After Pang Tong took Tianshui and Anding County. After Hanzhong Zhuge Liang found out, he calculated the approximate time when Chang'an might be reported, and judged that Chang'an's soldiers and horses would go to support.

He and Wei Yan began to send troops to Meridian Valley to discuss. Wei Yan ordered his troops and horses and prepared to send troops. Zhuge Liang summoned Wei Yan, Wang Ping, Ju Fu, Gao Xiang and others to discuss the previously planned plan of the Meridian Valley.

Everyone was divided on both sides, and Wei Yan opened his mouth first: "Sir! I have prepared 11,000 soldiers and horses, and I have brought thirty days' provisions. Single-class soldier Meridian Valley! ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Wen Chang is full of confidence. To be honest, I don't agree with the plan of the Meridian Valley, which is extremely difficult to walk. Once the mouth of the valley is blocked, the army will not be able to deploy, and it will have to retreat! When you go back, the grain and grass are a problem again! I've been thinking about it a lot these days, and I have three things to ask you! ”

Wei Yan said: "Sir, just say it!" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Why did you choose out of Meridian Valley? What do you do out of Meridian Valley? How risky? ”

Wei Yan thought for a moment and said, "Sir, the road in the Meridian Valley is short, and the road is difficult to walk. In the art of war, it is precisely the case that it is taken by surprise.

As for what to do, Mr. asked more, the purpose of coming out of Meridian Valley was to cooperate with our army, attack the back of Xiahou Yuan, and take Longyou and Liangzhou, this is set!

Is it risky, I don't think it's too big, Cao Jun Nanyang and Longyou are fighting on two fronts, Guanzhong is empty, and he will definitely not pay attention to Meridian Valley! ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Wen Chang, are we going to take Chang'an?" ”

Wei Yan said: "No, take Longyou first!" Of course, take it when you have the chance! ”

Zhuge Liang continued: "That is to say, we took a big risk to get out of the Meridian Valley just to disturb Guanzhong. Then why bother to go out of the Meridian Valley, go to the Kei Valley, and enter Guanzhong out of Yi County, you can also disturb Guanzhong. ”

As he spoke, he took out the map and pointed: "The Meridian Valley is narrow and difficult to walk, and once the valley mouth is blocked, it is difficult to get out. It's a way that is easy to get in and hard to get out. Why should we take risks? On the other hand, Keigu, although it is a plank road, it is easy to walk, and you can advance or retreat! Far better than the Meridian Valley's strategy! ”

Wei Yan said: "Kei Valley is too long, easy to find!" Cao Bing is prepared, I'm afraid I won't be able to enter Guanzhong! ”

Zhuge Liang said: "You don't have to worry about this, let me tell me what I think, you listen."

First sent Gao Xiang to lead 1,500 soldiers and horses out of the Meridian Valley. There are two possibilities, being blocked or entering the Guanzhong smoothly. If it is blocked, then lead troops to attack Cao's army for a while, giving the illusion that we are a large army out of the Meridian Valley! Guanzhong will inevitably call in reinforcements.

Now that Longyou's attack is going well, I estimate that Xiahou Yuan will inevitably lead the main force to rush to the aid of Longyou, and the remaining troops in Guanzhong are limited! If you want to block our army, you can only transfer troops from various counties in Guanzhong.

And you, Wei Yan, will be able to successfully kill out of Kei Valley and enter Guanzhong. You are all elites with 10,000 people, and you won't lose the field battle to the Cao army left behind in Guanzhong!

If Cao Jun is not prepared, it would be good, Gao Xiang will enter from the Meridian Valley, attract Cao Jun, let them chase you, and you will go all the way west. Wei Yan, you go east from Keigu, meet Gao Xiang according to the situation, and annihilate the Cao army chasing Gao Xiang!

Of course, soldiers are impermanent, water is impermanent, and when the time comes, you two will follow suit! Enter the Guanzhong smoothly and unfold your plan to disrupt the Guanzhong! The risk is minimal!

Walking the Meridian Valley can achieve the unexpected, but you have to risk all kinds of situations, if you aim for Chang'an, you can also give it a try, now like this, it's not worth it! We get too little, we take too much risk! What do you think? ”

Wei Yan was speechless by Zhuge Liang's words, indeed what Zhuge Liang said was reasonable! Insisting on oneself is like joking with the name of a soldier! Liang Jiu Wei Yan said: "How can the soldiers and horses of Meridian Valley synchronize with me? ”

Zhuge Liang said: "It's very simple, the date is agreed, the time limit is forty days, and you have to rush to the mouth of the Meridian Valley no matter what."

Wen Chang, you start to send troops ten days after Gao Xiang's departure, day and night, you can't go too fast, at least thirty days.

Gao Xiang, you must rush to the mouth of the Meridian Valley in thirty-five days and launch an attack, and then Cao Jun will get the news within four days and start to transfer troops! When the time comes, Gao Xiang will look for an opportunity to retreat. Wei Yan, you can get out of the Kei Valley! ”

Wei Yan thought about it again and again, clasped his fist with one hand and slapped the palm of the other hand, and snapped. Wei Yan said: "Alas, although it is a pity that I have been preparing for such a long time, I still focus on the great cause of the lord. I listen to you, sir! ”

Zhuge Liang looked at Wei Yan and nodded: "We are not stronger than Cao Cao, we are safe!" Gao Xiang, you lead 2,000 soldiers and horses, and I will arrange for 6,000 people to carry food on their backs and accompany you for half the journey, and then they will return.

You take another thirty days' food and go on half the journey. Gao Xiang, every time you walk along the road, mark down places where you can store food, such as caves.

When they return, I will send them into the Meridian Valley again to place grain in these places. In this way, even if you can't rush away, you can return safely, and you don't have to be trapped in food and wiped out.

In order to ensure the speed of your march, I have mobilized a thousand horses from Nanzhong. Although these horses are short, they are suitable for mountain transport and are good at climbing!

Lack of food can also kill horses for food. In addition, you have to bring 15,000 soldiers and horses, banners, gongs and drums, and create a momentum, as well as arrows, oil, saltpeter, etc.

The Meridian Valley is narrow, and Cao has a lot of troops, but it is not conducive to the development of soldiers and horses, and you will not suffer the loss of fewer soldiers.

If Cao's army has soldiers and horses at the mouth of the valley, after five days of attack, you will have to retreat. If Cao's army takes the initiative to attack, then you will retreat and retreat. Also, if you really can't get rid of Cao Jun, you will burn the plank road.

It's just that this is burned down as a last resort, and there are people fleeing the war before Meridian Valley, so don't destroy it as a last resort! Gao Xiang promised.

Zhuge Liang said to everyone: "Since there is nothing else, you go down and prepare!" Wen Chang, you and I will discuss the details again! Wei Yan agreed, and after everyone left.

Zhuge Liang asked: "Wen Chang, you are the main force entering Guanzhong, and the most important battle is the Battle of Degukou." Do you have a plan in your heart? ”

Wei Yan thought for a while and said, "Over the years, I have inquired about the news in Guanzhong and compiled a lot of information. Hanxing County is too guarded by You Chu to guard the important place of Chencang, and will not move lightly.

I mainly have to deal with Yang Fu, the Taishou of Yinping in Yixian County, Zhao Ang, the assassin of Yizhou appointed by Cao Cao, and the general Yin Feng. These people have all fought against Ma Chao before, and they should not be underestimated. I tried my best to hide my body, arrived in Yixian, attacked it, and rescued it, lured the enemy out of the city, and annihilated the enemy in the field! ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Very good. You must remember to be careful, you are not only responding to the attack of Longyou, but also more important things, he will attack Chang'an in the future, you will explore the road, familiar with the location, you are the best candidate for the vanguard!

You remember, your task is to contain rather than conquer the city, we and Cao Cao can't fight for the bottom of the family, after entering the Guanzhong, you have to fight to support the war, of course, as much as possible not to plunder the people, you according to the situation, choose the opportunity to retreat step by step, I will answer you! Don't lose your life! ”

Wei Yan agreed: "Sir, don't worry, even if I have a brain on the ground, I will never spoil the lord's strategy!" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Wen Chang, in order to ensure that you send troops to conceal, I will arrange for Jufu to lead a scout team of 300 people, pretending to be tiger hunters, woodcutters, and farmers to hunt all suspicious people, and go out with you to explore the way for you!" After that, they will hunt down the messengers and scouts of the counties for you, and cut off the connection between the various parts of the Guanzhong! ”

Wei Yan said: "Mr. and I want to be together, and I have also trained some similar people!" ”

Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "That's good!" Check and fill in the gaps, Wen Chang, remember, don't force everything! Get ready to go to war! ”

Wei Yan received the order. Gao Xiang brought all kinds of materials prepared by Zhuge Liang and sent troops to Meridian Valley.

Wei Yan and Yamen general Wang Ping, partial generals Zhang Xiu, Li Sheng and other commanders of 11,000 elite soldiers entered the Kei Valley, all wearing Cao Jun armor, all marching forward along the way. The former military sentence Fu entered the Kei Valley three days ahead of schedule to explore the way for Wei Yan.

When Gao Xiang entered the Meridian Valley, it was summer, and the rain gradually increased, and it was even more difficult to encounter gravel, flood mud, destroyed plank road, and collapsed road when it rained.

The Meridian Valley, which was expected to come out in a maximum of twenty days, walked for thirty-four days, but fortunately, Zhuge Liang sent people to follow half of it, and the food was enough. However, there are many who are sick and injured.

Gao Xiang gritted his teeth and walked forward, sharing weal and woe with the soldiers, giving all the horses to the injured and sick soldiers, and personally walking in front of the team. Finally managed to get out of Meridian Valley.

When he got closer and closer to the valley mouth, Gao Xiang sent someone to inquire in advance, and even sent three waves, but no one returned. Gao Xiang noticed that it was not good, and ordered to prepare for battle, and sent people to occupy a high place and hide his figure.

Insert the brought flag on a nearby hill where you can stand. Arrange everything, divide the troops into hundreds, and march slowly.

Gukou Cao general Dong Xi was ordered by Zhang Ji of Yongzhou Assassin Shi to guard the Meridian Valley Pass, Zhang was afraid that Dong Xi would slack off, and sent the overseer Zhou Bin to supervise, Zhou Bin lived up to Zhang Ji's entrustment, cooperated with Dong Xi, went deep into the valley, and sent troops on both sides of the valley to monitor the Meridian Ancient Plank Road.

Cao Jun in the valley held the danger, had a wide field of vision, and closely observed the movement. Gao Xiang was about to arrive at the mouth of the Meridian Valley, and the fine scouts he sent out, without exception, were either dead or captured.

Cao Jun interrogated the prisoners, and the scout lieutenant led by him was also loyal, deliberately intimidating Cao Jun that he had more than 10,000 people and persuading Cao Jun to surrender.

Cao Jun hurriedly reported to Dong Xi and Zhou Bin. Dong Xi hurriedly sent someone to report to Zhang Ji, and the thief army was tens of thousands, and the soldiers were approaching the valley.

Zhou Bin persuaded: "The words of the thief, how can you be gullible! ”

Dong Xi said: "Even if it is not credible, the thieves have appeared, and they also need to be reported." Besides, would the thief army send thousands of people to their deaths? I expect that the number of thieves will not be small, and our 1,000 soldiers and horses will be tight after all, so it is better to ask for help quickly! ”

Zhou Bin couldn't refute it, and took the initiative to attack for fear that Taniguchi would lose. Zhang received Dong Xi's request for help, but also sighed calmly: "Dong Xi doesn't know the soldiers, the enemy scouts are exploring the way, why not pretend not to know, occupy the valley and risk an ambush, frustrate its edge, and also test the strength of the thief army."

Kill the thief scout, the thief army has not been damaged, and the grass is startled. Alas, no matter what, Dong Xi can't expect too much after all, and it's better to be cautious. ”

Zhang put Chang'an City under full martial law. Because of the battle in Nanyang and Longyou, there were not many soldiers and horses in Chang'an City, only more than 5,000 people, and Dong Xi divided another 1,000.

Zhang Ji looked at the report repeatedly, and ordered Xianyang and other places and subordinate counties around Chang'an to send surplus soldiers and horses to Chang'an to help. Divide 2,000 soldiers and horses to the Meridian Valley.

Dong Xi was strictly ordered to protect the mouth of the Meridian Valley, find out the number of soldiers and horses, and be sure to block it, and the reinforcements will arrive soon. After the soldiers and horses left, Zhang both recruited the strong men in Chang'an City to help guard Chang'an.

Dong Xi learned that reinforcements would arrive soon, and discussed with Zhou Bin whether to march, at this time the Cao army in ambush in the valley monitored the return of soldiers and horses, they could not hide their figures, and the Han army marched together, numbering thousands, and each time they reached a dangerous place or a place full of weeds. The arrows were suppressed in unison, and then the soldiers and horses pounced, otherwise they would have set fire to it, and they could not stand still anymore and retreated.

Dong Xi and Zhou Bin discussed after listening to the report: "We killed the thief army scouts, and now the thief army must be aware of our existence."

The large camp set up by our army is a dangerous place, if the thief army wants to get out of the valley, it will definitely attack, we have a thousand soldiers and horses, only defend but not attack, can be safe. ”

The two have discussed and decided, and they will not be able to hold out by shrinking their forces. Gao Xiang rushed to Cao Ying, watched it and said: "Mr. Kong Ming is very worried, fortunately, the army has not left the meridian pass. Order, each person carries two cans of fire oil, holds torches, prepares arms, and the whole army attacks! ”

persuaded left and right: "General, we have few people, and the thief army is in a dangerous place, and we will attack it according to the bottom, which is not conducive to me!" ”

Gao Xiang said: "Mr. Kong Ming's plan is to make us bluff, and take advantage of the fact that the thief army has not gathered now, and attack a wave first to attract the thief army. The thieves mobilized reinforcements and we retreated. Order, no retreat, you wait for the generals to personally supervise the battle! "The people took the command.

The Han army quickly regrouped and began to attack. Dong Xi and Zhou Bin are prepared. Gao Xiang commanded the attack. The Han army chose an echoing valley nearby, lined up the war drums, beat them together, and shouted desperately.

The front-line Han army first suppressed with bows and arrows, and the sword and shield soldiers approached with their shields, threw out oil cans, and set fire to Cao's camp. Dong Xi commanded Cao's army condescendingly, and the defense was easy.

Gao Xiang's desperate attacking posture also frightened Dong Xi. That night, the Han army retreated, Dong Xi climbed to watch, and there were shadows in the distance, and he vaguely saw four fires and flags scattered. It stretches along the plank road and valley.

Dong Xi said to Zhou Bin: "Zhou Overseer, the posture of the thief army is not right, it is really tens of thousands of people. ”

Zhou Bin was born in Wenchen after all, and he didn't dare to make up his mind, so he had to say: "The captured thief army didn't find anything!" ”

Dong Xi said: "I want to tell the situation to Zhang Thorn History, the thief army dares to attack so fiercely, it is better to report it as soon as possible!" "Say goodbye and go.

Zhou Bin is not easy to stop. Zhang Ji sent reinforcements to arrive, but Dong Xi still did not dare to fight because of the attack of the Han army yesterday. Gao Xiang once again commanded the Han army to storm and stop when it was dark.

Zhou Bin once suggested that Dong Xi send troops to test it, Dong Xi adhered to the principle of prudence, and took out Zhang Ji's document and said: "Zhang Tingshi said that sticking to the enemy's food and grass will be consumed, and we will do it!" ”

Gao Xiang can now be said to be pretending to be a big man, and half of the Han army's attacks in the past two days have been killed and wounded. Many generals are shaken, this is an errand to death, and if they can't be attacked, they have to attack hard.

Gao Xiang was unmoved and said: "Mr. Kong Ming said that the attack will be five days, but now it is only two days, continue to attack, and withdraw after five days." ”

The Han army couldn't, so they had to bite the bullet, and the attack naturally slowed down. Fortunately, Lai Dong Xi and Zhou Bin are not famous generals, and they can't shrink back, if Zhang is here, he will see that the Han army has a flaw, and a counterattack will knock the Han army out of its original form.

Gao Xiang stumbled and attacked for another day. That night, several Han soldiers who were dissatisfied with Gao Xiang's order to attack surrendered to Cao Ying, revealing the details of Gao Xiang's soldiers and horses.

Dong Xi was overjoyed and dispatched elites to attack the Han army. Gao Xiang was caught off guard, and the sentry soldiers and horses arranged failed to warn him in time because the surrendered Han army leading the way was his own.

Gao Xiang was defeated, and many Han troops were forced down the plank road, with heavy casualties. Gao Xiang was finally alert, the momentum was not good, slightly gathered the remnants, set fire to the plank road and retreated.

Dong Xi won a great victory, gathered the banner of the Han army, returned to the camp, and went to Zhang Ji to report his merits.

When Zhang saw Dong Xi's report, his heart was shocked, Meridian Valley was a suspicious soldier, and it was difficult to guarantee that the Han army would not have the main force to enter Guanzhong from elsewhere.

Now Yixian and Xianyang are afraid that they have received their own letters, especially Yixian, because Dong Xi's previous description of the offensive strength of the Han army has created a false impression to himself that the main force of the Han army may be in the Meridian Valley, and if they are allowed to return safely, they will not be willing to return after all, so Zhang Ji also sent letters to Yixian, Xianyang and other places to ask him not to be transferred except for the necessary garrison, and the rest of the soldiers and horses can rush to help and concentrate their forces in order to inflict heavy losses on the Han army in the Meridian Valley.

Zhang was in a hurry to write a book, sent it everywhere, and ordered the soldiers and horses to return.