In the days after Zhang Ren suffered a defeat, he did not try to break through the barbed wire fence with personal bravery. However, Guo Huai always felt that the other party was making some kind of arrangement to make him take it lightly!
For this purpose, more patrols were arranged, and idle manpower and civilian laborers were arranged to further widen the trenches to facilitate the movement of troops, and to improve drainage and drainage channels to guard against sudden rains.
As for Guo Huai himself, he had no time to spare in the past few days. While commanding the defense, he stayed up late to write a memorial. In addition to showing his merits, the theme was mainly about artillery, Qi bullets and crossbows, and analysis of practical results for General Jin Yu...
Although artillery had been used on a small scale before, it was only now that artillery was actually used on the battlefield, so Zhang Ren didn't recognize what it was at first glance.
Therefore, Guo Huai felt that this first-hand observation report should be very precious, and it might make his achievements in guarding Badong even more glorious.
…
And a few days ago, when Zhang Ren first set foot in Zhi County, the situation in Hanzhong was also mysterious and unpredictable.
Faced with the completely opposite proposals put forward by Yan Pu and Yang Song - one for him to immediately withdraw from Hanchang in Bazhong, the other for him to defend the country firmly - Zhang Lu hesitated.
But after all, now is the time when Ma Chao is knocking on the door. Zhang Lu also knows that he can't just hesitate, so... he sends various Tianshi Dao "Jietou Grand Sacrificial Wine" to inform the Hanzhong believers that when they come to Nanzheng for a gathering, they must order the Cangli
, no grain is left in the fields, those who are greedy and disobedient... will be visited by ghosts and gods at night!
In Hanzhong, it is so easy to keep the walls strong and clear the fields.
As for Zhang Lu... I just felt that in this way, I could passively strengthen the wall and clear the country. At the same time, if I wanted to evacuate to Hanchang, I could move with the followers and let them come to Nanzheng first. It would not be a waste of time.
Thinking about it this way, I can continue to "hesitate" with greater peace of mind.
"My lord! The minions of the horse thieves are now imminent. Whether to leave or stay, my lord should make a decision early on!" Yan Pu anxiously admonished Zhang Lu, who had been "hesitant" for several days.
"This..." Zhang Lu was still hesitant.
"Don't worry, Cao Yan Gong. Our Heavenly Master disciples are also gathering towards Nanzheng. We will not delay whether we are fighting or traveling." Yang Song saw Zhang Lu's expression and immediately spoke to persuade Yan Pu.
"Yes, that's the truth." Zhang Lu said that he was successfully persuaded.
For "choice phobia", the default answer is always the easiest to give.
Yan Pu closed his eyes to avoid showing dissatisfaction, and then stood back silently.
To Zhang Lu...Yan Pu was only loyal to his duties, but it could not be regarded as absolute loyalty. Naturally, he would not be able to commit such things as admonition to the death.
However, after Yan Pu stopped trying to persuade him, Zhang Lu himself believed that what he said was reasonable, so... after the meeting ended, Zhang Lu specifically asked Zhang Wei to stay.
"After thinking about it for my brother, what Yang Song said is indeed reasonable. Nanzheng is not easily defeated by the barbarians from the northwest. If we retreat without a fight, Shangyong and Xicheng will definitely not be able to save it. We can only retreat to Bazhong and try to enter Hanzhong again."
But it’s difficult!
However, Yan Pu’s words cannot be ignored. If something goes wrong in Nanzheng... Brother Wei thinks that we still have to prepare on both sides. From now on, you will take your trusted personnel to the vicinity of Nancheng and dig a road leading to the outside of the city.
authentic.
After that, I will secretly report to Cheng Ji for you, and mark that area as an altar square for rituals, and tell the public that you are preparing for sacrifices." Zhang Lu thought of a good idea.
"Brother, don't worry!" Zhang Wei accepted the order and left, not surprised. This idea itself was very reckless.
The "strong wall" of Nanzheng did block Ma Chao's Qiang army. After all... the Qiang people, who were originally cavalry, were indeed not good at attacking fortresses. Even the construction of some siege equipment was learned not long ago.
As for "clearing the wilderness"...
Hanzhong did have a way of clearing out the countryside with its strong walls. All it took was for the people of Hanzhong to be "cleared" voluntarily by passing down the ritual wine to cure their head. Most of them came to Nanzheng and even voluntarily burned the crops that were too late to be harvested.
After all, "being punished by ghosts and gods" is just a joke for the wise and ambitious, but for ordinary people, it is still somewhat serious. For believers of Tianshi Tao, the sacrificial wine of Tianshi Tao says this sentence
, more powerful than the imperial edict!
However, there were still some people who had caught up with the Qiang people before they had time to return to Nanzheng, but they all followed Zhang Lu's instructions and found a hiding place on the spot - absolutely not to cause trouble to the Celestial Master.
Therefore, the strong walls and clear fields of Nanzheng can be said to be the simplest.
But I happened to meet the Qiang people again...
In terms of strength, the Qiang people have always been inferior to the peak Xiongnu, Xianbei, and even inferior to Wuhuan. However, in terms of destructive power, they are still superior. The biggest reason is... Compared to the various ethnic groups in the north, the birthplace of the Qiang people is
Within the territory of the Han Dynasty, it really took root here, and the frequency of causing trouble in Bingzhou and Liangzhou was extremely high!
Compared with the Xiongnu in the pre-Han Dynasty and the Xianbei in the previous years, the Qiang people have never been considered by the Han people as "strong enemies" or "opponents worth fighting".
However, they were in Liangzhou again and again, and caused trouble by merging the state. They fell flat when they encountered ruthless Han generals who were willing to massacre their tribes, and they followed them wholeheartedly when they encountered strong men who were willing to take them in. They did not have the Xiongnu or Xianbei "I too" kind of attitude.
"We were once equal to the Han people" and "how can we be driven by foreigners"?
The number of rebellions was the highest, but in comparison, it never caused too urgent a situation.
It is precisely because of this that the Qiang people's talent for "scavenging" is even greater than that of the Xiongnu and Xianbei...
Although they were impressed by Ma Chao at this time, and there were even many young Qiang people who worshiped Ma Chao as a god, it was impossible to expect Ma Chao to restrain the military discipline of the Qiang people.
Of course, how could I, the majestic Ma Mengqi, be a plunderer?
Just loosen the constraints...
If the commotion gets too big, Ma Chao will even kill the chickens to scare the monkeys, to prevent the Qiang people from really being dispersed.
The same was true after arriving in Nanzheng. Even after the main attack force encountered resistance, Ma Chao, as Yan Pu said, wanted to bypass Nanzheng directly and go to the eastern part of Hanzhong to take Xicheng and Shangyong!
The order given was just a vague "Gather in Xicheng before a certain time on a certain day."
As for whether someone in Nanzheng will come out for a "sneak attack"?
I'm so afraid! Wild encounters are the Qiang people's strength.
Moreover, if Nanzheng is cut off into an isolated city and Zhang Lu gathers so many people in the city, how long can it last even if the treasury is full?
Even if it is preached, as a Han citizen, if you are really hungry, even ghosts and gods will have to bite off a few pieces of meat...
Zhang Lu did not expect that he had the intention to follow Yang Song's words and defend for a period of time. Even if Ma Chao did not retreat, he could let Yang Song negotiate.
Who knew that what Ma Chao got was completely Yan Pu's script, and he went straight to cut off his wings and prepare to "starve" him to death!
In this way, all preparations were in vain - Ma Chao was not afraid of him leaving at all, and made up his mind to pacify Hanzhong first.
Yang Song did not dare to negotiate with Ma Chao at this time. After all, Zhang Lu had no bargaining chips at all. It would be too fake to negotiate now...
However, when Zhang Lu learned that the Qiang people were outside the city, searching for believers who failed to return to the city, Yang Song desperately winked at his younger brother Yang Bai. Although the latter was confused, under Yang Song's urging, he gritted his teeth and stood up.
Said: "Heavenly Master, I am willing to leave the city to rescue the believers who have not returned!"
Yan Pu was standing aside at this time, with a straight face, not looking, not listening, or paying attention.
Zhang Lu said happily: "Then Lao Yang will offer wine!"