After the sun came out, strong winds raged along the Hanzhong Plain. The water surface of Mianshui in the south was sparkling.
"Hiss..." The cry of the war horse and the sound of the howling wind came together towards the northwest.
Countless Han soldiers left Lecheng and lined up on the pontoon bridge to cross the Mianshui River. Looking from the east side of Lecheng, the sight was facing the rising sun. The golden water was dazzling, but the men and horses were in a trance. Only black shadows were left, and the light and darkness alternated.
Meanwhile, the scene early in the morning presented a strange scenery.
In the eastern part of the Hanzhong defense line, Lecheng was the most important military town, but at this time the Han army had almost abandoned the city, leaving only some troops to defend it.
Originally, by stationing troops in Lecheng, the Han army could control the situation, gold and other places; but now that Cao's army has entered Hanzhong, the city will definitely be besieged. Even if there is a confrontation between the Mian River and the Sushui River, it will not be spared.
However, Jiang Wei actually wanted to gather almost all the men and horses that could maneuver and go to Nanxiang! This is very unreasonable.
Such a strange move naturally made it difficult for the generals to understand.
Nanxiang is a hundred miles south of Akasaka (eastern edge of Hanzhong Plain, Yang County), separated by a large mountainous area, and no longer belongs to Hanzhong Plain. The Han Dynasty has some operations in that small basin surrounded by mountains, mainly
As a base for defense against the three eastern counties.
Now that Cao's army is coming from Guanzhong in the north, Nanxiang is an isolated target and far away. It is natural for people to feel strange about Jiang Wei's decision.
If Jiang Wei wanted to prepare for the three eastern counties in advance, there would be no need to transfer almost all his troops south!
Jiang Wei finally said: "Weapons have changed, and we cannot rest on our laurels and rely only on past experience. When Cao Jun wanted to attack the city, he relied on the trebuchet built by Ma Jun. Although Cao Jun came from Guanzhong, they
The trebuchet has to be transferred from Jingzhou via Mianshui River. Therefore, Qin Liang is determined to take Nanxiang first!"
When everyone heard this, they started talking again.
Jiang Wei didn't want to explain at first. He was the commander-in-chief of the Chinese and foreign military forces. Others could only advise him. If they disagreed, it would be annoying at best.
Moreover, these veteran generals were still loyal to state affairs and would not harm the overall situation because of arguments. For example, after Deng Ai's army gained momentum, the Han generals did not persuade Jiang Wei to change his mind because it would not help the matter.
However, Jiang Wei still managed to explain patiently. Sometimes he wanted to hear the opinions of veterans, but this time he was a little hesitant.
Sure enough, Zhang Ni made a moderate suggestion at this time: "It is better to divide the army into two groups, station one in Baozhong and the other in Nanxiang. Let's take a look at the situation first."
When Jiang Wei heard this, he almost wanted to adopt Zhang Yi's suggestion.
Jiang Wei looked around and then looked at Xiahou Ba: "Ladders and rams can be built on-site by cutting down trees. Does the trebuchet have to be made in advance?"
However, Xiahou Ba pondered: "Ma Jun's trebuchet was only launched when Qin Liang became the King of Military Qin. I have never seen that thing. You have to ask Master Sima about this. He saw it with his own eyes in Xuchang."
"Where is Ziyuan?" Jiang Wei asked casually.
Xia Hou said overbearingly: "I saw him in Nanzheng a few days ago."
Jiang Wei then turned around and said, "Send someone to Nanzheng to find Sima Ziyuan and ask him to come to the army to discuss matters."
The general bowed his head and said: "Here!"
Jiang Wei then said to the people around him: "It has been more than 20 years since Cao Pi sent people to attack Jiangling. Does anyone in Cao Wei still want to attack Jiangling? But Wang Ling is gone, why does he dare to attack Jiangling?"
Liao Hua said: "Wang Ling thinks there is a trebuchet that can break through a fortified city?"
Jiang Wei nodded and said: "That's right! A kind of ordnance can affect decisions. If we use ordinary knowledge to speculate, even the people of Wu could not foresee the Battle of Jiangling in advance. Zhuge Yuanxun (Zhuge Ke) also brought Heavy troops went to Dongguan."
He added: "Cao Jun's trebuchets are as tall as buildings, with thick and long poles. They can't be transported along the Tangluo Road. They can't be transported on the Ziwu Road, and they can't be transported on the plank road. That's why I judged that Cao Jun will open up the Mian River first and transport it by water. Trebuchet.”
Liao Hua asked: "How about the water of praise? It can still flow down the river."
Jiang Weidao: "Both Baozhong and Jigu are in the hands of our army. How can the enemy ships pass through Jigu?"
Liao Hua thought for a while and said: "First surround Baozhong with heavy troops, then lock the river with iron chains, and storm Jigu. Open the mouth of the valley and build a new wharf in Jigu."
Jiang Wei said: "Jigu's military stronghold is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and it is not that easy to capture. Unless Cao's army gathers the main force in Baozhong and surrounds the cities, Baozhong's soldiers and horses can attack Jigu as soon as they leave the city."
The generals talked for a while, and Jiang Wei led his troops out of the city gate and headed to the Mianshui Floating Bridge. At this moment, Sima Shi rode his horse and followed the army from the west. Jiang Wei sent people to Nanzheng Just after the order was issued, Master Sima was of course not summoned by anyone, but came to meet Jiang Wei himself.
Jiang Wei immediately reined in his horse by the river and waited for Sima Shi on the north bank.
After a while, Master Sima saw Jiang Wei and came over to dismount his horse and pay tribute.
Master Sima pulled a face, which made his already long face look even longer. His face also turned black, giving him a gloomy look.
Jiang Wei saw this and asked, "What happened to Ziyuan?"
Master Sima turned his head slightly, glanced at the person next to him, and said with cupped hands: "Nothing. When my servant heard that Deng Ai was in good shape, he hurried to see the general."
Xiahou Ba, who was beside Jiang Wei, suddenly said: "The Sima family has been kind to Deng Ai. Ziyuan sent someone to persuade him. Can he abandon the dark side and join the bright side?"
The relationship between the two surrendered generals of the Wei State was not harmonious. Although they rarely quarreled, they would occasionally ridicule each other like this.
Master Sima glanced at Xiahou Ba coldly and asked, holding back his anger, "How much benefit can I give Deng Ai now?"
Xiahou said domineeringly: "This man has talent but no virtue, and his character is not good. When Sima Gong promoted him, he may have misjudged the person."
Jiang Wei interrupted the mutual innuendo between the two and asked Sima Shidao: "Can Cao Jun's trebuchet be made by cutting down wood on the spot after the siege?"
Sima Shidao: "A servant once drew the appearance of a trebuchet and presented it to the Wu people when the Han envoys went to Soochow. Later, the Battle of Jiangling occurred, and Zhuge Ke sent people to Jiangling to see the trebuchet in action. Machine. Why haven’t the Wu people imitated it yet and attacked Hefei?”
Jiang Wei pondered: "Imitations are similar in appearance but not in spirit, so they must be constantly improved."
Master Sima nodded and said: "Ma Jun originally used dry wood to build his trebuchet. If they want to change the wood, they will also encounter the same problem. It may not be a temporary success. Unless Qin Liang is prepared in advance and tries to use wet wood a few years in advance. Made of wood.”
Jiang Wei thought for a while, then raised his eyes and asked, "What are you doing in Nanzheng these days?"
Master Sima suddenly lowered his voice: "I'm waiting to see someone."
Seeing this, Jiang Wei called to the generals around him and said, "Please cross the river first, and I will come later."