Zhang Wei was killed in battle, Yang Ren surrendered, and the news of the fall of Yangping Pass reached Nanzheng, and the Han Chinese martial arts, including Zhang Lu, were shocked.

Zhang Lu was in a hurry late at night to convene all the civil and military forces to discuss countermeasures.

"Now that Yangping is in danger, Zihu's life has fallen, and the 20,000 most elite soldiers and horses in my Han have been lost, and the situation is so dangerous, what are your best ways to deal with it."

Zhang Lu's tone and expression were so anxious, this may be the biggest crisis he has faced in the more than ten years since he seized Hanzhong, no, it can't be said to be a crisis, but a moment of life and death.

Everyone looked at each other, all of them stunned.

After a while, General Yang Bai said: "Although Liu Beijun has won Yangping Pass, there are still more than 10,000 troops in Nanzheng, if the lord can trust the last general, the last general is willing to lead an army to defend Chuyang County." ”

Although Yang Bai asked for battle, he obviously lacked confidence.

At this time, Yan Pu said: "Yangping Pass is lost, then Hanzhong is in danger of being lost, Liu Bei's army can drive straight into the Hanzhong Plain, although Weiyang is a strong city, but Liu Bei can completely bypass it, go straight to Nanzheng, and then Nanzheng will not have a single soldier, and it will be in danger." ”

Zhang Lushen thought so, and hurriedly said: "What about Zimao's opinion?" ”

Yan Pu was silent for a long time, and said: "Liu Bei's more than 100,000 troops went deep into the Hanzhong Plain, our army is exhausted, and there is no danger to defend. ”

Zhang Lu's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice: "I have worked hard to run Hanzhong for more than ten years, and now I can't give it to Liu Bei like this?" ”

Yan Pu said: "The garden is not to let the lord submit to Liu Bei, but to let the lord submit to Cao Gong, no, more precisely, it should be to be submissive to the imperial court." ”

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Lu's expression seemed to be a little better, and Yan Pu further said: "Liu Bei has broken through the barrier now, Hanzhong must have been regarded by him as a bag, if the lord surrenders to him, he can only be regarded as forced by the situation, and he has to surrender, and he will probably not treat the lord well." And if the lord submits the land of Hanzhong to Cao Gong, it is equivalent to sending charcoal in the snow, and Cao Gong will inevitably be moved. Moreover, the lord has always been devoted to the country, and Cao Gong conquered the Quartet on behalf of the Son of Heaven, and returning to Cao Gong is not only to submit to the imperial court, but also to be more in line with the general righteousness. ”

What is obedient to the court, what heart is to the Han family, what righteousness, in this troubled era is bullshit, if Zhang Lu really has such a mind in his heart, he will not have divided Hanzhong for so many years, repeatedly beheaded the envoys of the Han court, until Cao Ying is powerful, and then show his loyalty.

However, sometimes bullshit is also fragrant, at least Zhang Lu smells fragrant now.

Yan Pu's words couldn't help but Zhang Lu fell into contemplation, and after a long time, he sighed: "For today's plan, it seems that there is only this way, fortunately, I have long been committed to the country, and now I have returned to the country with the land of the country, and I can count my merits as complete." ”

It seems that Zhang Lu was moved by Yan Pu's words, but Yang Bai said: "It's not impossible to surrender Cao Gong, it's just that Liu Bei's army of more than 100,000 is close at hand, and Cao Gong is far away in Hefei, I'm afraid that if I can't hold on until Cao Gong's reinforcements arrive, we will all be wiped out by Liu Bei." ”

Zhang Lu nodded and said, "Yes, Liu Bei is powerful, and he must not compete with him." At present, it is better to take the wealth of the treasury and lead the army to withdraw from the Qinling Valley Road to Guanzhong. ”

Yan Pu immediately retorted: "Although the three valley roads in the Qinling Mountains can be cleared, but their roads are difficult and difficult to walk. ”

Zhang Lu's brows furrowed, and he said sullenly: "This is not good, that is not good, then according to Zimao's opinion, what should we do." ”

Yan Pu thought for a moment and said, "The only plan for today is to abandon Nanzheng and retreat to Xicheng County in the eastern part of Hanzhong." There are dangers to defend in this county, and there is enough grain and grass in the tun, if there is no chaos, it is enough to resist Liu Bei's attack. And the first line of Xicheng is connected with Shangyong and Fangling, as long as Cao Gong orders it, the reinforcements from these two places can be poured in, even if things are not good, we can also go down the Han River and retreat to these two counties safely, and Liu Bei can't help us. Moreover, if Xicheng can be kept, it will be for Cao Gong to keep an outpost for counterattacking Hanzhong, so that Cao Gong will treat the lord even more. ”

Yan Pu described a beautiful blueprint to Zhang Lu, and after weighing it again and again, Zhang Lu made up his mind and said, "Okay, just according to Zimao's opinion." Immediately, the army of Nanzheng rushed to Xicheng, and then sent an order to Yang Ang in Bazhong, ordering him to lead the army to withdraw from Sanba and transfer to the front line of Xicheng to defend it. ”

Zhang Lu made up his mind and acted quite quickly, and the next day he swept away the wealth of the treasury, and fled to Xicheng with 10,000 people, passing through the cities of Chenggu and Nanxiang, and the soldiers, horses, money, and grain could be swept away.

Over there, Zhang Lu had just fled from Nanzheng for three days, and Huang Zhong was holding Yang Ren hostage, and more than 10,000 Yizhou soldiers were killed. At this time, Nanzheng had no soldiers, and Huang Zhong stepped into this Hanzhong governance office without much effort.

As soon as Nanzheng fell, all the cities in the Chushui Valley were looking down on the wind, so five days later, Liu Bei and his army of 780,000 also drove all the way into Nanzheng.

Liu Bei, under the escort of 3,000 of the most elite personal soldiers, marched through Nanzheng City with high spirits, showing off his might and shocking people's hearts, before he settled in the military palace left by Zhang Lu.

To say that Zhang Lu, the emperor of the soil, has done really chic, he has never treated himself badly, he claims to govern the people with five buckets of rice, including all his filial piety people must be taken according to their needs, but Zhang Lu's military mansion is built more rich and magnificent than Liu Zhang's old nest in Chengdu City, Liu Bei is in the middle, and at first glance he thinks he has entered the palace.

"Zhang Lu, this person, really enjoy it." Liu Bei sat on the main seat, looked around at this solemn but gorgeous political hall, and couldn't help but sigh.

At this time, Huang Zhong entered and arched his hand: "My lord, the cities of Chenggu and Nanxiang have all been surrendered, and they have all sent officials to receive them according to the orders of the lord, but that Zhang Lu ran fast and let him slip to Xicheng." ”

Liu Bei looked at the veteran, his face was full of unconcealable love, waved his hand and smiled: "The overall situation is decided, and it doesn't matter if Zhang Lu is gone." Hansheng, you have contributed a lot to the battle of Hanzhong, and I have decided to promote you to the general of Zhengdong as a commendation. ”

The position of general of Zhengdong is almost the same as Guan Yu's position, and it is already higher than Zhang Fei's official position, and it seems that the capture of Hanzhong really makes Liu Bei very happy.

Huang Zhong was pleasantly surprised, although he felt that this official position had risen a little unexpectedly, but he thought that his credit was there, and this official position was what he deserved, so he was not humble, and immediately bowed down to the ground and thanked: "Thank you for your trust, and you should use this old bone to go to the soup and fire for the lord." ”

"Hehe, old general, please get up quickly."

Liu Bei hurriedly helped Huang Zhong up, and praised him again, and the civil and military forces present also stepped forward to congratulate Huang Zhong.

Liu Bei also said that Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, Fang Shao and Wei Yan and other civil and military personnel have all made meritorious contributions, and after the pacification of Hanzhong, they will be rewarded separately.

After promising a reward, Pang Tong said: "My lord, although most of Hanzhong is now owned by me, Zhang Lu is still guarding the front line of Xicheng, and I expect him to want to surrender to Cao Ying." If he really succeeds, then the eastern part of Hanzhong will be under the threat of Cao's army, which will inevitably drag our army north out of the Qinling Mountains in the future. ”

Fa Zheng followed: "According to Hanzhong, it is only one of them, and I just think that after destroying Zhang Lu, we should go down the river and seize Shangyong and Fangling." To seize these two places, one can defend the east of the Han Dynasty, the other can connect with Jingzhou to the south to threaten Xiangfan, and the third can also look north to threaten Wanluo. Now that Cao Ying is in Hefei, there is no heavy army and good generals on the front line, and if our army takes advantage of the situation, it will be easy to take it. ”

These two strategists were quite far-reaching, Liu Bei thought so, and immediately said: "In this case, I don't know who to send to lead the troops to attack Zhang Lu and seize the three eastern counties?" ”

Pang Tong immediately said: "General Huang Lao is prestigious, and the soldiers in Hanzhong are not afraid of his name, and they all think that it is most suitable for General Huang to go east." ”

"Zhang Lu is immortal, Hanzhong is uneven, and he is willing to go to the expedition." Huang Zhong also took the initiative to ask for battle.

However, Liu Bei was a little hesitant.

In fact, according to the current situation, Huang Zhong's ability to command the army is needless to say, and as Pang Tong said, the Hanzhong army is afraid of his name, and it is most appropriate for Huang Zhong to take advantage of the victory to go east, but why did Liu Bei hesitate.

Fang Shao stared at the map hanging on the side screen, and suddenly came up with a way.

This place, as Fa Zheng said, is indeed not an ordinary place.

The three counties of Xicheng, Shangyong and Fangling are also known as the three eastern counties because they are in the east of Hanzhong. From the east of Xicheng, the heavy mountains are stacked with obstacles, the more dangerous it is, there is a mountain connection between the three counties and counties, and the west city is on the edge of the water, Shangyong, Fangling are all in the south of the water, respectively, to block the water, build the water to connect the water. These three counties are surrounded by lofty mountains, the four are dangerous, they are geographically self-contained, although the internal exchanges are relatively close, but they are closed to the outside world, and they are isolated from the world for a long time, which is very similar to Hanzhong.

Although the three eastern counties are nominally under the jurisdiction of Hanzhong, but with the southern Zheng of Hanzhong to unify its entire territory, it is naturally a bit beyond the reach of the whip, so when Zhang Lu possessed Hanzhong, among the three counties, only the Xicheng County part is still under its control, as for Shangyong, Fangling two counties are separated from Hanzhong, and have long been bound by Liu Biao of Jingzhou.

And when Jingzhou was swallowed by Cao Ying, the two counties of Shangyong and Fangling turned to rely on Cao Ying, and Cao Ying because of the steep mountains and roads of the two counties, so he still entrusted his officials to govern. In fact, these two counties are still in a state of half-return and half-reading.

From the overall point of view, the three eastern counties constitute a strategic protrusion in the east of the Han Dynasty, to the south to the west can be arched to defend Yizhou and Hanzhong, to the north out of the mountains is a smooth road, can directly take Chang'an Luoyang, and the legendary meridian valley, in fact, belongs to the jurisdiction of the West City. In addition, in the direction of Jingzhou to the south, it can go straight down the Han River and attack Xiangfan from the north and south of Jiangling.

At the same time, after controlling the three eastern counties, according to the strategy of Longzhong and the Northern Expedition of the two routes, these three counties are located at the junction of Jingzhou and Hanzhong, and can easily respond to the armies on both sides.

Such a place of strategic significance comparable to Jingzhou and Hanzhong, if it is captured, it is natural to choose a person whose trust level is comparable to Guan Yu's side to defend it in the future.

As for Huang Zhong, although he is a rare general, it is obvious that Liu Bei's trust in him has not yet reached the level of Guan Yu.

(To be continued)