The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 279 The "Great Victory" at Tongguan

Zhang He was tricked by the Xianbei people.

They took the food and left.

Zhang He himself was shocked by this.

Even Sima Yi, who had already safely retreated to Hedong, found it hard to believe.

He had previously used a provocation tactic to get Zhang He to go to Tongguan to tackle the tough challenge.

But at least this still meets actual military needs.

In this situation, a great general must be sent to guard Tongguan, right?

But what about the Xianbei people?

Do you really think you can just eat and take government grain for free?

But soon.

As the various units of the Han army suddenly abandoned their desperate fights against other cities, they marched straight towards Linjin City, where Zhang He was located.

Sima Yi suddenly realized what was happening.

The Xianbei people were secretly colluding with the Han army.

They were just waiting for a certain Wei general to crawl into their mouth, and then defeat the general's defenses to achieve victory in one fell swoop.

If Sima Yi had run a little slower, or if Zhang He hadn't taken the initiative to attack.

The group that was surrounded at that moment was most likely Sima Yi's forces.

Sure enough, the day after Zhang He was blocked by a large number of Han troops in Linjin City, news came from Tongguan.

It is said that Guan Ping's troops suddenly marched east again, quickly captured Huayin City, and then blocked the Wei army's route north from Tongguan to rescue Linjin.

Guan Ping had deliberately allowed the Wei army to block the Wei and Qu waterways earlier, precisely for this day.

It's like he made Wei Jun work for him for free.

In this way, Sima Yi's troops, who had not yet left Pubanjin, became Zhang He's only hope at the moment.

"How many more days can General Zhang hold on?"

Sima Yi looked at the adjutant sent by Zhang He to request reinforcements.

The latter replied dejectedly:
"We have enough troops to defend the city, but we're running low on food."

"The city's grain reserves were originally enough to last for half a month, but because half of it was taken by the Xianbei people, we can only hold out for another seven or eight days now."

Sima Yi was immediately overwhelmed with worry.

Despite all their calculations, they hadn't anticipated that after Zhang He secured Tongguan, he would actually turn back to support their crossing of the river.

Couldn't he be a little more selfish?!
Is this aggressive move an attempt to demonstrate that Zhang He is the only general who prioritizes the overall situation?

Sima Yi became increasingly depressed.

But with Zhang He's subordinates waiting right in front of him, it wasn't appropriate to directly curse them.

Those who need saving should still be saved.

Otherwise, if word gets out, his reputation will be ruined.

Cao Pi's trust in himself would also waver.

So the key question is, how do we save it?
Should we simply turn back along the same route?

This is certainly the fastest way to get to Linjin recently.

But it also meant that he had to face the Han-Hu allied forces, whose morale was high, alone.

Perhaps Zhang Fei, Mi Wei, and others are planning to besiege the point and ambush reinforcements!
Or... change your strategy to head south to Tongguan and cross the river, and first go and confront Guan Ping's troops in Huayin?
The reasons are easy to find.

Since Tongguan Pass is still under our control, we can cross the river from there without worrying about being attacked by the Han army while they are crossing.

Moreover, the carriage was located behind Tongguan.

It's perfectly reasonable for him to first defeat Guan Ping and ensure the emperor's safety before going to rescue the general!

Who told Zhang He to rashly leave Tongguan and head north?
Does his claim that Tongguan is secure really mean it is secure?
Guan Ping is Guan Yu's son!
Sima Yi thought about it more and more and felt that this excuse was feasible.

of course.

He would never be so careless in his work.

Even though he was convinced that going south was his only way out.

Moreover, there was the noble cause of protecting the emperor.

But we still need to make a proper gesture towards Zhang He.

We must not give others anything to criticize us for.

Then his gaze suddenly shifted and landed on Xiahou Mao, who was standing silently to the side:
“Zilin previously stood in for Cao Zhenxi to protect the rear, and he was quite loyal and brave.”

"I intend to first take Tongguan and repel the enemy facing the emperor, but I fear General Zhang cannot hold out for long. I wonder if Zilin could cross the river to Linjin to provide support for a few days, so that the garrison in Linjin will not be demoralized and lose heart when they cannot wait for reinforcements?"

Xiahou Mao wanted to curse on the spot.

Although he didn't understand military strategy, he could read Sima Yi's expression!

This old fox clearly intends to sell himself and Zhang He together!
He saw Zhang He's subordinate looking at him expectantly again.

Xiahou Mao's thoughts raced, and he suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up:

“General Zhang is not only a meritorious veteran of our Great Wei, but also a tiger general who strikes fear into the hearts of the enemy. If we want to save him, we should do everything we can. How can we just offer empty words of support?”

"Lord Sima, please give me 20,000 infantry and cavalry, and half a month's worth of provisions. If I cannot kill those charlatans like Zhang Mi and Wei Zhao and rescue General Zhang, I will commit suicide in front of the army to repay the Emperor's grace!"

"well said!"

Zhang He's subordinates immediately clapped their hands in praise.

Now it was Sima Yi's turn to want to curse.

His army that crossed the river numbered only thirty to forty thousand. With more than half of them being diverted south to Tongguan, how could he repel Guan Ping safely?

That's all.

The key question is, how did you, Xiahou Mao, come to have the ability to command an army of 20,000?

I'm afraid they can't even secure a camp large enough to hold 20,000 soldiers!
However, just as Xiahou Mao could see through Sima Yi's little scheme.

Sima Yi could also tell what Xiahou Mao was planning.

His gaze shifted subtly, and he feigned an expression of admiration:

"Zilin died a heroic death!"

"But you said something wrong!"

"General Zhang is indeed a meritorious veteran, but aren't you, Xiahou Zilin, also a pillar of the court?"

"If we lose two great generals in a single battle, it will be a misfortune for Great Wei, and it will be my fault!"

Then, before Xiahou Mao could utter any more boastful words, he immediately gave the order:
"I've made up my mind."

"I will transfer three thousand infantry and cavalry, with ten days' worth of provisions."

"You are only allowed to offer support, but you are not allowed to launch any rash attacks... Do you understand?"

Xiahou Mao understood, of course.

After we've almost finished our food in seven or eight days, we can make a dignified retreat!

Otherwise, who would expect three thousand men to rescue a lone city besieged by one hundred thousand Han soldiers?
Even if Xiang Yu, the King of Chu, came, he couldn't do it.

He winked at Sima Yi secretly, his expression becoming even more magnanimous:
"I'm determined to kill the traitors, but I'm too few soldiers... Oh well!"

……

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, a great victory!"

"A great victory at Tongguan!"

Cao Pi was awakened early in the morning by a series of good news reports.

However, since coming to Hongnong, he had often been unable to sleep at night, so he didn't have the problem of being grumpy when he woke up.

In particular, when he heard the eunuch recount in detail how Sima Yi had decisively defeated Guan Ping at Tong Pass, routing tens of thousands of enemy soldiers and leaving Guan Ping barely alive, he was so excited that he jumped up from the dragon bed and danced with joy.

Afterwards, he quickly washed up and ate, and then immediately summoned the civil and military officials who had accompanied him.

They discussed how to use this great victory to expand their gains, ideally recapturing Chang'an in one fell swoop and capturing Zhuge Liang alive.

The emperor had been depressed for a long time, and good news was a rare treat, so naturally no one dared to spoil the mood.

Apart from Liu Ye, the Chamberlain.

Liu Ye opened the victory report that Sima Yi had entrusted to someone to deliver, glanced at it only once, and said:
"Sima Zhongda did not go to Linjin to rescue the Left General, but instead went around to Tongguan to meet Guan Ping's detachment. Although he won, it was only a small victory. How could it be a great victory?"

"If the Left General and Linjin City are lost, then all the land within the pass will no longer be the king's territory."

"If that's the case, even if Sima Zhongda kills Guan Ping in battle, how can he possibly press his advantage?"

"Moreover, he only used the ambiguous term 'defeated enemy,' without mentioning the specific number of heads taken, the number captured, or the amount of supplies seized... Who knows if it was a real great victory, or if Guan Ping himself saw that there were reinforcements at Tongguan and withdrew on his own?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Pi's face immediately darkened.

But this isn't the first time Liu Ye has disagreed with everyone.

Moreover, he is quite capable of judging people and predicting events.

So, while Cao Pi was angry, he couldn't help but have some doubts about Sima Yi's report of victory.

After circling around the group, the gaze finally settled on Xu Shu.

Perhaps due to his recent overwork in supervising the transport of supplies, the latter looked thin and his eyes were somewhat red and swollen.

Cao Pi: "This matter concerns the merits and demerits of officials with salaries of two thousand piculs. As the Commandant of the Capital Region, I can only trouble you to verify it."

Xu Shu slowly stepped forward:

"Your Majesty, I have already verified the results of the battle."

(End of this chapter)