Sima Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Deng Ai is indeed a capable man in his work."
"He carefully questioned the soldiers who surrendered at Yular, determined the march route and food supply of the Shu army, and divided the places along the way where heavy Shu forces might be stationed."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Understanding mountainous terrain and geographical features is essential before using military strategy. Deng Ai's ability to recognize geography and understand logistics is already a sign of potential."
"How did Deng Ai say it?"
"Your Majesty, please allow me to fetch the map. Although the general map drawn by Zhang Yi was quite comprehensive, it lacked detail in specific areas and thus was not entirely accurate." Sima Yi bowed his hands.
"The Grand Master should go," Cao Rui ordered. "Also, summon the General of the Army, the Commander of the Western Campaign, as well as Chen Jiao and Chen Zhuo."
After a while, everyone gathered in the grand tent.
After Sima Yi introduced the itinerary, Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen and Zhang He: "As the Grand Master has explained earlier, there are few viable routes available."
"Xihexi River, as a major channel for transporting provisions, is without doubt. But the army is advancing, not entirely following the course of Xihexi River."
"From Qishan along the Jian'an River to Jianwei, then along the Luogu River to Wudu, and finally marching from Wudu to Xiaban in the southeast direction."
Wu Du County, named after the county seat, was indeed the Wu Du County seat. However, at this time, the county seat of Wu Du County was in Xiaobian.
Cao Rui scanned the ministers and said in a deep voice, "The specific military strategy will be decided in front of me by the ministers, and then the advance troops will depart tomorrow!"
"What strategies does the General Commander have?"
Cao Zhen was silent for a moment before speaking with firm determination, bowing his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, this campaign is indeed different from previous ones. We must be cautious in our approach."
"From Qishan, it is 40 li to Jianwei. The valley is gentle and flat, similar to the valley of Xihexi River near Qishan, where the army can move freely."
"From Jianwei, it is another 100 li to Wudu. The mountain path is narrow, and the army must move slowly, much like the previous campaign when the army marched south from Shangguan, via Mumen Road to Lucheng and Qishan."
"From Wudu to Xiaobian is about 140 li, which may include mountain paths or hills, and is not a straightforward marching route."
Cao Zhen looked at the emperor: "My proposal is to split the troops here in Qishan."
"A portion of the army can be stationed at the intersection of Qishan and Jianwei roads, coordinating defense with the garrison at Qishan, while also guarding important locations along the Westernxi River to prevent the Shu army from reaching our rear through the river."
"Another part of the army will attack Jianwei and then proceed south to Wudu."
"After capturing Wudu, we will then choose the right opportunity to attack and take Xiaobian."
Cao Rui nodded lightly and then looked at Zhang He, saying, "What do you think the Western Campaign General should do?"
Zhang He, with a deep voice, replied, "My opinion is the same as that of the General Commander."
"Jianwei is not something to worry about. The truly crucial locations are Wudu, Xiaobian, and the Hechi to the east of Xiaobian. If the Shu army defends, they will undoubtedly station heavy forces in the area around Xiaobian and Hechi to prevent the great Wei army from surrounding them from both east and west!"
"Said well!" Cao Rui nodded and said, "The great army can march south from Qishan to capture Wudu, and the garrison at Chencang can also advance southwest to Wudu along the old path!"
"I remember that there are currently 18,500 outside troops and 9,000 county troops in the capital area, right?"
"That is correct," Cao Zhen replied. "Order Zhu Gai or Xiahou Ru to lead the troops from Chencang."
Cao Rui pondered for a moment and said, "Let Xiahou Ru lead the remaining 15,000 troops from Chang'an to advance along Chencang."
"What do you think, ministers?"
"It is very appropriate."
"Your Majesty is wise."
The ministers all expressed their agreement, and Cao Zhen spoke up, "Appointing General Zhu Gai to guard Chencang and General Xin Pi to guard Chang'an."
"General Xiahou Ru will lead the 10,000 troops he brought from Jingzhou, plus the remaining 5,000 troops left by Qian Zhenxi, making a total of 15,000."
"It would take about eight days for orders to be sent from Qishan along the Wei River to Chang'an. If General Xiahou Ru advances from Chang'an, it would be at least 750 li and take at least 20 days." Cao Zhen added: "I myself walked this path when I advanced from Chang'an to Xiaobian in the past."
"So this means..." Cao Rui calculated internally the time for the troops to meet up: "It would take General Xiahou Ru at least one month to advance with 15,000 troops to Hechi?"
"That is indeed the case," said Cao Zhen, nodding in agreement along with Zhang He.
Cao Rui turned to look at Sima Yi and Yang Fu, and after thinking for a moment, Sima Yi, Yang Fu, and Chen Jiao also nodded in agreement.
Since the approximate time for General Xiahou Ru to advance from Chang'an to Wudu has been determined, Cao Rui looked seriously at his ministers and said: "General Xiahou Ru will take about one month to reach Hechi, and from Qishan to Xiaobian, it's a distance of only 280 li with three cities in between."
"Within one month, can you take Xiaobian for me?"
Sima Zhen and Zhang He both answered at the same time.
"That's fine, I will order the Western Campaign General to lead all troops as the vanguard, and I and the General Commander will lead from the rear."
"General Zhang, how many troops do you need?" Cao Rui looked directly at Zhang He.
Zhang He thought for a moment and bit his lower lip, saying, "Your Majesty, my own troops plus those of Luopan and Heshao, have a total of 11,100 men."
"Please, Your Majesty, assign the middle army's 20,000 infantry to me, along with my 15,000 troops, and also include my 5,000 cavalry."
"With an army of 30,000, it is sufficient to capture Jianwei and Wudu. With more troops, it would not be of much use."
Zhang He was telling the truth. Sometimes, more troops are not necessarily better. 30,000 troops are enough for marching and attacking in the mountainous regions of southern Gansu.
"What do you think, General Commander?" Cao Rui asked Cao Zhen again.
"I think it's feasible!" Cao Zhen replied straightforwardly: "The distance to Wudu is only about 100 li away. Most of the mounted troops can stay in Qishan, and they can provide aid if there are any emergencies!"
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Zhang He, the Western Campaign General!"
"Present!" Zhang He rose to the middle of the hall and bowed deeply.
"I will assign you all 5,000 mounted troops from Danyan and Xiahou, and I will send Wuwei General Xu Chu to command 15,000 foot soldiers under your orders."
"The main army will depart tomorrow! Once Wudu is captured, I will personally meet you there!"
"Zhang He obeys the order!" Zhang He replied solemnly.
"Yang Fu!" Cao Rui looked at Yang Fu and said, "Follow Zhang He and assist him in formulating military strategies."
"Obedient." Yang Fu got up and agreed.
"General Commander, send an envoy early tomorrow with my edict to Chang'an, ordering Xiahou Ru to advance from Chencang!"
"I will receive the order." Cao Zhen replied.
Cao Zhen was already used to leading the middle army beside the emperor. He had subtly changed his mindset. As the General Commander, it was not bad to stay by the emperor's side and command the overall strategy.
......
On the tenth day of the second lunar month, Western Campaign General Zhang He led 31,000 foot and mounted troops southward. In the late afternoon of that day, the cavalry already occupied a nearly empty city named Jianwei.
On the thirteenth day of the second month, when Zhang He's army arrived at the city gate of Wudu, the five hundred Shu troops inside immediately abandoned the city and fled.
On the evening of the fourteenth day, a military dispatch from Zhang He at the front reached the camp at Qishan.
After Zhang He led 31,000 troops southward, the remaining 28,000 middle army troops were busy constructing a permanent fortress for long-term garrisoning under the support of Qishan Fort.
According to Sima Yi's suggestion, it is most appropriate to first build camp fortifications, then construct city walls, and finally relocate the Qiang people. Cao Rui approved of Sima Yi's recommendation.
Zhang He's military dispatch surprised Cao Zhen, who was the first to receive it.
"Cao Zhen, the military dispatch from Zhang He has arrived. Wudu has been captured!" Cao Zhen walked directly into the emperor's tent, holding the dispatch in his hand.
"Wudu has been taken? That's good news, why is the General Commander frowning?" Cao Rui asked in confusion.
"The Shu army abandoned the city and fled, the city of Wudu was not defended." Cao Zhen handed the dispatch to the emperor, saying, "I cannot explain it in a few words. Please, Your Majesty, please read the dispatch yourself."
The dispatch was jointly signed by Zhang He and Yang Fu.
In the dispatch, Zhang He and Yang Fu speculated that the Shu army's decision not to defend the cities of Jianwei and Wudu was a tactic to lure the Wei army deep into the Wudu commandery, with the intention of ambushing the king's troops in the area of Xiaobian.
Cao Rui placed the bamboo slip on the table and looked up at Cao Zhen: "Lure them into deeper territory? I remember that both Wudu and Yinping counties have almost no one left, and were moved by Emperor Wu?"
"That's right." Cao Zhen replied: "Zhang He also said in the dispatch that Wudu is almost a ghost town, with no more than smoke and mirrors."
Under the current situation, it seems more like a strategy of luring the enemy deep into the territory combined with a policy of fortifying defenses and clearing the countryside.
Fortifying defenses and clearing the countryside?
Cao Rui chuckled slightly, but considering Zhuge Liang's personality, he would never do something as reckless as inviting the enemy into his territory and waiting for the army to enter Hanzhong.
Xiaobian, Hechi? Or perhaps Juxian, which is even closer to Hanzhong?
Where would Zhuge Liang be waiting for us?
"Send orders to Zhang He to send cavalry to advance rapidly to Xiaobian and Hechi. Search thoroughly in these two places. I don't believe that hiding, even a well-hidden place, can hold back my 60,000 troops."
That's right, at this time, the Wei army also numbers 60,000.
Right, aside from the 31,000 troops and mounted soldiers taken by Zhang He, Cao Rui still has 28,000 middle army troops, mostly cavalry.
The 9,000 infantry troops from Qian Zhenxi, excluding the wounded, are mostly stationed in Gaoyuan, Xinyang, and Ji counties, and coordinating the relocation of local Qiang people to the capital area.
After capturing Ma Dai and Zhang Yi's troops, Cao Rui has gained a better understanding of the overall situation of Zhuge Liang's army.
At this moment, Zhuge Liang's remaining army should not exceed six thousand.
With the strength of Wei's middle army, what are the Shu troops afraid of now?
Cao Zhen agreed and then, thinking for a moment, suggested to the emperor, "Shouldn't Zhang He's original troops remain at Wudu?"
"Don't move." Cao Rui paused for a moment before answering, "I have a feeling that Zhuge Liang wants to play the same game again, like in the Battle of Hanzhong in 233 AD, and drag our army into the wilderness of Hanzhong!"
"General Commander, do you think that Sun Quan will also take action at this time?"
The territory of the Great Wei is different from that of Wu and Shu.
The Shu Han is limited to Yizhou, while Wu covers Jing and Yang, but with the Great River as a barrier, it can coordinate its forces in the east and west.
The Great Wei's east-west coordination would have to be calculated in months, or even quarters.
Cao Zhen was taken aback for a moment, thought for a while, and then said, "Your Majesty is overthinking it? Last year, we inflicted so many casualties and captured so many troops in the Huaiyang region against the Wu army. Where do they have the resources to continue their invasion?"
"However, sending out messages is also good. After all, it's better to be prepared than to be unprepared."
Cao Rui nodded: "That's right. It's better to be prepared than unprepared. I roughly feel that Sun Quan is not dare to invade. If he dares to invade, my next step will be aimed at Jingzhou." (This chapter is complete)
