In October of the ninth year of Jian'an, Liu Biao stopped providing grain and grass to Liu Bei, and ordered Liu Bei to withdraw his troops from Luyang. Liu Bei had no choice but to withdraw his troops from Luyang.

Because Ma Hong did not declare war on Cao Cao, he did not ask Liu Biao at that time, Liu Biao thought that this was Ma Hong's challenge to his rights, if this continued, it would inevitably start a full-scale war with Cao Cao, so he not only ordered Liu Bei to withdraw his troops, but also sent people to order Ma Hong to withdraw his troops to Xiliang. In addition, Liu Biao also did one thing, that is, he sent someone to Nanyang Xinye with the intention of taking Ma Hong's family to Xiangyang as a hostage, but Nanyang Taishou Li Yan refused to do so, and sent someone to send Ma Hong's family to Hanzhong overnight. Liu Biao was furious because of this, and dismissed Li Yan's officials, and Li Yan had to take the foot soldiers into Hanzhong under the response of Deng Zhi and Yang Yi.

Ma Hong worked hard to defeat Chang'an, and if he withdrew his troops, he would not fall short, so Ma Hong refused to withdraw his troops. But Liu Biao's actions made the relationship between Ma Hong and Liu Biao tense, and due to Liu Bei's withdrawal of troops, Ma Hong had to deal with Cao Cao's army alone.

After Liu Biao's control of Ma Hong failed, he did not immediately take the next step, but was in a wait-and-see attitude.

After Liu Bei withdrew his troops, Cao Cao mobilized Cao Ren and Zhang Liao of Luyang, and ordered Manchu to defend Luyang and concentrate his forces to attack Ma Hong. In November, Cao Cao ordered Xiahou Yuan to be the main commander with Jia Xu and Xun You's strategy, Cao Hong, Zhang He, and Cao Xiu as deputy generals, and Xu Shu as the military division, leading 40,000 troops to continue to confront Ma Hong in Huayin, and he personally led the army to detour through Hedong County, and the troops were divided into four routes, and attacked Ma Hong's rear from the north to the south in multiple lines. The first road is to march from Rui Township to Huayin; The second route was that Cao Ren and Zhang Liao led their troops across Weishui to attack Zheng County (present-day Hua County); The third road was crossed by Xiahoudun and Xu Huang and Cao Cao on the fourth road led by the main force to Chang'an City.

Ma Hong first heard that Cao Cao led the main force to retreat, leaving only Xiahou Yuan to confront him, Liu Ye and Ma Hong realized that Cao Cao would have a big move, so Ma Hong guarded Huayin with Gan Ning and Liu Ye, and ordered Ma Xiu and Ma Tie to guard Zheng County, Yang Fu continued to lead troops to guard near Rui Township, Ma Hong personally led 8,000 cavalry and Huang Zhong Wei Yan to advance south with Huang Zhong Wei Yan to Rao Huashan to attack Cao Cao's rear.

Huayin, Ganning military camp, Gan Ning suddenly got the news, saying that Zhang Xiu rebelled, led his troops to fight fiercely with Xiahou Yuan, and fled to the vicinity of Ganning military camp, saying that he was going to surrender to Ma Hong.

Gan Ning asked Liu Ye if he should surrender.

Liu Ye pondered for a while and said: "Zhang Xiu suddenly rebelled at this juncture, I expected that there might be fraud. ”

"The military advisor felt that there was fraud in it, so I tested him and led the army to attack Zhang Xiu, if Xiahou Yuan came to help, it would prove that Zhang Xiu was a fraud." Gan Ning said.

Liu Ye shook his head and said, "If that Zhang Xiu and Xiahou Yuan deliberately led our army into battle, then they didn't fall for Xiahou Yuan's plan?" ”

"How does the military advisor think he should deal with it?" Gan Ning asked.

"At this time, Zhang Xiu surrendered, without his family, most of them were fake surrenders, Xu Shu may have taken the opportunity to lead our army to rescue Zhang Xiu or he wanted to send Zhang Xiu into our army, so as to find out the movements of our army." Liu Ye said.

"Then how should we respond to Zhang Xiu now?"

"Write a letter in the name of Ma Hong to tell Zhang Xiu that we are willing to surrender, but let him hold on for another three days, and we will rescue him after three days."

"During this period, we will send scouts to take a closer look to see if Zhang Xiu and Xiahou Yuan really fight?" Gan Ning asked.

Liu Ye nodded and said, "Yes." ”

"Strategist, I have a question for you." Gan Ning said.

"General Gan, but it doesn't matter." Liu Ye said with a smile.

"Xu Shu is the senior brother of you and Shu Chang, so who is stronger between you and Xu Shu?" Gan Ning asked.

Liu Ye smiled, stretched out his tongue and licked his upper lip and said, "Then you just wait and see!" ”

Zhang Xiu got the news of Gan Ning, Gan Ning said that he would prepare to rescue Zhang Xiu in three days, Zhang Xiu had to lead his troops to continue to fight with Xiahou Yuan, three days later, Zhang Xiu's 2,000 soldiers died and fled a lot, Zhang Xiu fought to less than 100 people, Gan Ning led the army to rescue Zhang Xiu, and accepted Zhang Xiu.

"Military advisor, the scout came to report, Zhang Xiu was beaten really badly, the soldiers were killed and injured countless times, it seems that he really betrayed Cao Cao."

Gan Ning said.

Liu Ye smiled slightly and said: "General Nagan, let me ask you, if you are Zhang Xiu, what would you do if you received a letter from Ma Hong, which said that you would stay for three days, and we would come to save you after three days?" ”

Gan Ning pondered for a while and said: "If I am Zhang Xiu, if I really betray Cao Cao, and receive such a letter, I will definitely not stick to it for three days, and who knows if Ma Hong will come to save me after three days." At that time, I probably fled south with my troops. ”

Liu Ye smiled slightly and said: "No, Zhang Xiu chose to believe in us, believing that we will save him in three days, is it possible that he is better with Senior Brother Ma, and I believe that Senior Brother Ma will not succeed?" ”

Gan Ning exclaimed: "Could it be that he and Xiahou Yuan are acting for us to see, this is also too realistic!" At the cost of the lives of thousands of soldiers. ”

Liu Ye licked his lower lip and smiled: "So sometimes what the eyes see is not necessarily true, from the perspective of interests, Zhang Xiu surrendered to us at this time, there is no benefit, from the overall situation, although the relationship between the junior brother and Liu Biao is a little tense, but nominally the junior brother is still Liu Biao's subordinate, Zhang Xiu's surrender to the junior brother, it means that he surrendered Liu Biao, just imagine that Zhang Xiu betrayed Liu Biao and surrendered to Cao Cao at a critical moment, if you are Zhang Xiu, will you do this?" Judging from the results, Zhang Xiu really persisted for three days, and Xiahou Yuan has not done him yet, although Zhang Xiu is a fierce general in Xiliang, but Xiahou Yuan is not a mediocre person, and he has not won the mutinous Zhang Xiu for three days. ”

"It turns out that the military advisor asked Zhang Xiu to wait for three days for this reason, and I admire it, but now that Zhang Xiu is in our army, should we..."

Gan Ning wiped his neck with his hand, and his eyes showed a fierce color.

Liu Ye shook his head and said: "No, Zhang Xiu's surrender is nothing more than to get some news from our military camp, so as to know the actions of our army, then we will show him." ”

Gan Ning laughed and said, "It's really fun to talk to the military advisor, so how should we act?" ”

Liu Ye licked his upper lip and attached it to Gan Ning's ear and whispered: "So, I'll see Zhang Xiu later, let's ...... like this"

When Gan Ning and Liu Ye saw Zhang Xiu, Zhang Xiu was covered in blood and his face was very bad, and when he saw Gan Ning, he immediately saluted Gan Ning and said: "General Gan, at that time, Xiu worked for Cao Cao, and it was really a last resort to fight with General Gan. ”

Gan Ning laughed and said: "General Zhang is a hero in the world, it is Gan Ning's honor to be able to fight with General Zhang. ”

Zhang Xiu forced a smile on his face and said, "Thank you, General Gan." ”

Gan Ning was overjoyed, and called left and right: "Come on, bring wine, I want to drink with General Zhang." ”

Liu Ye immediately stood up at this time and said, "General Gan, Senior Brother Ma has issued a ban on alcohol, and before leaving, he told you not to drink, you must not forget." ”

Gan Ning looked at Liu Ye, laughed, slowly walked towards Liu Ye, suddenly patted the sword on his waist and changed his face, looked directly at Liu Ye and said: "Now I am in charge, or you Liu Ye are in charge, don't think that you are close to the coach, just..."

Liu Ye didn't wait for Gan Ning to finish speaking, and snorted coldly and said, "General Gan, please pay attention to your words, it's useless for you to threaten me." ”

Gan Ningqi's teeth clenched and glared at Liu Ye angrily.

Liu Ye didn't dare to snort weakly, and looked directly at Gan Ning.

At this time, Zhang Xiu saw the situation and hurriedly persuaded: "Don't be angry, you two, we can drink this wine later." ”

Liu Ye snorted, walked out of the tent, walked to the tent door, turned to look at Gan Ning and said, "Don't want to drink secretly." ”

After Liu Ye finished speaking, he left with a sneer.

Gan Ning stood silently, his eyes bloodshot. (To be continued.) )