Ji Han Liu Zhang

While listening to the exchanges between Xun You and Peng Yi, Liu Zhang picked up a document from Fa Zheng from the desk. The document contained rough statistics of Wudu County's household registration. It said that there were more than 10,000 households in Wudu County. , with a population of about 80,000, a huge Wudu, with such a small population, is naturally not very dense, but rather sparse and dense.

But this was something that was expected for Liu Zhang. Wudu County in the west of Hanzhong has nine counties, namely Xiabian, Wudu Road, Shanglu, Gudao, Hechi, Ju, Pingle Road, Jialing Road, Cuicheng Dao, as can be seen from the word "dao" at the end of the county name, we can know that the barbarian power in Wudu County is very strong.

The fact is indeed true. Wudu County, like Yinping County, is a place where Qiang, Di and other ethnic minorities in the western part of the Han Empire live together. Naturally, the population of Han'er cannot be compared to that of the Central Plains. There can be more than ten thousand households, With 80,000 mouths, Liu Zhang was already quite happy.

Although the population of Wudu County is small, as Xun You said, Wudu County's geographical location is very important. It borders Hanzhong to the east, Zitong to the south, Tianshui to the north, and Yinping to the west. It is a central location.

After taking Wudu County, head north to Yongliang. There are major roads leading to Longyou Qishan and Guanzhong respectively. If you start from Wudu Xiabian, you can reach Qishan in 200 miles, which is 400 miles shorter than starting from Hanzhong. In addition, starting from Wudu The capital soldiers pointed to Chencang in Guanzhong, and the marching distance was also shortened a lot.

Wudu County can be regarded as an important place.

But if you want to build Wudu County into an advanced base for the Yongliang attack, you still need to clean up the weeds in Wudu County, which are extremely lush weeds of the Qiang and Di tribes, just like what Wu Yi is pointing to right now. Dou Mao, the king of Di in Hechi.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhang shook his head slightly. Since Huan Ling, the Han Dynasty declined, and the Qiang Di in Wudu County gradually became more prosperous, and the Han Dynasty's control over Wudu County became worse and worse day by day. Many counties and counties that nominally belonged to the Han family were actually controlled by the Qiang Di.

Hechi County is an example. King Dou Maopan of Di occupies the Hechi, which can be called a tree with deep roots. He behaves wantonly in his daily behavior. The local officials do not dare to step into the boundaries of Hechi. They can only close their eyes and pretend to watch. Not as arrogant as Dou Mao.

Liu Zhang had received a document from Wu Yi before, saying that even in front of Wu Yi, the envoys sent by Dou Mao were very domineering, claiming that Hechi was the ancestral land of the Dou family, not Han'er. The land boundary, let him take care of himself, do not march beyond the boundary, do not say that he did not predict what he said.

'Yelang is arrogant. Liu Zhang remembered the four words Wu Yi attached at the end of the document. At the same time, Wu Yi promised in the document that Dou Mao, the Di king in Hechi, would have the same happy ending as Yelang.

Seeing that the discussion between Xun You and Peng Yi about Hechi was about to come to an end, Liu Zhang gathered his thoughts and stopped making clay and wood carvings of Bodhisattva. He called Peng Yi: "Yongnian, Hechi needs land. As Mr. Xun said, it is best to ask for it." Take it at the end of the year. You will send a document to Wu Yi and Fazheng later, asking them to take Hechi as soon as possible without any delay. In addition, they also need to be cautious in using their troops, seeking to be undefeated first, and then to win. "

"No." Peng Yi responded with cupped hands.

Liu Zhang smiled. He knew that Peng Yi's previous questions to Xun You were somewhat tit-for-tat, but he did not interfere. Sometimes, arguing is better than not communicating with each other, and it can help Xun You and Peng Yi understand each other better.

Peng Yi, who had received a clerical assignment, continued to report the news: "Ming Gong, according to the information passed back by the messenger, after Cheng Yu arrived at Shangyong, he was imprisoned by Zhang Lu in the post house. He was extremely tightly guarded and could not be easily accessed. ." Xun You showed a trace of confusion. It sounded like Cheng Yu was an envoy sent to Shangyong by Liu Zhang. However, Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang were enemies of each other. Liu Zhang had just captured Zhang Lu's Hanzhong, so sending an envoy at this time was indeed a bit serious. Puzzling.

Peng Yi observed what was happening. He knew that Xun You had just arrived and did not know the news about Cheng Yu, so he explained to Xun You: "Xun Jun, Cheng Yu is the scribe of Duke Ming. This trip to Shangyong is the same as Zhang's. Lu discussed the exchange of prisoners... Kuai Qi, the magistrate of Fangling County who was captured by Zhang Lu, was a descendant of the Kuai family in Xiangyang, and Kuai Liang of the Kuai family had some friendship with Duke Ming. Yang Ren, the wine sacrificer of Zhang Lu, was captured, so Ming Gong planned to exchange Yang Ren, the wine sacrificer of Zhang Lu's tent, for Kuai Qi, in order to keep the friendship between friends."

"Oh, that's how it is... you are upright and upright." Xun You nodded and praised Liu Zhang.

Here Peng Yi sighed, shook his head and said: "It's just that for now, Cheng Yu can't even meet Zhang Lu, so the prisoner exchange is probably a mirror image."

Xun You made an analysis based on limited information: "It's hard to say. Firstly, Zhang Lu did not kill Cheng Shuli. Secondly, Zhang Lu only imprisoned Cheng Shuli, and imprisoned Cheng Shuli in the post house. It was not Shangyong. In prison... it shows that Zhang Lu may simply not want to meet with Ming Gong's envoys at the moment. After all, Hanzhong was captured by Ming Gong. Zhang Lu may have some anger in his heart. After a while, he will naturally think of Cheng Shuli. I can meet with Zhang Lu and negotiate the prisoner exchange."

When Peng Yi heard this, he suddenly felt that Xun You's words were very reasonable. According to the current situation, there was a high probability that Zhang Lu was just temporarily unwilling to meet with Liu Zhang's envoy.

Speaking of which, Peng Yi was also concerned and confused. He and Cheng Yu were in the shogunate together and had some friendship. He thought that even if Cheng Yu didn't get things done, it would be fine as long as he came back safely.

"Thank you for your kind words from Commander Xun." Peng Yi slightly arched his hand to Xun You.

Here Xun You changed his subject. He asked Liu Zhang: "Ming Gong sent Cheng Shuli to Shangyong to exchange prisoners. He thought it was more than just a prisoner exchange. Does it have any deeper meaning..."

Without waiting for Liu Zhang to speak, Xun You deduced: "Zhang Lu fled to Shangyong in front, and was alone and exhausted...Although Zhang Lu took away all the Hanzhong tower ships at that time, there were still some Meng Chong fighting ships and some fishing boats, which could carry a large number of people. The brigade division went down the Han River to Shangyong. In addition, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun of Jingchu were supporting the army in Fangling. If they contacted the two generals Cai and Zhang, Zhang Lu would be wiped out under the attack of the two sides... and Ming Gong was like this. It was intentional laissez-faire that enabled Zhang Lu to form an alliance with the Shangyong and Shen clan, defeat Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, and become as vibrant as it is today."

"Now Ming Gong sent an envoy to Shangyong. Although it is called a prisoner exchange, it is not a sign of goodwill. Does Ming Gong intend to let Zhang Lu become powerful in Shangyong and use Zhang Lu as a buffer to separate Jingchu and Hanzhong?"

"Huh?" Peng Yi's eyes showed shock. He was puzzled by Xun You's words. At the same time, he also understood that Liu Zhang abandoned Shangyong and attacked Wudu, and Liu Zhang in front did not stop the Han soldiers and people who went to Zhang Lu. , coupled with this dispatch of envoys, it seems that just as Xun You said, Liu Zhang deliberately allowed Zhang Lu to become bigger and stronger in Shangyong, using Zhang Lu as a buffer to isolate Kai from contact with Jingzhou.

Peng Yi looked at Xun You with appreciative eyes. He had never seen this aspect before, but soon he looked at Liu Zhang, waiting for Liu Zhang to give an answer to confirm Xun You's words. (End of chapter)