A month later, Xia Houyuan's scouts returned to the camp on the north bank of Mian River and brought back shocking news. Liu Bei's main force had completely disappeared. Only a few thousand soldiers and horses were left in the Mianbei camp, and the guard was replaced by Huo Jun, the governor of Zitong.
Huo Jun once defended with 800 soldiers and successfully blocked Liu Zhang's attack of ten thousand people for a year. At this time, Liu Bei allocated 5,000 soldiers to him, which shows that he attaches great importance to the Mianbei camp.
Mianbei Camp is located at the throat of Jinniu Road. Once it loses the food road to Dingjun Mountain, it will be cut off. Those Yizhou soldiers who cross Micang Mountain and enter the hinterland of Hanzhong will become like Zhang Fei who went to Wudu. The army was alone, so Liu Bei sent the experienced Huo Jun to guard it.
No one in Cao's army knew how powerful Huo Jun was, nor did they know whether Liu Bei's sudden disappearance was a strategy of Pang Tong and Fazheng. He could only cautiously send Guo Huai to test.
Xia Houyuan had been on the right side before, and his opponents, whether they were Ma Chao, Han Sui or the low-ranking Song Jian, were all different from the Liu Bei in front of him. This situation was also a severe test that he had never encountered since he took charge of his own business.
For fear of betraying Cao Cao's trust, Xia Houyuan was cautious when using troops. He was worried that Liu Bei would use tricks and tricks, so he asked Guo Huai to lead 5,000 soldiers to test the Mianbei camp, while Huo Jun relied on the narrow geographical environment to fortify layers of defenses.
Guo Huai commanded the entire army to attack with doubts. He and Huo Jun attacked and defended Jinniu Road for more than ten days without a clear winner. Due to the narrow geographical environment, the two sides could only engage in small-scale battles every day.
Huo Jun's defense was impregnable. Guo Huai was in a dilemma when he suddenly received an order to return to Yangping Pass.
It turns out that Liu Bei's main force has bypassed Micang Mountain and has set up camp in Dingjun Mountain. He has sent Huang Zhong, Wei Yan and other generals to intercept Xiahou Yuan's grain team on the south bank of Mianshui River.
Liu Bei's incredible behavior shocked Xia Houyuan. He did not expect Liu Bei to appear behind him. It also confirmed that Xu Huang's worries were correct. Ma Minggedao was completely a suspect of Pang Tong and Fazheng.
Xiahou Yuan learned from Guo Huai that the Mianbei camp was easy to defend but difficult to attack. It would be very difficult to cut off Liu Bei's army's food route from Jinniu Road, because Liu Bei would cut off Mianshui's food route before that.
The supplies at Yangping Pass were originally transported through the Mianshui River, but now they were straddled by Liu Bei in the Dingjun Mountain area. The advantage of convenient transportation by waterway was immediately lost, and they could only be transported slowly by land on the north bank of the Mianshui River.
Land transportation has overwhelmed the weak people of Hanzhong, because the people of Hanzhong were frightened by rumors a few years ago and had already fled into Yizhou with their young and old. Now the side effects of relocation are highlighted.
The current situation is no longer something Xia Houyuan can face alone. His most correct approach is to put down his pride, leave a few generals to continue guarding Yangping Pass, send people to Wudu County to ask for supplies from Yangping Pass, and lead the main force back. Nanzheng waited for Cao Cao's support.
Now that Liu Bei and the people of Yizhou are "coming out in full force", even if Xia Houyuan chooses to temporarily avoid the front and fight with Liu Bei, Cao Cao will definitely understand and forgive him, but General Zhengxi, who is on the right side of the pass, has his own pride.
Xia Houyuan fought in Longyou Company. This continuous victory was a double-edged sword. The victory in the war gave him immense confidence, but also made Xia Houyuan lose his awe.
When facing Liu Bei, who could make wine with Cao Cao, Xia Houyuan's blind confidence and pride were fatal. He would not and was unwilling to adopt such a conservative strategy.
Dingjun Mountain is a branch of Micang Mountain and consists of twelve peaks. The peaks are lined up and stretch for more than 20 miles, so it is also called the "Twelve Links". The third highest peak is Dingjun Mountain. , there is a unique geological structure in the north. There are no hills but a vast plain. If you continue to the north, you will reach the south bank of Mianshui River.
Although Xia Houyuan asked for help from Cao Hong, the military capital, and Cao Cao, Chang'an, he lost his mind and resorted to stupid tricks one after another.
Perhaps because he was persuaded by Xu Huang, Xia Houyuan transferred Xu Huang back to Nanzheng to supervise the grain supply, and left Guo Huai to guard Yangping Pass. He, Zhang He and other generals led the main force south to cross the Mian River and stationed themselves on the plain north of Dingjun Mountain. He did not allow Liu Bei to occupy such a key location.
Zhang He felt bad after seeing the terrain. Even with such a stubborn character, he couldn't help admonishing: "General Miaocai, Liu Bei is condescending to occupy the favorable terrain. The art of war says that 'the enemy is in a dangerous position and cannot be attacked'. We can first organize around Defend with fortifications and wait for King Wei’s reinforcements to arrive before a decisive battle with Liu Bei.”
"What does it mean that the enemy is in a dangerous position and cannot be attacked? Wherever I am, there is a dangerous pass. In short, the advantage is mine. Liu Bei sent people to kill my beloved son in the front, cheated and secretly captured Dingjun Mountain in the back, and the King of Wei entrusted Hanzhong into my hands. , How can we allow this guy to cause trouble in Dingjun Mountain?" Xia Houyuan stared angrily.
Zhang He was startled when he heard this. When he participated in the Battle of Guandu in the past, Yuan Shao's arrogant tone was exactly the same as Xia Houyuan's now.
"General, think twice..." Zhang He pressed his fists and tried to persuade him.
At this time, Xia Houyuan calmed down a little, and he coldly told him: "It is up to the general to decide whether to attack or defend. I will personally set up a defense on the north side of Dingjun Mountain to deal with Liu Bei. General Zhang will set up a siege on the east side of Dingjun Mountain to ensure that our army The safety of the Mianshui grain road also prevents Liu Bei from going down the mountain east of Dingjun Mountain to attack Nanzheng."
"Wei." Zhang He breathed a long sigh of relief.
Although Xia Houyuan was unforgiving, he was still willing to listen to Zhang He's advice and took the initiative to set up a large area of siege to the north of Dingjun Mountain to slow down the condescending momentum of Yizhou soldiers.
Seeing that the weather was getting colder, Xia Houyuan confronted Liu Bei at the foot of Dingjun Mountain, trying to use convenient supplies to compete with Liu Bei.
After receiving Xiahou Yuan's request for help, Cao Hong immediately sent Cao Xiu to Yangping Pass with provisions and grass for support. After Cao Cao received the news in Chang'an, he appointed Cao Zhen as the Guard of the Shu Army and led 10,000 troops directly to Yangping Pass to take over the command.
Cao Hong's garrison in the military capital was suddenly transferred away, and Shanglu, Hechi and other counties were successively harassed by Han and Qiang cavalry. Cao Hong led his troops to rescue but was unfortunately defeated by Zhang Fei. In the end, he could only cower down and dare not come out.
Cao Zhen, who originally sent troops to assist Yangping Pass, had no choice but to return to Wudu. Cao Xiu, who had already transported grain to Yangping Pass, put down the grain. Because he was worried, Cao Hong had no choice but to return to Xia Bian. Before leaving, he asked Guo Huai to ask for grain from Nanzheng.
After Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu returned to Wudu, Zhang Fei and Ma Chao hid in the mountains again. This repeated behavior made Cao's soldiers in Wudu hate their teeth.
Within half a year of joining Langqiang, they relied on Ma Chao's reputation as a mighty general and Zhang Fei's exaggerated force value to directly conquer the nearby Qiang and Di tribes and recruit thousands of Qiang and Di foreign warriors.
The news about Zhang Fei was brought to Nanzheng by soldiers who were hammering grain, and was obtained by Song Chen, who was disguised as a grain transporter. He took advantage of the opportunity to transport grain and grass to Zhang He's camp and secretly climbed over the fence to Dingjun Mountain at night.
Liu Bei was overjoyed when he heard the news about Zhang Fei. In his excitement, he held a banquet to share the joy with all the soldiers. Song Chen, as a hero of spying on intelligence, was also invited to the big tent to drink.
At that time, Deng Ai's villagers had sent them winter clothes to keep out the cold, and they were distributing them one by one to the civil servants and generals attending the banquet in the big tent.
Not long after Song Chen sat down, a villager suddenly rushed over excitedly.
The thin face was full of anger. He ignored Liu Bei's presence and pointed at Song Chen and yelled: "Three years, do you know how I lived these three years?"
