Zhuge Liang put down the paperwork he had just received, and his heart swelled with indescribable frustration and anger.

Following Fei Yi's assassination, Jiang Wei was seriously injured, his legs were broken, and he became disabled.

Within a year, the loss of two young heroes was even worse for Shu Han, whose talent was already inferior to that of the Central Plains.

Especially Jiang Wei. He is a rare military talent among the younger generation, and he is almost the only general who can be of great use in twenty or thirty years.

But he was scrapped. Not only did the legs break, the mental blow was even heavier, and the damage to reputation was even more devastating.

led a hundred elite tiger infantry, and the support of the Wu people, but was captured by Cao Susheng, who fled in a hurry, and was completely unworthy of the evaluation of the Liangzhou sergeant. It is conceivable that once this news spreads, what kind of public opinion will there be, and how much ridicule there will be.

The aftermath of Ma Jian has not subsided, and there is something like Jiang Wei again. His reputation for knowing people and being good at his duties was ruined, and no matter how fair and upright he was in the future, he could not avoid the suspicion of cronyism and could not convince the public.

He had to devote more energy to stabilize the government and the opposition, and he could not go all out on the Northern Expedition.

Is this a test of God?

Zhuge Liang raised his head and looked at the dark sky.

It's cloudy today, and you can't see a single star.

A person's name rose and fell in Zhuge Liang's mind, looming.

The son of Cao Zhi, the madman who fled to Jiangdong, Cao Miao.

In both cases, Cao Miao did not have direct contact, but he had a share.

When Mrs. Sun was investigating the Elfang case, Cao Miao was an assistant, and she was very helpful in tracking and interrogating.

When Cao Su fled, Cao Miao accompanied him, and it is difficult to say that Cao Miao's proposal was not included in Cao Su's ambush plan.

Zhuge Liang returned to the big tent and picked up the paperwork again. The document is an official document sent by Wu Guo, which only mentions the general process of Jiang Wei's injury, and there are no specific details. But there is a place mentioned in it: Jiumu Pavilion.

He had vaguely heard the name of the place, but he couldn't remember it for a while.

Zhuge Liang thought about it and called Huo Yi to write the room. "Shaoxian, do you remember the name of Jiumu Pavilion?"

Huo Yi thought for a while, nodded and said, "I heard Bo Song (Zhuge Qiao) say that in Huiji County, it is the only way to get to the Hou Guan, not far from Xianxia Pavilion. ”

Zhuge Liang was stunned, but he had more doubts in his heart. Is Xianxialing mountainous? Is it exactly the terrain that the Tiger infantry is best at? How could Jiang Wei be ambushed?

"Is the Jiumu Pavilion in the north of the Xianxia Pavilion, or the south of the pavilion?"

"The south side? About fifty or sixty miles? At most, it's not more than a hundred miles. ”

Zhuge Liang's face changed, and his heart became even more bitter. Jiang Wei is not in Xianxia Pavilion to defend the danger? Waiting for work, do you have to go to Jiumu Pavilion to face Cao Su? It has already violated the common sense of using troops. There's no reason to cover it up for him? You can only give up.

Is it true that I can't see people accurately?

Zhuge Liang was stunned for a while, turned around, and found that Huo Yi was still there, as if he had something to say. He frowned? Blame yourself. Too tired lately? was a little out of shape, but he didn't notice Huo Yi's abnormality.

"Shaoxian, is there any news?"

Huo Yi swallowed a mouthful of saliva quietly, and said in a calm tone as much as possible: "There is not much news, just some market rumors." ”

Zhuge Liang sighed in his heart? Inexplicable unease. He knew that Huo Yi was not a rapper, and what he said in the market was only afraid that it was not the common life of ordinary people? At least it has something to do with the government, maybe it's a restless official who jumped out and made a big fuss.

"Is the market about people's livelihood? Beneficial governance, let's hear it. ”

"Whoa." Huo Yi took out a letter from his arms? handed it to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang took it suspiciously? Taken a look? The corners of his eyes twitched involuntarily twice. Sure enough, it is not the family life of ordinary people, but the family life of the Son of Heaven and himself.

This is, of course, a rumor. However, this rumor has a nose and an eye, an argument and evidence, a smooth logic, and a strong deception, and it is not easy to refute it.

Rumors can be created at this level, which can be called a master.

"What is Shaoxian's opinion on this?" Zhuge Liang said with a smile.

"Déjà vu."

"Oh?"

"Does the prime minister remember that there was a similar rumor in Wuchang at the beginning of the year."

Zhuge Liang nodded. When he first heard that rumor, he was still wondering how Sun Quan should respond. He never thought it was his turn to face this situation. He remembered the name again, and it seemed that wherever this young man went, there would be turmoil.

This is true in Luoyang, and so is Wuchang. Is he coming to Chengdu again?

Zhuge Liang's eyes were a little more cold.

Huo Yi's heart was slightly cold. He has been following Zhuge Liang for a long time, and every time he sees Zhuge Liang's eyes, there will always be people who are unlucky.

I don't know who it will be this time.

——

Zhuge Liang quickly put Jiang Wei's matter aside for the time being.

It's come to this, and it's useless to think about it. Since Jiang Wei is not dead, when he comes back, he will naturally know what happened, which is more meaningful than his guessing here. As for the rumor in Chengdu, Jiang Wan has himself to investigate, and he doesn't have to worry about it.

If Jiang Wan can't even handle a rumor, he won't have to do it as a prime minister.

Zhuge Liang has more important things to care about.

According to the news from Chang'an's fine work, Cao Zhi, the king of Junyi in the prison guard, suddenly left Chang'an and went in the direction of Meridian Valley. His entourage was not large, but he was very capable, and he also recruited many mountain people and medicine farmers who were familiar with the terrain of Nanshan.

Zhuge Liang didn't dare to take it lightly. He is not worried about Cao Zhen, Cao Zhen is a high-ranking and powerful person, and his health is not good, it is unlikely that he will be in danger with his life, and the army cannot be disguised, so there is enough time to prepare.

Cao Zhi is different.

Cao Zhi is less than forty, in the prime of life, not only knows the soldiers, but also is versatile, he can perform more tasks than Cao Zhen, and he can't help but guard against it.

The Meridian Valley is also special, located on the east side of the Han River, along the Han River and continues down, that is, the Jingzhou where Zhang He, the only surviving famous general in the Cao Cao era, sits.

One is the most talented clan of Wei, and the other is the most famous general of Wei, and if they act together, the threat cannot be underestimated.

What an eventful time.

Zhuge Liang felt more and more desolate, and his impression of Emperor Cao Rong of Wei changed greatly. He felt that he had underestimated Cao Rong, and when he was entangled in bloodline disputes, he could still put on an aggressive momentum, and even used Cao Zhi and Cao Miao's father and son, which can be seen in the means.

He is much stronger than his father Cao Pi, and he has the rare demeanor of Cao Cao back then.

Cao Cao had a successor, but he could not find his successor.

Ten years later, who can compete with Cao Ei?

Liu Chan?

Zhuge Liang was desperate.

Looking at it, he couldn't find a person who could rest assured that he would be entrusted with the future, he was nearly half a hundred years old, and his physical condition was not good, so it was difficult to say whether he could live to the age of the sixtieth year. If you can't establish an advantage in your lifetime, the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains can only become an unattainable dream, and all your efforts will be just a joke in the end.

Perhaps, it was time to listen to Wei Yan's suggestion and let him give it a try.

Zhuge Liang thought about it, weighed it repeatedly, sent someone to invite Wei Yan, and ordered him to lead his troops eastward to try to attack Xicheng, seize the favorable terrain, and ensure the safety of Hanzhong.