Chapter 711 Hanzhong Strategy

Cao Cao ordered trenches to be dug outside Shu County and the Jiangdong Army's stronghold outside the city to prevent the two Jiangdong armies from communicating with each other.

Forty thousand Cao's troops dug deep trenches during the day. At night, Jiangdong's army rushed out like night rats and filled the trenches with force. When they woke up the next day, Cao Jun saw that the trenches they had finally dug had been filled in by Jiangdong's army. They were all furious and continued to dig. However, Jiangdong's army was quite resilient and continued to fill in the trenches without any discouragement. .

Because Cao's army did not attack the city, and Jiangdong's army did not need to defend the city, digging or filling in the trenches became the only struggle between the two armies. The two armies started fighting openly and secretly around the trenches.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Cao Jun and Jiangdong Army dug trenches one after another, and everyone became good at digging. Some even competed with each other. The war in Shu County was quite harmonious.

At this time, in Luoyang city.

Liu Ye wore thick court clothes and walked down the steps of Chongde Hall step by step. Guan Hai and dozens of guards followed Liu Ye in full gear. Although they were in the palace, Guan Hai He is extremely alert, looking around and taking in everything going on in all directions.

It was not because Guan Hai was suspicious, but because an assassination case really broke out a few days ago.

Two days ago, Liu Ye was walking in the palace when a young eunuch suddenly ran up to him and stabbed him with a dagger in his hand. However, this little eunuch neglected to exercise, so Liu Ye grabbed his wrist and threw him away.

After inspection afterwards, it was found that the dagger was quenched with toxins. Fortunately, the skin was not broken and bleeding, otherwise it would have been life-threatening. Jia Xu immediately arranged for people to torture the young eunuch, and finally concluded that the young eunuch was a die-hard loyalist of Liu Bian, the king of the North, and Liu Bian did not take him with him when he fled eastward.

Later, Liu Bian fled to Pengcheng and was deposed by Liu Ye's order. The young eunuch held a grudge and waited for an opportunity to assassinate Liu Ye.

Fortunately, there was no danger, and Jia Xu proposed to take this opportunity to conduct a major purge and kill all the forces that were dissatisfied with Liu Ye. Liu Ye did not allow it, but ordered a thorough investigation of the eunuchs and palace servants who had been close to Liu Bian in the palace, and exiled them from the palace. At the same time, more Huben guards were sent as sentries. The people in Luoyang City cursed these eunuchs and praised Liu Ye's benevolence.

Tap tap tap!

A guard suddenly stepped forward and reported: "The general, the minister, the minister, the chief minister and others are already waiting in the general's mansion."

"Well, let's go now."

Liu Ye walked out of the palace, immediately got on the carriage, returned to the General's Mansion and walked inside.

"I've met the general."

When Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Xun You and others saw Liu Ye, they all stood up and saluted.

"sit."

Liu Ye sat down on the cushion and waved his hands casually. He waited until Xun You and the others sat down before speaking.

"I heard that Cao Mengde raised troops to attack Lujiang and is now fighting Zhou Yu?" Liu Ye asked Guo Jia.

"Come back to General, that's exactly what it is."

Guo Jia cupped his hands and said, "I heard that Cao Cao sent 100,000 troops south to the Lujiang River, preparing to wipe out the north of the Yangtze River in one fell swoop."

"One hundred thousand?" Liu Ye laughed: "The total number of soldiers and horses under Cao Mengde's command is probably only one hundred thousand. There are 30,000 in Jizhou and Yanzhou alone. Where did he get the one hundred thousand?"

"These 100,000 people are naturally a false claim. According to estimates, Cao Cao probably led 40,000 to 60,000 troops." Guo Jia replied.

"That's not a small amount."

Liu Ye gently stroked his black beard and asked, "What about Zhou Yu?"

"Zhou Yu led an army of between 20,000 and 30,000 people. I heard that he had set up a military stronghold outside Shu County, which was at odds with Shu County. Cao Cao only besieged Shu County and the military stronghold, but did not attack it."

"Besieged but not attacked. It's kind of interesting."

Liu Ye was familiar with the personalities and fighting methods of Cao Cao and Zhou Yu, but at this moment he couldn't tell what Cao Cao wanted to do.

"Cao Mengde and Zhou Gongjin are both talented people. The battle between the two armies will probably be protracted. This is a good thing for our army." Xun You said slowly.

"Yes, if two tigers fight, our army can be like Bian Zhuangzi."

"Um"

Liu Ye pondered for a while and suddenly asked: "What's the latest news in Hanzhong?"

Jia Xu cupped his hands and replied: "Zhang Lu attacked Hanzhong County on Liu Yan's order and killed the prefect Su Gu. Now he is supporting his own troops. However, after Liu Yan died of illness three years ago, his youngest son Liu Zhang came to the throne. The relationship between Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu There was discord, Zhang Lu looked down on Liu Zhang, and Liu Zhang was dissatisfied with Zhang Lu's disobedience to orders, so the conflict deepened."

"And just last year, Liu Zhang killed Zhang Lu's family. From then on, Yizhou and Hanzhong were like fire and water, attacking each other!"

Zhang Lu was originally a general under Liu Yan. When he first launched his troops to attack Hanzhong, he naturally wanted to leave his family in Yizhou to show his loyalty.

"Liu Zhang beheaded Zhang Lu's entire family, and then ordered Pang Xi to lead the governor of Bajun. However, Pang Xi was driven away by Zhang Lu. Now Zhang Lu occupies Hanzhong and Bajun, and implements lenient governance. Therefore, the turmoil in Guanzhong has already begun At that time, tens of thousands of people moved to Hanzhong, and the local Ba people were also willing to obey Zhang Lu. Although he only had two counties, he had at least 20,000 to 30,000 troops."

When Jia Xu said this, he suddenly laughed: "Zhang Lu governed Hanzhong with the Five Dou Rice Sect. Because those who joined the religion had to hand over five Dou Rice, it was called the Five Dou Rice Sect."

"Those who are new to the religion are called ghost soldiers; the small leaders in the Five Dou Rice Cult are called sacrificial wine; the big leaders are known as military advisors and great sacrificial wine, but they do not hold official positions in the court."

"snort!"

Liu Ye snorted coldly: "If you don't hold an official position in the imperial court, you are really a traitor."

"The geographical location of Hanzhong County is very important. As the saying goes, Long looks forward to Shu. If Yizhou can hold Hanzhong, it will have the foundation to sweep through the Three Qin Dynasties; if Guanzhong holds Hanzhong, it will have a forward base to attack Yizhou." Guo Jia analyzed .

The geographical location of Hanzhong is very important. Liu Bang was originally entrusted to Yizhou by Xiang Yu, but Liu Bang bribed Xiang Bo, so Xiang Bo persuaded Xiang Yu to give Hanzhong to Liu Bang as a fiefdom.

As a result, after Liu Bang took possession of Hanzhong, he relied on the method of "building a plank road to cross Chencang secretly" to get out of Sichuan in one fell swoop, and then swept through the Three Qin Dynasties to compete with Xiang Yu.

Later, when Sima Zhao ordered the destruction of Shu, he first captured Hanzhong County, causing the Shu Han to lose its northern barrier. Then he marched in several directions and destroyed the Shu Han. It can be said that Hanzhong is a key. Whoever can master Hanzhong will open the door to Yizhou or Sanqin.

"In this case, let's take advantage of the fierce battle between Cao Cao and Zhou Yu to capture Hanzhong first."

Liu Ye ordered: "Order Ma Teng to gather troops and horses in the direction of Chang'an, and ask Zhang Jaw to prepare in Nanyang. When the time comes, the two groups will advance together and annihilate Hanzhong in one go."

"General, there is actually a third way available, and we don't need our army to supply food and grass."

Guo Jia suddenly smiled.

"Oh? Which third party? Let Fengxiao tell you." Liu Ye said with great interest.