Liu Qi defeated Meng Da, and for a while there was no good way to advance. The two armies faced each other for several months. In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year. In order to avoid the cold, a row of earthen houses were even built on the top of Taibai.
On this day, Fa Zheng returned from visiting Mengda's tomb and asked Liu Qi and Ma Liang to discuss the military situation: "Although I went to visit the tomb in the past few days, it was actually to inspect the surrounding terrain. The terrain of Baoxie Valley is steep and the currents are rapid. It cannot be done except on the plank road. Yeah! It's the middle of winter now, and the Baoshui and Xianshui are frozen into ice. You can walk across the canyon. I've thought of a plan to ensure that Cao's army is completely destroyed. Xiahou Yuan and Xun You are buried here."
Liu Qi hurriedly asked: "What's the plan?"
Fazheng said: "I am sending troops in several directions now. It will be easy for Ma Chao to pacify Xiliang. Pang Shiyuan has also trapped Wei Kang in Jicheng. We can know the outcome! There are still two groups of strange troops that have not moved. Wei Yan comes out of Ziwu Valley and Zhang Fei attacks Lantian. Pass, if one of these four armies enters the pass, Xiahou Yuan will abandon Jigu and retreat after hearing the news."
Ma Liangyan said: "Sir, what you want is to wait for Cao's army to retreat and follow it to cover it up?"
Fazheng shook his head and said: "After all, Xia Houyuan is a famous general in Cao Wei, and Xun You is plotting against him. Even if he retreats, he must be prepared. How can chasing and killing completely destroy his army? It is better to draw fuel from the bottom of the cauldron to stop the boiling!"
Liu Qi's heart moved and he asked in surprise: "Sir, are you planning to burn down the Xiegu Plank Road?"
"Exactly!" Fazheng nodded slowly and said: "Once the plank road is cut off, Xia Houyuan cannot return to help, and there is no master in the pass. Who can stop the courage of Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Zhang Fei? Cao's army is cut off from food and grass, and even if the lord does not need to send troops, he can still capture and kill Xia Houyuan .”
Ma Liang frowned and said: "The plank roads around Jigu are connected for more than a hundred miles. The weather is dry in winter. Once burned down, it will be as difficult as climbing to the sky. It may take three to five years to complete. Even if Cao's army's return route is cut off, we will not be able to advance. If we only retreat to Hanzhong, wouldn’t all our previous efforts be wasted?”
Liu Qi frowned and was also worried about this matter. When Zhao Yun retreated, he burned the plank roads in this area. Although he blocked Cao's army, he even made Cao Zhen angry to death.
However, this move harmed others and did not benefit himself, which led to Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition and he could no longer take the Baoxie Road. When he left Chencang Road, he was defended by Hao Zhao and returned in vain. Six months after he left Qishan, he encountered Sima Yi, his lifelong enemy. In the end, he regretted Wuzhangyuan, leaving an eternal sound. sigh.
Fazheng smiled and said: "Why does the Lord need to come in person to capture Guanzhong? All we need to do is trap Xiahou Yuan in the skewed valley. If there is no master in Guanzhong, Cao's army will be in chaos. We can appoint Zilong as the general, Ma Chao as his deputy, and Pang Shiyuan as the planner, Zhang and Wei With the help of the two generals, wouldn't it be easy to secure Guanzhong? If the Lord retreats from Hanzhong, he can go straight back to Nanyang, enter Funiu Mountain at Danshui River, and go to Hangu Pass to take Luoyang, echoing General Guan from a distance. With the two capitals secured, great achievements will be accomplished, and the Han Dynasty will be prosperous! "
"Wonderful, wonderful!" Liu Qi suddenly understood after hearing this, and clapped his hands and praised: "Victory in several ways, the advantage is mine!"
Fa Zheng did not hesitate to sacrifice his own interests in this plan. It was indeed ruthless and cruel enough, and it was worthy of being called a conspiracy!
Everyone is worried about what will happen next, so they are timid, but in the long run, it will still be beneficial to themselves.
In fact, as long as he holds off Xia Houyuan, the battle in Guanzhong is already certain to be won. Who can stop the attack of Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Zhang Fei, and Wei Yan?
There are also Zhang He, Yu Jin, Zhang Ren and other generals, plus a Feng Chu. Even if Cao Cao comes in person, he will shake his head.
After much deliberation, I realized that I, along with two veterans Huang Zhong and Yan Yan, made the right move by mistake.
This situation is a bit like Tian Ji's horse racing, but the inferior horses in his hands are better than the superior horses of Cao's army, and Cao's army is just hanging on.
Ma Liang shook his head and sighed: "Sir, your words can be said to wake people up from their dreams. I am in the middle of the game and cannot see the overall situation. I admire you!"
Fazheng sighed: "If Meng Da hadn't been beheaded, I would have taken his body back to Hanzhong for burial. That's why I suddenly had this inspiration. Now he is buried on the top of the Qinling Mountains. If I could witness this great victory, it would be a comfort to the heroic spirit." !”
Liu Qi laughed and said: "In the past, when Emperor Gaozu rejuvenated the Han Dynasty, he used Zhang Liang's plan to seize Chencang and attack Chencang secretly. He attacked Guanzhong and decided the world. Now we use Mr.'s plan to seize Chencang and burn the plank road secretly. Guanzhong can be decided in one battle. Isn't it God's will? ?”
Fazheng said: "However, the Red Cliff Plank Road is the lifeline of Cao's army. It must be heavily guarded. It cannot be sent out easily, so as not to scare the grass and scare the snake. It is necessary to use the strategy of attacking in the east and attacking in the west. First, deal with it to make it take it lightly, and then burn it with lightning speed. Cao's army will definitely There will be chaos.”
Liu Qi had already secured the victory at this time and felt much relieved. He smiled and said, "Xun You has a strategy, so why not compete with him in a battle of wits?"
Fazheng nodded and said: "There are two roads in Jigu that lead to the middle of the pass. The Xiegu plank road leads to Wuzhangyuan, and there is another trail across Taibai Mountain to Chencang. I expected that with Xunyou's wisdom, there must be soldiers guarding him to prevent A surprise attack can be used to slow down the enemy."
Ma Liangyan said: "Only roundabout harassment may not be enough to affect Cao's army. Head-on confrontation is needed. If we can lure the enemy to go deep, we can only succeed by using false and true tactics."
Liu Qi nodded and said: "Xia Houyuan is impetuous and relies on bravery but little strategy. Although Xun You is a military advisor, if he is angered and his achievements are accomplished, and he thinks he has a plan to separate the two, he can succeed."
Fazheng thought for a while and said: "I have a plan to turn against the guests: first set up a camp at the foot of the mountain. If Cao's army dare not come to fight, we can break out of the camp and advance, and set up camp step by step. Xiahou Yuan will come to fight in anger, and we can prepare for the surprise attack. I guess Xun You fell into my trap!"
The three of them had discussed and decided, and Liu Qi sent an order to raise the tent, saying: "Cao's army is now guarding Jigu, and the men and horses cannot advance. I want to camp step by step, approach the enemy camp, and force Xiahou Yuan to fight. What do you think?"
Huang Zhong cupped his fists and said, "There is no winner between Xia Houyuan and Xia Houyuan so far. The general is willing to be the vanguard and lure him to fight."
Liu Qi ordered Huang Zhong to divide his troops and go down the mountain immediately, and set up a stronghold at the foot of the mountain to see how Cao Jun would react.
Yan Yan was left alone and asked: "It's hard to tell the winner in a head-to-head confrontation. I want to make a surprise attack from a small road. There is a small road in Taibai Mountain that leads to Chencang. Is there anyone to recommend to the general?"
Yan Yan smiled and said: "My lord, why should I choose someone else? I will go as I wish!"
Liu Qi shook his head and said: "General Yan has been well known by Cao's army. If he leaves the camp, Xia Houyuan will be suspicious of him, and he needs to choose another general from the army. However, the mountains ahead are steep, so it is best to choose someone who is good at climbing and wading. Unfortunately, Wang Ping is not here , otherwise the Banzhen Army is the most suitable, I wonder if there are any generals and commanders in Brazil who can be used?"
Yan Yan cupped his fists and said, "I have a captain under my command. His surname is Zhang Mingyi, and his courtesy name is Boqi. He is from Nanchong, Brazil. He is similar to the Ba people. He is heroic and good at mountain trekking. He is qualified for this position."
"Okay, okay, bring Zhang Yi over quickly!"
Liu Qi was overjoyed. Isn't this the general who was unable to become a flying army in the later period? Unexpectedly, he was already in the military.
Not long after, a young man with dark skin, a resolute face, and a strong body came into the tent. Although he was a little nervous, he still saluted calmly.
Liu Qi said: "To the northwest of Jigu, there is a trail in Taibai Mountain that leads to Chencang, but the road is dangerous. Do you dare to lead the troops there?"
Zhang Ni clasped his fists and said, "My lord, if you have the general's orders, I will not hesitate to die!"
