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墨書 Inktalez
I noticed a slight change in Zhuge Liang's expression; his brows furrowed as if he was puzzled by my words about "equality for all." Shen Yi, standing beside me, immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute, saying, "Prime Minister, every word we speak is true. We come from a thousand years in the future and have a profound understanding of the course of history due to this fortuitous encounter."
Zhuge Liang remained silent for a moment, shifting his gaze from me to Shen Yi, with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. "A thousand years in the future? Equality for all? This is indeed unheard of. Then tell me, what year and month is it now, and what is the state of the world?"
Shen Yi replied with composure and clarity, "It is the sixth year of Jianxing in Shu Han, and Prime Minister, you are currently engaged in the first Northern Expedition. The world is divided into three factions: Wei, Shu, and Wu stand as a tripod. Wei occupies the Central Plains and is the most powerful; our Shu Han is situated in the southwest with limited strength. This Northern Expedition is indeed a crucial step towards reviving the Han Dynasty."
Upon hearing "Northern Expedition," General Wei Yan, who stood behind Zhuge Liang, stepped forward with an urgent tone. "Prime Minister, since these people claim to come from the future, do they know whether our army will succeed in this Northern Expedition?"
I noticed that Zhuge Liang did not stop Wei Yan's inquiry; instead, he looked at us with great interest, seemingly eager to hear our answer. I thought to myself that this was indeed a key moment for us to gain Zhuge Liang's trust.
Shen Yi pondered for a moment, scanning the crowd within the tent before finally resting his gaze on Zhuge Liang. He slowly began to speak: "Prime Minister, you strategize and decide victories from afar; we are merely scholars and dare not rashly comment on military affairs. However, we are well-versed in historical texts and understand the course of history..."
He paused deliberately and lowered his voice to create an air of mystery. "This Northern Expedition marks the beginning of Shu Han's campaign against Cao Wei but is fraught with peril. If the Prime Minister can recruit talented individuals widely and employ ingenious strategies, perhaps it could turn the tide and rewrite history."
Shen Yi's words seemed cautious but were laden with implications. He neither directly stated the outcome of the Northern Expedition nor dismissed its potential for success while highlighting our ability to "foresee the future," successfully piquing Zhuge Liang's curiosity.
Indeed, after hearing Shen Yi's words, Zhuge Liang did not show any displeasure; instead, he stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Oh? From your tone, it seems you have insights into my strategies for the Northern Expedition. In that case, I would like to test you; do you dare to take on this challenge?"
Shen Yi and I exchanged glances, both understanding that Zhuge Liang intended to put us to the test.
"Please go ahead, Prime Minister," Shen Yi said as he cupped his hands again.
Zhuge Liang stood up and walked to a large map, pointing to a valley on it, saying, "This place is called Jieting, and it is a crucial route for our Northern Expedition. If the Wei Army sets an ambush here, how should our army respond?"
This question seemed simple but was actually fraught with danger. Jieting had a treacherous terrain that was easy to defend but difficult to attack. Historically, Zhuge Liang's first Northern Expedition failed because Ma Su lost Jieting.
The tent fell silent, and everyone turned their gaze towards us, filled with curiosity, skepticism, and anticipation.
I took a deep breath, knowing the moment of testing had arrived.
Just as I was about to speak, Shen Yi discreetly tugged at my sleeve. He stepped forward and answered respectfully yet confidently, "What the Chancellor worries about is indeed valid. The terrain of Jieting is perilous and a place that must be contested by military strategists. If the Wei Army sets an ambush here, our army must respond cautiously to turn danger into safety."
Zhuge Liang nodded slightly, signaling Shen Yi to continue.
Shen Yi approached the map and pointed to a valley near Jieting, saying, "In my humble opinion, if I were the commander of the Wei Army, I would definitely set an ambush here. This place is called the Junction; its terrain is narrow and easy to defend but hard to attack. If our army passes through here, we will surely be ambushed."
He paused for a moment and then pointed to an open area west of Jieting, continuing, "However, this open area west of Jieting appears flat but actually hides dangers. The Wei Army is likely to set up decoy troops here to lure our army in deeper and then launch a pincer attack from both sides to capture our forces entirely."
Shen Yi's analysis was incisive; he explained the terrain around Jieting and its strategic significance thoroughly, earning the admiration of everyone in the tent. Even the usually self-assured General Wei Yan cast him an approving glance.
After listening to Shen Yi's analysis, Zhuge Liang showed a pleased smile and stroked his beard in admiration, saying, "Indeed! Your analysis is very reasonable. It seems you are not ordinary individuals; you truly have considerable knowledge of military affairs."
I noticed that Zhuge Liang's expression still carried a hint of scrutiny, clearly indicating his skepticism about our claim of "foreseeing the future."
Shen Yi naturally sensed Zhuge Liang's thoughts. After a brief pause, he suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Prime Minister, may I be so bold as to ask if you have heard of 'The Strategy of Ziwugu'?"
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