Plan to cut off the nine states

Yang Ge, the envoy from Liangzhou, was very drunk. When he woke up, he felt the bed shaking under him. He thought he was still hungover. Then he fell asleep again. Suddenly he felt something was wrong. He turned over and sat up. He found that the surroundings were pitch black and he was sleeping in the bed. In a closed compartment.

Has the Yizhou Army sent troops? Yang Ge guessed this, but immediately felt that something was wrong. The vehicle seemed to be moving downwards.

From Qin to Liang, although the road is undulating, the terrain is generally getting higher and higher, and the continuous descent is more like going to Qinzhou.

Yang Ge was startled. He opened the curtain and looked out. Sure enough, the team was heading towards Qinzhou. He recognized the mountains on both sides.

A large number of soldiers followed the car. Du Heimao, the one-handed general who had been drinking with him last night, was walking with the car. At this time, he bent down from his horse and said with a smile: "Mr. Yang is awake."

"This...this...where are we going?"

"Go to Liangzhou."

"But the direction is wrong."

"Oh, General Tang said that when fighting, you need to be surprised. Liangzhou is so big that there is more than one road. Before, the approaching troops were just suspicious soldiers. When we really want to start a war, we need to choose another road."

Yang Ge was shocked, "The mountains in Liangzhou are rugged, and there are only four or five roads into Liang. The detour cannot be completed in one day, at least two days, and the other roads do not come into contact with the Qiang soldiers. How can we attack from a flank?"

"I don't know the details. I'm just following orders. Don't worry, Ambassador Yang. Just sleep peacefully and wait for the work to be completed."

"Where is Mr. Xu? I want to see him." Yang Ge knew who the real leader of this team was.

"Mr. Xu walked more than ten miles ahead, and we can't call him back now. Ambassador Yang should rest."

"Then General Tang..."

Du Heimao pulled down the curtain, not giving Yang Ge a chance to speak.

Yang Ge sat in the car blankly, knowing that both he and Liangzhou had been fooled.

Liangzhou is a huge trap, and the purpose is to swallow up the "50,000" Yizhou army. Even though Xu Chu is a hundred times smarter, he can't think of a clever plan to turn defeat into victory, so he decides to avoid the battle and, under the leadership of Yang Meng's army, passes through Qinzhou. Go and join the Advent Army.

As for the Yizhou army in Liangnan, Xu Chu has sent people to remind Tie Zhi not to delay and find a way back to Yizhou as soon as possible.

There are still more than ten subordinates of Yang Meng's army staying in Liangzhou, and they have made an agreement long ago. If he cannot return as scheduled, they will return to camp via the small road in Liangzhou without waiting.

Last year, Yang Meng's army went north and took this road, so the march went smoothly.

Xu Chu accompanied Yang Mengjun all the way, and after getting along for a few days, they respected each other.

Yang Mengjun admired Xu Chu's understanding of the world situation and asked endless questions. He was very interested in the heroes of the Central Plains, especially King Ning who rose from the wilderness. He was amazed, "There are so many aristocratic families left by Tiancheng, but none of them are as good as a Qinzhou man." Cao Min, there must be something unusual about this person.”

Xu Chu did not say his judgment on King Ning. He admired Yang Mengjun's frankness and magnanimity, and he could clearly see the gains and losses of success and failure.

The descending army led by Jin Shengnu was said to be in the north of Qin, but in fact it was closer to Liangzhou. It was camped in several valleys. After several battles, there were not many people left, only over 30,000, among whom there were many old, weak, women and children. .

A Jizhou army led by Yin Fu also camped here. Although the number was small, only more than 15,000, but without family members to drag it down, the force was stronger.

The Liangzhou army of Yang Meng's army had the smallest number of soldiers, less than 5,000 in total, but they were the ones who "borrowed" food from all over Liangbei to feed all the soldiers.

Dozens of miles east of the valley, on the flat land outside the fortress, is the camp of the He Rong people. After experiencing the defeat of Xiangyang, they became very cautious and refused to enter dangerous and narrow areas to fight. They surrounded all exits and frequently sent troops to harass them. , hoping to lure the enemy out.

If Yang Meng's army hadn't known the mountain paths, the more than 3,000 Yizhou troops led by Xu Chu would not have been able to bypass the He Rong people.

In order to travel, the Yizhou Army had to abandon almost all their baggage and horses. Everyone packed up food and moved forward. When they finally met up with the Shenshi Army, the food had been exhausted and their bellies were all flat.

When they arrived here, Tang Weitian and his men no longer called themselves the Yizhou Army, also known as the Jishi Army, and received a warm welcome.

The Golden Saint is not here. She led a group of people out to explore the road a few days ago and has not come back. Zhang Shiqing also followed.

Xu Chu took a break and was about to visit Yin Fu. The other party had already heard the news and came to visit first.

Yin Fu was originally a civil servant and was very old. He was very unsuited to the military career. He looked quite haggard, but he did not show signs of decline. He burst out laughing when they met him. "Man's calculation is not as good as God's calculation. We said goodbye to Yecheng, but unexpectedly he was at the frontier fortress." We were reunited, but I failed to bring the Jizhou soldiers and the Jishi Army back to Jizhou, and Mr. Xu didn’t seem to be happy either.”

"It's not just unsatisfactory. I escaped death all the way. If there were very noble people to help me, I don't know how many times I would have died."

The two of them sat down, and Yin Fu said: "There is a huge difference in the difficulty between sitting down and talking about Tao and experiencing it personally."

"Exactly, I find it difficult to lead even three hundred troops."

"Haha, it's easy to understand the difficulty. It's okay if it feels strenuous. It's even more strenuous for me. I'm always looking forward to someone taking over the Jizhou Army for me."

"Is there no suitable general in the army?"

"There are loyal generals, there are fierce generals, but great generals are hard to find." Yin Fu stared at Xu Chu.

Xu Chu immediately smiled and said: "I have brought a rare and powerful general. There is also a shortage of generals."

"Why did Mr. Xu go north?"

"I hope to see the He Rong people leave the Central Plains with my own eyes."

"Master Xu came at the right time."

"oh?"

"You will see the He Rong people establishing a foothold near the frontier fortress."

"Is the situation so bad?" Xu Chu smiled.

"It's not an exaggeration to say that it's a dead end. Now the He Rong people are everywhere inside and outside the Great Wall. They are not in a hurry to start a war. They are besieging but not attacking. They want to wait until the food here is exhausted."

"I heard that General Mengjun has been providing food and grass."

"Yang Mengzhi has formed an alliance with the Qiang people, so he can free up his hands to block the Zhucheng in Liangbei. General Mengjun is also running out of food."

"This is my fault." Xu Chu bluffed with "50,000" Yizhou troops, but failed to win. Instead, Yang Mengzhi made up his mind to reconcile with the Qiang people.

"This is what is called man's plan is not as good as God's plan." Yin Fu smiled, having heard the general cause and effect.

"It's really a dead end." Xu Chu sighed, "Is the Golden Saint looking for a way out here?"

"Well, she hopes to find a way to get outside the Great Wall, but it's difficult. Even if she succeeds by luck, she will not be a match for the He Rong people outside the Great Wall. Once they are caught up..." Yin Fu shook his head.

Xu Chu thought for a while, "How many soldiers are there here?"

"Total, nearly 30,000. After selection, there are at most 20,000 people. There are even fewer horses, only about 2,000. Most of them are brought by General Mengjun."

"Where are He Rong's people?"

"Countless, at least 100,000."

"So many?" Xu Chu was a little surprised.

"This does not include the soldiers from Qin, Bing, and Ji who followed He Rong. Although He Rong's people were defeated in Jingzhou, there are many survivors, and they have been supplemented by the tribes outside the Great Wall, and their strength has greatly increased. Alas, General Cao thought that by defeating the tribes outside the Great Wall, he could seize the border and cause chaos among He Rong's people. Now it seems that man's plans are not as good as God's plans. But at that time, this was indeed the only way. If he stayed in Xijing, he would have been wiped out long ago."

"General Cao's strategy is fine. How many soldiers does Yang Mengzhi have in Liangzhou?"

"You have to ask General Mengjun about the exact number of troops. I estimate it is 20,000. After getting the help of Qiang soldiers, the strength will double , or even more. "

Xu Chu thought for a while, "He Rong's army is difficult to break, and our army is afraid that Liangzhou is the only way out."

"Well, we also think so, so we asked General Mengjun to go to Liangzhou to explore the way, hoping to seize Liangzhou in one fell swoop and have a foothold."

"General Mengjun said that his brother Yang Mengzhi imprisoned the old Liang King and was unpopular, and the morale of the army was not high. Maybe he could be defeated in one fell swoop, and then fight with the Qiang people."

Yin Fu nodded, "There is only one problem. Our army lacks a general, and I am sure I can't do it."

"What about General Mengjun?"

"What do you think, Mr. Xu?" Yin Fu asked back.

Xu Chu was silent. He admired Yang Mengjun's character, but he didn't think he was qualified to be a general. Leading 5,000 soldiers was almost the limit.

"What about Saint Jin?" Xu Chu said again, "She should have learned a lot from General Cao, and she has several veterans to assist her."

"General Cao was unfortunately killed, and General Guan Changling died of illness halfway through the battle. The remaining generals can only serve as deputies, not as principals. As for Saint Jin--" Yin Fu looked at Xu Chu for a few more times, "She learned a lot, but she can't use much. Once she arrives on the battlefield, she still leads the troops and marches forward bravely."

Xu Chu smiled and said, "She hasn't changed."

"This battle is crucial. If you win, you will survive. If you lose, the whole army will be annihilated. A general must be in charge."

Xu Chu said nothing.

Yin Fu said, "Master Xu was able to defend the Eastern Capital back then, but now he can't attack Liang?"

Xu Chu forced a smile, "I'm... afraid."

"What are you afraid of?" Yin Fu said in surprise.

"Man proposes, God disposes."

"Why did Master Xu take my words seriously?" Yin Fu smiled.

"I am afraid, not just because of what Lord Yin said, but because I am deeply touched. Looking back, I used to use tricks, and most of the successes were due to luck. Recently, there have been several accidents, and I am afraid of it, and my courage is getting smaller and smaller."

"If you want to find a brave person, I have no shortage of them."

"Before I came, who did Lord Yin plan to promote as the general?"

"It can only be Saint Jin."

"Wait for her to come back, I would rather be her counselor." Xu Chu smiled, "I still have some courage to offer advice, even if it is full of loopholes."

"Then wait, I have only one request."

"Lord Yin, please speak."

"Please consider the Central Plains, the tens of thousands of soldiers here, if you think Saint Jin can't take on this important task-"

"Then I will do it reluctantly."

The two chatted for a while, and Yin Fu saw that he couldn't persuade her, so he stood up and said goodbye.

Xu Chu didn't want to "be reluctant". He felt guilty about Saint Jin and was unwilling to take away her military power, even if it was just a temporary measure.

After living in the valley for several days, Xu Chu no longer wanted to seize power. Regardless of whether the Golden Saint was qualified to be a general, the men and women of the Advent Army respected her even more than when they were in the Eastern Capital.

That evening, Xu Chu returned from the Jizhou military camp and saw Tang Weitian walking towards him from a distance. With a hint of confusion on his face, he shouted, "Sir, there is actually a Zhang girl here."

"The Golden Saint is back?" Xu Chu immediately thought of Zhang Shiqing who followed the Golden Saint to find the way.

"The Golden Saint is on the way. The first one to come back was a Zhang girl. I'm not polite. She's waiting for you in your tent. Some people say she is your wife. What's going on?"

"I'll explain it to you later." Xu Chu hurried into his tent.

There was indeed a woman in the tent, but Xu Chu was stunned. He looked at her for a long time before he recognized that it was Zhang Shiqing.

She had changed so much that even if the King and his wife of Jibei came in person, they might not be able to recognize her at a glance.