At the beginning of the seventh year of Yanxing, after losing the battle of Luogu, the Shu army encountered Liu Biao's invasion of Badong, forcing Liu Fan to return to Bashu to consolidate his foundation. But since then, a strategic problem has been placed in front of Liu Fan: after the Shu army withdrew from Luo Valley, it completely lost its influence in the Guanlong area, which in turn allowed the Sili Mansion to easily stabilize the situation and move Chencang and Luo Valley to the north. All roads are sealed. The Battle of Luogu also proved that the Shu people were not as powerful as the Westerners, and it was essentially impossible for the Shu Dynasty to make a strategic breakthrough further north.
Therefore, Liu Fan had to take a strategic defensive in the Hanzhong area and focus his strategy on the south. After Liu Yan's death, he openly conquered the barbarians south, managed civil affairs, and made peace with Liu Biao in Jingzhou. However, secretly he built ships and ships in Jiangyang and Jiangzhou, trained his navy, and bribed the generals of Jianping and Tianmen. , saved for ten years, made plans before taking action, and then swept Jingzhou in the 16th year of Yanxing.
But for a long time, Liu Fan was not satisfied with conquering Jianghan. Judging from history books, since ancient times, monarchs who have been able to achieve the great cause of unification have either occupied the prosperous He and Luo areas, or taken advantage of the condescending terrain of Guanlong. And operating in the south, even if Jing and Yang are unified, it may be difficult to compete with the cavalry of the Eastern and Western Dynasties. What's more, Sun Ce, who is downstream, is also a hero for a while. The two sides are facing each other in Yunmeng, and the outcome should be between two sides.
Therefore, in the past few years, Liu Fan still tested the north many times, contacting the Baima Qiang, Shenlang Qiang and other Qiang Di between Longban and Minshan, trying to find Chen Chong's flaws from Liangzhou. However, the results were disappointing. Although the Qiang rebellion recurred in the beginning, with Chen Chong personally pacifying the Qiang in the eighth year of Yanxing, and Guan Yu regaining access to the Western Regions in the eleventh year of Yanxing, various places in Longyou basically returned to the west.
Just when the situation in the north seemed to be completely deadlocked and all the generals agreed with the southeast strategy, Dong Zhao, the imperial censor who followed Liu Fan into Shu, still insisted on sending troops to Guanlong. He wrote a letter saying that although the country had made a plan to "cross Jingyi and benefit the rivers and rivers", the most dangerous place in the world still lies in Guanlong. Still in Chang'an, it is said that "Qi Huan respected the king in order to seek hegemony, but Xiang Ji killed the emperor and lost him", so the Northern Expedition must not be given up. As for how to use troops, Dong Zhao also thought of a way. He claimed that the Jianghan strategy should not be neglected. He could first attack Wanluo with a small number of troops to attract the heavy troops of the Western Dynasty, and then use the main force to march through the Qinling Mountains again and march out of Yi County. He had old friends in Chang'an City and could serve as an internal support, so he would be able to attack. Go to Xijing. At that time, the Shu army "conquered the old capital, established great righteousness, trapped the thieves between Dan and Mian, and showed the situation of the world. Then the officials and officials, who have been thirsty for the sweet rain for a long time, will not obey, abandon the darkness of Jie and Zhou, and throw themselves into Tang and Wu." Ming. If you use order to overcome rebellion, why should the world worry about lack of stability?"
After Liu Fan saw this petition, he couldn't laugh or cry at first. Although Dong Zhao understood politics, he was no better than the likes of Zhao Kuo and Chao Cuo in military strategy. Wanluo's terrain was open. How could the Shu army attract the heavy troops of the Western Dynasty to attack when they lacked war horses? The Sili Mansion has set up checkpoints in Chencang and Luogu roads. How to lead the troops into Weinan smoothly is another big problem. And in the end, pinning the hope of attacking the city on Chang'an's internal response is a dangerous move. Once it fails, the troops will have to be stationed under the fortified city. If there is a situation where the decisive battle has to be fought outside the city, the result will be disastrous. few.
But while thinking about it, Liu Fan suddenly got new inspiration. It was probably in August of the fourteenth year of Yanxing that he took out Dong Zhao's book and discussed matters with the royal ministers Zhang Song, Huang Quan, Zhang Ren, Dong Zhao, and Wu Yi in the palace. Listen in.
Everyone discussed for a long time, and they were as cautious as Liu Fansi at the beginning. At noon, Liu Fan thought about it again and again, and finally said: "What you all mean is what I think. We want to take Guanlong to the north. I am powerless now. Even if we capture Xijing, Liu Bei and Chen Chong will fight to the death. I'm afraid I It’s also difficult to defend.”
"What I mean is that we can't fight for Guanlong, but I want the emperor! I want thousands of light cavalry to fly to Xijing and bring His Majesty back south. If the Westerners come to pursue them, they will be defeated. I don't want it. The land of Guanlong will naturally not attract Chen Chong to fight to the death. How about doing this?"
Huang Quan argued: "But the emperor is the most respected person in the world after all. I heard that Chen Chong was strictly guarding the palace and sent thousands of people there. Can we really pick him up? If not, thousands of elites will be put in danger. Is it appropriate?"
Zhang Song explained: "That's why we have to capture Jianghan first. When we garrison Xiangyang, we can send out heavy troops from upstream to attack Wuguan by surprise, forcing Chen Chong to come to the rescue. Liu Bei will attack Cao Cao again. By then, no one in Chang'an will be able to take charge of the overall situation. When we approach the city, we have a seven-to-one chance of victory."
"What if Chen Chong doesn't come to rescue?"
"Then we can regain the imperial hometown, march to the east capital, and the entire land of Henan will be occupied by me."
When Huang Quan heard what he said, he asked Liu Fan: "Your Highness, in addition to Gongren, I am afraid that a strong general will be sent to accompany him. Does your Highness have anyone to choose?"
Liu Fan glanced at the generals under his command and said slowly: "Wen Yuan has stayed in Xijing and won the three armies bravely. It is most suitable for him to go."
The matter was thus settled. In the blink of an eye, two years later, Liu Fan's original strategy of crossing Jingyi had been realized, and he also agreed with Sun Ce to send troops in the middle of the 18th year of Yanxing. However, after learning that the Eastern Dynasty was attacking Liaodong, Liu Fan was immediately overjoyed and said to Dong Zhao: "Liu Bei will not sit back and watch Cao Cao's move. In less than a month, he will enter Hanoi with heavy troops. Gongren, when entering the pass, he must It's ahead of schedule." So he immediately sent out troops and ordered Dong Zhao and Zhang Liao to rush to Nanzheng, and personally led the Jiangling troops to attack Fancheng.
On the way, Zhang Liao and Dong Zhao spent the whole night discussing in detail the details of the march north. There was only one chance to march this time, and they brought five thousand cavalry, the rarest and most elite in Shu. If something went wrong, the consequences would be disastrous. , they must be cautious.
In fact, Dong Zhao and Liu Fan had discussed the relevant details for a long time. He said to Zhang Liao: "The envoy has already given instructions to Zhang Gongqi. Before our army takes action, he can be ordered to go out of Chencang Road to attack Wudu and attract Xifu. Heavy troops, then you and I will walk quickly along the Xiangxi Road and gallop from Weinan to Xijing. We will be able to catch the emperor by surprise and welcome the emperor in one fell swoop."
Unexpectedly, Zhang Liao was quite suspicious of this plan. While recalling the geography of Guanzhong, he said slowly: "After leaving Baoxie Road, not far across the road is Yi County. We still have to run two hundred miles east to reach Chang'an. Chencang is only fifty miles away, and Sanfu is densely populated and there are no steep roads to go, so we will be discovered immediately. By then, I am afraid that Chencang’s pursuers will rush over as soon as we arrive in Chang’an!”
Dong Zhao heard what Zhang Liao said and felt that it made sense. Although he was unwilling to change the general plan at will, the success or failure of the plan was related to it, so he asked him: "Then do you have any good attack routes?"
In fact, Zhang Liao had already considered this, but because he was a retired general and was not trusted by Liu Fan like Wu Yi and others, he could not offer advice openly, but chose the strategy of secretly persuading Dong Zhao to change his path. He speeded down his horse, pointed to the north and said: "We don't need to let Zhang Shijun attack, but take the Ziwu Valley Trail. Although it is a rugged area and difficult to navigate, there are only herb gatherers and firewood cutters. We will lead the cavalry through it." Walking slowly, after passing the watershed and Daku Cliff, we will reach Cuibei Mountain, which is a densely forested and inaccessible place. We went there to hide and rest. Thirty miles to the north is Longshouyuan, which can be reached in only two-quarters of an hour. In Chang'an, the Westerners will be undefended."
This plan was so bold that Dong Zhao thought it was a fantasy when he first heard about it. But thinking about it carefully, he realized that it was only possible because of the unexpectedness. He was wavering for a while, but he finally gritted his teeth and made a decision, saying to Zhang Liao: " Although His Highness has arrangements, he also said that I have full authority to handle this matter. Since you are a great talent, Wenyuan, I will completely let you make the decision this time when you go north!"
By mid-April, they were ready in Xixiang. Wudang's envoy also came up Shuoliu at the right time to inform him of Chen Chong's appearance in Nanyang. Without further delay, Dong Zhao and Zhang Liao immediately led five thousand light cavalry into the Ziwu Road at night and traveled through the steep mountains in the rugged area.
The road they passed had long been abandoned due to the hostilities between the north and the south. Now, after more than ten years, human contact is extremely rare. During this period, the jungle was dense, wild animals appeared, and the roads had long been buried in thorns. Shu people hold long swords and lead their horses to cut grass and move forward. The weather in the mountains is always sunny and rainy. Usually there is still sunshine in the morning, but it starts to rain after noon. Although the rain is not very heavy, it rains for a long time, often lasting all night, so it is difficult for Shu people to find a dry place to camp. When they set out on the road early the next morning, there was no dry wood for a fire, so people packed their bellies with dry food and continued on the road in the rain.
After crossing the watershed, there are tens of feet of huge rocks standing in front of the ridge, and the left and right cliffs face each other like knife-cut cliffs. Viewed from the front, it looks like a tiger's mouth with a bloody mouth. Climbing up the rock, the huge rocks are covered with moss and extremely slippery. Strong and hardy horses have become people's best companions, and many drowsy knights climb mountains by grabbing the horses' tails.
Although the road was difficult and dangerous, Dong Zhao and Zhang Liao remained energetic, especially Zhang Liao, who kept marching at the vanguard of the team. The soldiers of the Shu army were inspired by this and moved forward bravely. People walk in the deep mountains and old forests, occasionally shooting wild animals for food. Soon after approaching the big dry cliff, the movement of people and horses disturbed the monkeys living here. Hundreds of Houzi screamed in panic, jumping and running between numbers, like a torrent, rolling down the mountain quickly. However, there are almost no people in the mountains. Even with such a hustle and bustle, there is no need to worry about being discovered by Westerners. In the valleys in the mountains, there are only some people who evade military service and taxes. They live together with the mountain dogs and form temporary villages. Once the Shu people entered the valley, they quickly drove their horses through without stopping at all.
Early on the seventh day, the pioneers of the Shu people arrived at Ziwu Valley. There were Westerners garrisoning here, but the number of troops was no more than a hundred. They were quickly overthrown by Zhang Liao, and all the soldiers were captured. He separated them for torture and found out that there were only 7,000 guards in Xijing. He was extremely excited. When Dong Zhao came, , he immediately said: "This trip is already half done. Even if there is no internal response, I am 70% sure of winning Xijing!"
Dong Zhao had been practicing asceticism for ten days. At this time, his face was filled with frost and frost, but he could not hide his excitement. He thought in his heart that Cui Yan and other old friends of the Imperial Academy would never see each other again, but he had already heard about the friendship between the emperor and Kang Mengxiang, the abbot of Yuanjue Temple, and he sent an envoy to him to deliver the news.
That night, the messenger returned to Ziwu Valley and delivered the news of Kang Mengxiang's agreement to him.
