Chapter 629 So, what’s the bad news?
What made Xia Houxuan most desperate was not that he was manipulated by Ma Di. Even if he knew Ma Su's plan in advance, his operating space was still pitifully small, and he couldn't even do anything about the outcome!
In the final analysis, whatever choice the dominant party makes makes sense. No matter what choice he makes, the huge advantage will allow him to achieve his ultimate goal.
At the moment, the confrontation between Han and Wei is very illustrative.
Ma Su sent out all his main force and headed straight towards Yanzhou. Theoretically, Baimajin's troops are extremely empty and can be taken advantage of.
However, even if Ma Di took away the main force of 20,000 Shu troops. The remaining 10,000 buqu of Baimajin and Deng Ai alone were enough to scare away tens of thousands of people from Xiahou Xuan.
There was no way, the gap in combat power between the two sides was already greater than the Wei army's numerical advantage. This allowed Wei Jun to see through everything, but in the end he could only watch.
Originally, Xia Houxuan thought that if 400,000 yuan beat 300,000 yuan, I would have the advantage. Only when he actually implemented it on the actual battlefield did he truly understand what despair meant.
Thinking about the attitude of Cao Wei and others who did not regard Xishu as an enemy more than ten years ago, Xia Houxuan felt endless regret.
It was Cao Wei who personally developed this southwestern separatist regime into a serious nuisance little by little. And now they have to pay for their carelessness more than ten years ago.
But just when Xia Houxuan was desperate, he suddenly remembered that Sima Yi was still there.
"By the way, the Taiwei is still here. He fought fiercely with the Shu army from Guanxi to Guandong. He must be able to save the defeat!" Xia Houxuan immediately sent people to the rear army to find Sima Yi and asked Minister Tuogu to come and make up his mind.
But soon, the person who was sent came back and brought Xia Houxuan big news.
"General, the Taiwei refused to meet me, and I was stopped by his own soldiers."
"What? Are you not going to resist, Captain?" Xia Houxuan's face changed drastically, and he was filled with panic.
"Even Lieutenant Sima is unwilling to fight. This Wei Dynasty is probably really doomed!"
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When Xia Houxuan was so desperate that he even considered writing to Cao Shuang and suggesting that he surrender directly, the Han army's progress in Yanzhou was even more rapid.
Because Baima Jin's eastward crossing is inherently difficult and is generally not considered a routine option, the Wei army did not have much preparedness. So the Han army suddenly came in diagonally and was overwhelming all the way, completely blinding the Wei army.
In less than half a month, the Han army successfully penetrated Puyang Zhen City and reached Linqiu City.
Linqiu is the general administrative seat of Yanzhou and the hinterland of East Yanzhou. Further east here is the towering Taishan Mountains, a mountainous area not suitable for large troop movements.
Therefore, as long as the Han army mainly occupies Linqiu, it can directly cut off the Wei army's southward support to Yanzhou. The Shanyang and Jiyin counties in the south that were still resisting immediately had their morale collapse, and even if they did not surrender, they would inevitably flee towards Xuzhou.
By then, the Han army will be able to take advantage of the situation to capture the entire Yanzhou and completely stabilize its flanks. When the time comes, Ma Di will have no worries again when he launches troops to Hebei.
However, when Ma Su's troops arrived at Linqiu City, the scouts brought two pieces of news to Ma Su with complicated expressions.
"General, my subordinates have detected nearby intelligence and compiled it into good news and bad news." This scout was Ma Di's old subordinate and reported directly.
"Oh? So the situation in Linqiu is quite complicated?" Ma Di raised his eyebrows slightly and said casually.
"Just tell me and let me see what's going on."
"Well... first of all, the guard in Linqiu City is an unexpected old acquaintance of yours."
"Unexpected old acquaintance?" Ma Su was slightly startled, but he soon understood what it meant.
Because a familiar figure has appeared at the head of Linqiu City.
It was Sima Yi, the Taiwei of Cao Wei who should still be in Baimajin!
"Did this old man react so quickly? How could he react so quickly and enter Linqiu one step ahead of me?" Ma Su was a little surprised, but he quickly calmed down.
Although this is indeed unexpected, it is also reasonable. In history, it is quite normal for old artists who can compete with the prime minister to react quickly.
"Well, so, what's the bad news?"
"Bad news...huh?"
Ma Su's words almost stopped the scout. It took him a long time to realize what Ma Su meant, and he couldn't help but cough twice.
"Well... another good news is that we have detected that there are not many defenders in Linqiu. We can confirm that Sima Yi came alone, and Yanzhou's defense is empty and there is an opportunity to take advantage of it."
Now the Wei army's military strength is already tight, and the garrisons in many places have already been emptied. Moreover, Liu Yin is currently attacking Jiyin County and has demobilized most of Yanzhou's troops.
So now, the total strength of Linqiu, the dignified Yanzhou government seat, is only a few thousand.
"Very good. Just after we entered the hinterland of Yanzhou, we got two pieces of good news. It seems that the Taishan Prefecture is all for us!" Ma Su was very satisfied with this. Such smooth sailing is rare.
"Pass my order to surround Linqiu with the entire army and build siege equipment on the spot. I will launch an siege on Linqiu within three days and capture Sima Yi alive!"
Ma Zhong, take a few people with me and go to the city to shout. It's been a long time since I chatted with this old artist. "
"only!"
Ma Zhong immediately accepted the order, and then led several cavalrymen to follow Ma Su, and swaggered to the foot of Linqiu City.
I have to say that Sima Yi's reaction was very quick. He was able to come out just because Ma Su did not participate in the night attack. This was not the goal of this decisive general of Xishu.
Therefore, he left Baimajin's defense to Xiahou Xuan early, and quietly and lightly rode into Linqiu. At this moment when Ma Su was about to succeed in his efforts, Ma Su was suddenly made a little more difficult.
But that's all. After fighting for so many years, Ma Su obviously doesn't worry about just Sima Yi.
"General Han, Marquis of Wu'an, Ma Su, invites the pseudo-Wei Taiwei Sima Yi to meet!"
Ma Su came to the city, bowed his hands towards the city, and said without changing his expression.
"Ma Su! It's been a long time. I haven't seen you for a few years and you're still the same." Sima Yi didn't shy away from anything. He immediately came forward and said to Ma Su from a distance on the top of the city.
"Really? But why does Mr. Sima look so old? He's about to be put into a coffin." However, Ma Su was so angry when he opened his mouth that he said directly.
"What's up, Mr. Sima's health strategy is not very good."
Ma Su's words made Sima Yi look a little gloomier.
What he said was indeed correct. Sima Yi was indeed not in good health now. Especially the series of desperate runs in Kansai left a lot of hidden wounds and sequelae to Mr. Sima Yi.
In addition, he has been busy working in Kanto these years, and a lot of heavy burdens have been placed on him. Now he does look much older than before.