On August 16, the food and grass from Jiangling were delivered, and the weather began to turn cooler. The soldiers regained their energy, and Tan Daoji decided to send troops to Chengdu.
During this period, he received a letter from Suo Miao, the governor of Liangzhou, which made Tan Daoji very disappointed. He originally thought that with the help of Liangzhou, the Fushui and Tuoshui armies would attract more attention of the Shu army, and he could easily capture Chengdu from the Minjiang River. Now it seems that everything can only be done by oneself.
Three armies advanced at the same time. Tan Zhi's five thousand soldiers and horses went north from Jiangzhou City to Guanghan County. This route passed through Bajun and Basi County and entered Guanghan County. The territory was owned by the Jin State and there was no need to fight the Shu army.
Tan Daoji and Zang Xi joined forces and marched westward to Jiangyang County. Han Qing, the governor of Jiangyang County, knew that the Jin army had arrived and surrendered. Tan Daoji easily occupied Jiangyang City.
Two days later, Zang Xi led his army north along the Tuojiang River. Tan Daoji asked him to put many flags on the boat, beat drums and trumpets all the way, and march forward in a swagger. He led another army to the Minjiang River.
In Niuchang City, Qiao Daofu was waiting in full formation, but Zang Xi's army failed to arrive with loud thunder and light rain.
However, Tan Zhi hurriedly mobilized his troops and arrived at Guanghan City seven days later. During the three-pronged attack on Chengdu, the Taiwei had high hopes for Tan Daoji, which made Tan Zhi, his elder brother, a little disappointed. He was arrogant by nature and wanted to capture Chengdu first to let the Taiwei know that his ability was not inferior to that of his fourth brother.
Xie Xuan, the prefect of Guanghan, came to reward the army with pigs, sheep and wine, but there was no food or reinforcements. Tan Zhi drank a lot and went to Fu County the next day with his drunkenness still lingering, hoping to get support from his cousin Tan Hezhi.
Two days after Tan Zhi's army set off, Mao Xiuzhi also left Jiangzhou City with 7,000 troops and horses for Guanghan County. The troops did not alert Xie Xuan, the prefect of Guanghan, and went directly around the city at dusk.
Five miles northwest of Guanghan City, Sima Mengqing of Guanghan County had already ordered people to set up camp and cook meals, just waiting for the army to move in.
After resting in the camp, Mao Xiuzhi chased Tan Zhi's army across Santai, but did not follow him to Fu County. Instead, he turned west and headed to Wucheng southeast of Mianzhu City.
The five cities are less than a hundred miles away from Mianzhu and Luoxian County. In the middle, there is the Lutou Mountain Range running east to west. The steep mountain road separates the five cities from Mianzhu and Luoxian County from the east to west.
Mao Xiuzhi looked at the map. After Tan Zhi arrived in Fu County, he went south to capture Chengdu Prefecture. He first had to capture Mianzhu Pass. After capturing Mianzhu, he then went south to Luoxian County, which is seventy miles away. After occupying Luoxian County, the north gate of Chengdu Prefecture would be opened. , you can drive straight to the city of Chengdu.
Shulong Xiang's general Qiao Fuzhi led 6,000 troops to guard Mianzhu Pass. Mianzhu Pass was easy to defend but difficult to attack. As long as Qiao Fuzhi could not escape, it would be almost impossible for Tan Zhi's 5,000 troops to capture Mianzhu Pass. Liu Jingxuan had When they attacked Shu, they were defeated at the Mianzhu Pass.
The Shu army blocked the enemy on three fronts, but the Chengdu mansion was empty. The defenders of Luoxian County would never exceed two thousand. A smile appeared on Mao Xiuzhi's lips. When he was young, he went hunting in Lutou Mountain with his father and brother. His uncle Mao Can once told him that once someone attacked Chengdu, they could not just defend Mianzhu Pass, Luo County would also have to send heavy troops to guard it, because the enemy had It is possible to cross Lutou Mountain and go straight to Luoxian County.
To cross Lutou Mountain and go straight to Luoxian County, the difficulty will never be lower than the Yinping Trail that Deng Ai took when he conquered Shu. Moreover, you cannot carry baggage over the mountains and ridges, so you can only carry dry food with you. Once you run out of food and get trapped in the mountains, you will likely die. .
However, Mao Xiuzhi had sufficient confidence. First, the army rations prepared by Yonggong - oily wheat flour and beef and mutton jerky. Mao Xiuzhi had tested it and found that one pound of oil-fried wheat flour and dried meat was enough to feed the soldiers for a day. The accompanying military rations were only You need to carry three to five kilograms, which is enough for five days in the mountains. Secondly, Yonggong has already selected elite soldiers in the army to set up a brave camp, and there is training in climbing mountains and ridges. These athletes can climb rocks and cross streams. They will explore first. It should not be difficult to cross Lutou Mountain by tying the rope.
Mao Xiuzhi even heard from his old generals that when Yang Siping was the governor, he often recruited mountain hunters and woodcutter soldiers to join the army. These people traveled in the mountains and forests all year round and were good at crossing mountains and ridges. There were many such men in the county army.
With confidence in mind, Mao Xiuzhi selected four thousand warriors from seven thousand soldiers and horses, all wearing leather armor and steel knives, carrying five days of dry food and felt blankets, and crossed Lutou Mountain from Wucheng to the west.
As for the baggage, Mao Xiuzhi didn't want to think about it. When he led these men like magic soldiers descending from the sky and appeared outside Luoxian County, they would definitely be able to easily seize the unsuspecting county town, and then he would naturally have baggage.
When Mao Xiuzhi led his army into Lutou Mountain, battles between the imperial court's three armies and the Shu army began one after another, with Dabi City being the first to engage.
Pingmo City and Dabi City are located to the east and west of the Minjiang River respectively, with Dabi City in the west and Pingmo City in the east. The terrain of Dabi City in the west is difficult and easy to defend but difficult to attack. Pingnan General Qiao Xiaogou led 3,000 soldiers and horses to guard Dabi City, while Shangshu Pu She Qiao Shen led 7,000 soldiers and horses to defend Pingmo.
Everyone thought it was easy first and then difficult. Tan Daoji said: "Although Dabi City is difficult to attack, the garrison is small, and if Dabi City is captured, the defenders of Pingmo City will have no fighting spirit and can be defeated without a fight." Tan Daoji said. When he led his army to attack Bicheng, Tan Zhi joined Tan Hezhi in Fu County.
Tan Hezhi accompanied hundreds of personal guards and could not drive the county army. However, the 3,000 draftees brought with them 3,000 shi of military rations and prepared to attack Mianzhu Pass with Tan Zhi.
Zang Xi finally arrived outside Niuchang City. Qiao Daofu saw through the Jin army's bluff and took the initiative to send troops to fight.
The ships Zang Xi rode were tall and sturdy, and there were many archers on the ships who could shoot at the Shu army from high places. Qiao Daofu was helpless for a while.
Zang Xi sent more than ten warships to harass every day. Qiao Dao Fusheng was afraid of being ambushed. As long as the Jin army did not attack Niuchang City, he could make noise outside.
At Mianzhu Pass, Tan Zhi was eager to achieve success, so he divided his troops into three teams and attacked Mianzhu Pass from morning to night. Tan Hezhi's repeated admonitions to Tan Zhi fell on deaf ears. Tan Hezhi saw that he was like a crazy demon, so he stopped admonishing him and just ordered him to serve. The men cut down bamboo and wood and stepped up their efforts to make ladders, catapults and other siege equipment.
The first to achieve victory was Tan Daoji. On August 29, General Zhu Lin of Guangwu defeated Dabi City. On August 30, Tan Daoji led his army to attack Pingmo City. As he expected, the Shu army learned that Dabi City had been destroyed. He had no fighting spirit at all and scattered in all directions. Qiao Shen was killed by the rebels on the way to Chengdu, and his head was beheaded and presented to Tan Daoji.
In Chengdu Prefecture, Qiao Zong learned that Dabi and Pingmo were missing, and hurriedly sent 4,000 of the 5,000 soldiers and horses guarding Chengdu Prefecture to Jiangyuan City to guard the last city on Chengdu South Road.
At the same time, Qiao Zong sent someone to report Qiao Daofu urgently and asked him to send some troops to support the Chengdu Prefecture, otherwise Liu Chan's story would repeat itself.
Luo County is only forty miles away from Mianzhu Pass. The Shu army stores grain here and transports grain to Mianzhu Pass every two days.
Being in the rear, Luo County could not see much tension. The four doors were open, and vehicles and people could come and go as usual.
Three miles east of the city is the Lutou Mountains, and Mao Xiuzhi is lurking in the mountains with his men. After three days of hard work and the loss of seventeen soldiers, four thousand soldiers finally climbed over Lutou Mountain and sneaked to the east of Luoxian County.
Food was being transported to Mianzhu City in the city. The long food team was several miles long. Mao Xiuzhi asked the soldiers to take off their leather armor and put their knives on their backs. They walked towards Luo County in groups of three or five, starting from different places. Enter the city gate.
From Chen hour to noon, more than three hundred people entered the city, but no abnormalities were found in the city. Mao Xiuzhi felt that he was almost done, so he led his soldiers to kill the east city of Luo County.
The defenders of Luoxian County suddenly saw thousands of people coming and were all panicked. They quickly wanted to close the city gate, but the Jin army who had sneaked into the city came out and prevented the Shu army from closing the city gate.
After fighting for a while, Mao Xiuzhi led his army into the city and easily captured Luoxian County. The grain, grass and baggage in Luoxian County were piled up like mountains. The initial count of grain and grass was more than 500,000 dan, and there were more than 100 war horses.
Mao Xiuzhi revealed his identity. Many of the Luocheng defenders were former members of the Mao family, and the number of soldiers and horses increased from 4,000 to nearly 5,000.
It was learned from the Jiangjun that Tan Zhi's army was blocked in Mianzhu City, Qiao Daofu led his army to stalemate with Zang Xi in Niuchang City, and Tan Daoji had already attacked Jiangyuan City, only one step away from Chengdu Prefecture.
At this time, Chengdu Mansion was empty, with only about a thousand defenders. Mao Xiuzhi took a short rest and left 800 men to guard Luocheng, but he was in a hurry to rush to Chengdu Mansion.
Luoxian County is only more than eighty miles away from Chengdu. The next day Shenshi arrived outside the north gate of the city, only to see the city gate open and a group of people waiting outside the city to surrender.
When he got closer, Mao Xiuzhi recognized Ma Dan, the Minister of Shu, who was originally the Zhizhong governor of Yizhou. After Qiao Zong proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed him as Minister.
Seeing Mao Xiuzhi leading the army, Ma Dan was a little stunned. He heard that Mao Xiuzhi was transferred to the capital by Liu Taiwei. He was not among the three generals leading the Jin army, so how could he appear outside Chengdu.
"Where is Qiao Zong?" Mao Xiuzhi asked with red eyes. Ma Dan said with fear and trembling: "Qiao Zong heard that the king's master was coming. He had already abandoned the city and fled. He went to Niuchang to join Qiao Daofu. The servant sealed the treasury to welcome the king's master's arrival." Mao Xiuzhi thought about revenge for the blood. Hateful, he asked, "Are the Qiao Zong tribe members in the city?" Seeing Mao Xiuzhi's murderous intent, Ma Dan said bravely, "Qiao Zong did not take any of his tribe members with him when he escaped."
"Okay, okay, okay", Mao Xiuzhi led his army into the city with a grim smile, then ordered his soldiers and horses to close the city gate, and personally led people to search for the Qiao clan members, and executed all clan members from Qiao Zong's grandfather down.
There was a bloody storm in the city of Chengdu. Mao Xiuzhi killed more than 200 members of the Qiao family and also searched for Qiao Zong's mother and wife clan.
The Qiao family has been operating in Shu for hundreds of years, and there are many in-laws. If they really want to be involved, maybe even the Mao family themselves will be involved.
Yan Gang, who joined the army, advised: "The general has avenged his blood by killing the three Qiao Zong clans. We can no longer implicate innocent people." Mao Xiuzhi gritted his teeth and said: "Anyone who is involved with Qiao Zong will be killed to death." Yan Gang said : "The reason Liu Taiwei did not use the general to attack Shu was because he was worried that the general would kill too much. Yonggong allowed the general to be autonomous, but if the situation got out of control, I was worried that Yonggong would not be able to protect the general. Moreover, the imperial troops were about to arrive, and the general had to defend Chengdu. Mansion, waiting for Yong Yan's army to come to rescue, it is not appropriate to kill more innocent people and unsettle the people in the city." After a few words, Mao Xiuzhi finally persuaded Mao Xiuzhi to put down the butcher knife. Mao Xiuzhi posted a list to calm the people, recruited young men to guard the city, closed the city gates, and sent people to report to Xiangyang urgently. Ask Yong Yan's army to come for reinforcements.
Qiao Zong went straight to Niucheng City like a bereaved dog. When Qiao Daofu learned that Mao Xiuzhi had taken Luocheng, he hurriedly led his army back to Chengdu for reinforcements and handed over Niucheng City to Zang Xi.
Halfway through the march, the army encountered Qiao Zong, who was fleeing in embarrassment. Only then did they realize that Chengdu Mansion had been lost. Qiao Daofu pointed at Qiao Zong and cursed loudly: "If a man has such great achievements and abandons him, he will be safe! No one will die, so why be so cowardly!" He took off his sword and threw it at Qiao Zong, and the hit hit Qiao Zong. Longitudinal saddle.
Qiao Zong was so frightened that he turned his horse and fled into the mountains. Feeling that he had no way out, he took off his belt and hanged himself. Seeing Qiao Zong running away, Qiao Daofu looked at the five thousand soldiers under his command and said: "The survival of Shu depends on me, not on King Qiao. Now that I am here, it is enough to fight." He asked people to give him the money and silk he brought. The generals obtained the property and fled one after another, and the five thousand army was dispersed.
Qiao Daofu looked up and sighed,
"If the Kingdom of Shu is destroyed by Heaven, what will be done with manpower?" With only a dozen soldiers left, Qiao Daofu had no choice but to turn south and flee to the Huren tribe in the mountains.
On the way, he was captured alive by the general Du Jin and presented to Tan Daoji who had conquered Jiangyang City. Tan Daoji was angry and was taken advantage of by Mao Xiuzhi to seize Chengdu Mansion. When he saw Qiao Daofu, he ordered him to behead him in public.
At Mianzhu Pass, Qiao Fuzhi learned that Mao Xiuzhi had taken Chengdu Mansion, and the three clans of the Qiao family were afraid of Mao Xiu's harm, so they surrendered to Tan Zhi at Mianzhu Pass.
However, Tan Zhi blamed Qiao Fu for blocking the road and ordered his men to kill Qiao Fu. Mao Xiuzhi knew that Luo County was difficult to defend, so he ordered grain and grass to be transported into Chengdu Prefecture, and the defenders and people were moved into Chengdu Prefecture.
On September 7, the armies of Tan Daoji, Tan Zhi, and Zang Xi gathered outside Chengdu Prefecture, preparing to attack Chengdu.
