Liangzhou and Bingzhou are not large grain producing states, and Yongzhou is also mountainous, and the output is so-so, so if Cao Ju wants to expand and solve the problem of grain and grass, the next goal must be Yizhou, the country of abundance.

Cao Ju's development was too fast, which attracted the attention and worry of the princes of the world, and the spies of various princes flocked to Yongzhou, always paying attention to Cao Ju's movements.

Especially Liu Yan of Yizhou, after learning that Cao Ju had annexed Liangzhou and obtained the annexation of Liangzhou without bloodshed, he knew in his heart that Cao Ju's next target would definitely be Yizhou and Hanzhong.

So, Liu Yan immediately wrote a letter to Zhang Lu, telling him to strictly guard Hanzhong and not let Cao Ju have any chance.

Zhang Lu disagreed, he was confident that even if Cao Ju had an army of 500,000, it would be absolutely impossible to break through his Hanzhong natural risk.

Coincidentally, at this time, Liu Yan was old, and he was worried every day that Cao Hui would raise troops to the south, which would damage his foundation, and he was frightened and did not rest well every day. As a result, I suddenly suffered from a cold, which suddenly became a serious illness, and I only had one breath left in less than half a month.

Liu Yan's life and death are related to the life and death of Yizhou, so his illness made the whole Yizhou panic.

Fortunately, Liu Yan did not make a big mistake on the issue of the successor, although Liu Zhang is the youngest son, but the three elder brothers in front of him are either dead or in other places, and they can't come to Yizhou at all, so once Liu Yan dies, it is logical for Liu Zhang to ascend the throne.

It's just that Yizhou's civil and military affairs ignored one factor, that is, Zhang Lu in Hanzhong.

Zhang Lu, although his name is Zhang Lu, he is actually Liu Yan's biological son.

Zhang Lu's mother was friendly with Liu Yan when she was young, and the relationship has always been maintained. Just when Zhang Lu's mother was pregnant with Zhang Lu's younger brother Zhang Wei, Zhang Lu's father heard the news and went to Liu Yan in anger.

However, for the sake of his reputation, Liu Yan sent someone to kill Zhang Lu's father on the way when he learned the news.

Later, Zhang Lu grew up slowly, and he was surprisingly similar to Liu Yan, so Liu Yan secretly conducted a blood test, and Zhang Lu was indeed his biological son.

Liu Yan was worried that Zhang Lu would be known as his biological son, so he sent Zhang Luyuan to Hanzhong County and handed him over to the then Hanzhong Taishou Chenglian for adoption.

Cheng Lian was Liu Yan's absolute confidant, so he accepted Zhang Lu as his righteous son and taught him civil and martial arts.

Later, after Zhang Lu grew up, Cheng Lian died of illness, and Liu Yan directly divided Zhang Lu into Hanzhong Taishou, and ordered him not to meet in Luo County without a special call.

Zhang Lu's mother traveled back and forth between Hanzhong and Luo County, and sometimes even stayed in Luo County for a few months.

After a long time, Zhang Lu also heard about some scandals between his mother and Liu Yan, so he naturally asked her mother angrily what was going on.

In desperation, Zhang Lu's mother had to tell Zhang Lu about the cause and effect of the incident, and the latter knew his life experience, and couldn't help but be surprised and happy.

As a prince, ambition is the most important, and the rest can be desired.

So, Zhang Lu wrote a letter to Liu Yan, meaning that Liu Yan would pass Yizhou to him after a hundred years, otherwise, he would reveal the matter between Liu Yan and his mother and let the world know.

Liu Yan was furious after receiving the letter, and wanted to raise troops to crusade against Hanzhong, but he was worried that Zhang Lu would really do such a thing, and his reputation would be ruined.

After thinking about it for two days, Liu Yan sent a letter back to Zhang Lu, saying that he asked Zhang Lu to come to Luo County immediately, and he would give up the position of Yizhou pastor to Zhang Lu.

Of course, Zhang Lu is not a fool, knowing that Liu Yan wanted to trick him into killing him in Luo County, so he replied to Liu Yan with a letter, or to blackmail Liu Yan, don't play any tricks with him again, otherwise, he will immediately raise troops to go south, kill into Luo County, and publish Liu Yan's face to the world.

In desperation, Liu Yan had to agree, once a hundred years later, he would give up the position of Yizhou Mu to Zhang Lu, and at the same time write a suicide note in advance according to Zhang Lu's request.

This time, Liu Yan was seriously ill, and the only thing he couldn't worry about was Zhang Lu in Hanzhong.

Liu Yan sent someone to Hanzhong to call Zhang Lu over, saying that he wanted to give him the position of Yizhou Mu, but in fact, he wanted to trick Zhang Lu into killing him in Luo County, so as to prevent future troubles.

Zhang Lu also heard the news that Liu Yan was seriously ill, and he was really overjoyed, and he was about to leave for Ruoxian.

However, Zhang Lu's half-brother Zhang Wei stopped him and persuaded: "Eldest brother, Liu Yan dotes on his youngest son Liu Zhang, and has long had the heart to establish his throne. Although the eldest brother is also Liu Yan's parent, he is not around all the year round, although he has the fact of father and son, but he has no father-son affection, how can he compare to Liu Zhang. ”

"Right now, Liu Zhang is in Luo County, Liu Yan is dead, Liu Zhang can take the throne, how can Liu Yan give way to the eldest brother again. In the opinion of the foolish brother, if the eldest brother goes south, he will inevitably die, and the eldest brother is asked to be cautious. ”

The authorities were confused, the bystanders were clear, Zhang Luden suddenly realized, was shocked into a cold sweat, and hurriedly asked: "The words of the second brother made the foolish brother suddenly, I don't know if the second brother has a clever plan to teach the foolish brother?" ”

Zhang Wei asked loudly: "I don't know what the ambition of the eldest brother is?" ”

Zhang Lu was stunned for a moment and asked, "I don't know why the second brother asked this question?" ”

"Of course." Zhang Wei said with a serious face, "If the eldest brother is determined to be in the world, the foolish brother will have a plan to seize the world, if the eldest brother intends to live in a corner, the foolish brother will have a preservation strategy, if the eldest brother has no ambition, the foolish brother can choose a master for the eldest brother and vote for it." ”

Zhang Lu was stunned again and asked, "Second brother, what is the ambition to conquer the world?" ”

Zhang Wei sighed and said: "If this ambition is already in place for the eldest brother, this may be possible, but now Cao Ju occupies Yongliang and Sanzhou, and his strength is the best in the world, and the eldest brother is no longer able to compete with it." ”

Zhang Lu thought so, it was true that his eyes were full of Yizhou pastor's position, and he had never thought about the land of Yongzhou and Liangzhou, otherwise, if he had sent troops earlier, he would have been able to take at least the land of Sanfu.

At this time, Cao Ju in the north, Liu Yan in the south, and Liu Biao in Jingzhou in the east, none of them he could afford to provoke, and it was impossible to be in a corner of peace, at least Liu Yan and Cao Ju would not let him be happy.

Sighing again, Zhang Lu didn't ask Zhang Wei how he could be in a safe corner, he skipped this question directly, and asked: "If you choose to be a master and vote for it, I don't know what the second brother thinks, Yongzhou Cao Ju is suitable, or Jingzhou Liu Biao is better?" ”

Zhang Wei replied almost without hesitation: "Naturally, it is Cao Juye of Yongzhou, if the eldest brother takes refuge in Liu Biao, although he will not die, he can only be the ear of one person in his life." ”

Zhang Lu listened, didn't ask anything more, pondered for a long time, raised his head, nodded and said, "In this case, the second brother of the annoying brother went north to Chang'an and met Cao Ju." ”

"Bookmark for easy reading"