In the autumn of the twenty-first year of Jian'an, Cao Ying was called the king, the kingdom of Wei was built, the capital of the country was Yu Ye, a hundred officials were built, and the vassals were feudal.

The news spread, and the world shook.

Ten days later, the news of King Cao Yingwei arrived in Nanzheng, and there was also an uproar inside and outside Nanzheng, with indignant people and people who were terrified.

On the same day, Liu Bei, the king of Hanzhong, urgently summoned Zhuge Liang and others to urgently discuss the countermeasures to deal with the matter.

"Cao Ying set himself up as king, and his usurpation of the Han is known to everyone, and the people of the world will be indignant about it. Now the king sits on the land of the four states, the people are attached, the soldiers use their lives, and this autumn has a bumper harvest, and the grain and grass are abundant. ”

At the beginning of the meeting, Zhuge Liang spoke proudly, and immediately aroused the ambition of the civil and military forces present.

Liu Bei's expression was also excited, Guanzhong, that is Guanzhong, the great cause of Han Gaozu to seize the world back then is from this point on, to seize Guanzhong, the capital of Chang'an, not only to seize the three Qin-shaped victories, but also to gain an incalculable huge political advantage.

As early as when he seized Longxi and Liangzhou, Liu Bei had the intention of taking the opportunity to go east, but because of the lack of food and grass, the soldiers were tired, so he had to temporarily suppress his ambitions.

Now, the hearts of the people of the two states have been decided, and the land under their control has seen a bumper harvest that has not been seen for decades, and the granaries everywhere are full. At this time, Cao Ying claimed to be the king again, arousing the resentment of the Central Plains.

It can be said that now is the right time, the right place and the right people, all of them are inclined to themselves, if you don't have troops to capture the pass at this time, you won't miss the God-given opportunity.

Liu Bei didn't think much about it, and immediately said proudly: "When the military advisor said the extreme, now Cao Ying's heart to usurp the Han is already clear, and he is the uncle of the Han Emperor. Lone has decided to start an army and take the pass! ”

Liu Bei made up his mind, and Ma Chao, Huang Zhong and other generals immediately rose up and asked for battle.

Liu Bei was very happy when he saw that the generals were eager to fight, but he waved his hand and said with a smile: "Your tiger generals have a high fighting spirit, very good, very good, but this battle is very important, how to send troops, we should think about it in the long run." Strategist, what is your best plan for this advance? ”

Zhuge Liang had already made up his mind, and said confidently: "Although Cao Ying has lost the hearts of the people, his strength is still strong. First of all, when Yun Chang led the Jingzhou army to attack Wanluo in the north, threatening the hinterland of the Central Plains, and then making an appointment with Eastern Wu to send troops to attack Shouchun, with these two lines of soldiers and horses, it will be able to contain more than half of Cao Ying's troops. And the king can lead the troops of Yi, Yong, and Liang to attack Guanzhong, and quickly take the three Qins with superior forces. ”

Zhuge Liang's set of offensive strategies is exactly the outline of the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains in his "Longzhong Pair", and it can be said that it is almost exactly the implementation of the plan in accordance with the plan of the year. And this set of strategies set by Kong Ming seven or eight years ago can now be accurately realized now, and everyone at the time is amazed by Zhuge Liang's magical foresight.

Of course, only Fang Shao knew that if he hadn't been carefully protected by himself for so many years, "Longzhong Pair" could only be a fantasy.

After listening to Zhuge Liang's strategic analysis, Fang Shao couldn't help but sigh for a while, and then said: "Of course, Jingzhou all the way is fine, but the road to Eastern Wu, with the eyes of Wu Hou, I am afraid that he may not be able to enter the army as promised, I think he will most likely take a wait-and-see attitude, and only then will he decide which side to help." ”

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "On the way of Eastern Wu, I didn't expect too much, it doesn't matter if Wu Hou enters the army or not, as long as he can put on an offensive posture and contain a part of the Cao army for us." ”

Liu Bei nodded and said: "It seems that this trip is going to labor Fei Wenwei to make another envoy to Soochow." Let's just set the big strategy, it's just that my main force is entering the battle of Guanzhong, I don't know what else you have to say. ”

At this time, Zhuge Liang said: "Now the west of Longshan is all for me, then, the danger in the west of Guanzhong is nothing more than Chencang, as long as I can break through Chencang, then my Hanzhong soldiers, Yongliang soldiers, can enter the Guanzhong Plain unimpeded." Therefore, Liang thought that the key to this advance was to quickly capture Chencang. ”

Liu Bei thought so, "Since this is the case, then Lingyi De led the Yongliang army to cross Longshan from the west to attack Chencang, and led the troops of Hanzhong to attack Chencang from the Qinling Mountains alone, attack Chencang in the north, and attack from both sides, and take Chencang." ”

Liu Bei's strategy is in line with his steady and steady style, but Fang Shao said: "Chencang is dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and Xiahou Yuan is also a powerful character, although our army can have an advantage in terms of strength, but if Xiahou Yuan is not out of danger, I am afraid that it will not be easy to capture Chencang in a short time." ”

Fang Shao's judgment is also well-founded, in the past history, Zhuge Liang led an army of 100,000 to attack Chen Cang in the Second Northern Expedition, and Hao Zhao, the defender of Wei, held on for nearly a month with only a few thousand people, so that Zhuge Liang ran out of food and returned, and the danger of Chen Cang can be seen from this, and now Hao Zhao is replaced by a more bullish Xiahou Yuan, Fang Shao is not too optimistic about Liu Bei's ability to attack fortifications.

Liu Bei's face showed a little sadness, and he stroked his beard and said: "Zhongzheng is right, Xiahou Yuan is the first good general under Cao Ying, and he must not be taken lightly. It's just that if you don't attack Chencang, how can you open up the passage deep into the Guanzhong Plain. ”

Fang Shao had countless examples of his predecessors to refer to, of course, he had already been confident about this, so he walked out of the class, pointed to the map hanging on the wall, and said loudly: "King, please see, although Chen Cang is dangerous and difficult to attack, but unfortunately, it is not the only way for us to enter the pass. The king please look again, there is a five-zhang plain to the west of the inclined valley, this place leans on the Qinling Mountains in the south, borders Weishui in the north, and the wetlands washed out by the river on the east and west sides, and the terrain is also easy to defend and difficult to attack. And not far from the opposite bank, there is a small city in the north plain, and Wuzhang Yuan across the Weishui, if we can occupy these two places by surprise, it is equivalent to blocking the Weishui River, cutting off the grain road from Chencang to Chang'an. In this way, wouldn't Chen Cang be able to go down without a fight? ”

Surrendering without a fight has always been the highest level of military use pursued by Fang Shao.

Fang Shao's plan obviously brought Liu Bei into a broader field of thought, even Zhuge Liang had a surprised look on his face, and a group of civil and military officers gathered around the map and studied a lot.

Then, Zhuge Liang said excitedly: "King, Zhongzheng's strategy is even wonderful, and it is completely feasible in Liang's opinion." The king can lead the main force out of the old way to attack Chencang, and then order Yiliang to go out of the valley in the name of a feint, and seize Wuzhangyuan and Beiyuan by surprise, according to Weishui, and then pretend to make an eastward attack martial arts, and take the posture of Chang'an, then Chen Cang's Cao army will inevitably not be able to hold on for long. ”

Although Liu Bei's expression was also excited, he was not as optimistic as Zhuge Liang, but he said: "Although Zhongzheng's plan is wonderful, it also has flaws. Everyone, please see, although the land of Wuzhang Yuan is steep and easy to defend, but the Beiyuan City on the other side is flat, I am afraid that it will be difficult to defend, and if you can't hold Beiyuan, Wuzhangyuan alone will not be able to block Weishui. ”

At this time, Fang Shao suddenly had a bolder idea, but when he wanted to speak, he stopped, because he realized that this plan was going to take a great risk.

Liu Bei was extremely perceptive, and the change in Fang Shao's expression couldn't hide his eyes, so he hurriedly asked: "Zhongzheng, do you have any good ideas yet, you might as well say it directly." ”

"Since this is the case, then Shao will say it directly, but this strategy is quite risky, Shao only has a bold idea, whether it will be implemented or not, it is up to the king to decide."

Fang Shaoxian pushed the responsibility away, and when he reluctantly failed, he would be blamed.

Liu Bei smiled: "Zhongzheng, but it doesn't hurt to say it." ”

Fang Shao said: "Now Cao Ying's troops can be mobilized are no more than 400,000, except for the troops left in the north and guarding Xu Luo and other places, after the outbreak of the war, the maximum number of troops that can be mobilized is 300,000. It is conservatively estimated that on the Shouchun line, Dongwu can at least hold back about 70,000 Cao troops, and in the Nanyang direction, General Guan's attack should contain no less than 1120,000 Cao troops. The Xiahou Yuan department left behind in Guanzhong has nearly 70,000 soldiers, so that Cao Ying can be used to support the reserve army of all lines, no more than 60,000. These 60,000 reserve soldiers and horses should be deployed in the hinterland of the Central Plains such as Xu Luo, so as to meet the unforeseen needs of the eastern and western fronts at any time. ”

Fang Shao did not directly explain his strategy, but first laid the premise of a large chase.

Liu Bei nodded in agreement.

Fang Shao then said: "If our army launches an attack on Guanzhong, then, with Xiahou Yuan's talent, he will inevitably order Zhang He to guard Chencang and prevent our army from attacking from Hanzhong, and Xu Huang to guard Huangxian and block the attack of General Yide in the west, the strength of these two roads will reach at least 40,000 people, and he himself will lead about 20,000 men and horses to sit in Chang'an." At this time, if we seize Wuzhangyuan and Beiyuan, Xiahouyuan is the grain route of the two people on the Baoxi Line, and will inevitably lead the army of Chang'an to seize Beiyuan. At this time, it is estimated that the enemy troops staying in Chang'an will not exceed 5,000 people. ”

Fang Shaoyan said that at this time, Zhuge Liang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he blurted out: "Zhongzheng, your strategy, is it that you want to take advantage of Xiahou Yuan's division of troops to save Chen Cang, so that the three eastern counties will take the opportunity to go out of the Meridian Valley and raid Chang'an?" ”

Fang Shao's expression moved, but he didn't expect Zhuge Liang to be able to guess his strategy, that's right, he really wanted Wei Yan to lead the army to attack the Meridian Valley.

The reason why he opposed Wei Yan's strategy was because Longxi and Liangzhou had not yet been pacified at that time, and the Han army had no foothold north of the Qinling Mountains.

The current situation is completely different, so Fang Shaocai boldly proposed this surprise attack on Meridian Valley.

Zhuge Liang guessed with a word, which only surprised everyone present, but Fang Shao smiled calmly: "Military advisor, you only guessed half right, I want to make Wei Wen's long army out of the Meridian Valley, but it is not a surprise attack on Chang'an, but a surprise attack on Tongguan." ”

(To be continued)