The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 144 Raid and Restraint

Regardless of how Meng Da's mind changed and he developed new ideas about his future.

Liu Bei had gained more confidence in quickly pacifying the Hexi region.

laughed:

"If you had offered this brilliant plan earlier, I would have appointed you as my military advisor and general. How could I have let you go north!"

Mi Wei also laughed:
"My plan is merely a rudimentary idea and does not deserve the word 'brilliant'."

"Originally, I planned to go to Hexi and then adjust and improve the plan based on the local customs, so as to earn a general's title from His Majesty."

"For now, we can only offer it to His Majesty, who can then personally go to Hexi to adapt to the situation."

He then composed himself and said:

"Whether going north or west, it is all for the sake of the king, there is no difference."

"If this matter succeeds, the restoration of the Han Dynasty and the return to the old capital will no longer be a pipe dream. At that time, Your Majesty can appoint a general again without delay."

"If things go wrong, I will die on the battlefield. I only hope that Your Majesty will remember my humble contributions and protect my family."

After speaking, he bowed solemnly to Liu Bei and then turned his horse around.

Liu Bei watched as he rode his horse across the river.

Pointing to the Wei River, he raised his hand and swore an oath:
"A word is settled!"

……

After entering the northern part of the Longxi Plateau.

Mi Wei suddenly understood Zhang Ji's choice.

This terrain, with its numerous ravines and gullies, not only helped to shake off pursuers.

It can better conceal the movements of a large army, thus achieving a surprise attack.

Of course, the price was also heavy.

The army became disjointed, and supplies could not be sustained.

However, Zhang Ji was marching within the "borders" after all, so he could obtain supplies on the spot.

Therefore, we cannot conclude from this that this person is ignorant of military affairs.

On the contrary, Mi Wei believed that Cao Pi, the governor of Liangzhou, was a general with great courage.

If it weren't for the presence of valiant generals and strategists like Ma Chao and Huang Quan on our side, and the fact that Liu Bei was also a commander with great vision, we would have been able to achieve this.

This time, Zhang Ji might really catch us off guard.

While he was pondering, a group of Qiang cavalrymen acting as scouts came to report.

They said they had discovered the enemy's grain depot that Huang Quan had mentioned.

The garrison numbered about three or four hundred, and they built fortifications on the mountains and dug valleys to create a barrier.

Although crude, it was sufficient for defense.

The prerequisite is having sufficient troops.

It was clear that Zhang Ji's troops were now disconnected, and the granary could neither be connected to the front nor to the rear.

This is the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack.

Miwei carefully inquired about the terrain and confirmed that only the front and rear entrances of the valley were passable.

He then summoned his generals and said:

"Light cavalry raids are advantageous for quick battles, but prolonged attacks will inevitably lead to defeat."

"There is still an hour before dark. If we ride at full speed, we can arrive before dusk."

"My intention is to rush in from one side of the valley, while leaving the other side open, not to kill the enemy, but only to drive them away."

"If grain and fodder can be preserved, then preserve them; if not, then don't force it."

"After that, we set up an ambush around the valley entrance."

Upon hearing this order, Guan Xing said:

"Is Shi Shan trying to protect this batch of grain to lure the enemy to their aid, and then ambush the reinforcements?"

Miwei nodded:

“Zhang Ji is a decisive man and can get support from the local counties. Burning down a granary might trap him for a while, but it won’t last long.”

"Our purpose in coming here is to hold off Zhang Ji for His Majesty, so of course we should do as much as we can for another day."

The generals understood and each accepted their orders and departed.

……

"Zhao Zilong, a true tiger general!"

Jiang Wei looked at the mounted general who was personally covering the rear below the western city.

I felt three parts fear and seven parts respect.

Why is such a valiant general not on our side?
If one could keep pace with this person, then at least in the Kansai region, no one would be able to defeat him.
Jiang Wei, in his early twenties, was at the age when he loved to dream.

His heart was filled with dreams of a bright future and great achievements.

So much so that he forgot that he had just recklessly charged forward and almost died under the enemy general's spear.

Only when his guards reminded him that he should immediately go to Shanggui to report the enemy situation did he reluctantly turn his horse and leave.

Before long, Jiang Wei entered the city and met Guo Huai, the governor of Yongzhou.

After a brief bow, he couldn't wait to say:

"Zhao Zilong occupied the city but did not defend it, which shows that his troops were few!"

"Please lend me three thousand elite cavalry, my lord. Jiang Wei will surely defeat the Shu bandits and capture their general within three days!"

Before Guo Huai could even respond, everyone around him burst into laughter.

Jiang Wei's face darkened, and he said angrily, "What's so funny?" One person said:

"Lord Guo has many fierce generals under his command from Guanzhong and Hedong. Why would he need a mere Guanzhong official like you to cook for him?"

Another person said:

"Zhao Yun is nothing more than Liu Bei's guard dog. What's the point of capturing him? If we're going to go anywhere, we should go to Zhuwei Mountain and capture Liu Bei alive!"

Jiang Wei's father was once a county official and was quite famous.

He usually thinks highly of himself, how could he tolerate such humiliation?

He drew his sword on the spot and said:
"You've come from afar, eating and using my food, yet you're afraid to fight a weak enemy. What right do you have to mock me?"

He then said to Guo Huai:
"Your Excellency is the governor of Yongzhou; you cannot only defend Guanzhong and neglect Longyou!"

Guo Huai then spoke in a deep voice:
"It's not that I'm afraid of war, but I regret that I don't have enough soldiers."

"If you wish to protect your hometown, then go and meet Magistrate Zhang for me."

"Once the two armies join forces and their momentum grows, they will naturally send troops to punish the rebels!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei was immediately disheartened, but he had no choice but to accept the order and leave.

In the end, he was just a minor official with a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain).

It was all thanks to his father's achievements.

He had neither qualifications nor prestige.

With such a melancholy mood, Jiang Wei passed through the county town without entering.

A little over a day later, they met Zhang Ji, who looked travel-worn, on a large plateau in northern Wei.

Compared to the newly appointed "Prefect Guo," this "Prefect Zhang," who had previously served as the Governor of Yongzhou, possessed a more dignified and elder-like demeanor.

Jiang Wei said, half pleading and half complaining:

"The soldiers of Guanzhong only want to protect Guanzhong, not risk their lives for Longyou."

“I knew from my youth that Prefect Zhang was capable of protecting the region. Why not send troops immediately to drive away the Shu bandits?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ji smiled wryly and said:

"Don't laugh at me, but I came in a hurry and was harassed by the Qiang people on the way. It is a blessing from heaven that I was able to bring six or seven thousand men here alive."

"If we rashly send troops now, there may be unforeseen consequences."

Jiang Wei assumed the other party was also making excuses, and immediately became indignant:

"Could it be that Governor Zhang also intends to abandon Longyou and only seek to preserve Guanzhong?"

Zhang Ji sighed heavily, but instead of defending himself, he asked:

"Let me ask you, if I asked you to give up everything in your home, including your life, to defend Guanzhong, would you be willing?"

Jiang Wei opened his mouth but could not speak.

Zhang Ji spread his hands and said:
"You see, this is what is called human nature."

"If people from Longyou are unwilling to risk their lives for people from Guanzhong, then why should people from Guanzhong be willing to risk their lives for people from Longyou?"

"Not to mention that besides those from Longyou and Guanzhong, I also have many soldiers from Hexi."

"I came here specifically to protect Longyou and Guanzhong, abandoning Hexi. How can you expect me to persuade them to fight to the death?"

Jiang Wei lost his voice completely.

Seeing this, Zhang Ji didn't make things difficult for them, and instead said:

"The only course of action now is to reward the soldiers with provisions, honors, and other incentives to boost morale and hold our ground."

"Once Guanzhong is secured, the army will march west. At that time, the Shu bandits will be exhausted from their long journey and will retreat on their own."

"If those people are still greedy and refuse to retreat when they should, then we will surely have the opportunity to capture their generals and seize their flags."

Jiang Wei could only nod.

Zhang Ji then stated his request:

"For the sake of the future, we still need the local powerful clans to advance the military funds. We must be patient for the sake of the country. If you are too ashamed to ask for help, then let your prefect go."

"This is the duty of the prefect."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei suddenly sneered:

"So that the magistrate knows, even our Lord Prefect would probably be too ashamed to ask for help!"

Zhang was puzzled.

Jiang Wei: "When the former lord heard that the Shu bandits were heading north, he was so alarmed that he disguised himself and fled to Shanggui."

"Unexpectedly, they encountered the Fu clan of the Di people who had come south to submit to the government."

"The two sides met hastily, and the Prefect was almost killed."

"It was only thanks to our timely intervention that we were able to save them!"

This time, it was Zhang Ji's turn to lose his voice.

After a moment, he said, "Why didn't I hear about such a disgraceful matter when I sent an envoy to Jicheng?"

Jiang Wei scoffed, "It's precisely because this scandal is affecting morale that I'm covering for you, Lord, to prevent the Shu bandits from taking advantage of the situation!"

"...You did the right thing."

Zhang Ji let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright, I still have some grain stored up. Go and ask for some silk for me to reward the soldiers."

"Once we get through this period, Governor Guo should be able to provide some assistance."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a scout came to report.

They said that some soldiers had escaped from a grain depot in the rear and that enemy cavalry had come to seize the grain.

(End of this chapter)