The land of Bashan Hanshui is located at the end of Qintou and Chuwei, more than 1,000 miles in length and width, connecting the north and south, and running through the east and west.

It belongs to Liangzhou, which is one of the ancient Kyushu, and its territory includes Hanzhong in addition to Bashu.

And the north of Ba and Shu is hundreds of miles from north to south, and more than 1,000 miles from east to west, which is under the jurisdiction of Hanzhong County of Chu State. To the east of Hanzhong County is the Jianghan region in the hinterland of Jingzhou Chu State, and to the north is the Qinguo State of Yongzhou and the Qinchuan River of Guanzhong.

The mountains are empty, the spring is all over the world, and the willows are like smoke.

Above the Han River, a boat is shuttling between the mountains, slowly going upstream.

There was a man on the boat, about twenty-seven or eighteen years old, seven feet tall, of medium height, with a beautiful face and bright eyes. Dressed in a tight cloth shirt, with bast shoes on his feet, and a delicate sword hanging from his waist.

The man was standing with his sword on the bow of the ship, watching the spring along the river and contemplating it.

The man was dressed in a very ordinary outfit, but the sword hanging from his waist was unusual.

Although this ship is not a large ship, the cabin is full of cargo, about 1,000 catties. And because it is against the current, it is not very fast.

In addition to the man who stood with his sword on the bow of the boat, there was also a boatman, and four boatmen who helped row, a total of six.

At this time, it is the spring of March, on both sides of the Han River, the new sprouts are green, a group of fresh and green, and the pair of egrets on the riverside sometimes chase and fly, sometimes land on the sandbar by the river.

"Guest officer, please don't be anxious, this place is already a mediocre place, if you go for another day and a half, you can reach Hanzhong before sunset tomorrow."

As the boatman rowed, he said to the man on the bow of the boat.

"As long as you can get there before dark tomorrow, you won't miss anything. Do not rest, but row all night. I'll pay you double the price. ”

The man with his sword in the bow of the boat did not look back, but stood in the bow of the boat and answered the boatman.

Who is this man who presses the sword?

Where did he come from?

What are you going to Hanzhong for?

And what is the cargo on board?

……

Eight hundred years ago, King Wu fell, Makino fought a battle, the soldiers defected, and the king of Wu set himself on fire and died.

So the Zhou Dynasty Yin Shang and the world, Zhou with Hojing as the capital, divided the princes, guarded the Zhou royal family, and ruled the four seas. Because the capital is Guanzhong, it is called the Western Zhou Dynasty.

When the king of Zhou You, the dog Rong killed the king of Zhou You, and Ji Yi, the son of the king of You, scooped east and moved to Luoyang, as the king of Zhou Ping, which was the beginning of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

Since the beginning of Eastern Monday, Zhou Tianzi's power has gradually declined, and he cannot control and restrain the princes of the world.

As a result, the princes and countries attacked each other, disputes continued, and there was no righteous war in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the smoke rolled up in the sky, which lasted for about 200 years, also known as the Spring and Autumn Period.

Since the three families of Han, Zhao and Wei were divided into Jin and Tian dynasties, there were seven great vassal states in the world, namely the seven kingdoms of Qin, Han, Qi, Chu, Zhao, Wei, and Yan. This lasted for more than 200 years, and the seven kingdoms attacked each other continuously, and the wars were endless, which is also called the Warring States Period.

In the late Warring States period, Zhou Tianzi had declined to the point that only a large part of Luoyang City was left, and he really ordered not to leave Luoyang City.

Because Zhou Tianzi was the co-lord of the world, the princes still kept him in Luoyang and nominally worshipped him. Otherwise, the Zhou royal family would have been destroyed for many years.

At this time, the Qin State in the West was very powerful, and for the six Eastern States, the comprehensive national strength of a single country had already occupied an overwhelming advantage.

Qin's war machine is in motion, and it can mobilize nearly a million tiger and wolf divisions, which will pose a huge threat to the six eastern countries.

This was something that the monarchs and nobles of the Six Kingdoms were deeply worried about......

……

Among the six countries, the state of Chu is located in the south, with a vast land and vast territory, and is a first-class power in the Warring States Period.

The state of Chu is thousands of miles away, and its territory occupies almost half of the world, and it has the capital to compete with the state of Qin.

At that time, there was a saying in the world that "the horizontal is the Qin Emperor, and the vertical is the Chu King".

In 316 B.C., the two kingdoms of Ba and Shu in the south attacked each other, and both appealed to Qin for urgent help, and Qin was preparing to send troops to take advantage of the opportunity to collect the two kingdoms.

The state of Chu carefully investigated the news and quickly reported back to the king of Chu.

At that time, the king of Chu was Xiong Huai, the king of Chu Huai, and when he heard that the two kingdoms of Bashu were attacking each other, and the Qin state wanted to send troops, he convened his ministers in the capital of Yingdu to discuss. King Chu Huai asked his ministers: "The attack of the two kingdoms of Bashu is the opportunity to subdue, and now the two kingdoms are believing Qin but not me, which is to despise the Chu State." What do you think? ”

Sanlu Doctor Qu Yuan said: "Qin is the country of tigers and wolves, and the wolf is ambitious and insatiable. Now we will inevitably take this opportunity to annex Bashu, and if Qin annexes Bashu, it will inevitably invade our Chu State later. The minister thought that he could not cultivate his momentum, and now the king should send a large army to collect Bashu before the Qin State! ”

When King Huai heard Qu Yuan's words, he was undecided, so Yin Zilan said: "The two kingdoms of Bashu ask for help from Qin, but they don't ask for help from Chu, because they are afraid of Qin more than me." If the king sends an army there, I am afraid that the two kingdoms will not listen, and it will inevitably be useless. ”

Ling Yin is the official title of the Chu State, ranking first among the ministers, and his status is equivalent to that of the prime minister.

Zilan said to Qu Yuan again: "Doctor Sanlu is good at rhetoric, and his articles are gorgeous, but how can the use of soldiers be equivalent to the rhetoric of articles?" If the doctor persuades the king to send troops to compete with the Qin State for Bashu, I am afraid that the Chu State will have the humiliation of defeat. ”

Qu Yuan said again: "If you don't send troops to fight, Bashu will definitely be annexed by Qin." After the Qin State annexed Bashu, it was bound to take our Hanzhong land again. If the king sends troops to fight at this time, Hanzhong will be able to protect it. It can also warn the Qin State so that it does not dare to invade the south again. Otherwise, it is to show weakness to it, which will fuel the ambition of the wolf son of Qin. ”

Hearing this, Zilan said sharply: "The two kingdoms of Bashu are convenient for the Qin State and inconvenient for me." The Qin army is invincible in the world, and if the king sends troops, he will not be able to defeat the Qin state. Rather than this, it is better to keep the king's division and hold on to the territory. Doctor Sanlu misled the country and the king's words, I hope the king will not listen to it! ”

Qu Yuan was about to argue with each other, but King Huai stopped him: "You two have to argue, and I will consider this matter." ”

So he retreated, and the ministers retreated.

King Chu Huai wants to send troops to go, but he is afraid that it will be difficult to defeat the Qin army, and if he wants not to send troops, he will lose Bashu in vain, which will inevitably endanger Hanzhong. I thought about it all night, hesitated, and was depressed and irritable.

In the morning, the sentinel from the west came to report that the king of Qin had ordered the generals Sima Cuo, Keqing Zhang Yi, Du Weimo and others to lead the Qin army of 100,000 to set off from Xianyang, Guanzhong, and prepare to enter the Shiniu Road, and would enter the Sword Pavilion in the near future.

King Huai couldn't help but be shocked when he heard the news, hurriedly set up a court again, convened his ministers to discuss, and asked, "The Qin army has entered Shiniu Road. If the widow does not send troops, it will fuel the arrogance of the Qin army, and I am afraid that after it annexes Bashu, it will invade our Hanzhong again. What do you think? ”

Doctor Zhaosui said: "The king sent troops at this time, and he couldn't stop the Qin army. With the policy of the ministers, it is better to keep Hanzhong as the top, and now increase the number of troops in Hanzhong to prepare. ”

Qu Yuan said again: "The Qin army will be tired when it comes from afar to fight for Bashu, and if the king sends his army to stay in Hanzhong, he can wait for work and will be able to defeat the Qin army." The minister asked the king to send troops immediately, and he could still turn the situation around. ”

Zilan said: "The Qin army has already entered Shiniu Road, and it is too late for the king to send troops at this time. Besides, our army marched to Hanzhong, it was also a long journey, and the army was exhausted, how could we intercept the Qin army? The king is not allowed to send troops! ”

Doctor Shangguan said: "The minister also thinks so. The Qin army is invincible in the world and cannot be underestimated. If you rashly lead your division to intercept, the outcome is unpredictable, and I am afraid that I will offend the Qin State again, and if the Qin State is angry and attacks me, I am afraid that it will be unfavorable to the king. ”

King Huai was also worried about the strong soldiers of Qin, and did not dare to enter the army lightly, and the ministers were arguing endlessly, and suddenly reported to Chen Zhen from the Central Plains and asked to see the King of Chu, King Huai was overjoyed and said: "Chen Zi is erudite and knowledgeable, and he must have some knowledge." And please come in and meet the widow. ”

It turned out that Chen Zhen was a well-known columnist in the world, well-read and strong-remembered, eloquent and well-known. Going back and forth between the monarchs of the seven countries, it is easy to move. Now that he heard that the two kingdoms of Bashu were attacking each other, and the Qin army was coming to the rescue, Chen Zhen expected that the king of Chu would definitely not sit idly by, so he came to Yingdu in the starry night and asked to see King Huai.

King Huai was embarrassed by this matter and hesitated, when he suddenly heard that Chen Zhen was coming, he was naturally overjoyed.

Chen Zhen entered the palace and saw the king of Chu congratulating, the king of Chu returned the salute, and ordered him to sit in the chief, even though he respectfully asked: "Mr. came to the country this time, what advice do you have?" ”

Chen Zhen said: "I heard that the Qin State will collect Bashu, and I am afraid that the king will be uneasy, so I came to tell the king." ”

King Huai said: "The widow is just going to ask Mr. about this, please ask Mr. to decide for the widow!" The widow must obey the sir! ”

Chen Zhen said: "The two kingdoms of Bashu, the Qin State has been watching for a long time!" Now taking advantage of its internal fighting, the Qin State sent a teacher to save it, which is a gesture. Since the Qin army went to Bashu, it was bound to collect the two countries. If the king sends troops to fight for it, it will inevitably be fruitless, and he will also have a grudge against the Qin State. Therefore, the ministers advised the king not to send troops. ”

King Huai said: "Mr. Mingjian! However, if the widow does not send troops, I am afraid that the Qin State will think that the widow is cowardly and will fuel the arrogance of the Qin army, which will endanger the Han Central Land of the Chu State. ”

Chen Zhen said: "Don't worry, king. Qin and Bashu are bound to win. If the king sends troops to fight, he will inevitably offend the Qin State, so Qin and Chu will be evil, and if the king does not send troops, he will not offend the Qin State. The minister is the king's clear decision: Qin only takes Bashu this time, not Hanzhong. ”

Huai Wang said: "How can Mr. assert? If this is the case, the widow will not send troops. ”

Chen Zhen said: "Chu, a big country in the world, thousands of miles away, with a million." Even though Qin is stronger than the world, dare to offend Chu and Han for no reason? If the minister has a strategy, he will be able to keep Hanzhong for the king. ”

King Huai was overjoyed and said, "Sir, speak!" ”

Chen Zhen said: "Since the king does not want to be an enemy of the Qin State, he can form a good alliance with the Qin State. Now the Qin army collects Bashu, the king can prepare a number of gold silks, let people carry them to Hanzhong to stay, and when the Qin army collects Bashu and returns, so as to bribe the Qin army, the Qin army receives bribes, and then the king of Qin can say that Hanzhong is difficult to attack before the king of Qin. The minister then maneuvered around it, saying that Qin's capture of Hanzhong would do more harm than good. The king of Qin will definitely listen to it and will not attack Hanzhong again. In this way, there is the peace of Mount Tai in Hanzhong. ”

King Huai asked, "Very good, but how can King Qin listen to Mr. ”

Chen Zhen said again: "The king has 100,000 soldiers in Han, and he can protect himself for a while. If the king of Qin wants to capture Hanzhong, he must have 200,000 troops. If Qin mobilized 200,000 troops, the rear should be tight, and then the six countries could take the opportunity to join forces and attack Qin again. King Qin is not a stupid and stupid person, and he does not take such a big risk for the sake of a Hanzhong. Therefore, the minister concluded that the king of Qin would be able to listen to the minister's words. ”

King Huai was very happy when he heard this, and said, "Good Chenzi! If the king of Qin can listen to the words of the gentleman, the widow will use the gentleman's strategy. There is a large number of people in Han who guard the Zhao Rat, and now he can order the Zhao Rat to stand still. But I don't know who to artificially use to make friends with the Qin army? ”

Chen Zhen said again: "The king is wise! There is already one minister, who can be the king's messenger. ”

King Huai asked in surprise, "Who is the gentleman?" And for the widow. ”