Zhuge Liang's request for Meng Huo's assistance was related to a letter he had received earlier.
From the content of that letter, Zhuge Liang learned that Sun Quan would use his power to fund the rebellion in Nanzhong.
If calculated based on time, Sun Quan's funding will arrive in Nanzhong in the near future.
The letter did not specify how Sun Quan would fund the Nanzhong rebels, in terms of money, food, or both?
They even sent troops directly into Nanzhong.
Based on Zhuge Liang's understanding of Sun Quan, he believed that Sun Quan was probably a combination of all three.
After all, Sun Quan is different from Cao Pi. Cao Pi's sphere of influence is not bordering on Nanzhong, so he can only fund the Nanzhong rebels in name.
Although Sun Quan's main sphere of influence is in the Jiangdong area, everyone knows that Jiaozhou has also been included in his rule not long ago.
Jiaozhou borders Xangqi County in Nanzhong, especially Jiaozhi County, Shixie's base camp, is not far from Xangqi County.
If Sun Quan can persuade Shi Xie, then with Shi Xie's power that has been entrenched in Jiaozhou for many years, he will be able to mobilize an elite army to fight in Nanzhong.
This is what Zhuge Liang is most worried about right now.
Regarding this matter, Zhuge Liang had already had a countermeasure in mind, and this countermeasure was to divide his troops.
At present, among the four counties in Nanzhong, only Yizhou County and Zanggao County have not yet been pacified.
Yizhou County is the most developed of the four counties in Nanzhong. Even if Yong Kai suffered heavy losses in today's war, it should not be underestimated.
After all, being hit hard means that Yong Kai will be more cautious in the next battle. If Yong Kai wants to fight in the field, Zhuge Liang is not afraid. What he is worried about is that Yong Kai is focused on defending the city and deliberately delaying time.
Because of this concern, Zhuge Liang was bound to lead the main force of the Han army all the way south to attack Yong Kai, without giving him any chance to breathe.
However, possible enemy reinforcements in Jiaozhou should not be underestimated.
Under this situation, dividing the troops was the best strategy for the Han army.
Zhuge Liang even thought about the candidate for the leader of other armies, and that person was Deng Ai, who had already made an outstanding performance.
But Deng Ai was not from Nanzhong after all, and the terrain of Nanzhong was very complicated, so Zhuge Liang thought of letting Meng Huo act as Deng Ai's guide.
In this way, Zhuge Liang can truly feel at ease.
After Meng Huo clearly showed his surrender, Zhuge Liang informed Meng Huo of his plan.
After Meng Huo learned that Zhuge Liang wanted him to serve as a guide for a Han army, Meng Huo naturally had no reason to refuse such a simple thing.
Seeing that Meng Huo agreed to the matter, Zhuge Liang asked the generals and Meng Huo to retreat, leaving Deng Ai alone.
After everyone left, Zhuge Liang told Deng Ai all his thoughts.
When Zhuge Liang asked Meng Huo to act as a guide just now, he did not clearly state in front of the generals that his move was to guard against Sun Quan.
So far, Sun Quan has been quite courteous to the Han on the surface. As Sun Quan has not made any clear rebellious move, Zhuge Liang does not want to rashly arouse hostility towards Jiangdong.
The Northern Expedition is imminent, and in the next few years, the Han Dynasty will still need Sun Quan's "surrender".
But the generals didn't know that Zhuge Liang thought that Deng Ai must know his inner worries.
Sure enough, after Zhuge Liang told Deng Ai his overall plan, Deng Ai immediately expressed his attitude to Zhuge Liang:
"The Prime Minister is far-sighted and Ai Yuan leads other troops to defeat the rebels in Zangda County."
Deng Ai knew that Mi Yang sent him south to assist Zhuge Liang in quelling the rebellion in Nanzhong as soon as possible. In this case, he would certainly not refuse in the face of Zhuge Liang's trust.
Seeing that Deng Ai accepted the task without hesitation, Zhuge Liang nodded slightly.
Although Deng Ai had shortcomings in personal ethics, he never backed down on important matters.
However, Zhuge Liang, who was cautious by nature, still told Deng Ai: "I can't give you too many troops and horses, you can only lead your own five thousand Liang troops.
And you also know that the Battle of Zangda is ostensibly to deal with Zhu Bao, but in fact it is to deal with enemies from Jiangdong.
There are many talents in Jiangdong, none of whom can be compared to Zhu Bao. You have to be more careful and don't be careless in the slightest."
Faced with Zhuge Liang's instructions, Deng Ai bowed to him with a serious look on his face.
After giving instructions to Deng Ai, Zhuge Liang asked Deng Ai to retreat first.
His command will naturally be sent to Deng Ai soon.
After Deng Ai left, Zhuge Liang looked east and murmured:
"If it's not for the overall situation!"
Zhuge Liang did not say the second half of the sentence, but a hint of chill could be felt from his tone.
How could Zhuge Liang not feel disgusted with Jiangdong who had betrayed him several times?
In the first month of the third year of Emperor Zhangwu of the Han Dynasty, Zhuge Liang led his army to Qiongdu County.
On that day, Zhuge Liang sent soldiers to report Gaoding's head to the whole county.
When the news of Gaoding's death was known to the counties in Yueqi County, they all changed their flags and returned to the embrace of the Han Dynasty.
The speed at which they change their flags is as fast as the speed at which they joined Haoding.
At the end of that month, after the territory of Yuexi County was re-integrated into the Han Dynasty, some ministers suggested that Zhuge Liang should liquidate the previously rebellious county magistrates.
In troubled times, killing to stop killing is a frequently used method of deterrence.
But in the face of this commonly used method of deterrence, Zhuge Liang did not adopt it.
It's not that Zhuge Liang doesn't have such a hard-hearted heart, it's just that as a political master, Zhuge Liang knows that Nanzhong is different from the northern counties of Yizhou, and high-pressure policies here will only cause endless backlash.
After Zhuge Liang rejected the suggestion of killing to stop killing, someone else suggested to Zhuge Liang that the army should be stationed and left behind.
Everyone knows that the rebellions in Yizhou County and Zangqi County have not yet been put down, and Zhuge Liang will definitely continue his southern expedition.
After Zhuge Liang led his army to leave Yueqi County, the local situation may fluctuate, so everyone believed that it was necessary to leave a certain number of troops in Yueqi County.
At least one trustworthy foreign general should be left behind.
This can be regarded as the consensus of all the generals.
However, in the face of this consensus, Zhuge Liang had a different view:
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "If you keep outsiders, you should stay as soldiers. If soldiers stay, they will have nothing to eat, and nothing will be easy."
"If you add new injuries to the foreigners, the death of your father and brothers, and leave foreigners without soldiers, you will definitely become a disaster, and it will not be easy."
"Also, the barbarians are worried that they have committed the crime of rebellion. They are suspicious of the provocation. If they stay with outsiders, they will not believe them. This is not easy."
Zhuge Liang rejected the consensus of the generals with his three-not-easy view.
Zhuge Liang then made his arrangements: "I will appoint Li Hui as the governor of Yuexi and Lu Kai as the governor of Yongchang."
Li Hui's original official position was the governor of Yuejiang, but now Zhuge Liang gave him the additional position of governor of Yuexi.
Lu Kai, whose courtesy name was Jiping, was from Buwei County, Yongchang County.
Lu Kai first served as the Wuguan Gongcao of Yongchang County. When Yong Kai led his troops to rebel, both Yuexi and Zangda counties responded to his rebellion. Only Lu Kai was resolutely loyal to the Han Dynasty and closed the country to resist Yong Kai.
Lu Kai, together with the prince and his wife, led and encouraged the officials and people to close the four borders to resist Yong Kai. Such deeds were also spread to Zhuge Liang's ears after he captured Yueqi County.
For such a loyal minister, Zhuge Liang had no reason not to reward him.
Of course, the reason why Zhuge Liang promoted Lu Kai and asked Li Hui to concurrently serve as the governor of Yueqi was related to his policy of governing Nanzhong.
This political policy is “governing the south from the south”.
Li Hui and Lu Kai were both from Nanzhong, and they already had a high reputation in Nanzhong.
Appointing these two people as the governors of the two counties in Nanzhong can stabilize the situation in Yueqi and Yongchang to a large extent, and can also prevent the two counties that have just been pacified from causing trouble.
After roughly arranging the government affairs of Yuexi and Yongchang counties, Zhuge Liang led the remaining more than 10,000 Han troops to continue marching towards Yizhou County.
Not long ago, Deng Ai and Meng Huo led 5,000 Liangzhou troops to march towards Xianggao County.
The division of troops was not only a practical need for Zhuge Liang to defend against Sun Quan, but also a manifestation of his psychological appeal to quickly put down the Nanzhong rebellion.
But whether his plan to divide his forces will allow him to achieve his wish depends on the further development of the situation in South China.
While the armies of Zhuge Liang and Deng Ai were heading towards their destinations, the Jiaozhou Army led by Shi Hui, Sun Huan, and Yu Fan arrived outside Qielan County in Xangda County one step ahead.
Qilan is the administrative seat of Xangqi County and the headquarters of Zhu Bao, the prefect of Xangqi.
After learning that Shixie had sent troops to support him, Zhu Bao happily led his army ten miles outside the county to meet him.
As the top leader of the East Gate of Nanzhong, Zhu Bao had a personal relationship with Shi Xie a long time ago.
Historically, during the Nanzhong Rebellion, Shi Xie had the effect of encouraging and guiding the rebellion behind the scenes.
Without the support of Shi Xie and Sun Quan behind him, Yong Kai would not have been so decisive in rebelling against the Han in history.
From this point, we can infer that the private contact between Shixie and Nanzhong not only started very early, but also reached a very deep level.
Shi Xie can be said to be a firm political ally of the powerful powers in South and Central China.
How could Zhu Bao not be happy when his political allies sent troops to support him?
Especially not long ago, he had learned the news of Gao Ding's death.
After hearing the news, the sadness of the rabbit's death and the fox's death is the best portrayal of Zhu Bao's mood.
But this mood gradually disappeared after the arrival of Shi Hui's army.
From Shi Hui's advance report, Zhu Bao knew that Shi Hui had brought tens of thousands of troops this time.
These tens of thousands of troops were the capital of Shi Xie who had been crisscrossing the state for decades. How could Zhu Bao not be happy when such strong reinforcements arrived?
Due to the joy in his heart, the moment Zhu Bao saw Shi Hui, his good friend, he excitedly stepped forward and hugged Shi Hui's shoulders.
Shi Xie had sent Shi Hui to contact Zhu Bao before. After going back and forth, Zhu Bao and Shi Hui got along well.
Faced with Zhu Bao's intimate embrace, Shi Hui did not resist.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Shi Hui introduced Sun Huan and Yu Fan to Zhu Bao.
Zhu Bao was not interested in Yu Fan, but after learning Sun Huan's identity, a look of excitement appeared on his face.
Zhu Bao couldn't help but raised his hands to the east and said thanks: "Master Wu, I will always remember your kindness in helping me today."
Regardless of whether Zhu Bao really thought so in his heart, he did indeed do well on the surface.
At least Sun Huan was very satisfied with Zhu Bao's performance, but Yu Fan, who had experienced many things in the world, was not so easy to fool.
After successfully receiving the Jiaozhou army, Zhu Bao originally wanted Shi Hui to station his army outside the city, and then Shi Hui would bring people into the city to attend the banquet he had prepared long ago.
But facing Zhu Bao's idea, Shi Hui declined with a smile on his face.
You can hug him, but there is no way to separate him from your army.
After being rejected by Shi Hui, Zhu Bao understood Shi Hui's concerns.
In troubled times, people's hearts are not as old as they used to be. Are there not many people who die at the hands of allies in this world?
But Zhu Bao didn't break this layer. He just smiled and took Shi Hui's army to the already prepared military camp. Then he, Shi Hui, Sun Huan, Yu Fan and others each brought some cronies with them in the military camp.
A banquet was set up between the city gates.
After three drinks at the banquet, Zhu Bao saw that Shi Hui and the others were in good spirits, so he considered telling the news he had received not long ago.
This news happened about the Battle of Qiongdu half a month ago.
When Shihui and the others learned that Gaoding had died in battle and that Yueqi County and Yongchang County had fallen into the hands of the Han army, the smiles on their faces disappeared instantly.
The situation in Nanzhong has changed too quickly.
The reason why Shi Xie agreed to send troops to support Nanzhong was, on the one hand, because he was afraid of the strength of the Han army, and on the other hand, when he made this decision, the intelligence he received was that the Han army led by Zhuge Liang was having difficulty advancing on the Bo Road.
Such good news, so what are you waiting for?
Shi Hui thought that their actions were fast enough, but what they didn't expect was that the Han army moved even faster.
When they learned that the current situation in Nanzhong was dominated by the Han army, how could Shihui and the others maintain a good attitude?
Zhu Bao saw that Shi Hui and the others had unhappy expressions on their faces after hearing the news, and he also sighed in his heart.
From his own perspective, it would be best for him to conceal the news.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! But Zhu Bao knew that Shi Xie not only had a close relationship with him in Nanzhong, but also had a close relationship with Yong Kai of Yizhou County, not to mention the former Shi Xie
Xie deliberately sent those spies into Nanzhong.
This matter cannot be concealed, and since it cannot be concealed, it is better to tell it frankly, so that it will not arouse Shi Hui's resentment anyway.
Just as Zhu Bao expected, the reason why Shi Hui and the others looked gloomy was not because they were blaming him, but because they were thinking about what they should do next in the current situation.
Among the three, Yu Fan is the wisest. Since the situation in Nanzhong is not good for them now, they should get out in time.
So Yu Fan came to Shi Hui's side and whispered to him.
Yu Fan was famous in Jiangdong for his erudition, but he also had considerable military knowledge.
He believed that his proposal to withdraw troops was the most suitable strategy for them at the moment.
Unexpectedly, after Shi Hui listened to Yu Fan's suggestion, he shook his head at Yu Fan.
His performance proved that he did not agree with Yu Fan's suggestion.
After realizing what Shi Hui meant, Yu Fan was puzzled. He wanted to persuade Shi Hui again, but at this time Shi Hui made a promise to Zhu Bao first.
"Even if the current situation is not good for us, I will not retreat easily."
Shi Hui's statement shocked Yu Fan and made Zhu Bao overjoyed.
In fact, neither Yu Fan nor Zhu Bao understood why Shi Hui decided to stay and fight against the Han army. This was because they did not consider the problem from Shi Hui's perspective.
Judging from Shi Hui's performance in history, he was a very ambitious person.
As early as when he led the army to leave Jiaozhi, Shixie revealed to him that this was a test for him.
Test what?
The test is nothing more than whether Shi Hui has the ability to inherit his power in Jiaozhou.
You must know that Shi Xie has more than one son, Shi Hui, so this kind of test is crucial for Shi Hui.
For the sake of his own future, Shi Hui will not give up this opportunity easily. If you like Mi Han, please bookmark it: (www.sodu777.net) Mi Han Search Novel Network has the fastest update speed on the entire Internet.
This chapter has been completed!