Three Kingdoms

Chapter 40
Sun Li, a general of Cao Zhen’s department, offered another plan: “I’ll go to Qishan to pretend to transport grain and grass. If the Shu army really has no grain and grass, they will definitely come to snatch it. I’ll put gunpowder and explosives on the grain truck in advance. Burn the grain trucks and catch him off guard." Cao Zhen immediately ordered Sun Li to set off, and he dispatched troops to guard the critical passes.

When Zhuge Liang learned that Sun Li was transporting grain on Mount Qi, he immediately saw through Sun Li's tricks.Zhuge Liang followed his plan and ordered: Ma Dai led troops to pretend to attack Sun Li's grain truck.He also ordered Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni to lead [-] troops each to ambush outside, preparing for a pincer attack from inside and outside.He also ordered Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to lead troops to ambush on the left and right sides of Wei Jun's camp. Wei Jun will definitely come to sneak attack on the camp when he sees the fire burning in the West Mountain tonight.Guan Xing and Zhang Bao immediately attacked Wei Jun's camp when Wei Jun broke out from the Wei camp.Finally, Wu Ban and Wu Yi were ordered to lead troops to lie in ambush on both sides of the road. If the Wei army came to attack, they would immediately cut off the enemy's return route.

At night, Ma Dai led [-] troops to attack Sun Li's grain and grass. The Shu army secretly set off a raging fire.Sun Li thought that the Wei camp was set on fire and ordered to send troops, so he ordered the army to rush forward.Unexpectedly, he was ambushed by Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni.At this time, Ma Dai came in, but Sun Li couldn't resist, and the Wei army was defeated again, so Sun Li hurried away.

Generals Zhang Hu and Le Chen of the Wei Army saw the flames of the West Mountain soaring into the sky, and immediately led troops to attack the camp of the Shu Army.There was no one in the Shu army camp.At this time, Wu Ban and Wu Yi fought out from the left and right, cutting off the Wei army's return route, and the Wei army was defeated again.Zhang Hu and Le Wei struggled to break out of the siege and fled back to Weiying, but they were captured by Guan Xing and Zhang Baozao.Zhang Hu, Le Chen and Sun Li had no choice but to flee back to Cao Zhen's camp.Cao Zhen never dared to fight again.

Zhuge Liang secretly told Wei Yan a plot to kill Wang Shuang.At this time Zhuge Liang ordered to retreat.The Shu army immediately packed up and prepared to retreat.General Yang Yi asked Zhuge Liang: "Now our army has won a great victory, and the morale of the Wei army has been greatly damaged. Why did we withdraw our troops and stop attacking?"

Zhuge Liang said: "Our army is running out of food and grass, and the enemy can't hold out. If Wei Guo sends another army to sneak attack on our army's food road, it will not be so easy to retreat at that time. Now taking advantage of the defeat of Wei's army, we will not be able to defend ourselves." Dare to fight. You can retreat immediately. I have sent Wei Yan to lure the general of the Wei army, Wang Shuang, to fight at any time. Wang Shuang will definitely die in the hands of Wei Yan. Wang Shuang is a fierce general of the Wei army. The army can retreat safely."

Zhuge Liang immediately ordered to retreat, and all the Shu troops withdrew overnight.

Cao Zhen was worried about the situation of the Shu army in the camp. At this time, Zhang He led the troops to help Cao Zhen.

Zhang He said to Cao Zhen: "I was ordered to help Governor Cao."

Cao Zhen asked: "Does Sima Yi have any plans to deal with Zhuge Liang?"

Zhang He replied: "Sima Yi asked me to tell you: if our army wins, the Shu army will definitely not give up attacking; if the Shu army wins, they will definitely retreat and leave. Now that our army has failed, I don't know if the Shu army has retreated or not." ?”

Cao Zhen immediately ordered his men to go down to watch the situation in the camp of the Shu army, and the soldiers immediately reported that the Shu army had already withdrawn.Cao Zhen was too late to regret, and sighed that he missed the good opportunity to pursue the Shu army.

After hearing Zhuge Liang's instructions, Wei Yan immediately ordered to retreat.Wang Shuang knew the news immediately, and hurriedly led his troops to chase and kill the Shu army.

The Shu army just retreated to the front, and Wang Shuang chased and killed them.After chasing into the valley, Wei Yan suddenly rushed out from behind, and Wang Shuang was killed by Wei Yan with a single knife.When Wei Bing saw that the general was dead, he immediately fled around.

Sun Quan of Eastern Wu heard that Zhuge Liang sent troops to Qishan twice, killed many generals of the Wei army, defeated the Wei army, and shocked the Central Plains, so he also wanted to attack Wei.His subordinate Zhang Zhao and others persuaded Sun Quan to take advantage of the great defeat of Wei State to proclaim himself emperor, Sun Quan agreed, ascended the altar and became the emperor of Wu State.

Sun Quan wrote another letter to the queen master Liu Chan, expressing his willingness to continue the alliance.The Empress Liu Chan asked Zhuge Liang for advice.Zhuge Liang also persuaded Liu Chan, the queen master, to continue the alliance and hope that Soochow would send troops to attack Wei.

Soochow Sun Quan summoned Lu Xun to discuss how to deal with Wei Guo.Lu Xun said: "This is Zhuge Liang's plan. Zhuge Liang is afraid of Sima Yi. Since we have allied with Shu, we will pretend to be a bluff but not attack Wei. When Zhuge Liang defeats Sima Yi, our army will take the opportunity to attack and we will definitely win."

Sun Quan approved Lu Xun to do so.

Knowing this situation, Zhuge Liang immediately ordered Jiang Wei and Wei Yan to lead [-] troops to attack Chencangkou overnight.Jiang Wei and Wei Yan couldn't believe that Chen Cangkou was attacked so quickly.So they came to ask Zhuge Liang again: "When will our army set off?" Zhuge Liang said: "It will be ready within three days, don't say goodbye to me, and set off immediately." The two listened to the order and left.

Zhuge Liang ordered Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to follow the plan.

Guo Huai heard that Hao Zhao, the guard at Chencangkou, was too ill to get out of bed, so he quickly sent Zhang He to guard Chencangkou instead of Hao Zhao.

Hao Zhao, the guard at Chencangkou, heard that the Shu army was attacking the city, so he got sick and got up to defend the city.Hao Zhao was shocked and died.The Shu army captured Chencang City.

Jiang Wei and Wei Yan also led troops to kill at this time.Just about to attack the city, suddenly Zhuge Liang, Guan Xing, and Zhang Bao appeared on the tower.Zhuge Liang laughed on the tower: "You are late!" Jiang Wei and Wei Yan worshiped Zhuge Liang as unpredictable.

Zhuge Liang said: "I asked you to send troops to attack Chencang City in three days in order to confuse the defenders of Chencang. I ordered Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to attack Chencang secretly, and the enemy was caught by surprise. The Wei army was defeated and in chaos. Soldiers sneaked into the city, waiting for the opportunity to set fire. As soon as Chen Cang's defenders relaxed, our army was able to defeat them. Now Zhang He is coming on the road. Jiang Wei and Wei Yan will immediately lead troops to attack Sanguan. As soon as our army arrives at Sanguan Pass, the enemy will definitely abandon the pass and escape. If you don’t clear the pass in time, there will definitely be rescuers to rescue you, and it will be difficult to deal with it at that time.”

Wei Yan and Jiang Wei immediately led troops to attack Sanguan, and the Wei army quickly abandoned the pass and fled.Just as Jiang Wei and Wei Yan went to the gate, they suddenly saw dust flying in front of them, and a large army of Wei Jun came to rescue them.Jiang Wei and Wei Yan couldn't help sighing: "The Prime Minister is really clever!"

Jiang Wei saw that Zhang He, a famous general of the Wei army, was leading troops to rescue Sanguan, so he divided up with Wei Yan to guard the dangerous road. Zhang He had no choice but to retreat.

Zhuge Liang ordered the army to start from Chencang Xiegu, and ordered Jiang Wei to attack Wudu, and Wang Ping to attack Yangping.

Zhang He was defeated and fled back to Chang'an, and told Guo Huai the details of his defeat and Sanguan and the fall of Chencang.

While dispatching troops and generals, Guo Huai wrote a memorial to report to the court.Zhang He stayed in Chang'an, Sun Li guarded Yongcheng, and Guo Huai led troops to defend the city.

Cao Rui was shocked when he received the news that Guo Huai had lost Chen Cangkou.At this time, there was news that Sun Quan of Eastern Wu proclaimed himself emperor and made an alliance with the Kingdom of Shu.Lu Xun, a general of the Eastern Wu Dynasty, was training his soldiers and horses in Wuchang, preparing to attack the state of Wei.

When Cao Rui learned that there were two emergency situations, he couldn't help but panic and panic.At this time, Cao Zhen was still ill, so he had to summon Sima Yi into the palace to discuss state affairs.

Sima Yi said: "Soochow will not send troops to attack our country."

Cao Rui didn't believe it, and asked, "How do you know?"

Sima Yi said: "Zhuge Liang often wanted to avenge Liu Bei's loss of Jieting. He didn't want to annex Soochow, but because he was afraid that our army would attack from Hanzhong, so he temporarily allied with Soochow. Soochow Lu Xun also knew what he meant. Pretending to dispatch troops, in fact he is sitting and watching us fighting with the Shu army. Soochow need not be on guard, we just concentrate on dealing with Shu."

Cao Rui immediately worshiped Sima Yi as the governor, leading all the armies in Longxi.Cao Zhenxin handed over the handsome seal to Sima Yi.

Sima Yi immediately led his troops to Chang'an.Sima Yi ordered Zhang He to be the vanguard and lead [-] elite soldiers to Qishan.Sima Yi secretly sent Guo Huai and Sun Li to lead troops to snatch Wudu and Yangping, and then attack the Shu army from behind.

When Guo Huai and Sun Li led their troops to advance halfway, Zhang Bao and Guan Xing suddenly rushed out aggressively from both sides.Guo Huai and Sun Li were taken aback, knowing that they had fallen into Zhuge Liang's trick, they hurriedly led their troops back to flee.At this time, Jiang Wei and Wei Yan came from behind again, surrounded by the Shu army, and the Wei army suffered heavy casualties. Dun Huai and Sun Li worked hard to escape.Zhang Bao chased Wei Jun fiercely, and accidentally fell into a mountain stream with his horse and man, and broke his head.Zhuge Liang hurriedly sent someone to send him back to Chengdu to recuperate.

Guo Huai and Sun Li returned to Sima Yi's camp.After hearing Guo Huai and Sun Li's description of the battle, Sima Yi couldn't help sighing: "Zhuge Liang knows everything before me. You must defend Yong City and don't go to war. I have a way to defeat the enemy."

Sima Yi summoned Zhang He and Dai Ling and said: "Zhuge Liang has captured Wudu and Yinping, and he will definitely go to appease the people. You two generals will lead troops to attack Zhuge Liang's camp tonight. Once you succeed in the attack, I will immediately send a large army out. , the Shu army will definitely be in chaos, and then the Shu army will be defeated."

Zhang He and Dai Ling led troops to attack the camp of the Shu army in the middle of the night. Seeing hundreds of grain carts blocking the way, they knew that the Shu army had already made preparations, so they hurriedly ordered to retreat.

At this time, the Shu army moved out and surrounded Zhang He and Dai Ling in the center.Zhang Heying bravely rescued Dai Ling and fled back to the Wei army camp.

Sima Yi had set up a formation in the camp and was about to send out troops when he saw Zhang He and Dai Ling retreating in defeat, so he knew that he had fallen into Zhuge Liang's scheme again.Sima Yi knew that Zhuge Liang was resourceful and resourceful, so he ordered the whole army to stand firm and not to fight without an order.

Seeing that Sima Yi was not going to fight, Zhuge Liang immediately came up with another clever plan.Immediately ordered the army to retreat thirty miles.After Sima Yi learned about it, he did not dare to send troops, fearing that Zhuge Liang would have an ambush.

The next day, Zhuge Liang ordered the entire army to retreat another [-] miles, but Sima Yi was still afraid of an ambush and dared not send troops.

On the third day, Zhuge Liang ordered the whole army to retreat another [-] miles.At this time Zhang He said to Sima Yi: "Zhuge Liang retreated slowly to Hanzhong by delaying his troops. Our army should not wait any longer. We should send troops to chase and kill the enemy early!" Sima Yi said: "Zhuge Liang has many tricks. If there is a mistake, It will hurt the morale of our army." Zhang He said: "I am willing to issue a military order." Sima Yi said: "Since you must go to war, first lead an army forward bravely, and I will lead a large army to cover behind."

The next day, Zhang He and Dai Ling led [-] soldiers to attack the Shu army. Sima Yi set out with only [-] elite soldiers to cover behind, and the rest of the army stayed in the barracks.

Zhuge Liang summoned generals at all levels to discuss how to deal with the Wei army.

Zhuge Liang said: "Now that the Wei army is chasing them, they will definitely fight to the death. You must fight ten against one. I will lay an ambush behind and cut off the enemy's return. This important task must be taken by a wise and brave general." After finishing speaking, he went to Wei Yan Look around.Wei Yan bowed his head and remained silent.

Wang Ping stood up and said, "I am willing to fight the Wei army."

Zhuge Liang said: "Wang Ping is a loyal minister. This time the Wei army will definitely have two armies chasing and killing. Wang Ping can only block one army, and I don't know who is willing to resist the other army?"

Zhang Yi stood up and said, "I am willing!"

Zhuge Liang said again: "You and Wang Ping each lead an army to lie in ambush in the valley first. If the Wei army comes after you, you let them go and only fight from behind. If Sima Yi is behind to cover, Wang Ping blocks the Wei army in front. Wing to block the Wei army behind, we must fight to the death, I have a plan to help you break out."

Zhuge Liang said to Jiang Wei and Liao Hua again: "I will give you two kits. Each of you will bring three thousand elite soldiers and lie in ambush on the front mountain. If you see Wang Ping and Zhang Yi in danger, you don't have to go to rescue them. Open the kits and you will be able to save them." them."

Zhuge Liang then ordered Wu Ban, Wu Yi, Ma Zhong, and Zhang Yi: "If the Wei army is strong, don't fight, fight while retreating.

When Guan Xing comes out from behind, you go back and I will naturally send troops to support you. "

Zhuge Liang finally ordered Guan Xing: "Lead your troops to ambush in the valley, and if you see a Wei army entering the valley, immediately fight from behind."

Zhuge Liang dispatched troops and generals to prepare for a battle with the Wei army.

Zhang He and Dai Ling led troops to pursue the Shu army aggressively.At this time, Wu Ban and other four generals came out, Zhang He fought hard, Wu Ban and other four generals retreated while fighting, Zhang He pursued fiercely.At this time, Guan Xing rushed out from behind, Wu Ban and other four generals immediately reined in their horses and went back to kill Wei Jun.Sima Yi rushed to rescue Zhang He.At this time, Wang Ping and Zhang Yi rushed out.The two sides fought to the death in the valley.

Seeing that Wang Ping and Zhang Yi were in danger, Jiang Wei and Liao Hua hurriedly opened the kit to take a look. Zhuge Liang secretly ordered them to lead troops to attack Wei's camp, so that Sima Yi would naturally retreat to save his camp.

Jiang Wei and Liao Hua hurriedly led their troops to attack Sima Yi's camp.

Sima Yi was frightened to death when he learned that there was a Shu army sneaking into his camp. He said angrily, "I told you not to send troops to chase and kill the Shu army. Now you have fallen into Zhuge Liang's plan to divert the tiger away from the mountain." He immediately led his troops back to the army to rescue Ying.Back in the barracks, the Shu army had already retreated.

In this battle, the Wei army was defeated, and the Shu army won a big victory.Zhuge Liang was about to attack again, taking advantage of the victory to chase and kill the Wei army, when suddenly news came that Zhang Bao died of illness in Chengdu.Zhuge Liang couldn't help but vomited a mouthful of blood, and passed out on the ground.The generals under his command hurriedly rescued Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang said: "I'm a little dizzy right now, and I can't manage the military aircraft. I will send troops after I recover. Don't leak the news. If Sima Yi finds out, it will be difficult to deal with."

Zhuge Liang ordered to retreat overnight.Five days later, Sima Yi knew that the Shu army had safely withdrawn to Hanzhong, and he couldn't help but looked up to the sky and sighed: "Zhuge Liang has a strategy of surreptitiousness, I can't compare with him!" So he also returned to the court.

In the autumn of the eighth year of Jianxing, Cao Zhen, the governor of the Wei army, recovered from a serious illness. He asked to lead troops to attack Shu.Cao Rui approved.

Liu Ye, Minister of the State of Wei, did not spread the news of the attack on the State of Shu in secret, in order to catch him unprepared and to catch him by surprise.

Cao Rui ordered Cao Zhen to be the chief general, Sima Yi to be the deputy general, and Liu Ye to be the military adviser, leading 40 troops to attack the Kingdom of Shu.

At this time, Zhuge Liang's illness was also cured.He drilled the army and horses every day, arranged formations, and the morale of the whole army was greatly boosted, ready to attack Wei again.At this time, hearing the news that Wei's 40 troops were aggressively attacking the border of Shu, Zhuge Liang immediately summoned Wang Ping and Zhang Ni, and told them: "You each take [-] troops to guard Chencangkou to block Wei's army. I will immediately lead a large army to meet them."

Wang Ping and Zhang Ni said: "The Wei army's 40 troops are coming, and the momentum is huge. Why do you only give such a small force to defend Chencang? If the Wei army comes, how can we resist it?"

Zhuge Liang laughed: "You guys are so stupid! I watched the astronomy last night, and there will be heavy rain this month. Although Wei's army has 40, how dare they go deep into the steep mountains and forests? So there is no need to send more troops. I will raise troops in Hanzhong for another month. When the Wei army retreats, our army is waiting for work, and only 40 troops can defeat Wei's [-] troops."

Wang Ping and Zhang Ni led the troops to guard Chencangkou without worry.

(End of this chapter)