Originally, Liu Bei planned to make up a random reason, saying that Cao Cao was going south to Jingzhou, so he wanted to return to the army to rescue.

But no one expected that Cao Cao really went south.

However, Cao Cao's southward movement was not to Jingzhou, but to Huainan, preparing to attack Jiangdong again.

In the middle of the sixteenth year of Jian'an, after Cao Cao defeated Han Sui and Ma Chao's coalition army, he stayed in Chang'an until the end of the year to win the hearts of the people in Yongzhou, but he did not take advantage of the situation to attack Hanzhong, but turned back to Yecheng in December to deal with the internal problems of the imperial court, mainly to prepare for his own claim to the Duke of Wei.

As for Liangzhou and other places, Cao Cao appointed Xiahou Yuan as the general of the protector army, specifically responsible for pacifying Liangzhou.

After the autumn of the seventeenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao finally solved the problem in the rear, and Liangzhou in the northwest was almost calm, and he could finally free his hands and peek into Jiangnan again.

And this time, Cao Cao did not plan to send troops from Jingzhou, and the purpose was not to annex the entire Jiangnan, but to set his sights on Huainan, and planned to completely drive Sun Quan's forces out of the first line of Lujiang County and take Jiangbei completely.

The current Cao Cao also knows not to be anxious, but to take it step by step.

Therefore, this time, Cao Cao did not underestimate the enemy at all, but personally led the army, leading his newly trained naval army, as well as the army as the main force of the attack, known as 400,000, to attack the mouth of the water.

At this time, Sun Quan, who had just moved the administrative office from Wu County to Moling, which was later Jianye, was not false at all, and decided to personally lead an army of 70,000 to meet the battle at the mouth of the river.

At the same time, Sun Quan also wrote a letter to Guan Yu, who was stationed in Jingzhou, asking Guan Yu to send troops to attack Xiangyang and contain Cao Cao's troops on the western front, so that Cao Cao would not dare to invest too many troops in Xukou.

Guan Yu, on the one hand, wrote to Liu Bei to inform him of this situation, and on the other hand, he decided to send troops to Qingnikou to attract the attention of Cao Cao's Xiangyang defenders.

At this time, although Guan Yu did not have a "fake festival", after all, he was Liu Bei's second brother and the number one who stayed in Jingzhou, and Zhuge Liang was only an assistant.

Now that Liu Bei is not in Jingzhou, he is indeed the biggest military and political chief, so he still has the right to decide whether to send troops to respond to Sun Quan.

And Guan Yu's attack on Qingni was actually not to really help Sun Quan reduce the pressure, to put it bluntly, it was the same intention as Sun Quan sending Lu Dai to Hanzhong for a walk.

I sent troops, but if I can't fight down, whether I can contain the enemy, I don't count it.

But the problem is that Guan Yu personally led the troops to attack Qingnikou, he personally went out and sat in Xiangyang's Lejin, dare to watch this person wandering around on the south side of Xiangyang? !

Lejin immediately formed a legion, led it himself, and went to Qingnikou to confront Guan Yu.

Le Jin came here, so much so that Guan Yu, who originally wanted to withdraw his troops in a circle, didn't dare to leave, if he left, what if Le Jin pursued and attacked Jiangling? !

Guan Yu had to confront Le Jin at Qingnikou, and at the same time inform Liu Bei, who was in Yizhou.

In the winter of the seventeenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao and Sun Quan were still in the middle of their respective troop dispatches on the eastern front, and they did not officially start fighting, but on the land of Jingzhou, Guan Yu and Le Jin had already confronted each other in Qingnikou.

Under such circumstances, Liu Bei received the news and immediately wrote a letter to Liu Zhang, expressing his willingness to return to Jingzhou.

Of course, Liu Bei didn't really want to go back to Jingzhou, he believed in Guan Yu's ability, and Cao Cao's main force was not going to Jingzhou, so Liu Bei was not worried about the safety of Jingzhou.

So this is an excuse, an excuse for Liu Zhang to believe, and at the same time to attract Yang Huai Gaopei to Jia Mengguan.

But Liu Bei knew about this news, and Zhang Song in Shu also knew it early.

Originally, Liu Bei, under Zhang Xi's reminder, had already written to tell Zhang Song, saying that he would find an excuse to return to Jingzhou in the near future, but this is just an excuse, not true, I hope Zhang Song will not make a fuss.

But now that the battle situation in Jingzhou has been transmitted to Shuzhong, and Liu Bei's letter to return to the army has also reached Liu Zhang, this makes Zhang Song a little vague.

The battle of Qingnikou, Zhang Song already knew from the fine channels in Shuzhong, and Zhang Song also knew very well that Jingzhou was Liu Bei's main foundation, and it was impossible for Liu Bei to give up Jingzhou.

So Liu Bei is in a hurry to return to the army this time, is it an excuse, or is he really going back.

It's really not that Zhang Song wants to be troublesome, it's really that Zhang Song can't eat it, and after thinking about it, Zhang Song still decides to write a letter and ask for clarity.

If it's fake, it's fine, if it's true, it's going to go. But you must not go, now it has been arranged, just waiting for you Liu Bei to attack Chengdu in the south, I will be your internal response and open the city gate for you.

Then, the world line will be closed.

Zhang Song's brother, Zhang Su, intercepted the letter and handed it to Liu Zhang.

Zhang Song didn't expect that he had been secretly communicating with Liu Bei all along, and there were no problems, but this time there was a problem, and it was reported by his own brother.

Zhang Song really can't understand why his own brother should report himself Even if there is a contradiction, there is no need to give Liu Zhang's life.

Zhang Song was puzzled and unwilling, and was clicked by Liu Zhang.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Zhang immediately sent orders to all passes to prevent Liu Bei from returning to the army to the south, and Chen soldiers waited.

At this point, Liu Zhang and Liu Bei completely turned their faces.

It's just that when he turned his face like this, Liu Bei was somewhat caught off guard.

The army and generals who attacked Chengdu have been arranged, but Yang Huai and Gao Pei behind them have not yet solved it, so they dare not go south to attack Chengdu regardless of it.

Originally, he planned to use the excuse of returning to Jingzhou to trick these two into clicking away, but now, Liu Bei and Liu Zhang have turned their faces, can these two still believe that they want to go back to Jingzhou?!

But if you want to send troops to attack a military pass like Baishui Pass first, every half a year and a year, you can attack it?!

Will Liu Zhang leave himself half a year for himself?!

Liu Bei has a headache, Pang Tong, and Fa Zheng also have a headache, so Zhang Xi doesn't have a headache.

"Why don't you send a letter to invite the two of you to come to discuss the matter?"

This was Zhang Xi's idea, which was collectively despised by Liu Bei and the others.

Those two stupid, it's time for a letter to trick people?!

Zhang Xi just smiled mysteriously, and then persuaded Liu Bei, anyway, it's just a matter of a letter, it doesn't matter if you try.

Liu Bei had no choice but to write a letter to Yang Huai and Gao Pei, inviting them to come to Jiamengguan to discuss matters.

Then, these two really came.

Not only did they come, but they also brought only a dozen guards, and did not bring any troops at all.

Pang Tong couldn't figure it out, really, he really couldn't figure out what kind of brains these two were, and finally had to start wondering if the IQ of these two was only in single digits.

Fa Zheng also couldn't understand whether there was a problem with the brain circuits of these two people, and Liu Zhang, how could these two idiots be the guards of Baishui.

But no matter what, as soon as these two goods came, Liu Bei used the reason of being rude to the guests to click these two.

This reason. It's better to talk about the left foot of the two of them when they enter the door.

Subsequently, Liu Bei sent people to receive the soldiers of Baishui Pass, plus the nearly 20,000 people he was stationed in Jiameng Pass, a total of more than 30,000 troops.

At this time, there is no need to play the banner of "Qingjun's side", the two families have already turned their faces, and Liu Bei simply does not borrow any slogans, but directly promotes the generals and makes military arrangements.

"Zhang Xi, Wei Yan, Kou Feng listen to orders."

In the camp tent, Zhang Xi stepped forward, followed by Wei Yan and Kou Feng.

The three people who defended the city in Exian County finally accepted the order at the same time again.

"Ordered Zhang Xi to be the vanguard officer of the whole army, Wei Yankou to be the deputy general, and the three of them led 10,000 elite soldiers to march into Jiangyou, and they did not slack off."

"No!"

Zhang Xi received the order, and at the same time led Kou Feng and Wei Yan to sit down.

Liu Bei continued to call the shots.

"With Huang Zhong as the front of the Chinese army, and Fu Kuangzong as the rear of the Chinese army, prepare to send troops immediately, and there must be no mistakes."

Huang Zhong, Fu Kuang, and the three generals of Zong Yu also stood up to receive the order.

Then, Liu Bei turned around and said to Meng Da, "Please Zijing be the rear army, supervise the transportation of grain and grass and military supplies for the use of the army, and don't make a mistake." ”

Hawkers, Meng Da, as a real power figure in the Dongzhou faction, has not yet obtained Yizhou by Liu Bei, so he has to be polite to others.

In the end, regarding Jia Mengguan, Liu Bei also made arrangements.

"With Huo Jun as the general of Jiameng Pass, lead 1,000 troops to garrison Jiameng Pass to prevent Zhang Lu from attacking !!"

After making these arrangements, Liu Bei led 30,000 horses and horses to attack Chengdu in batches.

Jia Meng guarded this matter, and it was still Huo Jun recommended by Zhang Xi to Liu Bei.

Once the whole army sets off, Jiameng Pass will become a large rear, and all grain and grass supplies will have to start from here, and they will also have to guard against a possible sneak attack after Zhang Lu learns the news.

Therefore, the guards of Jia Meng Pass are very important.

Originally, Liu Bei's intention was to let Wei Yan stay in Jiameng Pass, but he felt that by letting Wei Yan stay behind, he would lose one less general who could attack the city and pull out the village.

was hesitating, Zhang Xi recommended a person - Huo Jun.

Do you need to ask, is there a more suitable person than Huo Jun Shou Jia Meng Pass?!

Liu Bei hesitated because he didn't understand Huo Jun's ability, and Huo Jun at this time was just a small lieutenant with an unknown reputation.

But Zhang Xineng didn't know that this defensive genius who relied on hundreds of troops to climb down the two armies of Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang in a row.

Under Zhang Xi's strong recommendation, Liu Bei decided to believe Huo Jun and left him a thousand people to guard Jia Meng Pass.

After making all the arrangements, Liu Bei still had to choose an auspicious day to start the army, and Zhang Xi, with Wei Yan and Kou Feng, had already set off for Jiangyou first.

Pioneers, if you open a road in the mountains and fill the bridge in the water, you can't start early.

Although it was a big winter expedition, it was a little hard, but Zhang Xi really didn't expect that his march would be so smooth.

Although Liu Zhang ordered all cities and passes to be ready for battle, Liu Zhang's prestige in Yizhou was like that, not to mention that the wealthy families near Jiameng Pass had almost been bought by Liu Bei.

Therefore, Zhang Xi went west, relying on Liu Bei's letter to open the way, and entered Jiangyou County without any obstacles.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Xi immediately led the army to turn south, and with the help of Liu Bei's internal response, he broke through Zitong County and captured Zitong Lingwang Lian.

Liu Bei followed behind Zhang Xi's forward army, almost all the way into the city, An Min, into the city, An Min's coming, there was no obstacle at all, in the first month of the eighteenth year of Jian'an, marched into Fucheng.

Can't go any further, further forward is Mianzhu, Zhang Xi doesn't think that just by relying on his own pioneers, he can break through Mianzhu Pass, so he still suppressed Kou Feng and Wei Yan's desire to fight, and waited for Liu Bei's army to converge.

And this road was smooth, and Liu Bei also drifted a little with it.

After entering Fucheng, Liu Bei was very happy, so he held a banquet, on the one hand, to reward the soldiers, and on the other hand, he was happy to drink two glasses.

Liu Bei was drinking at the banquet and making people sing and dance, and Pang Tong couldn't stand that posture.

Back then, Cao Cao was in Chibi to watch singing and dancing, and he drank a lot of wine, but as a result, his advantages were gone.

Why does the lord have this problem now?

So, Pang Tong felt that he needed to mention his lord.

Therefore, Pang Tong made a black face and wanted to talk about his lord.

You are crusading against other people's countries, and you are not a teacher of benevolence and righteousness, and you are happy to be like that when you have a little achievement, like words?!

But as soon as Pang Tong was about to speak, he was pulled by Zhang Xi's sleeve.

Seriously, it's tiring.

In this year's banquets, they are all divided into meals, one person has a case, even if they sit at the adjacent table, in fact, Zhang Xi is a little far away from Pang Tong, at least one or two meters away.

If Zhang Xi wants to pull Pang Tong's sleeves, he must lean sideways and reach out to hook as much as possible. The hook hooked Pang Tong's sleeve, but the whole person was inclined to 45 degrees, leaned to Pang Tong's side, and was taken by Pang Tongyi, and just like that, he fell.

This pose. It's a bit unsightly.

So, let alone Pang Tong, even Fa Zheng, who was sitting opposite Pang Tong, and Liu Bei, who was originally watching the song and dance, all noticed Zhang Xi's awkward action of falling to the ground now.

"Yuan Chang. Don't you stop drinking?! Liu Bei smiled and asked.

Zhang Xi along the way, although he basically relied on Liu Bei's letters to open the way, but there is no credit and hard work, and being a pioneer is a very tiring job.

So, Liu Bei still recognized Zhang Xi's hard work, and he didn't get angry when he saw Zhang Xi's rude virtue, he just thought that Zhang Xi had drunk too much, so he was a little out of shape.

And Zhang Xi, a little blushing, has been in this era for a long time, and he still has to make a face.

But Zhang Xi still tidied up his clothes, stood up, bowed to Liu Bei, and then replied.

"Shicaixi is thoughtful, so there is a gaffe, please forgive me."

"Oh?!" Liu Bei smiled disappreciatively and asked, "What is the Yuan Chang thinking?!" ”

"Si Cao Mengde, Yuan Benchuer." Zhang Xi replied.

Liu Bei was immediately stunned, very puzzled, and continued to ask, "What do you think about these two people?!" ”

Zhang Xi thought for a while, glanced at Pang Tong, and didn't know whether to continue talking.

At this time, Pang Tong probably understood what Zhang Xi meant by dragging himself, and then listened to Zhang Xi's words, but he also understood Zhang Xi's intentions.

It's okay to persuade, but don't be so faceless and hurt the relationship between everyone.

What Zhang Xi wants to convey is probably what it means.

But Pang Tong doesn't do it, his personality and temper are not the kind of people who beat around the bush.

Therefore, Pang Tong stood up directly, arched his hand at Liu Bei, and said in a protesting voice, "Yuan Chang's thoughts are Cao Mengde's thoughts in Chibi, and Yuan Benchu is also in Guandu!! ”

Liu Bei's face suddenly changed.

(End of chapter)