The staff who proposed the division of troops was represented by Mao Husheng, that is, Mao Suzhi.

He clarified his opinion and said: "Zan Ding, the former general of Shu puppet, led his troops south, and now he is close to Pengmo; Li Dang, the lord of Shu, recently sent his uncle Li Lu, the puppet right guard general, and Li Li, his brother and puppet Zhennan general, and also led troops to aid Qianwei. The enemy's three-way soldiers and horses, totaling no less than 30,000 people. In the city of Chengdu, there are more than 10,000 defenders. Our army has only 10,000 capable soldiers.

"The Art of War Cloud 'Ten Rules Encircle'. Our army has few soldiers, and it will definitely be more difficult to fight in Chengdu, if it is suddenly attacked by Zan Ding, Li Lu, Li Li, etc. from behind when the siege is not yet taken, then our army will be destroyed.

"At this time, the subordinate foolishly believes that the best way for our army to deal with it is to divide the troops into two routes, advance in different ways, choose a fierce general, lead the partial division, and call it the main force, so as to divide and wait for the enemy's momentum; And Ming Gong introduced the elite and took the opportunity to attack Chengdu.

"In this way, even if Chengdu is in trouble for a while, and there are partiality guerrillas outside, it can also be dealt with for me, and it is enough to ensure that nothing is lost."

Sounds reasonable.

Yuan Ziqiao disagreed with Mao Husheng's high theory.

His opinion was that the troops could not be divided.

The suggestion of concentrating troops, taking small roads, and attacking Chengdu was put forward by him.

Yuan Ziqiao shook his fan and said: "Those who talk about soldiers on paper, Mao joined the army. ”

Huan Meng didn't want Mao Suzhi to be embarrassed by Yuan Ziqiao in public again, so he played a round and said with a smile: "Uncle Yan, I heard what Husheng said, but I think it makes sense. How? Do you have a different opinion? ”

"Ming Gong, 'divide the army into two places, advance in different ways, and divide the Shu soldiers to respond to my siege', which seems feasible, but in fact it is a big mistake."

Huan Meng touched his dark red beard, and said humbly: "I want to hear about it." ”

Yuan Ziqiao talked eloquently and said: "Today, the Ming Dynasty will hang the army thousands of miles away, the enemy is outnumbered, and the retreat is far away. On this occasion, it is time to join forces and break the cauldron to win the first battle! How can it be as Mao joined the army as discussed, and then divide the troops? If it is divided into two armies, the hearts of the people are different, and if the partial division is defeated, the big thing will be done.

"In my opinion, it is better to march in with the whole army, abandon the kettle, and give three days' rations to show that there is no return, and victory is inevitable."

Mao Husheng frowned and said: "If Chengdu is not defeated, and Zan Ding, Li Lu, Li Li and other captives have already chased after them, they will attack our army formation from behind." How is it good for our army to be attacked before and after? ”

Yuan Ziqiao said: "If you are united, Ming Gong has the intention of seeking death, and the soldiers are not greedy. Where will they fall into the predicament of being attacked before and after?

"As for Zan Ding and other departments, in recent years, the Li family has killed meritorious ministers, Tianshui and other six county heroes, Tang Shi Gaomen in Shu, including even his uncles and nephews of the Li family, have long been killed empty, and the people's morale and morale in Shu are so low that they can no longer be low, as long as Chengdu is a moment, Zan Ding, Li Lu, Li Li and other departments, I expect that they will inevitably collapse!"

In terms of not entangled with Zan Ding and others, not fighting a protracted war with the Shu soldiers, and choosing the key target of the operation in Chengdu, Yuan Ziqiao and Mao Husheng had the same opinion.

The difference of opinion is that Mao Husheng was worried that there were many Shu troops and was worried that he would fall into a dangerous situation of being attacked by the enemy on his back when attacking Chengdu, so he proposed to divide the troops to divide the Shu army; And Yuan Ziqiao has no such concerns, he thinks that Huan Meng brought a small number of troops to attack Shu, if there is any division of troops at this time, it is to weaken his own combat power, it is to bring about his own destruction, the best way should be to concentrate all the troops, all the troops to attack Chengdu, as long as Chengdu, Zan Ding and others are not to worry.

Mao Husheng asked: "Yuan Yang, are you sure that you can conquer Chengdu in one day?" ”

Yuan Ziqiao got down from the couch, held a feather fan on his chest, stood in the jade tent, raised his eyebrows, and said to Huan Meng: "Ming Gong, on the day of the battle, Ziqiao, please be the vanguard!" If you can't capture Chengdu within one day, you are willing to receive the punishment of the axe! ”

Xie Zhi, who was sitting on the side, looked at his fierce anger, sighed sincerely, patted his knees, and said, "Yuan Yang! Qing's small character is a sheep, but only with Qing's courage, the tiger is not as good as the tiger! He Huan Meng said, "Yuan Yang's strategy can be used!" ”

Huan Meng is a brave man, who dares to survive in death, and he agrees with Yuan Ziqiao's strategy more than Mao Husheng's plan.

He hesitated for a moment, glanced at Mao Husheng, and said slowly: "Mao's strategy for joining the army is to become old and stable; Uncle Yan's strategy is full of sharpness. Indeed, as Uncle Yan said, our military is lonely for thousands of miles, Chengdu this battle, can only win, can not be defeated, at this moment, 'for example, two rats fight in the hole, the brave will win', it is not appropriate to do the old strategy, it is advisable to use Ruiman. ”

decided to make a desperate bet and adopt Yuan Ziqiao's strategy.

Next.

Leaving Zhou An, Zhou Chu's father and son, and General Anxi's Sun Sheng to join the army, guarding Pengmo and taking care of the baggage.

Huan Mengqin led 8,000 soldiers, carrying three days' rations, under the guidance of the natives, did not take the main road, traveled on the small road, marched lightly, and rushed to Chengdu a hundred miles away in the north.

……

Under the city of Nanzheng, Xiner military camp.

As soon as Li Liang arrived outside the camp, before he entered, he heard the sound of drums in the camp.

He listened attentively, and the war drums beat out the order to pull out the camp.

Li Liangxin said: "I heard General Beigong say that General Zheng plans to take Zitong in the south, is this going to send troops?" ”

He guessed right.

Just yesterday, when Huanmeng held a military meeting, Xin Er also held a military meeting in the camp.

Of course, what they discussed was not how to attack Chengdu, but when to launch an offensive in the next direction of attack.

The next direction of attack, Xin Er had already set before leaving Guyin, which was Qin De and Tang Shou of Zitong County.

At that time, the good news of the praise had not yet reached Xiner, and Xiner and others did not know that the praise had been completed.

However, the overall situation in Hanzhong has been decided, and this will not hinder their discussion of the next military action.

Tang Ai proposed: "Before the Ming Duke sent troops from Guyin to attack Shu, he had already planned to take Hanzhong first, and then take Qin De and Tang Shou of Zitong County according to the situation. In the next, the five counties of Hanzhong, Chuyang, Nanzheng has Ke, Baozhong into the turtle in the urn, and the rest, Chenggu and Xixiang. There are not many defenders in Chenggu and Xixiang, and a partial division can be begged. In other words, Hanzhong has basically been conquered.

"Although there has been no military report from Huan Jingzhou recently, it is foreseeable that in the short term, the Jingzhou soldiers will start a fierce battle with the main force of the Shu army near Chengdu. Qin De and Tang Shou in Zitong are only 300 miles away from Chengdu, and at this moment, the guards in these two places must be panicked,...... Ming Gong, I will take advantage of the situation to take it westward, so as to realize the opportunity to plan before sending troops! ”

Qinde and Tangshou are the two counties of Zitong County.

In later generations, the famous Jianmen and Jiameng two passes were located in these two counties.

But why did Xin Er set the strategy of taking Hanzhong first, and then Qin De and Tang Shou before the war?

This starts from the geographical relationship between Guanzhong, Hanzhong and Shuzhong Basin.

The middle of the Han Dynasty is located between Guanzhong and Shuzhong, separated from Guanzhong by the Qinling Mountains in the north, and separated from Shuzhong by Yiba Mountain in the south.

From Guanzhong to cross the Qinling Mountains and enter Hanzhong, there are four roads in total, namely Chencang Road, Bao Slope Road, Fu Camel Road, and Meridian Road.

From Hanzhong over Bashan, into Shuzhong, there are also a total of four roads, which are Yinping Road, Jinniu Road, Micang Road and Yangba Road.

Among the four roads from Hanzhong to Shuzhong, the most important is the Golden Bull Road.

The Golden Bull Road passes through Chuyang, enters Zitong County, passes through Qinde and Tangshou, and travels all the way to the southwest to Fuxian (Mianyang), and finally arrives in Chengdu. That is to say, as long as Qin De and Tang Shou can control the western section of this road, it is equivalent to cutting off the connection between Hanzhong and Shuzhong, so that not only can the garrison of Hanzhong be guaranteed, but also can go south into Shu at any time.

It is precisely because of such an important strategic position of these two places that Xin Er set these two places as targets before the war.

Tang Ai said: "Ming Gong, Qin De, Tang Shou important land, Jianmen is dangerous, Huan Jingzhou is defeated, our army is ten times more numerous, I am afraid it will be difficult to capture; And if Huan Jingzhou wins, Qin De and Tang Shou will definitely surrender to him, and they will not have it for me. The time will not come again, and it will be now! ”

Xin Er thought so deeply and accepted Tang Ai's suggestion.

Unlike Huanmeng's desperate attempt to attack Chengdu, Xin Er divided his troops into two ways, on the one hand, he passed on Beigong Yue, telling him to attack Chenggu and Xixiang counties after he laid Baozhong, and on the other hand, he ordered the three armies to stop resting and recuperate, and pulled out the camp today.