Ma Chao finished reading the military newspaper in his hand at a glance and ten lines, and this military newspaper had just killed a messenger and three war horses.

The letter said that Zhang Lu suddenly gathered 80,000 troops without warning, appeared on the border of Tianshui County, and divided into two routes to raid the two camps of Gan Ning and Zang Ba, which were each other's horns, and overnight, the 50,000 troops of the Ma family were taken by surprise and fled in confusion.

Fortunately, the generals chosen by the Ma family really deserved to be first-class famous generals, and after Gan Ning and Zang Ba collected the rout, instead of withdrawing to Tianshui County, they boosted morale and turned their guns to fight back against Zhang Lu's army. Like a divine soldier descending from the sky, he appeared in front of the Zhang Lu army camp who was celebrating, severely frustrated the spirit of Zhang Lu's army, and pulled the battle back to a draw.

But even so, the Ma family's 50,000 army is only 30,000 left - that's just the elite of the Ma family who can be five or even ten!

Ma Chao looked at the report in the military newspaper - more than 4,600 beheaded, more than 12,000 people were defeated, and countless materials were confiscated from Zhang Lu - he still couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Defeated, still defeated! On the surface, it seems that the losses of the two families are similar this time, especially Gan Ning and Zang Ba have achieved such a record after the big defeat. But Ma Chao knew that the Ma family's army could not be calculated like other princes.

Among all the princes of the Han Dynasty, only the Ma family was a complete professional soldier. They do not produce, do not pay for forced labor, and even enjoy absolute care in the payment of taxes. Such a price is in exchange for the Ma family's army to be extremely sophisticated and powerful!

But at the same time, because of this, the number of Ma Jiajun has always been the smallest among the entire Han princes. Until now, when the Ma family has the largest territory in the country, it only has 150,000 Ma family troops - such a ratio is completely unbelievable.

Therefore, the loss of 20,000 people by the Ma family and the loss of 20,000 soldiers and horses by Zhang Lu are not the same concept at all. Therefore, Ma Chao knew that in this battle, the Ma family was defeated!

However, what is even more odious is that Ma Chao has no idea why he lost!

The previous reports were all about the boiling of public grievances under Zhang Lu's rule, and the good news of the heart to the Ma family, and even the reply of the Ministry of Rites a while ago, or that Zhang Lu agreed to the peace talks and discussed a plan to completely surrender to the Ma family - before this, Zhang Lu had already submitted a request to return to the Ma family, but because the Ma family had not agreed to Zhang Lu's request that he could continue to govern Hanzhong, the peace talks have been in a stalemate stage.

Later, after a miserable New Year, Zhang Lu seemed to finally be unable to resist the pressure of rebellion in the counties and the surging people under his rule, and put forward his only request that he could continue to preach under his rule, and the two families finally began to prepare for the settlement of peace talks.

Ma Chao has always been very relieved about Hanzhong. And Zhang Lu's posture also made Ma Chao think that Zhang Lu just couldn't let go of the Wudou Mi Sect that he had grown up single-handedly and refused to surrender to the Ma family - in fact, in Ma Chao's opinion, there was an economic blockade of the Ma family outside, Yang Song's slanderous dedication inside, the army had 50,000 elite cavalry soldiers of the Ma family on the side, and Zhang Lu rebelled against the Ma family as a sword, and Zhang Lu did not have the slightest power to fight back - but in fact, Zhang Lu did not surrender to the Ma family in front of him, but in the critical period when the Kwantung storm was brewing, Once again, he completely betrayed the Ma family!

Perhaps, it was Zhang Lu who later discovered Ma Chao's frame-up .

Perhaps, it was Zhang Luzhen's dog who jumped over the wall in a hurry and fought to the death.

Perhaps, Zhang Lu has been pretending to be obedient, and finally fought back when the Ma family was the most lax.

But in any case, under the background of Zhang Lu's two painless betrayals of the Ma family, he finally pulled out an endless posture with the Ma family without any big force instructing and without completely defeating the Ma family!

"What should I do?" After sitting back in the right position, Ma Chao's first sentence was like this, and his eyes fell on Xun You and Li Ru for the first time.

Xun You glanced at Ma Chao's expression and said directly: "The lord has a conclusion in his heart, why do you need to ask?" Walking to the sand table simulation map, Xun You said again: "The Ma family has developed for many years, and it has long ceased to be a weak prince who is controlled by Zhang Lu. ”

And Li Ru didn't wait for Ma Chao to ask, he also walked to the map, pointed to the country and said: "When the time comes, the Kanto region is now surging, and the Ma family showed a state of Taoguang last year, and the heroes will not provoke the Ma family; The location is advantageous, Majia controls Sanguan in the west, looks at Qishan Mountain in the south, and there are more shadows to explore the road in Hanzhong, advancing and retreating freely; Renhe, although the two generals Gan Ning and Zang Ba were defeated, they turned the tide, and their morale increased instead of decreasing, and 100,000 elite soldiers were lying on their backs, and they were eager for military achievements all night. There is also the righteousness of the Ma family in hand, and the people of Hanzhong are attached to it. In this way, the time and place are favorable, the lord's prestige is far and wide, and he personally leads the expedition, Zhang Lu's army will definitely flee from the wind, and a battle can be played! ”

Ma Chao heard the two military staff officers say this, and instead of being much happy, his face showed a little hesitation, and he hesitated and said: "As the two expected, the number of wins and losses between the Ma family and Zhang Lu can be between seven and three?" ”

"The soldiers are in danger and the outcome is unpredictable, but in comparison with the two families, the Ma family can account for eighty percent of the chances of winning." Xun You's jaw was headed, and he stretched out a finger and said: "A point can't be won quickly in Zhang Lu is a mourning soldier, this battle is not only a battle between the two forces, but also a battle of life and death in Hanzhong Wudoumi." Therefore, those ghost pawns who were brainwashed by Zhang Lu will definitely fight with all their strength and never die. ”

After saying this, Xun Yu retreated and said no more.

But Ma Chao couldn't help but ask: "Then there is still a chance of failure, why doesn't Gongda say anything?" ”

"Soldiers, sophistication, have never said victory. The remaining one percent is an unpredictable variable, and Weichen has not studied heaven and man, so he does not dare to make judgments. ”

Ma Chao nodded, and couldn't help but praise Xun You's caution a little more. However, after all, he had something in his heart, and under the judgment of Xun You and Li Ru, he still hadn't made up his mind.

It's not that Ma Chao doubts that he can defeat Zhang Lu, but he doesn't want to really transfer the Ma family's troops to that place in Hanzhong at this time, completely away from the beacon fire outside the Kanto region. Even though Hanzhong at this time was like a delicious meal with an attractive fragrance, and there was no one who could stop the Ma family's progress there. Ma Chao also didn't want to watch the Kanto region, the richest economy and the most densely populated land in the Han Dynasty, drain the vitality of the Han people in the rivers of blood again and again!

He originally thought that after a grand meeting, he only needed to select some alternate ministers of the Ma family in Chang'an City, and enter Hanzhong with the Ma family's new policy and concept of governing the people. But now that things have developed into such a situation, his plan has been completely disrupted - he originally planned to have a showdown with the Ma family when the Ma family completely recovered Hanzhong and the Kwantung chaos!

Because at that time, Ma Chao knew that as long as he said the hidden danger of 'Five Hu Chao China', those foxes of the Ma family would definitely change their strategy, easily find the weakness of the Kwantung princes, and then send troops to Kwantung, advance slowly, step by step to firmly protect the foundation of the Han nationality, and unify the world with difficulty and unremittingly!

However, Zhang Lu called at this time. Although he really didn't have any power to support him this time, it came at a very bad time! Moreover, he also forced the Ma family to have to fight - if the Ma family is indifferent in the face of Hanzhong's provocation, then how can we talk about the momentum of the Ma family, how can we talk about dominating the world? !

"Lord, don't worry too much, although Weichen doesn't know what the lord is worried about, he knows ......." Guo Jia said this, paused deliberately, and after seeing that Ma Chao's eyes had turned to him, he showed a handsome smile: "The sooner you end the battle in Hanzhong, the more time you have to deal with the future!" ”

"Good!"

A word woke up the person in the dream, and Ma Chao, who woke up like a dream, glanced at Guo Jia gratefully, and continued: "According to the words of Gongda and Wenyou, I will personally take charge of the army and pacify Hanzhong!" Tomorrow, I will see the plan that has been passed in the court, and I want an army of 30,000 to be ready to enter Hanzhong! ”

"I want this time to completely calm down the hidden dangers in Hanzhong, and there will be no more Zhang Lu's 'four rebellions' of the Ma family!"