After hearing this, Ma Chao thought about it and said: "Our army's grain and grass are quite sufficient, and the grain and grass that have just been collected will be sealed with 400,000 stones, and the remaining more than 200,000 stones will be sent to distribute to the people of Longxi County, Hanyang County, Tianshui County and Wudu County. When it was time to sow the winter seeds, the people were reminded not to finish eating the grain. ”

After Pound listened, Ma Chao didn't hear him reply, raised his head and saw Pound's embarrassed expression, and was struggling with whether to talk to him.

Ma Chao said: "Ling Ming, you can say whatever you want, as long as it is for official business, I will not blame." ”

Pound exhaled with relief and said, "Oh." Young master, so much food, is it really not kept as military rations? What if the war lasts for a long time? ”

Ma Chao said with a smile: "If you want to win the hearts of the army, you must first win the hearts of the people, you don't know this truth." Moreover, when I sent people to distribute food, I would also like to explore the general situation and distribution of the population of Liangzhou. In the future, after we take Liangzhou, these data will be of great benefit to our levy and levy taxes. ”

Pound De was shocked and said: "No wonder the last general found that those scouts who sent out heralds were all slightly literate and ink-savvy, and the last general was still strange, the soldiers who could read and write were all treasures, how could the young master use them as heralds!" It turns out that the young master already has a more long-term plan, and the end will admire. ”

Ma Chao smiled, remembered a poem by the ancestor of the current dynasty in later generations, and said: "The scenery should be long-sighted." You must know that we are not only dividing Xiliang, but also ruling Xiliang. When Emperor Gao entered the customs, Xiao He first went to control the Qin Dynasty's slip documents, which was the same reason. ”

"Taught."

"In addition, those surplus weapons are temporarily mothballed. When Xiliang was pacified, he cast swords into plows, and made scythes, axes, shovels, ploughshares and other agricultural tools for the common people. Ma Chao said.

"Well, the last general has written it down."

"Anything else?"

Pound said calmly: "Back to the young master, there is." The civilian servants also handed over more than 200 siege equipment such as ramming hammers and ladder trucks, which saved our army the effort to build equipment. ”

Ma Chao nodded subconsciously, it is indeed good to have siege equipment, and it is reluctant for cavalry to attack small cities, but to break through large and medium-sized cities, you must have siege equipment.

But with a flash of inspiration, Ma Chao seemed to think of something again. Ma Chao asked eagerly: "Ling Ming, you said that you collected a lot of siege equipment?" ”

Pound was a little confused, but still said: "Yes, more than two hundred." The people said that before Han Sui fled, he did not take any siege equipment with him, and left them for transportation. ”

Hearing this, Ma Chao was even more shocked and said, "So have there been any signs of building equipment in South Korea in the past few days?" ”

Pang De thought for a moment and said: "The siege equipment requires professional craftsmen and professional tools, and it also requires a large number of trees to be cut down, and it cannot be built in five days. What's more, it's only been three days' work, and Han Sui will definitely not be able to build siege equipment. ”

Hearing this, Ma Chao was shocked at first, because he didn't expect Han Sui to take the long road in Qiangzhong; Another joy, because he judged the direction of Han Sui's escape.

In the past few days, Ma Chao has been planning for this for a long time, and has always felt that Han Sui would use the plan of attacking the east and the west, pretending to attack this city, but in fact attacking the other city. However, Ma Chao did not expect that these assumptions were based on Han Sui's ability to quickly break through the city. But now he knew that Han Sui didn't have siege equipment, not to mention that medium-sized cities like Caohan City and Didao City couldn't be captured, and even small cities like Baishi City and Daxia City couldn't be captured.

Ma Chao was excited, and hurriedly recruited Duan Xuan and Zhang Xiu.

Ma Chao took out the sheepskin map, pointed to the border between Xiliang and Qiangzhong, and explained his inference to the three of them just now.

Duan Xuan said: "In other words, as long as our army pursues Qiangzhong now, and orders the little general Ma Dai stationed in Caohan, Baishi and Daxia to respond, we can flank Han Sui?" ”

Ma Chao said comfortably: "That's probably the case." ”

Pang De said happily: "Now, Han Sui can't escape." After the success of the first battle, Xiliang will be the young master. ”

Zhang Xiu on the side did not agree, but frowned.

Ma Chao asked, "Brother Xiu, what are you thinking?" ”

"Brother, don't you think there's anything strange here?"

Ma Chao was a little stunned and said, "What do you mean?" ”

Zhang Xiu scratched his head in confusion and said, "With Han Sui's wisdom, obviously he should have guessed that his foot soldiers and minfu would surrender to his brother, and he should also know that his brother knew that he didn't have siege equipment." How could he be so stupid and still go to Qiangzhong? The little brother really can't figure it out, could it be that Han Sui really became stupid? ”

A word woke up the person in the dream, and after Ma Chao heard it, he immediately realized where Zhang Xiu's doubts were. Duan Xuan and Pang De also reacted.

Ma Chao thought to himself, he made the mistake of belittling the enemy again, and despised Han Sui. This is another Han Sui's strategy.

And Zhang Xiu, who accidentally guessed Han Sui's thoughts, was still scratching his ears and cheeks, Ma Chao smiled, patted Zhang Xiu's tender shoulder, and said, "What else is Brother Xiu wondering about?" You already know that Han Sui is knowingly committing a crime, why don't you know his intentions? ”

"Intentions? Brother or ...... I don't know much about ......."

Ma Chao said: "Han Sui obviously knows that his siege equipment will fall into my hands, so in the next step, he will definitely send a detachment to disguise itself as the main force and flee into Qiangzhong." There is no city isolation in Qiangzhong, although it is farther, but you can return to Jincheng by taking the river bridge. Once Brother Dai is tricked, he will inevitably go out of the city to intercept it, which will cause the emptiness of Caohan City. At that time, even if there were no siege equipment, it would be effortless for Han Sui to take down an empty city. ”

Duan Xuan said: "Caohan is the closest to Jincheng, and the road is smooth. Once he was taken, no one could stop him from returning to Jincheng. ”

Zhang Xiu gasped and said in surprise: "It turns out that the war is so delicate, just a thought can distinguish the victory and defeat of the two armies......"

Ma Chao patted Zhang Xiu's shoulder and said with a smile: "Brother Foolish, I still want to thank you, if you weren't smart, then it would be meaningless for us to go through such a lot of trouble this time." ”

"Yes, this time it's thanks to Zhang Xiu..."Pang De and Duan Xuan were also a little afraid.

Zhang Xiu won the praise, scratched his head embarrassedly, and said: "Actually, the little brother is also guessing......

Ma Chao said: "Whether it's guessing or extrapolating, this time it's your first work!" ”

"Brother Xie!" Zhang Xiu was overjoyed.

Pound said: "Young master, in that case, do you want to inform General Ma Dai to beware of the scheme?" ”

Ma Chao thought for a moment and decided to cooperate with Han Sui to make a plan. Ma Chao said: "No. In order to disguise itself as the main force, the number of the partial army should not be low, so let Dai Di make some military achievements. Brother Dai naturally fell into the scheme, as Han Sui hoped to leave him with an empty Caohan, and Han Sui would attack Caohan naturally. We're in control. ”

The generals nodded, Ma Chao looked up at the night sky, and said: "The night is dark tonight, there is a way to kill people in the dark moon, and the wind is high and the sky is on fire." At night, it is difficult for Brother Dai to tell whether it is the main force or not. It is expected that Han Sui will definitely do it tonight. We're going to pounce on it! ”