Shi Ziling carefully considered Ma Yu's analysis and strategy, and finally shook his head. ”

Everyone was amazed and asked why.

Shi Ziling said: "Although Xiahou Yuan's general trend has gone, and the chance of forming a two-sided attack with us is very small, there is still such a possibility after all. Even if we are one step late, we can still save some of the Xiahou family's foundation and bloodline, so that they will not be killed by Li Yuan. This is the purpose of our expedition, although it is only a nominal purpose, but it is reasonable to give an explanation to others. ”

"Second, I don't think the strategy of using Li Xiaoyao to lure Li Yuan into our ambush will work. Although my dementor ** is magical, it can only fool ordinary people, and it is estimated that it is difficult to fool a top master like Li Yuan. After Li Xiaoyao's mind was controlled by me, it was very different from before after all, and with Li Yuan's vision and attainments, he would definitely be able to see the flaws, so Li Xiaoyao couldn't use it like this. ”

After listening to Shi Ziling's analysis, the generals also felt that it was quite reasonable, and everyone talked about it a lot, and they had no idea for a while.

Ma Yu pondered for a long time, sighed and said: "I don't know much about your soul dementor, since you said that you can't use Li Xiaoyao to deceive Li Yuan, then you should really reconsider." It's just that we have just taken Yanzhao Pass, so we must leave some troops to guard the pass, right? In this way, the forces that can send troops to rescue Xiahou Yuan will be even more limited. ”

"Although it is unprepared, if the disparity in strength is too great, I am afraid that it will also be dangerous, you must know that our opponent this time is the peerless hero Li Yuan himself. ”

Shi Ziling said: "Nangong Xia's Narcissus Legion should arrive later, I think we will send troops as soon as Nangong Xia arrives? ”

Ma Yu said solemnly: "Ziling, I didn't say anything last time you handed over Mijing City to Nangong Xia's people to take over, because at that time I was also worried that our troops would be a little insufficient to deal with Yan Zhaoguan, which Li Xiaoyao was in charge of. But this time, we must not hand over Yan Zhaoguan to Nangong Xia like last time. ”

"Yanzhao Pass is located in the northwest traffic artery, is the most important pass, with the terrain is dangerous and easy to defend and difficult to attack. With Yan Zhao in hand, our military horses can be dispatched at will, whether they are going north or west, and they can attack and retreat and defend, which is very important for us to unify the northwest land in the future. Therefore, we must leave a part of the army and horses to firmly control this place, and if we give it up, it will not be so easy to recapture this level in the future. ”

Ma Yu's words were immediately unanimously agreed by all the generals present, and Wei Song said: "What the military advisor said is extremely true, although Nangong Xia is our ally, he is also one of the heroes in the world, and their Nangong family has always had the intention of competing for hegemony in the world. Once Nangong Xia has the selfish intention to dominate Yan Zhao Pass and not leave, it will not be as easy for us to easily regain this level as it is today. ”

"In case the decisive battle between us and Li Yuan goes unfavorably, once Nangong Xia sees the wind and changes his mind, we may even be attacked by the enemy. So please think twice, the legion commander, we must not give up such an important Yan Zhaoguan to the Nangong family this time. ”

Yu Wei also echoed loudly: "That's it, how can we give the country we worked so hard to give to that old fox in Nangong Xia? Ziling, you can't be too honest, I think we should also get it back in Mijing City." ”

Shi Ziling was a little stunned, he didn't expect that suddenly everyone was unanimously opposed to giving up Yan Zhao Pass, he smiled bitterly: "I also know that Yan Zhao Pass is extremely important, but our Songhu Legion has a total of more than 50,000 people, plus Yin Qi's 10,000 troops are only 60,000 people, and the strongest elite of Li Yuan's army is of course the more people the better." ”

"If I leave some of my men to guard this pass, the disparity between the strength of our army and Li Yuan's army will be even greater. Li Yuan's strength is not below me, if the disparity between the forces of the two sides is too great, even if we can attack him unprepared, we are not much sure of winning. ”

Yu Wei said: "So, Ma Yu is right, you don't have to rush to save Xiahou Yuan." We are not related to the Xiahou family, he is finished and finished, what is there to worry about?"

Ma Yu said: "Ziling, I know that you are worried about the safety of your father-in-law Bai Wuya, and I also understand that since you sent troops in the name of rescuing Xiahou Yuan, you should naturally give an explanation to the people of the world." If you insist on sending troops immediately, I will not stop you. But you must leave half of the military horses to guard Yanzhao Pass, so that even if you are frustrated, there is still Yanzhao Pass to defend when you retreat, and you don't have to worry about having no foothold in the northwest. ”

"Half a military horse?"

"Yes, half a military horse. Ma Yu said affirmatively: "You left half of the army and horses and only 20,000 or 30,000 people, Yanzhao Pass is so important, how can you control it without 20,000 or 30,000 people? This is the most important pass in the northwest, and there is absolutely no room for loss, you see that Li Yuan has left 50,000 elite soldiers for Li Xiaoyao." ”

Shi Ziling was quite helpless, he also understood that Yanzhao Pass was the most important strategic pass in the northwest, and it was not wrong for Ma Yu to insist on leaving half of the army and horses to guard this pass, but the purpose of their trip was to deal with Li Yuan after all, if they couldn't defeat Li Yuan with a surprise force, even if they obtained Yanzhao Pass, it would not be a long-term solution after all.

After thinking for a long time, Shi Ziling finally said: "Okay, according to Ma Yu's meaning, we will send people to stay behind in Yan Zhaoguan." This expedition to the northwest, even if we can't defeat Li Yuan's army in one fell swoop, if we can hold the two important cities of Yanzhao Pass and Mijing City in our hands, it will also be a great constraint on Li Yuan's hegemony. It's just that in that case, we will have to be prepared for a long and bitter battle in the northwest. ”

"But I won't leave half of the army and horses, now the main elite of Li Yuan's army is all in Black Dragon City, and the rear is extremely empty, so it shouldn't pose too much threat to Yanzhao Pass for the time being, I plan to leave 10,000 troops to guard Yanzhao Pass." The remaining 50,000 horses followed me and immediately went north to raid Li Yuan's back, hoping that he would have time to save the Xiahou family. ”

"Ten thousand troops?"

Ma Yu frowned and said: "Although the northwest area is dominated by Li Yuan and Xiahou Yuan, in fact, there are still many small and medium-sized potential forces around, and these potential forces are superficially dependent on Li Yuan or Xiahou Yuan, but if they see an opportunity, they may not take the opportunity to make trouble." ”

"Besides, the Li family has been operating in the Western Regions for many years, and there are still many people and horses in small towns around him who are loyal to him, if they join forces to respond to Li Yuan's counterattack, even if Yanzhao Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, if only 10,000 troops are left, they will definitely be able to defend it. ”

Shi Ziling said: "I am also helpless, who let us only have such a small number of troops? I plan to separate 5,000 elite soldiers from the Songhu Army to stay at this pass, and then leave Yin Qi's 5,000 troops with a total of 10,000 troops, which should be able to cope for a while." The remaining 50,000 troops and horses will immediately go with me on the march, so that even if Li Yuan is prepared, he can barely fight. ”

Wei Song said: "10,000 troops to guard Yanzhao Pass is indeed a little less, but there is no better way to do it at the moment, but I don't know who the legion commander wants to let stay and lead the army to guard this pass?"

Shi Ziling glanced at all the generals and said with a smile: "The 10,000 leaders must not only be able to hold Yanzhao Pass, but also be able to persuade Nangong Xia, who felt later, to come to my aid, in case we are defeated, this person must also be able to attack in time to meet us." Such a difficult errand can only be done by Ma Yu alone. How about the military advisor, you just have to work hard, right?"

Ma Yu smiled bitterly: "As soon as you said that you were only willing to leave 10,000 people to guard Yanzhao Pass, I expected that I must be asked to do this thankless drudgery, alas, it's okay for me to do it, but if something happens, don't blame me!"

Shi Ziling said with a smile: "You said it yourself, Yanzhao Pass is a battleground for soldiers, of course I have to leave the most trustworthy person here to guard the dispatch, so that I can rest assured that I can go to the front line to fight Li Yuan." Now who else in the army can take on this role besides you, a genius military advisor?"

All the generals also felt that only Ma Yu was worthy of this position, Yu Wei said to Ma Yu with a smile: "We really have to fight with Li Yuan this time, you have to fool Nangong Xia, the old fox, to catch up and support us quickly, otherwise it will be a bad thing for us to go." ”

Ma Yu sighed: "I'll do my best, Nangong Xia, an old fox, is too good at preserving his strength, and if he is not sure, he will not fight directly with Li Yuan, I have to think carefully about how to persuade him." ”

Shi Ziling said: "Since everyone has no objections, then without further ado, I will lead the troops on the road, and this place will be all handed over to you." ”

Ma Yu Zhengse said: "Ziling, although you have the advantage of being a surprise soldier, after all, the army is obviously at a disadvantage, and you must not take too much risk in order to rescue the Xiahou family." If we suffer a heavy setback, not only will our expedition be wasted, but there will also be big trouble in the east in the future, so you must put our great cause first!"

Shi Ziling nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry, I have my own measure." ”

Both of them regard each other as the most trustworthy people, and both have a common goal of dominating the world as soon as possible, so although there will be disputes, it will not hinder the friendship between the two. The two shook hands heavily and said goodbye.

Shi Ziling drew 5,000 elite soldiers from the Songhu Army, and left 5,000 people from Yin Qi's surrendered army, a total of 10,000 horses and horses left to Ma Yu to guard Yanzhao Pass. Although these troops are not many, Shi Ziling believes that with Ma Yu's ingenuity, he should be able to ensure that Yan Zhaoguan is safe and sound.

The remaining 50,000 military horses were still divided into three echelons by Shi Ziling, the first echelon was a special attack division of more than 15,000 people, led by Shi Ziling himself, the second echelon of 20,000 military horses was led by Wei Song, and the Duanmuxuan and Duanmulun brothers still led 15,000 people.