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

Chapter 306 Raising a Voice in the North
Are the Shu bandits attacking Gaoping Pass?
Where did this Shu thief come from?!

Yang Dao's first reaction was that County Magistrate Xuan had mistaken him for someone else.

My second thought was that this guy had been negligent in guarding against thieves, and now that the situation was urgent, he didn't want to take responsibility, so he simply called the mountain bandits "Shu thieves".

Although Cao Wei officials habitually called the Han army traitors.

But deep down they all knew that this thief was not the same as that thief.

That was a well-equipped and well-trained regular army.

They were not the same as ordinary bandits from the Taihang Mountains.

But regardless of what kind of thieves they are, they have already reached Gaoping Pass.

That means that the western gateway to Shangdang County, Duanshi, has been lost.

However, Gaoping Pass alone lacks defensive depth and would be difficult to hold for a long time.

It can only block it temporarily.

Once the bandits break through the pass, the southern hinterland of Shangdang will be directly exposed to their military might.

The consequences could be disastrous.

Yang Dao was only slightly surprised before decisively issuing the order:
"You corrupt official, quickly lead a contingent of county troops south to reinforce Huguan Pass!"

"The Grand Commander is to lead a contingent to Changzi County and make sure to block the north-south passage!"

He then pointed at the inspector and said:
"You personally go to the Xuan clan to take over the county troops. If you can defend it, then defend it; if you can't, then burn down the city and withdraw your troops!"

The inspector hurriedly accepted the order and left.

Yang Dao still felt uneasy and turned to Cai Zhenji, saying:
"The situation is urgent. Bury Cheng'er today, and tomorrow I will have someone escort you to Luxian... no, to Shexian!"

Cai Zhenji exclaimed in surprise:
"They're just bandits, why would they need to leave the county border?"

Although there is a road connecting Huguan and Shexian, the latter is located on the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains and belongs to Guangping County of Jizhou.

Therefore, Cai Zhenji asked this question.

"Besides, if the bandits are angry that you burned the city, they might turn around and dig up Cheng'er's grave. How could I bear that?"

After saying this, he bowed his head and wept bitterly again.

Yang Dao had no time to argue with his wife about these details. He turned and yelled at his eldest daughter and youngest son, who were spying from a distance:

"Quickly, help your mother back to her room!"

……

"What a formidable pass!"

Mi Wei gazed at the Gaoping Pass below, stroked his beard, and murmured.
At the same time, I could hear Jiang Wei and Deng Ai discussing military strategy.

"...This mountain range, which is guarded by this pass, is the watershed between the Qinshui and Danshui rivers."

"After capturing Duanshi and this pass, our follow-up army can then advance unimpeded from Jiang County to the banks of the Dan River."

"What do you think my vanguard should do next?"

Deng Ai glanced at Mi Wei's retreating figure and said:

"Logically speaking, the obvious course of action would be to head north and visit Huguan Pass."

"In the past, after Qin general Wang He broke through Gaoping Pass, he successively killed four commanders under Lian Po and broke through their fortifications. His momentum was unstoppable."

"But why did the army ultimately stall on the banks of the Dan River?"

"Because the terrain of Shangdang County is like an upside-down gourd."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei instinctively put his two fists together.

Deng Ai: "The banks of the Dan River in the southern part of the prefecture are the smaller half of the gourd. The terrain here is long and narrow, with the eastern bank being flat and the western bank being mountainous."

"After breaking through the pass, the Wei army only needs to follow Lian Po's example and retreat to Danxi to defend the fortified position, and our offensive will have to slow down."

"But our army has come from afar on a long march, and its advantage lies in a swift battle. How can we afford to pause?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei released his fist from below:
"Therefore, Shi Zai believes that our army should follow the example of the Qin army, bypass the western line of defenses, and concentrate our forces to break through to the northern part of Shangdang?"

Deng Ai nodded and said:
"If we can take all of Shangdang, then our army can either march east into Hebei to threaten Yecheng, or march south into Henan and advance on Luoyang."

"If Sima Yi and Wu Zhi do not want to be attacked from both sides and have their supply lines cut off, they will have no choice but to retreat... then the outcome of the battle in Hedong will be a foregone conclusion."

Jiang Wei certainly understood this principle.

Even if they didn't know it before in Jiang County, they had already figured it out by now as they rushed eastward.

He muttered:
"But I remember that the Qin army's initial northward offensive was not very successful?"

"Indeed," Deng Ai replied.

"Because the connection between the two ends of this gourd is extremely narrow, it is precisely where the Changping Pass was located in the past."

"Lian Po occupied the hundred-mile-long Great Wall of Jin, and Wang He attacked it for a long time but could not take it."

"It wasn't until the King of Zhao changed generals that Zhao Kuo was lured to flat ground by the Qin army, and then surrounded and cut off by the Qin army, that the outcome of the battle was decided."

Jiang Wei loosened his other fist, shook his head and sighed:
“Then we are afraid that we will find it difficult to replicate the Qin people’s old tricks.” “Wang He was not alone. Behind him was the veteran general Bai Qi, as well as King Zhaoxiang of Qin, who was also knowledgeable in military affairs. With the cooperation of the three forces, they were able to massacre hundreds of thousands of Zhao soldiers at Changping.”

"Now that General Wei is leading a detachment, the governor of Shangdang under Cao Wei has no reason not to defend the pass."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ju Fu hurried up from below the pass to personally report what his scouts had found:
"Reporting to the general, the Xuan clan's Wei army burned the city this morning, and all able-bodied men have retreated north!"

"Another captured prisoner revealed that Yang Dao, the governor of Shangdang, has ordered the county troops to march south to Changzi and Huguan to defend them at all costs!"

Jiang and Deng exchanged a glance, both revealing expressions of "I knew it."

But Miwei's curiosity was piqued by the unfamiliar name:

"Wait a minute, what did you say was the surname of that Cao Wei governor?"

Ju Fuzhao said:
"His surname is Yang, the same as the sheep in cattle and sheep."

"I heard that his father and grandfather both served as Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, so he was able to enter officialdom through family connections."

"His ex-wife was the daughter of Kong Rong (Kong Wenju), and his current wife is the daughter of Cai Yong (Cai Bojie)."

"This Lord Yang is quite skilled at finding wives!" Mi Wei chuckled.

I'm certain that the person in question is the family I've been thinking of.

Turning back to Yang Xi in the chief secretary's office, he said:
“Write a letter for me to this Lord Yang, saying that I have heard that his daughter is intelligent and virtuous, and I intend to ask him to marry her for my son. If he agrees, I will treat him with courtesy and not intrude on his territory.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Xi quickly drafted a first version in his mind, but still asked curiously:
"How does the general know that Yang Dao must have a woman?"

Mi Wei thought to himself, how could he not know that Yang Hu was the sister of the famous general and Sima Yi's daughter-in-law?

He gave a mysterious smile, offering no explanation.

He then said to Ju Fu, "Keep a close eye on the Huguan Pass and try to capture a few more prisoners."

Ju Fu accepted the order and left.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei couldn't help but say:

"So the general is still planning to attack north?"

Mi Wei slowly said:
"To gain control of Shangdang, Huguan Pass must be taken."

“I intend to divide my forces to advance to the Cuhu Pass. Boyue and Shizai, which of you two is willing to lead the troops?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei was about to volunteer for battle.

Unexpectedly, Deng Ai spoke up first:
"General, are you planning to make a name for yourself in the north and then attack elsewhere?"

Seeing Mi Wei nod and smile, Deng Ai suddenly realized what was happening and immediately clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, requesting permission to serve.

Without saying a word, Mi Wei handed him a military tally to mobilize the troops.

Jiang Wei was a step too slow, but he wasn't annoyed. Instead, he carefully considered Deng Ai's words.

Recalling the geography of the two states that I have become increasingly familiar with recently.

After a moment, he realized what was happening and clapped his hands, saying to Mi Wei:

"So that's why the general came to Shangdang!"

He then immediately took his leave and went to prepare for battle.

……

"What? Mi Wei is asking for a wife for his son?"

When Yang Dao heard what the gatekeeper had reported, he found it absurd and laughable.

Not to mention that the two sides are currently hostile, this move is tantamount to colluding with the enemy.

The two families have never had any dealings before, so why should I agree to their request?

He's clearly trying to provoke me on purpose!

He then pressed further, asking, "Shu traitors... how many Han troops have arrived, and where are they now?"

The gatekeeper glanced down at the military report and said:
"As of the day before yesterday, the Xuan clan already had about five thousand infantry and cavalry."

"According to reports from captured Taihang Mountain bandits, the Han army has been working hard to widen the plank roads since capturing Duanshi, and it is likely that reinforcements will follow."

Yang Dao's face darkened.

Who could have imagined that the Han army would actually follow the Qin army's old route, crossing mountains and valleys to come here?

And they arrived so quickly?
It's too late to ask for help now, whether from Hanoi or Yecheng.

Besides, haven't Wu Zhi's Hebei troops already marched from Yecheng to Hanoi and then to Hedong?
The manpower and resources on that front line had already been largely mobilized.

How much strength do we have left to rescue Shangdang?
He could only sigh and say:
"The Dan River can no longer be recovered. The best course of action now is to lock down the key passes in the north and south and protect Huguan Pass."

And said:

"Have Madam depart for Shexian tomorrow!"

(End of this chapter)