Longxi, Guguan City.

In the palace hall, Xiahou, the governor of Liangzhou soldiers and horses, said that he was sitting opposite Xu Miao, who was the assassin, and Xu Miao said with a sad face:

"General Xiahou, the situation is not good, first General Zhang He led the army to attack Jieting and the whole army was wiped out, and then His Majesty personally conquered, then Liu Chan didn't know what method he used to build a city in Jieting.

According to the scout's report, now Liu Chan has led 20,000 troops to Xiangwu, and is rushing to Di Dao, although His Majesty has turned the road to attack Anding, but it is stable and mountainous, and there is the danger of Liupan Mountain, I am afraid that it will be difficult to do anything in a short time. ”

Compared with Xu Miao, Xiahou Cheng's face was much more relaxed: "We have 40,000 soldiers and horses now, why are we afraid of Liu Chan?" ”

"General, it's not about the number of soldiers and horses that fights!" Xu Miao sighed when he heard this: "Although we have 40,000 people, there are only 10,000 real soldiers, and the remaining 30,000 people, more than 10,000 people are county soldiers, and the remaining 10,000 people are Qiang soldiers."

Although the Qiang people are brave and good at fighting, and the people are fierce, they come from various tribes, their orders are not uniform, and Ma Chao's prestige among the Qiang people is too great, if there is a slight mistake on the battlefield, they are very likely to defect.

These days, some Qiang people know that His Majesty cannot enter Longyou, and they have asked to go back, and now these Qiang soldiers are not a help for us, but a burden. ”

"In that case, what did the assassin Shi do with them in the first place?" Xiahou said that he was a little unhappy after hearing Xu Miao's words, and frowned: "Xu Thorn Shi Mo wants to be arrogant, although Ma Chao is brave and famous, but he has not been to Liangzhou for ten years, where can the Qiang people be afraid of him?"

We have 40,000 soldiers and horses, and the Shu army plus Liu Chan's reinforcements are only 30,000, including 10,000 foot soldiers, as long as we command properly, it is not impossible for us to defeat the Shu army. ”

Xu Miao shook his head and said: "General, the reason why I summoned the Qiang people in the first place was to prepare for a counterattack on the Shu army, if Your Majesty can lead the troops into Longyou, then the Shu army is in danger, and the east and west roads will be attacked by the enemy, and the defenders of Qishan Fort will be dispatched at the same time to destroy their grain routes, and the Shu army will only be defeated."

In this case, even if the combat effectiveness of these county soldiers is not good, and the Qiang people's orders are not even, they can be like a bamboo, but who would have thought that His Majesty would not be able to enter Longyou, and now what we need is to hold Liangzhou, so these Qiang people will not be useful. ”

Xiahou said with a wave of his hand and said: "Xu Tingshi is too worried, I have 10,000 elite iron cavalry, 15,000 county soldiers, and 15,000 Qiang soldiers, these are all cavalry.

Although the combat effectiveness of the county soldiers is not good, but simple cavalry shooting is not a problem, although the Qiang people are not even, but the battle is brave, you can't only think of their shortcomings, don't think about their strengths.

And what about the Shu army? Ma Chao has 10,000 cavalry there, and the soldiers and horses brought by Liu Chan are 10,000 cavalry and 10,000 foot soldiers, what role can those 10,000 foot soldiers do to cavalry combat? It doesn't come in handy at all, so we're forty thousand to twenty thousand.

On fighting alone, there are many fierce generals in the Shu army, I am not their opponent, but if I talk about commanding the cavalry, I am not afraid of them, there is only one horse Chao in the Shu army, he was beaten by Emperor Taizu Wu back then, and the ability to command the cavalry is not very good, what am I afraid of? ”

Xiahou said that when he was a child, he liked to play the game of commanding the army with the children, and he had a deep understanding of cavalry combat in Liangzhou over the years, so now Liu Chan led the army to attack, but Xiahou said that he was not afraid, and even wanted to play with Liu Chan and Ma Chao.

Xu Miao advised: "I advise the general to take advantage of Liu Chan's arrival, dismiss the Qiang people, and retreat to Jincheng." Now that it is winter, it is not convenient for the Shu army to attack the city, so we can at least hold on to the beginning of spring next year. ”

Xiahou said angrily when he heard this: "If you want to retreat before the battle is fought, is this the work of the eldest husband?"

I Yongliang people are fierce, brave in battle, proficient in cavalry and archery, the Shu army is a mountain people, good at mountain warfare, we face the Shu army repeatedly defeated, are to their own shortcomings, attack their own strengths. Now that the Shu army has come to Liangzhou and fought on the plains, it is to promote the shortcomings and avoid the strengths.

If we give up this opportunity, dismiss the Qiang people, and retreat to the city, won't we also make use of our weaknesses and avoid our strengths, and give up our advantage in cavalry combat? What if we make it until the beginning of spring next year? Your Majesty's side also has to spend the winter, can you ensure that Your Majesty can attack Longyou after the beginning of spring? ”

Xu Miao sighed and said: "The general is good at arguing, and he is ashamed of himself, but this battle is related to the life and death of Liangzhou, and please think twice." ”

Xiahou said in a deep voice: "This is the result of the general's repeated thoughts, and I also ask the assassin to raise materials in the city, so that the soldiers can eat and drink, and stabilize the Qiang soldiers!" ”

Xu Miao nodded and said, "Since the general has decided, I will definitely support it." ”

Xiahou weighed his head slightly, and then fiddled with the formation diagram on the table.

Five days later, Liu Chan led the army to Didao.

In the city of Didaw.

After Liu Chan exchanged pleasantries with Ma Chao and other generals, he asked Ma Chao: "Meng Qi, how is the situation of the Wei army now?" ”

Ma Chao replied: "Your Majesty, now the Wei army is stationed in the small city of Guguan twenty miles away, and there are 40,000 soldiers and horses in the city, of which 10,000 are Xiliang soldiers, and the remaining 30,000 are half of the county soldiers and Qiang soldiers. ”

"Oh?" Liu Chan was stunned when he heard this: "What about Xu Miao?" ”

Ma Chao replied: "Xu Miao is also in the city, and our army scouts are staring, only to see a grain transport team entering the city, but no one leaving the city." ”

Pang Tong frowned and said: "Xu Miao is very shrewd, and his talents are no less than Gongheng, and he is right for them." He will not be unclear about the current situation, when the defense of the Hui army is the first, continue to keep the Qiang people in the army, and I return to the artillery to the city, how can the small city of Guguan resist?

As soon as the city is broken, the Qiang people will be in chaos, and won't they bring about their own defeat at that time? ”

Liu Chan pondered for a moment and said: "Although Xu Miao is a assassin, but Xiahou claims to be the governor of Liangzhou, Xu Miao can't care about Xiahou's title, Xiahou claims to be the Cao Wei clan, and he is a strong person, I'm afraid that Xiahou said that he wants to fight with our army, right?"

That's right, our army only has 30,000 people, including 10,000 foot soldiers, no matter how you look at it, it is 40,000 to 20,000, but if there is a little blood, you will choose to fight. ”

As soon as Liu Chan's words fell, a soldier from His Royal Highness walked in, took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Liu Chan: "Your Majesty, this is sent by the Wei army." ”

"What about people?"

"This is the arrow letter, he shot the arrow at the head of the city and left."

"Oh?" Liu Chan took the letter and opened it when he heard it.

Pang Tong asked, "Your Majesty, what is written in this letter?" ”

"Xiahou called the challenge book, he will go out of the city for a decisive battle in three days." Liu Chan said, handing the letter to the generals.

Ma Chao looked at it and couldn't help laughing: "This Xiahou is also a man, and he dares to challenge this situation!" ”

"Xiahou said that it was good to be a man, but not necessarily for others." Liu Chan shook his head and said with a smile: "Since it is a challenge book, when you send a messenger, before the battle starts, there will be a war of words first, and you can't weaken your momentum."

However, the Wei army did not send a messenger, but an archery letter, and there was not even a messenger to send a letter, so it can be seen that no one dared to send a letter, and the bold officials did not dare to send a letter, let alone the soldiers? Presumably they are panicking now.

However, the cavalry battle is not trivial, we only have 20,000 cavalry, but Xiahou said that there are 40,000, and they cannot be underestimated, the generals will have a good rest for one night, and come to discuss the troops tomorrow. ”