Chapter 417 Han and Thieves are not at odds, Wang Ye is not biased, Northern Expedition!
Chapter 417 The Han and the traitors are not at odds with each other, the king's industry is not in peace, the Northern Expedition!
Author: Playing with Basilisk
At the beginning of Zhang Wu's fifth year, after less than half a year, Zhuge Liang completely pacified Nanzhong.
In the seven counties of Nanzhong, the barbarian kings from all over the country expressed their submission.
Zhuge Liang then stayed in Nanzhong for a while, promulgating laws between the Yi and Han people, following the example of Shen Chen in Liangzhou, treating the Han and Yi people equally, and working with the Yi people for mutual benefit.
However, unlike Liangzhou, Shen Chen's side was governed by both Yi and Han people, while Zhuge Liang adopted internal autonomy among the Yi people.
The reason is that different places have different policies.
Although Liangzhou is mountainous, it also has many plain areas. Qiang and Hu people all live on the prairie. There are still fewer tribes living in the deep mountains and old forests, making it easier to rule directly.
On the other hand, there are many tribes living in the deep mountains and old forests of the South China Yi people, and the terrain is remote. They are not as close to Guanzhong as Liangzhou. They are too far away from the Central Plains geopolitically, and it is not easy to directly govern them.
Therefore, when the Han Dynasty was unable to vigorously develop Nanzhong, it could only choose to let the Yi people manage themselves internally. The Han Dynasty only needed control of Nanzhong's big cities and property resources.
It was not until the middle of the fifth year of Zhangwu that Zhuge Liang returned to the court with his troops, leaving Li Hui as the governor of Xiangdu and in charge of Jianning County and Xinggu County, Zhang Yi as the prefect of Yuexun, and Li Guang (the grandfather of Li Mi, the author of Chen Qingbiao) as Zhuge Liang. As the prefect of Ti, Ma Zhong is the prefect of Zangdao, Wang and his wife are the prefect of Yongchang, and Lu Kai is the prefect of Yunnan, guarding Nanzhong.
It was already 225 AD. Shen Chen originally proposed a three-year rest, and then implemented it at the end of the first year of Zhangwu and the beginning of the second year of Zhangwu. In this way, by the beginning of the sixth year of Zhangwu, the Jihan court in the south would officially start the Northern Expedition.
In fact, when Zhuge Liang returned to Xiangyang, he had already noticed something strange.
Xiangyang City is still as lively as ever. The pier in the north of the city is crowded with people. Cargo ships come and go, carrying goods from the warehouse to the ship, and then carrying out trade activities from north to south.
But Zhuge Liang discovered that although the dock was still bustling today, most of the dock workers were carrying sacks made of linen.
In the Han Dynasty, even linen was very precious and was the source of clothing for the lower class people.
There is only one situation where a sack is used.
That's when the government used it to hoard food and supplies.
Therefore, what these people were carrying was the spare grain that the government was currently hoarding in Xiangyang. Looking at the fleet, it was indeed heading north towards Feishui.
Zhuge Liang summoned the officials responsible for managing the dock and found out that the imperial court was indeed transporting supplies to Wancheng through the Feishui River, and that some of the troops originally stationed in the south were gradually moving north.
Once a war breaks out, Nanyang's troops will definitely invade Henan on a large scale. By then, the troops in Nanyang and Xiangyang will be empty. Therefore, it is normal to transfer the troops from the south to the north.
"It seems that His Majesty can't wait any longer."
Zhuge Liang said to Ma Liang in the carriage when he went to the palace to meet Liu Bei.
Ma Liang said: "Your Majesty wanted to make a Northern Expedition just after the founding of the country three years ago, but the Hussars General persuaded him so he did not send troops immediately. Now that after three years of cultivation, the country is prosperous and the people are prosperous, he naturally wants to send troops."
"Um."
Zhuge Liang nodded and said in a deep voice: "The Han and the traitors are not at odds with each other, and the king's business is not in peace. Your Majesty deeply considers that staying in the south for a long time is not good for the king's business, and he is already very old. It is indeed time for the Northern Expedition."
Zhuge Liang agreed with this matter. He objected at first because he had just finished the Battle of Jingzhou and the Battle of Guanzhong and was relatively reluctant to send troops to eliminate Jiangdong.
When it reached the size of Cao Wei and Ji, Han, Southern and Northern Dynasties, wars no longer depended on the victory of one or two large-scale wars.
Rather, it depends on the competition of national strength and strategic contest between the two sides.
With internal instability and people's livelihood in decline, hastily sending troops to the north will only intensify the internal consumption between the two great powers Cao Wei and Ji Han.
Although Cao Wei's side had just lost the Battle of Guanzhong and the Battle of Jingzhou, it was also unstable.
But their background was stronger than that of Ji Han, and Liu Bei's group did not have the support of the nobles, while Cao Wei could get the support of the northern nobles. Compared with the two, they sent troops to the Northern Expedition at that time, and the possibility of losing was extremely high.
Therefore, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen had the same opinion at that time. The Northern Expedition must be carried out, but it should not be rushed. Instead, it should rest and recuperate, regain its strength, and then send troops to the Central Plains.
The carriage drove slowly along the streets and alleys towards the palace.
Now the population of Xiangyang has exceeded 400,000, and the city has also been expanded. The permanent population in the city has reached 100,000, and it was already a big city at that time.
The streets and alleys are very lively and bustling, with various vendors and handicraft manufacturers gathering together, and shops of all sizes filling the entire street.
People from all over the country gather in this city. There are merchants selling goods, and there are also people going south looking for a living. There are also local people who often gather in teahouses and restaurants and live a market-like life.
What has been hotly discussed among the people of Xiangyang recently is that the Han Dynasty Prime Minister Zhuge Liang personally ordered Nanzhong, captured Meng Huo seven times and defeated the Yi kings of the seven counties of Nanzhong into submission.
"Then Meng Huo is said to be two feet tall, with a face like a green bull, horns on his head, and a big fork in his hand. He has a fierce look."
"What are you talking about? Why did I hear that he is so thin?"
"Nonsense, if he is so weak, how can the Nanzhong barbarians obey him? Can the prime minister be so difficult to catch?"
"It's so difficult to catch that you were caught seven times?"
"That's the power of the Prime Minister. Before, you all said that the Prime Minister was as powerful as the Marquis of Fou. Now, looking at it, it is only right to reincarnate as the Marquis of Liu. He captured Meng Huo seven times and was powerful in Nanzhong!"
"Yes, yes, and I heard that the Prime Minister knows magic, and with a feather fan in his hand, he has the power of water and fire. Meng Huo summoned Long Youna, the Yi king of Yunnan, and fought with our Han army with beasts several feet tall. As a result, the Prime Minister waved his hand.
The wild beasts will turn into birds and scatter.”
"Not only that, but also..."
The carriage drove past a tea shop, and the tea patrons on the street outside looked at the newspapers in their hands and talked about it.
By the time the carriage drove past, Zhuge Liang had been reincarnated from being a prince, to a man with powerful powers, and then to a god descending to earth. One has to admire the imagination and creativity of the common people.
Zhuge Liang looked helpless in the car.
Ma Liang said with a smile: "Back then, Xiaoqing conquered Cao Cao in the northern expedition and won all three battles. The rumors became more and more bizarre day by day. It was said that he killed hundreds of thousands of Cao Cao's troops for days and nights without blinking an eye. It was like Bai Qi was reincarnated. Jingzhou soldiers
The name of God is also revealed through this.”
Zhuge Liang smiled and said nothing.
Soon the carriage drove slowly towards the palace. At the entrance of the palace, Liu Bei and all the civil and military officials were waiting outside.
This is an honor.
Seeing this scene, Zhuge Liang quickly got off the carriage in advance, walked all the way to the gate of the palace, bowed his hands to Liu Bei and said: "Your Majesty, please come to greet me. I am extremely ashamed."
Liu Bei is sixty-five years old this year. He has been dead for two years at this time in history, but he is still alive and in good spirits.
At this time, his hair was gray, his temples were like frost, and his face was a little thin. When he saw Zhuge Liang coming, he smiled brightly and was in good spirits. He said: "The prime minister pacified Nanzhong and made the southerners never rebel again. Such a great achievement
, I will personally welcome you."
"I am ashamed."
Zhuge Liang bowed his hands again.
Meng Huo, who was brought along with him, stepped forward and bent down, cupping his hands and saying: "Meng Huo, a barbarian from the south, does not know the power of the Han army. Please punish me for the following offense!"
Liu Bei had already received Zhuge Liang's battle report and knew that Meng Huo had high prestige in Nanzhong. This time he brought him back to the court, firstly to use his prestige to stabilize the situation in Nanzhong, and secondly to send a signal to Nanzhong.
That is, regardless of Yi people or Han people, as long as you submit to the imperial court and obey the imperial court's call, then you can all enjoy corresponding rights and interests and can serve in the imperial court, and the Han people will treat you equally.
Therefore, Liu Bei knew that this was the effect of buying a horse bone for a thousand gold. He immediately went up to hold Meng Huo's hand with a smile and said: "If the leader can correct his mistakes and correct them, there is no greater good. Now he surrenders to the imperial court and appeases Nanzhong for the imperial court. This is the biggest thing."
Due to your merits, I will grant you the title of Doctor Guanglu and Captain of Cavalry, and you will always comfort Nanzhong for me."
Dr. Guanglu is now a casual official, while Captain Qi is an honorary official. Unlike in history, after Zhuge Liang took Meng Huo back with him, he named him Yushi Zhongcheng.
It would be great if Meng Huo survived, so naturally he didn't have such high expectations. He said with great joy: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Prime Minister!"
After meeting Meng Huo, a fat man of eighteen or nineteen years old next to Liu Bei saluted Zhuge Liang.
"Prince."
Zhuge Liang returned the favor.
The little fat man is Liu Bei's son Liu Chan.
"Go in."
Liu Bei greeted them into the palace.
The imperial palace in Xiangyang was renovated during the Liu Biao period, and the specifications and system are actually not as large as those of the imperial palaces in Luoyang and Chang'an.
There is only one palace in the whole palace, which is the Deyang Palace in the center. The rest of the houses are like ordinary pavilions of southern wealthy families, which are small buildings unique to Jiangnan.
It is full of greenery, dense bamboo shadows, cloisters, brackets, gardens, and tile houses. After passing through the vestibule and antechamber, you will see a large palace in the atrium.
After Liu Bei came to power, he was diligent and caring for the people and was unwilling to spend more on palace repairs. Therefore, the overall scale of the palace remained as it was during Liu Biao's period and did not undergo large-scale expansion.
However, the problems of the old Liu family still existed. Liu Bei personally welcomed Zhuge Liang and held a joyful ceremony for him. Everyone in the palace sat down and served all kinds of delicacies. Then there was a song and dance banquet, and the dance was actually the Shandong Qi National Dance.
Obviously Liu Bei knew that Zhuge Liang was from Shandong, so he specially prepared these for him.
Everyone at the banquet was in high spirits and celebrated the peace of Nanzhong.
After the banquet was over, Liu Bei summoned Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Wu Yi, Ma Chao, Jia Xu, Fazheng, Xu Shu and other close civil and military officials to discuss matters in the back hall.
In the back hall, Liu Bei sat at the head of the table, with Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fei sitting on the left and right sides. After everyone was seated, Liu Bei said: "Prime Minister, I have decided to officially launch the Northern Expedition at the end of this year. What do you think?"
Zhuge Liang thought for a while and said: "It will be faster than Xiaoqing's plan at the beginning of next year, but it should be okay. Now that the country has sufficient food and grass and people's livelihood is prosperous, it is the right time for the Northern Expedition. I think that there will be a three-way expedition against Wei, with Xiaoqing in Guanzhong and Nanyang.
General Chariot and Cavalry, General Wei, Shangshuling, Zhongshu Cheng, and Menxiaqing. Huainan is led by the general, and Wei will be defeated."
"I want to conquer it myself!"
Liu Bei shook his head and said decisively.
"His Majesty."
Zhuge Liang hurriedly advised: "The safety of the country depends on Your Majesty. After all, the Northern Expedition was too tiring and tiring. I hope Your Majesty will put your Majesty's career first and not put yourself in danger."
Liu Bei looked at him and sighed: "I don't hesitate to die. What I fear most is that I won't be able to see the Han Dynasty reunited before I die."
Zhang Fei shouted: "Your Majesty, my second brother and I can just go. You can wait for the good news in Xiangyang."
"Yide."
Liu Bei glared at him: "You and Yunchang are my brothers, how can you go to the battlefield without me?"
Xu Shu said: "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is worried that if Your Majesty works too hard, he may fall ill. The situation in the south has just stabilized, and we need to rely on Your Majesty's prestige. The Prime Minister is also doing it for Your Majesty's good."
"Of course I know."
Liu Bei nodded, looked at the door with deep eyes and said: "However, I don't know how long I can live. If I can't raise my army to defeat Wei, unify the world, and restore the Han Dynasty, I will die with my eyes closed and have no face to go to the netherworld.
Meet the great ancestor Shizu."
Zhuge Liang advised again: "Your Majesty does not need to come personally during the Northern Expedition. You can go to Wancheng to supervise the battle."
"Yes, Wancheng is close to the front line, and His Majesty is supervising the battle from the rear. When the soldiers know that Your Majesty is there, they will definitely fight to the death, defeat Cao Wei, and regain the south of the river in one fell swoop!"
Fazheng also advised.
Liu Bei hesitated a little, but after a while he said firmly: "You don't need to persuade me anymore, I will personally expedition to the north, and I will rely on the prime minister in the rear. I am building my troops in Nanyang just to attack Wei next year. I can't wait any longer. I realize my destiny."
We are approaching, if we do not attack Wei again, we may be in danger."
"His Majesty."
Zhuge Liang let out a long sigh and said seriously: "I respect your Majesty's edict!"
"I respect the imperial edict!"
Seeing that Zhuge Liang no longer objected, Fa Zheng, Xu Shu, Pang Tong and others stopped persuading and agreed one after another.
Jihan Group spent the second half of Zhangwu's fifth year in this busy state.
At first, the people were not aware of it, but when carts of military rations, supplies, boats of equipment, and armors sailed along the Nanyang wilderness and the Jishui River into Wancheng, everyone knew that maybe a new war was coming.
Jihan Group has three large granary reserve bases, one in Xiangyang, which connects Nanyang to the north and the Yangtze River to the south. The waterways are extremely developed, so more than half of Jingzhou's taxed grain and grass are stored here. Once problems arise in Jingzhou or even across the country, the grain can be quickly
Arrive by water to quell the chaos.
The second one is in Jianye. Jianye is the front line to the east of the Yangtze River, connects to the Yangtze River in the west, goes north to Xuzhou, and goes north from Ruxukou to Hefei City. Therefore, the taxes from Yangzhou's rear base are also stored in Jianye. If Guan Yu makes the northern expedition, he will
They can use both land and water to attack the Huainan territory occupied by Cao Wei.
The third one is naturally in Bashu, with Chengdu in Shu and Jiangzhou in Badi. The Jinniu Road in Chengdu connects to Hanzhong, and the Micang Road in Bazhou connects Hanzhong. Therefore, grain and grass are concentrated in this place, and grain and grass can be transported to Hanzhong in a steady stream.
Over the years, Liu Bei has been accumulating grain and building high walls in Xiangyang. At the same time, he has attached great importance to craftsmen, improved the status of craftsmen and handicraftsmen, offered heavy rewards, and built advanced siege equipment. He has accumulated a lot.
By the end of Zhang Wu's fifth year, more than 10 million stones of grain, various types of weapons, armor, crossbows, and countless instruments had been accumulated on the Nanyang front line.
At the end of the year and the beginning of December, a letter sent by a flying pigeon fell into Shen Chen's hands.
"The Northern Expedition has begun."
In Ji County, Liangzhou, Shen Chen, who had returned from Hanzhong and was in charge of Liangzhou, looked at the many generals below.
In the middle of this year, Liu Bei had already told him that he wanted to send troops by the end of the year.
So Shen Chen also actively prepared and began to arrange things in advance.
Nowadays, there are about 100,000 troops in Liangzhou. The previous total strength was less than 60,000. However, after three years of governance by Shen Chen, the Qiang Han gradually stabilized.
Shen Chen began to recruit new soldiers. Due to preferential policies, the Qiang people actively joined the army. The Qiang soldiers alone expanded to 30,000, plus more than 10,000 Han soldiers, for a total of 100,000 troops.
The cavalry number reached 30,000, including 8,000 heavy cavalry, about 20,000 light cavalry, and Shen Chen's 2,000 elite personal guard cavalry, all equipped with stirrups, saddles and horseshoes.
Therefore, at this time, the area in Hanzhong, Liangzhou, has strong troops and horses, and is about to march into the pass!
"Everyone."
After reading the letter, Shen Chen said to Deng Zhi, Pang Qiao, Ma Dai, Li Yue and other civil and military generals: "The king's industry is not in peace, and the Han and the traitors are not at odds. Your Majesty will make an expedition to the north and unify the world today. Send an order to General Huang, ten After a few days, the troops will leave Chencang!"
"only!"
Everyone roared in unison, and the Northern Expedition officially kicked off.