July, Bashang.

Zhang He and Cao Hong successively led troops to Chang'an, Liu Bei knew that he had lost the opportunity and could not attack Bailuyuan.

In the first or two months, in addition to sending Ma Liang to Ma Chao, Liu Bei tried to send people to secretly cross the Bashui and appease the Zhuhao in Guanzhong to see if anyone was willing to make trouble behind his back.

In addition to the diplomatic offensive, in order to win the hearts of the people in Guanzhong, Liu Bei ordered that he should not plunder private capital, and send doctors to treat the old, weak and sick.

And in order to reassure the people of Lantian and Nanshan, Liu Bei recruited the people in the mountains to go down the mountain to harvest wheat, and there was no need to abandon farming because of the war. Under the good governance, the people of Guanzhong are all grateful to Liu Bei.

On that day, Liu Bei drove out of the camp by car, wanting to climb Nanshan and look at the army again.

Between the roads, hundreds of horsemen escorted Liu Bei to the west, the sound of horses' hooves and the dust flying.

Both sides of the official road ditch are full of farmland wheat crops, under Liu Bei's greeting to calm the people, many people who have taken refuge in Zhongnan Mountain due to the war have come down from the mountain, and each of them has returned home to cultivate the acres of land.

Looking at the cavalry on the road, many people who were working in the fields recognized Liu Bei as traveling, knelt on the ground and worshipped, calling for the Son of Heaven.

Liu Bei seemed to hear the faint shouts of the people in the fields, and his expression was not happy, but sighed slightly.

Fa Zheng leaned on the railing of the car and asked, "The people of Beijing worship the line, Your Majesty is not happy about it, why is it worried?" ”

Liu Bei attaches great importance to the law, and whenever he sends troops to conscript, he takes the law with him in the same car and sits.

Liu Bei looked at the scarce people in the field, sighed and said: "The people of Beijing are deep in the enemy's territory, and they call me the Son of Heaven. But I can't be kind to the public, and I feel worthy of the name of this Son of Heaven. ”

Hearing this, Fa Zheng sighed and said: "In the past, Mencius said, if you replace the world, you will be benevolent, and if you lose the world, you will not be benevolent. The Son of Heaven is not benevolent, and he does not protect the four seas. Now that Your Majesty is benevolent to the world, will not the four seas be one? ”

"The Son of Heaven is ordered by Heaven, and the Lile Conquest is from the Son of Heaven. Now His Majesty has received the throne of the emperor, and has received the mandate of heaven, benevolence and love for the people, faith and righteousness, Si Ke is the son of heaven of the Han family, and he should be no different from the two ancestors of Gao and Shi! ”

The meaning of the Son of Heaven in the early Qin and Han dynasties was different from that of the Tang and Song dynasties, and even the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Early Confucianism believed that the Son of Heaven had the dual meaning of title and virtue. In the middle and late periods, in order to reconcile the king and strengthen the idea of loyalty to the king, Confucianism concealed the meaning of cultivating virtue and emphasized the concept of title.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Son of Heaven belonged to the Heavenly Lord, and the princes and doctors belonged to the Human Lord. Therefore, the Son of Heaven was ordered by Heaven to do the king's affairs, so the people and others obeyed the affairs of the heavens.

How do I get Celestial?

Mencius believed that it was necessary to cultivate virtue and make meritorious contributions, be benevolent, righteous and faithful, appease the Xia inside, appease the hundred barbarians outside, and grace the four seas in order to obtain the Heavenly Lord.

Where there is an emperor who gets the title of 'Son of Heaven', and the virtue and politics that Shetian Jue seeks is no longer the Son of Heaven in China, even if he gets it, he will lose it in the future.

Now Liu Bei is ashamed that he is called the Son of Heaven, and he can't be kind to the people in Guanzhong. In Fa Zheng's eyes, Liu Bei, the son of heaven of the Han family, already has the meaning of the real son of heaven in Meng Ru's mouth.

The real Son of Heaven has never been the lord of China who lashes out at the universe and brutally abuses the people. It is the one who can soothe the summer inside, appease the barbarians outside, and reach the peak of martial arts.

Gai Liu Beicai is slightly inferior to Gao and the second ancestor of the world, and now with such thoughts, it is reasonable to become the son of the Han family who is comparable to Liu Bang and Liu Xiu.

Liu Bei didn't read much, and it was difficult for him to understand the definition of the Son of Heaven by Mencius in Fazheng's mouth, but he could understand the words of appreciation in Fazheng's words.

Liu Bei looked at the field and sighed: "Si leads the mandate of heaven, and it is a great contribution to the world." However, I am ashamed to receive the mandate of heaven, and I am ashamed to have no great achievements to help the world, and my virtue is shallow. I only hope that the prince can change his follow, and his merit is better than me. ”

"The prince is wise and benevolent, and he will be able to live up to His Majesty's hopes!" Fa Zheng coughed a few times and said.

While Liu and Fa were talking, the car had already reached the bottom of the hillside, and there were sergeants guarding it on the left and right.

Fa Zheng was sick and his physical fitness was not good, so he could follow Liu Bei to the mountain under the sedan chair carried by the attendants. And Liu Bei's health is acceptable, and he only went up the mountain with the support of his attendants.

It took a lot of effort to climb the mountain, Liu and Fa had to go to the Nanshan Ridge, look down the mountain, and see the movement of the Wei army on the Bailu Plain, and even look along the Bashui, you can see the Chang'an City dozens of miles away.

"Chang'an City?"

When Liu Bei saw Chang'an City, he suddenly didn't know how to speak, pointed to the small city, and asked.

"Chang'an City!" Fa Zheng replied in a muffled voice.

The emotions of the monarchs and ministers are different, Liu Bei's words reveal the yearning for the old capital, he has seen Luoyang, but not Chang'an. Fa Zheng was seriously ill, saw Chang'an, and felt homesick.

Liu Bei stared at it for a long time, and in his eyes he seemed to see the prosperity of the Western Han Dynasty, where Gaozu rewarded meritorious heroes, and Xiao He built Chang'an Palace; Wenjing Dazhi, the beginning of the Seven Kingdoms; Han Wu opened the frontier, Wei Huo drove the Huns; Zhaoxuan Zhongxing, the four seas of the guest service......

After being silent for a long time, Liu Bei sighed with emotion and said: "The eunuch party is chaotic, Dong Zhuo enters Beijing, Guo Li is franny, and Cao Cao usurped it. Now that Shenzhou has sunk and is no longer owned by the Han Dynasty, the two emperors Huan and Ling have to be held responsible. ”

Fa Zheng sighed slightly, and said: "The former Han Dynasty died because of Wang Mang, and the Later Han Dynasty died suddenly because of Cao Cao. ”

Liu Bei was dissatisfied, but seeing that Fa Zheng was getting sick, he was silent, not wanting to argue with Fa Zheng.

After a little hesitation, Liu Bei replied: "Zhou Xing has eight hundred years, Han has three Xing, such as Ji Han has two Han lifespans, six hundred years, although it is not as good as Zhou, but it is enough!" ”

Fa Zhenggai knew that his words were wrong, and he arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty is full of admiration for the principles of heaven and earth. ”

Changing the topic, Liu Bei pointed to the Wei army on the White Deer Plain and asked, "Can filial piety have a strategy to teach me?" ”

Fa Zheng shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said, "Although Sima Yi is a Confucian student, he has a strategy. The troops were properly arranged, and the plateau was raised, and the camp was carried out by the two rivers. There are mountains and rivers, and the sun is high, which is impeccable! ”

The reason why Guanzhong was elected as a subordinate by the Han and Tang Dynasty was precisely because it could raise soldiers and accumulate people inside, and there were four solids outside.

Tongguan, Dasanguan, Xiaoguan, and Wuguan seem to be city passes, but in fact they represent a series of defense lines.

Dasanguan, starting from Wudu and ending at Chencang, during which thousands of miles of roads belong to the Dasanguan defense line.

Tongguan is a three-hundred-mile Cuihan Road, and many places on the road can be stationed for defense.

The same is true of Wuguan Road, which stretches for thousands of miles, starts from Wuguan and finally goes up, and Shangluo, Shangxian and Lantian can be used to garrison troops against the enemy.

When the Han army was about to reach Lantian from Wuguan, Fa Zheng wanted to follow Zhang Liang's strategy and lead troops to bypass Nanshan and attack Chang'an. But Zhang Liang's strategy was too famous, and Guo Huai directly gave up Nanshankou and guarded Lantian.

Guo Huai knew that Lantian was difficult to defend for a long time, and it was easy for Liu Bei to steal his home, so when he noticed that Fa Zheng was dedicating his plan, he led his troops to retreat to Bailuyuan.

Bailuyuan, the last barrier outside Chang'an, stands between two waters, high and down, looking down at the terrain around Chang'an, the soldiers will fight for the important place.

During this time, in addition to sending an envoy to Ma Chao, it is impossible for Liu Bei not to have tried other strategies, such as a night attack on Dengyuan, or sending troops to surround the rear. But because of the condescending nature of the Wei army, the strategies made by Liu Bei and Fa Zheng were seen through one by one, and the sergeants sent were killed and wounded.

Now the law is right, Wei Ying is impeccable, in addition to Sima Yi's own ability, there is also the geographical advantage of Bailuyuan.

However, Liu Bei was not depressed, but said with a smile: "This Northern Expedition, Zhong Miao is in Xiapi, and I am in Guanzhong, which is enough to make Cao Pi frightened." Now that the thief army has arrived in Kansai, the major general of the Kwantung soldiers is weak, and if he can recover Xiapi, it will be a great victory. ”

"And Ma Mengqi cut off Longyou, cut off the arms of Guanxi, if you can lead troops eastward, the situation in Guanzhong will change, and the advantage should be in me!"

Ma Chao quickly seized Longyou, beyond the judgment of the Han and Wei sides on the situation. No one would have imagined that Ma Chao would directly take the four counties of Longyou in just two months, and there would be tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. It can only be said that Ma Chao's dormancy in the past ten years has given him the capital to sweep Longyou.

At the beginning of the words, the attendant hurriedly climbed the mountain and said: "Your Majesty, Ma Shizhong came from Hanzhong to report, and his words Ma Chao was called a minister, but because of the beginning of Longyou, the Qiang soldiers repeatedly, Hexi is a heavy soldier, and now I dare not leave Longyou lightly, and I specially offer a thousand war horses, thinking that it is a tribute." ”

From Hanzhong to Lantian, there are roads that are not under the control of the Han army. Ma Liang climbed over the mountains, copied the trail, and avoided the Wei army all the way, which can be described as thrilling.

Now Ma Liang to Hanzhong, with his status, it is impossible to go to the side and put himself in danger, so he specially asked the messenger to carry the book to Liu Bei's army.

"This~"

Hearing this, Liu Bei couldn't help but shake his head helplessly, as soon as he finished talking about the situation on Ma Chao's side, there was news that he couldn't send troops.

Fa Zheng covered his mouth and gasped, and said: "Ma Chao is difficult to help, Chang'an is afraid that he can't figure it out!" ”

Seeing this, Liu Bei threw the letter into the hands of the attendants, stroked Fa Zheng's back, and said: "It is a Northern Expedition, although it can't be Chang'an, but it is 600 miles away. And Zhong Miao will conquer Pi and open up the land of Huaidong for thousands of miles, how can it be said that it is useless? ”

"And Ma Chao divides the six counties of Longyou, although it is not owned by my Han family, but it can weaken Cao Pi's strength. Now cut off the arm of Guanxi, and then attack China, you can go out of Jianghan, go to Luoyang, and take Chang'an, it may not be impossible to succeed! ”

After the three Northern Expeditions, Liu Bei gradually accepted the reality that it was almost impossible to complete his work in one battle. The only way to find Cao Wei's weakness is to slowly encroach on it, and finally kill it with one blow.

The business of Wuguan Road is 600 miles, don't look at its county seats, most of them are mountains and valleys. However, Shang Yu is connected to Chang'an in the west, and Hongnong and Sili in the east.

If it is operated properly, Shang Yu 600 li can become a sharp blade to cut into Cao Wei's heart, this time the Northern Expedition will not succeed, and the next time he looks for the right time, he can still send troops to the Northern Expedition to take advantage. After all, Jianghuai has been operating for almost ten years, so there is a chance to surround Pi this time.

Fa Zheng soothed a few times and said: "Your Majesty, Ma Chao can't help me today, autumn is coming, the waterways are gradually slowing, only to withdraw the army as soon as possible!" ”

"Withdrawal?"

Liu Bei hesitated a little and asked: "If the army is withdrawn now, won't the soldiers and horses of Guanxi go east, and it will be difficult for Zhong Miao to overcome the few soldiers!" ”

Fa Zheng took a few sips of water and said: "Huo Du wants to flood Pi with water, and in the summer and autumn of this year, the water will rise sharply, and it will be a few days before it succeeds. Our army can plan to withdraw from the army, but we need to beware of the pursuit of the thieves. ”

Handing over the water bladder to the attendants, Fa Zheng said: "Although the army is withdrawn today, the minister has a plan to help His Majesty gain the territory of Longyou." I wonder if Your Majesty is willing to listen? ”

"Huh?"

Liu Bei looked suspicious and asked: "If our army wants to take Longyou, it will compete with Ma Chao, won't it let the thieves benefit?" ”

Fa Zheng looked at the remnant sun in the sky, revealing a confident look, and said with a smile: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, if you follow the right strategy, Ma Chao will sacrifice the land to me, and I dare not have a conflict with Your Majesty, so I can only bother Lu Dudu." ”

(End of chapter)