So Kong Ming took Jiang Wei back to the camp to discuss the attack on Tianshui and Shanggui. Jiang Wei said: "Yin Shang and Liang Xu in Tianshui City have a good relationship with me. I will write two secret letters immediately and shoot them into the city. They will cause civil strife and then the city can be taken."
Kong Ming followed this suggestion, and Jiang Wei immediately wrote two secret letters, tied them to his bow and arrow, rode his horse to the bottom of the city, then drew his bow and shot up the city wall. A soldier picked it up and handed it to Ma Zun. Very confused, he discussed with Xia Houmao: "Liang Xu, Yin Shang and Jiang Wei have a very good relationship, and now they are preparing to serve as internal agents. The governor should make a decision as soon as possible."
He replied: "You can kill the two of them first."
Yin Shang also got the news and said to Liang Xu: "Why don't we surrender directly? This way we still have room for maneuver."
That night, Xiahou Mao invited Liang and Yin to speak many times. Knowing that the matter was very critical, they mounted their horses, took their weapons, and led their troops to open the city gate and let the Shu army enter. Xiahou Mao and Ma Zun were very panicked when they found out. , led hundreds of people out of the west gate, abandoned the city, and went to Qianghu City. Liang Xu and Yin Shang came out to greet Kong Ming and appeased the city. Kong Ming asked how to get to Shanggui.
Liang Xudao: "This city is guarded by my younger brother Liang Xu. I will go and surrender him."
Kongming was very happy. Not long after he left, he sent Liang Qian out of the city to surrender to Kongming. Kongming rewarded him, making Liang Xu the governor of Tianshu City, Yin Shou as the magistrate of Hebei City, and Liang Qian as the magistrate of Shanggui.
After the distribution was completed, the troops and horses were organized and set off. Everyone asked: "Why doesn't the Prime Minister go after Xia Houmao?"
Kong Ming smiled and said: "When I let Xia Houmao go, it was like letting go of a duck. Now that I got Jiang Wei, it was like getting a phoenix. This is a good deal."
After Kongming obtained three cities, his reputation became so great that the surrounding counties and counties knew about it and surrendered one after another. Kongming organized his troops and horses, gathered the troops from Hanzhong, and left Qishan. The troops and horses approached the west of the Wei River, preparing for further plots in the Central Plains. Some detailed plans were quickly made The news was reported to Luoyang.
At that time, in the first year of Taihe, Cao Rui, the leader of Wei, was promoted to the palace. A close official reported: "The Prince Consort of Xia lost three counties and fled to Qiang. Now the Shu army is approaching Qishan, and in front of it is the Weishui River." To the west, I hope we can send troops to defeat the enemy as soon as possible."
Cao Rui was very surprised after hearing this and asked the officials: "Who can retreat the Shu army for me?"
Situ Wanglang came out and said: "I saw that every time the late emperor used the general Cao Zhen, he was invincible in every battle. Why doesn't your majesty now make Cao Zhen the commander-in-chief and drive back the Shu army?"
Cao Rui accurately played, and then he called Cao Zhen in front of him and said: "The late emperor entrusted you with this task. Now that the Shu army is attacking the Central Plains, how can you bear to sit back and watch?"
Cao Zhen bowed and said, "My talent is very low. I'm afraid I'm not qualified for my job!"
Wang Lang said: "The general is a minister of the country and cannot refuse. Although I am old, I am willing to go with the general."
Cao Zhen nodded and said: "I have received a great favor, how dare I refuse? But I hope to send someone as my deputy general."
Cao Rui said: "You choose this yourself."
Cao Zhen then selected a man from Yangqu in Taiyuan, whose surname was Guo, given name was Huai, and given name was Boji. He was given the title of Marquis of Sheting and was appointed as the governor of Yongzhou.
Cao Rui immediately agreed, and worshiped Cao Zhen as the governor, rewarded him with a Yue, appointed Guo Huai as the deputy governor, and Wang Lang as the military advisor. Wang Lang was already seventy-six years old at that time. He selected and allocated more than 200,000 horses and horses to Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen appointed his younger brother Cao Zun as the vanguard, and appointed the bandit general Zhu Zan as the deputy vanguard. In November of that year, Cao Rui personally sent him outside the west gate before returning.
Cao Zhen led the army to Chang'an, crossed the Wei River and set up camp in the west. Cao Zhen discussed the retreat strategy with Wang Lang and Guo Huai. Wang Lang said: "When tomorrow we strictly organize the troops and display the banner, I will personally come forward. With just one word, we can make the army retreat." Zhuge Liang surrendered, and the Shu army retreated without a fight."
Cao Zhen was very happy. He sent an order overnight and rebelled at the fourth watch. During the day, he asked the troops to be neat and orderly, with people and horses in a dignified manner, with flags and horns, and in order. He also asked people to declare a challenge first. The next day, the two armies faced each other and formed a formation in front of Qishan Mountain. The Shu army saw that the Wei soldiers were very strong and very different from those led by Xia Houmao.
After the drum horns of the three armies were over, Situ Wanglang came out on horseback. On top was the governor Cao Zhen, and below was the deputy governor Guo Huai. The two vanguards held down the position, and the spies came out and shouted: "Please come out and answer the question, commander in chief!"
I saw where the gate flag of the Shu army was opened. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao came out from the left and right sides respectively, standing on both sides of the horses. Teams of generals came out from behind. The last one came out was a four-wheeled vehicle. Kong Mingduan was sitting in the vehicle, wearing a turban. Feather fan, plain clothes and soap ribbon, seems to be a hermit.
Kong Mingyuan looked at the three banners in front of the Wei army's formation. The names were written on the flags: the white-haired old man in the center was none other than the military advisor, Situ Wanglang. Kong Ming thought to himself: "This old guy must be here to convince me, I should adapt to the situation." So he asked the soldiers to push the four-wheeled cart outside the town, and asked the guard primary school to preach: "The Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty talks to Situ!"
After Wang Lang heard this, he rode out on horseback. Kong Ming held his hands in the car, and Wang Lang bowed on the horse to salute. Wang Lang said: "I have heard your name for a long time, and I have the honor to meet you today. Since you know the destiny and understand the current affairs, why do you want to do this?" Raise unknown soldiers?"
Kong Ming said: "I followed the new emperor's order to punish the thieves. How can I say that I am nameless?"
Wang Lang said: "When the heavens change, the artifacts will also change their owners and return to the virtuous people. This is a natural principle. Since Huan and Ling of the Han Dynasty, the Yellow Turban Army has risen violently, and the world has been fighting for it, until Chuping and Jian'an." During the year, Dong Zhuo rebelled, Li Jue and Guo Si continued to abuse; Yuan Shu proclaimed himself emperor in Shouchun, Yuan Shao ruled in Yecheng, Liu Biao occupied Jingzhou, Lu Bu dominated in Xuzhou, thieves arose, traitors spread everywhere, and the country was in great danger. All lives are in ruins. I, Taizu Emperor Wu, have swept away Liuhe and swept away the eight wastelands. The people have returned to their hearts, the world has surrendered, and everyone respects them. I did not rely on power to take it by force. It is really destiny. Emperor Wen, the ancestor, inherits the great rule, obeys heaven and man, and governs. The law followed the example of Zen and Shun, and China once again became glorious. Isn't this the wish of the people of the world? Now that you have great talents and high ambitions, you often compare yourself with management and enjoy yourself. Why should you force yourself to go against heaven and betray human feelings? How about doing things? Haven't you heard that those who obey the heavens will prosper, and those who go against the heavens will perish? Now our Wei State has millions of troops and thousands of generals. How can those weak lights of your Western Shu shine with the sun and the moon? Bi, if you can turn against the enemy and surrender with courtesy, you can definitely be granted a title of marquis, and the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe. Isn't that good?"
Kong Ming was silent after listening. Wang Lang thought that his persuasion made him feel very inferior, and he quickly continued to persuade: "Surrender quickly, I will recommend you in front of Emperor Wei. If you can help us take Xichuan, then Xichuan will be yours." .”
Kong Ming raised his head, laughed loudly, and said: "I thought you were a veteran of the Han Dynasty, and you must have some high opinions. I didn't expect that you would say such dirty words. It is really regrettable. I have some here too." Thoughts, please listen carefully.”
