Liu Bei hurriedly retreated from Guanzhong and returned to Hanzhong County to govern Nanzheng, and Fa Zheng led his ministers out of the city to greet him. Liu Bei hurriedly jumped off the horse, took Fa Zheng's hand, and looked up and down, only to see that Fa Xiaozhi's face was still quite ugly, and his spirit was a little sluggish, but compared to what Zong Wei said that day, it seemed to be much better - at least he could stay and move around.

So he took off the big red cloak, wrapped Fa Zheng around his body, and said: "Filial piety is not sick, and the wind outside the city is strong, why do you want to come to welcome me?" Fa Zheng was moved to tears, and immediately bowed to the ground, saying: "When the Supreme returns, the minister will die, and he should be greeted by the public, how dare he be without a form?" ”

Fa Zheng was originally sick of his heart, and when he heard that Pang Tongtong had died, although he was also quite sad, he subconsciously felt a lot more relaxed - the biggest political enemy was finished, and from now on, Dongzhou Shi could completely override Jingzhou Shi under his own leadership - and then when he heard that Liu Bei had successfully withdrawn from Guanzhong, his illness was instantly healed by three points. After the doctor's diagnosis and treatment, he said that the symptoms of Sikong's disease have been alleviated, and as long as he rests with peace of mind, it will not take two months to recover.

That's why he personally went to the suburbs of Nanzheng to meet Liu Bei, and then the monarchs and ministers joined hands to enter the city to discuss the next plan of action. Fa Zheng said that it would be better if you returned smoothly, I have already built twenty-three barracks in various places in Hanzhong, and they are like horns to each other, as long as you stuff the soldiers and horses into it, thousands of troops and horses will be difficult to break - Your Majesty, you should give the order quickly, although the soldiers are tired, they can wait until they arrive at the garrison and rest without delay.

At present, the headache is still the problem of grain and grass, and Fa Zheng said that I have written everywhere, destroying grain and straw, but my hands are still tight. The only thing I hope is that Deng Fang, the governor of the city, can collect more supplies from the Nanzhong region. However, I heard that Huang Zhong and Buqi of Cao Wei Jiaozhou had an attempt to march to Nanzhong. There are signs of instability in the counties and subject countries—I have already sent Li Hui to pacify them. He's a local, and he wants to make a difference.

If Nanzhong loses, if it exceeds expectations, then Hanzhong can hold for more than half a year, and if it is insufficient, it is estimated that it will hold for three or four months. I only hope that Your Majesty, you will be broken enough in the pass this time, and it will be difficult for Cao Wei to accumulate strength to launch an attack within the year. It's just that for the sake of safety, it is also necessary to leave an army at the south entrance of the Baoxie Valley. Respond to the safety of Nan Zheng.

Liu Bei nodded again and again, and said that you have worked hard and been filial, and everything is according to what you say and do. Then within a few days, he got the news of the return of Zhang Fei, Huang Quan, and Liu Feng, Liu Bei was happy at first, but after hearing the detailed report, he was furious and scolded: "How dare an unfilial son abandon the army and leave?!" "An edict will be issued immediately to arrest Liu Feng and bring him to justice. It was still Fa Zheng and others who repeatedly persuaded him, and Zhang Fei also wrote a letter to intercede for Liu Feng. Liu Bei was able to temporarily calm the anger of the thunder and ordered Liu Feng not to return to Nanzheng. He camped at the mouth of the valley in order to atone for his sins.

Liu Feng waited for seven days in the valley, and did not see Cao Wei's army attacking, so he immediately wrote to Liu Bei, saying that it is estimated that the Wei army will not dare to come to fight Hanzhong for the time being, our army is really tired, please let me enter the city of Baozhong for a while. Liu Bei didn't allow it, and scolded in writing, but turned his head and asked Fa Zheng: "Cao Cao Guo didn't dare to come?" "Fa Zheng said that the secret agent we stayed in Guanzhong has not sent back the news, and this minister can't say for sure. However, in case the Wei army still wants to attack in a big way, although Gongzi blocks the valley mouth, but the soldiers are tired, I am afraid it will be difficult to resist - it is better to send someone to replace him. Only then did Liu Bei order that Liu Ning and Du Lu lead the troops to replace Liu Feng and allow Liu Feng to temporarily enter the praise.

Fa Zheng didn't dare to talk too much in front of Liu Bei, but when he talked to his friend Huang Quan, he judged: "Our army retreats at the beginning, if Cao Cao chases after him, I am afraid that it will be difficult to defend Hanzhong." Now they have all the dangers, the horns are stacked, if Cao Cao comes from the small road, there will be no reason. Those who know the soldiers are still not coming, and they dare not come. "Our crisis this time can basically be regarded as over.

Who wanted to speak before the voice fell, and suddenly the door came to report: "Xicheng is in an emergency!" ”

Xicheng is in the middle of Hanzhong County, after Liu Bei occupied here, he divided the west of Xicheng out of Shangyong County, and governed the four counties of Xicheng, Fangling, Shangyong and Tin County, so that Mengda Mencius of the Dongzhou faction respected it. On the Cao Wei side, Ma Tan proposed to Cao Ren to attack Hanzhong by collecting water, in fact, to fight this newly established Shangyong County, if the Shangyong is lower, not only can it directly threaten Hanzhong, but as long as it takes a step forward and takes Shiquan County, then the south entrance of the Meridian Road will be exposed, and in the future, the Wei army can directly communicate with the two major theaters of Yongzhou and Jingzhou through the Meridian Road, causing strong pressure on the flank of Hanzhong.

Ma Jian asked for an order to personally lead 3,000 soldiers and horses to attack Shangyong. However, not only is he too young, but his current identity is only a shogunate document, and it is impossible to send generals, so after careful consideration, Cao Ren still ordered Niu Jin to be the general, and Ma Jian to be the staff officer, leading 5,000 soldiers and horses to go up the river to try to attack Shangyong.

When the army was not reorganized, Ma Jian ran to Niu Jin and asked: "I am willing to get a hundred pawns, and I will go to Xicheng first." "Niu Jin said that you are crazy, do you dare to enter the enemy territory first with a hundred people? Ma Youchang said with a smile: "I don't dare to attack first with a hundred horses, but I want to enter in white clothes to probe the enemy situation for the general." ”

Although Wei and Shu were opposed, the people's trade exchanges were not completely severed. Especially in Shu, the poor, grain, military resources are not sufficient, the only special product that can be obtained is Shu brocade, the problem of Shu brocade if only in Bashu, really can not produce much profit, so there are often Central Plains merchants into Shu to buy, Liu Bei's regime also turned a blind eye to this, closed one eye.

Ma Tan is a native of Yicheng, Nanjun, Ma is a big clan in the county, has a wide range of land, but also business, when Ma Liang was forced to reluctantly return to Cao Wei, was ordered to serve the palace after the imperial history, his brothers took this as a backer, using the waterway, swaggering to carry out the Shu brocade trade. Therefore, Ma Jian suggested that he attack Shangyong by water, and asked Niu Jin to allocate 100 soldiers to join the Ma caravan and enter the enemy territory to investigate the situation.

And Ma Jian also said: "Shangyong Ling Shen Yi and Jian have an old relationship, or it can be said that he has come to descend." Then he added: "The way of the husband with soldiers, attacking the heart is the top, attacking the city is the bottom, the heart is the top, the army is the bottom, if you can win his mind, it will be easy." ”

The Shen family is a wealthy family between Shangyong and Xicheng, and when the Han Dynasty was in turmoil, he and his brother Shen Tan gathered thousands of people to protect themselves and attached themselves to Zhang Lu. When Liu Bei defeated Zhang Lu, he set up Shangyong County, and appointed Meng Da as Shangyong Taishou, so that the Shen clan and the Shen brothers were forced to surrender, and Shen Tan was appointed as the county governor, and Shen Yi was appointed as the commander of Shangyong County.

Since the Shen family is the head snake in Shangyong County, they will inevitably have a piece of the pie in the trade and trade with the Central Plains, which is related to the Xiangyang Ma family. Ma Jian said that he had an old relationship with Shen Yi, but it was actually a lie, but it is an indisputable fact that his Ma family has a connection with the Shen family.

In the end, Niu Jin agreed with Ma Yan's suggestion, that is, he was sent to take the lead and went to Shangyong. Ma You, with a long cloth scarf, led a "caravan", and three ships of gold and jewelry, set off from Xiangyang, and entered the territory of Shangyong in a few days - this road was already well walked, and the defenders along the way had already taken care of it, so there was no hindrance. But then the boat was released to Tin County, but Ma Jian himself led more than a dozen disguised soldiers, abandoned the boat and went ashore, turned southeast, and entered Shangyong City.

Shangyong County and county have the same name, but it is not where the county is located, Meng Da set the county in the westernmost Xicheng, and in Shangyong County, Shen Yi is the real emperor of the soil. Ma Tan threw himself in, Shen Yi and Shen Yi Fan set up a banquet to invite him, and asked, I have never been in Shu Jin trade, didn't your servants lead the team to come, why did this son come in person?

Ma Jian arched his hand and said: "This trip is in danger, and I am afraid that it will be difficult for my subordinates to succeed, so I ask for my life." Shen Yi smiled: "Why is there any danger? "Are you worried that the two countries will fight each other, and we will use this as an excuse to detain your caravan? Don't worry, my Shen family is trustworthy-" And the war is in the north, and there is no police between Jing and Han. ”

Ma Tan said that it was not accurate: "Cao Huguo is in Xiangyang, in order to respond to the northern line, or will use troops in Han and Baye, but I don't know where he came from." Shen Yi frowned, leaned forward slightly, and asked Ma Yan, saying that your brother is an official in Luoyang, and your family has a huge force in the local area, so you may be able to find out Cao Ren's movements. You tell me honestly, is Cao Ren ready to come to fight Shangyong, so you took the risk to come here in person, intending to make the last deal?

Ma Tan smiled faintly: "If Cao Huguo sends troops up the river and is in the middle of the mediocrity, can Brother Shen resist it?" Is Mencius (Meng Da's original character Zijing, avoiding Liu Bei's uncle Liu Zijing, and changing Zidu) to resist it? Shen Yi was silent.

Ma Tan glanced at him and said, "Please leave everyone alone, please talk to your brother alone." ”

When only Shen and Ma were left in the house, Ma Tan said: "As my brother said, the Ma family is in Xiangyang, well-informed, and now I heard that Pang Shiyuan died in battle, and the lord of Shu is in a dilemma in Guanzhong. Today's next two points, Wei's power is twice as much as Shu, the momentum of victory and defeat is very clear, brother Ruozhi and Liu died together, then today's goods are traded, and tomorrow can not be seen again. If you have the heart to return to Wei, you and I should be closer to each other - I think I sent him to visit my brother's true intentions. ”

Shen Yi said that since you tell the truth (in fact, it is not), then I will also say a few words that dig into the heart: "Mencius is arrogant, my brother is under his subordinates, every time he is humiliated, his brother can bear it, and Yishi refuses to bear it." I want to return to Wei for a long time, but unfortunately I don't have the ears of the messenger. ”

Ma Tan said it doesn't matter, I can help with the mediation. Cao Ren will soon send a large army to kill, and when the time comes, you will open the gate of Shangyong City and take the lead in surrendering, not only will your life be saved, but you can also go further. It's just that I'm worried that Brother Ling is still in Xicheng, and if Meng Da kills him, then Brother Shen, you have a way to be filial piety.

Shen Yi gritted his teeth and said that if he doesn't do it, he won't stop doing it, I'll send someone to contact my brother, if he is willing to do it, Xicheng will have it at his fingertips, if he doesn't, I will rob him out. In addition, most of the defenders in Tin County and Fangling are also the ancestors of my Shen family, as long as the Wei army arrives, they can also open the city to welcome the surrender...... (To be continued.) )