Chapter 137 Cao Cao Surprising Xu Shu

It has to be said that in this era, the aristocratic families controlling the world was not just talk: the soldiers under Sima Yi's command were all real elite soldiers, fully equipped and well-trained. Even if they were not as good as Lu Bu's most elite formation, they were not far behind.

No wonder he was confident that he could defeat Zhuge Liang alone.

Lu Bu's trap camp of only 3,000 men was a tough nut for Zhuge Liang to crack, let alone 100,000?
The army that later swept across the country during the Tang Dynasty only numbered a hundred thousand.

The most valuable thing is quality, not quantity.

One hundred thousand is enough to unify the world!

However, Zhuge Liang is no longer a rookie. When he first took over Liu Bei's troops, it was actually his weakest period, because the soldiers had not been trained and could only be used.

It is equivalent to playing on behalf of others instead of using your own main account.

Now that I am proficient, I can be said to have my own "account". I add points and equipment according to my own habits, and I have also practiced the levels, so my strength is truly revealed.

"Let him in!"

As Zhuge Liang spoke, he waved his feather fan and the Bagua Formation was officially activated.

After entering the battle, Sima Yi was not panicked.

He watched the battle between Lu Bu and Zhuge Liang. Many of Lu Bu's choices seemed crude to him, as he did not understand the changes of the Bagua Formation at all.

Like a headless fly.

I actually feel contempt for it in my heart.

"How can we break the formation if we are still stuck at the level of breaking through the gate? If we want to break the Bagua formation, we must break out of the opponent's rhythm!" Sima Yi thought to himself and commanded his soldiers to charge towards the gap where there was no gate.

Then he fought back from the gap and went around to the back of the "death" door.

With a sneer.

I was thinking to myself: You didn’t expect that I could play like this, did you?

We are well aware of the changes in the Bagua Formation, and breaking it is easy.

However, when he rushed over, he found that Zhuge Liang's "death" gate was turned upside down and became the life gate. The entire Bagua formation also changed at the same time, shock, rest, life... the eight gates were directly messed up.

And the wind formations and cloud formations were interspersed.

Directly divide his army.

"No, the two completed formations of 'wind and cloud' are the core of the formation?" Sima Yi stared.

He suddenly realized that it was not a Bagua formation at all.

Strictly speaking, Zhuge Liang's formation is not called "Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams" but should be called "Two Polarities and Eight Directions". Although it is arranged according to the Yi numbers, this is not the core.

Instead, it combines "Two Dragons Emerging from Water" and various other variations.

If Ji Hao were here, he would find that it was more like Han Xin's "ambush from all sides".

To be precise, everyone has his or her own "ambush from all sides".

The "tenth formation" among the ten ancient formations has no fixed number. It refers specifically to the innate formation of top strategists. It requires a combination of the nine formations and one's own unique methods to create it.

On the contrary, if you learn other people's formations, you will be inferior.

Sima Yi thought he was well versed in military formations and had even studied the "Ten Sides Ambush", but he failed to see the level of his "natal formation" and fell behind.

"This is the real ambush!"

After figuring it out, Sima Yi immediately ordered the army to break out and retreat.

Can't fight anymore.

When he understood Zhuge Liang's level, he realized that he was no match for the other party. If he did not retreat in time, the 100,000-strong army would be buried there.

The enemy is surrounded by ambushes from all sides and cannot be defeated by human power.

However, it was too late to realize it now.

At this time, Zhuge Liang was not the same Zhuge Liang who later worked hard to support Shu Han, and did not dare to sacrifice even a single soldier. Liu Bei, who occupied both Jingzhou and Yizhou, had a strong foundation and had no shortage of soldiers.

Therefore, even if it meant killing one thousand enemies and losing eight hundred of his own, he had to keep Sima Yi.

The coalition’s first battle must be won beautifully!
"atmosphere!"

"Yunyong!"

……

In the end, Zhuge Liang gave face to his mentor Sima Hui and did not kill Sima Yi.

But when he was escaping, an army of 100,000 came, but he was left with only a few dozen personal guards. The rest of the soldiers were either killed or captured. All of them were wiped out.

It was almost a total annihilation.

When he finally returned to the Human Court to report, he didn't even dare to go back directly, for fear that Ji Hao would kill him.

He specially sent someone to find his uncle Sima Hui to meet the emperor. Ji Hao shook his head and thought Sima Yi was overthinking.

This defeat was expected, why would he be angry?
"Everyone, what do you think about Sima Yi's defeat?" Ji Hao asked the ministers.

Hearing this, Xun Yu immediately said, "Your Majesty, I think this is inevitable. Lü Bu's army of 800,000 soldiers could not defeat Zhuge Liang, whose foundation was not yet stable. How can Sima Yi win with only 100,000 soldiers?"

Then Wei Yan also spoke up and started to criticize.

The general meaning is that Sima Yi did not know what was good for him and brought disgrace upon himself, and he should be punished by military law as a warning to others.

It is recommended to kill.

"This defeat is not due to war."

Most people think that it is normal for Sima Yi to lose and there is nothing worth saying.

If he had lost with soldiers from the "Four Major Armies", he would have been executed according to military law. The four major armies have military regulations that prohibit sacrificial battles unless necessary.

If the entire army is wiped out, the commander will have to commit suicide after reporting back.

Don’t live alone.

But Sima Yi was not from the Chengtian, Haotian, Datong and Shengtian armies, and the casualties were also from his own Sima family's own soldiers. In order to gain merit, he even supplied food and fodder himself.

This does not violate military regulations.

"But is there a possibility that Sima Yi could actually defeat Shu and Wu, but because Zhuge Liang was so powerful, he lost the whole game because of a single mistake?" Cao Cao said.

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers immediately looked at him.

In the court meeting, there were only two people besides Ji Hao who were qualified to sit.

Zhao Yun, commander-in-chief of the Datong Army and commander-in-chief of the entire army.

Cao Cao, the commander-in-chief of the Chengtian Army and also the prime minister of the imperial court.

Cao Cao, in particular, was the first person to follow Ji Hao and was highly valued, his status second only to Ji Hao.

"Prime Minister, you said so. Could it be that you accepted benefits from him?" Huang Zhong said.

Although his official position was not as high as Cao Cao's, he was not cowardly at all.

Ji Ying didn't care much about hierarchy. When discussing matters, even the smallest official could directly refute Ji Hao. Only when an order had been issued and needed to be executed, it was necessary to enforce it.

"Take them! These two pots of fine wine are worth a thousand pieces of gold!" said Cao Cao.

Everyone heard: "..."

Is it really okay for you to openly accept bribes and do things like this?
But only Ji Hao understood that Cao Cao was just joking and was actually speaking for Sima Yi not because of the two pots of wine.

"I also received two horses. We cannot continue this trend. I suggest that Sima Yi be stripped of all his official positions and never be employed again," said Lu Bu.

Hearing this, Ji Hao nodded.

"Come here, take him out with forty canes! At the same time, strip Sima Yi of all his official positions, and never employ him again unless I personally reinstate him."

This punishment can be said to be very important.

Forty strokes of the cane are too much for an elderly person to bear. Even though Sima Yi was young, he would have to lie down for half a month.

But upon hearing this, Sima Yi was delighted.

He bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Not killing is enough.

As for his comeback, he is not worried as he has the talent.

As for Ji Hao, he actually planned to let Sima Yi teach his children - although the Three Kingdoms were all under the control of Sima Yi, Sima Yi was still very competent as Cao Pi's teacher.

If Cao Pi had not died, he might not have usurped the throne and would not have had the opportunity.

"Your Majesty, I request your permission to capture Hanzhong. Please lend me Guo Jia. At the same time, dispatch Lu Bu and Pang Tong to assist! If possible, please also invite Zhang Liao to accompany us!"

These words startled Xu Shu in the crowd.

He found that he seemed to have underestimated Cao Cao, but Fang Ming did not underestimate Zhuge Liang.

He was a little dizzy at first, but after Sima Yi's defeat, he calmed down.

One thing that makes sense is that Cao Cao did know Sima Yi's talents, and was well aware of how terrifying Zhuge Liang was, who could easily defeat him.

This actually saves a lot of trouble.

Ji Hao also nodded with satisfaction.

"Gather the three armies and march to Hanzhong!" Ji Hao said, "I will ask Datong Society to coordinate and make sure to capture Shuchuan and cut off Shu Han's retreat!"

(End of this chapter)