As the actual coach of Zuo Fengyi's defense, Zhang Xi has the right to make decisions on the spot and does not need to report everything to Zhuge Liang who is in charge of Chang'an.
Therefore, after Zhang Xi and Zhao Yun decided to adopt Wei Yan's strategy of "different Taoists meeting Tongguan" and began to implement it, Zhang Xi just followed the usual practice and sent Zhuge Liang a battle report document, roughly describing what happened.
Then Zhuge Liang couldn't sit still.
The first reason is that no matter how he looked at it, Zhuge Liang felt that this strategy of "meeting different Taoists at Tongguan" was very risky.
It is true that if it succeeds, the benefits will be very large, and the main force of Cao Wei's Sili army can be completely surrounded. But if it fails, Wei Yan and the three thousand soldiers who went to sneak attack will definitely die.
In this regard, Zhuge Liang and Zhang Xi are actually similar. They both prefer a steady and steady approach to warfare and try not to take too many risks.
Therefore, in Zhuge Liang's view, this is not a question of the size of the loss, but a question of whether it is necessary to risk the loss. Furthermore, if Wei Yan is really defeated because of this, it is not considered a small loss.
The second reason is Zhuge Liang's calculation that even if Wei Yan can successfully attack Tongguan, with the troops currently in Zhang Xi's hands, even with the Liangzhou army brought by Zhao Yun, it may be difficult to break through Cao Zhen's interception in a short time and reach the target in time. Support to Tongguan.
Therefore, in Zhuge Liang's view, this is still a somewhat taken-for-granted and unrealistic plan.
But the problem is that Zhang Xi is the commander of the front line. Even if Zhao Yun has the honor of General Wei, he still needs to obey the command of Zhang Xi, the former general and the governor of Yongzhou, when he reaches the front line. The strategy he decided to adopt, Zhuge Liang was in Chang'an, and it was too late to oppose it. .
Zhuge Liang could only try his best to find a way to make up for it.
For this reason, Zhuge Liang first ordered Chen Zhi and Liu Yin of You Fufeng, and asked Liu Yin to divide three thousand troops to Chen Zhi, and asked him to rush back to Chang'an as soon as possible to take charge.
As for the ragtag group of grain transport teams, Zhuge Liang meant to leave them to Liu Yin's custody. As long as they didn't cause trouble, they would be allowed to go, but they must not be released to Chang'an immediately.
After Chen Zhi led the troops to Chang'an, Zhuge Liang explained some garrison matters, and left Chang'an with only ten personal guards. He first went to Changling and mobilized troops from Hu Zun, the prefect of Zuo Fengyi who was stationed here. He rushed to Chongquan County with Xiang Chong and the three thousand soldiers and horses he had obtained from Hu Zun.
After joining Zhang Yi who was stationed in Chongquan County, Zhuge Liang quickly rushed to Tongguan with Zhang Yi, Xiang Chong and a total of 8,000 Yongzhou County soldiers.
Zhuge Liang's purpose is to bring the most needed troops to Zhang Xi as soon as possible. If Zhang Xi's attack goes smoothly, the troops Zhuge Liang brings can also help Zhang Xi contain Cao Zhen's main army. If Zhang Xi's attack fails, Zhuge Liang could at least lead troops to support Zhang Xi's retreat.
Then when Zhuge Liang marched to Huayin County, he discovered a Han army of thousands of people, besieging the county town guarded by thousands of Wei troops.
Zhuge Liang really didn't understand where his own army had the courage to take the initiative to attack the city when their troops were outnumbered one to one, and what kind of waste the Wei army defenders were. They were actually defeated by the Han army when their troops were outnumbered one to one. Those who fought dared not go out of the city to fight.
But no matter what, Zhuge Liang certainly couldn't leave his own army alone.
While creating momentum from the flanks to intimidate the Wei army in Huayin County, he gathered the troops of the Han army who were attacking the city. At the same time, he met with the generals of the Han army's siege and inquired about the battle situation ahead.
Then Zhuge Liang saw the Di tribe general of the Liangzhou Army who had changed his name to attack the city, and understood what this confusing siege was about.
Zhuge Liang is not a fool. How could he not see through this behavior of temporarily changing his name to grab credit?
But Zhuge Liang finally acquiesced to the general's actions and did not give any punishment.
For no other reason, just because Zhuge Liang knew that this general was the leader of a small tribe of the Di tribe. This was not surprising. Such tribes could be said to be everywhere in Liangzhou.
But this general, after the Han regained Liangzhou, directly requested Zhao Yun to move his clan inward, and was willing to voluntarily give up his position as leader, asking the Han to organize their tribes into unified households and become Han people.
It was precisely because of the actions of this Di people's general that Zhuge Liang saw the possibility of incorporating foreign tribes in Liangzhou and expanding Dingkou. Although it has not gone smoothly until now, Zhuge Liang at least knew this person.
In order to set a benchmark for his own policies, Zhuge Liang certainly would not punish this general easily, and even promoted him from a general to a partial general.
As for the Wei army in Huayin County, Zhuge Liang also thought that it would be inappropriate for the Wei army to block such an important joint. He was wondering whether to lead his own troops and attack Huayin County.
But at this time, Zhuge Liang once again received a battle report from Tongguan to the rear. He learned that the battle of Tongguan was over, and Cao Zhen finally withdrew to the pass with more than 25,000 soldiers.
In this case, Zhuge Liang was not in a hurry to go to Tongguan. Instead, he sent an envoy with this battle report to persuade the Wei generals who were still holding on in Huayin County to surrender.
Your coach has left, and you have been given up. What’s the point of holding on? !
It's better to lower it.
The envoys who persuaded him to surrender went to Huayin County but turned around after only half a day, bringing with him the condition of the Wei army commander - inviting Zhuge Liang to speak before the formation.
Zhuge Liang was originally puzzled, who was he, who was already in dire straits and was making such a big deal about it? But when he heard that it was Wang Lang, Zhuge Liang immediately got up, took a bath and changed clothes, and personally sat on his carriage and went to Huayin County. Wang Lang met.
It's not that Prime Minister Zhuge will inevitably trigger some strange passive effects when he meets Wang Situ. The main reason is that Wang Lang is a famous person in the world and he is over seventy years old. As a junior, Zhuge Liang must give Wang Lang this face.
Another thing is that the current position is completely reversed from that in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms". It is not Wang Situ who wants to persuade Zhuge Liang to surrender, but Zhuge Liang who wants to persuade Wang Situ to surrender. Our Wang Situ is not a loyal person like Prime Minister Zhuge. It is possible for this person to be persuaded to surrender.
Once Wang Lang can be persuaded to surrender, both his political influence and his influence among the world's famous families will be very great. Zhuge Liang has to treat it with caution.
In fact, although Wang Lang is over seventy years old, he really has no intention of being loyal to the Wei Dynasty. When Cao Zhen ran away, you didn't even notify the old man, and you still expect the old man to commit suicide for you? !
Wang Lang did not want to die in vain, but the problem now is that even if Wang Lang wanted to surrender, he could not actively express this intention due to his status as a famous person in the world.
So, meeting Zhuge Liang is actually Wang Lang hoping to get a step forward from Zhuge Liang, a reason that will not damage his reputation. Wang Lang cannot do something like Xu Jing did by climbing over the wall and surrendering. .
Of course Zhuge Liang also knew what Wang Lang meant, so Zhuge Liang did everything he could to give Wang Lang face.
Zhuge Liang emphasized Wang Lang's side as a Han official, and briefly mentioned Wang Lang's appointment as an official in Cao Wei.
In the end, Zhuge Liang did not mention the word "persuading surrender" at all. He only said that the emperor of Han had long admired Wang Lang's name, and the students in Shu were also eager to seek advice from Wang Lang, but they never had the chance.
Now that Zhuge Liang had the good fortune to meet Wang Lang, of course he wanted to invite Wang Lang to Chengdu on behalf of the Emperor and the students in Shu Middle School. Of course, the main purpose was to give lectures, but if Wang Lang was willing to serve as an official, the big man would also be willing to take the position of Situ and wait for him.
The conditions were put forward and the face was given. Although Wang Lang was still a little worried, considering the current situation, he might as well confess it no matter how pretentious he was. Well, the old man is over seventy, and of course he will not covet glory and wealth. The main reason is that the students in Shu middle school could not resist the warm hospitality, so they went to Shu middle school to teach knowledge.
Just like that, the magistrate of Huayin County and Kaicheng surrendered. It really had nothing to do with Wang Lang.
After Zhuge Liang entered the city, he was even more respectful and courteous to Wang Lang. He always saluted as a disciple, which gave Wang Lang enough face. Even when Wang Lang set off for Chengdu, Zhuge Liang personally led the horse and led the way for Wang Lang. The only person who can make Zhuge Liang do this is Wang Lang.
In this way, Wang Lang happily went to Chengdu.
As for Wang Lang's family, Wang Lang is not worried.
What are you doing? The old man didn't surrender. It's just that the Emperor of Han Dynasty heard that I was knowledgeable and invited me to give lectures in Chengdu. It's just about learning about people. Can it be called surrender? !
Well, even if you take a step back, even if the old man surrendered, the old man in his seventies still went to battle to kill the enemy in person. In the end, he did not die in the hands of the enemy, but was sold by his own people and left to defend the lone city. This is all. , you, Cao Rui, have the nerve to ask an old man whether he surrendered to the enemy? !
Isn't it a bit too much to be unwilling to give even the last bit of dignity? !
This matter, no matter what, there are countless mistakes, and they should all be Cao Zhen's fault. Do you still expect an old man in his seventies to turn the tide for you? !
No matter how ruthless Cao Rui is, he cannot make things difficult for Wang Lang in this matter. At most, he is a little dissatisfied. Even because of Wang Lang's reputation and the reputation and talent of Wang Lang's son Wang Su, he must help Wang Lang maintain this dignity and treat Wang Lang well to stay in Luoyang. family, otherwise it would be easy to "chill" the world's aristocratic families.
After sending Wang Lang away, Zhuge Liang dismissed the surrendering Wei army and took away the Liangzhou army that was attacking the city. He gathered more than 10,000 troops along the way like a collection of cards and set off in the direction of Tongguan.
And on the fourth day after the Battle of Tongguan, he arrived at the Tongguan front line. Welcomed by Zhang Xi, Zhao Yun and others, he entered the Chinese military tent and took charge of the Northern Expedition.
The first thing Zhuge Liang did when he arrived in the army was to beat drums and gather the generals to discuss the next battle plan.
Tongguan, how to fight! ! !
(End of chapter)
