Shu Chen

Chapter 550
Before returning to the old capital and occupying Guanzhong, the Han Dynasty had no plans to include other places in its territory.

Whether it is the Hetao Plain or the seven counties of Jiaozhou, even Jingzhou is not tempted at all.

Because of the decline of national power, Gein has no power to listen.

Therefore, for Ma Zhong, who was in charge of the partial division that invaded Jiaozhou from Nanzhong, the Prime Minister only told him to disturb Jiaozhou as much as possible, and let Jiangdong send more troops to the south, so as to create opportunities for Zheng Pu, the main force along the way, to severely injure the Wu army.

It's just that when Meng Yan returned from Hanzhong to Nanzhong and Ma Zhong gathered everyone to discuss, everyone felt that this Han-Wu war might be the main battlefield in Jiaozhou.

Without him, after the previous Yiling battle, Jiangdong's defensive line in Zigui County would hardly have any loopholes.

In addition, the big Han sent troops from Kuimen, and there was no possibility of concealing the marching route; in addition, Lu Xun was already sitting in Jiangling City, and Bu Zhi had returned to Jingnan to guard the Xiling Gorge. It is also difficult to break the deadlock.

But it's not the case for them to be partial teachers.

It can be said that the right time, place and people are all on the side of the Han army.

The so-called time of day is naturally the Liao Fang rebellion that lasted for a year, which brought turmoil to Jiaozhou and the loss of food, fodder and supplies. There is also the fact that the scholars of Jiaozhou feared Lu Dai but did not cherish morality.

The geographical advantage is that Jiangdong cannot rely on dangerous points or passes to prevent the Han army from going south.

Although the route of the Han army from Nanzhong to Jiaozhou can be predicted in Jiangdong, they cannot predict which route of the Han army will be the main force!

What's more, the soldiers stationed in Nanzhong are good at crossing mountains and ridges. Under the command of Shen You, who is familiar with the geography of Jiaozhou's mountains and rivers, under the leadership of Jiaozhou righteous men, it is almost impossible for Jiangdong to change the route and which county to attack. Looking for it can be said to be unexpected, and it is up to me to advance or retreat.

As for the aspect of human harmony, it is the chance of the Han army's victory this time.

Not to mention Wu Dang, a survivor of the Great Han Dynasty who came to Chengdu to write a book before. There are more than [-] people from his clan and villages and barbarian tribes who are willing to fight for the Great Han. He can decide the outcome of a war at a specific moment; When the Shi family was wiped out in Jiangdong, those Haoyou and barbarian tribes who were suppressed and liquidated because of their attachment to the Shi family were enough to make the turmoil in Jiaozhou become a raging fire, and it could make the march of the big Han become the hope of the people!

Yes, at the end of last year, Shen You, who had just returned from Hanzhong, was dispatched by Ma Zhong, and sneaked back to his hometown with the Jiaozhou righteous men under his command.

Only by knowing the enemy and knowing yourself can we be invincible in a hundred battles.

In the early stage of the outbreak of the war, it was very common for Ma Zhong to let Shen You go to obtain enemy intelligence in order to better deploy and deduce tactics.

But what I didn't expect was that Ma Zhong and the other generals were very surprised by the news Shen You brought back.

However, Shen You, who was determined to avenge his father's generation, used to roam around Jingnan and Jiaozhou as a merchant, not only cooperating with reckless people and raising dead soldiers, but also driven by the same hatred to make friends with those who were suppressed by Jiangdong .

When he went north to enter the Han Dynasty, he even privately invited these "fellow people" to go with him.

But at that time, these people felt that Han and Wu were still allies, and they could not benefit them if they voted, so they rejected them with reasons such as "the hometown is hard to leave" and "the time has not yet come".

But this time Shen You sneaked back to Jiaozhou, and before they went to find these people, they took the initiative to contact them.

Every transition of authority is accompanied by a reshuffle of rights.

As the losers who have been purged and suppressed, the only way they want to regain their former interests is for the Han army to replace Jiangdong as the controller of Jiaozhou.

Naturally, in the process, they would also gamble with the Han army with their wealth and lives.

If the battle goes well, they will return with glory.

However, if the Han army stopped fighting if they could not accomplish anything, they would be held accountable by Jiangdong and face the consequences of death and family extinction.

Therefore, they asked Shen You to write letters to Ma Zhong and others, which contained very little content related to the distribution of benefits, and they repeatedly emphasized the need to be clear about the purpose of the Han army to "restore Jiaozhou" or "disturb the enemy's rear".

It was also their letters that in a disguised form contributed to the harmony of the "Southern people" within the Han army.

After the former Prime Minister’s Southern Expedition, the southerners “Jiao, Yong, Lou, Cuan, Meng, Liang, Mao, and Li” also ushered in a reshuffle of power. Those who participated in the rebellion declined, and those who devoted themselves to their duties immediately rose.

For example, Li Hui, who had been the governor all his life, even after he died and moved his clan to settle in Hanzhong County, his son Li Yi was still awarded the prefect of Jianning by the court, leading the county almost hereditaryly; It is said that regardless of military power or official power, they are all powerful people who rank first among the generals of the Han Dynasty.

But the feats and blessings of the father's generation will always be exhausted one day.

With the passage of time, the authority of the Nanzhong counties was slowly taken back by the imperial court, and the smooth Northern Expedition made many Xiaohaoyou and barbarian tribes in the Nanzhong land get meritorious service and become the powers that are qualified to distribute their hometowns. The prestige of the eight surnames of the southerners also decreased accordingly.

They all know that if there are no new merits and interests to share, then the title of "Southern" will no longer be unique to the eight surnames.

And this attack on Jiaozhou is a good opportunity.

If some counties and counties in Jiaozhou are captured, a new power vacuum will appear in the Han court.

According to the detainment policy that the Han Dynasty has always implemented in remote areas, Jiaozhou Haoyou, who wrote letters to ask for attachment and intends to help form the Han army, is one of the beneficiaries; With power and surveillance, those Jiaozhou tyrants are the best choice.

They are the biggest beneficiaries besides the imperial court!
Therefore, the southerners were extremely enthusiastic about this war and could not wait.

Meng Yan had just returned to Nanzhong from Hanzhong, and Li Yi, who had long been impatient with the urging of the southerners, came to visit and expressed the desire of the southerners to fight.

Originally, Meng Yan didn't intend to pay attention to it.

Due to his involvement in the Northern Expedition, his clan "Zhu Timeng" had already migrated to Shu County.

How can the prime minister's dispatch miss the country's merits because of the southerners' request for war?

But Li Yi, who was in the same situation, spread his hands helplessly before he could politely refuse, and told the reason why he was urged, the reason why he couldn't refuse.

Said:
"Zhu Timeng's family is the same as my family, and they all moved out of Nanzhong. The other branches and other surnames accused our two families of not remembering the past when our ancestors were in trouble, and we were together and vowed to watch each other."

Meng Yan responded silently to this.

This time, the southerners spontaneously summoned trilogy and strong men from the village to respond to the war. At a small scale, it is seeking self-interest, but at a high level, isn't it a desire to serve the country!
It's just that Ma Zhong wants to change the purpose of this battle from harassment to occupation.

And Meng Yan could not refuse.

What if, after being rejected, these southerners feel uneasy and refuse to try their best, which leads to a difficult battle?

On this route from Nanzhong, the influence of the Nanren has penetrated into almost every soldier. How can people's hearts be divided before the battle!
(End of this chapter)