The road to Shu is difficult, but it is more difficult than climbing to the blue sky. This is a description of Yizhou, the Great Han Dynasty.

Yizhou has a natural geographical barrier. Only if one is well guarded, even if one is not allowed to operate in the continuous mountains, it is difficult for millions of troops to spread.

During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Yan, the descendant of Liu Yu, the king of Lu Gong, witnessed the chaos of the court and the decline of the royal family, so he suggested to the court: "The honest and honest officials in the court should be selected to serve as chiefs of local prefectures and counties to guard and stabilize the world."

In fact, it is the so-called "using the Han family members to stabilize the situation and maintain their throne and release them."

He himself even asked himself to serve as the governor of Jiaozhou, intending to use this to avoid world chaos. However, the governor of Yizhou was frugal at that time, and greed became popular. Liu Yan, who originally wanted to lead Jiaozhou to avoid disaster, heard that Yizhou had the aura of the emperor, so he changed his request to the court to be the governor of Yizhou.

Liu Yan was a very ambitious person. After dominating Yizhou, he immediately appointed Zhang Lu as the governor of Yi Sima and went to Hanzhong with other Sima Zhang Xiu. After Zhang Lu gained power in Hanzhong, he suddenly killed Zhang Xiu, cut off the shady valley road, and killed the Han envoy. The Liu and Zhang families became enemies.

But many people think that this was what Liu Yan intended. At that time, if his military strength and prestige were to be recaptured, there was no problem with his troops and prestige. However, he did directly interrupt all contact with the court on the grounds that the rice thieves were chaotic and blocked traffic, and enjoyed it safely in Shuzhong, becoming king and dominant. It was so unhappy that Yizhou was also in a semi-independent state and gradually became his territory.

Even when the princes of the world attacked Dong Zhuo, Liu Yan refused to send troops, Baozhou defended himself, and went out to take up the same tent like an emperor.

After Liu Yan's death, Liu Zhang succeeded to the throne. Liu Zhang, whose courtesy name was Ji Yu, not only did not have the vision, courage and military talent of his father, but he was also greedy for enjoyment, cowardly and suspicious. He originally occupied the country of Tianfu and had millions of people suppressed by Liu Yan. Hanzhong, which was regarded as a guardian, defeated the Shu army many times, adding to Zhang Lu's great prestige. Hanzhong also completely stood out from Yizhou, and Zhang Lu officially became another prince at the end of the Han Dynasty.

However, Zhang Lu was not a hero. He governed the country with Taoism. The people of Hanzhong called him "Shijun". He was more like a Taoist priest. His goal was not the Central Plains, but also the Dayan in the north. He didn't even dare to think about these two places. His goal was to follow Liu Yan and dominate Yizhou alone.

However, if he didn't want it, it didn't mean that others would not act. In 203 AD, just after Dayan defeated the two tribes, Cao Cao ordered General Anxi Guan Yu to command 50,000 elite troops, threatening Yangpingguan and attack Hanzhong. For a moment, the storm and the whole Hanzhong people became heartbroken.

In the Nanzheng County Governor's Office in Hanzhong, there were civil and military gathering, with long beards and majestic expressions of Zhang Lu sat on the main seat with anger. Cao Cao, a bastard, did not fight in the north, and actually bullied him, the small county of An An.

In his previous life, Cao Cao's army was shocked, and Zhang Lu surrendered voluntarily, because Cao Cao had defeated Yuan Shao and seized the north at that time. His strength was too strong, but now it is different. Yuan Xi changed his destiny. The Great Yan was the most powerful existence, and Cao Cao was just tilted. Zhang Lu naturally didn't want it, but if he really started fighting, he was a little worried that he would not be able to beat it.

"Brother is worried, Yangping Pass is the only man in the pass, which is comparable to Hulao. I immediately lead the elite troops of Hanzhong to fight Guan Yu." Zhang Lu, the brother who was majestic and full of beards, stood at the head of the general, said with a fearless expression.

Hearing this, Zhang Lu smiled with relief, but didn't say much, and his face was a little hesitant.

"No, although General Zhang is brave, Guan Yu even killed Hua Xiong, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou. He is known as the enemy of thousands of people. If the war starts in real face, I will definitely suffer heavy losses in Hanzhong." A middle-aged official, who was the second civil minister, said anxiously. His face was rich and fat, and he seemed very kind, but the greed flashed in his eyes made the extraordinary civil minister standing before him frown slightly.

"Yiheng, what do you think?" Zhang Lu asked trustfully. This person was really the chief clerk of Hanzhong. Yang Song, one of Zhang Lu's main strategists. Yang Song was not only a high-ranking official position, but his family was the most powerful family in Hanzhong except Zhang Lu. Yang Song's third brother Yang Ren was the county rank general, and his second brother Yang Bai was the garrison of Yangping Pass, commanding a 20,000 army. Therefore, in Hanzhong, he did not take anyone seriously except Zhang Lu.

"Shijun, I must have known the battle of Guandu that year. If Yuan Xi had not emerged and suppressed everything, Cao Cao would have won a great victory. Yuan Shao, who had a million troops, was not Cao Cao's opponent, let alone us, a Hanzhong. Song felt that he should not stand now, but should be with him." Yang Song said with a serious face.

"Bastard, what are you talking nonsense?" Zhang Wei immediately stood up angrily. What's the matter, isn't it just surrender?

Zhang Lu also narrowed his eyes slightly, his face a little ugly. At this time, the man who stood at the top of the civil servant and was still above Yang Song finally stood up and smiled and said, "Zheng Zhubu, you seem to have some problems with your words just now."

Yang Song's eyes narrowed and said, "I don't know what advice does Changshi Yan have?"

Yan Pu, the well-deserved first adviser under Zhang Lu, served as the chief historian, participated in military strategies, and defeated Shuzhong many times, all of whom were making suggestions.

"You just said that if it weren't for Yuan Xi, the north would have been lost, but the fact is that Yuan Xi won, and he won the Grassland tribe not long ago. The national anthem was released and he had the momentum to annex the four seas and unify the world. If you say what you said, then why should I, Hanzhong, be in charge of Cao Cao? We can talk to Yuan Xi directly and ask him to help, and attack Cao Cao on both sides. Isn't this better?" Yan Pu sneered.

"Yes, I love to listen to what Yan Changshi said. Cao Cao is just a defeated general under Yuan Xi. What qualifications are there? Brother, I want to talk to the King of Yan. That song of loyalty to serve the country is really exciting." Zhang Wei said with a longing look on his face.

"Shut up" Zhang Lu glanced at him. What is the difference between Yuan Xi and Cao Cao? They both wanted to seize his foundation.

Yang Song rolled his eyes and said, "Shijun, although the king of Yan Yuan Xi was at its peak, he did not respect the ancient system and was rashly called the king. He was a traitor. Cao Cao assisted the emperor and pacified the country, which was a great wise man. How could Shijun surrender to the thief and abandon the wise man?"

"Hahaha" Yan Pu suddenly laughed loudly and said, "Cao Cao can also be regarded as a wise minister, forcing the emperor to kill the imperial concubine, and harm the prince. Such a vicious person is not an exaggeration to say that he is the culprit of the destruction of the Han Dynasty."

"Zimao, what do you think?" Zhang Lu asked trustfully.

Yan Pu immediately gave a deep bow and said, "Shi Jun, please forgive me for helping the enemy's power just now."

"Zimao, my arm is not necessary," Zhang Lu said softly, making Yang Song's face show a hint of unwillingness.

"Thank Shijun" Yan Pu was grateful and said seriously: "Shijun, there is one thing that Yang Zhuzhu said is right. Cao's army is very strong. It is estimated that only Yan's army can win steadily in the world. But Hanzhong is different from other places. First, I have no worries about Hanzhong. Shuzhong will never help Cao Cao at this time. Second, I have an absolute advantage in Hanzhong. Yangping Pass is the pass, and ten thousand men cannot open it. As long as I defend Yangping Pass, Cao's army will not want to enter Hanzhong. The third largest Yan will not let Cao Cao succeed. Please divorce Shijun and let him in the Central Plains and Xuzhou support him. It is said that if the Yan army can come to Hanzhong in the future, Shijun is willing to offer Hanzhong."

"What!" The people present were shocked.

Looking at Zhang Lu who was reluctant to leave, Yan Pu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Shi Jun, this is a deception. Have you forgotten the goal of our army? As long as you defeat Cao Cao, our army will be in high morale. You only need to rest for a year and you can send troops to Shuzhong to seize millions of people there. You have the capital to compete for the world. Compared with Shuzhong, what is a mere Hanzhong?"

Hearing this, Zhang Lu laughed and said with admiration: "Zirou is really my son's house. I have 80,000 troops in Hanzhong and occupy the advantage of the territory. How can I surrender easily? Zhang Wei?"

"In" Zhang Wei responded excitedly.

"You will command the 40,000 troops to Yangping Pass. Remember to defend the enemy to the death and never leave the city to fight," Zhang Lu ordered seriously.

"promise!"

"Zirou, you divorce your letter to the King of Yan, and your tone is more respectful," Zhang Lu reminded.

"promise!"
Chapter completed!