Zhuge Liang attacked in the spring of the sixth year, showing the attack on Qishan (Note 1), that is, in the spring of 228, which caused the effect of the rebellion of Cao Wei 3 counties, but he retreated in the same season, which can be called a tiger and a snake's tail. It is worth noting that at that time, Shu Han still had some military power, which was in the hands of Li Yan, the governor of Yong'an (Note 2), so it is difficult to determine that Zhuge Liang was a large-scale northern expedition.
And Cao Wei's Tianshui, Nan'an, Anding 3 counties, the initial rebellion in response to Zhuge Liang, very sudden, it is not clear whether it was caused by Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, or whether it was rebelled before the Northern Expedition, but it can still be said to be a surprise. However, the rebellion of the three counties was not completely stable, and the Yongzhou assassin Guo Huai and Tianshui were too guarded by Ma Zun, and retreated from Ji County to Shangqi, which undoubtedly set a nail in the coffin for these three counties (Note 3).
But for Zhuge Liang, not only are there internal worries, but also external troubles. You Chu, west of Nan'an County, was defending Longxi County, and the Nan'an rebels, together with the Shu soldiers, could not be attacked (Note 4), while Xu Miao, the assassin of Liangzhou, mobilized his army in Jincheng County a little north and began to launch a counterattack against the rebels in Nan'an County (Note 5). And the most important thing is the counterattack of Cao Wei's Chinese army.
The Yongliang area of Cao Wei, Longyou and Guanzhong, all belong to the Loess Plateau, and the terrain is from northwest to southeast, showing a pattern from high to low. The special geology of the Loess Plateau has formed thousands of ravines and fragmented terrain, which leads to large ups and downs of the landform, with mountains, hills, plains and valleys coexisting, surrounded by mountain systems.
Therefore, Cao Wei counterattacked Zhuge Liang Yu Longyou from Guanzhong, there are two valley roads to choose from, one is Longshan Road, the other is Chencang Weishui Road, and the rest can only go over the mountains and mountains, the speed is slow, and it is difficult to logistics.
Among them, the west entrance of Longshan Road is the street pavilion, and the west entrance of the Chencang Weishui Road is Shangqi, and Zhuge Liang chose Ma Tan to stick to the street pavilion, and he personally besieged Guo Huai in Shangqi (Note 6) to achieve the break of Long.
When Cao Ei heard of Zhuge Liang's invasion, he decided to make a personal conquest, first with Cao Zhen as the governor of Guanyou, and sent Zhang He to take the Longshan Road and run directly to Jieting (Note 7), totaling about [50,000 soldiers and horses] (Note 8), that is, Cao Ei + Cao Zhen + Zhang He = about 50,000 troops. However, Sima Guang seems to have recorded in the "Zizhi Tongjian" that Commander Zhang He alone had 50,000 troops (Note 9), which is probably a misunderstanding.
Calculate the time, Zhuge Liang is in the spring of the sixth year, showing the attack on Qishan, if it is assumed that Zhuge Liang will start from Han ** in January, he will set foot in Wei at the end of January at the earliest. However, historical records clearly record that after Zhang He defeated Ma Yan and caused Zhuge Liang to begin to retreat, Cao Rong arrived in Chang'an on Ding Wei Day, that is, on February 17 of the lunar calendar, and then Cao Rong returned to Luoyang in [Ding You in April of Summer].
You must know that Luoyang is about 700 kilometers away from Jieting (Note 10), and Zhang He broke Ma Tan before February 17 of the lunar calendar, according to the assumption in the above paragraph, Zhuge Liang set foot on the Wei realm at the end of January, it was less than 20 days, I am afraid that the time for the three counties to respond to Zhuge Liang was very tight, not to mention the interval between Cao Wei receiving the news of the rebellion in the three counties.
Therefore, Zhuge Liang [in the spring of the sixth year, he showed his attack on Qishan], I am afraid that Zhuge Liang started from the Han ** in the winter of 227, and at the beginning of January 228, he set foot in the Wei realm. But even so, Zhang He's action to break Ma Tan was still very fast, because the more than 700 kilometers from Luoyang to Jieting gave Zhang He time to break Ma Tan, and it took no more than 47 days to break through Ma Tan.
It was about 950 li, or almost 400 kilometres, from Luoyang to Chang'an, and when Cao Rong arrived in Chang'an on 17 February, Zhang He had already defeated Ma Tan. Assuming that Cao Rong traveled 30 miles a day in accordance with the Art of War (Note 12) and arrived in Chang'an, it would take almost 30 days, then Zhang He's attack on Jieting Ma Tan from Luoyang would not have taken more than 30 days.
It is obvious on the map that from Guanzhong to Longyou, there are mainly two valley roads, one is Longshan Road, and the other is Chencang Weishui Road.
Therefore, in less than 30 days, the forced march of 700 kilometers, a distance of almost 1,800 miles, shows that Zhang He's marching speed was very fast, which can be called a blitzkrieg. And Sun Tzu said [100 miles and fight for profit, then capture the three generals, the strong first, the tired last], so Zhang He should be mainly elite light soldiers, the strength will not be too much, the last few days may even be cavalry breakthrough, I estimate that Zhang He may only be 10,000 people, or even only 1,000 people.
This kind of high-speed march also proves that Sima Guang is suspected of recording that Zhang He commanded 50,000 people, which is wrong. And You Chu guarded Longxi County, only [more than ten days, the armies went to Longlong, and Zhuge Liang broke away], which also proved that Zhang He acted quickly.
On the battlefield, time is one of the most important factors in incurring victory and defeat.
Zhang He forcibly marched, but Ma Jian abandoned the existing city, and instead went up the mountain to spend time building the camp, which was positive and negative, so that Zhang He bought time, on the contrary, Ma Tan [measures annoying]. Zhang He cut off Ma Tan's water source and defeated Ma Tan in one fell swoop (Note 13), but fortunately, Wang Ping relied on [the thousand people he led] so that Zhang He did not dare to advance, which also proved that Zhang He's troops were not many (Note 14).
Therefore, Zhuge Liang's statement that "the army is more than thieves in Qishan and Keigu" (Note 15) is not nonsense. Although Zhang He acted quickly, but "the strong first, the tired last", the Wei army did not have many troops, Ma Tan should be able to be decisive and timely, and arrange properly, and then rely on the favorable terrain, rather than [measures to disturb], it is very likely to defend the street pavilion, but unfortunately history has no if.
And the street pavilion is between Anding, Tianshui, and Nan'an, and Zhuge Liang even stretched out his hand to Longxi County in the west of Nan'an County [Nan'an Guo General Shu soldiers, attack Longxi], so the troops were scattered. Therefore, the loss of the street pavilion at the west exit of Longshan Road meant that for Zhuge Liang's Shu army, it meant that it was almost cut off by the waist. And Guo Huai, who was besieged by Zhuge Liang, also sent troops to defeat Gao Xiang in Lieliucheng (Note 16).
Therefore, Zhuge Liang retreated, and the following points were summarized:
1, Zhuge Liang's own troops are insufficient + the troops are scattered, and after the defeat of Ma Tan's troops, the troops are even more insufficient.
2, Cao Rong is a pro-conscription, first with 50,000 troops, and I don't know how many troops there will be in the future.
3, it is difficult to fully digest the rebellion in the 3 counties in a short period of time, and Guo Huai and others are still holding on to Shangqi.
4, You Chu of Longxi County and Xu Miao of Jincheng County in the northwest are eyeing the rebel 3 counties.
5. The loss of the street pavilion in the east means that the Shu army is in danger of being cut off by the waist.
Zhuge Liang will inevitably bear the primary responsibility for the failure of Zhuge Liang's first attack, while Ma Jian will bear secondary responsibility. Zhuge Liang made two mistakes, one of which was naturally the improper use of people and the wrong use of horses. Second, it is the strategic layout that causes the troops to be scattered, of course, this layout may be affected by the rebellion of the three counties, and it cannot be taken as such, but after the defeat of Ma Tan's army, Zhuge Liang did not file it, so he had to make the choice of retreat.
Needless to say, Ma Yan's secondary responsibility is that his life is tantamount to being declared over. Fortunately for Zhuge Liang, Zhang He's assault speed was too fast, resulting in his small number of troops, unable to make greater progress in a short period of time, Wang Ping alone was able to slow down Zhang He's speed, so that Zhuge Liang could calmly retreat before the arrival of Cao Wei's main force, and migrate thousands of people in Xixian.
In terms of Cao Wei, it has to be said that Cao Rong dealt with it decisively, personally sat in Chang'an, and sent Cao Zhen to defeat Zhao Yun and others, while Zhang He forcibly marched more than 700 kilometers in dozens of days with a small number of light soldiers, blitzed Ma Yan, won a big victory, and achieved very satisfactory results.
Note 1) The main biography of the Later Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms: (228) In the spring of the sixth year, he attacked Qishan and did not fight.
Note 2) Huayang Guozhi Liu Houzhuzhi: (227) In the fourth year, Li Yan, the governor of Yong'an, also supervised Jiangzhou, and Chengba County Dacheng. To conquer the west general Runan Chen to the governor Yong'an, Feng Tinghou.
Note 3) Wei Luo said: Tianshui Taishou Ma Zun and all the officials and subordinates followed the Yongzhou Assassin Guo Huai from the west to the Luomen case, and Wen Liang had arrived at Qishan, Huai Gu Zun said:"It's a bad desire! "Then he drove east and returned to Shangqi. The border of the Ji county under the rule of Zunnian was in the west, and he was afraid that the officials and the people would be in chaos, so he also went with Huai.
Note 4) Wei Luo said: In Taihezhong, Zhuge Liang came out of Longyou, and the people were in turmoil. Tianshui and Nan'an Taishou each abandoned the county to the east, and Chu alone occupied Longxi, and the church officials and people were called ""Too guarded without kindness. Now the Shu soldiers arrived. Shu's attack is urgent, and Ernai takes too much defense to surrender, and it is not too late. "The people defended the city. And Nan'anguo will be a Shu soldier, and he will attack Longxi. When Chu heard that the thief had arrived, he sent the chief Shi Ma Hao out to set up a display. Let the drums beat it, and the Shu people will go. After more than ten days, the armies went to Longlong, and Zhuge Liang broke away. Nan'an and Tianshui all sat in the light and shattered, and the two county guards were each punished heavily, and Chu was named the marquis with merit, and the long history of Peng's subordinates were all worshipped.
Note 5) The Biography of Xu Miao of the Three Kingdoms: Emperor Ming was far away from Liangzhou, connected to Shu Kou in the south, and took Miao as the assassin of Liangzhou, and made the envoy lead the Qiang captain. To, when Zhuge Liang came out of Qishan, the three counties of Longyou rebelled, Miao sent the army and Jincheng Taishou to attack the thieves in the south and broke it.
Note 6) Note 7) Emperor Ming of the Three Kingdoms: Shu general Zhuge Liang Koubian, Tianshui, Nan'an, Anding three counties rebelled against Ying Liang. Send the general Cao Zhendu to supervise the right and march into the army. The right general Zhang He shot at the street pavilion and broke it. Liang was defeated and left, and the three counties were flat. Ding Wei, Xingxing Chang'an. In the summer and April, Ding You, returned to Luoyang Palace.
Note 8) Wei Shu said: It was the courtiers who did not know the plan, and the emperor said:"The bright resistance mountain is solid, and the present is self-compatible, which is the art of combining the military book to people; And Liang is greedy for three counties, and he knows that he doesn't know how to retreat, and now because of this, the light will be broken. "Nabu Le soldiers and horses rode 50,000 to refuse to light.
Note 9) Zizhi Tongjian Volume 71: Naile soldiers and horses rode 50,000 horses, sent the right general Zhang He to supervise it, and refused to show it in the west.
Note 10) Later Hanshu County National Chronicles: Hanyang County (Wu Di Zhi, for Tianshui. Two thousand miles west of Luoyang. ）
Note 11) Later Han Shujun Guozhi: Jing Zhaoyin (Qin Neishi, changed by Emperor Wu. Nine hundred and fifty miles west of Luoyang. ）
Note 12) The Later Han Shu Yu Xu Biography: The art of war is no more than 30 miles a day, so as to be safe.
Note 13) The Biography of Zhang He of the Three Kingdoms: Zhuge Liang came out of Qishan. Jiahe advanced in a special position, sent the army, and refused to show the horse in the street pavilion. Relying on the South Mountain, not under the city. Knock it out, hit it, and break it.
Note 14) The Legend of the Three Kingdoms Wang Ping: The water is on the mountain, the measures are annoying, the rules are admonished, the Tan can not be used, and the street pavilion is defeated. The stars were scattered, but Ping led a thousand people, beating the drums and holding himself, and Wei General Zhang He suspected his ambush soldiers and did not go to the side.
Note 15) The Spring and Autumn Period of the Han and Jin Dynasties said: Or persuade Liang to send more troops, Liang said: The army is more than thieves in Qishan and Keigu, and those who can't break the thieves are broken by thieves, then this disease is not in the few soldiers, but in the ears of one person.
Note 16) The Biography of Guo Huai in the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms: In the second year of Taihe, Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu, went out of Qishan, sent the general Ma Tan to the street pavilion, and listed Liucheng in high detail. Zhang He attacked the camp, and Huai attacked the detailed camp, all of which were broken.