That Ah Yue was not Xiahou Shang's wife, but his concubine.
Xia Houshang's first wife was Cao Cao's adopted daughter. Naturally, the marriage was arranged for political marriage. This is very common.
However, Xia Houshang already had his heart set on something, but because she was just an ordinary woman from a small family, she couldn't get married through a matchmaker, and was not qualified to be his first wife, Xia Houshang.
If it had been someone else, it might have been fine. As for a woman, how much does he need based on his status?
But Xia Houshang didn't. Not long after he got his wife, he took the woman as his concubine. He loved her very much, respected her as a guest, and never treated her as a concubine.
Even during this expedition, he was still wearing a fleece jacket that Ah Yue knitted for him, but the tiger fur fur that his wife bought for him at a huge price was thrown away at home...
"General, the territory of the three counties is dangerous, and the Shu army has all the advantages. The soldiers seem to be quite worried about this..."
The words about joining the army brought him back to his senses from A Yue's lovely smile.
Xia Houshang laughed when he heard this and said: "Because of their advantageous location, Liu Feng and his people thought they were safe and secure, and they must not have known that we would take action against this place. Besides, we still have internal support, so why worry about it. Forget it, wait until our army lands. Shore, I should boost morale."
Xiahou Shang led 6,000 elite troops, heading south from the branch of Mianshui River to block the water, and meandered all the way to Shangyong.
At the same time, Liu Chan led two thousand Red Star troops and entered the boundary of Xicheng County from the west.
Because the situation in the three counties in front was unclear at this time, Liu Chan and others planned to land when they were still 40 miles away from Xicheng County, and send out scouts to explore the situation in Xicheng. On the one hand, they also waited for any new news from the Shadow Guards.
As a result, they had just entered the boundary of Xicheng County and met the shadow guard who came to report the news before landing.
"Brother has already taken action?" Liu Chan frowned slightly, but thinking about it, it did seem like his style.
"yes."
Liu Chan sighed secretly at first. This matter was done too hastily and too roughly. Now that he had lost the opportunity, he could not nip the matter in the bud.
If it can be solved without fighting, then naturally the greatest benefit will be gained by not fighting.
However, no one is perfect. He is born with such a character, and he cannot be expected to be like Uncle Zhuge who makes plans before moving forward and calculates every strategy.
It's just...it seems that he needs to be assigned a counselor in the future, and he has to be able to persuade him. I can't bear to do this all the time.
"I have intercepted a letter here that the Shen family wants to send to Meng Da. I would like the prince to read it."
Liu Chan took the letter and read it carefully. He frowned at first, then gradually relaxed, and finally couldn't help it anymore...
"Hehehe."
Ma Chao looked at Guan Xing, Li Er and others blankly, trying to see some clues from the faces of these people who had been with the prince for a long time.
Why are you laughing again before the battle is over?
Unfortunately, what he saw on the other person's face was the same confusion.
"Prince...why are you laughing this time?" Guan Xing couldn't help but ask.
Liu Chan shook his head with a smile and pointed at the letter with his finger: "Gu Xiao Shen Dan's plan is very clever, it is really a clever plan, haha. Come on, everyone, come and take a look."
He first handed the letter to Ma Chao, who frowned and said after reading it: "This person is very good at confusing right and wrong. If the prince hadn't seen the opportunity first, I'm afraid he would have been tricked."
But for the moment he didn't see what was so funny about this letter.
Now that the Shen family has led their troops to attack Shangyong, although Meng Da has not received the letter, it has only delayed their rendezvous. He will not wait stupidly in Fangling.
Cao Wei is also likely to send reinforcements, but there are only 2,000 people on his side... To be honest, he already feels that it may be safer to move Hanzhong to bring reinforcements.
Others had their own thoughts after circulating it, but still didn't see anything funny about it.
"Prince, we really don't know what's so funny about this letter." Guan Xing shook his head and said, "Just say it straight."
Liu Chan said with a smile: "Then Shen Dan didn't know that the action was under our control, so he sent a message to Hanzhong to move reinforcements. This saved us a lot of trouble and casualties."
After hearing this, the others had different expressions. They all seemed to be thinking about something, but they hadn't thought through it yet.
"Originally, Gu was still thinking that it was not worthwhile to attack Xicheng while his army was mobilized. Now, it's okay. We are reinforcements from Hanzhong. What city should we attack? We can just enter the city arrogantly. You guys said, don't delay this plan. Isn't it wonderful? Ah? Hahaha..."
Everyone suddenly realized.
Guan Xing said with a smile: "The prince's plan is to let Na Shen spend a lot of time to make wedding clothes for us. This is wonderful. Haha."
[Guan Xing favorability +5] (65)
Although Ma Chao said nothing, there was appreciation in his eyes.
He adapts to circumstances and takes advantage of the situation. This young man is indeed very agile. According to what Hanzhong has seen, he can also take the overall situation into consideration... He just doesn't know how good his martial arts skills are and whether he can take the lead.
[Ma Chao favorability +3] (46)
[Ding Feng’s favorability +5] (45)
After everyone agreed, they no longer docked in advance and sailed the ship directly to Xicheng.
Arriving at the pier, all the soldiers put on their armor and carried their weapons and landed one after another.
After gathering at the shore, they headed directly to the West City in a swaggering manner.
"Marquis, an elite force has arrived from outside the city! There should be two to three thousand people watching."
The general of the Shen family who was responsible for staying in the west city was sleeping soundly on the couch in the afternoon. He was suddenly woken up by this sound and couldn't help but want to curse his mother.
But the sleepiness was immediately gone. How much, two or three thousand?
Liu Feng gave up on Shangyong, why did he end up fighting here? It shouldn't be.
"Do you know who is coming?" the general asked hurriedly.
"It looks like they are Hanzhong soldiers and horses. Their troops are moving slowly and they don't look like they want to attack us."
After hearing this, the family general immediately felt relieved, and then said with a little joy: "The reinforcements that the family master said have arrived, they came so quickly. Go and prepare what the army needs, and wait until I go to the city to take a look in person."
When this person hurriedly climbed to the top of the city, the Red Star Army under the city was already arrayed neatly outside the city.
The military formation was neat and tidy, everyone was wearing armor, swords and guns were standing everywhere, flags were fluttering... and there were more than a hundred cavalry on the side.
What an "elite" person, he really deserves these two words.
Looking closely, there is a big word "horse" written on the fluttering general's flag.
"I wonder which general is coming from outside the city?"
Following Liu Chan's instructions, Ma Chao urged his horse forward slowly and said loudly: "I am General Zuo of the Han Dynasty. I am also Ma Chao of Xiliang. I have led my elite sergeants to support General Shen Dan in the Northern Expedition!"
If people here first heard that the Crown Prince had appeared here, he was afraid that it would cause a lot of questions and trouble.
So Liu Chan simply put away his Liu-character banner and asked Ma Chao to step forward to answer.
How could the city defenders not know Ma Chao's name?
Hearing that Ma Chao had arrived in person, he was overjoyed and said loudly: "I don't know that it is General Shenweitian who is here in person. I am disrespectful and disrespectful. General, please lead your army to camp outside the city. We should serve the laboring army with wine, meat, rice and food as soon as possible!"
Unexpectedly, when Ma Chao heard this, he immediately frowned, raised his gun and shouted: "This is unreasonable!"
This roar was as domineering as before, frightening the military commanders on the city.
what happened?
"I led my army over mountains and waded here. The soldiers are exhausted. How can we fight without a good rest?! The weather is still cold now, how dare you let us camp outside the city?" Ma Chao snorted angrily, "This is how Shen Dan treats reinforcements. Attitude?
"If this causes me to lose troops and generals, and affects the war situation, can the Rushen family afford it? Why don't you open the city gate soon!"
"Ah this..." The city defender hesitated.
Shen Dan only left 500 troops to guard Xicheng. After all, it was his old nest that had been in business for many years. The city could recruit more people at any time.
And now he thinks that he has not broken up with Liu Bei, so he would not have thought that there could be any danger in Xicheng, which is adjacent to Hanzhong.
It is even more impossible for him to tell the people below him all his true thoughts. The military prince only said this because he had few soldiers guarding the city and was cautious by nature.
At this time, I was frightened by Ma Chaoyi, and then I thought about the fact that the head of the family did not say that reinforcements were not allowed to enter the city, so I immediately softened.
"General, calm down, calm down. I really didn't think well this time. Let's open the city now!" The military lord turned his head and said angrily behind him: "Open the city gate, open the city gate quickly! What are you doing standing there in a daze!"
Looking at the city gate that gradually opened, Liu Chan, who was hiding at the head of the cavalry team, smiled.
Ma Chao's name is really useful in this area.
When Old Liu was outside Chengdu and saw Liu Zhang being frightened by Ma Chao and taking the initiative to leave the city to surrender, I am afraid he would have been happier than he is now.
Following Lao Liu, Liu Chan also avoided a fierce siege battle in the name of Ma Chao.
If hundreds of people like the Red Star Army he trained died in the siege... Even if he dug up the graves of the Shen family's ancestors and dug out the bones and fed them to the dogs one by one, he would not be able to relieve the hatred in his heart.
Ma Chao rode Li Feisha, who also held his head high, and entered the city with great swagger.
I don’t know if this guy did it on purpose, but when he passed by a soldier guarding the city, he snorted suddenly, startling the man...
The military lord came down from the city tower and saluted with a smile on his face: "I have heard about the general's name for a long time. Today..."
"The general doesn't like such lengthy greetings." Ma Chao interrupted coldly, "Xicheng is guarding the entrance to Hanzhong, why are you only setting up defenses with these people?"
"Well... the head of the family has led the main force to attack Shangyong. Liu Feng is defending Shangyong and is unable to divide his troops until now. I expect that the West City will be safe..."
"What a joke, what if Liu Feng has secretly communicated with Cao Wei and northern troops arrive?"
"this……"
"Thankfully, I led the troops here, so it didn't cause a big disaster. Chai Rong!"
"The end will be here."
"Lead people to strengthen the city defense quickly without delay."
"yes!"
Following Liu Chan's previous words, Ma Chao made city defense arrangements with lightning speed and then continued to lead his army to the west city.
Chai Rong walked towards the Junhou who had a confused face and obviously hadn't realized what happened.
He put his shoulder on his shoulder with a smile and said: "Now that we are taking over the city defense, we will have nothing to worry about, hahaha."
The military lord had his shoulders held tightly, and he instinctively felt that something was wrong.
But the person before was clearly Ma Chao, and he didn't notice anything wrong. He could only squeeze out an awkward but rude smile: "Hehehe, uh, I'll help you all."
"Easy to say, easy to say, hahaha..."
(End of chapter)
