"Hanzhong?!!!" This news was too surprising and surprised me a lot.

According to detailed reports from recent periods, all the information points to Cao Cao's upcoming expedition to Jing and Yang. On the contrary, there is almost no sign that Cao Cao will attack Hanzhong.

But unexpectedly, Cao Cao even used a trick to secretly cross Chen Cang, but would it be that simple?

Tong Ling took a few steps forward and respectfully presented a silk book. The silk cloth was a little damp, probably where the soldiers who passed the documents were kept in close proximity.

This silk book was written by Zhang Lu.

After reading the contents of the letter, my expression became more and more serious. If this letter of request for help is true, then Cao Cao's strategy for Hanzhong can definitely be called a deliberate one——

Because he bordered Cao and Liu at the same time, Zhang Lu made great preparations in military affairs. He mobilized almost all the troops that could be used to station in several of the most critical passes in Hanzhong to prevent outside invasions.

But unfortunately, like me, Zhang Lu also did not find any signs of Cao Cao's use of troops in Hanzhong, so he was caught off guard.

At the same time, Cao Cao divided Hanzhong from the inside, and the target of his purchase was naturally the power-hungry Yang Song.

Not knowing what benefits were promised, Yang Song chose to betray Zhang Lu and defect to Cao Cao almost without hesitation.

With the huge strength of the Yang family in Hanzhong, Yang Song did not have difficulty gaining control of several key passes, which left Zhang Lu's previous arrangements was wasted.

After making all preparations, Cao Cao led tens of thousands of troops with his father-in-law Xiahou Yuan, the general of the Western Expedition, and rushed over Shenling, crossed Luogu Road, and attacked the hinterland of Hanzhong from the most unexpected place.

Zhang Lu was frightened when he heard the news and hurriedly mobilized troops from all over the world to fight against Xiahou Yuan. However, Yang Song and his brother Yang Bai suddenly led their troops to rebel.

Due to the rebellion of the Yang brothers, most of the passes in Hanzhong were useless, Xiahou Yuan drove straight in and attacked the suburbs of Nanzheng, the capital of Hanzhong County in less than three days.

With internal and external troubles, the city of Nanzheng was in chaos. In addition, with the inducement of Yang Song brothers, Zhang Lu had no way to resist. Under the persuasion of the Lord Bo Yan Pu, Zhang Lu had no choice but to give up Nanzheng and led his troops to retreat to Bazhong.

He joined his brother Zhang Wei to fight against Cao's invasion.

But after arriving in Suiding, Bazhong, Zhang Lu was sadly discovering that Cao Cao had increased his troops, and countless Cao troops attacked Hanzhong from Yangping Pass, Jigu and other directions where the gates were opened.

With the rebels of the Yang brothers, Zhang Lu was at an absolute disadvantage in his military strength and had no chance of winning at all.

Just when Zhang Lu was already desperate, Yan Pu offered a plan to ask his elder brother and Liu Zhang from Shu for help.

"Public Ji, call the soldiers in to send a letter. I want to ask?" While handing the silk book to Kuai Yue, I ordered Ling Tong. Kuai Yue, a veteran of the Jingzhou School, asked him to read the silk book the second time to show respect for him.

Soon, a soldier with dust on his face followed Ling Tong into the hall. When he saw me, he immediately knelt on one knee and saluted. The soldier was a garrison from Shangyong.

After inquiring about the soldier, I learned that the General Huang Zhong, the Shangyong garrison, had sent a scout to simply conduct a verification and confirmed that there was a war in the hinterland of Hanzhong.

"General, this is indeed Zhang Lu's handwritten handwritten book!" Pang Tong had already taken the silk book from Kuai Yue. After reading it quickly, he looked up and said to me.

A few years ago, I released Zhang Wei, an invasion of Shangyong. Later, Zhang Lu wrote a letter in person, explaining that he was bewitched by Cao Cao's reason for sending troops to Shangyong and promised to give compensation.

Pang Tong once read the letter. Although several years have passed, he has the ability to remember it all.

"It seems that Zhang Lu's request for help should be true!" Kuai Yue said with a stroke of his beard.

"Well..." I nodded. My face did not ease, "But the biggest problem is not here. It is also a bit incredible that Cao Cao was able to send troops to Hanzhong without disturbing us at all!"

"If we contact Cao Cao in the past two months of Jing and Yangzhou, these big moves can be explained..." Pang Tong held the short beards under his chin and said with a smile, "Increase troops in Nanyang, Runan threatens Jingzhou, increase troops in the upper and lower camps, and Cai threatens Yangzhou.

Increase troops from Huaiyin to threaten Guangling. Then use Maojie's naval army to provoke our Jinfan naval army. Anyone who sees these actions will think that Cao Cao is preparing to lead his troops south to fight with the lord. In addition, there is no abnormal movement in other places. It is difficult to develop suspicion.

”

It has to be admitted that Cao Cao completed a very successful strategic deception.

When the war potential between the two sides is not very different, whoever can seize the opportunity to expand the territory and population will win the initiative in the future.

"In front of Hanzhong, Yang and Liang, backed by Shuzhong, and westward Jingzhou, it can be said that it is a must-fight place for military strategists. If Cao Cao got Hanzhong, the three bas would be depressed and Shuzhong would lose their arm. If Cao's army continued to move south, Liu Zhang would have no way to resist.

In this way, the Cao army could form an encirclement of Jing and Yang from the west and north sides.

If our army can take this opportunity to get Hanzhong, the upper party can overthrow the enemy and reward the royal family; the middle party can eat Yong, Liang, Yi, and expand the territory; the lower party can stick to the key points, as a lasting strategy." Pang Tong said with a burning look in his eyes and he said with a little excitement.

Obviously, in his opinion, Cao Cao's invasion and Zhang Ludi's request for help were simply the conditions provided for us to seize Hanzhong.

However, when someone comes to ask for help, you are thinking about how to take the opportunity to seize the territory of others. It is just a bit inappropriate for a few people to discuss this matter in private, but it is a bit inappropriate to say it directly in front of so many people.

I coughed gently to remind Pang Tong.

What a smart person, Pang Tong, quickly understood and knew that he was a little too sarcastic.

Taking advantage of the fact that some people had not yet had time to savor what they said just now, Pang Tong quickly changed a topic: "But I am also a little worried that it would be a bigger conspiracy for Cao Cao to attack Hanzhong and force Zhang Lu to ask for help from his lord?"

The attention of the people in the hall was indeed diverted by these words.

Kuai Yue asked with a faint smile on his lips: "What is the bigger conspiracy that Shi Yuan said?"

"Cao Cao may have a series of plans and perform double deception!"

"Military advisor, what is the double deception?" Zhao Yun asked in surprise.

"By using the threat of Jing and Yang and concealing their intention to attack Hanzhong is the first level of deception. Using the attack of Zhang Lu to lure our army to send troops to Hanzhong. In fact, the elite main force attacks Jing and Yang's empty place is the second level of deception.

"Pang Tong said meaningfully, "The first level of deception has basically been proven. As for whether there is a second level of deception, it is still difficult to determine. However, if my guess comes true, the consequences will be unimaginable.

At present, Cao Cao has more than 150,000 soldiers threatening Jing and Yang states, and perhaps more may be…”

Pang Tong's thinking is indeed much better than mine. At least before he talked about this "double deception", I hadn't thought of this second level.

Due to the importance of Hanzhong, our army is no longer allowed to not carry out rescue. Once Hanzhong is obtained by Cao Cao, it will be a nightmare for us.

The key at present is how to send troops to rescue, who should lead the troops, and how many troops should be dispatched (due to geographical location reasons.

The Jingzhou Legion is definitely the one who can reinforce Hanzhong) and how to guard against the "second level of deception" mentioned by Pang Tong.

However, it is certain that the rescue is urgent. Faced with the alliance between Cao's army and the rebels, it is a problem for Zhang Luneng to last. He is most afraid that he will choose to surrender if he cannot see the hope.

So he must be given hope to persevere as soon as possible.

.

After the discussion, I kept Kuai Yue, Pang Tong, Zhao Yun, Liu Pan and others and continued to discuss the rescue.

Half an hour later, I sent a letter to Lujiang to inform the affairs of Hanzhong.

Pang Tong was responsible for the Fei Ge's letter to Shangyong, and ordered Huang Zhong to contact Zhang Lu as soon as possible and inform our army that it would send troops to support him as quickly as possible to fight against Cao's army. At the same time, Huang Zhong was asked to prepare for war in Shangyong to prevent the possible invasion of Cao's army.

Two more carrier pigeons flew in Nanxiang and Xinye, and ordered the guard generals Feng Xi and Chen Dao to be on guard.

At the same time, I ordered Zhao Yun, Liu Pan, Wen Pin, Wang Wei and others to rectify the three armies of Jingzhou and ready to go to war at any time. I also ordered Kuai Yue and Ma Liang to allocate food, grass and supplies to transport them to Shangyong.

.

During the nervous combat preparations, Huang Zhong first sent news from Shangyong. He further confirmed the incident of Cao's invasion of Hanzhong. He also found through multiple channels that the number of Cao's troops might not be less than 40,000, or more.

From the mouths of some Zhang Lu defeated soldiers, I learned that there was even Cao Cao's own commander flag in the Cao army.

If Cao Cao really conquers Hanzhong personally, it is unlikely that he will make big moves in Jing and Yang. But in this way, it will be much more difficult to expel Cao's army from Hanzhong. In addition, this may be because Cao Cao is making a fool of himself.

In Hanzhong, the banner was raised, but in fact, I was still in Xuchang, in order to covet Jing and Yang.

Three days later, the eldest brother Feige passed a letter to Xiangyang.

Obviously, my elder brother and the others were also surprised by the war in Hanzhong. After carefully analyzing the information I submitted, Xu Shu, Lu Su and others agreed with Pang Tong's analysis of the matter.

Two days later, Zhang Lu sent envoys again. This time, Yan Pu personally took the envoy, and Huang Zhong sent people to escort him to Xiangyang.

After meeting, Yan Pu first expressed his gratitude for my willingness to send troops to rescue me, but at the same time he also tactfully stated that Zhang Lu was facing the deterioration of the situation in the local area, and there was no reply from Liu Zhang, and I hope that I, Jingzhou, can send troops as soon as possible.

.

On the second day after Yan Pu visited Xiangyang, his elder brother passed on a letter to Xiangyang again.

After understanding the latest situation in Hanzhong and the opinions I put forward, my elder brother and Xu Shu and others discussed several times, quickly introduced strategic countermeasures, and decided to implement them.

The entire strategic countermeasure can be divided into three parts——

1. We led our army into Hanzhong to rescue Zhang Lu and face Cao's army;

Second, the eldest brother rushed to Xiangyang to be responsible for the overall situation of Jingzhou to prevent Cao's army from attacking;
Chapter completed!