Liu Qi conspired with Wulong and Fengchu to divert the war outside Jingzhou as much as possible. At this time, the situation in Guanzhong was tense.
After Cao Hong lost Chang'an, he retreated to Tongguan. He immediately assembled his troops to seek revenge, and launched a fierce attack for half a month, hoping to break into the city and capture and kill Ma Teng and his son.
However, Chang'an was once the royal capital and was extremely strong. In addition, it had originally stored countless food and military weapons, enough to last for three years, so they had no choice but to withdraw their troops in dismay.
Seeing that Cao's army was powerful, Ma Teng weighed the pros and cons and decided to invite Han Sui to come and help. He could not stabilize the situation in Guanzhong by himself.
After Han Sui sent out his troops, Ma Teng led his troops to take Tongguan. Only by taking this place could Chang'an be safe. Otherwise, Cao's army might attack at any time, and it would not be a long-term solution.
When the Western Liang army besieged Tongguan, Xu Huang advised Cao Hong not to go into battle but to hold on and wait for help. After waiting for another two days, Sima Yi arrived with 20,000 elite troops.
Cao Hong was eagerly waiting for reinforcements and was holding back his anger to avenge his previous humiliation. He thought that if Cao Cao did not come in person, he would at least send Zhang Liao or Xiahou Yuan. Unexpectedly, a Confucian scholar came instead. What was going on
A mere literary official is probably not as good as Zhong Yao!
Sima Yi was neither hot nor cold. After greeting Cao Hong, he asked Cao Hong to read the military order and asked, "What is the current military situation?"
Cao Hong glanced at it, threw it casually on the table, and looked at Sima Yi: "You are a professor in Xuchang, and you also understand the art of war?"
Sima Yi clasped his fists and said, "I know a thing or two!"
Cao Hong snorted slightly: "I have also heard of Sima Bada's name, but you have never faced the enemy in battle. Isn't it just talking about war on paper and ruining my important plans?"
Sima Yi said calmly: "Since you have entrusted me with this, I will do my best. It is my honor to be able to share your worries!"
Cao Hong asked: "How should we deal with the current situation?"
Sima Yi clasped his fists and said, "Let me climb the city wall to observe the enemy's situation and then think of a countermeasure."
Cao Hong waved his hand and said, "Gongming, take the military advisor with you."
Although he did not trust Sima Yi, he could not disobey Cao Cao's orders. He just wondered why Cao Cao sent a Confucian scholar who had never fought in a war to such an important place like Guanzhong. Was there some other meaning behind it
Xu Huang took Sima Yi to the pass to inspect the enemy situation, explained the military situation of both armies one by one, and asked, "Military Advisor, do you have any strategy to defeat the enemy?"
There are 100,000 Xiliang troops in Chang'an, and Han Sui's reinforcements are about to arrive. Chang'an must be recaptured as soon as possible, otherwise Guanzhong will be in danger.
Sima Yi held the pass with his hand, quietly looking at the neatly arranged Xiliang troops outside the pass. Although their cavalry were strong and their swords and spears were like forests, they were not good at attacking cities and only insulted and challenged the enemy at the foot of the pass.
After a while, the Xiliang army retreated, and Sima Yi said: "The two generals have deployed properly, and we should defend according to this method."
Xu Huang frowned immediately, thinking that after reading for such a long time, you only say such nonsense, what's the use of you
The two returned to the camp. Cao Hong raised his eyebrows and said, "According to your opinion, how long should we wait before sending out the troops?"
Sima Yi said: "When Han Sui's troops reach Chencang, we can defeat Ma Teng."
Cao Hong sneered, "When Han Sui's troops arrive in Guanzhong, the Xiliang army will have 200,000 soldiers. We can't defeat the enemy with too few soldiers, so how can we deal with them with too many soldiers?"
Sima Yi said: "With Han Sui's troops arriving, Ma Teng will no longer have to worry about his rear. He will rely on his strong military force and will definitely go all out to take Tongguan. When his troops become arrogant and irritable, we can defeat them."
Cao Hong was at a loss at this time, so he waved his hand and said, "Let's follow the military advisor's plan, but there is no joking in the army. If their reinforcements arrive but they have no plan to defeat the enemy, can you afford the consequences?"
Sima Yi clasped his fists and said, "Since I have come here on the orders of the Prime Minister, I know that I have a heavy responsibility. How dare I take it lightly?"
Cao Hong could not figure out Cao Cao's intention for a moment, so he had to wait and see. He handed over the task of guarding the pass to Xu Huang and hid in the backyard to rest.
Sima Yi and Xu Huang were guarding the pass together. Sima Yi asked, "General, you are from Hedong. I believe you know something about the ferry crossings along the river. I have something to ask you."
Xu Huang's mind was stirred, and he asked, "Is the military advisor planning to cross the river from Hedong and attack the enemy's rear?"
Sima Yi nodded and said, "That's exactly what I meant!"
Xu Huang sighed, "I know that I can enter the Wei River directly from Puban Ferry, and I have intended to attack the enemy camp. But the Xiliang army has 100,000 soldiers, and the cavalry comes and goes like the wind. If we have too many soldiers, they will be easily detected, and if we have too few soldiers, it will be a drop in the bucket. I am afraid that we may not succeed."
Sima Yi smiled at this time: "General, just explain the terrain here. I have my own plan to defeat the enemy."
The two discussed the situation in Guanzhong at the pass. In the following days, Sima Yi ordered 20,000 reinforcements to set out in batches from Fenglingdu to Hedong to wait for orders.
A few days later, scouts came to report that Han Sui's vanguard had arrived at Chencang, and the main army was following closely, with nearly 100,000 cavalrymen, making for a huge force.
Upon hearing the news, Sima Yi immediately asked Cao Hong to discuss the matter, and took the initiative to request that he and Xu Huang cross the river to the north and launch a surprise attack on the enemy from the Weishui River.
Xu Huang hurriedly said, "Tongguan is of vital importance. It is urgent for me to assist General Cao in guarding the pass. How can I leave lightly? Isn't that sacrificing the small for the big?"
Cao Hong said dissatisfiedly: "Looking at General Xu's intention, could it be that I can't defend Tongguan?"
Sima Yi clasped his fists and said, "General Cao is experienced in battles. He only needs to defend Tongguan for ten days!"
Cao Hong laughed and said, "You two underestimate me. Not to mention ten days, even a hundred days, I can hold on by myself."
Xu Huang said: "Success or failure in attacking the enemy's rear is irrelevant to the overall situation. If Tongguan is lost..."
"According to Gongming, the defense of Tongguan depends entirely on your contribution. Is this general dispensable?"
Cao Hong's slight favor towards Xu Huang disappeared again, and he glared at him: "Then I'll leave?"
Xu Huang said hurriedly: "I have no such intention..."
"Okay, no need to say more!" Cao Hong was impatient and ordered: "The military advisor has never led an army before, and needs the help of a general. I order you to be the vanguard and act with the military advisor. Don't make any mistakes!"
Xu Huang had no choice but to accept the order and leave Tongguan with Sima Yi and rush to Fenglingdu.
On the way, Xu Huang was still worried about Cao Hong, and kept muttering: "If you and I go to Weishui and Tongguan is lost, wouldn't it be a loss of the greater for the lesser, and we will be caught in a dilemma?"
Sima Yi smiled faintly and said, "General Cao has been following the Prime Minister since the day he started the army. He is well versed in military tactics and can protect Tongguan from danger."
Xu Huang said anxiously: "Military Advisor, you don't know. General Cao has an impatient temper. I'm worried that he has fallen into Ma Teng's trap..."
"General Xu!" Sima Yi interrupted Xu Huang and said sternly, "It is a taboo to talk about others behind their backs. General Cao is a close relative of the Prime Minister, so we must be careful of him."
Xu Huang was startled, and said in a deep voice: "For national affairs, Xu should speak frankly. It is my duty. How can a general avoid seeing a doctor when he is ill?"
Sima Yi sighed, "General, you think you are upright and you are dedicated to the public good, but you must be careful of villains who are trying to stir up trouble! Today, you are talking about General Cao, but how do you know that no one is talking about you behind your back?"
"Why should I be afraid of other people's comments?" Xu Huang snorted, glanced at Sima Yi, but lowered his head and stopped talking.
The conflict between him and Cao Hong arose from this, and Ma Yan and others secretly instigated the discord between the general and the commander.
This young Confucian scholar actually understands human nature very well and has a deep mind. Could this be why the Prime Minister sees so much in him
The two men crossed the Yellow River and arrived at Puban Ferry. Han Hao had already ordered his men to prepare boats and rafts. Sima Yi was not in a hurry to cross the river. He ordered his men to rest and wait, and only sent scouts in fishing boats to inquire about the news in Guanzhong.