noffsinger Chapter 491 (Must Read) Why did Ma Dai take action after Wei Yan's death?
Chapter 491 (Must Read) Why did Ma Dai take action after Wei Yan's death?
(First, I apologize. In Chapter 489, I mixed up the stories of Dong He and Liu Ba. I initially wrote Liu Ba instead, but I have corrected it to Dong He. Thank you to the reader who pointed out the problem.)
[This chapter continues the independent storyline from Chapter 490]
Fei Yi did not appear in the crowd, but arrived at Wei Yan's camp first to wait.
"Wenwei? How did you end up here all the way from Hanzhong?"
Wei Yan was deeply surprised by Fei Yi's arrival.
Fei Yi sighed:
"Wen Chang, I came here not only to escort grain supplies, but also to report an important message to you."
Seeing Fei Yi's solemn expression, Wei Yan quickly pressed for an answer:
"I wonder what Wenwei is referring to...?"
Fei Yi leaned close to his ear and whispered mysteriously:
"Has the Prime Minister given any instructions on who should be in charge of the troop withdrawal?"
Wei Yan asked in confusion:
"Yes, the Prime Minister has given instructions. He has instructed me to handle this matter together with Yang Yi."
Fei Yi gave Wei Yan a deep look, revealing a "you, you're so easy to fool" expression.
"Wen Chang, to be honest, my people who are planted around Yang Yi have received reliable information that Yang Yi is colluding with Sima Yi!"
"What!?"
"how is this possible?"
Wei Yan's first reaction was, of course, disbelief in Fei Yi.
Everyone knew that Yang Yi and he had a conflict.
However, the main conflict stemmed from military disagreements, such as Yang Yi's firm opposition to his plan to "attack the Ziwu Valley".
It's highly unlikely that Yang Yi colluded with Wei.
However, Fei Yi was always very popular, and everyone in Sichuan said that Fei Yi was kind and honest.
At the same time, Fei Yi also had a special status in the Northern Expeditionary Army, serving as a military advisor.
The military advisor was not a supervisor, but a staff officer, positioned below the chief clerk. His main function was to advise on military matters, equivalent to a strategist.
In other words, Fei Yi was Zhuge Liang's strategist.
Yang Yi was Zhuge Liang's logistics manager and strategic planning assistant.
But this Northern Expedition was different from any of the previous ones.
The Shu Han army's provisions this time mainly came from military farming in the war zone and from harvesting wheat from the Wei army.
The logistical pressure is much less than before.
This was also the only time that the Shu army was not forced to retreat due to a shortage of food supplies.
Unfortunately, while food supplies were plentiful, the important people were gone.
Before the battle, Yang Yi and Fei Yi exchanged missions.
Yang Yi went to war with Zhuge Liang, while Fei Yi stayed in Hanzhong.
"Wen Chang, you really were tricked by Yang Yi!"
"Let's look at this letter."
Fei Yi took out the letter and handed it to Wei Yan.
Wei Yan was dumbfounded; he was extremely familiar with Yang Yi's handwriting!
The contents of this letter no longer concern colluding with Wei, but rather a plan to lead a large number of soldiers to surrender to Wei!
"This, this, this..."
Wei Yan immediately wanted to take the letter to question Yang Yi.
Fei Yi pulled Wei Yan aside and pointed to the letter, saying:
"If you question Yang Yi now, how can he possibly admit to it?"
"Besides, he is the Right Chief Secretary, which is one rank higher than your Left Chief Secretary!"
"He could even turn around and accuse you of colluding with Wei and framing him!"
"Are you suggesting that at this critical juncture, you should cause my Han army to split up and be defeated one by one by Sima Yi?"
Wei Yan gradually calmed down.
Fei Yi's words make a lot of sense.
North of Weiyuan Bridge, Sima Yi was still eyeing the area covetously.
It's impossible that there weren't spies planted by Sima Yi within our own ranks.
If it is discovered that the Prime Minister is dead and the army is in disarray, then it will be all over!
"Wenwei, what do you think we should do now?"
Unbeknownst to him, Wei Yan had grown increasingly trusting of Fei Yi.
Fei Yi sighed:
"Wenchang, the task of covering the rear must be undertaken by you; it cannot be delegated to anyone else!"
"Only you are the one the Prime Minister trusts most, and you are the hope of the Han army!"
"After you cover the rear, take the shortcut back to Nanzheng first, and then stop Yang Yi from entering Nanzheng on his inevitable route!"
"As for me, I'll go and calm Yang Yi down first."
"Pretend to flatter him, let him think he's the next prime minister!"
"In this way, Yang Yi will not think about communicating with Wei again in the short term."
"We'll take it down when we get back to Nanzheng!"
"This crisis can be turned into an opportunity."
"By the way, I'll have Ma Dai stay and assist you."
"He also has a portion of cavalry under his command, which can help you deter the Wei army."
Wei Yan nodded heavily.
Although he wanted to trust Yang Yi, he couldn't gamble now.
Because Yang Yi did indeed pose a risk of colluding with Wei!
If Yang Yi really leads the army to cause trouble, all the hard work of the late emperor and the prime minister will be ruined!
and so……
Wei Yan chose to heed Fei Yi's advice and led his troops to cover the rear, launching a brilliant counterattack that prevented Sima Yi from pursuing them again.
But he didn't know.
Fei Yi, the sixth brother, had another layer of meaning in what he said to Yang Yi that night.
……
a few days later
Wei Yan and Ma Dai led their troops to take a shortcut and block Yang Yi and his army's retreat.
"General Wei, what do you mean by this?"
Jiang Wei raised his weapon high and pointed it at Wei Yan.
Wei Yan replied:
"Boyo, get out of the way!"
"Today I'm only going to cause trouble for Yang Yi!"
Jiang Wei looked at Yang Yi with surprise, then at Wei Yan, and then at Ma Dai behind Wei Yan.
For some reason, he always felt a sense of unease.
Why did Wei Yan suddenly want to cause trouble for Yang Yi?
On the day before the Prime Minister died, he had promised not to hold a grudge against Yang Yi anymore!
suddenly.
Ma Dai swiftly brought down his knife.
Wei Yan's head rolled on the ground!
"you!!!"
Jiang Wei's eyes were wide with rage.
Ma Dai, however, seemed indifferent.
Fei Yi actually found him that night and gave him a reason he couldn't refuse.
"Ma Dai, do you still remember why your brother died back then?"
"Originally, everyone thought that Zhang Fei would be the governor of Hanzhong, but Zhang Fei has been appointed governor of Ba Commandery and stationed in Langzhong, the gateway to the region."
"The only remaining candidate is your brother!"
“Your elder brother is renowned and has served in Hanzhong. Moreover, his hatred for Cao Cao is irreconcilable, and he will never surrender to Cao Cao.”
"Besides him, who is qualified to serve as the Governor of Hanzhong?"
"But who could have imagined that the late emperor would choose Wei Yan!"
"Ha, Wei Yan, does he deserve it?"
Is he worthy of being compared to your beloved brother?
"Your poor brother is depressed and unhappy, knowing that he will never have another chance to be employed."
"He unfortunately passed away a year later." (Ma Chao died in 222)
"Before he passed away, his only wish was that the late emperor and the prime minister would take good care of you!"
"Your brother is so considerate of you, don't you... want to avenge him?"
"Wei Yan stole your brother's position; he's the one who killed your brother!"
"Moreover, the Prime Minister is no longer here!"
“Yang Yi has always been arrogant and despised you and your brother.”
"If Yang Yi takes power, hehe... just wait and see if you'll end up like your brother!"
"I see."
Ma Dai agreed to Fei Yi's request and pledged his full support for Fei Yi's rise to power.
but……
The cunning old fox who had been hiding behind the scenes was even more cunning than Fei Yi!
After Wei Yan's death, Yang Yi entered Nanzheng, only to find that Jiang Wan had been waiting for him for a long time.
Along with him came Li Fu, and Liu Shan's imperial edict!
……
(To be continued)
PS: This story will end in one more chapter.