Three Kingdoms: Wolong's brother-in-law, tricking Liu Bei into seizing Jingzhou

In the spring of that year, Cao Cao led 90,000 troops and retreated westward to Chang'an before Liu Bei's army crossed the river.

The fortresses of Tongguan and Weikou were lost and captured by the Han army without bloodshed.

The Qin State's Wei River defense line completely collapsed.

The main force of the Han army crossed the Wei River, and 200,000 soldiers and horses marched towards Chang'an along the south bank of the Wei River.

Since Tongguan had been captured, the Han army no longer needed to transport its food and fodder via a detour. Instead, they set out from Luoyang, headed west along the Yellow River, then entered the Weishui River from Weikou, and were transported all the way to Chang'an by water.

Liu Bei no longer had to worry about food and fodder, and his army marched forward triumphantly and boldly westward.

All the cities along the way, such as Huayin in Guanzhong, surrendered at the sight of the enemy.

When the news reached Chang'an, people were shocked.

...

Prince's Mansion.

"Father, you command hundreds of thousands of soldiers and occupy a strategic location, but you were fooled by Liu Bei?"

"Now, not only has Pubanguan been lost, but Tongguan and Weikou have also been lost. The big-eared thieves have even reached the gates of Chang'an."

"Father, oh father, how did you fight this battle?"

In a secret room, Crown Prince Cao Pi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, muttering and complaining constantly.

He was so anxious at the moment that he openly revealed his dissatisfaction with Cao Cao in his words.

"Ahem, your highness, be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall."

Sima Yi had to cough lightly a few times to remind Cao Pi.

Cao Pi's heart trembled, and he suddenly came to his senses. He hurriedly closed his mouth and glanced around subconsciously.

Although this is in his prince's mansion and in a secret room, there is no wall that is impenetrable in this world. What if today's conversation is leaked and reaches Cao Cao's ears, will he be able to escape unscathed?
"What Zhongda reminded me was that I had spoken out of turn."

After Cao Pi laughed at himself, he sat down again and sighed helplessly:

"But you are well aware of the current situation, Zhongda. Our Guanzhong defense line has been completely breached. Liu Bei's army has entered our Guanzhong Plain and will soon be at the gates of Chang'an."

"If Chang'an cannot be defended, Guanzhong will not be safe. If Guanzhong is not safe..."

Cao Pi shuddered and dared not think about it any further.

Wu Zhi, Zhu Suo and other confidants around him all sighed, with helplessness in their eyes.

Everyone knew that if Guanzhong was lost, it meant that Liangzhou would most likely not be able to be defended either, and the Qin State would eventually have to retreat to Yizhou and live in peace in a corner.

Once they retreated into Yizhou, the dangerous Qinling Mountains could block the invasion of the Han army and ensure that Yizhou would not be lost.

But the Qinling Mountains are a double-edged sword, which also blocks their possibility of going north out of the Qinling Mountains and regaining lost territory.

This meant that the Qin State could only become a separatist regime and completely lost the qualifications to compete with the Han State for the world.

Even if Cao Pi, the so-called crown prince, succeeds to the throne smoothly in the future, he can only be the ruler of a vassal state at best.

All of them have to hide in the mountains of Yizhou and never think about returning to the Central Plains in this lifetime.

"It's all because of that self-righteous idiot Zhang Song. If it weren't for his stupid strategy, how could Your Majesty have lost Puban Pass and Weikou in succession?"

"In my opinion, Your Majesty should punish him and exterminate his entire family!"

Zhu Suo cursed indignantly, venting all his anger on Zhang Song.

Wu Zhi pounded the table with his fist and said angrily:
"I heard that it was during the Battle of Wei River that Pang De secretly communicated with Liu Bei and deliberately lost to the Han army, which allowed the Han army to successfully set up camp on the south bank."

"I've said it before, the people of Xiliang are fickle and untrustworthy. Pang De is an old subordinate of Ma Teng and his son, so he is even less trustworthy."

"Your Majesty should not have trusted Zhang Song, and certainly not used Pang De."

Several people were cursing and putting all the blame for the defeat on Zhang Song and Pang De. "How hateful! Father is too soft-hearted. If I am in power in the future, I will kill these two!"

Cao Pi gritted his teeth, also venting his anger.

Sima Yi, who had been silent the whole time, sighed helplessly and said with his hands clasped:
"Your Highness, it is useless to say these words now. The situation has come to this point. Your Highness cannot stand under the dangerous wall. You must withdraw as soon as possible."

Cao Pi was stunned, his anger turned into confusion, and he looked at Sima Yi with puzzled eyes.

"Hundreds of thousands of Han troops will soon be at the gates of the city. Guanzhong is no longer safe. Chang'an may seem strong, but it is actually a dead city."

"Even if the main force of our army is still there, Chang'an City will definitely not be able to be defended. It will fall sooner or later."

"If Your Highness is in Chang'an, wouldn't Your Highness be in danger when the city is breached?"

Sima Yi explained the reason.

Cao Pi suddenly realized that Sima Yi was advising him to leave Chang'an as soon as possible and escape from this city that was bound to be destroyed, so as to avoid being in danger in the future.

"Then...then why don't I persuade my father to give up Chang'an and Guanzhong and retreat west to Liangzhou, or retreat south to Yizhou?"

Cao Pi still had some hope and was obviously unwilling to leave the glamorous world of Chang'an.

"it's useless."

Sima Yi shook his head and sighed:

"Your Majesty today is no longer the one who dared to abandon Xudu and retreat to Guanzhong."

"In fact, when Puban Pass was lost, the wisest choice was to abandon Tong Pass and immediately withdraw the entire army to Chang'an."

"But Your Majesty is determined to defend the Weikou, still hoping for the best and relying on the Wei River to stop Liu Bei."

"But your majesty, don't you think that even the Yellow River can't stop Liu Bei, let alone the Wei River?"

After analyzing it, Sima Yi continued:
"Your Majesty is reluctant to abandon even Tongguan. Chang'an is the capital of our Great Qin Empire and the heart of Guanzhong. How can Your Majesty be willing to abandon it?"

"If Your Highness advises His Majesty to give up Chang'an, I'm afraid His Majesty will not only not listen to your advice, but will scold Your Highness instead."

"Your Highness, why do you have to do such a boring thing?"

Cao Pi fell silent. He understood what Sima Yi meant and also realized that his plan was not feasible.

"Yes, things are different now. Father is no longer the father who could let go easily and accept advice..."

Cao Pi shook his head and sighed, with a look of helplessness between his brows.

"But if the emperor is unwilling to give up Chang'an, how can I, the crown prince, leave?"

"I can't escape from Chang'an alone without my father's knowledge, can I?"

After sighing, Cao Pi looked at Sima Yi helplessly again.

Sima Yi's mouth corners slightly raised, and a strange look flashed across his face.

"Didn't you mention Pound just now? This is your highness' chance."

"Now that Your Majesty is suspicious of Pang De, he will naturally be suspicious of the loyalty of the people of Xiliang as well."

"Your Highness can monitor the people in Liangzhou and raise war horses for my army to make up for the loss of cavalry. I will take the initiative to volunteer to go to Longxi to take charge."

"In this way, by taking advantage of your majesty's suspicion of the Xiliang people, wouldn't your highness be able to withdraw without making a sound and leave Chang'an, this deadly place, in advance?"

Sima Yi smiled and offered a plan to escape.

Cao Pi suddenly understood, all the doubts on his face disappeared, and he smiled:

"Zhongda, you are really my Zifang. Well, I will follow your plan. I will ask my father for permission tomorrow and escape to Longxi to avoid danger!" (End of this chapter)