Time flies, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Time came to the thirteenth year of Jian'an, 208 AD.
Many great things happened in this year in history.
The most famous one is the outbreak of the Battle of Chibi, which established the three-part pattern of the world.
However, the Battle of Chibi ended early in this life, and the four-point world has replaced the three-point world as the new pattern.
In the past three years, all forces have chosen to recharge their batteries and prepare for the next move.
After Liu Bei captured the two counties of Jiaozhou, he sent troops to the foreign tribes in Jingnan many times within three years.
Under Zhuge Liang's iron-blooded methods, millions of barbarians were forced to surrender.
Liu Bei followed Liu Zhang's example and also formed a barbarian army numbering one hundred thousand.
Coupled with the expanded Han troops and horses, the number of Jingzhou troops has reached 250,000.
Liu Bei successfully applied the labels of being aggressive and seeking death.
However, under Zhuge Liang's governance, Jingzhou did not collapse due to its huge military strength.
On the contrary, it feels quite prosperous.
In general, Jingzhou already has a power that no one can ignore!
In Jiangdong, Sun Quan occupied the entire territory of Yangzhou, one county in Jingzhou, one county in Xuzhou, and two counties in Jiaozhou. He was very powerful.
But Jiangdong under Sun's rule was completely different from other forces.
A private soldier system is adopted here, that is, military generals can have private soldiers.
Each family and faction's military commanders have soldiers and horses ranging from five hundred to ten thousand.
Especially the governors Zhou Yu, Lu Xun and others had 30,000 troops!
In the Huainan War Zone, Zhou Yu could command a hundred thousand soldiers and horses!
In the Jiangxia War Zone, Lu Xun could mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops!
In order to frighten the two governors, Sun Quan frantically expanded his army, and the number of his direct troops soared to 200,000!
Of course, there are also 100,000 soldiers and horses who have contributed to the campaign against Shanyue in successive years.
Sun Quan of the Wu State shocked all parties with his powerful military force of 400,000 troops.
Regarding Wei, Cao Cao had the most dramatic changes.
With nearly 50,000 heavy armored cavalry, Cao Cao's domestic military strength reached unprecedented heights.
The troops were pressing forward, and the people under his command did not dare to disobey and contributed their due strength one after another.
In three years, Cao Cao developed agriculture and expanded his army to prepare for war.
Not only did it recover the losses caused by the southern expedition to Jingzhou, but it also improved a lot.
The total strength exceeds 500,000!
Among them, more than 250,000 troops have been gathering in Xuzhou since the beginning of the year. The purpose is self-evident.
The shame of Wulin and the hatred of Huainan in the past have always needed a new explanation.
Finally, there is Qin.
It can be said that Qin has changed the least.
After the Eastern Army defeated Jiangling, Liu Zhang ordered the army to be expanded to 150,000.
In addition, in order to cope with the campaign, the Imperial Guards stationed in Guanzhong were greatly expanded.
The Imperial Guard was divided into two parts, with Xu Huang commanding the Imperial Guard and Gao Shun commanding the Guard, each commanding 50,000 people.
Dian Wei is also the only general in Qin after Huang Zhong who nominally controls more than 50,000 soldiers.
In fact, it's just in name.
Dian Wei spent most of his time with Liu Zhang and paid no attention to the affairs of the imperial guards.
In addition, in order for the imperial guards to focus on conquest, Liu Zhang divided the tasks of guarding Chang'an and the imperial palace.
The Royal Forest Army was reorganized, with a strength of 30,000, with Wu Yi as the chief general and Dian Man as the deputy general.
Specialized in garrison tasks inside and outside Chang'an City.
As a result, Qin's external military strength included 150,000 Eastern Army, 100,000 Imperial Guards, 100,000 Central Army and Northern Army, totaling 350,000.
This number is even worse than that of Wu Gong and Sun Quan.
However, the garrison forces in various places of Qin were not included.
For example, the soldiers and horses guarding various passes, the 30,000 troops stationed in Hetao, etc.
But in name, Liu Zhang had already implemented the idea of valuing elite troops rather than large numbers.
In addition to their military strength, each force also accumulated a large amount of food, grass and baggage.
Among them, Qin is the most terrifying.
Not only was the Chamber of Commerce depleted, but also warehouses directly under Da Sinong had accumulated massive amounts of materials.
According to the Qin State's Great Sinong, an army of 350,000 people has been fighting for five consecutive years without having to worry about food and grass!
Three years of silence has been long enough.
The whole world is filled with the atmosphere of tense gunpowder.
The capital of Qin State, Chang'an Palace.
"Wenhe, can Brother Meng De not be able to bear it any longer?"
Before Jia Xu could say anything, Liu Zhang understood the purpose of his visit.
"Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from the King of Qin. Guo Jia sent people to send news and asked when we would march eastward."
"Haha, Guo Fengxiao is not dead yet?"
Jia Xu looked at Liu Zhang in surprise.
"Prince Qin, Guo Jia seems to be fine..."
Liu Zhang smiled softly.
As he expected, Guo Jia did not die of illness.
Guo Jia successfully avoided death in the 12th year of Jian'an by not going to Liaodong to fight.
Similarly, Taishi Ci was alive and well without any serious problems.
Fate was very fair, and Liu Zhang had no reason to complain too much.
"Wen He, according to the agreement, Wei Guo cooperates with us. Now, doesn't it mean that we have become an orphan and have to cooperate with them?"
Guo Jia had made a promise regarding the Xiongnu issue.
Completely comply with Qin's attack time and cooperate.
Now, it's just the other way around.
"King Qin, Cao Cao has mobilized more than 200,000 troops near Xuzhou, and the troops are directed towards Huainan. These more than 200,000 people can't all be doing nothing but eating, right?"
Jia Xu had a weird smile.
The state of Wei was wealthy, but not as rich as the state of Qin.
More than 200,000 people were allowed to eat and do nothing for nothing. Cao Cao had to ask for food!
"What can my second uncle do?"
"Informing the King of Qin, Zhou Yu has commanded a Huainan army of 100,000 men and is already ready to fight. In addition, Sun Quan ordered Han Dang to lead an army of 50,000 men to support him. At present, the strength of the Huainan Jiangdong Army has reached 150,000."
Liu Zhang's eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with strange colors.
"So, the strength of both sides may reach 400,000!"
"Exactly!"
"What a good show..."
Huainan is not as good as Wulin, and Huai River is not as good as the Yangtze River!
There is no possibility of recreating Red Cliff here.
Once a war breaks out, it will be a battle of blood and flesh!
However, Liu Zhang was still feeling sad.
Historically, Zhou Yu fought fiercely with Cao Cao in Chibi this year.
Because of him, Lu Xun replaced Zhou Yu and also defeated Cao's army in Wulin and Chibi.
But God’s way is reincarnation!
The intertwining of fate gave Cao Cao and Zhou Yu another chance to fight.
This fight is probably even worse than the Battle of Chibi in history!
However, compared to the Huainan battlefield, Liu Zhang was more concerned about Jingzhou!
