A.D. 194, October of the second year of Jian'an.

Luo Zheng did not wait for the Sanfu area to completely stabilize dìng, so he sent Gao Shun to lead an army of 20,000 out of Chang'an to the east, preparing to capture Hongnong County in one fell swoop, hold the Hangu Pass, and then slowly pass through the Guanzhong to accumulate vitality.

After receiving Zhang Ji's request for help, Li Wei, who was in Luoyang, immediately ordered his nephew Li Li to lead an army of 15,000 troops to help.

Li Wei already had a grudge with Luo Zheng, and if Luo Zheng was allowed to unify Guanzhong again, he would be in trouble.

Therefore, no matter where Yu Gong is, Li Dao must send troops to help, and Luo Zheng must no longer be allowed to capture Hongnong County.

Gao Shun led the army to Huayin County, and broke the careless Li Li army in the area of Qixiang Township, and was about to take advantage of the victory to pursue, Zhang Ji led the army to arrive in time, so as to stabilize the position, and set up a labor village in the area of Taihua Mountain, and held on.

Li Li also took the opportunity to rein in the defeated army and set up camp on the mountain road opposite Zhangji's camp, turning each other into horns.

Gao Shun led the army to attack Zhang Ji, and Li Li's army attacked; Attacking Li Li, Zhang Ji led the army to attack.

In this way, in early November, Gao Shun feinted to attack Zhang Ji's camp in the middle of the night, but secretly mobilized elite soldiers and strong generals to be stationed at the foot of the mountain, and when Li Li heard the report and brought troops to help, he broke Li Li's army in one fell swoop, and took advantage of the situation to seize Li Li's camp.

Li Li also failed to escape, and was beheaded by Gao Shun in front of the battle, most of the more than 10,000 troops were captured, and less than 3,000 people escaped.

Zhang Ji was shocked when he heard the news, and while he was stubbornly guarding the camp and not leaving, he sent 800 li to urgently ask Li Dao for help, and asked his nephew Zhang Xiu to go to Hedong Xiao in person, and asked Yang Feng, who occupied Hedong, to send troops to help.

Yang Feng also felt that it was not safe to be a neighbor with Luo Zheng, who was an aggressive man, and Luo Zheng already had ten counties in Liangzhou, if he captured Guanzhong, Hedong would only be a county, and at that time, what would he do to resist Luo Zheng's murderer.

Think left and right. Immediately, Xu Huang led 8,000 troops to help.

Gao Shun waved his army to attack Zhang Ji's camp for more than ten days, but he couldn't break it, and when he wanted to turn around and break Xu Huang's 8,000 army first. Unexpectedly, the snow fell suddenly, and the land turned white overnight. It's hard to get around.

After a few days, the weather did not clear.

Although the soldiers added winter clothes, there were still wounded soldiers who froze to death in the middle of the night.

Gao Shun had no choice but to temporarily withdraw to Zheng County to recuperate.

In Chang'an, a heavy snowfall masked the pungent smell of blood.

Luo Zheng stood at the top of the city and looked into the distance, and muttered: "This heavy snow is really not the right time!" ”

Jia Xu said: "Although the pace of our army's eastward advance has been suspended, this winter is not so easy for Zhang Jilai. Hongnong is only more than 100,000 people. It can't support Zhang Ji's 20,000 troops at all, and soldiers flee every winter, and when this winter passes, it is estimated that Zhang Ji's 10,000 soldiers and horses will not be much left. ”

Luo Zheng nodded and asked, "What's the matter with that Yang Feng, who dares to touch General Ben's moldy head?" ”

Jia Xu said: "Yang Feng occupies the east of the river, so naturally he doesn't want to see the lord Shun pacify Guanzhong. ”

Luo Zheng said: "But thousands of soldiers and horses dare to try to divide one side." However, Hedong is the northern gateway of the pass, and you can go straight to Jinyang in the north, and you can enter the party through Yang'a in the east. To the west, you can also attack Xihe, Shangjun and other places, connecting Liangzhou together, and the geographical location is very important. You can't miss it. When Zhang Ji is driven away, he has to capture Hedong with one blow. ”

Jia Xu has long been familiar with the geography of Guanzhong, I don't know how many times he has looked at the map, and when he heard this, he replied: "If you take Hedong, why wait until you get rid of Zhang Ji." Yang Feng wanted to divide the territory and refused the lord, and sent troops to help Zhang Ji to block General Gao Shun's army, and Anyi was bound to be empty. In the coming year, the lord of spring only needs to send a fine horse north to Xiayang to cross the river, cross the Longmen Mountain from the trail, and then attack Anyi directly. ”

Luo Zheng's heart moved, and he said: "There is a small road in Longmen Mountain, and General Ben also knows. But will the cavalry be able to pass? ”

Jia Xu said: "I have already asked Gongying to investigate carefully, and if you don't bring baggage, the cavalry should be able to cross Longmen Mountain." ”

Luo Zheng said: "Excellent. If a group of elite horsemen suddenly kills from the side and back to the city of Anyi, see what kind of expression Yang Feng's wife will have at that time. As long as Yang Feng can be forced to land. Xu Huang's army of 8,000 will be in the general's pocket. ”

Jia Xu said with a smile: "If you can force land Yang Feng, it will be effortless to break Zhang Ji's army!" ”

Luo Zheng also thought of a poisonous plan in an instant, and glanced at Jia Xu, and the two traitors laughed at the same time.

"Lord!"

At this moment, Cheng Ying hurriedly climbed to the top of the city, his face a little solemn.

Luo Zheng asked, "Gongying is in a hurry, but what happened?" ”

Cheng Ying said in a condensed voice: "Elk Zifang sent an urgent report from Hanzhong, and Liu Yan in Yizhou died of illness. ”

"What, Liu Yan is dead?"

Luo Zheng was taken aback, and then reacted.

Cheng Ying replied: "Exactly, Elk Zifang took a trip to Xichuan, and now he has just arrived in Hanzhong, and after finding out the news from Hanzhong, he asked people to send the news over." It is said that the successor to the position of Yizhou pastor is Liu Yan's third son, Liu Zhang. ”

Luo Zheng said: "Liu Yan is dead, Zhang Lu should be happy!" ”

Jia Xu said: "Although Zhang Lu only wants to occupy Hanzhong as a grass king, and has no ambition for external expansion, if Yizhou is in chaos, it will be difficult to say." It's just that the center of gravity of our army is not in Xichuan, and I don't know if Xichuan will be chaotic after Liu Yan's death. ”

Cheng Ying said: "It is unlikely that there will be civil strife in Xichuan, after Liu Yan entered Sichuan, he wantonly used a group of scholars who followed him into Sichuan, and the local scholars in Xichuan have been completely suppressed by the local people in Xichuan last year. ”

Luo Zheng asked, "How is Liu Zhang?" ”

Cheng Ying said: "Sex is weak and warm, not enough to achieve great things." ”

Jia Xu said: "I have also heard a little in the next generation, Zhao Wei, Pang Xi and others are all authoritarian, if Liu Zhang is stronger, I am afraid that it will be difficult to get the support of these people." Liu Zhang is cowardly, and Zhao Wei, Pang Xi and others are in charge of the order. ”

Luo Zheng muttered: "If the lord is weak, the minister is strong, this is not easy to understand!" ”

Jia Xu, Cheng Ying and others all kept their mouths shut, and it was difficult for them to talk about this kind of topic as courtiers.

Luo Zheng immediately asked, "Is it possible for our army to take Xichuan?" ”

Jia Xu said: "If you want to take Xichuan, you must first go to Hanzhong." Hanzhong Zhang Lu has tens of thousands of soldiers, and he is very popular with the people, and Hanzhong is surrounded by mountains on all sides, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is difficult to plan eagerly. Don't think about it. The strategic center of gravity of our army is in the Central Plains, and after pacifying the Guanzhong and accumulating enough money, food, soldiers, and horses. It is necessary to actively send a letter to the valley to the east. As long as the Central Plains and Jingyang and other places are swept away, the final general will lead a partial division into Sichuan and Dingding. Setting our sights on Xichuan now will only disrupt our army's strategic plans. ”

Luo Zheng thought about it, so he followed the good and no longer opened this discussion.

This is indeed not the time to take Xichuan, once the troops are delayed, they will inevitably not be able to take into account the situation in the Central Plains.

Xichuan is not as good as Liangzhou, the power of the Xichuan Shi clan is deep-rooted, and the Sichuan people are extremely xenophobic.

Even if you can raise troops to fight. It also has to be heavily garrisoned to suppress the Xichuan clan and all kinds of turmoil, as for wanting to make Xichuan completely stable, then I don't know how long it will be delayed, how can I take care of the Central Plains.

Puyang, Cao Cao's official residence.

Seeing that the year was over again, Cao Cao convened a group of confidants to discuss the military and political strategies.

When the military discussion was about to end, Cheng Yu got up and went out for a trip, and soon came back again.

"Lord!"

After Cheng Yu returned to Xilie, he bowed his hand to Cao Cao and said, "The details have just been transmitted back from Guanzhong. The 15,000 troops sent by Li Dao to Guanzhong have already been wiped out, and Li Dao's nephew Li Li was also beheaded by Luo Zheng's general Gao Shun! ”

Cao Cao's eyes were condensed, and he said in a deep voice: "Has Luo Zheng ever captured Hongnong?" ”

Cheng Yu said: "Don't worry, lord. Hedong Taishou Yang Feng sent his subordinate Xu Huang to lead 8,000 troops south to Huayin, and there was a heavy snowfall in Guanzhong, Gao Shun had already led the army back to Zheng County, and Zhang Ji should be able to hold out for a while. ”

Cao Cao said worriedly: "Luo Zheng has been recuperating in Liangzhou for two years, and now the soldiers are full of food, and this time the troops will definitely not give up in the pass, I really don't have any confidence in Zhang Ji and others!" ”

Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, Chen Gong and others all nodded, and they were all not optimistic about Zhang Ji and Yang Feng.

Cao Cao said in a deep voice: "Luo Zheng has the benefit of gold and rice, and he only needs to harvest in Liangzhou in one season." There is no need to worry about food and grass. As long as that guy can completely calm Guanzhong, it will not take two or three years. It will march eastward in a big way, and there is not much time left for our army. ”

Guo Jiashen thought so: "What the lord said is extremely true. The benefits of gold and rice are as heavy as the community! ”

Everyone also nodded, what is Sheji, Sheji is to let the people eat their stomachs, and there will be no famine.

Jinmi is as heavy as a community, and there is indeed no exaggeration.

For all the princes, grain is definitely the foundation and foundation of a qiē. With food, there will be everything, this is not a joke, but a qiē governance and ruling foundation, the people have enough to eat, and they will no longer flee into exile.

If you have enough food, you can exchange it for everything else.

Especially in this era of general scarcity, food is definitely the most core strategic material.

Cheng Yu said: "Fortunately, Luo Zheng was cut off from the Shi clan in the world, and the territory he laid down was unmanaged, so he had to send troops to guard various places, delaying the pace of his external expansion. Otherwise, in two years at most, this guy will be able to fight in Luoyang. ”

Guo Jiadao: "Therefore, there is not much time left for the lord, our army must completely drive Yuan Shu to Huainan before Luo Zheng leaves the east gate of Hangu, and then unite the princes of the world to give Luo Zheng a head-on blow, so that he is unable to advance eastward within ten years, so that the lord has the opportunity to unify the Central Plains and Hebei, and then set the world." ”

Cheng Yu thought deeply and said: "Yes, if this guy completely pacifies Guanzhong, it will become a disaster for the princes of the world, presumably Yuan Shao, Liu Biao and others don't want to see this guy sitting big in Guanzhong, and the lord can use it justly!" ”

Cao Cao nodded and said, "Let's not talk about this for the time being, the top priority is to drive Yuan Shu to Huainan as much as possible." ”

Guo Jia said: "The lord needs to prevent Yuan Shu from uniting with Tao Qian and sending troops to attack the flank of our army. ”

Cao Cao said awe-inspiringly: "What Feng Xiao said is very true, and this matter cannot be guarded against. Although Tao Qian is old, there are many protégés of the Yuan family in Xuzhou, so he may not be moved by Yuan Shu's words, and Zhongde will go to Xuzhou to lobby the Xuzhou scholars! ”

Cheng Yu arched his hand and said, "Obey the order." ”

Hongnong, Zhang Ji's official residence.

"Uncle, the shape is not very good!"

Zhang Xiu said to Zhang Ji: "In the past two years, our army's grain and grass have been stretched, and this year's autumn grain is not harvested, and now the soldiers have two meals a day, and they can only eat half a bowl of porridge at each meal. ”

"Alas!"

Zhang Ji let out a long sigh, his brows were almost twisted together, and he muttered: "What can be done, Hongnong is only more than 100,000 people, which is really not enough to support the army under his command!" It's a pity that the golden rice can't be cultivated, otherwise, why would our army be in danger of grain and grass. By the way, how about Jin Rong going to Hedong to borrow grain, and Yang Feng is willing to borrow general military rations? ”

Zhang Xiu said 'hey' and said, "Uncle, don't mention it, Yang Feng's house is also a lot of excuses to procrastinate." ”

Zhang Ji was surprised: "What did Yang Feng say? ”

Zhang Xiu said: "Yang Feng said that he also has no food in the army, and he wants to borrow some military food from his uncle!" ”

Zhang Ji frowned and said: "Judging from Jinrong, can Yang Fengjun be short of food?" ”

Zhang Xiu thought for a while and said: "Yang Feng shouldn't have deceived the little nephew, according to the little nephew's observation, Yang Feng does not have much grain and grass, and there are only tens of thousands of people in Hedong, less than the people of Hongnong, and it is indeed not easy to feed Yang Feng's soldiers and horses!" ”

Zhang Ji sighed, and he didn't think about the tea and rice with sorrow.

Since Dong Zhuo was killed and the Liang State was destroyed less than half a year after the founding of the country, he had not slept well, not only to guard against the surrounding warlords raising troops to invade the country, but also to feed the stomachs of the army under his command, and his hair was a lot gray.

But what can be done, food is not a tree in the mountains, it can be returned if it is gone, and it has to be planted by the people. (To be continued) R580