Three Kingdoms

Chapter 41

Cao Zhen and Sima Yi led an army of 40 to Chencang City. They saw that there was not a house in the city, so they asked the locals what was going on.The local people told them: When Zhuge Liang retreated, he ordered all the houses to be burned.

Cao Zhen wanted to send troops to attack Chen Cangkou.Sima Yi dissuaded: "Don't send troops. I watched the astronomy last night. There will be heavy rain here this month. If you go deep into the enemy's stronghold and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop, that would be the best. But if the enemy resists, the men and horses will suffer. It will be very difficult to return. We can only defend the old warehouse and build thatched houses in the city to prevent rain."

Cao Zhen promised not to send troops and stick to Chencang City.

In less than half a month, it rained heavily.The heavy rain kept falling, floods rose inside and outside Chencang City, and all the military equipment was soaked. The army could not live in peace, and had no peace day and night.There were many internal complaints in Wei Jun.It rained heavily for 30 days in a row, the horses had no fodder, many horses died, and the morale of the army was in turmoil.

Cao Rui soon found out about this in Luoyang.Immediately issued an edict ordering Cao Zhen and Sima Yi to withdraw their troops and return to the court.

Cao Zhen discussed with Sima Yi: "Now the army has no will to fight, and they all have the intention to retreat, what should we do?"

Sima Yi said, "Let's retreat!"

Cao Zhen said: "If Zhuge Liang sent troops to chase and kill him, how should we deal with it?"

Sima Yi said: "Let's ambush two troops to cover behind, and then retreat."

While discussing major issues, the imperial envoy came to deliver the imperial edict.The two immediately ordered the front army to be behind and the rear army to be in front, and retreat slowly.

Zhuge Liang calculated that the heavy rain was about to stop, so he ordered the army to station in Chipo to attack the Wei army at any time.Generals at all levels of the Shu army held a meeting in Chipo.Zhuge Liang said: "I expected that the Wei army would definitely retreat. If we send troops to pursue them, we will definitely fall into their ambush. Let them go for a few days first."

At this time, Wang Ping came back and reported: "The Wei army has withdrawn."

Zhuge Liang forbade Wang Ping to chase Wei Jun.

The generals at all levels said to Zhuge Liang together: "The Wei army was tossed by the heavy rain for more than a month and could no longer be stationed, so they retreated. It was a good time to catch up. Why didn't the prime minister pursue and kill the Wei army?"

Zhuge Liang said: "I have already said that Sima Yi is resourceful and resourceful. He must have been prepared long before he withdrew his troops. If our army pursues, he will definitely fall into the trap. Let them go far away, and I will send troops from Xiegu to attack Qishan. It's impossible to guard against."

The generals said: "There are many ways to capture Chang'an, why did the prime minister only start from Qishan?"

Zhuge Liang said: "The terrain of Qishan is dangerous, and Chang'an can be attacked directly. All soldiers and horses in Longxi must pass through this place; Qishan is close to Weibin in front, and leans on the slope valley in the back. It can ambush heavy troops. This is the place that military strategists must contend for. The reason why I captured Qishan first is because of the favorable location."

The generals all admired Zhuge Liang for his deep and far-sighted strategies.

Zhuge Liang ordered Wei Yan, Zhang Yi, Du Qiong, and Chen Shi to send troops to Jigu; Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Zhang Yi, and Ma Zhong sent troops to Xiegu, and the Shu army gathered at Qishan.Zhuge Liang ordered Guan Xing and Liao Hua to be the vanguard and attack the Wei army.

Cao Zhen and Sima Yi supervised the army from behind, and ordered their men to investigate the situation of the Shu army on the Chencang ancient road, and reported back that the Shu army had not pursued.The Wei army retreated for a few more days, and all the ambush soldiers retreated back, saying that the Shu army was chasing the Wei army.

Cao Zhen said: "It rains continuously in autumn and the plank road is cut off. How can the Shu army know that our army is retreating?"

Sima Yi said: "The army of Shu will come after you in no time."

Cao Zhen asked: "How do you know?"

Sima Yi said: "The weather is fine these days. The reason why the Shu army did not pursue is that they must know that our army has ambushes on the road and deliberately let our army go away. When all our troops withdrew from Qishan, they went to attack. Take Qishan." Cao Zhen didn't believe it.

Sima Yi asked: "Why don't you believe what I said? I expected that Zhuge Liang would fight out from Jigu and Xiegu. You and I will each guard a valley entrance for ten days. If there is no Shu army to attack after ten days, I will Painted face with red powder, dressed in women's clothes, came to the barracks to plead guilty."

Cao Zhen said: "If the Shu army will come to chase after you, I am willing to give you the jade belt and BMW that the emperor gave me."

So Cao Zhen led his troops to guard the mouth of Xiegu, and Sima Yi guarded the mouth of Jigu.

One of Sima Yi's subordinates complained that Sima Yi failed to command.In order to stabilize the morale of the army, Sima Yi immediately found out and killed the general.

Chen Shi, Wei Yan, Du Qiong, and Zhang Ni led a total of [-] troops to attack Jigu.At this time, the staff officer Deng Zhi arrived.Chen Shi and other four generals asked Deng Zhi what was the matter, and Deng Zhi said: "The prime minister has an order. If you attack Jigu, you must beware of the Wei army's ambush, and don't underestimate the enemy."

Chen Shi said: "Why is the prime minister so suspicious? I expected that the Wei army was tossed by the heavy rain, and their armor and weapons were all soaked. They must be in a hurry to retreat. How could there be an ambush? Now our army is chasing after us, and we can win a big victory." , why are you told not to send troops?"

Deng Zhi said: "The Prime Minister has a great plan, and he always predicts things like a god. Do you dare to disobey the military order?"

Wei Yan recalled that Zhuge Liang didn't listen to his plan, and said, "If the Prime Minister had listened to my plan and fought out from the Ziwu Valley, by now, not to mention Chang'an City, even Luoyang City would have been captured! Now I am determined to What is the benefit of sending troops from Qishan? Since the order to send troops to attack, why order to stop the attack? Isn't the order unclear?"

Chen Shi added: "I brought 5000 men and horses to fight directly from Jigu. I first went to Xiazhai in Qishan to garrison troops. I don't feel ashamed to see how the prime minister feels!
Deng Zhi resisted repeatedly, but Chen Shi refused to listen, and led his troops to set off. Deng Zhi had to report back to Zhuge Liang immediately.

As soon as Chen Shi left Jigu, he was surrounded by Wei Jun.Sima Yi ordered the Wei army not to let a single Shu army go.Wei Yan, Du Qiong, and Zhang Ni rushed to rescue Chen Shi with their troops.Only then did Wei Yan believe that Zhuge Liang knew things like a god.

Deng Zhi returned to Zhuge Liang's barracks and reported that Chen Shi and Wei Yan had defied the military order and sent troops without authorization.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Wei Yanchang has the opposite. I know he often has the meaning of injustice. I just value his bravery, but he will definitely become a disaster in the long run." Just as he was talking about this, a soldier suddenly reported the military situation: Chen Shi lost Four 5000 people.The Shu army was defeated by Sima Yi in Jigu.Sima Yi guarded Jigu again.

Zhuge Liang quickly ordered Deng Zhi to go to Jigu to appease the Shu army and prevent a rebellion.Immediately ordered Wang Ping and Ma Dai to lead the troops to charge in from the left side of Qishan, raise fire as a signal, and join other troops.He also ordered Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi to lead the troops to advance from the right side of Qishan, holding fire as a sign, and joining Ma Dai and Wang Ping's troops.Zhuge Liang led an army from Xiegu to attack Cao Zhen at the entrance of Xiegu.

Cao Zhen never believed that the Shu army would come out of Xiegu, so he relaxed his vigilance, and only waited for ten days to humiliate Sima Yi.On the seventh day, soldiers suddenly reported that a small group of Shu troops were haunting Xiegu.Cao Zhen didn't take this matter seriously, and ordered his subordinate Qin Liang to lead troops to attack.

Qin Liang was ambushed and killed by Liao Hua, and all other Wei troops surrendered.

Zhuge Liang ordered Wei Bing to take off the armor, let the Shu army put it on, pretended to be Wei Bing, and let the four generals Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi lead them to Cao Zhenzhai.Guan Xing first sent his men into the stronghold to tell Cao Zhen: "Only some Shu troops entered and left Xiegu and were driven away." Cao Zhen was very happy.At this time, Sima Yi's confidant sent a letter to Cao Zhen: "The Shu army ambushed and killed [-] Wei troops, and now they are mixed in the barracks. Governor Cao must remember the bet and be on guard against the enemy's sneak attack at all times." Cao Zhen was not happy, and said: "There is not a single Shu soldier in our army." The man was sent away immediately.

At this time, it was suddenly reported that Qin Liang had returned with his troops. Cao Zhen was overjoyed and came out to greet him in person, but saw Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi leading troops to kill.Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Ma Zhong, and Zhang Ni also led troops to outflank the Wei army and surround them in the center.Under the protection of his generals, Cao Zhen broke out of the siege, but the Wei army suffered heavy casualties.At this time Sima Yi also led troops to rescue Cao Zhen.

Cao Zhen felt ashamed.Sima Yi advised him not to be sad.The more Cao Zhen thought about it, the more ashamed he became, and finally got seriously ill and couldn't afford it.

Sima Yi dared not send troops.

Zhuge Liang sent troops to Qishan again.At this time, Chen Shi, Wei Yan, Zhang Yi, Du Qiong and others returned to the camp to plead guilty.Zhuge Liang killed Chen Shi according to military law.Zhuge Liang was very happy when he heard that Cao Zhen was ill and was receiving treatment. He immediately wrote a letter insulting Cao Zhen and ordered someone to send it to Cao Zhen.After Cao Zhen read the letter, he was so angry that he died of anger.

Sima Yi hurriedly sent troops to escort Cao Zhen Lingshu back to Luoyang to report all the war to Cao Rui.Cao Rui ordered Sima Yi to attack Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang had expected that Sima Yi would come to challenge him, so he immediately dispatched troops and generals to prepare for a decisive battle with Wei Jun.

The next day, the two armies faced each other.Sima Yi proposed the fighting formation method.Zhuge Liang set up a gossip formation for Wei Jun to break through.

Sima Yi personally commanded the army to break the gossip formation, but was defeated by the army commanded by Zhuge Liang. The Wei army suffered heavy casualties.

Sima Yi stationed troops on the south bank of Weibin, but could not hold out.

Zhuge Liang withdrew his troops in a big victory and returned to Qishan.Li Yan in Yong'an City sent Gou'an to send food and grass to Zhuge Liang.Gou An likes to drink, but unexpectedly delays the date, and is punished by Zhuge Liang with eighty boards.Gou An surrendered to Sima Yi with a grudge.

Sima Yi didn't believe that Gou An sincerely came to surrender, he was afraid that this was Zhuge Liang's trick.Gou An was willing to serve Wei, and Sima Yi ordered him to return to Chengdu to spread rumors, saying that Zhuge Liang was going to rebel and proclaim himself emperor, and asked Liu Chan, the queen master, to call Zhuge Liang's troops back to the court.

Gou An immediately returned to Chengdu and spread rumors everywhere, saying that Zhuge Liang was going to rebel against him and proclaim himself emperor.When the master Liu Chan heard the news, he was terrified and disturbed. He listened to the eunuch's slander, and immediately ordered Zhuge Liang's class to return to the court to discuss important matters.

When Zhuge Liang received the imperial decree, he couldn't help but looked up to the sky and sighed: "Your Majesty is young and ignorant, there must be treacherous officials around him who are slandering. If I don't return to the imperial court as a teacher, it will be against the will. If I retreat, I will miss the good opportunity of the Northern Expedition to Wei."

Jiang Wei asked: "If the army retreats and the Wei army comes to pursue and kill, how should we resist?"

Zhuge Liang said: "Our army will retreat to Hanzhong this time, and we will retreat five times. When we retreat for the first time, we will add [-] earthen stoves. For the second retreat, we will add [-] earthen stoves. And so on. So Sima Yi I don’t know the actual situation of our army.”

Sure enough, Sima Yi fell into the trick and lost to Zhuge Liang again.

(End of this chapter)