Three Kingdoms

Chapter 39
After Zhuge Liang frightened Sima Yi's 15 troops away with the empty city strategy, he was relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.The officials around were too scared to make a sound.As soon as the Wei army retreated, they all smiled and asked: "The prime minister is really a god! Sima Yi is a famous general in the state of Wei. He personally led 15 elite soldiers to the west city. As soon as he saw the prime minister in the west city, he immediately ordered the troops to retreat. Why?" Zhuge Liang Said: "Sima Yi knows that I have been very cautious all my life, and I will not fight uncertain battles. When he saw that I was so calm and open the city gate, he suspected that there was an ambush, so he retreated. I am not taking a risk, but because I really have no other way to take it." This is dangerous. Sima Yi will definitely pass by the small road in the north of the mountain. I have already sent Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to ambush there." The officials all admired him and said, "The prime minister is clever and resourceful. If it were us, we would have abandoned Xicheng long ago. I ran away." Zhuge Liang said, "There are only [-] soldiers around me. If I leave the city, I will not be able to escape very far, and I will definitely be caught alive by Sima Yi!" Zhuge Liang couldn't help clapping his hands together after he finished speaking. He laughed and said: "If I were Sima Yi, I would definitely not retreat." Immediately ordered that all the people in Xicheng follow the Shu army into Hanzhong to prevent Sima Yi from invading again.Zhuge Liang led his troops to leave Xicheng for Hanzhong and return.Officials, soldiers and civilians in Tianshui, Nan'an, and Anding slowly entered the Hanzhong area.

Sima Yi was frightened by Zhuge Liang and kept retreating. When he retreated into Wugong Mountain, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao rushed out from both sides and caught him off guard.Wei Jun was defeated and fled with heavy losses.Guan Xing and Zhang Bao grabbed a lot of weapons and food.The Shu army returned with a great victory.Sima Yi didn't dare to retreat from the main road, so he fled back to Jieting immediately.

When Cao Zhen heard that Zhuge Liang was leading his troops back to Hanzhong, he immediately led his troops to chase after him, but unexpectedly, he was ambushed by Jiang Wei and Ma Dai.After a battle, Cao Zhen lost his troops and generals, and suffered heavy casualties.The Shu army did not dare to pursue them, and retreated to Hanzhong overnight.

Guo Huai led his troops to the middle of Jigu Road again, and said to Su Yuye, the vanguard general, "Zhao Yun, the fierce general of the Shu army, is brave and invincible. You must be careful. If the enemy retreats, there must be an ambush." ​​Su Yuye obeyed the order and left Go, attack the depths of Jigu Road.

Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi had been lying in ambush on both sides of Jigu Road. After receiving Zhuge Liang's order to withdraw troops, Zhao Yun said to Deng Zhi: "The Wei army knows that our army is retreating, and will definitely come to chase and kill. I will lead an army to lie in wait for you. Follow my flag and retreat slowly. I will cover behind step by step."

Su Yuye rushed to the depths of Jigu Road with [-] soldiers and horses, and saw Zhao Yun's banner on the flag of a Shu army. He thought it was Zhao Yun who had come, and hurriedly ordered to retreat.The Wei army retreated a few miles, and suddenly shouts of killing rang out from behind, and a Shu army came out, led by Zhao Yun.Zhao Yun stopped Su Yuye and shouted: "Do you recognize Zhao Zilong?" Su Yuye said in shock: "Why is it Zhao Yun again?" He was stabbed to death by Zhao Yun under the horse, and the remaining Wei army fled around.

Zhao Yun took his own army to cover slowly behind.On the way, I met Wan Zheng, a general of Guo Huai's department.Zhao Yun saw that the Wei soldiers were powerful, so he reined in the horse's head and blocked the road alone, waiting for the general of the Wei army, Wan Zheng, to fight.Wan Zheng recognized Zhao Yun and dared not fight.Zhao Yun waited until it got dark before slowly retreating.

Guo Huai ordered Zhao Yun to be hunted down.Wan Zheng brought hundreds of soldiers to chase Zhao Yun. When he came to a small forest, he suddenly shouted behind his back: "Zhao Yun is here!" His military cap fell off, and he pointed at Wan Zheng and cursed: "Go and call Guo Huai to die, and spare your life first!" Wan Zheng ran away with his head in his arms.

Zhao Yun escorted the Shu army behind, and the journey was safe and sound.

Cao Zhen and Guo Huai took the opportunity to seize the three counties of Tianshui, Anding and Nan'an.

Sima Yi ordered the army to fight back to the west city. At this time, all the Shu army had retreated to Hanzhong.Sima Yi asked the people in Xicheng about Zhuge Liang being besieged by 15 Wei troops at that time. The common people left behind in Xicheng who refused to return to Hanzhong all said: "Zhuge Liang had only [-] soldiers at that time, and he was surrounded by civilian officials. There were no heavy soldiers in ambush." The mountain people of Wugong Mountain also told Sima Yi: "Guan Xing and Zhang Bao only have [-] troops in total. They shouted around the mountain, bluffing, and did not dare to fight with real swords and guns."

Sima Yi regretted it very much, looked up to the sky and sighed, "I am not as good as Zhuge Liang!" Sima Yi appeased the soldiers and people from all over the place, and immediately led the army back to Chang'an to meet Cao Rui.

Sima Yi also asked to send troops to attack Shuchuan.Sun Zi, Shangshu of the imperial court, advised not to send troops again, but to raise troops first and wait for the opportunity before conquest.Sima Yi also thought that Sun Zi was right.Cao Rui also followed Sun Zi's suggestion, and ordered Sima Yi to send troops to guard various critical passes, and also ordered Guo Huai and Zhang He to stay in Chang'an, and rewarded the three armies.Cao Rui's class returned to Luoyang.

Zhuge Liang returned to Hanzhong and counted the soldiers, only Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi were missing. He was always worried, and ordered Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to lead troops to meet Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi.Guan Xing and Zhang Bao were about to meet him when Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi returned.Zhuge Liang was very happy to see that Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi did not lose a single soldier and also captured a lot of weapons and food from the Wei army, and wanted to reward Zhao Yun.Zhao Yun did not accept it. He said: "Our Shu army did not win, and we are all responsible. If we are rewarded, it is because the prime minister is not clear about rewards and punishments." Zhuge Liang sighed and said: "When the first emperor Liu Bei was in power, he often called Zhao Yun a great virtue, Really!" Zhuge Liang admired Zhao Yun even more.

At this time, Wang Ping, Wei Yan, Gao Xiang, and Ma Su also came back.

Zhuge Liang first ordered Wang Ping to enter the barracks. Zhuge Liang blamed Wang Ping: "I told you to guard the street pavilion with Ma Di, why didn't you advise him to guard the road, causing the whole army to retreat?" Wang Ping frowned bitterly and told Zhuge Liang how to dissuade him. How did Ma Di compete with Wei Yan, Gao Xiang and others for Jieting with the Wei army, and how he was defeated and lost Lieliu City and other military fortresses, and finally had to defend Yangping Pass.The ins and outs of this are very detailed.

Zhuge Liang told Wang Ping to retreat, and ordered Ma Su to enter the barracks.

Ma Su tied his hands and knelt in front of Zhuge Liang.Zhuge Liang said angrily: "You have been familiar with military books since you were young, and you are proficient in the art of war. I have warned you several times: Jieting is a military fortress. If you lose Jieting, our army will be defeated. You are so self-righteous. Wang Ping tried to persuade you, but you didn't listen. Now that you have made a big mistake, I must deal with you according to military law. After you die, I will pay you money, food and maintenance on a monthly basis, so you don’t have to worry.” After speaking, he ordered the warrior to push out and behead him.Kneeling on the ground, Ma Su cried and said, "The Prime Minister has always treated me as a son, and I have always treated the Prime Minister as a father. I have made a big mistake and should be dealt with according to military law." After Ma Di finished speaking, he burst into tears again. field.Zhuge Liang wiped away his tears and said: "You and I are as brotherly as brothers, and your son is my son. You don't need to tell me any more." Then he ordered the warrior to push and behead him.

At this moment, Jiang Wan came from Chengdu.He advised Zhuge Liang not to kill Ma Di.Zhuge Liang insisted on beheading Ma Di according to military law.

Jiang Wan couldn't persuade him anymore.

Ma Di was beheaded by the executioner.Zhuge Liang couldn't help crying.Jiang Wan asked: "Now that Ma Di has been dealt with according to the military law, why is the prime minister crying?" Zhuge Liang said, "I am not crying for Ma Di. I remembered that when the late emperor Liu Bei was dying in Baidi City, he told me: Ma Di can only talk about war on paper, not Reuse. I really got my certificate today. I deeply hate myself for being confused, and I remembered the instructions of the late emperor Liu Bei, so I cried bitterly!" The soldiers of the whole army also cried.

Zhuge Liang wrote a memorial and asked Jiang Wan to take it back to Chengdu, and asked Liu Chan, the queen master, to lower him to a third-level position.The latter master Liu Chan had no choice but to do as Zhuge Liang wanted.

Zhuge Liang was in Hanzhong, cherishing the soldiers and common people in Hanzhong, recuperating, gathering food and grass, training the army and horses, and waiting for the opportunity to go out again.

After Cao Rui heard the news, he immediately summoned Sima Yi to discuss the matter of attacking Shu.Sima Yi advised Cao Rui not to rush to attack Shuchuan first.Cao Rui was worried that the Shu army would attack Wei again, so Sima Yi recommended to Cao Rui that Hao Zhao guard the Chencang crossing, so that the Shu army would not be able to leave Shuchuan.Cao Rui approved Hao Zhao to guard the Chencang crossing to prevent the Shu army from attacking the Central Plains.

At this time, Cao Xiu, the governor of Yangzhou, played the emperor Cao Rui, saying that Zhou Fang, the prefect of Poyang in Dongwu, was willing to surrender, and also agreed to jointly capture Dongwu from inside and outside, hoping to send troops to attack as soon as possible.Cao Rui and Sima Yi discussed how to deal with Soochow.General Jianwei Jia Kui stood up to dissuade Zhou Fang, saying that Zhou Fang was resourceful and resourceful, so don't believe that Zhou Fang would surrender.Sima Yi said: "General Jia is right, but don't give up such a good opportunity." Cao Rui immediately ordered Sima Yi and Jia Kui to lead the army to attack Soochow.

So Cao Xiu led an army to attack Wancheng, Jia Kui led Man Chong and Hu Zhi to attack Yangcheng, and Sima Yi attacked Jiangling.

Soochow Sun Quan convened his officials to discuss at Wuchang Dongguan: "Now Zhou Fang, the prefect of Poyang, told me in secret that Yangzhou governor Cao Xiu wanted to attack Soochow secretly. At this moment Zhou Fang pretended to surrender to the Wei army in order to lure the Wei army into the important area of ​​Soochow. It is good to ambush Cao Xiu to capture Cao Xiu and destroy the Wei army in Yangzhou. Now the Wei army is attacking Dongwu in three ways, do you have any good strategies?"

Gu Yong said: "This big event must be done successfully by Lu Xun."

Sun Quan immediately summoned Lu Xun to Wuchang, where he was given important positions such as the General of the Fuguo, and commanded the Soochow army against the Wei army.

Lu Xun dispatched troops and generals, and the army was ready.

Cao Xiu led the army to the base of Wancheng, and Zhou Fang went out of the city to meet Cao Xiu in Wei Junying.Cao Xiu didn't quite believe that Zhou Fang really surrendered. Zhou Fang cut off his long hair and threw it on the ground and said to Cao Xiu, "If I didn't really surrender, I would be so miserable after death. I believed in General Cao, but General Cao didn't believe me." , isn’t this playing me?” Cao Xiu was convinced that Zhou Fang had truly surrendered.

At this time, Jia Kui came to see Cao Xiu.Jia Kui came to dissuade him from trusting Zhou Fang.Cao Xiu was furious, cut off Jia Kui's position, stayed in the army for use, and led an army to attack Dongguan.

Zhou Fang was very happy when he heard that Jia Kui had lost his position and seized military power, and immediately sent someone to tell Lu Xun.Lu Xun inspected the military situation, observed the terrain, immediately sent troops to ambush in Shiting, ordered Xu Sheng to be the vanguard, and led the troops to meet the Wei army.

Cao Xiu ordered Zhou Fang to lead troops to attack the Soochow army and came to Shiting.Zhou Fang said to Cao Xiu: "This is Shiting, you can camp here first." Cao Xiu ordered to stop advancing and set up camp first.At this time, the frontline soldiers came back and reported that there were Soochow troops blocking the mountain pass not far ahead.Cao Xiu was taken aback, and quickly ordered Zhou Fang to send troops to attack the mountain pass, but Zhou Fang had already fled with dozens of men without a trace.Cao Xiu knew that he had hit the trick, and hurriedly ordered his subordinate Zhang Pu to lead troops to attack Shiting Pass.

Xu Sheng guarded Shiting Mountain Pass early, and Zhang Pu was defeated by Xu Sheng.Just after retreating, he was ambushed by Lu Xun's generals Zhu Huan and Quan Cong. Zhang Pu was killed by Zhu Huan.Cao Xiu's camp was completely surrounded by Soochow troops.The Wei army was defeated and fled, and Lu Xun commanded the army to pursue the victory.Fortunately, Jia Kui led an army to intercept the Soochow army from the side, and Cao Xiu escaped with his life.Seeing that Cao Xiu's army was retreating, Sima Yi led the army back.

Sun Quan of Soochow rewarded the soldiers with meritorious service, and the army of Soochow was greatly boosted.

Cao Xiu died not long after returning to Luoyang.At this time Sima Yi also returned to Luoyang.All the military officials in the court and Chinese came to ask Sima Yi: "You are also very responsible for Cao Xiu's defeat. Why did you come back in such a hurry?" Sima Yi said: "I am afraid that Zhuge Liang will take the opportunity to attack the Longxi area when he knows that our army has been defeated. " All civil and military officials thought Sima Yi was greedy for life and afraid of death, so they laughed at him.

After Soochow defeated the Wei army, Sun Quan immediately wrote a letter to Shu.Zhuge Liang was also very happy that Wei Jun was defeated.At this time, the Shu army was strong and strong, and Zhuge Liang decided to attack Wei State again, but news of Zhao Yun's death came, and Zhuge Liang cried bitterly for Zhao Yun.The generals and soldiers of the Shu army were very sad.The Empress Liu Chan also cried.

Zhuge Liang still decided to send troops to the Northern Expedition to Wei.Zhuge Liang led 30 elite soldiers, ordered Wei Yan to be the vanguard, and directly attacked Cangkou.

Wei Emperor Cao Rui ordered Cao Zhen to be the governor, leading 15 troops to resist the Shu army.

Cao Zhen's general Wang Shuang was brave and invincible. In the first battle, he killed two Shu generals and wounded Shu general Zhang Yi.

Hao Zhao, the guard at Chencangkou, resisted the strong attack of the Shu army several times.The Shu army never captured Chencangkou.

Jiang Wei suggested to Zhuge Liang: Send Wei Yan to guard the periphery of Chencangkou to prevent the Wei army from attacking Shuchuan from Chencangkou;

Zhuge Liang listened to Jiang Wei's suggestion, and immediately ordered Wei Yan to block at Chencangkou; Wang Ping and Li Hui were also ordered to guard the street at Jieting;

Jiang Wei pretended to write a letter to Cao Zhen, saying that he wanted to defeat Zhuge Liang through internal and external cooperation.Cao Zhen believed it was true, but his general Fei Yao advised Cao Zhen not to trust Jiang Wei, saying it was a conspiracy.Cao Zhen ordered Fei Yao to lead an army to resist Zhuge Liang's army. Unexpectedly, he was caught by Zhuge Liang's trick on the way, Fei Yao died in battle, and the Wei army fled in defeat.Jiang Wei's strategy also succeeded.

When Cao Zhen learned that General Fei Yao had been killed, he regretted so much that he immediately discussed with Guo Huai how to resist the Shu army.Cao Zhen had no choice but to send Sun Li and Xin Pilian back to Luoyang to report all the military situation on the front line to Cao Rui.

When Cao Rui learned that the Wei army was defeated, he couldn't help being shocked, and immediately summoned Sima Yi.Sima Yi said: "I expected that Zhuge Liang would attack from Chencangkou. I sent Hao Zhao to defend Chencangkou, but the Shu army could not attack. The Shu army only had one month's food and grass. After a month, if the Shu army had no food and grass, they would automatically retreat. .”

Cao Rui said: "In this case, you can send an army to attack Zhuge Liang from behind."

Sima Yi said: "I am not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death. I am worried that Sun Quan of Dongwu will proclaim himself emperor and occupy one side in a short time. I am afraid that if His Majesty orders a crusade against Dongwu, the army of Dongwu will definitely attack our country first. I We are waiting for the attack of the Soochow army."

Cao Rui said again: "Cao Zhen is very critical now, what should I do?"

Sima Yi replied: "Tell Governor Cao to stand firm and not retreat. If the Shu army retreats, be careful not to fall into Zhuge Liang's tricks." A Wei soldier immediately went to tell Cao Zhen.

Cao Zhen said to Guo Huai, "What can you do?" Guo Huai said, "This is Sima Yi's plan. In the future, it must be Sima Yi who can resist the Shu army. The Shu army may not have much food and grass. You can ask Wang Shuang to lead troops to patrol the mountain." The Shu army must not dare to transport food and grass from the small road in the middle of the mountain, and when the Shu army has no food and grass to retreat, we will take the opportunity to pursue it and win a big victory."

(End of this chapter)