After a night of meticulous research, Zhongshu Province came up with their usual efficient style and determined the plan to go south to Hanzhong: Ma Chao personally took charge of the army, led Zhao Yun, Tai Shici, Gao Shun, Huang Yuan, Li Yan, Huang Zhong six generals, and 30,000 elite soldiers of the Ma family to conquer Hanzhong.

As soon as the court decided, everything was quietly and nervously deployed, one after another instructions were rapidly spread in the army, a piece of paper was quickly passed between the state capitals, and groups of soldiers gathered in Hanzhong from different places.

In addition to these military affairs in Chang'an, Ma Chao also specially transferred Han Mengling, who was still receiving shadow training, into the army of this expedition. This led to a ridiculous result, that is, the chef of the Dragon Gate Inn, Duanmu Muming, carried an iron spatula and joined Ma Chao's gang army.

On 10 February, Ma Jia's army bypassed the west of the Qinling Mountains and dispersed the pass. After marching for another two days, they can join the army of Gan Ning and Zang Ba in Tianshui. On this expedition, Ma Chao barely brought much logistical supplies, and everything was replenished by Tianshui County on the spot after arriving in Tianshui County.

This is the benefit of Ma Chao's reform of the entire Ma family's political institutions: before Ma Chaoren arrived, the county and county capitals along the way had already received a supply task from Shangshu Province, which was then confirmed by the Ministry of War and handed over to the Ministry of Household for accounting. In this way, it is no longer the Han Dynasty's state of secession in which the state and pastors are not subordinate to each other, which strengthens the ruling foundation of the Ma family and improves administrative efficiency.

Of course, these also need to have a sufficient economic foundation to ensure it, for example, if Tianshui County is extremely poor, no matter how good the system is, there is no root cause for implementation. Fortunately, since Ma Chao took charge of the Ma family, the implementation of new policies and support of commerce have hidden wealth in the people's government, making the entire Ma family run like water and unimpeded.

Therefore, tonight, Ma Chao's army, no matter what, will rest all night in Tianshui County to replenish logistics and recuperate. At the same time, the county guard hall of Tianshui County also became a temporary meeting hall for Ma Chao to discuss this battle.

Every time he went on an expedition, Ma Chao accompanied the staff officers of Zhongshu Province and the Ministry of War. This time, Ma Chao brought four strategists: Guo Jia, Fa Zheng, Li Ru, and Yang Xiu, and what is more interesting is that he also specially pulled Sima Yi.

At the beginning of the lanterns, after everyone rested, they came to the conference hall, and the military generals of Wenchen and military were surrounded by the sand table simulation map regardless of each other, discussing the specific military plan for this battle.

"Lord, the lord of Tianshui County has been operating for many years, and he has gained a lot, and the supplies are on the top, which can be used by the army in March. If it is not enough, Weichen can contact Longxi and Guangwei counties to transfer materials and help. "The first to speak, of course, was Yin Feng, the county guard of Tianshui County. After reporting on the supply of troops, he said.

"March is enough." Ma Chao's mood seemed to be quite good, and after praising Yin Feng for his timely response to the strong wall, he continued: "Although fighting a war is to fight logistics, we came this time to win the hearts of the people, and it is impossible to live by burning, killing and looting. But in the case of absolute superiority, Hanzhong could not be taken within three months, and the Ma family army simply retreated. ”

"What the lord said is that we have strong troops in this battle, and although we can win the strong attack, we will inevitably lose the foundation of the Ma family. And once the hearts of the people of Hanzhong are lost, I am afraid that the army will stop under the fortified city and go deep into the quagmire of all the people, which is contrary to the goal of quick victory. Guo Jia seemed to be pointing, but his attention didn't seem to be on the map, and he continued as if he was using two things: "Therefore, after attacking Hanzhong this time, if there is really a shortage of logistics, it needs to be supplemented in the local area, and if it can't be replenished, it can't be grabbed." In addition, it is necessary to make a list to calm the people, open warehouses to release grain, and gather the hearts of the people, so that Hanzhong can look at the wind and descend. ”

"In terms of military strategy, Weichen believes that this time we must focus on attacking the heart, focusing on field battles, and recruiting surrenders. It is better to advance slowly than to avoid attacking the terrorists. After Li Ru finished speaking, he led the topic to military planning and analyzed: "Therefore, the main point of this expedition is to fight a field battle!" If we can defeat Zhang Lu's main force in one battle, then Hanzhong can go down with the wind! ”

Speaking of this, Li Ru's wrinkles stretched and fluctuated several times, like a poisonous snake wriggling in molting: "It's just that this time, it seems that Zhang Lu has a master behind him to guide him........"

Ma Chao listened to Li Ru's judgment, and nodded involuntarily: As soon as the news of the Ma family's army went out, Zhang Lu's army, which was originally in a stalemate with Gan Ning and Zang Ba, actually withdrew day by day, and continued to reduce the focus to lure the enemy. Gan Ning and Zang Ba didn't know the details, so they didn't dare to pursue rashly. As a result, when Ma Chao entered Tianshui, the army gathered at the border of Tianshui was withdrawn cleanly, and even the essence of 'the enemy is strong and I retreat' in the war book, and the entire Ma family army was left aside.

"There must be a demon when things go wrong, since the scouts in the army can't figure out the situation, I think, the shadow of the Ma family should be able to be dispatched, right?" Sima Yi didn't care whether he should open his mouth or not, and directly made such remarks. Then, he stroked his back and stared at Ma Chao.

"It seems that you are very curious about the shadow of the Ma family." Ma Chao also had this idea in his heart, but he wanted to directly order Huang Yuan to do it after the meeting was over, but when Sima Yi said it at this time, he couldn't help but turn to Huang Yuan and said, "Ugly brother, you know the situation of the shadow in Hanzhong, right?" I don't need to say more about what to do next. ”

"The last general understands, find out Zhang Lu's main force, and fight to the death!" Huang Yuan has never been ambiguous in major matters, let alone made any stupid mistakes. With that, he took his leave, presumably going to contact the Shadow immediately.

"Very good, today is better to rest at ease for the night, and continue to march tomorrow. After converging the two generals of Gan Ning and Zangba, they will discuss again. With a wave of his hand, Ma Chao ordered everyone to retreat. especially smiled at Sima Yi, and I don't know what he was playing with Sima Yi.

However, when Sima Yi left, he lowered his head and whispered: "Childish!" ”

Naturally, these words couldn't hide Ma Chao's sensitive ears, so that he, who had already begun to cross Erlang's legs and sip hot tea, suddenly couldn't cry or laugh: My brother is in his thirties in his two lives, and he is despised by a boy?

However, this embarrassment also left a ripple in Ma Chao's heart. Later, after Han Mengling arrived, his face returned to calm as before, and he even smiled kindly and said, "Miss Han, I only learned today that your Han family is still a side branch of the Han family in Jincheng. This kind of news makes me more and more interested in Miss Han. ”

"Since you already know this, and you know that I deliberately infiltrated the Ma family, why did you train me to be a shadow?" Han Mengling took a step forward, put on a cold expression, and said, "You're not afraid, I'll kill you secretly?" ”

"Kill me?" Ma Chao pointed at himself with his backhand, quite disapproving: "If you are in the shadow of the Ma family, you have thoroughly learned the martial arts of Wang Yue, Tong Yuan, and Shi A, plus all the courses such as poisoning and design, I will really be afraid of you." But ........"

Saying this, Ma Chao reached into his arms and took out a letter. With a flick of his wrist, the letter slowly flew towards Han Mengling's chest, revealing his superb skills.

Han Mengling took it with both hands, spread out the letter and looked at it, and couldn't help but be dumbfounded: "The Han family has already descended to your Ma family?" ”

"That's natural, otherwise why do you think I'd keep you alive until now?" Ma Chao smiled, it seems that he likes the frightened appearance of beautiful women very much: the pretty face is abrupt, the apricot eyes are round, especially the small mouth is slightly open, and the end has a unique flavor.

"And you called me tonight? ……..” Han Mengling checked the letter again, and after confirming that it was correct, she restrained her mood and asked Ma Chao.

"Naturally, because the military is hard, I can't sleep for a long time, look at the past, it's all big men....... if you have the heart, you can dance a song for me to relieve my loneliness."

"You're going to die!"