Three Kingdoms: I help Liu Bei grow thousands of miles

"General...wait..."

Chun Yuye's reaction was a step slow, and Huang Zhong, who came on a flying horse, raised his knife and fell directly to the city.

The two generals ran and died, and there was chaos inside and outside Xiaoguan. The cavalry of the Han army rushed into the pass. Except for a small number of soldiers guarding the city gate waiting for Zhao Yun's rear army, the rest of the cavalry followed Huang Zhong to pursue Zhang He.

Because Zhang He withdrew too hastily, he only gathered more than a thousand cavalry and fled northward along the way, leaving the remaining three or four thousand Wei soldiers at Xiaoguan, messy like fallen leaves in the cold wind.

Huang Zhong pursued him relentlessly, with the attitude of being ambitious and sure to win, Zhang Yun could only run northward exhaustedly.

Xiao Guan ran ten li to the north, which was Gaoping (Guyuan), the last big city before the Great Wall, but Zhang Yun was worried that he would be wiped out by the siege army, so he didn't dare to lead his troops into the city, so he could only rush northward along the Qingshui River.

Zhang He originally thought that Huang Zhong would go to the city to rest and would not go out with him unprepared, but he didn't expect that the other party was like eating a weight, and it seemed that he would not give up until he chased him.

Seeing this, Zhang He wanted to cry, but he said to himself, did I dig your ancestral grave?Is it too late to die at such an old age?

Chapter 9 Zhang He is still Zhang He

The north of Gaoping was sparsely populated, and only a few hundred miles away was a large city supply. Zhang He left in a hurry without any food, so he didn't know if he could persist in catching up with the main force ahead.

The only thing Zhang He could rely on was that Wei's horses were better, faster and stronger. If the time of Han and Wei was the same, Huang Zhong would never be able to catch up.

Both sides did not bring torches, so they could not move forward at night, and they all drank their horses by the Qingshui River to rest.

In the early winter, the horses could still uncover the soil and gnaw on the grass roots, but the soldiers had no food and had to fight hard. At night, there were no tents to resist the cold wind, and the people and horses snuggled together to keep warm.

Looking at the dots and stars in the sky, Zhang He thought to himself that we have no tents or food, and that old guy is also unlikely to have one. He might freeze to death tomorrow morning. He didn't know that Huang Zhong was well prepared.

The cavalrymen of the Han army each carried half a month's worth of compressed rations, and they all wore winter clothes made by the Guangzhou Military Workshop.

The next day, at dawn, two cavalry from the Han and Wei dynasties set off at the same time. They ran across the desolate land outside the Great Wall as if they were playing a game of chase.

When the news came from the scouts at the rear, Zhang Xi was so angry that he pumped his horse's buttocks and ran forward. He didn't expect Huang Zhong to be so tenacious, so he said in his heart that I will take you to run for another two days, and then turn around and fight after two days of exhaustion.

In the next two days, we continued to chase each other, but as the endurance of the horses gradually decreased, the speed of the march gradually slowed down every day, but we still ran for nearly [-] miles in three days, and we were approaching the south bank of the Yellow River in a blink of an eye.

"If we continue to march at this speed, we will be able to catch up with General Cao's main force in three days..." When resting on the third night, Zhang He fell into deep thought after seeing the marks on the stone.

When Cao Zhen suppressed the rebellion in Hexi, in view of the long distance between the various armies, in order to facilitate the unified dispatch and command, he left marks on the way of the march, so that the troops could calculate the marching time according to the marks.

Taking advantage of the twilight light to patrol, Zhang Xi saw the spirits of the soldiers who hadn't eaten for three days, thinking how could they stop and counterattack in this state?Even if he could catch up with Cao Zhen, he would starve to death?So he decided to turn to the northeast and go to Fuping, the former Beidi county seat, for supplies, which would only take one and a half days to arrive.

If Huang Zhong continued to chase, Zhang He planned to eat and drink enough to defeat the Han army at Fuping City, then cross the river with enough supplies, and then turn northwest to Wuwei.

Zhang He cheered everyone up at night, promising that there would be wine and meat in Fuping, so that the soldiers would cheer up and persevere, and then he would personally kill Huang Zhong.

No one questioned Zhang He's decision, because everyone knew it was the only way to survive.

Huang Zhong's troops pursued to the Yellow River, and under the introduction of An Ding's surrender, he knew that Cao Zhen was two hundred miles away to the northwest, but his target at this time was only Zhang He, so he followed in pursuit of Fuping.

In the 33rd year of Qin Shihuang, Qin general Meng Tian was ordered to expel the Xiongnu in the north and regained a large area of ​​land including along the Yellow River. After the war, 44 counties were built along the river. Fuping County was established at that time.

Fuping County is backed by mountains and has a stream. The geographical situation is very important. It is a fortress to defend the nomads in the north. In addition, it is irrigated by the Yellow River and has developed agriculture. It used to be a very rich place. The rebellion seized the city, moved in and out three times, and finally settled in Zuo Fengyi in the 15th year of Hanling Emperor Zhongping (185). (now Fuping, Shaanxi)

From the end of Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period, wars between Qiang and Han continued on the northwestern border. Fuping County beside the Yellow River was not as good as it was before. In addition to a large population loss, the city was old and dilapidated. The population of the county is only [-], and Zhang Yun's desire to have a full meal is basically a daydream.

Fuping, with only four hundred households, was only equivalent to an ordinary village in the Central Plains. The people donated food in front of Wei Bingjunwei, but Zhang He's troops could barely satisfy their hunger.

After simply filling his belly, Zhang He led his troops out of the city to fight against Huang Zhong. He thought that although his side was smaller, he was more energetic after going through the supply just now, but the ending was often surprising. All the Han soldiers had bright eyes and expressions Still, it's not like experiencing freezing and starvation.

Could it be a flashback?Zhang Xi obviously couldn't understand, but since he decided to fight back at this time, he still uttered harsh words before the battle, "Old man Huang Zhong, chased me for a few days, it seems that you want to die and go crazy, I will help you today."

"Finally don't want to run away? Are the soldiers starving? There will be no pain after death." Huang Zhong stroked his beard and laughed meaningfully.

Zhang He raised his head and sneered: "Old man, do you still have the strength to shout? After all of you are dead, I'm afraid it will take a month to eat so many war horses."

"Wei General Zhang Yun has a tough mouth and soft legs. Everyone knows that this knife of the old man will kill the rats..." Huang Zhong shook his head sarcastically.

"Old man Huang Zhong, next year today will be your memorial day. The whole army will attack." After Zhang Yun finished speaking harshly, he waved his hand forward and charged with the cavalry behind him.

"Boys, the hunt has begun." Huang Zhong commanded the Han army to hedge at the same time.

The cavalry of the Han and Wei sides confronted each other on the south bank of the Yellow River. Time seemed to go back to the Qiang-Han War decades ago, as if back to the longer Han and Hun wars, and the dilapidated city walls of Fuping watched silently.

The hungry Wei soldiers started to fight as soon as their stomachs were full, and soon they developed abdominal pain due to violent movements. The pain made the body slowly start to slow down. The fatal slowness on the battlefield is a disaster. Zhang Yun fought with Huang Zhong with all his strength. In three or four rounds, we saw the surrounding Wei soldiers kept being picked off their horses.

What kind of spectacle is this?Where did the Han soldiers get their strength?

At the moment when Zhang Yun was in a trance, Huang Zhong slashed Huashan Mountain with all his strength, which almost fell on the opponent's neck.

Zhang Yun came to his senses at a critical moment. He used the handle of the gun to support the blade and pushed it upwards, barely parrying Huang Zhong's vigorous slash, and countless cold sweats broke out from his vest.

Huang Zhong's power is still so strong?Zhang Yun was so shocked that he swallowed, and from the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Wei Bing had been shot down one after another, and thought that he probably made Yang Qiu's mistake. Could it be that this old guy has ghosts and gods to help him?Why can't I die?

During the interval between the rounds, Zhang He resolutely reined in his horse, turned around and ran, and shouted loudly: "Retreat, retreat quickly."

Run away if you can't beat, Zhang He is still Zhang He.

In the battle outside Fuping City, the Wei army was killed to the point that none of them survived. In the end, only less than a hundred cavalry remained beside Zhang He. They continued northward to Lingzhou along the Yellow River.

The dead Wei soldiers left behind nearly a thousand horses. Huang Zhong was reluctant to eat such a foot. He left 200 men to gather the horses, and then chased them to Lingzhou along the horseshoe prints. When he arrived, he realized that Zhang He had plundered Lingzhou and ran away again. .

The situation in Lingzhou was similar to that in Fuping, with only a few hundred households. Zhang Yun grabbed some food and went north to the Great Wall, as if he wanted to escape from the Gobi Desert to Bingzhou.

Although Huang Zhong was a little impatient, he didn't get ahead at the critical moment, so he decisively chose not to chase.

Chapter 9 Questions and Answers of the White Tiger Pavilion

Lingzhou went straight north, running along the Yellow River to Shuofang County, and then to Wuyuan County, but now these places belong to the settlements of the Southern Huns.

In the 21st year of Jian'an, Cao Cao detained Huchuquan, the last Shanyu of the Southern Huns, and sent King Youxian to Bei Jianguo. The Southern Huns were then broken up into five tribes. Many tribes in the five tribes were angry with Wei Guo and dared not speak out.

In recent years, the Wei State and the Xiongnu seem to be on the surface of the river, but due to the gradual rise of Liu Bei's power, the Huns also have the idea of ​​​​restoring the country again. If Zhang He travels along the Yellow River, it is very easy to break into the Huns' settlements. no one knows.

Due to his cautious character, Zhang Yun chose the southern route, that is, he turned at Lingzhou and went eastward, traveled hundreds of miles to Sheyan for supplies, and finally entered the customs from Shangjun of Bingzhou.

At this time, the water and grass on both sides of the Yellow River were luxuriant, and the grasslands were not deserted due to soil erosion. However, due to the existence of the Gobi caused by extreme grazing, Zhang Xi’s route was [-] miles. There were few grasslands and more Gobi along the way, and there were almost no nomadic Huns. .

In winter, it was cold and windy outside the Great Wall, and the physical exertion was greater than usual. The food that Zhang Yun looted in Lingzhou ran out of food after two or three days after leaving the city. Fortunately, there were dozens of war horses with him. Butchered, and the rider who lost the horse can only get a piece of meat, and then fend for himself outside the barren fortress.

Of the more than [-] riders who fled with Zhang Yun, only [-] riders remained in Shangjun, and without exception, they were Zhang He's personal soldiers. Whether it was to kill horses and eat meat, or to keep secrets, the rest were left forever Beyond the Great Wall.

When Zhang He fled, he killed horses and ate meat, but Huang Zhong was very concerned about the captured horses. Many of the horses under Cao Zhen in Yongliang came from the Qilian Mountain Racecourse, and they were stronger and more vigorous than the horses of the Han army.

Huang Zhong stayed in Lingzhou and Fuping for a few days. Seeing that Zhang Yun was gone forever, he took the captured horses back to Gaoping (Guyuan).

It is already the end of the year when Anding was successfully recovered, but there are thousands of miles of land from Gaoping to Wuwei, half of which is not accessible by water, and a large number of peasants need to be recruited to transfer food. Zhao Yun was unable to enter again.

After the two discussed, they decided to supervise the construction of grain transport ships in Gaoping, clean up and stabilize the law and order in all counties, and help the people in various places resume production. They also sent people to Chang'an to report success and ask for instructions.

In the second year of Zhangwu of Han Dynasty and the fifth year of Wei Huangchu (224), An Ding's messenger arrived in Chang'an in the first month.

Liu Bei was in a good mood after receiving Zhao Yunjie's news, and immediately summoned Fazheng and Pang Tong to share his joy.

Seeing that the two were reading the memorial with relish, Liu Bei joked with a smile: "Zilong and General Huang repelled Zhang He, and completely drove Cao Jun out of the Guanzhong area. Zilong is already building grain transportation ships, and he is planning to enter Wuwei next summer. Don't be arrogant." She has a good temperament and it seems Erqing's bet is unpredictable."

Before Zhao Yun's victory report came back, Zhang Fei and Ma Chao's victory report arrived a few days earlier. The mountain path that detours around the West Qinling Mountains reaches the bank of the Yellow River.

Within half a month, the West Road army won seven games in a row, and all seven counties in Jincheng County were leveled. Zhang Fei rested in Lingju County for a whole day. Abandon the plan to continue to march.

When Zhang Fei wrote the memorandum, it had already snowed heavily in Lingju for ten days, and the hundred-mile narrow valley leading to Wuwei was almost filled with snow, and they could only wait for the spring to melt.

"If it wasn't for the heavy snow in Lingju, the three generals and General Ma would have walked out of the mountains, and they might have arrived at Guzang (now Wuwei) before Cao Zhen. What a twist of fate..." Pang Tong shook his head slightly.

Fazheng responded with a smile: "Shiyuan is too optimistic. According to Zilong's last intelligence, Cao Zhen sent his general Guo Huai back to defend Wuwei before we sent troops. Yide and the others may not be able to take advantage of the loopholes. Guo Huai also belongs to the Wei State. Famous general, if he sends troops to guard the valley exit, how will the West Route Army respond?"

"Isn't Deng Shizai going? His ability to find the way is excellent." Pang Tong was still struggling.

"No matter how hard it is to stop Blizzard, it's Zhao and Huang who are fighting steadily. They may be the first to send troops in the coming year. Shi Yuan's three-month salary, I will probably get [-]% of it..." Fazheng stroked his beard and smiled.

"Not necessarily." Pang Tong categorically denied, and continued to add with a frown: "Although the terrain from Gaoping to Wuwei is relatively flat, the marching distance is too far. I don't know how much food will be needed after this battle, and more than 20 civilians will be recruited." Now, the situation in Guanzhong has just improved, and the livelihood of the people in Anding and Beidi counties is declining. Where can we recruit so many people? I still think Yide and Mengqi will be safer, at least the transportation distance will be [-]% less.”

"Shiyuan doesn't know that there is heavy snow all the year round in the north of Lingju, and the snow in the valley will not melt until late spring and early summer, but at that time it is easy to cause landslides and mountain torrents. It is luck to pass smoothly..." Fazheng shook his head lightly .

"It turns out..." Pang Tong suddenly realized, and thought that Xiaozhi cheated me of my salary?Bully me Xiangyang people do not understand the climate of Liangzhou?I also blame myself for not asking Jiang Wei more.

"Xiaozhi has the chance to win, Shiyuan, you have to live frugally..." Liu Bei finished joking with a smile, then turned to ask Fazheng seriously: "Since the mountain road on the west line is so dangerous, I will not let Yide take the risk again, However, Shi Yuan's worries are not unreasonable, where are we going to recruit so many civilian husbands? The people of Sanfu can't stand the trouble."

With a calm demeanor, Fazheng bowed his hands and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, if you don't have enough people, you can recruit less. The Yinpan and Linjing people recruited by Zilong are enough."

"Enough? Is Xiaozhi a joke? That's only 2 people, and the expedition to Wuwei will cost at least 20." Liu Bei was very surprised.

Pang Tong seemed to think of something, he frowned and guessed: "Many people in Yongliang have livestock, so Xiaozhi wants to use animals instead of manpower? But the people in the two places have been exploited by Cao Zhen, and the herdsmen have very few livestock. many effects."

After hearing this, Fazheng said solemnly: "The entire Yongliang strategy is integrated. The expedition to Wuwei cannot rely solely on Zhao Huang's soldiers and horses. The troops on the western front must also cooperate with each other."

"Xiaozhi, you've confused me." Liu Bei looked bewildered.

"Your Majesty, please move to the White Tiger Pavilion, and I will explain to you from the physical sand table." Fazheng asked for instructions with his hands clasped.

"Then let's go." Liu Bei waved to Pang Tong.

Baihu Pavilion is on the right side of Weiyang Palace. Liu Bei was born in the army and loved the sand table. After he ascended the throne, he had no chance to lead the army, so he asked people to make a sand table in this pavilion according to the thirteen states of the world. This is the place he often goes to, seeing the vivid mountains and rivers, Liu Bei felt that he already owned the whole world.

After a while, the three monarchs and ministers came to Baihu Pavilion, in front of the sand table in Liangzhou.

Fazheng pointed to the location of Jincheng with a small stick and said in detail: "The land around Jincheng County is fertile, and Deng Shizai happens to be there. It is completely possible to plant corn here, and then use the Yellow River waterway to travel across the mountains to this open place, and Zilong The confluence of the Eastern Front armies, almost no manpower is needed in the first half."

"The first half of the journey is easy to do by water. The key is the second half. Although most of the north of the Yellow River is grassland, how can we transport grain for the six or seven hundred miles? Just rely on Zilong to recruit the 2 people?" Liu Bei asked eagerly. .

Fazheng smiled and said, "Since it is a vast grassland, why not move herdsmen from all over there?"

"Moving herdsmen?" Liu Bei still didn't understand.

"Does Xiao Zhi mean to drive the sheep west? Mutton is the food of the soldiers?" Pang Tong was the first to react.

"Of course." Fazheng stroked his beard and nodded.

Chapter 9

Liu Bei listened to the conversation between the two, frowning, interjected and asked: "If tens of thousands of troops eat meat, how many cattle and sheep will be needed? I am afraid that collecting all the cattle and sheep in Yongliang and Liangzhou is not enough to feed the army." Months? Although Xiaozhi’s idea is good, it’s not realistic to implement it.”

Fazheng explained with a smile: "Your Majesty, don't worry, food can be planted and harvested, and cattle and sheep can naturally be raised and increased. The Qiang and Hu people in Yongliang and Liangzhou are good at grazing but not farming. We can use their strengths.

Although the north bank of the Yellow River is rich in water and grass, the shepherds have been extinct due to successive years of war. Now we can move some Qianghu to the grassland, and a large pasture will be formed in less than two years. During this period, we will store some grain and make compressed grain. When we are fully prepared, we will go to Wuwei. not too late. "

"Xiaozhi originally came up with this idea. I don't know if it is easy to move Qianghu. If it triggers a civil uprising, the gain will not be worth the loss." Liu Bei's expression is still dignified.

Pang Tong cupped his hands and said: "General Ma has a high prestige among the Qianghu. The three counties of Tianshui, Longyou, and Jincheng are not as good as the grasslands for grazing, but we must be wary of Cao Zhen sending troops to harass and those scattered Huns."

"Shi Yuan is right. Gaoping (Guyuan) is more than [-] miles away from the Yellow River, and there is not even a decent city around. Wouldn't it be dangerous if it encounters an enemy attack? If the whole is moved to the vicinity of Lingzhou, it will be far away from Wuwei first. It is farther away, and secondly, it is too close to the Xiongnu in Shuofang, which will inevitably lead to conflicts with grazing." Liu Bei looked at the sand table and analyzed.

"The location of Lingzhou is really inappropriate, and there is a shortage of city supplies between Gaoping (Guyuan) and Wuwei. Your Majesty can choose a site here (to the west of Zhongwei) to build a city. One can be used as a stronghold for expeditions to Wuwei. Raised food and grass It can be hoarded here, and secondly, it can protect the herdsmen who migrated there, and it can also solve the hidden danger of Cao Zhen and the Huns' harassment." Fazheng throws out his own ideas.

"This plan is very clever. After recovering the counties in the northwest, the city will set up post stations and wharves to connect with passing caravans and messengers. It's like killing birds with one stone." Pang Tong applauded.

Although the two military divisions reached an agreement, Liu Bei didn't seem so optimistic, and he hasn't made a final decision yet.

Seeing this, Fazheng asked, "Your Majesty still has concerns?"

"The plan of filial piety is not incomplete, but the manpower, financial and material resources needed to build the city are immeasurable. I don't know when the population of Yongliang will recover. If we frequently use internal forces to deal with Cao Zhen, when will we be able to leave Tongguan east?" Liu Bei Worried about being consumed by Cao Zhen for too long, it is nowhere in sight to invade the Central Plains by himself.

"Your Majesty's thinking is complicated. In the past, when General Lan built Guangzhou City, he slowly added it while building it. It didn't happen overnight, and he also mobilized soldiers to build the city. Why don't we follow Ziyu's method?" Pang Tong smiled leisurely.

"Shi Yuan explained it more clearly." Liu Bei became interested.

Pang Tong nodded slightly to Fazheng, and then stroked his beard to explain: "The scale of this city does not need to be too large, and the city wall does not need to be as high as Chang'an. It is enough to withstand the wind and sand on the grassland, so the construction is not difficult and the construction time will not be too long In a long time, Zilong is probably enough to recruit those people, His Majesty only needs to ensure food."

"When Shi Yuan said that, he was immediately enlightened. It seems that this plan is really possible?" Liu Bei looked at Fazheng in surprise.

Fazheng echoed with a smile: "That's what I mean. It's definitely not enough to work hard. In addition, it takes time to build a city, garrison fields, and herds. There is no need for all the soldiers to stay on the front line. Your Majesty can withdraw part of Chang'an. If the Central Plains war can still send troops to respond It will not be too late to send troops to Hexi (Hexi Corridor) when the time is right."

"Good." Liu Bei nodded, "General Huang is old, and he still can't stay on the frontier for a long time. I have to withdraw him."

"Which general is your Majesty going to leave behind to preside over the Western Expedition?" Seeing that Liu Bei was about to withdraw Huang Zhong, Pang Tong immediately asked who was the commander of the Western Expedition.

Liu Bei replied seriously: "Zilong is the general of Zhenxi and the governor of Liangzhou. Who else is better? I owe him something in Shuzhong, so I will let him gallop in the Xiliang battlefield."

"Since this is the case, I suggest that Yide and Meng Qi can also gradually recall Chang'an, and leave Deng Shizai to farm in Jincheng." Pang Tong suggested.

Liu Bei nodded lightly, "Yi Deke and General Huang will be recalled together, and Meng Qi will mobilize the Qianghu herdsmen to move northward to the grasslands. It will not be too late to return to Beijing after the matter is completed. It's just that Shizai left Beijing soon after his wedding. Staying in Jincheng to farm, Xiaoqi (Chen Zhen) is afraid that he will blame me."

When Liu Bei mentioned Deng Ai's marriage, Pang Tong and Fazheng respectively recommended the daughters of Chen Zhen and Huang Quan, because Deng Ai was a disciple of Lantian, and the marriage meant making friends with foreign relatives. In addition, Huang Quan and Lantian were not familiar with each other. When asked by Liu Bei He hesitated a little, so he finally married Chen Zhen's daughter to Deng Ai.

Chen Zhen and Deng Ai are both from Nanyang. They already admired the pragmatic Deng Ai, and didn't think too much about Lan Tian's relationship. They were happy in the conversation with Liu Bei, and happily contributed to the marriage, but Deng Ai was newly married for less than a month. , he was ordered to escort food and grass to Tianshui to report, and his daughter was taken back to Weiwei Mansion to live.

"A man's state affairs are the most important thing. Xiaoqi (Chen Zhen)'s officials will explain it. Their father and daughter should understand your majesty. I don't know how long it will take for Shizai to farm in Jincheng. Xiaoqi can wait until the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, and send someone to send his daughter. Jincheng to reunite." In Pang Tong's view, this is not a problem.

"It's still Shi Yuan's thoughtful thinking. Since Shi Zai's return date has not yet been set, Jincheng will not bother the two masters. The military and government in the county will be handed over to him. Tomorrow, I will issue an edict to appoint Deng Ai as the prefect of Jincheng." Liu Beixin said Deng Ai After all, he is a student of Lantian, so it is easy to manage a small border county.

Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei regained a large area of ​​Yongliang territory in the past few months. There were vacancies in important positions such as sheriffs, magistrates, chief officials, and magistrates in various counties. He became nervous, and he thought that when the officials from Soochow came to Beijing, the lack of personnel should be alleviated.

The grain harvest in Guanzhong was bumper, and the two-front war between Yong and Liang went smoothly. The Han Dynasty, which allowed Liu Bei to renew his life, ushered in an auspicious New Year. The residents of Chang'an walked through the streets in the first month, and it was very lively. Many people spontaneously came to Weiyang Palace. , Kowtowed to the emperor towards the palace wall, thanking the country and the people.