novelSusiti Chapter 65 Grain Carts Broken South of the Wei River—A 7-Year-Old's Gun is Faster Than a 2-Year
Chapter 65 Grain Carts Broken South of the Wei River—A 7-Year-Old's Gun is Faster Than a 2-Year
The scouts' reports became increasingly frequent.
One letter every half hour.
"Zhang He's vanguard has already passed Mei County. It is mainly composed of cavalry. It has not entered the city but has bypassed it."
"The central army followed. There were about 5,000 infantrymen and 300 supply wagons. They were 15 li ahead of the cavalry."
"The rear guard has not been seen."
Liu Shan placed the three silk strips side by side on the table.
Twenty thousand cavalry. Five thousand infantry. Three hundred supply wagons.
The cavalry ran fast, while the grain carts ran slowly, leaving a gap of fifteen li between them.
Liu Shan traced his finger from Wuzhangyuan to the official road on the south bank of the Wei River.
Zhang He's cavalry took this route, heading west from Mei County, along the south bank of the Wei River, and directly towards Chencang.
This road passes directly below Wuzhangyuan.
Zhao Yun lifted the curtain and entered. He wasn't wearing armor, just a light coat over an old leather armor.
"Have you seen the scouts' report?"
"I've seen it." Zhao Yun walked to the map and pointed to the line on the south bank of the Wei River. "The cavalry and supply wagons are fifteen li apart. Zhang He is in a hurry to rescue Chencang and is not waiting for the supplies."
Liu Shan nodded.
"Twenty thousand cavalry. We have ten thousand. We can't win a head-on battle."
Zhao Yun did not refute. Zhang He's cavalry were Cao Wei's elite, the Guanzhong Iron Cavalry. Ten thousand infantrymen facing twenty thousand cavalry head-on was suicidal.
"But grain carts are different."
Liu Shan stood up, walked to the tent entrance, lifted the curtain, and looked north.
From the high vantage point of Wuzhangyuan, one can see the entire official road on the south bank of the Wei River.
"Five thousand infantrymen escorting three hundred grain carts. They are moving slowly and their formation is scattered."
Zhao Yun's eyes lit up.
"Is His Majesty planning to intercept the grain supplies?"
"Let the cavalry pass. The supply wagons will take them."
Liu Shan loosened the curtain and returned to his desk.
"Zhang He's 20,000 cavalry arrived at Chencang, but they had no food. Hao Zhao's 2,000 men in Chencang also had no water. The two groups of men were huddled together—both were starving."
Zhao Yun patted his hand on the leather armor.
"Wei Yan is standing guard outside. Zhang He is starving inside."
"right."
Liu Shan picked up his brush and drew a circle on the geomantic map.
On the south bank of the Wei River, at the foot of the western slope of Wuzhangyuan, the official road makes a bend, with low hills on both sides of the bend.
"When the grain carts go around this bend, they rush down the mountain."
Zhao Yun glanced at the terrain.
"How many people are enough?"
"Two thousand. Cavalry."
Zhao Yun looked up. "White Feather Soldiers?"
"No. The White Feather Soldiers are guarding the camp." Liu Shan looked at Zhao Yun. "General Zilong will personally lead two thousand cavalry from the central army. They will circle around from the western foothills and ambush behind the low hills on the north side of the bend."
Zhao Yun did not hesitate.
"When will you move?"
"After Zhang He's vanguard cavalry passed the bend, they waited for the grain carts to enter the bend, when there was no village or shop in sight."
Zhao Yun turned and walked away. After taking two steps, he stopped.
"Your Majesty, if Zhang He were to turn back to rescue the grain—"
"He won't."
Liu Shan's voice was very flat.
"Chen Cang's plea for help is tucked in his pocket. Hao Zhao has been without water for three days. If he doesn't rescue Chen Cang, Hao Zhao won't last five days. If Chen Cang is lost, he won't be able to explain himself back in Luoyang."
Zhao Yun nodded.
"If the grain is lost, he can get more from Mei County, it's slow, but he can survive. If Chencang is lost, he won't be able to save his head."
"So he'll keep charging forward. The matter of turning back—that's for those behind him to handle."
Zhao Yun left the tent.
-
It was Shen Shi (3-5 PM) that day.
Zhang He's vanguard cavalry appeared on the official road north of Wuzhangyuan.
Liu Shan stood on the edge of the cliff and looked down.
Dust covered half the sky.
The sound of horses' hooves came from underground, muffled and dense, pounding the ground one after another.
Twenty thousand riders, a dark mass. Their banners appeared and disappeared in the dust.
A large flag bearing the character "Zhang".
Zhang He rode at the very front. He wore black armor and carried a long spear.
A man in his sixties, with a back straighter than many young people.
Liu Shan looked for three breaths.
Zhang He didn't look up or gaze at Wuzhangyuan.
He knew the Shu army was above. But he had calculated that—with the Shu army mainly composed of infantry, it would take at least half an hour for them to charge down from Wuzhangyuan and intercept the cavalry. His horse wouldn't stop.
The cavalry roared past the foot of Wuzhangyuan.
The dust kicked up by the horse's hooves drifted to the edge of the cliff, and Liu Shan's sleeves were covered with a layer of ash.
Chen Dao stood to the side, his hand on the hilt of the knife.
"It's over."
Liu Shan did not move.
"Waiting for the grain truck."
-
Another half hour passed.
The dust settled. The official road was quiet for a while.
Then the second wave came.
Slow and scattered. Three hundred oxcarts and mule carts, stretching for more than two miles in all directions.
The infantrymen escorting the grain walked on both sides, their formation loose; some were dozing off with their guns on their shoulders, while others were eating dry rations.
Five thousand men, their spirit and morale couldn't compare to the twenty thousand cavalry ahead. One was rushing for their lives, the other was rushing on their way.
Liu Shan's gaze swept from the head of the grain convoy to the tail.
"The vanguard cavalry has already passed the bend. The supply wagons have just entered the bend."
Chen Dao handed over a small bronze mirror. Liu Shan took it and flipped it three times towards the low hill to the west.
Sunlight reflection. Flash, flash, flash.
-
Behind the low hill.
Zhao Yun, riding on his white horse, saw the three beams of light.
He pressed the bright silver spear in his hand forward.
Two thousand cavalrymen emerged silently from behind the low hill. Their hooves, wrapped in cloth, landed with a dull thud.
Zhao Yun neither shouted nor raised the flag.
The white horse charged at the very front, its silver spear held level, the tassel taut in the wind.
When the grain convoy soldiers saw the figure emerging from the low hill, it was too late.
Two thousand riders charged down the slope, high above the ground, their speed overwhelming.
When Zhao Yun's spear pierced the first infantryman who raised his shield, the cavalry behind him had already crashed into the grain cart line.
There was no formation to speak of.
The grain convoy was already scattered, and two thousand cavalry cut in from the middle, splitting the three hundred convoys into three sections.
The infantry at the front ran forward, trying to catch up with Zhang He's cavalry.
The infantry at the rear ran back, trying to retreat to Mei County.
The one in the middle was surrounded by Zhao Yun's cavalry.
Zhao Yun's spear was fast. Even at seventy, his spear was still fast.
He took down four men in three breaths without even his gun trembling.
The grain transport officer tried to escape on horseback, but Zhao Yun swept his spear across, striking the horse's leg with the shaft. The horse buckled, and the officer fell to his knees. The White Feather soldiers rushed forward and subdued him.
From the charge to the finish line, it takes the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Of the three hundred grain carts, one hundred were burned, fifty were pushed into the river, and the rest were taken back to Wuzhangyuan by Zhao Yun's men.
Of the 5,000 infantrymen escorting the grain, 300 died, 800 surrendered, and the rest scattered and fled.
Zhao Yun reined in his horse and stood in the middle of the official road. His white horse trampled over scattered grain sacks.
He glanced back towards Wuzhangyuan.
A person stood on the edge of the cliff, his armor reflecting the light.
Zhao Yun raised his spear, the tip pointing skyward.
Greetings.
-
Night falls. The central command tent.
Zhao Yun sat at the table drinking soup. There were bloodstains on his armor, but they weren't his.
"One hundred and fifty grain carts have been brought back. Enough to feed the central army for twenty days."
Liu Shan nodded.
"Where is Zhang He?"
Chen Dao handed over the scout's urgent report.
"Zhang He's vanguard cavalry has already crossed sixty li west of Wuzhangyuan. They have not turned back."
He didn't look back. Just like Liu Shan said. Chencang was more important than grain, so Zhang He chose Chencang.
"But—" Chen Dao turned the silk strip over. "Zhang He sent three thousand cavalry back to provide support. By the time they reached the bend, General Zhao had already retreated. All that could be seen were charred cart tracks and grain sacks scattered on the ground."
Liu Shan leaned back in his chair.
"Send a message to Wei Yan. Zhang He's 20,000 cavalry will arrive at Chencang tomorrow. They have no food; they only have enough dry rations for three days at most."
I picked up my pen and wrote two lines.
"Surround them. Don't let a single fly out."
"Wait until he gets hungry."
Seal it up and hand it over.
The curtain was lifted. Dong Yun entered.
"Your Majesty. Zhou Fu's secret pouch is still there."
Liu Shan hummed in agreement.
"There's one more thing," Dong Yun said in a low voice. "It's an urgent report from Prime Minister Zhuge. From the direction of Qishan."
Bamboo tube. Sealing wax. Zhuge Liang's calligraphy.
"Sima Yi personally led his main force of 50,000 men out of Hangu Pass and arrived in Chang'an three days later."
Liu Shan placed the silk strip on the table.
fifty thousand.
Zhang He led 20,000 troops as the vanguard, while Sima Yi led 50,000 troops as the main force, totaling 70,000.
The combined strength of the five routes of Shu Han was only slightly over 50,000.
Liu Shan tapped his finger twice on the edge of the table.
"They're here."
The wind outside the tent was picking up. The sound of rushing water came from the direction of the Wei River; the spring floods were approaching.
Liu Shan did not lie down, but instead unfolded the geomantic map again.
Wuzhangyuan. Chencang. Qishan. Chang'an.
Four points, three lines.
Sima Yi has arrived.
Zhang He was just an appetizer.
[End of Chapter]