When Liu Qi retreated to Qishan, it was already autumn and the weather was cool, which was conducive to advancing.
Wei Kang had sent heavy troops to guard Ji County and Shanggui, and set up a large camp along the Qi Mountain. He launched two counterattacks against the Han army, but was repelled by the troops led by Zhang He and Yu Jin.
Pang Tong said: "The Cao army has been eager to attack for a month. It must be because Wei Kang learned that the lord's troops had entered Longxi and wanted to respond to Han Sui, break through Wudu and cut off the retreat route. Now that Han Sui has been defeated, the Cao army will surely retreat. At this time, the fighting spirit has been lost and the army is slack. It is the time for our army to counterattack."
Liu Qi nodded and said, "What the military advisor said is very true. With Wen Ze as the general, the Wudu troops will be fully deployed to capture Hanyang County and coordinate with Ma Chao in the east and west to take Longyou and pacify Liangzhou."
Pang Tong was surprised and asked, "My lord, are you not planning to go to Qishan?"
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Xiahou Yuan is advancing his troops to attack Yangping Pass. I will go to Hanzhong, defeat Xiahou Yuan, and directly take Guanzhong. Then the troops of Liangzhou will become isolated. Wei Kang and others are nothing to worry about. The main general and Shi Yuan are enough!"
Pang Tong nodded and said, "Except for Ma Teng and his son and Han Sui's generals, the Xiliang generals are indeed not worth worrying about. If we take Longyou, we can take Guanzhong from two directions. If we station troops in the old capital Chang'an, the revival of the Han Dynasty is just around the corner."
Liu Qi responded to the ban: "General Yu, I am waiting for you in Chencang to join us and take Guanzhong together."
Yu Jin clasped his fists and said, "I am willing to go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Liu Qi also left Zhang Ren behind, and with the help of Wu Yi and other Sichuan generals, they were more than capable of dealing with Wei Kang and others.
After the banquet, Liu Qi discussed matters with Yu Jin and Pang Tong alone, and told them that Ma Chao had sent someone to contact Ren Yang, and that if they could get his help, they could capture Shanggui.
Pang Tong was delighted and said: "Shanggui is close to the Wei River and is also the main road to Longshan. If we can take this place, Longyou can be secured!"
Liu Qi said: "Liangzhou Governor Wei Kang is still a good minister. He has made great achievements in the country. He should surrender if possible."
Pang Tong stroked his beard and smiled, "My lord, please relax. Liangzhou is a vast land with few people. I have my reasons."
Liu Qi originally wanted to mention Jieting, but with Pang Tong's wisdom, he could definitely see the importance of this place. Moreover, as long as Xiahou Yuan was contained in Hanzhong, Jieting would not be as important as when Zhuge Liang went out to Qishan, and there was no need to explain it specifically.
However, there was one more thing that had to be mentioned, so he told the two men, "There are four great families in Hanyang. In addition to Commandant Ren Yang, Deputy Commander Yan Wen and Military Officer Zhao Ang should not be underestimated. In addition, Jiang Wei, the son of Jixian Gongcao Jiang Jiong, is young but smart, and is known as the Kirin Child. Shi Yuan must pay more attention to him and make sure to keep him."
Pang Tong asked in confusion, "What position does Jiang Wei hold?"
Liu Qi smiled and said, "He is probably only a child of ten years old at this time. I just heard Ma Chao mention it and wanted to train talents for the future."
Pang Tong laughed and said, "It turns out that the lord has long been far-sighted. Jingzhou already has four great talents. With the addition of Tianshui Qilin, the Han Dynasty will have successors!"
Liu Qi thought that if he found Jiang Wei this time, he could send him to Zhuge Liang for training as soon as possible, so that the Han Dynasty would have a candidate for the general of the younger generation.
After all matters concerning Xiliang were discussed, Liu Qi hurried back to Hanzhong with light luggage, and was received by Wei Yan and other generals.
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone asked about Zhang Fei's condition. It was a pity that such a peerless general suddenly lost his strength.
After this blow, Zhang Fei was less talkative along the way, but he was thinking a lot. He was not a stubborn and reckless man, but he just had a bad temper. With Liu Qi's comfort, he slowly adjusted himself.
When he arrived in Hanzhong, he had come out of his low mood and was greeting and joking with everyone, but the voice of the bold and generous man named Zhazha was no longer heard. He was less domineering and more profound.
After the banquet, Liu Qi invited Zhang Fei to the inn, but saw Mrs. Fan waiting for him.
Zhang Fei asked in confusion, "How did Madam get to Hanzhong?"
Liu Qi said, "Agui said earlier that most of the secret techniques that Deng Long learned were passed down from the Kushan Empire. Madam Fan came from the Kushan Empire since she was a child and is also somewhat knowledgeable in medicine. I have already ordered someone to bring her to Hanzhong to treat Uncle San."
Zhang Fei shook his head and sighed, "Thank you for your concern, sir. Actually, as long as I can move freely, it doesn't really matter."
Liu Qi said: "Those with extraordinary courage and strength are the tools for generals. Third Uncle is a great general of the time. It would be a pity if he were destroyed by a villain. We must do everything we can to help Third Uncle regain his prestige."
Zhang Fei was deeply moved and asked, "Madam, do you have a solution?"
Mrs. Fan first carefully inquired about the situation that day and Zhang Fei's feelings, then frowned and said, "When the general wrote to me, I had already guessed the general situation. It is indeed similar to the situation on the boat that year."
Liu Qi had stumbled upon this by accident, but he didn't expect to find a clue. He was surprised and asked, "Madam, have you really seen this?"
Madam Fan nodded. "I was only eight years old at the time. I was sailing out to sea. When we reached a bay in Sindhu, there was a sudden gust of sandalwood in the wind. Then all the sailors and guards lost their strength, but their bodies were normal. The symptoms were very similar to those of my third uncle."
Zhang Fei asked anxiously: "What happened next?"
"Later..." Madam Fan sighed, "Everyone on the ship was hijacked by a group of monks. They took away all their supplies and locked them up in a temple to work as laborers. We children were sold to princes and nobles."
Zhang Fei's expression suddenly became gloomy. Liu Qi advised him, "Don't worry, Uncle San. Since there is a precedent, there must be a solution. I will definitely find the antidote."
"Everything is God's will, just let it be!" Zhang Fei smiled bitterly. The greatest loss in life is to see hope but it is out of reach.
Mrs. Fan hesitated to speak, and ordered someone to bring a package: "Before I left, my second uncle asked someone to bring me a letter."
Zhang Fei took the package and took it out to see that it contained three volumes of the Spring and Autumn Annals, five volumes of military books, and a letter.
After opening the letter, he laughed and said, "Second brother is right. A man who wants to serve his country should practice both civil and military virtues. I have reached the point of martial arts, so it is not a bad idea to switch to civil virtues."
Liu Qi also laughed and said: "With your ability, Third Uncle can command the three armies and plan strategies. He can be my Han Xin!"
"If I were a Confucian general, I would definitely be better than my second brother!" Zhang Fei laughed, picked up his package and said goodbye.
After seeing Zhang Fei off, Liu Qi returned to his room, dismissed his attendants, and was about to do some work when he was pushed away by Fan Feng.
"In fact, I have heard of a solution to the drug that Third Uncle was poisoned with, but I don't know if it is effective. I am also worried that Third Uncle would not want to take it, so I dare not mention it."
"Oh?" Liu Qi took the plump beauty into his arms and touched her all over: "Tell me about it."
"It's just... using cow urine that's less than three months old, mixed with human milk—ah!" Fan Feng struggled, panting and said, "Then use a kind of safflower grass to brew it, and it may be effective in a month."
"How difficult is that?" Liu Qi sniffed around greedily, "Just prepare it secretly and don't let Third Uncle know."
Fan Feng frowned and said, "Breast milk is fine, but I'm afraid Uncle San won't drink cow urine."
Liu Qi smiled and said, "You can make it into almond tea, which can not only cover up the smell, but also be good for your health."
"Almond tea?" Fan Feng nodded and said, "General, you are right. I will make a bowl to try."
Liu Qi grabbed Fan Feng and said, "Uncle San has already softened, there is no need to rush. I am still hard and I need Madam to rescue me."
Fan Feng hugged Liu Qi's neck and said coquettishly, "My husband is already a local lord, and his great cause is about to be accomplished. Why are you still so frivolous? Wait until I finish my work first and then come to accompany you, okay?"
Liu Qi chuckled and said, "Let's each do our own thing, so as not to interfere with each other!"