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

Chapter 191 Pressing forward step by step

Two days later, as expected, Jiang Wei returned after his attempt to persuade the enemy to surrender failed.

Because it was expected, even Jiang Wei himself wasn't particularly disappointed.

Mi Wei asked carefully:

Did the generals guarding the three passes all refuse to surrender immediately? Were they told to wait for a while?

Jiang Wei: "He refused on the spot, without waiting any longer."

After a moment's hesitation, Mi Wei gave the order again:

"Go again, this time add two more."

"The first to surrender can be enfeoffed as a marquis, the second to surrender can be enfeoffed as a marquis within the pass, and the last to surrender can only survive."

"Secondly, tell each of the garrison commanders that the other two have already wavered, but they are only observing for the time being because the outcome of the battle on Anlu's side is still undecided."

"If we hesitate any longer and miss this golden opportunity to be ennobled, we will become a laughingstock in the future!"

After hearing this, Jiang Wei was stunned for a long time before he reacted:

"Is the general trying to use a trick?"

Miwei nodded:

"The three passes are actually three paths."

"Our army's northward advance will be considered a success as long as we break through one pass and clear one road."

"On the other hand, if the Wei army wants to stop our northward advance, they must ensure that the three passes are not lost at the same time... They have many more concerns than we do."

Jiang Wei thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case.

If I were Wen Dai, and I fought to the death to defend Wuyang Pass, but the generals on both sides surrendered the pass to the enemy, wouldn't I have died for nothing?
The same principle applies to the generals guarding the other two checkpoints.

At this moment, Miwei said again:

"If they refuse on the spot again, you don't need to persuade them anymore. Go to Sui County immediately to find Xiang Juwei (Xiang Chong) and have him launch a strong attack on Wuyang Pass."

"If they make you wait, secretly send someone to keep a close watch on whether there are any messengers being sent between the three passes."

"If so, remember the route carefully, don't alert them, and report back to me..."

Jiang Wei secretly memorized Mi Wei's instructions and set off again.

Just as Jiang Wei was about to enter the mountains again...

The rain, which had been falling on and off for over a month, finally stopped.

On a fine day, Mi Wei officially launched an attack on Wen Ping's military camp.

Saying it was an attack is not actually accurate.

Strictly speaking, Mi Wei only ordered the regular soldiers to go out and form ranks.

This was then used as cover for the larger number of county and auxiliary troops to leave the camp.

The latter constructed numerous passageways around the slope where the Wei army camp was located.

Ultimately, the goal of surrounding the Wei army's camp was achieved.

This is based on a comparison of the overall military strength of both sides.

In terms of sheer numbers, the Han army was five times larger than the Wei army, and their supply trains were overwhelmingly superior.

However, the number of Wei cavalry and warhorses was nearly three times that of the Han army.

Even if we include the two hundred Hu horses that Liu Bei gave to Sun Quan, it is still less than half of the Wei army's strength.

Moreover, having warhorses does not necessarily mean having cavalry.

The cavalry of this era needed to undergo rigorous military training to develop combat effectiveness.

Since we can't compete with cavalry, we might as well make full use of our advantages in numbers and terrain to reduce the enemy cavalry's mobility as much as possible.

Ultimately, they were forced to engage the Han army in close combat within the narrow terrain.

We're using a "step-by-step" approach to counter "mobile warfare."

The principles have always been the same.

To counter this tactic, the enemy would either need reinforcements to make up for the difference in troop strength.

Otherwise, they would have no choice but to go into the mountains and fight as guerrillas.

Then the problem is coming.

Will Wen Ping abandon his horse and go into the mountains?

The answer was somewhat unexpected once again.

It was abandoned, but only a small part was abandoned.

Mi Wei: "Is the person who went into the mountains his adopted son, Wenxiu?"

"It wasn't Wenxiu, but a messenger heading north. He was intercepted and killed by our subordinates."

Ma Zhongshuang, who was in charge of the arrest in the mountains, answered readily.

"General, the Wen family father and son are determined to die. Their only wish is for Wen Dai, the eldest son of the Wuyang Pass. Should we try to persuade them to surrender?"

Miwei thought for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"Precisely because he inherited the bloodline of Wen Dai, we must not let him know the current gains and losses of the Three Passes, otherwise he will be even less afraid of death."

“You send someone to shoot a message into the camp, saying that if he commits suicide, I can recommend Wenxiu as a marquis of the village, with the number of households in his fiefdom being the same as his treatment in Cao Wei.”

"If they resist to the end, their lineage will be wiped out."

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhong grinned and said:

"General, you're getting more and more skilled at using psychological warfare!"

……

"Such a fine steed, unable to die in a battle on the plains, destined to perish in the mud. What a pity! What a tragedy!"

Wenping stroked the mane of his beloved horse, his eyes filled with reluctance.

When Wenxiu heard his father sigh, he felt that his father was using the horse as a metaphor for himself, and his mood became depressed.

He could only turn his head and look outside the camp.

At this point, the closest of the Han army's several passageways was less than two arrow-lengths from the gate.

Once the passageway is completely surrounded, the Wei cavalry will find it difficult to achieve anything.

About two miles behind the tunnel, two small hills rise between the camp and the tunnel.

Each mountain peak is adorned with a banner bearing the character "麋" (mí), resembling a fortress on flat land.

This is the core of the Han army's defensive line.

"Shu, are you afraid of death?"

Wenping suddenly spoke up.

Upon hearing this, Wenxiu perked up and said, "I am willing to fight for you, my lord, without fear!"

"Haha, great!" Wen Ping laughed heartily, full of praise.

"Then I'll give you five hundred cavalrymen to charge over that mountain to the west for me. Do you dare?"

Without saying a word, Wenxiu bowed and went to muster the troops.

However, as Wenping watched his retreating figure disappear into the distance, his smile gradually faded.

I am willing to fight for my adoptive father.

The implication was that once his father died, he was no longer willing to die for the court.

Knowing son Moruo father.

They knew not only the adopted son before them, but also the legitimate son of Beiguan.

As for the other officers and soldiers who weren't even related by blood...

Wen Ping sighed inwardly, then mounted his horse and went to muster the troops.

Before long, all the Wei cavalrymen filed out of the gate and quickly gathered around the two banners with the character "文" (wen, meaning culture/civilization) on them, one large and one small.

At this moment, outside the camp, the Han army's several passageways were less than two arrow-lengths away from the gate at their closest point.

Once the passageway is completely surrounded, the Wei cavalry will find it difficult to achieve anything further.

The next moment, Wenxiu's five hundred cavalrymen took the lead, rushing down the slope and passing through the gap in the passageway in a short while, heading straight for the high slope on the west side of the battlefield in the distance.

The five hundred riders galloped along, splashing up countless puddles of mud and sewage along the way, but their speed could not be increased.

Only General Wenxiu led from the front, thus maintaining an indomitable momentum.

Finally, the Wei cavalry reached the bottom of the slope.

The Han army had already set up barricades and chevaux-de-frise in this area.

The Wei cavalry quickly knocked down a layer of deer antlers, and a volley of arrows from the Han army was immediately unleashed.

Although the Wei cavalry tried their best to maneuver and evade, they were too slow to get away in time.

In an instant, many people fell to the ground.

Since his father went to war, Wenxiu had never fought such a frustrating battle.

His temper flared up, and he charged straight ahead without regard for the enemy's dense and well-organized formation.

The general is the courage of the soldiers. With him taking the lead, the other knights followed suit.

It must be said that Wen Xiu's ability to receive Wen Pin's training indicates that he possesses some talent in battle.

The location he attacked was precisely the same county soldiers that Deng Zhi had previously defeated.

Although their formation was tight, it instilled a psychological fear in the Wei cavalry.

Under Wenxiu's fierce attack, the battle lines quickly crumbled.

Wenxiu was overjoyed and ordered his men to charge forward bravely.

A moment later, he successfully dispersed the attack!
However, just as he was preparing to lead the routed troops forward and sweep them into the next wave.

Suddenly, a large number of knights surged forth from the west side of the hill, towards the Yu River.

These were the six hundred Han cavalrymen who had been preparing for a long time.

Wenxiu quickly compared the difference in troop strength between the two sides and decisively chose to avoid them.

He knew very well that his adoptive father had sent him into battle not to engage in a one-for-one exchange with the enemy.

Instead, they charged into the enemy lines to probe the strength and layout of the Han army's defenses, thus finding a way out for the main force to break through later.

However, just as he led his knights to extricate themselves from the routed army.

Arrows rained down again from the top of the slope.

This time, Wenxiu clearly saw that it was a group of soldiers armed with crossbows, so he turned again and charged towards the crossbow formation.

As is well known, cocking a crossbow is troublesome, and after a round of firing, it takes a lot of time to cock it again.

Wenxiu seized this opportunity during the interval.

however.

After a round of arrows.

Before Wenxiu could catch his breath, the second volley of arrows arrived in the blink of an eye.

Then came the third round.

Round 4.

The fifth round.

……