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

Chapter 258 Fast and Slow

"Anyway, I'm not going to touch the deer."

"Whoever wants to go can go."

The cold wind of the twelfth lunar month caused sparks to fly from the charcoal brazier.

It seemed as if it could ignite Kebineng's wildly flying braids at any moment.

But he didn't care at all, skillfully grilling the meat and eating it heartily.

His palms and beard were covered in grease, and under the heat of the charcoal fire, they faintly emitted a burnt aroma.

Beside him, Suli, also a Xianbei chieftain, was much more reserved.

He slowly and methodically cut the meat with a small knife, chewing and eating slowly.

pat.

Kebin could casually toss aside and gnaw on the clean cow bones.

Suli, however, gripped the knife tightly in an instant, as if she were a frightened bird.

Upon seeing this, Kebineng burst into laughter.

Suli's face flushed red, and he threw away the beef bones, saying in a cold voice:
“I understand why you dare not touch the fortified cities of the Han people.”

“Weinan is mountainous, and I can understand why you are afraid of being blocked in the ravine by Zhang Fei and Wei Yan and dare not cross the river.”

"But Zhao Yun's route, there aren't many high mountains after passing Yumi, right?"

"He comes from Longyou, and his subordinates are mostly Qiang cavalry and Di soldiers. They are not good at defending cities, so they won't stay in the city forever... What are you afraid of?"

Kebineng picked up the wine sac, took a big gulp, and let out a burp.

Wiping his mouth, he said:
"Couldn't it be because you're afraid of Zhao Yun?"

"Zhao Zilong was a rare tiger general from Ji Province under Gongsun Zan of You Province in the past. I had heard of him long ago in the borderlands."

Suli scoffed at his words.

Back then, Zhao Yun was just a minor cavalry general under Gongsun Zan, with no reputation to speak of.

Back then, Kebineng was just a small tribal chief and didn't have the prestige he has today.

In comparison, do I feel like I'm becoming more and more humble?

Just as he was secretly feeling ashamed and annoyed, Kebineng suddenly changed his tone:
"Why do we insist on confronting the Han army head-on?"

"Does the Wei people really expect us to defeat the Han people for them and then be granted a title of marquis or county marquis within the pass?"

"Stop dreaming!"

Suli's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at him sideways, asking, "Then what do you think we should do?"

“Two things,” Kebineng said, holding up two oily fingers.

"First, we should try to delay the forces of Zhang, Wei, and Zhao to the Fufeng line, so as to preserve Jingzhao, or at least Chang'an."

"Secondly, if we really can't hold on, then we should loot this place as much as possible, preferably leaving it completely deserted. This way, at least it will be difficult for the Han people to send troops from Guanzhong to Hedong for three to five years."

"In short, the Wei people knew very well what we were good at and what we were not good at; they also knew very well what we liked to do and what we didn't like to do."

“But you are.” Kebineng pointed at Suli, whose whole body was tense.

"Having stayed in Senegal for so long, do you really think you're some kind of respectable person?"

"Don't you even look in the mirror and see what kind of braid you're wearing?"

"Still want to charge into battle and capture cities?"

Suriben had already been persuaded, but upon hearing the subsequent insults, he finally lost his temper.

"In the end, isn't this just a delaying tactic?"

"If this world ultimately falls into Liu Bei's hands, then our actions of burning, killing, and looting within the pass today, which have angered both heaven and man, will likely incur the wrath of the Han emperor in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Kebineng finally became slightly more serious and bared his teeth in retort:
How can you be so sure Liu Bei will live to see that day?

……

"We will wipe out these Xianbei bastards sooner or later."

"But today our greatest enemy is the Wei army, not some bandit."

On the platform, Zhang Fei stood tall and proud, his eyebrows and eyelashes frosted with white.

His subordinates, from Chief Secretary Jiang Wan down, all nodded silently.

Zhang Fei turned around:

"I intend to take Huaili quickly. What suggestions do you gentlemen have?"

Jiang Wan bowed and said:
"General, although your words were rough, the reasoning behind them is sound."

"The Xianbei's archery and horsemanship methods are inherited from the Xiongnu. The saying 'advance when it is advantageous, retreat when it is disadvantageous, and flee without shame' is exactly like that of wild dogs and vultures."

“If they were in the vast borderlands, they would have fled thousands of miles away, making them truly difficult to catch.”

"But the land within the pass is ultimately not as vast as the land beyond the Great Wall."

"Now that our army has occupied half of Fufeng County, why not build a passageway from the north and south plains, connecting Yong County and Yumi in the north, and Wugong in the south?"

"If that's the case, the northern barbarians will have difficulty riding horses, and when the ice thaws in spring, they will have to flee north."

"At that time, Zhang He's troops lost the support of the northern barbarians and were trapped in an isolated city. General, you only need to send one general to besiege Huaili, and you can mobilize three armies of 100,000 men to take Chang'an directly!"

"In that case, great things can be expected!"

Upon hearing this plan, his subordinates on both sides were all tempted.

Jiang Wan's plan is not difficult to understand.

Building strongholds and fighting a protracted war—that approach doesn't really work in the remote, horse-riding areas of the frontier.

It could very well turn into another siege of Mayi.

But it's different when placed inside the tortoise shell of the pass.

As Jiang Wan said, no matter how vast the Weibei Plain is, its north-south depth is very limited.

Especially in the Fufeng area, the longest distance between the north and south mountains is less than 100 li, making it quite long and narrow.

Given the manpower and resources currently mobilized by the Yizhou army, it is entirely feasible to block the roads by building tunnels.

However, upon hearing this seemingly foolproof plan, Zhang Fei paused only slightly before shaking his head and asking:

"If we use this plan, I'm afraid it will be until midsummer next year before we can hope to reach the walls of Chang'an."

"too slow."

Jiang Wan and the others looked at each other, and someone couldn't help but ask:

"What does the general intend to do?"

Zhang Fei clearly had a plan in mind:

"The infantry will remain to guard the city and repair the passageways."

"Wei Wenchang and I will combine our two cavalry units and head directly to Huaili to fight Zhang He."

"If we can settle this in one battle, the Xianbei people will surely flee, and Fufeng will be considered recovered."

These words immediately caused an uproar among those around him.

Jiang Wan had no choice but to dissuade him:

"Why did the general take such a risky step when there was a perfectly sound plan?"

"If the surprise attack fails and the Xianbei people cut off our retreat to the south, we risk ruining the entire operation!"

"Moreover, Zhao Zhengbei's forces have not yet caught up. If we do not join forces, I'm afraid our number of cavalry will not be enough to deter Zhang He's troops!"

Zhang Fei chuckled lightly:
"Even if I deliberately step aside, would those scoundrels dare to cross the Wei River to the south?"

"As for Zilong's unit, that's easy to deal with. Let him leave behind his infantry and laborers, and then lead his knights to join him."

"I don't believe the Xianbei would dare to block his troops in person."

Jiang Wan, of course, knew what the Xianbei cavalry was all about, and for a moment he was unable to refute them.

But if Zhang Fei's plan were to be implemented, it would be equivalent to the three armies becoming completely separated in terms of infantry and cavalry, and then making a desperate gamble at the gates of Huaili City.

If we win, that's fine.

If the situation drags on without any progress, then the Wei army and the Xianbei people will take the opportunity to encircle and cut off their rear, and these tens of thousands of Han cavalry, along with the three generals Zhang, Wei, and Zhao, will all perish under the walls of Huaili City.

Jiang Wan: "What is the general in such a hurry about!"

Zhang Fei sighed, his hands behind his back.
"It's not that I'm eager to make a name for myself."

"But I have served His Majesty for many years and am well aware of His Majesty's aspirations."

"I just wanted him to see the scenery of Guanzhong before he passed away. Even just seeing Fufeng would be enough..."

After saying this, Zhang Fei exhaled a long puff of white air and remained silent.

Those around them, upon hearing this, fell silent in despair.

It turns out that Zhang Fei has summoned everyone to the stage today.

They're not just here to discuss military strategy.

They came to pour out their sorrows.

……

Hanshou, go wherever you go.

"Xiuyuan, Feng Xiuyuan...where did he go?"

Upon hearing the emperor urgently summon the general of the central army, the attendants on either side immediately became flustered.

A moment later, Commander Feng Xi rushed over and bowed deeply, saying:
"Your Majesty, I was just meeting with the envoy from Chengdu, hence my late arrival. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"

Upon hearing the sound, Liu Bei tried to sit up from the soft couch, but he was too weak.

Upon seeing this, Feng Xi stepped forward to help him up.

But Liu Bei grabbed his hand and pressed it down:

"Where is Yide? Judging by the time, should he have taken Chang'an by now?"

Feng Xi's expression immediately changed, and he reminded him in a trembling voice:
"General Zhang took Chencang last month, and last month he helped Wei Zheng to march north out of Xiegu. This month he has finally gained a foothold in Fufeng. Taking Chang'an... will still take some time."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was stunned for a long time before he seemed to wake from a dream.

He muttered to himself, embarrassed:
"It's my fault for forgetting, I've forgotten..."

Feng Xi opened his mouth as if to speak, but could not utter a sound.

On the contrary, Liu Bei calmed down much faster:

"You just said that an envoy has come from Chengdu?"

Feng Xi said solemnly, "Yes..."

Before he could finish speaking, a eunuch suddenly entered the palace and announced:

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhuge requests an audience!"

(End of this chapter)