this night.

Suddenly, a scout came to report: "General, there seems to be an abnormal movement in the Cao army..." ”

"What's going on?" Ma Chao rolled over and got out of bed.

The scout said: "We saw on the mountain outside Beicheng that the Jincheng school field was brightly lit and the soldiers and horses were frequently mobilized. ”

"Got it, you go and order all the generals to come and listen to the tune."

"Yes."

Ma Chao hurriedly washed up and put on his battle armor.

When the generals arrived, he told everyone about the situation.

Pound said: "The Cao army came from afar, and the food and grass were limited, so they did not dare to confront us for a long time. The last general guessed that they were ready to break out. In order to ensure the complete annihilation of Cao's army, the last general was willing to personally lead an army and wait for the battle. As long as Cao Cao dares to come out, the last general is guaranteed to defeat him. ”

Ma Chao said: "Your guarantee does not give me peace of mind. ”

"What does the Admiral mean...?"

"From now on, all the troops slept with their clothes together, heard the drums, and quickly assembled. Ma Tie, Ma Xiu, transfer 5,000 elite horsemen, and follow me to the woods outside the east city to ambush. I expect Cao Cao to pass through there and go to Longxi to meet Sima Yi. ”

"No."

Ma Tie and Ma Xiu responded.

The leaders of the Qiang, Di, and Rong tribes who came to participate in the meeting knew Ma Chao's determination and did not express their opinions. They resolutely support Ma Chao's decision. Soldiers of different races were also mobilized with Ma Chao.

An hour later.

Sure enough, there were 5,000 Cao troops who came out of Dongcheng and went straight to the woods outside the city.

The 5,000 men, all shield soldiers, marched in a defensive formation. They were also very careful when passing through the woods, they obviously knew that Ma Chao had set up an ambush there, and when they entered the woods, they had formed a shield array.

Ma Chao was careless and did not notice this.

Seeing Cao Jun coming, he attacked without hesitation and fought with Cao Jun.

Ma Chao felt that these 5,000 people were most likely Cao Cao's vanguard, and there must be a large army behind, in order to ensure that the Cao army that broke through was blocked, he ordered Pang De of the large battalion to prepare 10,000 iron cavalry to stand by and support here at any time.

"Report..."

Ma Chao was still leading the army to fight, and the soldiers came to report: "Xicheng, Nancheng and Beicheng, there are 5,000 Cao troops each." ”

"Who are the generals they are leading the army?"

"I don't know yet."

Ma Chao instinctively felt that he had fallen for Cao Cao's plan, but he couldn't tell what Cao Cao was going to do. Just trying to confuse him? If he divides his troops to stop these Cao troops, will there be any consequences?

Ma Chao thought about it again and again, and ordered: "Go and tell Pang De that you don't care about the Cao army in the north and west, and you don't have to come to support me." Hurriedly led 10,000 iron cavalry, went to the south to set up a formation, blocked all official roads, and did not allow a single Cao soldier to break through. ”

"No."

Ma Chao's idea is simple. On the north and west sides, it is impossible to get out of the west Liang, even if there are more Cao troops in the past, they will eventually return here. And on the east side, he himself guarded it, and he was sure to plug the gap. Only the south can lead to the collapse of the collapse, Yinping, and then turn to Ji County, back to Longxi City. It must be blocked there to prevent Cao Cao from breaking through.

............

The battle this night was very intense.

Even Ma Chao didn't expect that the seemingly simple battle capital would gradually evolve into a confusing decisive battle, and he couldn't figure out what Cao Cao wanted to do.

Fought until the second half of the night.

There were 20,000 Cao troops who came out of Dongcheng and went straight to Ma Chao.

When Pound found out, he hurriedly dispatched troops to support.

Almost all the cavalrymen of the alien race went to Ma Chao. The rest of the infantry remained in the camp.

"General, your guess is correct, Cao Cao must be trying to break through from the east. The last general has already transferred all the cavalry, and he will definitely be able to defeat Cao Cao. Pound rushed and said.

"You're wrong....

Ma Chao forced back the enemy soldiers in front of him and retreated: "Cao Cao will not break through from the east. ”

"Huh? But.... ”

"Don't forget, Cao Cao has an army of 100,000, and this is only 10,000 or 20,000, which can't explain anything at all. And if Cao Cao really wants to go from the east, he will transfer at least 50,000 troops. Right now... He may have turned the tiger away from the mountain.... ”

Ma Chao's keen instinct told him that now was the most critical time, and once he chose the wrong direction to block the attack, it was likely to cause Cao Jun to break out of the encirclement.

He took out the map, observed it for a long time, and suddenly said, "Pound." I still prefer Cao Cao to go from the south, he wants to pass through the collapse and Yinping, and turn to Jixian and Longxi. Hurry up and gather heavy troops and set up a formation in the south. ”

"No."

"Wait..." Ma Chao really didn't worry about letting Pang De defend the south, since he thought that Cao Cao would go from there, he should go to block it in person. So he changed his words and said, "It's still up to you to guard here." I took ten thousand iron horsemen to the south. ”

"The Admiral doesn't trust the Admiral?"

"It's not that I don't believe you, but the stakes are very high, and I can only rest assured if I go in person." Ma Chao said: "You don't have to argue, go and carry out my military orders." ”

"Yes."

Pang De was indeed a little unhappy, he was also a warrior in Xiliang, confident that he could fight Cao Cao's generals, but Ma Chao did not give him the opportunity to make meritorious contributions, even if he was brave, there was no place to perform.

Although Pang De was not happy, he still strictly implemented Ma Chao's orders.

He commanded the army to set up a formation in the east to intercept Cao's army out of the city.

Ma Chao took 10,000 iron horsemen and headed to the south.

Soon.

On the outskirts of Nancheng, Ma Chao saw Cao Jun with sixty or seventy thousand, and quietly came out.

"As I expected, Cao Cao is going to break through from the south." Ma Chao was very happy and hummed: "With me personally guarding here, I can't even escape!" ”

"Zhang Heng."

"Yes." Zhang Heng walked to Ma Chao's side.

Ma Chao said: "Pass on my general order, don't rush to kill first." When all the Cao army left the city and came here, the Qiang cavalry went west, and our cavalry went north, flanking the Cao army in a roundabout way. I will use this battle to hit Cao Cao so hard that he will never be able to turn over again. ”

"The last will obey."

Zhang Heng passed Ma Chao's order down.

The leaders of the Qiang tribe hurriedly led the army to cooperate with Ma Chao, and retreated five miles back, leaving an area for the Cao army to operate, and also a place for the Xiliang army to make a roundabout.

Waiting for Cao Jun to come out, close to the battlefield.

Ma Chao gave the order for the whole army to attack: "Kill..." "All the Xiliang army and the Qiang, Di, and Rong armies all participated in the battle.

At the beginning of the war, Ma Chaochong was at the forefront and set an example for the whole army.

With his bravery, the war went very smoothly.

It took almost no effort to defeat more than 5,000 vanguard troops.

But at this moment, he suddenly realized that something was wrong. The soldiers of the Cao army who fought with him were poorly equipped and not strong in combat, not like Cao Cao's elite. On the contrary, the Cao army, which fought fiercely in the east, had strong combat effectiveness.

"Could it be that Cao Cao still wants to break through from the east? Wrong... There are sixty or seventy thousand Cao troops here, and they must have broken through from here. Ma Chao tried his best to convince himself.

Besides, all his troops were already involved in the battle, and even if Cao Cao wanted to break through from the east, he would not be able to stop it. I can only hope that my original judgment was correct.