Cao Cao led his troops from the military camp and headed straight for Jiangzhou County. Now that Cao Cao was escorting Fan Kuai and Li Shiqi, he had every advantage and was not afraid of Jiangzhou County's defense.
When Cao Cao's army arrived, set up their positions, and pulled out Fan Kuai and Li Sheqi, the garrison in Jiangzhou County surrendered directly to the city without any resistance at all.
The army moves in and quickly takes over all levels.
Jiangzhou County fell into the hands of Cao Cao.
With Cao Cao's methods, after he captured Jiangzhou County, he sent soldiers to sweep through the counties surrounding Jiangzhou County with thunderous momentum, quickly taking control of the counties in Bajun.
Cao Cao took control of Ba County and adjusted the magistrates of each county.
These county magistrates were all newly promoted by Cao Cao, and they were all people with vested interests. They betrayed Liu Bang and went to Cao Cao to have their current interests, so they could only stay with Cao Cao.
This is why Cao Cao was able to control various counties.
After taking control of Bajun, Cao Cao immediately announced in the name of Zangtu that King Yan Zangtu would raise his troops and submit to the Shu Kingdom. He also announced the news of the capture of Fan Kuai and Li Shiqi alive, and also announced the news of Bajun's submission to the Shu Kingdom.
Bajun is the largest county in Yizhou.
This is an extremely important place.
When the news came out that Bajun had been occupied by Zangtu and had surrendered, the whole country was in an uproar.
In Chengdu, the court was in turmoil and people were panicking. Even Xiao He's efforts to stabilize the situation could not stop the news from spreading all over the sky. Countless courtiers began to discuss and seek a way out.
Everyone knew that Liu Bang was dying.
Under the offensive of Shu, Liu Bang could not withstand it.
Compared with the turmoil within the court, Liu Bang, who was confronting Wang Can's army on the front line, was so angry that he fainted on the ground when he received the news of Fan Kuai and Li Sheqi's defeat.
There are as many disappointments as there are expectations.
Liu Bang was unable to conquer Luoxian County or enter the city of Luoxian County, and he was unwilling to retreat, so he could only place his hope on Fan Kuai and Li Shiqi, hoping that Fan Kuai would calm down the chaos in Bajun soon and then come to support him.
Unfortunately, this failed.
Not only that, the entire Ba County fell into the hands of Zang Tu.
After Liu Bang woke up from his coma, he opened his eyes and saw Xia Houying, Zhang Liang and others. Each of these people had anxiety and worry on their faces. After all, Liu Bang was the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Once Liu Bang has three advantages and two disadvantages, everything will stop.
Xia Houying said: "Master, are you feeling better?"
"It's okay."
Liu Bang sat up from the bed with the support of the soldiers. He looked at Xiahou Ying and Zhang Liang and said in a deep voice: "Xiahou, Zifang, now Fan Kuai and Li Shiqi have fallen into Zangtu's hands, and Zangtu has occupied Bajun.
We, the Han people, have surrendered to Shu and are in dire straits. Especially once this news spreads among the army, it will probably affect the morale of the army."
Xia Houying said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that I did not spread the news. I also ordered the few generals who knew the news not to talk about the affairs of Bajun."
"That's good, that's good."
Liu Bang nodded one after another, with an expression of approval on his face.
The current situation is too pessimistic.
"Report!"
Suddenly, someone outside the camp reported the news.
This is Ji Bu's voice.
Xia Houying said: "Your Majesty, it is Ji Bu who wants to see you."
Liu Bang said: "Let him come in."
Xia Houying went to lift the tent curtain and let Ji Bu in. Although Ji Bu was under Liu Bang, he didn't have much sense of belonging to Liu Bang. He was just grateful to Xia Houying for always being by Xia Houying's side.
Ji Bu stood beside Xia Houying and said in a low voice: "General, Han Xin's soldiers suddenly arrived outside the camp and fired a burst of bows and arrows into the camp. On each bow and arrow, there was a piece of paper with Fan Kuai and Li Li on it.
The news that Zang Tu was captured and that Zang Tu took control of Ba County and surrendered to Shu is now known to all the soldiers in the army."
brush!
Xia Houying's expression changed drastically.
Just now, he was assuring Liu Bang that he had warned the generals in the army and was not allowed to pass on news.
Unexpectedly, Wang Can had already taken action.
Xia Houying waved his hand for Ji Bu to step aside, then came to Liu Bang's bed and said, "Your Majesty, something serious has happened."
Liu Bang said: "What happened?"
Xia Houying replied: "The news about Bajun has spread throughout the army. Just now, Han Xin sent people to shoot arrows and drop letters at the camp to spread the news."
"Damn it!"
Liu Bang gritted his teeth and said: "Damn 'Han Xin', he is so ruthless. As soon as Zang Tu surrendered, he actually knew the news and immediately spread the news."
Xia Houying said: "Obviously, 'Han Xin' has been in contact with Zang Tu for a long time. Maybe Zang Tu, like Han Xin, has already surrendered to Shu. It is only now that the news has been announced."
"well……"
At this moment, Liu Bang sighed again.
His face was full of sadness.
With the loss of Ba County, almost half of the territory under his rule was lost. Even though there are still border counties such as Zoke County and Yuexi County, which cover a very large area, but these are high mountains and deep mountains and old forests, there is no such thing as
It is sparsely populated and very few people live there. Even if such a place is spacious, it is of no use.
Liu Bang said: "Xiahou, you must stabilize the morale of the army and not let it become unstable."
"I understand!"
Xia Houying said solemnly: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that the army will not be in chaos."
Liu Bang looked at Zhang Liang and Xia Houying and suddenly said: "Now Han Xin, Zang Tu, Peng Yue and others have betrayed and submitted to Shu. You won't betray me, right?"
Zhang Liang's mouth twitched, but he immediately said: "Of course not, I swear to follow your majesty to the death."
Xia Houying also said: "I swear to follow your majesty to the death."
The two looked at each other and saw helplessness in their eyes. Liu Bang was now suspicious of the successive betrayals and actually doubted them. They were the ministers of the Han Dynasty and would not abandon Liu Bang.
Liu Bang sighed: "Well, the current situation is also like this, which makes me worried."
Xia Houying said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that we can still stabilize the situation. Even if we lose Ba County, we still have Shu County, Hanzhong County and other places, and we still have enough opportunities to reverse the situation."
Liu Bang said: "How to reverse the situation?"
Xia Houying was speechless immediately.
Facing Shu County's weapons and Shu County's elite, he was helpless. Under the current circumstances, Xia Houying was lucky enough to be able to stabilize the situation, and he no longer expected to defeat Wang Can.
Seeing that Xia Houying was speechless, Liu Bang looked at Zhang Liang beside him and said in a deep voice: "Zifang, what suggestions do you have?"
Zhang Liang said: "Your Majesty, Ba County has been lost and the situation has become extremely critical. Even if we can hold it, under the current circumstances, we must seek foreign aid."
When Liu Bang heard this, he frowned and said, "Do you mean to ask Li Tang for help? Ask Li Shimin to send troops from Xiangyang, and then go north to attack Guanzhong Luoyang to threaten Wang Can and order Han Xin and others to withdraw their troops?"
"No!"
Zhang Liang shook his head and said: "Now, we can only ask Li Shimin to mobilize troops to Yizhou."
Liu Bang said: "Why?"
Zhang Liang took a deep breath and said: "Your Majesty, under the current situation, even if Li Shimin goes to attack Luoyang, it will only contain Wang Can's troops in Luoyang and make Wang Can a little nervous."
"Wang Can's troops in Yizhou will not be withdrawn."
"In particular, Han Xin, Peng Yue, Zang Tu and others started to revolt one after another. They became the climate. Wang Can would not lower his support for the Yizhou war, so heading north from Xiangyang to Luoyang would not be of much use."
Zhang Liang talked eloquently and continued: "The most important thing is that it is already very difficult to wipe out Han Xin, Peng Yue and others just relying on our own military strength. Under such circumstances, we must rely on Li Shimin's power to wipe out
Zang Tu, Han Xin and others."
"Your Majesty, you must stop being subject to this chaos."
"Under the current situation, if no decision is made, the situation will further deteriorate and may become even more serious."
"Although inviting Li Shimin to Yizhou involves certain risks, at least it can resolve the current crisis."
When Liu Bang heard this, he closed his eyes with a look of unwillingness on his face.
He really didn't want to ask Li Shimin for help.
But now, there is no other way.
After Liu Bang closed his eyes for a long time, he opened his eyes and said, "Okay, I agree. Zifang, please immediately send a letter to Xiao He and ask him to dispatch an eloquent person and rush to Xiangyang immediately to ask Li Shimin to send troops. Please."
Li Shimin's conditions for sending troops should not be too harsh."
"I understand!"
Zhang Liang also breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.
As long as Liu Bang invites Li Shimin to come to Yizhou, there will be a chance.
If the situation continues to be delayed, the situation will become more and more corrupt. After his death, even if Li Shimin enters Yizhou, there will be nothing he can do. At least he still controls Shu County and has a chance to make a comeback.
Liu Bang was extremely tired at this moment.
Even in his previous life, even when he participated in the Hongmen Banquet, he never felt so tired.
The feeling right now is too bad.
Liu Bang waved his hand and said: "Xiahou, you and Zifang will discuss the matter in the army. I am tired and need to rest!"
"I resign!"
Xia Houying, Zhang Liang and others quit together.
After they left the camp, Xia Houying looked at Zhang Liang and said solemnly: "Mr. Zifang, if Li Shimin is willing to send troops into Yizhou, how much do you think there is a chance of defeating Han Xin and Zang Tu?"
"have no idea!"
Zhang Liang shook his head.
Xia Houying said: "Don't you know this?"
Zhang Liang said solemnly: "General Xiahou, Zang Tu controlled the entire Ba County at lightning speed. You and I are both familiar with Zang Tu, but he does not have such ability. Even so, who is behind Zang Tu, replacing Zang Tu?
Where can I make some plans?"
Xia Houying said: "I don't know."
Zhang Liang shrugged and said: "Since we don't know the person behind it, and we don't even know our opponent, how can we determine the probability of victory or defeat? In today's situation, we can only take one step at a time."
Xia Houying smiled helplessly and said: "Yes, we can only take one step at a time. I am even worried that after the news of the fall of Bajun is completely fermented, Han Xin and Peng Yue will no longer be willing to be lonely and will launch a strong attack."
Zhang Liang said: "It depends on you. You need to arrange the camp defense and prepare for the next battle."
Xia Houying nodded and turned to leave.
Nowadays, he has too many things to do and no extra time to waste. (To be continued)
