Zhang Lu was naturally ambitious when he left Liu Zhang and became independent. He always wanted to become bigger and stronger.

When Liu Yan was still in power, Zhang Lu was already independent of Xichuan, but on the surface he was Liu Yan's subordinate.

When Liu Zhang succeeded to the throne, he was full of energy and ambitious, and wanted to do a great career.

But after all, he inherited his father's business, and his prestige was not enough to convince everyone in Xichuan. He wanted to find a few unsightly officials to establish his authority, and Zhang Lu was included in Liu Zhang's list of authority.

Therefore, Liu Zhang used iron-blooded means to kill Zhang Lu's mother and his family on the grounds that Zhang Lu's disobedience to obey his dispatch.

He also sent his generals Pang Xi and others to attack Zhang Lu, but they were defeated by Zhang Lu many times.

Liu Zhang wanted to establish his authority, but he kicked the iron plate, but he couldn't help but lose his aura.

Therefore, Liu Zhang confronted Zhang Lu with his sons and daughters Pang Xi as the prefect of Ba County.

Zhang Lu failed to seize Ba County, and he ruled in Hanzhong and became a prince.

It can be said that Zhang Lu did a very successful job. He firmly suppressed Liu Zhang, who owned the twelve counties of Xichuan with a county in Hanzhong.

Cao Cao had wanted to attack Hanzhong for a long time, but because he was worried about Ma Chao and Han Sui, he was reluctant to take action.

Xiahou Yuan used a fake way to destroy Guo to test Han Sui. Han Sui joined forces with Ma Chao to fight back, which gave Zhang Lu a breather and Hanzhong was temporarily safeguarded.

Although Ma Chao and Han Sui were defeated in the Weishui River, as ally who were still above Zhang Lu, they shared most of the pressure from Cao Cao.

Because he won many battles against Liu Zhang, Zhang Lu was confident that even if Cao Cao led his troops to attack, he could resist one or two.

But the current situation is a little bad!

Ma Chao was completely defeated and led more than a thousand remaining soldiers to rely on him.

Although Ma Chao was still the same, the Xiliang cavalry he relied on to rampant the world had lost all its losses. After suffering two devastating blows in a row, Ma Chao's self-confidence was damaged, as if he had changed to another person, and he had no more courage than that of the past.

Originally, Zhang Lu also hoped that Han Sui could rise again, resist Xiahou Yuan's attack, and share the pressure for himself.

Who knew that since Yan Xing used the excuse to lead most of the elite troops in the army to leave, the Han Sui army, which lacked Yan Xing and grassroots backbones, was as strong as the lack of souls, and its strength was far inferior to before.

Not long ago, bad news came that Xiahou Yuan led his army to Xianqin County.

Han Sui happened to occupy Xianlian at that time. He heard that Xiahou Yuan's army had arrived and did not dare to fight, so he fled without a fight.

Xiahou Yuan seized a large amount of Han Sui's military rations, used war to support the war, and pursued Lueyang City.

The generals responsible for supervision were left to guard the baggage. Xiahou Yuan used his specialty of pursuing relentlessly and personally led elite infantry cavalry to raid and burn Changli Qiangtun, and beheaded many.

When Han Sui heard that the tribe was attacked by Xiahou Yuan, the Qiang soldiers in Han Sui's army no longer refused to obey his orders and returned to their respective tribes in groups. Han Sui had no choice but to lead his army to attack Xiahou Yuan and fight against him with superior forces.

Han Sui fled without a fight last time, but in fact he had a self-knowledge. It seemed that his military strength was huge, but he was no longer an elite army, but just a mob and a slim figure.

Xiahou Yuan had also seen the essence of Han Sui's strength and strength, and beat the drums and struggling, with less and more, defeating Han Sui's army hundreds of thousands.

Han Sui fled into the Qiang and Di tribes and never recovered from then on. He was unable to protect himself, so he naturally could not help Zhang Lu.

Without foreign aid, if Zhang Lu wants to fight Cao Cao alone and continue to seize control of the other side, he can only expand his territory.

Zhang Lu knew very well that strengthening his strength was the hard truth, and his intention to annex Xichuan was getting heavier and heavier.

Now that Liu Bei is taking the lead, Zhang Lu certainly doesn't want to give in. He wants to get some benefits before he can compete with Cao Cao.

Zhang Lu also knew that it was very difficult to seize food from Liu Bei's tiger's mouth. He did not have such a big appetite, but just wanted to occupy Ba County as the rear.

Therefore, when Yang Bai requested reinforcements to be delivered, Zhang Lu immediately summoned his subordinates to discuss.

Yang Song said to Zhang Lu first:

"The lord has been attacking Ba County for a long time. This time, Yang Bai led his troops to attack Jiameng Pass, and suffered heavy losses. He asked for reinforcements. Since Liu Bei arrived, Ma Chao has rested in Fengyang and is only one day away from Jiameng Pass. Now that Liu Bei has retreated, it is better to transfer Ma Chao's troops to Yang Bai's subordinates to listen to it. With Ma Chao's bravery, it is only a matter of time before Yang Bai breaks out."

Yang Song had already tested Zhang Lu in private and knew that he was already tempted, so he took the lead in making a plan.

Yan Pu knew Yang Song's vengeful personality, and the hatred between his younger brother Yang Bai and Ma Chao was not a secret in Hanzhong. Yan Pu naturally guessed Yang Song's little thoughts. It was fake to transfer Ma Chao's troops to attack Jiameng Pass, and to use a knife to kill people, and Ma Chao's plan was real.

Ma Chao, who was brave enough to plan and be brave with Yang Bai's ability, had a low chance of success. If he didn't do it well, it would cause a large-scale internal strife. Yan Pu did not want such a thing to happen, so he said:

"Lord, no, General Yang Bai has always been in a bad mood when General Ma Chao attacked Qishan last time, he made a mistake in cooperation. This time he had to transfer Ma Chao to Yang Bai's subordinates. Once the two had differences, it would be easy to be misunderstood by General Ma Chao as a public revenge. Not only is it difficult to capture Jiameng Pass, but it may also anger Ma Chao. There is an internal strife between the two armies. Please think twice!"

After all, Ma Chao is so powerful that Xiliang. Although there are not many soldiers and horses now, most of them are backbones who have followed him for many years. They are very brave and have strong attack ability! If you count the generals under him, Ma Chao is definitely at the forefront of those who can break Jiameng Pass. After hearing Yang Song's words, Zhang Lu was a little moved.

But listening to what Yan Pu said is not without reason! Although Zhang Lu turned to Yang Song in his heart, Yan Pu's opinions cannot be ignored. After considering for a while, he could not think of a better way, so he said:

"Now, because we have to be on guard against Cao Cao's attack, there are not many troops that can be mobilized in Hanzhong. Ma Chao's army has been resting for half a year. Whether he can go to war depends on his own meaning. It is better to send someone to Fanyang first, ask about Ma Chao's opinions, and then make a reason!"

When Zhang Lu said this, neither Yan Pu nor Yang Song opposed it. So Zhang Lu sent an envoy to Ma Chao's army in Fengyang to convey Zhang Lu's meaning.

...

...

On that day, Zhang Ren shot an arrow in anger at the head of Ximen City. Unexpectedly, he accidentally hit him and shot Pang Tong to death.

Hearing the cheers of the soldiers at the city gate and Bai Li's soldiers rushed to carry Pang Tong down the mountain, but Zhang Ren mistakenly thought that he had shot Liu Bei to death.

As a famous general in Shu, Zhang Ren was not frustrated. He was overjoyed and did not forget his duties. He immediately ordered the troops to be sent and the soldiers shouted:

"Liu Bei is dead, and the surrendered ones will not be killed!"

Although Zhang Ren's headquarters had only more than a thousand soldiers and horses left, the seven thousand soldiers and horses he had previously commanded still obeyed his orders.

He quickly pulled out of the city, but did not go to attack Wei Yan's camp, but instead occupied the entrance to the valley and cut off Wei Yan's retreat.

The guard carried Pang Tong's body and returned to the camp to report Wei Yan. Wei Yan was shocked.

He heard the Shu soldiers shouting, "Liu Bei is dead!", and Wei Yan hurriedly pulled out of the camp and wanted to return from the valley. Zhang Ren cut off his way back and shot him with a strong bow and crossbow at a high place.
Chapter completed!