Now that he is returning to the division, it doesn't take much effort to encircle and annihilate Li Jing's tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. After all, Li Jing also suffered heavy casualties, how could he defeat hundreds of thousands of Shu troops. However, once he returns to the division, Lu Bu will definitely press on him and entangle himself to death.

Besides, Liu Bei's 70,000 troops are also about to reach the Sword Pavilion Pass, is it really good to give up the plan to capture Jiameng Pass now?

After thinking about it, Zhuge Liang made it difficult to make a decision.

"What is the gentleman hesitating about? Are you worried about Lu Bu? Guan Yu asked.

"yes..."

Zhuge Liang sat down with a sad face and said: "Lu Bu sent Li Jing to our rear and turned the world upside down, the purpose of which is to force me to divide my troops to encircle and suppress, so that he can fight a decisive battle with me." If I go to fight Li Jing now and recover Mianzhu, isn't it in the hands of Lu Bu? ”

"The last general felt that Mianzhu was the only pass to Chengdu, and he hoarded a large amount of baggage, grain and grass. Now it is in the hands of Li Jing. Either way, we should take it back first. Ma Dai said.

"Well, General Ma's words are not unreasonable, sir... Let's withdraw first. ”

Guan Yu also wanted to persuade Zhuge Liang to recover Mianzhu first.

However, Zhuge Liang had a hard time making up his mind.

It took him a lot of effort to force Lu Bu back to Jiameng Pass, which was the best time to capture Jiameng Pass. Although this move was difficult, as long as it was successful, Lu Bu would lose his troops and no longer be able to look south.

If the whole line retreats, go to fight Li Jing, and don't think about coming back for a few months.

Think about the artillery transported from Jingzhou, and it is about to arrive at the Sword Pavilion Pass. At that time, Lü Bu's new army would be well supplied, and it would be even more difficult to defeat him.

"Nope! We can't go! ”

Zhuge Liang seemed to be enchanted, and seemed to be very calm, and analyzed: "The battle of Yizhou has been fought for a whole year, and from the beginning to the present, we are at a disadvantage. It's because we've never really beaten Lu Bu's main force. It made him more and more rampant. He is like a rein, leashing us and going according to his ideas. The fall of Mianzhu Pass is very unfavorable to us, but when I go back to the division to fight Li Jing, isn't it wrong again and again? It's better to concentrate and face Lu Bu. If I can defeat Lu Bu within two months, I can recover Jia Meng Pass. Then the situation is very different.... ”

Halfway through the analysis, Zhuge Liang unfolded a map and said, "We should rearm and make strategic adjustments." ”

"What do you mean, sir?"

The generals didn't understand.

Guan Yu asked, "Sir... Or do you want to entangle Li Jing first and go all out to face Lu Bu? ”

"Hmm."

Zhuge Liang stared at the map intently, didn't seem to hear Guan Yu's words, and then made a few marks on the map with a pen, and said: "North of Mianzhu and south of Jiameng Pass, only these few places must be guarded." ”

"Cloud Chief."

"Yes."

Zhuge Liang said: "You give the order." Give up some unimportant cities and station them in these important towns. Especially the new capital, where I guard my two life passages, is very important. You let Guan Ping lead 100,000 troops, seize the new capital, and then hold on! ”

"No."

Hearing Zhuge Liang's words, Guan Yu also understood. Zhuge Liang didn't plan to fight Li Jing at all, and he didn't even bother to go for a perfunctory look. Defend all fronts in the south. Facing Lu Bu in the north.

The advantage of such an arrangement is... You can concentrate your forces and deal with Lu Bu, but you only have one or two months, and if you can't defeat Lu Bu within a month or two, the situation will be even worse.

"Commander, there is a person from outside the battalion, and a letter is presented." A lieutenant walked in from outside the tent.

"What about the man?"

"It's gone."

Zhuge Liang took the letter, and after reading the content on it, his face was contemplative and dignified.

Ma Dai asked, "Sir, what is this letter...?" ”

"It was sent by Zhang Ren, saying that he wanted to surrender to the king." Zhuge Liang replied.

"This shameless man, dare to come and surrender?!" Guan Yu's face was flushed, and he clenched his fists, and his bones were pinched because of the strength.

Ma Dai, Zhou Cang, etc., also thought that Zhang Ren was a fraud.

Thinking about the things Zhang Ren has done in recent months, they almost fell into a place of no return, and no one can forgive them.

However, Zhuge Liang said: "It's hard to say whether it is a fraud or not." ”

"Sir, do you believe that Zhang Ren will surrender? Didn't you persuade him last time when you were in Jiameng Pass? But he resolutely refused, and helped Lu Bu capture Jiameng Pass. Guan Yu reminded.

That incident was really infuriating, how could Zhuge Liang forget it?

Perhaps he was too eager for victory, and made excuses for Zhang Ren's surrender: "This time and that time." When Lu Bu captured Jiameng Pass, his soldiers were strong and strong. Zhang Ren judged the situation, how could he surrender? But now.... ”

"Is it credible now?"

Guan Yu still didn't dare to agree with Zhuge Liang's opinion. He couldn't figure it out, was Zhuge Liang confused? Even he could see that Zhang Ren was deceiving him, why didn't Zhuge Liang believe it?

"Yun Chang doesn't believe that Zhang Ren will surrender, which is also reasonable. However, in Zhang Ren's letter, he clarified a lot of hostile situations that we did not know, and according to my guess, nine times out of ten they were true. ”

"Whether Zhang Ren is really willing to surrender or not, you only need to verify it, and you can know." Zhuge Liang handed the letter to Guan Yu.

Guan Yu was also very surprised after seeing it, and said, "Lu Bu's new army has been reorganized?" Except for Han Shin's 1st Division, all ordinary troops? This... No wonder, I said why did he take the initiative to retreat to Jiameng Pass, maybe he was really worried that he would not be able to defeat us? ”

"So... It is not impossible for Zhang Ren to surrender. ”

Zhuge Liang pondered for a while and ordered: "Tomorrow, Annoying Yunchang will lead 100,000 troops and attack Jiameng Pass." I want to verify whether the information Zhang Ren said is true. If it's true, we're likely to defeat Lu Bu! ”

"Yes."

Guan Yu responded.

Next.

Guan Yu, who had a glimmer of hope, led 100,000 troops and marched to Jiameng Pass.

The current Jiameng Pass can be said to be the weakest time in defense. Li Jing, Yang Lin, and Pei Yuanqing went to Zhuge Liang's rear. Han Shin's 1st Division went to the Sword Pavilion. The huge Jiameng Pass City was garrisoned by less than 90,000 soldiers and horses (including Zhang Ren's Shu army). None of the soldiers were equipped with assault rifles or grenades, and even three-bowed crossbows were rare.

There is no difference between such equipment and Zhuge Liang's army.

The only difference is that Li Yuanba, Li Cunxiao, and Xiang Yu are in Jiameng Pass. These three peerless murderers are worth thousands of troops.

Knock knock...

Listening to the sound of war drums from outside the city, Lu Bu led a group of generals to the city tower.

"Zhuge Liang wants to verify whether what Zhang Ren said is the truth?" Xu Shu guessed.

"Maybe..."

Lu Bu looked at Song Xian and Cao Xing, and ordered: "The soldiers defending the city are not allowed to use firearms, and only use ordinary bows and arrows and a small number of three-bow crossbows to fight back. As long as you can hold the city pass. ”

"No."

The two returned.

In fact, there are not many firearms available. Because there was no ammunition, the assault guns were turned into burning sticks.

(End of chapter)