In order to spread the pressure on Hanzhong, Zhao Yun again sent troops to Badong, and this time deployed his troops directly to the west of Jiangzhou, on the bank of Yanjiang River, in a posture to capture Jiangzhou.
The reason why I say "nominally" is because Zhao Yun has actually "secretly visited Chen Cang" and led the main force to the west...
Badong seems to be just south of Hanzhong. It seems that if you go north from Yufu, you can reach Shangyong, Xicheng and enter Hanzhong. However, in fact, Badong and Hanzhong are separated by Daba Mountain!
To enter Hanzhong from Bajun, you can only go through the Bazhong area. Although it is also separated by Micang Mountain, which is also part of Daba Mountain in a broad sense, the altitude is lower and there are rugged mountain roads to walk on, but at least it is not a desperate place.
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Later generations also dug the 13,000-meter Micangshan Tunnel in the Micangshan section, connecting Bashan and Shaanxi.
As for Brazil, the southern part of the Bazhong region is now under the control of Zhang Lu. In history, when Zhang Lu evacuated from Nanzheng to avoid Cao Cao, he came to Hanchang to avoid disaster - which was later known as Bazhong.
The main force led by Zhao Yun, originally stationed in Badong County, was preparing to cross the Bucao River, cross Tongluo Mountain, go to Hanchang, and then enter Hanzhong to "support" Zhang Lu!
However, this journey was by no means easy. When he captured Badong, Yan Yan had deployed defenses in the Linjiang area. Later, he fell into Fa Zheng's plan and had to abandon Linjiang and return to Jiangzhou, the seat of Bajun, to deploy defenses.
At the same time, a large part of the defenders who were originally in Linjiang withdrew to the Danqu and Xuanhan areas - this is the barrier to enter Brazil from Badong, across the river and over the mountains!
If they advance directly, not to mention whether Zhang Lu is willing to let Chu troops enter directly, more importantly, if Yan Yan insists on intercepting them, it will be difficult to break through due to terrain reasons.
Therefore, Zhao Yun once again accepted Fazheng's advice, first sent troops to Jiangzhou, made a posture of having a decisive battle in Jiangzhou, attracted the defenders of Xuanhan and Danqu, and then secretly invaded Tongluo Mountain...
However, due to the terrain and concealment requirements, not only the cavalry and heavy armor were unable to travel, but also they could not carry too much baggage, and it was quite a desperate situation.
Zhao Yun was also sure that the war at Yangping Pass had already started, so that Hanzhong would not welcome him by then, so he started to mobilize his troops.
On the other hand, after receiving the news, the naval forces of the three divisions that were making a big show in Jiangling also mobilized the zhenqi warships that had been "hidden" in Yunmengze for a long time and went up the Han River!
Prepare to pass through Xiangyang and Wudang, and then take the waterway directly to Hanzhong.
The zhenqi warships here are all suitable for use in rivers. They are much smaller than sea warships, and many of them are flat-bottomed sand ships.
Different from the previous experimental wheel ships, it no longer relies on outer or inner wheels, but has a propeller at the end of the bed...
Thrust is generated by the rotation of blade-shaped propellers.
In the modern history of another world, the emergence of propellers can be described as having many twists and turns.
In the early 19th century, people could consider a better way to promote deconstruction than the paddle wheel. At first, people placed their hope on the "screw", which was similar to the deconstruction of a giant screw.
However, during the experiment, due to an accident, the screw was broken. People found that after the long screw was changed into a short screw, the speed increased instead, so the improvement direction of the screw became shorter and shorter. Finally... it was discovered that the "rod" was abandoned.
The structure, a spiral propelling device composed of simple blades, is more effective!
Although it is already the 19th century when "science" is popular, propellers gradually replace paddle wheels through this kind of intuitive exploration. As for the analysis of principles and more perfect and accurate calculations, they are all things in the future.
Of course, the propeller does not completely defeat the paddle wheel from the beginning. When the speed is low, the efficiency of the paddle wheel is higher. Only when the speed increases, the propeller becomes more effective. In other words... on the working efficiency of the steam engine,
There are prerequisites.
In addition, the materials and castings from the blades to the bearings, and even the seismic requirements for the hull after the propeller is applied, are also technical difficulties.
Fortunately, the information in the hard drive is relatively complete in this regard. Although there are no very professional data and experimental records because it is all "thesis needs", since there are principles and directions, after absorption and experiments by the Ministry of Industry, it has been simply manufactured.
The propeller structure is suitable for existing in-air engines, which greatly improves the efficiency of in-air ships.
That's right...
From the very beginning, Sun Ce's goal...or rather "Chu's goal" was not Badong County or Xichuan!
But the real focus - Hanzhong!
After the construction of the Han River Weir, all sections of the Han River already have the basis for sailing boats. After the use of Zhen Qi boats, even boats the size of river warships do not need trackers at all and can completely ride on the roar of Zhen Qi machines.
In the middle, go all the way upstream.
…
At the same time, Zhang Wei was at Yangping Pass. Although he was not completely exhausted, his ghost soldiers had been reduced by 70 to 80%.
He is a cultivator who cultivates his spiritual power. Although he also has to work hard on his body, his promotion to gold and jade depends on his status as one person in the Tianshi Army and some secret techniques in the Tianshi Tao.
Fortunately, Zhang Wei was a Taoist. Even though his frontal combat power was terrible, some life-saving measures allowed him to survive under Ma Chao.
Half a month ago, Ma Chao led his army to attack Yangping Pass. There was no strategy or conspiracy, it was just a head-on confrontation. As a result, Zhang Wei was given a powerful blow on the first day.
It wasn't until Ma Chao's divine power mode was dragged over that he finally entered a normal battle of defense...
The Qiang people were not afraid of death and caused heavy casualties on both sides.
Fortunately, Zhang Wei still has "ghost soldiers", and even more fortunately, even a divine general cannot enter "divine power mode" at any time.
Although he will not be weak, after the Kamui mode ends, he will have to rest for at least a few days before he can enter Kamui mode again.
When the god general fights with the gold and jade armor, he is still stronger than ordinary gold and jade, but like the gold and jade general, it will be suppressed by the power of the people's hearts on the city wall and the invisible force field of Ji Zao soldiers in the military formation, and the damage caused is limited.
…
Under this situation, Ma Chao did not dare to rush into the enemy formation.
In the fifteen days, except for two days of heavy rain, the Xiliang army did not attack. For the other thirteen days, they worked on attacking key points every day. Ma Chao "transformed" three times in total. It was these three times that he caused damage to the defenders of Yangping Pass.
Huge casualties and damage to morale.
If it weren't for the fact that most of the people in Hanzhong believed in the Celestial Master's Way, and therefore as a source of troops, when fighting for the Celestial Master's Way, it would have a great bonus in terms of morale resistance to pressure, I am afraid that the army would have collapsed due to low morale.
Even so, Zhang Wei's ghost soldiers are almost exhausted now, and Ma Chao...calculating that he can enter Shenwei mode again soon!
Zhang Wei felt that without ghost soldiers, ordinary soldiers alone might not be able to survive this wave...