Chapter 804 Danger is coming quietly
The Emperor of the Han Dynasty visited Hanzhong in person, which greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers and civilians in Hanzhong.
But everything has advantages and disadvantages.
For Zhuge Liang, how to ensure the safety of the emperor became the most important event above this battle.
The Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty took out such priceless treasures and handed them to Wei Yan, which fully illustrates his attitude:
The spies can't find out the situation of the Wei army, so you can help me.
The safety of the emperor is more important than anything else.
Wei Yan understood his intention and immediately gathered his troops and set out from the southern end of Ziwu Valley to find the Wei army.
In fact, even with the help of telescopes, it is difficult to find out the strength of the Wei army from a distance.
The clouds and mist are steaming above it, and with the help of a telescope, only some flags and erected guard towers can be vaguely seen.
However, Wei Yan was ordered to die by the Prime Minister, and he must find out the situation of the Wei army.
At that moment, he led the people and quietly approached the Wei army's camp, and found a high place close to the Wei army to observe carefully.
This look didn't matter, but it gave him a clue.
He did not dare to neglect, so he climbed two more hills, looked all the way, and finally determined that the Cao thieves had set up banners in many places, but there were no corresponding number of people.
Simply put, it is just a false flag.
This trick may have fooled others, but Wei Yan had been leading the army for many years, and as soon as he could see clearly the situation inside the opponent's camp, he felt a little weird at first glance.
Then if you look carefully in many places, you will understand this weirdness in your heart.
He did not dare to neglect, and quickly withdrew from the valley, returned to Hanzhong, and reported the matter to the prime minister.
“A false flag?”
When Zhuge Liang heard Wei Yan's report, his heart thumped, and he suddenly felt something was wrong.
“Is this serious?”
"How dare the general falsely report such a thing?" Wei Yan replied, "I think the number of Cao thieves is no more than 30,000 at most, and as few as 20,000."
“Prime Minister, since we already know the situation of Cao Cao’s thieves, why not think of ways to defeat them?”
Zhuge Liang shook his head: "It is difficult to travel through Ziwu Valley. It is difficult for thieves to reach Hanzhong. It is also difficult to reach Hanzhong. What I am worried about is where is Cao Zhen now?"
Zhuge Liang walked to the sand table and frowned, with a look of worry on his face.
“Could it be that the traitor Cao wanted to carry out the Prime Minister’s old deeds and used a suspicious force to attract our attention, but in fact Sima Yi, who came up the Han River from Jingzhou, was the main force?”
Wei Yan thought of a possibility.
Sima Yi is going upstream along Hanzhong, and Nanxiang has already reported.
It’s just that it’s raining heavily in Hanzhong and the Han River has surged, making it difficult to sail the boat and the journey is extremely slow.
Zhuge Liang shook his head: "Impossible. Marching into Hanzhong is a major national event for Cao Cao. It is impossible for Cao Zhen not to come in person."
"And if Sima Yi is the army that invades Hanzhong this time, it will save trouble. In the past, Nanxiang built many forts along the Han River, and our army is next to Nanxiang, so why should we be afraid?"
The more Zhuge Liang spoke, the more worried his face became.
At this time, the sergeant came to report: "Your Majesty has arrived."
Because Chenggu County is right next to Nanxiang, Feng Yong regarded it as the food supply base for Nanxiang Workshop a few years ago.
Hence, Shuangnan Avenue starts from Nanxiang, first to Chenggu, and then to Nanzheng.
If you drive from Nanzheng, you can go directly along the main road to Dagu.
Adou and the Queen have long heard of the name of Shuangnan Avenue. Now that they can walk on this artificial stone avenue in person, they can't stop being amazed all the way.
Zhang Xingcai could not enter the military camp, so he stayed in Chenggu City.
“Xiangfu, Hanzhong looks really better than Jincheng.”
When Adou met Zhuge Liang in the camp, he still looked excited, "The road is flat, whether it's driving a car or riding a horse, or walking, it's all smooth."
"I heard that this avenue was built a few years ago. Why not build such an avenue over Jincheng?"
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, this road is good, but it is also expensive. The old minister also asked Feng Mingwen to build a road from Nanzheng to Juxian. He asked for three years of Han Dynasty's tax."
“Three years?!”
Adou was shocked.
Nowadays, the Han Dynasty's tax can be converted into two million yuan a year. In three years... Adou counted on his fingers. Isn't that six million?
The emperor swallowed involuntarily and thought to himself that Feng Mingwen was really bold, daring to open such a big mouth to his father-in-law.
"Then...did the father-in-law agree?"
Adou asked curiously.
During his stay in Nanzheng, of course he knew that there was also a highway from Nanzheng directly to Ju County.
Although it is not as easy to walk as Shuangnan Avenue, it is still a rare official road.
"Where did the big man get so much money and food?" The prime minister laughed and said, "Later, in exchange for exempting Nanxiang from all taxes, the old minister asked him to replace the corvee with an engineering team."
“In the end, I had to supplement him with some money and food, and then the repair was completed. The same method was used to rebuild the Jinniu Road from Jincheng to Hanzhong.”
“However, because the Golden Ox Path is related to the livelihood of many people, the government and the public have given full support to it, and the cultivation has gone smoothly.”
After hearing what his father-in-law said, Adou couldn't help but secretly thought:
Feng Mingwen has a good way of dispersing money, and he also has a way of collecting it! The Han Dynasty's treasury has become increasingly rich over the years, no wonder Xiangfu indulges him so much.
Adou was thinking about it when he heard Zhuge Liang ask again: "Your Majesty, Cao Cao's thieves are attacking, and Chenggu is very likely to be in front of the formation. Why did your Majesty personally take the risk?"
“Oh, oh, I almost forgot about it, even if you don’t mention it!”
As soon as he mentioned this, Adou suddenly became excited again. He lowered his voice and said, "My father-in-law, Siniang, uh, it was Zhang Shanggong who sent the news from Longyou."
“Feng Mingwen led the army out of Xiaoguan. He has already sent Guan Suolian to defeat Wushi City and Jingyang City, and is now advancing on Anding County.”
When Zhuge Liang heard this, he suddenly shook his body and shouted out loud: "Is this true?!"
“Of course it’s true!”
Adou rubbed his hands, and the excitement on his face made his chubby face slightly red, "I heard that Feng Mingwen still led the cavalry alone to Yuezhi City. I wonder what the current situation is like?"
“If Yuezhi City is destroyed, the Anding County and Linjing will definitely fall into the hands of our Han Dynasty..."
He was talking to himself, but when he raised his head and saw his father-in-law, he saw that his face was pale and he was standing there blankly.
“Xiangfu…”
“Cao Zhen…Cao Zhen’s intention is in Longyou!”
Zhuge Liang suddenly said something that Adou couldn't understand. He turned around suddenly, spread out the map of Hanzhong, and compared it with the Hanzhong sand table.
Adou looked at Xiangfu and muttered to himself, not knowing what he was talking about.
I saw my father-in-law's fingers moving on the map with some trembling, and finally he focused on a point: "Here, this is it!"
Adou took a closer look and saw the word "Qixian County" above it.
Zhuge Liang held it up and looked at Adou, "Your Majesty, when did this message from Shang Gong come over?"
“When I just set out this morning…”
Zhang Xingyi has always been in contact with the palace, and the news has never been interrupted. Therefore, the emperor got the news from Longyou half a day to a day faster than the news from the official documents of the Longyou Governor's Mansion.
After all, official documents need to be stamped with the seal of the principal's palace first, and then stamped with the seal of the governor's palace in Jicheng.
It’s just that Adou didn’t understand why Xiangfu’s face changed drastically when he heard the news. “Xiangfu, isn’t it a good thing that Feng Mingwen defeated the thief?”
“It’s a good thing, but it’s also a bad thing.”
Zhuge Liang's face was still extremely ugly, "Your Majesty, Cao Zhen's threat to march from Ziwu Valley is actually just a suspicious army under his banner."
Combined with the information Wei Yan found out, if Zhuge Liang still can't react, then he will be in vain as the prime minister of the Han Dynasty.
“Feng Yongba entered Linjing but did not encounter Cao Zhen. So Cao Zhen is most likely to be in Qian County.”
Going west from Qian County, you will enter Guanlong Avenue in Longyou, where Longguan is the most important pass.
At the same time, in addition to Longguan, there is also a mountain road from Qian County that leads directly to Lueyang.
Although this mountain road is not as easy to walk as the Guanlong Avenue, it can still be used for cavalry.
Zhang He crossed the mountain through this mountain road, which almost made the Northern Expedition a failure.
If Cao Zhen secretly gathered an army in Qian County, then he would most likely march from Qian County to Longyou.
There has been no news from Longyou until now. The only possibility is that Cao Zhen couldn't think of it, and it has been raining continuously in Hanzhong for the past month.
The surge of the Han River prevented Sima Yi from arriving in Hanzhong in time to hold off the Hanzhong army.
So he is waiting.
Zhuge Liang broke into a cold sweat when he thought of this.
Although Longguan is dangerous, it is not foolproof.
Now Feng Yong's strategic mobile force is far away in Anding, and the Longyou Governor's Mansion has 30,000 troops. It must not only resist Cao Zhen's army in the east, but also prevent changes in Liangzhou, which is extremely stressful.
“Come here!”
Zhuge Liang no longer cared about the emperor who was present. He turned around and shouted for someone.
“I have met the Prime Minister… Your Majesty, I have met the Prime Minister.”
Li Yi, who joined the army, was waiting outside the door to listen to orders at any time. At this time, he heard the Prime Minister's call and came in quickly.
"Go, send someone on the road. If you see an official document from Longyou, send it over immediately."
Li Yi saw the anxious look on the prime minister's face, so he quickly responded and hurried out.
“Let Yang Yi come over!”
As Zhuge Liang spoke, he sat down and began to write an urgent letter by hand.
After Yang Yi came in, before he could say anything, Zhuge Liang handed him an order: "Send it to Long You immediately and ask Feng Yong to retreat from Anding! Quick!"
“Let Jiang Wei come in!”
After Jiang Wei came in, he only heard the Prime Minister's order: "I will give you 10,000 horses. You must go to Longyou quickly and follow the instructions of General Zhao. Remember, you must go as soon as possible without any delay."
Watching his father-in-law hurriedly calling people in again and again, Adou finally began to worry.
After Zhuge Liang finished making arrangements, Adou bravely asked, "Xiangfu, is there any danger in Longyou?"
Zhuge Liang's eyes fell on the sand table again and he shook his head, "Originally, Longyou was in danger, but now it should be fine."
At this, Adou breathed a sigh of relief.
Unexpectedly, Zhuge Liang's next words almost made him jump: "The one we have to worry about now is Feng Yong."
"Feng Yong has an engineering battalion in his hands and is very good at attacking cities. The day when the Xiaowei Mansion defeated Wushi City and Jingyang City was at least ten days ago. I am afraid that Feng Yong has already captured Anding."
"Once the city is settled, Guanzhong will definitely be shaken. Cao Zhen originally wanted to attack Longguan and Lueyang from Qianxian County. I'm afraid that after he knows the news about Anding, he will lead his army northward."
Zhuge Liang endured his extremely anxious mood and carefully told the emperor the details:
"Going north from Qian County, there is a road back to the middle, which leads directly to Xiaoguan. This road was overhauled by Emperor Xiaowu. It is a flat road and can be used by large armies."
“If Cao Zhen goes north from the Huizhong Road, attacks Xiaoguan, and cuts off Feng Yong’s retreat..."
At this point, Zhuge Liang couldn't talk any more.
Adou swallowed hard. He was not a fool. Even if he couldn't understand the map, he could still understand the sand table.
If Feng Yong had really broken through Linjing, it would be considered deep into enemy territory.
If we cannot return in time, we may be stuck on the other side of Longshan.
“Will Cao Zhen... take the Hui Zhong Road?”
Adou looked at his father-in-law with hopeful eyes.
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly: "Cao Zhen is not a fool. As long as Feng Yong is cut off from his retreat, he will be in peace without attacking."
How could Cao Zhen, as the great Sima of Wei State, not see such a simple thing?
“This matter… is the old minister’s fault!”
Zhuge Liang closed his eyes in pain, "I thought that the heavy rain in Hanzhong would make it difficult for Cao's army of thieves to move. I just thought that this time I would be able to defeat the army of thieves, but I didn't expect..."
Too careless!
It’s really too careless!
Over the years, the Han Dynasty has been so successful that everyone has a contempt for Wei.
But I have forgotten that the Wei State was ten times as powerful as the Han Dynasty.
Even now, it is five or six times.
Just the suspicious soldiers and Jingzhou troops can hold back most of the Hanzhong army.
As for Cao Zhen, he can calmly deploy heavy troops and attack Longyou.
This time, Adou excitedly came to the military camp to find his father-in-law, but he was hit with a sap on the head, which made stars appear in his eyes.
Zhang Xingcai, who was waiting outside, was shocked when he saw Adou come back in despair:
“Why does your Majesty look so bad?”
At this moment, Adou realized what he was doing. He looked around and waved his hand, "Everyone, please go down. Don't come near unless ordered."
After retreating, Adou told Zhang Xingcai what his father-in-law had said to him in the military camp.
“Is Feng Yong in danger?”
Zhang Xingcai was an expert in strategizing. When he heard the news, he was confused for a moment.
“Not necessarily yet.”
Adou saw that the queen was panicked and quickly comforted her, "My father-in-law also said that this matter is just his speculation, and it may not be true."
"Until there is news from Longyou, the queen should not spread it randomly, so as not to disturb people's hearts."
Zhang Xingcai nodded, she knew the importance.
It’s just that the prime minister is very talented. When your majesty said that the prime minister had sent troops to Longyou for support, then this matter is most likely true.
Zhang Xingcai gritted his teeth and said, "So, this time, Feng Mingwen took the risk for Long You?"
Adou nodded, with a look of worry on his face: "Feng Mingwen is too good at fighting and is too quick to defeat thieves..."
“What nonsense are you talking about, Your Majesty?”
At this time when people are extremely worried, Zhang Xingcai was really angry and laughing when he heard Adou say such words.
But now, she can only think about the good side:
“When I think about it, Feng Mingwen is used to cutting off others’ escape routes. I think he will definitely pay attention to his own escape route. Even if the army of Xiaowei Mansion cannot escape, he will definitely have a way to come back.”
(End of this chapter)