Han Xiang

Chapter 588 Encirclement and reinforcements to capture Hanzhong

Zhuge Liang wrote a letter asking Liu Ye to return to Xicheng to prepare for Gan Ning's attack on Hanzhong from the south, and agreed to launch an attack before winter.

Two routes to the north and south, one virtual and one real, are strategies that have been set long ago.

The southern route takes the Han River to attract the main force in Hanzhong, and the northern route enters the hinterland of Hanzhong from Baoxie Road.

If Baoxie Road is not heavily guarded, the main force in Guanzhong can directly attack Nanzheng.

There are two main roads from Guanzhong to Hanzhong. The Baoxie Road is narrow and difficult to navigate and the road is rugged. The Chencang Road to the west is a wide road, but it is a long way and has Yangping Pass at the end. To successfully enter Hanzhong requires certain opportunities.

The reason why Zhuge Liang is so anxious is that the opportunities in front of him are really hard to find.

The Ma-Teng coalition has nearly 4 people. Guanzhong is not the only one threatening Chencang. Hanzhong's old neighbor Zhang Lu is also very nervous.

The Liangzhou warlords have a bad reputation. If they can't take down Chencang's strong bones, they will not be able to follow Chencang Road to rob Hanzhong.

Zhang Lu not only had heavy troops at Yangping Pass, but also sent scouts to monitor at Dashan Pass.

Baoxie Road is located in the mountains of the Qinling Mountains, and the four seasons are not distinct. Spring and autumn are very short. It is rainy in summer and often accompanied by flash floods and mud. In winter, it is covered with frost and snow and the road is muddy.

Although Zhang Lu was wary of Liu Bei, he did not pay attention to Baoxie Road due to the tense situation in Guanzhong and the geographical situation. This gave Zhuge Liang an opportunity.

After the army arrived in Yi County, Zhuge Liang deliberately asked Zhao Yun to stay while he took Wei Yan to Chencang, intending to create opportunities for Zhao Yun.

It is the third autumn of September in Wei, the summer heat in Guanzhong has gone, and the wind is very pleasant on the body.

Winter was coming soon. Ma Teng and other five Liangzhou soldiers came here wearing thin clothes in the summer. They had not prepared thick winter clothes and quilts. The food they had brought and grabbed was almost at the bottom at this time.

It was time to retreat when the food supplies were exhausted, but Ma Teng persisted because there was no news about Han Sui or Cao Hong, and because he could reach out to Wei Duan, the state herdsman.

If the other groups retreated, Ma Teng would naturally do the same, but the news was completely blocked, and he could only spend his time in Chencang.

During this period, especially after Zhang Fei switched defense against Zhao Yun, Ma Chao and Zhang Fei fought fiercely several times.

Both of them had enough fun this time, which made Liu Bei, who was watching the battle in the city, feel itchy.

He praised Ma Chao for being as brave as Lu Bu, but it was a pity that he could not use it for himself.

Liu Bei and Zhang Fei were guarding Chencang, and they had already stated that Jingzhou soldiers had returned for reinforcements. However, there had been good news from high-ranking officials before, leaving Ma Teng and others hesitant and entangled, neither advancing nor retreating.

He made up his mind to retreat, but was held back by Zhuge Liang's suspicious tactics.

It was not until the cold wind suddenly broke out at the end of September that Cheng Yi and Ma Wan clamored to return to Liangzhou. Ma Teng then organized everyone to slowly retreat westward.

Just after retreating to Shanggui, the third son Ma Tie came to report with a loss of blood. Yan Han Sui, Zhang Heng, and Yang Qiu raided Longyou. Many relatives in the family were slaughtered, and countless cattle and sheep of Buqu's family were plundered. Ma Teng almost fell off his horse after hearing this. fall.

Cheng Yin, Ma Wan, Candidate, and Cheng Yi secretly rejoiced in the misfortune, but soon received information that their homes had been looted.

He was risking his life outside, but his home was stolen by his allies?

A bloody war in Liangzhou began.

Winter is about to enter. Ma Teng and others want to take revenge, but they suffer from no food and clothes, but they see Jicheng.

Wei Duan was the middleman who brought together the ten generals and must bear joint responsibility at this time. These border warlords who suffered losses first vented their anger on Jicheng.

Chaos has broken out in Liangzhou, and Zhuge Liang hides his merits and fame.

He persuaded Zhang Fei to stay in Chencang, and returned to Yi County with Liu Bei in early October, preparing to select generals to take Hanzhong via Baoxie Road.

Zhuge Liang had just advised Zhao Yun to take command, but unexpectedly Liu Bei refused.

I saw him saying with high spirits: "Yunchang defeated Cai Mao in Fancheng, and Yide Chencang resisted Ma Chao. Bei is now in his prime, how can he sit back and enjoy his success? I will personally conquer Hanzhong this time, and I will continue to take care of the military and political affairs in Guanzhong."

"The Baoxie Road is slippery in winter, making it very inconvenient to march. How can I risk my lord's body of a daughter to go there in person? Zilong is both brave and strategic, and he will be able to defeat the enemy. Please think twice, lord." After Zhuge Liang cupped his hands to persuade, Zhao Yun also clasped his fists and gave a sonorous admonishment. : "My Lord must not be involved in danger, Zhao Yun is willing to issue a military order."

"Zilong doesn't have to be like this, let's go to Hanzhong together."

Liu Bei stretched out his hand to interrupt Zhao Yun, and explained sincerely: "It's not that I don't trust Zilong, but there are actually some things that I have to face on my own. In the past, Yuan Benchu ​​had a decisive battle in Guandu. He did everything by his own hands, and ultimately succeeded and failed. So you don't need to persuade me anymore. It's true. Since it is inconvenient to march in winter, my personal visit can inspire the soldiers and may also help persuade Zhang Lu to surrender."

"Can"

Zhao Yun was speechless and looked at Zhuge Liang subconsciously.

Zhuge Liang also hesitated at this time. He thought that Liu Bei's personal command would indeed help boost morale, but the lord was doing it himself. If something happened, the consequences would be immeasurable.

Seeing this situation, Liu Bei smiled and reminded Zhuge Liang: "The military advisor has forgotten Huayin? He has been preparing for the army for half his life, so this trip will be fine."

"Ok."

Zhuge Liang compromised and stopped trying to persuade him. Thinking back to Liu Beihua's sinister demeanor, he said to himself that his lord's strength was not weak at all, but was covered up by Guan Zhang's light.

At present, apart from Liu Bei himself, the only generals under his command who stand alone are Guan Yu and Hefei Longxiang. If it were not for walking through Baoxie Road in winter, Zhuge Liang would have no reason to stop him.

At this time, there was no military threat in Guanzhong, and Wei Yan performed outstandingly against Han Sui. Zhuge Liang suggested that Liu Bei should be taken with him, while he would arrange grain and military supplies to ensure that Liu Bei was not short of logistics.

Due to preparations made in advance, after it was confirmed that Liu Bei would personally take command, [-] elite troops immediately marched into Xiegu.

Crossing the [-]-mile Baoxie Trail in winter requires frequent road repairs before passing.

It took Liu Bei's team 20 days to get out of Baogukou in early November.

With the telescope's vision suppressed, the Taniguchi stronghold was easily removed. Zhang Lu, who was in Nanzheng, had no idea because his attention was entirely on the Han River.

Half a month ago, Gan Ning and Liu Ye, as agreed, led [-] naval troops to sail upstream by boat and continuously uprooted the strongholds they had grasped in advance.

Zhang Lu was shocked and sent his younger brother Zhang Wei to lead an army to reinforce and stop Gan Ning and Liu Ye from Longting.

Gan Ning only had a few thousand soldiers, so he built a water fortress connected by boats on the south bank of Longting, which was intended to be stationed for a long time.

How could Zhang Wei endure this?He repeatedly attacked but could not force him to retreat, so he kept asking Zhang Lu for reinforcements, so that the Nanzheng defenders were evacuated.

Seeing that Gan Ning was taking root in the hinterland of Hanzhong, Zhang Lu dispatched the Yangpingguan garrison to Longting.

As a result, before Yang Ang could lead his troops to cross the border, Liu Bei rushed to the city with his infantry.

At that time, there were only [-] city defense troops in Nanzheng. Facing the [-] tiger and wolf divisions outside the city, Zhang Lu and his subordinates, both civil and military, trembled.

Zhang Lu was reluctant to give up his wealth and power, so he refused Liu Bei's first attempt to persuade him to surrender.

Liu Bei was not in a hurry to attack the city. He knew that words alone were useless and he had to show corresponding strength, so he did not stop the scouts who asked for help.

At the end of November, Yang Ang came from Yangping Pass and found Liu Bei setting up his battle array.

Zhang Lu was watching the battle on Nanzheng City and watched helplessly as he was defeated by Liu Bei's army, and his general Yang Ang was killed by Wei Yan's formation.

In mid-December, Zhang Wei returned from Longting to aid Nanzheng.

After finally getting rid of Gan Ning's pursuit, he was ambushed by Zhao Yun halfway, and Zhang Wei himself was captured alive by Zhao Yun.

When he saw Zhang Wei being escorted to Nanzheng City, Zhang Lu knew that the situation was over and had to give up the struggle. At the end of the year, he led his troops to open the city and surrender.

In the twelfth lunar month of the 11th year of Jian'an, Liu Bei obtained Hanzhong, which was of great significance to him, the land of Longxing, the land of Emperor Taizu Gao.

(End of this chapter)