"The land of Hanzhong can be secured from behind, and it can be advanced from the front." [History of the Song Dynasty]
After hearing the news that Pei Mao and Xu Huang's armies were advancing east to west, Zhang Lu decisively abandoned the city on Yan Pu's suggestion. In the end, he set off first, and Xu Huang's troops, who were marching relatively quickly, took the lead in capturing Nanzheng.
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After arriving at Nanzheng, Xu Huang did not rush to lead his troops into the city, but instead set up camp in the south of the city near the Han River. As soon as the Chinese army's general was established, the first order was to ask the captains and Sima to restrain their subordinates and not to do anything without permission.
Entering the city to disturb the people, Xu Huang managed the army well. The Northern and Southern armies have always been strict about military discipline, and no generals and soldiers dared to test the law. Therefore, the people in Nanzheng City were not well informed, and for a while there were even companies who did not know that the company was camping outside the city.
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After establishing a foothold, Xu Huang immediately led a thousand people into the city. The first step was to accept the official office and treasury, and then sent Zhao Yun, Tai Shici and others to lead troops to symbolically pursue Zhang Lu. Only after the numbers were collected correctly, did he start
It was considered that they had finally settled in Nanzheng. In the afternoon of the next day, the scouts sent word that the army led by Pei Mao and others was already not far to the west of the city.
Pei Mao and others did not expect to hurry up and hurry up, but they were still a step too late. Gaishun, Jujun and others were all disappointed, but Pei Mao was open-minded. He took Xu Huang's arm under the city and said with a smile: "The road to Tangluo is difficult and dangerous.
It is extraordinary that Gongming was able to take risks and achieve such a great achievement, which is extraordinary!"
"The national temples are far-reaching, and we can predict the enemy at the palm of our hand. We can only follow the plan." Xu Huang's attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and he said very consciously.
Pei Mao laughed heartily. While laughing, he looked at Xun You and pointed at Xu Huang with his right hand, saying nothing.
Xun You also smiled and said nothing. As the two people involved in planning the southern expedition route, they knew each other well. In this southern expedition, it seemed that Pei Mao's side was the most powerful and the main force. In fact, it was just to attract Zhang Lu.
The main force is to reduce the pressure on Xu Huang's side.
If you look at the staffing, you can see that not to mention Xu Huang, who was praised by the emperor as a "general", Taishi Ci and Meng Da were both Yulin Lang in front of the palace. They were inseparable from the emperor all day long and had deep trust. The emperor was obviously
The hope of defeating the enemy was placed on the partial division composed of close confidants such as Xu Huang, Fazheng, and Taishi Ci. Although the military order given to this partial division was superficially just to occupy Chenggu and form a deterrent, in fact, after occupying Chenggu, the following
There is no need to explain any move, Xu Huang and others will understand it automatically.
Pei Mao and Xun You entered the city and listened to Xu Huang's talk about how they marched in a hurry in the mountains. After the surprise attack on Chenggu in the thunderstorm night, Pei Mao sighed and stroked his beard: "If the rain had fallen early in the mountains,
How can an infantry battalion be so fast? Watching the defenders exclaim as 'ghost soldiers', it seems to be in harmony with the wild elk rushing into the camp."
Xun You smiled and did not answer. Instead, he asked: "Where is the Legal Supervisory Army?"
He looked around and saw that at this military meeting, Gaishun, Jujun and other people above the rank of captain were all here. There was no reason why Fazheng, who was the supervisor of the army, could not be here.
Pei Mao also noticed this, felt something strange, and looked at Xu Huang.
Xu Huang smiled awkwardly and said with shame: "The supervisor of the army contracted wind and cold on the march and became unwell. He is now recuperating in Chenggu County."
Everyone in the audience was shocked. Zhu Hao, the former secretary-general who came to Nanzheng, asked repeatedly: "How can such a good person catch the cold? Is Fa Xiaozhi okay now?"
As Zhu Hao, who was also a secretary prisoner, few people here know better than him the importance of Fa Zheng to the emperor. If this young talent who was favored by the emperor was lost in Hanzhong as soon as he left the army, not to mention the consequences for the emperor.
What a blow it was, it was also a huge loss to the country.
"I have been diagnosed and treated by many doctors. There is no danger of life. I just need to rest for a few more days." Xu Huang saw that everyone was nervous, and his own tone could not help but be a little serious.
"Fa Xiaozhi is a rare talent, and he is valued by the country. He must not lose anything. Who will stay in Chenggu? He must take more care of him." After Pei Mao gave a few instructions, he began to make arrangements.
The following military arrangements were made: "To the east of Hanzhong, there are Zhang Lu general Yang Angle with thousands of elite troops stationed at Jingu garrison, and the Shangyong powerful Shen family gathered thousands of people, but they have not surrendered for a long time. It is time to dispatch the generals,
Go to Huanghuang garrison, Xicheng, Shangyong and other places to announce the king's orders."
As Pei Maozheng was speaking, he suddenly looked around and said slowly: "Who is willing to lead the troops?"
Gaishun, Jujun, Xu Huang and others in the seats all lowered their heads and kept silent. They all knew that if they led the troops to Shangyong at this time, they would inevitably miss the great success of marching south to Yizhou with the army. This kind of
No one is willing to do something that is too small to make a big difference.
After a moment of silence, Xu Huang said: "If Ming Gong doesn't mind, Sima Taishi Ci, the commander of the army under the general's command, is brave enough to lead an army and shoulder the great task."
Here, Xu Huang actually had selfish motives, otherwise he would not have recommended Taishi Ci to go to Shangyong to collect sesame seeds and leave Zhao Yun behind.
Pei Mao was somewhat impressed by this righteous man who had escorted Kong Rong and Zheng Xuan for thousands of miles. He nodded with a smile and said, "Immediately send him two thousand elite troops to go down the river. All matters in the East will be entrusted to him."
Gaishun felt relieved and was about to brace himself to accept Pei Mao's military order to march to Baishui Pass when he heard Pei Mao laugh and say: "We are waiting for the southern expedition to defeat the rice thief Zhang Lu and separatist Hanzhong, killing officials and harming the people."
Zhang Lu is now fleeing to Bazhong, and further south, he is under the rule of Liu Gong, the herdsman of Yizhou. He has been isolated for many years and has no news about them. Due to emotional and rational reasons, he should be informed, whether it is to persuade him to lead the crowd to suppress the bandits.
, or marching together with us will be beneficial to the country."
"Huh?" Gaishun couldn't help but be surprised. Like him, Ju Jun didn't expect this outcome. The imperial court raised a large army, with the official number being 100,000. It was not just to conquer Zhang Lu, but also to conquer Zhang Lu.
He wanted to capture the entire Yizhou. Why did Pei Mao suddenly say at this juncture that the imperial court had no intention of attacking Liu Yan?
Isn't it a matter of mutual agreement to recover Yizhou?
"Ming Gong!" Gaishun had no choice but to object. If Pei Mao said so, then their war goal for this trip has been achieved, and they can prepare to return to the court. In this case, it is better to recommend themselves at the beginning.
Going east to Shangyong: "Yizhou has been under pastoral control for many years and has not sent envoys to come to court for a long time. Even if there are rice thieves blocking the way, their intentions must be different. Otherwise, if you have the intention to go to the emperor once, how can you not go east
Traveling through Jingzhou and detouring to Nanyang to enter the court? It can be seen that this person is not interested in the emperor, but is communicating with the rice thieves. If the Ming Dynasty wants to ask him to send troops to help suppress it, the general will think it is impossible."
"The last general seconded the proposal." Ju Jun followed up and said: "Yizhou Mu has different ambitions and should not be credulous. The Art of War says that 'the mood of the army determines the speed'. If the army's morale is slowed down and the sun and the moon are delayed, great things may be done! Not to mention the imperial court.
If we raise an army of one hundred thousand, but only win Hanzhong and then return it, won't it make the world laugh, thinking that the imperial court is very cautious in using troops and still uses an ox's knife to 'cut a chicken'?"
"Gongming, you think so too?" Pei Mao looked at everyone's impatient looks with a smile, knowing that they were all reluctant, but there was no news about Pei Jun in Shu, so now is indeed not the time to march into the army. If Pei Jun
If Jun succeeds in the book, then Yizhou can be conquered without a fight. If it fails, it will not be too late to advance calmly.
Xu Huang said cautiously: "In any case, the general thinks that we should move to Baishui Pass first, send envoys to Shu, and inform the imperial court of the intention of the southern expedition. Then we will observe the movements in Shu and make plans."
"This is what an experienced person says." Through such actions, Pei Mao intuitively inspected the personalities, temperaments, and strategies of the three of them. It was clear at a glance which one was better and which one was worse. Looking at Xun You who was sitting quietly, Pei Mao immediately disagreed.
He nodded and said confidently: "As long as the news from Hanzhong reaches Shuzhong, it won't be long before there will be great chaos in Shu. It is still unknown if Shu will surrender without a fight. If it can reduce the disasters caused by sword wars in Shu, wouldn't it be the work of our great Han Dynasty?
blessing?"
Xu Huang's eyes flashed. He had previously learned some secrets about Yizhou from Li Fu and other powerful men in Hanzhong. Now that they were connected, the chaos in Shu was probably caused by the illness of Liu Yan, the herdsman of Yizhou. In his mind
With the bottom line, there is no need to worry anymore. Anyway, as long as Shu is in turmoil, even if they surrender their land, they will have to lead troops everywhere to put down small uprisings, and they will still have military exploits.
As for Ju Jun, he obeyed the military order. Since Pei Mao had sworn that there would be chaos in Shu, there was no need for him to question it even if he had doubts.
Only Gaishun still asked in disbelief: "There was no warning before, and we don't know what will happen next. How could there be chaos in Shu?"