Winter turns to spring, and three months have passed unknowingly. The originally withered trees are gradually blooming with buds, looking quite fresh and cheerful.
On the official road not far outside Yangping Pass, a carriage was driving slowly along the galloping road. Dozens of soldiers in armor were scanning the surroundings from time to time to be on guard against attacks by bandits. Their cold eyes were enough to make people
Don't dare to underestimate it.
Although Wudu County had been occupied by Jingzhou, Jingzhou at this time had not had time to clear out the mountain bandits in various places, especially after the war, dozens of soldiers who had fled everywhere gathered together and became the king of the mountain.
Perhaps because of the war that had just happened, there were not many pedestrians along the way, and the curtains of the carriage were lifted from time to time to reveal a majestic face.
As night fell, dozens of soldiers had already found a suitable place to camp. The dozens of soldiers were divided into several teams to build simple defenses around the camp. Soon, piles of bonfires were lit.
The carriage door opened, and a middle-aged man in his thirties bent down and got out of the carriage. He looked at the carriage and saw that the sky had turned completely dark.
"Sir, there are no county towns or villages within ten miles, so we can only rest here tonight." A young general bowed to the middle-aged man.
"It doesn't matter." The middle-aged man waved his hand and moved to sit down beside the fire. There was an implicit sigh in his eyes. A few days ago, he was in Chengdu and was left alone by the Mianyang Marquis for several months. Originally, he was in Chengdu.
He no longer had any hope, but he didn't expect that this mission would fall on him.
The middle-aged man was Fazheng who had defected to Jingzhou together with Zhang Song. Ever since Liu Qi left Yizhou, he seemed to have forgotten them a long time ago. Apart from ordering him and Zhang Song to assist Zhuge Liang, there was no other order.
.
If it weren't for Zhang Song's obstruction and Zhuge Liang's persuasion, he might have left Yizhou long ago and gone elsewhere.
Unexpectedly, when Liu Qi's order came again a few months later, he was actually asked to travel across mountains and rivers to the barbaric land of Liangzhou.
This time, he didn't hesitate at all and agreed immediately. If not for anything else, it was because of the few words in the order, but it was full of ambitious intentions.
In half a year, the situation in the world changed drastically. The princes who were originally the most powerful in the world suddenly collapsed overnight, and Cao Cao, who was in the midst of the Fourth War, turned out to be the most powerful prince in the world at this time.
Although Jingzhou also annexed Yizhou and nearly doubled its territory, it still seemed a little stretched compared to Cao Cao.
If nothing else, let’s just say that the tens of thousands of cavalry under Cao Cao’s command cannot be competed by Jingzhou. The north is different from the south. The flat terrain in the north is conducive to cavalry attacks. Under favorable circumstances, the tens of thousands of cavalry can even be several times the number of their own infantry.
A pawn, even in a disadvantageous situation, can still defeat at least twice as many enemies.
No one dares to underestimate the power of cavalry.
The biggest advantage of the south is the navy, but the north has always been dry, which is not conducive to the navy at all. Despite this, Jingzhou's strength is enough to protect itself, but Fazheng saw the monstrous ambition in Liu Qi's heart.
Only such a person can allow him to develop his talents.
The people in Liangzhou are fierce and the horses are extremely good. If Liangzhou can be captured, the last shortcoming of Jingzhou will be taken care of, and Jingzhou's power will definitely rise to another level.
Han Sui and Ma Teng had been fighting fiercely for several months this time, with neither side winning or losing. It was a good time for Jingzhou to enter Liangzhou, but Jingzhou needed an excuse.
Although Ma Teng and Han Sui didn't get along, they also knew the truth of the relationship. The two fought fiercely several times and had great hatred. However, every time when external forces invaded Liangzhou, the two were able to temporarily join forces to drive them out.
These two people have been in Liangzhou for more than ten years. Even if they are not good at management, they have firmly controlled Liangzhou. If Jingzhou launches a large-scale attack on Liangzhou, they will definitely encounter joint resistance from the two forces.
Jingzhou is extremely disadvantaged.
"After all, there is still no cavalry. If the lord has tens of thousands of cavalry under his command, and cooperates with Jingzhou's infantry, Han Sui and Ma Teng will not be afraid even if they join forces." Fa Zheng's eyes were sharp. He went to Liangzhou this time.
The purpose is not only to let the Jingzhou army enter Liangzhou, but also for the horses of Liangzhou.
Immediately afterwards, Fazheng smiled bitterly in his heart: "Speaking of which, Liu Qi has never even seen me in person, and yet he left the matter of Liangzhou in my hands. I really don't know if he really knows my talents or just looks at me.
I did this in the name of Zibu and Kongming."
After staying in Chengdu for several months, Zhuge Liang valued him very much and even took the initiative to leave some things in Yizhou to him. He even knew that Zhuge Liang had written to Liu Qi several times to recommend him.
As for Zhang Song, he was his best friend and had also written to Liu Qi several times to recommend him.
"Hey, Liu Qi is not very powerful, but he has many capable people under his command. Within a few months of arriving in Yizhou, Kong Ming managed Yizhou in an orderly manner. Although we assisted him, he was able to grasp the situation in Yizhou so accurately.
, his vision is really extremely vicious."
Fazheng's eyes flashed. When Zhuge Liang arrived in Yizhou, although Yizhou had surrendered to Jingzhou, the forces in various places were also ready to move. Zhuge Liang was able to seize the weaknesses of each force and quietly eliminate the contradictions between these forces. In this way
The method really frightened him.
The Nanman Meng Huo had long coveted the land of Yizhou. This time Liu Zhang surrendered to Jingzhou. Yizhou was in chaos, and it was also a good time for Meng Huo to go north.
Three months ago, he had received news of the Southern Barbarians' movements one after another. He even thought that Meng Huo was going to raise troops to go north, but he was suppressed by a letter from Zhuge Liang.
"I heard that Liu Qi's subordinates Pang Shiyuan and Xu Yuanzhi are no less talented than Kong Ming, and Jia Xu is a poisonous person who stirred up trouble in the whole world. What method did Liu Qi use to make these people work for him with peace of mind?"
Thinking of this, Fazheng shook his head again. After all, he had already served Liu Qi, and he did so willingly without any reluctance.
A light flashed in his eyes, Liu Qi's skills were really good, maybe he could really dominate the world.
………………………………………………………………
Just as Fazheng was leaving for Liangzhou, hundreds of soldiers from Xuchang were also guarding a horse as it slowly drove out of the city gate. A famous soldier sitting on the horse around the carriage looked coldly at the surroundings. He was clearly the most elite soldier under Cao Cao's command.
The tiger and leopard knight pawn.
As soon as this group of people left the city gate, their speed suddenly increased, and their direction was clearly towards Liangzhou.
Two middle-aged men were sitting opposite each other in the carriage. They were Du Xi, the prince-in-law who was currently in power in Xudu, and Yang Xiu, who was embarrassed by Ma Su.
"Dezu, don't look down all day long. This time I went to Liangzhou to recruit Han Sui and Ma Teng under the orders of my lord. I brought you here just to give you a share of the credit and to put your mind at ease." Du
Xi shook his head and said, Yang Xiu has lost his normalcy since he was tricked by Ma Su a few months ago. He is really too careful.
"Hey, Zi Xu doesn't know my situation at this time. Although my lord didn't say anything, he must have doubts about me in his heart. You don't know my lord's suspicious temperament?" Yang Xiu smiled bitterly, and he said to Cao Cao too
I understand that although he is very capable and good at managing the forces under his command, his suspicion has never changed.
"You are too worried. Nowadays, many people in Xudu are frightened all day long. They are secretly colluding with Yuan Shao. There are not many people who know about it. If the lord wants to take action, he will also look for them. How can he find your head?"
." Du Xi sneered.
Yang Xiu shook his head and said nothing. It is true that these people colluded with Yuan Shao. It was indeed a heinous crime. However, there were more than dozens of people colluding with Yuan Shao in the entire Xudu. As the saying goes, the law does not punish everyone, even if Cao Cao really defeated Yuan Shao, he wanted to quickly stabilize
People's hearts will not do anything to these people.
Du Xi ignored Yang Xiu's thoughts and said angrily: "Han Sui and Ma Teng have fallen in love and betrayed each other several times. It is really annoying. After my lord defeats Yuan Shao this time, I will definitely write to my lord to let him."
These two people won. Jingzhou is also abominable. It dares to openly support Ma Teng and upset the balance of Liangzhou. It is really annoying."
Although the two major forces in Liangzhou are eyeing Cao Cao, they have also reached a wonderful balance. Even if they pose some threat to Cao Cao, it is nothing to worry about. Now that Jingzhou has broken this balance, it is definitely not good news for Cao Cao.
.
Therefore, even if he was not in Xudu, he ordered Du Xi to go to Liangzhou to stabilize the two sides for the time being.
"It's hateful to say that Liu Qi and He De could annex Yizhou. Liu Zhang is also incompetent and lost a huge Yizhou in such a short period of time." Du Xi's face was filled with emotion when he said this.
Gloomy color.
"However, Liu Qi will not be proud for long. When the lord returns, he will definitely kill Liu Qi and annex the land of Jingzhou and Yizhou."
Yang Xiu on the side shook his head secretly. His good friend had completely surrendered to Cao Cao and showed no respect to the emperor or his clan members.
I couldn't help but feel sad. It was undoubtedly a very wise decision for Du Xi to seek refuge with Cao Cao before. Now, the Du family can be considered to be in great power in Xudu.
Compared with the Du family, the Yang family is now in an increasingly bleak situation. Although his father is still in a high position, he does not have much real power. He is even squeezed out of the core by the direct forces of Cao Cao. If it weren't for his father
With some methods, I am afraid that the Yang family has been driven out of Xudu due to this matter.
"I hope that the young master can become a talented person. Then we, the Yang family, may have a chance." Yang Xiu narrowed his eyes. The young master he was talking about naturally meant Cao Zhi. Although he was close to both Cao Pi and Cao Zhi at the same time, he was more interested in Cao Zhi.
Both of them are very similar in terms of temperament and temperament.
As for Cao Pi, although he also valued him very much, he had no intention of helping Cao Pi. Cao Pi must have believed that Cao Zhi was more favored by Cao Cao.