Xiangyang City, a county under the rule of Nanjun, is located at the junction of Nanjun and Nanyang County.

At the beginning, when Liu Xian rode into Jingzhou, although he had the full support of the big families in Jingxiang, he only had the territory of one county in Nanjun.

Therefore, Liu Biao's state residence was located in Nanjun.

It's just that Jiangling City, the capital of Nanjun, is the Cai family's base nest, and Liu Biao doesn't want to take refuge under the Cai family's wings, so what's the difference with a puppet?

As a result, Xiangyang City became the location of Liu Biao's state residence.

At this time, Xiangyang City was a lonely city, and it was besieged by the 600,000 army led by Hao Meng himself.

Hao's army entered Jingzhou from Jiangdong, and in just over 20 days, the counties of the seven counties of Jingxiang were scrambling to surrender.

It is enough for the chief officials of the counties to come and surrender, and there are even generals in the army who directly lead the troops and horses of their troops to surrender. So, when Hao Meng led the army north to besiege Xiangyang City, he had 200,000 more soldiers and horses.

Hao Meng knew that there were reasons forced by the situation, but there were also big households in Jingxiang who were agitating.

Hao Meng's general trend has been achieved, four or five hundred thousand elite soldiers who have just gotten off the battlefield, sweeping Jingxiang is like a thunderbolt sweeping the hole, and Jingzhou cannot be used as a car. If so, how many of Jingxiang's big families, as well as those officials who were originally loyal to Liu Biao, are willing to follow Liu Biao to be buried?

Therefore, the seven counties of Jingxiang surrendered without a fight, and the officials and officials of Jingxiang rushed to vote, which is a matter of course.

However, with Liu Biao's admonition today, these officials and talents of big families in Jingxiang, Hao Meng will not easily reuse them.

Unless, one of them really has great talent, Hao Meng may be reluctant to use it.

……

Outside Xiangyang City, Hao's army of 600,000 people surrounded Xiangyang City layer after layer, and three naval fleets patrolled the Han River on the left side of Xiangyang City day and night. Xiangyang City is not only a lonely city, but also difficult for even a fly to cross.

Hao Meng besieged Xiangyang City but did not attack it, and there were three main reasons.

First, in the middle of winter, the moon is cold, and there have been two heavy snowfalls in the past 20 days, so it is really not suitable for a big war. If he hadn't wanted to take advantage of the aftermath of the Battle of Jiangdong and take advantage of the situation to enter Jingxiang, Hao Meng would have actually returned to Jinan City a long time ago.

The current climate is not suitable for a big war, but there is no problem in besieging Xiangyang City.

Second, there are 100,000 defenders in Xiangyang City, which is really in the hands of Liu Biao. If the city is forcibly attacked, and Liu Biao's 100,000 troops fight to the death, Hao Meng's soldiers and horses will also lose a lot, which is really not cost-effective.

Anyway, Xiangyang City is a lonely city, and after a period of siege, no matter how sufficient the grain and grass in Xiangyang City is, the soldiers and civilians in the city will not be able to withstand this kind of day when they cannot get out of the city.

Third, Hao Mengmeng wanted a complete Xiangyang City, not the ruined Xiangyang City after the Great War.

Therefore, if he can force Xiangyang City to surrender, Hao Meng will naturally not fight it.

What's more, the important strategists around Liu Biao, the Kuai brothers, although they have not come to surrender yet, they have already sent people to contact, saying that they are preparing to persuade Liu Biao to surrender to Jingzhou. If they are persuaded not to move, they will open the gates of Xiangyang City at a critical moment and welcome Hao's army into the city.

Of course, the Kuai brothers may also have surrendered to the scribes.

However, as long as the gate of Xiangyang City is opened, it is impossible not to surrender by fraud.

……

On the seventh day of the lunar month, there was heavy snowfall, there was no major war, and Xiangyang City was still under siege.

Hao Meng was originally going to go back to Jinan City early in the morning.

Because tomorrow is the first anniversary of my marriage to Sister Cai.

Although this era is not prosperous, Hao Meng still wants to go back to see Cai Wenji.

Besides, Sister Cai is still nearly nine months pregnant, and she may give birth at any time. This is his Hao Meng's first child, whether in this life or in the previous life; Why wouldn't Hao Meng watch the child be born?

Anyway, there is no war in the middle of winter, and Liu Biao in Xiangyang City can't turn the sky up.

It's just that Hao Meng finally failed to return to Jinan City on the seventh day of the new year.

Because, Wei Yan, who was ordered to attack Hanzhong, returned from a great victory, and escorted 30,000 prisoners of war, and Liu Biao's eldest son, Liu Qi, went directly to the Hao army camp outside Xiangyang City to ask for credit.

……

Wei Yan took Shangyong City in the first night attack, and in the following days, he captured more than ten counties such as Fangling and Xicheng.

Then, when Wei Yan was about to continue westward and conquer Nanzheng, the capital of Hanzhong, in one fell swoop, he encountered Cao's army near Dingyuan.

At that time, Wei Yan only had 3,000 soldiers and horses in his hands, and the other more than 3,000 troops still needed to be stationed in more than ten cities such as Shangyong, and the troops were a bit insufficient. And Cao Mengde has just sat in the western part of Hanzhong, and he actually doesn't have many soldiers and horses in his hands.

The two sides were afraid of the wolf with a hemp pole, and Wei Yan had to retreat to Xicheng County.

And Cao Jun didn't dare to pursue, for fear that this was Hao Meng's plan to lure the enemy deeper again.

After retreating to Xicheng, Wei Yan felt that his troops were somewhat insufficient.

Since Cao Mengde is in Nanzheng, even if Wei Yan does not attack Cao's army, won't Cao Cao attack Shangyong?

So, Wei Yan escorted 30,000 prisoners of war and Liu Qi to Xiangyang City together, asking the general Hao Meng for credit, and at the same time, he also wanted to increase some troops to Shangyong. Don't you want to be able to attack Nanzheng, at least you have to have the strength to block Cao Mengde, right?

Wei Yan did not dare to recruit troops privately.

As early as the beginning of Hao Meng's business, there was a rule that no one under his command was allowed to recruit troops privately. Recruiting troops can only be done by the General's Mansion in Jinan City, even if the prisoners are replenished on the spot, they must be endorsed by the General's Mansion.

Of course, Hao Meng, as the head of the Hao Group, can decide to recruit and expand troops on the spot.

Therefore, if Wei Yan wants to increase his troops, he has to have a warrant issued by the general Hao Meng.

……

"Cao Mengde actually sits in Hanzhong?"

After listening to Wei Yan's report, Hao Meng expressed surprise.

This place in Hanzhong, if operated properly, is the starting place of the princes.

Because Hanzhong is surrounded by mountains and many rivers, there are only a few roads in and out of Hanzhong, which is typically easy to defend and difficult to attack. Liu Zhang put Cao Cao in Hanzhong (with Zhengcheng in the south and half of Hanzhong in the west), is this to raise tigers?

"Since Cao Cao is in Hanzhong, let's only rely on one soldier, let alone attack Cao Cao, if you don't do it, you will be swallowed by Cao Cao."

"Okay, Wei Yan listens to the order, and this general appoints you as the general of the partial division, and you can temporarily take charge of the five troops and horses to control Hanzhong!"

With that, Hao Meng was promoted to Wei Yan's official.

The military system of the Hao Army, a department of more than 6,000 soldiers, the official position of the chief officer is a captain. Further up, it is the wartime several generals gathered together to form a corps, and the main general must at least be a lieutenant general, or directly appointed as a general.

As for the title of the lieutenant general, the title of the partial division or the Chinese army or something, in fact, there is no distinction between high and low, just to distinguish the responsibilities of the regiment.

Legions are not permanent in peacetime, and are formed only in wartime. However, official positions such as lieutenant generals or generals are allowed.

Because when forming a legion, the main generals must be mostly selected from these high-ranking generals.

If Wei Yan wants to defend Hanzhong and clamp down on Cao Cao and Liu Zhang of Xichuan, he must at least raise 20,000 or 30,000 soldiers and horses, which will have to form a legion. As the main general, Wei Yan naturally had to be promoted to Zhonglang general.

What's more, in this attack on Hanzhong, Wei Yan also has military exploits.