Ji County is the county seat of Tianshui County. The city is tall and strong, and the moat is very wide. It is a city that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Before Ma Chao launched his army, the prefects of Tianshui County and other Longxi counties were appointed by the court. Although Ma Chao wanted to be the king like Liu Jing, he could not do it. They could not establish a huge bureaucratic system.

Liu Jing has the foundation laid by Liu Biao, but Ma Chao did not. So for more than ten years, both Ma Teng and Ma Chao were only independent in military affairs. They had never been politically independent. However, after Ma Chao retreated from Guanzhong this time, it was a little different from before.

Ma Chao directly captured Ji County, killed the prefect Wei Kang, and proclaimed himself the general of the Western Expedition and the governor of Liangzhou, preparing to follow Jingzhou and implement military and political integration.

However, although the idea is beautiful, the reality is cruel. The people in Ji County are unwilling to be exploited by him and fled out of the city. There are only more than 500 households and 20,000 to 30,000 people in the city. The officials of all sizes and sizes are also running away, leaving only one county magistrate Yang Fu, barely maintaining order in the city for him.

Not only was it a political failure, but it also suffered repeated military blows. The Qiang and Di people supported his 10,000 slave army, but did not give him the war horses, which made him lose the most important mobility. At the same time, Ma Chao's army lacked food, and the little food he plundered from the city made it difficult for him to maintain until the end of the year.

Above the city, Ma Chao looked at the south with anxiety. Ten days ago, he received a quick message from the Hanzhong grain delivery team. The grain team sent 6,000 stones of grain. Now in the Qishan area, he hoped that he could send troops to support him. Ma Chao immediately ordered Ma Dai to lead 3,000 troops to Qishan to support him.

In terms of time, they should have come back long ago, but there was no news. Ma Chao sighed and turned his eyes to the Cao army camp several miles away. Cao Cao personally led 40,000 troops to chase him, but the Cao army did not siege the city, but instead set up a camp three miles away to the east, and did not send troops to attack. He confronted each other for nearly two months.

Ma Chao was also very clear about Cao Cao's intention. He would not siege the city, but would just wait for him to give up Jicheng and escape. Without the advantage of Jicheng, the Cao army could annihilate himself in one battle. Just like they wiped out 100,000 coalition forces in Guanzhong, Yang Qiu, including Shangjun, was also wiped out.

Cao Cao must have known that his food was going to be cut off. On the day when he was out of food, Ma Chao was anxious and hated, but helpless. At this moment, a soldier pointed to the distance and shouted: "Governor! It's the second general."

The second general was Ma Dai. Ma Chao was energetic and looked south with his hand curtain. He saw dust flying in the distance, and an army was running towards the city. Judging from the number of people, there were only more than a thousand people, and there were no mules and horses full of food.

Ma Chao's heart sank, and a feeling of extreme disappointment poured into his heart. Needless to say, Ma Dai must have failed to receive the food. At this time, someone shouted again: "Cao army has sent troops!"

In the direction of Cao's army camp, an army rushed towards Ma Dai's army. It was obvious that they wanted to intercept Ma Dai. Ma Chao ordered urgently: "Send two thousand people to follow me out of the city!"

After a moment, Ma Chao led two thousand soldiers out of the city and rushed to pick up Ma Dai's defeated soldiers.

The Cao army who came to intercept Ma Dai was about 5,000, led by generals Cao Ren and Xu Chu. At this time, Cao Ren saw Ma Chao's army coming out of the city, hurriedly called the soldiers. Xu Chu said anxiously: "The name is General Xiao. Since Ma Chao has already left the city, we simply blocked his retreat. When the Prime Minister's army arrives, we will defeat him in one battle. Wouldn't it be a pleasure!"

Cao Ren shook his head, "Pang De must be prepared. If we cut off Ma Chao's retreat, we will be easily attacked by Ma Chao and Pang De, causing unnecessary failure. The Prime Minister said that Ma Chao's defeat will be the next few days, and we don't have to take this risk."

Xu Chu had no choice but to sigh and also slam the war horses. At this time, Ma Chao suddenly led his army to run towards them. Ma Chao immediately stepped forward and shouted: "Opinion General Cao, will you dare to fight Ma Chao?"

Xu Chu was so itchy that he clasped his fists at Cao Ren and said, "Please let me fight!"

Cao Ren nodded, "General Xu is careful!"

Xu Chu waved the 80-pound golden-backed tiger-toothed sword and urged the horse to kill Ma Chao, shouting like thunder, "Ma, can you hear that Xu Zhongkang of Qiao County is the name?"

Ma Chao said coldly: "I think you are like a pig slaughter in Qiao County!"

Xu Chu was furious and slashed at Ma Chao with an aura. The sword was as fast as lightning. Ma Chao was calm and held a gun to meet him. The two fought fiercely...

On the viewing platform of the Cao army camp in the distance, Cao Cao, surrounded by dozens of generals, was looking at the battle between Xu Chu and Ma Chao from afar. Seeing that the two had fought for more than 60 rounds, no victory or defeat was decided, he couldn't help but turn around and smile and ask Xu Huang, "Gongming thinks who wins and who loses in this battle?"

Xu Huang pondered for a moment and said, "Although Zhongkang is brave, his horsepower cannot last long, and he may suffer from horsepower."

Cao Cao nodded and asked the generals again, "Can Ma Chao be the best in the world?"

Zhang Liao beside him bowed and said, "I think Ma Chao is slightly inferior to Zhao Yun, and he can be called second."

"Well! Zhao Zilong is indeed the most powerful general in the world. Even Liu Jing's martial arts can rank among the top ten. In comparison, Ma Chao is really not worth worrying!" Cao Cao couldn't help but sighed.

"Prime Minister, Liu Jing may not be considered a military general!" Xu Huang said with a smile.

"Of course he doesn't count!"

Cao Cao smiled bitterly and said, "I'm just a joke, I can't hope he is a general."

At this time, Zhang He said nervously: "General Xu's horse is really not good."

Cao Cao focused his mind to the battlefield again. On the battlefield, Ma Chao and Xu Chu had already fought with Lily. Ma Chao became more and more brave than the battle. The shadowless spear was as pervasive as mercury. Although Xu Chu was energetic, his horse could not hold on and kept sniffing, and his running speed was significantly slower. Xu Chu knew something was wrong. He ran out of the battlefield with a fake shot and shouted: "Horse wait for me, I'll change horses and fight again!"

Xu Chu ran towards his side. Ma Chao sneered, hung up a spear, pulled out the eagle bow, and put on the wolf-tooth arrow. He opened the bow like a full moon, and shot Xu Chu directly in the back of the heart. The arrow was as fast as a flash of lightning. Xu Chu heard the sound of the bowstring and quickly flashed, but he was one step slower, and shot Xu Chu in the shoulder.

Xu Chu shouted and almost fell off his horse. He lay on the war horse and fled towards the camp. Seeing that the situation was not good, Cao Ren immediately ordered: "Press the formation with a hard bow and retreat slowly!"

Two thousand crossbowmen suppressed the formation, and Cao's army slowly retreated to the camp. Seeing that Cao's army was neat and he had no cavalry, he would suffer a loss when he chased. So he stopped his subordinates who wanted to chase him and responded to Ma Dai and retreated back to the city.

"What's going on? Why didn't the food be received?" As soon as we entered the city, Ma Chao asked Ma Dai sternly.

Ma Dai sighed, "Han COFCO team transported about 2,000 mules and horses, transported 6,000 stones of grain in Qishan by Xiahou Yuan, leading 3,000 troops, and lost nearly half of them. They were forced to retreat to Licheng. I led my army to Qishan and fought with Xiahou Yuan's army. Unexpectedly, Yu Jin led his army to attack from behind. My troops were defeated and lost 2,000 troops. I failed to complete the task and failed to fulfill my brother's trust. I am willing to take the crime!"

After saying that, Ma Dai knelt down on one knee to apologize. Ma Chao sighed and helped him up and said, "Even I can't win in this situation, let alone you, it's just that Cao Cao is so vicious."

At this time, Pang De hurried forward and whispered to Ma Chao: "I went to take stock of the grain just now and found that our grain can only be supported for three days."

Ma Chao looked pale and asked for a while: "How many livestock and war horses are there?"

"There are less than a hundred war horses and less than thirty livestock."

Ma Chao paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, feeling extremely anxious. It was finally time for the day when the food was exhausted. What should he do? Will he leave the city? Where can he go?

Pang De whispered: "Governor, it's better for us to rob the Cao army's food route. Maybe there is still a little hope."

Ma Chao also knew that Cao's army had food transported from Guanzhong every day. Perhaps this was the last chance. Ma Chao gritted his teeth and said to Pang De: "You stay in the city, my second brother and I will rob the grain tonight. Success or failure will be here."

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At night, Cao Cao visited Xu Chu's arrow wound and returned to his big tent. Xu Chu's flesh was thick. Although the arrow shot hard, it did not hurt his muscles, which made Cao Cao feel relieved. Attacking Ma Chao can be said to be the most successful military use in recent years. He did not want to compensate Xu Chu.

As soon as he entered the big tent, his son Cao Zhi came up and presented him a letter, "Father, this is a letter that Mr. Xun just sent."

Cao Cao took the letter and sat down, opened Xun You's letter. Xun You usually sent military newspapers, but today he sent a letter, indicating that Xun You's private affairs were in the letter. The letter said that Zhao Yun kept sending small groups of troops to harass Chen Cangdao and Luo Tangdao. Cao Cao already knew that he did not take this matter to heart. He knew that this was Liu Jing's behavior for Ma Chao, and at the same time he also tested Cao's army's defense, which was actually not very meaningful.

At the end of the letter, Xun You finally mentioned the private matter. He apologized to Cao Cao for his nephew Xun Zhi going to Xiangyang to take the exam. This was the family's decision and he could do nothing.

Cao Cao had learned from the court's express that Xiangyang held a grand open recruitment of scholars. It is said that there were 100,000 scholars in the world participated, which shocked Cao Cao. He suddenly realized that Liu Jing had already had a reputation in the world, and even many families of large families sent their children to take the exam. This was undoubtedly Liu Jing was beginning to prepare for the world.

At this time, Cao Zhi brought a cup of hot tea on the table. Cao Cao sighed and said to his son: "I didn't expect that even the Xun family sent someone to Xiangyang to take the exam, which disappointed me!"

Cao Zhi bit his lip and said, "Father can also openly recruit scholars like Xiangyang to offset the influence of Xiangyang."

Cao Cao shook his head, "I will not do it if I ask me to pick up Liu Jing's Yahui! Moreover, if I kill Bian Rang, kill Kong Rong, and forcibly promote poor law, I have already offended these gentry members. Even if I openly recruit scholars, they will not come."

"But I heard that Liu Jing was also promoting Legalism like his father, and even the questions for this exam were "Han Fei" and "Guan Zi". It's strange, why are these gentry not in conflict?"

Cao Cao smiled bitterly, "He is smarter than me. He is the Legalists for his bones and Confucianists for his skin. Which aristocratic families are deceived to support him. This time, when Xiangyang recruits scholars, he advocates fairness on the surface and openly recruits scholars, but secretly admits children from aristocratic families. Of course, those aristocratic families support him. When he really gets the country, you just wait and see. He will smash these aristocratic families to the point of promoting my poor Legalists."

"Does my father think Liu Jing also supports poor lawmakers?"

Cao Cao nodded, "The root cause of the decline of the Han Dynasty is that the central government cannot control the local area. The main reason for the strong local power is that the aristocratic families in these local areas. They only recognize the interests of the family. Regardless of the rise and fall of the dynasty, they control the local government, which greatly weakens the imperial court's control over the local area. Therefore, I promote poor legalists in order to crack down on these aristocratic families."

Speaking of this, Cao Cao sighed again: "Actually, Liu Jing is the same. You can tell what he did in Jingzhou. The four major families of Cai, Kuai, Pang and Huang have all been weak. In Yizhou, he allowed the Bashu clans to own wealth, but restricted them from owning land. This is the most ruthless move. Without land support, how can these families rely on inheritance?"

Cao Zhi was speechless. At this time, Cao Cao took another letter from the table. This was the handwritten letter that Liu Jing ordered Liu Min to give him last time. The letter was written very politely and rejected many of his promises.

At the same time, he suggested that the two families should try to avoid affecting farming in the future. It seemed a bit funny, but Cao Cao understood Liu Jing's profound meaning. Liu Jing was actually hinting that he would not attack Guanzhong before the spring plow next year.

It is precisely because of Liu Jing's hint that Cao Cao was calm and rushing to attack Ma Chao. He must use the method of cutting off the roots to kill Ma Chao and never give him a chance to make a comeback.
Chapter completed!