Zhang Fei left Deng Ai with the soldiers and horses after the break, and there were 5,000 people.

The crowd of 5,000 said not much, but said less.

Under normal circumstances, it is enough to cover the retreat of the army.

And because the Han army had been besieging the Wei army in Wancheng for months, many of the Han generals believed that Sima Yi would not lead his army to pursue them while they retreated.

After all, in terms of morale and troops, the Wei army was not superior.

But Deng Ai didn't take it lightly.

After Zhang Fei led his army to leave Wancheng for several miles, Deng Aicai led his army to set off from the camp tent and slowly retreated to cover Zhang Fei's army.

Zhang Fei not only left 5,000 Han troops to Deng Ai, but also left two strong generals to assist Deng Ai.

These two fierce generals are Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong.

As the second generation of the Great Han Yuan from the fame of the department, Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong are proud in their hearts.

Their fathers were all enemies feared by the world, so from the day they joined the army, they were bent on making a name for themselves so as not to disgrace their fathers' reputation.

It's just that Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong are both good at martial arts, and they are not good at strategy.

This makes it very rare for the two of them to make meritorious contributions.

There is Zhang Fei in Jingzhou, and I think that there is no Wei general at the moment who dares to ask the Jingzhou army to fight the general without fear of death.

There are not many opportunities for meritorious service, which leads to the fact that Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong's positions are not high at the moment - both of them are only Zhonglang generals.

And what about Deng Ai?

Before the Northern Expedition, Deng Ai became a Zhonglang general because of his achievements in the Southern Expedition.

Before being sent to Jingzhou by Mi Yang, Mi Yang was worried that Deng Ai was too young to serve the public, and specially moved Deng Ai to the "general of Xing Zhichong".

As far as Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong know, Zhang Fei recently deliberately removed the line on Deng Ai's head.

Of course, there are countless people in the Han army who are higher than Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong, but the important thing is that they are much older than Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong!

What's more, Deng Ai is just a subordinate of Mi Yang.

So much has changed over the years.

When it comes to their background, Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong are no worse than Mi Yang, and in their early years, they were also called the "Four Friends of the Prince" by the Chinese people in Chengdu.

But a few years have passed, and Mi Yang has left them behind to become a general above 10,000 people under one person, and even his subordinate Deng Ai has a higher position than them.

Such a huge contrast, how could it not make Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong feel delicious in their hearts.

They are all young people, and it is normal to be competitive.

Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong's thoughts in their hearts couldn't hide from Deng Ai.

It's not that Deng Ai's EQ has suddenly become higher, but mainly because Zhang Bao and Zhao Tongyi have been looking at him with inquiring eyes in the past few days.

Anyone who has been staring at it like this can guess why.

Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong are exploring, is their ability inferior to Deng Ai, or are they throwing themselves into the wrong army?

But fortunately, Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong are very strict in their family education, although they have incomprehension and taste in their hearts, but they will not turn such emotions into dissatisfaction with Deng Ai.

In the past few days, Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong have also been very obedient to Deng Ai's orders.

Originally, if there were no accidents, the relationship between the three of them should have developed so plainly, but there are always some people in the world who think they are smart and like to be demons.

When Deng Ai led his army to retreat to a plain more than ten miles away from Wancheng, a fast Wei army suddenly launched an attack on the Han army he led.

When he left Wancheng, Deng Ai was widely distributed in the rear, which made him prepared.

In addition, under Mi Yang's repeated blows, it is really difficult to have a large number of cavalry troops in the current Wei army.

So in the end, Deng Ai successfully commanded the Han army to repel the attack of the Wei army.

And after repelling this attack of the Wei army, Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong came to Deng Ai together and suggested:

"As the general of the chariot cavalry expected, the thief army planned to attack our army.

The attack of the thief army has been repelled by our army, and our army can join up with the general of the chariot cavalry as soon as possible. ”

The task given to Deng Ai by Zhang Fei was: if Sima Yi sent troops to pursue, then repelled the attack of the Wei army.

In this respect, Deng Ai's task is accomplished.

In addition, Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong knew that Zhang Fei would rush back to Chang'an before New Year's Day.

In other words, there is less than a month left for Zhang Fei to arrange the defense of Jingzhou.

In this case, if they could immediately meet Zhang Fei and rush back to Jingzhou as soon as possible, then it would undoubtedly save a lot of time.

Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong's suggestions sound quite reasonable.

It's just that Deng Ai shook his head and rejected the suggestions of the two.

Deng Ai's refusal made Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong puzzled.

Could it be that Deng Ai was worried that Sima Yi would launch an attack on them?

It's just not likely.

The art of war throughout the ages has been unfavorable to the pursuit of retreating enemy troops.

And even if you have to pursue, most of the generals have the attitude of giving it a try.

If the first attack was successful, then Sima Yi might have launched a second attack.

But the first attack of the Wei army can only be described as a dismal end.

After the defeated Wei army returned to Wancheng, he reported the well-guarded army to Sima Yi, so it is common sense to infer that Sima Yi would not launch a second attack.

It is precisely because of this inference that Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong will put forward that suggestion to Deng Ai.

But it is obvious that Deng Ai has his own ideas.

"The two generals don't know anything.

Since Ai came to Wancheng, he has watched Sima Lao Thief use soldiers.

In the past few months, our army has repeatedly attacked Wancheng, but they have all been repelled by the thief army, which is not only Wancheng is a strong city, but also because Sima Lao Thief is a good general.

Those who are good at guarding will have a calm character.

With the calmness of Sima Lao Thief, he would not rashly launch an attack on our army.

The thieves who came to attack our army today are not many and not fine, are they not different?

As far as I expected, today's attack by the thief army is a sign of weakness by Sima Lao's thief.

Our army should not take it lightly. ”

Deng Ai patiently explained his views to Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong.

In fact, in front of ordinary generals, Deng Ai's character is quite arrogant.

There is no way, Deng Ai was already an adult when he joined Mi Yang.

Mi Yang can change the trajectory of Deng Ai's life, but he can't reverse Deng Ai's stereotyped character.

It's just out of respect for Mi Yang, Deng Ai, who has always been arrogant, attaches great importance to Mi Yang, but he will try to remain humble.

After Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong listened to Deng Ai's words, they thought for a long time.

After thinking about it for a long time, Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong found that they still didn't understand Deng Ai's worries.

This is because in the past battles, these two people never paid attention to what kind of person Sima Yi was.

Moreover, everyone's talent in strategy is different, even if they pay attention, I am afraid it will be difficult for them to have such a keen judgment as Deng Ai.

However, seeing that although Deng Ai stammered, he still explained to himself word by word, and Zhang Bao and Zhao Tong did not continue to persuade him.

They are Mi Yang's friends and should trust Mi Yang's vision.

The distance of dozens of miles can be reached in one day for the fleeing cavalry.

That night, Sima Yi, who had been waiting for a long time, received the news.

Unsurprisingly, the soldiers and horses he sent to pursue the Han army were defeated.

The news of the fiasco not only did not make Sima Yi distressed, but also made his face appear happy.

Sima Yi's strange performance made Sima Shi on the side puzzled again.

When Sima Yi sent a cavalry army to pursue the Han army before, Sima Shi had advised Sima Yi: The Han army retreated in an orderly manner, and if it did not send elite soldiers to chase it, it would be difficult to work.

But Sima Shi's suggestion was ignored by Sima Yi.

And when the news of the failure of the pursuit came, Sima Yi was not annoyed but happy, why is this?

Sima Shi immediately asked Sima Yi about the confusion in his heart.

This time, Sima Yi did not ignore Sima Shi.

Sima Yi, who was in a good mood, smiled and said to Sima Shiyan:

"Zhang Fei besieged the city for several months, and he was sleepy and lacking horses, so I expected that he had already intended to withdraw from the army.

But Wancheng is close at hand, if there is no important matter, Zhang Fei will not be able to make up his mind to withdraw from Wancheng.

Since there is something important that prompts Zhang Fei to withdraw his troops, then Zhang Fei must be anxious to return to Jingzhou as soon as possible.

It's just that Zhang Fei is not an unwise person, he knows that the sudden withdrawal of troops may make our army have the desire to pursue.

Therefore, at the beginning, Zhang Fei would either personally lead the army to break the rear, or he would send elite troops to break the rear.

Judging from the battle reports I received today, my assumption is correct.

And I also said that the Han army was in a hurry and retreated.

Then, according to common sense, after the failure of our army's first pursuit, the Han army will take it lightly and retreat with all its might.

This kind of timing is what I really want. ”

After listening to Sima Yi's analysis, Sima Shi suddenly realized.

Father is clever!

Looking at the adoring gaze in Sima Shi's eyes, Sima Yi didn't care too much.

For Sima Yi, the more important thing at the moment was to gather the generals and pursue the Han army with all his might.

Thinking of this, Sima Yi immediately issued an order to summon the generals.

Returning from Wancheng to Jingzhou, there is a place that must be passed under normal circumstances.

This place is the South Gathering.

The south is a low-lying terrain, surrounded by mountains and forests, and rivers flowing through it, which is a natural place for soldiers.

After Sima Yi led tens of thousands of Wei troops to gallop for a while, he took out the map on his body and looked at it carefully during a short rest time.

Due to the early departure of the Han army, and the fact that most of the troops led by Sima Yi were infantry troops at the moment, it was impossible to pursue the Han army in a short period of time.

Therefore, Sima Yi's idea was to gather in the south as soon as possible and use it as a camping place for his soldiers.

After the base area is established, the next offensive action will be taken according to the actual situation.

Looking at the signs on the map, Sima Yi knew that he was not far from Nan Juju.

So Sima Yi hurriedly asked people to summon Niu Jin.

Niu Jin was originally Cao Ren's general, and after Cao Ren's death, he was deeply loved by Sima Yi because of his bravery.

After Niu Jin arrived, Sima Yi pointed to the south on the map and said to Niu Jin:

"I want you to lead an army of 3,000, and most of our army will gather and camp in the south first.

I don't know if you dare to take this appointment. ”

In the face of Sima Yi's inquiry, the stout Niu Jin immediately said angrily:

"Why don't you dare!"

Zhang Fei is about to retreat to Yuyang, why wouldn't he dare?

Niu Jin's heroic speech made Sima Yi's heart happy.

Sima Yi took an arrow and handed it to Niu Jin, and said expectantly to him:

"Go ahead!"

After taking the arrow in Sima Yi's hand, Niu Jin immediately turned around and left.

Looking at Niu Jin's departing back, Sima Yi's eyes became dark.

With the current situation, he could have avoided sending Niu Jin as a vanguard.

But for his own safety, he had better send a vanguard to the south first.

After Niu Jin led the army away, Sima Yi asked the remaining sergeants to rest first.

After resting almost, Sima Yi planned to lead the army to the south to gather.

Maybe it was Sima Yi's self-confidence that night that infected Niu Jin, and Niu Jin didn't feel that there would be any danger ahead.

As a pioneer, Niu Jin led the army all the way, but an hour later he arrived in the south to gather.

After coming to the periphery of Nanjuju, Niu Jin felt that Nanjuju was very quiet.

It was not the first time that Niu Jin had led his army to Nanjuju, so he was not unfamiliar with the terrain around Nanjuju.

Nanjuju was originally a large village, but after Zhang Fei's Northern Expedition, the people in Nanjuju were all moved away by Zhang Fei.

From this point of view, the tranquility of Nan Juju is not abnormal.

After a brief pause on the periphery, Niu Jin led 3,000 Wei troops to recklessly step into the southern gathering.

Topographically, Nanjuju resembles a valley.

It is surrounded by mountains in the west and rivers in the east.

There are only two entrances and exits in the north and south.

And just after Niu Jin led the army from the north entrance into the south of the gathering, the Han army, which had been hiding in the mountains and forests, appeared under the leadership of Zhang Bao to block the north exit of the south of the gathering.

The news of the appearance of the Han army in the rear soon reached Niu Jin's ears.

After hearing the news, Niu Jin couldn't help but be shocked.

Subconsciously, Niu Jin ordered the whole army to rush towards the southern exit of the south as soon as possible.

It's just that before the Wei army arrived at the southern exit, under the leadership of Zhao Tong, a Han army had already blocked the southern exit.

After the two exits in the north and south were blocked by the Han army, this means that the Wei army led by Niu Jin was completely trapped by the Han army in the southern gathering.

And just when the three thousand Wei troops were facing this shocking change, between the mountains in the west, Deng Ai led thousands of Han archers to appear in the eyes of the Wei army.

Looking at the many Han archers who were condescending and seemed to be connected with the surrounding grass and trees, the mentality of Niu Jin and the Wei army completely exploded.

Didn't the general say that the Han army was relaxed and unprepared at the moment?

What is the scene in front of you?

Looking at the panicked Wei army below, a smile appeared on Deng Ai's face.

It can be seen from the banner of the Wei army that the commander of this Wei army is the Pingnan general Niu Jin.

Although it is not Sima Yi, it is not a small credit to be able to capture and kill a general.

Realizing this, Deng Ai immediately waved the order flag.

Under the wave of the commanding flag, arrows rained down on the mountain, injuring a large number of Wei troops.

And Zhang Bao, who had long been hungry and thirsty, took the lead and killed Niu Jin with a gun.

I've heard you're very good at hiking.

Sima Yi, who led the army to set off again, soon discovered the abnormality after getting closer and closer to the south.

It's been so long, and Niu Jin hasn't sent a messenger to report on the camp.

And after the bad premonition in his heart came true under the scout's report, Sima Yi couldn't help but exclaim:

"The rider has not retreated!"

(End of chapter)