Chapter 11 Ma Chao’s Choice

"Clearly grudges..." These four words rolled in Ma Chao's mind repeatedly.

"There is something wrong!" Deng Ai next to him sensitively noticed the change in Ma Chao's mood.

At this time, countless intermittent scenes flashed through Ma Chao's mind. At the age of twelve, he went to the battlefield, at the age of 14, he led his troops to defeat the Qiang people, and at the age of 18, he was powerful in the Qiang land, and was called the General of Heaven. Then he followed Ma Teng to fight north and south, helping Zhong Yao to attack Pingyang's senior officials and Guo Yuan. During the Jian'an period, the troops advanced to Chang'an. After the army arrived at Tongguan, Cao Cao cut his beard and abandoned his robe. It was Ma Chao's most glorious moment, but he was defeated repeatedly, his wife lost his son, surrendered to Zhang Lu, and returned to Liu Bei...

"Hahahaha..." Ma Chao suddenly burst into laughter, but there was a desolate smell in his laughter.

"I missed me, Ma Chao, for half a lifetime of military service, and today I ended up like this!" Ma Chao seemed to be crazy and suddenly shouted to the sky.

"General Ma, you are..." Deng Ai asked in surprise.

"Huh..." Ma Chao took a deep breath and said, "General Deng Ai, let's give up the matter of establishing a self-employed person!"

"General Ma, you have to think clearly. Don't miss the opportunity. If General Ma misses this opportunity, he will probably be harmed by Zhuge Liang!"

"I have decided, you don't have to say too much!" Ma Chao said decisively.

"General, don't joke about your life!"

"Life? Humph! When have I, Ma Chao, been afraid of death!"

Deng Ai frowned. At that moment, Ma Chao was obviously moved, but now he regretted it.

"I dare to ask the general, why don't hesitate to set up his own business?" Deng Ai asked calmly.

"What's the use of establishing a self-owned family? I, Ma Chao, have five sons. My two sons died at the hands of Yang Fu, Jicheng. There are two youngest sons in Hanzhong now, and only Ma Qiu is by my side. Now even Qiu'er is going to Chang'an to help His Majesty. What's the use of establishing a self-owned family? Even if I conquer Liangzhou, who can inherit it?

Deng Ai, if you were ten years ago, your words were indeed very attractive, and I might have set up my own business, but now I, Ma Chao, is already forty-six years old this year, and I have seen through many things! Even if I give birth to a few more sons, when they grow up, I am already nearly 70 years old and I am about to lose my life. Besides, it is hard to say whether I can live to that time...

Qiu'er is right. Although Your Majesty is young now, he is better than the First Emperor. Qiu'er wants to be Your Majesty's Wang Ben Meng Tian. Then I, Ma Chao, will be Wang Jian once, so why bother Meng Wu!"

"Father!" Ma Qiu didn't expect that Ma Chao would say such a thing.

"Qiu'er, I support you for my father! Even if Zhuge Liang wants to monopolize the power, Your Majesty may not allow Zhuge Liang to do this! Since ancient times, powerful ministers have not had any good endings. If Zhuge Liang really did something ruthless, Your Majesty would not let him go."

Next to him, Deng Ai stood there stupidly. Deng Ai never expected that a Ma Qiu broke his entire plan in the middle of the road.

Seeing Ma Chao's resolute eyes, Deng Ai knew that it was impossible to tell Ma Chao. At this time, Deng Ai decided to implement the second plan.

Deng Ai smiled slightly and said, "General Ma, since you have considered it clearly, I will not force you anymore. In fact, the purpose of coming here this time is to encourage the general to set up his own business. Since the general has made a decision, I will say goodbye to Xudu!"

Ma Chao looked at Deng Ai with appreciation. Deng Ai was quite brave when he dared to come to Guzang City alone. Moreover, Deng Ai was just now outspoken about his purpose, which made Ma Chao feel that this young man was quite simple.

"Okay, General Deng, we will inevitably meet on the battlefield in the future! There will be a date later!" After Ma Chao finished speaking, he said to Ma Dai: "Ma Dai, send Deng Ai out of the city!"

On the way out, Deng Ai kept chatting with Ma Dai, and slowly observed the surrounding situation. Especially near the city gate, Deng Ai said goodbye words for a long time, delaying a lot of time, and also clearly observed the situation of the defenders at the city gate, and then left Guzang City.

Qiang people's camp.

Since Deng Ai entered the city, Cheriji ordered people to monitor Guzang City and investigate Deng Ai's life and death.

Deng Ai was an envoy of Wei after all, and his identity was extraordinary. It would be fine if Deng Ai succeeded. If Deng Ai failed and died in Guzang, Cheriji would have to retrieve Deng Ai's body.

"Master, come out! Come out!"

"What's coming out?" Torrigi asked.

"General Deng Ai is out! He is out of Guzang City."

"Huh..." Cheriji breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good to come back alive, please come here quickly."

Not long after, Deng Ai was brought up.

"General Deng Ai, how is the matter done? Then Ma Chao is willing to betray Shu Han and establish his own business?" Cheriji asked hurriedly.

Deng Ai shook his head and said, "Master, stop talking about these things, go and prepare me a pen and ink."

"Oh, come here, hurry up and get the pen and ink." Cherigi shouted, then asked, "General Deng, what do you want pen and ink?"

"King, I'll show you a good thing later." As he spoke, the servant had already handed me ink.

Deng Ai took the pen and began to draw carefully on the paper. Cheriji had to stand quietly and watch. After half an hour, Deng Ai slowly stopped writing.

Deng Ai put down the brush in his hand, breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, "King, look at this."

Torrigi looked carefully at the drawings in his hand that had not yet dried, and said, "This... this seems to be a city defense map!"

"Yes, this is the city defense drawing."

"Is this the city defense distribution map of Guzang City?" Cheriji's voice was already trembling.

"Hahaha, the king has good eyesight. This is exactly the city defense distribution of Guzang City." Deng Ai said with a smile.

"Oh my God, General Deng Ai, how did you get this thing?"

"King, this picture may not be completely accurate, but most of the situation should be like this. I think the picture I have drawn has at least eight points of reliability."

"Okay, with the distribution of this city defense, we can attack the city in a targeted manner. I will gather people and attack the city in a few days." Torrigi said with joy on his face.

"Master, please wait!" Deng Ai called Cherigi and continued, "Master, it is better not to be late for siege in the city. I thought I would attack the city tonight."

"Are you siege at night?" Torrigi hesitated.

Anyone who has read the art of military knows that siege at night is extremely unfavorable for the siege. The siege requires climbing the city wall, but visibility is not good at night, so it is much more difficult to climb the city wall. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the siege will not choose to siege at night.

"King, I also know that it is not conducive to siege at night, but now we have just obtained the defense situation of Guzang City, so we should take this opportunity to attack Guzang as soon as possible. Moreover, when I left the city, I told Ma Chao that I would go back to Xudu, and Ma Chao would definitely relax his vigilance at this time, so tonight is the best time to siege the city."

Cherigi nodded slightly, but was still not convinced by Deng Ai. Cherigi continued: "I am still a little worried. Ma Chao is extremely brave. Over the past year, I have attacked the city many times but have not taken Guzang. Moreover, I have been attacking Guzang forcibly. I am worried that I may not be able to consolidate Guzang tonight."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. Although I did not persuade Ma Chao to go to Guzang, the plan of disagreement was considered successful. Now Ma Chao must hate Zhuge Liang very much. If what I expected was, Ma Chao knew that reinforcements would not come and would break through soon. If the king believed it, as long as he followed his plan, he would be able to capture Guzang, and maybe he could still capture Ma Chao."

Cherigi thought for a moment and finally said, "Okay, I'll listen to General Deng."

During the day, Deng Ai's words had a great blow to Ma Chao, and Ma Chao also knew that the reinforcements he had been looking forward to were no longer possible.

Now there is only one way in front of Ma Chao, that is, to give up Guzang and break back to Yongzhou.

According to Deng Ai, Ma Chao's official position and reputation are there, so he can only use the Qiang people to kill Ma Chao. Once Ma Chao returns to Yongzhou, at least Zhuge Liang cannot get rid of Ma Chao in his face. In Ma Chao's view, as long as he can see Adou, he can temporarily defeat Zhuge Liang's plan.

Ma Chao didn't know that although Zhuge Liang was afraid of Ma Chao, he had no intention of getting rid of Ma Chao. According to Zhuge Liang's plan, as long as Adou firmly settled, he would immediately send someone to help Ma Chao in Guzang. However, as soon as Adou ascended the throne, Cao Zhen came here, so Zhuge Liang had no chance to send reinforcements.

From this point of view, although Deng Ai did not inspire Ma Chao to rebel, his disagreement plan was considered successful, at least provoking disagreement between Ma Chao and Zhuge Liang.

In fact, Ma Chao is not afraid of Zhuge Liang at all. Ma Chao has lived in Liangzhou since he was a child, and Liangzhou is a typical place where the strong prey on the weak. Therefore, in Ma Chao's thoughts, as long as he has soldiers in his hands, others dare not do anything to him. Although Ma Chao has not many soldiers under his command, there are three thousand elite Ma family troops. The combat power of these three thousand Ma family troops is at least similar to that of Bai'er elite soldiers. As long as these three thousand Ma family troops can be preserved, Zhuge Liang will not dare to do anything to himself.

So at this time Ma Chao was thinking about how to successfully break through Guzang City and preserve his strength as the capital to fight against Zhuge Liang in the future.

The Ma family army under Ma Chao is mainly cavalry, but the Qiang people are also cavalry, so Ma Chao can predict that if they are intercepted by the Qiang people when breaking through, they will inevitably fall into a fierce battle. In the pursuit of cavalry, the chasing side has an advantage, and there are many Qiang people, and the one who suffers must be Ma Chao.
Chapter completed!