The light snow that has been falling for several days has stopped, but the sky is still gray and depressing.
In the Zhuge Villa on the south bank of Mianshui River, the small hall is very warm.
The fire pond in the middle has been lit since noon, and now the pond is filled with red and white charcoal fires.
Half a piece of red deer ribs are being grilled on the top. Occasionally, the fat will slip from the texture onto the charcoal, and the aroma of "sizzling" fills the air.
Zhuge Qiao held a slender iron tip in his hand, flicking the charcoal fire from time to time to keep the firewood hollow and free of smoke. Zheng Pu held a small dagger in his hand, carefully slicing the texture of the ribs, and sprinkled salt on it.
Being able to let the two of them experience the act of being a butcher was naturally a twilight meal prepared for the Prime Minister.
There are many red deer herds in Longyou.
During the winter season when they had nothing to do, the common people were accustomed to going into the mountains and forests to hunt together in order to find some meat and fur to supplement their household income.
Luomenju, where the Lujia Villa is located, is in a mountainous area with many trees, so there was plenty of hunting this year.
When Zheng Pu passed by, he asked his subordinates to pick up two and bring them with him. They thought they were a gift to Zhuge Qiao for his new home and his visit at the end of the year.
After all, the prime minister never governs industry.
Everything such as food and clothing in Hanzhong depends on what the government provides.
At a time when the Han Dynasty was short of supplies, the father and son were accustomed to setting an example and could not eat meat more than a few times throughout the year.
Alas~~
After a while, several sounds of horses neighing and the words of the old concierge were carried into the house by the constantly whining cold wind.
The Prime Minister is back.
Zhuge Qiao and Zheng Pu quickly put down their work and walked to the courtyard to greet them.
Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, who had just completed a non-stop tour of various counties, looked very tired on his face.
However, the neatly trimmed beard, the scorching eyes, and the occasional ray of light that appeared during the gaze made people feel like they were looking up at a high mountain without the need for words.
No matter when, the Prime Minister is still the Prime Minister who holds the pearls of wisdom and makes people feel at ease.
"Pu, I have met the Prime Minister."
Zheng Pu stepped forward quickly and bowed his hands respectfully.
Fu Qian, who was following the prime minister step by step, couldn't help but turn aside to avoid saluting Zheng Pu.
Zheng Pu, who caught sight of it from the corner of his eye, couldn't help but feel happy.
As the saying goes, "Birds follow the phoenix and soar far away, and people accompany virtuous people and have high moral character." It is true!
This boy has grown a lot by staying with the Prime Minister.
"No need to be polite."
The Prime Minister smiled and nodded, walking straight into the hall without stopping.
When I saw the golden half of red deer ribs and the warm wine, I couldn't help but pause for a moment and said with a smile, "You guys have a lot of leisure time."
After he sat down at the main seat, he raised his hand and said, "Zijin, please take a seat."
"promise."
Zheng Pu responded.
Fu Qian, who entered the room later, had a gurgling smile and took the initiative to approach the fire pit, holding the dagger in his hand, "Prime Minister, let me divide the meat."
"Heh~~"
The Prime Minister chuckled and said, "It's up to you."
Zhuge Qiao on the side also sat close to him, scooping out warm wine with a wine spoon and pouring it into the wine cup on the dining table.
After Fu Qian brought some meat to the table of the Prime Minister and Zheng Pu, the Prime Minister waved his hand and told Zhuge Qiao and Fu Qian, "Bosong, Gongyuan, take the meat and share it with everyone."
"promise."
The two of them knew that the prime minister wanted to have a private conversation with Zheng Pu, so they hurriedly left the table.
When the two of them left, the Prime Minister couldn't even move his small dagger and bamboo chopsticks, so he cast his eyes over and asked in a urging voice, "Did Bo Song tell you the progress of Wei Wenchang and others? I wonder if Zi Jin has any thoughts."
no?"
"Back to the Prime Minister, Pu read it last night and thought about it."
Zheng Pu nodded and said, "However, Pu dared to ask the Prime Minister to eat first. It is very cold, and Pu's cooking skills are not good. If the meat is cold, it may be difficult to eat."
"That's fine."
Hearing this, the Prime Minister smiled solemnly, raised his wine cup and asked for a cup, "Zijin can use it as well."
After a while, after eating a little hastily, the Prime Minister put down the meat-cutting dagger, stood up, washed his hands with water and rinsed his mouth.
Zheng Pu also quickly put down the tableware, took out the silk from his sleeves and wiped his mouth. He poured a cup into his mouth and thought of it as a gargle. When the Prime Minister saw him, he couldn't help but smile, "I have lost my appetite, Zijin."
Ignore it and just continue eating."
"Prime Minister Lao is concerned about me, but I've been eating a lot of red deer meat recently and I'm really tired of it."
He casually found an excuse to put it off, and without waiting for the Prime Minister to ask questions, Zheng Pu said directly, "Prime Minister, Pu thinks that if our army sends troops again, the strategies of the three generals of Zuo can be combined into one strategy."
"Um."
With a slight nod of his head, Cheng seemed to have expected it and said, "Zijin will tell you carefully."
"promise."
After raising his hand, Zheng Pu stated the strategy he had in mind.
His suggestion was to follow the example of Han Xin in the past, who "built plank roads openly and built warehouses secretly".
With the left general Wei Yan as the main general and the senior generals Wu Yi, Wu Ban and Gao Xiang, they left Xiaoguan again and set up camp outside Chaona County, Anding County.
However, it is not as Wei Yan suggested, to decide the outcome of the Han Dynasty and the rebellious Wei.
Instead, he plans to call for reinforcements.
Because he and the Guanxing tribe were going to attack Zuli County in Wuwei County according to their original plan and threaten the north gate of Longyou.
The Northern General Ma Dai and the Cavalry Commander Zhao Guang will also march to the Wushui (Qingshui River) Valley to attack the Hu Zun and Xianbei Qifu tribes stationed in Gaoping County against the Wei Dynasty, and will reverse the continuous war between Guanzhong and Liangzhou
Completely cut off.
In this way, if the main force in Guanzhong against Wei sent troops to rescue Gaoping County, Wei Yan's troops would be targeted to send reinforcements.
If the rebels against the Wei Dynasty are not saved, Wei Yanbu will restrain them and achieve Guan Xing's plan - to cut off the Silk Road against the Wei Dynasty, allowing the Haoyou and Qianghu tribes in the four counties of Hexi to come spontaneously to seek the Han Dynasty for Shu brocade, tea, etc.
Materials.
The main force of Hanzhong County led by the Prime Minister was stationed on the small plain in Baoxie Valley as before, so Ma Cao Zhen, the commander-in-chief of the Counter-Wei Dynasty, did not dare to move the main force away.
The total number of these four armies was 80,000, which was almost the full force of the Han Dynasty.
However, it was all to confuse Ni Wei and create the illusion of "building a plank road in the Ming Dynasty".
The real "secret assassin" is Jiang Weibu!
Since Jiang Wei entered the Han Dynasty, he has never led an army to fight against the Wei Dynasty.
Ni Wei's detailed work could not reveal the details of the previous achievements of the thousands-mile attack to destroy the remnants of the Shenlang Qiang and the forced landing of the White Horse Qiang.
In other words, defeating a mere Qiang and Hu tribe was nothing to Ni Wei.
Therefore, in the eyes of many generals in the Reverse Wei Dynasty, Jiang Wei was still the lieutenant who was awarded the title of Zhonglang because his father died in battle; he was just a surrendered man who was awarded military power by the Han Dynasty "horse bones are sold for a thousand pieces of gold".
People with "no name".
No one would be too wary of him.
Furthermore, the troops and horses commanded by Jiang Wei have never been fixed.
The information Ni Wei Xizuo could detect was only the four thousand cavalry of Jiang Wei's headquarters.
But in fact, as long as the Han Dynasty gave enough money and materials and allowed Jiang Wei to recruit white horses, feudal lords, dangjian and other Qiang tribes, he could have more than 10,000 cavalry when the battle came.
Ni Wei has no way of knowing this!
What a surprise!
It was also the opportunity planned by Zheng Pu to conquer Liangzhou.
Just imagine, after Guo Huai in Jincheng County learned that all the troops of the Han Dynasty had appeared elsewhere, did he still think that the Han army would imitate Li Yan again and bypass Siwang Gorge to attack in secret?
After all, the big man wants to attack by surprise, but he doesn’t have enough troops!
Naturally, from a cautious point of view, he would never let the defenses of Siwang Gorge, Sangyuan Gorge and Wuting Nishui (Zhuanglang River) valley relax.
Or they could dispatch troops and horses to support the Fortress of Wuwei County.
In order to avoid falling into the big man's plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain.
The only possibility he had was to consider whether to send troops.
In order to force the Han army to return to the army and reduce the pressure on Guanzhong and Anding counties.
But it is unlikely that he will send troops.
Geographical advantages and disadvantages are often relative.
The closed location of Jincheng County made it difficult for the Han Dynasty to capture it and also made it difficult for the Wei army to send troops to attack.
Especially, for Guo Huai, if he sends troops, he can only choose to attack Pingxiang City.
Xiping County was abandoned once by Wei State.
If he sends troops to attack Xiping County, the Zhongqiang tribe in the Huangshui River Valley will take the initiative to bring their tribesmen to help in the battle without the need for the Han to promise benefits.
The two counties of Daxia and Didao in Longxi County are at odds with each other.
If he sends fewer troops, he will not be able to shake the Han army's defense; if he sends too many troops, there will be loopholes in Jincheng County's defense line.
However, no matter how he makes his choice, it will not affect Jiang Wei's "secret plot".
Because in Zheng Pu's plan, Jiang Wei wanted to rule Wudai, the leader of the Xiongnu tribe who had already vassalized the Han, and Bai Huwen led the way and went straight to attack the Eyin Fortress!
Of course!
It is not a direct attack on Jincheng County.
A golden city is as solid as a golden soup.
In ancient times, when Jincheng was named, it demonstrated the defensive advantages of this county's geographical location and was also the guarantee for the four counties in Hexi.
For the Han Dynasty, if Jincheng County is captured, the four counties in Hexi will be undefeated.
Without the continuous support of the Haoyou and Qianghu tribes from the Wei army, the Han wanted to take over the four counties of Hexi, but it was just a matter of time.
Ni Wei also understands such an obvious truth.
This is also the reason why Cao Zhen, the great Sima of the Wei Dynasty, had previously asked Xia Houru to abandon Xiping County and concentrate his troops to defend Jincheng County.
But thinking about it on the other hand, if the Han Dynasty captured the Jiyin Fortress, known as the "Gateway to the Hexi Corridor", and invaded Hexi from there, would Jincheng County, which was completely reduced to an isolated city, still be able to defend it?
Not to mention whether the morale of the Wei soldiers in the county will collapse.
Just from deducing the supply of grain, fodder and baggage, we know that Jincheng County cannot be defended.
The land in Liangzhou is barren, with only one county in Jincheng, which cannot supply the consumption of nearly 30,000 troops under Guo Huai's command.
If he reduces his troops and horses, he will destroy the Great Wall, allowing the Han army to find loopholes in the defense line to capture; if he levies excessive supplies for the army, it will cause a lot of resentment among the people in the county. There is no need for the Han army to attack, and those powerful rightists and Qianghu tribes
He took the initiative to open the city gate to greet him!
Say it with a dry mouth.
Zheng Pu picked up the wine cup and drank it, and after moistening his throat, he handed it over again and spoke.
"Prime Minister, there is still one shortcoming in Pu's plan. After General Zuo leads his troops out of Xiao Pass, will the lie become true and turn into a decisive battle between the two sides?"
"Um."
The Prime Minister made a soft nasal sound but did not make a sound immediately.
The hand that was originally rubbing the root of the nose was placed on the chin, gently twirling the beard and thinking.
Because Zheng Pu’s plan was slightly different from what he had in mind.
In the prime minister's heart, he also had no plans to attack Jincheng County, but he did have plans to capture Anding County.
Anding County, commonly known as Longdong.
The terrain is almost as high as Longyou, and much higher than Guanzhong, which is a flat plain.
If the Han Dynasty occupied Anding County, they could use the mobility of their cavalry to attack Guanzhong from a high position and use their troops to come and go freely, taking the initiative in the war into their hands.
Therefore, for the Han Dynasty, if they want to conquer Dingguanzhong, Anding County must be captured no matter what.
In terms of the current situation, if the Han Dynasty captures Anding County, the three assistants in Guanzhong who are rebelling against the Wei Dynasty will not be at peace!
It also allowed the big man to have some free time and slowly make plans for Liangzhou.
However, it is not easy to capture Anding County.
If you are not careful, it will turn into a decisive battle with Wei Wei in advance.
In contrast, what Zheng Pu now proposes is to first attack the Yin Fortress at the entrance to the Hexi Corridor, which is safer.
And the success rate is very high.
Although the soldiers and horses stationed in Wuwei County against the Wei Dynasty were 15,000 infantry and cavalry led by General Wei Ping, the troops were sufficient and there was no need to worry about holding on.
But after Zheng Pu and Guan Xing marched into Zuli County, Wei Ping was bound to send troops and horses to defend the Eryin Fortress.
As a surprise soldier, Jiang Weibu attacked from behind, and it was obvious that he succeeded with one blow.
In particular, he had previously led his army thousands of miles to attack the Qiang of the White Horse variety, so he did not need to worry about the long journey that would demoralize the soldiers and make them unwilling to fight to the death.
But just as Zheng Pu was worried, the confrontation between the two armies in Anding County was an uncontrollable factor.
It's not that I'm worried that Wei Yan will kill him first and then tell him.
No matter how fierce and unruly Wei Yan was, the Prime Minister would first write a letter to warn him and explain his strategy in detail. He would not dare to disobey the general's orders and miss the overall situation.
Instead, he was worried that Cao Zhen, the great Sima of the Wei Dynasty, would not send his army to Anding County.
Last year, after the prime minister and Zhao Yun led their troops into Guanzhong to contain the enemy, Cao Zhen began to make amends.
For example, in Yi County, Chencang City and other surrounding areas, many garrisons were built according to the terrain.
If it is just to hold on, the prime minister can send 20,000 troops out of Baoxie Valley, and Cao Zhen can hold on with more than 10,000 men.
"That's all, let Wu Ziyuan return to Hanzhong and take charge."
After being silent for a long time, the prime minister, who was determined, suddenly spoke up.
Zheng Pu was also shocked.
After a pause, he realized that the Prime Minister was planning to lead the army out of Xiao Pass in person.
In this way, the possibility of a decisive battle between the two armies can be resolved.
With the prime minister's cautious character, if he didn't want a decisive battle, Wei Cao Zhen wouldn't be able to force him to do so.
Furthermore, we should be cautious in military conflicts.
The prime minister personally led the army out of Xiaoguan. As the supreme commander of Wei State, Cao Zhen did not dare to fight easily.
After all, he didn't have much confidence that he could defeat the Prime Minister.
What's even more worrying is that if he is defeated, the entire Guanzhong will no longer be owned by Wei.
As for whether Hanzhong County will be attacked by troops from Jingzhou against Wei, there is no need to worry too much.
Wenpin, the governor of Jiangxia who rebelled against the Wei Dynasty and was deeply feared by Jiangdong, has died of illness.
The successor is Lu Shi.
Although there is no shortage of talents, not long after he took office, the hearts of the common people and soldiers in the county have not yet attached themselves to him.
Under such circumstances, the troops of Jingzhou against the Wei Dynasty could not attack Hanzhong County from the three eastern counties in large numbers. Otherwise, Zhu Ran, who was stationed in Jiangling City by Sun Wu and was always enterprising, would never let go of this.
Good opportunity.
If the rebellion against the Wei Dynasty only involves a small number of troops and horses, Wu Yi and Deng Zhi's talents and military strength can ensure that there is no need to worry.
