Three Kingdoms: Wolong's brother-in-law, tricking Liu Bei into seizing Jingzhou

Five days later, Chang'an City.

An army of two hundred thousand men gradually advanced to the east of Chang'an City.

At this time, Cao Cao had used 90,000 troops to build a line of defense with Chang'an as the center.

Among them, 60,000 troops were stationed in Chang'an City to block the Han army's attack on the Qin imperial capital.

Another 30,000 troops were stationed in the north of Chang'an City and on the south bank of the Wei River.

On the one hand, this 30,000-strong army was to form a pincer attack with the city of Chang'an, and on the other hand, to guard the Weishui ferry and ensure an uninterrupted supply of food and water to Chang'an.

After Liu Bei arrived in Chang'an, he responded tit for tat by setting up camps for seven miles from the Wei River to the south, threatening Chang'an and the large camps in the north of the city.

At the end of spring, the two armies formed a confrontation in Chang'an.

Han camp, inside the imperial tent.

A Chang'an sand table has been built inside the big tent.

Liu Bei stood with his hands behind his back, listening to Fa Zheng's explanation of Chang'an's defense and discussing strategies to capture Chang'an with his ministers.

"Looking at Cao Cao's attitude, he must be reluctant to give up Chang'an and is willing to risk his entire army to defend it to the death."

"Unfortunately, Chang'an City is located in a plain, with no strategic locations to defend on all sides. How can he defend it with only 90,000 soldiers and horses?"

"I think we should use our superiority of numbers to split up our forces and sweep the cities on both sides of the Wei River, turning Chang'an into an isolated city with no help."

"At the same time, we must also send out cavalry to raid the Qin army's food supply route along the Wei River to cut off Cao Cao's food supply from Longxi and Yizhou."

"The pseudo-Qin army is small while our army is large. Cao Cao obviously knows our intentions. He certainly dares not and is unable to send troops to resist us on the Guanzhong Plain."

"With this strategy, Chang'an will be captured within three months!"

Fa Zheng pointed at the sand table with a bamboo stick and explained in detail his strategy for taking Chang'an.

Liu Bei nodded slightly, and all the ministers expressed their agreement.

After all, Chang'an is different from Tongguan and Pubanguan.

Tongguan is surrounded by mountains, and Pubanguan is surrounded by the Yellow River. As long as the Qin army occupies these two places, they can block your army in the east and leave you with no way out.

Even if you have a million troops, you won't be able to deploy them and they will be useless.

Chang'an is different.

This is a city located on the Guanzhong Plain, with no strategic locations to defend and the land is flat and flat.

The Han army could have concentrated its main force in confronting the main force of the Qin army in Chang'an, but it could have sent out several routes of elite infantry and cavalry to sweep through the cities north and south of Chang'an and wantonly attack your Wei River food route.

You, Cao Cao, are totally unstoppable.

If you send a large number of troops to rescue, the number of troops left behind in Chang'an will have to be reduced, and Chang'an may not be able to be defended.

If we divide our forces too little, not only will we be unable to rescue them, but it will also be tantamount to sending our lives to waste.

After losing its geographical advantage, the gap in Qin's national strength was clearly revealed.

"I think Xiaozhi's strategy is feasible!"

Liu Bei nodded in agreement and turned his gaze to Xiao Fang:
"Prime Minister, what do you think of Xiaozhi's strategy?"

Xiao Fang smiled slightly and nodded:
"I also think that Xiaozhi's strategy is feasible. Your Majesty can issue an order to implement it immediately."

"but…"

Changing the subject, Xiao Fang pointed his feather fan at Chang'an City:

"We can also take two approaches at the same time. Perhaps it won't take three to five months for Chang'an City to fall without a fight."

Do not attack yourself!

Liu Bei's spirits were lifted when he heard these four words, and he immediately heard some deep meaning in Xiao Fang's words.

Xiao Fang must have another brilliant plan.

"How can it collapse without being attacked? Please tell me clearly, Prime Minister?" Liu Bei asked impatiently with expectation in his eyes.

The curious eyes of all the ministers were also focused on Xiao Fang.

"Your Majesty, don't forget that our presence at the gates of Chang'an is not only a military victory, but also a political victory."

"At this moment, the people of Chang'an must be terrified. They have lost confidence in the fake Qin and Cao Cao, and countless people want to find another way out."

"If Your Majesty can show favor to this person and win him over, you will be able to gather a considerable anti-Qin force in Chang'an City."

"If this force is used properly, it may be possible to cooperate with the outside forces to help us capture Chang'an ahead of time!"

Xiao Fang pointed his feather fan at the Chang'an sand table and slowly explained the strategy.

The tent was in an uproar, and everyone looked surprised and delighted, as if they had just been enlightened.

"Prime Minister, this plan is a strategy to attack the heart!"

"Since ancient times, attacking the heart is better than attacking the city. The prime minister's strategy is far superior to my minister's!"

Fa Zheng bowed to Xiao Fang, expressing his sincere admiration.

Liu Bei laughed and praised:
"Okay, okay, I knew that Jinglue, you must have a brilliant plan."

"Then I will use two approaches at the same time. I will use Xiaozhi's strategy to weaken the outside of Chang'an, and I will use the Prime Minister's strategy to control the inside of Chang'an!"

The plan to capture Chang'an was thus decided. The next thing to do was to select someone who could be won over and recruited.

Xiao Fang took out the list he had prepared in advance.

Most of the people on this list are from Guandong. Some of them were already serving in Guanzhong when Cao Cao retreated to Guanzhong, and some were former members of the Cao family who followed Cao Cao to retreat to Guanzhong.

Among these people, except for the Xun family, most of whom followed Cao Cao to retreat westward to Guanzhong, most of them were only individuals in Qin, while their families remained in the Han territory.

Among their people, there are many who serve as officials in the Han Dynasty, and quite a few even hold high positions.

And they have one thing in common, that is, they were not the original followers of Cao Cao when he started his career in Dongjun. Most of them joined Cao's camp halfway during Cao Cao's expansion.

The family is based in the Han Dynasty, and is not a loyal minister to Cao Cao. Now it is facing the danger of the Qin State, which is about to collapse.

Under such circumstances, this type of people are naturally the easiest to be appeased and choose to abandon Cao and join Han.

The representative figure among them is Liu Ye.

In addition to the fact that his family was in Guandong and he defected to Cao Cao halfway, this person also had a special identity - a descendant of the Liu family.

With such an identity, if Qin was strong and Han was weak, it would not affect his status in Qin.

Not only does it not have any impact, but this identity is a plus and can gain more attention from the Cao family.

A relative of the Han royal family and a descendant of the Liu family is willing to be loyal to our Cao family and to offer us advice with all his heart. Doesn't this further demonstrate the legitimacy of our Cao family replacing the Liu family?

In fact, in history, Liu Ye was indeed very successful in Cao Wei and was highly valued by Cao Cao and his son.

But the situation is different now.

Han is strong and Qin is weak!

Under such circumstances, Liu Ye's identity as a relative of the Han royal family became somewhat embarrassing, and would inevitably arouse Cao Cao's vigilance and precautions, making it impossible for him to be trusted as he had been in history.

Intelligence also proves that Cao Cao's attitude towards Liu Ye gradually and subtly changed after Liu Bei became emperor. On the surface, he still appointed him to a high position, but in fact, he did not allow him to participate in military and national affairs, which was equivalent to expelling him from the decision-making level of Qin.

How could Liu Ye, a counselor who presented the Thunderbolt Chariot to Cao Cao and made great contributions in the Battle of Guandu, not feel resentful about this?
As a relative of the Han royal family, Liu Ye served as an official under Cao Cao's suspicion and vigilance. How could he not feel like a thorn in his side?

How could such a person not be moved when the handwritten letter from Emperor Liu, who has the same surname as him, arrives, trying to appease and win over him?
Naturally, Liu Bei agreed with all the names on the list presented by Xiao Fang, and at Xiao Fang's suggestion, he personally wrote a letter to recruit Liu Ye, his fellow clan member.

As for the other people on the list, they all sent people to sneak into Chang'an to recruit and win them over.

"Your Majesty, I believe there is another very important person, and we must recruit him!"

Ma Su, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. (End of this chapter)