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

Chapter 259 But the Kingdom's Future is Uncertain
Zhuge Liang personally came from Chengdu to see Liu Bei.

This is no small matter.

When the monarch is away on campaign, the key ministers left behind should remain in the capital to oversee the rear and protect the crown prince.

You may not leave unless summoned.

If there is something truly important to discuss with the monarch, a trustworthy court official or subordinate should be appointed.

But Zhuge Liang, who was always extremely strict with himself, risked being accused of dereliction of duty and came in person.

Liu Bei asked Feng Xi to help him up.

Then he dismissed everyone around him, including Feng Xi himself.

Soon, only Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, the ruler and his minister, remained in the room, sitting facing each other.

In a daze, the two seemed to have returned to the thatched cottage in the western suburbs of Xiangyang eighteen years ago.

That year, Liu Bei was over forty years old.

This is quite similar to Zhuge Liang's current situation.

At this moment, two ambitious souls in their forties seemed to transcend the barrier of nearly twenty years and sat down to talk.

[I, disregarding my own virtue and abilities, wish to establish righteousness throughout the world… What plan do you suggest?]

The late emperor did not consider me lowly or unworthy, but condescended to consult me ​​on matters of the time.

"For me to have Kongming is like a fish to have water."

[He was deeply grateful and thus pledged himself to serve the late emperor.]

To accomplish great things, one must prioritize the people. Now that they have come to me, how can I bear to abandon them?

What commoner would dare not bring food and drink to welcome the general?

"good!"

Liu Bei suddenly shouted, his thin body trembling slightly.

Zhuge Liang's eyes flickered, and his raised long sleeves trembled violently.

Is it a dream? Or am I awake?
The candlelight flickered, casting long, thin shadows that flowed slowly like the waters of the Han and Mian rivers.

After a while, Liu Bei's spirit, trapped in his aging body, could no longer sustain itself.

His sparse eyebrows drooped, and he spoke with difficulty:
"A person is not considered to have died young at fifty. I am now over sixty and have one-third of the world under my rule. What more could I possibly regret?"

"But I am concerned that the kingdom is not yet established and the traitors have not yet been eliminated."

Zhuge Liang bowed and said, "Your subject understands!"

"You don't know!"

Liu Bei's withered hands clenched his sleeves tightly.

It was as if they were trying to hold onto something.

Cao Cao said that even in old age, a hero's ambition remains undiminished. Although my aspirations are different from his, we share the same lofty ambition.

"They were antagonistic in life, so why should they back down in death?"

"If Cao Cao could die in Luoyang, why can't I die in Chang'an!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang was greatly shocked.

But he only said one thing:
"I... know it!"

"That's all."

Liu Bei waved his hand dismissively.

"I am old and senile, and I acted rashly just now. Please forgive me."

"Tell Yide to use troops prudently, and not to waste soldiers' lives for my sake."

"You should also return to Chengdu immediately to take charge."

"Let us, as ruler and subject, each perform our duties and not cause any more trouble for those who come after us."

Zhuge Liang did not respond.

Liu Bei sighed deeply:

"I only wish to die in a place closer to my ancestors, why are you all so eager to force me!"

"I apologize for my intrusion, but I have not come here to dissuade Your Majesty!"

Zhuge Liang suddenly stood up.

He said in a loud and solemn voice:
“Ever since I first saw Your Majesty at the thatched cottage in Longzhong, I have known Your Majesty’s aspirations.”

"I have come here today at the risk of my life, for only one thing."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to personally lead the horse into the pass and return to the old capital!"

Liu Bei's gaze suddenly sharpened.

The clenched fist was immediately released.

……

Throughout the entire December of the fourth year of Zhangwu, Mi Wei was busy coordinating logistics and supervising the manufacture of military equipment.

And to handle all sorts of complicated personnel and military matters.

Among these, the military situation in the Guanzhong region is undoubtedly of paramount importance.

First, at the beginning of the month, a large number of Xianbei people poured into Guanzhong, and the Yizhou army, which was originally unstoppable, was halted in the western border of Fufeng County.

Subsequently, as the morale of the Wei army rebounded, Guan Ping's offensive in the direction of Wuguan also came to a standstill.

It seems that this Northern Expedition will be delayed until at least the turn of spring and summer next year before a victor can be determined.

Of course, this time point is not strict.

It is merely a general inference based on farming and nomadic experience in the agricultural era.

If any major problems arise within either the Han or Wei sides, the war could very well end prematurely, or it could be prolonged indefinitely.

Everything is uncertain.

But as the saying goes, when the West is dark, the East is bright.

Just when the battle in the Guanzhong region was temporarily hampered, Guan Yu divided his forces to launch a surprise attack on Guangcheng Pass, which unexpectedly succeeded.

This time, Guan Yu adopted a similar strategy to someone else's previous one, displaying his own flag to confuse the Wei army.

In reality, he personally led another force north to attack the pass.

With the cooperation of Sun Lang and others, they attacked from both inside and outside, and not only captured the pass in one battle, but also surrendered the Wei general who was defending the city on the spot after revealing their banners.

Someone recalled a previous experience where they were given the cold shoulder.

One can only sigh that your second uncle is still your second uncle.

Guan Yu then opened a tangible breach in the Wanluo Pass.

The movements of the Wei army in Luozhong, which had been blocked by mountains, were finally completely clear.

But to be honest, this did not make the military situation clearer at all.

This only makes things more confusing.

It turns out that the Wei army had long been prepared for the fall of Guangcheng Pass.

Behind Guangcheng, a large area leading to Yique and Taigu Passes had already been cleared of debris.

For example, Luhun, where Sun Lang's hometown is located, is now deserted and resembles a ghost town in the mountains.

This is also why Sun Lang was able to successfully march south and coordinate with Guan Yu in a pincer attack.

Correspondingly, the Yique and Taigu passes, which were the last two gateways south of Luoyang, concentrated at least 50,000 elite central troops.

Cao Wei's Grand Commandant Zhong Yao and Minister of Works Wang Lang even personally went to Yique to supervise the army.

It is clear that the Wei army was determined to defend this place to the death.

This in itself is not surprising.

After all, Luoyang was the heart of Cao Wei, and the eight passes were the ribs protecting that heart.

With Guan Yu's sword already pointed at his ribs, the Wei army naturally had to fight to the death to stop him.

The problem is, if they knew this would happen, why didn't they concentrate their forces at Guangcheng Pass further south?
In terms of the difficulty of defense, is defending one pass easier than defending two?
It should be understood that if Guangcheng is lost, Guan Yu will be able to freely enter the heart of Henan Province and completely leave the two great mountains of Funiu and Xiong'er behind.

Although the remaining Yique and Taigu passes were considered formidable fortresses, they were no longer able to completely stop the Han army from spreading out from the heart of Henan.

This defensive approach clearly contradicts common military knowledge.

Instead, it gives the impression of luring the enemy deep into their territory.

However, considering the emperor's status and the importance of Luoyang, using him as bait would be too risky.

What were Cao Pi and his ministers really thinking?

……

Guan Yu's journey was ultimately only to provide support to Guanzhong.

I never intended to venture deep into the heart of Henan.

Breaking through one barrier already exceeds the strategic objective.

Seeing that the Wei army had already taken strict precautions, they naturally no longer risked heading north.

After much deliberation, Mi Wei felt that neither Cao Pi, nor Sima Yi, nor any of the other wise men of Cao Wei were the kind of people who would lose their composure when the enemy was at the gates.

Now that the military operation in the Fangcheng direction had come to an end, he turned his attention back to Wuguan in the west.

Regardless of Cao Pi's choice.

For now.

Luoyang and Guanzhong, there must be one place where he truly makes his move.

……

After a heavy snowfall, the Weibei Plain was covered in a blanket of white.

Marching in snowy weather is no easy task.

Fortunately, the Qiang and Di soldiers under Zhao Yun's command, including the good men from the six counties of Longyou, were already familiar with the harsh climate of the north.

Zhao Yun himself had followed Gongsun Zan in battles in Youyan in his early years.

Therefore, they successfully repelled several harassments by the Xianbei people and broke out of the Qian River Valley.

Soon after, his 2,000 cavalrymen arrived near the Chengguo Canal, east of Mei County.

They successfully joined forces with Zhang Fei and Wei Yan's troops.

It is worth mentioning that the Chengguo Canal is a canal that runs roughly parallel to the Wei River and flows in an east-west direction.

At this time, the easternmost point of the Chengguo Canal only reached the east side of Mei County and Meiwu.

It did not extend westward to Chencang as it did in later generations.

In other words, in terms of the efficiency of the canal transport, the east and west sides of Mei were completely different concepts.

Therefore, Zhang He's retreat all the way to Huaili was, at least from a logistical perspective, reasonable.

Not to mention that Huaili City is situated on land surrounded by rivers and canals, which naturally provides it with two additional moats.

It can also maximize the chances of getting reinforcements from Chang'an.

However, in the dead of winter, neither rivers nor canals...

The area is mostly frozen solid.

Zhang Fei, having gathered six or seven thousand elite knights, decided to launch the third offensive against Zhang He's forces.

(End of this chapter)