Sure enough, as Ma Tan expected, Gan Ning didn't wait for Ma Chao to ask him for reinforcements, so he sent a group of soldiers and horses across the mountain to the north. When Zhang Fei was still alive, he wrote to Gan Ning, asking him to send an army to join Liu Feng and attack Chengdu, but Gan Xingba refused. But Gan Ning also learned that the main force of Hanzhong was going south and the garrison was empty, so he discussed with his subordinates: "At the beginning of the Son of Heaven, the country is in turmoil, if the Wei people take advantage of the gap to attack, what can I do?" ”

Wang Ping suggested: "If the Wei people come, one will take Bazhong, and the other will take Hanzhong." There is a general in Bazhong to supervise, it is expected to be safe, but now Hanzhong is empty, and it is necessary to save - if Hanzhong is lost, the door is open, and I am afraid that Bazhong will not be able to hold on for a long time. ”

Gan Ning said Okay, then I will send Zijun you to reinforce Hanzhong, but - I don't have enough troops here, at most I will give you 3,000 soldiers and horses. Wang Ping patted his chest: "The soldiers are brave but not many, and Ping will live up to the trust of the general." ”

So Wang Ping led the 3,000 foot soldiers to the north through Xuanhan County to save Hanzhong. What he was most worried about was that he was one step late, the Wei army had already entered the Hanzhong Basin, and if he blocked Nanxiang County, he would have to go back to his home in disgrace. But I was afraid that I would bump into something, so I sent out a sentry from afar and came back to report: "Nanxiang City, all the Cao family flags!" ”

Wang Ping couldn't help but beat his chest: "I'm late!" But he was really unwilling, so he changed into civilian clothes that night, approached Nanxiang through the path, and saw with his own eyes - to see how many men and horses the defenders had, and whether there was a chance to make good use of it.

On the way, he ran into refugees who had escaped from the city, saying that the Wei army was only in the thousands, and that he had taken the city the day before yesterday. Today, there was a sudden search of the dwellings in the city. Slaughter pigs and sheep. It seems to be going to be a deception.

You must know that in this era, due to the limitations of material conditions, the daily meals of soldiers are very monotonous, and often can only eat half full. Wang Ping was strange: "When the Wei people first arrived, they didn't guard Nanxiang, where are they going?" "I thought about it for a while. Suddenly, a light flashed in my mind - "Do you have no desire to attack the city?!" ”

Wang Ping guessed correctly, thinking that Ma Jian and Ma Youchang easily captured Nanxiang County that day, and should have been firmly guarded to prevent the Pakistani army, but although Ma Jian said to Cao Zhen that the Pakistani army might go north in advance, it was just to find a reason to make an excuse for himself to lead an army to make meritorious contributions.

He sent people to visit the vicinity of Chenggu. It happened that Ma Chao recalled Du Lu, and the Wei army spies saw from a distance that the Shu army was demolishing the Gukou camp. Return to Ma Tan. Ma Tan was overjoyed: "If I can take the opportunity to consolidate the city with a thin city, then Ma Chao will retreat, and Akasaka is easy to get, and this is the first achievement!" So he collected meat in the city, gave the soldiers a good meal, and planned to go out of the city early tomorrow morning to attack Chenggu - not necessarily able to fight, but to put on an offensive posture to force Ma Chao to come back to help, and it is not too late for me to come back to defend Nanxiang after I am done.

Who thought that Ma Jian would only leave on the front foot, Wang Ping's back foot went straight to the city of Nanxiang, and the Shu people in the city stole open the city gate, let the Shu army enter, and killed all the hundreds of Wei troops who stayed behind. When Ma Tan heard the news on the way, he was shocked, and hurriedly turned around to take it - he came back quickly, and the city gate had not yet had time to close, even if he fought with Wang Ping in Nanxiang City.

Although the prince's use of soldiers is not skillful, but quite strict, and Ma Youchang is still the first time to lead the army into battle, only to fight, only to find that the war book and battle strategy are only written in a general direction, lack of specific implementation of the detailed rules - for example, the enemy army climbs high and shoots long-distance, blockade the street, what should you do? What part of a city should be controlled first in order to steer the tide of war in its favor?

Originally, the number of soldiers on both sides was about the same, and the Shu army was slightly less than the Wei army, and the Shu army came from afar, and had just captured the city and fought a battle, and was slightly tired, but the Wei army only ate a good meal last night, and slept peacefully, and its physical strength was still at its peak. However, "one general is incompetent, exhausting the three armies", only more than half an hour, the Wei army was defeated, Ma Jian finally led the remnants to withdraw from the city, and then walked around the city, and fled back to Shiquan in one breath.

At this time, Fang Ling Taishou Shen Yi was in Shiquan City, and there were only more than 2,000 people in the department. In fact, if these two thousand people and the remnants of Ma Jian were defended, Wang Ping would definitely not be able to take it, but as soon as the morale of Ma Tan's army was depressed, Shen Yi panicked again, so he hurriedly sent a fast horse to inform the front line - "Nanxiang is lost, and the Pakistani army is nearly 10,000, come to attack my back road!" ”

Cao Zhen got revenge, and he was so angry that he kicked over the several cases in front of him, and then glanced at Niu Jin, and said in his heart that you recommended a good talent! Niu Jin also felt that his face was gloomy, but he couldn't understand it, even if the Pakistani army really had 10,000 people, there was no reason why Nanxiang County would fall in an instant without warnings? How did Ma Youchang fight this battle?! "It's a pity that the success has failed, and now I have to retreat."

We had to retreat to Shiquan for the time being, and at the same time urge Jingzhou to allocate grain and grass to find another opportunity to enter the Han Dynasty.

At this critical juncture, Xu Gongming was very calm, he analyzed: "Ba County is vast, according to the secret agents, the garrison is less than 20,000, and it is divided into counties, and the people who can be used by Gan Ning are only 10,000 people. How dare he come out with all his teachers to help Hanzhong? If he really comes, then the Jingzhou army can go straight to Yufuye. Therefore, as I expected, there were no more than 3,000 enemies......"

Niu Jin said no, Ma Jian has 4,000 troops under his hands, and he took Nanxiang City in advance, if the other party only has 3,000 soldiers, how can he defeat it in an instant? Xu Huang rolled his eyes: "I don't know." "Who knows how your baby fights?

Ignoring Niu Jin at the moment, he continued to state his thoughts: "The army can also retreat, but it doesn't have to be far. Today, Chisaka can go down every day, and I retreat sharply, Ma Chao will inevitably come to chase, luring his cavalry into the mountain road, and it is easy to break. ”

Cao Zhen said that this is a good plan, but what if Ma Chao refuses to chase after him? Xu Huang said with a smile: "Then I will do my best to break the enemy of Nanxiang and rest in the mountains for the time being." Now that Zhang Junyi is in the west, he will attack Yangping urgently, and Ma Chaoan has a reason to stay for a long time and not leave? Wait for it to go, and I will go forward. ”

Didn't you Ma Chao want to block me? But you can block one end, but you can't block two ends, while our grain and grass have not been eaten up, temporarily retreat to show weakness, and when Ma Chao is gone, it is not too late for us to fight Akasaka.

Cao Zhen bowed his head, so he retreated overnight, but Xu Huang was ambushed on both sides of the mountain road. Seek an opportunity to snipe Ma Chao's pursuit team. Besides, Ma Chao got up the next day and took a look. The Wei army retreated overnight. I can't help but wonder: "I thought he would break Akasaka in three days, how could he retreat?" Ma Dai said, "This must be exhausted." "They also didn't expect that the reinforcements from Bazhong would arrive so soon, and they would be able to break through Nanxiang in an instant.

Ma Chao said that since this is the case, let's try to chase it. Ma Dai hurriedly stopped: "No." "The enemy retreated into the mountain road, and it was not easy for our cavalry to march on the mountain road, and it was easy to be ambushed, so it was better to let it go. Ma Chao shook his head: "Today, Zhang He is in a hurry to attack Yangping." Chen Shi is in a hurry three times a day, and I can't be drowning here for a long time. And if you don't chase and take the opportunity to break the enemy's courage, Cao Zhen will wait for me to go and come back, what can I do? "The most favorable situation for us is that the pursuit is successful, killing the Wei army, coupled with their lack of food and grass, they will shrink in the area of Shiquan and Xicheng in a short period of time, and dare not attack Chisaka in a big way. Then I will have the opportunity to save Yangpingguan in the west and find an opportunity to kill Zhang He. So. You'll have to try to chase it.

Immediately ordered, ordered Chen Cao to lead 4,000 foot soldiers to pursue, he himself led the rest of the army, especially the cavalry, to rest under the Chisaka for a day, if the situation did not change much, he could save Yangping in the west.

Half a day after Chen Cao went, he suddenly rode into the Ma Chao camp with his front and back feet. The first horse was the envoy sent by Wang Ping to contact, in fact, the prince did not dare to really attack Shiquan, just bluffed, in order to confuse the Wei army, the main force is still in Nanxiang, the envoy came from Chenggu in a circle. Ma Chao was shocked when he heard the report: "It turns out that the enemy is not running out of food!" Hurriedly ordered: "Summons Chen Cao back quickly!" But then came the news that Chen Cao was attacked in Golden Town, was killed by an arrow, and his subordinates scattered......

Over there, Xu Huang not only set up an ambush and defeated Chen Cao, but also got the news that the Pakistani army had not sent to Shiquan, and did not wait for Cao Zhen to take the initiative to wave his army to kill back. Ma Chao had no choice but to answer Liu Ning out of Chisaka and retreat to the city in embarrassment. In this way, the Wei army finally captured Chisaka and stepped into the flat, and then Cao Zhen ordered to loot all the nearby houses for me, and not a single grain of grain could be spared!

Besides, Wang Ping heard that Chihan had been lost, and he was forced to abandon Nanxiang and come to Chenggu to meet Ma Chao. The remnants of the soldiers from all walks of life gathered, and there were nearly 10,000 people. Ma Chao said I have no way to retreat, let's have a decisive battle with the enemy in Chenggu, if you can get lucky to kill it, then Hanzhong can still be saved, if you are defeated, you can only give up Hanzhong, retreat to Zilu first, and the garrison will rush to the Sword Pavilion.

Why hasn't the south been finished yet? Whether it's Liu Chanying or Liu Fengying, you guys hurry up and send someone over for reinforcements!

In the midst of panic, bad news came one after another. First of all, I saw the banner of the Liangzhou Army under Yangping Pass, and it is estimated that Xia Zhi has been lost; Secondly, Chen Shi sent an envoy to report, saying that I would defend Yangping for five more days at most, and if there were no reinforcements, the pass would be broken; The third piece of news, another Wei army came from Keigu and won the praise.

If you want to talk about this third Wei army, it is naturally the capital governor is Xun is led by Hongfu. Shi Xun was in Hanzhong, and the people around Xingwen responded, and soon gathered more than 10,000 people, but he didn't plan to leave - there was good news from the front line, and I knew that the battle of Hanzhong was won, so I could pick the fruit. But Lu Ziming urged three times a day, saying that as the main general, it is not possible for you to stay in Chang'an all the time, and you will also have to make an appearance in Hanzhong!

Lu Meng was very depressed, he was going to follow Cao Zhen and make meritorious contributions to Shu, but he was called back by Shixun, and from then on, he was sent to the shogunate and began to coordinate the transportation of soldiers, horses, and grain. He said in his heart that from Eastern Wu to Cao Wei, my fame was all made by fighting, you are a captain, don't look at me as a clerk for a while, just use me as a staff officer or even a subordinate. Look at you like this, do you want to wait for the dust of the battle of Hanzhong to settle before moving forward, so what credit can I make by following you?

Therefore, he repeatedly urged, and said that the Shu people were not strong enough to retreat to the surrounding areas of Nanzheng, and the forts set up at the mouth of each valley were very limited. After all, Cao Zhen and they are also fighting a hard battle, although the Shu people are outnumbered, if we don't go to reinforcements, there is really no way to win. All in all, it's useless for you to wait with Chang'an, you have to enter Hanzhong, and this battle can be won.

Yes Xun was urged by him to be angry, and just as he was frustrated, he also rushed to Chang'an, Shi Xun waved the front-line battle report to him and asked, "Does Zifu think I should enter?" After pondering for a long time, he replied: "The opportunity must not be missed, if the success is not achieved because of the Governor of the Governor's army, I am afraid that Your Majesty will have nothing to explain." "It's Xun Xin who said that since Fu Zhu and Lu Meng both said that they should move forward, then okay, I'll listen to the words of the professionals and try to move a nest...... (To be continued.) )