Both Zhang Fei and Ma Chao were both martial artists, and neither had the ability to speak loudly. They had a few words to talk and then parted.
Zhang Fei vaguely revealed the intention of a fight. In the past, Ma Chao would not let go of his madness. But he had something in his mind at this moment, so he could only turn a deaf ear.
Zhang Fei continued to chase and suppress the remaining enemies, while Ma Chao continued to go west to meet the King of Hanzhong.
Not long after walking, the sound of fighting in the battlefield on the east was still rising one after another. Ma Chao whispered to himself: "Hedong? Why did Zhang Fei say, I want to go to Hedong?"
When Ma Chao was friendly with Zhong Yao, he responded to Zhong Yao's request and sent troops to Hedong, defeating Yuan Shao's subordinate Gao Gan, the governor of Bingzhou, Guo Yuan, the prefect of Hedong, and tens of thousands of troops from Huchuquan, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu. Pang De killed Guo Yuan, while Gao Gan, Huchuquan and others surrendered. So Ma Chao knew very well that the distance from Guanzhong to Hedong was not very far.
The problem is that nowadays, the several ferries along the Dahe River are firmly in the hands of Cao's army. If you want to go to Hedong, you have to go north and circle a huge circle, rush to Lishi and Puzi, controlled by the Southern Xiongnu, and then go south. This is too hard. What's more, I led tens of thousands of troops to come east, with the purpose of sweeping Guanzhong, plundering some money and people, and occupying a few counties and countries as the foundation... What's the matter going to Hedong for thousands of miles?
Could it be that Duke Xuande planned to let me advance to Hedong to divide the Cao army? Zhang Fei accidentally learned about this plan, and this reckless man blurted out again?
Very likely!
Everyone knows that Zhang Fei is rough, so his misunderstanding must be a reason.
However, Duke Xuande thinks I am stupid?
Back then, I was incited by Zhong Yao to go to Hedong, and many soldiers died, but there was no benefit at all. I was hit by a wandering arrow on my feet, and it still hurts faintly on rainy days. Now Cao's army is heavily entrenched in Sanfu, and I go to Hedong again. The difficulties and dangers are far better than the past. What can I get?
Thinking of this, Ma Chao couldn't help but murmur again: "Hedong?"
There was a sound of horse hooves behind him, and someone hurriedly said, "Mr. Liang, the Hedong cannot go!"
Ma Chao looked at him sideways. The person who spoke was bright and gloomy. He was Jiang Jie, Gongcao, Hanyang County, who was attending today.
In recent years, Ma Chao has violated Cao and Liu, relying on Hu'er's force to suppress Han counties and states, and on the other hand, he has won over the Han family's aristocratic tribes to form the fake Liang Gong's shogunate with Han law. He has gradually gained a foothold. The four major tribes of Jiang, Yan, Ren and Zhao, who had once fought silently with him back then, now have many people who serve under Ma Chao's command. Especially the Jiang Xu and Jiang Jiong brothers of Jiang's family are highly valued.
"Oh?" Ma Chao said in a deep voice: "Zhong Yi might as well tell the truth."
Jiang Jie thought for a moment and said calmly: "Duke Liang, please forgive me for your frankness. Duke Xuande's move has ulterior motives and will inevitably have a conspiracy that cannot be told to others! Duke Liang is the lord of Longyou. How can he abandon Longyou's foundation and fight in Hedong, thousands of miles apart? If Duke Liang goes to Hedong and if there is a rush in Longxi, who can deal with it? What if..."
Many Qiang and Hu tribes lived by water and grass, and Ma Chao was used to driving for a long time, but he didn't expect this truth just now. At first hearing this sentence, he opened his eyes suddenly.
"That's right! If Liu Bei suddenly reaches out to my four counties of Liangzhou when I was in Hedong, it would be troublesome!" He trudged his horse and waved his hand to let Jiang Jie follow him and talk: "Zhong Yi, you are talking very well! Keep talking!"
"This is just in case, Liang Gong doesn't have to worry too much." Jiang Jie continued: "Liu Bei seized Yizhou on that day, and he used indiscriminate means. If he did this in Liangzhou again, he would be laughed at by the people of the world. Liu Bei cherished his feathers the most and always called for kindness, so he would not do this."
Ma Chao thought for a while, frowned and said, "Then why did you say again, you can't go to Hedong?"
"I'm worried..." Jiang Jie hesitated for a while and whispered: "Mr. Liang should know that the people of Liangzhou scholars have not yet settled. Many people even work in the Duke Mansion, in fact, they are either inclined to Liu or Cao, and are not willing to assist Liang Gong."
Ma Chao's murderous aura appeared on his face, and he was eventually replaced by a distressed look: "That's right."
Anyone who talks about this would be angered Ma Chao. But Jiang Jie was different. He and his cousin Jiang Xu went to Hanzhong to congratulate Xuande on his advance to King Hanzhong. On the way, he worked very hard to inquire about the confidential information in the King of Hanzhong's shogunate. After returning, he reported to Ma Chao secretly, pointing out that several Liangzhou scholars or Qiang and Hu Qushang secretly colluded with Yizhou.
Ma Chao immediately arrested and interrogated them and confirmed that there was any problem with these people. Jiang Jiu secretly begged Ma Chao not to kill in the face of the alliance between the two sides, and only expelled those people and their relatives. Ma Chao originally wanted to reward Jiang Jiu for this and promote his official position, but was rejected by Jiang Jiu.
What Jiang Er said at this moment was the real situation he found. Ma Chao knew how difficult it was to win over the hearts of scholars. However, he could not recognize him in front of others, but he did not need to pretend in front of Jiang Er. After all, there were not many scholars as trustworthy as Jiang Er.
"But the general doesn't have to doubt himself. It's all because Cao Cao and Liu Bei are all heroes who have been famous for decades, and their reputation is temporarily above the general, which is common. In this way, Cao Gong has been in charge of many years, there will be senior officials in the Xudu city, which will rebel. In my opinion, this is also inseparable from the incitement of Xuandegong. Xuandegong does have his unique means in this regard."
"Zhong Yi, what does what you said have to do with the current situation and Hedong?" Ma Chao continued to frown.
Jiang Jie coughed and cleared his throat: "Donald Liang, in my opinion, the reason why the army was delayed by the King of Hanzhong and Lianggong's army entered Guanzhong this time is that Zhong Yao, Yan Xing and others occupied Chang'an and did not fall for a long time, so that we were both enemies and were unable to be free from advancing and retreating."
"That's right."
"The King of Hanzhong had proposed several times to dispatch our army to participate in the attack on Chang'an, but they were rejected by Liang Gong for the reason that the Qiang and Hu people were not good at siegeing the city. However, after the King of Hanzhong's troops paid a considerable price, they failed to break the city."
"right."
"But the King of Hanzhong suddenly had a plan to use Hedong as an excuse to transfer Liang Gong's troops from the surrounding area of ​​Chang'an..."
Ma Chao gasped, and he waved his hand repeatedly: "Wait! Wait! Don't talk for now, let me think about it!"
He was just accustomed to solving problems with violence, and was not so meticulous, but not stupid. At this time, under Jiang Jie's step-by-step induced guidance, he slowly pieced together the fragmented information, and suddenly he had an answer: "What do you mean is that Liu Bei has obtained the support of some aristocratic races in Chang'an City and is already sure to capture Chang'an. He wanted to transfer me away to prevent our army from entering Chang'an with him and competing for interests?"
"Donald Liang, think that with Liang Duke's mighty and bravery, the tiger's eyes and eagle roaring, and the Ma family's great reputation in Guanzhong, if Liang Duke, you enter Chang'an with the King of Hanzhong, who would this Chang'an and Guanzhong be? If you are the King of Hanzhong, would you be worried?"
Ma Chao was stunned by his inference. After a while, he said: "It seems...it seems that there is a possibility? Chang'an? Guanzhong? Damn!"
At this time, he still had a little doubt in his heart, but he heard Jiang Jie say calmly: "I'm just guessing it if I don't hide it from Liang Duke, and I'm not sure. But I know that if the King of Hanzhong tries his best to win over Liang Duke, it must be because Cao's army is powerful and must rely on allies to fight the enemy side by side; if the King of Hanzhong intends to drive away Liang Duke, it must be because the King of Hanzhong has the confidence to win and does not want Liang Duke to share the interests with him."
Ma Chao repeated Jiang Jie's words softly and slapped his thigh hard: "That's right! This old fox must think so!"
"Since that's the case..." Jiang Jie lowered his voice and said, "Duke Liang, why do we fulfill the wishes of the King of Hanzhong?"
"How do you think we should deal with it?" Ma Chao smacked his lips: "Liu Bei's subordinates have many literati, and they all give it eloquently. I'm afraid it's hard to deal with it. What if he asks me to raise troops in Hedong... Cough cough, why don't we send horses back to the camp and not see Liu Bei?"
"Since the King of Hanzhong has come up with this idea, we will avoid it for a day, and it will be even more difficult to deal with it afterwards." Jiang Jie said: "Donald Liang, we should go. We will go to the King of Hanzhong Camp this time, and don't say much. As soon as you see King of Hanzhong, you will fully advocate a decisive battle with Cao's army along the Wei River!"
Under the shadow of the beast-faced battle helmet, Ma Chao's eyes rolled around. After a while, he hesitated and said: "Is this called "returning to the guest?"
Chapter completed!