Chapter 8: Wei Yan's Three Strategies

"Father, do not first ask where I heard this from." Wei Ba did not want to get entangled in these trivial details, as it might not only reveal the truth but also divert the topic. He directly interrupted Wei Yan's words and continued, "The strategies of Prime Minister Zhuge actually focus on two key points: one is to cross into Jing and Yi to divide the world into three parts; the other is to deploy troops from two directions to restore the Central Plains"

Wei Ba remained unmoved, and with a slight smile, said: "What does Father think should be done then"

"The troops are to emerge from Xiegu, while the main force is to come from Longxi?" Wei Yan smiled in disappointment, his tone filled with disdain: "Is this your insight? Haha, what utter nonsense, baseless claims. I said it before, how could you suddenly become clever? It seems now that it is merely a bit of cleverness, not to be taken seriously."

He smiled and said, "Father, what you say may have some merit, but this is merely your choice; Prime Minister Zhuge may not think the same way."

This can probably be attributed to a shared disposition. Wei Yan and Guan Yu have many similarities: both are valiant in battle, well-versed in military strategy, and have read some books, yet they look down upon scholars. Particularly in terms of temperament, both Wei Yan and Guan Yu are self-assured, to the point of arrogance, almost dismissive of others. This is evident in how he disregards even the Five Great Generals of Cao Wei; among the generals of Shu Han, the only one he truly respects is Guan Yu. He yearns for the time when Guan Yu flooded the seven armies, instilling fear across China, compelling Cao Cao to nearly relocate the capital. Over the years, stationed in Guanzhong, he has always hoped that one day he could lead troops northward like Guan Yu to restore the Central Plains.

When Ma Chao's daughter is angry, she resembles a mother leopard, exuding an imposing aura. However, in front of Wei Yan, a true fierce tiger, she appears as a small witch compared to a great witch. The moment Wei Ba sees Wei Yan's elongated face, his heart begins to race, and his calves tremble instinctively, shaking even more violently than if he were wearing two pieces of armor. Wei Yan casts a sidelong glance at him, his fingers slowly pinching and releasing, giving off the impression that if Wei Ba does not handle the situation properly, he will come over and throw him to the ground, giving him a good beating.

First, the Lord entered Yizhou, while General Guan remained to defend Jingzhou. He not only bore the heavy responsibility of crossing between Jing and Yi, but also took on the future task of leading two armies into battle. However, after General Guan's defeat at Maicheng, not only did he lose his life, but he also handed over Jingzhou to Eastern Wu, rendering the crossing between Jing and Yi an empty promise, and making the prospect of two armies advancing seem distant. Given the current situation, if the Shu Kingdom wishes to mobilize troops, it can only take the route through Hanzhong, which is infinitely more difficult compared to advancing from Jingzhou to Wan and Luo. General Guan's defeat has nearly extinguished the majority of our Shu Han's prospects for survival. Can a person like this still be called a renowned general?

Wei Yan raised his head and looked at Wei Ba with a cold smile. "Among the three strategies, you chose the least favorable one. With your level of insight, how dare you criticize Guan and Hou?"

Wei Yan did not expect him to say anything. He stood up, took a scroll of silk map from the inner room, spread it out on the table, and gestured for Wei Ba to sit closer. Wei Ba leaned over to take a look and couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed. This map was very rudimentary, featuring only a few lines and marking a few place names. It was not only inferior to maps of later generations but also considerably simpler than the Han Dynasty military map unearthed from Mawangdui.

Wei Ba steadied his mind and slowly spoke. "Father, I have heard that when the former lord visited Prime Minister Zhuge Liang three times at Longzhong, the Prime Minister had a strategy for dividing the world into three parts. Are you aware of this, Father?"

Wei Ba was unconvinced; he believed that his father's judgment could not be wrong. Among the three strategies, indeed, the one involving the departure from Longxi was the least favorable. However, historically, Zhuge Liang did choose to depart from Longxi. Could it be that he was unable to discern the merits and demerits of these three strategies? Although Zhuge Liang could not truly summon the winds and rain as depicted in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" or possess an infallible strategy, he was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding military strategists of his time. His choice of the least favorable strategy, rather than the superior or intermediate ones, must have had its reasons. Even if this choice stemmed from his cautious nature, there must have been compelling reasons that necessitated such a decision, which he simply did not know at the moment.

"What happened? You dare to speak of Guan Yu but not of the Chancellor?" Wei Yan scoffed with a laugh.

Father, since the Chancellor will soon arrive in Han, let us wait and see what strategies he will adopt.

Wei Ba also felt somewhat nervous. He was aware of how Zhuge Liang conducted the Northern Expeditions, but this matter had not yet occurred; it was a prediction, not an evaluation of an established fact. If he guessed correctly, there would naturally be no problem, but if he guessed wrong, it would be troublesome. The good impression he had painstakingly built in his father's mind would come crashing down.

What is your opinion on Guan Yu?

Wei Ba shook his head: "I only know a little in general, and my specific knowledge is limited. I kindly ask for my father's guidance."

Wei Ba was somewhat surprised; hearing his father's tone, could it be that there was another hidden reason behind this?

Wei Ba knew that when it came to science and technology, he could be considered among the top in the world. However, regarding military strategy, he was filled with historical anecdotes but was utterly ignorant about specific matters. For instance, he was completely baffled by the geographical details of Hanzhong that Wei Yan had just mentioned.

Wei Yan squinted his eyes, staring intently at Wei Ba. What he had just said was not mere empty talk; he indeed only had a superficial understanding of this strategy. This was something he had heard when Liu Bei and Fa Zheng discussed the trends of the world. He was not clear about the specific circumstances, but the two points Wei Ba had just mentioned could indeed encapsulate the entire meaning.

Wei Ba took a deep breath and decided to take a gamble. He had just arrived in this world and had not yet left Hanzhong, so he should not have had such a significant impact as to alter the course of history. Moreover, Zhuge Liang was not someone who could be easily influenced by an ordinary person.

Wei Ba's argument left the girl in white speechless, earning respect from his father, but his satisfaction did not last long. After Wei Yan finished handling state affairs and sent the Mianyang Order and his subordinate, who had just been beaten until his backside was bruised, out, his expression darkened.

Is it not the case that the loss of Jingzhou and the fall of Maicheng are not his faults, but rather the responsibility of others

Wei Yan looked at him, thought for a moment, and smiled, saying: "Well, since you have an interest in military affairs, I will give you some guidance, so you won't embarrass yourself in the future." He sat behind the desk, tapped on the table twice with his fingers, and then raised his head: "Those who govern the army must understand geography. First, tell me how much you know about the geography of Hanzhong."

Wei Yan let out a light snort: "You judge heroes solely by their successes and failures. Do you not know that one does not have to be invincible in battle to be called a great general? Sometimes, the reasons for defeat are numerous and not entirely within the control of the commander. Since you have read the writings of Sima Qian, do you not recall that the overlord Xiang Yu once said, 'Heaven has abandoned me; it is not the fault of the battle.'"

From Hanzhong, there are three options to take Luoyang. Wei Yan extended his finger and gently traced the map, his movements surprisingly gentle, indicating his deep appreciation for this map. The first option is to head east from Hanzhong, following the Mian River towards Xiangyang, directly targeting Wanluo. This route is the most direct and the shortest, making it the best strategy. The second option is to cross the Qinling Mountains, directly aiming for Guanzhong, and then proceed east along the Wei River to Luoyang. This route is more challenging due to the need to traverse the mountains, and it requires first securing Guanzhong, which will take time. However, Guanzhong is geographically strategic, known as the four passes of the frontier. In ancient times, the Qin dynasty conquered the world through Guanzhong. If our army can hold Tongguan, preventing Cao Wei from advancing westward, we can easily take Guanzhong. Compared to directly targeting Wanluo, this approach requires fewer troops and is a more prudent method, thus it can be considered a middle strategy. The final route is the one you mentioned, departing from Longxi. This route is the farthest, and after taking Longxi, we would need to conquer Guanzhong, which involves overcoming the Long Mountains, making it quite cumbersome. If we were to delay in Longxi, the main force of the Wei army could come to aid, leading to a fierce battle in Guanzhong, with the outcome uncertain. Therefore, the route you proposed is the least reasonable among the three, and your strategy is the least favorable.

Wei Ba scolded Ma Chao, saying he was a stray dog, which was not a question at all. In Wei Yan's eyes, Ma Chao was indeed a stray dog. However, Wei Ba did not think much of Guan Yu, which Wei Yan could not accept, and he was very angry.

Deploying deceptive troops to the Xie Valley, while the main force advances from Longxi

If Wei Ba were still the frail Wei Ba of the past, if he had not deeply reflected on himself while lying in bed and decided to conquer himself and change his fate, he would now likely be so frightened that his heart would race, let alone face the situation calmly

Upon seeing Wei Yan's expression, Wei Ba realized that the real problem had arisen. The matter concerning the Ma family was merely superficial; Ma Chao was already dead, and Ma Dai was just a minor officer. Given his father's temperament, he would not regard them highly; a scolding was all that could be expected. However, the issue regarding Guan Yu was no trivial matter. From Wei Wu's words, he learned that Wei Yan was defiant towards everyone except for Guan Yu, whom he admired profoundly.

Wei Ba habitually responded with an acknowledgment, but as he came to his senses, a wave of unease washed over him. It was one thing to move his lips, but when it came to actually writing, not to mention whether he could produce a formal document in classical Chinese, even his own crooked handwriting was hardly presentable. He raised his head to look at Wei Yan, meeting his father's encouraging gaze. After a moment of contemplation, he opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed back the words of refusal and nodded vigorously.

This is natural. Wei Yan thought of the Chancellor's northern expedition and felt that he was about to be of great use, which lightened his mood. He chuckled with satisfaction, stroked his short beard, and pondered for a moment: "Although your insight is lacking, your ability to read and write is something your elder brother cannot compare to. Since you are also interested in military affairs, how about this: from now on, you will handle some of the paperwork to help share the burden for your elder brother."

To survive in this world, one must learn calligraphy and master the reading and writing of classical Chinese documents. Since this is the case, why not start now? The beginning of any endeavor is often the hardest. If challenges arise now, I can still learn from my father and elder brother through resources like https://m.hetushu.com. This is a precious opportunity that should not be easily overlooked

Wei Yan frowned, not answering Wei Ba's question, but instead expressed some displeasure regarding Liu Bei's three visits to the thatched cottage. However, seeing Wei Ba's calm demeanor and composed tone, which did not seem like a joke, he surprisingly refrained from reprimanding him. After a pause, he said: "I once heard the late lord mention it in passing, but only in fragments, so my knowledge is limited. Where did you hear about it?"

However, he is now fully prepared. Having just faced the Ma family, his confidence has significantly increased. He hopes to take this opportunity to remind his father, Wei Yan, not to follow in Guan Yu's footsteps. Master Xu once said that a person can have a proud spirit, but must not be arrogant. Proud individuals often meet a tragic end, as did Guan Yu. If you do not change, your future will be the same.

Wei Ba touched his nose, smiling even more humbly. It was extremely difficult to persuade his father; from any perspective, he could not gain the upper hand, only provoking his father's displeasure. However, fortunately, the standard for judging right and wrong is not based on who makes the more reasonable argument, but rather on the final outcome of the facts. Since his father was so confident, perhaps it would not be a bad thing for him to encounter a setback in the face of reality.

Wei Yan sneered once more. "The Prime Minister is the commander of the Northern Expedition, so there is certainly no doubt about that. However, as the General Who Guards the North, I have been entrusted by the late Emperor to defend Hanzhong for nearly ten years. If the Prime Minister is to launch a Northern Expedition, can he not consider my opinions? Even if he does not fully adopt my best strategy, it is only natural that he would use a middle strategy. With the Prime Minister's wisdom, would he resort to a poor strategy? Do you think he is like you?" Even if he does not fully adopt my best strategy, it is only natural that he would use a middle strategy. With the Prime Minister's wisdom, would he resort to a poor strategy? Do you think he is like you?"

The defeat of Guan Yu is shrouded in many hidden circumstances, and it is difficult to explain clearly in just a few words. Once we return to Nanzheng, I will have the opportunity to discuss it with you in detail. Wei Yan sighed, his expression somewhat despondent, "However, your recognition of the adverse effects of losing Jingzhou on our army shows some insight. I heard from your brother that you have already guessed that the Chancellor is about to advance into Hanzhong for a northern expedition. So, tell me, what strategy will the Chancellor adopt for the northern campaign"