"Former general, this is the latest battle report sent by Chang'an."

"Well, I'll see...... Okay, Gou Dao will be ambushed, and Youzhou has been completely pacified. Pingzhou, farther away, also signaled its surrender. Even Goguryeo, Yuwen Xianbei, and Murong Xianbei sent envoys to Jixian to meet the general. ”

"Not only that, former general, the lower official heard that Goguryeo also said that he would send an envoy to Chang'an to worship His Majesty."

"Hmph, these barbarians...... Never mind it. It's just that Cui Ti villain is too shameless. Anyway, how can you say that my brother can tolerate such a villain? ”

"Isn't it time to put up a sign? How can you deal with Cui Ti at this time. However, judging from the following officials' understanding of Da Sima for many years, when this battle is over, Cui Ti will definitely die a good death. ”

"Hey, although I know it very well, it's still very unpleasant. That's it, Ziying (Xiang Chong), how many people are there in our army now? ”

"Back to the former general, after our army attacked the Shangtongguan city wall again five days ago, the losses increased a lot. At present, there are only more than 8,000 soldiers in the whole army who can be put into battle at any time. More than 2,000 people were slightly injured and could go back to the battlefield after recuperation. ”

In March of the year 273, the weather had completely warmed up. On the Qinling Mountains on the south side of Tongguan, there is already a scene of spring flowers.

Since coming to the foot of Tongguan in May last year. Zhang Zun's army was the first to enter the battle, and it was also the largest in terms of casualty ratio: nearly 20,000 people were reduced, accounting for about seventy percent of the entire army.

The sacrifices were enormous, but the results were also significant: they always posed constant pressure and threat to Tongguan. As a result, the Luoyang side always couldn't make up the determination to drive all the Chinese troops out and concentrate superior forces in Bingzhou to fight a decisive battle with Guan Yi (Sima Yan did not make a hammer deal, either win all or lose all the ruthlessness). This kind of containment has indeed greatly supported the advancement of the battlefields of Bingzhou and Youzhou.

Now, when both the Bingzhou and Youzhou battlefields have achieved irreversible advantages. What Zhang Zun and the others need to consider is to withdraw the army - the immediate combat strength of the whole army is only more than 8,000 people, and they must return to Huayin for defense at this time. Otherwise, what if the Jin State suddenly went crazy and sent heavy troops to attack Huayin in Tongguan to threaten Chang'an? These 8,000 people don't play much role in the field.

The withdrawal of troops in front of the enemy is actually a very simple matter for Zhang Zun: Huayin and Tongguan are too close, if all baggage is abandoned, the whole army is running. That is, within a day. Moreover, the area near Tongguan is very narrow.

"The wounded soldiers have already retreated, right?"

"It has been withdrawn three days ahead of schedule."

"Good, then let's withdraw our troops tonight too. Before leaving, all kinds of baggage were gathered and burned at the intersection. I don't think Ma Xiaoxing will come to chase it! ”

Of course, Malone will not come to chase, in fact, on this night, after seeing the fire in the Han military camp opposite, Ma Long observed it from the city tower. He just went back to the room in silence to write a report to his emperor.

The war has been fought so far, and the most depressed is Marlon.

I took the initiative to tell Your Majesty that you don't want reinforcements, you can move the Luoyang Chinese Army to other places. How many ministers like me are there who take the initiative to take responsibility? But what about you? 100,000 Chinese troops, 20,000 prince's guards, more than half a year, stupidly sitting in Luoyang. Sit and watch Uncle Meng and Gou Dao fall in Youzhou, and sit and watch Du Yuankai stumble in Bingzhou. I really don't understand, huh? We don't have the surname Sima! If you surnamed Sima don't help, why are you still adding to the chaos!

"Chen Long reported to Your Majesty that on March 12, the enemy army under the city of Tongguan had withdrawn with all its divisions...... In today's situation, the state front can only be barely maintained, and if you want to break the situation, you should be in the dark and hopeful. Minister's will, with the general (Chen Qian) as the commander, 100,000 Chinese troops went north, and fought a decisive battle with Jiang Boyao in Jizhou. In this way, the two states of Youping will be restored. After that, he went out of the Great Wall and copied the enemy's main rear road. then the enemy will retreat...... If not, the ministers are afraid that officials and families in Jizhou and Qingzhou will have an avalanche. In this way, the north of the Yellow River should not be owned by the state! Another minister discussed again, and the imperial court should recruit another 30,000 soldiers from Yuzhou to enrich Luoyang. After that, 20,000 royal guards were used to reinforce at least Fu's command, so as to confront Guan Zifeng...... There are still more than 23,000 elites under the command of the minister, and after the enemy army retreated, the minister has ordered people to repair the checkpoints and city walls. The minister guarantees the life of the whole clan, and Tongguan is strong, even if the whole division of the enemy army comes, it can also protect the pass for half a year...... Today's war is a battle for the survival of the country. The minister is a little bold, and I hope that His Majesty will see it. ”

On the afternoon of the 13th, Ma Long's recital arrived at Sima Yan's desk.

Sima Yan, who was born in 236 AD, was only thirty-seven years old. However, at this time, the emperor of the Jin Kingdom was already with frosty temples, a furrow on his forehead, and a face in his fifties.

After watching Malone's recital, I breathed a sigh of relief in my heart not long after. Sima Yan's heart quickly swelled up with remorse. But this remorse was quickly replaced by another kind of apprehension.

Unlike many founding fathers of previous dynasties, they all went through all kinds of hardships to succeed in starting a business. Sima Yan, the founder of the country, is simply too good to die: his grandfather, uncle, and father did everything for him. All he needed to do was complete a ritual.

In this regard, he is inferior to Cao Pi, the founding emperor of Cao Wei: when Emperor Wen of Wei was young, Cao Mengde's power was still very weak, so Cao Pi also fought many times on the battlefield with real swords and guns in his early years. And compared with a well-behaved child like Sima You, Cao Pi's two brothers, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi, are not fuel-efficient lamps. In order to win the battle for succession. Cao Pi endured no small amount of hardships and sufferings.

All in all, Sima Yan, the emperor, had a really smooth walk in his early years. After the death of his father, who has always relied on him, he encountered a pervert like a traverser. Therefore, after repeated blows, he has become extremely unconfident, compared with the resolute and resolute image deliberately created in his early years. Hesitation, resourcefulness and lack of judgment may be his nature.

Now, Ma Long has put the new strategy in front of Sima Yan. The emperor was of course very impressed, but he was also very worried.

"You are all important ministers of the country, and now the country is in danger. It is rare that Xiaoxing has the courage to do things and put forward such a plan. Let's all discuss it, see what I should do next? ”

Now the top-level circle in Luoyang has been openly divided into two factions: Sima You, the king of Qi, is the leader, and Sima Jun, Pei Xiu, Jia Chong, Chen Qian, Zhang Hua and others are one faction. On the other side, led by Yang Jun, a foreign relative, and a group of clerks such as Qiao, Yang Jue, and Shao Yi who had never been on the battlefield. Of course, the strength of these people is still much weaker than the previous faction, and the reason why they can compete with the Qi Wang Party is because they have the support of a group of princes of the Sima family who have never been on the battlefield led by Sima Lun, the king of Zhao.

As for Ma Long's proposal, Sima You and others certainly supported it. Chen Qian also made it clear that he was willing to lead the army to Jizhou to wrestle with Jiang Wei. The reason is very sufficient: the war situation is unfavorable, and there are many reasons for this, but one of the most important ones is that my Great Jin was originally very limited, and I kept the entire 120,000 army at home and did not move. This is like an ordinary person who is not outstanding in stature and strength, and in the face of a strong man's provocation, he takes the initiative to tie up one hand and fight the other party. It's strange not to be abused.

Therefore, in order to turn the tide of the war, it is necessary to mobilize every ounce of strength. At this time, don't think about the problem that too much conscription will hurt the country a lot. Let's get through the current difficulties first.

According to Chinese political tradition, the emperor is the enemy of the world. Therefore the courtiers cannot be united. Any emperor with a slight level will take the initiative to cultivate the opposition of his courtiers. However, Sima Yan's grasp of this aspect is obviously not well mastered: the courtiers are opposed, but the two sides have been grudging for a long time, and it has become a situation of party contention.

Since it is a party dispute, it is not a matter of facts. But what you are for and I will definitely disagree. Since your Qi Wang Party supports Ma Long's proposal, then our Yang Party (or Zhao Wang Party) must oppose it.

The reasons for the opposition are also very strong: yes, now the enemy troops in Tongguan have withdrawn. But look at where Guan Zifeng is coming now? It's not far from Luoyang! Besides, now Shangdang County has been lost. What are you doing on the Jizhou Great Plain at this time? Waiting for the other party to rush down from Taihang Mountain and wipe you all out? There is only this mobile force left in the country, are you unwilling not to defeat them?