"Breaking it into pieces and gathering it into a tower, without anyone noticing, those seemingly inconspicuous intelligence can also analyze military problems, but the accuracy still needs to be verified." Lan Tian explained.

Zhuge Liang held up his fan and smiled: "Liang is convinced anyway. Ziyu uses merchants as soldiers. If the map is inaccurate, it won't be too late to verify and correct it after the world is settled. Let's go back to the topic before the banquet. Ziyu has concerns about sending troops to Yongliang."

Any suggestions?"

"Compressed grain solves the transportation problem on the Shu Road. The grain in southern Yizhou can be made into compressed grain. The rice and millet produced in Hanzhong can be transported normally and eaten together. If you reserve a year and a half of grain, you can send troops. In the past two years,

I will send all the kelp produced in Jieyang to the Hanzhong front line." Lan Tian replied.

"According to our plan in Longzhong, General Guan led the troops from Jingzhou to advance into Wan and Luo, and the king led the troops from Yizhou out of Qinchuan. However, the Wei State had more than 100,000 troops stationed on the western front of Yongliang and more than 200,000 troops stationed around Luoyang.

There are currently only 100,000 soldiers and horses in Yizhou, and the total number of troops that General Guan can mobilize is only 50,000 or 60,000. General Gan's garrison in Wuchang must be on guard against Lu Xun, and Ziyu has just recovered Rinan County and cannot send troops to the north.

There is a huge disparity in military strength between the enemy and ours. Even if reducing military rations can save a lot of manpower, we still need to recruit 300,000 civilians. If we fail, the losses will be too great..." Zhuge Liang frowned.

"Sun Quan was defeated twice in Jingzhou, and Soochow's strength has been greatly frustrated. If it weren't for the serious internal conflicts in Jiangdong, they would not have been able to initiate a war. Although the two families would never die, this kind of help to contain Cao Wei would not be possible in the future.

There will be less and less or even none. High risks mean high returns. If the opportunity is too good to be missed, it will never come back..."

Lan Tian planned to try his best to convince Zhuge Liang that Zhuge Liang was truly cautious and would never do anything risky. Without the full support of the Jingzhou faction, Liu Bei's chances of winning alone would be much smaller.

Zhuge Liang thought for a long time and finally nodded solemnly, "Ziyu was right just now. Opportunities don't come all the time. When Liang returns to Chengdu, he will persuade the king to prepare for war. He will wait until Sun Quan starts a war in Huainan. Cao Pi will transfer part of Luoyang's main force, and Yizhou will send troops northward.

In battle, what suggestions does Ziyu have for attacking Liangzhou?"

Lan Tian stroked his beard and replied: "The Sun and Cao families have deep grievances. The battle in Huainan is inevitable. Both sides may try to delay it for a few months. After all, they are still on guard against us. I suggest that at the end of the year, in the name of transporting grain, we will carry out small quantities of food several times.

Move troops and horses from all over Yizhou to Hanzhong. During this period, the channels out of Sichuan must be closed to prevent the news from leaking to the Wei State, so as not to make the other side prepare."

"Cut it into parts to deceive others? This strategy is feasible, but will rashly blocking the passage out of Sichuan make Cao Pi suspicious? After all, there are many wise men in Wei." Zhuge Liang asked again.

"Then create some focus and divert the attention of Cao Weijun and his ministers." Lan Tian smiled slightly.

Zhuge Liang picked up his beard and suddenly raised the corner of his mouth when he saw the corner of the sand table: "Yide has invaded Liangzhou many times. I will write a letter to Wudu tonight and ask him to put up an offensive posture in Qishan. This will definitely attract Cao Zhen's attention.

After all, Yide is already a frequent visitor to Liangzhou, but General Guan..."

"General Guan can be asked to prepare troops and horses to support Sun Quan. As long as Cao Wei's main force in the Central Plains is stabilized and does not go westward, Cao Pi wants to stop Yunchang's 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers. He can't do it without more than 100,000 soldiers." Lan Tian analyzed.

"Good." Zhuge Liang nodded and then asked: "If there are only more than 100,000 people in Cao Zhen and Yongliang, we do have a chance of winning with compressed grain. When the time comes, let Shi Yuan (Pang Tong) and Yide leave Qishan, and the king will lead the main force in Yizhou.

If you take the Xiegu or Chencang road, you can take the initiative as long as you break all the way. Do you think Ziyu should take the Baoxiegu road or the Chencang road?"

"When Cao Cao withdrew from Hanzhong in the past, most of the plank roads on Baoxie Road were destroyed. If you want to take this road, it must be rebuilt, so I suggest that it is safer to take Chencang Avenue.

Besides, most sections of Chencang Road are under the control of our army. Taking this road saves time and effort, but we must attack Chencang City..." Lan Tian stroked his beard and replied.

"Ziyu has the same opinion as Liang. I will ask Yide to prepare siege equipment in advance to save time for the future army. I hope God will protect the man." Zhuge Liang sighed up to the sky.

Lan Tian suddenly pointed to a corner of the sand table and said meaningfully: "Prime Minister, what do you think of this road? We have compressed grain to ensure supplies, and we can go straight to the rear of Chang'an from here? Xiahou Mao was tricked by Yide a few months ago.

, he may not be able to defend Chang'an City."

Zhuge Liang was a little surprised when he heard this: "Take the Ziwu Valley Trail? Isn't Ziyu always cautious? Why did he and Wen Chang (Wei Yan) think of going together?"

"Oh?" Lan Tian was surprised that Wei Yan made suggestions now. Historically, he would wait until the end of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition before giving advice.

Zhuge Liang explained: "It was mainly because Yide Meng praised the grain reduction. Wen Chang (Wei Yan) verified the rumors two months ago and wrote to the king, suggesting that he sneak into Ziwu Ridge."

"The city of Chang'an is extremely strong, and there is no chance of victory if you go all the way to Ziwu Valley alone. But if you cooperate with Chencang Road and Qishan Road to attack at the same time, even if you can't really capture Chang'an, you can still put great pressure on Cao Zhen. In fact, you can give it a try, and you don't need too many troops.

More..." Lan Tian encouraged.

"Chang Wen has never led an army independently, so I would be afraid to entrust him with such an important task..." Zhuge Liang hesitated.

Lantian said: "I recommend one person as his deputy, who will definitely help Commander Wen successfully cross the Ziwu Ridge."

"Who does Ziyu recommend?"

"Deng Ai, Deng Shizai."

Zhuge Liang shook his fan and laughed and said: "It turns out that Ziyu wants to recommend disciples, so there is no need to take the dangerous route of Ziwu Ridge, right? You can also achieve meritorious service by following the king's main force to Chencang."

"Shizai once led people to cross Daba Mountain and helped the king successfully settle down in Dingjun Mountain. This child is bound to succeed due to his deep blessings." Lan Tian said firmly.

"Well... it seems to make sense. I have watched Shi Zai grow up, and he is as experienced as Ziyu. When Liang returned, he recommended it to the king. If we can capture Chang'an first along the way, we can defeat Cao Jun of Yongliang.

, forming a trend of closing the door and beating the dog, it is indeed worth trying." The more Zhuge Liang thought about it, the more he thought about it.

"The Prime Minister is right to think so. If we can capture Chang'an this time, it will also prove that the king is destined by destiny. Even if he ascends the throne and becomes emperor in Chang'an, it will be logical. If we use this to inspire the soldiers who go on the expedition, the soldiers will die." Lan Tian

Drop a bombshell.

"From logistics to strategy, from tactics to people's hearts, Ziyu has really achieved everything. I am looking forward to Deng Shizai's performance. It is a pity that such a good seedling was caught first by you. You are so talented that you want to find a successor..." Zhuge Liang suddenly looked sad.

Lan Tian originally suggested that he pass it on to his son, but he soon realized that Zhuge Liang has not yet.

Suddenly remembering that Jiang Wei was in Hanzhong, Lan Tian said meaningfully: "If the Prime Minister wants to find a disciple, I have one ready here..."

"Ziyu won't recommend your son, right? The prince-in-law has learned well from being with you. Liang really doesn't have anything to teach him. The second young master is Yunchang's chosen son-in-law, and it's even more inconvenient for me to teach him. Alas..." Zhuge Liang
Chapter completed!