Road."

"Jiange Pass is a natural fortress; one man can hold it against ten thousand."

"If we launch a direct assault, we risk losing troops and generals, and transporting supplies will be even more difficult."

Zhuge Liang stared at the map, remaining silent.

At this moment, Lu Xun, who had been listening quietly, also spoke up:

“…What Boyue said is absolutely right.”

"When Xun was in Jiangdong, he studied the maps of Shu in detail."

“From Yinping, take a small path through Handeyang Pavilion to Fu, then go west of Jiange for a hundred li, and then it will be more than three hundred li to Chengdu.”

"If we send a surprise attack to strike at their heart, the garrison at Jiange will surely return to reinforce them."

"At that time, the Prime Minister can lead the main force to advance at his leisure."

"Even if the garrison of Jiange does not return, and the forces in Fucheng are weak, it can still be taken in one fell swoop."

Zhuge Liang looked up at Lu Xun:
"Since Boyan has proposed this, please elaborate on the strategy."

Lu Xun walked to the map and tapped it lightly with his finger:
"...Please take a look, Prime Minister."

"Although the Yinping Trail is dangerous, it is not entirely without a way out."

"We can send 5,000 elite troops ahead to clear roads through mountains and build bridges over rivers."

"The main force followed suit, carrying a month's worth of dry rations, and advanced swiftly with light equipment."

"After reaching Fucheng, we can divide our forces into two routes: one to feign an attack on Chengdu, and the other to cut off the supply lines to Jiange."

Jiang Wei added:
"We are willing to lead the vanguard. With just 30,000 elite troops, we can surely accomplish this task!"

Zhuge Liang pondered for a long time, then lightly tapped his fingers on the table:

"How can we so easily throw away the lives of thirty thousand soldiers? Besides..."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"We must be cautious in our military operations. Although we have captured Hanzhong, our foundation is not yet secure."

"If this plan fails, all previous efforts will be in vain."

Lu Xun said with emotion:

"How can a military campaign be completely foolproof? In the past, Han Xin secretly crossed the Chencang pass, which was also a victory achieved through surprise."

"Our army has just captured Hanzhong, and its morale is high. We should seize this opportunity!"

The three discussed the matter until late at night.

Zhuge Liang finally softened his stance:

"If we are to proceed with this plan, we must make thorough preparations."

"Boyue, tell me in detail how many soldiers and provisions you need?"

Jiang Wei's spirits lifted:
"30,000 elite troops, carrying a month's worth of dry rations."

"Another 3,000 engineers are needed to clear roads through the mountains."

"The most important thing is to choose a guide who is familiar with the terrain."

Lu Xun added:
"We still need to make a big show of things in Hanzhong, pretending to prepare for a strong attack on Jiange, in order to mislead Deng Ai."

"Fine, since you insist..."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

After a night of persuasion from the two men, Zhuge Liang finally agreed to the plan to secretly cross Yinping.

"However, this mission is extremely dangerous and cannot be undertaken without both wisdom and courage."

Jiang Wei's spirits lifted:
"I wish to go!"

Zhuge Liang nodded:
"...I was just about to entrust you with this task."

"However... Wen Chang still needs to be properly appeased."

Jiang Wei hesitated slightly:

"General Wei has offered such a brilliant plan; if we don't involve him, I'm afraid..."

Zhuge Liang sighed:

"Although Wen Chang was brave, he was also stubborn and arrogant, which caused him to have many disagreements with his colleagues."

"Crossing Yinping by stealth requires not only wisdom and courage, but also a strong belief to unite the soldiers."

"The journey on Yinping Road is extremely arduous."

"Without cohesion, unforeseen changes may occur."

The implication was that Zhuge Liang believed Wei Yan's contribution to the plan could be attributed to him, but he shouldn't let him go.

Because crossing Yinping illegally requires not only wisdom and courage, but also a strong belief.

It is essential to unite all the soldiers and bring them together as one.

Although Wei Yan treated his soldiers well, he had poor relationships with many of his colleagues.

The arduous life in Yinping makes the leadership's ability to unite people even more crucial.

Wei Yan clearly couldn't do that.

Jiang Wei suddenly realized:

"The Prime Minister's plans are profound and far-sighted; I understand."

"Go and make preparations. We will depart in seven days."

Zhuge Liang took out a tiger tally from the table.

"With this talisman, one can mobilize 30,000 elite troops."

Jiang Wei solemnly accepted the tiger tally, bowed, and withdrew.

The next morning, on the drill ground, Jiang Wei stood on the command platform, facing the dark mass of soldiers.

"Brothers!"

Jiang Wei’s voice boomed, “Today we have a mission with a slim chance of survival, and we need men willing to die for it.”

"We will take the Yinping Trail, cross the Motianling Mountains, and head straight into the heart of Chengdu!"

"This road is full of cliffs and dilapidated plank roads; a slight misstep could result in certain death."

"Moreover, food supplies are limited, and they could very well starve to death on the way."

"Those who are willing to come with me, take a step forward!"

A moment of silence fell over the arena, followed by a thunderous response:
"I'm willing to follow the general!"

"I swear to follow you to the death!"

However, after some screening...

When the final headcount was taken, only 25,000 people were willing to go.

Just as Jiang Wei was worrying, he suddenly saw a group of golden-armored guards escorting Liu Yong as they approached.

"General Boyue!"

Liu Yong said loudly, "I am willing to go to Yinping with you!"

Jiang Wei was greatly alarmed:

"Your Highness is of inestimable worth; how can you risk your life? This is absolutely unacceptable!"

Liu Yonghao laughed heartily:

"A true man who seeks fame and merit is fortunate to die on the battlefield; what is there to fear in death?"

"Besides..."

He lowered his voice.

"I often wish to follow the example of Ban Chao: 'If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger cub?'"

"Today is the perfect day to put this saying into practice!"

Jiang Wei wanted to persuade him further, but Liu Yong waved his hand and said:

"General, there's no need for further words. My mind is made up!"

He then turned to the guards behind him and ordered, "You shall all be immediately placed under General Jiang's command and await his orders!"

The addition of this elite guard brought the total to exactly 30,000.

Seeing that things had come to this point, Jiang Wei had no choice but to agree.

That night, Liu Yong was restless in the guesthouse.

The bold words spoken during the day still echoed in my ears, but the thought of the dangers of the Yinping Trail made my palms sweat.

Chief of the Guards, Chen Xiao, insisted, and then said with concern:

"If Your Highness regrets it, this humble general can go and explain to General Jiang..."

"No!"

Liu Yong suddenly stood up. "Since I made a vow in front of everyone, how can I go back on my word?"

"Besides..."

He walked to the window and gazed at the starry sky.

"The Crown Prince has Zhuge Liang's support, and the King of Yue is favored by his father, the Emperor."

"If I don't take this chance now, I'll be nothing more than a king of leisure for the rest of my life."

……

(End of this chapter)