Liu Bei sent away Lu Xun, Pan Zhang and other Jiangdong generals, and sent Qin Mi to Jiangdong with gifts to renew the covenant.

Liu Bei held an examination to select talents in Nanzheng, Hanzhong, and Liu Bei, Pang Tong, Zhang Song, and Zhang Fei were in charge. Each county of Liangzhou, Longyou, and Yizhou sent selected talents to participate.

Try it out. He Yuan, a native of Shu County, Jian Wei Wang Hei, and Tianshui Jiang Wei tested very well, which attracted Liu Bei's attention.

He Yuan was originally a scholar under Yang Hong. Jiang Wei originally joined the army in Tianshui, and surrendered with Liang Xu, Yin Xian and others. Zhou Budo governed Tianshui, found Jiang Wei, and strongly recommended him to go to Hanzhong. More importantly, they had limited influence from the nobles.

He Yuan is poor, Jiang Wei lost his father at an early age, and the heir of the king is unknown. Liu Bei appointed He Yuan as the commander of Chengdu, Wang Hei as the governor of Zhongzhong, Jiang Wei as the commander of Pingxi, commanding 1,000 troops, and still returned to Longyou to assist Zhou Budo. Liu Bei encouraged each of the rest according to their achievements and appointed them to official positions.

In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), Cao Pi inherited the throne of the king of Wei, rewarded all the civil and military forces, and collected the hearts of all the people. Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty changed the name of the year to Yankang.

Soon deprived Cao Zhang of his military power and set Cao Zhang up. executed a group of supporters around his younger brother Cao Zhi and belittled Cao Zhi.

After consolidating his position, Hua Xin, a close minister around him, persuaded Cao Pi to comply with the mandate of heaven and replace the Han family.

Hua Xin persuaded him to advance, and Cao Pi excused himself and said: "How can I inherit the world, and it is my life's wish to faithfully assist in reproducing the prosperous era of the Han Dynasty, and this matter will not be mentioned again!" ”

Hua Xin said: "Why did the king say this, the Han family lost morality and caused chaos in the world, the first king sought to pacify the thieves, stabilize the people, and then rebuild the society." What virtue does the son of Han have in heaven, but it depends on the father and son of the king that the Han family that is about to be severed has continued to this day.

The king has both ability and political integrity, the world is in the heart, the people's hearts are wanted, and since the succession to the throne, auspicious and auspicious, this is the will of heaven, the king can not be reversed. ”

Cao Pi said: "The first king has left a word, first level Liu Bei, and then discuss the position!" ”

Hua Xin said: "The king cannot be rigid, and it is understandable to adapt to the situation improvised. If the king ascends the throne and becomes the emperor, then the king's conquest will get twice the result with half the effort! ”

Cao Pi's eyes rolled left and right, and after thinking for a long time, he said: "I have received Ziyu's kindness, but the precepts of the first king are still in my ears, so I must not listen to them." First go south with a large army, defeat Liu Bei, and take the throne more securely! ”

Hua Xin saw that Cao Pi couldn't move, so he pressed his mind for the time being!

Chen Jiao returned to see Cao Pi and told Cao Pi about Liu Bei's claim to be the king of Hanzhong. After hearing this, Cao Pi knew that Liu Bei was demonstrating to himself, implying his ambition to annex himself. Summoned all the civil ministers and generals to discuss how to deal with Liu Bei.

As soon as Cao Pi told the news that Liu Bei proclaimed himself the king of Hanzhong, the generals led by Cao Ren were furious and asked for troops to be sent to recruit Liu Bei.

Cao Pi was very satisfied with everyone's reaction, and calmed everyone's emotions and said: "Don't be impatient, everyone don't be impatient, Liu Bei dares to resist the imperial court, we will definitely pacify Liu Bei, now discuss how to send troops?" Where are the soldiers! ”

After Cao Pi finished speaking, everyone discussed it with a lot of gossip, and after everyone discussed, Sima Yi came out first.

Cao Pi asked, "Does Zhongda have a good plan?" ”

Sima Yi arched his hand and said: "King, I discussed with everyone just now, and I thought that Longyou should be the main one!" ”

Cao Pi said: "Why! ”

Sima Yi said: "The king, the first king has fought several times, beheaded, broken horses, and Xiananyang are all won by cavalry. Liu Bei and Sun Quan's cavalry are almost non-existent, and they are at a natural disadvantage! Now Liu Bei occupies Liangzhou and Longyou, where the water and grass are abundant and beautiful, and it is a natural horse farm.

Liu Bei's strength and Ma Chao's toughness are left unchecked and difficult to contain. So I thought that it should be based on Longright! ”

Cao Pi said: "Makes sense! ”

Looking around, Cao Pi said: "Zitong, the first king has honored you many times, what advice do you have!" ”

Jiang Ji said: "The king already has a plan in his heart, so the minister won't say much!" ”

Cao Pi said: "Why did Zitong say that! ”

Jiang Ji said: "The king transferred elite exercises from all over the world, but there is no grain and grass gathered, so it can be seen that the king is not going south, so he will attack Longyou in the west." I think the place where the grain and grass gather is probably Chang'an. ”

Cao Pi smiled: "I didn't hide it from Zitong in the end!" Zitong can have a high view! ”

Jiang Ji said: "Instead of asking me, the king should ask General Xiahou Yuan. General Xiahou has been thinking about Longyou for a long time! ”

Cao Pi said: "The first king also said that if you want to take down Longyou, Xiahou Yuan must have thoughts!" Sun Quan's occupation of Hefei is just a minor illness after all, and Liu Bei is a major problem.

Liu Bei has just been called the king of Hanzhong, and if we give a fatal blow, it will not only be a military victory, but also an advantage in people's hearts and legal system! Generals, get ready, send troops to Chang'an, and conquer Liu Bei!

Chen Jiao, you bring the gold and silver and the seal engraved by me, send people to make a detour to Longyou and Liangzhou to lure the Qiang tribe, and secretly promise huge profits, so that they can make trouble when we attack and cooperate with our army's actions! Chen Jiao promised.

In April of the first year of Yankang, Cao Pi stayed in Xuchang with Xiahoudun, the general Cao Ren, the general Cao Hong, the general Cao Zhen, the left general, the right general Yu Ban, the former general Xu Huang, the later general Zhang Jaw, and the generals Du Xi and Fei Yao gathered in Chang'an and gathered more than 200,000 troops.

Cao Pi personally rushed to Chang'an to deploy troops and gathered the generals to plan the march. Cao Pi asked the generals what their strategy was.

Xiahou Yuan said impatiently: "King Qiyu, Longyou and Liangzhou were lost by the old minister, and in the past few years, he has been planning to take it back day and night, and here the old minister will talk about his shallow opinion." ”

Cao Pi perked up and said: "Okay, this king will listen to the old general's plan." ”

Xiahou Yuan pointed to the hanging map and said, "King, please take a look." The place where Longyou is connected with Yizhou is the first in Wudu and Yinping counties, which is the throat of the two counties, and when the two counties are cut off first, the connection between Hanzhong and Longyou will be completely severed.

I had fought in two counties, and I was very familiar with the geography here, and I found out that although there were thieves guarding here, there were only seven or eight thousand soldiers and horses.

The king led the army to divide his troops into three routes, and attacked Anding County all the way north to attract Liu Bei's attention as a suspicious soldier. All the way along the Weishui Mountain, deception to make suspicious soldiers to probe, so that Longyou is alert, and assign elite soldiers to guard, this road is also a false move, to attract the attention of the thief army, so that Longyou can not divide troops to reinforce Wudu and Yinping.

After the third army sent Wudu and Yinping, and quickly took the two counties, the old minister begged for 10,000 elite soldiers to be the vanguard, go out of Qishan and go straight to Tianshui, cover the attack on the hexagram, and take the hexagram, which is equivalent to transporting materials through Weishui. After that, the troops were divided and encroached on the counties.

In this way, it is not difficult for Longyou to be pacified, Longyou must be, Liangzhou will support, we are ready, defeat its reinforcements, take advantage of the victory to pursue, and get Liangzhou with a backhand. ”

Cao Pi was overjoyed and said: "The old general is really a clever plan. This is simply a closed door and a dog, and none of the thieves can escape. ”

Xiahou Yuan said: "There is a pity, the king sent people to lure Qiang, but I didn't expect these people to be successful, and a few people immediately rebelled." ”

Cao Pi's face immediately changed and said, "What about Chen Jiao?" Didn't I tell him to send the finest men? How? ”

Xiahou Yuan said: "The king is angry, this can't be blamed on Chen Jiao. Qiang Di repeatedly, not looking at the situation, this is also expected! ”

Cao Pi asked, "What do Zitong and Zhongda think?" ”

Jiang Jidao: "General Xiahou has a good plan, it is a plan from above, but I'm afraid that Liangzhou is not so weak." Liu Bei has developed rapidly in recent years! Now that the two-hearted Qiang has been pacified, the situation is not in our favor! ”

Cao Pi said: "It doesn't matter, Liu Bei just fought with the rebellious Qiang, and he will always lose soldiers and horses, and consume grain and grass." We cannot give him a respite. This time, I will mobilize 30,000 cavalry, General Xiahou, these cavalry are under your command, and defeat the soldiers and horses of Liangzhou. ”

Xiahou Yuan said: "I will not fail in my mission!" Cao Pi encouraged.

Cao Pi ordered the general to ban 10,000 troops to feint and attack Anding County. Open the jaw to deceive and attack Tianshui along the Weishui. Cao Pi led the army straight to Yangping Pass, the cavalry at a very fast speed, the way to attack the defense, Wudu too guarded Deng Tong to defend the city, Cao Pi's army of 200,000, how can Wudu thousands of defenders resist.

Cao Pi sent envoys to persuade him to surrender, but after no result, he waved his army to attack the city. thought that a battle could be fought, but unexpectedly, the siege was frustrated. Although Wudu County and Yinping County are not populous counties, they are mostly mixed places such as Qiang, and the people are fierce, coupled with Liu Bei's strategy of comforting, so that Qiang Di is more to Liu Bei.

Although there were few soldiers and horses in Wudu County, the fierce people of Qiang picked up swords and guns to help defend the city. Wudu Taishou Deng Tong relied on the city to repel several attacks by Cao's army.

After Cao Pi surrounded Wudu, Cao Zhen divided his troops to take Yinping, Cao Zhen first sent a messenger Xu Zhi Chongli, and then Yao soldiers outside the city, Cao Jun tens of thousands of troops, the momentum was huge, and the shouts shook the sky.

Cao Zhen bribed several cronies of Yinping Taishou and took the opportunity to persuade Yinping Taishou to surrender, Yinping Taishou was originally afraid of Cao's army being overwhelmed, coupled with persuasion from left and right, he strengthened his heart to surrender.

Cao Zhen's soldiers came to the city for only ten days, and Yinping took it bloodlessly. The good news and Cao Pi, Cao Pi was overjoyed, and Cao Zhentun was stationed in Yinping to intercept the counterattack of the Han army in Longyou.

Cao Pi rewarded Yinping Taishou for setting an example, and sent him to recruit Deng Tong, Yinping Taishou arrived at the city and said: "The prince of Wei personally commanded 900,000 soldiers and horses to come, and the army arrived, all of them surrendered, and it was not easy to defend the land in public service. The city will be broken, and instead of burning the jade, it is better to surrender and protect the safety of the people. ”

Deng Tong thought for a while and said: "The public is very good, but I am afraid of fraud, if the public is sincere, you can enter the city to discuss." ”

Yin Ping listened too much, didn't think much about it, and was bent on persuading and surrendering. He replied, "Okay, I'll go into the city." ”

When the horses came to the city, and when they saw that the gate was approaching, they shouted to the city, "Open the gate." ”

Deng Tong took out a strong bow, stretched his bow and pointed at Yinping Taishou, Yinping Taishou was shocked: "What does the public want to do?" I come with sincerity, and I have no second heart. ”

Deng Tong said coldly: "Aren't you afraid of death?" ”

Yin Ping Tai Shouqiang said calmly: "As long as I can let the public see that I am sincere, why not be afraid of life and death?" ”

Deng Tong said angrily: "Since you can have the heart of not fearing life and death, why can't you be loyal to the Lord." It is ridiculous and pitiful that the thief who surrendered his back without a fight said that he was not afraid of life and death. "Say that, an arrow shot Yin Ping Taishou.

Deng Tong said to Yin Ping Taishou's entourage: "You move his body back and tell Cao Pi that Han Taishou will not sit as a minister of his Cao family!" ”

The entourage of Yinping Taishou under the city hurriedly carried back the body of Yinping Taishou. Cao Pi reported and said: "True loyal ministers." ”

The three armies were ordered to begin the siege of the city. Deng Tong defended the city with all his might, Cao Pi relied on the large number of people and attacked in turns, and Wudu Taishou mobilized the people to transport wooden arrows and other materials to defend the city, and rescued the wounded, so that the soldiers and horses defending the city could be put into battle as much as possible, and all the strong men participated in the battle, so they actually blocked the offensive of Cao's army.

Cao Pi had already taken Yinping, and he was unwilling to waste too much time in Wudu, so he led 100,000 soldiers and horses to besiege Wudu and block Liu Bei in Yizhou.

Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Yuan and other commanders were about to leave Qishan and attack Tianshui County. The army was about to be pulled out, Cao Zhen sent news from Yinping, Yinping took it, but some of the tribal leaders of Yinping and Qiang surrendered without being appeased, some cast a base to defend themselves, some retreated to Hanzhong, and even robbed Cao Bing, and the people followed.

Cao Pi was furious after getting revenge: "How can Liu Bei buy the hearts of the thieves? ”

continued: "What did Zidan ask you to do, just to report on Yinping's situation?" I didn't let him stay there, what did he do? ”

The envoy said: "General Cao Zhen sent troops to intercept the people of Qiang who had withdrawn to Hanzhong, captured a lot, and exterminated the thief army that attacked our army, and is uprooting some cantonments that do not accept surrender. But I don't know what the people should do, so I came to ask the king. ”

Cao Pi soothed the irritability in his chest after hearing this: "Since you have resisted the king's royal divisions, all of them have moved to Tuntian, the land of Bingzhou, and told Zidan that those who dare to resist will be killed." The messenger promised to go.

Jiang Ji next to him said: "King, you will lose the hearts of the people like this." It is not good for us to use troops to win people's hearts and minds in the next step. ”

Cao Pi said: "Wudu and Yinping counties are important places to cut off Hanzhong and Longyou, how can they be unstable. And these people are loyal to Liu Bei, and keeping them will only be troublesome. Needless to say. The order, Wudu also followed this order, all of them were moved to Bingzhou for me, and you are responsible for this matter. ”

Jiang Ji saw Cao Pi's stern expression and knew that it was useless to dissuade him. Then he said: "King, it is not a trivial matter to move the people, and I hope that the king will personally sit here." Otherwise, once the incident is sudden, it cannot be dealt with in time. ”

Cao Pi said: "What can it be?" ”

Jiang Ji said: "Migrate the people for at least a month, and this month Liu Bei will inevitably arrive, if the people are still moving, Liu Bei is coming, there will be a big mess." ”

Cao Pi pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, I know!" ”

Cao Ren led Cao's army of 100,000 people to march north from Xiabian, and the troops went straight to Qishan Fort, while Xiahou Yuan led 3,000 cavalry alone, galloped a hundred miles in one night, and arrived at Shanggua two days later.