It has to be said that Zhang Xi's deterrent power is much greater than he thought.
Zhang Xi always thought that he was within the Dahan Group and would be in the upper echelon of the second echelon. It was important to say it was important, and it was not important to say it was not important.
In terms of thesis, he is not as versatile as Zhuge Liang, who can control politics, economy, and military affairs. He is also not as resourceful as Pang Tong and Fazheng, who can determine the outcome of an entire large-scale battle.
In terms of martial arts, his ability to command troops is not as good as Guan Yu's, his experience is not as good as Zhang Fei's and Zhao Yun's, not to mention his martial arts bravery, he can't even defeat his own wife.
For such a person who is not good at literature or martial arts, Zhang Xi has always felt that the reason why he can have a position in the second echelon of the Han Dynasty is because he joined Liu Bei relatively early.
But in the eyes of Cao Wei and Soochow, it was completely different.
Needless to say, Zhou Yu is Zhang Xi's "spokesperson" in Jiangdong. In Zhou Yu's eyes, Zhang Xi's threat is not inferior to that of Zhuge Liang. As a result, Zhang Xi is regarded as equal to Zhuge Liang in the perception of Soochow kings and ministers. The existences like Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and Zhang Fei are all incomparable.
As for Cao Wei, the feeling was even deeper.
The generals of Cao Wei, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Zhang He of the older generation, Guo Huai and Cao Zhen of the Mesozoic era, all lost directly or indirectly to Zhang Xi, and even Zhang He could be said to have died directly in the battle with Zhang Xi.
Therefore, as far as Cao Wei is concerned, it can be questioned that Zhuge Liang is just a scholar, and Zhang Fei is just a common man. But when it comes to Zhang Xi, he must be the number one Shu thieves in the northwest.
The evaluation is second only to Guan Yu in Jingzhou.
If such a number one person makes such a troop arrangement that goes against military common sense, who would believe him if you say he is not trying to cause trouble?
The key is what Zhang Xi wants to do. This is the key to Cao Pi's discussion today.
Regarding this matter, Liu Ye and Jiang Ji did not rush to speak, but looked at Cao Zhen.
Among the four people present, you, General Cao, have crossed paths with Zhang Xi and had a fight in Chang'an. If you don't speak first, who will? !
But Cao Zhen is also depressed. Who has ever fought against Zhang Xi?
The first time he fought in the northwest was under the command of Uncle Cao Hong, against Zhang Fei and Ma Chao.
The second time he fought in the northwest, he spent most of the time guarding Chang'an. Later he went to war. First he faced Wei Yan, and secondly he was surrounded and beaten by Liu Bei's army. I really never had a direct fight with Zhang Yuanchang.
There were indirect battles, but those were strategic battles, and there was not just one Zhang Xi.
But it was useless for Cao Zhen to think so. Even Cao Pi looked at Cao Zhen.
After all, in the original Guanzhong defense battle, Cao Zhen was the commander-in-chief, and Zhang Xi was considered the vanguard of the Shu thieves. Later, he led a partial division to march into Youfufeng. Even if you, Cao Zhen, have not fought Zhang Xi head-on, you are certainly better than those present. Everyone needs to know Zhang Xi better.
Cao Zhen had no choice but to keep trying to analyze what kind of person this Zhang Xi was.
"Zhang Xi is from Yingshang and comes from a poor family." Cao Zhen said hesitantly.
But the problem is, no one wants to hear these things. Who in the world doesn’t know that Zhang Xi is from Yingchuan? !
Nowadays, the Yingchuan Zhang family has already migrated, and only a dozen old slave housekeepers are left to guard the ancestral hall. Most of the clan members have either migrated to Jingzhou or to Shu. Even if you want to threaten other people's families, you can't do it now. arrive.
Besides, the dignified Wei Dynasty cannot do such dirty things. If this spreads out, not to mention the poor family, even the wealthy families will be dissatisfied with the Wei Dynasty.
After all, there are not a few aristocratic families who make separate bets these days.
Cao Zhen also knew that everyone didn't want to hear these things on the surface, but the problem was that he, Cao Zhen, really didn't know much about the private information.
There was really no other way, and Cao Zhen didn't want to embarrass himself in front of the emperor, so he could only talk about some of what he had heard, as well as his imagination and judgment about Zhang Xi.
"It is said that this man is very knowledgeable. When he was studying in Yingchuan in his early years, he was highly regarded by the great scholar Xun Shuang and taught him everything. He also became good friends with Xu Shu and others who studied in the same year. Therefore, he was well-known in military and political affairs and was full of wisdom and scheming. , the Shu thief Liu Bei has great trust."
That's true, but it's nonsense.
Xun Shuang probably didn't even know about this. When Ying Chuan was giving lectures, many students from Ying Chuan came to listen. Xun Shuang probably had never even seen Zhang Xi's face.
But unfortunately, Liu Ye, Jiang Ji, and even Cao Pi believed what Cao Zhen said.
Except for the Xun family of Yingchuan who trained two Xun Lingjuns, who else has the ability to cultivate such versatile, talented and brilliant people? !
Not only Zhang Xi, but also Xu Shu, who is now in Jingzhou, is also considered by the world to come from the Xun family in Yingchuan, and he is also a figure who made the Wei Dynasty suffer a lot.
Seeing that the three big bosses all nodded in approval, Cao Zhen was immediately encouraged and continued to make up half-truths and half-falsehoods.
"Zhang Xi is a man who is good at strategy, knows how to make changes, and is very cautious in using troops. In the battle of Ji County in the past, he defeated the Liangzhou soldiers and forced Guo Boji to retreat to Shanggui; in the battle of Jieting, he defeated General Zhang's thousands-mile attack in the first battle and defeated him in the second world war. Uncle Cao besieged him twice and captured Lueyang in three battles."
The more Cao Pi listened, the more outrageous he felt.
I want you to talk about Zhang Xi's military characteristics and personality traits, and see if you can find any flaws in them to prove the reason for the sudden change in Guanzhong. You are not asked to help Zhang Xi count his achievements.
What's even worse is that this record is against the generals of the Wei Dynasty. You have no shame, but I still have shame.
When Cao Zhen saw Cao Pi's expression on the troops, he suddenly came to his senses and quickly shut up, at least he did not continue to tell Zhang Xi's achievements in the second Northern Expedition.
But there was one thing that Cao Zhen still had the courage to mention.
"According to a detailed report from Shu, in the last battle of Guanzhong, it was Zhang Xili who carried out the strategy of "making a sound in the east and attacking in the west". He sent the army out of Xiegu, and sent Wei Yan to lead troops out of Chencang Road to attack Mei County, which made our great Wei Dynasty. The situation in Guanzhong is corrupt. This man's strategy is extraordinary."
Really, if Pang Tong had been at the scene, he would probably be so angry that you really should kill him and replace him. That was obviously my strategy. At most, Zhang Yuanchang just played a side role and helped persuade Zhuge Liang.
But no matter what, after Cao Zhen said this, it became Zhang Xi's strategy. Cao Weijun and his ministers were all shocked, with solemn expressions on their faces.
After the defeat in the Battle of Guanzhong, it was impossible for Cao Wei not to review the Battle of Guanzhong afterwards, and their evaluation of the Shu thieves' strategy of "making a sound in the east and attacking in the west", or "making a name for themselves in Xiegu, secretly attacking Chencang" was not low.
Because Han Xin's treasures are at the forefront, the success rate of the strategy of "building a plank road openly and secretly attacking Chencang" is really too low. The forces occupying Guanzhong will not take precautions against the roads leading into Guanzhong from Hanzhong.
But the Shu thieves were actually able to imitate their predecessors and break through Chen Cang Dao. This level of difficulty is not that great.
Although the culprit in this matter was Xia Houmao, after interrogating Xia Houmao, Cao Pi could easily learn that the Shu thieves had penetrated Chencang Road for more than a day or two.
From the moment they smuggled Shu brocade and bribed the defenders of Chencang Road, the Shu thieves had already begun to lay out the strategy of "secretly attacking Chencang". This was nearly a year before the Shu thieves attacked Guanzhong.
This strategy took so long to prepare and its strategic vision was so long-term that even Jia Xu thought it was amazing after hearing it.
To be honest, even if the guard of Chencang Road was not Xia Houmao at the time, it would be difficult to guard Chencang Road. The only key is how many days Chencang Road can be delayed and whether it can give Chang'an and Mei County a timely warning.
Of course, Xia Houmao had to defend his victory for half a day, so he must be held accountable. Although Cao Pi did not kill Xia Houmao out of the face of the late general Xiahou Dun and his eldest sister, but he also Beat Xia Houmao to the end and let him return to Yecheng to be a rich man for the rest of his life.
But now, through Cao Zhen's mouth, Chen Cang's conspiracy was placed on Zhang Xi's head, which immediately made Cao Pi's emperor and his ministers mistakenly believe that Zhang Xi was a man with a long-term vision and a careful mind.
Such a person would definitely not make a strategy of dividing his troops and defending them even though he knew that his troops were insufficient.
This must be because of him. It is even possible that Zhang Xi has taken advantage of the Yongzhou snowstorm as a cover to start planning the next battle.
Thinking along this line of thinking, Liu Ye and Jiang Ji felt that something was wrong the more they thought about it.
Since Zhang Xi has such a long-term vision and strategy, will he repeat Chen Cang's plan again in Yongzhou? !
You know, there are not only two ways to enter the hinterland of the Central Plains from Guanzhong, Wuguan and Tongguan.
There are mountains blocking Wuguan, and there is only Wuguan Road for entry and exit. There is no need to worry too much. As long as the Shu thieves enter Wuguan Road, with Guo Huai's ability, it will not be a problem to retreat from the enemy and defend.
But in Tongguan, it's not that simple.
Yes, the safest way to attack the Central Plains from Guanzhong is to conquer Tongguan and Hangu Pass. In this way, if you enter the Central Plains, you will take the main road and the supply of food and grass will be guaranteed. This is the preferred strategy for serious military use.
But if Zhang Yuanchang doesn't follow the routine, it's not impossible for him to continue to attack the east and attack the west, bypassing Tongguan and marching into the Central Plains from other directions.
For example, in Pubanjin, Emperor Taizu Wu crossed the river here and detoured behind Tongguan, which made the Tongguan defense line of the Maha-Korean coalition useless. They had to lead the army to confront Emperor Taizu Wu at Zuo Fengyi. The two sides fought in the field and were eventually defeated by Taizu. Emperor Wu defeated it.
Now if it were the other way around, Zhang Xi would choose to contain the Tongguan garrison head-on, find a suitable ferry along the Yellow River, cross the Yellow River with a small force, enter Hedong, pass through the Hedong area, and attack Hangu Pass. This would be another fatal thing. .
Even Zhang Xi did not attack Hangu Pass or threaten Luoyang, but just conquered the land east of Hedong, which was something Cao Pi could not accept.
There are many aristocratic families in the land east of the river. Once the interests of these aristocratic families are damaged and transferred to Cao Pi's side, it will cause a lot of turmoil.
By that time, I am afraid that even if Cao Pi does not want to fight a big war, he will be forced to fight one.
But today's Cao Wei really does not have the capital to launch a war.
When they thought of this, Liu Ye and Jiang Ji broke into cold sweat on their backs - who was tired of who?
(End of chapter)
