Ji Han Liu Zhang

Seeing that a group of Hanzhong knights who came to investigate heard the sound of drums and rode back, without waiting for the Shu soldiers to start leaving camp and then retreating, the brave Gan Ning let out a cry of disdain: "What a coward."

"It's not necessarily timid, these knights are just cautious... After all, they don't know the situation in our army. How do they know that there are no elite cavalry in our army, and there are only some Nanzhong horses at the moment, which is not harmful to them. "... When you don't know the truth, it's normal to retreat when you hear the sound of drums." Liu Zhang shook his head. Sometimes being timid is not necessarily a bad thing. Usually, when a person encounters a mature tiger, he will definitely He hid his body without being noticed by the tiger. This cannot be called cowardly. All he can say is that he cherishes his life. Of course, it would be a different matter if this person's surname was Wu Mingsong.

Fa Zheng sneered: "What's the use of the rice thief being cautious now? Our army has occupied Dingjun Mountain, and Hanzhong will be ours sooner or later... If the rice thief is really a cautious person, he should destroy everything in Micang Mountain." The roads should be blocked, rather than just relying on the inconvenience of access in the mountains and forests to ignore the defense."

Gan Ning objected: "It can't be done. Hanzhong has few troops. If we defend everywhere, we will be outnumbered everywhere. We can only defend important passes, such as Yangping Pass, the main road of Micang Mountain, and the many small roads." Come on defense.”

Fazheng nodded. He agreed with Gan Ning's words, but he had a different opinion: "It can't be done, but Zhang Lu, the rice thief, didn't even send any scouts to attack the mountains and forests on the south bank of Mianshui River. The indifference caused our army to move forward without any obstacles, and it was easy to advance along the mountains. When we strode to Dingjun Mountain, we knew that his people were short-sighted and relied too much on the dangers of mountains and rivers... Otherwise, they would be rice thieves. As long as we detect the movements of our army and then set up a camp on a hilltop somewhere along the route of our army and place more than a thousand troops, our army will never be able to reach Dingjun Mountain so easily."

"A wise man must make a mistake after thinking a lot...Besides, how could the rice thief have thought of this strange trick of our army?" Liu Zhang was in a good mood now. He made a derogatory sentence to Zhang Lu. Now he occupied Dingjun Mountain and was condescending. Looking down at Zhang Lu, it's like Cao Cao captured Jingzhou in history and shared control of the natural dangers of the Yangtze River with Jiangdong Sun Quan. Moreover, Jingzhou is located in the upper reaches of Jiangdong, with the potential of Mount Tai to top it.

Under this situation, Liu Zhang expected that the internal affairs of Hanzhong would be the same as Jiangdong. Except for a few civil and military officials, most of them would want to surrender. However, Liu Zhang was too lazy to guess what Zhang Lu's tent was thinking about being civilized and military. After all, whether Hanzhong would open the city to surrender, the decision-making power rested with Zhang Lu, who had the military power. Zhang Lu's tent's tendency to be civilized and military was not very important.

Liu Zhang could probably guess what Zhang Lu was thinking. He concluded that there was a high probability that Zhang Lu would not surrender. Historically, Zhang Lu was defeated by Cao Cao and took refuge in Badi. At that time, Liu Bei sent Huang Quan to meet Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu was very angry. He said that he would rather be a slave to Cao Cao than a guest to Liu Bei, which shows that Zhang Lu has great prejudice against the surname Liu.

As for where Zhang Lu's prejudice against the Liu family came from, Liu Zhang sighed silently in his heart. It was not the fault of his good father Liu Yan. As a shepherd in Yizhou, Liu Yan was not good at playing with any woman. He married Zhang Lu's mother, Lu, and played with her as a widow. The widow's son was not allowed to have any objections.

It's just whether Zhang Lu is willing to surrender or not. This has nothing to do with the overall situation. Zhang Lu's opinion is not important now. If he agrees, Hanzhong belongs to Liu Zhang. If he disagrees, Hanzhong still belongs to Liu Zhang.

Liu Zhang stood on the top of Dingjun Mountain and looked around. When the sun was bright, he could see the Han River across Hanzhong from a distance. The Han River looked like a silvery white line under the reflection of the sun. The ribbon is winding and flowing into the distance.

"Hanzhong must be mine, and there is nothing Zhang Lu can do." ’ Liu Zhang and his big-eared compatriot made the same sigh, but their powerless opponents were different.

Of course, when the chances of winning were greater, Liu Zhang consciously needed to be more careful, because at this time, people tend to be careless and fail to notice subtle changes in the situation. It is easy for the enemy to take advantage of him and end up with a big defeat.

Historically, Cao Cao's failure to unify the world was more or less due to Cao Cao's tendency to become careless in good times. In the battle of Ruwan City, Zhang Xiu surrendered with his army. Boss Cao got carried away and killed the three sages with one shot. The eldest son Cao Ang, his favorite general Dian Wei, and his nephew Cao Anmin were all killed in Wancheng, plus a peerless horse Jueying. Another example is the Battle of Chibi, when Liu Cong surrendered Jingzhou. Boss Cao was so happy that he ignored the Sun-Liu alliance and ruined the chance to unify the world.

With Cao Cao's stone in front of him, Liu Zhang was confident that he could easily cross the Hanzhong river by touching Cao Cao's stone.

At night, inside the military tent in Dingjun Mountain.

"Why does Duke Ming need to come here in person? He only needs to send one of his important ministers here, while Duke Ming waits for news of the great victory outside Yangping Pass." Fazheng asked a question. He thought Liu Zhang randomly appointed Huang Quan, the chief secretary, or It was enough for Zhonglang General Yang Huai to go to Dingjun Mountain to command the battle, but Liu Zhang came here in person and was on the front line with the dignity of a Ming Gong. He somewhat lost his composure.

Liu Zhang listened to the howling mountain wind outside the tent, and the black shadows on the tent illuminated by the torches outside the tent fluttering in the wind, swaying without stopping. He chuckled: "Now that Dingjun Mountain is the hanger of Hanzhong, I will do it myself." I want to come here to compete with Zhang Lu... With me here, the morale of the soldiers will naturally be high. In this way, we can capture Hanzhong early, move our troops to Guanzhong, and rescue the Guanzhong elders from the bloody rule of Li Jue and Guo Si. .”

‘Send troops to Guanzhong! ! ! "Liu Zhang said a lot, but Fazheng only listened to one sentence. As a person from Fufeng in Guanzhong, if he hadn't really had no choice, how could he move his family to Shu? As the saying goes, this golden nest is not as good as a silver nest. Although he is in Hanzhong, his heart is still in Fufeng.

Fazheng looked at Liu Zhang with bright eyes. He raised his hands and praised from the bottom of his heart: "If so, I am here to thank Ming Gong on behalf of my elders in Guanzhong."

Liu Zhang waved his hand: "There is no need to say thank you. As a clan member, I am responsible for fighting off thieves for the country and bringing peace to the people." Here Liu Zhang sighed: "The world is in endless chaos and the people are bleeding. The root cause is filial piety." Emperor Ling favors villains and favors virtuous ministers. He favors eunuchs and sells his officials to gain titles. He has made the world muddy, which is why the world is so turbulent."

Fazheng was silent. He did not take up the conversation. This topic was too sensitive. Although the world was difficult and bloodshed, most people in the world blamed Shi Changshi for this, thinking that it was Shi Changshi who bewitched Emperor Xiaoling. He did not dare to blame Emperor Xiaoling and bluntly stated Emperor Xiaoling's fault. After all, loyalty to the emperor needs to be upheld.

However, the Ming Gong he was superior to was actually the fault of Emperor Xiaoling. Fazheng did not dare to express his response, but he recognized it in his heart. At the same time, he looked at Liu Zhang's resolute face and sighed in his heart. , this is what a man should have.

One night passed, Liu Zhang got up early, went to the top of Dingjun Mountain, and looked down at the movements of the Han soldiers. The weather at the end of July was very good. The morning sun was bright and lazy, casting light and warmth.

With the help of the sun, Liu Zhang saw the Han soldiers digging trenches at the foot of Dingjun Mountain, erecting antlers, and erecting fences as defenses. It seemed that they were trying to surround them and prevent them from going down the mountain. Liu Zhang thought for a while. If the Han soldiers were to attack them with their backs on the mountain, that would be a stupid move. Now the Han soldiers were in a siege and defense posture, which may be Zhang Lu's best choice.

It's just Zhang Lu's choice that reminded Liu Zhang of an old friend.

At this thought, Liu Zhang sneered. He remembered how Bai Di General Xia Houyuan died. Of course, Xia Houyuan's death was partly because he was the commander-in-chief and did not read the motto of a rich man who cannot sit down and go to repair. Antlers, but more importantly, the Shu army was condescending, and every move of the Wei soldiers was under the eyes of the Shu army.

Just like now, where there are many Han soldiers at the foot of the mountain and where there are few, where the fortifications are complete and where there are gaps, Liu Zhang looked down from the top of Dingjun Mountain and could see at a glance that the fighter opportunities were completely in his hands.

Now Liu Zhang realized the joy of Zhang Wei and Li Xiu who guarded the old and new Yangping Pass in Hanzhong. They stood high and could see far. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty when there were no reconnaissance planes, it was really a big advantage.
-

Chenggu County, within the clan of the wealthy Zhang family.

An ox was pulled to the center of the crowd by the servants. Soon a wooden basin was placed under the ox's neck. After placing the wooden basin, four or five strong men overturned the ox. On the ground, at the same time, a sharp knife pierced the ox's neck, and bright red blood flowed down from the ox's neck.

Zhang Lixiu, the acting patriarch of the Zhang family, important figures of the Zhang family, and the guests from Chenggu Ranger Chen Diao watched the scene quietly. They are going to do a big thing today, and before doing this big thing, they need to make an oath.

The oaths of this era required the blood of animals to make alliances based on blood, so this scalper was unlucky.

The scalper was fatally injured. It couldn't help but move its hooves in an attempt to stand up and escape. However, under the restraints of the four or five strong men's hands, which were like steel bars, the scalper, even though it had the strength of a thousand catties, was powerless and could only Helplessly shed blood, helplessly lose vitality, and helplessly die.

When the blood from the scalper's neck stopped gushing out, the scalper, which was being used as a tool, was carried away from the place by Zhang's servants.

Zhang Lixiu took a step forward, first stretched out two fingers and dipped them in the cow's blood, and wiped the slightly warm cow's blood on her lips. The stained lips were extremely bright, and then she took a step back and waited for the others to complete the ceremony.

Zhang's children and Chen Tiao's old guests came forward one after another at this time, picked up the cow's blood from the wooden basin, and smeared it on their lips. Their eyes were firm and there was no hesitation. The matter had come to this, and there was no room for it. What did they hesitate for.

After everyone had completed the ceremony, Zhang Lixiu glanced around with a solemn expression, and she said in a firm tone: "The rice thieves rebelled and murdered Mr. Su Fu, my husband Mr. Zhao, and Mr. Cheng Gu Chen in the past. He is indeed a heinous person, but it is a pity that the country was in troubled times and had no time to punish the rice thieves, which allowed the rice thieves to roam freely in Hanzhong... And now there is Liu Yizhou, who is a heroic man. He once leveled Ba County and later settled Nanzhong. At present, we are sending troops to attack the rice thieves, but due to the danger of Yangping Pass, there is some trouble. However, because of this, we, the heroes of Hanzhong, should raise our troops to respond to Liu Yizhou, so that Liu Yizhou understands that there are also loyal and upright people in Hanzhong, not just all of them. He's a ghost."

"Now we should make a solid move, but it will shock Zhang Lu and respond to Liu Yizhou. I also hope that all the gentlemen will help me." Zhang Li repaired his helmet and armor. The armor was coated with a layer of silver, which was extremely bright under the direct sunlight. At the same time, Her figure makes her look heroic and extraordinary. Although she is a woman, she is not inferior to that of a man.

"Of course, but it's driven by my wife." Zhang's children and former guests of You Xia Chen Diao responded one after another. Everyone responded in unison, and their bold words soared into the sky.

Zhang Lixiu smiled slightly and nodded. She glanced to the east without noticing. That was where Nanzheng was. Her uncle Zhang Jun was detained by Zhang Lu and sent to Nanzheng. Now that she was doing something in Chenggu, Zhang Jun was afraid It was a dangerous situation, but there was only a moment of worry on her face. Remembering Zhang Jun's instructions to her before leaving for Nanzheng, her eyes instantly became firm, and she waved her hand: "Let's go."

Following Zhang Lixiu's order, the Zhang family's descendants and the guests from the old days of the ranger Chen Tiao picked up their swords or spears one after another, and stepped out of the Zhang family's territory in groups, heading towards Chengdu. Go to the lair of Tianshi Dao in Gu County.

The Zhang family has been operating in Chenggu for a long time and is deeply entangled in Chenggu County. Although after Zhang Lu took over Hanzhong, Zhang did not join the Tianshi Dao because he was dissatisfied with the Tianshi Dao, and was secretly criticized by the Tianshi Dao. A blow, but as a wealthy family, the Zhang family naturally has a solid foundation. Over the years, the Zhang family still firmly holds the title of the first wealthy family in Chenggu.

In addition, most of Chenggu's elite ghost soldiers were transferred away by Zhang Lu, either to defend Yangping Pass or to defend the north entrance of Micang Road. Now they are in charge of Tianshi Daojiu's subordinates in Chenggu County. Insufficient troops.

Therefore, after the ghost soldiers of Chenggu County reported the news of Zhang's uprising, the Jijiu immediately made a wise decision-abandoned the city and fled. While the Jijiu ordered his ghost soldiers to stick to the official temple, he led the The cronies under his command fled across the city and ran non-stop towards Nanzheng, heading towards the headquarters of Tianshi Dao in Hanzhong.

The ghost soldiers who were left behind by the Chenggu County sacrificial wine were easily defeated by Zhang Lixiu after losing their mastermind. After seizing the official temple, Zhang Lixiu issued an order for martial law throughout the city. At the same time, she assigned soldiers to occupy the temple. After checking the four-corner tower in Chenggu County, they also took inventory of the food and supplies in Chenggu County.

But to Zhang Lixiu's disappointment, most of the grain stored in the official temple in Chenggu County was transported to Nanzheng, and there was not much grain left. She could only rely on Zhang's grain storehouse and purchasing grain and grass from the residents of Chenggu County. Used to stick to it.

However, with the current amount of food and supplies, Zhang Lixiu was confident of holding on to Chenggu for three to five months. Now she came to the city tower in the east of Chenggu County, raised her eyes and looked to the east, quietly waiting for the army of rice thieves to attack. (End of chapter)