My younger brother Zhuge Liang

Chapter 528 Xiahou Yuan: What's there to be afraid of! I'm fine again!
"Humph, those local rubbish of Yizhou are really vulnerable! They are only fit to guard Jiameng Pass and Baishui Pass like turtles! Who gave them the courage to fight and intercept our army?

"It's wishful thinking to expect to stop our army with only a few camps without any natural defenses! They were defeated in one day! It's a pity that Wu Yi escaped. It seems that he was a soldier under Liu Zhang and had some tenacity."

The next morning, Xiahou Yuan personally came to the Yizhou Army camp outside Yangping Pass, which Wu Yi had abandoned last night. He briefly inspected the situation of his soldiers cleaning the battlefield. He couldn't help but spit out a foul breath and cursed fiercely to vent his anger.

He has been very nervous lately and really needs to let off some steam.

He was defeated in five battles by Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Gan Ning, and fell into five traps. He fled 500 miles to Jiameng Pass, and another 150 miles to Yangping Pass, for a total retreat of 650 miles, completely losing the face of Cao's number one general.

Fortunately, Liu Zhang's arrogance and his unauthorized participation in the battle gave Xiahou Yuan a chance to regain his confidence. After the battle, he felt refreshed and felt that he was able to do it again.

It was at this time that Jia Xu, who was helping Xiahou Yuan lead the rear army, also arrived at the battlefield late.

Jia Xu was helping Xiahou Yuan to lead the baggage train, and he also had to carry money and food supplies, so he walked slowly. In addition, Xiahou Yuan only fought for one day on the front battlefield, so Jia Xu arrived after the battle was over, just like the porter in the Hong Kong movie.

Xiahou Yuan did not take it seriously, but was rather pleased with himself: he had easily defeated Wu Yi without the assistance of Jia Xu, so his advice was even more valuable.

When people are in a good mood, they are always easy to talk to. Xiahou Yuan was in high spirits and discussed with Jia Xu:

"Wenhe, you came just in time. We have repelled Wu Yi and captured more than 2,000 people. But he seems to have led his troops to retreat in the direction of our army, which is Chencang Road in the northwest, more than 40 miles away, near Hechi County.

Please help me think about what our army should do next? How to set up camp, how to deploy, and how to pursue?"

Jia Xu first observed the situation and said some flattering words to congratulate Xiahou Yuan on his great victory. After making Xiahou Yuan happy, he said carefully:
"I have some humble opinions, General. Let's talk about camping and deployment first. I think we must make use of this camp at the pass abandoned by Wu Yi. The road outside Yangping Pass can bypass the pass and go south.

If we abandon this camp and withdraw the whole army back to the pass, it will be equivalent to letting Wu Yi go back. At that time, Wu Yi can separate some people to block and cover the main force to pass through the pass and return to Jiameng Pass, then we will not be able to wipe out the remaining 20,000 people of Wu Yi.

Therefore, we must camp on the road and make use of this old camp to prevent any chance of sneaking past the pass."

Xiahou Yuan nodded and agreed with satisfaction: "This is exactly what I thought. Since Wu Yi dared to come out, I will not be satisfied with just breaking through his encirclement. I will turn around and annihilate him completely!
However, yesterday our army fought so desperately and frantically, everyone risked their lives, more for the opportunity to escape back to Yangping Pass, it was a desperate struggle. In contrast, now that we have retreated to Yangping Pass, the soldiers' will to escape has collapsed.

The number of troops we have left is less than Wu Yi's. It will be very difficult to repeat the result of defeating the enemy with fewer troops and attacking with fewer. I am not worried that I can't defeat Wu Yi, but I am afraid that if it drags on for too long, the losses will be too great. When Liu Bei and Zhang Fei attack from behind, Yangping Pass will be in danger. "

Xiahou Yuan still had several thousand men. If he could gather the remaining troops in the Hanzhong Basin and focus on defending Yangping Pass, he could still muster 20,000 men.

He asked himself that with these 20,000 men, although he could not advance further, he could at least defend Hanzhong.

But if he went out of Guanlang again and tried to annihilate Wu Yi, and inflicted more losses in the field battle, when Liu Bei caught up with him, Xiahou Yuan would not be able to guarantee his safety.

If Liu Bei's army wanted to kill a Cao soldier in a siege battle, the price they would pay would be several times higher than the price Wu Yi would pay for killing a Cao soldier in a field battle.

Since spending all the troops on guarding the pass can win more exchange ratios, why did Xiahou Yuan still want to fight in the field?
This is a very realistic consideration.

With Jia Xu's intelligence, he of course understood the coach's concerns instantly.

Therefore, Xiahou Yuan needed him to think of a way to solve Wu Yi without paying too high a price, and it would be best if he could make a lot of money and ensure a profit regardless of drought or flood.

Even if there is no guarantee that the problem can be solved, at least the cost of trying should be low enough so that you can try your best.

Jia Xu's brain entered a state of rapid thinking. After a long time, he really came up with a plan:
"I understand your concerns, General. I have come up with a plan. I cannot say that I will win for sure, but at least I don't have to spend any money, and it will not hinder the defense of Yangping Pass at all."

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Yuan was overjoyed and said, "Oh? Please tell me in detail, Wenhe!"

Jia Xu analyzed, "As long as our army does not abandon the camp at the pass that we have just captured, we will definitely be able to block Wu Yi's way back. And Wu Yi's food supply has been cut off, and his military rations will be gone in half a month at the least, or a month at the most. By then, Wu Yi will run out of food and support, and will naturally surrender without a fight..." Jia Xu's first few words were actually laying the groundwork.

But Xiahou Yuan was impatient. He immediately jumped up to object as soon as he heard this, complaining that it was too slow: "That won't work! If we expect the enemy to surrender after running out of food in a month, Liu Bei would have already arrived! If Liu Bei and Wu Yi attack from both sides and storm this camp at the pass, how should I respond?
I can't defeat Liu Bei with my limited military strength in a camp defense battle, as I have proven in Dianjiang County. This camp is not necessarily as strong as the new camp in Jiangbei in Dianjiang, and my army has fewer troops. How can I delay?"

Jia Xu quickly signaled Xiahou Yuan to calm down: "General, don't be anxious. I haven't finished talking yet. Blocking the entrance and cutting off the food supply is just a gesture. It doesn't necessarily take that long to block Wu Yi until he really eats up all the food before he surrenders.

We can definitely design a plan to make their morale collapse faster. Everyone is afraid. As long as they know that their food supply has been cut off and their future is hopeless, even the ordinary soldiers will be panicked and will naturally surrender. "

Xiahou Yuan calmed down a little after hearing his explanation, but he still felt it was unreliable: "It would be good to attack their hearts and urge them to surrender quickly, but I'm afraid it's hard to do. Wu Yi came here to steal Liu Bei's credit. How could he not know that once Liu Bei broke through Langzhong County, he would chase him all the way to rescue him?
Even if Captain Feng is still holding out in Langzhong, how can we convince Wu Yi that Langzhong County can hold Liu Bei back for that long? Now it seems that how long Langzhong can hold Liu Bei back is not important at all. What matters is the confidence of Liu Bei's allies in him! What matters is how long his allies believe he can be held back! "

The truth always becomes clearer the more it is debated. After being guided by Jia Xu to carefully ponder the strategy of attacking the mind, Xiahou Yuan soon came to this conclusion on his own.

Even if Liu Bei would actually be delayed by Feng Kai for a month, as long as Wu Yi believed that Liu Bei could break through Feng Kai in ten to fifteen days, then Wu Yi would have the confidence to hold on and would not surrender easily.

When facing psychological warfare, facts are not important, confidence is more important.

Fortunately, Jia Xu was still experienced after all. Facing Xiahou Yuan's new concerns, he made a rare wise analysis:

"It's not difficult to undermine Wu Yi's confidence. On the one hand, we can spread rumors, taking advantage of the fact that Wu Yi and Liu Bei's army cannot communicate with each other, and spread the news that Liu Bei is extremely dissatisfied with Liu Zhang's sending troops to steal the credit.

For example, Liu Bei has now divided his troops from Diaoyu City, under the banner of Liu Zhang's betrayal, and marched upstream along the Fu River in an attempt to take over Liu Zhang's Zitong, Jiameng Pass and other places, to ensure unified command among the anti-Cao princes, so that they would no longer fight for credit and occupy land privately.

Regardless of whether Wu Yi believed it immediately or not, it was at least possible. If the prime minister and other foreign lords joined forces to fight against the disloyal, and the allies suddenly seized the credit and occupied the land, the prime minister would definitely be angry and turn his friends into enemies, right? Although Liu Bei had a good reputation, Liu Zhang had more or less given Liu Bei some leverage this time, so it made sense for Liu Bei to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fuss.

Even if Wu Yi doesn't believe that Liu Bei did this, after we spread this news, we can at least give Wu Yi a way out and make them realize that they may become scapegoats who are not popular with both sides after they return. It would be better for them to surrender to the prime minister and the court.

Secondly, as long as we give Wu Yi a way out and he becomes fearful and shaken, we can then use the second trick: let Wu Yi know that the Prime Minister's army to reinforce Yizhou has begun to enter Sichuan, and has crossed the Qinling Mountains from Chencang and entered Shu.

Wu Yi still dares to resist now, what is his biggest reliance? Isn't it because he thinks Liu Bei has defeated the general? Now Liu Bei's army is strong in Shu. If he surrenders to our army now, it would be like giving up the big and surrendering the small, bringing humiliation upon himself.

But if the prime minister led the army into Sichuan and fought against Liu Bei, the situation would be reversed. Moreover, Wu Yi's retreat was on Chencang Road, and the prime minister's army also took Chencang Road to enter Sichuan. When the prime minister passed Hechi County, Wu Yi would be attacked from both sides.

By then, he will have no bargaining chips, and even if he wants to surrender, he will not be able to keep his current official position and title of general. In this case, why not give him a high position and generous salary now, so that he can surrender earlier before the military rations are eaten up? "

When Xiahou Yuan heard this, his eyes finally lit up: "What a good plan! Scare him while throwing dirty water on Liu Bei! Wu Yi is alone in the valley of Chencang Road, with no news from the front and back. As long as his army's morale collapses, even if he doesn't surrender, it will be much easier for us to attack again! Please ask Wenhe to quickly follow this plan! Attack Wu Yi's heart and force him to surrender!
Eh? Oh, right, there's one more thing I'm worried about. Counting the days, it's almost the end of April now. The Prime Minister's army should have crossed the Qinling Mountains from Chencang and contacted us. Originally, we were told to delay until May, and then fight and retreat to lure Liu Bei over for a decisive battle. Now it's only four or five days until May, why is there no news at all? Will there be any surprises with the Prime Minister's reinforcements?"

As Xiahou Yuan was talking, he suddenly remembered this.

What he had agreed with Cao Cao was that they would start fighting and retreating in May, and by the end of May at the latest, Cao and Liu would have a major battle in Shu to decide the ownership of Shu.

Even if Cao Cao's main force has not arrived yet, the early vanguards and messengers should have some news.

Xiahou Yuan couldn't help feeling uneasy.

Jia Xu was a little worried after hearing what he said, but he still had to comfort Xiahou Yuan: "General, don't worry too much. The Prime Minister has great power in the country and commands the world's most powerful troops. What kind of accident can there be? It will definitely come as scheduled.

As long as our psychological warfare strategy is implemented step by step, when Wu Yi hears the news of the Prime Minister's army, even if it is just a small vanguard, Wu Yi will definitely be frightened and surrender! "

Xiahou Yuan felt better now. He stroked his beard and sighed, "I hope it will be as you said."

(End of this chapter)