Johime Three Kingdoms

Chapter 560 The Crisis in Hanzhong
In the days after Zhang Ren suffered a defeat, he did not try to break through the barbed wire fence with personal bravery. However, Guo Huai always felt that the other party was making some kind of arrangement to make him take it lightly!

For this purpose, more patrols were arranged, and idle manpower and civilian laborers were arranged to further widen the trenches to facilitate the movement of troops, and to improve drainage and sewage channels to guard against sudden rains.

As for Guo Huai himself, he had no time to spare in the past few days. While commanding the defense, he stayed up late to write a memorial. In addition to showing his merits, the theme was mainly about artillery, Qi crossbows, and analysis of the practical results of the golden and jade generals...

Although artillery had been used on a small scale before, it was only now that artillery was actually used on the battlefield, so Zhang Ren didn't recognize what it was at first glance.

Therefore, Guo Huai felt that this first-hand observation report should be very precious, and it would probably make his achievements in guarding Badong even more glorious.

……

And a few days ago, when Zhang Ren first set foot in Zhi County, the situation in Hanzhong was also mysterious and unpredictable.

Faced with the completely opposite proposals put forward by Yan Pu and Yang Song - one for him to immediately withdraw from Hanchang in Bazhong, the other for him to defend the city firmly and clear the country - Zhang Lu hesitated.

But after all, it was time for Ma Chao to knock on the door. Zhang Lu also knew that he couldn't just hesitate, so... he sent various Tianshi Dao "Jietou Grand Sacrificial Wine" to inform Hanzhong believers that when they come to Nanzheng for a gathering, they must order the Cangli , No grain is left in the fields, and those who are greedy and disobedient... will be visited by ghosts and gods at night!

In Hanzhong, it is so easy to build a strong wall and clear the countryside.

As for Zhang Lu... I just feel that in this way, it can be regarded as a passive way of clearing the country. At the same time, if they want to evacuate to Hanchang, they can also move with the followers. Let them come to Nanzheng first, and it is not a waste of time.

Thinking about it this way, I feel more at ease and continue to "hesitate".

"My lord! The minions of the horse thieves are now imminent. Whether to leave or stay, my lord must make a decision early on!" Yan Pu said anxiously to Zhang Lu, who had been "hesitant" for several days.

"This..." Zhang Lu was still hesitant.

"Don't worry, Cao Yan Gong. Our Heavenly Master disciples are also gathering towards Nanzheng. We will not delay whether we are fighting or traveling." Yang Song saw Zhang Lu's look and immediately spoke to persuade Yan Pu.

"Yes, this is exactly the reason." Zhang Lu said that he was successfully persuaded.

For "choice phobia", the default answer is always the easiest to give.

Yan Pu closed his eyes to avoid showing dissatisfaction, and then stood back silently.

To Zhang Lu... Yan Pu was only loyal to his duties, but it could not be regarded as absolute loyalty. Naturally, he would not be able to do things like admonition to the death.

However, after Yan Pu stopped trying to persuade him, Zhang Lu himself believed that what he said was reasonable, so... after the meeting ended, Zhang Lu specifically asked Zhang Wei to stay.

"After thinking about it for my brother, what Yang Song said is indeed reasonable. Nanzheng is not something that the barbarians from the northwest can easily defeat. If we retreat without a fight, Shangyong and Xicheng will definitely not be able to be saved. We can only retreat to Bazhong, hoping to enter Hanzhong again." But it’s difficult!
However, Yan Pu's words cannot be ignored. If something goes wrong in Nanzheng... Brother Wei feels that we still need to be prepared.From now on, you will take your trusted personnel to the vicinity of Nancheng to dig a tunnel leading outside the city.

After that, the brotherhood will secretly report to Cheng Ji for you, and mark the area as an altar square for rituals, and tell the public that you are preparing for sacrifices. "Zhang Lu thought of a good idea.

"Brother, don't worry!" Zhang Wei accepted the order and left, not surprised. This idea itself was very reckless.

Nanzheng's "fortified wall" did block Ma Chao's Qiang army. After all...the Qiang who were originally cavalry were really not good at attacking fortifications, and even learned how to build some siege equipment not long ago.

As for "clearing the wilderness"...

There is indeed a way of strengthening the wall and clearing the fields in Hanzhong. It only needs to be handed down step by step from the leader of the teaching, and the people in Hanzhong will be "cleared" voluntarily.

After all, "being punished by ghosts and gods" is just a joke to the wise and ambitious, but to ordinary people, it is still somewhat serious. But to the believers of Tianshi Tao, the sacrificial wine of Tianshi Tao says this sentence , more powerful than the imperial edict!

However, there are still some people who have caught up with the Qiang people before they can return to Nanzheng, but they all follow Zhang Lu's instructions and find a hiding place on the spot - absolutely not to cause trouble to the Celestial Master.

Therefore, Nanzheng's strong walls and clear fields can be said to be the simplest.

But I happened to meet the Qiang people again...

In terms of strength, the Qiang people have always been inferior to the peak Xiongnu, Xianbei, and even inferior to Wuhuan. However, in terms of destructive power, they are still superior. The biggest reason is... Compared to the various ethnic groups in the north, the birthplace of the Qiang people is Within the territory of the Han Dynasty, it really took root here, and the frequency of causing trouble in Bingzhou and Liangzhou was extremely high!
Compared with the Xiongnu in the pre-Han Dynasty and the Xianbei in previous years, the Qiang people have never been considered by the Han people as "strong enemies" or "opponents worth fighting".

However, they caused troubles in Liangzhou and Bingzhou time and time again. They fell flat when they encountered ruthless Han generals who frequently slaughtered their tribes. They followed them wholeheartedly when they encountered strong men who were willing to take them in. They were completely unlike the Xiongnu and Xianbei "I too" "We were once on an equal footing with the Han people" and "How could we be driven by foreigners"?

Rebellions were the most frequent, but by comparison, never created a situation of great urgency.

It is precisely because of this that the Qiang people's talent for "scavenging" is even greater than that of the Huns and Xianbei...

Although they were impressed by Ma Chao at this time, and there were even many young Qiang people who worshiped Ma Chao as a god, it was impossible to expect Ma Chao to restrain the military discipline of the Qiang people.

Of course, how could I, the majestic Ma Mengqi, be a plunderer?

Just relax the restraints...

If the fuss gets too big, Ma Chao will even kill chickens to scare the monkeys, to prevent the Qiang people from really falling apart.

The same was true after arriving in Nanzheng. Even after the main attack force encountered resistance, Ma Chao did as Yan Pu said and wanted to bypass Nanzheng directly and go to the eastern part of Hanzhong to take Xicheng and Shangyong!

The order given was just a vague "Gather in Xicheng before a certain time on a certain day."

As for whether someone in Nanzheng will come out for a "sneak attack"?
So scared!Wilderness encounters have always been the Qiang people's strength.

Moreover, if Nanzheng is cut off into an isolated city, and Zhang Lu gathers so many people in the city, how long can it last even if the treasury is full?
Even if it is preached, as a Han citizen, if you are really hungry, even ghosts and gods will have to bite off a few pieces of meat...

Zhang Lu didn't expect that he had the intention to follow Yang Song's words and defend for a period of time. Even if Ma Chao didn't retreat, he could let Yang Song negotiate.

Who knew that what Ma Chao took was entirely Yan Pu's script, and he went directly to cut off his wings, preparing to "starve" him to death!

In this way, preparations were all in vain - Ma Chao was not afraid of him leaving at all, and made up his mind to pacify Hanzhong first.

Yang Song did not dare to negotiate with Ma Chao at this time. After all, Zhang Lu had no bargaining chips at all. It would be too fake to negotiate now...

However, when Zhang Lu learned that the Qiang people were outside the city, searching and suppressing believers who failed to return to the city, Yang Song desperately winked at his younger brother Yang Bai. Although the latter was confused, under Yang Song's urging, he gritted his teeth and stood up. Said: "Heavenly Master, I am willing to go out of the city to rescue the believers who have not returned!"

Yan Pu was standing aside at this time, with a straight face, not looking, not listening, or paying attention.

Zhang Lu said happily: "Then Lao Yang will offer wine!"

(End of this chapter)