At present, the situation in Jingxiang, Hanzhong, and even Guanlong seems to have entered a rather complex and inscrutable moment.

Even a very smart person like Pang Tong, in the face of such a chaotic situation, seems to be a little foggy, and it is difficult to distinguish the truth from the fake.

Liu Feng is not like this.

He vaguely felt that this game had reached a rather delicate moment, and every move had to be made carefully, and if he made a wrong move, he could lose the whole game.

"Safe, ......"

Liu Feng silently recited these two words in his heart, and he couldn't help but disagree with Pang Tong's words.

The two discussed and stopped, and a military order was sent to Xichuan.

The Yizhou soldiers and horses under the command of Zhang Ren, Yan Yan and others had already arrived at the front line of Badong and Jianping, ready to aid Jingxiang at any time.

At this time, after receiving the order, the generals heard that the situation in Hanzhong had changed, so they rushed to the area of Jiange and Langzhong non-stop.

Shangyong, the county government.

In the simple lobby, Cao Ying sat upright with his beard and watched the two walk into the hall with a smile.

"Humble to meet the prime minister."

Those who respectfully paid their respects were none other than the Haoqiang Shen Yi and Shen Tan brothers of the three eastern counties.

Shen is the first surname in the three eastern counties, these two brothers Shen relied on the strength of thousands of parts, as early as the Jian'an period, they took the opportunity to divide the three eastern counties, and they worshiped the imperial court on the surface, but they were actually the emperor of a soil.

In terms of the imperial court, Cao Ying took into account the treacherous environment of the three eastern counties, which were easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it was inconvenient to send troops to conscript, so he had always adopted an attitude of turning a blind eye and closing one eye to the secession of the Shen brothers.

If the Shen brothers had seen through Cao Ying's true intentions, and Chen Bing was in the eastern border and defended according to the danger, Cao Ying's army might not have been able to enter the three eastern counties so smoothly.

And this time, it was precisely because of Cao Yingsheng's plan to attack the west that he successfully confused the Shen brothers, so when they woke up, the vanguard cavalry led by Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu had already passed through the mountains and mountains with lightning speed, and reached the bottom of Shangyong City.

In the face of such an unexpected change, the Shen brothers knew that the overall situation had been decided, and how could they dare to resist again, so they immediately opened the city and welcomed the entry of the imperial army in the name of the court's vassals.

"You have been guarding the frontier for the imperial court for many years, and you have worked hard and made great achievements, come, this glass of wine, I will respect you on behalf of Your Majesty."

Under the small banquet, Cao Ying's words and deeds were quite amiable.

The Shen brothers hurriedly raised their glasses and said: "This is what subordinates should do, how dare they say it." ”

After a few rounds of drinking, polite words are said.

Cao Ying's tone changed, and he suddenly asked: "The two of you have lived here for a long time, you should know the roads around you very well." ”

Shen Yi hurriedly replied: "My subordinates have lived in Shangyong since childhood, and they all know about the large and small mountain roads within a radius of several hundred miles. If the prime minister wants to attack Hanzhong, his subordinates are willing to be the guide. ”

"Very good, very good, you have the heart to serve the imperial court, which is very good."

Cao Ying nodded in approval, but said, "But what I want to ask is, in addition to being familiar with the road to Hanzhong, how much do you know about the road to the south?" ”

"To the south?"

Shen Yi was stunned for a moment, and his face suddenly showed doubts, but he didn't dare to think about it, and hurriedly said: "If you go south, your subordinates know that there are a few small roads, and you can reach Wu County by crossing hundreds of miles of mountain roads." ”

"Good, very good, haha."

Hearing Shen Yi's words, Cao Ying was overjoyed, and praised him again and again, which made the second monk of the Shen brothers puzzled.

The atmosphere of the banquet was a little weird for a while.

At this moment, Cao Xiu hurriedly entered from outside and arched his hand: "Prime Minister Qi, Hanzhong sent information that Liu Bei had transferred Jiameng's army to the south and was already on the way to Jinshu in the starry night. ”

"Hehe, it seems that Liu Bei is really in a hurry this time, as Wenhe expected, he doesn't even care about the safety of the south."

Cao Yingshu sneered, as if he had expected Liu Bei's troop transfer.

Cao Xiu frowned and said: "Prime Minister, the golden fortress is a dangerous pass, if you wait until Liu Bei's reinforcements arrive, it will be extremely difficult to attack it again, we should now take advantage of its emptiness to immediately send troops to attack the pass." ”

Cao Ying nodded slightly: "You will give the order to Zidan and ask him to immediately attack the Golden Soldier, since this play has been acted, it must be performed more realistically." ”

"The last general understands, will the last general also immediately lead the headquarters to help Zidan fight?"

Cao Xiu's desire to fight was very strong, and he could not sit back and watch Cao Zhen monopolize such a great achievement as he captured Hanzhong.

Cao Ying stroked his shoulder, and said with a face full of expectation: "Wen Lie, don't worry, I have a more important task to hand over to you, if you can do this, then I will unify the great cause of the world, and you will be the first to make a contribution." ”

Unify the world?

The first hero!

These eight characters were like a dose of chicken blood injected into Cao Xiu's body, which instantly made the young Cao family's blood boil.

Excited, Cao Xiu said angrily: "What does the prime minister want me to do, I, Cao Xiu, will go to the soup and die." ”

Cao Ying's face showed a strange and smug smile.

………………………… The Cao army in Fancheng really withdrew.

Yu Ban, Xu Huang, Wen Ping and other contemporary famous generals, the nearly 100,000 Cao troops under their command, the next day Liu Feng received that information, they immediately withdrew the siege of Fancheng, and the 100,000 troops retreated to the front line of Xinye.

The crisis in Xiangfan seems to have been resolved.

Then, more information followed:

Cao Ying's main force was stationed in Shangyong, Liu Beidong transferred the defenders of Jiameng, and the Yizhou army gathered in the Sword Pavilion to standby...... All kinds of intelligence show that the situation seems to be developing in favor of Liu Feng.

It's just that in Liu Feng's heart, the uneasiness in the subconscious, but for some reason, it is getting stronger and stronger.

In the lobby of the state capital, Liu Feng stared at the huge map hanging on the wall, and his calm face flashed with suspicion from time to time.

"Husband, what are you doing in a daze?"

There was a clear laughter in his ears, Liu Feng woke up from his contemplation, and suddenly looked back, but saw that his wife Sun Shangxiang had appeared behind him at some point.

She held a bowl of steaming soup in front of him, and on her beautiful face, she showed a caring look, and said softly: "Husband, you have worked hard all night, it is really hard, this is the nourishing soup I asked the people to boil, you drink it while it is hot." ”

"Thank you, Madame, for your concern."

Liu Feng took the bowl, poured it down, and drank it in one go.

Sun Shangxiang saw him gobbling up like this, "poof" and laughed, pressed his hand and said, "Slow down, no one will rob you, don't get hot." ”

After drinking a drop left, Liu Feng hiccuped and said with a smile: "It's rare that Madame cares so much, of course I have to drink this soup in one gulp." ”

"Why, don't I usually care about you?" Sun Shangxiang pretended to be resentful.

"Of course not."

Liu Feng took her hands and looked at her eyes like autumn water gently, "These days, I am tired of military affairs, and everything in the family depends on Mrs. alone, if there is no Mrs. as my backing, I can rest assured that I can fight the enemy." Speaking of which, I would like to thank Madame. ”

Hearing such words of gratitude, Sun Shangxiang looked at her affectionately with affection in her heart, and said softly: "You and I husband and wife are one and the same, sharing honor and disgrace, why do you have to thank you like this." ”

"Madame......"

Looking at that beautiful face, Liu Feng's heart fluttered, his fingers cupped her pointed chin, and he lowered his head and kissed her on the lips.

When you are close to each other, you have to touch your lips.

At this moment, Sun Shangxiang's face changed, and he hurriedly pushed Liu Feng away, covered his mouth and twisted to the side and retched.

Liu Feng was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly helped Sun Shangxiang up, stroked her back and asked, "Madam, what's wrong with you, where is it uncomfortable, I will invite Doctor Zhang to come immediately." ”

When Liu Feng was about to give the order, Sun Shangxiang waved his hand to signal that he didn't have to.

After retching for a while, Sun Shangxiang began to slow down, took the water poured by Liu Feng and swallowed it, and after a while, his expression returned to normal.

"Madam, are you tired from housework, why do you suddenly retch?" Liu Feng's concerned face was mixed with a little doubt.

"I'm fine, husband, don't worry about me."

When Sun Shangxiang said this, his cheeks were faintly flushed.

With such an unusual expression, how could she escape Liu Feng's eyes, she was suspicious for a moment, and suddenly her heart was shocked.

He straightened Sun Shangxiang, opened his eyes wide and exclaimed excitedly: "Madam, aren't you happy?" ”

Sun Shangxiang didn't answer, just lowered his head and smiled, and nodded slightly.

In an instant, Liu Feng's heart was filled with unprecedented ecstasy, and the whole person was like crazy, laughing and shouting: "I'm going to be a father, I'm going to be a father......"

"Look at what you're happy about."

Sun Shangxiang smiled shallowly, like a blooming lotus.

Her eyes were full of affection, looking at the ecstatic man in front of her, and her heart was as sweet as honey.

"Thank you so much, madam, you are really my good lady."

Liu Feng was so happy that he picked up Sun Shangxiang high like a child, and kept turning in circles in this hall.

Sun Shangxiang Gege smiled, and the light and happy laughter echoed in the hall for a long time.

Two days later, the civil and military forces in Xiangyang heard the news of Mrs. Sun's happiness.

This happy event brought a rare relief to this city shrouded in the clouds of war.

Liu Feng is the "master of a country", and his family affairs are state affairs.

If Mrs. Sun gave birth to an heir for Liu Feng, it means that Liu's foundation has an heir, which also means that the glory and wealth that the bureaucrats get from Liu Feng at this time can continue from Liu Feng's son.

Although it is not yet known whether Madame Sun will give birth to a son, the news has played a certain role in uniting the hearts of her subjects.

At the military meeting just held, all the officials congratulated Liu Feng, and Liu Feng was happy, and announced in public that he would reward the ministers and amnesty the prisoners, thinking that Mrs. Sun would seek peace.

"The lord is going to have an heir, and I am really happy for the lord, but I have something here, I'm afraid I have to disturb the lord's interest."

Pang Tong said with a smile, but his expression was a little dignified.

Before the war was raging and the external troubles had not been eliminated, Liu Feng quickly calmed down from his happiness and asked: "State affairs are important, what is there to be unhappy, sir, but it doesn't matter." ”

Pang Tong then said: "Judging from the current intelligence, Cao Ying's main force has entered the Shangyong area, and has launched an attack on Jinshu, and his intention to attack Hanzhong is already very obvious, I think most of his colleagues think so." ”

Liu Feng heard a little different meaning from Pang Tong's words.

As he said, after Cao Ying's repeated suspicious tactics, at this time, all the officials believed that Cao Ying had revealed his ultimate goal, that is, to attack Hanzhong with all his might, and when Cao's army withdrew from Fancheng, the bureaucrats were even more certain of this judgment.

"Cao Ying's various actions, it is obvious that he wanted to attack Hanzhong by surprise, this is already obvious, does Shiyuan still think that Cao Ying has other intentions?" Kuai Liang smiled.

Pang Tong smiled faintly and said, "On the surface, it looks like this, but there is one thing that makes me very strange. Since Cao Ying wanted to attack Hanzhong with all his might, he should transfer the troops of Fancheng to the three eastern counties, and at least transfer the troops and horses north to Wancheng, so as to follow up.

However, why did Cao Ying put 100,000 soldiers and horses in Xinye and did nothing? ”

"This ......"

A sentence made Kuai Liang unable to explain.

That's 100,000 male soldiers, even if Cao Ying is not at ease with Liu Feng, afraid that he will take advantage of his attack on Hanzhong to raise troops to the north, there is no need to defend him with 100,000 soldiers and horses, this is simply a great waste.

There is only one reason that can explain Cao Ying's unreasonable behavior, and that is that Cao Ying must have other plans.

But what is he trying to do?

Could it be that he still wants to annex Liu Bei and me Liu Feng together in one go?

Pang Tong's words made Liu Feng fall into deep suspicion.

These days, Liu Feng has always had a strange feeling in his heart, always feeling that the current situation is a little weird, and now Pang Tong's reminder makes him feel this feeling even stronger.

His gaze shifted to the huge map again, his knife-like gaze wandering between the mountains and rivers, and his gaze finally lingered in one place.

Suddenly, there was disbelief in his eyes.

"Sir, could it be ......" Liu Feng turned his head suddenly, and his surprised gaze shot directly at Pang Tong.

At this moment, Pang Tong's expression was solemn and solemn, and when he saw that Liu Feng had already thought it through, he nodded heavily: "That's right, what the lord thought of was the only reasonable explanation." ”

Through the hall, Liu Feng gave a deep cold shiver, gasped, and muttered: "Cao Ying, you really have a big appetite, amazing, really powerful......"

…………………………………… On the rugged mountain road, the army of 5,000 people was marching along the sheep's intestine path between the mountains and mountains.

In this inaccessible area of mountains and rivers, on the rocky ridge, a winding path winds southward, and it is difficult for outsiders to find the mountain path hidden in the rocks, which is almost impossible to distinguish unless it is for the natives who have lived here for a long time.

At the front of the mountain road, the shirtless young general raised his eyes to look at the endless mountains, and sweat was pouring rain on his hideous face.

This young general is none other than Cao Xiu.

"General Shen, how long will it take to arrive?" Cao Xiu pulled his voice and shouted weakly to Shen Yi a few steps away.

"Come on, just go over the hill in front of you." Shen Yi replied loudly.

Unlike Cao Xiu, who grew up in the Central Plains since childhood, Shen Yi has been dealing with this poor mountain and bad water all his life, although he was born in a local wealthy family, hunting in the mountains is a compulsory course for these powerful children in the mountains.

Although it has not been such a long journey for many years, Shen Yi is still much easier than the young Cao Xiu.

Cao Xiu's ambition when he set off, has already been tortured by the road of Shu difficult to go to heaven, at this moment, how can he still do what he wants to do "the first hero to unify the world", he only hopes to finish this hellish mountain road quickly, as for whether he can complete the task of Cao Gong, then he can only resign himself to fate.

In the afterglow, the team of 5,000 people continued to move forward silently.

Three days later, Cao Xiu and his tired soldiers and horses finally crossed the last mountain range.

Looking down at the valley under his feet, there seems to be a jade belt, which appears and disappears between the clouds and mist.

That jade belt is the Yangtze River.

Not far from Changbian, a small and inconspicuous city, half-obscured in a gray mist.

Five thousand tired soldiers, like hungry tigers and wolves, searched for a long time, and finally found their prey.

In a pair of round eyes, the surging murderous aura is like the river under your feet.

Cao Xiu took a deep breath, raised his voice and shouted: "Brothers, the time for meritorious service has come, Prime Minister Cao Cheng has an order, those who enter the city first will be rewarded with a thousand gold, and the official will be promoted to the third level!" ”

"Kill~~"

"Kill~~"

Five thousand tigers and wolves looked up to the sky and howled angrily, and bursts of murderous aura shook the heavens and the earth.

The tired body seemed to be injected with new vitality in an instant, Cao Xiu took the lead, and five thousand soldiers rushed all over the mountains towards the defenseless town at the bottom of the mountain.

That city is Jianping County, Wuxian County.

From Jianping to the north, although there are steep mountains, there is still a section of hundreds of miles of sheep intestine trail, which can lead to Fangling County ruggedly.

In the past history, after Liu Bei captured Hanzhong, he ordered Meng Da to lead his troops, starting from Yidu, and going north to Fangling through Jianping Road, and successively captured the three eastern counties.

Now, Cao Xiu is on the order of Cao Ying, leading the army from Fangling to the south to attack Jianping.

This is Cao Ying's real purpose.

All the previous things were just Cao Ying's tricks, in order to convince Liu Feng that his army had entered the three eastern counties in order to raid Hanzhong from the east.

Xiahou Yuan's troops stormed Yangping Pass, and repeatedly attacked the east and west, but they were all part of Jia Xu's serial plan.

And the ultimate purpose of this serial plan is to seize Jianping County by surprise when Liu Feng is defenseless, and cut off the connection between Yizhou and Jingzhou in one fell swoop.

Jianping County, although Jingyi is critical, has become less important when Jingzhou and Yizhou are in the hands of Liu Feng.

Therefore, Liu Feng only deployed a certain number of soldiers and horses in Bajun and Yidu at both ends of the Jingyi Pass, and as for Jianping, Badong, Fuling and other counties in the middle section, only a limited number of county soldiers were stationed.

Jia Xu has already counted this point in it.

At this moment, Liu Fengjingzhou's soldiers and horses were gathered on the front line of Xiangyang, and the main force of the Yizhou Army was concentrated on the front line of Jiange, and the hinterland of the two states could be said to be empty.

As long as Cao Xiu's troops and horses can conquer Wu County, Cao Xiu's follow-up army can smoothly move south from the three eastern counties.

At that time, whether to the east or west, Cao Ying's army would face an empty Jingyi county.

Cao Ying really wants to deal with the enemy, it is Liu Feng.

(To be continued)