Chapter 625: The Great Army Gathers at Weiwu City

North of Weiwu City, along the Sanguan Road, tens of thousands of Han troops marched south, blocking the road and cutting off passage. As the army first arrived, Xiang Xun, serving as commander-in-chief, issued his first military order: establish defensive positions and set up camp. Soldiers and conscripted laborers worked together, quarrying stone and felling timber, the sounds of hammering and chopping echoing through the mountains.

The central command tent had already been fully erected, its furnishings simple. Since the various army commanders were all busy setting up camps and defenses, only Xiang Xun and Song Yanwo sat inside the tent, along with Wang Renshan, who was kneeling on the ground begging for punishment.

"Disregarding the exhaustion of your troops, greedily seeking merit by advancing recklessly, launching an unauthorized attack to storm the enemy's pass, resulting in defeat and loss of men, blunting our army's edge—what punishment do you deserve?" Xiang Xun looked at Wang Renshan and said calmly.

Wang Renshan's attitude remained proper and respectful. He clasped his hands and said, "I request the Commander-in-Chief to punish me according to military law!"

Of course, military law was also applied with due consideration of circumstances. Xiang Xun could not severely punish Wang Renshan over a minor defeat, but the proper procedures still had to be followed, as a warning to others!

"General Wang led his troops south, and his forces were unstoppable, breaking through eight stockades in succession, sending the Shu army into despair and flight. Given such battle results, seizing the momentum to pursue and strike was entirely reasonable!" Song Yanwo rose, playing the good cop, and said to Xiang Xun: "Although he suffered a minor defeat, he also tested Weiwu City and the enemy's situation. Let us note it for now and leave the matter to the imperial court for reward or punishment after the war!"

"Since Army Supervisor Song has spoken, let it be for now!" Xiang Xun nodded and allowed Wang Renshan to rise.

"This campaign, you and Li Yan have had it hard as well—marching and fighting in the scorching heat, storming strongholds and defeating the enemy. How could I not know the hardships involved!" Xiang Xun's tone shifted, and he said: "Tell me, what is the state of Weiwu City's defenses?"

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief!" Wang Renshan quickly composed himself and said: "The one who defeated me was the city's defending general Gao Yantiao. Adding Han Jixun's routed troops, the city's garrison strength certainly exceeds ten thousand.

I observed the pass city's layout—it occupies the middle of the road, divided into inner and outer cities, three to four li in circumference. Its arrangement is compact, and all its defenses are extremely thorough. If the enemy garrisons it with heavy forces, without some unexpected strategy, it will certainly be difficult!"

"I have led a great army here, and I will surely break this city!" Xiang Xun said sternly.

Wang Renshan immediately clasped his fists and requested: "Commander-in-Chief, I beg to lead my men in assaulting the city to atone for my previous mistake. I ask for your approval!"

Seeing this, Xiang Xun couldn't help but smile and reassured him: "Hold your horses! Your unit has endured successive hard-fought battles, with casualties nearing thirty percent—losses are not small. First, rest and reorganize your troops in camp, restore your fighting strength. Moreover, we still need to wait for Li Tinggui's movements before making a decision!"

"Yes!"

After Wang Renshan withdrew, Song Yanwo said: "This Wang Renshan is accomplished in both letters and arms, eager to forge ahead—a true talent!"

"It's also that his ambition for achievement weighs too heavily; otherwise, how would he dare lead two thousand weary troops in a hasty attack on a strong pass!" Xiang Xun said: "He still wants to lead the main assault on the enemy pass, but I dare not approve it again—otherwise, the other generals will make a fuss!"

After studying the map for a while, Xiang Xun said: "This map cost no small effort—roads, passes, forests, and waterways are all detailed, but in the end, it is a dead map. I intend to personally reconnoiter the surrounding terrain and the pass's layout. Within the army, the Imperial Son-in-law will temporarily take charge!"

"Be careful, Commander-in-Chief!" Song Yanwo, always courteous, clasped his hands in acknowledgment.

Weiwu City occupied a strategic point on the plank road, with mountain passes linked together, blocking north-south traffic. Divided into inner and outer cities, three to four li in circumference, it counted as a major pass within the Qinling Mountains, and was the most critical fortress north of Liangquan, the seat of Feng Prefecture.

The inner city was built of brick and stone, housing granaries and armories, with city walls and watchtowers, heavily garrisoned. The outer city was of wooden construction, considerable in scale, with towering trees outside the walls blocking out the sky, forming a forest formation. Roads wound through it, extremely complex—a man entering without guidance could easily lose his way.

Xiang Xun led a squad of personal guards, surveying the surrounding terrain extensively, until he reached the front of the pass, where he climbed to a height and looked out. Gazing into the distance, Xiang Xun stared at Weiwu Pass, lost in thought.

After a long while, Xiang Xun said to Murong Chengtai, who stood beside him: "Wang Jian of the Former Shu built this pass city here to consolidate the northern defense—that was nearly forty years ago. Back then, when Guo Chongtao destroyed Shu, he first took Feng Prefecture to secure his rear, then used his vanguard to break this pass, and the defenders surrendered at the sight of his banner! Now, our army has come with a great force—we are to fight a great battle here!"

"Commander-in-Chief, I see that before this pass, the forest is lush and stretches across the mountain ridges, unfavorable for deploying a large army. Breaking this pass will be no easy matter!" Murong Chengtai couldn't help saying to Xiang Xun.

Xiang Xun, gazing at that wooden stockade and the dense forest around it—especially the military camps and barracks built within—seemed lost in thought.

"Send out all the army's scouts to reconnoiter routes and paths, and keep a tight watch on the Shu army's movements!" Reining in his horse, Xiang Xun gave the order: "Back to camp!"

Weiwu City had become a military fortress. As Shu commander Li Tinggui led his main force north to reinforce, various armies converged here, using the pass as their base, with forward and rear mountain stockades, gathering over fifty thousand soldiers and civilians. Clearly, just as the Han commanders had expected, the Shu army had placed heavy forces here, intending to block the Han army at this point.

In fact, according to Li Tinggui's original plan, he intended to rely on the terrain's advantages, establishing layered stockades and setting up successive obstacles to delay the Han army, exhaust them, and then seek an opportunity to defeat the enemy.

This was a sound strategy. However, the Han army's offensive capability exceeded expectations—the Yellow Ox Eight Stockades fell to Wang Renshan in less than ten days. The defeat was too swift, catching everyone off guard. In light of this, the entire Shu army was shaken. Although Gao Yantiao had inflicted a minor defeat on the Han army, it only salvaged some face.

Although Weiwu City was formidable, with the Han main force pressing the attack, and with the Yellow Ox Eight Stockades as a precedent, Li Tinggui could not confidently claim he could hold out long with limited troops and routed soldiers. And if Weiwu City fell, Liangquan would be even harder to defend. Therefore, after consideration, Li Tinggui chose to lead his main force north to reinforce, to resist the Han army.

In fact, some staff officers had suggested to Li Tinggui that along the Sanguan Road, the Qingni Road was the most perilous—winding mountain paths that even birds could hardly cross—and recommended that Li Tinggui deploy his main force around Guzhen. However, doing so would mean abandoning Liangquan and other areas, which would be hard to justify to the Chengdu court, and would easily affect the Shu army in Qin Prefecture.

In the inner city of Weiwu, Li Tinggui, the Shu commander who had also just arrived, ignored his marching fatigue and summoned Gao Yantiao and Han Jixun to inquire about the enemy situation.

Toward Han Jixun, Li Tinggui felt some anger—he had given him ten thousand troops to defend the military stockade, and it had been easily broken by the Han army. More importantly, he had just received Han Jixun's "report of victory," claiming hundreds of enemies killed and the enemy's morale blunted, which he had forwarded to Chengdu—only to immediately receive the report of defeat at Yellow Ox Stockade.

Now, hearing his mouth full of descriptions of the Han army's ferocity, Li Tinggui grew even more irritated and was tempted to lose his temper. However, seeing Han Jixun's body covered in wounds and his pitiful state, he could not bring himself to be too harsh.

Li Tinggui thought more broadly. He knew the Han army's fighting strength well—two years ago at the Battle of Donghe Village, he had lost even more men. Although Han Jixun had been defeated, he had still gathered nearly five thousand routed troops and assisted Gao Yantiao in repelling the pursuing Han army, achieving some gains.

Weighing everything, Li Tinggui showed leniency toward Han Jixun. After a mild reprimand, he even offered words of comfort, telling him to tend to his wounds and reorganize his troops before facing the Han army again.

For Li Tinggui's magnanimity, Han Jixun naturally felt deep gratitude, and though he swore on the spot to resist the Han army, in truth, fear of the enemy had already taken root in his heart.

"Tell me about the Han army's situation!" In the hall, Li Tinggui asked Gao Yantiao.

Gao Yantiao was one of the rare capable generals in the Shu army. After the fierce battles between Shu and Han in the early years of the state, and the great battle at Jifeng Mountain, this man had led his troops in a surprise attack on Sanguan, burning the pass and destroying the stockade before withdrawing.

During his time defending the pass, he had accomplished quite a bit and had also surveyed and understood the enemy's situation. Now, upon being asked, he spoke directly: "Although the Han army claims to be a hundred thousand strong, those capable of fighting certainly do not exceed forty thousand. Upon their arrival, east and north of the pass, along the valleys and ridges, they felled timber and established stockades, building a total of twenty-four camps of various sizes, used to station troops and store provisions and equipment!"

"A formidable onslaught!" Li Tinggui couldn't help but sigh, his expression grave: "Han Jixun had over ten thousand troops and was still defeated by a few thousand Han soldiers. Now, with these tens of thousands of Han troops, they will be hard to resist!"

Gao Yantiao's expression remained composed: "The Han army is certainly fierce, but with natural defenses and strong passes and high walls, breaking through won't be so easy. In fact, I look forward to the Han army attacking—we can exhaust their strength, weaken their morale, and seek an opportunity to counterattack. However, judging by the Han army's camp-building measures, they won't attack recklessly either. Commander-in-Chief, we must prepare for a prolonged war of attrition!"

"Governor Gao's analysis is sound!" Li Tinggui immediately expressed agreement: "Supplies are difficult to transport along this route. If we make the Han army toil without results over a long campaign, they may retreat on their own. And if they exhaust their provisions and equipment, how could our court fear the Han army?"

"On this side at Weiwu City, we lead the main force to hold them off—for now, there is no concern. Only—" Li Tinggui paused, a shadow of gloom flashing across his expression: "Qin Prefecture is what worries me! There are no such natural defenses there. If the Han army splits its forces to attack it, with Zhao Jizha's abilities, I fear he may fail!"

"Commander-in-Chief, let us first deal with the great enemy before the pass!" Gao Yantiao frowned slightly and sighed.