Yizhou.

张鲁在刘焉的授意下，带领兵马刚刚平定汉中，迎面便撞上了曹洪南下的大军。

The two sides fought a big battle in Nanxiang, and Sima Zhang Xiu, who acted as the vanguard, died under Cao Hong's sword.

Seeing that the situation was difficult to beat, Zhang Lu did not hesitate to lead the army to withdraw to Chenggu.

Cao Hong took advantage of the situation to occupy Nanxiang.

After Xun You sent people to appease the people, he said to Cao Hong: "Zhang Xiu is the leader of the rice thieves, and the followers of the generation in Bajun and Hanzhong are like clouds, although this person died in battle, the imperial court should make some rewards to appease the people of Bajun and Hanzhong."

Cao Hong was very surprised when he heard this, and said, "Since he is a rice thief, how can the imperial court reward him again? Xun Servant's words are a bit unreasonable, His Majesty has always been tolerant of thieves, how can he make an exception because he is alone!"

Xun You also knew that this matter was indeed a bit difficult, and he explained: "This rice thief is an unusual thief, he is very confused by the people, and has a very high influence among the people. The matter of ghosts can be big or small, but the imperial court must not easily deal with it directly as a thief, otherwise it may cause public resentment to boil."

"This Zhang Xiu has such a great ability?" Cao Hong didn't take this matter seriously, "His soldiers and horses are weak, and they are brittle like the paper that Zuo Bo just made, how can he be so troublesome!"

Xun You drank a bowl of herbal tea and said, "Zhang Xiu's ability is not in the war, he also coerces the ghost Tao and teaches the people with the ghost way, this is what he is really good at. In the southwest, witchcraft is rampant, and Zhang Xiu's ghost path is even above the witch, how can he not be troublesome?"

Cao Hong couldn't make up his mind about this matter, and it was difficult to refute the face of Xun You, a popular minister, so he said, "Otherwise...... Let Your Majesty deal with this matter, let's continue to discuss how to quickly kill Zhang Lu? Moreover, I think that since this man has deceived the people very deeply with his ghostly ways, it should be useless for the court to reward him with something after his death."

"I also understand the meaning of Xun Servant's shooting, are you worried that the people will mutini because the court killed Zhang Xiu? This is a war, he is the general who leads the army, and it is reasonable that he will die on the battlefield."

"I think it's actually fair to say that the court killed a thief, and Zhang Xiu was a thief. However, I can admit that this ghost path may be better than rewarding Zhang Xiu directly."

Xun You looked at Cao Hong appreciatively, "General Cao's words are really insightful, and I think this method is feasible. Zhang Xiu is a thief, but the ghost path is not a thief's way, and the two are separated, so it is indeed easy to deal with."

"And I also have a rough understanding of the ghost path, if it is used by the imperial court, this is not a sharp blade. However, it needs to be greatly restricted, otherwise it will hurt the community."

Cao Hong said in a muffled voice, "It's not very obvious, I can even see it."

"I don't think it's as good as this, you and I will play Your Majesty, please ask the court to order the leader of the ghost path to be called something, if the ghost path can suppress the witch path in the southwest, the court can acquiesce to their existence and not prohibit it."

"That's a great word!" Xun You very much agreed with Cao Hong's suggestion.

Even, because of Cao Hong's words, Xun You had some changes in some of his previous views.

"Okay, okay, then do it." Cao Hong rubbed his hands, "Next, let's talk about this more important matter, Yuan Shu's exploration horses come and go to the land of Hanzhong so frequently, I suspect that this old boy is afraid that he wants to escape to Hanzhong, should we do something?"

Xun You had already picked up the pen and was about to write the recital himself, and when he heard the words, he said, "This matter, wait and see what happens."

"Wait?" Cao Hong was puzzled, "We are now garrisoning Nanxiang, and we are almost blocking the intersection of Yuan Shu's westward retreat, if we don't do something, wouldn't it be a waste of opportunity."

Xun You said lightly while writing the recital: "Watching what happens is not to do nothing, what I mean is that we don't need to deliberately squat here to guard Yuan Shu, whether he will retreat to Hanzhong is not yet known."

"There are 100,000 soldiers and horses who went south to Jingzhou, plus Jingzhou's soldiers, nearly 200,000 people. Your Majesty is also bored enough to tour Jingzhou in the south again, where do you think Your Majesty will go on his southern tour?"

"Naturally, it's Nanyang!" Cao Hong said without thinking.

Xun You chuckled, "Isn't it clear at a glance, the north and south are attacking, 200,000 soldiers and horses, Yuan Shu is afraid that he will not have a chance to escape!" You and I should sum it up and how to conquer Hanzhong as soon as possible!" new

"The battle of Jingzhou is almost over, but you and I have only won the first battle, and this is already behind."

Cao Hong smiled calmly, "I'm not in a hurry, take my time."

"There is a madman like Zhang Ji in Jingzhou, it is reasonable that he is so fast, he is like smashing a wall when he attacks the city and plunders the wall."

Xun You had a hint of wisdom hidden in his eyes, and he glanced at Cao Hong lightly and said, "You don't need to be so cautious, Your Majesty won't worry about your high achievements."

"Your Majesty is not worried, but I am worried. There are only five titled generals in the imperial court, and the Cao family occupies three of them, how can you make me feel at ease? Now, I want to be a lazy donkey, slow fighting, it's better to make a little more mistakes, it's appropriate. Anyway, with my credit, I think it's enough, give the little ones below a chance." Cao Hong said his plan directly without concealment.

Xun You didn't persuade again, but said, "After capturing Hanzhong, you can slow down. But now, it's time to take it one step at a time!"

"Are you serious?" Cao Hong asked.

Xun Yu bowed his head, "Take the lead and extinguish its arrogance."

"Okay, I know, tomorrow will be solid!" Cao Hong got up and said, "I'll go down to patrol the camp."

Xun You nodded.

Cai Mao and Huang Zu hurried day and night, and after losing nearly 2,000 soldiers and horses, they finally arrived outside Anzhong City at noon the next day.

Seeing Anzhong City, which stood in the sunlight and seemed to be full of brilliance, Huang Zu and Cai Mao suddenly had a feeling in their hearts that they had gone home when they were young, as if they were safe and down-to-earth all of a sudden.

"I feel like my life is almost on the road." Cai Mao just lay on the ground and said to Huang Zu tiredly.

Huang Zu was also lying down, and he was next to Cai Mao, "Who said it wasn't, it can be regarded as a big man for a while, and this run immediately made me a pawn." Still, it's a comfortable feeling for the rest of my life."

"You must have something wrong." Cai Mao scolded.

He didn't feel the slightest bit comfortable, but now he was finally relieved.

The sound of horses' hooves sounded from not far away, and Cai Mao and Huang Zu hurriedly sat up when they heard the sound.

Sun Jian came from outside the city, rode his horse to Cai Mao and Huang Zu dozens of steps away, turned over and dismounted, and said as he walked: "The two generals galloped all the way, and they must have worked hard, but I will make a long story short."

"The two generals have three hours of rest, I guess that's enough, right? The task of our army is to intercept the reinforcements on the periphery of Wancheng, protect the rear of General Zhang Ji, and plan to attack the city. Three hours later, our army drew out the camp."

Cai Mao and Huang Zu had never fought such a tight battle, and Sun Jian was a little stunned when he said anything.

"General, it's necessary...... In a hurry?" Huang Zu asked.

Sun Jian said, "This is General Zhang Ji's order, and we can only follow the order. The two generals don't feel very comfortable, I think it may be because the two of them have been too comfortable, and it doesn't seem to be far from Xiangyang to Anzhong, right?"

"After our encounter, I led my army north to fight two consecutive battles in Anzhong, and I rested, how many days is it today? It seems to be the fifth day. But the two generals only rushed to Anzhong, and this should be the result of General Zhang Ji's two military orders in a row. Otherwise, I think that when the Nanyang war is over, the two generals may still be on the way."

"Are you really not afraid of losing your head?"

Cai Mao was a little ashamed of what he said, and asked, "So, it was you, the general, who ambushed our army in the first place?"

"General Sun Jian, it doesn't matter if you don't know me, but I hope that from now on, you can listen to my orders well." Sun Jian didn't give Cai Mao and Huang Zu a hint of a smile, "General Zhang Ji didn't do anything to you, but not necessarily with me."

"Also, listen to me when you talk to the point. I don't think it's a glorious thing for you to be beaten by our army with the back of your sword, and you are defeated and lost."