The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Chapter 228: The Final Battle (1)

Smoke billowed from the Wei army camp, carrying with it a rich aroma of food that drifted towards the Han army camp.

The Han generals, spurred by the aroma, rushed to the commander's tent to discuss matters. Only after they had all gone inside did Zhuge Liang, who was standing outside the tent, turn away from the Wei army camp and enter the tent.

Zhuge Liang stepped through the human wall formed by the generals, walked up to Liu Bei, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, everyone is here. We can begin."

This battle was the most crucial one in the Northern Expedition, and it directly affected the future of the Han Dynasty. If they won, the restoration of the Han Dynasty would be possible; if they lost, Liu Bei would have no choice but to retreat to Bashu and await his death.

In other words, the outcome of this battle would determine whether Liu Bei could stay at the mahjong table, so Liu Bei was so nervous that his heart was pounding in his throat.

But who was Liu Bei? After years of fighting, he was able to remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him, and he would not show the slightest tension on his face.

Upon hearing Zhuge Liang's report, Liu Bei stood up and smiled with a relaxed expression, "We've finally waited for this day. Now we have the Wei army blocked at Baliwan Pass, and my third brother has also broken out of Jieting to cut off Zhang He's retreat. No matter how you look at it, the advantage is on our side. So, strategist, you don't need to worry, just give the order."

They had always done this before, so Zhuge Liang didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded to Liu Bei, turned around, and waved his fan at the generals, saying, "The Wei army has been driven to a dead end by us. They have no choice but to fight to the death. But even a cornered beast will fight. There are ways to fight to the death. The most common way is to burn the boats. So I guess the Wei army will burn their food after they finish eating."

No sooner had the words been spoken than the messenger lifted the tent flap and rushed into the commander's tent, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, strategist, something terrible has happened! A large area of ​​fire has suddenly broken out in the Wei army camp, and we don't know what it's burning."

Is there even a question? They're definitely burning grain.

The generals seemed to have heard something trivial, and all calmly awaited Zhuge Liang's order.

Zhuge Liang waved his fan to dismiss the messenger and continued, "After burning the supplies, it's time for pre-battle mobilization. Chen Ji and Feng Xi, you two return to the army immediately. Once the battle begins here, lead your troops around to Baliwan and charge into the Wei army camp, then attack from behind."

Before leaving Shehu Valley that day, Zhuge Liang summoned Cheng Ji, Feng Xi, and Zhang Nan, who were stationed along the Xiangwu-Xuandao line in Zhang County, back to the camp. However, the three men's armies did not come to join Zhuge Liang. Instead, they were hidden in the mountains to the southwest by Zhuge Liang and led by Zhang Nan. Cheng Ji and Feng Xi came to the camp for a meeting.

Once the decisive battle begins, this large army can be used as a surprise attack to flank the enemy. The greatest effect of a surprise attack is not to annihilate the enemy, but to damage the enemy's morale.

Imagine you are fighting a fierce battle with the enemy in front of you, and suddenly an enemy soldier appears from behind you and attacks you. Would you panic?

Cheng Ji and Feng Xi bowed simultaneously and said, "Yes..."

Zhuge Liang continued, "The art of war says, 'One should strike while the iron is hot, but the second will be weaker and the third will be exhausted.' Since the Wei army has chosen to burn their boats, their morale must be at its highest when they first leave their camp and charge towards us."

“Note that I said the highest. Once the battle is thwarted and the advantage cannot be quickly gained, the morale of the Wei army will melt away as quickly as ice and snow in the spring.”

"Therefore, my plan is to defend and counterattack. First, hold the main camp and withstand the Wei army's fierce attack. Once the Wei army has been unable to break through for a long time and their morale begins to decline, then we will launch a counterattack. Now I give the order..."

The generals immediately clasped their hands and bowed.

Zhuge Liang said in an unprecedentedly stern tone: "Wu Ban and Huo Yi will guard the North Gate, Liao Chun and Fu Tong will guard the East Gate, Fu Kuang and Zhao Rong will guard the South Gate, Gao Xiang and Yang Qun will guard the West Gate, Chen Dao and Fan Zhou will serve as mobile forces to support each gate at any time, and Guan Ping will serve as a reserve force to prevent attacks from Wei troops in Ji County."

"This battle concerns the fate of the nation. Before we receive the order to retreat, everyone must hold their ground and fight to the death. Anyone who dares to retreat will be executed."

The generals shouted in unison, "Yes, sir..."

Zhang Bao asked urgently, "Strategist, what am I doing?"

Everyone else received their tasks, but he was left out, which Zhang Bao couldn't bear.

Zhuge Liang said, "In a war between two armies, the best strategy is to win hearts and minds. You have two tasks. During the defense period, lead your troops to shout to the Wei army, telling them that they have more than one option: to fight to the death. If they don't want to die, they can surrender. Moreover, the king is benevolent and will not make things difficult for surrendered soldiers. Tell them not to have any reservations when they surrender."

Zhang Bao asked in astonishment, "What? You all use your hands, but I have to use my mouth?"

Zhuge Liang said, "You have a loud voice, and no one is more suitable for this task than you. Don't worry, you will be the vanguard after the counterattack begins, and you will have your chance to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions."

Zhang Bao was finally relieved and bowed with a beaming smile, saying, "Yes..."

Zhuge Liang continued, "In the current situation, the enemy and our side will have two different thoughts. The Wei army thinks that since they have no way out anyway, they might as well fight to the death. Killing one is enough, killing two is a bonus. As for you..."

"I bet many of you are thinking, since the Wei army is doomed to lose, why fight so hard? What if you win but are killed or wounded? Wouldn't that be a huge loss? Am I right?"

The generals exchanged strange glances; they really did think so.

Zhuge Liang, his face grim, rebuked in an unprecedentedly stern tone: "In battle, morale is paramount. You are all veterans who have fought for many years, and you should understand better than I do the importance of morale and the fighting power that an army with a death wish can unleash. Now, Zhang He and Sima Yi want to be like Xiang Yu who burned his boats, do you want to be like Zhang Han and Wang Li who were defeated at Julu? Tell me, do you want to be like them?"

The last sentence was shouted out. The generals never expected that the usually amiable Zhuge Liang would reprimand them in such a stern tone. They were all terrified and fell silent, replying in trembling voices, "We don't want to."

Zhuge Liang continued, "Since you don't want to, then put away your little schemes, and tell your subordinates to put away those schemes as well. Tell them that today there are only two paths: victory or death. No one, including myself, has a third option. If we are defeated, I, Zhuge Liang, will be the first to rush forward and perish together with the enemy. Do you all understand?"

The generals, their legs trembling, bowed and said, "Yes..."

Zhuge Liang waved his hand and said, "Go and prepare. We'll talk about the rest after the battle is over."

The generals bowed and took their leave, departing from the command tent to return to their camp and begin preparations.

Meanwhile, the Wei army was also conducting its final pre-battle mobilization.

After Zhang He and his soldiers had eaten and drunk their fill, he held up a torch and personally lit the provisions. He ran to the hillside, turned his back to the flames, and roared, "Soldiers, brothers, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun have already seized Jieting, cutting off our retreat. We can't go back. The only way to get back is to defeat Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang ahead of you, then head to Shanggui, enter the Chencang Pass, and retreat along the Wei River into Chencang. Do you understand?"

Sima Yi shouted through the crowd, "Understood, understood..."

Zhang He continued to roar, "The damned Shu army has driven us to a dead end. The Shu army wants us dead. Tell me, are you willing to be killed by the Shu army?"

Sima Yi led his men in shouting again, "We don't want to, we don't want to..."

Influenced by him, the other soldiers shouted in unison, "No, no..."

After Zhang He and his soldiers finished shouting, they continued to roar: "Then let's fight to the death to destroy the Shu army, and then return to Guanzhong to reunite with your parents, wives and children. Fight the Shu army to go home!"

Given the current situation, after discussing with Sima Yi, Zhang He changed the Wei army's slogan to "Go home." This would prevent the Wei army from surrendering as much as possible, since Liu Bei would not let them go home if they surrendered to the Shu army.

This tactic proved effective; the words "go home" spurred the Wei soldiers to tears, and they roared once more, "Go home...go home..."

Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhang He pointed his gun at the Shu army camp and roared, "Brothers, follow me and attack!"