Zhang Fei Xunsi Ma Chao was right. There were fewer and fewer soldiers left around him. If they returned to Yizhou from the main road, they would be chased and intercepted. If they all had to go over the mountains and take the small road, I don't know how many of them would survive in the end.
As for the thousands of miles to attack the hinterland of Liangzhou and Guanzhong, it was completely a fantasy. Zhang Fei looked at the tired Di people in the team and suddenly had an idea.
"The western part of Wudu County is home to Qiang and Di tribes. Because most of them are hidden in the mountains, Cao's thieves' power has not fully penetrated. We might as well find a way to integrate them and then wait for an opportunity to counterattack Bian. Cao Hong and Cao Xiu will definitely
Unexpectedly..."
"This... seems okay..."
Ma Chao thought that with his influence among the Hu Qiang, he could survive even if he could not recruit foreign warriors. In addition, Zhang Fei still had thousands of elite soldiers who survived to this day. It might be a good idea to escape to a place where the Qiang and Di people live.
way out.
After Zhang Fei and Ma Chao finished their discussion, they reorganized their troops and marched to the west of Xiabian, entering Wudu Road where the Leiding Di tribe was located to rest and recuperate.
Cao Hong waited in Ju County for several days without seeing anyone. Later, he learned that Zhang Fei had tricked him when he received the battle report of the attack on Xiaben.
The main army retreated to Xiabian City. Cao Xiu sent scouts to various places to inquire about Zhang Fei's whereabouts. Finally, near Shanglu, he learned that an army was heading northwest.
Zhang Fei's marching direction gave Cao Jun a wrong signal. After reading the information, Cao Hong couldn't help but sigh: "Zhang Fei is not in his right mind. He only has thousands of remaining soldiers. He didn't think about how to escape Wudu County, so he ran in the opposite direction.
..."
Xin Pi, who joined the army, analyzed: "Judging from the several battles in Wudu, Zhang Fei used his troops according to his heart and did not follow common sense at all. Is there any conspiracy behind this trip to the west?"
"What kind of conspiracy can he have? He only has a few thousand soldiers. How is he different from Ma Chao in the past?" Cao Hong looked disdainful.
"Ma Chao's prestige in Xiliang is not small. Will he lead Zhang Fei into Longyou?" Cao Xiu raised the illusion.
Xin Pi exclaimed: "Can't you? All the rebels in Xiliang have been killed. If you really dare to follow the Qishan Road north to Longyou, you will sooner or later die of exhaustion on the border of Liangzhou."
Cao Xiu frowned, "We should not underestimate a trapped beast that is still fighting. Ma Chao carries a blood feud. They didn't leave even if they had the chance before. Instead, they traveled over the mountains and ridges to attack Hechi, maybe just to avenge Governor Yang..."
"What Wen Lie said seems to make sense, but even for Ma Chao's personal vendetta, there is no need to trap Zhang Fei in Wudu, right?" Xin Pi was still puzzled.
Cao Hong shouted at this time: "How many normal people are there under Liu Bei? They are all a group of self-righteous lunatics. We should have persuaded the King of Wei to kill them in Xudu..."
Cao Xiu said seriously: "The past is irreversible. We cannot let Zhang Fei breathe. We should decisively send troops to encircle and suppress him. Leaving him here is like a thorn in the back..."
Cao Hong's face was as heavy as water and he patted the case and said: "I will leave George (Xinpi) behind to defend me. Wen Lie and Zi Dan will each lead 10,000 troops to pursue Zhang Fei and see where he can escape to?"
"You can send people to Longyou first to give an early warning, so that the Liangzhou defenders can go south from the Qishan Road. They will be flanked by two sides to keep Zhang Fei unable to fly." Cao Xiu reminded.
"Good." Cao Hong nodded.
While Zhang Fei was resting at the Di tribe in Wudu Road, Cao Hong's three armies moved westward quietly. Fortunately, Zhang Fei paid great attention to intelligence gathering and moved further west to the Qiang Road before Cao's army arrived, eventually entering Shenlang.
The territory of the Qiang people.
Because the Shenlangqiang area was full of mountains and canyons, and the terrain was dangerous, it was unclear where to pursue them. Cao Hong and Cao Xiu did not dare to march into the mountains easily.
Cao Jun stayed at the entrance of the valley where Zhang Feijun disappeared for two months. Every day there was no sound in the valley except the howling of wild beasts. Cao Hong couldn't hold on and finally chose to return to Xia Bian.
Because of Zhang Fei's hidden dangers and threats, Cao Hong and Cao Xiu could only stay in Xiabian and did not dare to evacuate. Zhang Fei's partial division indirectly played a containment role.
Zhang Fei was still entangled with Cao Hong in Wudu, and Liu Bei was completely unaware of the situation because of the lack of information.
In April of the 23rd year of Jian'an, Liu Bei set out from Baishui Pass to attack Hanzhong.
The soldiers and horses moved forward before the grain and grass were moved, but the road to Shu was difficult, and it was even more difficult to transport grain on the road to Shu.
Zhuge Liang, who was in charge of general logistics planning, handed over the grain transportation task of the second section of Jinniu Road (from Zitong County to Yangpingguan camp) to Huo Jun, the prefect of Zitong, and Deng Ai, the captain of Diannong.
The grain, grass and military supplies prepared by Yizhou in the past two years have been gradually transported from various places to Zitong County for unified deployment. The fundamental reason why Liu Bei chose to send troops after April was that Deng Ai wanted to wait until spring plowing to release the people's strength.
The 200,000 refugees who escaped from Hanzhong naturally became the grain transporters who conquered their homeland. Deng Ai divided these farmers into dozens of teams, taking care of farming while also transporting food to the front line in batches and at different times.
Recruiting civilians during the war will result in a lack of labor force, leaving the land uncultivated, which will in turn affect the grain harvest. Therefore, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang prepared for this war very carefully.
If the war can be won, Zhuge Liang can use policies such as exemption from taxes and corvee to restore people's livelihood. Once the war lasts for a long time and is finally defeated, the result will be that the people will flee due to hunger, riot, and rebel, which will seriously affect the normal order in the state. Cao Cao will
This can be used to conspire internally and externally to seize Yizhou.
In May, Liu Bei arrived at the village outside Yangping Pass.
After hearing the news, Xiahou Yuan, together with Zhang He, Xu Huang, Guo Huai and others, went to Yangping Pass to resist, and flew to Yecheng to report to Wei King Cao Cao.
After setting up camp, Liu Bei wanted to test Xiahou Yuan's strength, so he sent general Zhao Yun to the pass to challenge him.
Zhao Yun, with his silver helmet and white horse, was very brave. He immediately pointed his spear at the pass and shouted: "Zhao Zilong of Changshan is here, who dares to come down to the pass to fight?"
Xia Houyuan looked around and asked: "Liu Bei's visit this time is not good. If he can kill Zhao Yun at the pass, his spirit will be dampened. Who dares to fight?"
Zhang He, Xu Huang and other generals did not respond when they heard the words. Although Zhao Yun is not as famous as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Cao Cao was defeated and returned to Jiangling on the Huarong Road. He was chased and intercepted by Zhao Yun and Xu Shu. Some generals died under Zhao Yun's gun.
Dozens of them, coincidentally, these generals around Xia Houyuan were with the army at that time.
"No one dares to go there? How about you, Jun Yi? You can fight with Zhang Fei back and forth, so Zhao Yun is nothing to worry about, right?" Xia Houyuan frowned and asked again.
Seeing Xia Houyuan point him out, Zhang He quickly clasped his fists and replied: "Zhao Yun recognized him when he followed Gongsun Zan. This person has outstanding martial arts and is quite capable. I don't recommend a head-on fight with him. The so-called strength in one go will be exhausted three times, and we have Yang Ping."
Why bother with natural dangers?”
"Although this is true, it has reduced the prestige of the Wei army." Xia Houyuan hesitated.
Zhang He came forward and whispered a few words in his ear. Xia Houyuan first nodded in affirmation, then walked slowly to the edge of the city wall, pointed at Zhao Yun at the pass and sneered: "Zhao Zilong, right? You'd better go back to the camp, Chang Shan
Now it belongs to the State of Wei, and I will not duel with people from my own country."
Zhao Yun was dumbfounded. This was the first time in his military career that Xia Houyuan refused using this reason.
Chapter completed!