Fa Zheng sighed, "Bazhong has not been settled yet, so we should not hurt the relationship at this time. Since General Zhang was just posing, why didn't Shi Yuan stop him just now?"
Pang Tong pulled his beard and chuckled, "A little conflict will not harm the overall situation, but if the matter does not get out of hand, how can Chengdu know about it? Yan Yan's loyalty is respectable, but he repeatedly disobeyed orders. There is a rift between the emperor and his subjects, and I have an opportunity to take advantage of it."
Fa Zheng's eyes gleamed, he nodded and smiled, "We should not rush Yizhou's affairs, as it will give people a chance to criticize us, nor should we delay for too long, as it will lead to many changes. Now it is just right, neither too hasty nor too slow."
Zhang Fei's eyes widened: "I thought this plan was quite clever, but I wonder if you two are even smarter than me?"
Fa Zheng laughed and said, "Shi Yuan is still on the third floor. Feng Chu is indeed worthy of his reputation!"
Zhang Fei slapped his head and said, "With the military advisor here, I shouldn't have used this thing. It's a headache, a waste of effort, and I'm just getting angry for nothing."
Fa Zheng said, "To the west of Dianjiang is Langzhong, and to the north is Dangqu. General, you can discuss the dispatch of troops while the grain is being transported. Meng Da and I will go to Langzhong first to find out the truth, and then we can act accordingly."
Zhang Fei agreed with this and distributed the wine and food as reward to the soldiers. He also ordered food to be transferred from Jiangzhou and ordered his troops to stay in Dianjiang temporarily to await news.
Just one day after Fa Zheng left, Liu Qi sent someone to deliver the news that he had successfully captured Micang Road, and told Pang Tong that there was no need to send troops to Bazhong. As long as a large army was stationed in the border to deter, changes would occur internally.
Pang Tong took out the map and discussed with Zhang Fei and others, "Since ancient times, there is not only one way to enter Shu, Jiange. In addition to Jinniu Road, there is also Micang Road. Jiange is the throat of Jinniu Road, and Micang Road can lead to Langzhong. If we capture this place, Ba County will be in our pockets!"
Zhang Fei said anxiously, "The eldest master and his men have taken Hanzhong and Micang Road. We must also act quickly. If we are late, we won't even be able to drink a bowl of soup."
Gan Ning also said: "After the beginning of autumn, there has been a lot of rain in Bashan. If we don't move in early, once it rains, it will take at least half a month, or as long as a month, for the roads to collapse and floods to spread everywhere. I'm afraid it will take until after winter."
Pang Tong smiled and said, "Your Excellency has already made arrangements with Zhang Wei and the Ba people. There is no need to send troops to Bazhong. Our goal is still Langzhong."
Zhang Fei said dejectedly: "In that case, there is no need to fight again."
Pang Tong shook his head and said, "Otherwise, once the troops enter Langzhong, it will be time for battle."
Zhang Fei was overjoyed and urged Pang Tong to make a plan. Pang Tong ordered Zhang He and Yu Jin to lead 5,000 elite soldiers to attack Dangqu along the Ba River. But they didn't need to advance further when they reached the county. As long as the Ba people didn't come, they could stay there and wait.
Zhang He said, "If we just want to bluff and guard against the Ba people, one of us is enough. The commander of this battle is in Yizhou, so Wen Ze can go with General Zhang."
Pang Tong instructed: "The two generals may seem to be decoys, but they actually have another purpose: Yan Yan is guarding Dianjiang and is hostile to us. Once there is a change, he is very likely to send troops to cut off our retreat and attack Jiangzhou. The two generals are here to monitor Dianjiang. After pacifying Bazhong, the two generals can return to Jiangzhou and take Yizhou directly."
At first, Zhang He and Yu Jin thought that they were surrendered generals and Liu Qi was unwilling to use them. But after listening to Pang Toutiao's strategy, they suddenly realized the situation and gladly accepted the order.
Pang Tong wrote another secret letter and sealed it in the brocade bag, and handed it to Yu Jin: "My eldest son has instructed that General Yu has commanded the troops well and will be the main general to deploy the defense. If the Ba people come to attack, General Zhang will meet them. Wait for the Ba people in Dangqu to contact us, then open the brocade bag and act according to the plan."
Yu Jin was puzzled and asked: "Since we have to guard against the attack of the Ba people, why did the Ba people contact us?"
Pang Tong smiled and said, "The Ba people have seven Yi kings who are nobles. They have long been corrupt and have internal discord. The eldest son is planning to rectify them. When the plan is completed, someone will come to meet you."
Yu Jin received the order and sighed, "I followed Bao Jibei to raise an army to fight against Dong, determined to restore the Han Dynasty, but I died before I could fulfill my ambition. I always feel regretful. Now I see General Liu making plans and winning battles thousands of miles away. This is because God will not cut off Liu's succession, so why worry about the Han Dynasty not reviving?"
Zhang He glanced at Yu Jin and secretly lamented that he had not studied hard in the past and always suffered from his lack of education. This time, he was leading the troops with Yu Jin and wanted to humbly ask him for advice on the art of speaking.
When Yu Jin was in Cao's camp, he always said that he would be loyal to the Cao family for generations, and was highly valued by Cao Cao. Apart from Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin was the most trusted general among non-Cao Cao generals.
Now that he has switched to Liu Qi, the topic has turned to loyalty to the Han Dynasty. He has changed his master three times and he has to come up with a good excuse to get rid of this embarrassing identity as soon as possible.
After the food and fodder were delivered, Zhang Fei divided his troops into two groups and marched towards Langzhong. When they arrived in Nanchong, Pang Xi had already sent his son Pang Zhe to welcome them in person. The troops were provided with food and fodder, and their hospitality was impeccable.
Zhang Fei asked, "We haven't even reached Langzhong yet, why is Governor Pang being so polite?"
Pang Zhe said with a smile: "General, you have come a long way to help us in the war, so we should treat you well and show some hospitality. If my father was not too old and unable to travel such a long distance, I would have personally come to Nanchong to welcome you."
Zhang Fei glared and said, "I have long admired your great name. There is no need for him to come. It would be the same if I went to Langzhong."
Pang Zhe said, "The enemy is weak now, so we should wipe them out immediately. Otherwise, the rainy season is coming, and if we delay for too long, they will revive and all our efforts will be wasted. Fa Xiaozhi has already set out with the troops from Langzhong. Please go straight from Nanchong to Hanchang. The two armies will meet in time. After the enemy is wiped out, my father will personally go to Hanchang to thank you and Liu Cheqi."
Zhang Fei snorted slightly. He wanted to get angry but couldn't find a reason. He had to lower his head to drink and let Pang Tong make the decision.
Pang Tong asked, "I heard that there are often torrential rains and floods in Bazhong. When they occur, strong winds blow the ground and mountains collapse and the ground cracks. I wonder how the road from Nanchong to Hanchang is?"
Pang Zhe replied: "Although there are mountains between here and Bazhong, the mountains are not as complicated as Daba Mountain. There is an official road for this place. The rainy season has not arrived yet. If we set out early, we can reach Bazhong safely."
Pang Tong thanked them, and everyone toasted each other. Pang Zhe persuaded them earnestly and was very polite. As the saying goes, you shouldn't hit a smiling person, and the banquet ended in great joy.
After arriving at the inn and staying there, Zhang Fei said worriedly, "This Pang Yi seems to be welcoming me, but his words and deeds do not want me to enter Langzhong. It seems that the old villain is on guard. He is more tactful and deep than Yan Yan. I am afraid he will be difficult to deal with."
Gan Ning sneered, "Pang Xi wants us to go straight to Bazhong. If we pacify Zhang Wei, there will be no reason to enter Langzhong. We can then defend Baxi and protect ourselves. The old thief is indeed cunning."
Pang Tong smiled and said, "Generals, don't be anxious. Since Fa Xiaozhi has agreed to send troops, I think he has a plan. Although Pang Xi is on high alert, with Fa Xiaozhi secretly adding fuel to the fire, how can it not succeed?"
"We really have to be on high alert, family... cough cough," Gan Ning seemed to be choked by tea, and changed his words: "No matter how scheming the old thief is, it is difficult to stop the will of the people. This is the saying that those who are righteous will have many supporters, while those who are unrighteous will have few!"
Zhang Fei chuckled and asked, "So, we still have to go to Bazhong?"
Pang Tong nodded and said, "We should send troops to Bazhong first and join forces with Fa Xiaozhi. This will intimidate Zhang Wei so that you can use your strategy calmly. Then we can discuss countermeasures and make the old thief give up the land of Baxi obediently."
Zhang Fei ordered his men to rest for a day, and then they headed straight for Bazhong, attacked Hanchang, and destroyed Zhang Wei.