Chang'an, Zhenxi General's Mansion.

"Weird!"

Cao Zhen paced, his brows furrowed, and his mouth muttered words.

While pacing and thinking, Cao Zhen couldn't help but look at the two letters on the desk, and his thoughts became more and more confused.

It was the first time he had encountered such a bizarre thing since he had fought with Cao Cao.

Lu Xun's pawns fled back to Guanzhong from Hanzhong and reported to him that Ma Chao wanted to take advantage of Liu Bei's Northern Expedition to unite with Lu Xun to rebel and leave Chencang Road.

At the beginning, Cao Zhen received a letter, wondering if it was Lu Xun's divisive plan, wanting them to kill each other; or suspect that Ma Chao is really as the letter says, and wants to join forces with Lu Xun to rebel.

However, just when Cao Zhen was thinking about this, Ma Chao's letter was delivered. In the letter, Ma Chao pointed out the fine work he had placed in Hanzhong, and found that Lu Xun was preparing to go on a northern expedition from Fu Luo and Ziwu, so that Cao Zhen would be more vigilant.

The words of the two letters contradict each other, such as according to the first letter, Ma Chao has conspired with Lu Xun to rebel. However, in the second letter, Ma Chao pointed out the direction of Lu Xun's Northern Expedition, which seemed to refute the words of Ma Chao's rebellion in the first letter.

Ma Chao's identity was suspicious, and Cao Zhen asked people to ask the surrenderer, but no matter how he interrogated him, the surrenderer always insisted that Ma Chao had contacted Lu Xun and was ready to rebel.

After pacing for a long time, Cao Zhen looked at Cheng Gongying and asked, "Berger, do you have a good opinion?" ”

Since Cheng Gongying returned to Cao Cao, he was left in Chang'an to serve because he was familiar with the affairs of Guanlong and made many contributions. Since Cao Zhen moved to the post of General Zhenxi, Cheng Gongying was reappointed as the General of Zhenxi, assisting Cao Zhen as the director of the Army.

Cheng Gongying stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "General, Ma is super strong and unrighteous, brave and unkind, obedient and anti-moral, not an obedient person." In the past, he ignored his father and brother and rebelled against him. The first emperor's soldiers were trapped in Chen Cang, and Ma Chao had no choice but to surrender. The first emperor took it for use, and Ma Chao entrusted the phoenix and climbed the dragon, so far it became prominent. ”

"Now that the emperor died, Ma Chao was brave and sharp, and it is not impossible to conspire with the water thieves. However, Lu Xun is scheming, knowing that I am suspicious of Ma Chao, it is also possible to get out of the divisive plan today. ”

"Ying stole that the words of surrender were true, and Ma Chao and Lu Xun deliberately plotted to surrender. Ma Chao's letter said that Lu Xun wanted to send troops out of the meridian and Fu Luo, which should be a move to confuse the general. ”

Or he was demoted to death, wanting to lead the general to suspect Ma Chao, and Lu Xun took advantage of it. Then what Ma Chao said in his letter is true, Lu Xun has the intention of sending troops to the meridian and Fu Luo. ”

Listening to Cheng Gongying's analysis, Cao Zhen's brows became more and more furrowed, and he said: "As Berger said, Ma Chaobing's rebellion is suspicious, and he needs to be believed and guarded against. I wonder if Berger has a strategy for it? ”

Cheng Gongying said decisively: "The reason why Emperor Xi Xian left Ma Chao in Wudu was because Guanlong was unstable, the army of thieves attacked, and there was a risk of cutting off Guanxi, so he left a strong man to think that he was on the border." However, since the first emperor Pinglongxi, so far Kansai has gradually stabilized, and there is no need for Ma Chao to be on the border. ”

Saying that, Cheng Gongying pondered a little and said: "The general might as well lure Ma Chao into the customs under the pretense of being summoned by His Majesty, and take the opportunity to be imprisoned in Chang'an." Later, people with a high reputation were sent to Ma Chao's letters to appease his subordinates, which could gradually prevent sprouting. ”

"As for where Lu Xun sent his troops, whether it was a compliment, or a Fu Luo Road, or a meridian road, it needs to be arranged by the general's self-determination of troops and horses, and Ying does not dare to speculate."

Cao Zhen stopped and said: "Falsely transmitting His Majesty's letter, I am afraid that it will violate the system, and this should be a big crime!" ”

"Will be outside, the king's order will not be affected."

Cheng Gongying persuaded: "Chang'an goes hundreds of miles to Luoyang, and more than 1,000 miles to Wudu. Playing the Son of Heaven, comparing and repeating, in January, the thief has been completed. The reason why His Majesty conferred the talisman and the general was because of the urgency of the war and the inconvenience of access. I hope that the general will put major things first, and he cannot be confined to etiquette. ”

"Good!"

Cao Zhen held his stomach, walked to Guanzhong Yutu, and ordered: "Order, order Hao Zhao to lead an army of 3,000 troops to Luokou City and block Fu Luo Road." In the direction of Wuguan Road, Fei Yao entered Luocheng, and Guo Huai led 5,000 troops to Lantian to meet Fei Yao. ”

"I led most of the Tun army to fine willows, thinking that it echoed the two armies of Fu Luo and Wuguan."

"No!"

The attendant was ordered to hold a pen and write Cao Zhen's military order.

Cheng Gongying was suspicious in his heart and asked, "How did the general know that Lu Xun would go out of the Fu Luo Dao, instead of the meridian and the two paths?" ”

"As what the descendant said is true, Ma Chao and Lu Xun have a plot, and the letter confuses the general, but in fact, it is praise and Chen Cang, why did he resist it at that time."

Cao Zhen put his hand on his belt, looked at the map of Guanzhong, and said with a smile: "Now Liu Bei attacked Wuguan, or he has the idea of making contributions to Guanzhong." Lu Xun is a resourceful general, cautious in the use of troops, although the slope is a smooth road, but it is not easy to make contributions. The meridian road is steep, and it is not suitable to be an elite soldier, but to go sideways. It is not feasible to praise the oblique and meridian, so Lu Xun only takes Fu Luo Road. ”

As he spoke, Cao Zhen pointed to Chang'an and commented: "Chang'an is adjacent to the meridian, Wuguan, and Fu Luo, and preparing for Wuguan and guarding Fu Luo is enough to make the thief have no plans." And Chen Cangcheng is strong, I have ordered Xiahou Ru to lead 3,000 troops to defend the city, if thieves surround the strong city, it is enough to base the enemy for ten days, and our army will arrive in the near future. ”

"As for the Meridian Dao?"

Cao Zhen smiled and said: "If Liu Bei goes out of Wuguan, Lu Xun goes out of Fu Luo, Ma Chaobing Chen Cang, and Meridian Dao sends surprise soldiers into the pass, it is really a good plan." ”

However, Ma Chao revealed Lu Xun's movements to our army, and the descendant said that Ma Chao conspired with Lu Xun. In such a way, the words contradict each other, and even if Ma and Lu are conspiring, how can they be united in their hearts. Therefore, it is not Lu Xun's wind to order the army to march out of the meridian. ”

It seems impossible to use troops from the Meridian Road, but there are not no successful generals in history who have taken the Meridian Valley, such as Liu Yu's northern expedition to Guanzhong, he ordered Yao Zhen to leave the Meridian Valley; Or Wei annihilated Shu Han and left the Meridian Valley.

Therefore, it is not that Meridian Valley cannot be used, but it is necessary to distinguish the timing or feasibility of using troops. It is most likely difficult for a large army to make a contribution to the Meridian Valley, but if the army goes to the Meridian Valley, because the main forces contain each other, the Meridian Army may have a chance to succeed.

Historically, Wei Yanqi planned to come out of the Meridian Valley, go down to Chang'an, and break through the Tong Pass, hoping to use the partial army to play the role of the main force, which is no longer a question of whether it can come out of the Meridian Road, but a question of how long he can live in the pass.

In the affairs of soldiers, those who learn from others live, and those who seem to others die. For example, the Yinping Trail, which is more difficult to walk than the Meridian Road, attracted a large number of imitators because of Deng Ai's success in smuggling through Yinping, but they were all finally defeated in Yinping.

Of course, what is not known is that when Zhong Hui besieged the Sword Pavilion, he also sent Tian Zhang to smuggle the Sword Pavilion, travel to Jiangyou, defeat the Shu army in the rear, and join Deng Ai, and the two armies destroyed Shu together. Therefore, the success of the war may be related to the road, but it is not a decisive factor, and the context of the battle is important.

Wei Yan is a general, he considers tactical issues, he believes that Lu Xun, Ma Chao, Liu Bei three armies attacked Guanzhong, the advantage is in the Southern Han Dynasty, so crossing the meridian road, there is a greater probability of success.

Lu Xun is the commander, he has to consider it from a strategic point of view, don't look at the three armies in the pass, but Ma Chao has a different dream from them, and it is very likely to sell his teammates, just like he sold Ma Chao, without any psychological pressure.

Listening to Cao Zhen's discussion of arranging troops, Cheng Gongying praised him and said: "The general is wise and prepared, and the arrangement is appropriate, and Ying is deeply respected. ”

Cao Zhen looked at the map of Guanzhong, sighed and said: "Today, Guanzhong is appropriate, I am only worried about the four counties on the right side of Long." Longyou is empty and unprepared, and only Qishan Fort soldiers are available. If Ma Chao really rebelled and led his troops westward, he was afraid that the four counties on the right side of Longlong would lose. I only hope that Ma Chao can remember that his wife and children are in Beijing, and he has no intention of rebelling. ”

Hearing this, Cheng Gongying frowned and thought, and said: "In the past, Xiang Yu captured Emperor Gao's father and used this to blackmail Emperor Gao. However, Emperor Gao is for the sake of great cause, please share the meat soup; Kui Huan rebelled against the ancestors, and the ancestors persuaded him to surrender with his son, but the hustle and bustle was not smooth. Ma Chao can't love his father and brother, how can he love his son? ”

"Ma Chao won the hearts of the people because of his martial arts, and if he raised troops into Longxi, the four counties were in danger. Today, I only hope that the words of the descendant are false, or they can lure the horse to Chang'an. ”

Due to the population problem, there are not many troops in Kansai, and with the help of Ma Chao, it is more than enough to deal with Lu Xun and Zhang Fei. Now, if Liu Bei enters Wuguan, or Ma Chao rebels, he is afraid that the troops will not be enough.

After thinking for a while, Cao Zhen said: "Berger has a lot of prestige in Longyou, can you go to Longyou today and gather the Haoqiang and Qiang departments of Longyou." If Ma Chao rebels, he will be in danger; If Ma Chao goes to Chang'an, he will take the order to his army and appease his old subordinates. ”

Cheng Gongying bowed his hand and responded: "I am willing to serve the general!" ”

"Good!"

Cao Zhen showed joy on his face, helped Cheng Gongying up, and said with a smile: "If the danger of the service can be solved, I will really remember Berger's great achievements and report it to Your Majesty." ”

"Thank you, General!"

Cao Zhen wrote a letter to report what happened in Guanzhong to Luoyang; On the one hand, he ordered someone to pretend to be Cao Pi and Zhao Ma Chao went to Luoyang.

Cao Zhen's arrangement is reasonable, and the letter lures Ma Chao to Chang'an, which is a good strategy. However, it is a pity that Ma Chao is too a chicken thief, and at the beginning of Cao Pi's ascension to the throne, he greeted Cao Pi and marked the back of the letter.

"Brother, a letter from Jingshi!"

Ma Dai entered the church and handed the letter to Ma Chao.

Ma Chao opened the letter, the first thing he did was not to read the content of the letter, but to look for the mark he agreed with Cao Pi.

After reading the contents of the letter, Ma Chao discarded the letter at will, and sneered: "It's not Cao Pi's letter, but someone else's fake book, who wants to deceive me to the middle of the pass, and take the opportunity to plot to kill me!" ”

Saying that, Ma Chao couldn't help but sigh and said: "Lu Xun is really cunning, he wants to make Cao Zhen harm me and force me to rebel." If I hadn't prepared in advance, I would have been a trick of Cao Zhen. ”

"Huh?"

Ma Dai was a little flustered and said: "Brother, Lu Xun doesn't believe in our army today, Cao Zhen wants to harm my brother, what should our army do?" ”

"Why panic?"

Ma Chao got up and put his hands behind his back and said lightly: "Now Liu Bei will send troops to Wancheng, and when Lu Xun goes on a northern expedition and fights and confronts Cao Zhen, he will enter the pass lightly." The weight of Guanzhong is above Longyou, and it is unable to take care of our army. Today, our army went out of Chen Cang to think it was a feint, and actually sent troops and horses to the right of Long. ”

"Pang Rou has been ordered by me to contact Longyouqiang and Di soldiers and horses; The younger brother can send 3,000 soldiers out of Chencang, thinking that he is a feint; I led a large army out of Qishan and surrounded Ji County and Shangqi. and the Weishui Road is feasible, and the younger brother retreats to Linwei and guards the city; The brother raised troops to cut off Longdao, and all took Longright. ”

"Since my brother wants to take Longyou, why did he let Dai out of Chen Cang?" Ma Dai asked incomprehensibly.

Looking at the map of Longyou on the wall, Ma Chao showed a greedy gaze and said: "Out of Chencang, it is not only the words of the oath of the whole and Liu Bei, but also a bluff, to contain the soldiers and horses in Guanzhong, so that our army can seek to take Longyou." ”

After years of planning by Ma Chao, he has gained. If you can take the four counties of Longyou as the base, plus unite the people of Qiang and Di, you can raise tens of thousands of troops and build a career.

But it doesn't mean that with Longyou, he can act recklessly, as a small force, he needs to rely on Longyou's excellent geographical conditions, left and right, and seek opportunities to seize Liangzhou. Therefore, he must carefully handle the relationship with Han and Wei, and cannot offend both.

(End of chapter)