A minister came out to persuade: "Since the last Northern Expedition, public dissatisfaction has risen. If we go out multiple times, it will inevitably arouse further dissatisfaction among the people. I think it is better to recuperate and return to the Central Plains." Yu Yi glanced at the man. He was an old minister from the Liu Zhang period and had some reputation in Xichuan. Yuyi walked up to him and praised: "You can make plans for us in Xishu, which is very valuable, but you also heard what I said just now. Zhongyuan is better than We are strong. If we don't attack when Emperor Cao Wei is weak, there may be more variables in the future. What's more, the Northern Expedition is a very difficult task. It is true that only Kong Ming is fighting hard. You ministers say that everything is simple. Yes, but how much do you know about the actual difficulties?”
After hearing this, everyone lowered their heads, obviously feeling ashamed.
Yu Yi glanced at it and said, "Since everyone has no objections, let's do as Kong Ming said." So Yu Yi issued an edict, ordering Kong Ming to be the general governor of the Northern Expedition, commanding an army of 300,000, and letting Governor Wei Yan lead the vanguard. Send troops from Chencang.
When he entered Luoyang, Sima Yi asked Cao Rui, the lord of Wei, to gather all the civil and military forces for discussion. General Cao Zhen came out and said: "I used to guard Longxi. My merits were small, but my sins were huge. I was very frightened. I hope I can I once again led the army to capture Zhuge Liang. I recently got a general who can wield a sixty-pound sword, ride a thousand-mile horse, shoot a two-stone iron bow, and also has a hidden weapon, a meteor hammer. Yong, whose surname is Wang, whose given name is Shuang, and whose courtesy name is Ziquan, I recommend this person as a pioneer."
Cao Rui was very happy, so he brought Wang Shuang to the front of the palace and took a look with his own eyes. He was nine feet long, with a black face and yellow eyes. He had a strong waist and a tiger's back. He knew at a glance that he was not an ordinary general. Cao Rui laughed and said: "I got such a general, what should I worry about?" So he was rewarded with brocade robes and golden armor, and was named General Huwei and a pioneer in the front. Cao Zhen was made the governor. With an army of 150,000, they joined Guo Huai and Zhang He to guard the pass.
Kong Ming received Yu Yi's reply and knew what Yu Yi said in front of the ministers, and sighed: "Your Majesty's kindness is really hard to repay. I will go all out to win the Central Plains as soon as possible."
But he said that the Shu army's outpost arrived at Chencang and came back to report to Kong Ming, saying: "Fortifications have been built at Chencangkou, guarded by General Hao Zhao. They have deep ditches and high fortresses, and are lined with antlers. They are very strict. It is better to abandon this place. We turned to the Taibailing Bird Road to get out of Qishan Mountain to be more comprehensive."
Kong Ming shook his head and said: "There is a street pavilion to the north of Chencang. We must get this place. Only then will we have a fulcrum to the outside world before we can march." So he ordered Wei Yan to lead his troops to the bottom of the city wall, surround it, and attack from all sides. Wei Yan was ordered to attack, but could not defeat it, so he came back and told Kong Ming that the city's defenses were too strong and there was no way to capture it.
Kong Ming was very angry and was about to kill Wei Yan. Suddenly someone from below persuaded him, saying: "Although I have no talent, I have followed the prime minister for many years. I have nothing to repay. I hope to go to Chencang City and persuade Hao Zhao to surrender. I don't need any bows and arrows." weapon."
Everyone looked and saw that it was General Qu Jinxiang. Kong Ming said: "How did you use what words to persuade him to surrender?"
He replied: "Hao Zhao and I are from the same hometown. We are both locals in Longxi. We have been friends since we were very young. I will go over now and persuade him with persuasive words. He will definitely surrender." Kong Ming also felt helpless and asked him to try first. try.
Jin Xiang rode his horse to the bottom of the city and shouted: "We meet an old friend!"
The guard on the city wall went to report to Hao Zhao. He let his old friend in, met on the city wall, and asked, "I recognize you. You are from our hometown. Why did you come to me?"
He replied: "I work under the Kongming camp in Xishu, and I am a counselor to the military aircraft. I am treated with very good etiquette by them. I came here to see you specially. I have something to tell you!"
Hao Zhao knew that the other party was a lobbyist and was furious, saying: "Zhuge Liang is the enemy of our country. I work under the Wei State and you work under the Shu State. We all work for our respective masters. We were good friends before, but now we are Enemy, you don’t need to say anything more, just get out of the city quickly!”
Jin Xiang was about to persuade further, but Hao Zhao had already appeared on the other side. Wei Jun urged him to leave and drove him out of the city. He looked back and saw that Hao Zhao was leaning on the heart-protecting wooden fence on the city wall. He pointed his riding whip at Hao Zhao. : "Brother, I didn't even say anything, so you drove me away. Isn't it too heartless and unjust?"
He replied: "Brother, you also know the laws of the State of Wei. I have received the favor of the state and all I have to do is die. You don't have to come to persuade me. Go tell Zhuge Liang as soon as possible and let him attack. I'm not afraid of him!"
He could only go back and tell Kong Ming the situation, saying: "Hao Zhao is a man who doesn't know good and evil. Before I even opened my mouth, he directly tried to dissuade me and sent people to drive me out of the city."
Kong Ming sighed: "You can go to him again and persuade him based on the interests."
He then went to the city again and asked Hao Zhao to meet him. After hearing the report, Hao Zhao came to the top of the enemy tower and shouted: "Brother Hao Zhaoxian, listen to my advice. How can you defend an isolated city like this against ten people?" With tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, why didn’t you surrender earlier, otherwise you would regret that you didn’t have a chance, and instead of obeying the Han, you went to join the thief Wei State? Do you think you don’t know the destiny and can’t distinguish between good and bad? I hope you think about it carefully.”
After hearing this, Hao Zhao was furious. He positioned his bow and arrow, pointed at Jin Xiang and shouted: "I said before, don't say any more, you can leave quickly, I won't shoot you this time!"
Jin Xiang went back to see Kong Ming again and explained Hao Zhao's behavior in detail. After hearing this, Kong Ming was furious and said, "A common man is so rude. Is he bullying me for not having the tools to attack the city?" So he sent the locals to the city. Zhao came to his side and asked: "How many people are there in Chencang City?"
He replied: "I don't know the exact number, but there must be more than 3,000 people."
After hearing this, Kong Ming laughed and said: "With such a small city, how can it stop me? Don't wait until his reinforcements arrive, we have to attack immediately." So the army built hundreds of ladders, and each ladder can carry hundreds of people. , surrounded by wooden boards to cover, the sergeant held the rope, listened to the drums and shouts of the army, and climbed up the ladder together. Hao Zhao was on the city wall and saw the Shu army uniforms attacking the city on ladders. They came from all directions, so he asked three thousand soldiers to hold rockets. Shoot out, wait until the ladder is close, then shoot out. Kongming thought that there was no strong defense in the city, so he built a lot of ladders and let the three armies shout for attack. Unexpectedly, rockets were shot out from the city wall, the ladders were burned, and many soldiers below were also burned. Burned to death, the bows and arrows on the city fell like rain, and the Shu army retreated.
Kong Ming said angrily: "If you burn my ladder, I will use the method of charging the car." So he arranged to build the charging car overnight. The next day, he surrounded it on all sides and attacked with the charging car. Hao Zhao then used the stone charging car to attack. They cut open, used ropes to pass through, and used stones to hit the vehicles. The rush to the vehicles was interrupted. Kong Ming ordered people to transport soil to fill the trenches, and asked Liao Hua to lead three thousand soldiers and horses to dig tunnels overnight. Hao Zhao also Deeper trenches were dug in the city to intercept them, and the stalemate lasted for more than 20 days without any way to break through.
