Unexpectedly, not far from Anling, Yan He received a military order not to return to Chang'an and turn to the southwest to pursue Zhang Yi's tribe.
It turned out that Cao Zhen and Fei Yao had led 5,000 cavalry from Chang'an to pursue Zhuge Liang and the others. When they learned that Zhang Ni had withdrawn, they were shocked at first, but then they thought that Yan He could finally use the more than 5,000 cavalry in his hands. After being restrained, he was overjoyed and planned to gather three groups of troops and about 15,000 people to intercept the Han army in the Wugong to Zhouzhi area.
After Yan He learned the whole story, he did not dare to neglect and led his army to speed up the pursuit of Zhang Yi's army. Zhang He, who had left the territory of Meiyang, also changed his marching direction after receiving Cao Zhen's order and rushed towards the north bank of the Wei River. He planned to cross the Wei River first to block the Han army east of Wugong.
Just when one of the Han and Wei armies was speeding up their withdrawal and the other was speeding up the pursuit, Sima Yi, who received Cao Zhen's notification, led 10,000 fine cavalry and galloped for more than 100 miles overnight to reach Chang'an.
"Bo Ji, how long have the generals been gone?" Sima Yi asked in the lobby.
Guo Huai said: "The general and General Fei set out yesterday afternoon, and they have been gone for eight or nine hours now."
"At eight or nine hours, they were a mixture of foot and cavalry. It was impossible for them to stop and rest. Based on the fastest speed, they had traveled up to sixty or seventy miles. At this moment, no news has been sent back, which means that they have not yet contacted the Shu army. Hand in hand, in this case, the Shu army should not have reached Wugong yet, at most they have only passed Huaili." Sima Yi pointed to the map and analyzed.
Guo Huai nodded and said, "Sima Gong, this is how it should be."
"Well, I will lead the cavalry and rush forward immediately. I can catch up with the general and the others within a day. If our Jingzhou infantry arrive, you will come with them to start a decisive battle with Zhuge Liang's army." Sima Yi said.
Guo Huai said: "Don't worry, Mr. Sima, we will set off immediately as soon as the army arrives. We will travel under the stars and night, and we will never delay the military event."
"Okay, I'm relieved with Boji's words."
Sima Yi immediately resigned from Guo Huai, Yan Fei and others, and led 10,000 cavalry to pursue Cao Zhen's army.
Zhang He changed his marching route and turned towards the Weishui River. Cao Zhen and Fei Yao followed behind, Yan He led the troops to pursue Zhang Ni, and Sima Yi led the cavalry to rush to Chang'an in advance. These four important military information could not be concealed from the Han army's deployment of hundreds of miles around. Tanma and Yuwei inside.
At this time, the Han army had withdrawn to the small town of Zhouzhi to rest for a while. The Wei army was so fierce that they had to come up with a countermeasure, so Zhuge Liang immediately summoned the generals for discussion.
"Mr. Wei, please inform everyone of the latest enemy situation."
Yang Yi accepted the promise, came to the wooden map, pointed at it with a wooden stick and introduced to everyone: "Everyone, according to the report of the scout horse, Zhang He's tribe has left Meiyang and is heading diagonally towards the Weishui River. It should be at this location at the moment. , less than thirty miles away from the Wei River, and less than fifty miles away from our army."
The wooden stick moved to the north and said: "Yan He's troops are pursuing Zhang Boqi. According to the news just sent by Zhang Boqi, the distance between the two armies is only forty miles, and Zhang Boqi's troops have passed Maoling and are also stepping up their attack on the Weishui River. Go."
After a pause, he pointed the wooden stick to the east and said, "Cao Zhen's troops have already passed Huaili and are less than fifty miles away from our army. In addition, the latest news came from Chang'an's patrol guards. Sima Yi, the pseudo-Wei hussar general, has arrived with 10,000 fine cavalry. Chang'an is probably also chasing our army.
As a result, the Wei army has four groups of more than 20,000 soldiers and horses rushing towards our army. There are also 20,000 infantry in the southeast of Chang'an. people. Everyone, this is the latest military situation. "After that, he bowed to Zhuge Liang on the main seat and returned to his seat.
Zhuge Liang said: "The Wei army is pursuing so closely. Our army cannot allow them to continue chasing like this. Even if the main force of the army can withdraw to Hanzhong, the Wei army will inevitably launch an attack on Wugong, Yicheng and Chencang.
These three cities were finally captured by our army, and they are also the bridgeheads for regaining the entire Guanzhong in the future. We must never let the Wei army take them back. Therefore, our army must inflict another heavy blow to the Wei army. Only by beating them thoroughly can the results of this Northern Expedition be preserved.
Therefore, I intend to go to the small town this week to fight the Wei army who is following behind. After defeating it, the army can calmly withdraw to Hanzhong. What do you think? "
"Prime Minister, just give the order, we dare
Die if you don’t work! ” Everyone responded in unison.
Zhuge Liang said: "Okay." He nodded, looked at Yang Qing and said: "Mingzhi, listen to the order."
"exist."
Zhuge Liang said: "I order you to lead your cavalry to the front and send scouts to the front line to prevent Zhang He's troops from crossing the Wei River."
"Take orders."
After Yang Qing thought for a moment, he understood Zhuge Liang's intention. The most threatening thing to the Han army at the moment was Zhang He's army, which wanted to intercept it in advance. It was necessary to contain Zhang He's troops and prevent them from crossing the river in order to avoid being attacked from both sides by the Wei army. danger.
Zhuge Liang said again: "You only have more than 3,000 cavalry at your disposal. The strength is still slightly insufficient. It is difficult to block all the ferries. Let's do this. Zhang Yi's troops will be given full authority to you. You can order him not to use martial arts and to cross the Wei River in advance. Meet you."
"Yes." Yang Qing said happily.
In this way, he has eight thousand soldiers and horses in his hands, and he will have no problem guarding the south bank of the Wei River for thirty to forty miles.
However, Zhuge Liang still seemed uneasy and continued: "In addition, the Wugong garrison is also under your command. You can ask them to cooperate. In this way, Zhang He's tribe should not be able to cross to the south bank."
"promise."
Yang Qing smiled and said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. If Zhan Qing, who is so rare and wealthy, can't defend the Wei River, he won't have the dignity to lead troops anymore. He might as well go home and have his children."
Everyone smiled when they heard this. Guan Xing said, "Brother, you don't seem to have any children yet?"
"this......"
Yang Qing was speechless for a moment and glared at him angrily. Everyone laughed even more after hearing this, and even Zhuge Liang couldn't help but smile.
After laughing, Zhuge Liang said again: "Zilong, Anguo, listen to your orders."
"Yes." Zhao Yun and Guan Xing stood up and responded with clasped fists.
Zhuge Liang ordered: "There is a mountain more than ten miles west of Zhouzhi. The locals call it Anle Mountain. There is a peak sloping out of the east side of the mountain, shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings. The locals call it Shuangfengling.
The terrain of this ridge is dangerous and it is located in an important road. It is the only way for Zhou Zhi to go to martial arts. You two each lead 8000 soldiers and horses to Shuangfengling to ambush. If Wei soldiers arrive, don't hesitate and rush out immediately. "
"No." The two of them accepted the order in unison.
Zhuge Liang warned: "Zilong and Anguo, remember to make a lot of noise and fanfare after setting off. First walk a few miles to the west and pretend to be going to martial arts. At night, turn back to the small road to Shuangfengling to ambush."
"Prime Minister, what does this mean?" Zhao Yun asked a little confused.
Zhuge Liang smiled mysteriously and said, "The old general will know it by then."
"yes."
Zhao Yun did not go into details. He had worked with Zhuge Liang for nearly twenty years and was already familiar with Zhuge Liang's style of doing things. Seeing that he rarely issued military orders as mysteriously as he did when he was young, he felt nostalgic for him.
Zhuge Liang continued: "The rest of the generals will follow me and sit in Zhouzhi, waiting for the Wei army to arrive."
"Prime Minister, with such an arrangement, you only have 6,000 troops and horses by your side. This is too few. Although Cao Zhen only has 5,000 or 6,000 infantry and cavalry, there is Sima Yi behind him who is speeding up. Once the two Wei armies meet, they will There are tens of thousands of troops.
It was difficult to defend the small town of Zhouzhi, so the Qing Dynasty thought that it would be better for Zhang Boqi to rush directly to Zhouzhi and obey the prime minister's deployment, so as to ensure safety. Yang Qing said.
Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "No, six thousand soldiers and horses are enough. If there is danger, they will be enough to protect me from evacuating. Furthermore, I will have to guard the city with fewer soldiers. This will show my weakness to the enemy and make the Wei army fall into the trap."
"I see, it's clear."
Zhuge Liang said: "You should go back and prepare immediately and arrive at the designated place one by one."
"I respectfully obey the Prime Minister's military orders."
Everyone accepted the order in unison and returned to camp to prepare. An hour later, Yang Qing was the first to leave with more than 3,000 cavalry, heading towards the south bank of the Wei River.
