Cao Cao was recuperating his strength in Xuchang. After receiving news from Chang'an, he immediately convened a civil and military meeting.
Cao Cao said: "Now that Liu Qi has arrived at Wuguan, he really tried to get together with Ma Teng and spy on the pass. Little did he know that Ma Teng was already under my control. Sun Quan sneaked into Huainan and captured our Lujiang River a few years ago. It was just a way of revenge. What do you think?"
Xia Houyuan had long been dissatisfied with the sneak attack on Soochow, and nodded and said: "The rats from the east of the Yangtze River are chasing Qin and Muchu. If we don't teach them a lesson and use force to attack them, they will definitely do it again in the future. We can take back the land north of the Yangtze River and avoid future troubles forever."
After Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun were redeemed, Cao Cao transferred them to Xuzhou in exchange for Zhang Liao and Xiahou Yuan, who were tasked with guarding Jingzhou. All personnel had already been deployed.
Jia Xu said, "Liu Qi actually came to Wuguan in person. He may have some plans. If he disturbs the situation in Guanzhong, it may spread. The Prime Minister needs to be careful."
Cao Cao laughed and said: "Although Xu Huang was defeated, Liu Qi wanted to send troops to Guanzhong, but he was unable to do so. Now that Ma Teng has sent troops, I will provide food and grass, so why worry? Generals Cao Hong and Xu Huang are guarding Guanzhong, and they can protect Guanzhong. No worries.”
Jia Xu frowned slightly, tugged on his beard and said nothing. On the surface, the matter seemed to be foolproof, but he always felt that something was wrong in his heart, and he could not discuss military affairs based on his feelings.
Seeing his hesitation, Cao Cao smiled and said: "I have discussed this matter with my husband years ago. Why was he so hesitant when it came to sending out troops? It is not the actions of a general to make constant decisions and miss good opportunities. I have made up my mind and am leaving here." It will surely flatten the east of the Yangtze River, causing the blue eyes to descend in fear."
Le Jin couldn't wait any longer, clasped his fists and said: "The last general is willing to be the vanguard and rush to Huainan to kill."
Cao Cao then worshiped Le Jin as the vanguard, and at the same time sent an envoy to Soochow to accuse Sun Quan of violating the territory and killing the court officials, and asked him to surrender.
Hou Yuan of Xia was left to guard Xuchang, while Zhang Liao went out to town in Kunyang and led an army of 50,000. He also mobilized soldiers and horses from Hebei and Xuzhou to go south and gathered in Shouchun to conquer Soochow.
…
Three days later, Cao Hong mobilized his men and horses in Chang'an and rushed to Wuguan to kill them. He also sent 50,000 shi of grain and grass with the army from Zhongjin to Chencang to encourage the Xiliang army.
When Zhong Jin returned to Chencang, he was full of ambition. He had asked Ma Teng to send troops before when he was on an envoy, and this time he helped Ma Teng get food and grass. He felt that his life had reached its peak.
Ma Xiu was preparing grain and grass in Chencang. He didn't expect Zhong to come in so quickly. He quickly ordered the soldiers to load the moldy grain and grass in the warehouse and place it outside.
Seeing that Zhong Jin had sent food and grass again, Ma Xiu couldn't help but clasped his fists and said, "General, you are indeed a man of faith."
Zhong Jin smiled and said: "What I promised must be done with care. General Cao has sent troops to attack Liu Qi. Before leaving, he gave me some thin noodles and allocated grain and grass to support the army. General Ma didn't want us to do it." Disappointed!"
"We will work hard to eradicate the traitors!" Ma Xiu nodded repeatedly and asked: "General Cao wants to attack Liu Qi, does he have to send troops out of Wuguan?"
Zhong Jin said with a smile: "The general didn't know something. Liu Qi actually came to Wuguan in person. General Xu Huang didn't know the truth, so he was defeated. Now that General Cao is going to fight in person, he will definitely make this son come home in defeat."
"That's it!" Ma Xiu's heart moved, and he asked some more about the situation in Chang'an. He took Zhong Jin and the vehicle to the camp and ordered people to check and deliver.
When Zhong Jin saw that most of the food and grass prepared by Ma Xiu were moldy, he immediately became convinced and pretended to be indignant: "How can the three armies fight with this kind of military food?"
Matthew sighed helplessly: "I was worried about food and fodder, and the general came at just the right time. It's really a timely help."
Zhong Jin expressed some words of comfort as an envoy. He did not dare to agree to send more food and grass this time. He only said that he would tell the truth when he returned and asked Cao Hong to allocate more money and food so that his father and his son could take over Hanzhong as soon as possible.
Ma Xiu thanked him again and again and held a banquet in honor of Zhong Jin. This time Zhong Jin did not dare to stay long. After a hurried meal, he immediately returned to Chang'an to resume his duties.
After sending Zhong Jin off, Ma Xiu rushed to Sanguan overnight to report the military situation of Chang'an to Ma Teng. Now there were only 5,000 garrison troops left in the city. Excluding the patrol officers, there were no more than 3,000 elite soldiers.
Ma Teng said with great joy: "Liu Qi went to Wuguan in person to help me capture Chang'an. Now that the time has come, why do you have any doubts?"
Ma Xiu said: "Cao Hong is coming personally. I predict that Liu Qi will pretend to retreat and lure the enemy deeper. If we send troops overnight, if Cao Hong fails to rescue him, we can capture Chang'an City in one fell swoop."
"In a certain place, why worry about failure to achieve great things?"
Ma Teng was convinced, and ordered Ma Xiu to return to Chencang. He sent more agents to monitor the war in Chang'an, and elite soldiers were in the city ready to go at any time.
…
Liu Qi occupied Shang County and took advantage of Xu Huang's defeat to gradually encroach on the inns along the way and approach Chang'an.
Zhang Fei killed Cao Jun, who was frightened and retreated steadily. He led his troops to seize three villages in a row and retreated to the territory of Shangluo.
On this day, I was waiting for a banquet with Pang Tong to taste the fish head with chopped pepper made by Liu Qi himself. The scouts came to report that Cao Hong went out in person to make a comeback with Xu Huang as the vanguard.
Since chili peppers were widely promoted, Xiangyang’s spicy and sour fish and spicy fish are unparalleled.
In the Han Dynasty, meals were mainly steamed and cooked, with very few seasonings. After Liu Qi discovered chili peppers, he felt like a treasure and even started cooking by himself.
At first, everyone was not used to spicy food and disliked it, but after a few times, it seemed that the Hunan people's spicy-eating genes were stirred up, and within a few months it became popular throughout Jingzhou.
Liu Qi smiled and said: "Cao Hong has indeed fallen into the trap. This time the wind in the pass changes suddenly, we can fish in troubled waters."
Zhang Fei sucked half of the fish head away and laughed and said: "This is not fishing in troubled waters, but putting a long line to catch big fish."
Pang Tong also enjoyed the delicious food and said with emotion: "When I was in Xiangyang, I once ate the Hanzhong giant salamander. Because its cry was like the cry of a child, the natives called it 'salam fish'. It was extremely delicious and had the effect of nourishing yin and yang. If you can cook it with this cooking skill, it will be a masterpiece.”
Liu Qi smiled knowingly: "Don't worry, sir, within half a year, I will make a hot and sour salamander with my own hands."
In his time, if you caught this thing, let alone eating it, you would have to eat prison food for at least three years before it tasted delicious.
Zhang Fei was satisfied with his meal and burped: "After eating and drinking, it's my turn to play!"
Pang Tong smiled and said: "General, please be patient and wait for Xu Huang's troops to arrive. It's not too late to fight him again."
Zhang Fei said dissatisfied: "Cao's army has been defeated repeatedly, why should we be afraid of him? Even if Cao Hong comes with an army of 100,000, I will kill him and retreat!"
Pang Tong said: "We are here to help Ma Teng take Chang'an. We cannot fight with him. If we can force Xu Huang to return to the general, it will not be a waste of troops."
Liu Qi was startled, shook his head and said with a smile: "Xu Huang is Cao Cao's favorite general, how can he surrender so easily?"
Xu Huang was not Yu Jin, Li Dian, etc., and Liu Qi would not even dream of asking him to surrender.
But Pang Tong chuckled and said: "Don't you hear that the Art of War says: Seek the one above and get the middle; seek the one below and get the one below; seek the one below, and you will be defeated? Even if you can't force him to submit and make the two of them at odds, then Cao Hong will be defeated. There’s nothing to worry about!”
"Good advice, sir!" Liu Qi nodded and sighed: "If you are not afraid of things in this world being difficult to accomplish, you are afraid of not being able to even think about them."
During this period of time, I felt that Wolong and Phoenix each had their own strengths. Zhuge Liang focused on righteousness and sought stability to win, while Pang Tong focused on cunning tactics and winning by surprise.
Feng Chu is Feng Chu. He does things boldly, unexpectedly and unexpectedly, which makes him a blockbuster.
