Chapter 186: Withdrawing West To Yiling
Liu Bei never intended to capture Xiangyang City at all. He was just putting on a show, luring Liu Qi’s army to Xiangyang, then having Zhuge Liang take over Jiangling, preparing to withdraw west to Ba Commandery and Bashu.
Everything proceeded according to the plan Zhuge Liang had arranged in advance. Even the timing of Cao Cao’s army arrival was within Zhuge Liang’s expectations.
Of course, Liu Bei’s army at Xiangyang was not entirely bluffing. He seized all the military ships in Xiangyang and sent them to Jiangling, preparing to use them to transport grain and supplies.
At this time, Liu Qi found him. “Second Uncle, what’s the situation? Why withdraw south?”
Liu Bei sighed and said, “Cao Cao’s army is coming, already reaching the north bank of the Han River. They will probably cross the river tomorrow. If we don’t withdraw now, it will be too late.”
Liu Qi’s face changed drastically. He had never imagined Cao Cao would come.
“Then Nanyang Commandery—”
Liu Bei nodded. “Nanyang Commandery has already fallen. The enemy has an army of 100,000; it was impossible to hold them off. I originally planned to tell you in a day or two, but I didn’t expect the Cao Army to arrive so quickly.”
“An army of 100,000!” Terror appeared in Liu Qi’s eyes.
Liu Bei sighed. “Actually, it’s more than 100,000. There are also 50,000 troops inside Xiangyang City. If I’m not mistaken, Military Advisor Cai has already surrendered to Cao Cao, which is why Cao Cao’s army arrived so precisely. We are facing an army of 150,000.”
“Then we… what should we do?” Liu Qi’s voice trembled.
Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said, “We considered several plans. If we can take Xiangyang, we will hold Xiangyang and confront Cao Cao—that’s the best strategy, the optimal outcome. But if we can’t take Xiangyang, we can only retreat to Jiangling and defend from there…”
“Jiangling won’t work!”
Liu Qi blurted out, “Jiangling would force us into a desperate battle with our backs to the river, not defending the city with our backs to the river. That way, we will eventually starve to death when grain runs out.”
“The mid-tier strategy of defending Jiangling was my proposal, but the strategist opposed it. He shares your view: without external support, we will eventually starve to death.”
“What about the worst strategy?” Liu Qi was nearly desperate.
Liu Bei glanced at him and smiled. “Young Master, you don’t need to be so despairing. You could surrender to Cao Cao and live as a wealthy man without issue!”
“How could I surrender to that usurping traitor Cao Cao? Wouldn’t that bring shame to my ancestors?”
Liu Bei nodded. “That’s what I thought too, so we drafted the worst strategy: withdraw from Nan Commandery!”
Liu Qi’s eyes lit up. “We can cross the river to Wuling Commandery!”
Liu Bei shook his head. “Wuling Commandery is all mountains, with sparse population and thin farmland. It can’t sustain our tens of thousands of troops. We plan to first withdraw to Yiling County. If Cao Cao doesn’t pursue us, we will use Yiling County as our base and seek an opportunity to counterattack Cao Cao.”
Liu Qi suddenly thought of something. “Second Uncle, we can withdraw to Ba Commandery and Bashu! Once we reach Yiling, we can directly take the Three Gorges Path into Ba Commandery and Bashu. Wouldn’t that be better?”
Liu Bei played hard to get, sighed, and said, “How could Liu Zhang of Ba Commandery and Bashu possibly allow us to enter Shu? It’s too difficult.”
“It’s actually not difficult!”
Liu Qi said excitedly, “My father long ago said that Liu Zhang is weak and lacks popular support. He fundamentally lacks the virtue to hold Ba Commandery and Bashu, and Ba Commandery and Bashu will inevitably be lost sooner or later. But Second Uncle, your benevolence and righteousness are renowned throughout the world. The scholars and commoners of Ba Commandery and Bashu will surely welcome you into Shu with gongs and drums, to establish the Great Han’s Jianye in Ba Commandery and Bashu. Second Uncle, this is an opportunity!”
Although Liu Bei’s face was as thick as a city wall and his heart was cunning, Liu Qi’s sincere words still made him feel a bit ashamed. He nodded. “I don’t know either. We can only take it step by step. Let’s first withdraw to Jiangling and then discuss with the strategist!”
Liu Bei led 60,000 troops in a rapid southward advance, withdrawing toward Jiangling County.
The next morning, Cao Ren’s army of 100,000 crossed the Han River and arrived under Xiangyang City. Liu Cong led the officials out to surrender to the Cao Army.
Cao Ren politely accepted the surrender, comforted Liu Cong well, and then ordered Deputy General Zhang Liao to take over the enemy’s army. The 50,000 troops all surrendered to the Cao Army.
After hearing Military Advisor Cai’s report, Cao Ren frowned. “Military Advisor Cai, why only 50,000 troops?”
Military Advisor Cai sighed and said, “They were all worn down by Liu Biao. Originally there were over 200,000 troops. Huang Zu took away 100,000, leaving 150,000. The battle in Changsha Commandery lost 30,000, the battle in Jiangxia Commandery lost 20,000, then Liu Bei took 20,000, Liu Qi took 30,000, and finally only 50,000 troops remained.”
“What about the ships? Where are Jingzhou’s warships?”
Military Advisor Cai didn’t dare tell the truth and vaguely said, “The warships are all concentrated in Jiangling.”
Cao Ren was about to flare up but held back, saying coldly, “You are Jingzhou’s strategist, and you didn’t leave a single ship for the Chancellor. You figure out how to explain it to the Chancellor yourself!”
Cao Ren turned and stormed off angrily. Military Advisor Cai was truly embarrassed and hurriedly chased after him, explaining, “In the battle in Changsha Commandery, we lost almost all our warships.”
Three days later, Cao Ren left 20,000 troops under Yu Jin’s command, stationed in Xiangyang. He personally led 130,000 troops and tens of thousands of grain wagons, marching grandly toward Jiangling.
This was Cao Cao’s repeated instruction to Cao Ren: seizing Jingzhou was secondary; annihilating Liu Bei was paramount. No matter where Liu Bei fled, Cao Ren must pursue and exterminate him completely.
In Jiangling, Liu Bei led 60,000 troops to begin withdrawing west. They originally had nearly 90,000 troops. Liu Bei reorganized the army, removing those with families in Jingzhou who truly refused to go to Ba Commandery and Bashu, ending up with 60,000 troops.
These 60,000 troops were all willing to follow Imperial Uncle Liu to Ba Commandery and Bashu. Of course, Liu Bei also promised that once they were established in Ba Commandery and Bashu, he would bring all the officers and soldiers’ families to Ba Commandery and Bashu to share in the prosperity.
But through this reorganization, Liu Bei cleverly disbanded Liu Qi’s troops and incorporated them into his own army. Liu Qi was appointed Chief Clerk, becoming the third-in-command in Liu Bei’s army. Liu Qi was quite satisfied himself, and there was also Liu Xin, who swore loyalty to Liu Bei and became a great general under Liu Bei.
Liu Bei did not get Zhao Yun or Huang Zhong, but he got Wen Pin and Liu Xin—a case of losing in the east but gaining in the mulberry grove.
The 60,000 troops split into water and land routes. Over a thousand ships of various types, fully loaded with large amounts of grain, supplies, and 10,000 guard troops, proceeded along the Yangtze River waterway under Wen Pin’s command. Liu Bei personally led 50,000 troops by the land route. The two forces marched grandly toward Yiling County.
Nan Commandery is vast in territory. Not only does Yiling County belong to Nan Commandery, but most of the Three Gorges Path also belongs to Nan Commandery, up to Yufu County, which belongs to Ba Commandery. Yufu County is also Fengjie County.
The county magistrate of Yiling County, seeing Eldest Son Liu Qi arrive, immediately came out of the city to surrender.
According to the previously discussed plan, Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu led 20,000 troops to garrison Yiling County, blocking Cao Ren’s army pursuit and protecting Liu Bei’s army as it moved west.
Yiling County’s strategic position is extremely important. It precisely cuts off the western official road. To pursue Liu Bei’s army, they must first take Yiling County.
But taking Yiling County is easier said than done. This strategic city is easy to defend and hard to attack. This is also the strategic foothold Liu Bei absolutely did not want to abandon. Holding Yiling County meant he still had a wedge in Nan Commandery.
Three days later, Cao Ren’s army caught up to Yiling County.
