Chapter 1

### Longshang.

Tazhong, west of Wudu, north of Yiping, is nestled between the Min Mountains and the Die Mountains, a valley formed by the White Dragon River, a tributary of the Han River, as it rushes through the mountains.

Surrounded by high mountains, mist rises from the river valley, and the slopes are covered with low shrubs and gradually sparse meadows. The mild climate, warm in winter and cool in summer, has made Tazhong a paradise known to the Qiang and Han people.

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

Deng Ai led 30,000 troops from Dihao to Gansong and Tazhong, directly attacking Jiang Wei; Zhuge Xu led 30,000 troops from Qishan to Wujie and Yiping Bridge, attempting to cut off Jiang Wei's retreat; and Zhong Hui led the main force of 100,000 troops, divided into two routes from Xiegu and Luogu, advancing to Hanzhong.

Compared to the numerous and well-equipped Wei army, the Shu army had only Jiang Wei as a capable general, and Jiang Wei was not trusted by Liu Chan. The Shu army in Tazhong had only 45,000 troops.

The Shu army had been on continuous northern campaigns, and the troops were exhausted and could not sustain prolonged battles. Defending against Deng Ai alone was already difficult, let alone the three major armies.

In desperation, Jiang Wei decided to leave his chief of staff, Zhao Guang, to hold the rear, while he led the main force, including Liao Hua, Zhang Yi, and Dong Que, along the White Dragon River to defend the last gateway of Shu Han—Jian Gate.

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### Qiangchuan Pass.

The last pass from Tazhong to Yiping, Zhao Guang's 5,000 Shu troops had been holding the position for three days. The stone gate, carefully constructed by Jiang Wei, was gradually falling into Wei hands.

Deng Ai's western Wei army, divided and then reunited, was led by the brave Deng Zhong, along with the Tianshui Governor Wang Qi, Longxi Governor Qian Hong, and Jincheng Governor Yang Xin. The Wei army was well-equipped, while the Shu army was weak, with only a few officers like Zhao Guang, the chief clerk Chen Shou, and the military officers Ma Cheng and Liu Lin.

Zhao Guang, styled Yuanzhong, was the second son of the former General of the Army, Yongchang Pavilion Marquis Zhao Yun (posthumously honored as Shunping Marquis).

Compared to the famous General Zhao Yun, Zhao Guang was less renowned and held a lower position.

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

Additionally, by the time Zhao Guang came of age, many of the old friends who had followed Liu Bei and were close to Zhao Yun had already passed away. The Shu Han rulers, Fei Yi and Chen Zhi, were mostly from Jingzhou and were civil officials who were wary of the descendants of military officers, fearing the emergence of another Guan Yu or Zhang Fei.

This was not just the case for Zhao Guang; the descendants of Ma Chao and Chen Dao were also sidelined. Even worse was Wei Yan, a highly regarded Shu general by Liu Bei, who was falsely accused of rebellion by the Chancellor's chief of staff and long-time aide Yang Yi and was executed with his entire family.

It was not until the Jianxing and Jingyao eras that, due to various reasons, the mid-ranking Shu generals like Wei Yan, Wang Ping, and Gou Fu were no longer around, and the younger generation, including Zhao Guang, were promoted under Jiang Wei's support.

A chief of staff is a general who leads the charge and holds the line to the death.

Famous Shu generals like Wang Ping and Zhang Yi both started as chief of staff. As the Shu Han generals dwindled, especially with the second generation of Guan Xing and Zhang Bao no longer around, even Liao Hua could become a general. In the final moments, Jiang Wei, looking for loyal and capable officers, appointed Zhao Guang as chief of staff, valuing his loyalty and martial skills.

### Intense Battles.

Outside the stone walls, the Wei army's flags covered the sky, and the soldiers were preparing their weapons and cooking meals, ready to attack again after a full meal when the sky brightened.

Inside the stone walls, Shu soldiers were lining up. Continuous battles and a significant numerical disadvantage left them no time to rest, and their ranks were disorganized. However, these Shu soldiers were elite troops, and under the commands of their officers, their morale remained high.

Zhao Guang, his battle robe stained with blood, held the Dragon胆 Bright Silver Spear and rode a tall white horse. His face was stern, his posture upright, and his features bore a resemblance to his father Zhao Yun. His heroic aura was on par with the young Zhao Yun, who was known for his white horse and silver spear.

### Facing Death in Battle.

Zhao Guang's fate, recorded in Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, is summed up in four words: "died in battle." In the final moments of Shu Han, Zhao Guang, Fu Qian, Huang Chong, and Li Qiu, lesser-known second and third-generation generals, demonstrated loyalty with their lives.

The White Dragon River flowed ceaselessly, its natural force and speed mesmerizing. The river's rapids and the battle between Wei and Shu on the banks were a testament to the power of nature and human conflict.

Zhao Guang rode out, leading his troops. The fatigue from days of intense battles and the joy of newfound strength intertwined, and his body, which had been worn down, unexpectedly felt rejuvenated.

A gold exploration specialist from the future, with the same name, had mysteriously entered this world. After merging memories, Zhao Guang discovered he had gained unique abilities. In his mind, a panel similar to the character attributes in the Records of the Three Kingdoms appeared.

**Name: Zhao Guang**

**Health: 24 (age is fictional, adjusted for the story, do not verify)**

**Martial Skills: 80 (out of 100, 80 is above average for a mid-ranking general, can improve over time)**

**Talent: 30 (average talent is 20, Zhao Guang's original talent was not outstanding, but after merging, he gained knowledge from a geological and mining university, making him a top student)**

**Skills: 3 (spear skills, map skills, mining skills)**

**Spear Skills: Level 7 (10 levels total, 1-3 beginner, 4-6 intermediate, 7-9 advanced, 10 perfect; Zhao Guang's spear skills were originally intermediate, but the穿越福利 (穿越福利 means "穿越福利" or "穿越福利" in Chinese, which can be translated as "穿越福利" or "穿越福利" in English, but in this context, it means "穿越福利" or "穿越福利") improved them to advanced)**

**Map Skills: Level 3 (time, place, and people, the three elements of the battlefield; Zhao Guang, having fought in Tazhong for a long time, was familiar with the terrain of Wudu and Yiping)**

**Mining Skills: Level 2 (mainly from the scattered memories of the future gold exploration team, but the landscape has changed over time)**

Zhao Guang was not yet clear about the use of mining skills, but the improvement in his spear skills was real.

During the intense battles of the previous day, Zhao Guang broke through in combat. His long-practiced spear skills suddenly became more fluid, and he continuously defeated Wei army officers and leaders.

"Father!" Zhao Guang was moved, realizing that his improved martial skills were not due to Zhao Tong's lack of effort but his own limited talent.

Now, with the wisdom, experiences, and memories of two lifetimes, Zhao Guang had a new understanding of the spear skills he had learned, which was the reason for his breakthrough in battle.

His father, Zhao Yun, was a hero who had charged seven times into the enemy at Changban, causing the Cao army to retreat in disarray and making the warlord Cao Cao exclaim that Liu Bei was fortunate.

Now, in Tazhong, the frustration of long-term neglect, the peril of being surrounded, and the trust of his troops made Zhao Guang's heart burn with passion. Even if the Wei army had thousands of troops, how could they compare to his father, who had single-handedly rescued A Dou?

"Qiang and Han warriors, follow me into battle!" After the troops were lined up, Zhao Guang's fighting spirit was intense, and he led the charge.

In a situation where the enemy was strong and the Shu army was weak, morale was crucial. With the improvement in his spear skills and his familiarity with the terrain, Zhao Guang did not want to remain in the stone walls. Only by震慑 (震慑 means "intimidate" or "awe" in English) the Wei army could he complete the rear-guard mission given by Grand General Jiang Wei.

The stone gate opened, and over 500 Qiang warriors, led by the military officer Ma Cheng, followed Zhao Guang out. The cavalry moved swiftly, and Ma Cheng, like Zhao Guang, was the son of a famous general, Ma Chao, but as a younger son, he had limited opportunities in an era where the eldest son inherited titles and wealth.

In terms of personnel, both Zhuge Liang and Liu Chan were overly conservative, focusing on factions and backgrounds, leaving capable officers like Luo Xian and Huo Yi underutilized. Instead, incompetent officials like Zhuge Zhan, Huang Hao, and Yan Yu held high positions. In this regard, Emperor Liu Bei had a more discerning eye for talent.

The Ma family had high prestige among the Qiang people, and in the military, Ma Cheng found his place. More importantly, the pastures in Tazhong had long been under Qiang control, but now they were granted to the Tuoba Xianbei by Sima Zhao.

Thus, Deng Ai's 30,000 troops were not all from Guanzhong but included the Tuoba Xianbei, who, with Wei's support, defeated the Qiang in the Xihai region (Qinghai Lake) and seized the most fertile pastures in Longshang.

The Qiang people, who had lived in Longyou and Haixi since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, practiced a semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral lifestyle. Under the slave system, Qiang tribes would sometimes support Shu Han and sometimes support Cao Wei, depending on which side offered more benefits, a valuable lesson passed down by their ancestors.

The Qiang people's agricultural techniques were still primitive, and the advanced farming methods of the Han people were like a foreign language to them. By nature, they preferred the freedom of herding cattle and sheep.

The Han people were an agricultural civilization and had little desire for pastures, while the Xianbei and Qiang people, who lived by herding, saw the struggle for pastures as a matter of survival.

Wei scouts saw the Shu cavalry charging out and quickly reported back to the camp. The Wei soldiers, shouting, prepared to meet the enemy. A group of Tuoba Xianbei soldiers, with braided hair, bare-chested, and riding bareback, quickly advanced to engage.

The Tuoba Xianbei, a branch of the Xianbei in the Hexi region, were descendants of Tuoba Pigu, who, after losing a leadership contest with his younger brother Tuoba Limi, led his tribe westward. When Deng Ai was the General of the West, he brought in tens of thousands of Tuoba Xianbei to the Hexi, Yong, and Liang regions to resist the Qiang and Shu Han forces.

Tazhong's fertile land and year-round pastures were a coveted prize for the Tuoba Xianbei, who were eager to engage the Shu cavalry.

From the perspective of inviting wolves into the fold and causing chaos, Deng Ai's overall strategy was limited, and his long-term vision was lacking. He was a capable general but not a strategic leader. Although he achieved the conquest of Shu, he also left a long-term problem for the Jin dynasty, as the Tuoba Xianbei rose to power and defeated Jin generals like Hu Lie and Su Yu, leading to the fall of Longxi to the Xianbei.

The climax of the Tazhong battle was ignited by the reborn Zhao Guang and the ambitious Tuoba Shujineng.

(Note: The characters are based on the Records of the Three Kingdoms and the Book of Jin, with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms providing additional details and appropriate adaptations.)