After the two of them retired, Zhuge Liang took a deep look at Ma Su and started pacing in the tent.
Every time he saw Ma Su, he would inexplicably think of the instructions of the late emperor Liu Bei.
At that time, Liu Bei was critically ill, so he summoned him and Shangshu Ling Li Yan to Baidi City to carry out the important task of taking care of the orphans.
During this period, the monarch and his ministers had a heart-to-heart conversation. Liu Bei said: "Ma Di's words are exaggerated and exceed his actual ability. He should not be entrusted with important tasks. You should investigate him more."
Considering that Liu Bei has always been a good judge of people, Wei Yan, Li Hui, Ma Zhong and others he promoted have all become the pillars of the Shu Han Dynasty: and considering that it was at such an important moment as Tuogu, these words exerted great influence on Zhuge Liang.
Influence.
After Liu Bei's death, Zhuge Liang kept this reminder in mind and kept Ma Su by his side as a staff general, using only his talents and not his people.
In this way, five or six years have passed, and it has been going smoothly without any mistakes.
Time has changed, and after experiencing the pacification of Nanzhong, Zhuge Liang believed that Ma Su, who offered his ingenious plan to pacify the Southern Barbarians, was a "unparalleled genius."
Considering that Ma Di was really talented and had a close personal relationship with him, and that the Shu Han talent was declining and there were not many great talents available, Zhuge Liang deliberately cultivated him as his successor.
Ma Su was born into a noble family in Jingzhou. He was familiar with military books and had rich military theories. The only thing he lacked was actual combat experience.
Therefore, during the First Northern Expedition, even though veteran generals Wei Yan, Wu Yi and others were present, Zhuge Liang defied all opinions and promoted Ma Di, elevated the latter from joining the army to the position of commander-in-chief, and appointed him as the vanguard.
Command all the troops to garrison the street pavilions.
Zhuge Liang wanted to use this battle to exercise Ma Su's ability to command troops.
Although the first Northern Expedition ultimately did not achieve the desired goal (failed), Ma Di's performance in the Battle of Jieting was remarkable, which comforted Zhuge Liang and gave him some bolder ideas.
But after meeting again in Hulu Valley, Zhuge Liang suddenly sobered up and became worried.
He found that Ma Su's temperament changed drastically, as if he was a different person, and his acting style was alternately stable and exciting, which was unpredictable.
Zhuge Liang thought over and over again and decided to suppress Ma Su for a period of time, observe him carefully, and then promote him.
Fortunately, through several battles to rescue Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang was very satisfied with Ma Di's military talents.
The Shu army officers and soldiers were also very satisfied.
Privately, everyone called Ma Di the "Tiger of the Northern Expedition."
The only fly in the ointment is that Ma Su has a very poor relationship with his colleagues.
Especially with Yang Yi and Wei Yan, the conflicts between the three parties are particularly sharp.
Zhuge Liang sighed secretly. With his wisdom, how could he not see that the contradiction between the three people had reached an irreconcilable point.
The norm is to get into fights when they meet.
Either Wei Yan fights against Yang Yi, or Ma Su fights against Yang Yi.
Although Yang Yi couldn't stand up to the two of them openly and was always bullied, she secretly did a lot to make things difficult for the other two and put eye drops on them.
How could Zhuge Liang not know the details about the recruitment of soldiers in the street pavilion?
There are not many people or things in the Shu Han army that can hide from his perception!
Let's just say that today's incident of Ma Su's violent beating of Yang Yi clearly showed that the former took the opportunity to express his personal anger against the latter.
Such methods... are as childish as a child playing house.
But the whole process was clearly arranged for Yang Yi. She could only eat Coptis chinensis and swallow it in her stomach.
Although Ma Su won this incident cleanly, this was by no means the ambition that a general of the armed forces should have.
You must know that uniting all the forces that can be united is the important foundation and prerequisite for the Shu Han to win the Northern Expedition.
In terms of military affairs and political strategy, Ma Su is basically qualified. But in terms of ambition and life, Ma Su still has a long way to go.
In the past, he beat Gou An for no reason, causing Gou An to defect to Wei; later, he took the opportunity to beat Yang Yi violently, making the latter angry and resentful.
Thinking of this, Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice: "Young Chang, what is the way of a general?"
"Command the troops, seize the battle, conquer, and seal the territory?" Ma Su thought for a while and replied with some uncertainty.
Zhuge Liang shook his head: "No! A qualified general must possess six skills."
"I don't know about the six types? I would like to hear the details." Ma Su cupped his hands and humbly asked for advice.
Zhuge Liang considered his words and said: "The first is a benevolent general: the way is based on virtue, the order is based on courtesy, and he knows that he is hungry and cold, and observes his hard work."
"The second is a righteous general: he will do nothing without scruples, he will not be swayed by advantage, he will have the honor of death, but not the disgrace of life."
"Three are the etiquette generals: noble but not arrogant, victorious but not relying on confidence, virtuous but able to subordinate, strong but tolerant."
"The fourth is a trustworthy general: if you advance, you will be rewarded generously; if you retreat, you will be punished severely; if the reward is not delayed, the punishment will not be too high."
"The five are fierce generals: they are powerful in their strength, powerful in their ambitions, timid in small battles, and brave in large enemies."
"The six are generals: if you see a wise man, he will follow the advice as if you are following the current; he will be broad-minded and able to be strong; he will be courageous and have many plans."
"When a husband is a general, he must first control himself when controlling others."
Ma Su was stunned and said with a look of shame on his face: "Prime Minister, I know I was wrong. As long as Yang Yi doesn't provoke me anymore, I won't hit him again."
"..."
Zhuge Liang was speechless for a while, feeling that his heartfelt words seemed to be playing the piano to a bull, and Ma Su did not understand the meaning at all.
Anyway, if the truth is there, even a few people can't make a difference. This matter is not urgent... Zhuge Liang sighed slightly and turned to ask:
"Today, our army has returned without food, and the old warehouses have been gained and lost. What do you think of the upcoming military operations, You Chang?"
Look at it with an eight-fold mirror. Ma Su said in a concise and concise manner: "Wudu, Yinping!"
As soon as he talked about military affairs, he became energetic and pointed directly at the key destiny of Shu Han.
He felt that every time he talked with Zhuge Liang, he was extremely relaxed and comfortable.
Because Zhuge Liang is too smart.
Ma Su sighed secretly: It saves trouble and effort to talk to smart people. You don't need to explain it so thoroughly. As long as you start, people can understand all the meaning.
When talking to people who are not very smart, don't speak clearly, even if you speak poorly, it will be useless, because the other party will not understand.
Zhuge Liang nodded: "Who should be sent there? How many soldiers and horses should be commanded? Does You Chang have an ideal candidate in mind?"
"I'm willing to go!" Ma Su pointed at himself and said without giving up: "Prime Minister, we are in short supply of food and grass, and the army cannot go far, but we must regain the two counties of Yinping and Wudu without delay. I am willing to unite 30,000 troops and horses, that is, to level the two counties!"
"Oh? Where will the food and fodder come from for 30,000 soldiers and horses?"
Ma Di waved his hand and said vigorously: "Robbery Wei!"
"Without food and soldiers, the enemy will give it to us!"
Hearing this, Zhuge Liang hesitated for a while.
To be honest, since the first Northern Expedition lasted from spring to autumn, the army's food and grass were exhausted. He originally planned to lead the army back to Hanzhong, rest for a period of time, and then go on the third Northern Expedition after accumulating enough food and grass.
However, after seeing that the troops led by Zhang He had been maimed and that Ma Di's army was temporarily not short of food, he made plans to immediately recover the two counties. However, he was vaguely worried that Sima Yi would lead troops to help, so he hesitated for a while.
Now that I saw Ma Su asking for help again, I felt relieved but also worried.
Sima Yi is by no means as easy to deal with as Zhang He.
Even if he personally led the army, he was not completely sure that he could hold back the Wei army with only 30,000 men while recovering the two counties.
Of course, the fact that they only led 30,000 people into battle was not because Shu Han did not have soldiers and horses, but because it did not have more food and grass.
Ma Su cupped his hands and said: "Prime Minister, I am willing to issue a military order. If we cannot win, please behead all of me!"
It was so dangerous, I almost got my whole family in it again.
Ma Su quietly wiped his forehead and felt happy for a while.
It is said that he traveled through time and space and never met the wife and five sons of the original owner. It was unfair to risk their lives for no reason.
It would be better to just chop off his head.
"This..." Seeing Ma Su mention the military order again, Zhuge Liang knew that the former was very confident about this battle.
Suddenly there was a curiosity in my heart. I wanted to see how Ma Su, who was called the "Tiger of the Northern Expedition" by the soldiers, defeated Sima Yi and Zhang He and captured Wudu and Yinping with only 30,000 troops.
Sima Yi, whose Taoist nickname is "Tomb Tiger", is not as easy to deal with as Zhang He. Sima Yi is as immobile as a mountain and invades like fire. He shrinks down to a tortoise shell on his back and emerges like a tiger descending the hillside...
It's fierce.
Two tigers fighting...
Can Ma Su do it?
Thanks to: The rotten wood is a cultural relic for the 500-coin reward.
Thanks to: SPARTA117 for the 100-coin reward.
Thanks: I just want to grab Yasuo’s monthly pass.
Thanks to: Late Qiu Xiaohan for two monthly passes.
