[Three Kingdoms] Seven steps into wetness

In every era, in every camp, there must be at least one visionary who can predict what will eventually happen in the future.

For example, when Lu Su defected to Sun Quan, he analyzed the hidden dangers in the north and the advantages in the south and told Sun Quan that he would definitely achieve hegemony; Achieve hegemony; for another example, after the Chibi War, Guo Jia told Cao Cao that as long as the hidden dangers in the north were eliminated, Hanzhong and Sun Liu's internal strife would definitely be able to pacify the world.

What the three parties said is right, and the three parties also think too well.So much so that now a little man has become the key to whether he can divide the world into three parts.

Why?

The primary reason is that Hanzhong has been a strategically important place for military strategists since ancient times.It is located in Guanzhong, bordered by the Qinling Mountains in the south and Daba Mountain in the north.Because the Daba Mountains are long and the Qinling Mountains are steep, Cao Cao occupied Hanzhong before, and it was too difficult to attack Yizhou from the south of the Qinling Mountains; if Liu Bei occupied Hanzhong, it would be easier to go north from the Daba Mountains.Now the center of Xishu is in Chengdu County, and it is faster to go north from the Jinniu Road leading to Hanzhong than to detour through the Micang Road; Yizhou is connected to Jingzhou, and entering the Sanba through the Micang Road can threaten the relationship between Xishu and Jingzhou border.Because of the Jialing River and the Han River, Hanzhong is far more important to Liu Bei than Cao Cao.

Second, Fa Zheng, a counselor under Liu Bei's command, believes that the generals in Hanzhong are not capable enough to preserve Hanzhong.Moreover, the plague in the north has been plagued for years, so there must be internal worries.If Hanzhong can be captured at this time, it will not only encourage Xichuan soldiers, but also see Liangzhou and Guanzhong, and threaten Cao Jun.Even if Liu Bei is unable to go north again this time, at least he can ensure the stability of Western Shu.

It is these two reasons that Liu Bei finally made up his mind to lead the army to conquer Hanzhong.

In fact, if Cao Cao was more generous and willing to "lend" Hanzhong to Liu Bei, then it is conceivable that the next situation will be Sun, Cao, and Liu.As the hard-working protagonist, Cao Zhi was also successfully promoted to become the prince, and this article can also immediately usher in a happy and perfect ending.

It's a pity that since Hanzhong is a battleground for military strategists, since Liu Bei can divide the world if he gets it, Cao Cao will never allow such a thing to happen.

As early as the first month of the 16th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao obeyed Guo Jia's advice to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong.At that time, Ma Chao, Han Sui and others rebelled, and Jia Xu broke it with a plan of alienation, and then ambush and beheaded for Zhong Yaolejin.Soon, Zhang Lu surrendered without a fight, and Hanzhong was settled.Now, until October of the 22nd year of Jian'an, it took three and a half years-Liu Bei finally pacified Xishu, and under Fazheng's suggestion, he led his troops to attack Hanzhong.

In December, Liu Bei personally led Huang Zhong, Fazheng and others to Yangping Pass to attack Hanzhong, and then ordered Zhang Fei, Wu Lan, Lei Tong and others to station themselves in Wudu County to wait for an opportunity to attack Yongzhou.

In the first month of the following year, Zhang Fei divided his troops into Gushan and attacked Yongzhou with his subordinate Wu Lan. Before long, he tried to see through Cao Xiu.Cao Xiu led troops to attack Liangzhou and beheaded Wu Lan, Zhang Fei had no choice but to retreat.

In the same month, Liu Bei attacked Hanzhong, and Xia Houyuan defended it.In May, I can't attack for a long time,

In May of the 23rd year of Jian'an, Cao Cao arrived in Hanzhong.

The arrival of Cao Cao undoubtedly inspired the morale of the army like the rain after a long drought, and swept away the slight fatigue caused by the five-month confrontation between Zhang Yun and Xia Houyuan, and their hearts became more calm and calm.

When Cao Zhi saw this, he was a little hesitant.he first observed

After Cao Cao arrived, he first discussed and arranged with Xia Houyuan and others who were staying in Hanzhong.

From the map, Liu Bei was at Pingyang Pass at this time.Yangpingguan is located in the west of Nanzheng, the administrative center of Hanzhong, separated from Dingjun Mountain and Mianyang County.The Mian River runs through it from west to east, and the terrain is extremely complicated.Cao Cao's Xu Huang and Yu Jin guarded Maming Pavilion Road to ensure the safety of Guanzhong; Zhang Yun stationed in Guangshi to confront Liu Bei's army head-on.

Xiahouyuan's defense in Hanzhong has been perfected.

But it is only defense, without any power to attack Pingyang Pass.The most important thing for Cao Cao now is to deploy troops and horses, not only to ensure that the defense is foolproof, but also to conquer Pingyang Pass.

These days, Cao Zhi is also observing the map repeatedly, and built a model to train soldiers.Sometimes Yang Xiu or Guo Jia would accompany him to rehearse a few rounds, and sometimes Cao Cao would rehearse with him when he was in a good mood.

Although Cao Zhi has read a lot of military books over the years, and also asked Wang Qi and Wang Min for advice on leading troops, it is very easy to deal with Yang Xiu and Guo Jia. Mostly lose.

He was not discouraged, and became more and more addicted to it, thinking deeply.

Although there are some suspicions of talking on paper, but the opportunity is rare, he has learned something after all, and gradually has a good understanding of the situation in Hanzhong. As for how to deal with Liu Bei, he also has some ideas.

Seeing this, Guo Jia felt a little proud.

He can't be regarded as watching Cao Zhi grow up, but he must be the person who knows Cao Zhi best, even Yang Xiu can't compare to him.He knew that he was taciturn when he was young, and he also knew that he showed his sharpness now, it was all for one person.

Perhaps his gaze was too focused, Cao Zhi returned to his gaze, and said softly, "Do you have any suggestions, sir?"

Guo Jia narrowed his eyes and smiled: "I am best at observing the current situation and trying to figure out people's hearts. But I don't have any special talents in war and tactics. If you want to rely on me, I'm afraid you will be disappointed."

Cao Zhi also laughed.He held Guo Jia's hand, his eyes were full of joy and tenderness: "The greatest luck in my life is to have my husband's sincerity. Even if my husband is not good at these things, I know that my husband will never disappoint me."

Guo Jia smiled and said nothing.

At this time, there was a song circulating in Yuefu.In addition to songs, many literati have adapted them into long poems.It tells the story of Jiao Zhongqing, an official of the Lujiang government, and his wife Liu Lanzhi who were forced to separate by Jiao's mother. They did not remarry, and soon both committed suicide.The world sympathized with their suffering, and there were songs and articles chanting the incident.

And among this pile of articles, there is an article called "The Peacock Flies to the Southeast", which is particularly concise and moving, and the world's recognition of it is also the highest.

When Cao Cao and others read it, in addition to lamenting the author's remarkable literary talent, they also focused their attention on the sentence "hanging from the southeast branch".He even ordered someone to call Cao Zhi to tell him his thoughts.

Cao Zhi looked at the expressions of his father, elder brother, and teachers in the tent... their heads were full of black lines and mist.

He has long forgotten the painful line "It's better to hang the southeast branch by yourself" when he couldn't write a poem when he was young, and he also forgot that it was this strange line of poetry and his strange idea that attracted Cao Cao and others. people's attention.As a result, some of Cao Pi's subordinates suspected that all the articles written by Cao Zhi over the years were actually Yang Xiu's slander, and even found the so-called evidence in Yang Xiu's mansion. Suspect.

——If a person has strange ideas beyond the times when he is young, then his imagination must become more eclectic when he grows up.

Whether the above conclusion is correct or not, we don't care for now.In short, in Cao Cao's heart, he has watched his sons do all these years, except for Cao Chong who died young, he loves this son the most.

Of course, after Cao Chong's death, he no longer dared to show his preference.And as he got older, his requirements for heirs became higher and higher.Of course he can see the secret rivalry between Cao Zhi and Cao Pi, but since it is still a healthy competition, he is also happy to see it succeed.

Now, he plans to do some final assessments, and then he will establish his son.

In August of the 23rd year of Jian'an, Cao Cao's rectification was completed and he attacked Liu Bei.

Previously, Liu Bei built a city at Pingyang Pass. In October, he could not attack for a long time.

The biggest reason why Cao Cao was unable to attack for a long time was not that the soldiers and horses were not strong enough and the soldiers were not brave enough, but that Liu Bei stood firm at Pingyang Pass and refused to fight.

Because in the calculation of Fazheng, there were too many secret discords in the north, and it was absolutely impossible for Cao Cao to come here to resist them at this time.But to their surprise, Cao Cao not only came, but also led [-] elite soldiers to help Xia Houyuan defend Hanzhong!

He could also easily think that Cao Cao not only wanted to defend Hanzhong, but also relied on Hanzhong to repeat Xia Houyuan's old way of attacking Berkshire a few years ago.

Over the years, Xiahouyuan's arrangement in Hanzhong has been almost perfect. Although they spent half a year, ordered Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and others to go out countless times, and collided with Xiahouyuan's army countless times, they were still at a disadvantage.Now that Cao Cao is here, the gap between them is too great!

In the past, it was Xia Houyuan who defended the city and Liu Bei attacked it; now it is Cao Cao who defends Hanzhong and attacks Pingyang Pass.

Difficult, so difficult!

Fortunately, the terrain of Pingyang Pass is complicated, and Cao Cao will not be able to attack it in a short period of time even with a large number of people.

But after a long time, regardless of issues such as food supply and military exhaustion, once Liu Bei's army makes a mistake or fails, it will inevitably retreat steadily.Once Cao Cao cut off their retreat, Pingyang Pass would eventually become a besieged city.

Liu Bei's heart has gradually sunk.

He stood on the city wall, the winter sky was gray, pressing against the city wall, as if a heavy weight weighed on his heart.The cold wind whizzed past, piercing like a knife.He squinted his eyes and stared at Hanzhong for a long time without saying a word.

Fazheng behind him has also been standing with him for a long time.

This time Zhuge Liang did not go out on the expedition, but stayed in Yizhou to manage the government and provide them with military supplies such as military supplies, just like Cao Ying Xun Yu in the past.Not long ago he heard that Cao Cao had personally arrived in Hanzhong, and he handed a letter to Liu Bei.The carelessness in the letter coincides with that of Fazheng.

Zhuge Liang told Liu Bei: Although Cao Cao came to Hanzhong in person, his health has not been very good these years, and he may not be able to support a long-term battle; second, the north has just experienced plague and famine, and the military supplies are insufficient; third, Cao Cao's older sons are now fighting Your Majesty, Cao Cao brought them here for the purpose of selecting the best, and he will definitely order them to lead the army, so we might as well start with them at that time.Even so, this battle is still very difficult and dangerous, and it is too difficult to win.

Liu Bei sighed.

When he was young, he was seeking life in various places, and encountered much more difficulties and obstacles than now.Later, there were Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Zhuge Liang, and Yizhou.Similarly, many people he valued also died at the hands of Cao thief.

Han thieves are not at odds with each other, and the king's career is not partial to peace.

——So, how can you be willing to withdraw your troops?

Liu Bei took a deep breath.

He said slowly: "Military division, call everyone here. I still have a way, maybe I can capture Hanzhong."