The Battle of Wei River

After crossing the Qinling Mountains and setting foot on Guanzhong soil, I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile before long.

Wuzhang Plains, visible after exiting Ye Valley. Go a little further from there and you reach the Wei River that cuts across Guanzhong.

However, what I saw wasn’t just the Wei River.

The Wei army, already in position waiting for us on the other side of the Wei River, was also coming into view.

“As expected of Guo Huai. He won’t let us pass easily.”

As soon as he heard that we had turned towards the Qinling Mountains instead of Tianshui, Guo Huai must have rushed out of Chang’an.

It wasn’t just a problem of us roaming freely within Guanzhong.

Not far after crossing the Wei River was Jieting. If we block that place in reverse, Cao Zhang who entered Liangzhou would literally become a rat in a trap.

“It’s obvious they’ve taken position across the river to prevent us from crossing, and will attack our rear if we go to Chang’an.”

It was an obvious but very effective move. And it was also a move that blocked the advantage of the Ye Valley Road chosen to keep both Jieting and Chang’an within striking distance.

I never expected them to just let us have our way, but facing it head-on was a bit disappointing. If Guo Huai had just stayed holed up in Chang’an, we could have blocked Jieting as is and wiped out the Wei army trapped in Liangzhou.

After having Wang Ping block Xu Huang. If I, Ma Chao, and Xiahou Mao had attacked Yang Fu and Cao Zhang from three directions, would they have been able to hold out?

Fei Yi, who was looking at the enemy camp across the Wei River together with me, also spoke with regret:

“Now that they’ve come out like this, it’s difficult for our army to go in either direction.”

How was it when Zhuge Liang crossed the Qinling Mountains with the exact same route as me in his last Northern Expedition?

Due to Sima Yi blocking the path and refusing to engage in battle, Zhuge Liang made Wuzhang Plains his forward base and attempted a flanking maneuver.

However, as he was repeatedly blocked by Guo Huai who saw through Zhuge Liang’s intentions, he ultimately had no choice but to prepare for a prolonged war centered on Wuzhang Plains.

By the way, it was around that time that Zhuge Liang sent women’s clothes to Sima Yi to provoke him. Sima Yi, who had already been defeated once by Zhuge Liang in open battle, didn’t fight even with such provocation.

Considering such points, Guo Huai was better than Sima Yi at seeing through and predicting the opponent’s intentions. That’s probably why he succeeded in blocking our way like this.

The other side didn’t seem to have any intention of forcing a river crossing to attack us either. A standoff ensued with the Wei River between us. I came out to the riverbank and closely examined the enemy camp.

I looked for any gaps, but the Wei army under Guo Huai’s control was armed with strict military discipline. However, as I continued observing, there was a part that felt somewhat off.

“There are many cavalry.”

“Didn’t our country’s stirrups leak out and greatly increase Wei’s cavalry?”

“It’s a lot even considering that. Hmm, I see. They brought the Xiongnu.”

I wondered how they came so quickly from Chang’an to here, but almost the majority were cavalry. And about half of them were composed of ethnic minorities presumed to be Xiongnu.

“If it’s the Xiongnu, it will be difficult for our cavalry to deal with.”

No matter how much the stirrups allow for sufficient activity as cavalry even with somewhat inferior horsemanship, the horsemanship of nomadic peoples like the Xiongnu is on a different level.

Though Jiang Wei expressed it as difficult, if we were to face them head-on, our chances of victory would be minuscule.

“It won’t be easy.”

Hearing my muttered words clicking my tongue, Fei Yi presented his opinion:

“General, from what I know, a place called Wuzhang Plains in this area is easy to defend and it’s possible to cultivate fields there. They don’t seem likely to retreat easily either, so how about building a camp at Wuzhang Plains and looking for an opportunity?”

Fei Yi’s proposal exactly matched what Zhuge Liang had done.

However, there was a big difference between the situation Zhuge Liang was in and the circumstances we were facing right now. At that time, the army at Wuzhang Plains was practically Zhuge Liang’s entire force, so it was a large army of 100,000, but our current force was only 20,000.

It’s questionable whether field cultivation would work well with just that, and it’s uncertain what changes might occur on the Tianshui and Jingzhou fronts while we hesitate.

“No. No prolonged war. We must end this with a short decisive battle.”

While rejecting Fei Yi’s opinion, my eyes didn’t leave them for even a moment.

The Wei River waters that had swollen with summer monsoon rains had receded considerably as autumn approached. Though not to the level of Ma Dai or Pang De, even with my eyesight I could clearly see their appearance and clothing.

“No heavy cavalry…?”

Though it’s understandable for the Xiongnu to be mostly composed of horse archers, it was strange that the Wei army was also all horse archers. But it didn’t take long for me to come up with the answer.

‘It’s thanks to the stirrups.’

Without stirrups, it’s extremely difficult to raise horse archers among the Han people who are settled residents, but with the aid of stirrups, that difficulty is greatly reduced.

Of course, it’s a difficulty on a different level from ordinary cavalry, so even the Nanling Army didn’t have a proper horse archer unit. But for Wei who already possessed excellent cavalry units, it’s not unreasonable to create horse archer units with the aid of stirrups.

The resolution of the question about the absence of heavy cavalry. And that answer didn’t stop there, but led to a method to break through the current situation.

‘It’s worth a try. No, this will definitely work.’

Shu Han has made countless preparations for this Northern Expedition so far. It’s not just stockpiling food and repeating training.

Apart from my condolence visit, they constantly attempted espionage. They discovered new talents, developed new weapons, and repeatedly re-examined strategies and tactics.

Especially when it comes to Guanzhong here, even more so. Knowing how Zhuge Liang’s Northern Expedition proceeded, there’s no way they wouldn’t have prepared for it.

One step, one step. The obsessive delving to reach that high ground. I sensed that the moment had come for that desire to shine.

“Xiuyuan.”

Liu Yan, who was attending me along with Fei Yi, immediately answered my call.

“You called?”

“We’ll have to use that. Check it in advance.”

“That? What is ‘that’, General?”

“I’ll tell everyone so don’t be impatient, Feiwuwei. Hold a military council, and tell the generals to gather at my tent along with Boyue.”

Fei Yi, whose curiosity was the strongest I’ve seen among anyone so far, hurriedly left to announce the military council. His will to resolve his curiosity is admirable.

Perhaps Fei Yi’s efforts paid off. Before long, those attending the military council gathered at my tent.

Jiang Wei and Fei Yi, who belong to the Rear General’s Office and handle military affairs.

Ma Dai, Bu Zhi, and Guo Yi who command the Nanling Army under me.

Wu Yi and Liu Yan who lead independent armies but are under my command this time.

And Wu Ban and Hu Ji, the lieutenants of Wu Yi and Liu Yan.

Including myself, these 10 people were the participants of the military council.

After looking over each of their faces once, I spoke directly:

“We must cross the river.”

At my declaration, Fei Yi and Liu Yan who knew in advance maintained relatively calm attitudes, but others couldn’t. Some let out sighs, while others wore worried expressions.

However, perhaps sensing the determination in my words, no words of opposition came out. They’re probably expecting that I have another plan since I brought this up.

“Governor Wu.”

“Yes, Commander-in-Chief.”

When I called Wu Yi, he politely answered despite my call being like that of a daughter. Wu Yi, with his virtuous character and personality that values military discipline, fully acknowledged my command authority.

“I’d like to ask you to prepare pontoon bridges for crossing the river.”

“I will follow your orders.”

“The sooner the better.”

“With plenty of trees around, it shouldn’t take long.”

Nodding at Wu Yi’s reliable words, I turn to Liu Yan next.

“Xiuyuan.”

“I’ve finished all checks. It’s ready anytime.”

“Good.”

Liu Yan’s unit was one of the two most crucial for this battle.

‘I never thought we could win in cavalry battle in the first place.’

Directly facing Wei’s cavalry forces that monopolize Liangzhou and the north is the worst of the worst plans.

The reason the Nanling Army’s cavalry has been able to be active so far was due to the advantage given by stirrups and borrowing the strength of fierce generals counted among the best in the world.

Knowing our inferiority, I, and Shu Han, have endlessly pondered and pondered again on how to defeat the enemy’s cavalry.

And I will prove in this battle that those ponderings were clearly meaningful.

“I will explain the outline of the operation.”

§

Just as Zhang Ran observed the Wei army, Guo Huai also closely watched the Shu Han army across the river.

‘Fortunately we arrived first.’

Dispatching scouts without excluding the possibility that they could come straight over from Hanzhong became a godsend move.

Though Guo Huai had gained the initiative, there wasn’t even a speck of carelessness in his mind.

The opponent was a woman who had just passed the age of majority at 21 years old. However, Guo Huai was already an eyewitness who had directly seen what kind of existence Zhang Ran was.

Martial prowess that was hard to believe came from a young woman. Just two years ago, Zhang Ran killed Zhang He, the superior Guo Huai served. That Zhang He whom Guo Huai himself acknowledged as superior to him.

The existence that had shaken Guo Huai’s common sense that individual martial prowess cannot defeat strategy was coiled up in front of him, but how could he have a careless mindset?

‘This time is different. Back then, Zhang Fei was there too. That man was truly a monster. If it’s Zhang Ran alone, I can overcome her.’

With the determination to take revenge. Recalling the humiliation of that day when he had to flee behind Zhang He, Guo Huai imagined Zhang Ran’s next move.

‘The front is blocked. Then where will she aim next? Will she attack Beiyuan intending to block Jieting? Or target Chang’an which I left and attack Yangshui?’

Either way was fine. It wasn’t for nothing that Guo Huai was stationed north of the Wei River.

Even if Zhang Ran heads to Beiyuan she has to cross the Wei River, and to attack Yangshui in the direction of Chang’an, she has to cross the Wugong River before the Wei River.

On the other hand, Guo Huai just has to run utilizing the cavalry’s fast mobility.

‘She won’t make the judgment to attack Chang’an straight away with us behind her. Indeed, Beiyuan is most likely.’

It was then, as Guo Huai was about to tentatively determine Zhang Ran’s line of advance.

Zhang Ran’s army began to move on a large scale.

“They’re finally moving. Tell the whole army, the enemy has moved.”

Guo Huai’s two eyes didn’t miss Zhang Ran’s army for even a moment.

Where are they going?

Beiyuan to the west? Yangshui to the east?

Zhang Ran’s answer was neither.

“Pontoon bridges…?”

Zhang Ran’s choice was a frontal breakthrough.