The crescent moon was setting in the west, the night was dark, and the city of Chencang was silent.
Zhuge Liang stood on the top of the towering city, frowning in thought.
Ma Su was also pondering. Just because he disobeyed military orders twice, Zhuge Liang beat him to the end and suppressed him. And depending on the situation, this difficult situation will continue for a long time.
It could be months, or even years.
Isn't it a bit of a waste of talent for the Prime Minister to do this?
Although in the Shu army controlled by the Prime Minister, everything must be subject to the Prime Minister's will. No second voice is allowed, and no general is allowed to make his own decisions.
But he will be out there, and his life will be somewhat unfavorable.
Adapting to emergency situations is the way to go!
Unable to figure it out, Ma Su shook his head and calmed down.
Forget it, among those amazing and talented people since ancient times, which one didn’t rise and fall three times before achieving success?
For example, Sima Yi...
I just fell together and didn't panic.
…
It's midnight, outside Chencang City.
Several of the soldiers around Cao Zhen yawned subconsciously, and the horses lying on the ground snorted angrily, pawing the ground with their hooves.
After squatting for most of the night, there was no movement at all in Chencang City.
Both men and horses were in dire straits.
Cao Zhen also let out a long yawn, holding on to the waves of drowsiness that came over him. He raised his eyes and looked at the stars in the night sky. He estimated that the time seemed to have passed three o'clock, so he slapped his son Cao Shuang awake from his nap beside him.
, stood up and waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to withdraw from the camp.
Military orders were passed down layer by layer, causing waves of commotion in the darkness.
Some people drew their swords out of their sheaths in a panic and looked around, thinking that the Shu army was coming. Some people remained motionless, rubbing their sleepy eyes after being kicked awake, and followed the large army back in a daze.
On the way back to the army, the Wei army's ranks appeared to be in disarray. They could no longer maintain the orderliness they had when they arrived, and even their high morale sank to the bottom.
Everyone turned against him, rolled up their flags, and walked back with their heads hanging down.
If it weren't for the great prestige of the military governor Cao Zhen, they would have complained, complaining that "one general is incompetent and the three armies are exhausted."
I didn't stay in Dazhai sleeping in the middle of the night, but I ran out and suffered...
Picture what?
Even Cao Zhen himself looked a little ugly.
It makes no sense. There is no reason for Zhuge Liang not to come and rob the stronghold!
Could it be that the Governor had made a mistake?
How can this be?
I was doubting my life when I suddenly heard a series of footsteps behind me, approaching very fast from far away.
Da da da--
Da da da--
Cao Zhenxin was startled, and his face instantly turned pale. He tried his best to control his panic, and turned around to look around.
With the faint light of the stars in the sky, he could barely make out the troops coming from behind wearing Wei army uniforms and carrying Wei army flags with a big "Zhang" character on them.
It seems they are friends rather than enemies... Cao Zhen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Father, this... which General Zhang's men and horses are this? I'm afraid there are more than 10,000 men and horses... No, I'm afraid there are 20,000 men!" Cao Shuang on the side murmured with wide eyes.
The army of more than 20,000 people moved with great momentum, and the width of the military formation alone was several miles.
Even at night, you can still vaguely see the darkness, which is boundless, like a huge wave sweeping in.
Cao Zhen suddenly realized something and said anxiously: "Wait! Zhang...General Zhang?"
There is no general named Zhang under his command!
In fact, strictly speaking, there is still one general named Zhang, Zhang He.
But Zhang He is in Longxi, not Chencang!
Cao Zhen, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, immediately put his heart in his throat again. With all his strength, he shouted at the "Wei army" rushing over: "Stop the incoming army!"
"Stop!"
"end……"
Seeing that the opponent was still rushing over regardless, Cao Zhen quickly shouted to the left and right: "The whole army is facing the enemy!"
"Meet the enemy!"
Although Cao Zhen reacted quickly to the battle, the Wei army soldiers also woke up when they heard the sound and took out their weapons one after another...
But it's still too late.
An indiscriminate, overwhelming wave of people roared and roughly rolled over the 10,000 Wei troops.
Then he passed through the formation and headed toward the Wei army's stronghold.
They did not look back, nor did they return to attack the defeated Wei army who had been scattered, nor did anyone say a word.
They just rush and kill.
At the critical moment, Cao Zhen only had time to drag Cao Shuang to the side, press his son under him, and cover his mouth tightly with a big hand.
But Cao Zhen still felt that countless big feet were trampling on him, on his face, on his back... mercilessly among the rebel army.
His waist was almost crushed.
Cao Zhen couldn't remember how much blood he spurted.
Maybe ten, maybe twenty, or even more...
Cao Zhen felt that his head was getting numb and his vision was getting blurry.
Even so, he still lay tightly on Cao Shuang's back to protect his son from being stepped on.
Although this son is very cheating and has no skills, he will leave his old father to live alone when he is in danger...
But this is already his best son.
How could he not protect each other diligently!
…
The waves of people come and go even faster.
After a strange encounter.
On a fragmented battlefield.
The surviving Wei soldiers moved their bodies, cried, and complained bitterly to their companions, "We were killed by friendly forces."
The Wei army just now was so cruel that they even killed their own people...
Is there still military law? Is there still royal law?
Only Cao Zhen knew that these troops were not friendly troops, but Shu troops.
Zhuge Liang is here to attack!
He guessed the beginning, but not the ending.
'Zhuge Liang...you won this time, but I, Wei, will not lose.'
'Although this governor has fallen, there are still thousands of great governors who have stood up.'
'I, the Great Wei, will never lose!'
Thinking like this, the dying Cao Zhen let go of his hand, slid down from Cao Shuang's body weakly, and lay on the ground. Listening to the constant sounds of fighting coming from the direction of Dazhai not far away, he opened his mouth and his consciousness fell into darkness.
A chaotic battle.
…
Three days later, two hundred miles east of Chencang City, the Wei army camp was established.
Cao Zhen was lying on a simple wooden bed, with blood constantly flowing from the corners of his mouth. His face, which was slightly twisted in pain, had a trace of indifference that could see through life and death.
He looked calmly at Cao Shuang, who was waiting nearby, and said intermittently: "Shuang'er, you are still young. My father is worried that you will not be able to convince the people, stand up in court, and lead the ministers."
Two of the four great ministers who took care of life left by the late Emperor Cao Pi have died, leaving only Chen Qun and Sima Yi.
Next, it is the era of his son Cao Shuang.
Is he okay?
Cao Zhen didn't know.
In fact, there were two worries that Cao Zhen couldn't bear to mention. Compared with standing in court, he was more worried that his son Cao Shuang would not be Zhuge Liang's opponent or Sima Yi's opponent.
But when I thought that His Majesty Cao Rui had ordered Sima Yi to rush to Guanzhong to resist Zhuge Liang, I suppressed this worry.
Maybe the two of them will fight to the death, and both sides will lose.
Sima Yi was already nearly fifty, so he probably didn't have many more years to live.
Thinking of this, Cao Zhen gradually felt relieved.
The only worry now is whether Cao Shuang can inherit his prestige and lead the Wei Dynasty.
After the sudden change, Cao Shuang suddenly became much calmer. His eyes were red and his eyes were firm as he said: "Father, please rest assured that all the officials in the court will definitely listen to my command. The Wei Dynasty will definitely be stronger than when you were there, father."
Cao Zhen coughed twice and looked at the bright red eyes with relief: "You have such confidence, as a father, I feel relieved."
"What will you do if they don't obey your leadership and don't want to follow you?"
They...all the officials in the court are all elite children of aristocratic families, and they have many ideas.
Cao Shuang frowned slightly and said nothing.
He was thinking about what to do when this situation occurs. Should he kill, be gentle, or use other means.
Still too young... Cao Zhen stretched out his hand with difficulty, patted the hand that was afraid of Cao Shuang, and gave his final advice: "Shuang'er, if they are unwilling to follow you, just let them follow me!"
"Father, what do you mean by this?" Cao Shuang looked confused.
Cao Zhen did not explain any more.
There was no time to explain.
He has to go.
He glanced at Cao Shuang with nostalgia, and slowly lowered his arms.
Swinging next to the bed.
Seeing this, Cao Shuang suddenly understood the meaning of his father's last words.
