Yang Wei wanted to say more, but Zhuge Qiao nodded solemnly. "Ziyu, you're right, be prepared, the situation you said is indeed possible. As long as it is possible, no matter how likely it is, we cannot afford to be on guard. Yuan Xiu, you immediately invite the Zong Senjun to come, and we will discuss. ”

Yang Wei didn't think so, but he couldn't resist Zhuge Qiao's order, so he had to go. It didn't take long for Zong Pre to rush over, and after listening to Zhuge Qiao and Wei Ba's analysis, he frowned and pondered for a long time.

"Ziyu is reasonable, be prepared, we should be prepared in advance. However, this scale must be mastered. Meng Da is now not only guarding against Sima Yi, but also against us, presumably he won't want us to enter Xincheng County. If Sima Yi didn't come, but we arrived first, I'm afraid that things will not be beautiful. ”

Wei Ba saluted convincingly: "It's still a veteran and thoughtful member of the army, but I have neglected Meng Da's own thoughts." ”

Zong Yu smiled, turned to Zhuge Qiao and said, "I think we can order the striker to start attacking Shen Yi and prepare for the rescue, and at the same time send someone to inform Meng Da of our worries, so that he can rest assured and don't misunderstand what we think." ”

Seeing that the two soldiers had the same opinion, Zhuge Qiao no longer hesitated and immediately convened the generals to discuss the matter. After discussion, it was decided to personally lead 3,000 men and horses to Xicheng and advance the front to the border of Xincheng in the name of transporting supplies for support. Zong Pre accompanied him, and the task of staying behind was naturally handed over to Wei Ba. Wei Ba not only had to defend the city, but also to ensure the safety and timely delivery of food, which was not a light task at all.

After making arrangements, everyone acted separately, and Zhuge Qiao ordered Yang Wei to write a letter in a hurry and report the situation here to the camp of Canyang. Regarding Zhuge Qiao's Jihua, Yang Wei had reservations, he felt that Zhuge Qiao took Wei Ba's words too seriously, which was not possible at all. Who is Meng Da, he has led the troops to fight for more than 30 years, and has dealt with Sima Yi for so many years, is his understanding of Sima Yi not as good as Wei Ba?

"Yuan Xiu, don't say it anymore. Although Wei Ba said something absurd, we can't help but guard against it. He paused, and then said: "I didn't expect this result at the beginning, but Meng Da hesitated, or wanted to take the opportunity to blackmail, but I didn't expect that the city had not been repaired yet." ”

Yang Wei frowned and comforted: "It's no wonder you, it's Meng Da who wants to support the army and divide the three eastern counties." He had a ghost in his heart and refused to tell us about it, so he had to force us to make this decision, which was also a last resort. Otherwise, the prime minister's side won't be able to wait. The fighter plane is lost in a moment, how can it be dragged on endlessly. ”

Zhuge Qiao let out a long sigh and rubbed his face vigorously: "There was a mistake at the beginning, I'm a little worried." If Sima Yi really did what Wei Ba said, he hurriedly marched to Fangling without waiting for the edict, and Meng Da couldn't defend the Fangling and couldn't hold Sima Yi back, then the prime minister's plan would be greatly affected. The arrow is on the string, and it has to be sent, and there is no turning back when the bow is opened. ”

Back at his residence, Wei Ba was very angry. Zhuge Qiaoming knew that Meng Da had raised the anti-flag before he repaired the city, but he didn't take it seriously, just hid it from him, and was so excited. This is not only that he is too dull to realize the danger at all, but also he didn't regard Wei Ba as a cronie at all, and he didn't even reveal any news before, but today Deng Xian has returned from the camp in Weiyang, so he told him like a treasure.

His purpose was not to discuss, but to show off, a demonstration in disguise.

You see, without your help, we got things done, and we did it beautifully. Meng Da surrendered, and the three eastern counties returned to Shu Han, and there was no need to make a big move.

Zhao Guang and Elk Wei walked in, and when they saw Wei Ba's appearance, they were also silent.

"Zhongde, Zilie, I still feel a little unsteady." Wei Ba exhaled vigorously, "Zhuge Qiao is too careless, I'm worried that there will be twists and turns in the war." He, like Meng Da, didn't take Sima Yi seriously, and despised his opponent, which was very deadly. ”

Elk Wei pressed the knife, lowered his head, looked at the tips of his boots casually, and said lightly: "He was originally a talented person, nothing strange." ”

Wei Ba frowned and looked at Elway. Zhao Guang was also a little puzzled. After Elwei's uncle Elfang surrendered to Sun Quan, he has been a general in Jiangdong and has lived quite nourishingly. After Zhuge Liang took power, he formed an alliance with Jiangdong again, and he had to treat Elfang's affairs coldly, and there was no such thing. But for the elk family, this is a gap that has been loosened, although it is not good to show anything on the surface, there is still contact in secret. Zhuge Qiao was originally Zhuge Jin's son and had been growing up in Jiangdong, Elfang was no stranger to him, and it was not uncommon for Elk Wei to know some of Zhuge Qiao's past.

Feeling that Wei Ba and Zhao Guang were looking at him, Elk Wei raised his head, and the corners of his mouth were crooked: "He, like his brother Zhuge Ke, is a famous Jiangdong Junjie, but Zhuge Ke is capable, but he is personable." ”

Wei Ba rolled his eyes, everyone is a civilized person, and it is enough to say this. Graceful often means incompetence, in other words, embroidered pillows. Elk Wei's evaluation of Zhuge Qiao is a bit vicious. Not only that, but he was even a little disrespectful to Zhuge Liang. He dared to say this in front of him and Zhao Guang, this was to treat them as his own people, and at the same time it also meant tying them together.

"Zhongde, what should we do then? There should be no problem with 1,000 people guarding Anyang, but once an unexpected situation occurs on the front line, we can't just watch from the sidelines, right? ”

Zhao Guang frowned, thinking about it, there was still nothing to do. "Prime Minister ordered Zhuge Qiao to lead 5,000 people to Anyang, this situation should have been planned a long time ago, and our task is to bluff and give Meng Da the opportunity to strengthen the city defenses, rather than taking the initiative to attack Xicheng. If we really want to attack, if Zhuge Qiao's 4,000 people can't solve the problem, even if our 1,000 people join in, what's the use? ”

He walked to the map, lifted the cloth covering the map, and drew a line between Anyang and Fangling: "It is nearly six hundred miles from Xicheng to Fangling, and Shenyi is in Xunkou, if nothing else, Mulan Sai will also have heavy troops, and it is impossible for us to attack all the way forward with only our five thousand people." ”

Wei Ba also scratched his head a little. Of course, he knew that if 5,000 people defended the city, it would be a big strength, but when it came to siege, 5,000 people was too little. The normal casualty ratio of the attacking and defending sides is four to one or five to one, that is, if a thousand people defend the city, it is possible for five thousand to conquer it - just a possibility, even if it wins, it is a miserable victory, and in order to successfully conquer the city, there must be enough force advantage.

Sun Tzu said in the Art of War that ten are to encircle and five to attack, which mostly refers to field battles. The proportion of sieges is even greater. If you don't have siege equipment, you can't attack the city with ten times the number of troops, even if you have enough troops and enough siege equipment, but if you meet someone who is good at defending the city, you may also look at the city and sigh.

In history, there are a large number of people who have successfully defended the city with a small number of troops, and there is a Huo Jun in Shu Han, who defended Jiameng Pass with hundreds of troops, and faced the attack of more than 10,000 people, and defended it for a year. Hao Zhao's defense of Chen Cang shortly after the beginning of history made Zhuge Liang lose his temper, which is also a classic case.

Of course, Huo Jun and Hao Zhao defended the city well, but at the same time, it also showed that it was very difficult to attack the city.

There are more than 2,000 defenders in Xunkou, and if you count the Mulan Sai behind it, the Shu army of 5,000 people has no hope of conquering it at all, so they can only talk about their hearts and give Meng Da spiritual support.

That's all.

Wei Ba stared at the map, rubbed his fingers, weighed for a long time, and said, "The matter is critical, I want to write a letter to Ma Senjun." ”

……

In the camp of Weiyang, Zhuge Liang was mobilized before the most war. He has been preparing in Hanzhong for more than half a year, and everything is ready, just waiting for Meng Da to get up. When the news of Meng Da's rebellion against Wei arrived, his heart that had been hanging for a long time fell back into his belly, and he immediately summoned the generals and announced the Northern Expedition.

However, the scene was a little embarrassing, not because Zhuge Liang once again rejected Wei Yan's suggestion - after being vetoed several times, Wei Yan was already a little discouraged, drooping his head, sitting on the side without speaking, and feeling resigned to fate - but because Zhuge Liang unexpectedly appointed Ma Yan as the vanguard general.

This decision was questioned by almost everyone, and even Zhao Yun, who has been playing more and more skillfully and indisputably with the world recently, euphemistically expressed his opposition. As for the others, it was much more intense, although they didn't dare to say that Zhuge Liang was nepotistic, but the skeptical look in his eyes at Ma Jian had already said everything.

Zhuge Liang was very angry, but he didn't show any displeasure, just waved his hand and motioned for Hu Ji to continue announcing the order.

Hu Ji's face was calm, they had expected that this appointment would cause an uproar, so they were fully mentally prepared.

"Order, Zhendong General Zhao Yun, Zhongjian Army, Yangwu General Deng Zhi led 20,000 people, fanfare the banner, out of the Slope Valley, Benyi County, thinking that the army was suspicious."

Hu Ji finished announcing the order and looked at Zhao Yun with burning eyes. If Zhao Yun stands up and accepts the order, then the process can be smoothly transitioned, and the appointment of Ma Jian just now will be considered a final conclusion, and there will be no further discussion. In case Zhao Yun refuses to accept the order, or is still entangled in Ma Yan's appointment, then this matter will be troublesome.

The reason why Ma Yan's appointment was announced first, and then Zhao Yun's appointment was announced, was for this purpose.

Before Zhao Yun could stand up, Deng Zhi had already stood up and looked at Zhao Yun respectfully. Zhao Yun sighed softly, got up and took the order: "Huh." ”

Hu Ji breathed a sigh of relief, and Zhuge Liang, Ma Jian and others also breathed a sigh of relief. Hu Ji coughed, and his voice became louder.

"Order, General Zuo Wu Yi led an army of 20,000 people to stay in Hanzhong and stand by to move."

Wu Yi got up and clenched his fists to receive the order: "Oh." "—————— third more, ask for recommendation, ask for collection!