The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Chapter 188 Whether there are dates or not, let's try our luck first.

The Han army's battle flag was taken down, and the Han banner was raised again.

Zhuge Liang looked at the fluttering Han-character battle flag and, satisfied, followed Guan Ping into the city to the county government office.

Entering the county government hall, Zhuge Liang looked at the map of Tianshui County on the wall and said, "Even if Zhang He hadn't received news of the fall of Lucheng, he couldn't possibly have sent all his troops to Lucheng. Five to eight thousand at most."

Wu Ban said excitedly, "We can easily handle this number of troops. We'll pretend to be Wei soldiers, open the city gates, welcome the Wei reinforcements into the city, and then trap them like turtles in a jar..."

The thought of the Wei army entering the city only to find it filled with Han troops made Wu Ban chuckle.

Guan Ping shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. Unless the Wei generals are stupid, they won't easily enter the city. It's most appropriate for them to set up camp outside the city and form a pincer movement with the Han army."

"You should know that in the eyes of the Wei generals, there are two or three thousand garrison troops under Han De and more than four thousand reinforcements under Ma Zun in the city. Six or seven thousand people are enough to defend the small city of Lu. There is really no need to go into the city to join the fun."

"Therefore, we cannot oversimplify things. We need to prepare another plan to address the situation where the Wei army is encamped outside the city."

"My plan is for me to disguise myself as a Wei soldier inside the city and pretend to defend it, while the strategist leads the army to attack the city from outside. I will also send a general to lie in ambush in the mountains and attack from behind the Wei army when the Wei army and the strategist start fighting. At that time, I will open the city gates to welcome the Wei army into the city. Then we will surround the Wei army from three directions, force them into the city and annihilate them."

Wu Ban praised, "General Guan is indeed very thoughtful. Strategist, shall I lie in ambush in the mountains?"

This plan is indeed more reasonable and logical than directly welcoming the Wei army into the city, and it has a greater chance of success. If successful, it would be enough to wipe out the Wei army's vanguard.

Zhuge Liang frowned and pondered, "Tanzhi's plan is indeed good, but we must also be prepared for the Wei army not to come. What if the Wei army doesn't come?"

Guan Ping asked in surprise, "That can't be right. As the commander-in-chief, Zhang He wouldn't just stand by and watch Lucheng be attacked, would he?"

Zhuge Liang said, "It's definitely not possible, but rescue can be divided into emergency rescue and regular rescue. Emergency rescue means abandoning food and supplies and traveling light to save time. This kind of rescue is prone to being outmaneuvered and is easily ambushed. Even if you reach the rescue location without being ambushed, you will be exhausted."

“Ordinary rescue operations are different. We need to carry enough food and supplies to maintain our strength and advance slowly. That way, even if we encounter enemy forces, we can deal with them calmly. Do you understand?”

Wu Ban asked, "So, strategist, do you think Zhang He's vanguard will choose emergency rescue or conventional rescue?"

The meaning of this statement is quite clear: if the Wei army chooses to provide emergency relief, abandoning its supplies and rushing to Lucheng as quickly as possible, their plan to lure the enemy into a trap will succeed.

However, if the Wei army chooses the conventional approach of sending reinforcements, taking their time to come and go, then their efforts will be in vain.

Because the news of Lucheng's fall could not be kept secret for long, if the Wei army received the news of Lucheng's fall halfway there, they would definitely turn back.

In that case, it would be a minor matter if the Han army waited in vain in Lucheng, but the consequences of wasting time and missing opportunities would be much more serious.

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and pondered, "Judging by the time, Zhang He's main force should not have left the Longshan Road yet, or has just entered Tianshui territory, but the Wei vanguard should have already arrived in Ji County."

"Another point that cannot be ignored is that the Wei army, which has suffered two major defeats in Hanzhong and Xiangfan, attaches great importance to us. When they attach great importance to us, they will be cautious and even seek stability. They will not underestimate the enemy and advance rashly without being absolutely certain of victory."

Cao Cao suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Hanzhong, losing not only Hanzhong but also Xiahou Yuan.

Although Guan Yu was defeated in the Battle of Xiangfan, he was not defeated by the Wei army, but by the betrayal of his allies and teammates. From the perspective of the Wei army, Guan Yu was still the victor.

From this perspective, Zhuge Liang's statement that the Wei army suffered two major defeats in Hanzhong and Xiangfan is correct.

Zhuge Liang continued, "Therefore, I am worried that after the Wei vanguard arrives at Ji County, they will not leave, but instead stay in Ji County and wait for Zhang He's main force."

"After all, in the eyes of the Wei army's vanguard, Prefect Ma Zun had already led troops to support Lucheng. With Lucheng's defenses and Ma Zun's forces, they could hold out for at least ten days or half a month. There was no need to take any risks."

Guan Ping asked, "Then what should we do? Abandon the ambush and head straight for Ji County, trying to take the county seat before Zhang He's main force arrives?"

Zhuge Liang said with a wry smile, "That won't work either. Firstly, the roads are muddy, and we are far from Ji County. It's impossible for us to get ahead of the Wei army."

"Secondly, our supplies and provisions are still in the Qishan Road. Even after we leave the Qishan Road, we will need time to rest. The Wei army is not ready, and neither are we. Therefore, we cannot underestimate the enemy and advance rashly, let alone dream of taking Ji County before Zhang He."

Guan Ping was speechless. This wouldn't work, that wouldn't work, so what should he do?

Guan Ping cautiously asked, "What is the strategist's opinion?"

Zhuge Liang pointed to the map with his feather fan and said, "Tanzhi, look, the main road from Guanzhong to Longxi is the Longshan Road, which starts from Dazhen Pass in Qian County in the east and ends at Jieting in Tianshui in the west. This is a vital transportation route connecting Guanzhong and Longxi, and both the army and merchants pass through here."

"But besides the Longshan Road, there is another small road in Guanzhong that leads to Longxi, namely the Chencang Narrow Road from Chencang to Shanggui. The Wei River flows through this narrow road, so in summer you can only pass along the narrow path that is about a foot wide along the river, which is not suitable for large armies to pass through."

"But if the Wei army sends a small force from Chencang to attack from behind while we are fighting Zhang He, that would also be a problem."

"So we'll split into two groups. I'll rest and prepare an ambush in Lucheng to see if we can catch the Wei vanguard. You'll lead three thousand vanguards to Shanggui and try to take the city before the Wei army. Then you'll defend the city and wait for my orders."

"Shanggui is only 120 li away from Ji County, much closer than Lucheng. After taking it, we can not only block the enemy coming from Chencang Pass, but also store grain nearby and wait for an opportunity to seize Ji County and take Jieting."

Guan Ping clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "This humble general will go and make preparations immediately."

Zhuge Liang stopped him and said, "No rush. You've been working hard for two or three days. Take a rest. Tonight, hand the prisoners over to General Wu Ban so you can get a good night's sleep. We'll set off again tomorrow morning."

"Furthermore, we'll take Shanggui if we can, and if we can't, we'll come back and join me. There's no need to fight head-on, and even less need to get ourselves into trouble."

Guan Ping bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, strategist. I understand."

Silent all night.

At daybreak, Guan Ping led three thousand well-fed and well-rested elite soldiers and six hundred warhorses carefully selected from the spoils of war to Shanggui. It is worth mentioning that Jiang Wei was also in the team this time.

After resting well yesterday, Jiang Wei challenged Zhang Bao as promised, but was once again thoroughly defeated by Zhang Bao. He then surrendered to the Han army and followed Guan Ping and Zhang Bao on their expedition.

After Guan Ping left, Zhuge Liang did not remain idle. Instead, he divided the army into three parts, ordering his assistant Zhao Rong to pretend to be Wei soldiers defending the city, while he himself led the main force and prisoners to set up camp outside the city, creating the illusion that he could attack Lucheng at any time. He then ordered Wu Ban to lead 5,000 troops to retreat into the mountains and hide, preparing to raid the Wei army's rear at any time.

Zhuge Liang laid a trap in Lucheng, and if the Wei army came, they would definitely not return.

If Zhuge Liang doesn't come, there's no loss; we can just rest and wait for the rest of the army.

Whether there are dates or not, let's give it a shot first!