Ma Teng knew that he had made a big mistake this time, but he didn't expect that Yi Xiaotian would come to save him. He couldn't help feeling sore in his nose.
With that said, Ma Teng got off his horse and knelt down in the direction of Yi Xiaotian.
Fortunately, Yi Xiaotian also reacted quickly. He got off his horse and stepped forward to help Ma Teng.
"Master Yi...I...hey..."
"Master Yi's life-saving grace will never be forgotten by Ma Teng..."
Ma Teng, who was hesitant to speak, knew that Yi Xiaotian had come to save him. Most of the time, the other party already knew his intention and wanted to speak, but he didn't know how to say it. Ma Teng could only shake his head unwillingly.
"General Ma loves his son very much. You have your own reasons for taking these actions. We don't mean to blame you... It's just that right now... we seem to have no time to waste anymore."
"General Ma...Although Yi saved you,...you are already considered 'dead'..."
Yi Xiaotian patted Ma Teng on the shoulder and tried to speak to him calmly, but Ma Teng obviously did not understand the meaning of Yi Xiaotian's words - wasn't he still alive and well? Why was he suddenly dead?
?
"Ah? Master Yi, you...what do you mean by this?"
Ma Teng was a little panicked and asked quickly.
But Yi Xiaotian's eyes were still beyond Wuguan, as if he had seen through the situation in Chang'an at a glance——
"As far as Han Sui is concerned, as long as you haven't gone to Chang'an, until then... you are a dead person..."
"We have to hurry up..."
Yi Xiaotian quickly gave instructions, and Xu Chu gave orders to the tiger and leopard riders in the forest. The group quickly entered Wuguan City with Ma Teng, who had just survived the disaster, planning to take a shortcut and reach Chang'an City as soon as possible...
It might be too late - that's what Yi Xiaotian thought in his heart. He could only pray that Zhong Yao could persist a little longer. As long as they arrived... the situation might be reversed.
——
In fact, four or five days had passed from the day when Ma Chao and Ma Tie drove to Ziwu Valley and Cai Zhaoji sent the letter to the day when Yi Xiaotian rescued Ma Teng on the way... And during these four or five days - just as
Yi Xiaotian said that their actions were much slower after all.
Without modern means of communication, those with the upper hand would often be able to take the initiative.
At this moment, Ma Chao and Ma Tie led nearly 30,000 Xiliang cavalry to the vicinity of Ziwu Valley, intending to harass and intercept the Hanzhong army heading for Chang'an... Of course, the two men leading the Xiliang cavalry out in full force also had their own selfish motives - they did not understand
Why did Han Sui want to rebel at this time? At least, they need to ask clearly in person.
The geographical location of Ziwu Valley is a very important area for both Chang'an and Hanzhong.
Historically, the only way from Chang'an to Hanzhong was through the long and narrow valley of the Ziwu Valley. It can be said that, throughout the dynasties, whoever took the initiative in the Ziwu Valley had the advantage of transportation from the north to the south.
In another time and space, just a few decades later, Shu general Wei Yan proposed a strange plan to leave the Ziwu Valley when Zhuge Liang was launching his northern expedition. Under the circumstances at that time, if Wei Yan was really allowed to lead 5,000 elite troops to cross the Ziwu Valley,
Attack Longyou directly and block the connection between the Chang'an area in Guanzhong and Bingzhou in Hexi. Maybe Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition will really succeed.
But there is no if in fact. Ziwu Valley has always been a dangerous road for soldiers to choose. Zhuge Liang left Xiegu and walked through Tongguan. What he needed was to make a step-by-step plan, no matter whether the strategy was right or wrong. There is only one thing that can be clear, that is Ziwu Valley.
They all occupy a very important position in this entire area.
Zhang Luhan then took the Ziwu Valley and took a shortcut, intending to capture all of Chang'an. If Zhong Yao hadn't taken precautions and knew the opponent's movements, this move alone would have been enough to paralyze most of Cao Cao's rear.
At present, the real key is whether the Xiliang cavalry, whose horses are superior to horses, can successfully block the opponent and win the opportunity to support Chang'an.
——
"Brother! We are only a hundred miles away from Nankou Wugu... If we go further, it will be difficult for the cavalry to take advantage of their speed... It is better to stay here..."
Ma Tie looked at the mountains in the distance and suggested that Ma Chao stop his march for the time being...
Ma Chao glanced at the direction Ma Tie was pointing. Because it was almost summer, the Ziwu Valley was full of lush greenery. Although there were many cavalry, they would often encounter some inconvenience when traveling back and forth in the mountains and forests.
Thinking about it, if they really want to fight Zhang Lu's Hanzhong Infantry Army, the deeper they are in the mountains and forests, the greater their risks will be.
Ma Chao is not a brainless person. Although he still has countless questions to ask about Han Sui, at the moment, in order not to affect Chang'an, Ma Chao quickly adopted Ma Tie's opinion——
With their spears raised high in front of them, the Xiliang cavalry were well-trained and quickly stopped.
Not only that, under the orders of several captains, a group of lightly-armed rangers immediately spread out among the high mountains and occupied several commanding heights at extremely fast speeds. From a commanding position, Ma Chao's army moved swiftly and swiftly.
Occupying the entire advantageous terrain, once Zhang Luhansui's army arrived, they could respond as quickly as possible.
"Once the enemy is discovered, don't alert them first... let me meet them personally."
Although Ma Chao said this, the anger in his eyes before leaving was still clearly seen by Ma Tie. Ma Tie hesitated to speak, but when he saw that Ma Chao looked difficult to talk to, he gave up immediately.
"Brother..."
——
Probably on the second night of being stationed in Ziwu Valley, I suddenly heard an unusual movement in the mountains.
Since his eyes had already been set up, Ma Chao quickly received the order from his subordinates...
"Major General! There are a large number of soldiers and horses in the lowlands of the valley heading towards the exit of Zigu... Judging from their attire, they should be the Hanzhong Army composed of Five Pecks of Rice followers led by Zhang Lu!"
"Okay... finally here..."
Ma Chao was closing his eyes and concentrating in front of a tree. After hearing the urgent report from the messenger, he immediately jumped up, his eyes flashing, and his whole body filled with murderous aura.
With a wave of his hand, he ordered Ma Tie, along with nearly 500 of the most elite vanguard cavalry, to quickly head towards the valley to cover up the killings under the cover of night.
On the other side, the Hanzhong Army, which was marching in the dark in the valley, all wore hemp-colored turbans on their heads, and white cloths were tied on their arms to distinguish between ourselves and the enemy. Other than that, they looked like a group of ordinary people.
——
They are members of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, and they are "ordinary people" who follow the orders of their master Jun Zhang Lu and are not afraid of life and death, but sacrifice their lives to pave the way for the army.
Because of this, when Ma Chao led an elite cavalry of 500 people to kill them like a storm, those poor people who were unarmed and should never have been on the battlefield, even though their bodies were pierced by spears,
But still howling and shouting:
"It is duty-bound to kill dissenters..."
Seeing such a scene, Ma Chao was confused... He seemed confused between his anger at Han Sui's rebellion and the meaning of fighting such a deformed army.
But they didn't realize at all that they had already fallen into a dangerous encirclement.
