Looking at the entire Han Dynasty, Liu Zhang can definitely be regarded as the top force.
Yuan Shao only occupied one county, and Yuan Shu only operated in Nanyang County.
Cao Cao had just been promoted as the governor of Dongjun, and Liu Bei was still making a living under Gongsun Zan's tent.
These princes are far from enough to compare with Liu Zhang.
It is not yet the world of Er Yuan, Lu Bu, Liu Bei and others. The top forces are still the state pastors of each state, such as Youzhou pastor Liu Yu, Jizhou pastor Han Fu, Yanzhou pastor Liu Dai, Xuzhou pastor Tao Qian, Jingzhou pastor Liu Biao, Yangzhou pastor
Mu Liu Yao.
These state herdsmen all occupy the territory of a state, and are much stronger than Liu Zhang in terms of territory, population, military strength, and food and grass. However, most of these people are ambitious and talented, and they will not achieve anything despite such a strong foundation.
The most powerful force was Dong Zhuo, the Grand Master who controlled the imperial court.
However, since Dong Zhuo retreated to Chang'an, his power has shrunk significantly. In fact, he only controlled Fufeng, Feng Yi, Jingzhao and its surrounding counties.
During this period, Liu Zhang fought on three fronts. On the one hand, he captured Zhang Lu, attacked Luocheng and occupied Guanghan County. The other two lines broke into Bajun and occupied Langzhong and the vast land north of Bazhong.
The victory on the third front not only brought Liu Zhang geographical expansion, but also increased the population under his command a lot!
Both Bazhong City and Langzhong City were strong cities in Ba County. This victory in Ba County increased the population by at least 200,000.
It's a pity that Luocheng was poisoned by Zhang Lu, and now there are only more than 30,000 people.
Even so, the population under Liu Zhang's rule still exceeded one million, reaching more than 1.4 million!
This number is definitely a little embarrassing compared to the state pastors in various states, but it is much stronger than Yuan Yuan, Cao Cao, Liu Bei and the like, and Liu Zhang also has strong capital!
Guanghan County, Mianzhu, Prefecture Mufu.
Liu Zhang sat on the main seat, looking at the people kneeling in front of him, with mixed feelings in his heart.
Zhang Lu, Zhang Wei, Zhang Lu’s mother, and Liu Zhang’s third brother Liu Mao.
Liu Zhang never thought that Zhang Lu would be willing to surrender for the sake of the lives of more than a hundred members of the Zhang family.
Zhang Lu, Liu Zhang's enemy in both lives, caused huge trouble to Liu Zhang in both lives.
However, the Liu Zhang Zhang Lu faced was not the same person, which was also the fundamental reason for Zhang Lu's life to change dramatically.
"Zhang Lu, do you have anything to say to me at this moment?"
Zhang Lu raised his head and glanced at the mighty Liu Zhang, with a look of loneliness in his eyes.
"The sinner Zhang Lu has committed a heinous crime and is willing to receive any punishment..."
After saying that, Zhang Lu directly knocked his head to the ground with great force, making a "dong-dong-dong" sound.
Liu Zhang's eyes were full of hatred and he was completely indifferent to what Zhang Lu did.
"If you do too much injustice, you will die. You are a Taoist, but you do things that harm the world! Even if I don't accept you, God will accept you! You, Zhang Lu, will rarely die a good death."
Although Liu Zhang was not a Taoist, his two thousand years of experience was far beyond what Zhang Lu could compare to.
"I didn't expect that I, Zhang Lu, have been practicing Taoism for decades, but I can't see it as clearly as General Wei. I didn't lose unjustly..."
One month of detention has allowed Zhang Lu to see clearly. Without the constraints of power, he has completely seen himself.
"The Tao can be Tao, but it is very Tao, and the name can be famous, but it is very famous. You, Zhang Lu, are still far behind!"
Listening to Liu Zhang's harsh reprimands and belittling, Zhang Lu could only lower his head, not saying a word to defend himself.
"Zhang Wei, are you convinced?"
Zhang Weishi was seriously injured and was very weak now. But he still raised his head to meet Liu Zhang's gaze, his eyes full of stubbornness.
"Liu Zhang, I admit that you are powerful, and our brothers are no match for you. But let me tell you, I, Zhang Wei, will not accept it! Even if I die, I will not accept it!"
Zhang Wei is different from Zhang Lu in that he doesn't have much interest in the Tao of Heavenly Masters. What he advocates is force and killing!
He was defeated by Liu Zhang several times, either fell into a trap or lost head-on, and he never even won a single victory.
But even so, Zhang Wei still refused to accept it!
It's just that this disobedience is more or less ridiculous, and it can only be the last sign of stubbornness.
Zhang Wei's stubborn mouth made Liu Zhang laugh.
"Haha, it doesn't make any sense whether you accept or not, because you have been doomed to end today since the beginning of your rebellion."
Zhang Wei met Liu Zhang's gaze and forced a disdainful smile on his weak face.
"Liu Zhang, don't you really feel grateful to our brothers deep down in your heart? If our brothers hadn't taken action to get rid of Liu Yan, could you have invaded Yizhou so legitimately?"
Zhang Lu's face changed drastically and he frequently winked at Zhang Wei to tell him to shut up. Unfortunately, Zhang Wei was completely indifferent.
"What you said is really ridiculous! His Majesty personally granted Yizhou the title of Mu, and my father was a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty. How could he disobey the emperor's order? If you two hadn't rebelled, Yizhou would have been safely captured by me, so why would the people of Yizhou bother
Endure the pain of this war!"
Liu Zhang could not let Zhang Wei accuse him of being unfilial, so he immediately reprimanded him.
"Haha, the winner is the king and the loser is the enemy! Liu Zhang, you are the winner, so you naturally have the right to explain this matter, but do you really think so in your heart?"
Liu Zhang did not defend this matter anymore. The more he spoke, the darker the story became.
"Zhang Wei, if you have nothing to say, you can shut up."
"Liu Zhang, I have only one question. Can you tell me so that I can die in peace?"
Liu Zhang looked at Zhang Wei's pleading eyes and nodded slightly.
"Tell me, since you volunteered to be captured, I will show you mercy today."
"You attacked Bajun, drained Guanghan County's troops, and deployed for half a year. Is it all just to lure our brothers?"
Zhang Wei still doesn't understand where the cavalry came from and how the counties in Guanghan County fell in turn.
Liu Zhang smiled softly. He didn't expect that Zhang Wei was about to die, and he was still wondering about this.
"This general's march to Bajun has been agreed upon a long time ago. As for annihilating you two, it is entirely the strategy of military advisor Jia Xu."
Liu Zhang did not want to impose all the credit on himself, and all the strategies against Zhang Lu came entirely from Jia Xu's hand.
"Oh it's you..."
Zhang Lu looked at Jia Xu next to Liu Zhang with a look of horror in his eyes. He had no idea that this humble man could be so vicious!
"When did you ambush Zhao Yun and Wu Yi in the mountains?"
Jia Xu did not answer, but turned to look at Liu Zhang. He wanted to ask Liu Zhang if he would let him answer Zhang Lu.
"Wen He, tell him and make him understand."
After receiving Liu Zhang's order, Jia Xu no longer had any doubts, and immediately told the two of him his strategy for dealing with Zhang Lu.
It turned out that at the same time as Liu Zhang went on the expedition, Jia Xu arranged for the three battalions of Mianzhu, Zhao Yun, Wu Yi, and Wu Lan, to leave the city in a swagger, then return under the cover of night, and then all went to the mountains and forests directly between Luocheng and Mianzhu to ambush.
Tai Shici of the Martial Cavalry Battalion rushed to Jiameng Pass under the guise of supporting Liu Zhang's advance in Bajun, but they only made it a short distance and hid near Mianzhu.
As for the 4000 people in the Wushe Camp and the trapped camp under Gao Shun, they were all broken into pieces and dispersed into the counties of Guanghan, just waiting for the noble clans in each county to rise up.
Jia Xu has made all arrangements and is waiting for Zhang Lu at the foot of Mianzhu City!