After capturing Pi's, Pang De sent 3,000 soldiers and horses to Linfen.

Linfen is one of the only roads to the state, and now that they have taken most of the area east of the river, they have to prepare for the march into the state.

After that, he led the main force south, to Xie County, and waited for Shen Chen's order to summon him to entrap Cao Zhen together.

However, Shen Chen was afraid that Sun Li's cavalry did not know where to go, so he did not summon him at the first time, anyway, it was not good for Cao Wei to grind time, so he waited and saw the situation first.

And at the time of the stalemate between the two sides, with Shen Chen's war on the Western Front, a sealed war report and official document also flew to all parts of the country like snowflakes.

Cao Wei responded and only sent Sun Li 8,000 people to help, and at the same time immediately mobilized the major families in the country to use the Jiupin Zhongzheng system to get money, food and population from them to make up for the military.

The rear was bustling, and after the edict was issued, countless small and medium-sized families were sensational, wanting to compete for the quota of high-grade and middle-grade families, and donated money, grain and materials to the imperial court.

For a while, Cao Wei had the support of the major families, and quickly formed several new armies with a size of 10,000 people in the rear and began to enter the training stage.

In April, Nanyang Wancheng, Zhuge Liang's prime minister's mansion, he was looking at official documents from all over the country.

Zhou Budo sat next to him, and when he saw him put down the official document after reading it, he asked out loud: "Prime Minister, Cao Wei is training recruits in the north with great fanfare, claiming to be 300,000, I am afraid that he also guessed that we are preparing for a full-scale Northern Expedition." ”

Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan lightly and said: "Well, Cao Wei has been propagating that if we occupy the Central Plains, we will deprive the major families of their land and population, so we will mobilize the major families to contribute money and efforts. ”

"But I remember they did it before, and there were very few responders, so why are they so active now?"

Cai Du asked curiously.

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "It's because Cao Rong uses the nine-grade Zhongzheng as bait, and those who donate more money and things can be promoted from the lower grade to the middle grade, and the middle grade to the upper grade." Xiaoqing once said that people only care about their immediate interests, and we won't feel pain before the Northern Expedition cuts their flesh. Now that Cao Rong has given the benefits, they naturally have to respond. ”

"I see."

Cai Du then understood why the major families in the north were suddenly so active.

Zhuge Liang said again: "Xiaoqing sent me a message, saying that these are all rabble, and I don't need to pay attention to them. If Cao Wei sends a new army to rescue, even if it hurts them, I think it makes sense, Zimu, how is the grain and grass? . ”

Cai Du replied: "Prime Minister, Wancheng has now hoarded more than 13 million stone grain and grass, and the wheat will be harvested in May this year, and the grain and grass are ready. ”

"Hmm."

Zhuge Liang nodded slowly and said: "The first emperor's long-cherished wish is to go on a northern expedition to the Central Plains and restore the Han Dynasty. Fortunately, thanks to the will of God, the two generals of the relevant and Zhang assisted all the way. The first emperor of Xuzhou was kind to Xiaoqing, and he was able to create this foundation after arriving in Jingzhou, and to this day, the great cause has not been accomplished. I can't fulfill the long-cherished wish of the emperor for a day, and I can't sleep at night. ”

Ma Liang on the other side was pleasantly surprised: "Does the prime minister plan to raise troops for the Northern Expedition in advance?" ”

"Not bad."

Zhuge Liang said: "Although Cao Wei has recruited a large number of rabble, if he continues to train over time, I am afraid that he will soon be able to train a group of elite soldiers. I must not give Cao Wei this time, and send troops in advance, just to catch Cao Wei off guard. ”

Cai Du hurriedly said: "But the prime minister was originally scheduled to send troops at the end of May, and now there is still a batch of weapons and equipment in the rear that has not been delivered." In addition, the siege equipment still needs to be repaired temporarily, will it be a little too hasty? ”

Although grinding guns is a derogatory term, there is no way to do it in many cases. Ordinary weapons and equipment can be placed in the armory and repaired and maintained all the time, but those large siege equipment are not good, because they are not easy to carry, and they are basically wooden.

Not to mention the equipment of several floors and several tons of equipment in Yunlou, even ordinary catapults, rushing cars, nest cars, etc., all weigh hundreds of kilograms and close to one ton, just relying on the few wheels below, I am afraid that I can barely walk thirty miles in a day.

And wooden things are easy to brittle after a long time, whether they are damp or rotten or moth-eaten, they will have a huge impact on wooden siege equipment. And the cost of maintenance is extremely high, and it is far less than building it on a temporary basis.

Therefore, siege equipment such as cloud towers, rushing cars, catapults, ladders, wooden curtains, nest cars, etc., generally need to be prepared before the battle.

For example, in many siege battles in history, the siege of the city was several months later, and the craftsmen in the army would build it before attacking. When Lu Zhi led tens of thousands of elite northern troops to attack the 200,000 Yellow Turban Army in Zhangjiao, he surrounded Guangzong, and was disliked by Emperor Ling of Han when building equipment, and was replaced by Dong Zhuo, which resulted in Dong Zhuo's defeat.

Including Shen Chen's attack on Hedong County, he had been preparing for more than a year, building a large number of siege equipment in advance, and then using ships to consign troops to be able to come to the city, otherwise he would also need to temporarily build outside the city and surround it for a few months.

Zhuge Liang was preparing for the Northern Expedition, and these large-scale equipment were also in temporary production, but everything was handled at the beginning of May, but now if the troops are dispatched in advance, then the equipment may not be able to keep up.

Hearing Cai Du's words, Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "It's okay, the matter of the equipment will be temporarily built in the city." These things themselves are too cumbersome, and I am not like Xiaoqing who can transport equipment to the front line by ship, if I build too much in advance, it will slow down the speed of the march. ”

Cai Du nodded and said, "The prime minister is right." ”

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment and gave an order: "Give an order to Wen Ping, Lu Chang, and Gan Ning, and let them immediately assemble their troops and come to Wancheng to stand by." ”

"Yui!"

Cai Du should have given his hand.

Zhuge Liang then said: "Send someone to Xiangyang to summon General Che Cavalry and General Wei." ”

"General Wei?"

Zhou Budo was a little surprised: "Does the prime minister want to use General Wei?" ”

Zhang Fei had been commanding the cavalry in Nanyang before, but Liu Chan's third son Liu Cong was born a while ago and was his grandson, so he made a special trip back to Xiangyang to have a look.

It is normal to recall the cavalry general Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, the three armies moved together, and Zhang Fei, as the cavalry general, will definitely go out with the army.

But after Liu Bei's death, no one dared to use Ma Chao anymore, and he was always at home.

The main reason is that Ma Chao himself is a prince, and he has had a bad record of repeated rebellions before, Liu Bei dared to use him because Liu Bei himself was highly regarded and had competed with Cao Cao to control the scene.

The rest of the people don't have Liu Bei's personality charm and absolute prestige, so in the face of Zhuge Liang's use of Ma Chao, Zhou Budo was also surprised.

However, Zhuge Liang smiled: "After all, General Wei has been in the country for many years, and he is very experienced in leading troops to fight. The first emperor treated him well, and he had a blood feud with the Cao family, I believe he should understand what he should do. ”

"Hmm."

Zhou Budo thought for a while and said, "The prime minister's words are reasonable. ”

Zhuge Liang said to Ma Liang again: "Ji Chang, you go and take charge of the civil servants on the conscription list, and within ten days, everyone must be there." ”

Ma Liang hesitated slightly: "Seeing that the wheat harvest in May is over, now we are recruiting the people to be forced to do it."

They were originally scheduled to attack at the end of May and the beginning of June, because Nanyang was still in the alternating cultivation of corn and wheat at that time. May is the harvest time of last year's wheat planting, and young and strong labor is needed.

Zhuge Liang said: "It's okay, pass the order, if the wheat is not harvested, then the local government will send officials, county soldiers, and officials, even if the officials themselves go to the ground, they must also harvest the wheat." ”

"Yui."

Ma Liang had no choice but to respond.

"Go ahead."

Zhuge Liang waved his hand and motioned for them to do their preparations.

Although it was decided to send troops in advance, what should be done was still to be done, such as gathering the soldiers and horses scattered all over Nanyang, and then recruiting the people to serve and start the official Northern Expedition.

They had already prepared for this process before, including the list of civil servants had already been distributed, just waiting for an order.

So in half a month at most, Zhuge Liang's army will be able to march out of Nanyang and take Henan directly.

Watching the three of them leave, Zhuge Liang slowly got up from the seat, held a feather fan in his hand, looked around, and walked out of the hall.

It was evening, and the weather was not particularly hot in early summer, and as the sun set, the brilliant fiery clouds in the distance seemed to burn half of the sky.

There are twilight crows hovering outside the city, flying towards the mountains of the west city, white clouds, beautiful scenery.

Zhuge Liang went all the way from the front hall to the back courtyard of the mansion, the flowers and trees in the courtyard are vigorous, and the green bamboo is also planted on the side of the wooden corridor, and the bamboo leaves cover the sky and the sun, lush and green, which makes people feel refreshed and happy.

"Prime Minister."

When the servants in the back garden saw Zhuge Liang coming, they saluted him one after another.

Zhuge Liang nodded in response, and then walked to the porch and sat cross-legged.

These days, he has to deal with official documents from all over the world every day, and watching these complicated things can also be physically and mentally exhausting.

Now that I have finally decided to go on the Northern Expedition, I don't know why I have relaxed a lot, and I feel that all my past troubles have been swept away at this moment.

Maybe it's because after the Northern Expedition, he only needs to manage military affairs, and he no longer needs to be like before, and Liu Chan has to send someone to inform him of some major events in the whole of Nanyang, including all parts of the south, and ask him how to deal with it.

Xiaoqing was right.

People should not be too tired, sometimes they should empty themselves and let themselves rest, so as not to be so exhausted every day, which will cost them their life.

Zhuge Liang thought to himself.

Under the wooden corridor, he quietly looked at the vast world.

After a long time, the sky gradually darkened, and Zhuge Liang was in an unprecedentedly excited mood.

The time of the Northern Expedition is finally coming.

He got up slowly and walked into the study, and a lamp soon lit up in the room, a light like a bean, reflecting Zhuge Liang's slightly thin face.

He sat behind the table, listened to Shen Chen's words, and had already begun to sit in the study with the Taishi chair, and it was not good for him to cross his legs and feet.

He picked up the brush in his hand, and only felt that there were many things he wanted to say, but he didn't know who to say to them, and finally remembered that he had decided to go on a northern expedition, and he should first report to His Majesty.

So he dipped the ink lightly and slowly began to write on the paper.

"The first emperor did not start a business and the middle way collapsed, today under two points, the north is tired, this Cheng Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, the revival of the Han Dynasty also."

"The minister was deeply concerned that the Han and the thief were not separated, and the royal industry was not partial, so he led the Northern Expedition to fight the thief. The ministers know that His Majesty is worried, but fortunately, the ministers of the guards are unremitting inside, and the loyal people forget their lives outside, cover the special encounter of the first emperor, and want to repay His Majesty. ”

"Your Majesty should open the Holy Hearing, with the light of the first emperor's legacy, magnificent, and the spirit of the heroes, it is not appropriate to be arrogant, to quote injustice, and to plug the road of loyalty."

"In the palace and in the house, they are all one; Punishment is no, and it is not appropriate to be similar or different. If there is a traitor and a person who is loyal and good, it is advisable to pay a reward for his punishment, so as to show His Majesty's fairness, and it is not appropriate to be partial, so that the internal and external laws are different. ”

"Deputy Prime Minister Xu Shu, Pang Tong, Shizhong, Shilang Jiang Wan, Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, etc., are all good and honest, loyal and pure, and are the first emperor to pull out His Majesty. Foolishly thinking that the things in the palace are no big or small, and if they are consulted and then implemented, they will be able to make up for the omissions and benefit from them. ”

"The general is favored, the sex is gentle, and the military is Xiaochang, and it is tried to be used in the past, and the first emperor called it energy, and it is to be favored by the public. If you fool you think that the things in the camp are consulted, you will be able to make the battle peaceful, and the good and the bad will be rewarded. ”

"Pro-virtuous ministers, far villains, this ancestor Han is so prosperous; Pro-villain, Yuanxian Chen, after that, the Han Dynasty fell into decline. When the first emperor was there, whenever he discussed this matter with his ministers, he did not sigh and hate Yu Huan and Lingye. Deputy Prime Minister, Shizhong, Shangshu, Changshi, Join the Army, this minister of the Zhenliang Death Festival, may His Majesty believe it, then the Han Dynasty will be long, and it can be counted and treated. ”

"Chenben cloth, ploughing in Nanyang, living in troubled times, not seeking to reach the princes. The first emperor was not despicable to his ministers, he was humiliated, and he looked after his ministers in the grass house, and the ministers were grateful for the things of the world, so he allowed the first emperor to drive. Later, when Liu Biao was overturned, the army went south, and when the minister was entrusted with the defeated army, he was ordered to be in danger, and he had been in danger for twenty years. ”

"The first emperor was cautious, so he sent his ministers to major events. Since he was instructed, he has been lamenting all night, fearing that the entrustment will not be effective, so as to hurt the wisdom of the first emperor; Therefore, five years ago, in July, it was deeply barren. ”

"Now the south has been decided, the armor is sufficient, the three armies should be rewarded, the north is set in the Central Plains, the army is exhausted, the traitors are eliminated, the Han dynasty is restored, and the old capital is returned. This minister is loyal to His Majesty's office because of his return to the emperor. As for the consideration of profits and losses, and the full of loyalty, then the Shu, the unification, the key, the Yi, and the permission are also appointed. ”

"May Your Majesty entrust the ministers to the effect of recovering the thieves, and if it does not work, the crimes of the ministers will be punished, and the spirit of the emperor will be sued. If there is no word of Xingde, then the blame, unity, urgency, Yi, and permission are slow, so as to show their blame; Your Majesty should also seek to consult the good way, Chana Yayan, and deeply pursue the edict of the previous emperor. The minister was grateful. Now stay away, and don't know what to say. ”

Zhuge Liang wrote the last stroke, his face was quite solemn, and only after the ink had dried did he carefully put the paper in the envelope, summoned his attendants, and asked him to send it to the court to be handed over to His Majesty.

When the attendant left, Zhuge Liang walked out of the study, it was already nightfall, and the crescent moon hung in the sky, starry, bright and vast.

He looked at the stars in the sky and said softly: "First emperor, the ministers will do their best, and they will die." The Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, the revival of the Han Dynasty, not only returned to Chang'an, but also recovered Luoyang and unified the world. I hope that the first emperor is in the spirit of the sky, bless the Han! ”

After he finished speaking, among the stars, there seemed to be a star that was originally quite faint, brightening up and emitting a dazzling light, responding to his words.

Liu Bei.

It was like watching him all the time.

(End of chapter)