Fazheng was familiar with Yizhou's dangerous routes and had done research on the generals in Shu. Compared to Pang Tong, he seemed less anxious.
"Shi Yuan, don't worry, Liu Zhang can only use a handful of generals. If my guess is correct, I should send Li Zhengfang to supervise the army." Fazheng analyzed.
Pang Tong frowned, "Li Zhengfang is an official. I met him several times when Tong was in Jingzhou. He was highly appreciated by Duke Jing Sheng at that time. Liu Zhang is also a wise man, but can he use troops?"
Fazheng nodded: "Li Zhengfang was highly valued by Liu Zhang for his true talents and practical knowledge. He also had the experience of leading troops to quell the imperial bandits. I heard that he has quite a lot of experience in using troops."
"Then we really need to capture Mianzhu Pass as soon as possible..." Pang Tong looked at Liu Bei worriedly.
Liu Bei stroked his beard and sighed, "If such a talent as Li Zhengfang can be put to use by me..."
"Although Li Zhengfang was highly valued by Liu Zhang, he is by no means a pedantic person. He is very good at judging the situation and adapting to the destiny. I will speak to you when the time comes." Fazheng spoke confidently.
"Filialty and uprightness truly know how to prepare one's heart." Liu Bei was overjoyed.
"The siege equipment we prepared in Fucheng will be transported to Mianzhu Pass later. Let me go to the pass tomorrow morning to take command? Wen Chang scolded for a long time, but Lingbao and Deng Xian were not seen leaving the pass." Pang Tong asked for instructions again. .
Liu Bei was noncommittal: "What's the best way to be filial and upright?"
"Uh..." Fazheng was about to explain when veteran Huang Zhong suddenly broke into the tent.
After standing still, he cupped his fists and saluted: "My lord, the two military advisors..."
"Have you found anything?" Fazheng asked eagerly.
Huang Zhong nodded and replied: "We sent dozens of people to explore the road before today, and we actually found the place where the military advisor said it was. It is steep, difficult to navigate, and there are many thorny roadblocks."
Pang Tong was surprised when he heard this: "Xiaozhi intends to bypass Mianzhu Pass? Not to mention that the small road cannot pass the baggage, Liu Sui and Zhang Ren are still stationed in Mianzhu County, are they afraid that they will be flanked after a sneak attack at the pass?"
Fazheng shook his head quickly: "I passed by this place in the past, and I climbed up to the pass with my friends to look into the distance. I accidentally found an open space on the northwest mountain. If I find a path to climb up, build a watchtower and set up a trebuchet, I can conquer this pass. Down."
"Oh? Why not transport supplies up the mountain at night and build a tower in front of Lingbao and Deng Xian tomorrow morning? Maybe we can lure them out of the pass to stop them, and then ambush them on the main road..." Pang Tong suggested.
"Shi Yuan's idea coincides with mine. Even if Mianzhu Guan can't be injured, a few pieces of flesh must be cut off." Fazheng smiled mysteriously.
"Then I will withdraw the article and let's discuss it carefully." Pang Tong nodded slightly.
Seeing the two strategists working closely together, Liu Bei recalled the years when he had fought recklessly with Guan and Zhang Guan, and thought that it was better to have more strategists, and he would not have to worry about how to deal with the enemy.
Liu Bei sat next to the two of them. On the desk was Zhang Songxian's map of Yizhou. Mianzhu Pass was the last pass to enter Sichuan, and after that it was a smooth ride to Chengdu.
Mianzhu Pass, also known as Lutou Pass, is located at the junction of Mianzhu City and Luoxian County and Fujian County. It controls the Sichuan-Shaanxi Jinniu Road. The terrain is majestic and easy to defend but difficult to attack.
The five groups of troops sent by Liu Zhang were defeated one after another, and then retreated to the southwest to defend Mianzhu.
Liu Huang, Zhang Ren, and Wu Yi, who were defeated first, entered Mianzhu County first, while Lingbao and Deng Xian, who were defeated later, guarded Mianzhu Pass.
Lingbao and Deng Xian were nervous all day long, and until night fell, they ordered the soldiers to strengthen their defense.
At night, the two of them sat across from each other behind a closed door, with a simple meal and wine in front of each other.
"Liu Bei did not attack Shangguan today. Tomorrow will be difficult. I seem to have seen siege engines in the evening. Should we go back to the county to ask for help?" Lingbao asked while eating.
Deng Xian smiled bitterly: "Mianzhu Pass is only a small place. If there are too many defenders, they can't put it down. If the pass is broken, there will be no danger of retreat. Who among us can beat Liu Bei head-on?"
"We can't always be asked to guard the border. They don't have much pressure in the city. We can't always be at the front just because we lose slower, right?" Lingbao was a little angry.
Deng Xian shook his head: "Then let's guard for a few days first, and then we will rotate with them. We are all Zhonglang generals. There is no distinction between who is higher and who is lower."
"General Deng's words are very kind. Let's eat and rest quickly. There will be a hard fight tomorrow morning." Lingbao reminded.
"That's how it should be." Deng Xian nodded in agreement.
The two of them ate, drank, and slept in the same clothes. The sky had just brightened the next day when an entourage knocked on the door of the second general's room, saying something strange was discovered on the mountain west of Mianzhu Pass.
Lingbao and Deng Xian were not sleepy at all. They walked quickly to the outside of the pass to check. Sure enough, they saw Liu Bei's flag standing on the mountain to the west. Dozens of people used wooden stakes to build the foundation of a watchtower.
Lingbao was very surprised: "The high ground is less than a thousand steps away from Mianzhu Pass. We can see everything inside and outside the pass from a high position. If they really let them build a sentry tower, our defense would be too passive."
Deng Xian shook his head with a sad face: "Our bows and arrows can't shoot at such a distance, but the opponent can use a trebuchet to attack the pass. Who dares to defend the west side of Mianzhu Pass at that time?"
"I hope they won't set up a trebuchet..." Lingbao comforted himself.
"How is it possible..." Deng Xian felt that he couldn't lie to himself.
After Chen hour, the number of people on the high ground increased again. In addition to the original lookout posts, trebuchets also began to be slowly set up.
Perhaps due to terrain restrictions, the total number of people on the highlands was less than a hundred, and material transportation was also very difficult.
Lingbao and Deng Xian watched for about an hour. The clothes inside were wet with sweat from their vests, but they also saw the route Liu Beijun took up the mountain. Because the mountain was extremely steep, the path was winding, with sentry towers and stone throws. The car took several days to build.
The two were thinking about whether to take the initiative to attack. The enemy camp two miles outside the pass blew the trumpet. Wei Yan commanded the army to start an offensive against Mianzhu Pass, and various siege equipment was slowly rolled out.
Lingbao and Deng Xian rushed to fight, but within half a day Wei Yan ordered his troops to retreat, and the losses in the first confrontation between the two sides were not significant.
After the battle ended in the morning, Liu Beijun suddenly stopped attacking, leaving the two gatekeepers, Monk Zhang Er, confused.
"Liu Bei and Fazheng were too cunning. They retreated after only two hours of fighting in the morning. They clearly wanted to wait for the western sentry tower to be erected. We have received great favor from our lord, and we cannot just sit back and wait for death." Lingbao frowned.
Deng Xian asked doubtfully: "General Ling is planning to..."
"Let's go out at night. As long as we can destroy the high ground to the west, Liu Bei will not be able to capture Mianzhu Pass." Lingbao's eyes were firm.
Deng Xian swallowed his saliva and said, "The troops in the pass are not as strong as Liu Bei. If we go out to attack the high ground, aren't we looking for death?"
Lingbao pinched his beard and analyzed: "So we have to go up the mountain at night. We divide our troops into two groups. One group is responsible for attracting the enemy troops, and the other group finds the path up the mountain..."
Lingbao talked about tactics seriously. Deng Xian felt that this method was dangerous no matter how you looked at it. But if we don't take the initiative now and wait for the sentry tower and trebuchet to be built, it will not be conducive to the defense of Mianzhu Pass.
Seeing the hesitation on Deng Xian's face, Lingbao patted his chest and said, "General Deng, go and distract Liu Bei's attention. I will bring my own army to sneak attack on the trail up the mountain."
