Xiakou, Snake Mountain Big Tent.

"Report!"

The scout trotted up the hill from the foot of the mountain, entered the big tent, and said, "Lord, Cao Cao raised 100,000 troops, went south from Suixian, and broke through Nanxin City. With Gao Lan, Zhang He, and Guo Huai as the vanguard, the soldiers arrived at Anlu City. Today, Anlucheng asked for help, but Wen Taishou Xiakou City did not dare to move lightly. ”

"Anlu City is here!"

Zhuge Liang spread out the map of Jiangbei, pointed it with a feather fan, and asked, "Where has Cao Cao's army arrived?" ”

"Qi Qi military division, Cao Cao's army has arrived in Nanxin City, stationed on the spot, ordered the left and right departments to plunder the people, and the vanguard three armies besieged Anlu City." The scout said.

Cao Cao and Liu Bei each claimed to have an army of 400,000, but how could Cao and Liu have so many soldiers and horses, they were just bluffing.

After a year of integration, Liu Bei deducted 20,000 Zhang Fei, and Liu Bei gathered Wu Chu's soldiers and horses, and made up 80,000 sailors to be stationed in Jianghan. However, Guan Yu had 20,000 soldiers and horses in Jiangling, 10,000 in the hands of Wenpin, and 50,000 troops under Liu Bei's account as a mobile force.

After two years of recuperation, Cao Cao sent 100,000 troops to the south. Cao Ren sat in Xiangfan and had 20,000 soldiers and horses, Cao Cao gave Cao Ren 10,000 people, and now Cao Cao's mobile force is only 70,000.

In contrast, in order to take care of Bashu. Liu Bei's forces were at a disadvantage, and the combat effectiveness of the southern army was not as good as that of the northern army. Therefore, Liu Bei did not dare to be stationed in Jiangbei, and could only arrange the camp in Snake Mountain in the south of the Yangtze River.

Liu Bei stared at the map, frowned slightly, and said: "How dare Cao Cao be so big, let the soldiers of all the departments out to plunder the people, how can he not be afraid of me crossing the river to attack him!" ”

Zhuge Liang stroked the feather fan and speculated: "Liang thinks that Cao Cao's move may have the intention of luring the lord to cross the river." ”

"Huh?"

Liu Bei thought for a moment and said, "But Cao Cao deliberately let the sergeants go out to plunder the people, but in fact, there was a guard. When our army crosses the river to attack the enemy, Cao Cao should follow it with a cavalry pawn to defeat our army! ”

"Exactly!"

Zhuge Liang saw through Cao Cao's thoughts and said: "Cao Cao was afraid of the defeat of Chrysostom and did not dare to go south, so he asked Cao Ren to contain General Guan." He led the army south with the county, made a lax posture, lured the lord to cross the river, and took advantage of the situation to attack him. ”

After a pause, Zhuge Liang guessed and said: "Although Cao Cao has many soldiers and horses, and there are thousands of good horses, but there is no advantage of boats, and it is difficult to cross the river; Although our army has few soldiers and horses, and there are many defenses in Jinkou, there are thousands of boats and ships, and they can advance and retreat freely. ”

Therefore, Liang thought that although Cao Cao's soldiers and horses were strong and had the advantage of being a horseman, he wanted to break the lord, and the only way to lure the lord to cross the river was to break the lord. Today, Cao Cao's move must be to lure the enemy, and the lord must not fall for it. When we carried out the old strategy of our army, we used the boat to inspect the Han River, and stuck to the city of Qiyue in the north of the river, so as to wait for the Cao army to be tired. ”

When he heard that Cao Cao was going south, because Zhang Fei and Lu Yi entered Shu, Zhuge Liang suggested that Liu Bei take a defensive position. In the direction of Nanjun, Guan Yu sits in the public security city; In the direction of Jiangxia, Wenpin sits in the city of Qiyue (Xiakou). Liu Bei led a large army to camp in the south of the Yangtze River in Xiakou, and used the maneuver of the sailor division to support back to Gong'an and Qiyue City.

And if Cao Cao attacked the city, he would use the public security and the second city of the month to consume the morale of Cao Cao's army, and when Cao Cao was tired, Liu Bei led the army to cross the river and take the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

In general, the strategy of defensive counterattack was adopted, and instead of taking the initiative to fight against Cao's army, which had the advantage of land warfare, he used the terrain and fortified cities to wear down Cao's army's fighting spirit.

And this is Sima Yi's trick to deal with Zhuge Liang in history, holding on to the danger and sticking to it. However, Zhuge Liang is better than Sima Yi, not only guarding, but also counterattacking.

Gan Ning, who served as the governor of Hanshui, was very unwilling, and said: "Military division, why not send elite soldiers to take the opportunity to cross the river to attack it, although it cannot inflict heavy damage on the enemy, but it can also demoralize the enemy and raise the prestige of our army." Sticking to it today without fighting may hurt the morale of the Jiangbei soldiers. ”

Saying that, Gan Ning asked Liu Bei for battle, and said: "My lord, I would rather lead a small number of elite soldiers to cross the river, find an opportunity to defeat the enemy, and raise the prestige of our army." ”

"General Gan, don't worry!"

Zhuge Liang stroked the feather fan and said with a smile: "The time has not yet come, so don't underestimate the enemy." When the fighters came, General Gan had his own place to use. ”

"Xingba, and follow the words of the military advisor."

Liu Bei bowed slightly, and said: "The Han River is all controlled by Qing, and Qing is the general of the water division, and he cannot fight lightly." ”

"No!"

Seeing that Liu Bei agreed with Zhuge Liang's words, Gan Ning could only respond.

Liu Bei looked at Yin Guan and asked, "What is the movement of Jianghuai today?" ”

Yin Guan pondered for a while and said, "Lord Qiqi, General Huo has not moved, and is still stationed at the mouth of the water. ”

After a pause, Yin Guan said: "Lord, now Cao Cao's troops are in Jiangbei, and there are many soldiers and horses, why not let General Huo lead his troops north to attack Hefei and share the pressure of our army in Jiangbei." ”

"No!"

Ma Liang stopped and said: "Liang and his brother made a mouth before and after, and secretly thought that General Huo's troops in Dongguan had the intention of the Northern Expedition to Hefei. However, at this time, the soldiers and horses have not moved, and there must be a plan. It is often said that 'the general is outside, and the king's order is not subject to it', so it is better to exchange military reports and let General Huo arrange his own military strategy. ”

Liu Bei bowed slightly, and praised and said: "Zhong Miao will be a little more world-famous, not an ordinary general." In the past, when he went down to Jiangdong, he often held his troops and waited for the opportunity. If the fighter is revealed, it will move like thunder, lead the troops into battle, and lead the troops to break the enemy. In the past, when Hefei was returned, it should be believed. ”

There is no suspicion in employing people, and there is no need for suspicious people. It is vividly shown in Liu Bei, and in terms of sincerity towards his subordinates, Cao Cao and Sun Quan cannot be compared with Liu Bei. So much so that Liu Bei rewarded but did not punish his defeated subordinates.

The brothers Meng Da and the Shen brothers raised three counties to surrender to Cao, and Liu Bei did not kill the families of the three people. So much so that when Huang Quan descended to Cao, he heard that Liu Bei had killed his family, and he didn't believe it at all. After all, he didn't even kill Meng Da's family, how could he kill his family.

This also led to the fact that although Wenwu was grateful to Liu Bei, when he was in an emergency, he either surrendered or fled, such as Liao Li, Hao Pu, Shiren and others.

Liu Bei looked around at the civil and military forces on the left and right, and ordered: "The sailor patrols the river, and all departments must not slack off. Ji Chang crossed the river to appease Zhongye and asked if the defense of the city of Qiyue needed to benefit soldiers or increase bows and crossbows. ”

"No!" Wu Chu Wenwu responded.

——

Not to mention that Cao Liu confronted each other in Jiangxia, and under Liu Zhang's welcome, Zhang Fei, Lu Xun, and Pang Tong entered Bashu.

It is also strange to say that when Lu Xun led his troops through Yiling, he felt something, so he changed the proposal to Xun and reported it to Liu Bei. In the letter, Lu Xun said again, Yiling terrain is steep, if Bashu invades Jingzhou, block the enemy here, and the strategy of fire attack can be carried out.

Liu Bei, who received the letter, thought that Lu Xun's name was better than Lu Yi's, and he would definitely be able to make contributions to Bashu this time. In the part about the topography of Yiling, Liu Bei believed that if he camped among the grass and trees, he could attack with fire and burn the enemy.

Zhang Fei and Lu Xun entered Bashu, and Liu Bei asked Meng Da and Fa Zheng to enter the dangerous point between the Three Gorges and the White Emperor in the name of Yizhou generals, in case Liu Zhang suddenly closed the waterway into Shu, making it difficult to enter Shu.

Yizhou, Fucheng.

Zhang Fei looked at the catalog of materials sent by Liu Zhang, smiled non-stop, and said: "Liu Zhang is really rich, thousands of war horses, 100,000 stones of grain and grass, and 30 million in money. He also asked a certain superintendent of Baishuiguan to fill up 30,000 soldiers. Flying away from the south and north for many years, such a generous person, the first time I have seen it. ”

Lu Xun poured a basin of cold water and said, "General Yide, this is money to buy your life." This trip north to Hanzhong for hundreds of miles, all of them are difficult and dangerous Shu roads, and it is difficult for cars and horses to travel. And the Kansai soldiers will be brave, if they are lightly defeated, they will be defeated. ”

Zhang Fei looked at Lu Xun and Pang Tong, and instead of being angry, he smiled and said: "Bo Yan knows the military strategy very well, but now that he is deep in Bashu, he dares to ask Shi Yuan and Bo Yan how to act?" ”

Regarding Lu Xun, Liu Bei's son-in-law, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have different attitudes. Guan Yu thinks that Lu Xun was born in a family of scholars, and the Confucianism is too angry, and he lacks the heroic style, so it is difficult for Liu Bei to be the eldest daughter and son-in-law.

Zhang Fei is different, he likes Confucian scholars. For Lu Xun, the eldest brother and son-in-law, Zhang Fei likes it very much. often went to Lu Xun's house to spend the night and chat about Confucian classics. Although Lu Xun was talking and Zhang Fei was listening, Zhang Fei was also enjoying it.

Pang Tong stroked his beard and said: "General Zhang, the Shu Road is difficult and difficult, why not stay at Baishui Pass and wait and see the situation in Wu and Chu on the grounds of listening to the war." If the lord forces Cao Cao back, General Zhang can take the opportunity to lead the army to attack Chengdu and welcome the lord into Shu, and he can immediately take the first credit of Shu! ”

After a pause, Pang Tong said worriedly: "Conquer Hanzhong with 30,000 soldiers and horses, and not to mention that Shu Road is difficult and dangerous, and Hanzhong is difficult to break. Even if he enters Hanzhong, he has to fight with Ma and Han to fight for Hanzhong. Not to mention whether it can win, even if it wins, our army is lonely in Hanzhong, and it is difficult to deal with the lord into Shu. ”

Zhang Fei put down the wine bottle, and Ying He said: "What the military advisor said is not unreasonable, the Qiang soldiers in the northwest are brave, how can Fei not know how powerful." And in the northern expedition to Hanzhong, if Liu Zhang makes it bad, I and 20,000 soldiers will die in Shu Dao. ”

"No!"

Lu Xun sorted out his thoughts and said: "General Yide, Ma and Han are the forerunners of Cao Cao, if they win Hanzhong, then Hanzhong will be like Cao Cao's hands." Both Cao Cao won Hanzhong and the northwest, and will compete with our army for Bashu. When Liu Zhang, Cao Cao, and the lord were in charge, the situation was complicated, and I was afraid that Bashu would be difficult to enter my hands. And Bashu is rich, if it is slaughtered by soldiers, it is not the will of the lord. ”

After hesitating for a while, Lu Xun said: "Why don't you seize Hanzhong first, and then cooperate with the lord to enter Bashu in the west." When Cao Cao came to fight for Hanzhong, Hanzhong was the battlefield, and the enemy was outside Bashu, and Bashu was all owned by the lord. ”

"If you go north to Hanzhong, there will be the danger that Pang Junshi said. However, if you take Chengdu directly, you are afraid that it will damage the reputation of the lord. Turning one's back on allies and annexing the land is beyond the power of the lord. ”

At this time, Liu Bei is burdened by fame, and his character is up. One day, the character will be destroyed, and Liu Bei will be counterattacked. Although Bashu can be convinced, it also takes time to appease everyone.

Zhang Fei took a few sips of wine and said in a deep voice: "Since this is the case, you must not ruin my brother's reputation." Then I went north to Hanzhong and met with Ma Chao for a while. took Hanzhong, found a reason, killed Liu Zhang, and offered Bashu to his brother, which can also complete the strategy of confrontation between the north and the south proposed by Zhong Miao. ”

"General Yide!" Pang Tong persuaded.

"Needless to say!"

Zhang Fei took a sip of wine and said in a deep voice: "Hanzhong, Bashu, I want them all!" When I return to Wuhan, see if Kong Ming dares to underestimate me! ”

"No!"

The night was gone, there was no waiting

(End of chapter)