Under the power of Ma Chao.

More and more Qiang tribes in Xiliang regions responded to the offensive with a wait-and-see attitude.

The Liangzhou front was easily opened.

But even if the war situation is unfavorable, for Cao Cao, the current focus is still on conquering Hanzhong and opening the northern gate of Sichuan and Shu.

As for the current situation in Liangzhou, he is also beyond his reach.

All garrison troops can only be ordered to take a defensive position, and the defenses must be fortified and the country cleared to fight with them.

What a way.

For him, Liu Bei is his lifelong enemy.

Especially now that the land of Bashu has fallen.

Cao Cao believed that if he did not conquer Hanzhong as soon as possible, Liu Bei would definitely come with the masses after he stabilized the situation in Bashu.

Hanzhong is not only the gateway to Bashu, but also the barrier to Guanzhong.

It is an indispensable strategic location for both parties.

Looking into the valley.

The valley here is surrounded by plains, which is very suitable for cavalry to gallop freely.

Moreover, this place is an important passage for the Qiang people to directly enter Lintao, an important town in Longxi.

In order to facilitate contact with all parties, Yang Wanwan decided to set up his base camp here after some discussions with King Shenlangqiang and the tribal leaders.

Many days later.

Ma Chao and his Xiliang cavalry finally rushed here.

Because of his former influence, Yang Wanwan united with the tribal leaders to support him, and Ma Chao was able to issue orders easily.

Having controlled the voice of the Qiang people, Ma Chao naturally first clarified the purpose of this uprising for everyone.

"Everyone, this time I am calling you to raise troops to rebel against Cao Cao. It is not for personal reasons, but to go north under the orders of our lord..."

"Based on my general guess, our Lord will personally bring the main force to attack Hanzhong County within a month at most."

"After waiting for Hanzhong County, we will launch a large-scale Northern Expedition."

"At that time, if you can help me, when things are done, you will not be so frightened and worried that I will be attacked by Cao's army again at some point."

A series of words were slowly revealed.

Ma Chao strengthened the belief of anti-Cao for the leaders of the Qiang tribes.

After all, last year Xia Houyuan swept through Liangzhou and passed the right step by step.

It really makes the Qiang people of all tribes have lingering fears!

He naturally felt a sense of fear towards Cao's army's combat power.

And what he represents behind him now is the Liu Bei Group.

What he is doing now is to let the various Qiang tribes understand that even if they rebel against Cao Cao, as long as Uncle Liu's power remains undefeated, they will be safe and sound.

On the other hand, it also completely binds them to our own tanks.

With the arrival of Ma Chao.

Although his prestige now is not as good as before, it can be said that a dead camel is bigger than a horse.

The situation in Liangzhou also changed drastically as a result.

As more and more Qiang tribes responded, Ma Chao took complete control of the initiative.

If Zhang Ji, the governor of Liangzhou, had not reacted quickly and made countermeasures in advance, and Guo Huai led his troops to come to the rescue, Xiahou Yuan would have wandered near the Qiang Road.

I'm afraid the situation has gotten out of control!

only.

Even so, the strength of Ma Chao and the Qiang people still exerted a decisive suppressive force due to their superiority in military strength.

The various units of Cao's army had no choice but to stay in a stalemate and take a defensive position.

As letters of Liangzhou war report arrived.

Seeing that the Qiang offensive had been contained, Cao Cao decided to continue to personally lead the main force to conquer Hanzhong County as planned.

He then began to assign tasks and deploy troops and generals.

"Xu Huang, follow the orders of the road call. The two of you will lead more than 10,000 elite troops and go south along the way to clear the way for the army to set off to explore the enemy's situation!"

"Arrive at the foot of Yangping Pass in advance and conduct a probing attack."

"This expedition is of great importance and there is no room for failure!"

"Here!"

The order was passed to Xu Huang, and the second general Lu Zhaoxu slowly accepted the order.

The instructions were given one after another.

Cao Cao looked determined and marched into Hanzhong with 50,000 troops.

The plan has been decided.

Xu Huang and Lu Zhao naturally led the army southward.

A mighty journey south.

Cao's army's massacre in Hechi also intimidated the other Di tribes in Wudu.

Since then, when heading south, no one dared to offend the military authority.

Xu Huang's troops also seemed to have an unimpeded path along the way!

When I heard that Cao's army had been stagnant in Xiabian for so long and now resumed its campaign, Hanzhong County was the one who reacted the most.

Because Cao Jun's method of massacring Hechi had already spread to the territory during this period.

At this moment, when the Han soldiers and people heard that Cao's army was marching southward, they were already in a state of panic.

What's more, many people already want to move their families and flee to Bazhong.

He was worried that if Cao's army reached the hinterland of Hanzhong, he would become an innocent person under the butcher's knife.

In an instant.

Hanzhong, which had been peaceful and peaceful for nearly twenty years, gradually fell into the flames of war.

The county governor Zhang Lu was also worried about this.

Although he had sent Yang Bai to lead his troops to Yangping Pass in advance.

Yangping Pass is indeed built close to mountains and rivers. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is quite possible that one man can guard the pass and ten thousand others cannot open it.

But even if you occupy Xiongguan.

When Zhang Lu thought of the might of Cao's army and its great reputation for many years, there was no guarantee that he would be as secure as a mountain.

And at this moment.

Cao Jun has not yet reached Yangping Pass.

An uninvited guest came to Nanzheng, the capital.

That was Huang Quan, the partial general who asked for orders to go to Hanzhong to persuade Zhang Lu to submit.

Hearing Huang Quan's invitation, Zhang Lu also had a look of contemplation on his face.

It seems that some people have guessed the intention of coming this time.

But hospitality still has to be there.

Facing Huang Quan's invitation, he waved in agreement.

Immediately afterwards, Huang Quan slowly entered the palace under the guidance of the guards.

"Huang Quan, the general under General Zuo's command, visited Lord Zhang."

When he approached the house, he also bowed first.

"It's Huang Gongheng. I haven't seen you for many years. Is everything okay now?"

When Zhang Lu saw this, he smiled and returned the greeting.

In his early years, before he could become independent from Liu Yan, he also got acquainted with people from Bashu and was no stranger to Huang Quan, a wise man from Sichuan and Shu.

"I wonder what purpose Gongheng has in coming to Hanzhong this time?"

After a while, the words fell.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Zhang Lu immediately got to the point and asked.

Hearing this, Huang Quan looked calm and said unhurriedly: "Quan came to Hanzhong specifically this time to save the life of the emperor!"

"I hope the emperor can weigh the pros and cons and move his family to Chengdu. If he hesitates, he may be in danger of overthrowing."
To be continued...