The upgrading of weapons, this alone has given the Celestial Empire army enough confidence. Just imagine, on the battlefield, two people fight, you sword and I sword back and forth, but when you fight to more than a dozen swords, the weapon in your hand is suddenly broken, what kind of result will it be, who wins and who dies must not have to think about it.

The upgrading of weapons made the morale of the entire Celestial Empire army quickly rise to a higher level. When the news came out, other countries only had envy, although they also knew that the quality of swords in the cold weapon period was a very important thing, but when it came to letting them imitate them, it really couldn't be done.

In addition to some technical problems, the most important thing is the lack of financial resources.

The Celestial Empire attached great importance to the development of commerce when Zhang Chao was formed, whether it was the Zhangjia Distillery or the Opium 0 Tablets Business where no one knew the formula, it brought them great wealth.

Especially a while ago, Ma Chao, the commander of the Dragoon Legion, took 200,000 cavalry out of Yumen Pass, and after taking a trip to the Western Regions, the Zhangjia Trading Company also took the opportunity to open up sales channels there, and soon had commercial contacts with dozens of large and small countries there.

Although Ma Chao and the dragoon army did not go far into the Western Regions, and even now they have returned to Xiliang, but the road of commerce has been fully developed, and after more than a year of development, a steady stream of profits has been passed back, which greatly supports the expenditure of the treasury and ensures the needs of army construction.

It is with these foundations that Zhang Chao has the confidence to change the weapons of the soldiers, and has the confidence to send troops to the Central Plains and point his sword at the world.

Entering the Central Plains and conquering the world is Zhang Chao's goal. It's just that because of Goryeo and Rus' countries, it has been delayed. Now, Goryeo has become a vassal state of the Celestial Empire, and Rus' in the northeast has also been decided by a war and has become honest. The Xiongnu and Xianbei in the north were also expelled thousands of miles away, and Zhang Chao could finally let go and enter the Central Plains.

In April 207 AD, that is, in the third year of the Celestial Empire, Emperor Zhang Chao held a pledge meeting in Jinyang City, and then announced that for the safety of the people in the world, in order to return everyone to a peaceful world, and in order to teach the repeated Wei State a bloody lesson, the Celestial Dynasty sent troops to the Central Plains and marched into the Wei State.

Among them, the army was headed by Emperor Zhang Chao all the way, and a total of 900,000 people in the first, sixth, and seventh legions were left by Chen in Gunzhou to Yingchuan, Yuzhou; All the way, led by the commander of the first-class military general Lu Bu, the vanguard corps, the three military talents and the waterway corps (400,000 troops were sent and 100,000 were left behind), a total of 1 million people started from Qingzhou and marched to Xuzhou.

For the rest, the Dragon and Tiger Legion held Goryeo and the northeast without moving; The Second Army Corps guarded Yanmen Pass and took over the defense of Youzhou; The Dragoon Regiment guards Xiliang; The Fifth Army Corps is subordinate to the Division; The Fourth Army Corps defended Yongzhou. The three legions in the back can be used as mobile troops at any time, waiting for Zhang Chao's orders to move.

Xiliang and Yongzhou arranged the Four Legions and the Dragoon Legion respectively, which was also Zhang Chao's caution. Although all kinds of news came, Xishu is transforming an important city, it seems that they can't be threatened in the short term, but the heart of defense is indispensable, Zhang Chao arranged two legions with a total of 600,000 people to guard against Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang in Xishu, with such an arrangement, he believes that unless he is defeated by Wei, it is enough to deter them from sending troops at will.

The armies of the two routes, totaling nearly two million people, pressed down from the north and began to press towards the boundary of Wei.

In the face of the huge momentum of the Celestial Empire's army, Cao Cao felt very much pressure after hearing about it, but he did know that only in one battle, in the face of absolute strength, the so-called conspiracies and tricks were all floating clouds, and they were all useless.

To this end, Cao Cao also made corresponding arrangements. He arranged for Cao Ren to take six soldiers and 100,000 soldiers to guard Xuzhou, and he personally brought 800,000 to guard Yuzhou, and his eldest son Cao Ang to bring the last 100,000 soldiers to supervise the country in Runan.

Cao Cao was very jealous of the relationship between Sun Jian and Zhang Chao, and in addition to the fact that he had a water war with Eastern Wu in his early years, and had not yet taken any advantage, he did not believe that this old enemy would suddenly form a real alliance with him. If it weren't for the fact that the power of the Celestial Empire was too great, and Eastern Wu was also worried that it would be annexed, this time it would not be to face Zhang Chao alone, but to be attacked by the north and south.

The two sides have made their own preparations, and the bloody battle in the Central Plains has become inevitable.

Xuchang City, Yuzhou.

Originally, this was the founding capital of the Wei State, but because the army was defeated and Gunzhou was captured, it was reluctantly withdrawn to Runan to build another capital.

And now, the city of Xuchang is full of banners and displays, and the first battle between the Celestial Empire and the Wei State was chosen here.

The reason why he chose Xuchang was that Cao Cao had his own considerations. As the former national capital, the city was built tall and strong, which was best used for defense.

Zhang Chao will choose here, but also made a decisive battle, if possible, of course he wants to destroy Cao Cao with the smallest sacrifice, and the main battle is undoubtedly the best way. As for whether the city held on or not, with a weapon as powerful as explosives, it was nothing.

In this way, the inside and outside of Xuchang City have become very lively, not only that, but the eyes of the whole world are focused on here. Obviously, everyone can see that the outcome of this battle is likely to determine the final ownership of the Central Plains.

People all over the world are paying attention to this battle, and naturally, Zhang Chao and Cao Cao also attach great importance to it. Before the war began, both of them called their ministers and began to discuss countermeasures.

Cao Cao's side naturally has to defend first, the strength is not as good as others, the weapons and equipment are not as good as others, and even the quality of the soldiers is not as good as others.

Zhang Chao's side is naturally the main attack. With the advantage in hand, of course, there will be no politeness, but what kind of attack needs to be carefully discussed, and how to get the maximum victory at the minimum cost is the most important thing.

Zhang Chao originally wanted to decide the outcome in a battle, but after listening to the advice of Li Ru, the military division of the Sixth Army Corps, he no longer insisted on this idea.

Li Ru said that it is naturally a good thing to decide in a war, and it is not impossible to do it, but in this way, Cao Cao will definitely fight to the death, if this is the case, the price paid is not ordinarily large, and if it is not good, it will hurt the enemy by one thousand and lose eight hundred.

If it really hits like this, presumably Xishu and Dongwu, who are hiding on the side, will definitely take the opportunity to make a move, so whose territory Yuzhou will be is still unknown.

Of course, Zhang Chao is not afraid of Xishu and Dongwu, but what he is worried about is that he has put in the effort and indeed made a wedding dress for others, and he doesn't want to do such a loss-making business. Therefore, after listening to Li Ru's words, he decided to eliminate as much of the living force of Wei as possible while maintaining his main strength, and encroach on it step by step.

Even if he didn't want to do it in one step and decide the outcome of the battle, Zhang Chao decided to use the advantage of troops to eliminate the opponent's main force as much as possible in front of Xuchang City, and before that, he also wanted to have a good talk with Cao Cao.

Cao Cao is also a hero, if he can surrender without a fight and use it for his own use, this is naturally a good thing. Of course, the possibility of this is very small, but Zhang Chao still wants to give it a try, if there is such a result, it is a good thing for the whole country, the soldiers do not have to die, and the people do not have to experience the disaster of war.

Since becoming the emperor, Zhang Chao's mind and pattern have also undergone great changes, and when facing many problems, he has already thought as a monarch, rather than just grabbing territory and surviving as a prince in the past.

Through the way of flying arrows, Zhang Chao told the Wei army outside Xuchang about his idea of meeting Cao Cao.

After a wave of arrows attacked, the Wei army was still a little nervous, but when they saw that those arrows did not shoot at them, but in the open space more than ten meters in front of them, and those bows and arrows were tied to the secret letters, they suddenly realized, and the general in charge here hurriedly sent the letters.

Cao Cao in Xuchang City saw Zhang Chao's letter, his face was indifferent, he couldn't think of what Zhang Chao meant by seeing him at this time? Is it just a matter of catching up? Or maybe it's a soldier who wants to surrender without a fight.

The reason why Zhang Chao didn't think of negotiation was because the initiative on the battlefield was now in the hands of manpower, and Zhang Chao didn't need to do it at all. At least, if he gets along with each other, he will not take the initiative to negotiate with the other party.

"Your Majesty, could it be that Zhang Chao knows that our strength is also good, and he is a little afraid?" The general Xiahoudun, who came to deliver the letter, asked in a suspicious tone.

"It can't be." Without waiting for Cao Cao to answer, Xun You, a Wenchen standing on the other side, shook his head and said: "Zhang Zhiyuan is a person with a resolute personality, decisive in doing things, and cautious in thinking. ”

In fact, Xun You still has a sentence that has not been said, that is, Zhang Chao will not be afraid when facing the powerful Rus State, not to mention that he is now facing the Wei State, which is far less powerful than the Rus, so there is no possibility of fear.

"Not bad." Cao Cao also nodded at this moment and said: "Zhang Zhiyuan will not be afraid of us, he must talk to me at this time, just to persuade me to give up resistance and take it personally." ”

Cao Cao deserved to be Cao Cao, and he quickly saw what Zhang Chao meant. It's just that he knows in his heart that he will never do this, don't talk about it, the fact that his son Cao Pi died in the Celestial Empire Army shows that the two have no common hatred.

"What? It is simply impossible to persuade us to surrender, we still occupy the land of the two states, and there are 1.5 million soldiers, how can we surrender. When Xiahoudun heard this, he said angrily. His brother Xiahou Yuan died at the hands of the Celestial Empire army, and for him, this revenge could not be avenged. Not to mention, in his heart, the current Wei State is still the largest country after the Celestial Empire.