More than a month has passed, and Guo Huan's death is still as vivid as yesterday.

Lu Bu asked and beheaded, nearly 1,000 people who rebelled together were executed, and Lu Bu's family was cleanly raided. The 10,000 disguised soldiers waiting for the riot outside Xicheng were discovered by Zhang Lang in time and under the command of Quan Cong, and after a fierce battle, the enemy was quickly wiped out.

Because the news was not deliberately blocked, the entire Moling was boiling, and the people scolded Lu Bu for having ill intentions, and he was also to blame for being executed. None of the people who participated in the rebellion could survive this time, and those who were slightly restrained were also sent to the barbarian territory and worked all night.

Lu Bu's attempted rebellion was captured by Zhang Lang, and for a time it became a hot topic for the people of Moling to chat after dinner. Anyone could be heard talking about it all over the street. But as time goes by, no matter how sensational things are in the world, they will slowly fade away. In the future, the people of Moling still said that they came out and worked, and they returned after falling.

Only Zhen Mi was deeply hurt by this matter, and she closed her door for several decades, and she was extremely depressed. Fortunately, with Yang Rong, Wen Ji and other women enlightening at night, Zhen Mi did not continue to be sad, and her mood slowly became cheerful. Zhang Lang also left all the unhappy things behind him and did his best to take care of Moling's political affairs. Be prepared for the next phase of the war.

At this time, Liu Bei had the help of Zhuge Liang, and he had slowly gained a firm foothold in Shuzhong, and began to grow and develop. Zhang Lu learned from the past, and was deeply afraid that Liu Bei's development would eventually threaten him, so he secretly communicated with Ma Teng to discuss how to cooperate to win Shuchuan.

After Yuan Shao's defeat in the battle of Cao Yingguandu, he collapsed, and in less than two years, Yuan Shao died of illness, and several of his sons broke out in internal strife under Cao Ying's promotion. In March, Cao Ying led his army to attack Yecheng and defeated Yuan's army on the outskirts of the city. In April, due to Cao Ying's great power and internal contradictions, Cao Ying also adopted the strategy of the strategist Xi Zhicai to slow down the attack, leaving the general Cao Hongtun in Liyang, and secretly leading the army to return to Xudu, hoping to march when the internal strife of Yuan's army resumed. At the same time, in order to prevent Zhang Lang from taking the opportunity to go north, he secretly instigated Lu Bu to rebel, so as to disrupt the internal affairs of Jiangdong and let him rectify discipline.

In the autumn of the same year, Cao Ying's plan worked, Yuan's internal contradictions recurred, Yuan Shang besieged his brother Yuan Tan in the plain, and Yuan Tan sent people to Cao Ying for help in desperation. In October, Cao Ying took the opportunity to lead the army north, and then arrived at Liyang. In the first month of the tenth year of Jian'an, Cao Jun blocked Qi water from entering Baigou to transport military rations. In February, Yuan Shang, who was still guarding Yecheng, stayed in Suyou, tried to defend the city, and then led the army to attack Yuan Tan again.

Cao Ying took advantage of the situation and went straight to Yecheng, to Huanshui, Su You wanted to be the internal response, but he tried to vent and went out to Cao Ying. Entering Yecheng, because the city of Yecheng is high and thick, Cao's army builds the soil mountain and digs tunnels, but it cannot be conquered for a long time. In April, Cao Ying left Cao Hong to continue to besiege Ye, led his army to Maocheng, broke through Wu'an Yin Kai, and cut off the grain route from Shangdang County to Yecheng. Then attacked Handan in the north, defeated Yuan Shangshou's general, and the Yiyang County Commander and Shexian County Magistrate surrendered one after another, so as to isolate Yecheng's momentum. In May, Cao Ying led the army to return to Ye, destroyed the earth mountains and tunnels, dug a ditch with a length of 40 miles and a depth of 2 zhang and a width of 2 zhang around the city, and led water to pour it in, besieging Yecheng for three months, and most of the soldiers in the city starved to death. In desperation, Yuan Shang led more than 10,000 people to rescue. Seeing that Yuan Shang was coming along the West Mountain, Cao Ying knew that he had no intention of fighting to the death, so he rejected the suggestion of his generals to avoid his sharp spirit and prepared to attack. Yuan Shangdong to Yangping Pavilion, about 20 miles away from Ye Linfushui camp. Cao's army, which had been prepared for a long time, broke through the Yuan army that attacked by night and besieged his camp. Yuan Shang failed to surrender and led the army to flee. Cao Jun got all the baggage, got more than 10,000 helmets, and returned to the division to attack Ye. He also sent people to send the captured Yuan Shangyin ribbon and Jieyue into the city to break up the enemy army. Most of the soldiers of the Yuan army had no intention of fighting again, and the east gate guard opened the city gate at night and led the Cao army into the city. The trial was captured and killed.

At this time, Yuan Tan led his troops to plunder Ganling, Anping, Bohai, Hejian and other places, heard that Yuan Shang was defeated and went to Zhongshan, Yuan Tanfu led troops to attack it, Yuan Shang had no intention of fighting, and went to Youzhou to take refuge in Yuan Xi. In September, Cao Ying learned that Yuan Tan had the intention of going from Jizhou, and was furious, Chi Shu broke off his marriage, and led the army to pursue to the plains. Yuan Tan knew that he was invincible and went to protect Nanpi. Cao Ying chased after him, broke Tan under Nanpi City, Cao Hong rose up and killed Tan in the chaos, Guo Tu was also shot into the trench by Le Jin, and the people and horses died.

In October, Cao Ying sent the generals Jiao Touch, Zhang Nan, Ma Yan, Zhang Kai and other troops to divide into three routes and go north to Youzhou, and at the same time ordered Li Dian and Le Jin to attack and state Gaogan. The senior cadres led the troops to refuse to pass the Huguan, were lured out of the plan, and died in the city.

And Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi of Youzhou expected it difficult to meet the enemy, so they abandoned the city and went to Wuhuan in Liaoxi.

In the following months, Cao Ying pursued all the way, won successive battles, set Liaodong in the north, merged the state in the west, and collected the four states of Hebei in the bag.

After the unification of the north, Cao Ying immediately reorganized his army and began to prepare for the south.

At this time, Zhao Yun led his troops to break through Yuewu City, and the three roads of men and horses attacked Shixie. Shixie was defeated and returned to Jiaozhou.

Shixie retreated to Jiaozhou, and Zhao Yun took advantage of the victory to chase after him, forcing Jiaozhou, only besieging but not attacking. Instead, let Gao Shun lead the troops to clear the enemy troops on the four sides of Jiaozhou and isolate the momentum of Jiaozhou. Then throw out the book and adopt the Huairou policy, as long as Shixie can be loyal to Zhang Lang, he can still sit firmly in the position of Jiaozhi Taishou. Shi Xie didn't comply, but Zhao Yun still patiently looked for opportunities.

In Layue, after Jiaozhou was besieged for three months, the city began to run out of food, and seeing that he couldn't hold on, Shixie began to organize people and horses to break through everywhere. Zhao Yun was waiting for this opportunity, not only captured Shiwu alive and beheaded more than a thousand, but also organized men and horses to start a series of strong attacks on Jiaozhou.

At the end of the month, Shixie finally couldn't support it anymore and opened the city to surrender.

Zhao Yun treated each other politely, stayed behind some of the people, and let Shixie return to Moling with him.

The battle of Jiaozhou, which lasted for nearly two years, finally ended with Zhao Yun's victory in opening hundreds of miles of territory. Although this battle took a long time, a large number of outstanding young generals poured out of the army, and after this large-scale battle, their abilities were greatly improved in all aspects. A group of young talents such as Ling Tong and He Qi have slowly become generals who can stand alone.

With Zhao Yun's triumphant return, Zhang Lang already owns all the prefectures and counties in the south of the Yangtze River, and has extended his tentacles to the Jingzhou area, and the next thing to do is to enter Sichuan and Shu, or the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains.

In the early spring of the 11th year of Jian'an, after several years of deep digging and extensive accumulation of grain, Jiangdong was already full of materials and piles of grain and grass. The development of Danyang minerals has made Jiangdong's financial revenue soar. Moling is a prosperous scene.

Knowing that Cao Ying had pacified the north, Liu Bei was also based in Xichuan, and Zhang Lang and Guo Jia and others conspired to conduct a strategic meeting.

In Moling, it was already night, and the heavily guarded guards were meticulously patrolling back and forth in the governor's mansion.

The room was still brightly lit.

Zhang Lang and a group of people were discussing the problem fiercely.

Xu Xuan has been recuperating at home since returning from the victory in Jiaozhou, and tonight is the first time he has attended such an important meeting since he returned. He said with a red face: "With the current strength of our army, why do you need to join forces with Liu Bei to march into the Central Plains?" General Zhao Yun has proved his talent in the battle of Jiaozhou, which is of great use, so that he can lead his troops into Sichuan, first take Liu Bei's Sichuan position, and then the two soldiers and horses go all the way out of Hanzhong, all the way out of Hexi, and the same can achieve the goal. And you don't have to fake someone else's hands. ”

Compared with Xu Xuan's dark, thin and sturdy body that has become because of his nearly two years of pommel horse career in Jiaozhou, Tian Feng has obviously gained a lot of fortune. Although he is pampered, his face has a lot of wrinkles, and his eyes are often closed, which seems to be recuperating. Occasionally, when he opened his eyes, it would have an unpredictable light, and people couldn't guess what was going on in his heart. Tian Feng said leisurely: "If Cao Ying is still only developing in the Guanzhong area like before, then Lord Xu's words can still be considered." But now that Cao Ying has won the four states of Hebei, he is unprecedentedly powerful, and in terms of Jiangdong's innate conditions, joining forces with Liu Bei in Sichuan is the way of the king.

Zhang Lang listened to it for a long time, and the opposition was almost the same as the approval. Because the competition below was too fierce, Zhang Lang couldn't interject for a while.

Xu Xuan said fiercely: "Liu Beizhi can have this point in the future, it is not the fulcrum of the lord, otherwise with his talent, it is impossible to occupy Xichuan so easily, and now Hanzhong is still guarded by Zhang Lu, and it is not so simple for Liu Bei to take him down." It is better to see Liu Bei's development and decide his own forward route, so it is better to replace it and control the entire front by himself, which plays a different role in the same end. ”

Zhang Lang was annoyed when he heard it and said: "Don't fight, looking at Cao Ying's frame, I'm afraid that he can't wait for our northern expedition to the Central Plains, and he will lead troops to invade the south." If this is the case, we cannot underestimate Liu Bei's role. ”

Zhang Zhao also followed: "Yes, the news of the spies has come, Cao Ying has begun to send hundreds of thousands of Hebei troops to Xudu, Yanzhou and other places, if you are not mistaken, it is very likely that you want to go south to invade Jiangdong." Let's get ready to defend first. ”

Zhang Lang pondered: "With Cao Ying's surname, there is really this possibility. If he does go south, then we will have a hard fight to fight. ”

Tian Feng said with a smile: "If Cao Ying really thinks so, I'm afraid that he is not far from returning to heaven." ”

Zhang Zhao was curious: "How can you see it?" ”

Tian Feng said: "The Northern Army is not accustomed to water warfare, and it has not practiced for a few years, so it rushes down like this, isn't it self-defeating?" ”

Zhang Zhao laughed and said: "That's true, Cao Ying won't understand this, right?" ”

Although Xu Xuan's fight just now stirred his liver, but now that he changed the topic, his heart slowly calmed down, he frowned and said: "Seeing that Cao Ying's frame has just been unified in the north, he has gathered a large number of people in the Yanzhou area, and with his cunning skills, I believe that he will not rush south without certainty." According to the estimation of his subordinates, Cao Ying should have wanted to drive our army's defense line back to the south of the Yangtze River first, and then he deployed along the Yangtze River, and at the same time stepped up the training of the naval army, waiting for the best opportunity to go south to Jiangdong. ”

Zhang Lang's eyes lit up and said, "Yes, it should be like this." Cao Ying gathered his army in the area of Yingchuan and Yanzhou, and he should have wanted to attack Jingzhou and Xuzhou. Jingzhou shields the entire upper reaches of Jiangdong, and Xuzhou is the key place for the northern army to go south, these two states are like the two wings of the entire Huaisi defense line, if the two wings are unstable, Huaisi is difficult to defend. The tomb was completely exposed to the enemy. ”

Tian Feng said in a deep voice: "That's right. Cao Ying divided his troops into two routes, one to take Xuzhou and the other to take Jingzhou, I am afraid that we also want us to not be able to take care of each other, no matter which place of these two places falls, it will be a devastating blow to the defense line of Jiangdong. ”

Xu Xuan said awe-inspiringly: "In this way, the general will inevitably increase his troops to guard these two places." Although there is General Zhang Liao in Xuzhou, if Cao Ying's army is pressurized, it will be weak in the end. Although there is Zhongde in Jingzhou, it has just been peaceful here, and the people's hearts are unstable, so they are afraid that the people with the heart will combine with the inside and outside of the army and break it without attacking. ”

Zhou Yu, who hadn't spoken for a long time, said slowly at this time: "If that's the case, I'm afraid that I just happened to fall into Cao Ying's arms." The most worrying thing of the lord is that he is afraid that the entire front will be stretched too long, although Jiangnan has made great efforts to govern the country and developed rapidly, but in the end, the foundation is not as good as the north, once a protracted war, I am afraid that it will be us who will lose in the end. Cao Ying saw this point accurately, and tried his best to draw out our troops and financial resources, and once they held each other, Jiangdong would inevitably be in deficit for a few years. ”

Guo Jia glanced at Zhou Yu and nodded in agreement: "That's right, this is why the lord has to join forces with Liu Bei." ”

Xu Xuan realized this and said, "I see." ”

Zhang Lang pondered for a while, and said to Gao Shun: "Gao Shun, it seems that you still need to do this matter." You lead 50,000 elite soldiers and go north to Xuzhou. While strengthening the protection of strategic strongholds such as Shanyang and Taishan, we must set up more checkpoints on small roads and shortcuts. If there is a war, I will naturally pay close attention. ”

Gao Shun never said a word in this meeting, and at this time, he responded sonorously: "Yes." ”

Zhang Lang said to Tai Shici again: "Ziyi, you also go with you." ”

Tai Shi Ci nodded in understanding.

Zhang Lang looked at Zhou Yu and then at Zhao Yun, his expression a little hesitant. After thinking about it in the end, Zhang Lang said to Zhou Yu: "Gongjin, the land of Jingzhou, you have to rely on your wisdom." Jingzhou is the cornerstone of our army's vision of the entire Central Plains, no matter how it is to be held, if I am not mistaken, this will also be the offensive firepower of Cao Ying's main army. You lead 50,000 horses to go, it is best to help Liu Bei clear Hanzhong first, if Cao Ying comes to attack, you first defend Nanyang, let Liu Bei's soldiers go out of Wuguan, close to Sankun, and finally force the enemy not to dare to continue to go south, so that not only Jingzhou can be stable, but also can take the opportunity to counterattack the attack, the development of the current situation here, but also need to be careful and considerate. If necessary, Xu Huang can also be allowed to participate in the war. ”

Zhou Yu said calmly: "Don't worry, my lord, my subordinates will not be dragged by you." ”

Zhang Lang nodded and said to Huang Zhong: "Han Sheng, Gong Jin is going, I still need your help." ”

Huang Zhonghong said brightly: "General rest assured. ”

Zhang Lang finally smiled at Zhao Yun and said, "Zilong, I heard that you brought an interracial beauty from Jiaozhi, can you take it seriously?" ”

Zhao Yun's face was slightly red and said, "There is such a thing." ”

Zhang Langle said: "Do you want General Ben to pick a good name for you?" ”

Zhao Yun said shyly: "There is a general Lao there." ”

Zhang Lang and the others all burst into laughter.

(To be continued)