In the past, people said that although Bohai is a county, it is like a state, and the reason why this metaphor is appropriate is because Jizhou had Zhongshan Kingdom, Changshan Kingdom, Hejian Kingdom, and Qinghe Kingdom in the past, and only Zhao, Wei, and Bohai counties were directly controlled by the state capital. However, after the chaos in the world, most of the feudal states in Jizhou have been expelled during the Yellow Turban Rebellion due to the disadvantage of resisting the rebellion and even the surrender of the princes and kings, so this metaphor is inappropriate.

But there is still a place in the world that is like a state even though it is a county, and that is Runan.

Yuzhou is very large, Yingchuan is very small, Peiguo is very large and Chen and Liang are very small, and Runan County occupies half of Yuzhou.

"General Zuo, General Guan has led 3,000 troops to the three cities of Anyang, Xinxi, and Shenyang, and the defenders are all looking forward to the wind.

This is going north. Liu Bei looked at the scout in front of him who drew a simple topographic map of Runan with charcoal branches on the ground, nodded slowly, he had understood the general idea of Guan Yu leading the troops, and turned his head to Zhuge Liang and said: "Yun Chang wants to seize the west of Yingshui first, connect with Yingchuan in the north, and then enter the west of Yushui in the east, so that you can obtain half of Runan." ”

Now that Liu Bei has passed the season when he needs to personally lead the troops, more disputes in the battle array need to be completed by letting Guan Zhang lead an army as a right-hand man, and he is responsible for coordinating all the battle formations in the Chinese army, similar to Yanbei. It's just that Liu Bei has been able to get to this day, and the difficulties and obstacles he has to face are only a lot more than those in Yanbei.

"Cao Jun did not have troops in Yingshui West, and he should get in touch with Nanyang soldiers as soon as possible so that he could fight the enemy together." Liu Bei shook his head slowly, although the current situation was favorable to him, he still couldn't help but say cautiously: "In the area of Ruyang and Zhengqiang, it is Xiahoudun, the general of Tuntian, who was left behind by the Cao army, and Xun Yu, who relied on the government. Inform Yun Chang that you must not be underestimated. ”

The scout led the troops and galloped away, Liu Bei strolled through the city of Geyang, and the notice of the people in the city had been posted, and Jian Yong and others had reported to the people in the countryside. They were all veterans, and they knew what to make at such a time, and these mainstays saved Liu Bei a lot of trouble, allowing him to devote his energy to destroying the enemy.

"General Xuande, please also transfer a group of soldiers and horses to camp on the west bank of Yingshui." Zhuge Liang followed Liu Bei in the city, and when he climbed to the top of the city to look east, he pointed to the direction of Yingshui to the south and joined Huaishui and said: "Geyang is located in the southernmost place, even if you get all the cities in the north of Yingshui, if you can't capture Qisi, the enemy army only needs one army to cross the river, and you can besiege Geyang. ”

Zhuge Liang joined the army for the first time, although he read a lot of military books, but after all, he thought that he was not as good as Liu Bei, a veteran who had been in the army for half his life, so he did not interfere too much with Liu Bei's troops along the way. It's just that when the battle situation has been determined, he really can't help the uneasiness in his heart, and said: "It's too anxious to take the eleven counties in the west of Yingshui with soldiers and horses. ”

Of course Liu Bei is anxious!

Xinye has been stationed in the army for more than a year, if he finally waits for the opportunity to lead the army to attack the east and obtain a foundation of his own, how can he still maintain his normal heart and fight steadily? Moreover, in the current situation, the Yan clan and the Cao clan are fighting in the north, which is the best time to seize Runan, if Cao Cao reacts, can they still let them attack the county behind him?

Pipe dream!

"Thinking south of Huaishui, Cao's Chen deployed troops and horses to prepare for Yangzhou, and I need to cross Huaishui to attack him in the north, and I can easily knock him back, so their defenders will not know." Liu Bei smiled and waved his hand: "So if I don't attack Qi Si, they will not move, and when the overall situation is decided, they will not be able to support their 2,000 battalions." ”

Zhuge Liang sighed in his heart, how could he not hear the reassuring meaning in Liu Bei's words, but he really couldn't figure out where Liu Bei came from with such a big grasp that just by leading more than a thousand soldiers and horses to occupy Geyang, he could think about the two thousand defenders as if there was nothing.

"If what Kong Ming said also means to be serious, it is better to be like this, Feng'er, you lead 800 troops to take Huaishui and go down to the village on the north bank of Qisi." Liu Bei really didn't take the garrison of Qi Si seriously, and such a decision was made entirely to save Zhuge Liang's face, and said: "You can not only strangle Qi Si in the south, but also drive the river east." Go, wait for your uncle to take down the eleven counties of Yingxi, and you will capture the original deer for the vanguard! ”

Liu Feng hugged his fists and received the order, and immediately turned over and went out of the city to lead the troops. Zhuge Liang's heart was a little relieved, and then he said to Liu Bei: "General Xie." ”

It's just that it's not easy to say what this thanks. Liu Bei did not send troops out of trust or dependence, but rather seemed to be to appease. It's just that Zhuge Liang thought to himself, if he was Cao Cao's general who stayed in Yuzhou, he would also be like this when Liu Bei's army pressed the border, let go of the city west of Yingshui, gather troops east of Yingshui, gather superior forces and wait for the Xinye army to disperse and capture eleven cities, and suddenly break through from the middle to cross Yingshui.

At that time, if an army and a division went north to cross the Huaishui and besiege Geyang, and the various departments were not allowed to command, then what kind of battle could they fight?

It's just that Zhuge Liang didn't expect that before the expected difficulties appeared, the entire army fell into a dilemma of a great drop in morale.

"General, General!" In the afternoon of the same day, Pegasus's messenger galloped to the county government, handed over the secret order with the Jingzhou seal letter to Liu Bei, and said in the county hall with his fists: "Liu Gong has an order, please lead the troops back to Xinye!" ”

"Return to Shinno?" Liu Beiqiang suppressed the displeasure in his heart and asked in surprise, "Why is this?" Please tell Liu Gong that our department has captured eight cities west of Yingshui, and is preparing to seize the entire territory of Runan, and General Zhang is also in Yingchuan, and Keri can regain momentum, is this a joke? ”

"General Xuande is angry, Liu Gong has new news, King Chen has spread the word to the world, Yan Zhongqing, who wants to raise troops and disrespect the royal family, has now raised troops from 14 countries to respond, all in the area of Yu and Yan, the general is a relative of the Han family, is it necessary to join forces with the Yan family at this time?" After the messenger finished Liu Biao's original words out of breath, he once again presented a roll of yellow silk and said: "Chen Wang's text is here, please take a look at it." ”

"Huh?"

Liu Bei took the text and looked at it nervously, only to feel shocked in his heart, so many Han princes and kings raised troops to attack Yanbei, so where did he Liu Bei nominally ally ally with the Yan clan stand?

Suppressing the shame and anger in his heart in disbelief, Liu Bei asked the messenger horseman, "So...... What are Liu Gong's plans? ”

"Gong Liu has ordered General Cai to mobilize troops in Xiangyang, and wants to raise 20,000 troops to respond to King Chen!"