Prancing Horse Xiliang

Chapter 271 Liu Yan is Dead
In 194 AD, in October of the second year of Jian'an.

Luo Zheng didn't wait for the Sanfu area to be completely stabilized, so he ordered Gao Shun to lead [-] troops out of Chang'an to the east, preparing to capture Hongnong County in one fell swoop, guard the natural danger of Hangu Pass, and then slowly manage the pass to accumulate vitality.

After receiving Zhang Ji's request for help, Li Jue, who ruled Luoyang under the separatist regime, immediately ordered his nephew Li Li to lead an army of [-] troops to help.

Li Jue had a grudge against Luo Zheng, and if Luo Zheng unified Guanzhong, he would be in trouble.

Therefore, no matter Yu Gong is here, Li Jue must send troops to help, and Luo Zheng must not let Luo Zheng capture Hongnong County again.

Gao Shun led the army to Huayin County, and defeated Li Li's army who underestimated the enemy in the area of ​​Bing Township. He was about to take advantage of the victory and pursue it. not out.

Li Li also took the opportunity to gather the defeated army, and set up a camp on the mountain road opposite Zhang Ji's camp, forming horns with each other.

Gao Shun led the army to attack Zhang Ji, and Li Lili's army came to attack; to attack Li Li, Zhang Ji led the army to attack.

This stalemate lasted for more than ten days. At the beginning of November, Gao Shun sent his troops to pretend to attack Zhang Ji's camp in the middle of the night, but secretly mobilized elite troops to station at the foot of the mountain. Captured Li Li's camp.

Li Li also failed to escape, and was beheaded by Gao Shun in front of the battle. Most of the ten thousand army was captured, and less than 3000 people fled.

Zhang Ji was shocked when he heard the news. While guarding the camp, he rushed eight hundred miles to seek help from Li Jue, and asked his nephew Zhang Xiu to go to Hedong in person to show his strength. He asked Yang Feng, who occupied Hedong, to send troops to help him.

Yang Feng also felt that it was not safe to be a neighbor with the aggressive Luo Zheng. Moreover, Luo Zheng already had ten counties in Liangzhou. If he were to conquer Guanzhong, the east of the river would only be one county. At that time, what would he do to resist Luo Zheng? murderer.

After thinking about it left and right, General Xu Huang immediately led eight thousand troops to help out.

Gao Shun sent his army to storm Zhang Ji's camp for more than ten days, but he was unable to break it. When he wanted to turn around and defeat Xu Huang's [-] troops first, the snow fell suddenly, and the ground turned into a vast expanse of white overnight. OK.

A few days passed, and the weather did not clear up.

Although the soldiers added winter clothes, some wounded soldiers still froze to death in the middle of the night.

Gao Shun had no choice but to temporarily withdraw to Zheng County to rest.

In Chang'an, a heavy snow covered up the pungent smell of blood.

Luo Zheng stood at the top of the city and looked up into the distance, sighing: "It's really not the time for this heavy snow!"

Jia Xu said: "Although the pace of our army's eastward advance has been postponed, this winter is not so easy for Zhang Jilai. Hongnong has only more than a hundred thousand people, and cannot support Zhang Ji's [-] army. Some soldiers have fled, and by the end of this winter, it is estimated that there will not be many of Zhang Ji's ten thousand troops left."

Luo Zheng nodded and asked: "What's the matter with Yang Feng, dare to touch the general's bad luck?"

Jia Xu said: "Yang Feng occupies Hedong, so he naturally doesn't want to see the lord conquer Guanzhong smoothly."

Luo Zheng said: "Thousands of soldiers and horses dare to try to separate one side. However, Hedong is the northern gate of Guan. If you go north, you can go straight to Jinyang, go east to enter Shangdang through Yang'a, and go west to attack Xihe and Shangjun. And other places, connecting Liangzhou into one piece, the geographical location is very important, we must take it. After driving Zhang Ji away, we have to attack Hedong with all our strength."

Jia Xu was familiar with Guanzhong's geography for a long time. He had read the map countless times. He heard the words and replied: "If you want to take Hedong, why wait until you drive Zhang Ji away? Yang Feng wants to separate the regime but rejects the lord, so he sent troops to help Zhang Ji to stop it." With General Gao Shun's army, Anyi will definitely be empty. In the spring of the coming year, the lord only needs to send a fine cavalry north to Xiayang to cross the river, cross Longmen Mountain from the trail, and then attack Anyi directly."

Luo Zheng's heart moved, and he said: "There is a small road in Longmen Mountain, and the general knows it, but can the cavalry pass?"

Jia Xu said: "Your Majesty, I have already asked Gongying to inquire carefully. If you don't bring luggage, the cavalry can cross Longmen Mountain."

Luo Zhengji said: "Excellent, if a fine cavalry suddenly kills the city of Anyi from the side, let's see what kind of expression Yang Feng will have at that time. As long as Yang Feng can be forced to land, Xu Huang's [-] troops will be It must be in the pocket of the general."

Jia Xu said with a sinister smile, "If you can make an emergency landing on Yang Feng, breaking Zhang Ji's army will be effortless!"

Luo Zheng also thought of a poisonous plan in an instant, and looked at Jia Xu, and the two treacherous men laughed at the same time.

"Lord!"

At this moment, Cheng Ying quickly stepped onto the top of the wall with a serious expression on his face.

Luo Zheng asked: "Gongying is in a hurry, but what happened?"

Cheng Ying said: "Mi Zifang sent an urgent report from Hanzhong that Liu Yan in Yizhou died of illness."

"What, Liu Yan is dead?"

Luo Zheng was taken aback, and then reacted.

Cheng Ying replied: "Exactly, Mi Zifang took a trip to Xichuan, and now he has just arrived in Hanzhong. After finding out the news from Hanzhong, someone sent the news over. It is said that the third son of Liu Yan will take over the position of Yizhou Mu. Liu Zhang."

Luo Zhengdao: "Liu Yan is dead, Zhang Lu should be happy!"

Jia Xu said: "Although Zhang Lu only wants to occupy Hanzhong and become the grass-headed king, he has no ambition to expand abroad, but if there is chaos in Yizhou, it will be hard to say. It's just that the center of gravity of our army is not in Xichuan. I don't know Liu Will Xichuan be in chaos after Yan's death?"

Cheng Yingdao: "The possibility of civil strife in Xichuan is very unlikely. After Liu Yan entered Sichuan, he used a group of scholars who followed him to Sichuan, and completely suppressed the local indigenous people in Xichuan. Wei, Pang Xi, etc. are in power, and they all support Liu Zhang to continue to lead Yizhou, and I am afraid that there will be no chaos for the time being."

Luo Zheng asked: "How is Liu Zhang?"

Cheng Ying said: "The nature is dark and warm, not enough to accomplish great things."

Jia Xu said: "I have also heard a little bit that Zhao Wei, Pang Xi and others are all in power. If Liu Zhang is stronger, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get the support of these people. Liu Zhang is cowardly, so Zhao Wei, Pang Xi and others are in charge. .”

Luo Zheng sighed and said: "If the master is weak, the subjects will be strong. This is a principle that is not easy through the ages!"

Jia Xu, Cheng Ying and the others all kept their mouths shut. As courtiers, they are not easy to talk about this kind of topic.

Luo Zheng then asked again, "Is it possible for our army to take Xichuan?"

Jia Xu said: "If you want to take Xichuan, you must first go to Hanzhong. Zhang Lu in Hanzhong has tens of thousands of troops, and it is very popular among the people, and Hanzhong is surrounded by mountains. The center of gravity of the strategy is in the Central Plains. After the central plains are pacified and enough money, food and troops have been accumulated, they will actively go out of Hangu and march eastward. As long as the Central Plains and Jingyang are leveled, the general will lead a division into Sichuan and Dingding. Focusing on Xichuan will only disrupt our army's strategic plan."

Luo Zheng thought about it, so he followed the good advice and stopped discussing it.

This time is indeed not the time to take Xichuan. Once the troops are delayed, it is inevitable that the situation in the Central Plains will not be taken into account.

Xichuan is no better than Liangzhou. Xichuan's gentry clan has deep-rooted influence, and Sichuan people are extremely xenophobic.

Even if it can be defeated with troops, it will have to be stationed heavily to suppress Xichuan's gentry and all kinds of turmoil. As for Xichuan's complete stability, then I don't know how long it will be delayed, and how can I care about the Central Plains.

Puyang, Cao Cao's official residence.

Seeing that the year was over again, Cao Cao called a group of confidants, civil and military, to discuss military and political strategies.

When the military discussion was about to end, Cheng Yu got up and went out for a while, and came back soon.

"Lord!"

After Cheng Yu returned to Xilie, he bowed his hands to Cao Cao and said, "Just now the details came back from Guanzhong. The [-] troops sent by Li Jue to Guanzhong have been stroked by the whole army. Li Li's nephew Li Li was also sent by Luo Zheng's troops Slash Gao Shun!"

Cao Cao's eyes were fixed, and he said in a deep voice: "Has Luo Zheng ever captured Hongnong?"

Cheng Yu said: "My lord, don't worry, Governor Yang Feng of Hedong sent General Xu Huang to lead [-] troops south to Huayin, and there was a heavy snowfall in Guanzhong. Gao Shun has already led his army back to Zheng County. Zhang Ji should be able to last for a while."

Cao Cao said worriedly: "That fellow Luo Zheng has been recuperating in Liangzhou for two years, and he has enough food and supplies for his troops. This time, he will definitely not leave Guanzhong. I really don't have much confidence in Zhang Ji and others!"

Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, Chen Gong and others all nodded their heads, and they were all unfavorable to Zhang Ji and Yang Feng.

Cao Cao said in a deep voice: "Luo Zheng has the benefits of gold and rice. As long as Liangzhou has a big harvest, there will be no worries about food and grass. As long as that guy can completely pacify Guanzhong, within two or three years, he will make a big move eastward, leaving behind Time is running out for our army."

Guo Jia took it seriously and said: "My lord's words are very true. The benefits of golden rice are really as important as the land of the country!"

Everyone also nodded, what is Sheji, Sheji is to make the people full and there will be no famine.

Golden rice is as important as the country, and there is indeed no exaggeration.

For all princes, food is absolutely the foundation and foundation of everything.With food, there will be everything. This is not a joke, but the foundation of all governance and rule. If the people are full, they will not flee or go into exile.

With enough food, all other materials can be exchanged.

Especially in this war-torn era of general shortage, food is definitely the core strategic material.

Cheng Yudao: "Fortunately, that guy Luo Zheng cut himself off from the gentry in the world, and the territory he conquered was unmanaged, so he had to send troops to guard the various places, which delayed his pace of external expansion. Otherwise, this guy would be able to fight Luoyang within two years at most .”

Guo Jiadao: "So, there is not much time left for the lord. Our army must completely drive Yuan Shu to Huainan before Luo Zheng leaves Hangu East Gate, and then unite with the princes of the world to give Luo Zheng a head-on blow, making him ten years old. If you are unable to advance eastward, the lord will have the opportunity to unify the Central Plains and Hebei, and then determine the world."

Cheng Yu took it seriously and said, "That's right, if this fellow completely pacifies Guanzhong, he will surely become a disaster for the princes of the world. Presumably Yuan Shao, Liu Biao and the others would not want to see this fellow sit in power in Guanzhong. The Lord can use him!"

Cao Cao nodded and said, "Leave that aside, the most urgent thing is to drive Yuan Shu to Huainan as soon as possible."

Guo Jia said: "My lord, we need to guard against the alliance between Yuan Shu and Tao Qian, and send troops to attack the rear of our army."

Cao Cao said awe-inspiringly: "What Feng Xiao said is true, and this matter must be guarded against. Although Tao Qian is old, but many of the Xuzhou gentry have former officials of the Yuan family, they may not be persuaded by Yuan Shu, and Zhong De should run away for a while. Go to Xuzhou and lobby the Xuzhou gentry!"

Cheng Yu cupped his hands and said, "I obey."

Hongnong, the official residence of Zhang Ji.

"Uncle, the situation is not very good!"

Zhang Xiu said to Zhang Ji: "For the past two years, our army has been short of food and grass, and this year's autumn grain is in short supply. Now the soldiers have two meals a day, and each meal can only eat half a bowl of porridge. Not to mention the low morale, the mood is also very unstable. !"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Ji sighed for a long time, his brows were almost knit together, and he sighed: "What can we do, Hongnong only has more than [-] people, which is not enough to support the army under his command! It's a pity that golden rice cannot be cultivated, otherwise, Why is our army in danger of food and grass? By the way, how about Jinrong going to Hedong to borrow food, will Yang Feng be willing to borrow the general's army food?"

Zhang Xiu said "Hey" and said: "Don't mention it, uncle, that guy Yang Feng also has many excuses to push back."

Zhang Ji asked in surprise, "What did Yang Feng say?"

Zhang Xiudao: "That guy Yang Feng said that he also has no food in the army, and he wants to borrow some from his uncle!"

Zhang Ji frowned and said, "From Jinrong's point of view, is there any shortage of food in Yang Feng's army?"

Zhang Xiu thought for a while, and said: "Yang Feng probably didn't lie to my nephew. According to my observation, Yang Feng really doesn't have much food and grass. There are only tens of thousands of people in Hedong, which are fewer than the people of Hongnong. They have to feed Yang Feng's soldiers and horses." It is indeed not easy!"

Zhang Ji sighed, too worried to think about food and drink.

Since Dong Zhuo was killed and the Liang Kingdom was destroyed less than half a year after its founding, he hadn't had a good night's sleep. Not only did he have to guard against the surrounding warlords' invasion of the country, but he also had to feed the stomachs of the troops under his command. His hair became grey. .

But there is no other way. Food is not a tree in the mountains. If it is gone, it can be returned. It has to be planted by the people.

(End of this chapter)