Great Han Empire

Chapter 940 Troubled Times Heroic Chapter Wins Central Plains
In August, Yingchuan battlefield.

Yan Liang received a letter from Wang Dang and Wu Xiong on the front line of Rushui River, saying that the rebels had withdrawn from Dagu Pass and that the outer defense line of Luoyang had been broken through by the army.Yan Liang was overjoyed, and immediately ordered Wen Chou to lead the [-] troops stationed in Yangzhai and Yangcheng to go north to Yuyuan Pass, and ordered Xu Huang to lead [-] troops to Yique Pass to join the main force as soon as possible and attack Luoyang.

Under the command of Wen Chou, half of the [-] troops on the Yingchuan battlefield rushed into Luoyang City.

In mid-August, Yan Liang received a letter from the general.The main force of the army will attack Luoyang City in September, and there is still one month left. In order to ensure Yingchuan's safety, you'd better use this month's time to take the initiative to attack and push the front line to Luyang and Kunyang. In this way, when the army is attacking Luoyang City, even if Yingchuan is counterattacked by Jingzhou and Yuzhou troops, you can still use Luyang, Kunyang, Linying, Xinji and other cities to block the enemy from outside Yingchuan.General Peng Lie will launch an attack on the front line of Suiyang to contain Yuan Tan, help General Song Xian defend the southern part of Yingchuan, and cooperate with you in the battle on the western front of Yuzhou.Please quickly concentrate all your troops and strive to complete the attack target in the shortest possible time.

Yan Liang immediately assembled an army of [-] cavalry to attack the rebels. The two sides fought fiercely in Yangyinli on the west bank of Rushui River.

The rebels had a clear advantage in terms of military strength. Although Zhang Xiu, Ji Ling, Lu Mian, and Mustafa tried their best, they failed to make progress.However, because of the siege of Luoyang City, the rebels were worried that the main force of the northern Xinjiang army would take the opportunity to go south to Yingchuan for support. Their attack strategy focused on defense, and they did not take advantage of their own advantages to take the opportunity to attack Rushui River.

At the end of August, Kunyang ordered Han Ming to send someone to secretly contact Yan Liang and ask Xiancheng to surrender.Han Ming was born in the Han family of Yingchuan, he is the nephew of the former eunuch Han Rong, and he is friends with Yan Liang's long history Zhou Shan.Zhou Shan wrote to Han Ming several times, hoping that he could go to Hebei.Han Ming's surrender was very timely.Yan Liang immediately ordered Jiang Wu, Zhou Shan, and Liao Lei to lead an army of 5000 to attack Kunyang.The Kunyang rebel defender Lu Jie was caught off guard and led his troops to retreat. Jiang Wu was beheaded and killed on the way, and the entire army of [-] horses was wiped out.

After Jiang Wu and Zhou Shan saw Han Ming, they asked him to do another favor. They led their troops to fraudulently open the gate of Ye County and help the Northern Xinjiang Army enter Nanyang.Han Ming followed his plan and "fleeed" to Ye County with five hundred soldiers.That night, five hundred fierce soldiers seized the pass and defeated the generals, and successfully captured Ye County.Jiang Wu did the same, and then captured Duyang (now Fangcheng, Henan), and the army directly killed Wancheng (now Nanyang City), Nanyang County Zhi.

Liu Biao moved the emperor and the imperial court to Xiangyang last December, and Wancheng immediately became a hoarding place for grain, grass and luggage. Wang Wei of Jingzhou and Yuan Xi's subordinate Han Xun each led 3000 troops to garrison.On this day, the two of them suddenly received the news that the Northern Border Army had captured Duyang City and was rushing towards them along Chidao.Wang Wei and Han Xun turned pale with fright, and hurriedly asked for help from Xiangyang Liu Biao and Luyang Kuaiyue, and at the same time sent 5000 troops to Bowangpo to stop them.

Jiang Wu, Zhou Shan, and Liao Lei led the army to kill, and the two sides fought bloody in Bowangpo.

Yan Liang asked Jiang Wu to lead the army to attack Wancheng in order to force Kuai Yue to send troops back to help, so that the army would have a chance to capture Luyang. Once the attacking army was blocked at Bowangpo and unable to advance, the plan might fail.In order to gain time, Jiang Wu commanded the army to attack and kill with all their strength, and the offensive was like a tide.Han Xun couldn't resist, and only persisted in Bowangpo for a day before fleeing back to Wancheng in embarrassment.

The northern Xinjiang army besieged Wancheng.

After Liu Biao of Xiangyang received the emergency, his soul flew into the sky, and he personally led an army of [-] to help Wancheng starry night.

Kuai Yue of Luyang led his army to withdraw from Yangyinli.If Wancheng is lost, the army will not only lose food and grass, but will also be surrounded in Luyang and be flanked by the northern army. Without reinforcements outside the internal affairs, the army will soon be defeated.The army had just withdrawn to Luyang, Wang Wei reported again urgently, Bowangpo's blocking failed, about [-] to [-] Northern Xinjiang troops surrounded Wancheng, please come back quickly.

Deng Yi and Pang Ji asked Kuai Yue to abandon Luyang immediately, and the whole army retreated to Wancheng.There are [-] to [-] Northern Xinjiang troops under the city of Wancheng. It can be seen that the main force of the Northern Xinjiang army in the direction of Luoyang has already moved south, and our side is facing the dilemma of being passively beaten on the Yingchuan battlefield.At present, the northern Xinjiang army has broken through the eight passes of Luoyang, and it is meaningless for the army to stick to Luyang.

Yuan Xi strongly opposed it. He asked to stay in Luyang and cooperate with Yuan Tan in Yuzhou to counterattack Yingchuan.

Pang Ji was very excited, and he shouted at Yuan Xi, now that Luoyang is trapped, food and grass are cut off, and the northern army has been fighting on various battlefields for five or six months, will Li Hong attack Luoyang immediately under such circumstances?Won't.He will seize the time to strengthen Yingchuan, and he will find ways to attack us.As long as we can't pose a threat to the Northern Army, Li Hong can slowly attack Luoyang, or even besiege without attacking. Therefore, our top priority is to preserve our troops and maintain a continuous threat to the Northern Army.

Deng Yi also persuaded Yuan Xi.The food and supplies in Wancheng determine our life and death. As long as we keep Wancheng now, we can attack Yingchuan at any time in the future. Why should we care about the gains and losses of a city or a place?

Kuai Yue resolutely decided to abandon Luyang, and the whole army retreated to Wancheng.Although Yuan Xi was extremely reluctant, his strength was too weak to defend Luyang with his own strength, so he had to retreat southward with the Jingzhou army.

At the end of August, Yan Liang took Luyang without bloodshed.Jiang Wu received Yan Liang's urgent order and led his army to retreat, sticking to the front lines of Duyang, Yecheng and Kunyang.

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August, Yizhou, Hanzhong.

There are many mountains between Hanzhong and Bashu, and the two places are only connected by three plank roads: Jinniu, Micang and Yangba (Litchi Road).

In August, Liu Bei led 5000 former troops to take the Taurus and arrive at Yangping Pass.

When Yuan Shao, Liu Biao and others gathered in Nanyang Wancheng in October last year, Zhang Lu did not attend the appointment, which made Yuan Shao very worried, so he quickly sent his nephew Yuan Jing to Hanzhong to appease Zhang Lu.Later, Zhang Lu refused Hebei's offer of appeasement, but Yuan Shao was extremely angry that the Hanzhong Wudou Mijiao wanted to promote Zhang Lu as "King of Han Ning".

What is Zhang Lu?He's just a rice thief, how dare he become king?

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Zhang Lu's father, Zhang Ling, founded the Five Dou Rice Road on Heming Mountain in Bashu around the time of Emperor Xiaoshun (AD 126-AD 144).Wu Dou Mi Dao believes in Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching", which is different from Zhang Jiao's Tai Ping Dao, which believes in the "Tai Ping Jing". However, both of them cure diseases and save people, and both are determined to create a peaceful world.When Taipingdao treats illnesses, it asks people to kowtow to think about their mistakes and drink talisman water without receiving payment.When five buckets of rice are used to cure diseases, people are asked to close their doors to think about their mistakes and pray to heaven and earth, and the reward is five buckets of rice.The amount of five buckets of rice is not a small amount. The poor cannot afford it, but the rich can afford it.Zhang Ling asked qualified people to pay five buckets of rice, which was actually robbing the rich and helping the poor.This is also the origin of the five buckets of rice.

After Zhang Ling's death, his son Zhang Heng continued to follow his path, but Zhang Ling's favorite student was not his own son, but a man named Zhang Xiu.Both Zhang Xiu and Zhang Jiao are equally famous and well known throughout the world.Zhang Jiao's followers of the yellow scarf are called ant thieves, and Zhang Xiu's followers of five buckets of rice are called rice thieves.

Zhang Lu is the son of Zhang Heng. His mother has a way of keeping in good health, which is famous in Yizhou.After Liu Yan arrived in Yizhou, he paid homage to him because of his reputation, and he has been in close contact with him since then.In the second year of Chuping (AD 191), Zhang Xiu and Zhang Lu were ordered by Liu Yan to attack Hanzhong and killed the prefect Su Gu. Soon Zhang Lu killed Zhang Xiu and dominated Hanzhong.

Zhang Xiu implemented a series of lenient policies in Hanzhong based on the doctrine of the five buckets of rice.After Zhang Lu dominated Hanzhong, he inherited Zhang Xiu's various policies.For example, to teach the people to be honest and not to cheat, and to make the patients turn themselves in; to forgive the offender three times, and then punish him if he commits the crime again;According to the "Moon Order", slaughter and alcoholism are prohibited in spring and summer when all things grow.He also founded a charity house, put rice and meat in it, and provided free food for passers-by, and claimed that if he got too much, he would offend ghosts and gods and get sick.Zhang Lu called himself "Master", and those who came to learn Taoism were called "ghost soldiers" at first, and those who became believers in Taoism were called "jijiu", and each led his tribe.Those who lead many people are called "Zhitou Dajiu".Zhang Lu's Hanzhong Mansion did not set up senior officials, but managed local government affairs with sacrificial wine.

Zhang Lu quickly stabilized Hanzhong by using the teachings and believers of the five buckets of rice, and made Hanzhong a prosperous and peaceful world of peace.After Dong Zhuo's chaos, more than 1 households in Guanzhong fled to Hanzhong. Adding in the people who fled to Hanzhong from Luoyang, Yingchuan, and Nanyang, the population of Hanzhong reached 50 households and more than [-] people.

Hanzhong is surrounded by the Qinling Mountains in the north and the Ba Mountains in the south. The land is rich. Although the population has expanded rapidly, thanks to the efforts of Zhang Lu and the followers of Wudou Mi Dao, the refugees not only survived the difficulties, but also reclaimed wasteland and cultivated land, which not only supported themselves, but also enriched Hanzhong.In order to protect Hanzhong and the people in Hanzhong, Zhang Lu formed an army of 3 people.

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For Yuan Shao, the army in Hanzhong was like a life-saving straw, and he could not give up no matter what.

Yuan Shaoshu told Liu Biao, asking him to join him in a joint performance, recommending Zhang Lu as General Zhengbei and Duke Han Ning.

Around April, Liu Biao sent people to Guanzhong via Shangyong to announce the decree. At the same time, he informed Liu Bei in detail about Liu Bei's army marching westward to Yizhou and conquering Guanzhong in the north, and asked Zhang Lu to help him.

Zhang Lu did not accept Hebei's consolation, not because he was afraid of Yuan Shao, but because he wanted to separate Hanzhong, so he was also unwilling to accept Xiangyang's consolation, let alone send troops to the Northern Expedition.Sending troops to the Northern Expedition not only consumes a lot of manpower and material resources in Hanzhong, but is more likely to bring disaster to Hanzhong.

Gong Cao worked in Yan Pu to persuade Zhang Lu.Although there are [-] households in Hanzhong, fertile land, abundant wealth, and security on all sides, Hanzhong is a part of the great Han. In the future, whether it is Li Hong from Hebei, Yuan Shao from Luoyang, or Liu Biao from Xiangyang, only They won the world, and they will definitely not let Hanzhong go.How long can the tiny place in Hanzhong last?In my opinion, it is better to honor the emperor of Xiangyang and join hands with Yuan Shao and Liu Biao to fight against Hebei. Once the country is pacified in the future, the adults can achieve the achievements of Huan and Wen, and the next can become famous officials of ZTE, and enjoy the glory and wealth for generations.

Zhang Lu and his younger brothers Zhang Wei, Jijiu Yang Song, Sima Li Xiu, generals Yang Ren, Yang Bai and others carefully discussed and decided to accept the offer from the Xiangyang court, but on one condition, that is, Liu Zhang must be killed. , Let yourself be in charge of Yizhou.

When Zhang Lu's memorial was sent to Xiangyang, it was already the beginning of July.Liu Biao was mixed with joy and sorrow, and urged Liu Bei and Liu Pan to handle the enmity between Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu carefully.

Liu Bei, Liu Pan, Kuai Liang and others were helpless.Liu Zhang killed Zhang Lu's mother and relatives, and the hatred was too deep to be resolved.Liu Zhang was willing to send troops to the Northern Expedition because he wanted to seize Hanzhong, but Zhang Lu did not give Liu Zhang this opportunity at all. He wanted to kill Liu Zhang with the help of Liu Bei, otherwise he would not only refuse to send troops to the Northern Expedition, but also refused to let the Northern Expedition army enter Hanzhong.

Time waits for no one, Liu Bei finally decided decisively, first send someone to talk to Zhang Lu, if Zhang Lu insists on not obeying, he will send troops to attack and kill Hanzhong.

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When Liu Bei arrived at Yangping Pass, Sun Qian and Pang Tong rushed to greet him outside the pass.

When Liu Bei saw the two of them from a distance, his heart suddenly became murderous.Sun Qian was tall and handsome, but at this moment his face was ashen and dejected.Pang Tong was not tall, with a square face, small eyes, and a full beard. At this moment, he also lowered his head, dragged his legs, shook his big head, and looked depressed.

Zhang Lu rejected Liu Bei's peace terms.If Liu Zhang's head cannot be seen, he will never switch it on or off.

Liu Bei ordered Zhang Fei to lead his army to stay at the pass, and urgently told Kuai Liang, Zhang Ren and others to slow down their marching speed and not to rush to Yangping Pass to expose the strength of the army.

Liu Bei brought Guan Yu, Sun Qian, Pang Tong and fifty personal guards into the pass to pay a visit to Zhang Lu.Zhang Lu led his troops out of Nanzheng (now Hanzhong City) ten miles away to meet him.After the two sides entered the city, Liu Bei immediately discussed the Northern Expedition with Zhang Lu, Yang Song and others.Liu Bei described the situation in the world in detail, and persuaded Zhang Lu to temporarily put aside his personal grievances for the sake of the safety of the country.Northern Expedition first, then revenge.

After all, Liu Bei is a famous figure in the world. He has been on the battlefield for more than ten years, majestic and imposing.Although Zhang Lu looked so-so, he was considered a tyrant in Hanzhong, but when facing Liu Bei, his imposing manner was obviously a lot shorter.Liu Bei waved his hand and said loudly: "After the army conquered Guanzhong, the situation in the world has reversed, and the country is expected to revive. How about I help you kill Liu Zhang again?"

Zhang Lu didn't respond, the look on his face clearly told Liu Bei that he didn't believe Liu Bei's promise.Liu Biao wrote very clearly in the letter that the combined army of Liu Bei and Liu Pan only had 2 people. If they attack and kill all the way, the losses must be huge. It is impossible to conquer Guanzhong with Liu Bei alone.Liu Bei is talking nonsense.

Ever since Zhang Lu turned against Liu Zhang and the two sides attacked and killed each other, the contact had been cut off long ago.This time when the Western Expeditionary Army entered Yizhou, Liu Zhang was worried that Zhang Lu would take advantage of the fire to loot, so he sent people to cut off the three plank roads in advance, so Zhang Lu knew nothing about the situation in Chengdu.Before Sun Qian and Pang Tong arrived in Hanzhong, Liu Bei said that if it was impossible, they would attack Hanzhong by force, and the strength of the Northern Expedition Army should not be exposed, so they did not tell the truth to Zhang Lu.However, how Zhao Wei died, Zhang Lu can figure it out without using his brain.Liu Bei, Liu Pan, and Liu Zhang are all a family. Since they can join forces to kill Zhao Wei, of course they can also join hands to kill Zhang Lu.

"I want Liu Zhang's head." Zhang Lu said one last sentence.

Liu Bei sneered and stood up abruptly, "I killed Liu Zhang, how many troops will you send to follow my Northern Expedition?"

"I am only responsible for providing money and food, not sending troops." Zhang Lu said, "If Liu Zhang is not dead, the safety of Hanzhong will not be guaranteed, and the soldiers and horses in Hanzhong will not be able to go north with the general. If Liu Zhang is dead, I will go south to Chengdu to stabilize Bashu. So I still don't have the troops to help the general go north to conquer."

Liu Bei's eyes slowly narrowed, and a gentle smile appeared on his face, "Master Zhang has decided?"

"It's decided." Although Zhang Lu didn't dare to look Liu Bei in the eye, he still nodded resolutely, "I want Liu Zhang's head. What is Liu Zhang's head compared to the safety of the Great Han Society?"

"Well said." Liu Bei laughed, "Please wait patiently, my lord, I will personally deliver Liu Zhang's head to you."

Liu Bei quickly returned to the camp outside Yangping Pass.

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In August, Jinyang.

In mid-August, the eldest princess and the court received two pieces of encouraging news.First, the Northern Xinjiang Army broke through the Eight Passes of Luoyang and surrounded Luoyang City.The second is that the general's wife, Feng Xue, convinced East Xianbei King Kebixiong that [-] Xianbei cavalry are rushing to the Hexi battlefield day and night, and the situation in western Xinjiang is expected to ease in late autumn.

These two good news made the eldest princess and the court finally make up their minds to move the emperor and the court to Guanzhong immediately.

However, Babaili Kuaiqi sent the general's memorial.The general asked the eldest princess and the court to postpone the relocation, and the tone in the memorial was extremely severe.

The eldest princess summoned the important ministers of the court to discuss matters in Fenghuangchi.The general's memorial aroused fierce debate. Not only did the ministers of foreign courts have different opinions, but even the ministers of northern Xinjiang in the Zhongshujian were arguing red-faced and refused to give in to each other.

On the first day of the first lunar month, the Son of Heaven made a decree to make Chang'an the capital. Now that it's August, the Son of Heaven and the court are still in Jinyang. What's the matter?It is necessary and necessary to move the emperor and the imperial court to Guanzhong within this year. It is extremely important for the stability of Guanzhong and the situation in the Central Plains after the Luoyang War. No reason can hinder this matter.

Ministers such as Xian Yufu, Zhang Yan, Tian Chou and others who supported the general's proposal believed that the imperial court's wealth obviously could not support it.Although the threat of Xijiang may be alleviated with the entry of Xianbei cavalry into Hexi, Luoyang's attack cannot be stopped. It must continue to attack, strive to conquer Luoyang in the shortest possible time, take all the Central Plains, stabilize the Central Plains, and then transfer the main force to Xijiang The battlefield, quickly pacify the western border, and pacify the world as soon as possible.

Opponents believe that Luoyang City is very strong, and a forced attack may cause huge losses to the Northern Xinjiang Army, destroy Luoyang, and force the defenders in the city to set fire to the city.There are many priceless treasures in Luoyang City. If they are all burned, it will be a heavy blow to the great cause of Zhongxing. A safer and safer way to capture Luoyang.Even though this move may delay the time to pacify the world, it is worthwhile for Dahan and ZTE, very worthwhile.

If the city of Luoyang is destroyed by fire, if the laws, scrolls, buildings, etc. in the city are all reduced to ashes, the success of ZTE will not only be delayed for a few years, but more likely to be delayed for ten, twenty, or even decades. time.Comparing the two, it is clear at a glance which is more important.

The eldest princess replied to General Li Hong, and after careful consideration by the ministers, she finally decided to move the emperor and the court to Guanzhong immediately.

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Luoyang, Shanglinyuan, where the general walks.

Li Hong walked slowly in the big tent with his hands behind his back, with an extremely stern expression on his face.The eldest princess's letter was placed on the desk, and he had read it no less than a dozen times.

Holding a few soap pouches in his arms, Fu Gan hurried in, "General, Babaili Kuaiqi sent letters from Mr. Xianyu, Mr. Zhang Yan, and Mr. Tian Chou."

"Is there a letter from Zhong Yuan?" Li Hong stopped and asked softly.

"No." Fu Gan put the soap pouches on the table, opened them one by one, and took out the bamboo slips inside, "Master Li may be too busy."

Li Hongnong frowned slightly, and hummed heavily, "Last year, after he left Shangshutai to become the chief minister, he wrote me fewer and fewer letters? Could it be that he has nothing to say to me?"

Fu Gan heard that there was something in Li Hong's words, and his movements slowed down.He glanced at Li Hong, and said cautiously: "General, Lord Li is in charge of Da Sinong, and all the riches of the big man are in his hands, so there can be no mistakes. He is really too busy."

Li Hong's face turned cold suddenly, and he stared at Fu Gan fiercely, "Yancai, I watched you grow up, what do you think, do you think I don't know? Like Zitai (Tian Chou), you like to put Hiding the words in your heart, this will spoil my affairs, do you know that?"

Fu Gan felt suffocated, and shivered involuntarily, and exclaimed in surprise: "General, please understand Master Li Wei, does he have his difficulties?"

"You have been with me for so many years, how come you still have such a superficial understanding of the government?" Li Hong shook his head and sighed, "Back then, when Yuan Shu was in Nanyang, he asked Zitai to bring me a few words. On the outside, state affairs are fraud. I have told you this before, but you still don’t seem to understand.”

"General..." Fu Qian bowed and said, "Master Li is my teacher. I know him very well. Please trust him. He has been with the general for more than ten years and is loyal to him. I will never do anything against the general."

"Hmph..." Li Hong smiled wryly, with a look of disappointment on his face, "Last year, I hoped that he would take up the post of Supervisor of Zhongshu, but he disagreed, and strongly recommended Zitai. At that time, I knew he was going to do something bad. "

"General..." Fu Gan was terrified, "General, what do you mean? Why can't I understand?"

"I didn't want to divide the forces in northern Xinjiang into two, but now it seems that it can't be done. He has lost his direction." Li Hong walked to Fu Gan and said in a low voice, "The emperor is five years old this year. , ten years later, he will be in power, then, what power does the emperor rely on to govern? By the eldest princess? The eldest princess cannot control all the power alone, and there is a group of people behind her, who will let the eldest princess return the power To the Son of Heaven?"

Fu Qian suddenly understood, he looked at Li Hong in surprise, "General, the emperor is too young, we..."

"If the emperor wants to regain his power, he needs strong strength and invincible power, and this power is in my hands." Li Hong waved his hand vigorously, "In ten years, I need to forge a strong emperor, and no one can take it away." Take the power of the emperor." Li Hong reached out and picked up the letter from the princess, "I don't like others to threaten me, and I can't tolerate it."

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(End of this chapter)