Liu Qi planned with Wolong and Fengchu to try to lead the war out of Jingzhou. At this time, Guanzhong was already at war.
Cao Hong lost Chang'an and retreated to Tongguan. He immediately organized his troops to take revenge and attacked for half a month, hoping to break through the city and capture Ma Teng and his son.
However, as the former royal city, Chang'an was so strong, and the original reserves of grain, grass and weapons were countless, enough for three years, so they could only retreat in anger.
Ma Teng saw that Cao's army was powerful, so after careful consideration, he decided to invite Han Sui to help in the battle. With his own strength, he could not stabilize the situation in Guanzhong.
After Han Sui sent troops, Ma Teng led his troops to capture Tongguan. Only by capturing this place could Chang'an be safe and sound. Otherwise, Cao's army would attack at any time, which would not be a long-term solution.
The Xiliang army besieged Tongguan. Xu Huang persuaded Cao Hong not to go to war, but to hold on and wait for help. After waiting for another two days, Sima Yi arrived with 20,000 elite troops.
Cao Hong was looking forward to reinforcements, and was holding back his anger to avenge his past humiliation. He thought that if Cao Cao didn't come in person, he would at least send Zhang Liao or Xia Houyuan, but instead a Confucian scholar came. What's going on?
A mere literary publisher might not be as good as Zhong Yao!
Sima Yi was tepid. After the ceremony, he asked Cao Hong to read the military order and asked, "I wonder what the current military situation is like?"
Cao Hong glanced at it, threw it on the table casually, and looked at Sima Yi: "You are a professor in Xuchang, do you also know the art of war?"
Sima Yi cupped his fists and said, "I know a thing or two!"
Cao Hong snorted slightly: "I have heard of Sima Bada a little bit, but you have never faced the enemy in battle. Isn't it just talking about war on paper and ruining my big event?"
Sima Yi was neither humble nor arrogant: "Since I have been entrusted by the Prime Minister, my subordinates should do their best. I am lucky to be able to share the general's worries!"
Cao Hong asked: "How should we deal with the current situation?"
Sima Yi slapped the enemy tightly and said, "Let me go to the city to observe the enemy's situation, and then think about countermeasures."
Cao Hong waved his hand: "Gongming, you lead the military advisor."
Although he didn't trust Sima Yi, he couldn't disobey Cao Cao's general order. He just wondered in his heart that there was a deeper meaning in sending a Confucian scholar who had never fought in such an important place in Guanzhong?
Xu Huang took Sima Yi to the pass to inspect the enemy's situation, introduced the military situation of the two armies one by one, and asked: "Does the military advisor have any strategy to defeat the enemy?"
There are 100,000 Xiliang troops in Chang'an, and Han Sui's reinforcements are about to arrive. Chang'an must be recaptured as soon as possible, otherwise Guanzhong will not be protected.
Sima Yi held the key in his hand and quietly looked at the neatly arranged Xiliang army outside the pass. Although the cavalry was majestic and their swords and spears were like a forest, they were not good at attacking the city and only insulted and fought at the foot of the pass.
After a while, the Xiliang army retreated, and Sima Yi said: "The two generals have deployed properly, so we will defend according to this method."
Xu Huang suddenly frowned secretly, thinking that after looking at it for a long time and just saying such nonsense, what use do you need?
The two returned to the camp. Cao Hong raised his eyebrows when he heard this and said, "In the opinion of military advisors, how long can we hold on until we can send out troops?"
Sima Yi said: "When Han Sui's troops reach Chencang, they can defeat Ma Teng."
Cao Hong snorted coldly: "When Han Sui's troops arrive in Guanzhong, the Xiliang army will number 200,000. We can't defeat the enemy with a small number of soldiers. How to deal with a large number of soldiers?"
Sima Yi said: "With the arrival of Han Sui's troops, Ma Teng no longer has any worries. Relying on his strong military strength, he will definitely attack Tongguan with all his strength. When his troops become arrogant, they can defeat it."
Cao Hong was at his wits' end at this moment, waving his hands and saying: "Just follow the military advisor's plan, but there is no joke in the army. If reinforcements arrive but there is no way to defeat the enemy, can you afford the consequences?"
Sima Yi clasped his fists and said, "Since my subordinates are here under the orders of the Prime Minister and know that they have a heavy responsibility, how can they dare to play tricks?"
Cao Hong couldn't think of Cao Cao's intention for a while, so he had to wait and see what happened, handed over the guarding of the gate to Xu Huang, and hid in the backyard to rest.
Sima Yi and Xu Huang were guarding the gate together and asked, "The general is from Hedong. He must know something about the ferries along the river. I have something to ask you."
Xu Huang's heart was moved and he asked: "Does the military advisor want to cross the river from the east of the river to harass the enemy's rear?"
Sima Yi nodded and said: "That's exactly what I meant!"
Xu Huang sighed: "I knew I could go directly to the Weishui River from Pubanjin, and I had intended to attack the enemy camp. But the Xiliang army has a hundred thousand soldiers, and the cavalry comes and goes like the wind. If there are more soldiers, they will be easily noticed, and if there are fewer soldiers, it will be a drop in the bucket. I'm afraid It may not be successful.”
Only then did Sima Yi show a smile: "General, just explain the terrain here, I have my own plan to defeat the enemy."
The two discussed the situation in Guanzhong at the pass. In the following days, Sima Yi ordered 20,000 reinforcements to set off in batches from Fenglingdu to Hedong on standby.
A few days later, Tan Ma came to report that Han Sui's vanguard had arrived in Chencang, and a large army was coming shortly after, with nearly 100,000 cavalry and a huge momentum.
When Sima Yi heard the report, he immediately asked Cao Hong to discuss the matter, and took the initiative to ask for orders to cross the river with Xu Huang to the north and sneak attack the enemy's rear from the Weishui River.
Xu Huang hurriedly said: "Tongguan is very important. It is a top priority for me to assist General Cao in guarding the pass. How can we leave lightly? Isn't it possible to sacrifice the small for the big?"
Cao Hong said dissatisfied: "Looking at General Xu's intention, is it possible that someone cannot defend Tongguan?"
Sima Yi clasped his fists and said, "General Cao has been accustomed to fighting for a long time. He only needs to guard Tongguan for ten days!"
Cao Hong laughed and said: "You two also underestimate a certain family. Not to mention ten days, even a hundred days, a certain person can hold it."
Xu Huang said: "The success of harassing the enemy's rear has nothing to do with the overall situation. If Tongguan is lost..."
"In Gong Ming's words, the defense of Tongguan is entirely due to your contribution. Is this general dispensable?"
Cao Hong's slight affection for Xu Huang disappeared again, and he looked at him sideways: "Then shall I leave?"
Xu Huang said hurriedly: "The general has no such intention..."
"Okay, no need to say more!" Cao Hong was impatient and ordered: "The military advisor has never led an army, and we need the help of a general. I order you to be the vanguard and act with the military advisor without making mistakes!"
Xu Huang had no choice but to receive the general's order, and left Tongguan with Sima Yi and rushed to Fenglingdu.
On the way, Xu Huang was still worried about Cao Hong, and couldn't help but mutter: "When you and I go to the Weishui River, if Tongguan is lost, won't we be in a dilemma because of a small loss and a big loss?"
Sima Yi smiled lightly and said: "General Cao has been following the Prime Minister since the day he raised his army. He knows the art of war well and can keep Tongguan safe."
Xu Huang said anxiously: "The military advisor is unaware of something. General Cao is impatient. I'm worried that he has fallen into Ma Teng's plan..."
"General Xu!" Sima Yi interrupted Xu Huang and said sternly: "It is taboo to talk about other people's shortcomings and shortcomings behind their backs. General Cao is a close confidant of the Prime Minister's family, so he needs to be careful that there are ears behind the wall."
Xu Huang was startled and said in a deep voice: "Xu must be outspoken about national affairs. It is his duty. How can a general conceal his illness and avoid medical treatment?"
Sima Yi sighed: "The general considers himself upright and dedicated to serving the public, but he must also be careful of villains getting in the way! Today the general is talking about General Cao, how do you know that no one is talking about you behind the general's back?"
"Why are you afraid of other people's comments?" Xu Huang hummed, glanced at Sima Yi, but lowered his head and stopped talking.
It was precisely because of this that the conflict between him and Cao Hong arose, and Ma Yan and others secretly instigated it, which led to the discord between the generals.
This young Confucian scholar has a deep understanding of human nature and a deep mind. Could this be what the prime minister likes about him?
The two crossed the Yellow River and came to Pubanjin. Han Hao had already ordered people to prepare boats and rafts. Sima Yi was not in a hurry to cross the river. He sent a message that the men and horses should rest and stand by, and only sent scouts to drive fishing boats to inquire about news in Guanzhong.
