Agui pointed at the erected spikes and said with a smile: "If these caltrops are scattered on the ground, and the enemy cavalry chases them, they will all fall down. There is no need for us to take action. Why can't the general say no?"
Ma Chao said, "This thing is as useful to the enemy as it is to us. If Han Sui and the others use it against us, what should we do?"
"Hiss—" Agui's face changed drastically, and he waved his hands hurriedly: "Commander Xu, it's best not to use this thing, and find another way to repel the enemy."
Xu Shu smiled and said, "You are too worried. We also have cavalry in the army. Since we have taken out this thing, we will naturally have a way to deal with it. Otherwise, wouldn't we be inviting disaster on ourselves?"
Ma Chao, who had been leading the cavalry for a long time, couldn't help but be very curious: "If this thing is scattered in the grass, and the horses pass by, it is impossible to guard against it. How to deal with it?"
Xu Shu said with a smile: "The restructuring of our cavalry cannot be explained clearly in a few words. When General Ma arrives in Hanzhong and sees the latest equipment of our cavalry, you will know at a glance! If General Ma gets this elite, he will be like a tiger with added wings and will be invincible."
"Can the cavalry be stronger?" Ma Chao was confused and curious. After thinking for a long time, he couldn't think of a reason. He nodded and said: "As long as we break through the encirclement this time, I, Ma Chao, am willing to listen to General Liu's orders, avenge the shame, and revive the Han Dynasty. To promote the merits of our ancestors."
Agui said anxiously: "Commander Xu, General Liu, please give us a few kind words when the time comes. We have long wanted to submit to the imperial court, but we are oppressed by corrupt officials. We really have no way out."
Xu Shu nodded and said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, my lord has the ambition to conquer the world and sweep across the eight wastelands. Not only the Di and Ba people, but also the Qiang, Xiongnu, and Xianbei, he will also recruit them all to promote the power of the Han Dynasty and promote Chinese civilization. .”
"That's great!" Agui rubbed his hands and said with a smile: "When the time comes to equip the cavalry, don't forget about our Di tribe."
Xu Shu stroked his beard and smiled and said: "Of course, we are all descendants of the Yan and Huang Dynasties. After China, we should work together to open up borders and expand the territory, instead of killing each other and killing each other."
Ma Chao was stunned for a moment, widened his eyes and asked, "Is General Liu so courageous?"
Xu Shu nodded and said: "The general's ambition is far superior to that of Emperor Qin and Han Wu, and will also surpass that of Shizu Zhongxing. In the future, General Ma will make great achievements and will naturally surpass General Fubo."
Ma Chao's eyes shone, and he stepped forward and asked, "Sergeant, please tell me carefully."
Xu Shu shook his head and said: "This matter is a long story, and it cannot be accomplished in a day. Now that the enemy is facing us, it is important to prepare for war."
"That's true!" Ma Chao felt regretful. He became more and more curious about Liu Qi and looked forward to this meeting.
Agui seemed to understand what he heard. He held the iron caltrop and said with a smile: "The Han people are the best at making weapons. If they have this thing to deal with the cavalry, they will definitely give them a good drink."
Xu Shu smiled and said: "However, this thing cannot be used frequently. It only occasionally works wonders to deter the enemy. We must rely on the king's warriors to fight hard to defeat the enemy."
Agui laughed and said, "Don't worry, military advisor. Although we are on the edge of Longxi, we are very familiar with General Liu's name. The Qiang people in Longxi County often bully us. It's time to feel proud."
Xu Shu looked at several wooden utensils, nodded and said: "If there are not enough iron tools and blacksmiths, we will use this kind of wood. The harder the wood, the better. As long as it can pierce the horse's hoof, it can be used."
Ma Le took the order and left, and Xu Shu ordered Ma Chao and A Gui to intensify their training. Although the Di soldiers had superb riding skills, their formations were scattered and their orders were inconsistent, which was a taboo in the army.
Two days later, Shi A came to report. According to the scouts, Han Sui led 30,000 Huangzhong Qiang soldiers and personally crossed the Tao River to pursue Ma Chao.
Ma Dai gritted his teeth and said, "The old thief will not give up until we are all driven away."
Ma Chao said angrily: "Han Sui, old thief, I will cut him into pieces!"
Agui said worriedly: "Han Sui has come in person, and together with the Qiang and Liangzhou Cao troops, there are no less than 100,000 troops. It may be difficult for us 8,000 people to stop them. It is better to retreat into Nanshan and go to Hanzhong along the Bailong River."
Xu Shu said: "This road is steep and impassable. Even if we reach Hanzhong, at least half of our troops will be lost. The king will also lose his territory and his family will have no one to take care of him. Rather than doing this, it is better to fight to the death."
Agui had no way out at this time and nodded: "Everything depends on sir and the two generals."
Xu Shu smiled and said: "Don't worry, everyone, Han Sui came to chase the enemy in person, which shows that he is very afraid of the general and is unwilling to let the tiger return to the mountain. Although the enemy army is strong, it is a mob, but if they encounter successive setbacks, they will panic and collapse. .”
Ma Chao stood up, clenched his fist and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. If we are defeated, I, Ma Chao, am willing to retreat to that grassland and will protect your people even to the death."
Xu Shu comforted everyone and said: "Soldiers are more valuable than more. General Ma is an enemy of ten thousand people and can be a hundred thousand troops. I predict that General Liu will enter Wudu. If he knows that Han Sui's troops are entering Longxi, he will also send troops to help. Then he will attack from both sides. The bandit army has collapsed!"
Agui took a deep breath, cupped his fists and said, "With General Shenweitian here, we will definitely succeed!"
Xu Shu added: "Your Majesty can pass down an order. From the day of the battle, the merits of all soldiers will be registered according to military merit. When they meet General Liu in person, they can all be rewarded based on their merits."
"Yes!" Agui was overjoyed. This meant that Xu Shu had agreed to surrender to Liu Qi. His confidence immediately increased and he ran to deliver the order.
When we were preparing for the deployment, Shi Alai reported: "A cavalry of three thousand people has approached the evil spirit grassland. Judging from the costumes, they must be Qiang people. They are chasing us along the road we have taken. There must be people among them who are good at tracking. Master."
Ma Le nodded and said: "Qiang people herd horses and often leave their horses in the mountains for half a month. If they are chased by wolves, they can find the horses by following the horse's hoof prints and horse dung. They must have come here accordingly."
Xu Shu asked: "How far away is the enemy?"
Shi'a replied: "They have crossed the rocky beach and are only a hundred miles away from their previous resting place. I'm afraid our camp will be discovered soon."
"After half a month of preparation, it's time to meet the enemy!" Xu Shu stood up and gave the order: "General Ma will guard the camp. General Ma Dai and I will go to meet the enemy."
Ma Chao said anxiously: "The enemy is approaching, why do you want me to stay at the camp?"
Xu Shu smiled and said: "There are only three thousand Qiang soldiers. How can I kill a chicken with a sledgehammer? I have my own plan for this trip. Meng Qi and the king can just act according to my plan."
Ma Dai took the order and went to order the troops. Xu Shu handed the map to Ma Chao and asked him to deploy his troops according to the marks on it.
Xu Shu only brought a thousand cavalry to the resting place, and divided the men and horses into two teams. Ma Dai galloped back and forth in groups in front, pretending to be patrolling troops.
The rear team was commanded by Shi A. They arranged wooden stakes and fences along a lake, and moved stones to make simple defense facilities to prevent them from being surrounded by enemy troops all over the mountains and fields.
When the arrangement was being made, the enemy army appeared in the field of vision. When they saw the cavalry patrolling in the distance, they cheered suddenly. The scouting horses in front immediately took off the horns from their backs and blew them into the sky.
Wuwuwu——
The sound of the horn made of yak horns is low and long. Although it is not as loud as the war drum, it can be heard far away in this open grassland, and it has a desolate and gloomy rough atmosphere.
