The third year of Yankang in the Han Dynasty, the third year of Huangchu in the Wei Dynasty, mid-November of 222 AD.
Pang Tong, Ma Chao, and Pang Rou led their troops to Qishan, while Fu Wei and Zhang Nan led their troops to Hechi.
Because the two armies were traveling the same way in the first half, they sent troops from Yangping Pass at the same time.
In accordance with Fa Zheng's plan, Huang Quan marched in the direction of Shangyong with great momentum under Liu Bei's commanding flag.
Wei Yan, Wang Ping, and Ma Dai led their troops back to Nanzheng to make equipment and tools for crossing the Ziwu Mountains.
Deng Ai returned to Mianyang to recruit civilians to transport grain. The two parties agreed to meet in Nanzheng three days later and strive to reach the city of Chang'an before mid-December.
Many of Deng Ai's people in the Mianyang Tuntian District had the fate of being displaced. Most of their fathers came from Sanfu. When Li Jue caused trouble in Chang'an, they fled south to Hanzhong and were taken in by Zhang Lu. Later, when Cao Cao attacked Zhang Lu , Yang Song used rumors and threats, and these people fled into Yizhou with their young and old, and became residents of Deng Ai's tuntian area.
Within two or three years of Yizhou's stability, the villagers followed Liu Bei to counterattack Hanzhong and once again returned to the familiar land of Hanzhong. Now they had to be mobilized to cross the Ziwu Mountains and return to the starting point of the Sanfu refugees. Deng Ai couldn't bear to think about it. , so we adopt a voluntary registration method. If the final number is not reached, we will draw them from each district on a proportional basis.
More than two thousand villagers from New Dengzhuang came to Shu one after another. They fully supported Deng Ai in farming in Zitong. These people were basically young people of marriageable age, so they slowly married and had children soon after entering Shu.
The villagers in Xindengzhuang are all very skilled in planting, and now they all live a happy life of "wives and children on the hot bed". Faced with the encouragement of the "young village owner" Deng Ai, these "own people" were the first batch. stood up.
After the villagers of New Dengzhuang took the lead, the descendants of the former Sanfu people enthusiastically signed up. Nearly half of the 80,000 villagers were willing to follow Deng Ai to transport grain. Returning to their hometown was the wish of the older generation.
The registration result was beyond Deng Ai's expectation. He considered that if he successfully crossed the Ziwu Mountains, he might have to cooperate with Wei Yan's regular army to fight, so Deng Ai tried his best to choose strong and young people to accompany him.
Three days later, Wei Yan's troops that crossed Ziwu Ridge also set out on their journey from Nanzheng.
While the main force of Shuzhong was stationed at Yangping Pass, marching battle reports from various ministries were sent back every day, and everything seemed to be moving in the planned direction.
Liu Bei had been fighting all his life, and suddenly he felt like he had the world in his hands. He had a premonition that this time it would go smoothly.
The Yangpingguan generals who were "standing still" heard the battle reports from other routes every day, and felt like a kitten scratching their hearts. Huang Zhong requested to go out in advance several times, but Liu Bei stopped him because he did not arrive at the scheduled time.
In late November, nine days after Fu Xu and Zhang Nan sent troops.
Huang Zhong took Zhao Yuntong to see Liu Bei, knocked on the door and entered the house, only to find that Fazheng was also inside. The two were sitting opposite each other, talking and laughing and playing chess.
Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun looked at each other at the same time, knowing that tomorrow is the ten-day period. Did the king and the military advisor forget the time?
"Your Majesty, Military Advisor" Huang Zhong clasped his fists and saluted, his tone seemed very anxious, Zhao Yun echoed softly beside him.
"It's the old general and Zilong. How are the soldiers and horses of each battalion trained? It's already winter in Yangping Pass. Are the soldiers able to use their swords and spears?" Liu Bei asked without looking back.
"Each battalion is training every day. Besides, when Zhao Yun was in the north, he often led his troops to fight in winter, so they would not be affected by the weather." Zhao Yun clasped his fists and talked about his experience in winter operations, echoing Liu Bei's concerns.
Huang Zhong was afraid of losing his vanguard position, so he quickly added: "Once the winter gets cold in the south, it will be even worse than in the north, and the general will fight countless battles in winter."
"Two generals, there is no need to argue. Bei has promised you to be the vanguard on the left and right. It seems that the ten-day period has not yet come. What are you doing here today?" Liu Bei asked knowingly.
"There should be one day left. Zilong is afraid that the king will forget, so he reminds Mo Lai." Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun have a good relationship. At this time, they can only use each other as a 'scapegoat'.
Zhao Yun looked aggrieved: "I didn't."
"Hahaha, how could Bei forget such a big event? Seeing that you are all eager to try, and you are also the vanguard, Xiaozhi, how about letting the two generals leave for a day first?" Liu Bei turned to Fazheng to ask for advice.
Fazheng frowned and stroked his beard: "Yangping Pass is six hundred miles away from Chencang. What's the use of walking for a day first? Besides, there is Dashanxiong Pass blocking the road, and Chencang's guard Zhang He is cautious. It's better to set off with the army and go to Hechi with equipment to attack head-on. ."
"Your Majesty has already opened Chrysostom, why should the military advisor stop him again? Zilong and I can just open the way for the army, otherwise the vanguard will be meaningless? Your Majesty, don't you think so?" Huang Zhong argued with reason.
"Well, what the old general said makes sense. You and Zilong each have five thousand cavalry. You can set off tomorrow. After arriving at Hechi, you, Fu Shu and Zhang Nan will escort the siege equipment first and wait at the foot of Dashan Pass. The main force of the rear army." Liu Bei nodded and ordered.
"Wei." Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun clasped their fists happily.
Watching the two people leaving in a hurry, Liu Bei frowned and asked Fazheng: "Xiaozhi, what do you mean by doing this?"
Fazheng replied: "The main force was delayed for ten days to allow Cao Zhen to focus on Qishan. The more the three generals make trouble in Qishan, the less pressure we will have to attack Dashanguan and Chencang."
"I understand that you are attacking in the east and in the west. Previously, Kong Ming asked Yide to build siege equipment in Hechi. This time you asked Generals Fu and Zhang to supervise the construction. Doesn't this act as a warning to the enemy?
General Huang Lao and Zilong are eager to make achievements. With them as the left and right vanguards this time, they will definitely try to attack before the main force arrives. What is the plan to continuously alert the enemy? Based on my understanding of Zhang He, that guy will definitely be unable to get out." Liu Bei expressed the doubt in his heart.
Fazheng explained with a smile: "It's not a complicated strategy to attack in the east, attack in the west, and alert the snake. Cao Zhen has a stable personality and is well versed in the art of war. He should be prepared everywhere. But if we use continuous attacks to alert the snake, maybe we can reduce the number of people. Cao Zhen was suspicious. As for deliberately suppressing and arousing the emotions of Generals Huang and Zhao, it was just a simple method of provoking the generals."
"Dasan Pass is also very dangerous. Is it useful to be filial to inspire generals?" Liu Bei frowned.
"It's not easy to say, but I have a hunch it will be useful. Judging from the expressions on the two people's departure just now, it is estimated that they will lead the army before dawn and arrive a few days earlier than the rear army. During this period, Huang and Zhao will not We will wait." Fazheng was very sure.
"What if that's true?" Liu Bei was surprised.
"Your Majesty, please wait and see." Fazheng smiled and nodded.
At night, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun discussed the time to send troops tomorrow. Huang Zhong persuaded Zhao Yun that after midnight, it would be the next day.
The two troops quietly left Yangping Pass at the third watch. The only sound left from the movement of soldiers and horses was the sound of footsteps. They were as quiet as running water.
Fazheng invited Liu Bei to the tower to watch. Under the dark sky, torches gathered into fire dragons, heading toward the deep night in the north, getting farther and farther away from Yangping Pass.
(End of chapter)
