Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 139 Compassion
Wei Xiaobao, knowing Ma Teng's intention in inviting him to drink, lowered his guard. He drank freely and soon became completely drunk, and was sent back to the tower.

A few days later, Zhuge Liang arrived in Wancheng without bringing many soldiers.

Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun were puzzled and asked Zhuge Liang about it. Only Wei Xiaobao understood the answer and just smiled without saying anything.

Zhuge Liang asked Wei Xiaobao, "Bozhi, everyone in the army is worried about whether Wancheng can be defended. Why aren't you worried?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "The military advisor came alone. He must have received some news and predicted that Ma Teng would withdraw his troops soon."

Zhuge Liang asked in surprise, "How could you possibly know what's happening in the enemy's rear?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "A few days ago, Ma Teng invited me for a drink. He said that after being stationed here for some time, he had given Cao Cao enough face and was preparing to withdraw his troops back to Xiliang. As a condition for withdrawing, he asked us to send him military rations and said that he could help us contain Guo Si's army.

Although I don't know much about marching and fighting, when I'm gambling, if I get a big hand, I definitely won't take the initiative to ask for peace. Ma Teng is anxious to go back now, so something big must have happened at home."

Zhuge Liang laughed heartily and said, "Military tactics are nothing more than manipulating people's hearts, much like the principles of gambling. Liu Ye's retainers have heard that Han Sui of Tianshui took advantage of Ma Teng's absence to launch a surprise attack on Wuwei. Although Ma Chao is guarding Wuwei, its fall is inevitable. This is the real reason why Ma Teng is so anxious to withdraw his troops."

As for involving Guo Si, it must be because Ma Teng was worried that he would not be able to explain to Cao Cao if he retreated, and he was also worried that Guo Si would attack him from behind, so he wanted to use us to contain Guo Si."

Wei Xiaobao said, "I knew this old fellow had bad intentions. He pretended to be willing to withdraw, but it turns out he was plotting against us everywhere."

Zhuge Liang said, "The world is in chaos right now. None of the princes can quell the chaos on their own. Only by leveraging the power of others can we easily deal with any situation."

Wei Xiaobao, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun couldn't help nodding.

Zhuge Liang continued, "The rations I brought from Xuchang will be perfectly useful. Bozhi, report to Ma Teng's camp tomorrow and tell him we are willing to lend him rations and that we hope he will help us defeat Guo Si."

On the second day, Wei Xiaobao escorted dozens of carts of food and supplies to Ma Teng's camp early in the morning.

This was probably the first time that two armies confronted each other and someone took the initiative to deliver rations to the enemy.

When Ma Teng heard that Wei Xiaobao was coming to deliver military rations, he brought a group of military officers and civil officials to the outside of the military camp to greet him.

The look in Ma Yunlu's eyes when he looked at Wei Xiaobao was still as if he wanted to eat him.

Wei Xiaobao waited for Ma Teng to finish counting the military rations and said, "The rations have been delivered. My military advisor has something else for me to tell you."

Ma Teng said, "I guess it's about the encirclement and suppression of Guo Si?"

Wei Xiaobao nodded and said, "If you break camp and retreat, Guo Si will definitely become suspicious. If you can capture the arrow tower formation, Guo Si will lead his troops to join us and then attack Wancheng. So, we must put on a show for Guo Si together."

Ma Teng asked, "Are you planning to let us charge, and then feign defeat and retreat, luring Guo Si into a trap?"

Wei Xiaobao nodded again and continued, "That's exactly the plan. Once Guo Si's army enters the Arrow Tower Formation, there's no way they'll escape!"

Ma Teng was suspicious: "Isn't Zhuge Liang afraid that I will seize the opportunity to seize the arrow tower formation? Is there any other trick?"

Seeing Ma Teng's silence, Wei Xiaobao said, "Don't hesitate any longer! If you delay for two more days, Wuwei will be taken by Han Sui, and then you won't even be able to return to Xiliang."

Ma Teng was horrified. Seeing the surprised expression on his face, Wei Xiaobao said, "The military advisor already knows the situation in your rear, so he's willing to send the military rations first before discussing the encirclement and suppression of Guo Si with you. Do you still need to worry about us setting you up? You're only working for Cao Cao, so why would we kill you all?"

This result was exactly what Ma Teng expected, so he agreed to Zhuge Liang's suggestion.

A few days later, according to the prior agreement, Ma Teng led his army to attack the Arrow Tower.

After Zhao Yun and Wei Xiaobao led the soldiers to pretend to resist for a while, they immediately ordered them to stop shooting arrows.

When Ma Teng led his troops into the arrow tower formation, Zhuge Liang was already waiting there.

After seeing the battle formation clearly from the inside, Ma Teng said to Zhuge Liang in fear, "Fortunately, we didn't attack rashly, otherwise we would have been wiped out long ago."

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "This formation is in line with the Eight Diagrams. Once you enter, it will be difficult to escape unless you have one of our people to guide you."

Ma Teng immediately sent someone to deliver a letter to Guo Si, telling him that the arrow tower formation had been broken and asking him to bring his troops to assist in the siege.

Zhuge Liang personally led Ma Teng out into the battle, bypassed Wancheng, and sent them on the road to Luoyang.

Before leaving, Ma Teng said, "Military Advisor, I have been so kind to you that I cannot repay you. If you need me to do anything in the future, please let me know."

Zhuge Liang knew that what Ma Teng said was true. After the battle of Wancheng, Ma Teng had witnessed the power of his formation, and he was afraid that he would never dare to attack again.

When Zhuge Liang returned to the arrow tower formation, Guo Si's army had already entered the formation.

The west side of this formation is a dead end, and once you enter, you cannot return the same way.

The archers led by Zhao Yun and Wei Xiaobao had already ambushed on top of the arrow towers, and were now shooting down at the cavalry on the ground.

The advantage of cavalry lies in charging and killing. Once trapped in the formation, they have to dodge arrows shot from overhead while looking for an exit. They are crowded and trampled on each other. It is unknown how many people died under their own horses' hooves.

Zhuge Liang stood atop the Arrow Tower and shouted to Guo Si below, "General Guo, Ma Teng has fallen into my trap and been annihilated. If you don't want your entire army to be annihilated, dismount and surrender now, and I will spare your life. If you persist in your rebellion, your remains will be buried beneath this Arrow Tower!"

Guo Si led his personal guards to flee in the camp, but could not find a way out. Suddenly he heard Zhuge Liang's words, and was so frightened that he fell off his horse.

By the time the guards helped him onto the horse, he was already covered in dust and looked very miserable.

Guo Si shouted, "Even if I die without a burial place, I will never surrender! Ma Teng is brainless, but I, Guo Si, am not a man of courage without strategy! You think you can trap me with a mere formation? It's simply wishful thinking!"

Zhuge Liang saw more and more corpses on the ground, and he couldn't bear it. He said to Wei Xiaobao beside him, "Go and order someone to open the exit and give him a way out."

Wei Xiaobao said, "Let him go back. He will definitely come back to seek revenge in the future."

Zhuge Liang said, "God is merciful. Now that Guo Si's main force has been destroyed, we should not kill him completely. After he escapes to Chang'an, even if Ma Teng doesn't seize his territory, Cao Cao will take advantage of his weakness to annex him."

(End of this chapter)