My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

These words struck Wang Shuang like a heavy hammer, shattering his confidence in an instant.

His previously confident face suddenly changed color, and his expression became solemn.

"What you say makes sense..."

Wang Shuang paused slightly, a hint of hesitation flashing across her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

After a moment's hesitation, he decisively gave the order:
"I have heard that there are many springs in the Longshan area. You should immediately dispatch troops to search carefully around Maijishan and find out if there are any hidden springs on the mountain."

Upon hearing this order, Jiang Wei was slightly taken aback.

Military orders are absolute, and he dared not delay in the slightest. He immediately dispatched scouts to carefully explore the terrain around the mountain, leaving no possible corner unchecked.

Before sunset, the scouts finally returned, bringing back news that instantly thrilled Wang Shuang:
In the deep, dense forest behind Maijishan Mountain, there is indeed a hidden spring.

Because it is located behind the mountain and hidden by dense forests, it is extremely difficult to find.

"Just as I expected, there really is a hidden water source in Maijishan!"

Wang Shuang's face flushed with excitement, his eyes gleaming with wild joy, and he laughed loudly:
"This is truly a blessing from heaven for our Great Wei, and a help from heaven for my King Shuang!"

Having said that, he suddenly cracked his whip and shouted:
"Pass down the order: the entire army must immediately move to Maijishan and set up camp by tomorrow morning, making full preparations to meet the Han army!"

Jiang Wei's heart suddenly jolted.

Wang Shuang still insisted on setting up camp on Maijishan!

He was well aware of the unavoidable circumstances behind this.

However, with the city of Jieting now fallen, and with only six thousand soldiers under their command, facing an attack from five times the size of the Han army, they certainly wouldn't last until Cao Pi's reinforcements arrived.

Moreover, the speed at which the Han army arrived far exceeded their expectations.

It's too late to build thicker city walls now; there simply isn't enough time.

Giving up Jieting is even more impossible now.

They fled without a fight, allowing the Han army to capture Jieting without bloodshed, thus opening up the Longshan Pass and kicking open the gates of Liangzhou.

It would be strange if Cao Pi didn't kill them.

After weighing the pros and cons, setting up camp on Maijishan Mountain seemed to be the only hope of defending Jieting.

Moreover, they discovered a hidden well behind the mountain, so there was no need to worry about the water source being cut off.

Considering all this, setting up camp at Maijishan could be seen as taking a gamble.

However, Jiang Wei still had a final concern in his heart.

After hesitating for a moment, I mustered my courage and said:
"General Zhen Dong, I still feel that moving the troops to the mountains is too risky. What if our hidden wells are discovered by the Han army?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Shuang pondered for a moment.

A moment later, he snorted coldly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes:
“Maijishan is an isolated mountain with a treacherous terrain. When we need to fetch water, we can simply use a long rope to lower a bucket down to fetch water, and be careful not to make a big fuss. I think the Han army will never discover our presence.”

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

But Jiang Wei was not as confident as him; his eyes remained hesitant, and he felt a vague unease in his heart.

Just as he was about to speak again to persuade her, Wang Shuang suddenly waved her hand:

"It's settled then. You will lead 1,500 cavalrymen to set up camp behind the mountain and guard the well for me!"

"My mind is made up. Just follow my orders and do not undermine morale, or you will be punished according to military law!"

Seeing that Wang Shuang had made up his mind, Jiang Wei knew that further persuasion would be useless, so he had no choice but to accept the order.

Upon receiving the order, the Wei army, which was repairing the city, immediately abandoned the city and hastily moved to Maijishan.

Jiang Wei then led 1,500 elite soldiers to the forest behind the mountain, where they set up a strong fortified camp around the location of the hidden well, digging trenches and erecting fences in preparation for an attack by the Han army.

...

The next day, as dawn broke, the east gradually turned a pale white.

The Wei soldiers, exhausted from a night's work, were taking a nap while clutching their weapons. Wang Shuang stood on the mountain ridge, his gaze fixed on the gentle slope leading to the pass.

In the morning light, dust and mist rose faintly, like a winding dragon, and soon spread out of the valley.

Following the banners bearing the character "Han," countless figures of Han soldiers and cavalry surged out of the dust and mist like a surging tide, coming into view.

Under the rising sun, the character "马" (horse) on the banner could be vaguely seen.

"Could it be that scoundrel Ma Chao?"

After a brief guess, Wang Shuang gave a haughty snort:
"Even if Xiao He himself came, what would I have to fear!"

At the mouth of the valley.

Tens of thousands of Han soldiers were marching out of the valley, covered in dust.

The terrain ahead was flat, and the outline of a city came into view.

"General Mengqi, we've exited the Jieting Pass. That's Jieting City. We've arrived in Liangzhou!"

Deng Ai pointed his riding whip forward.

"The journey went smoothly, and we finally made it out."

Ma Chao breathed a sigh of relief, a smile of satisfaction appearing on his face. He then ordered the entire army to slow down and sent out scouts to reconnoiter Jieting City.

"This place is located in the Yin area of ​​Longshan Mountain, with a strategic and dangerous terrain. Even if Cao Pi is ignorant about military affairs, he would probably leave a fierce general and elite troops to guard it."

"However, Wei guesses that Cao Pi would not have expected us to arrive so quickly, and the garrison at Jieting should not be many."

"We can take this opportunity to launch a surprise attack and capture Jieting in one fell swoop."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, pointing his spear forward, and said:

"Jieting is a small city with low walls, capable of holding a maximum of six thousand soldiers. Let's fight a quick battle and take Jieting before Cao Pi sends reinforcements!"

Ma Chao was quite confident in the fighting strength of his Han army.

The two men marched while discussing strategies to capture Jieting.

Just then, the scout rushed back and loudly reported:
"Reporting to General Ma, Jieting is now an empty city, with no Wei soldiers stationed there."

"Wei general Wang Shuang has led 6,000 troops and has already stationed them on Maijishan Mountain south of the city!"

Ma Chao and Deng Ai's expressions changed, and they exchanged a glance.

They hurriedly looked south.

Sure enough, flags could be faintly seen fluttering on that hilltop.

Clearly, there was a camp set up on the mountain.

"Abandoning the city and going up the mountain, what kind of trick is Wang Shuang up to?"

Ma Chao and Deng Ai looked at each other again, their eyes showing the same surprise.

They originally thought that the Wei army would build Jieting City, placing all their hopes of stopping the Han army on defending this small city.

Unexpectedly, the Wei general Wang Shuang, who was left behind, not only did not station his troops on the city wall, but instead moved his troops up the mountain.

Isn't this contrary to the principles of military strategy?

With your mere six thousand soldiers, I have thirty thousand troops, enough to completely surround you.

When that time comes, you will be trapped in the lonely mountain, and you will die without a burial place.
"This Wang Shuang, although brave but reckless, is he really that reckless?"

Deng Ai looked at Ma Chao with a questioning gaze.

Ma Chao also found it unbelievable and clearly couldn't understand why.

After a long while, Ma Chao finally came to his senses and coldly snorted:
"Regardless of what that scoundrel thinks, convey my order: the army shall immediately surround the mountain!" (End of Chapter)