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

Zhang Fei was startled and said with a suspicious look:
"How can Yuanzhi conclude that Jincheng is already an empty city?"

Xu Shu pointed to the top of the city wall and sneered:
"When our army attacked a city, it always used the Hanwei cannon to bombard it first, and then the infantry would attack the city. This has been the case for several months."

"Usually the Qin army would hide behind the city walls, and after our army had finished attacking, they would appear on the city walls to resist."

"But now the city walls are densely populated with Qin troops, who show no signs of trying to dodge the bullets. I'm sure these Qin troops are all dummies."

After listening to what Xu Shu said, Zhang Fei looked towards the top of the city wall again and suddenly came to his senses.

"I guess that kid Cao Zhang must have learned that Cao Cao fled to Yizhou and that Your Majesty led the army north to Jincheng, and he must have abandoned the city in fear and fled!"

"General Huqi, we can take down Jincheng without a fight!"

Zhang Fei came to his senses and immediately ordered his army not to bombard the city with Hanwei artillery anymore, but to directly climb the city walls.

It was just as Xu Shu expected.

The Qin army on the city wall neither shot arrows nor threw wood and stones, allowing the Han army to climb the city at will.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the Han army rushed to the top of the city.

The city gates were opened, the drawbridge was cut down, and tens of thousands of Han troops poured in.

On the top of Jincheng City, the flag with Chinese characters was flying high.

After a while.

Zhang Fei has climbed up to the city wall.

Looking around, it was clear that the Qin troops along the city were all straw dummies.

After questioning the people left in the city, Zhang Fei learned that just last night, Cao Zhang led 20,000 soldiers in the city, abandoned the city and disappeared.

"Yuanzhi, just as you expected, Cao Zhang has indeed escaped!"

Zhang Fei looked at Xu Shu with admiration, but sighed:
"Although we captured Jincheng, we did it without a fight, which doesn't count as much of a credit. After all, we failed to kill Cao Zhang!"

Zhang Fei still felt a little regretful.

After all, Cao Zhang is Cao Cao's legitimate son. If he could be killed, it would be a great achievement.

In comparison, there is really nothing to be proud of for capturing an empty city like Jincheng.

"Uncle, since Cao Zhang escaped last night, I don't think he can get far. Why don't we lead a light force to pursue him now? We may be able to catch up with him and kill the remnant of the Cao family!"

The voice of my nephew Guan Ping was heard behind me.

The eldest son of the Guan family also followed the army on the Western Expedition and was assigned to serve under Zhang Fei's northern army.

Guan Ping, who was arrogant and proud, was naturally not satisfied with just capturing an empty city. He hoped to kill Cao Zhang and achieve a real great achievement.

After his reminder, Zhang Fei's eyes lit up and he slapped the battlements:
"You're right. If Cao Zhang can run away, why can't I chase him? Yuanzhi, what do you think?"

Xu Shu stroked his thin beard and looked towards the north:
"I guess Cao Zhang wants to flee to Zhangye or even Jiuquan, in order to lengthen our army's food supply route and force us to give up the pursuit."

"Of course we have to pursue them. Your Majesty will not leave such a hidden danger in Liangbei. He will definitely root out the evil and eradicate it completely."

Zhang Fei's fighting spirit was instantly ignited, and he shouted:
"In that case, what are we waiting for? Pass the order down, and the entire army will immediately head north to pursue the remnants of the Cao family!"

"Wait a minute!"

Xu Shu stopped Zhang Fei and reminded him:
"Your Majesty's army is only two days away from here. Should we wait to join up with your Majesty's army and then go north to pursue them?"

"Besides, although Cao Zhang is just a common man, Guo Jia is very resourceful. It would be inappropriate for our army to pursue him rashly, right?"

Without waiting for Xu Shu to finish speaking.

Zhang Fei was already impatient and waved his hand:
"They are just a bunch of fleeing enemies. No matter how smart Guo Jia is, what else can he do?"

"Yuanzhi, don't worry about this or that. If we wait until His Majesty arrives to join us before pursuing, then the credit won't be ours!"

Xu Shu was speechless.

Guan Ping, Ling Tong and other generals were immediately aroused and shouted for an immediate pursuit. Zhang Fei did not hesitate any longer. He sent his spies south to report the victory to Liu Bei, left 5,000 soldiers to guard Jicheng, and led 35,000 soldiers north immediately, following Cao Zhang's troops and pursuing them relentlessly.

...

Wuwei County, Cangsong City.

Twenty thousand dusty Qin troops were entering the city one after another.

The city is already filled with the aroma of food.

When Yang Fu, the governor of Wuwei, learned that Cao Zhang was leading his army, he started cooking in advance and prepared food for the tired Qin army.

In the mansion.

The smell of wine and meat was in the air, and a welcoming banquet had already been set up.

Wuwei County was the largest among all the counties in northern Liang. Although it was not as wealthy as the counties in Longxi, it could at least provide Cao Zhang with plenty of wine and meat.

The 20,000 Qin soldiers outside the palace ate their fill, and Cao Zhang and others in the palace also had enough wine and meat, and burped with satisfaction.

"As soon as I arrived, you prepared food, rice, wine and meat to reward the soldiers of the three armies."

"Not bad, not bad, Yang Yishan. Father said you are a capable official, and it is true."

Cao Zhang, who was well fed and satisfied, praised Yang Fu highly.

"Your Highness has given you the compliment."

Yang Fu laughed at himself and explained:

"After hearing the news of the fall of Jicheng, I expected that Your Highness would lead the army to retreat north to Wuwei sooner or later, so I began to prepare food and grass for Your Highness half a month in advance, so today we are not too hasty."

Cao Zhang, who was picking his teeth, suddenly had his eyes light up and asked curiously:

"Yang Yishan, how can you be so sure that I will retreat north to Wuwei?"

Guo Jia also showed curiosity in his eyes and looked at Yang Fu.

"Your Majesty, if you retreat to Yizhou, there is the danger of Qinling Mountains. Liu Bei will definitely not lead his troops south to pursue Your Majesty."

"And in order to prevent Your Highness from dominating the north of Liang and forming a pincer attack with Yizhou on Longxi, Liu Bei must eliminate Your Highness and take control of the entire Liangzhou."

"In this case, I predict that Liu Bei will lead his main force north to join Zhang Fei and attack Jincheng."

"Given your wisdom and judgment, I believe that Your Highness will definitely judge that holding on to Jincheng is not the best strategy. You will most likely abandon Jincheng and retreat north, relying on stretching the Han army's food supply route to force Liu Bei to give up the pursuit."

"It is precisely because of this judgment that I have begun to collect food and grass in advance to prepare for the arrival of Your Highness' army."

Cao Zhang suddenly understood, and a look of approval flashed across his face.

Guo Jia also nodded slightly and looked at Yang Fu with admiration.

"Yang Yishan, I didn't expect you to have such a wise plan. This really surprised me."

"Yes, I am going to use Fengxiao's plan and lead the army to retreat to Jiuquan County to extend Liu Bei's food route and force him to retreat without a fight!"

After Cao Zhang praised it, he frankly admitted his own strategy.

Yang Fu's expression changed.

He originally thought that Cao Zhang was going to retreat to Wuwei, but he didn't expect that Cao Zhang's retreat would be so exaggerated that he would actually abandon Wuwei and Zhangye and retreat directly to Jiuquan!

Once Wuwei is abandoned, wouldn't his title as Wuwei's governor become just a figurehead?
Thinking of this, Yang Fu immediately said:
"In fact, I think that retreating to Wuwei is enough to overwhelm the Han army's food supply. There is no need to retreat to Jiuquan."

Cao Zhang sighed and said helplessly:
"If possible, I certainly don't want to abandon Wuwei County, but the scouts reported that Zhang Fei led his troops to chase after us without waiting to join Liu Bei's main force, and he is chasing us very closely."

"If we don't continue to retreat north to Jiuquan, how can we stop Zhang Fei?"

Yang Fu rolled his eyes a few times, but sneered and bowed:

"Your Highness, Fu has come up with a plan. If it succeeds, we may be able to annihilate Zhang Fei and his pursuers in Cangsong City in one fell swoop!" (End of this chapter)