The battle of Xiaoting, also known as the battle of Yiling, started in July of the second year of Huangchu and ended in June of the following year. The whole process lasted one year. On the surface, Liu Bei launched this battle to avenge Guan Yu, but in fact it was to solve the problem of belonging to Jingzhou that was left over from the Battle of Chibi in 208, because it was related to the strategic issue of the Shu Han's future Northern Expedition and the dominance of the world. In fact, to some extent, Liu Bei's launching of the Eastern Expedition was also mixed with the old grudges that Sun Quan took advantage of Cao Cao's attack on Hanzhong and Liu Bei's main northward transfer in 215 AD to send Lv Meng to attack the three counties of Jingzhou.
From the perspective of the strength of both sides, there is not much difference between the two armies. In other words, the military power of Soochow has surpassed that of Shu Han. First, the Soochow had already reached out to Cao and Wei through diplomatic means at this time, and the northern military pressure dropped sharply. Second, Soochow had largely resolved the domestic Shanyue rebellion. Part of the troops were transferred to the Eastern Front; third, the Three Gorges area was rugged and difficult to navigate. In order to protect the supply line, Liu Bei could only push forward while constantly keeping troops to guard the newly-established replenishment points. However, Lu Xun, the newly appointed commander in chief of the Soochow Wu, was too junior, leading the lieutenant generals Han Dang, Pan Zhang, Zhu Ran, Xu Sheng, Song Qian, Sun Huan and others to not obey the command so much. Some of these people are old generals of Sun Jian and Sun Ce, who have accumulated credit for three generations; some are public relatives, and have a blood relationship with Sun Quan that are constantly cutting and chaotic; some are the northern clans who crossed the south, and their forces are intertwined. It is precisely because of this that Lu Xun tried his best to avoid a head-on decisive battle with the Shuhan Army before starting the battle, but instead used his sword to slant forward and adopt a strategy of luring the enemy into depth. Of course, Lu Xun's plan to lure the enemy into depth also had the factor of Liu Bei's army fighting bravely. Unfortunately, the courage of Liu Bei's army was wiped out by the rugged terrain and the hot summer of the Three Gorges area.
According to historical data, Lu Xun attacked Liu Bei's regiment with fire, and the time he looked for was when the veterans of the Shuhan regiment division were tired. The process of its use of troops was accomplished by sending a surprise soldier to the rear of the Shuhan Army by boat to cut off the connection between the front army of the Shuhan Army and the Liu Bei's middle army, and then cooperated with the main force of Lu Xun's frontal attack.Looking through historical data, when the army is cut off, it is often accompanied by a large number of soldiers killed or captured. For example, in the Battle of Guandu, why Cao Cao could capture 70,000 Yuan soldiers at one time? The reason is that the Yellow River's natural danger cut off their retreat. Another example is the Battle of Xiangyang, why Sun Quan can completely destroy Guan Yu's Jingzhou Army is because Soochow cut off Guan Yu's retreat in advance. This time, Liu Bei is no exception. So, how much force did Liu Bei lose in the battle of Yiling?
"Three Kingdoms" Volume Fourteen "Liu Ye Biography" quoted "Fu Zi" as saying, "The power general Lu Xun defeated Liu Bei and killed more than 80,000 soldiers, just to save himself."
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If you think this historical material is too brief, we can also look at it from the side.
"The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Wen Di Ji" said: "Strong40strong Quan and 318 people, including the prefect Shihe of Lingnan County, were entrusted with the fake seals, halberds, buildings, teeth gates, and drum carts. Quan and other deeds walked in the place, the emperor set up wine and set music, introduced in the Chengguang Hall. Quan, He and others reported themselves before, and the emperor talked about the success or failure of the army, and all the generals liked it. He gave the power gold silk, chariots and horses, and clothes , Wei Zang, Wife and Concubine, there is a difference between the lower and the partial benefit. The worship is for the Shizhong Zhennan General, Feng Liehou, and the forty-two people such as Lie Hou, and Feng Shihe are all Liehou and General Lang Jiang. Hundreds of people.”
This passage means that after Liu Beiqioting was defeated, the Huangquan regiment that defended Cao Wei in Jiangbei had no way to return to Shu and could only surrender Cao Pi. Together with Huang Quan surrendered to Cao Wei, there were also 318 high-ranking generals, including the prefect of Nanjun Shihe. Among these 318 people, forty-two were later named lieutenants, and more than one hundred were named generals and generals.
All in all, Liu Bei's possessions that he has accumulated for more than ten years can be regarded as overturned in the first battle.
Without strong armed forces, the foundation of Shu Han's rule in Yizhou was also weakened accordingly. Opposition forces dissatisfied with the empire have risen in succession. For example, Huang Yuan, the prefect of Hanjia, and the powerful Yongkai, Zhu Bao, Gao Ding, and Meng Huo of Nanzhong, have heard that Liu Bei rebelled after the defeat. This mess once made Zhuge Liang miserable. According to historical records, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but said, "If the filial piety of the law is there, you can control the Lord and prevent you from going east; if you go back to the east, you will not be in danger!" Zhuge Liang said the filial piety who is it? Why make Zhuge Liang so important? What kind of life trajectory does he have?
01
welcomes Liu Bei into Sichuan
The law is upright, the character is filial and straight, he is behind the righteous fame. His father, Fa Yan, served as the left supervisor of Situ Yue and Tingwei in the Eastern Han Dynasty. His grandfather, Fazhen, was the son of Faxiong, the prefect of Nanjun, named "Mr. Xuande", a celebrity in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was quite versed in the classics of the philosophers and the study of Zhenwei. According to historical records, when Fazhen was not weak in the year, he went to Nanjun father on foot. His father deliberately considered his insights, so he asked him to stay on the sidelines to observe the morning's Yamen meeting. At that time, there were hundreds of officials at the meeting. After the Fazhen viewing was over, he immediately asserted that the future of a small official named Hu Guang was unlimited. Later, as he said, Hu Guang really achieved the high position of San Gong Jiu Qing. Once this matter was spread, everyone in the world admired the Fa's ability to truly understand people. From the later history, the Fa has inherited the unique ability of Fazhen.
We know that the Fazheng first took refuge in Liu Zhang, Yizhou Mu, but Liu Zhang didn't take it seriously. Therefore, the Fazheng came to Shu for a long time before Liu Zhang appointed him as the county magistrate of Xindu. Later, Liu Zhang felt that his position was unstable, and he deliberately used outsiders to resist the threat of Yizhou's tycoons, so he promoted Fazheng and others. At this time, Fazheng held the title of military lieutenant, although he could also participate in the discussion of military strategy,But overall, they didn't really use their ingenuity. Being coldly treated with him is also beneficial to the state not to drive Zhangsong. The two often talk about the rise and fall together, expressing their lofty ambitions. Of course, it is indispensable to comment on the current heroes. It is precisely because of this that when they failed in Cao Cao's refuge, they decisively turned to Liu Bei who had just taken down Wuling, Lingling, Changsha, Guiyang, Lingling, and a part of Nanjun.
At that time, although Liu Bei owned most of Jingzhou's territory, his foundation was not stable because he was an emerging power. Compared with Liu Zhang, who owned the entire Yizhou area, he was far worse. Furthermore, the geography of the middle of Shu is complicated, the mountains and rivers are steep, and it has always been easy to defend and difficult to attack. According to Liu Bei's cautious character at the time, most of them would not enter Sichuan to compete with Liu Zhang. However, Fazheng pushed it in time at this time. According to historical records, Fazheng used a lengthy commentary to introduce Liu Bei's situation in the mountains and rivers, government treasury money and food, horses and weapons, etc. to Liu Bei in detail. In addition, Fazheng also told Liu Bei of the various contradictions between Liu Zhang and Yizhou tycoons and Dongzhou soldiers. With these internal information at the bottom, Liu Bei was so courageous, he made up his mind to enter Sichuan.
02
persuaded Liu Zhang to follow suit.
Liu Bei's opportunity to enter Sichuan was the opportunity for Cao Cao to defeat Ma Chao and other Western Liang generals in AD. Yizhou and Hanzhong are close to each other, while Hanzhong and Longxi live next to each other. Liu Zhang has reason to believe that when Cao Cao calms down Longxi, he will send his troops to Hanzhong and then enter Yizhou. In order to prevent this situation from happening, Liu Zhang, under the staff of Zhang Song and Fazheng, greeted Liu Bei for help in Shu. According to Liu Zhang's plan, after Liu Bei enters Shu, he will provide all the food and wages Liu Bei needs, as long as Liu Bei attacks Zhang Lu and defends Hanzhong, the gateway to Yizhou. Who knows, Liu Bei collected a large amount of Liu Zhang's military supplies, but instead stood still. Not only that, Liu Bei also kept winning people's hearts.
Liu Bei's level of fighting can only be second-rate, but in terms of affinity, Liu Bei is absolutely superb. All in all, no matter where Liu Bei goes, he can always mingle with local tycoons. Liu Zhang's performance in Yizhou was not good, and he was instinctively wary of Liu Bei's behavior. At this time, a secret letter incident occurred in Yizhou where Zhang Song colluded with Liu Bei to attack Chengdu. After some weighing, Liu Zhang and Liu Bei decisively turned their faces. Who knows, Liu Bei turned his face faster than Liu Zhang. He hurriedly merged them all cleanly before Liu Zhang notified the northern Sichuan army. At the same time, Liu Bei sent a capable assault team to attack Fucheng in one fell swoop. As soon as Fucheng was broken, Chuanzhong was immediately exposed to Liu Bei's soldiers. However, when Liu Bei was gearing up to attack Mianzhu, the second line of defense outside Chengdu, a message came: Yizhou is engaged in Zheng Du to offer Liu Zhang a plan to clear the country. At this time, Fazheng had come to Liu Bei's account. He heard about this, went straight to Liu Bei and told him that Liu Zhang's foundation was unstable and he did not have enough prestige to implement this policy. After Liu Bei listened, he stabilized his position and devoted himself to the battle for Yizhou. However, there are many more generals in Yizhou who are loyal to Liu Zhang, such as Zhang Ren, the defender of Luocheng, the last line of defense outside Chengdu. Under his defense, Liu Bei's all kinds of attacks did not work. In the process of siege, Liu Bei also damaged his army division Pang Tong. Perhaps it was the fierce battle of the siege of Luocheng that shocked Liu Bei, so when Liu Bei's army besieged Chengdu, he had the mind to be a soldier without a fight. Therefore, he instructed Fazheng to write a letter admonishing Liu Zhang to surrender.
In the letter, Fazheng comprehensively analyzed the situation at the time, and pointed out that Liu Bei, who occupied two thirds of the land in Beneficial State, had sufficient food and the people were attached to it, and he had Sun Quan as his back-up. It was Liu Zhang. Not comparable. Therefore, only the return of Kaesong is his only way out. In fact, Liu Zhang is very clear about the current situation. In short, in addition to Chengdu, there are only a few cities in Yizhou, such as Guanghan Huangquan, who are still defending. But Liu Zhang hated Fazheng's rebellion and ignored his belief. At this time, the last "straw" that caused the breakdown of Liu Zhang's mental defense line appeared: Liu Zhang's foreign aid Ma Chao took refuge in Liu Bei and led his troops to attack Chengdu. Liu Zhang was so desperate that, under the persuasion of Liu Bei's second wave of persuading envoys, he opened the gate of the city and surrendered Liu Bei.At this point, the battle for Yizhou came to an end.
03
Hou Jing An Renxin
Liu Bei has captured Yizhou, and he has a site of his own. He should be happy, but Chengdu is not happy. Ku has already been looted by his subordinates. At this time, Liu Ba, who was newly attached, gave him a trick: to cast and issue large-denomination copper coins, and use this method to return the property scattered in the hands of the civilians and soldiers to stabilize prices and fill the treasury. After Liu Bei followed suit, within a few months, the Qianliangfu Depot was as full as before.
solved the munitions issue, and a personnel issue was placed in front of Liu Bei: how to build a good relationship with another foreign household Dongzhou Bing military group. Fazheng thought of a way for Liu Bei to marry Liu Zhang's widow, the sister of Wu Yi, the leader of Dongzhou soldiers. When Liu Bei refused at first, Fazheng advised Liu Bei on the past that Jin Wengong Chong'er married his nephew Gongzi Yu’s wife Huaiying and obtained Qin Mugong’s support. After much consideration, Liu Bei finally accepted Fazheng's suggestion. The problem of Dongzhou soldiers has been solved, and Yizhou civilian officials also need to appease. In this regard, Fazheng also suggested that Liu Bei treat celebrity Xu Jing well. However, Liu Bei despised Xu Jing for abandoning Liu Zhang in an emergency, so he lingered on Xu Jing. Fazheng heard this, and once again used his ability to argue with Liu Bei: to give Xu Jing a high position is to show the people of the world an attitude, that is, Liu Bei's attention to talents is no less than that of King Yan Zhao, who paid for the bones during the Warring States Period. Ever since, when those talented people heard that Xu Jing, who was not well-known, was also appointed, they would rush to take effect.
It can be seen from the above paragraphs that during this period, Liu Bei was extremely trusting in the Fa, and he was never exaggerated. To some extent, Liu Bei's trust in Fazheng surpassed Zhuge Liang. However, when the power of the Fa-rectification is heavy, its behavior can't help but indulge.
back then,When Fazheng was an official under Liu Zhang, his relationship with many of his colleagues was very stiff. Now that the power is in hand, Fazheng feels revenge. The Fazheng will inevitably repay the things that have benefited him in the past; the Fazheng will retaliate even if he has grievances with him in the past. Sometimes in a day, Fazheng also killed several people who had serious personal enmities without authorization. Needless to say, this attitude of ignoring the law and discipline will inevitably have a certain negative impact on Liu Bei's regime during its founding period.
04
established a strategy to take Hanzhong
If it is said that assisting Liu Bei to seize Yizhou, it is a great effort since Fazheng entered politics. Then, the battle of Hanzhong that broke out later was the most brilliant swan song in his 44-year life journey.
According to historical records, as the initiator of the Liu Bei Group's fight for Hanzhong, Fazheng started from the perspective of the general trend of the world, judging that the Cao Group was planning to "turn the family into a country" at the critical moment, and temporarily did not have the energy to take care of Hanzhong. The only ones who stayed in Hanzhong were the partial teachers led by Xia Houyuan and Zhang Yun. Therefore, if Liu Bei made a quick battle, he could win Hanzhong before Cao Cao's main force came back. Liu Bei fully agreed with the judgment of the upright law. Therefore, in 217 AD, Liu Bei mobilized elite soldiers and soldiers and launched a fierce attack on the Cao Jun in Hanzhong. In this series of wars, the decisive role was the battle of Dingjunshan that Fazheng himself participated in the planning.
The battle of Dingjun Mountain, Huang Zhongzhen defeated Xiahouyuan
At that time, the main forces of Cao's army were mainly distributed in the southern and eastern large camps. It was Xia Houyuan who guarded the southern camp, and Zhang Yun was guarded in the east camp. After carefully trying to figure out Cao Jun’s defense, Fazheng gave Liu Bei a suggestion to attack Zhang Zhen.Forcing Xia Houyuan to draw troops for reinforcements. When Xiahouyuan's troop strength dropped sharply, he gathered the main force to storm Xiahouyuan's southern camp. Knowing that Fazheng was very proficient in military strategies, Liu Bei passed this plan to the frontline generals intact. As a result, Xia Houyuan caught off guard and was slashed by veteran Huang Zhong. When Xia Houyuan died, Cao Jun's generals were all discouraged, and they gathered their forces one after another and could not stand through the Han River. Later, Cao Cao, who led troops to rescue him, understood the situation and admired the Fazheng’s ability to perceive the situation. Collect all the prodigal heroes, but can't do justice and evil alone?"
Reference materials: "Three Kingdoms" and "Huayang Kingdom"
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