Shu Han Confucian General of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 144 Nian Tongzong Liu Zhang Helps Liu Bei Guard Jingnan Zhao Feng and Meng Huo
"I have been living and working in peace and contentment in the middle of Sichuan for decades, and I have never heard of a military revolution. If you use weapons rashly, it is not the blessing of the people, nor the blessing of the lord!" A civil servant on the left frowned and said.He is none other than Huang Quan and Huang Gongheng who worked in Yizhou Zhizhong.

"Mr. Gongheng's words are wrong. This time the six armies attacked Liu Bei together. Liu Bei always has the ability to penetrate the sky and the earth, but it is also a dead end. We have this good opportunity. If we can take advantage of the situation and take Yidu and Nanjun, we will be in the middle of Sichuan. Prosperity is expected." Said a military commander on the right with a fierce face.He is Zhang Ren, who is known as the No.1 general in Central Sichuan. Legend has it that he learned his martial arts from Tong Yuan, a generation of spear prodigy, and his spear skills are still superior to Zhang Xiu, who is known as the spear king of the Northland.Today's discussion, all the important civil and military officials in central Sichuan, except Yan Yan, a veteran stationed in Bajun, all came.

"General Zhang, don't underestimate Liu Bei. There are countless civil and military officials under this man. Wen You, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, who are known as Wolong and Fengchu, are all wise and far-reaching men; Wu Guanyu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Feng's generation , is also a veteran on the battlefield. Although General Zhang is brave, don't underestimate the heroes of the world." A short, ugly black-bearded scribe beside him said slowly.People in Sichuan are short in stature, and this person is even rarer.

"Zhang Biejia is exaggerating, isn't he? Liu Bei is talented in civil and military affairs, and I am not a fool in Sichuan. If we really want to fight, who is afraid of whom?" Another general behind Zhang Ren said, he is Zhang Ren's die-hard fan Zhang Yi Zhang Boyang, in his opinion, even if there are famous generals in the world, they are just as different as Zhang Ren.

For a while, all the civil and military officials in Shuzhong also held their own opinions. The civil officials all believed that it was not appropriate to have an enmity with Liu Bei, while the generals were eager to make contributions to this.Liu Zhang looked at the noisy and chaotic crowd in front of him, his brows furrowed more and more unexpectedly.As a standard second-generation official, Liu Zhang has never had any ambitions, and he pays attention to governance by doing nothing.There are thousands of miles of fertile fields in the middle of Sichuan, and the population is only over a million. The people have lived and worked in peace and contentment these years.Although Zhang Lu and Nanman come to attack and harass from time to time, in general, especially in the central area near Chengdu, the life of ordinary people is really like heaven compared with the people in the troubled times of the Central Plains.

Liu Zhang's father, Liu Yan, was also a very important figure back then.This person was the prefect of Zhujun at the beginning, and it was he who discovered the three brothers Liu, Guan and Zhang who were born in grassroots.Later, the world was in chaos, and it was he who suggested that Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty increase the power of state pastors in various places, thus creating a situation where the princes rose together.Liu Yan himself was granted the title of Yizhou Shepherd, and since he came to Chengdu, he has made a lot of achievements in supporting the party.Later, there were rumors that he once wanted to be the emperor, so he secretly built the State Shepherd's Mansion to be extremely magnificent.But before this rumor was confirmed, Liu Yan died suddenly, and the matter was over.

Liu Zhang has no skills in his life, but he still believes in his father's words.Liu Yan once told him that there are not many real heroes in this world, and among them is his brother Liu Bei and Liu Xuande, he must not fight against him in the future.Liu Zhang kept these words in his heart, so even though Zhang Ren and others were talking about it, he was not too tempted.

Liu Zhang looked at the civil and military people who were still arguing, but finally found that one person had been silent all the time, and he couldn't help wondering, "Why didn't you say anything about Xiaozhi?" Known for his resourcefulness, he never let Zhang Song change.Liu Zhang couldn't help being a little surprised when he saw that he didn't say a word.

Hearing Liu Zhang's question, Fazheng cupped his hands before speaking, "My lord, don't be surprised. Just now, Fazheng was thinking, so he didn't open his mouth for a while, so he didn't mean to neglect you all."

"I don't know what Xiaozhi is thinking?" Zhang Song and Fazheng have a deep friendship, knowing that he has always been resourceful, so he asked quickly.

"My lord, General Zhang. Given the danger of our mountains and rivers in Yizhou, even if we capture Yidu and Nanjun, they are thousands of miles away from Chengdu, and there are even mountains and rivers in between. Whether it is Liu Bei or Cao Cao who occupies Jingzhou in the future, the former will certainly have to take revenge. Snatching, the latter has always looked down on the world, and will not ignore these two counties. If the two of them attack with a large army, will our army be able to defend it?" After Fazheng finished speaking, Zhang Ren and Liu Zhang were a little silent .

"In the sense of filial piety and righteousness, it is better not to send troops?" Liu Zhang felt that Fazheng's words were more reasonable, and asked quickly.

"The army is going to be sent, but it's not going to Jingzhou." Fazheng said with a smile.

"Huh?" At this moment, everyone was a little confused, "If you don't go to Jingzhou, where should you go?" Liu Zhang wondered.Not to mention him, Zhang Ren and the others were quite curious.

"Nanzhong, Hanzhong!" Fazheng said concisely.Seeing that some people still didn't understand, Fazheng simply continued to explain: "Even if there is a tile in front of you, it is more cost-effective than an enclave thousands of miles away, separated by mountains. Yang Xiu, Cao Cao's envoy, once said that there were two soldiers in the Six Route Army. The road is Zhang Lu in Hanzhong and Menghuo in Nanzhong. Zhang Lu and Menghuo have harassed Yizhou for a long time. If they take advantage of the opportunity to attack them when their troops leave the country and the defense is empty, they will definitely drive the southerners back to Lushui. South, Zhang Lu can also be expelled from Hanzhong. Wouldn’t it be more cost-effective than getting Yidu and Nanjun to eliminate the immediate troubles?”

After Fazheng finished speaking, everyone in the hall was silent for a while, and many people began to think deeply about whether his words made sense.After a long while, Zhang Ren was the first to speak: "Xiaozhi's words are not unreasonable. Instead of attacking Jingxiang from afar, it is better to go to the enemy in front of you. My lord, Ren Yuan will lead a brigade to break through the south first." Zhong, then Ping Hanzhong."

Zhang Ren was originally the most radical main fighter, and when he let go, the rest of the people would say nothing more.Liu Zhang also made up his mind at the moment, and sent veteran Yan Yan to lead an army of [-] troops to take advantage of the emptiness of Nanzhong to march south, and must beat Meng Huo back to the south of Lushui.At the same time, Zhang Ren was ordered to lead [-] troops out of Jiameng Pass to attack Zhang Lu, with a view to retaking Hanzhong and Dangqu.

Not to mention how Shuzhong plans, the atmosphere in Shouchun at this time has gradually become a little tense. "Since the beginning of spring, Cao Cao has repeatedly dispatched troops to Xiangcheng and Liangjun, and his intention to go south has become clear." In Taiwei's mansion, Pang Tong pointed to the map and talked, but his face was not as nonchalant as usual. It's unrestrained, somewhat dignified.After a pause, Pang Tong pointed to several other places on the map and said: "Zhang Lu in Hanzhong also left Yangping Pass a few days ago, hoarding it with Xicheng, and always intends to offend Zhangling County; Start to gather people and horses, and we will invade Wuling County at any time."

After Pang Tong finished speaking, everyone in the hall felt a little heavy.One Cao Cao is already so difficult to deal with, and now there are two more soy saucers, it is really a leak in the house and it rains all night.

"How is our army's defense situation?" Liu Bei, who was sitting there, asked calmly, without any fluctuation in his expression.

"Right now there are 2 troops in Xuzhou, [-] in Yangzhou, [-] in Yuzhou, [-] in Jingbei, less than [-] in Jingnan, and [-] in the four counties of Qingzhou. , there are still more than [-] national soldiers in all counties, and General Gan's Jingxiang Navy also has [-]." Pang Tong replied.

"In addition, Chaisang still has 1 new recruits who are about to finish their training and will be able to serve next month." Chen Dao, who was in charge of the training, replied.According to Zhao Feng's theory, the ratio of the main front-line combat troops to the population is about 20:400. The states and counties under Liu Bei's rule experienced a lot of population losses after previous wars and plagues, as well as Cao Cao's robbery.Especially in Jingzhou, several conquests against Jiangdong and the battle in Jingbei almost caused nearly a million people to starve to death.As a result, Jingzhou, which originally had a population of 300 million, is now estimated to be barely 70 million.There is also Xuzhou, which claimed to have a household registration of 250 and a population of 200 million in Tao Qian's time.After the massacre by Cao Cao, although you have recuperated several times, how can you slowly recuperate in troubled times?Coupled with several migrations, the current population of Xuzhou is estimated to be less than 200 million.On the other hand, in Yangzhou and Jingnan four counties and other places, because Zhao Feng successively engaged in production and construction there, the combined population of these two places now exceeds 2000 million.Not only Liu Bei, the population under the rule of Cao Cao and Hebei is also decreasing. The most typical thing is that everyone uses less and less troops every time they fight.This is also the reason why Zhao Feng desperately hopes that this troubled world will end as soon as possible: he really does not want to wait until the whole country is unified and the population will be less than [-] million.

"Cao Mengde personally suppressed the border with his troops, and I will personally fight on the way to Liangjun. Jingbei has his second brother and Kong Ming, and Zhengfang Zhongye and others can be safe. It's just Jingnan?" Liu Bei looked at Jingnan, and it was the same. Unexpectedly, he frowned.

"Jingnan has General Zhao in command, so he is safe, but there are too few troops." Jian Yong expressed Liu Bei's worries.Liu Bei nodded and ordered: "Let Uncle Zhi lead the new army to Jingnan to help Bo Tao." After a pause, Liu Bei said again: "Since Cao's army is under pressure, the water army can also go to the place where Cao's army is temporarily using force. Jingnan aids in the battle. If the battle in Jingnan becomes tense in the future, Luling prefect Ji Ling can lead an army of [-] to assist Jingnan."

"I'll second it!" Pang Tong and the others didn't think there was anything wrong, so they agreed.A few days later, Chen Dao led [-] new troops and the Jingxiang Navy led by Gan Ning went south to Jingnan to help in the battle.

"Xingba, Shuzhi, Youping, I feel much more relieved to have you here!" In Hanshou's general's mansion, Zhao Feng solemnly received Zhou Tai, Gan Ning and Chen Dao who had just arrived by boat, with a smile on his face. His smile was brighter than ever.

"General Zhao, my lord asked me to come here to help the general guard Jingnan and resist the invasion of Nanzhong barbarians." Chen Dao clasped his fists.

"Hehe, it's not just about guarding Jingnan. With everyone's help, I will be sure to send this Nanzhong Barbarian King Meng Huo back to his hometown!" Zhao Feng said confidently, Zhuge Liang's seven captures of Meng Huo were not for nothing.Of course, what he didn't know was that Yan Yan was leading an army to raid Meng Huo's lair at this time.

Not to mention that Zhao Feng was fighting hard in the south of Jingnan. At the same time, Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang led an army of [-] to go north to Wancheng.In addition, Cao Cao and Liu Bei also personally led the army to confront Liangjun.After resting for more than a year, several princes began to prepare for a big fight again.

(End of this chapter)