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

In the early winter of that year, Cao Cao led his army to evacuate Jieting and retreat south to Jicheng.

The Battle of Jieting came to an end.

In order to prevent the Han army from launching a large-scale invasion of Longxi, Cao Cao ordered the construction and reinforcement of the cities to the north of Jicheng, including Lueyang and Xianqin, on the day he retreated to Jicheng to withstand future bombardments from the Han army's Hanwei cannon.

Of course, Liu Bei would not give the Qin army a chance to build a city.

An imperial edict was immediately delivered to Jieting, ordering Zhang He to lead light cavalry south from Jieting to attack the cities of Lueyang and Xianqin and prevent the Qin army from building the city.

Zhang He then left Ma Su to guard Jieting, and led more than 5,000 light cavalry south to launch a harassment war against the Qin State.

The Qin army’s nightmare began.

If you want to build a city, you have to open the city gates, mobilize the laborers, and collect and transport earth, wood and stones.

Well then, I will make a surprise "visit" every two or three days on horseback.

They dispersed your laborers, cut off your caravans carrying earth and rocks, and even took advantage of you hiding in the city to destroy the new city walls you had just built.

So the Qin army repaired and demolished the city, demolished and repaired it again, and was tossed back and forth, which was extremely painful.

Cao Cao had no way to stop it.

Who told him to insist on besieging Jieting for several months, causing the soldiers to be exhausted and tired.

In order to deal with the Han army's massive attack soon after, he could only order his soldiers to rest and recuperate and dared not launch any large-scale military operations.

Otherwise, the soldiers would not get any rest and would be exhausted by Zhang He's light cavalry. When Liu Bei personally led the main force to attack in the future, how could the soldiers have the mental and physical strength to fight?
So Cao Cao could only watch Zhang He come and go as he pleased, causing chaos in the north of Jicheng. After more than a month of turmoil, he was unable to complete even a single city wall.

As the weather grew colder, the Han court's pacification and integration of Guanzhong came to an end.

In Beidi, Fengxu, Fufeng, Jingzhao and other counties in Guanzhong, from the prefect to the county magistrate, all the officials, from the governor to the county magistrate, have been replaced by officials trusted by the court.

Important city passes such as Chencang, Huaili, Wugong, Chiyang, Sanguan, and Xiaoguan were all garrisoned by the elite troops of the Han army.

Guanzhong has been secured and the rear has been stabilized.

The time has come to march west to Longyou and recover Liangzhou.

That day, Chang'an, the Imperial Palace.

In the Golden Palace, Liu Bei, sitting high on the Dragon Throne, announced to all his ministers his determination to launch a large-scale attack on Qin and recover Longyou and Liangzhou.

Inside the hall, all the ministers were excited and the will to fight was boiling.

Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun and other generals all vied to ask for battle, wanting to be the vanguard generals in the attack on Longxi.

"Everyone is fighting bravely, and I am very pleased."

"Of course I want to recover Longxi, but we still need to discuss a strategy on how to recover it."

"Please be patient and listen to what the Prime Minister and the others have to say."

Liu Bei raised his head slightly, smiled and suppressed the arguments of his generals, his eyes fell on Xiao Fang and other counselors.

Xiao Fang was well prepared and immediately gave instructions to carry the huge sand table of Longxi into the hall and place it in front of the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I have discussed with Xiaozhi, Shiyuan, Youchang and others. This time we will divide the troops into two routes to attack Qin, the north and the south."

"The southern army is still the Jingzhou army, led by Lu Xun, Taishi Ci and other generals. They will lead 50,000 soldiers to advance westward from Jiangling and attack Baidi City."

"The purpose of the southern troops is mainly to contain Xiahou Yuan's army in Yizhou."

"It would be best if this group of troops could capture Baidi City and then take over Jiangzhou and other Badong counties."

"If we can't break through the Three Gorges and capture Baidi City, at least we can pin Xiahou Yuan's army to the Baidi line and prevent him from fleeing north to rescue Longxi."

Xiao Fang pointed at the sand table with his feather fan and explained the southern army's advance strategy in detail. Then he turned his head and glanced at Fa Zheng.

Fa Zheng understood, then stepped forward and pointed at the sand table and said: "The southern Jingzhou army is to contain the other army. The northern army is commanded by Your Majesty and is our main army. Naturally, it will be the main force to seize Longxi."

"This army is expected to gather nearly 300,000 soldiers and horses, led by Your Majesty himself, and will march westward from Chang'an."

"Our army will go west along the Wei River, then change course to the northwest along the Long River, cross the Longshan Mountains, and enter Longxi via Jieting."

"Then our army split into two groups. One group went north to capture Jincheng, Wuwei and other counties in northern Liang, and the other group went south to capture Lueyang and Xianqin cities, heading straight for Jicheng, the old nest of Qin in Longxi."

Fa Zheng hit Jicheng with the bamboo stick in his hand.

"After detailed investigation by spies, Cao Cao's total defensive force in Longxi area does not exceed 90,000."

"Our army has three times the strength of the Qin army, which can be said to be an overwhelming advantage."

Pang Tong also walked to the front of the hall and pointed at the map and said:
"The Longxi area is flat and the Qin army has no strategic location to defend. Cao Cao can only rely on Xianqin, Lueyang and other cities as a barrier for Jicheng."

"Recently, Zhang He led the light cavalry to harass continuously, which made Cao Cao's plan to build and strengthen the cities fail. The reinforcement of Xianqin, Lueyang and other cities is limited, and it is impossible to withstand the bombardment of our Hanwei cannon."

"I believe that unless there is any unforeseen accident, our army will be able to reach the city of Ji within a month!"

Pang Tong's tone was firm and full of absolute confidence.

Although this Fengchu did not participate in the Battle of Guanzhong, since he came to Chang'an with Zhang Fei to meet him, he had already been familiar with the terrain of Longxi and Liangzhou and the strengths and weaknesses of the Qin army.

Several counselors presented the blueprint of attacking Qin and recovering Longxi to Liu Bei and his generals.

Liu Bei listened and nodded continuously, with a confident look on his face.

"it is good!"

Liu Bei slowly stood up, his face burning with confidence that he would win, and said proudly to his ministers:
"Follow the strategy drawn up by the Prime Minister and his men, and divide our forces into two groups to attack Wei again soon!"

"I will personally lead my 300,000 Han Heavenly Masters to the west out of Longshan, directly attack Jicheng, capture Longxi in one fell swoop, and then recover Liangzhou!"

The ministers accepted the order with a roar.

The plan to attack Qin was thus decided.

After the imperial edict was passed down, the Han troops from various routes began to gather towards Chang'an.

Food and grass from the various states in the Kanto region were also continuously transported westward through Luoyang along the Yellow River to Chang'an.

Within ten days, 300,000 Han troops were assembled.

Nearly one million hu of grain and fodder had already been transported westward along the Wei River to Chencang to supply military needs.

It was winter that year.

Liu Bei offered sacrifices to heaven outside the city of Chang'an and formally announced that he would lead his army to attack Qin.

Under the command of Liu Bei, 300,000 Han soldiers set out from Chang'an and marched towards Longxi in a mighty force.

General Guan Yu was ordered to assist Crown Prince Liu Chen and guard Luoyang, the eastern capital of the Han Dynasty.

Zhuge Liang was transferred to Chang'an, and concurrently served as the prefect of Jingzhao, stationed in Guanzhong, providing a stable rear base for the army to attack Qin.

Towards Jingzhou.

After resting for half a year, Lu Xun and Taishi Ci's army advanced again by land and sea, going west along the Yangtze River and rushing towards Baidi City.

The Qin troops in the north and south, with a total of nearly 400,000 troops, once again launched a full-scale attack on the Qin State.

Before the Han army arrived, a "Manifesto to Punish Cao Traitors" had already been posted in all counties.

A great earthquake struck Longxi. (End of this chapter)