Since the rebellion of Guo and Li, the heroes of Guanxi have risen together, and there are more than ten large and small warlords such as Ma Teng, Han Sui, Zhang Heng, and Liang Xing. If you go to Liangzhou, Wuwei and Zhangye have their own warlords.

The law of the imperial court is difficult to reach and chaotic. Even Cao Cao, the overlord of the Central Plains, can only use a soft knife for these warlords, and use official rewards to win them over. However, in this period of warlord juxtaposition, there was a rare peace in Guanzhong.

Among the warlords, Ma Teng and Han Sui were particularly strong, Ma Teng was entrenched in Guanzhong Yi County, and Han Suitun was stationed in Longyou Jincheng. When the strength of the two was weak, they separated the east and the west, and because Li Dao and Guo Yan were powerful, they became brothers with different surnames and retreated to Longyou to fight against them.

However, with the defeat of Guo Li, Ma Teng and Han Sui lost external pressure, their own forces gradually grew, Longyou resources were limited, and the two had frequent contradictions, resulting in war.

Han Sui killed Ma Teng's wife and children, and Yan Xing almost killed the young Ma Chao. However, Ma Teng was not inferior, and each of them summoned the generals of Kansai, and a war broke out, and the battle was inseparable.

At the right time, Cao Cao welcomed the Han Emperor to his hand, and in order to appease Guanzhong, he sent envoys to persuade Ma and Han. Both realized that they could not annex each other, so they went down the slope and listened to Cao Cao's mediation. Ma Tengtun Guanzhong Huaili, Han Sui returned to Longyou Jincheng.

Since Ma Chao was more than ten years old, he followed his father Ma Teng to fight in the south and the north, and in the battle with Han Sui, he performed brilliantly and bravely. and Ma Tengtun Guanzhong, Ma Chaowei Guanzhong Haoqiang, defeated the rebellious Qiang, because of the identity of the eldest son, his status in the Ma family army is second only to Ma Teng.

After Cao Cao leveled the Yuan clan and defeated Wuhuan, the Ma family, who was stationed in Sanfu, was the first to feel Cao Cao's threat. Ma Teng, the elderly head of the family, entered the court as an official under the persuasion of Zhang Ji.

Since then, Ma Chao has inherited Ma Teng's troops and become the commander of the Ma family army and the overlord of Guanzhong.

Huaili, Futang.

Ma Chao sat on the couch, holding a Chinese book, reading quietly. Looking from afar, I saw Ma Chao wearing a brocade robe, wearing jade and gold ornaments, and carrying a Han sword at his waist, which was the appearance of a noble general.

If you look closely, you can see Ma Chao's sharp edges, sunken eyes, and a handsome face with a straight nose. The eyes are reading Han books, and occasionally show a rebellious color.

"General, Captain Si Li's account Zhang joined the army, asked to see the general, and said that there was an edict from the imperial court." The attendant reports.

Ma Chao put down the Hanshu and said with a sneer: "What is the imperial edict, it should be Cao Mengde's edict." ”

"Come on, spread Zhang to join the army and enter the court, and let Bozhan and Zihui (Pang Rou) also come to observe."

"No!"

Shaoqing, with a good face and a good mind, Zhang Ji, who walked into the hall and bowed his hand to meet Ma Chao.

Ma Chao sat on a high position and said with a smile: "Zhang joined the army, Sergeant Guanzhong, I don't know what happened when I came from Luoyi?" ”

Zhang Ji took out the scarf from his sleeve, presented it to Ma Chao, and said: "General, Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang of Yizhou in Hanzhong are making chaos in Bashu. However, the prime minister wanted to recruit Liu Bei and subdue Wu Chu, and it was difficult to withdraw from Shu. Today, the special table general is the Taishou of Hanzhong, and he raised troops to pacify Zhang Lu in order to raise the prestige of our Han family. ”

Ma Chao spread out the scarf, browsed carefully, and asked: "Yan Xing has to be guarded, but I don't know what official position Han Sui is?" ”

"General Han was assassinated by Yizhou." Zhang Ji replied.

"Huh!"

Ma Chao was slightly cold and said, "Aren't I under Han Sui?" ”

"General, General Han is old and high, how can he and the general be brave. Today, the prime minister fears that the general will march south to Hanzhong, and Han Sui will attack Guanzhong, so he will not appoint General Han to serve as the assassin of Yizhou. Zhang Ji explained.

Ma Chao looked at the silk and sneered and said: "Chao is not afraid of Han Sui, but he is afraid of Cao Gong's westward travel!" ”

Zhang was neither humble nor arrogant, and said: "Duke Cao will conquer Wu Chu, how can he spare time to take care of Guanzhong." And the general was edicted by the Son of Heaven to beg for thieves, and Cao Gong was a Han minister, how could he dare to go west, it would be to conquer Wu Chu in the south. ”

"The general is heroic, sitting on the hero, not thinking about serving the country, making meritorious contributions and being knighted, and he doesn't want to sit and watch the success or failure of the world. I'm afraid that success or failure is set, and the general's years will be old! ”

Saying that, Zhang Ji smiled lightly and said: "Or is the general afraid of the steep mountains of the Qinling Mountains, which is difficult to conquer, and he does not dare to receive orders?" ”

"Huh!"

Ma Chao put down the scarf, couldn't help laughing, and said: "Zhang Lu Demon Dao, demagoguery, how can I be afraid of it?" ”

As he spoke, Ma Chao stood up and said in a deep voice: "Cao Gong Fengchao is the Taishou of Hanzhong, how can he have nothing to do? ”

"Don't dare to deceive the general, Liu Zhang and Liu Bei are allied, and the second Liu army is menacing. Now Liu Bei has Wu Chu, the soldiers and horses are strong, and Cao Gong does not dare to get out. However, Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu had to ask for it, so they asked the general to ask for it. ”

Zhang Ji talked eloquently and said: "And the general's father and brother are all in Yecheng, with the general's benevolent and filial piety, he will not betray Cao Gong." In addition, Cao Gong can tolerate Xuzhou Zangba, Sun Guan, Wu Dun and others, but An can't tolerate generals! ”

"If the general takes Hanzhong, he will help Cao Fair Longyou, and the general will be named the history of Yizhou Assassin. When Cao Gong marched to Wu Chu in the south, Zang Xuzhou was entrusted with the east affairs, and the general was entrusted with the west affairs. When the world is peaceful, it is not easy to enjoy wealth and beauty! ”

"Pinglong right?"

The corner of Ma Chao's mouth sneered a few times, and said: "It's not impossible to please Hanzhong, but the Qinling Mountains stretch for hundreds of miles, with lofty mountains and rugged mountain roads. Shiguanzhong was barren, full of heroes, and the people were scarce, making it difficult to mobilize troops. If Cao Gong provided money and food, he would lead the soldiers and horses south to conquer Hanzhong. ”

Hanzhong, a rare peaceful place in troubled times, Guanzhong rebelled many times, causing the people to flee south to Bashu, so the population is solid, with hundreds of thousands of people.

Ma Chao garrisoned Sanfu Huaili, separated from Hanzhong by the Qinling Mountains, how could he not know that Hanzhong was rich and fertile, so he and Guanzhong had long coveted the wealth of Hanzhong.

However, if you want to think about it, but he and the warlords in Guanzhong can't go down the Shu Road!

Hundreds of miles of Qinling Shu Road is dangerous, it is difficult to walk, and it is difficult to supply materials, you ask who is the most experienced, and Zhuge Liang has the most understanding.

Zhuge Liang made five northern expeditions from Hanzhong, and if the second and third expeditions were combined, Zhuge Liang actually only made four northern expeditions. However, in these four times, except for one improper use of personnel, three felling grain and grass were not enough. Four expeditions and five zhang plains, it was Zhuge Liang who went through many years of preparation before he sent troops again.

With the power of Yizhou to send troops, there will still be a shortage of food and grass, not to mention the withered Guanzhong, which will not be able to support the southern expedition to Hanzhong.

Even if Zhuge Liang is not mentioned, when Cao Cao and Liu Bei fought for Hanzhong, there was also a shortage of food. The difficulty of the Qinling Mountains and the danger of the Shu Road have a great impact on the army, and they must not be underestimated.

"In the southern expedition to Hanzhong, the general can produce some of it, and Hedong and Luoyi can provide a little." Zhang Ji responded.

"Good!"

Ma Chao waved his hand and said with a smile: "Wait for me to take down Hanzhong and return the grain and grass to Cao Gong." ”

After Zhang Ji left, Pang Rou stroked his beard, frowned and said: "General, Duke Cao first gave the official title, and then gave grain and grass, so generous, I am afraid that there will be other plans, I can't wait!" ”

Ma Chao sat on the couch and said with a sneer: "Cao Cao's heart, I know it!" ”

Then, Ma Chao explained: "Cao Cao wants to try Guanzhong, but he is afraid of the soldiers and horses in Guanzhong, and Liu Bei is in the south, peeking at the Central Plains, and he does not dare to move lightly. Therefore, the strategy of the two tigers competing for food, let me wait for the troops to enter Hanzhong, Zhang Lu has the danger of Qinling, I have the courage of the generals, and the two tigers will fight, and there will be an injury. ”

"When we are both defeated, Cao Cao will cut off our army's food and lead the troops to the rear, and Guanzhong and Hanzhong will be easy to go down!"

Pang Rou was surprised and said, "Since the general knows this strategy, why not reject it?" Contrary to the will of Cao Gong, he tended to march south to Hanzhong. ”

Ma Chao stroked his sword and said, "My Ma Mengqi's ability, how can it be hindered by the danger of Qinling!" ”

Saying that, Ma Chao paced in the hall and said in a deep voice: "The world is in turmoil, Liu Bei swept Wu Chu in a year, sitting on more than ten counties in two states, with more than 100,000 soldiers, and dominates the south. ”

"Hanzhong, the land of abundance, has a population of hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. Zhang Lu demon said, demagoguery, few soldiers, and the Shu people are weak. The sergeants under my account are like tigers and wolves, but the Guanzhong is withered, the population is sparse, and it is difficult to raise soldiers. ”

"If I can borrow Cao Cao's grain, raise tigers and wolves to go south, cover up and kill into Hanzhong, according to Hanzhong's money and grain, hold Hanzhong's soldiers and horses, and the land of Guanxi, who can stop me?"

Ma Chao's words were filled with ambition that was difficult to hide.

He is only thirty-four years old, at the age of his prime, and he especially looked at the history of the struggle of the old man Liu Bei, how could he be willing to succumb to and live a lifetime of one acre and three points of land in Huaili!

After being tossed by Dong Zhuo and Guo Li, Guanzhong was too poor, and there were many warlords, competing with each other for survival resources. Although he has the courage of a tiger, he can't use his fists and kicks in Guanzhong at all.

Once he tries to attack the other warlords and strengthen himself, the rest of the warlords will join forces to form a unique alliance. At this time, he saw the opportunity to break free from the shackles, take Hanzhong, collect Hanzhong's money and grain for use, enter Longyou in the west, and unite with the Qiang people, he will be able to take advantage of the situation.

Ma Dai was shocked and said, "Wouldn't this be cut off from Cao Gong, how will Uncle be good?" ”

Ma Chao first showed a ruthless look, then showed a smile, and said: "If I can occupy Hanzhong, at that time, with my prestige, I will unite with the Qiang people, enter Longyou in the west, and share Han Sui, Yang Qiu and the generals of Guanzhong with Cao Gong." ”

"My Ma clan has the land of Hanzhong and Longyou, unites the northwest Zhuhu, and entrenches in Lianglong, so it may not be impossible to follow the hustle and bustle, establish merits, and divide one side. There is Liu Bei in the south, Gongsun in the east, and Liu Zhang in the west. I offer a letter to Cao Cao to ask for an official, and he will treat my father and two younger brothers well! ”

Ma Chao said in a deep voice: "If I am safe, my father will be safe; My Ma is Xing, and my father is Sheng. That's it! ”

"This~"

Pang Rou and Ma Dai looked at each other, they never thought that Ma Chao had such great ambitions, emulating the hustle and bustle of the late Western Han Dynasty and wanting to divide the northwest, but is there such a condition now?

Seeing that the two hesitated, Ma Chao analyzed and said: "The ancestor can extinguish the hustle and bustle because there is no strong opponent in the world. However, today's situation, unlike in the past, Cao Cao is not the Shizu Emperor, Liu Bei is in Wu Chu, Liu Zhang has Bashu, Gongsun is according to Liaodong, and the northwest can be mapped. ”

"And if it doesn't work, it can be the northwest for Cao Gong, and my Ma clan will not lose the title of knight."

"If you want to enter Hanzhong, our army alone is not enough to enter it." Pang Rou said.

"Don't worry!"

Ma Chao said confidently: "Han Sui is a profit-loving person, if I tend to enter the map, he will follow." And if there is no Han Sui, the profit-seekers in Kansai will also follow it. ”

There is no more at night, and there will be three more tomorrow

(End of chapter)