The generals and strategists under Liu Zhang's command argued endlessly over what path to take, and gradually divided into several factions.

Those who support taking the Qishan Road, those who support taking the Bao Slope Road, and those who support the Meridian Road are arguing with each other anyway.

Liu Zhang originally supported taking the Qishan Road, but after being persuaded by a group of officials, he felt that there was no need to waste too much grain and grass to attack Liangzhou, and he could directly take Chang'an, so isn't Liangzhou just a piece of fat that is passed down?

Go directly to the Meridian Valley, and take Chang'an directly with the least amount of grain and grass and consumption.

This suggestion was sternly refuted by Pang Xi's military division and the wine sacrifice method.

"Meridian Valley is indeed the closest to Chang'an, but how difficult the road to Meridian Valley is, do you really know? If you want to go to the Meridian Valley, you need to use manpower to carry the grain and grass forward, once you encounter danger, you will lose your ground, is this what you want to see? ”

Fa Zheng was very dissatisfied with those who were greedy for merit and rashness.

I don't understand any military common sense, so I take it for granted that I want to take the nearest road, if this road is so easy to walk, why did Yu Xu spend a lot of effort to rebuild the road in Wudu?

It is because although this road is the shortest and most direct to the destination, it is the most difficult to walk, a single business trip may be okay, the army marches a lot, there are many heavy carts and horses, and taking this road is simply a nightmare, a nightmare within a nightmare!

"It's not that we can't take the other path, but we have to make trade-offs, what our purpose is, what our plans are, and who the enemy we are facing! Our goal is to take Chang'an, but taking Chang'an is the ultimate goal, as long as we can achieve the goal, it doesn't matter what method we use. ”

Fa Zheng preached loudly, spitting Xingzi flew straight, desperately expressing his opinion: "The exit of Qishan Road is in Hanyang County, we take Qishan Road, we can take Hanyang County directly through Wudu County, Wudu County can send a partial division to attack, and the main force can directly enter Hanyang County, and then enter Longyou!" ”

Fazheng's plan was very radical and caused dissatisfaction among many people.

"Isn't the target we are waiting for Chang'an? If it wasn't for the purpose of taking Chang'an, why did we wait for the Northern Expedition? It's good for you to take Chang'an now, not only don't you take Chang'an, but you also want to take Longyou? What is the rationale for this? ”

Wang Shang reprimanded Fa Zheng: "You are joking with the king's inheritance!" ”

Fa Zheng glared angrily, and said angrily: "Guanzhong is under the rule of Guo Zifeng, there is a unified order and command, and the army that has just won is stationed in Guanzhong, and the morale is high.

Liangzhou is scattered, the large and small armies will be chaotic and divided, up to more than ten people, the most powerful are Ma Teng and Han Sui, but Liangzhou has no unified order at all, not even a unified order, and the battle must be fought separately, and it will be easily broken by our army! ”

Fa Zheng slapped the table vigorously: "Is it easier to capture a Guanzhong with a unified order, or is it easier to deal with a group of defeated generals who are fighting separately?" ”

Fazheng's statement has been supported by many people, and Pang Xi is very supportive of Fazheng.

Liu Zhang was still a little hesitant.

Seeing Liu Zhang's hesitation, Fa Zheng decided to take out the killer idea, put his hand on the map and pointed it to Liu Zhang.

"King, you see, this is Longyou, Longyou is the place where the shape is victorious, bordering Shuzhong in the south by the Qinling Mountains, west by Hexi, north of the Yellow River, east according to Longshan, especially Longshan, stretching for hundreds of miles, cutting off Longyou and Guanzhong.

This is an excellent line of defense that can resist the attack of the Guanzhong army, our army can send troops to defend the passes of Longshan after conquering this place, blocking Guo Peng's attack, so that the west of Longshan can be cut off, it is a piece of meat, and the king can eat when he wants.

Guangwu time, Guangwu Emperor sent tens of thousands of troops to Long, Kui Huan general Wang Yuansai cut off Longdao, stick to Longdi, the army feint unfavorable, then forced to withdraw to Guanzhong, and then Kui Huan to Longyou projectile land actually resisted the Guangwu army for four years, four years! ”

Fa Zheng told Liu Zhang about this famous battle example, and immediately helped Liu Zhang understand the importance of the land of Longyou to Shu.

Liu Zhang felt a little suddenly enlightened.

Seeing Liu Zhang's moved, Pang Xi hurriedly struck while the iron was hot.

"Capture Liangzhou, you can look at Guanzhong in the upper reaches of Guanzhong, he comes to attack, our army is holding Longdi, he does not come, wait for our army to annex Liangzhou, Tuntian Longyou, after full preparation, you can attack Guanzhong on both sides.

Unless Guo Zifeng marches in two ways, once he enters, our army can follow closely behind and divide his troops to attack his rear, and he has to leave the army to defend and defend, how many troops can attack?

And now that Guo Zifeng has just finished this battle, it should be when the army is tired, take advantage of his inability to attack, take advantage of his inability to attack, and occupy Liangzhou first, we can be invincible, stand in an invincible position, and want to do something more, isn't it a very simple thing? ”

After Pang Xi finished speaking, Fa Zheng continued: "Longyou not only has a physical victory, but also war horses, Longyou is rich in horses, Longyou cavalry is famous all over the world, if our army can win Longyou, you can spend time training a strong cavalry team, let alone worry about Guo Zifeng's cavalry, and can compete with each other on the battlefield." ”

Pang Xi's strong support and Fa Zheng's strong eloquence made the balance in Liu Zhang's heart gradually move closer to Fa Zheng and Pang Xi.

After thinking about it for a while, Liu Zhang decided to follow the advice of Pang Xi and Fa Zheng, concentrate on marching from Qishan Road, go north to Longyou, take Longyou, and then take Liangzhou, and then try to pass Guanzhong.

Although there were still admonishments, Liu Zhang's determination had already been set.

While Guo Peng was busy rectifying Guanzhong after his victory, he took Liangzhou, and after getting Liangzhou, even if Guo Peng accumulated grain and grass to occupy Guanzhong, he could not continue to threaten Liu Zhang.

Otherwise, it's two sides of the enemy, and that's perfect.

Liu Zhang looked at the future marked on the map with a smile, and felt that his life could be guaranteed.

Your own foundation will also succeed, so in the future, it seems that it is not impossible to plot a little, work a little hard, and be an emperor or something, right?

In mid to late April of the fifth year of Xingping, the Shu army under the command of Pang Xi had already begun to prepare for the Northern Expedition in Hanzhong, and at that time, Liu Zhang also deliberately returned to Chengdu to allocate various resources to support Pang Xi.

With the strong assistance of the Dongzhou people, a large number of resources from Shu were mobilized and all sent to Hanzhong, some of which were from the government treasury, and the remaining part was naturally a temporary tax from Yizhou.

Additional taxes to support the Northern Expedition.

In the end, I don't think it's enough, so what should I do?

Borrow.

Of course, this borrowing has to be marked with double quotation marks, whether people are willing to take it out or forced to hand it over, it's really hard to say.

Anyway, in the eyes of Dongzhou people, Yizhou people are willing to hand over food and materials.

Truckloads were sent north, and the road from Chengdu to Hanzhong was full of cars and horses, all of which were people transporting supplies to the past and back.

In this way, with the efforts of the people of Dongzhou, Liu Zhang put together the material army needed for the Northern Expedition, and basically had the foundation for the Northern Expedition.

In mid-to-late June, the news of Guo Peng's victory and the defeat of the Liangzhou people reached Hanzhong, confirming Fazheng's previous speculation.

So Liu Zhang arrived in Hanzhong again, and after some debate, he decided to take the Qishan Road again, and then Liu Zhang held a swearing-in meeting in Hanzhong, making Pang Xi, the former general of the Shu Kingdom, the commander of the whole army, lead the Liangzhou Assassin History, lead the whole army to the Northern Expedition, and further create meritorious service for the Shu Kingdom.

The Northern Expedition to Liangzhou is confirmed!

Everyone, beat the water dogs!

Let's go!

Pang Xi gave an order, and the 50,000 Shu army began to march.