There are three Shu counties bordering Wudu and Yinping.

They are Hanzhong, Zitong and Wenshan.

Hanzhong County is in the easternmost part; Zitong County (Mianyang) is in the middle; Wenshan County is in the far west.

Among them, Hanzhong mainly borders Wudu; Zitong and Wenshan are mainly bordered by Yinping.

Among the three counties, Xin Er has already decided to attack Hanzhong first.

This is because Zitong County is in the middle of the three counties, once there is an incident, Hanzhong and Wenshan can rush to help, or they will fall into a bitter battle, and it will be defeated, and the east and west sides are enemies, which is not conducive to defending and further wars; However, the location of Wenshan County was too far west, which did not help to improve the offensive and defensive posture of the troops stationed in Dingxi Qinzhou and Puqin Tianshui County.

From the perspective of geographical situation, among the three counties, it is also the most important in Hanzhong.

If Hanzhong County can capture this place, it will not only greatly improve the situation of Qinzhou in the short term, but also greatly benefit Dingxi in the long run.

To the north and northeast of Hanzhong County are Fufeng County and Shiping County of Puqin and Xianyang, the capital of Puqin, separated by the Qinling Mountains.

If you attack Hanzhong from Puqin, the first thing you will face is the dangerous mountain, the Qinling Mountains, which stretch for more than 1,000 miles, can choose from a few marching routes that can pass through the army, only a few passages between the valleys such as the Meridian Road and the Bao Slope Road.

At the end of the Qin Dynasty in the previous generation, the world was in turmoil, and there were also separatist forces in Shuzhong, and there was no unified north and south of the Cheng Dynasty at that time, and attacked Shuzhong several times, all of which were returned due to the danger of the road and defeat.

After being posthumously named Emperor Chengwu, the de facto founder of the Cheng Dynasty, after an attack on Hanzhong, for a long time, every time he recalled the war, he would sigh to his subordinates, saying: "Nanzheng is like a heavenly prison, and the slope valley road in the middle is like a stone cave for five hundred miles." "Bao slope road, the north entrance is called oblique, the south entrance is called Bao, the slope valley road, that is, a section of the north side of the slope road. Heavenly Hell is the name of several dangerous terrains in the Art of War, "the height of the mountain is called the pillar of heaven." The height of Zezhong is called the pillar of the land. Under high school, it is called heavenly hell. Below, in the middle, it is called hell". It can be seen how easy it is to defend and difficult to attack.

As for the meridian road, the folk proverb says: "Mountains and rivers are dangerous, gold, meridian". Gold, speaking of the Golden Valley, is located one hundred and ten miles east of Nanzheng, Hanzhong County; Meridian is the meridian road.

All in all, attacking Hanzhong County from the north is difficult and difficult when Hanzhong is prepared.

However, if you attack from Wudu in the west, you can avoid most of the Qinling Mountains, although you also need to climb over the mountains and cross the mountain roads, but in comparison, it is easier.

The military camp outside the city of Wudu County, the big tent.

Xin Yi smiled and said to Ling Huqu: "After I entered Wudu County from Longxi County, I observed along the way and noticed that many dock forts were demolished in the counties and townships I passed, and there were more than thirty or forty of them together. The general governed the military capital well, and lived up to the recommendation of the Duke of Lang and the Duke of Lang Zhongling. When I return to the court, I will write to the court and ask for a commendation to the general. ”

Most of the demolished dock forts were built by Rong people, and some of them belonged to local Tang people.

Since Ling Huqu arrived in Qinzhou and Wudu, he has indeed been conscientious and conscientious, and he has worked hard to reuse Li Liang and other Qinzhou people who have served under his account, and on the other hand, he has recruited the local Rong chieftains, small rates and talented and brave people in the Tang people, buying, dividing, and attacking, and all kinds of measures have been taken together.

Linghu Qu, as a general of Jianwu, supervised the military of the three counties of Qinzhou, and the history of Qinzhou's assassination, led the military capital too much, and when it came to official character and power, he was definitely a powerful figure in Dingxi, but in front of Xin Er, he was very respectful.

He replied humbly: "Qu De is weak and inferior, these are not the merits of the lower officials, it is all thanks to Li Liang and Ma Hui who have planned and taken the lead, but they have to destroy a total of one hundred and thirty-seven forts in the county, and kill the treacherous and rebellious chieftains Rong and Tang Hao forty-two. ”

Xin Er said: "Li Liang, Ma Hui? He looked at the people in the tent and asked, "Can these two gentlemen sit in the middle?" ”

There were more than 30 people sitting in the tent, in addition to the civil and military officials who followed Xin Er here, the officials of Linghuqu's mansion were also there.

Ling Huqu replied, "Yes." ”

It is recommended for Xin Er.

The two officers who were seated at the end of the tent stood up and saluted.

Xin Er looked over and saw these two people, one with a burly figure with small eyes, and the other with a middle-aged figure and a swift demeanor, which prevented the two of them from reporting their names, and said with a smile: "You two don't say their names first, let me guess." Pointing to the tall man, he said, "Qing Bi Li Liang." Referring to the person in the shape of the person, he said, "Therefore, it should be Ma Hui." He asked the two of them, "Am I right?" ”

Ma Huisheng has a red face, probably only a few years old, his beard is not very long, he has a short hair under his chin, and his voice is a little sharp, like a sharp weapon rubbing on a stone surface. He said: "The next official is Ma Hui. Ming Gong has a discerning eye, and he can guess it! ”

Li Liang squinted his eyes and said in his heart: "No culture is no culture." Can you use 'discernment' here? Discerning heroes, are you praising Xin Gong, or are you praising yourself? But he didn't look for words to pat Xin Er's sycophants, and only replied to Xin Er plainly, "Xiaguan Li Liang, meet Ming Gong." ”

Xin Er smiled and said: "The names of Li Jun and Ma Jun, in fact, I have heard of them for a long time. Especially Li Jun, the last time the lieutenant attacked Ran Xing, Li Jun made a lot of contributions. The lieutenant has also mentioned Li Jun's meritorious deeds to me many times, and I have met Li Jun for a long time! He smiled and said to Ma Hui, "It's been less than a year since you joined the army, right?" And Ma Jun's reputation for bravery, I have also heard of it in Wangcheng! ”

Ma Hui's family is a native of Wudu, when Wudu was under the rule of Ran Xing, the place was restless, the Tang and Rong people in the territory often had fights, fights and plundered each other, he in order to protect himself, at first gathered the clansmen, built a dock to the outside of the palace, and later Koji Shuo attacked Ran Xing, he then had the intention of voting to the west, but immediately, Koji Shuo retreated, so he had to stop; When it came to Koji Shuang's attack on Ranxing, he seized the opportunity this time and came decisively.

It's just that most of the people used by Koji Shuang are the old generals of the Koji family, so he can't squeeze in and can't get it to great use; Later, Lu Shuang led the triumphant victory, and he was left to Linghu Qu. Linghu Qu was thirsty for talent, valued Ma Hui's martial arts, and promoted him greatly.

Li Liang and Ma Hui didn't expect Xin Er to be so clear about the experience of the two of them, and they were all unconsciously moved.

Li Liang said: "How dare you slander the public ear with a cheap name!" Ming Gong praises falsely, brightly, and is ashamed. ”

Ma Hui said: "Hui, it's just a martial artist, General Jianwu doesn't think Hui is stupid, he uses it personally, Hui only fights bravely to kill thieves in return!" "Angrily asked Xin Er to fight, "Ming Gong is now in Hanzhong, Hui dares to ask for Ming Gong's pawn!" ”

One of the people sitting in the middle coughed, smiled gently, and said, "Captain Ma is loyal and honest, which is commendable." This time to attack Shu, the Ming Duke has already made a decision, with General Gao feint to attack Chuyang, General Zhenwu besieged Baozhong, and the Ming Duke led the main forces such as General Beigong and Bald Captain to attack Nanzheng. Captain Ma is under the command of General Zhenwu, and he must be able to make great contributions to the Ming Dynasty in the first battle of Baozhong! ”

It was Ling Hujing who spoke.

The people who could sit in the tent at this time were all high-ranking officials under Xin Er and Ling Huqu, and none of them were stupid.

After listening to Ling Hujing's words, Tang Ai looked at him, and said in his heart: "Ling Hujing's words sound tactful, and his intentions are clear, but he is obviously guarding against Ming Gong like fire and water, for fear that his brother Ling Hu Qu's fierce general Ma Hui will be asked to leave by Ming Gong, weakening Ling Hu Qu's troops." Hehe, although I have never paid much attention to the political situation, but the brothers Ling Hujing and Ling Huqu, together with Fan Kuan and Chen Sun, have the intention of opposing Ming Gong, but I still know it, and now it seems that it is not false at all! ”

Blink of an eye, he looked at Xin Er, and saw that Xin Er was silent, as if he didn't hear the meaning of Ling Hujing's words, Tang Ai couldn't help but think again, "It's also weird!" Knowing that Linghujing and Linghuqu couldn't get along with him, Ming Gong cut down Shu this time, but why did he deliberately play the court and remove Linghujing as a member of the army? If you don't cut down Shu, that's it; If he can defeat Hanzhong and make Hujing in the army, a credit is indispensable, isn't Ming Gong 'the enemy', and he is helping Linghujing to gain a higher reputation for no reason? ”

Studied but cannot comprehend.

Tang Ai's interest is not in politics, and if he doesn't understand, forget it.

He shook his feather fan, interrupted Xin Er's small talk with Ma Hui and Li Liang, and followed Ling Hujing's words and said, "Duke Ming, the news of our army's arrival in Wudu should soon be heard by Hanzhong County. The western attack on Hanzhong, although it is easier than the northern attack, but there are also overlapping peaks for the obstacle, Ai's foolishness, it is not advisable to stop in Wudu for too long, rest for three or two days, let the soldiers recover and recover their strength, and then they can advance westward and attack! ”

……

Yuan Ziqiao and Zhou Chu led 2,000 troops first, out of the boundary of Jingzhou, into Fuling County, the county has prepared a large number of boats, the two of them took the troops to change the waterway, all the way to the sail, along the Yangtze River west.

Fuling and Ba County and Jiangyang County to the west of Fuling were defeated by Yu Zhe's troops in the early years, and now belong to the Jiangzuo Imperial Court. There are no enemies in the three counties. Yuan Ziqiao and Zhou Chu were unimpeded, and within a few days, the soldiers went to Jiangzhou (Chongqing), the county of Ba County.

The march has reached this point, and most of the journey to Chengdu has been completed.

Further west from Ba County, it is still along the Yangtze River, about 200 miles to the northwest, that is, Jiangyang County, the county of Jiangyang County. From Jiangyang, continue to the west along the Yangtze River, about 300 miles, it is the county of Qianwei County, Wuyang County.

Chengdu, the capital of the Li clan in Shuzhong, is just north of Wuyang, and the distance between the two places is only 100 miles.

After Yuan Ziqiao and Zhou Chu discussed, they decided to wait for Huan Meng in Ba County.

The total number of Tang soldiers in the entire Jingzhou and the states under the supervision of Huan Meng, there are almost thirty or forty thousand foot cavalry, after all, compared to Shuzhong, the Wei State in the north is the primary enemy of Jiangzuo, although Yuan Ziqiao judged that Wei State will not attack, but it is not possible to transfer all the troops to attack Shu, and not only can not transfer all the troops to attack Shu, the defense of Wei is still the top priority, is, this time to attack Shu, Huan Meng's total number of soldiers and horses, only more than 10,000 people, of which there are thousands of B soldiers, and the elite soldiers are actually only about 10,000 people.

-- The Jiangzuo court was slow to reply to Huanmeng's request for war, except for political reasons, at the military level, the ruling ministers of the DPRK and China had two concerns, one was that Shuzhong was dangerous, and the other was that Huanmeng could use too few soldiers and horses.

With only 10,000 people, they dared to cut down Shu and carry out a war to destroy the country.

Although Yuan Ziqiao's analysis of the situation in Shu is excellent, as the chief officer, Huan Meng, who will have to bear all the responsibility if he is defeated, is even more courageous.

Huan Meng led the main force of more than 8,000 people, plus more than 20,000 B soldiers and servants, a total of more than 30,000 parts, and thousands of heavy vehicles, vast, because of the road that Yuan Ziqiao and Zhou Chu passed, from behind, behind Yuan Ziqiao and Zhou Chu for four or five days.

After boarding the ship in Fuling County, on this day, I will go to Ba County.

The high mountains on both sides of the strait are facing each other, the rock walls are steep, and the grass and trees have not yet withered in early winter.

Standing at the bow of the ship, the eyes are full of turbid currents, and the waves are fast; Red, yellow, and green are dyed all over the two banks; More than a dozen warships opened the way in front, and thousands of large and small ships followed around, with a forest of masts and white sails reflecting the sun.

Huan Meng wrapped in a big curtain, holding a feather fan, like a scribe, surrounded by many advisers and generals, looked around, raised his eyes towards the side of the cliff, the mountain is continuous, high and hundreds of feet, as if the sky is hanging, looking up from the boat, only to feel like to press down from both sides.

Thinking of the layers of opposition encountered during the pre-war planning, and the various difficulties encountered in preparing for the battle, and then thinking of this, Bajun is coming, this war to destroy Shu is about to start, will it be won? Or will it fail? We'll find out soon.

Huan Meng felt something.

He looked at the sky and said to everyone: "Last winter, I rode the snow to hunt, and I met Wang and Liu Zhujun. Liu Jun teased me and asked, 'What does the old thief want to do this?' 'Because they saw me in my armor, and carried my bow and arrows, I also carried them. I grabbed the bow and said, 'If I don't do this, how can I sit down and talk?' 'Gentlemen, talk about Guya, but now Shenzhou has fallen, and the north is late, if you want to recover my China, you still need to win a decisive battle!

He was full of eloquence, far and near, and said in a loud voice, "Shu is dangerous in the sea, and it is true!" However, if the Li clan is not destroyed, our dynasty will not be able to devote itself to the Northern Expedition. The Three Gorges is more dangerous, Chengdu is more solid, for the recovery of China, it is imperative to cut down Shu! Looking back at the dangers of the mountains and rivers, he took care of the ministers, shook his sleeves and waved his fan, and sighed, "Wow! If you are a loyal minister, you must not be a filial son! How is it? ”

If you want to be a loyal minister, you can't look ahead and backward, and you can't be greedy for life and afraid of death!

Above the surging river, the strong wind swept the placket.

Sun Sheng, Zhou Fu, Cheng Wuji and others, who were left and right from the service Huanmeng, heard his remarks and looked at his appearance, and they were all heartbroken.

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