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

Chapter 183 Shut your jinxed mouth

Guan Ping's original plan was to leave Qishan as quickly as possible, launch a night raid before the Wei army could react, and take Lucheng in one fell swoop.

But the news Zhang Bao sent back brought him mixed feelings. He was happy that the Wei reinforcements had not yet arrived, and they had successfully gotten there before the Wei army.

The worry is that the city's garrison is on guard and has placed the entire city under martial law, thus eliminating any possibility of a nighttime raid. Under these circumstances, insisting on a nighttime attack would be no different from suicide, just as Zhang Bao said.

Guan Ping frowned and said, "We can't launch a direct attack. Lucheng is located at the crossroads of Qishan. Although the city is small, it is an important town. Not only is the city defense strong, but the garrison inside is also about the same size as our troops. It is impossible to take it down in a short period of time. If we delay even a little while and their reinforcements arrive, we will be finished. Besides, as you just said, we don't have any siege equipment."

Zhang Bao said anxiously, "Then what should we do? We can't just wait for the strategist to arrive before we attack, can we?"

Although Zhuge Liang was appointed Left General by Liu Bei, people still habitually refer to him as Military Advisor.

Guan Ping shook his head and said, "It's even less likely. The Wei army's reinforcements will definitely arrive before the strategist. Even if the strategist and the Wei army arrive at the same time, we will still suffer if we can't enter the city. Don't forget that we are infantry and the Wei army is cavalry. Infantry has no advantage over cavalry."

Imagine what would happen if Zhuge Liang were besieging the city when Wei reinforcements arrived?

Need I even ask? The Wei army would definitely charge into battle on horseback and slaughter the Han army.

Therefore, regardless of whether the Han army or the Wei army arrives first or last, if the Han army has not captured Lucheng by the time the Wei army arrives, the Han army will have walked right into a trap. At that time, let alone attacking Lucheng, it will be a problem whether they can even retreat smoothly into Qishan Road.

After all, infantry cannot win against cavalry simply by having more men.

Zhang Bao said speechlessly, "I know all of this, but you have to do something, right? If you want me to work so hard, you have to give me some direction."

Guan Ping frowned and said, "Shut up and let me think. The scouts said that Zhang He led 50,000 troops to support Guanzhong, but it is impossible for 50,000 Wei troops to rush to Lucheng at the same time. According to common sense of military operations, Zhang He will definitely send a vanguard to abandon the baggage and rush to Tianshui or even Lucheng as quickly as possible. But the vanguard army will not be too large, at most 5,000."

"So there's no need for us to rush to attack Lucheng. If we can circle around to the back of Lucheng and ambush them, taking out the Wei reinforcements first, then we can turn around and attack Lucheng at our leisure?"

Zhang Bao slapped his thigh and said, "Attack the reinforcements first, then attack Lucheng. We don't even need to attack. As long as the news of the reinforcements' defeat reaches Lucheng, and the defenders know that they will never receive reinforcements, they might just open the city gates and surrender. What a great idea, Brother Tanzhi! How come I didn't think of such a good idea? Let's do it this way."

Guan Ping calmly replied, "Don't get cocky. Let me ask you, can you be sure that the Wei reinforcements haven't entered the city yet? How are you so sure?"

Zhang Bao replied, "Only the Han-character flag is flying on the city wall, and there are no other flags. So I guess the reinforcements haven't arrived yet. Otherwise, if the reinforcements really entered the city, why wouldn't they raise their own battle flags?"

Guan Ping said, "That makes sense. Bring me the map, let me see if there are any suitable ambush locations on the road from Ji County to Lucheng?"

Zhang Bao quickly brought over a map, and the two of them began to search carefully on it.

Tianshui County is located in the transition zone between the Loess Plateau in central Gansu and the mountains in southern Gansu. Its terrain is complex and diverse, making it relatively easy to find a suitable hilly area for an ambush.

Guan Ping stared at the map for a short while before pointing to a place and saying, "This is it. This place called Chengguan is the only way from Ji County to Lucheng. We'll ambush them here, deal with the Wei reinforcements first, and then turn around and attack Lucheng."

Zhang Bao had great faith in Guan Ping, and upon hearing this, he immediately put away the map and asked, "How do we fight?"

Guan Ping looked up and glanced around, then said, "It's getting dark. Let the brothers eat and rest. We'll set off at midnight and try to reach Chengguan Town before dawn."

Time flew by and it was soon midnight. Guan Ping led three thousand soldiers, with tree branches in their mouths, and under the cover of night, they silently passed through Lucheng and headed for the ambush site.

When the Han army passed through Lucheng, Han De, the garrison commander of Lucheng, was patrolling the city wall with his eldest son, Han Ying. When he saw a soldier holding a gun with both hands and nodding repeatedly, he kicked him and shouted, "General Zhang He sent someone to say that the Shu army is very likely to march out of Qishan to attack Lucheng. Everyone, be on your guard! We must not give the Shu army the opportunity to launch a night attack on Lucheng. Do you all understand?"

The soldiers awoke with a start and shouted in unison, "Yes, sir..."

Han Ying said nonchalantly, "Father, is it really necessary to be so vigilant? Don't the Shu soldiers sleep at night?"

Han De kicked his son again, cursing, "Have you forgotten the messenger who came this morning? He brought six horses from Chang'an, then changed two more when he passed through Ji County. From Chang'an to Lucheng, he changed horses but not his rider, galloping all the way. When he arrived in Lucheng and met us, he only said a few words before fainting. He hasn't woken up yet. What does that mean? It means things are really urgent. The Shu army might even have already crossed the Qishan Road. Do you understand?"

Han Ying touched her nose and chuckled, "The messenger really went all out. His groin was chafed raw, it looked gruesome."

Zhang He's messenger arrived in Lucheng this morning, barely breathing, his thighs chafed raw by the saddle, yet he insisted on delivering the order before collapsing. His perseverance is truly admirable.

Han De cursed, "Stop talking nonsense to me. General Cao Zhen will arrive in three to five days at most. Before General Cao Zhen arrives, Lucheng must not be lost. After General Cao Zhen takes over the city, you can do whatever you want."

Once Cao Zhen arrives and takes over Lucheng, whether the city is lost or not will no longer concern him and his son. But until then, he must defend the city even if he has to stay up all night.

Han Ying nodded and said, "I understand, Father. I will keep a close watch and never give the Shu army any opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

Han De nodded and continued his patrol with his son, kicking anyone who dozed off. "Everyone has to keep their eyes wide open tonight. I haven't even slept yet, and you dare to sleep?"

Meanwhile, Guan Ping advanced in the dark and successfully arrived at Chengguan Town before dawn. After observing the surroundings, he led his army to retreat into the nearby mountains.

After entering the mountains, Guan Ping did not rest. Instead, he crouched low and advanced, thoroughly exploring the surrounding terrain before ordering his army to lie in ambush in batches. At the same time, he sent out scouts to the direction of Ji County to gather information about the Wei army.

Around noon, the scouts returned and whispered to Guan Ping, "General, there is a large army of four or five thousand men heading this way, less than thirty li away."

"This army is flying a flag with the character 'horse' on it, and it is a mix of infantry and cavalry. There are fewer than a thousand cavalrymen, and judging from their clothes, they are either county soldiers or private soldiers of aristocratic families who were hastily assembled."

Listen to that, that's what professionalism is all about!

Guan Ping frowned and said, "The infantry and cavalry are mixed together and hastily assembled. With the character 'horse' on their banners, it should be a support force led by Ma Zun, the prefect of Tianshui, who is probably going to defend Lucheng."

The county soldiers were of average combat strength, but defending the city did not require high combat strength; anyone could do it.

Once this large army enters Lucheng and defends it using the city walls, even if Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditionary Army were to be wiped out, they might not be able to take Lucheng.

Upon hearing this, Guan Ping secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he intercepted Ma Zun before he arrived; otherwise, things would have been troublesome once Ma Zun entered Lu City.

Zhang Bao asked, "What should we do? Should we fight?"

Guan Ping laughed and said, "Of course, there's no reason not to eat when the meat is offered to us. From now on, no one is allowed to make a sound or move around. Even if you need to poop, you have to poop in your pants."

The order was given, and the soldiers held their breath and waited patiently, but instead of the enemy, they were met with dark clouds.

Looking at the dark, almost oppressive clouds, Zhang Bao said in a low voice, "The heavens are not cooperating. Is it going to rain?"

Boom boom boom...

No sooner had the words been spoken than several claps of thunder reached their ears, startling everyone at the same time.

Accompanied by thunder, several streaks of lightning flashed through the dark clouds, illuminating the gloomy sky as bright as day before quickly disappearing, looking particularly frightening.

Before the thunder and lightning had subsided, large raindrops began to pelt down mercilessly, instantly soaking the ambushing Han soldiers to the bone.

Guan Ping wiped the rain off his face and looked at Zhang Bao with an unfriendly expression, saying, "From now on, shut your mouth."