In early April of the 14th year of Jian'an, the general trend of the world was still changing.
After Cao Cao stabilized the situation in the court, he immediately sent troops northward, preparing to attack Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang, Gaogan and other Yuan clan remnants to completely wipe out the entire north.
Sun Quan suffered a disastrous defeat at Hongkou at the end of last year and needed to lick his wounds, so he set his sights on Jiaozhou and used the Guiyang road to send troops to Lingnan.
In the land of Bashu, the battle between Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu also entered a fierce stage.
Historically, although Zhang Lu rebelled, he did not dare to take the initiative to attack Bashu.
Firstly, there are several passes going south, which are easy to defend but difficult to attack. Secondly, he does not have enough troops to annex the entire Yizhou.
But now, because Liu Zhang and Sun Quan jointly attacked Liu Biao, they suffered several major defeats and lost their troops. Originally, Yizhou's military strength was more than 60,000 to 70,000, but now there are only about 30,000 troops left, and most of them were lost.
Being so weak naturally led Zhang Lu to have a crooked idea that had never been seen in history. He went south to devour his master, hoping to take the entire Yizhou into his hands and go one step further.
It's just that Zhang Lu didn't expect that Liu Zhang would choose a comprehensive retreat strategy, and went all the way south to attack the city. He fought for a year and a half but still couldn't defeat it, which made him fall into a quagmire, riding a tiger, unable to get out, and almost couldn't get out.
Fortunately, there was civil strife in Jingzhou, and Yangzhou also fell into a struggle with Jingzhou. Cao Cao in the north did not even regain Youzhou and Bingzhou, and could not control Hanzhong at all. Guanzhong, Han Sui, Ma Chao and others also fell into civil war many times and did not attack
His hometown is Hanzhong.
Guan Yu stood up and planned to see off his guests.
Guan Yu said with a smile: "Xiaoqing gave me several sets of "Spring and Autumn". It is useless to keep them. It is better to give them to talented people."
If he knows what's going on, it's best to surrender at that point and still gain dignity. If he doesn't know what's going on, Liu Bei will naturally help him to show dignity.
Guan Yu stroked his beard and pondered.
The rest, Zhang Fei, Xu Shu, Tai Shi Ci, Sun Qian, Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, Liu Yan, Yuan Wei, Kou Feng, Wei Yan, Dong Jue, Feng Xi, Zhang Nan, Gao Xiang and others were in charge of food and grass in Baidi City at the rear.
However, Liu Zhang did not surrender.
So after traveling through time, we experimented with improvements to reduce the cost of papermaking, and the new paper gradually became popular in the south.
Historically, Guan Yu was able to mobilize troops in Jingzhou because Liu Bei gave him the privilege of being a feudal official. He could mobilize Jingzhou troops without asking Yizhou for instructions.
In this way, even if Zhang Lu gets Shu County, firstly he will be unpopular, and the people of Shu County and the aristocratic families will not obey him. Secondly, Liu Bei has already set off from Jingzhou at this time, Guan Yu will go south from Hanzhong, and Zhang Lu will be defeated from both sides.
So starting last year, paper books also spread among the Bashu aristocratic families as Zhou Lin purchased them from Jingzhou.
After the two thanked him, they sat on the table under Guan Yu's right hand.
The total number of troops in the two armies is about 50,000. If you include the large number of Wuxi barbarians recruited in Nanjun and Lingling counties, auxiliary troops, and civilians who transported grain and grass, the total number will exceed 100,000.
Pang Tong nodded and said: "Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang had a grudge against their mother. If in the past, Liu Zhang was powerful, he would not dare to do anything. But now that Liu Zhang is weak, he has a chance to avenge his mother, and secondly, he can
If we annex Yizhou, we will never retreat easily."
Now Liu Bei's army is divided into two parts. One is the former Dongzhou soldiers currently commanded by Guan Yu, which is the army of Liu Zhang captured in the Battle of Zigui.
After Zhang Song and Fazheng left, Guan Yu said to Pang Tong: "Military advisor, Liu Zhang's envoy has been sent away."
But it doesn't work now. Now he is just a former general. Liu Bei, the commander-in-chief of the three armies, has not arrived yet, so he does not dare to make decisions without authorization.
At this time, there were only more than 10,000 troops in the city. Although there was still enough food and grass, Liu Zhang was obviously at the end of his rope.
Due to the war in Guanzhong, Fazheng and his friend Meng Da from the same county fled to Yizhou. At present, they are just a military council captain who is not taken seriously.
Fa Zheng was very surprised.
So that Zhang Lu had enough time to attack Liu Zhang. In March of this year, he finally broke through Chengdu's last barrier, Luocheng, and reached the outside of Chengdu, laying siege to Chengdu.
When they sat down, Guan Yu asked: "Is it because Liu Yizhou's front is tight and he sent you two here to ask for help?"
In Jiangzhou City, Guan Yu is sitting alone. The first person on the left is military advisor Pang Tong, followed by Zhao Yun, Guan Ping, Shi Ren, Xia Houzuan, Wu Yi, Fei Guan, Zhang Yi, Deng Xian, Wu Lan, and Zhou Cang.
, Pei Yuanshao, Liao Hua, Yi Ji, Li Yan, Han Ran and other generals and scribes.
Zhang Song said anxiously: "Chengdu is in danger now. If we wait for Duke Xuande any longer, Yizhou will return to Zhang Lu."
However, the so-called "slightly better" does not mean that it is universally available, but that ordinary well-off families can afford books and learn knowledge, but the people at the bottom still cannot afford it.
Only Fazheng rolled his eyes but didn't say anything. He glanced at the book in Guan Yu's hand and said, "Just as the general said."
At the beginning, Pang Tong suggested to Liu Bei a plan to encircle Wei and rescue Zhao. However, this plan could solve Liu Zhang's problem, but it could not solve the problem of how Liu Bei could successfully obtain Yizhou.
Fazheng was overjoyed here. He almost took the book with trembling hands and couldn't put it down.
It's just that he was asking for help, and Liu Bei had to deal with his own affairs and he couldn't blame others. Therefore, Liu Zhang could only keep urging Zhang Song to go back and forth between Jingzhou and Yizhou, hoping that Liu Bei would come to help as soon as possible.
As soon as Fazheng came in, he saw the paper book.
Although the first all-paper book in history was "Three Kingdoms" written by Chen Shou, paper books were still very precious even during the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties. It was not until the advent of printing in the Tang Dynasty that things became slightly better.
The hall was very quiet at this moment, and many generals and scribes did not speak.
For example, Shamoke of Wuxi Man was admired by Liu Bei, so he came with more than a thousand elite tribesmen to defect to him, and he is currently in Guan Yu's army.
But Liu Bei's army, which was supposed to set out in May last year, stayed in Jiangzhou and suddenly went back at the end of last year. Zhang Song went to return his orders and informed Liu Zhang about Liu Bei's return to Jingzhou to quell the chaos, which made Liu Zhang very troubled.
This time, Zhang Lu took advantage of the situation and attacked Yizhou with the intention of killing Liu Zhang and avenging his mother and family. Therefore, it was impossible for Liu Zhang to surrender, and he would definitely die if he surrendered.
Therefore, this attack can be described as a chain plan.
Pang Tong continued: "We first sent people to pretend to besiege Wei and rescue Zhao, and after Zhang Lu saw through the truth, we sent people to pretend to be the main force and go to Shu County. At this time, Zhang Lu must have thought that our going to Hanzhong was fake and that our rescue of Chengdu was real, so it is very likely that we will
If we choose to abandon Hanzhong and ignore it, Hanzhong will be taken advantage of by us."
"Thank you, General."
"yes."
Zhang Song sighed: "Zhang Lu besieged Chengdu. Although my lord tried his best to resist, Chengdu is too big. There are only more than 10,000 soldiers and horses in the city. We had to mobilize the young men in the city to maintain a stalemate, but we can't hold on for long."
Historically, he surrendered to Liu Bei because he knew Liu Bei would not kill him, so he might as well surrender early.
However, Liu Bei had not set off yet, Liu Zhang was still struggling to support himself, and Guan Yu had stationed troops in Jiangzhou, and he had no intention of continuing to advance.
Zhang Song almost said without hesitation: "Very good, very good."
Guan Yu sat in the main seat and read "Spring and Autumn".
The best way is of course that Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu will both suffer losses, Liu Bei will gain, and Hanzhong and Bashu will all be gained at once.
"In this case, you two should go to the backyard to rest first, and wait until I order the generals under my command to lead the troops."
Although he is arrogant and respectful to his subordinates, Fazheng is not a big shot. Firstly, he is not a member of a noble family, and secondly, he is not valued by Liu Zhang. In his eyes, he is just an ordinary scholar. It is not a bad thing to give him this book as an eldest brother to win people's hearts.
.
Guan Yu nodded slightly and said to Zhang Song and Fazheng: "What do you think?"
Under this situation, Liu Zhang helped Liu Bei buy a lot of time. When Liu Bei officially became the lord of Jingzhou in April, he still stood firm in Chengdu.
Guan Yu stroked his beard and said: "You two are polite, please sit down."
Guan Yu also sighed: "My eldest brother had planned to come to aid Liu Yizhou last year, but there was a sudden civil strife in Jingzhou. The eldest brother and the eldest son had a bad relationship, so he had no choice but to send troops to help. Now I came to help, but the eldest son suddenly fell ill again, so
It’s been delayed until now.”
Pang Tong thought about it and said, "I have a plan that can alleviate Liu Yizhou's crisis."
On the side, Pang Tong muttered: "We are currently stationed in Jiangzhou, just waiting for news from the lord. However, the lord has not given the order yet, and we dare not move lightly."
One move after another.
Guan Yu originally wanted to send Liu Zhang's envoy away first, but he noticed that Fazheng was looking at the "Spring and Autumn" on the table several times, so he smiled and said: "If you like it, I will give it to you."
"Do you like this book?"
"Let them in."
Pang Tong said with a smile: "Zhang Lu has been fighting for more than a year. Seeing that Yizhou is about to surrender, how can we be willing to give in? Moreover, we have been stationed in Wu County, Baidi City, Jiangzhou and other places for several months. Zhang Lu has another
If you are not a fool, how can you not send someone to find out the truth?"
This book is paper and thread-bound.
In May of the 14th year of Jian'an, Jiangzhou.
But Zhang Lu was different.
At that moment, Guan Yu issued an order and said to Zhao Yun: "Where is Zilong?"
Guan Yu put down the "Spring and Autumn" book in his hand and said.
"No."
The other part is Liu Bei's own troops commanded by Zhang Fei, about 20,000 people.
Therefore, at least today, it is no longer popular to use bamboo slips for books in Jingzhou.
Zhang Song and Fazheng entered the hall and saluted.
It's just that although paper books are gradually becoming popular in Jingzhou, Yizhou has been closed due to war. Zhou Lin has only made two business trips last year. It is not easy to purchase and ship goods. Only the top aristocratic families in Bashu can afford them.
After Zhang Lu rebelled and became independent in Hanzhong, Liu Zhang killed Zhang Lu's mother and family members, and the two sides formed a deadly feud.
If Liu Bei doesn't come to help, Liu Zhang probably won't be able to hold on for long.
So he had seen and touched paper books from his friends, but had never bought one.
In the ten years from the first year of Guangxingping to the eighth year of Jian'an, Pang Xi, the governor of Brazil sent by Liu Zhang, fought with Zhang Lu many times, and was repelled by Zhang Lu many times.
"Um."
Fa Zheng has long wanted to have a set of paper books, but unfortunately he has no money, cannot afford them, and does not have the resources.
Zhang Song quickly said: "Can we send troops now?"
Because of architectural design, Shen Chen traveled all over the country to search for ancient styles, and accidentally learned about the new papermaking technology that only appeared after the Tang and Song Dynasties.
"Thank you, General."
On May 6, Zhang Song went south again and sent an envoy to Jiangzhou to seek help from Guan Yu.
"Hmm."
At this moment, the guard came in, knelt down on one knee and said, "Envoy Liu Zhang is here."
Zhang Song cupped his hands and thanked him repeatedly. Fazhengze stood up and reluctantly glanced at the paper book that was regarded as a treasure by the Yizhou family.
After becoming a famous scholar, Fa Zheng loved learning very much. Historically, Liu Bei asked him to do "Shu Ke", which shows that his talent and learning were affirmed.
"I entrust you with this false and true plan."
In the past, the words recorded on bamboo slips were already very precious. Now that paper books are available, they are naturally much more precious than bamboo slips. Therefore, I am very happy to get a paper book.
Pang Tong touched the goat's beard on his chin, thought for a while, turned to look at Guan Yu and said: "General, what the envoy said is indeed reasonable. Although the lord is delayed because of the eldest son's affairs, Liu Yizhou cannot afford to be delayed."
So Pang Tong planned to use some method to appease Liu Zhang's envoy first, and then act according to his plan. After Zhang Lu conquered Chengdu, he would find that his hometown in Hanzhong was gone.
"So he will definitely continue to attack Chengdu. This plan is to build plank roads openly and secretly attack Chencang."
Pang Tong laughed and said: "Of the three roads from Hanzhong to Bashu, the best one is the Jinniu Road. Zhang Lu's main force will go south from the Jinniu Road to attack Chengdu. The general can send a partial division to pretend to be the main force of our army and reach Micang Road. Go north and attack Hanzhong. This is called a plan to encircle Wei and save Zhao."
Yizhou and Jingzhou have close exchanges, but unfortunately the trade between the two places has been almost suspended due to the wars in recent years. It was not until Liu Bei crossed the Three Gorges that commercial exchanges resumed.
Therefore, the hatred between the two sides is very great, and it can be said that it has reached the point where they will never end.
"Zhang Song and Zhang Ziqiao of Shu County (Fufeng Fa Zhengfa Xiao Zhi) have met the general!"
Guan Yu said: "I am just sending troops now, without the order and permission of my eldest brother, wouldn't I be charged with mobilizing the troops without permission?"
Therefore, in the era of the late Han Dynasty, paper books were not ordinary expensive. They were comparable to the top luxury goods of later generations and could not be used by anyone except aristocratic families.
"Thank you, general, thank you, general!"
Guan Yu said: "You will lead 8,000 troops this time. I will ask Yide to send 20,000 auxiliary soldiers and civilians to escort the grain and grass. They will pretend to be 50,000 troops and sail north along the Qianjiang River in a fleet. They are deliberately making a big show. Be sure to let Zhang Lu Know.”
Liu Zhang actually communicated with Liu Bei from time to time. After all, Liu Bei went to Xichuan. In fact, he followed Zhang Song's suggestion and brought Liu Bei as reinforcements to help him repel Zhang Lu.
"Um."
But they won't give you the land for free.
As a result, Liu Qi died of illness, causing Liu Zhang to lose the defense line of Luocheng, leaving only Chengdu in his hands. The Yizhou regime was already in danger.
However, Fazheng was not from a wealthy Bashu family. His grandfather was a famous scholar in Guanzhong, and his father was just a minor official with a salary of 600 stone.
Guan Yu said: "I'm just afraid that Zhang Lu can't stand the fright. He doesn't know the reality of our army. I'm worried that Hanzhong will be captured by our army and he will retreat. What should I do?"
"Report!"
Guan Yu asked: "What is the military advisor's plan?"
"this."
"oh?"
"General, do you really want to give it to me?"
"You will eventually understand."
Zhao Yun stood up and said: "The general is here."
Zhao Yun replied.
Nowadays, the most senior generals in Liu Bei's army, besides Guan and Zhang, are Zhao Yun and Tai Shi Ci.
Although the rest of Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, Sun Qian and others also followed Liu Bei from Xuzhou, they were not generals. Therefore, the important task of leading the army alone this time could only be left to Zhao Yun.
As for the feint troops on the west route, Guan Yu also has suitable candidates.