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

The ministers began to discuss and offer suggestions one after another.

Someone suggested that the Hanwei cannon be built immediately and bombarded Yangping Pass day and night.

No matter how strong Yangping Pass is, it can be broken through after bombarding it for a month.

"Your Majesty, the Hanwei Cannon may be ineffective against Yangping Pass!"

Ma Chao, however, poured cold water on the idea and rejected Han Wei's proposal to bombard the city.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Ma Chao.

When Ma Chao was defeated by Cao Cao in Longxi, he was forced to flee to Hanzhong and once depended on Zhang Lu.

Even when Cao Cao attacked Hanzhong, Ma Chao joined Zhang Wei in guarding Yangping Pass together.

Naturally, Ma Chao had the most say in how to attack Yangping Pass.

"What does Mengqi mean by this?"

Liu Bei raised his whip slightly, signaling Ma Chao to continue.

Ma Chao raised his hand and pointed to Yangping Pass, saying:
"This Yangping Pass is very different from other passes."

"Most of the pass cities are built with earth, but Hanzhong is mountainous and rocky. Yangping Pass was built with local materials and rocks."

"This makes Yangping Pass ten times stronger than ordinary earthen fortresses. In Chao's opinion, even the power of the Hanwei Cannon cannot shake it."

Ma Chao explained the reasons one by one.

Everyone suddenly understood and looked carefully towards the direction of Guancheng again.

Looking more closely at this time, it is clear that the outer walls of the city are all gray-black earth and stone.

"Meng Qi's words make sense. Yangping Pass is indeed built of rocks. With the power of Hanwei's cannon, it may not be able to shake it."

"If that's the case, then we don't have to waste manpower and resources to do useless work."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, agreeing with Ma Chao's judgment and rejecting the proposal to build a large number of Hanwei cannons.

"Since Han Wei's bombardment of the city is not working, then I think, why don't we devise a plan to lure Xiahou Yuan out of Yangping Pass?"

Fa Zheng, who had not expressed his opinion until now, finally spoke.

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Bei's eyes suddenly lit up.

Fa Zheng's plan was to lure the snake out of its hole.

Isn’t your Yangping Pass indestructible? Well, then I won’t attack it by force.

I will use a trick to lure you out, and then surround and annihilate you.

Once the Qin army defending the city is defeated, no matter how strong the city is, it will be useless. How can you defend the city with your head?
"Xiaozhi is absolutely right. If we can lure out Xiahou Yuan's army and annihilate it, then Yangping Pass will be useless!"

Liu Bei nodded in agreement, and then asked:
"I wonder if Xiaozhi has any good plan to lure Xiahou Yuan out of Yangping Pass?"

Fa Zheng seemed to have a plan in mind, and immediately bowed:

"I am afraid that this plan of mine will offend Your Majesty."

Liu Bei was startled and asked curiously, "What kind of plan is Xiaozhi, and how could it offend me?"

Fa Zheng coughed a few times and said:
"My plan is to spread the word that your majesty has contracted a serious illness and died suddenly in the army, so we have no choice but to retreat north."

"When Xiahou Yuan hears this news, he will probably mistakenly believe that our army is in disarray and will collapse at any moment, and think that he has found an opportunity to take advantage of."

"When he leads his army out of the pass to pursue us, we can set up an ambush along the way, which will allow Xiahou Yuan to fall into our trap and annihilate him in one fell swoop."

"Then we can march south and conquer Yangping Pass. Wouldn't that be easy?"

Fa Zheng proudly offered a plan.

In short, the plan was to have Liu Bei fake his death in order to lure Xiahou Yuan into pursuing the Han army in full force.

Afterwards, they were annihilated with ambushes.

As soon as Fa Zheng's plan came out, a lot of discussion immediately broke out, and everyone became excited. "How can Xiao Zhi's plan be considered an offense to me? This plan is a brilliant one!"

Liu Bei's eyes lit up and he stroked his beard as he praised repeatedly.

Most of the counselors and generals present agreed with Fa Zheng's plan and thought it was feasible.

Only Xiao Fang looked towards the direction of Yangping Pass without saying a word.

"Prime Minister, what do you think of Xiaozhi's plan?"

Naturally, Liu Bei did not dare to make a decision on his own and looked to Xiao Fang for advice.

While Xiao Fang was deep in thought, he actually paid some attention and was listening to Fa Zheng's plan.

When Liu Bei asked this, Xiao Fang withdrew his thoughts and smiled:
"If this plan of Xiaozhi had been put in place before Your Majesty had taken Guanzhong, or even before Cao Cao had fled to Yizhou, it would have been a brilliant plan, and perhaps it would have tricked Xiahou Yuan into falling for it."

"But your majesty, do you think that with the Qin State in such a state, Cao Cao will not learn his lesson and dare to go out and pursue our army?"

Liu Bei was stunned and failed to understand what Xiao Fang meant.

Fa Zheng was startled, and had already guessed something.

Xiao Fang waved his feather fan lightly and said slowly:

"After suffering so many losses, I think Cao Cao has been reduced to a situation where he controls a corner of Yizhou. He must have been frightened and no longer has the courage and will to fight back."

"I expect Cao Cao will repeatedly warn Xiahou Yuan that no matter what happens to our army, even if Your Majesty dies suddenly, he must not send a single soldier out of the pass, so as to avoid falling into our army's trap."

"So from this point of view, let alone Xiaozhi's brilliant plan, even if Xiaozhi can come up with a plan that is ten times more ingenious than this one, I'm afraid he won't be able to lure Xiahou Yuan out."

Xiao Fang did not beat around the bush and stated his meaning directly.

Liu Bei suddenly realized.

Fa Zheng also looked insightful and understood Xiao Fang's deep meaning.

Cao Cao was completely frightened, and so were Qin army generals like Xiahou Yuan.

They no longer had the courage to go out and fight, and only wanted to hide in the city, relying on the strength of the city to defend the three-acre land of Yizhou.

For a person who has lost his courage, what use is it even if your strategy is ten times more ingenious?
Even if the sky falls, Xiahou Yuan doesn't have the courage to come out and fight!

"The Prime Minister is indeed insightful and has seen clearly that Cao is a fake Qin monarch and his ministers."

Fa Zheng was impressed and looked at Liu Bei:
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister's words make sense. I was not thoughtful enough. This plan of mine really cannot lure Xiahou Yuan out."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, agreeing with Xiao Fang's judgment, and had no choice but to reject Fa Zheng's plan.

"As the Prime Minister said, this plan of luring the snake out of its hole is no longer feasible."

Liu Bei sighed softly, with a hint of regret in his tone and expression.

At this time.

There was a hint of mystery in Xiao Fang's eyes, and he sneered:
"Your Majesty, I am only saying that Xiaozhi's plan may not be able to lure out Xiahou Yuan, but it does not necessarily mean that this plan of luring the snake out of its hole is not feasible."

This statement came out.

Liu Bei's eyes were filled with surprise, and he asked anxiously:
"Prime Minister, do you have another good plan to lure Xiahou Yuan out of Yangping Pass?"

Everyone's surprised eyes were also focused on Xiao Fang.

The prime minister, the best strategist in the world, the one with the best foresight and the reincarnation of a sage, has spoken, so naturally he has a winning strategy!

"If you want to lure Xiahou Yuan out, it's actually very simple. Just attack him and he will be rescued."

"And the place where Xiahou Yuan must be rescued is there!"

Xiao Fang pointed his feather fan towards the southeast direction of Yangping Pass.

Liu Bei and the others looked in the direction Xiao Fang pointed, but their eyes changed from surprise to confusion. (End of this chapter)