Zhuge Liang received two letters related to Wei Ba in succession. One was written by Jiang Wan. Jiang Wan's private contact with Wei Ba failed, Wei Ba refused to give Zhuge Liang more support after the autumn harvest, Jiang Wan felt that he was very derelict in his duty and asked Zhuge Liang for his guilt. At the same time, he mentioned Wei Ba's concern, he couldn't guess what Wei Ba's purpose was, and only asked Zhuge Liang to refer to it himself; The other is a handwritten letter written by Wei Ba to Wei Yan, which was transferred from Wei Yan to Zhuge Liang. This letter was nominally addressed to Wei Yan, but it didn't hurt to see Wei Ba sending a message to Zhuge Liang through the air.

In this letter, Wei Ba once again stated his opinion, the Guanzhong battlefield should be defended rather than attacked, the current strength is not good, and it still needs time to accumulate strength. In addition, he also officially raised his worries about Zhuge Liang's body, worried that once Zhuge Liang died, there would be a huge shock in the Shu Han court because there was no suitable candidate to inherit his career.

Zhuge Liang placed the two letters side by side on the table, and two people knelt side by side in front of him: Ma Jian and Jiang Wei.

Ma Tan came to report to Zhuge Liang on the work near Chang'an, and he also brought the letter written by Wei Ba to Wei Yan.

"Youchang, what do you think of Wei Ba's strategy?"

Ma Tan nodded respectfully: "I think Wei Bafa is unknown, and the health of the prime minister is indeed more important than the war in Guanzhong. ”

"It's just a body, but it's more important than the country." Zhuge Liang sighed softly and said: "Ziyu's young temperament, the analogy is inappropriate, you are not confused when you are young, how can you say such a thing." ”

Ma Jian said solemnly: "I think Wei Ba is very bold and knows what people don't know. No one dares to say it, although I am old, I am not enough. If the prime minister thinks that the analogy is inappropriate, not only Wei Ba will be disappointed, but the imperial court will also be disappointed. He looked at Zhuge Liang's face and was heartbroken. Prime Minister, I haven't seen him for a few months, but there are a lot more gray hairs on the Prime Minister's head. The prime minister is only half a hundred years old, but now he looks like a sixtieth birthday. Even Wei Ba, who was far away in Jingzhou, was worried about the prime minister. How could the prime minister himself not take it to heart? ”

Zhuge Liang's eyebrows trembled, raised his hand, rubbed his eyebrows, and was silent.

Jiang Wei knelt aside. But I heard Ma Tan's implicit accusation. Even Wei Ba is concerned about the prime minister's body. Those of them who are by the prime minister's side can't share the prime minister's worries. If it is said about others, it can also be understood that Zhuge Liang is in power, but now there are no Ma Jian and Zhuge Liang in the account. He is the only one, and he is Zhuge Liang's trusted cronies, doesn't it mean who else can he say?

Jiang Wei was speechless, don't look at Ma Yan, who was also defeated by Cao Zhi and lost more than 4,000 people, but he didn't mess up, and pursued Wei Yan all the way to Yiwu, but he was defeated, 20,000 elite troops were lost, and Zhuge Liang fell to such an embarrassing situation now, which is directly related to his failure. The reason for his defeat was not the strength of the enemy, but his nervousness. Later, when he learned that there were only more than 2,000 Xiahou Ba behind him, Jiang Wei almost beat his chest.

At this moment, Jiang Wei was very uncomfortable in the face of Ma Tan's accusation, not because he was accused by Ma Tan, but because he felt that he had failed to share his worries for the prime minister, but let the prime minister face pressure from all sides. After the defeat, Zhuge Liang was forced to relieve him of the Fengyi general, demoted to the Fengyi captain, cut the household by 200, and almost left only one empty lord, but he was not forgiven by others because of this, and the doubts about Zhuge Liang's ignorance of soldiers and people did not decrease.

How much pressure Zhuge Liang has, Jiang Wei knows best.

"Wei Ziyu's words are exaggerated, and you are the same when you are young?" Zhuge Liang laughed: "My health is not very good, but what are you afraid of, you are young and often in the prime of life, Boyo is close to the age of standing, Wei Ziyu is just weak, which one can't take on the big responsibility?" Don't say that again, it's a joke. Youchang, tell me about the preparations near Chang'an? ”

Ma Tan coughed, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Prime Minister, the situation near Chang'an is slightly better, after Cao implanted the pass, he hurried all the way, and there was not much damage. After Cheng An arrived in Feng Yi, together with Zhao Su, he pacified the people and requisitioned more than 5,000 people to help defend it. After the autumn harvest, more than 10,000 people can be requisitioned, and the troops near Chang'an are sufficient. ”

He paused, and then said: "There is news from Hanzhong that the general Wu Yi has not recovered from his illness, and he proposed to Meng Da to let Wei Feng lead his troops to support Guanzhong, but Meng Da refused. Prime Minister, Meng Da's intention to go out of Xiangyang is very strong, if he doesn't reprimand, I'm afraid it will ......"

Zhuge Liang shook his head and interrupted Ma Yan's words. "It doesn't matter, Meng Da out of Xiangyang and Sun Quan out of Jianghuai can indeed contain part of Wei's troops, and if it can really be done, it will be good for our counterattack. Since the losses in the east are not large, can we recruit more troops after the autumn? ”

Ma Jian frowned: "I'll fight for it, I can't say it yet." Even if these people are recruited, they will need a long time of training, and they will not go into battle in a hurry. Prime Minister, in my opinion, the most suitable source of soldiers is still the barbarians under Wei Ba, who has been training and is worthy of conquest. ”

Zhuge Liang bowed slightly, and his face was gloomy.

……

Ma Tan came out of Zhuge Liang's big tent and went straight to Xiang Lang's camp. Seeing Ma Tan entering the account, Xiang Lang put away the book in his hand and said with a smile: "The spirit is good, it seems that the defeat of Hongmen has not had any impact on you." ”

Ma Tan smiled: "Hongmen is more than a wooden door, it's just a big thing." If it weren't for Cao Zhi's death, the outcome would not have been known. ”

"The lost men and horses have made up for it?"

"It's already up to date." There was no smile on Ma Yan's face: "Is Xiang Gong's loss big?" ”

Xiang Lang stroked his beard and said lightly: "When you came in, didn't you see my camp?" ”

During the battle with Cao Zhi, Xiang Lang's men and horses were deployed in the front, and under Cao Zhi's attack, almost all the troops were annihilated. Now his battalion is only a third of its original size, and he doesn't know when he will be able to fill it.

"I see it." Ma Tan was worried: "If we levy the Heavenly Master Daoists, we may be able to make up for the losses, but in this way, we will inevitably be controlled by the Hanzhong people in the future." Xiang Gong, I came this time to ask you for advice on what to do. ”

Xiang Lang said lightly: "When did we Jingxiang people have our own soldiers?" It's these people now, aren't they still barbarians levied from all over the world. Alas, Jingxiang has been fighting for many years and the population is sparse, even if Jingzhou is taken, it is difficult to form many soldiers. Because of this, you have to warn Wei Yan to keep those subordinates under him tightly and not to be sent to the battlefield easily. ”

Ma Yan sighed and said with a wry smile: "Wei Yan's loss is so big, it wasn't still a plan for us at the beginning, but I didn't expect that time would pass, and we would lift a stone and shoot ourselves in the foot." ”

Xiang Lang pondered for a long time: "Is Wei Ba available?" ”

"Available." Ma Yan smiled slightly, and told Xiang Lang the letter that had just been handed over to Zhuge Liang. Xiang Lang pondered carefully for a moment: "In this way, Wei Ba has made great progress." The timing of this advice is accurate and the manner in which it is presented is impeccable. ”

"Well, I also think that the timing of his move is very old, which is inseparable from Xiang Gong's teachings." Ma Tan glanced at Xiang Lang meaningfully: "I, Jingxiang, have this life, I am gratifying." ”

"The afterlife is even more terrifying." Xiang Lang sighed with emotion: "Young Chang, what does the prime minister mean?" ”

"The prime minister said that there are three people to take care of me, Jiang Wei, and Wei Ba."

Xiang Lang raised his eyebrows and laughed silently. Ma Jian saw it and smiled. After the two laughed for a while, Xiang Lang shook his head: "It seems that the prime minister is still not giving up, so he has to bring Jiang Wei in." It's just that Jiang Wei is not angry, he has just lost a battle, if he wants him to be in front of Wei Ba, Wei Ba may not be satisfied. He paused, then said, "What are you going to do next?" ”

Ma Jian said with a smile: "I support Wei Ba's suggestion, Guanzhong should be mainly defended, and Sun Quan should send troops to Jianghuai to contain the Wei forces." ”

"It's a sound strategy." Xiang Lang's jaw head echoed: "Hold Guanzhong, accumulate for three or five years, Wei is running from east to west, it will inevitably be tired, and then send troops again, you can get twice the result with half the effort." ”

"Xiang Gong said the same, and I was more relieved."

……

"Ma Jian went to Xiang Lang's camp." Yang Wei said breathlessly, looking at Zhuge Liang nervously. Zhuge Liang nodded silently, waved his sleeves, and motioned for Yang Wei to go out first. Yang Yi didn't know why, but he didn't dare to say more, he waved his hand quietly, and Yang Wei understood and retreated.

"Prime Minister, Ma Tan went to see ...... Xianggong"

"Xiang Gong is a senior, and it is reasonable for him to visit him when he is young, why are you so nervous." Zhuge Liang interrupted Yang Yi: "Have you checked, how big is the loss of Tuntian?" ”

After Cao Zhi died in battle, Zhuge Liang sent Yang Yi to various Tuntian points to check the losses. Yang Yi has suffered a lot in the past two days, and she will report to Zhuge Liang as soon as she comes back.

"The loss is about 30%." Yang Yi's eyebrows fluttered and said: "The biggest loss in Tuntian in various places is the loss of the Tuntian garrison and soldiers, and the loss of crops in the field is not large. After the autumn harvest, it should be able to support the rations of an army of 50,000 for half a year. ”

"Half a year, it's still not enough." Zhuge Liang frowned slightly: "Whether it is Jixian or Yuzhong, the city is strong, and it is difficult to conquer it without half a year of siege." If there are Qiang people to attach, the demand for food will be even greater. ”

"Prime Minister, is there no grain to be shipped from Chengdu and Jingzhou?"

"None of that grain was given for free." Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly: "I don't know what Li Yan is thinking, but I can roughly guess what Wei Ba is thinking." Food may be available, but it is unlikely to meet our needs. ”

"How dare this person disobey the prime minister?" Yang Yi was furious. "Does he also want to fall to Li Yan?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head, his eyes fell on the endless Nanshan Mountain in the sky, and a faint uneasiness flashed across his eyebrows: "After all, he still doesn't want to put his heart on me, and he is very wary." ”…… (To be continued......)