The Xiangyang Army, which had a smooth journey, was stationed in Deng County.

Along the way, the Xiangyang Army of the Northern Expedition did not encounter any decent enemy attack except for some Cao Wei's reconnaissance and cavalry harassment on the way, and Sima Yi did not send any large-scale army to stop it, almost allowing the Xiangyang Army to enter Deng County.

This situation made the three elementary schools led by Guan Ping very uneasy.

This is not in line with military common sense.

Deng County is less than a hundred miles away from Wancheng, and the rapid march is only two days' journey, while the normal march can be reached in about three days. With such an important geographical location, it doesn't matter if Sima Yi doesn't occupy it, and he doesn't even send an army to block and harass him, it's really a bit unreasonable, right?!

Although it is the first time for the three elementary schools to lead the army alone, it does not mean that the three of them are all rookies, and such a practice that violates military common sense, the three of them are all uneasy, strengthen their defense, and strive to be cautious.

Therefore, after successfully entering Deng County, Guan Ping immediately sent reconnaissance cavalry to investigate the surrounding enemy situation, for fear that the enemy army would make a detour and cut off the possibility of his own back road.

But although the three elementary schools all have some experience in leading the troops, it is also the first time to play the role of decision-maker, especially as the coach, Guan Ping, who needs to make up his mind, has too many concerns in this regard.

The three of them didn't think that Sima Yi didn't send an army to attack and stop because he didn't receive the news that the 40,000 people of the Xiangyang Army were moving north, and even if Sima Yi was a dead man, he should have received the information.

Not to mention, although there was no enemy attack on this road, the enemy's scout cavalry and the Han army's scout cavalry clashed, and the density was not low, and there was no reason for the Wei army not to get any information.

Therefore, before figuring out Sima Yi's plan, Guan Ping really didn't dare to rush into the army, for fear of falling for Sima Yi's tricks.

On this point, Deng Ai has a positive attitude.

Sima Yi, Deng Ai actually has experience in dealing with people.

The first time the two fought was during the First Northern Expedition, Deng Ai had a whim and wanted to venture into Runan County, but when he passed through Xuchang, he happened to meet Sima Yi personally leading the troops to attack Xinye. The two sides fought in a daze, and finally ended with Deng Ai retreating to Xinye and holding on.

In that fight, Deng Ai had just joined the army, and his methods were still immature, and when he reviewed it afterwards, Deng Ai found that he had actually made a lot of mistakes. But that's not the reason why Deng Ai really failed.

The reason for Deng Ai's real failure was that Sima Yi was quite sophisticated in his military methods, and he did not show too many flaws from beginning to end, and used his power to oppress Deng Ai, forcing Deng Ai to give up his tactical goals and finally retreat to Xinye.

In that battle, Sima Yi lamented that Deng Ai was terrifying, and similarly, Sima Yi's impression on Deng Ai was also very profound.

After the second battle, it was during the second Northern Expedition, Sima Yi replaced Zhang Liao to command the defensive battle of Wancheng, Deng Ai tried to pretend to be Wei army reinforcements to open the city gate, it was not Deng Ai who saw the opportunity quickly, and he withdrew quickly enough, he may have been deceived by Sima Yi into the urn city, and was killed by random arrows.

In the two confrontations, Deng Ai was all at a disadvantage, and in the face of Sima Yi, Deng Ai, who was somewhat influenced by the master, felt that he could not be too cautious.

The old fox is not easy to deal with.

However, although Deng Ai agrees with Guan Ping's mentality of being careful, he can't just stay in Deng County all the time.

Indeed, from the perspective of war, we can't be rash, and in the face of Sima Yi's obvious violation of military common sense, if you can't find Sima Yi's intention to do so, and enter the army without authorization, you may fall into the trap carefully arranged by Sima Yi.

However, because he has not been able to understand the intentions of the enemy commander and has never entered the army, this military operation to Wancheng will also fail because it cannot achieve its strategic purpose.

So. After staying in Deng County for five days to recuperate, Deng Ai couldn't help it.

He suggested that Guan Ping, if it really didn't work, divide his 10,000 troops, and let him rush to the vicinity of Wancheng to investigate the specific situation.

The purpose is not to break the enemy, but to mobilize the enemy's movement through its own movement, so as to find the real strategic purpose of the enemy's army.

This trick, speaking of which, was also taught by Zhang Xi to Deng Ai to focus on me, mobilize the enemy army, and lure the enemy army to take the initiative to expose their flaws.

It's not a new trick, it's a common trick of the rabbit army in later generations, and it's a summary of years of war experience.

However, in this era when few people have read military books, this kind of summary of war experience, to a certain extent, even if there is a general with more than ten or twenty years of experience in leading troops, he may not be able to sum it up.

Therefore, when Deng Ai talked about this strategy, Guan Ping and Guan Xing both felt that what Deng Ai said made sense.

By observing the direction of the enemy's troop adjustment, you can see the enemy's defense priorities and guess the enemy's strategic purpose.

Moreover, even if Sima Yi really had a conspiracy and set up an ambush to surround the 10,000 vanguard army led by Deng Ai, Guan Ping had 30,000 men in his hands, at least he could lead the troops to respond. Although it is a bit risky, it is much better than guarding Deng County's blind guess Sima Yi's purpose.

Guan Ping, who couldn't think of a better way, finally agreed to Deng Ai's strategy, divided 10,000 troops to Deng Ai, and asked him to launch a tentative attack on Wancheng.

And Deng Ai's move made Sima Yi, who was in Wancheng, frown a little.

In fact, Sima Yi didn't have any conspiracy at all, he just delayed time.

Regarding this point, in fact, as early as when the Xiangyang front army led by Guan Ping arrived in Xinye, Sima Yi's eldest son, Sima Shi, had specifically suggested to Sima Yi whether to send troops to intercept it layer by layer and prevent the Shu thieves from approaching Wancheng.

Even, Sima Zhao volunteered and was willing to lead 5,000 soldiers and horses to rush to Deng County, occupy where to defend.

But Sima Yi refused.

This place in Deng County is not that Sima Yi does not want to occupy it, but there is no need to occupy it immediately.

In the last Northern Expedition, after the Shu thieves withdrew, Deng County was basically in a situation of three regardless, Sima Yi did not send people to recover this place, and the Shu thieves did not leave troops to defend, and the people and officials in the city were all moved back to Xiangyang by Xu Shu and Wang Jinan. Deng County is almost an empty city.

This place is a buffer zone specially set aside by Sima Yi, and if you want to occupy it, you can occupy it at any time, and there is no need to specially station the army, so there is a suspicion of dividing the troops.

Originally, the garrison in Sima Yi's hand was not much, but there were about 30,000 people, and it was okay to defend a Wancheng, if he rashly divided the troops, there was a risk of being broken by the enemy.

In the final analysis, although in the eyes of the Xiangyang Army, the geographical location of Deng County is very important and it is a good offensive bridgehead, but in Sima Yi's defensive strategy, Deng County is not a strategic location.

Deng County is still a little far away from Wancheng, and a trip back and forth, even if it is a rapid march, it will take four or five days, and it will not be of much help to Wancheng's defensive strategy.

This is the reason why Sima Yi did not send troops to occupy Deng County.

And this time the Xiangyang Legion went north, in Sima Yi's opinion, it didn't look like it was going to attack Wancheng with all its might.

The strength of the troops is only more than 40,000 people, although it is the banner of Guan Yu, the general of the Shu thief, but according to the reconnaissance and detailed returns, Guan Yu has hardly been seen in the Shu thief army, and the person who really presides over the battle is Guan Ping, the son of Guan Yu.

Although, according to the return of Xiangyang over the years, Guan Yu is indeed seriously ill and has not appeared in Xiangyang City for a long time.

But Sima Yi still tends to think that the real boss of the Shu thief who attacked Wancheng this time is not Guan Yu.

The reason is very simple - Guan Yu's temperament, what an arrogant person, even if he is not in good physical condition, it is impossible for him to hide in the Chinese military tent for a long time without showing up, and use his son to lead the troops.

Therefore, Sima Yi judged that this was the bluff of the Shu thief, under the banner of Guan Yu, but it was actually a part of the Xiangyang army led by Guan Ping.

And their strategic purpose, judging from the above intelligence, Sima Yi came to the conclusion that these people did not really want to attack Wancheng, most probably, in order to respond to the battle in Guanzhong, and to encircle Wei and save Zhao.

The development of the war in Guanzhong, Sima Yi in Wancheng, can know in more detail than Guan Yu and others in Xiangyang, plus the main framework of the entire counter-attack was formulated by Sima Yi, so he knows very well what the current situation in Guanzhong is.

Although the Shu thieves in Guanzhong are not without a backhand, but now the Wei army has taken the lead, even if the Shu thieves have a backhand, Guanzhong coach Zhang Xi has been pinned down by Zuo Feng Yi, at least on the right side of Fufeng, the Shu thieves are no longer able to return to the sky.

Therefore, when the Xiangyang Army went north and tried to open up a second battlefield to deal with the Shu thieves in the right Fufeng area of Guanzhong, Sima Yi's response strategy was very simple.

Hold out, do not fight, delay time.

As long as the dust of the war in Guanzhong settles, it is impossible for the Jingzhou Shu army to continue to stay in Nanyang, and it will inevitably retreat without a fight.

In doing so, not only can you preserve your own combat power to the greatest extent, but also thwart the conspiracy of Shu thieves to surround Wei and save Zhao, killing two birds with one stone.

Therefore, when Sima Zhao proposed to divide troops to defend Deng County, Sima Yi refused directly without thinking about it.

As long as the deep ditch barrier does not fight with it, what can the Shu thief do to me?!

But nowadays. Deng Ai's kid led 10,000 people to suddenly rush forward and come in the direction of Wancheng, what was his purpose?!

With 10,000 people, you want to attack Wancheng?!

Sima Yi won't believe this kind of thing, Deng Ai's kid must have other purposes.

This little fox is not easy to deal with!!

(End of chapter)