Chapter 804: The Detouring Army

On the southwestern slopes of Micang Mountain, in a remote forest rarely visited by man, a sizable army emerged from the woods. The surrounding terrain was complex, with towering peaks and ridges, and the wild forests exuded a primitive, untamed air—though disturbed by these uninvited guests, birds took flight and beasts scattered, keeping far away.

From Sanquan to Jiachuan, roughly 180 li of winding mountain paths and narrow hidden trails, it took a full six days to traverse. Banners were furled, soldiers and generals carried their armor bound on their backs, not daring to make noise or complain, silently pressing forward with heads bowed.

Even with training and mental preparation, the exhaustion of crossing mountains and ridges exceeded Gao Huaide's imagination. Especially on the unopened Micang trails, the accompanying soldiers were fully equipped, carrying rations and water, adding to their burden.

Fortunately, after crossing the northern foothills, the terrain leveled out considerably. Gao Huaide led by example, sharing hardships with his men, and stayed with the vanguard camp—the work of clearing the path was far more exhausting. Several hundred soldiers discarded their armor, wielded machetes, and cleared away weeds and tangled branches along the way, leaving messy footprints while also carving out a road barely passable for the main force.

"Army Supervisor, the guide said that once we pass the gap ahead, we'll be out of the mountains, and there's a road leading straight to Jiachuan County town!" Beside Gao Huaide, a middle-aged general with handsome features, a cold stern expression, and a hint of ruthlessness pointed ahead and spoke to him.

This man was named Guo Jin. His military post was Formation Commander of the Two Rivers Field Headquarters. In his early years he had pledged service to Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan, and having once been Gaozu's bodyguard, he bore the mark of the Liu family. After the founding of the state, he received repeated promotions and rewards, serving as Prefect of Cizhou and Commander of Longzhou, before being transferred by Liu Chengyou into the southwestern army. He governed his troops with strict discipline and decisive killing, and the Son of Heaven regarded him as a famed general.

"Not easy!" Hearing this, Gao Huaide's weary face showed a slight smile: "Send word back to the rear camps—tell the men to hold on a little longer. We'll go straight into the town to rest!"

Hearing Gao Huaide's words, Guo Jin couldn't help raising an eyebrow and said: "From what the Army Supervisor says, you intend to seize the county town?"

Hearing his doubt, Gao Huaide nodded: "The men have been marching for days and urgently need rest and resupply of food and water. What place is more suitable for rest than a county town?"

Guo Jin said: "A detached force on a roundabout march depends on secrecy. Is the Army Supervisor not afraid of exposing our traces and alerting the Shu army?"

Gao Huaide smiled slightly: "That depends on our skill at concealing the army! Besides, we've already reached Jiachuan and circled to the enemy's flank—the period requiring the greatest secrecy has already been successfully passed, so there's no need for excessive worry!"

Glancing at the sky—thin clouds, light wind, and the hour still early—Gao Huaide said: "Take the town today, rest for one night, and set out tomorrow, turning northwest, taking the Luochuan path, and racing to strike Mantian Ridge!"

"Leave the task of taking the town to me!" Hearing his considerations, Guo Jin thought for a moment, then clasped his fists and said: "I've inquired about Jiachuan's terrain—towering mountains, crisscrossing ravines, with only one trough valley running east to west, the county town situated in its midst, with the Song River separating it to the east. We only need to split into two detachments—one to control the western road entrance, one to surround the town—and we can take the town without fear of news leaking out!"

"Since General Guo has this intention, I have no reason to refuse!" Hearing his analysis, Gao Huaide showed a satisfied expression and instructed: "How many troops does the General need?"

"Although Jiachuan belongs to Lizhou, it is in truth remote and small. Were it not for the detour, the main army would hardly notice this place. A mere small county—one thousand soldiers will suffice to take it!" Guo Jin said confidently.

"Good! Then I'll give the General two battalions to go ahead. I and General He will lead the rest behind, to guard against the unexpected!" Gao Huaide said.

"Yes!"

Gao Huaide's detached force totaled fourteen battalions, over seven thousand men, with the Huaiwei Shu army as the core, plus two thousand southwestern elite troops. Gao Huaide directly allocated the two southwestern battalions to Guo Jin.

After emerging from the hills, what they trod upon could finally be called a road. Though still winding and complex, it was far better than wandering in the Micang mountains. With rest imminent and expectations raised, the soldiers' morale recovered considerably—all fatigue and hardship were suppressed by renewed spirit.

He Chongjian, Chief General of the Huaiwei Army, caught up. The old general was nearly sixty. Considering his age, Gao Huaide had originally not wanted him to accompany the force on this roundabout raid, but He Chongjian had firmly requested it. The result proved that they had underestimated the old fellow—crossing mountains and ridges with the army, if not like walking on flat ground, was done with composure, and running the mountain paths, he was no slower than many of the young and strong soldiers.

"I've put the old General through this hardship of the march!" Toward He Chongjian, Gao Huaide's attitude was lenient.

Gao Huaide was courteous, but He Chongjian was careful to keep himself humble—after all, as a repeatedly surrendered general with a record of defection, he responded with slight deference: "The Son of Heaven overlooks past grievances and bestows great favor. As the unworthy Chief General of Huaiwei, I naturally must serve to the death in repayment. When I was in the Shu army, I crossed the Qinling Mountains often enough in peacetime—the Micang trails, though difficult, are still within my stride!"

Appraising He Chongjian—though his temples held white hairs and his frame was weary, his vigorous spirit was evident. Gao Huaide couldn't help laughing: "The old General's vigor truly rivals the young and strong—enough to put us juniors to shame!"

"The Army Supervisor flatters me—I dare not accept such praise!"

Having spoken, Gao Huaide set aside his jesting, his expression turning serious, and cast his gaze northwest, saying: "With Guo Jin going ahead, barring accidents, Jiachuan will fall. Rest one night, then turn tomorrow—there are still over a hundred li of narrow roads to traverse!"

He Chongjian said: "We've already come two hundred li—why fear a mere hundred?"

"The old General is a true hero!"

"I dare not accept—Army Supervisor Gao is the real hero!"

While Gao Huaide advanced, Guo Jin on his side drove his soldiers forward rapidly, seizing the roads and surrounding Jiachuan with great smoothness, fully achieving the operational objective.

The entire process was like casting a stone into a still pool—ripples at first, then quickly returning to calm. Not a single Han soldier died taking the town, though a dozen or so soldiers, unable to endure the hardship of the forced march and lagging behind, had their heads chopped off by Guo Jin.

Lizhou, Miangu City.

Lizhou lay east of the Jialing River, running from north to south, a transitional zone from mountains to basin. Though surrounded by mountain ranges with rugged, complex terrain, Miangu City, as the prefectural seat, was not a place suited for defense.

Therefore, the Shu army's forces defending against Han in Lizhou territory were mainly stationed along the Mantian Ridge line to the northeast, holding firm the various fortresses of Greater and Lesser Mantian. The garrison inside Miangu City was not large—only three thousand soldiers—and served mainly a support role, as most of the Lizhou Shu army's grain, weapons, and other military supplies were stored there.

On the northern city wall hung a human head, its blood long dried, the face unrecognizable, yet horrifying and chilling. This was the former Sanquan army supervisor Liu Tingzuo, who, over ten days earlier, had led men to charge Wang Shenchao's relief force on the plank roads, and had somehow survived, fleeing back to Miangu City.

He had originally planned to return to Chengdu to engage in some activities to atone for his crimes, but was seized on orders of Commissioner of Military Affairs Wang Zhaoyuan, who arrived later. As the commander appointed by the Shu court to defend the northern front against the Han army, the first thing Wang Zhaoyuan did upon convening his headquarters was, in front of all the Shu generals, execute Liu Tingzuo, hang his head from the city tower, and issue a stern order—anyone who lost a battle again would face military law.

Wang Zhaoyuan's move was both to establish his authority and, through strict military orders, to stir the fighting spirit of Shu officers, making them lead their troops in desperate resistance. The intention was good, but the effect was decidedly poor.

Although Wang Zhaoyuan had presided over Later Shu military and political affairs for many years and proposed multiple active military strategies, he had basically operated within the Chengdu court, and was in fact disconnected from the armies and soldiers below.

Without great achievements and lacking prestige, throwing his weight around and merely assuming he could tighten military discipline, the result was alienation and loss of loyalty. To the Shu generals in the north, Wang Zhaoyuan was nothing but an opportunist and a windbag.

Shu Empress Dowager Li had once said to Meng Chang that Wang Zhaoyuan, born of a menial background, without great achievements and unlearned in military affairs, could hardly control the military, and when trouble came to the border, he would surely be unable to repel a great enemy! This remark later spread, further damaging Wang Zhaoyuan's reputation, and many officers in the army despised him for it.

However, Meng Chang paid no heed to the Shu Empress Dowager's words and continued to heavily employ Wang Zhaoyuan. Past favor and obligation were certainly factors in his consideration, but besides Wang Zhaoyuan, Meng Chang seemed unable to find other candidates. Generals like Zhao Chongtao and Yi Shenzheng might possess minor talents, but they mostly relied on their fathers' legacy—though they led troops, they didn't necessarily command respect, and were probably no better than Wang Zhaoyuan, nor as close to Meng Chang as he was.

The only one the Shu Empress Dowager recommended and praised, believing he could be entrusted with great matters, was Gao Yandui—but he had been captured by the Han army in the great battle of Qinfeng three years ago and ultimately committed suicide to die for his country. For this, Liu Chengyou had specially ordered a stele erected for Gao Yandui in Fengzhou, recording his deeds to honor his loyalty.

Still the same old saying—Shu had no great generals, none capable of bearing the weight of heaven.

And at this moment, in the military headquarters of Miangu, Wang Zhaoyuan was fretting, facing a difficult problem. Yesterday, Han general Wang Quanbin had led troops to breach Jinshan Fortress; the defending Shu general Zhao Chongpu fought hard but could not prevail, losing over a thousand men and abandoning the fortress in retreat.

According to his previous military order, Zhao Chongpu should be seized and imprisoned—but whether to kill him, Wang Zhaoyuan himself now hesitated. During these days marching north, he had sensed a certain atmosphere in the army unfavorable to him.