Three Kingdoms.

  Chapter 1354 Utility

  Among the mountains of Sichuan, Shu and Brazil, those who are staggering northward are the defeated Liu Dan and his party.

   Burning the enemy's food and grass has always been the most common strategy and tactic to attack the enemy. How many battles in history have been caused by the problem of food and grass, which led to changes in the final strategic direction.

Of course, Liu Dan knows this, not only does he know, but if he is asked to talk about it, he will be like a treasure. Those people, where, because of what, eventually lead to the problem of food and grass, at least they can talk eloquently for an hour. No need to drink water.

   But when it was his turn to actually do it himself...

  How did the rear camp catch fire?

  Liu Dan still can't figure it out.

When he crossed the Bashan Mountain and entered Brazil County with thousands of troops, he also imagined what he would encounter, how he would fight the enemy, and what kind of situation he would encounter. generals...

  Everything, Liu Dan seems to have thought about it, but he never imagined that he would be defeated just like this because of an ordinary fire or an ordinary surprise attack.

   Now thinking of this matter, Liu Dan feels the whole province is hot and his head is buzzing.

   This is a great shame!

  The soldiers who followed Liu Dan to conquer the west also felt that it was a great shame and humiliation, and they cursed behind their backs. When Liu Dan was attacked by surprise, he lost his sense of proportion and failed to issue orders, which eventually aggravated the chaos and fled in defeat.

  True knowledge comes from practice, Liu Dan, a scholar, was slapped severely by the cruel reality.

  However, these soldiers who marched northward with Liu Dan didn’t have much energy to slander Liu Dan now. Walking through the mountains and forests was like a nightmare, and had consumed too much energy and physical strength. During the march, the team of more than a thousand people was in a gloomy mood, and no one could cheer up.

  Among Sichuan and Shu, between mountains and fields, it looks like green mountains and green waters, but walking in them is like hell.

  In the current era, although the mountains in the Sichuan and Shu regions are not very high, the grass is deep and the forests are dense. The so-called official roads are nothing but winding and undulating mountain roads along the direction of rivers and streams.

The soldiers walking in front need to constantly use their spears to poke the grass beside the mountain road, and they also need to use knives to cut off the hanging trees and vines, otherwise there may be some poisonous long insects in the grass, and it is nothing to bite them Medicine can cure, can only wait for death.

   There are snakes not only in the grass, but also in the treetops.

  Zhuyeqing is the venomous snake that likes to dwell on trees the most. It is often hung or entwined on the branches, mixed with the leaves or moss on the tree. If you don't look carefully, you can't see it at all. It’s okay if it’s midday, but in the evening, these poisonous snakes start to hunt, and they are most active at night. These little guys are all short-sighted, and they can only detect far and near vibrations with their tongues. It doesn’t matter whether they are big or small. All bite together...

In addition, there are a large number of flying insects and poisonous insects. If the winter is not approaching, many insects in the forest have already entered the dormant period. I am afraid that Liu Dan and others will at least double the casualties. Annihilation is not out of the question.

   "Persevere! Go over another mountain and you will reach the cottage!"

   Liu Dan shouted hoarsely.

  The soldiers who followed forward were all exhausted by the Sichuan and Shu mountains and forests. No one answered, they just gritted their teeth and moved forward.

   "There is food in the cottage in front! There will be something to eat when we get there!" Liu Dan roared hoarsely, "Keep going! Don't fall behind! We have come so far! Look at each other!"

   Sparsely some soldiers responded.

  Liu Dan is also very helpless, the lost military spirit can only be pulled back a little bit like this.

   Line after line.

Unexpectedly, the battle situation was unpredictable, Liu Dan fled to the north, and only left for two nights and one day. When the second day came, Ma Heng's men chased after him and sent the latest military information to him urgently. come over.

  The Sichuan and Shu army that surprised Liu Dan was defeated by Ma Heng and Wei Yan!

  When Liu Dan received this military report, he couldn't believe his eyes...

   Ma Heng said that Hanchang is obviously already strong and clearing the field, and it is very difficult to continue to attack, so he is currently leading the army to prepare for a round with Liu Dan, and then return to Hanzhong to regroup and then look for another opportunity to attack Brazil.

  After Liu Dan received this military information, his buzzing mind suddenly became clearer, and he quickly made a decision. He couldn't just retreat like this!

  Since Ma Heng has defeated the Sichuan and Shu troops who came to make a surprise attack, it means that both sides have lost once, unbeaten, and a tie. If he withdraws from Brazil County, doesn't it mean that he is undefeated and defeated?

So Liu Dan announced the news, clearly emphasizing that Ma Hengshi had won a big victory under his orders in order to boost morale. In addition, he also sent soldiers to leave marks around the surrounding area so that he could gather the scattered soldiers and speed up the rush. Arrive at the cottage when they first entered Sichuan, wait for the arrival of Ma Heng and others, and at the same time send soldiers back to Hanzhong to requisition food and grass...

   After finishing the distribution in this way, Liu Dan felt that the sullenness in his heart was somewhat relieved when he saw a number of soldiers responding and going to do things separately, and he let out a breath of foul air slowly.

  I must not return to Hanzhong with a defeated title!

   Absolutely not!

  People will always find all kinds of hopes and excuses for themselves. Perhaps it is because of this that human beings may still have the motivation to struggle in desperation.

Maybe Liu Dan is not very good in some aspects, but on the way of defeat, Liu Dan at least did what a commander should do, comforting people's hearts and encouraging them to move forward, instead of complaining about this and cursing that like an old woman, Especially after getting the news from Ma Heng, the morale of the army, which was a little bit lost, gradually calmed down.

It was difficult to transport the soldiers and rations in the Sichuan-Shu Mountain Road, so they were transported bit by bit from the forward cottage built by Wei Yan in the Bashan Mountains, so when Liu Dan and others struggled to return to the original cottage. At that time, I was lucky to find that there was still some military rations that had not been shipped out in time, so it became the life-saving food for Liu Dan and others.

  Wars always have accidents of one kind or another. Maybe one second is hell, and the next second is heaven. Although they all die, at least the place of death is different.

  Liu Dan rested for another two days, and Ma Heng and others also came back.

When Ma Heng's banner appeared on the mountain road, Liu Dan couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, and then quickly raised it again, because he saw Wei Yan in the queue, and naturally saw the pride on Wei Yan's face color.

Seeing Ma Heng's banner appearing, the soldiers here cheered one after another, and waved to Ma Heng and others. Some even started to slap their weapons in salute, but Ma Heng on the other side was still stable and didn't show anything special. On the other hand, Wei Yan raised his hand and beckoned behind him.

   "Meet the envoy..." Ma Heng stepped forward to salute, and then said, "Fortunately, I see that the envoy is fine, so my heart is at ease..."

  Wei Yan also took a step forward, cupped his hands and said, "I have seen the envoy."

  Liu Dan smiled brightly, and stretched out his hand to signal: "There is no need to be polite, both of you have made great contributions, and someone has already been recorded. After this battle, I will reward you heavily!"

   "Thank you, Ambassador."

  Ma Heng's serious, courteous attitude made Liu Dan feel relieved a lot.

  Liu Dan's eyes slightly turned to Wei Yan, but he saw Wei Yan standing silently aside, as if he hadn't heard Liu Dan's words at all.

   "Hehe..." Liu Dan smiled, and then said, "You two might as well rest in the cottage for a while..."

   Wei Yan seemed to have something to say, but was blocked by Ma Heng for a while, and saw Ma Heng's eyes again, so he retracted his half-step forward, and then together with Ma Heng, dismissed the soldiers and prepared to rest.

   "Uncle, please stop!"

   Before Ma Heng and Wei Yan had gone far, they heard Liu Dan's guards urging him to stay. The two looked at each other, then Ma Heng gave a slight signal, Wei Yan nodded, and then separated.

   "The envoy called X?" Ma Heng and Liu Dan greeted each other again.

"Come on, Uncle Chang, don't be too polite, sit, sit, don't be too polite..." Liu Dan smiled, took Ma Heng's arm and said, "I knew that Uncle Chang had a strategy in his chest, but now it really doesn't happen, and he made such an outstanding feat. The future is boundless..."

   "The honor of the envoy is only due to the coincidence of the meeting..." Ma Heng glanced at Liu Dan, cupped his hands and said, "...if there is no envoy, how can there be victory?"

  Liu Dan obviously breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately said decisively: "Shu Chang, don't be too modest! This battle Shu Chang is the first achievement!"

  Ma Henggong cupped his hands and did not continue to decline.

  Liu Dan's smile became brighter and brighter, and after a pause, he said, "Uncle Chang thinks that the current situation can be done?"

Ma Heng hesitated for a moment, he knew why Liu Dan lingered here, and this was why he was willing to give up part of the credit to Liu Dan. This time it was the first time, who would dare to use it next time?

  Liu Dan is naturally not stupid, and immediately said that he would reciprocate, but the problem is that Liu Dan didn't want to get just a peach, but also a peach forest, to make up for the previous losses...

Ma Heng pondered for a moment, then said slowly: "My lord, Hanchang has been solidified and cleared. There are no people along the way, and the mountain road is circling. It is not easy to go down... It is winter now, and our army is short of food and grass. If you enter, you will be defeated... If not Let's retreat, repair the soldiers, and look for opportunities to attack again."

   "..." Liu Dan stroked his beard and remained silent, feeling really reluctant.

   "...If you want to capture Hanchang, you can't do it..." Ma Heng looked at Liu Dan's face, and continued, "...But it's not difficult to just seek another victory..."

  Liu Dan regained his energy immediately, and looked at Ma Heng eagerly.

  Ma Heng leaned forward slightly, moved closer to Liu Dan, and whispered...

  Liu Dan listened, pondered for a while, finally nodded and said: "So, let's follow Uncle Chang's strategy!"

  Ma Heng left from Liu Dan and arrived at Wei Yan.

   "Wei Sima, have you ever rested?"

   "Ma Zhizhong, please!"

  Wei Yan walked out of the tent, and then invited Ma Heng to sit inside.

Before attacking Brazil, they took down three cottages, and naturally left some soldiers and some supplies. Although there were not many, these remaining supplies became life-saving straws at this moment, otherwise they would not have survived at all. Thinking of what tents there could be.

   "The envoy still wants to win?" Wei Yan asked with disdain without trying to hide anything.

  Ma Heng nodded.

  Wei Yan let out a "ha".

  Ma Heng glanced at Wei Yan and said: "However, the envoy also agreed to Wen Chang's plan to lure the enemy... After Wen Chang leads the army, if there is any need, he will agree to it."

   It can’t be said that Liu Dan’s behavior means stupidity, an idiot, or a drop in IQ that has broken through the limit, because who doesn’t have a sense of utilitarianism? More or less, so utilitarianism is not a big problem. The problem is that Liu Dan overestimated his own strength before, and he was a little forced.

  If Liu Dan had no intention of utilitarianism, he would definitely not accept the temptation of Zhengxi General Fei Qian, nor would he immediately march south when his wings were full. Of course, when Liu Dan thought his wings were full.

  Ma Heng can understand, but understanding is understanding. Whether he is willing to support it or not is another matter. But at the same time, Ma Heng also knew that Feiqian, General Zhengxi still needed Liu Dan, because this Liu Dan was an excuse for General Zhengxi to extend his tentacles into Sichuan and Sichuan, and to control the whole situation in the so-called "brothers' rivalry". "The above is not an "foreign enemy invasion", so that at least in some respects, some resistance in Sichuan and Shu can be avoided.

   Win another game, so that Liu Dan will not lose all face, not only to save Liu Dan's face, but also to maintain Zhengxi's reputation, and at the same time teach the people of Sichuan and Shu a lesson, and it is also convenient for the next stage to fight or talk...

  Ma Heng looked at Wei Yan, and said softly: "Mr. Wen, this matter is important, can you be sure?"

   Wei Yan laughed, patted his chest and said, "Nothing will go wrong! Please rest assured that the treatment is in progress!"

   Ma Heng's gaze rested on Wei Yan for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's as long as Wen Chang is sure..." Liu Dan has a sense of utilitarianism, doesn't it mean that Wei Yan doesn't? If not, Wei Yan would be so desperate?

  Wei Yan nodded.

"Tomorrow at the o'clock, the envoy will confer the post of Chief Wen to command the three armies..." Ma Heng said lightly, "In addition... a certain person left two hundred people twenty miles to the north, and spread many banners. If they win, it will be very natural. Well, if... it can also be used as a suspicious soldier..." Thinking about defeat before thinking about victory has always been the most important point in marching and fighting.

  Wei Yan clapped his hands together and said, "Thank you for taking care of Zhizhong! I will work for Zhizhong!"

Ma Heng stood up, patted Wei Yan on the shoulder and said, "It's not for someone, but for Zhengxi...Tomorrow, a certain person will return to the north with the envoy, and here, I will leave it to you...Be careful, if you can't do it , the retreat is..."

  Wei Yan sent Ma Heng out of the tent, his heart was ups and downs, and it was difficult to calm down.

  Finally can lead the army alone!

   This means that Wei Yan has finally moved from a mid- to low-level non-commissioned officer to a mid-to-high-level general class!

  Wei Yan clenched his fists excitedly, looking at the mountains in the distance, his eyes seemed to be shining with brilliant colors under the shining of the setting sun...

  (end of this chapter)