There are two statements about where Bai Tan is in later generations.

Traditionally, it is believed that on the south bank of Xingzhou River northeast of Luanping, Hebei Province, it was named after Baitan Mountain. Some people later pointed out that it was actually contrary to Cao Cao's northern expedition to Wuhuan. They also said that Baitan City was located in Bali east of Kuancheng County and the ruins of Yaowangmiao Village. They also pointed out the error in "Han Shu? Geographical Records". They said that Lu Longsai came from Luanping, Baitan, and Pinggang. If Baitan was in Luanping, it would not make sense from the map. The former refuted the latter and said that it should not question the mistakes in the Han Dynasty. The latter did not have any evidence, and it also said that Baitan was established in the early Han Dynasty and later generations were not the same place.

Therefore, there were two routes of Cao Cao's Northern Expedition to Wuhuan that were circulated in later generations.

One first turns to the northwest, then to the northeast. This is the route stated in the "Book of Han" and "Shui Jing Zhu". The other one goes to the northeast.

In fact, in Liu Bei's view, when marching at this time, we often follow the road.

As mentioned earlier, why should we divide the residences of the lower houses by pavilions and linings? Ten households are one mile, ten miles are one pavilions, and ten pavilions are one village.

It is precisely because compared to later generations that needed to support more than one billion people, the arable land needed by the Han Dynasty was only one-twentieth of that of later generations.

All the remaining ones are undeveloped swamps and dense forests and wilderness mountains.

A winding official road crosses mountains and ridges, passes through swamps, dense forests, wild fields, and mountains, connecting the Central Plains civilization. Those places far away from the road are rarely visited and beasts are everywhere. Even if some "savages" appear, they cannot bear the heavy responsibility of continuing civilization.

Therefore, roads are the most important cultural carriers nowadays. Therefore, it is very reasonable to divide the entire administrative structure by lining and pavilion.

Even if Bai Tan was northwest of Lulongsai, if there was indeed a major border road leading to Lulongsai during the Western Han Dynasty. Although there were only "micro paths to go" now, it was much easier to pass through swamps and dense forests and mountains. Therefore, it would be very reasonable to go northwest first, and then head eastward to Bailang Mountain.

So, it doesn’t matter where the city is. The important thing is where the road is.

Wuyan, King Wuhuan of Youbeiping, said that Baitan City is more than 400 miles northwest of Lulongsai, and Liu Bei naturally believed it without doubt.

When Baitan goes east, it is what Tianchou said, "out of the empty land." When Baitan goes northwest, it is the eastern end of Yinshan, and later in the Inner Mongolia Bashang Plateau.

Liu Bei did not need to advance north rashly. He just needed to occupy Baitan and Guangsan Shuanghou. If the Xianbei royal court moved east along the southern foot of Yinshan Mountain and along the Great Wall, he would definitely meet him!

When going outside the border, both infantry and cavalry are of great use. There are also crossbowmen and crossbow guards, which are also important. Marquises and craftsmen of the Hou Mansion and craftsmen of Lou Sang should also be brought with them. Tent high chariots are naturally the best choice for transporting supplies. There are also mechanical rattles and many weapons. Liu Bei ordered people to buy more chalk, sulfur and other items to save them for later use.

"The Book of Wei" says: "There are volcanoes like joy, and the stones beside the mountain are charred and melted. The land flows for dozens of miles and becomes solid, which is the stone sulfur." ​​The Central Plains has also begun to extract sulfur from Nirish stone (black coal-containing pyrite). It was a process for making green alum: in a kiln made of adobe, the ore and coal are stacked, ignite and roasted, and the sulfur condenses from the top of the kiln. Therefore, sulfur was also called "alum stone liquid" in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

It was still several months before the imperial court sent troops. Liu Bei ordered people to take out the accumulated fur, sew felt tents, saw large wood, and build high chariots.

Military rations are all dry foods. Dried fish, jerky meat, and japonica rice are ground into powder, mixed with fat, green salt, and minced meat. After steaming, they are pressed into round cakes by water. A piece is sealed and wrapped by cattle and sheep intestines, making it easy to carry. Just take out one piece and cook it, and you can fill your stomach.

Because it is mixed with oil, green salt, similar to sausage, it can be kept fresh for several months after the intestines is sealed. It is just salty. It needs to be boiled in clean water before swallowing. It is also possible to eat dry food. However, you need to eat a bite of cake and a sip of water to prevent it from being salty.

Liu Bei ordered Xu Rong to go to Luoyang in person and handed the secret letter to the Huangmen Order Zuo Feng. Cui Ba and Xu Rong once escorted Zuo Feng to Luoyang and Lou Sang with fifty dragon cavalry. Cui, Xu and the two generals Xu were the confidants of the young king and marquis, and they were quite familiar with Zuo Feng, so Zuo Feng would not be suspicious. Liu Bei asked Zuo Feng to find an opportunity to advise the emperor in his letter, allowing him to lead the Wuhuan of Youbeiping out of the pass and support the Northern Expedition. In this case, Youbeiping was sandwiched between the Xianbei in the central region and the Xianbei in the eastern region. If an army could be sent here to intercept the Xianbei in the central region, it would be of great benefit to the Northern Expedition with Wuhuan in the western region.

There are four tribes in the three counties. Wuhuan in Liaodong is beyond the reach. Qiu Liju, the king of Wuhuan in western Liaoning, sent troops to support Zhao Bao, the prefect of western Liaoning. Wang Wuhuan in Shanggu was a soldier and would join Xia Yu, the captain of the Wuhuan in Wuhuan, and he would send troops to Gaoliu together with the Wuhuan commander of the Wuhuan in Wu. No one cared about it. The weak strength is naturally the biggest reason.

If Liu Bei asked himself to go north without spending the imperial military resources, and Zuo Feng would make a statement from the side, he might be able to succeed.

This matter should not be promoted. If you appeal to the court, let alone Liu Bei's request, even this Northern Expedition will be difficult to complete.

The same is true. It was because of the constant advice of the Zhongshi, the emperor who had just been serving the Yuan Dynasty, was able to resist the opposition and sent troops to the north to fight.

Taking advantage of his illness and killing him. The time is naturally right. Unfortunately, the Xianbei unified and had the highest strength, and finally returned with great defeat.

The guardian of the Wuhuan school, Xia Yu, defeated the Xianbei Central Army General Tian Yan, and the Xiongnu Central Army General Zang Min, were all called good generals. If the Xianbei was not strong, they would not have returned in great defeat.

Half a month later, Xu Rong returned and brought Zuo Feng back to his handwriting. He said that he would let the young king do what he wanted. He also said that he should not forget the meaning of recommendation when things are done.

There was a lot of confidence between the lines. It seemed that the court or the ban was very confident in this Northern Expedition. First, the Zhongchang Shi Wang Fu tried his best to match it. Later, the Zhongchang Shi Zhao Zhong recommended his younger brother Zhao Bao as the prefect of Liaoxi, and divided the achievements of Run the Northern Expedition. Now that the Northern Expedition has not yet been completed, Zuo Feng began to seek credit.

I don’t know how these civil servants who don’t understand military will have the will to win.

No wonder His Majesty, my emperor, ignored the advice of his ministers and sent troops to the north. It was obviously because he was tempted by the internal ministers...

If you can hit this trip with one blow, the Xianbei will be in chaos. It will ensure peace in the border areas of the Han court for decades. Wait for the destruction of the Yellow Turbans, the refugees will be relieved, and rest, and then send troops north to capture all the lost territory of the former Han Dynasty!

Even if it fails, Liu Bei will leave some seeds for the great Han cavalry. Turn big defeat into small defeat, and small defeat becomes undefeated. If he can be undefeated, he will also make contributions to the country.

Only the trusted retainers knew about the Northern Expedition. Everything in the city was as usual.

After the locust plague, farmers began to raise seedlings. The three thousand tram-rocked buildings in Dukang City were completed before the beginning of spring. All the people in Huai and Si Mountain moved into their new homes. The strong and healthy women were happily happy and went down to the water lake, built dams and scoop water, and opened up new fields. Around Dukang City, there were water networks of water, and the fields were crisscrossed. The seedlings were like chess boards, which were spectacular.

The ditches and boats are coming and going, transporting seedlings, and preparing to plant seedlings.

Apart from paving and opening the channel, most skilled craftsmen took wheels and boats to Licheng. The speed of construction in Licheng doubled. It doesn't take several years. It will be completed in more than a year.

This summer, the locust plague in Qizhou was out of harvest. The affected villagers around him dragged their families and moved to Lin Township one after another. Liu Bei prevented the problems and prepared for the future. He decided to put the supervision of Dali City on the agenda.

The Litinggou Water ‘turns southwest again, crosses the south of Daliting and enters the Giant Horse Water’.

The Rushui's "southeast flows to the northwest of Rongcheng County, and the southeast of Daliting combines Yishui with the southeast of Daliting. It is poured into Juma Water. Therefore, the geographical record says: Yishui goes to Fanyang and enters Ru. It is also said: Rushuihe Canal. Xu Yan said: Rushuihe Lai'. Rushui and Yishui merge into Juma Water in the southeast of Daliting. Juma Water is Lai Water.
Chapter completed!