The reason why Liu Cong chose to march from Shangyong to Shuzhong is also closely related to Liu Cong's identity as a traverser, the Han River and the Yangtze River converge in Jiangxia, and fork all the way to the west, and there is already a Shenlong frame and Daba Mountain between Zigui and Yidu.

The Yangtze River is the second choice to attack Shu, and it is not easy for the navy to cross the Yangtze River to reach Jiangzhou (Chongqing). Compared with the treacherous topography of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, the Han River from Xiangyang to Hanzhong is relatively much more relaxed.

Moreover, occupying the area of Shangyong and Fangling also ensured the safety of the upper reaches of Xiangyang, and at the same time restrained Zhang Lu's forces, which was also an explanation to Liu Zhang. Starting from Yidu, through Baokang, it will go out of Jingzhou and enter Fangling County, Hanzhong County, and then along the narrow plain, passing between Shenlongjia and Wudang Mountain, and soon it will be Shangyong.

After half a month of intensive preparations, all aspects are ready. Liu Cong said goodbye to the wives and concubines and embarked on the journey, and before leaving, he smiled at the wives and concubines: "When I come back from Yizhou, Lin'er, you have to teach me to play the piano, my piano can't keep up with yours at all." And the three of you have to educate Ji'er well! ”

Although Liu Cong was full of smiles, Cai Lin, Wen Rui and Ah Ying were all reluctant, and even had tears in their eyes. Because Liu Cong had explained to a few people in private, he would have to take Yizhou to be a teacher when he went to Shuzhong. It can be as little as one year, as much as three or five years. These women are all young and reluctant. And there are no eyes on the battlefield, but as women of this era, they can only silently pray in their hearts that Liu Cong will triumph as soon as possible.

Only Han Yi was full of smiles, because she insisted on joining the army. The reason is that Liu Cong needs someone to take care of him, and Han Yi is the only one among the four women who practices martial arts, and his skills are not bad. In the defense of Fancheng, she had a precedent of assisting medical officers in treating the wounded and sick.

Liu Cong has always been unable to resist her, so he can only let her follow.

The news that Liu Cong raised an army to attack Zhang Lu came out, and Yizhou was shaken. On the Chengdu side, those who opposed Liu Cong's entry into Shu also kept their mouths shut for the time being, because Liu Cong chose to attack Zhang Lu directly from Shangyong instead of going straight along the Yangtze River to Chengdu. No one can say that Liu Cong is a wolf with ambition!

And Zhang Song, Xu Jing and others also breathed a sigh of relief, Liu Zhang was also very impressed by Liu Cong's move, and secretly rejoiced in his heart, in the end, it was the Han clan relatives from the same king. Therefore, he has more trust in Zhang Song, Xu Jing and others. At the same time, he ordered the soldiers and horses to be reorganized, prepare grain and grass, and be ready to send troops to join Liu Cong at any time.

Zhang Lu was extremely depressed, Zhong Xuan wanted to conquer Hanzhong, he was originally at odds with Liu Zhang, and there was no way out, and now Liu Cong also came to join in the fun. If it's just Liu Zhang, Zhang Lu is not only, even if Zhong Xuan is added, Zhang Lu can still hold on, because there is Yangping Pass in the north of Hanzhong, and Jiameng Pass in the south.

There are these two passes are heavily guarded, and although the Yongfang Mausoleum on the east side of Hanzhong County is sandwiched between two mountains, the garrison force is not enough. If Liu Cong is allowed to break through, Liu Cong may drive up the river and straight into Hanzhong.

Moreover, Liu Cong's past prestige, if Zhang Lu had to choose an enemy between Zhong Xuan, Liu Zhang and Liu Cong, Zhang Lu would never choose Liu Cong! However, Liu Cong has already set out for the expedition, and what Zhang Lu can do is to continue to recruit troops, and then intercept Liu Cong along the way and delay him to join Liu Zhang! Only by preventing the union of the two Liu clansmen can Hanzhong be able to stand alone in this era of strife.

As for the future, Zhang Lu did not think about it that far, and he could not control the development of the situation.

Zhang Lu immediately convened his subordinates to discuss countermeasures, and his brother Zhang Wei said: "Now Hanzhong is facing three enemies, and the most dangerous in Hanzhong is Yangping Pass; The north can be around the pass, by the mountains and forests, under more than ten fences, I am willing to lead the troops to meet the enemy Cao soldiers.

Fangling has no danger to defend, so the soldiers can retreat to the top, and Yang Ang and Yang Ren are the generals to refuse Liu Cong. Blocking these two ways, Liu Zhang is not afraid. Brother is in Hanning, and he allocates more grain and grass to deal with it. Zhang Lu Yiyan sent the general Yang Ang Yang Ren to lead 10,000 troops to support Shangyong, and his brother Zhang Wei led 10,000 troops to Yangping Pass.

Besides, Liu Cong's side raised 20,000 troops, divided into three parts, Wei Yan and Pang led 5,000 soldiers as the front vanguard, and Huang Shot led 3,000 troops together with nearly 10,000 people and 300 medical personnel as the rear. Liu Congzi is in the center with Fa Zheng and Zhao Yun. The entire Western Expedition Army, plus nearly 30,000 people who transported grain and grass, can be described as vast, and the Fangling County Commander has already learned the news.

Fangling (Fang County) belongs to the border county under the efforts of the county commander Wang Zi to maintain, the county soldiers are nearly 1,000 people, but the weapons are backward, the city wall is in disrepair all the year round, and since Liu Biao moved into Jingzhou, he has never moved the mind of Hanzhong, because the county soldiers in the county have not been trained all year round.

And from the geographical point of view, Fangling is the entrance to Daba Mountain and Qinling, not only far away from Hanzhong, but also very southbound, but from Xiangyang, Wancheng quite close, and a horse Pingchuan.

Although Fangling County belongs to Hanzhong County, but in the autumn of the previous year, the people of Fangling also heard about the battle between Cao Cao and Liu Cong in Fancheng, and the people of Fangling also heard about it. Cao Cao, who claimed to have an army of 800,000, was defeated by Liu Cong, and there was no way for them to do anything about the county soldiers who were only a thousand negligent in training and backward in weaponry.

And the wealthy families in the county were even more simply, and persuaded Wang Zi to open the city and surrender, so as not to hurt the innocent. Looking at the reactions of his colleagues and the wealthy families in the county, Wang Zi also had the intention to resist, but he was unable to implement it. Wang Zi, who made up his mind, ordered the county lieutenant to rectify the soldiers and horses in the city to maintain law and order, and at the same time sent sentinels to investigate the movements of Liu Cong's troops along the way.

When the pioneer Wei Yan appeared in the suburbs of Fangling, Wang Zi knelt down to greet both sides with the big and small officials in the city and the household registration book. For such a result, Wei Yan and Pang Tong had long expected it. 20,000 Jingzhou soldiers versus 1,000 county soldiers, Wang Zi could not have many choices, either abandon the city and flee, or surrender. Wang Zi chose to surrender, which shows that he is still a chief who knows the times.

Regarding the comparison between Liu Cong and Liu Zhang's joint forces and Zhang Lu, I am afraid that it is not difficult to distinguish the superior. And if Wang Zi chooses to abandon the city and flee, it may cause chaos in the county, and if the county soldiers and other bandits take advantage of the situation to smash and loot, Wang Zi will become a sinner.

Wang Zi surrendered, and Wei Yan sent someone to report to Liu Cong on the one hand, and led his troops into the city to take over Fangling County. Ascending to the heights and looking, Wei Yan, Pang Tong and others also had to sigh at Liu Cong's choice. This county, known as "Fangling" in ancient times, is named because of "thousands of miles of vertical and horizontal, mountains and forests are jammed, and its solid high tomb is like a room".

The county is located at the junction of Nanyang County and Hanzhong County, with Jingxiang in the east, Chang'an in the west, Shennongjia Forest Area in the south, and Wudang Mountain in the north. The Daba Mountains and the Wudang Mountains meet here, forming the famous Qingfeng Fault Zone and the topography of the west high and the east low, the south is steep and the north is gentle, and the middle is the river valley flat dam.

If heavy troops are deployed here, it will not be easy for Jingzhou to take Fangling. Fortunately, it is a smooth road on the east and north, and if it is a smooth road in the west and south, Zhang Lu must definitely send heavy troops to guard this place.

Of course, the most important thing is that the distance between Fangling and Xiangyang is less than half of that from Fangling to Hanzhong, and it is difficult to pay attention to such a remote county that needs to cross thousands of mountains and rivers and is close to the enemy area.

After inspecting Fangling, Wei Yan and Pang Tong were no longer as relaxed as when they first set out on the expedition. Fang Ling chose to surrender because there was no danger to defend in the east and north, but the upper and lower levels were completely different.

Therefore, when Liu Cong's army arrived at Fangling, Wei Yan proposed that Shangyong must be seized quickly, and he could not wait for Zhang Lu to send people to calmly send people to garrison. After listening to Wei Yan's statement and referring to Pang Tong's opinion, Liu Cong decided to let Wei Yan rush at night, but in order to prevent Wei Yan from rushing forward, he still continued to let Pang Tong and Yu Ban accompany him. After all, Fangling has always been subordinate to Hanzhong County, Yizhou, and it is necessary to naturalize people's hearts so that there will be no rebellion in Fangling in the future.

The county commander Wang Zi was naturally received by Liu Cong, and Liu Cong did not feel that Wang Zi was cowardly for Wang Zi's behavior, on the contrary, he welcomed this kind of person who knew the times. If this way passes, every county will desperately resist, just afraid that before they can join Liu Zhang, these 20,000 or 30,000 people will be exhausted. Therefore, it is the best choice to implement benevolent governance in Fangling and let everyone tell everyone to return to Jingzhou.