Chapter 1, The Son of Zhao Yun

The role of mining techniques was not yet clear to Zhao Guang, but the improvement in marksmanship was indeed tangible

The agricultural techniques of the Qiang people remain at the primitive stage of slash-and-burn farming, while the meticulous farming practices of the Han people are as incomprehensible as a book written in an unknown script to the less educated Qiang. By nature, they prefer to freely herd their cattle and sheep.

In the third year of Wei Jingyuan and the fifth year of Shu Jingyao (AD 262), the Grand General of Shu Han, Jiang Wei, was slandered by Huang Hao and took refuge by stationing his troops in Tazhong. In the following August, the Grand General of Wei, Sima Zhao, dispatched three armies led by Zhong Hui, Zhuge Xu, and Deng Ai to attack Shu.

In this regard, not only Zhao Guang, but also the descendants of Ma Chao and Chen Dao have been similarly sidelined. Even worse off is Wei Yan, a general of Shu who was highly valued by Liu Bei, who was falsely accused of treason by the military advisor and chief historian Yang Yi of the Prime Minister's office, leading to the extermination of his entire clan.

Health Points: 24 (A blend of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Records of the Three Kingdoms", written solely for literary purposes, not for verification.)

In a state of helplessness, Jiang Wei resolutely decided to leave the gatekeeper Zhao Guang behind to hold the rear, while he led the main forces, including Liao Hua, Zhang Yi, and Dong Jue, along the Bailong River to rescue the last stronghold of Shu Han—the Jian Gate

Qiang Chuan Kou

The conclusion of Zhao Guang is recorded in just these four characters in Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms. In the final moments of Shu Han, Zhao Guang, Fu Qian, Huang Chong, Li Qiu, and other lesser-known second and third generation generals interpreted with their lives what loyalty truly means

Compared to the numerous and well-equipped Wei army, the Shu army has only one general of note, Jiang Wei, who is also not trusted by Liu Shan. The Shu army's strength is merely 45,000 troops.

Dying in battle at the last moment

Zhao Guang, styled Yuanzhong. At the age of twenty-four, he was a former General of the Town Army and the second son of Zhao Yun, the Marquis of Yongchang, posthumously honored as the Marquis of Shunping.

The last stronghold leading to Yinping is held by the 5,000 Shu troops of Zhao Guang, who have been stationed here for three days. The stone gate, meticulously repaired and constructed by Jiang Wei, is gradually falling into the hands of the Wei army.

The Shu army has been waging northern campaigns for many years, and the troops are weary and exhausted, unable to endure prolonged battles. They are already struggling to resist Deng Ai's forces, let alone contend with three armies.

A series of fierce battles

In the valley located to the west of Wudu and to the north of Yinping, nestled between the Min Mountains and the Die Mountains, is a basin formed by the Bai Long River, a tributary of the Han River, which flows out through the valley.

Zhao Guang, clad in a blood-stained battle robe, holds a shining silver spear with a dragon's head in his hand, riding on a pure white warhorse. At the age of twenty-four, he has a stern expression and an upright posture, with a hint of Zhao Yun's handsome features at the corners of his eyes and brows. His heroic demeanor is comparable to that of Zhao Yun, who wielded a white horse and silver spear in his prime.

The main reason is that Zhao Guang was still young when Zhao Yun had already passed away. Zhao Guang's spear techniques were mostly taught by his elder brother Zhao Tong, and without an excellent teacher, Zhao Guang's martial prowess only reached the level of a mid-tier general

Shooting Skill: Level 7 (with Level 10 as the maximum level; Levels 1-3 are beginner, 4-6 are intermediate, 7-9 are advanced, and Level 10 is the maximum level. Zhao Guang's shooting skill was originally at an intermediate level, but the benefits of time travel have elevated it to an advanced level)

Now, amidst the turmoil, the long-unfulfilled ambitions, the peril of being on the brink of destruction, and the trust of his soldiers have ignited a fervor in Zhao Guang's heart. Even though the Wei army ahead boasts countless troops, how can it compare to the time when his father single-handedly held the young Liu Shan in his arms? It is a pity that Liu Shan is an heir to the throne who cannot be supported.

In terms of personnel selection, both Zhuge Liang and Liu Shan appeared overly conservative, placing too much emphasis on factions and status. Although Luo Xian and Huo Yi had the ambition to serve the country, they were not given significant roles. Instead, the incompetent Zhuge Zhan, Huang Hao, Que Zheng, and Yan Yu occupied positions in the court. In this regard, the vision of Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei in selecting and recognizing talent was far more exceptional.

"And the young warriors of the Qiang tribe, follow me into battle!" Once the formation was complete, Zhao Guang, filled with fighting spirit, charged forward to engage in combat.

The enemy is strong while we are weak, and morale is of utmost importance. With the enhancement of marksmanship and familiarity with the terrain, Zhao Guang does not wish to continue holding the Stone Enclosure. Only by deterring the Wei army can he accomplish the rear-guard mission entrusted to him by General Jiang Wei.

On the Loess Plateau

The renowned generals Wang Ping and Zhang Yi of the Shu Han dynasty both originated from the ranks of the Yamen generals. As the stars of Shu Han gradually dwindled, especially with the passing of the second generation of Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, even Liao Hua was able to serve as a general in the final moments. Jiang Wei, surveying the army, appointed Zhao Guang as a Yamen general, valuing more his loyalty and martial prowess.

In the fierce battle during the day yesterday, Zhao Guang broke through amidst the chaos, and the marksmanship he had long practiced suddenly became no longer dull. Each move was filled with agility, as he continuously struck down the Wei army's vanguard general and squad leader.

Prospecting Skill: Level 2 (primarily derived from fragmented memories of the later Golden Army, with some discrepancies due to changes in the landscape over time)

A gold mining explorer from a future era with the same name inexplicably intruded. After merging memories, Zhao Guang discovered that he possessed unique abilities. In Zhao Guang's mind, a panel resembling the character attribute interface from the Records of the Three Kingdoms appeared.

Compared to the renowned and victorious general Zhao Zilong, who is celebrated by future generations, his second son Zhao Guang is less well-known and holds a lower position

The forces of Deng Ai in the west have already united with the Wei army, including Wang Qi, the governor of Tianshui, Qian Hong, the governor of Longxi, and Yang Xin, the governor of Jincheng, along with the valiant Deng Zhong. Deng Ai is surrounded by a gathering of formidable generals, while on the side of the Shu army, their strength is weak and limited. Zhao Guang, the commander of the Yamen, has only a few companions with him, including Chen Shou, the military advisor, Ma Cheng, and Liu Lin, among two or three others.

Moreover, by the time Zhao Guang came of age, many of the former friends who had been close to Zhao Yun and had followed Liu Bei had already passed away. The current rulers of Shu Han, Fei Yi and Chen He, were primarily from Jingzhou and were also of civil servant background. They were quite wary of the descendants of military generals, fearing the emergence of one or two individuals like Guan Yu or Zhang Fei who could be overbearing.

Skill Value: 3 (Marksmanship, Cartography, Prospecting)

Surrounded by towering mountains, with mist rising from the river valley, the low shrubs and gradually thinning meadows on the slopes, along with a climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer, have made the Tazhong Valley a legendary paradise spoken of by the Qiang and Han people.

Within the stone enclosure, a contingent of Shu soldiers was forming ranks. Continuous battles and a significant numerical disadvantage left them no time to rest, resulting in a disheveled military appearance. Fortunately, these soldiers were all elite troops within the army, and under the commands of their commanding officers, generals, and squad leaders, their morale remained intact

(The characters are primarily based on the historical records of the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" and the "Book of Jin," with the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" serving as a supplementary description, appropriately adapted)

The Qiang people have lived in the Longyou and Haixi regions since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, adopting a semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral lifestyle. Under the serfdom system, their tribes would sometimes ally with Shu Han and at other times with Cao Wei. For the Qiang, the valuable experience passed down from their ancestors is to align with whichever side offers the most benefits.

Laozi is a hero, and his son is a great man. At Changban Slope, his father Zhao Yun entered and exited the enemy lines seven times, causing the Cao army to be thrown into disarray, forcing Cao's generals to flee in embarrassment, and making the formidable Cao Cao exclaim about Liu Bei's good fortune.

The climax of the Battle of Tashan was ignited by the newly reborn Zhao Guang and the ambitious Tu Fa Shu Ji.

The Han people are an agricultural nation and have little desire for pastures, whereas the Xianbei and Qiang ethnic groups rely on herding for their livelihood. The struggle for pastures is a battle for survival and existence for both groups

Therefore, the 30,000 troops under Deng Ai were not entirely composed of soldiers from Guanzhong; they also included a contingent of the Tuoba Xianbei. With the support of the Wei state, the Tuoba Xianbei defeated the Qiang people in the area around the Western Sea (Qinghai Lake) and seized the most fertile pastures on the Long m.hetushu .com .com.

Zhao Guang rode out on horseback, leading the army in front. The exhaustion from days of hard fighting intertwined with the joy of feeling strength coursing through his body; during these days, his already weary body unexpectedly felt rejuvenated like a withered tree encountering spring.

Map Skills: Level 3 (Timing, Terrain, and Human Factors, the three essential elements of the battlefield; Zhao Guang is well-acquainted with the terrain and landforms of the Wudu and Yinping areas due to his long-term military campaigns in the Tachong region)

The Bailong River flows ceaselessly, the power and speed of nature are dazzling, the rapids in the river engage in a contest, while the valleys on the banks witness the clash of Wei and Shu.

Talent Value: 30 (The average talent value for an ordinary person is 20. Zhao Guang originally had no remarkable talent, but after the fusion, he acquired some knowledge from a geological and mineral university, making him a true academic elite in two lifetimes)

Name: Zhao Guang

General Deng Ai of the Western Route Army led an army of 30,000 troops, launching a direct attack on Jiang Wei from Didao towards Gansong and Tazhong; General Zhuge Xu of the Central Route Army commanded 30,000 troops, advancing from Qishan towards Wujie and Yinpingqiao, attempting to cut off Jiang Wei's retreat; the Eastern Route Army, led by Zhong Hui, deployed a main force of 100,000 troops, advancing in two directions from Xiegugu and Luogu towards Hanzhong

The land in the region is fertile, and the pastures can be grazed throughout the four seasons. Compared to the bitter cold of the Western Sea, the abundance here makes the Tuoba tribe envious. Faced with the attacks of the Shu army's cavalry, the Xianbei people are already eager to respond.

Father! Zhao Guang felt a surge of emotion. Regarding the reason for his enhanced martial prowess, Zhao Guang finally realized that it was not due to Zhao Tong's lack of dedication in teaching him, but rather his own inadequate aptitude

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The stone gate opened, and over 500 Qiang warriors, led by General Ma Cheng, followed Zhao Guang out. The cavalry moved like the wind. Ma Cheng's father was the renowned Ma Chao of Xiliang, and like Zhao Guang, in this era where the eldest son inherited titles and family wealth, Ma Cheng, as a younger son, could attain little.

Today, Zhao Guang has integrated the wisdom, experiences, and memories of the Second Generation, leading to a completely new understanding of the marksmanship that had long been stored in his mind. This is the very reason for his breakthrough in the face of adversity

Combat Power: 80 (with a maximum limit of 100, 80 is considered above average for a general, with potential for growth in the later stages)

The prestige of the Ma family among the Qiang people is extremely high. When Ma Cheng entered the military, he found a place to exert his abilities. More importantly, the pastures in the region of Ta were long considered the stronghold of the Qiang people, yet they have now been granted by Sima Zhao to the Zhi Ba (Tuba) Xianbei.

The general of the front line, charging into battle, a commander who resolutely defends.

However, at the same time, it left the Jin Dynasty with an incurable northwest threat for several years. The Tuoba clan of the Xianbei was rising, and in the following years, generals of the Jin Dynasty such as Hu Lie and Su Yu were successively defeated by Tuoba Shujin, leading to the fall of Longxi into the hands of the Xianbei

From the perspective of inviting wolves into the house and disrupting China, Deng Ai's overall vision is insufficient, and his ability to focus on the long term is lacking; he can only be a general, not a commander. Although he has achievements in the destruction of Shu.

Outside the stone walls, the banners of the Wei army were spread across the sky, and soldiers from various divisions were busy organizing their weapons and preparing meals. They awaited the break of dawn to feast before launching another assault on the city.

By the time of the Jianxing and Jingyao eras, generals from the mid-Shu Han period such as Wei Yan, Wang Ping, and Ju Fu were no longer present for various reasons. It was only with the support of Jiang Wei that younger generals like Zhao Guang were appointed.

The scouts of the Wei army spotted the cavalry of the Shu army charging out from a distance and quickly reported back to the camp. In the Wei camp, the shouts of the soldiers suddenly erupted, and a group of soldiers with braided hair, bare-chested, and riding without saddles swiftly approached.

The Tufa Xianbei, a branch of the Hexi Xianbei, had as its ancestor Zhiba Pigu, who was the eldest son of the Xianbei clan. However, due to a failed attempt to seize leadership from his younger brother Zhiba Limi, he was compelled to lead his tribe westward. When Deng Ai served as the General of the Western Garrison, in order to resist the attacks from Jiang Wei's army and the Qiang tribe, he further relocated tens of thousands of people from the Tufa tribe to the Hexi, Yong, and Liang regions.