Eighteen years of Jian'an, Wuhan. Midwinter is coming, and early spring is coming.

In the pavilion, Huo Jun and Liu Bei sat opposite each other, looking at the children playing on the side of the lake, smiling and reminiscing about their childhood from time to time.

Looking at the children chasing each other, Liu Bei said with emotion: "When I was orphaned, my father died early, and I had to rely on my mother to raise me. At that time, he was engaged in weaving shoes and selling shoes, and his life was hard, but he was fortunate to be relieved by the tribesmen. ”

As he spoke, Liu Bei pointed to the mulberry tree in the courtyard and said: "I still remember that there is a mulberry tree on the side of the fence in the southeast corner of the house, which is more than five zhang high. At that time, Gu once said with a smile, 'I must take this feather to cover the car'. At that time, the uncle and father respected, and let Gu be cautious, so as not to have the disaster of extermination. ”

In Huo Jun's gaze, Liu Bei's expression was depressed, and he said: "The people of this clan did not die because of this, but they died because of the rebellion. At this time of wealth, the clan is separated, and loneliness often hates it. ”

Cao Cao has his clansmen to help, how can Liu Bei not have it?

Liu Bei was poor when he was a child, but thanks to the help of his uncle and relatives, he was able to study with Lu Zhi. I have been to the capital Luoyang, and I have met a number of upper-class people.

After the army was raised, many people from the Liu clan of the same clan also fought with him. However, Liu Bei's experience in the Central Plains was too turbulent and too displaced, so that all the children of the Liu clan of the same clan were not in the battlefield.

Huo Jun pondered one or two and said: "The world is in turmoil, the heroes are rising, Cao Cao raised troops in Henan, strategized, and galloped through China. Governing the country with the spells of Shen and Shang, coercing the Son of Heaven to order the princes, at an extraordinary time, to do extraordinary laws, covering Yuan Shao of Hebei, can not reach it! ”

"Ran Zhou Yi said: 'The middle of the day is the sun, and the moon is eclipse.' This is the same principle in the world. Cao Cao ruled the country with Shen and Shang, and coerced the princes of the Son of Heaven to order them, and they would eventually suffer the consequences. ”

"When the lord was prosperous in the south of the Yangtze River, he won the hearts of the people and crisscrossed the eight wildernesses. Treat it with sincerity and kindness, declare the righteousness of Tianjing, build and repair armor soldiers, and eventually break Cao and restore the Han Dynasty. And on the occasion of the restoration of the land, the lord returned to Zhuo County, and he was very happy to see the clan township! ”

Liu Bei shook his head with a smile and said: "China is rich in land and resources, handsome and spiritual, and wants to prosper the Han, I'm afraid that the road ahead will be difficult and difficult!" ”

Huo Jun sighed secretly, in history, the confrontation between the north and the south was mostly the northern dynasty unifying the southern dynasty, unless the northern dynasty was chaotic, it would be difficult to map the north from the south to the sky.

Even if the Northern Dynasty was chaotic, holding on to those few fortified cities could contain the offensive of the Southern Dynasty. Ge Gong's ability to govern the army was first-class, but he was finally consumed by Sima Yi in Wuzhang Plain.

Or if Liu Xun fights Guan Yu with real swords and guns, I'm afraid he won't be able to hold out for three months. But with the strong city of Jiangzhou, he resisted the siege of Guan and Zhang Erjun for ten months. If it weren't for Li Yan's rebellion, Guan and Zhang would not know how long they would besiege them.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Now the lord is focused on the west, if the west is successful, then the king's foundation will be successful! Huo Jun said.

"Good!"

Liu Bei nodded approvingly and said, "Lonely is the foundation of the country, I don't know what the king wants?" ”

Huo Jun bowed his head and said in a deep voice: "I hope that the king's prestige will be added to the four seas, Jun will have a meager achievement, and his fame will be in Zhuboer!" ”

"Haha!"

Liu Bei laughed a few times, helped Huo Jun up, and said to the left and right: "In the future, I will be called Huo Jun, and I will be called Huo Du." No one but Hodok can receive this name. ”

"No!"

Among the following martial arts, who is the person Liu Bei admires the most?

It has to be Huo Jun!

Ten years ago, Cao Cao basically had half of the world, and even Ma Teng and Han Sui in the northwest were secretly subservient to Cao Cao.

At that time, he was exiled to the south, with only a few thousand soldiers and horses, and he would not pass the pass, Zhang, Zhao and other generals. After the Battle of Bowang, Huo Jun, who was in his early twenties, put forward the strategy of separating the north and the south with a vision beyond the times.

Thinking about it so far, how amazing!

Of course, it is one thing to propose and implement.

But from today's point of view, Huo Jun helped him go down to Jiangdong and take Danyang as the base; When Cao Cao raised the people of China and went south to Jianghan, he turned the tide and broke the people of the Central Plains in Jinkou; Before and after Liu Qi's death, Huo Jun pushed him to succeed to Jingzhou.

At present, he is only a few steps away from the goal of dividing the north and the south, how can this not make people sigh!

Some of the above achievements cannot be expressed, but for all the achievements that can be expressed, he will give Huo Jun generous treatment as much as possible. Therefore, in terms of actual position in power, Huo Jun is above the generals and below him.

Of course, not only that, Huo Jun knows how to advance and retreat, neither humble nor arrogant, and rarely arrogant. This made him a lot more worried as a monarch, and he didn't have to be overly suspicious of Huo Jun.

In harmony between the monarch and the minister, the attendants walked briskly in the corridor with scarves in their hands.

"My lord, Hanzhong, the public security urgent military report."

Liu Bei frowned slightly, stretched out his hand to take the scarf, and spread it out to browse.

While Liu Bei was browsing, Huo Jun respectfully obeyed the courtesy of the monarch and ministers, and drank tea with his head down.

Liu Bei put down the towel and said: "Zhong Miao, according to Boyan, Xiahou Yuan has raised troops from Longxi, took the Qishan Road, and took Hanzhong; Yifeng came to report that Cao Ren sent troops from Xiangyang, and now he has gone to the public security city, wanting to break the public security and enter Jiangling with troops. ”

After a pause, Liu Bei said worriedly: "As Kong Ming expected, Cao Cao raised his troops to the south. However, Cao Cao sent Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan as the forerunner, and the troops entered two places, but I don't know where the main force is? Could it be that Cao Cao wanted to take advantage of the westward march of the army to enter the Jianghan and cross the river to the south. ”

"What does Zhong Miao think?"

"What does the lord think?" Huo Jun asked.

Liu Bei thought for a moment and said: "There are 8,000 soldiers in Gong'an City, and 10,000 soldiers in Jiangxia. There were about 20,000 soldiers from all over the place. Holding on without a fight is enough to hold on to the enemy; In Hanzhong, there are 20,000 old and weak soldiers and horses, and although Bo Yan is a Confucian student, he also knows soldiers. Holding on to Yangping Pass is enough to retreat Xiahou Yuan's troops. ”

"However, I am afraid that Cao Cao's army will be behind, and if you take Hanzhong, Hanzhong will be in danger; Hanzhong is in danger, and Bashu may be difficult to keep. If the public security is taken, with today's soldiers and horses, I am afraid that it will not be enough, and I am afraid that Jiang Han will be slaughtered by soldiers. Today, Gu summoned Zhong Miao back to Wuhan, because he wanted to use Jun Yucao. ”

"Lord!"

Zhou Budo, who was standing in the pavilion and serving on the side, interjected: "As far as I know, Zhu Zhi, the former father-in-law of Zhu Gong'an, served under Cao Ren's account, if Zhu Zhi said Zhu Gong'an with kindness, I am afraid that the public security city will be lost!" ”

Liu Bei's face was slightly gloomy, and he scolded: "Don't be suspicious of the general for no reason. There is no suspicion in employing people, and there is no need for suspicious people. Lonely and sincere, how can Yifeng be lonely? ”

"Yifeng is not surnamed Zhu, and now he has changed his surname. The love of the past is only a private relationship, what does it have to do with official affairs now? ”

"No!" Zhou Budo took a step back, not daring to speak again.

For Shi Ran, Liu Bei trusted him and never doubted it. After all, if these old Sun people want to surrender and rebel before the Battle of Chrysostom, where will they have to wait until now. Even if Rui Xuan led the sergeant to defect, it was because Liu Bei wanted to deprive his troops of private soldiers.

When Shi Ran surrendered, there were not many troops under his account. Under Liu Qi's account, Shi Ran was not reused. It was not until Liu Bei ascended to the throne that Shi Ran, Lu Xun and others were introduced as confidants, appointed military positions and everyone, and reused Jiangdong scholars, so that he had today's status.

From this point of view, Shi Ran has no possibility of surrendering to Cao Cao. Liu Bei naturally would not be suspicious of the generals for no reason, but instead caused everyone in the old generals of the Sun family to endanger themselves.

Huo Jun pondered for a while and said: "Jiang Han has Zhongye and righteousness, and it should be worry-free. If Jun expected it to be true, Cao Cao would wave his troops to attack Hanzhong. ”

"Oh!"

Liu Bei cheered up and said, "Please Zhong Miao speak!" ”

Huo Jun sorted out his thoughts and said: "Bashu, go to Longyou, and connect Wu Chu to the east." Cao Cao took it, and Wu Chu could be expected; The lord takes it, and the trend of the north and the south has been determined. This is the current situation today, the lord knows, can Cao Cao's wisdom not know? ”

"In the past, Cao Cao invaded the north and the south, and was defeated by the Jiang and Han dynasties. Cao Cao will learn from this, and now he will raise troops to the south, and dare to cut down Jiang Hanhu again? ”

"Hanzhong, the northern border of Yizhou, can enter Bashu. Cao Cao has always had the ambition to sweep the world, how can he not be eager for Bashu? When Cao Cao was based in Bashu, he also had the Central Plains, and he had the momentum of prosperity, and Wu Chu would be in a panic all day long! ”

"In Hanzhong, Lu Boyan went out of the town, was famous, and often saw people as Confucians. Although Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan were afraid, they were not enough to believe it. And there are 20,000 old and weak soldiers and horses in Hanzhong, far away from Wuhan and adjacent to the Central Plains, when it is a place to use troops to fight. Therefore, in Jun's opinion, Cao Cao will take Hanzhong, and most of the soldiers of public security are partial to the army! ”

Although Cao Cao asked Cao Ren to send troops to attract attention, it is not difficult to guess that Cao Cao would march to Hanzhong.

If Cao Cao fights the public security, even if the city is broken, it will also hit Jiangling City. But with the power of Cao Cao's naval army, he could not cross the Yangtze River. Even if the Yangtze River was crossed, the soldiers and horses in the upper reaches of Bashu could easily cut off the retreat of Cao's army.

The place of public security is not much worth doing. Then the only place worth using soldiers is Hanzhong.

Hanzhong is thousands of miles away from Wu Chu, and it was isolated outside Wuhan before, but now it is connected to Hanzhong after laying down Jiangzhou.

Even in terms of information connectivity, Hanzhong is thousands of miles away from Jiangzhou and thousands of miles away from Wuhan. Hanzhong is hundreds of miles away from Guanzhong and Longyou, adjacent to the Central Plains. From this point of view, Hanzhong is conducive to Cao Cao's use of troops, but not to Liu Bei's use of troops.

If Cao Cao defeated Hanzhong, he would be able to echo Liu Zhang in Shu and attack Liu Bei's army in Shu on both sides. After expelling Liu Bei at that time, Cao Cao may be able to annex Ba Shu through his prestige, or political and military means. This is far more reliable than marching from the public security.

Liu Bei hugged his knees and groaned, and said: "Kong Ming was afraid that Cao Cao would go south to Hanzhong, and persuaded him to live alone in Wuhan and invite him to enter Jiangzhou to govern the government. Now the war in Hanzhong is about to start, or it can be seen that Kong Ming is prescient! ”

After a pause, Liu Bei said worriedly: "There are Qinling Mountains in the north of Hanzhong, there are mountains in the south, the roads are rugged, the soldiers are difficult to travel, the grain and grass are difficult to reach, and the three armies are advancing west to Shu, and this battle will be greatly disadvantageous to our army!" ”

"Today, with the ability of Boyan and the soldiers under the account, I am afraid that it will be difficult to resist Cao Cao's generals, I don't know if Zhong Miao can lead his troops to take over the war in Hanzhong and command Cao?" Liu Bei asked.

In Liu Bei's expectant gaze, Huo Jun straightened his back and arched his hand and said, "Jun Bucai, I am willing to go to Hanzhong Yucao!" ”

"I don't know how many soldiers and horses the lord can send?" Huo Jun asked.

Liu Bei pondered for a long time and said: "Today, 40,000 troops will take Shu, Jiangzhou will stay in 10,000 people, and Han Sheng, Shu Zhi, and the second general will supervise more than 10,000 soldiers. went to Hanzhong to supervise the war, and he was only able to fight with Zhong Miao 20,000 people. However, Zhong Miao can recruit new pawns, and there is no limit to the number of pawns. ”

Now Liu Bei's stall is spread out widely, Jianghuai has left 30,000 or 40,000 people to guard, and Jianghan has more than 20,000 guards, so this goes to 50,000 people. Coupled with the soldiers and horses of Shu, there are really not many mobile troops for Yu Cao.

Huo Jun frowned, Lu Xun was old and weak with 20,000 people, Jiangzhou Liutun was 10,000 people, Huang Zhong and Chen were 10,000 people, and 40,000 soldiers and horses were guarding Hanzhong. But I am afraid that Cao Cao will enter the city of Hanzhong, and it will be difficult to fight.

Another 40,000 troops, can Hanzhong afford to raise them? It must not be able to raise it, and it must rely on the support of grain and grass in Badi. But I am afraid that Badi will not have the ability to supply the grain and grass of the Shu army on the one hand, and the grain and grass of the Hanzhong army on the other.

Perhaps knowing that this battle far away from Wu Chu was not easy to fight, Liu Bei said with a wry smile: "If it is difficult to resist Cao Cao, Zhong Miao can take over Boyan's department, and he can withdraw into Badi and block Shu Dao." After the Shu land was pacified, the lonely relatives led the whole country to the north to attack Hanzhong. ”

Huo Jun thought for a long time and said, "Lord, Jun begs Zhang Lu and Yan Pu to follow the army. With these two people in the army, they should be able to serve as the lord and the prince. ”

"Good!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed and said: "Zhang Lu is in Wuhan today, and he can follow Zhong Miao into Shu." When Cao Ren's troops retreated, the lone general entered Shu, supervised the troops to the north, and reinforced Zhong Miao. ”

"No!"

(End of chapter)