Since Cao Ren was captured, Cao Hong, the second general of the Cao family, was ordered to take over the defense of Nanyang, and Cao Ying deployed more than 40,000 soldiers and horses in Nanyang.

A few days ago, Cao Hong received a secret order from Cao Ying, ordering him to lead his cavalry to the south and immediately launch a surprise attack on Fancheng.

Cao Ying received the order, personally led more than 30,000 foot cavalry, rushed to Xinye in the starry night, and together with 10,000 soldiers and horses of the Wenpin Department, and 40,000 troops immediately launched an attack on Fancheng.

It's just that Cao Jun's movements have long been expected in Jingzhou.

As early as Liu Feng pretended to receive the order of the Han Emperor and pretended to send troops into Sichuan, he secretly ordered Wei Yan, the general of Zhenbei, to enter Fancheng, and quietly increased the number of troops in Fancheng to more than 10,000.

When Cao Hong, who appeared to be a powerful cavalry army, launched an attack on Fancheng that morning, Wei Yan had been waiting for him here for days.

After the battle of Xiangfan last year, Liu Feng mobilized a large number of people to strengthen and increase the wall of Fancheng in order to ensure the foolproof protection of the Xiangyang barrier north of the Han River in Fancheng, so that the level of urban defense was greatly improved.

After Wei Yan entered Fancheng, he quickly mobilized all armies to complete the deployment, and the city defense equipment such as arrows, fire oil, sasswood and rolling stones were fully prepared.

With such thorough preparations, the outcome of the battle can be imagined.

On that day, Cao's army attacked from morning to evening, and several rounds of fierce attacks, after paying about 2,000 dead and wounded, failed to shake Fancheng in the slightest.

Under the unfavorable attack, Cao Hong had to order to stop the attack, and tens of thousands of troops camped more than ten miles north of Fancheng.

At the same time as the defeat of Cao Hong's army, the 50,000 army commanded by Yu Ban and Xu Huang had also turned from Luoyang to Nanyang, and the forward cavalry marched 300 miles to Yancheng northwest of Fancheng.

At the same time, the 100,000 main force of Cao Ying, who was originally going to pass through Luoyang and enter the south of Guanzhong to attack Hanzhong, also suddenly changed the direction of the march and rushed towards Jingzhou.

Within ten days, nearly 200,000 Cao troops came to Jingzhou in a big way.

In Xiangyang City, in the governor's mansion, Liu Feng stared at the latest information from all over the country, but there was a look of hesitation on his face.

"Sir, I always feel that Cao Ying's use of troops this time seems a little weird." Liu Feng touched his chin and said.

Pang Tong slanted his mouth and smiled: "I don't know what the lord thinks is weird?" ”

"Sir, please look."

Liu Feng pointed to the map and said: "Nearly 100,000 soldiers and horses led by Cao Hong, Xu Huang and other four generals have gathered in the Xinye area to launch an attack on our Xiangfan, and the 100,000 soldiers and horses led by Cao Ying have also entered Wancheng. On the surface, Cao Ying really remembered the soldiers of the country and swallowed my Jingxiang in one fell swoop. ”

"Well, at least that's how it seems." Pang Tong nodded slightly.

Beneath the surface, there are often even more terrifying conspiracies.

Liu Feng continued: "However, the intelligence of Guanzhong is that Xiahou Yuan is leading 30,000 soldiers and horses to attack Hanzhong from Xiegu, and Zhangjaw's 20,000 soldiers and horses are attacking Yangping Pass from Wudu, and these two soldiers and horses have launched a fierce battle with Liu Beijun. ”

In Pang Tong's smile, there was a faint sense of pride, it seemed that Liu Feng's doubts had already been expected.

"If Cao Ying is determined to attack Jingzhou first, then in Hanzhong, he should take a defensive position. But now, Cao Ying is unusual, and at the same time launched a two-front assault in Jingzhou and Hanzhong, which obviously violates the art of war. My lord, this is where you are confused. ”

Pang Tong's words hit Liu Feng's heart.

With Cao Ying's strength of two thirds of the world, he certainly has the strength to fight two wars at the same time.

It's just that, judging from Cao Ying's previous methods of using troops, this person has always concentrated superior forces to ensure victory in a war.

Fighting two wars at the same time did not conform to his style of using soldiers.

Vaguely, Liu Feng felt that things were not as simple as he imagined, and behind Cao Ying, there must be someone behind him who was giving him advice.

"Sir, since there is doubt, then in your opinion, should we transfer the troops of Yizhou to Chu to support." Liu Feng hesitated about his previous plan.

Pang Tong pondered for a moment, and said: "Judging from the current situation, the pressure on Xiangfan has not yet reached the point where it can no longer be supported. Besides, there is also a war on the Hanzhong side, maybe there will be an opportunity for us, Yizhou troops, I think there is no need to rush to Jingzhou for the time being. ”

"Well, sir has a point."

Liu Feng agreed with Pang Tong's suggestion, and immediately revised a letter and sent it to Yizhou, ordering Zhang Ren, Yan Yan and other generals to stay in Yizhou for the time being, and then wait for follow-up orders to act.

……………………………… Wancheng.

In the big tent, the atmosphere was unusually solemn.

Cao Ying looked around at the young faces in front of the tent, and there was some expectation in his cold eyes.

The two generals in front of the tent, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu.

Both of them are the best of the younger generation of the Cao family, and at present, Cao Zhen is a partial general, and Cao Xiu is an official to the captain of the cavalry, both of whom are serving in the tiger and leopard cavalry.

Despite their youth, they are battle-hardened and experienced up-and-comers.

"Zidan, Wen Lie, the burden is on your shoulders this time, you are all my Cao family's sons, it's time to let go and let you show your talents."

Cao Ying's generous words of encouragement, and the two young generals who only listened to them were enthusiastic.

Cao Xiu, whose surname was like a fire, immediately bowed his hand and said: "Prime Minister rest assured, Zidan and I will never insult the prestige of our Cao clan." ”

"Okay, bring the wine."

Cao Ying was full of spirits, and brought good wine, Cao Ying personally drank it for them, and said angrily: "Come, I salute you with this glass of wine, and I wish you success." ”

The three surnamed Cao, old and young, drank the wine happily.

"Take care, Prime Minister, I'll leave now."

Bidding farewell to Cao Ying, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu strode out of the tent, and that night, they led 30,000 vanguard cavalry, leaving Wancheng to the west, and went away in the starry night.

A day later, the remaining 70,000 troops led by Cao Yingqin also quietly set off from Wan County, under the banner of going south to Xiangyang, but went to the west of Nanyang.

……………………………… Hanzhong, Nanzheng.

In General Zuo's mansion, Liu Bei's gloomy face implied a bit of anxiety.

It is no wonder that the bloodless acquisition of Hanzhong quickly appeased the hearts of nearly 300,000 people in Hanzhong, and after the catastrophe, Liu Bei, like God's blessing, even he couldn't believe that he had miraculously captured such a strategic place.

According to the Longzhong strategy formulated by Zhuge Liang for him, the original grand plan was to cross Jingyi, then capture Guanlong in the north, and then enter the Central Plains in the east.

The fall of Jingzhou and the miss of Yizhou originally forced Liu Bei to a dead end, but the Hanzhong obtained by accident once again made Liu Bei see hope.

Just when Liu Bei was in high spirits and was about to take advantage of Ma Chao's prestige to tie up with Qiang Hu to get involved in Guan Long, he was unexpectedly preempted by Cao Ying.

Previously, Cao Ying claimed with great fanfare that he wanted to enter Guanzhong and attack Hanzhong on a large scale.

At that time, Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng speculated that Cao Ying most likely wanted to attack Hanzhong in the name of attacking Hanzhong, and suddenly turned back to the south halfway and attacked Xiangfan instead.

The intelligence of Jingzhou shows that Zhuge and the two guesses are completely correct, and Cao Ying came to Jingzhou with 200,000 troops, and the momentum is extremely huge.

However, what made Liu Bei depressed was that while Cao Ying attacked Liu Feng, he did not forget to call his old opponent.

Xiahou Yuan, who went south from Xiegu Road, and Zhangjaw's department from Chencang Road, with an army of 50,000, formed a flanking attack on the Yangping Pass line, and the situation in the western part of Hanzhong was quite tense.

The soldiers and horses held by Liu Bei, the army of the original servants, plus the surrendered Zhang Lu army, the total strength is only more than 60,000 people.

Among them, in order to guard against the Yizhou army south of Hanzhong, Liu Bei had to deploy more than 20,000 soldiers on the front line of Jiameng and Langzhong.

In other words, Liu Bei had only more than 40,000 mobile troops at hand, while his opponents had 50,000 people.

Fortunately, Liu Bei is fighting at home after all, and there is no problem in the supply of grain and grass. Coupled with the danger of the Qinling Mountains as a reliance, it is not difficult to withstand the attack of the Cao army.

It's just that Cao Ying's main force is concentrated in Jingzhou, what a rare opportunity. And now, Liu Bei, who originally planned to take the opportunity to attack Guanlong, had to be entangled with the enemy in the rugged land of Qin Jun, watching the opportunity pass little by little.

"Strategist, what did you say about Cao Thief this time, he obviously put on a posture of swallowing Jingzhou, but why did he attack my Hanzhong like this, this is really against common sense."

Liu Bei also saw some clues. At this time, Fa Zheng was currently in Yangping Pass, together with Wu Yi, Li Yan, Ma Chao and others to resist the attack of Cao's army, and Liu Bei could only consult Zhuge Liang's opinion.

Zhuge Liang shook the feather fan lightly, and there was suspicion in his expression, "Cao Ying's use of soldiers like this is indeed a bit unusual, it's just ......"

Before the words fell, Sun Qian hurriedly entered, and said with a solemn face: "Lord, something is wrong, there is an urgent report from Jinjin County, and the three eastern counties have found signs of a large number of Cao troops stationing, and it seems that there is an intention to attack Hanzhong in a big west. ”

Cao Jun appeared in the three eastern counties!

Hearing Sun Qian's report, not only Liu Bei, but even Zhuge Liang also changed his expression.

The three eastern counties are east of Hanzhong, Xicheng, Shangyong and Fangling. The terrain of these three counties is treacherous, surrounded by mountains, and the Han River runs through them.

Due to the geographical barrier, the three counties have little contact with Hanzhong in the west and Jingzhou in the east.

Among these three counties, the Shen brothers of Shangyong and Xicheng Haoqiang, with thousands of tribes and dependent people, are the largest local Haoqiang, separating one side internally, and successively bowing to Zhang Lu, Liu Biao and Cao Ying externally.

Nominally, the three eastern counties were loyal to the Han court, but in reality, they were semi-secessed.

"Cao Ying's army is originally in Wancheng, and Wancheng is very close to the three eastern counties, so it can't be ......"

Liu Bei muttered to himself, his expression changed in shock.

Zhuge Liang sneered: "What the lord said is good, it seems that Cao Ying's real goal is not Liu Feng, but the lord, he wants to attack Hanzhong from the three eastern counties." ”

(To be continued)