Lingzhou goes straight north, running along the Yellow River to Shuofang County, and further to Wuyuan County, but now these places belong to the settlements of the Southern Huns.
In the 21st year of Jian'an, Cao Cao detained Huchuquan, the last Shanyu of the Southern Xiongnu, and sent King Youxian to Bei Jianguo. The Southern Xiongnu were immediately broken up and divided into five tribes. Many tribes in the five tribes were angry with Wei and dared not speak out. .
In recent years, the Wei State and the Xiongnu appeared to be in harmony with each other. However, due to the gradual rise of Liu Bei's power, the Xiongnu also had the idea of restoring the country. If Zhang He traveled along the Yellow River, it would be very easy to break into the Huns' settlement area. The consequences would be no one knows.
Zhang He's cautious character led him to choose the southern route, that is, he turned around at Lingzhou and walked eastward, traveling hundreds of miles to Sheyan for supplies, and finally entered the customs through Bingzhou Shangjun.
At this time, the water and grass on both sides of the Yellow River were luxuriant, and the pastures had not been desertified due to soil erosion. However, due to the existence of the Gobi Desert caused by extreme grazing, Zhang He's route was 600 miles long. There were less pastures and more Gobi Desert along the way. There were almost no nomadic Huns. .
In winter, the cold wind outside the Great Wall made physical exertion higher than usual. The grain Zhang He looted in Lingzhou ran out after two or three days after leaving the city. Fortunately, there were dozens of war horses accompanying him. Those who were in poor condition would be killed on the way. Slaughtered, and the rider who lost his horse could only get a piece of meat, and then fend for himself outside the barren wall.
Of the more than 70 cavalry who fled with Zhang He, only about 20 were left in Shangjun, and without exception they were Zhang He's personal soldiers. Whether they were killing horses for meat or to keep secrets, the rest were left behind forever. Beyond the Wall.
Zhang He killed horses for meat when he fled, but Huang Zhong treasured the captured horses. Many of the horses under Cao Zhen's command in Yongliang came from the Qilian Mountain horse farm, and were stronger and more powerful than the Han army's horses.
Huang Zhong stayed in Lingzhou and Fuping for a few days. Seeing that Zhang He had really left and never returned, he took the captured war horses back to Gaoping (Guyuan).
It was the end of the year when Anding was successfully recovered, but there were thousands of miles from Gaoping to Wuwei, half of which was not accessible by water. A large number of civilians needed to be recruited to transport food. However, there was no food or ships in Gaoping, and the entire Anding County was underpopulated, so Huang Zhonghe Zhao Yun was unable to advance further.
After discussion, the two decided to supervise the construction of grain transport ships in Gaoping, and at the same time clean up and stabilize the public security in various counties, help people everywhere restore production, and send people to Chang'an to report the victory and ask for instructions.
In the second year of Han Zhangwu and the fifth year of Wei Huangchu (224), An Ding's messenger arrived in Chang'an in the first month.
Liu Bei was in a good mood after receiving Zhao Yun's victory report, and immediately summoned Fazheng and Pang Tong to share his joy.
Seeing the two of them reading the memorial with gusto, Liu Bei smiled and joked: "Zilong and Old General Huang defeated Zhang He and completely drove Cao's army out of the Guanzhong area. Zilong is already building ships to transport grain, and is preparing to enter the military power next summer. Don't be arrogant." His calm temperament is very good, and the outcome of Er Qing's bet seems unpredictable."
Before Zhao Yun's victory report came back, Zhang Fei and Ma Chao's victory report had arrived a few days earlier. The army on the West Route was invincible after leaving Tianshui. The Qiang people in various counties in Longxi responded and surrendered without a fight. Generals Zhang and Ma then headed north along the Tao River. Take the mountain path around the West Qinling Mountains and reach the bank of the Yellow River.
Within half a month, the army on the west route won seven games in a row, and all seven counties in Jincheng were tied. Zhang Fei rested in Lingju County for a few days. He was planning to continue heading north over the mountains to Wuwei, but a sudden snowstorm fell in the Lingju area, so he had to Give up the plan to continue to march.
When Zhang Fei wrote the memorial, it had been snowing heavily in Lingju for ten days. The hundred-mile long and narrow valley leading to Wuwei was almost filled with snow. They could only wait for the ice and snow to melt in spring.
"If it hadn't been for the heavy snowfall in Lingju, the three generals and General Ma would have walked out of the mountains. Maybe they could have reached Guzang (now Wuwei) before Cao Zhen. What a trick of fate." Pang Tong shook his head slightly.
Fa Zheng responded with a smile: "Shi Yuan is too optimistic. According to Zilong's last intelligence, Cao Zhen sent General Guo Huai back to defend Wuwei before we sent troops. Yide and the others may not be able to take advantage of the loophole, and Guo Huai is also from Wei. Famous general, if he sends troops to guard the exit of the valley, how should the Western Route Army respond?"
"Can't Deng Shizai go? His ability to explore paths is outstanding." Pang Tong was still struggling.
"No matter how strong you are, you can't stop the blizzard, but Zhao and Huang are working steadily. Maybe they will be the first to send troops next year. Eighty percent of the three months' salary of Shiyuan will be mine." Fazheng stroked his beard and smiled.
"Not necessarily." Pang Tong categorically denied, and frowned as he continued to add: "Although the terrain from Gaoping to Wuwei is relatively flat, the marching distance is too far. I don't know how much food will be needed to win this battle, and more than 200,000 people will be recruited. Folks, the situation in Guanzhong has just improved. The people's livelihood in Anding and Beidi counties is in decline. Where can we recruit so many people? I still think that Yide and Mengqi will be safer, and at least the transportation distance will be reduced by 70%."
"Shi Yuan didn't know that there is heavy snow all year round in the north of Lingju. The snow in the valley does not melt until late spring or early summer, but it is easy to cause landslides and flash floods at that time. It is lucky to be able to survive smoothly." Fazheng shook his head gently.
"It turns out." Pang Tong suddenly realized, thinking that filial piety and uprightness actually defrauded me of my salary? Do you think Xiangyang people don’t understand Liangzhou’s climate? I also blame myself for not asking more about Jiang Wei.
"Xiao Zhi turns out to be the winner, Shi Yuan, you have to live frugally." Liu Bei finished jokingly with a smile, then turned around and asked Fazheng seriously: "Since the mountain road crossing the west line is so dangerous, I will not let Yide take the risk again. However, Shiyuan's worries are not unreasonable. Where can we recruit so many civilians? The people of Sanfu can't stand the trouble."
Fa Zheng looked calm, raised his hands in salute and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. If there are not enough civilians, we can recruit less. The people of Yinpan and Linjing recruited by Zilong are enough."
"Is that enough? Is filial piety and straightness just a joke? That's only 20,000 people, and the military expedition will cost at least 200,000." Liu Bei was very surprised.
Pang Tong seemed to have thought of something. He frowned and guessed: "Many people in Yongliang raised livestock. Could Xiaozhi use livestock instead of manpower? But the people in the two places were exploited by Cao Zhen. The herdsmen had very few livestock, so I'm afraid they couldn't raise too much." Much effect.”
After hearing this, Fazheng said seriously: "The entire Yongliang strategy is integrated. The expedition to Wuwei cannot rely solely on the soldiers and horses of Zhao and Huang. The soldiers and horses of the Western Front must also work together."
"Xiaozhi, you made me confused." Liu Bei looked confused.
"Your Majesty, please move to Baihu Pavilion, and I will explain your doubts to you from the physical sand table." Fazheng raised his hand and asked for instructions.
"Then let's go." Liu Bei waved to Pang Tong.
The White Tiger Pavilion is on the right side of the Weiyang Palace. Liu Bei was born in the army and loved the sand table. After he ascended the throne, he did not have the opportunity to lead the army, so he asked people to make a sand table in this pavilion based on the thirteen states of the world. This is a place he often goes to, where he sees the lifelike mountains and rivers. Liu Bei felt that he owned the whole world.
After a while, the monarch and his ministers came to Baihu Pavilion and in front of the Liangzhou sand table.
Fazheng pointed to the location of Jincheng with a stick and said in detail: "The land around Jincheng County is fertile, and Deng Shizai happens to be there. You can plant a wide range of corn here, and then use the Yellow River waterway to cross the mountains to this open place, and meet Zilong." The eastern front armies are converging, and little manpower is needed in the first half of the journey."
"The first half of the journey is easy if we can travel by water. The key is the second half. Although most of the areas north of the Yellow River are grasslands, how can we transport food over the six to seven hundred miles? Just rely on Zilong to recruit those 20,000 people?" Liu Bei asked eagerly. .
Fazheng smiled and said: "Since it is a vast grassland, why not move herders from all over there?"
"Moving herdsmen?" Liu Bei still didn't understand.
"Could Xiaozhi mean to drive the sheep west? Mutton is the food of the soldiers?" Pang Tong was the first to react.
"Of course." Fazheng stroked his beard and nodded.
(End of chapter)
