Cao Cao is a smart man and naturally knows how to weigh the pros and cons.

If there are no other variables, it is of course very important to compete with Liu Qi for Hanzhong, but compared with Wancheng and Hefei, even if Cao Cao really wins at all costs, the gains outweigh the losses.

Cao Cao's wisest choice at this moment was to retreat.

Hearing Pang Tong's words, Liu Qi couldn't help but laugh:

"Then it depends on how Cao Cao chooses, but in any case, this time will definitely be beneficial to our army. Whether it is Wancheng and Hefei to achieve results, or to win Hanzhong.

Since then, Cao Cao has been passive. ”

At the same time, Liu Qi asked:

"Do you think that if Cao Cao retreats, our army needs to pursue?"

Pang Tong groaned slightly, and said firmly:

"In today's situation, Yizhou needs to recuperate, including the soldiers of Jingzhou, who have been fighting for a long time, if they continue to expand the war, they will be reckless and unpopular."

Liu Qi was stunned.

This is indeed a problem.

At the beginning, the Jingzhou army had just pacified Jiangdong, and before they had rested for a few days, they were called to Yizhou by Liu Qi.

After fighting Yizhou and Hanzhong.

If Liu Qi continues to use soldiers, what will happen to these soldiers?

As the lord of a faction, there are many things to consider, and you need to recuperate when it's time to recuperate.

Anyway, since the start of the war, Liu Qi has gained enough things.

Huang Quan also expressed his attitude.

During this time, in order to supply the army with food and grass, it was not easy for the people of Yizhou, and they needed to be given time to rest.

Liu Qi said:

"Okay, as long as Cao Cao withdraws, we will stabilize the situation first, the people are really hard."

So.

When Liu Qi's army arrived in Nanzheng.

But I got the news that the tents of Cao's camp were not decreasing, but increasing, which was very wrong.

Liu Qi was slightly puzzled, but Pang Tong smiled and gave an explanation:

"The lord doesn't have to worry, Cao Cao is bluffing, the number of tent stoves has increased, but in fact, Cao's army must have withdrawn, and the lord might as well send someone to investigate one or two."

At this time, Liu Qi also thought of that allusion.

Wait for the probe.

Sure enough, as Pang Tong guessed, looking at the fluttering flag, Cao Cao had actually left.

Liu Qi will not continue to attack Cao Cao's territory. qs

But he still sent his troops and horses in pursuit.

Previously, he had already received news that Xu Shu and others had done a lot of work in Cao Cao's territory and robbed Cao Cao of a lot of grain and grass, which also had a great impact on the big victory.

Now that Cao Cao has retreated, of course, he can't let it go.

Liu Qi sent someone to send a message to the past.

Now that most of the territory of Wudu has been taken, the only city, with Cao Cao's withdrawal, Cao Ren can not always defend it, and he must learn to give up when he should give up.

Wudu and Hanzhong are connected.

This will be the passage for Liu Qi to enter Liangzhou and Yongzhou, even if he can't use it now, he can use it in the future.

In the city of Nanzheng.

Liu Qi met Wenpin.

During this time, Wen Ping led the soldiers and horses to garrison the city of Nanzheng, and there is no doubt that the process was difficult.

If it weren't for Wenpin's outstanding performance and the success of blocking Cao Cao, who had soldiers and horses several times his size, from the outside of Nanzheng City, Liu Qi would not have easily taken Hanzhong, and Cao Cao would not have retreated like this.

At that time, the best result will be that Cao Cao and Liu Qi will each occupy half of Hanzhong.

At this moment, Wen Ping's face was tired, and the continuous hard work made him lose his energy, which was also something that could not be helped.

"The last general has seen the lord."

Hearing this, Liu Qi nodded and said:

"Zhongye, you have worked hard during this time, if you hadn't led the troops to defend Nanzheng, Cao Cao would not have retreated like this, and we would not have easily occupied the entire Hanzhong.

This time to capture the battle of Hanzhong, you should be the first credit! ”

Liu Qi's words are sincere, such a great achievement as Wenpin, of course, should not be treated badly, he is not a stingy person.

After the arrangements are made.

Liu Qi was in Hanzhong to rectify military affairs.

Next, the land of Hanzhong will be completed

An important passage to curb the southward movement of Cao's army.

Xu Shu and others led the troops back.

Ma Teng also arrived in Hanzhong, after all, their initial goal was to take refuge in Liu Qi. Before, the two armies were at war, and it was inconvenient to come and go, but now that the battle is over, there are not so many restraints.

Now Ma Teng looks particularly haggard.

Fighting from the encirclement of Cao's army, he traveled long distances with arrow sores to make his body collapse.

Even after these days of rest, there is no way to fully recover. Looking at this appearance, Ma Teng is probably dying soon.

It was Liu Qi who eagerly received the people of the Ma family.

You must know that the strength of the generals of the Ma family army should not be underestimated, and bringing them under his command has greatly improved Liu Qi's combat power.

Moreover, Ma Teng's prestige in Xiliang is very high, and he will try to plot in Liangzhou in the future, and with the help of the Ma family's fame, he can get twice the result with half the effort.

Although Ma Teng is a military general, he is also very discerning in terms of life. Even if Liu Qi behaves very face-saving, they can't be self-righteous.

In the past, Ma Jiajun was very strong, but now they have become lost dogs, and there is no way to retreat, so they have to come to Liu Qi as a last resort, and they must be self-aware at this time.

After some greetings, Ma Teng said with a smile:

"Virtuous nephew, a hero like you is a good man of the first rank in the world, the old man has a daughter who is not yet married, and his appearance is reasonable, how about marrying a virtuous nephew?"

When he heard this, Liu Qi looked confused.

It was an unfolding he hadn't thought about at all.

Ma Teng's daughter, isn't that Ma Yunlu?

Could it be that he was going to rob Zhao Yun's daughter-in-law?

Thinking of this, Liu Qi hurriedly beckoned:

"Uncle's words are wrong, now that Qi has married a wife, it seems that he doesn't have such good luck."

Ma Teng smiled dumbly, and said disappreliantly:

"The virtuous nephew is wrong, a big husband like you, how can a woman be enough, now that the virtuous nephew has a wife, with the old man's daughter as a side wife, it doesn't hurt to be a concubine no matter how poor it is."

Liu Qi was stunned, but he could also sense the problem.

Don't look at Ma Teng's easy talk, but he is favored, Liu Qi can rest assured, and everyone in the Ma family can also rest assured.

This is equivalent to an additional bond between them.

After a brief silence.

Liu Qi gave his own reply, saying:

"Since my uncle said so, Qi was disrespectful."

Ma Teng breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile:

"Come on, nephew, old man toasts you."

After drinking this glass of wine, Ma Teng couldn't hold back, and suddenly coughed violently, looking extremely uncomfortable.

He's not doing well.

Liu Qi was about to speak, but Ma Teng said:

"The virtuous nephew doesn't have to worry, the old man is fine, just take a little rest, and today can be regarded as a heart disease."

Liu Qi suddenly nodded slowly and said:

"Uncle's illness, you can go to Jingzhou to see, there is a miracle doctor named Zhang Zhongjing, who is now in Xiangyang."