At this time, Zhuge Liang had already led a large army from Hanzhong through the north-south passage and entered Guanzhong.
"Report! To the Prime Minister, Zhang Liao led 800 cavalry in a night raid on the Eastern Wu camp. These 800 men chased after Sun Quan's 200,000 troops! In one battle, Sun Quan was forced to flee in terror and has already escaped back to Jiangdong!"
Everyone present gasped in astonishment. Zhang Liao was too fierce!
Zhuge Liang exclaimed in shock, "What? Zhang Liao defeated 200,000 Jiangdong troops with only a few hundred men?"
His military officers also looked incredulous, because the news was too far-fetched.
"My God, that's 200,000 people! Even if it were 200,000 pigs, it would take several days and nights to slaughter 800 people, right? How did Wen Yuan manage to do that?" Wei Yan couldn't help but exclaim.
Zhuge Liang asked, "Where is Zhang Liao now?"
"Reporting to the Prime Minister, General Zhang did not pursue the retreating Eastern Wu forces after they fled; he has already withdrawn to Jiangxia."
"Um!"
Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and said, "Wen Yuan won this battle brilliantly! It seems I underestimated him."
Zhang Liao's performance impressed Zhuge Liang.
Most importantly, he only just realized that Zhang Liao was such a capable commander, knowing when to advance and when to retreat, and being both bold and meticulous.
If he had discovered this sooner, he would have given Zhang Liao enough trust and appointed him to take charge of Jingzhou long ago.
Zhuge Liang secretly praised him and said, "Wen Yuan has already achieved results. We cannot delay any longer. Issue an order for the entire army to speed up their journey and strive to take Qishan Fort within half a month!"
"Yes, sir!" the generals responded.
The army then set off.
Xu Du, the Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty, Sun Quan has been defeated by Zhang Liao and fled back to Jiangdong in disarray!" Cao Cao's intelligence network was also very strong, and they learned of the ambush that had befallen Eastern Wu.
Cao Ang's face was grim. He couldn't fathom how Sun Quan was fighting. Two hundred thousand men were being chased by eight hundred.
"Since Zhou Yu's death, Jiangdong has indeed been filled with cowards!" Cao Ang sneered and said disdainfully.
The strategist Xun You beside him said, "Your Majesty, Zhang Liao is exceptionally brave and strong, a rare hero in the world. With him guarding Jingzhou, our journey south will be extremely difficult in the future!"
Cao Ang nodded and sighed, "How fortunate Shu Han is! After the deaths of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Pang Tong, we thought its fate was sealed. But unexpectedly, another Zhang Liao has emerged!"
In terms of national strength, Wei was undoubtedly number one, but in terms of talent, especially military commanders, Wei was indeed inferior to Shu.
"Where is Sima Yi's army?" Cao Ang asked.
Xun You cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Sima Yi's army has arrived at Qishan Fort!"
...
Qishan Fort is an ancient pass, strategically located and easy to defend.
Zhuge Liang stood on the high platform, his eyes blazing as he gazed at the battlefield below.
Behind him, the banners of the Shu army fluttered, and the soldiers stood ready in battle, their morale high.
On the other side was Sima Yi, known as the "Tomb Tiger," famous for his cunning and shrewdness.
He sat atop his chariot, his gaze cold, toying with a black chess piece in his hand, as if he had already laid out countless possibilities in his mind.
"Is the one opposite me the Sleeping Dragon Prime Minister of Shu Han?" Sima Yi asked politely.
Upon hearing Sima Yi's words, Zhuge Liang smiled faintly and said, "Now that you know my name, why don't you quickly open the city gates and surrender?"
Sima Yi laughed and said, "Zhuge, you are nothing but a commoner from a mountain village in Nanyang, a mere charlatan seeking fame and fortune. How dare you challenge me? I advise you to quickly retreat to Yizhou, or you will ruin your reputation in your later years!!!"
Zhuge Liang was not angry, but instead mocked, "You brat, you are truly arrogant and overconfident! How could you know the prosperity and wealth of my Shu Han?! I wish to lead the sons of Han to conquer the four seas and unify the world. All you need to do is bow down and submit!"
Sima Yi frowned; Zhuge Liang's words had completely enraged him.
"Zhuge, you scoundrel, what skills do you possess that dare to speak so arrogantly?"
"If you can break through my defenses, I will retreat fifty miles. What do you say?" Zhuge Liang said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Sima Yi narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't try to bluff! I want to see what tricks you can pull!"
"Men, set up the formation!" Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and immediately ordered his men to prepare.
A moment later, the elite Shu army stood in neat rows, each holding a long spear and with cold eyes.
Following Zhuge Liang's command, the Shu army began to mobilize, and the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation slowly unfolded. The eight gates were like eight mysterious portals, sometimes opening and closing, sometimes appearing and disappearing, unpredictable and ever-changing.
Following Zhuge Liang's instructions, the soldiers marched steadily and formed a disciplined formation, resembling a meticulously woven net, waiting for the Wei army to walk right into it.
Upon seeing this, Sima Yi's eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Sima Yi, do you recognize this formation?" Zhuge Liang asked.
Sima Yi snorted coldly and said, "I've known the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation since I was six years old!"
“休、生、伤、杜、景、死、惊、开”
"Although the formation is neatly arranged, if it is attacked from the southeast corner through the Shengmen Gate and exited through the Jingmen Gate in the due west, the formation will be thrown into chaos."
Sima Yi was quite certain that he had already thoroughly studied the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation.
"Sima Yi, now that you know the mystery of my formation, do you dare to break it?" Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan, a smile on his face, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.
"What is there to be afraid of?"
"But before that, I also had a period of time, I wonder if you recognize me?" Sima Yi sneered, a flag appeared in his hand, and he waved it lightly.
The Wei army immediately formed a giant python.
The entire formation is divided into three parts: the head, the tail, and the core.
When formations change, both the real and the deceptive are used.
"Kongming, do you recognize this formation?" Sima Yi asked.
Zhuge Liang carefully examined Sima Yi's formation and said with a smile, "What did I think it was? It's just a long snake formation!"
"I started playing with it when I was three years old!"
After hearing this, Sima Yi couldn't help but retort, "Can't you live without bragging?!"
The Long Snake Formation, when in operation, resembles a giant python striking out, its attacks fierce and powerful.
"The best way to break the long snake formation is to restrict the mobility of the two flanks so that the head and tail cannot support each other."
"Grab his head, clamp his tail, and cut him in the waist!" Zhuge Liang said with a smile, completely ignoring Sima Yi's ashen face.
"Anyone can talk the talk, come and try to break the formation!" Sima Yi shouted coldly, but he was somewhat shocked. Zhuge Liang was indeed not simple!
Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and asked, "Where is Meng Qi?"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"I hereby order you to lead two thousand cavalrymen and, according to my instructions, go to break through their formation!" Zhuge Liang commanded.
"Here you go!"
Ma Chao accepted the order and led two thousand cavalrymen to charge towards the Wei army. They charged forward with a thunderous roar, their momentum terrifying.
The Wei army changed its formation and charged forward to meet the enemy, and the two sides quickly clashed!
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