Zhuge Liang's request for Meng to be helped was related to a letter he had received earlier.

From the contents of that letter, Zhuge Liang learned that Sun Quan would use his power to fund the rebels in Nanzhong.

According to the calculation of time, Sun Quan's funding will arrive in Nanzhong in the near future.

The letter did not state how Sun Quan would finance the rebels in Nanzhong, money, food, or both.

and even directly sent troops into Nanzhong.

Based on Zhuge Liang's understanding of Sun Quan, he believes that Sun Quan is likely to have all three.

After all, Sun Quan is different from Cao Pi, Cao Pi's sphere of influence does not border Nanzhong, and the aspect of his ability to fund the rebels in Nanzhong is only nominal.

Although Sun Quan's main sphere of influence was in the Jiangdong area, it is known to the world that Jiaozhou had also been included in his rule not long ago.

Jiaozhou borders Nanzhong's Qiqi County, especially Jiaozhi County, Shixie's base camp, and the distance from Qiqi County is not far.

If Sun Quan can say that Shixie is moving, then with Shixie's power entrenched in Jiaozhou for many years, he has a way to mobilize an elite army to fight in Nanzhong.

This is what Zhuge Liang is most worried about at present.

And for this matter, Zhuge Liang already has a countermeasure in his heart, and this countermeasure is to divide the troops.

At present, of the four counties in Nanzhong, only Yizhou County and Qiqi County have not yet been pacified.

Yizhou County, as the most developed of the four counties in Nanzhong, even if Yonghong suffered heavy losses in today's war, it should not be underestimated.

After all, being hit hard also means that Yonghong will be more cautious in the next battle, if Yonghong wants to fight in the field, Zhuge Liang is not afraid, he is worried that Yonghong is bent on defending the city and deliberately delaying time.

Between this worry, Zhuge Liang was bound to lead the main force of the Han army all the way south to crusade against Yonghong, so as not to give him a chance to breathe.

The possible enemy reinforcements on the side of the state should not be underestimated.

In this case, dividing the army was the best strategy for the Han army.

Zhuge Liang even thought about the choice of the main general of the other army, and that person was Deng Ai, who had already had an outstanding performance.

But Deng Ai is not a person from Nanzhong after all, and the terrain of Nanzhong is very complicated, so Zhuge Liang wanted to let Meng Huo act as Deng Ai's guide.

In this way, Zhuge Liang can really rest assured.

After Meng Huo clearly showed a gesture of submission, Zhuge Liang informed Meng Huo of his intentions.

And after Meng Huo learned that Zhuge Liang wanted him to act as a guide for a Han army, Meng Huo naturally had no reason to refuse for such a simple matter.

Seeing that Meng Shu agreed to this matter, Zhuge Liang asked the generals and Meng Shu to retreat, and he left Deng Ai alone.

After everyone left, Zhuge Liang informed Deng Ai of all the considerations in his heart.

When Zhuge Liang asked Meng Shu to act as a guide, he did not explicitly say in front of the generals that he was doing this to guard against Sun Quan.

Up to now, Sun Quan was quite humble to the Han Dynasty on the surface, and in the absence of Sun Quan's clear disobedience, Zhuge Liang did not want to rashly arouse the hostility of the generals towards Jiangdong.

The Northern Expedition is imminent, and in the next few years, the Han still needs Sun Quan's "submission".

But the generals didn't know, Zhuge Liang thought that Deng Ai must know his inner worries.

Sure enough, after Zhuge Liang finished telling Deng Ai about the overall plan in his heart, Deng Ai immediately expressed his attitude to Zhuge Liang:

"The prime minister is far-sighted, and Ai is willing to lead other armies to pacify the rebels in Qiqi County."

Deng Ai knew that Mi Yang sent him south to let him assist Zhuge Liang in quelling the rebellion in Nanzhong as soon as possible, since this was the case, of course he would not refuse in the face of Zhuge Liang's trust.

Seeing that Deng Ai did not hesitate to accept this task, Zhuge Liang nodded slightly.

Although Deng Ai has a loss of personal morality, he never retreats in the big festival.

However, Zhuge Liang, who was cautious by nature, still instructed Deng Ai: "I can't give you too many soldiers and horses, you can only lead the five thousand Liang troops of your headquarters to go."

And Ling also knew that the battle of Qiqi was ostensibly against Zhu Bao, but in fact it was to deal with the enemy from Jiangdong.

Jiangdong has many talents, non-Zhu Bao can be compared, you have to be more careful, not the slightest careless. ”

In the face of Zhuge Liang's instructions, Deng Ai bowed cautiously with a face.

After instructing Deng Ai, Zhuge Liang asked Deng Ai to retreat first.

Soon after, his handsome order would naturally be sent to Deng Ai.

After Deng Ai left, Zhuge Liang looked to the east, and he muttered:

"If it weren't for the big picture!"

Zhuge Liang didn't say the second half of the sentence, but from his tone, he could vaguely feel a little chill.

For Jiangdong, who has been treacherous several times, how can Zhuge Liang not feel disgusted?

In the first month of the third year of Han Zhangwu, Zhuge Liang led the army into Qiongdu County.

On the same day, Zhuge Liang sent soldiers to spread the head of Gaoding to the whole county.

When the news of Gao Ding's death was learned by the counties in Yuewang County, the counties of Yuewang County changed their flags one after another and rejoined the arms of the Han Dynasty.

They changed their flags as quickly as they did when they were under Gao Ding.

At the end of that month, after the territory of Yuewang County was reincorporated into the Great Han Dynasty, some ministers suggested that Zhuge Liang should liquidate the county magistrates who had previously rebelled.

In troubled times, killing is a very common deterrent measure.

But in the face of this commonly used deterrent method, Zhuge Liang did not adopt it.

It's not that Zhuge Liang doesn't have this iron-blooded heart, it's just that Zhuge Liang, as a political master, knows that Nanzhong is different from the northern counties of Yizhou, and the high-pressure policy here will only cause endless backlash.

After Zhuge Liang vetoed the suggestion to stop the killing, someone proposed to Zhuge Liang that the garrison stay behind.

Everyone knows that the rebellion in Yizhou County and Qiqi County has not yet been quelled, and Zhuge Liang will definitely continue to march south.

After Zhuge Liang led the army to leave Yuewang County, the local situation may fluctuate, so everyone thought that it was necessary to leave a certain number of troops in Yuewang County.

At least one trustworthy foreign general should be left.

This can be regarded as the consensus of the generals.

However, in the face of this consensus, Zhuge Liang has a different view:

"If you leave outsiders, you should keep the soldiers, and if the soldiers stay, you will have nothing to eat, and it is not easy."

"Jiayi is newly injured, his father and brother are dead, and those who leave outsiders without soldiers will become a disaster, and it will not be easy."

"I am also worried about the crime of rebellion, and I suspect that I am provocative, if I stay with outsiders, I will not believe it, and it is not easy to do it."

Zhuge Liang vetoed the consensus of the generals with three difficult views.

Then Zhuge Liang made his arrangement: "Bai Li Hui is the Taishou of Yuewang, and Lu Kai is the Taishou of Yongchang." ”

Li Hui's original official position was the governor of the city, and now Zhuge Liang has added him a position of Yue Taishou.

And Lu Kaizi Jiping, a native of Buwei County, Yongchang County.

Lu Kai first served as the five officials of Yongchang County. When Yonghong led his troops to rebel, Yuewang and Qiqi both responded to his rebellion, but only Lu Kai was resolutely loyal to the Han Dynasty and resisted Yonghong.

Lu Kai and the prince of Fucheng led and inspired the officials and the people to close the four realms to resist Yonghong, and such deeds also reached his ears after Zhuge Liang took Yuewang County.

For such a loyal minister, Zhuge Liang has no reason not to make a reward.

Of course, the reason why Zhuge Liang promoted Lu Kai and let Li Hui concurrently serve as the Taishou of Yue Net was related to the policy of governing Nanzhong in his heart.

This political policy is "governing the south with the south."

Li Hui and Lu Kai were both born in Nanzhong, and they already have a lot of prestige in Nanzhong.

The appointment of these two people as the Taishou of the two counties in Nanzhong can stabilize the situation in Yuewang and Yongchang to a large extent, and can also make the two counties that have just been pacified no longer cause waves.

After roughly arranging the government affairs of Yuewang and Yongchang County, Zhuge Liang led the remaining more than 10,000 Han troops to continue to march towards Yizhou County.

Not long ago, Deng Ai and Meng Shu had already led 5,000 Liangzhou troops towards Qiqi County.

The division of troops is not only a practical need for Zhuge Liang to guard against Sun Quan, but also a manifestation of his psychological appeal to quickly quell the rebellion in Nanzhong.

It's just that whether his division of troops can make him get his wish depends on the further development of the situation in South and China.

When Zhuge Liang and Deng Ai's armies were heading towards their destinations, the Jiaozhou army led by Shihui, Sun Huan, and Yu Tuo came one step ahead of them to the outside of Jilan County in Qiqi County.

As the seat of the county, it is the base camp of Zhu Bao.

And after learning that Shixie had sent troops to support him, Zhu Bao happily led the army ten miles away from the county to meet him.

As the leader of the East Gate of Nanzhong, Zhu Bao had a personal connection with Shixie a long time ago.

In the history of the Nanzhong Rebellion, there was the effect of Shi Xie's clamor behind the scenes.

If there was no support from Shi Xie and Sun Quan behind him, Yonghong would not have rebelled against the Han Dynasty so decisively in history.

From this point, it can be inferred that Shixie's private contact with Nanzhong not only started very early, but also reached a very deep level.

Shi Xie can be called a strong and staunch political ally of the South and Central Powers.

In the face of the behavior of political allies sending troops to support, how could Zhu Bao not be happy?

Especially not long ago, he had already learned the news of Gao Ding's death.

After learning the news, the death of the rabbit and the fox is the best portrayal of Zhu Bao's mood.

But this mood gradually disappeared after the arrival of the Shihui army.

From Shihui's prior report, Zhu Bao knew that Shihui had brought tens of thousands of troops this time.

This tens of thousands of troops is the capital of Shixie in Jiaojiao Prefecture for decades, how can Zhu Bao not feel happy when such strong reinforcements arrive?

Because of the joy in his heart, the moment Zhu Bao saw Shihui's friend, he excitedly stepped forward and hugged Shihui's shoulder.

Before Shi Xie, he sent Shi Hui to contact Zhu Bao, and after coming and going, Zhu Bao and Shi Hui got along well.

In the face of Zhu Bao's affectionate hug, Shihui did not resist.

After a simple greeting, Shihui introduced Sun Huan and Yu Tuo to Zhu Bao.

Zhu Bao was not interested in Yu Huan, but after he learned Sun Huan's identity, a look of excitement appeared on his face.

Zhu Bao involuntarily arched his hand to the east and thanked: "Lord Wu's kindness for helping him today is remembered in my heart. ”

Regardless of whether Zhu Bao really thought so in his heart, he did a good job on the surface.

At least Sun Huan is very satisfied with Zhu Bao's performance, but Yu Fu, who has gone through the world, is not so easy to fool.

After successfully receiving the Jiaozhou army, Zhu Bao originally wanted Shihui to station his army outside the city, and then Shihui brought people into the city to participate in the banquet he had prepared a long time ago.

But in the face of Zhu Bao's idea, Shi Hui refused with a smile on his face.

It's okay to hold him, and you want to separate him from your own army, but there is no door.

After being rejected by Shihui, Zhu Bao understood Shihui's concerns.

In troubled times, people's hearts are not ancient, and there are still few people who die at the hands of allies in this world?

It's just that Zhu Bao didn't break through this layer, he just smiled and took Shihui's army to the military camp that had been prepared, and then he and Shihui, Sun Huan, Yu Fu and others each took some cronies and set up a banquet between the military camp and the city gate.

After three rounds of wine during the banquet, Zhu Bao saw that the three of Shihui were in good spirits, so he considered telling the news he got not long ago.

This news was the battle of Qiongdu that took place half a month ago.

When the three Shihui learned that Gao Ding had died in battle, and that Yuewang County and Yongchang County had fallen into the hands of the Han army, the smiles on the faces of the three of them disappeared in an instant.

The situation in South China is changing too quickly.

The reason why Shi Xie agreed to send troops to support Nanzhong was because he was afraid of the strength of the Han army, and on the other hand, when he made this decision, he received information that the Han army led by Zhuge Liang could not advance an inch in the Yandao.

With such good news, what are you waiting for?

Shi Hui thought that they were moving fast enough, but what they didn't expect was that the Han army was moving faster.

When they learned that the current situation in Nanzhong was dominated by the Han army, how did the three Shihui maintain a good attitude?

Zhu Bao saw that after hearing the news, Zhu Bao and the three of them were all unhappy, and he also sighed in his heart.

From his point of view, it is best for him to conceal this information.

But Zhu Bao knew that Shi Xie not only had a great relationship with him in Nanzhong, but also had a good relationship with Yonghong in Yizhou County, not to mention the spies that Shi Xie intended to send into Nanzhong before.

This matter can't be hidden, and since it can't be hidden, it's better to tell it calmly, so that it won't arouse Shihui's disgust in any case.

As Zhu Bao expected, the reason why the three of Shihui looked gloomy was not to blame him, they were thinking about what they should do next in the current situation.

Among the three, Yu Fu is the most sensible, since the situation in Nanzhong is not favorable to them now, then they should withdraw in time.

So Yu turned over and came to Shihui's side and whispered to him.

Yu was known for his erudition in Jiangdong, but he also had a lot of insight in military affairs.

He believed that his proposal to withdraw troops was the most suitable strategy for them at the moment.

Unexpectedly, after listening to Yu Tuo's suggestion, Shi Hui shook his head at Yu Tuo.

His performance proves that he does not agree with Yu's suggestion.

After perceiving the meaning of Shi Hui, Yu was puzzled, and he wanted to persuade Shi Hui again, but at this time, Shi Hui made a promise to Zhu Bao first.

"Even if the current situation is not in our favor, I will not retreat easily."

Shihui's statement surprised Yu and made Zhu Bao happy.

In fact, neither Yu Fu nor Zhu Bao understood why Shihui decided to stay to fight against the Han army, because they did not consider the problem from Shihui's point of view.

Judging from the performance of the Shihui in history, he was a very ambitious person.

And as early as when he led the army to leave Jiaozhi, Shi Xie revealed to him that this was a test for him.

What is the test?

The test is nothing more than whether Shihui has the ability to inherit his power in Jiaozhou.

You must know that Shixie's son is not only Shihui, so such a test is very important for Shihui.

For his own future, Shihui would not easily give up this opportunity.

(End of chapter)