Someone in the army shouted loudly towards the high mountain across the Jialing River, and the echo came immediately, and the army burst into laughter. We had just left Sanguan, and everyone was in a good mood.
The road was not very narrow, but there were mountain people on both sides and the sight was blocked in the valley, which made it feel very closed and oppressive. There was a big height difference between the main road and the Jialing River. The road above could accommodate two carriages in parallel; the army walked in a row of four people against the mountain, and there was an empty road outside for traffic.
Below the outer side is the Jialing River. In spring, the water has not yet risen, revealing a riverbed covered with pebbles and stones. Horses can run on the riverbed, and messengers and others who are traveling in the opposite direction pass through the riverbed.
There was only one road, and the army stretched three or four miles in front and back, so they couldn't move fast, and could only march forty miles a day. The mountains on both sides were high, and the sun set quickly, so they had to set up camp before the evening.
In the evening, the soldiers went to the river to fetch water and used stones to build a stove to cook. At this time, everyone worked together, some fetched water to cook, and some collected firewood to light the fire. Guo Shao had the illusion that he was having a picnic. If he hadn't been thinking about the battle, perhaps this journey would have been quite interesting.
This peace didn't last long. The Shu army camp was not far from Liguan, and a battle broke out in front of them the next day. In the valley, the sound of fighting could be vaguely heard amid the rushing river water. Soldiers kept coming back on horseback from the riverbed to report the military situation, and the main force had temporarily stopped advancing.
The first battle was as Guo Shao expected. The Shu army's strongholds were weak in manpower, and the front army used the strong to bully the weak and fought very smoothly. In three days, all eight camps of the Shu army were captured.
Guo Shao sent someone to tell Li Dazhu: Do not kill prisoners. Military orders only need to be executed, no explanation is needed. Guo Shao's idea of issuing this order is not only to avoid the Shu army fighting to the death, but also to understand in his heart: after all, it is a civil war, why should they massacre their fellow tribesmen who have laid down their weapons
Of course, such remarks would affect the army's murderous spirit, so he would not say them.
At dusk, Li Dazhu and others returned to the central army, and the generals gathered with great interest to listen to their boasting. Li Dazhu's excitement has not subsided until now, and he said loudly: We got up in the morning, walked to the front of the Shu army camp to set up the battle array, and rushed into the camp from three sides. We killed everyone in the camp, and haha, we have taken down the camp. The brothers behind said that they had won before they even saw anyone. It was not even noon yet, so I ignored the second commander and continued to move forward with my men. I did not want to disobey military orders, so I asked Luo Yanhuan, the commander of the battle array, and he nodded before I continued to move forward. When we arrived in front of the second camp, we ate some dry food with river water and took down another one. This time, when the Shu army saw everyone rushing in, they threw down their weapons and surrendered without saying a word.
Another general was talking: The Shu army is just so-so, much weaker than the Northern Han army and the Khitan army. I will charge forward and I can defeat ten of them alone.
As they talked, they looked at Guo Shao, who was sitting on the riverside. According to the custom of fishermen living by the water, the riverside is the upper position. Guo Shao seemed very silent at this time.
Winning the first battle will naturally boost morale, and Guo Shao has no intention of pouring cold water on everyone.
However, he calmed down from the chaotic military affairs at this time, and gradually recalled the words and expressions of Wang Jing and others. Wang Jing and others seemed to think that he was being too aggressive and were not optimistic.
General Guo, should our vanguard go straight to Weiwu City, Li Dazhu asked.
Guo Shao said: "Strengthen the guard day and night, and send out scouts. Set up camp at the Shu army camp. I will send someone to pass on the order tomorrow."
Li Dazhu and others clasped their fists and said solemnly: Yes.
Guo Shao's gaze swept across the faces of Yang Biao, Zuo You, Luo Yanhuan and others, and finally paused for a moment on the face of the bearded Li Chuyun.
Guo Shao had learned about Li Chuyun's resume from Luo Yanhuan. He followed General Zhe Congruan to work in the four states of Deng, Hua, Shan and Bin. He was a brave and resourceful general with rich military experience and the oldest. That night, Guo Shao invited Li Chuyun to the central army tent to meet him alone.
Li Chuyun joined his camp, but when they went out together for the first time, Guo Shao began to speak in a somewhat reserved manner: "When we were in Fengxiang, General Wang said that I underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly. At that time, I was thinking about the battle strategy and was in high spirits, so I didn't care about being modest; General Wang said one sentence and didn't try to dissuade me, so I accepted the military order."
Guo Shao glanced at Li Chuyun in the light of the fire outside the tent, and said in a deep voice: "I have led the army into the Qinling Mountains these past two days. The high mountains on both sides have made me feel depressed. I have gradually felt a little panicky.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Li Chuyun suddenly said: "Wang Jieshuai is old, he has long been promoted to the position of Minister of the Court. People who have achieved success and fame only seek stability and have no edge. The same is true for Zhe Gong."
Guo Shaodao: Brother Li, what do you mean by this
Li Chuyun's tone was so earnest that Guo Shao felt that he was speaking to him like an elder. Lord Li Chuyun remained calm. The Shu army was not strong enough to fight and was not well prepared. They could not defeat the elite troops of the Hujie Army. The worst case scenario for this expedition was to retreat.
Guo Shao nodded, feeling a little relieved, and asked: In your opinion, Brother Li, since our first battle was so easy, shouldn't we immediately take advantage of the victory and march straight to Weiwu City? After a pause, Guo Shao whispered: To be honest, the largest battle I have ever commanded was in Wuqi Town, Hedong, and there were only a few hundred enemies and us in total.
Li Chuyun was silent for a moment: "My Lord, you have great ambitions, you just need to do what you think is right. I am willing to follow you to the end, regardless of success or failure."
Guo Shao thought about it for half the night, thinking that the Shu Kingdom might not have expected that the Zhou army would immediately launch a strong attack with its most elite troops as soon as it arrived in Fengxiang, so it was necessary to take advantage of the unpreparedness to win a quick victory. Otherwise, it would be troublesome to waste time in the Qinling Mountains.
The next morning, Guo Shao ordered the entire army to march straight to Weiwu City.
The valleys on the Shu Road vary in width. Occasionally, there are wide valleys where the population is densely populated, forming villages or towns. Huanghua Valley is a relatively flat and wide place. When the army passed Huanghua Valley, Luo Yanhuan approached Guo Shaojin and asked him whether he should leave troops to garrison there.
There is a main road to the west of Guo Shaowang. According to the map drawn earlier, the road will fork and both lead to Tangcang Town.
He sat on his horse and looked for a long time. Although the Huanghua Valley was wide, it had no city walls. He made up his mind and said: No need to divide the troops, set up a sentry point. Then he secretly ordered two of his personal soldiers to stay at the Huanghua Valley sentry point.
The army marched unhindered, and the Shu army strongholds along the Shu Road fled upon hearing the news. Three days later, the main force of Guo Shao's army arrived at Weiwu City, only a few miles away. Scouts reported back that thousands of Shu army reinforcements had arrived outside Weiwu City to build a fence.
Half of the time had passed since Wang Jing agreed to supply food; most of the time was spent on the march.
Guo Shao immediately ordered them to rest on the spot, and looked back at his generals and said: In this case, we will start a field battle tomorrow and defeat the Shu army.
At this moment, he did not have many choices. Either fight quickly or retreat. Otherwise, he would run out of food or retreat. This time, the troops were not well prepared and had insufficient food and supplies. However, he judged that the enemy was also fighting hastily. Guo Shao thought that the risks on both sides were the same, so it was a draw.