Chapter 157 Their Intentions Are Despicable

Shanggui.

Warhorses galloped, and the sounds of battle cries, war drums, thundering hooves, and arrows whistling through the air blended together into an impassioned battle hymn. The Cavalry Corps of the Shu-Han army—the Ma Family Army—was charging at full speed, chasing after the scattering, wolf-like cavalry of Cao Wei. The Wei cavalry had dispersed their formation, galloping wildly without the slightest intention of engaging in combat; they were simply running away as fast as they could.

Ma Dai followed closely behind, pursuing the routed enemy, yet his heart felt not a shred of joy.

Behind them lay the wheat fields billowing with thick, billowing smoke.

These Wei cavalrymen had not come to fight; they had come to burn the wheat. The arrows they loosed were not meant to kill the enemy, but to set fires.

Shanggui was the location of the military agricultural colonies established by the Cao Wei garrison. Endless expanses of wheat fields lay here, supplying not only the Wei garrison stationed west of the Long Mountains but also the citizens within the city. Zhuge Liang had chosen to launch his northern expedition through Mount Qi right before the autumn harvest precisely because of these wheat fields. When he arrived at Shanggui, the wheat was not yet ripe, and his arrival was so sudden that the Wei garrison had been utterly caught off guard. They had had no time to reap the harvest hastily, nor even to set fire to it in time, leaving the bounty entirely to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang had simultaneously dispatched troops to besiege the city and send out harvesters. Once these wheat fields were secured, he would gain at least half a year of buffer time, greatly easing the difficulties of transporting supplies from Hanzhong.

However, a turn of events soon arose. Guo Huai, the Inspector of Yongzhou who was trapped within Shanggui City, saw Zhuge Liang's men harvesting the wheat and immediately grasped his intention. He ordered the cavalry stranded outside the city to launch hit-and-run raids everywhere—not to attack personnel, but specifically to burn the wheat. He commanded over three thousand elite cavalrymen, divided into three units of a thousand each. They swept in and out like howling winds, making it impossible for the infantry-dominated Shu-Han army to guard against them everywhere. Zhuge Liang had no choice but to send the Ma Family Army to intercept them. Regrettably, the Ma Family Army consisted of only a single battalion, whereas the Wei cavalry had three, deploying in rotation. Before long, they had exhausted the Ma Family Army to the limit.

The consequence of this exhaustion was an inability to keep pace with the speed of the Wei cavalry, resulting in more and more wheat fields being set ablaze by the enemy. Prime Minister Zhuge's carefully laid plans were turning to ashes bit by bit amidst the flames.

The Prime Minister was furious. Ma Dai was anxious. Watching the fleeing Wei cavalry ahead, he wished he could grow wings on his ribs and fly over to wipe them out one by one. These swift, wind-like horsemen had driven him to his wits' end. Unfortunately, despite his towering rage, the warhorse beneath him grew increasingly sluggish. Several days of continuous pursuit had laid bare the fatal weakness of their aging mounts.

For the Ma Family Army, which had entered Shu more than a decade ago, the problem of aging horses had reached a point where it could no longer be ignored. Deprived of reinforcements from Liangzhou's warhorses, some of them were even forced to ride short, slow Shu or Dian horses. While these animals were passable for carrying cargo, upon the battlefield, when facing the Xiliang-dominated cavalry of Cao Wei, their true inadequacy was immediately exposed.

Watching the Wei cavalry escape further and further away, Ma Dai had no choice but to order a halt to the pursuit. He knew these enemy horsemen were not incapable of being cornered; rather, they were trying to lure him away so others could exploit the vacuum. Ma Dai had already suffered such bitter lessons and would not be fooled again. He could only watch helplessly as the Wei cavalry, having accomplished their mission, galloped off in triumph.

Behind him lay a devastated expanse of wheat fields and Shu soldiers frantically trying to extinguish the fires. Despite commanding an army of eighty thousand, Zhuge Liang found that once they were dispersed across the boundless agricultural colony, vulnerabilities were everywhere, impossible to defend completely. If troop numbers were small, they were prone to attacks by the Wei cavalry; if troop numbers were large, the points they could guard shrank drastically, leaving vast areas unattended. Facing the elusive Wei cavalry, they were exhausted and battered. As one wheat field after another was reduced to ashes, morale plummeted rapidly.

Ma Dai reined in his troops, gazed at the setting sun sinking into the west, and let out a silent sigh of relief. This grueling day was finally over.

He returned to the main camp outside Shanggui City to report his failure and await punishment from Prime Minister Zhuge.

Zhuge Liang stood before the main tent, watching the smoke and dust drifting away in the distance. His expression appeared somewhat haggard, yet he did not rebuke Ma Dai. Instead, he offered a few words of comfort: "How are the warhorse losses?"

"Not too many lost. Three horses are severely injured and likely beyond saving, while the rest are... merely fatigued."

"Your horses are indeed due for replacement. A fine warhorse arrived just yesterday; go find Adjutant Yang and select ten to make up for your losses."

Ma Dai was overjoyed; his bone-deep exhaustion instantly vanished. He bowed deeply, turned around with a beaming smile, and departed.

Zhuge Liang turned his attention toward the young Clerk of Merit, Jiang Wei: "Thus far, what is our total loss in wheat?"

Jiang Wei was a surrendered general, twenty-seven years of age, who had originally served as an official in the Yongzhou Inspector's Office. Because his father, Jiang Jiong, had died in the line of duty during Ma Chao's rebellion, Jiang Wei had been appointed as a Gentleman of the Palace and assigned to military affairs within his home commandery. When Ma Su marched his army out of Mount Qi, Jiang Wei was serving as a subordinate to Tianshui Administrator Ma Zun, accompanying Ma Zun on an inspection tour alongside Guo Huai. Upon learning of the Shu army's invasion, Guo Huai immediately fled into Shanggui City, and Ma Zun followed him inside. Jiang Wei had advised him, saying, "My Lord, you should return to Ji County and organize the defense of Tianshui Commandery." Not only did Ma Zun refuse to listen, but he also cursed Jiang Wei for harboring ulterior motives and abandoned them to flee alone. Left with no alternative, Jiang Wei returned to Ji County, where the panicked populace subsequently elected him to surrender to Zhuge Liang.

Following a conversation with Jiang Wei, Zhuge Liang had recognized him as an exceptional talent, appointing him as Clerk of Merit, bestowing upon him the rank of General Who Fosters Righteousness, and enfeoffing him as the Marquis of Dangyang. Such generous treatment left Jiang Wei profoundly grateful, and naturally, moved him to tears.

Jiang Wei spoke in a low voice: "Approximately one-third."

"Hasten the harvest. If we wait any longer, our losses will be even greater."

"Understood."

Zhuge Liang turned and walked back into the main tent. Seated at his desk, he picked up a military dispatch and prepared to read it, but then, recalling something else, he put the report down, gently tapped his forehead, and sighed: "To think that a mere three thousand cavalrymen could inflict such heavy losses upon us. This Guo Huai is truly no ordinary adversary."

"Prime Minister, the strength of cavalry lies in speed, making them ideally suited for harassment," Jiang Wei comforted him promptly upon seeing the Prime Minister's gloomy mood. "In a pitched battle, how could these three thousand horsemen ever match the Prime Minister's grand army? This wheat was planted by them in the first place; by burning it, Your Excellency merely suffers a slightly smaller yield—are they not also suffering heavy losses themselves? Once the harvest is complete, Your Excellency can focus entirely on besieging the city. Surely these three thousand horsemen cannot burn Shanggui to the ground?"

Zhuge Liang chuckled: "Boyue speaks truly. I have simply been plagued by these horsemen for days, which somewhat unsettled my mind."

"The anxiety of gain and loss is human nature; Your Excellency need not take it to heart," Jiang Wei replied deferentially.

Zhuge Liang smiled faintly, about to speak further, when Fei Yi strode into the tent. "Prime Minister, Youchang has returned victorious."

Zhuge Liang’s face lit up with joy, and he instinctively rose to his feet: "Youchang is back? Where is he?"

"Yes. He has captured Xiangwu City, and Longxi Administrator You Chu surrendered without a fight. At present, he is setting up camp; once settled, he will come to pay respects to the Prime Minister."

"When Youchang goes to war, success is naturally within his grasp." Zhuge Liang stroked his beard and laughed: "I must go out to welcome him."

Fei Yi smiled silently. Jiang Wei, however, was immensely surprised. For the Prime Minister to personally go out to greet him showed just how vital this Ma Su was in his estimation.

Before long, Ma Su arrived at the main camp accompanied by several personal guards, seeing Zhuge Liang standing at the entrance to welcome him. Ma Su hurried forward, bowing deeply: "Thanks to fortune, Ma Su has not failed his mission, and has come specifically to report our victory to the Prime Minister."

Zhuge Liang burst into hearty laughter, taking Ma Su by the arm as they entered the tent. Once seated, while having wine served, Zhuge Liang asked: "Youchang, quickly recount the course of the battle for me. Why did You Chu stubbornly refuse to surrender earlier, yet now he has become Yourchang's captive?"

You Chu was the Administrator of Longxi. When Zhuge Liang's army marched out of Mount Qi, Tianshui was the first to surrender at the mere sight of the banner. Nan'an and Anding followed suit in succession. Yet Longxi, as one of the three commanderies of Yongzhou in Longyou, stubbornly refused to submit. He had told General Li Sheng, who went to summon him to surrender: "You occupy Longyou, but the imperial court's reinforcements will arrive in twenty days at most. If you have the ability to sever the Long Mountains and prevent the court's reinforcements from crossing them for even a single month, then after one month, I will surrender the entire city. Until then, I beg your forgiveness for being unable to comply."

How could Li Sheng afford to wait a month? He launched a fierce assault, only to find that the city's populace deeply revered You Chu and mounted the walls to defend it together. After attacking for several days with heavy losses and no achievements to show for it, Li Sheng had to return empty-handed. Upon receiving this report, Zhuge Liang ordered Ma Su to personally lead the attack on the city. Longxi lay on the left flank of the main army; unless Longxi was conquered, he could not push deep into Jincheng and would ultimately be halted at Tianshui Commandery.

Now, living up to expectations, Ma Su had captured Xiangwu, bringing Longxi Commandery into their grasp and eliminating the threat to the army's left flank. Next, once Shanggui City was subdued, he could advance in great strides, pointing the sharp edge of his forces directly toward Liangzhou.

"You Chu failed to comprehend the grand righteousness, attempting with mere petty cleverness to resist the righteous army of the Prime Minister. How could he not be defeated?" Ma Su casually summarized the campaign before changing the subject: "Prime Minister, has any news come from Guanzhong?"

Zhuge Liang drew a military dispatch from his desk, handed it to Ma Su, and simultaneously asked Jiang Wei: "Boyue, are you acquainted with this You Chu?"

Jiang Wei replied: "I have met him once. He is a native of Zuofengyi, and his father You Yin served as a Merit Officer of the Commandery, having once patronized the former Liangzhou Administrator Zhang Ji, thus securing his official career."

"What is his talent like?"

"Of mediocre caliber."

Zhuge Liang nodded: "If he possesses mediocre caliber, he is still a man who can be employed. Can Boyue persuade him to surrender on my behalf?"

Jiang Wei surveyed the situation within the tent, hesitated for a moment, and said: "I dare not disobey."

Once Jiang Wei stepped out of the main tent, Ma Su laid down the military report in his hand, the smile on his face vanishing entirely. His dark eyebrows knitted slightly: "Deng Zhi is truly muddled. A man who understands the Mandate of Heaven has actually allowed himself to be deceived by a mere child."

Zhuge Liang also收敛 (withdrew) his smile. "Deceived? Not necessarily. It is merely a matter of taking expedient measures due to urgent circumstances. Youchang, what worries me is not Deng Zhi; what worries me is Wei Ba."

Ma Su said: "Does the Prime Minister suspect that this matter was instigated by Wei Ba?"

Zhuge Liang did not answer; he merely let out a sigh.

Ma Su drew in a sharp breath, speaking only after a long pause: "Prime Minister, are you not perhaps worrying excessively?"

"I also hope I am worrying excessively. However, Wei Ba possesses a keen mind; perhaps he sensed something from our altered plans, and furthermore..." Zhuge Liang hesitated for a moment, leaving the rest unsaid. He looked at Ma Su, the expression of worry between his brows impossible to conceal.

Ma Su pondered aloud: "The Prime Minister fears that he might take desperate measures and use this opportunity of guarding Guanzhong to build up his own autonomous military power?"

Zhuge Liang nodded.

Ma Su fell silent for a long time, a sharp flash crossing his eyes. "Heaven may forgive the calamities it sends, but man brings doom upon himself. If that is truly what he thinks, his crime is unforgivable. Without the support of the Prime Minister's grand army, with merely these newly levied recruits he has gathered, it is utterly impossible for him to hold Guanzhong."

Zhuge Liang shook his head with regret: "It is simply a pity that such a rare and hard-to-come-by talent should come to this."

"Prime Minister, it is precisely because he has talent that he is all the more dangerous," Ma Su advised. "A supreme physician treats illness before it manifests; a statesman governing a country should do likewise."

Zhuge Liang let out a long, heavy sigh.

(To be continued)