Winter is gone and spring comes. The spring of the fifteenth year of Jian'an has finally arrived. In early spring in February, busy farmers appear in the fields of Bashu.

Bashu mainly plant winter wheat. Although there is no need to sow in spring, plowing oxen and hoeing is still extremely important for maintaining soil moisture. First, use oxen to loosen the solid soil, and then each piece of land must be hoed at least twice. Be careful not to hurt the wheat seedlings to keep the soil loose and moist, which is conducive to the vigorous growth of wheat seedlings.

After rushing to harvest wheat in early June, rice must be planted immediately. The humid climate, fertile soil and sufficient water sources have made the Bashu area a granary since ancient times. Qin first obtained Bashu and then the world.

The same is true for Liu Jing. After obtaining Bashu, he completely solved the food problem and increased his army from 120,000 to 200,000. After nearly a year of training and rest, his army became more elite, and the time to send troops to Guanzhong has gradually come.

At this time, Liu Jing's army was no longer called Jingzhou Army. This gradually changed its name as his control territory expanded. For example, it was first called the Chaisang Army, later called the Jiangxia Army, and then changed its name to Jingzhou Army. However, with the storage of Bashu and Hanzhong, the addition of 80,000 Yizhou Army and Hanzhong Army, and the addition of the Jingzhou Army, it was obviously out of place.

Some people proposed to change the name to the Chu Army because Liu Jing was named Duke of Chu, but the senior officials of Bashu disagreed and discussed it over and over again. Finally, Liu Jing personally decided on the name, targeting Cao Army, his army was called the Han Army, the army of the Han Dynasty.

Although the time to go north to Guanzhong is gradually coming, now is still the most critical moment for spring plowing. It is not advisable to start mobilizing combat preparations. You must wait another half a month. The best time to prepare for combat after spring plowing is over.

Liu Jing's new mansion is Liu Zhang's former governor's mansion, located in the north of Chengdu City, covering an area of ​​300 acres. One of the natural lakes is as large as a hundred acres. The lake water is clear and sweet. It has been carefully repaired by Liu Zhang for more than ten years, as if it is an exquisite emerald gem. Countless exquisite pavilions and towers have been built around the lake, surrounded by dense forests, and a granite bridge spans the lake. Although the mansion in Bashu is not as large as the Jingzhou mansion, it is even more exquisite.

In the afternoon, Sun Shangxiang stood in the Lanyue Pavilion by the lake, staring at a pool of lake water in a daze. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Just two days ago, she received a letter from her sister-in-law, and her mother fell ill because she missed her, which also evoked her homesickness.

She has been married for nearly a year. Many times, the magnificence of Shushan and Bashui made her forget her hometown, but her mother's illness made her suddenly miss her hometown. It was like the river water that opened the gate, and the feeling of homesickness surged out.

"What's wrong?"

At some point, Tao Zhan appeared behind her. She was pregnant and it was already inconvenient to move. She was accompanied by two female guards for a walk. She happened to see Sun Shangxiang in the pavilion from a distance. Tao Zhan asked with concern: "Do you miss your mother?"

Sun Shangxiang nodded silently, Tao Zhan sighed. She also thought of her mother. Just when she knew her husband, she died of illness the year she knew her husband, and she felt a little sad, and she said softly: "Then go back to visit her mother! Your husband should agree."

"I know he will agree, I just...not very relieved you."

Sun Shangxiang turned around and looked at Tao Zhan's abdomen, smiled bitterly and said, "If I leave, there are so many things at home, how can you be busy with it."

Tao Zhan stepped forward and held her hand, and smiled and said, "Several housekeepers are very capable. Besides, there is also Bao Niang, she can help me. Moreover, it is not the first time I have given birth to a baby. You can go back to visit your mother with confidence! Live in the first half of the year and spend a good time with your mother."

Sun Shangxiang bit her lip gently and nodded, "I'll go and talk to him."

Tao Zhan smiled, "He had a meeting with several military advisors in the study outside. It should probably be over. You go!"

"It's windy here, I'll take my elder sister back first!"

Sun Shangxiang helped Tao Zhan slowly walked out of the pavilion and walked towards Tao Zhan's yard.

............

In the study room, Liu Jingzheng and Jia Xu, Sima Yi, Fa Zheng, Pang Tong, Xu Shu, Jiang Wan, Yin Song and others discussed the decision to surrender to Guanzhong north. Their army was already a clear plan. Cao Cao could see any army mobilization clearly, but some details could be discussed.

"According to our latest information, Cao Cao deployed 200,000 troops from Guanzhong to Longxi, of which 140,000 troops were in Guanzhong, with Cao Zhi as the head commander, Cao Ren as the deputy general, Xun You as the military advisor, and Longxi deployed 60,000 troops, with Cao Zhang as the main general, Xiahou Yuan as the deputy general, Chen Qun as the military advisor, and Zhang Liao led 50,000 troops to Nanyang, Man Chong led 30,000 troops to Runan, and Cao Cao was in Xuchang with strict defense. It was difficult to fight in Guanzhong!"

At this time, Sima Yi frowned, "It sounds like Cao Cao has recovered his vitality?"

Liu Jing nodded, "After all, the Battle of Chibi was the thirteenth year of Jian'an. Now two years have passed. In addition, the north was in good weather last year, and the autumn grains in various places were harvested, and the military garrisons were harvested even more abundant. The problem of insufficient food in Cao's army was also solved. Moreover, Cao Cao pacified the rebels of Tian Bo and Su Yin in Hebei at the end of last year, and received more than 100,000 surrendered soldiers, which restored his troops to 400,000. Not only that, a month ago, Cao Cao was named Duke of Wei and added Jiuxi. Although he was resisted among the gentry, we have to admit that he still had an extremely high prestige in the court and the army."

As soon as Liu Jing finished speaking, Jia Xu laughed, "The governor of the state is too enhancing the ambition of others. In fact, except for the increase in military strength, the Cao army has not changed much. Moreover, more than 100,000 surrendered soldiers are all mobs. Without a few years of training, we can never become an elite army. Although our troops are only half of the opponent's strength, our navy, heavy armored infantry, heavy crossbow army, and eagle strike army are all extremely powerful elites. Our 200,000 army can be completely matched with the 400,000 Cao army, otherwise the Cao army would have come."

Liu Jing smiled and said, "The main reason is that we cannot underestimate the enemy. Although we have repeatedly defeated Cao's army, it was in the south of the water. But if we go to the north, it will be completely different. We must be mentally prepared to lose."

Speaking of this, Liu Jing picked up the wooden pole and pointed at the map and said, "Since everyone agreed to march from Longxi, then it was decided to feint attack Chen Cang, restrain Cao's army, and attack Tianshui County."

...........

Everyone dispersed, and only Fa Zheng was left in the room. Liu Jing left him with something else. Fa Zheng stayed in Hanzhong and rushed back to Chengdu last night.

"How is the morale of the Hanzhong army?" Liu Jing asked with a smile.

Fa Zheng nodded, "Moranna has gradually reached its best state. In General Zhao's words, the surrendered Hanzhong army seemed to be reborn. Now General Zhao is also very concerned about when to attack Guanzhong?"

Liu Jing walked a few steps behind his hands and sighed slightly, "There are enough stocks in the Hanzhong warehouse. The key is that the civil servants requisition. The attack on Guanzhong is not like the south, and you can rely on boats. The north relies entirely on animal power and civil servants to transport materials. I plan to recruit 150,000 civil servants and 300,000 livestock from Bashu and Hanzhong. The impact is too great. I have to wait for the spring plowing to end, and I have to wait another half a month!"

Fa Zheng hesitated and said, "I have a saying that I don't know whether to speak or not?"

"If you have anything, just say it. Don't hesitate so deliberately. I'm not a person who bans words." Liu Jing said a little displeased.

"I want to say why I didn't attack Guanzhong after the autumn harvest last year. At that time, Cao Cao's deployment had not been completed, and the war to wipe out Ma Chao had just ended. The soldiers were exhausted and the military strength of Longxi was empty. If Longxi was attacked at that time, it might be much easier. Unlike now, when Cao Cao's deployment was completed, we would be a little passive."

Liu Jing looked at the roof with his hands behind his back and said for a while: "Now there are many people raising this question, and even the military has doubts. I don't blame their doubts, but I hope you don't ask such questions again in the future. After all, you are a military advisor. If you don't even understand, how can you fight this battle in the future?"

Fa Zheng was so scared that he was sweating coldly. He didn't expect Liu Jing to be so unhappy. He lowered his head and did not dare to say more. Liu Jing glanced at him and continued: "From ancient times, no southern army can unify the world. There was no before, and no future. We raised an army in Jingzhou and rely on the Yangtze River and Han River to protect and resist the iron hoofs of Cao's army, but this does not mean that we can defeat Cao's army in the north."

Speaking of this, Liu Jing sighed softly, "In fact, I originally planned to conquer Nanyang, but in the end I gave up, because I knew that the Jingzhou army was not the opponent of Cao's army when they arrived on the plains. Cao Cao's 30,000 cavalry could sweep us. I could seize Nanyang, but I couldn't defend Nanyang. That's why I finally decided to give up the battle for Nanyang and go north to Guanzhong. With Guanzhong as the center, establish the Longyou cavalry and Cao army to confront each other. This is the only way for me to finally defeat Cao Cao, so the significance of the battle in Guanzhong is no less than the battle in Chibi. Xiaozhi, do you understand?"

Fa Zheng nodded silently, and he understood a little, "What the governor of the state means is that we not only need to conquer Guanzhong and Longyou, but more importantly, we must defend it and gain a firm foothold in Guanzhong."

Liu Jing showed a smile of praise on his face, "It is precisely this reason. Last autumn, maybe I could take advantage of the situation to capture Guanzhong, but can I defend it? Bashu is still unstable, the food transportation line has not been established, the siege weapons have not been built, and the army training is not sufficient. If we are driven back after occupying Guanzhong, it will be a fatal blow. It is very likely that we will never have the chance to capture Guanzhong again. On the contrary, when Cao Cao is ready and defeated Cao's army when the strongest, then he will also have no strength to retake Guanzhong again. We will sit firmly in Guanzhong and do not pay the price. How can we have real gains?"

Fa Zheng looked ashamed, "I understand!"

Liu Jing nodded and smiled, "Actually, Jia Xu, Sima Yi and the others understand this, so they did not raise any objections."

After pausing, Liu Jing asked again with a smile: "How is Ma Chao's current situation?"

"He is very good and works hard to train the army, but he is relatively silent. He has expressed his willingness to marry Liu."

"That's good. Xiaozhi just work hard and be this matchmaker!"

Fa Zheng laughed, "I really want to!"
Chapter completed!