It was shocking to say that Zhang Lu surrendered to Cao before, but Zhang Lu was just a thief after all. Even though he had dominated the Bahan Chui for 30 years, no one of the subordinates of Duke Xuande really regarded him as a powerful enemy. What everyone was worried about was the movement of Cao's army.

Okay, Cao's army has started to act now, and it has not been delayed at all without waiting for the bright and refreshing autumn season.

A slight and noisy sound came from the hall in an instant, which was caused by some people's breathing, some people couldn't help but gasping, some people whispering to each other, discussing softly, and even some people showed a slight look of horror.

If Cao Gong's army entered Hanzhong, the subsequent target would inevitably be to go south to Bashu.

The last time Cao's army went south, the garrison of Jingzhou was instantly defeated. They relied on the alliance between Sun and Liu and fought fiercely against the river. They were also defeated by the Cao army.

What about this time? Xuandegong's power is much stronger than before, but can Liu Jiyu compare with Sun Quan? Judging from the reputation of the people of Yizhou, he may be more like Liu Cong? If Liu Zhang cannot resist Cao resolutely, he will not be able to think about what will happen in the future, nor dare to think about it. No one can stop a power that occupies the Central Plains, Hebei, Guanzhong, and Yizhou.

So after the noise, the hall was silent.

In the silence, someone suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahahahahaha!"

The person who laughs is Liao Li.

Liao Li was previously appointed as the prefect of Guiyang. Later, because Zhuge Liang commanded the civil affairs of the four counties in Jingnan, he was transferred back to the Zuo General's Mansion by Duke Xuande, and he was still an extremely trusted adviser. Because of Zhuge Liang's permanent residence in Linying, he accompanied Duke Xuande on a daily basis, and his status seemed to be more important than before.

Liao Li smiled so hard that he leaned back and closed his arms, and pointed at the people in front of him: "You...you, hahaha!"

Or ask: "Why is Gong Yuan laughing?"

Liao Li wiped his saliva with his sleeve, stroked his beard and replied contemptuously: "I laugh at you all who claim to be extraordinary in your daily life, but who knew that when you heard the news that Cao Gong was driving troops, you were panicked! Why do you have to? You are really troubled by me!"

"What does Gongyuan mean? Why are we so troubled by the incompetent people?"

Liao Li said: "I heard that Guanzhong is now divided by Ma Chao, Han Sui and other Qiang and Hu Hao. The leader has as many as ten people, and he has long divided all the land in Guanzhong outside Chang'an City. If Cao Gong dispatched a large army to advance westward, Ma Chao, Han Sui and others were uneasy and thought that Cao Gong had the intention of reorganizing the three auxiliary assistants, he would incite each other and resist. If Cao Gong did not subdue these people one by one, how could he have the strength to advance to Guanzhong?"

After a pause, he looked down on everyone and said proudly: "What's more, although Mr. Cao can convince Zhang Lu, his lord has sent people to contact the generals of Guanzhong. Maybe the moment when Mr. Cao's troops arrived in Guanzhong was when Ma Chao, Han Sui and others set off. At that time, the war between the two sides would be in trouble, which would not be decided in three or five years... We will still follow the steps to Yizhou, what are you worried about?"

As soon as these words were spoken, someone in the hall agreed, and the tension disappeared in an instant.

Lei Yuan sat quietly among the generals, as if he had entered into meditation, silent.

"What Gong Yuan said is very reasonable." Zhuge Liang also nodded to Liao Li.

When Liao Li sat down proudly, Zhuge Liang continued: "Previously, Guanzhong was occupied by Qiang and Hu tyrants. Although it seemed obedient, it was actually just doing what it was. Cao Gong could not cross Guanzhong. Hanzhong sent power to Yizhou because the generals of Guanzhong and Hanzhong Zhang Lu jointly formed an insurmountable obstacle."

He paused and said to Ma Su, who was at the end of the queue: "You are young, come and take the map."

Ma Su immediately took out the map and hung it on the side of the hall.

Zhuge Liang approached, changed his feather fan to his left hand, pointed his right hand at the map and said, "You guys, let's first look at the road from Guanzhong to Hanzhong. From east to west, there are nothing more than Ziwu Road, Tangluo Road, Baoxie Road, and Chencang and Qishan Mountains. Among them, Ziwu Road, Tangluo Road, and Baoxie Road, the mountains and rivers along the way are high and dangerous, and relying on the plank road, it is difficult to pass through the army. Therefore, if Cao Gong wants to attack Zhang Lu, the feasible plan is to rush the army westward, cross the entire Guanzhong, go straight to Chencang, and then go southwest into Wudu and break Yang'an Pass."

"And such a route crosses Guanzhong along the way, passing through almost the base of each general of Guanzhong. This is what Gong Yuan said. If Cao Gong dispatches a large army to advance westward, Ma Chao, Han Sui and others will be uneasy, they will incite each other and resist. As a result, we will have plenty of time to advance to Yizhou."

Hearing this, Liao Li nodded slightly, feeling a little satisfied.

Zhuge Liang said again: "However, the current situation is different. Since Zhang Lu decided to surrender to Cao Gong, he would not set up obstacles on the eastern section of the road, and would even send people to supply military service along the way. So, what if Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang's troops directly entered Hanzhong from Ziwu Valley?"

He poked out his slender fingers and drew an arc on the map: "Even so, from Puban to Chang'an, heading south to Ziwu Valley. Tongguan east of Chang'an is still retained in the hands of the generals of Guanzhong; Cao's army did not pass through the vast area west of Chang'an. The troops sent were only 10,000 people from Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang... In this case, will the generals of Guanzhong rise up and resist?"

The subordinates all pondered, while the generals stood up and watched the map, thinking deeply.

Liao Li couldn't help frowning and nodded again.

He knew that Zhuge Liang was right. If he only used 10,000 people and directly cut into Hanzhong from Ziwu Valley and did not touch the core area occupied by the generals of Guanzhong, then he really didn't know how they would react. After all, not long ago, Han Sui and Ma Chao all took their family members to the court as their duty. Unless they were forced to the extreme, they might not have made up their minds.

"The military advisor means that this time, the Cao army actually used only Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang. If it is used to control several key passes in Hanzhong, it will be barely enough; but it seems that the military strength is a bit weak." Zhao Yun frowned and said, "Military advisor, what I don't understand is that Cao Cao, with the people of the world, was open to the mi thief, and even indulged him in spreading teachings...just to set up ten thousand people to Hanzhong?"

"There is indeed not many ten thousand people." Zhuge Liang explained: "If Cao Gong intends to use martial arts in Guanzhong in the future, Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang can only go north and play a role, and cannot play any practical role. The problem is that if they gain a foothold in Hanzhong, Cao Gong's voice in Bashu will inevitably be greatly shocked, which will further form a strong attraction to the people of Bashu."

Zhao Yun nodded and said nothing more.

Everyone present understood that Liu Zhang had always been foolish and weak, and the scholars in Yizhou were very resentful of him, so recently Duke Xuande sent people to and from all over the country and made some good relationships.

This is also because Yizhou is located in a corner, and the scholars looked around and only the left general of Jingzhou was a hero. But if Cao Gong's power was in Hanzhong, the scholars of Yizhou had a channel to directly cling to Prime Minister Cao? They were just dissatisfied with Liu Zhang, but they might not have been naturally attached to Xuande Gong!

There are too many variables that may arise in this.

Zhuge Liang said frankly: "I really can't guess what the Cao Gong will do in the future, but this is the current situation. Cao Gong used these 10,000 people to cause us to enter Yizhou and cause huge trouble."

I used to think that there were not many 10,000 people, but in this way, Cao Gong was really a big deal. Two generals and ten thousand people were just a piece of idle piece on the chessboard.

Cao Gong has made a move, how can we deal with it?

Everyone was a little confused for a moment.

Zhuge Liang bowed to Liu Bei: "Lord, Pang Shiyuan, a member of Jingzhou, was previously the Gongcao of Nanjun, and had planned the plan for Zhou Lang to enter Shu; there was also the Ganxingba of Ba County, who was also familiar with the landscape and geography of Yizhou. These two people are now waiting outside the hall. I think maybe they can invite them to listen to their opinions.
Chapter completed!