Volume 5: Overlord of the Sea Chapter 545: The Dilemma of Tianshi Mansion
In June of the seventh year of the Chu calendar, the Han River Weir officially entered the water storage and testing stage. For a time, this matter attracted more attention both inside and outside Chu than the third imperial examination in October this year.
On the one hand, the scale of the Han River Weir is truly a "spectacle" at this time; on the other hand... it is also because this year's imperial examination was somewhat "cold" compared to last year - mainly reflected in the number of candidates from outside the city!
At the beginning of spring this year, the State of Chu began to recruit a large number of reserve troops for rotation in farming, and sent reinforcements to Wancheng and Jiangling. Although they said they had no intention of taking action, I'm afraid no one would believe them.
As a result, the border, which had been gradually becoming tense over the past two years, suddenly became alert. Under the rule of the Han princes, it was almost strictly forbidden to participate in the imperial examinations of the Chu State. Although there was no official ban in the Wei State, the number was greatly reduced.
However, at the same time, the number of people who signed up to join the army in Chu State increased significantly - on the one hand, the whole nation was practicing, which gave many young people the opportunity to awaken the military talisman, and on the other hand... that was the advantage of Chu State at work, and when the security of Chu State was threatened, the people showed a strong sense of ownership.
As for other princes, there was a general shortage of grassroots generals, and they often had to have a sergeant lead more than a dozen Ji-made soldiers. The number of grassroots generals in Chu was completely restricted by the number of Ji-made soldiers. Even if they were fully staffed, they still had to screen the applicants!
Compared to the imperial examination, which was already held for the third time, the Han River Weir was the focus of Chu's attention this year. Bai Tu even went to the Han River Weir to inspect it in person during the flood season despite the opposition of court officials...
Of course, this is within the State of Chu. Among the princes, the completion of the Han River Dam in Chu was far less attractive than the deployment of troops by Chu.
After all, in the eyes of other princes, with the grain output of Chu State, it would be unnecessary to carry out any livelihood projects!
Zhang Lu, the only one who is closely related to the situation, has no time to be happy now - the Han Dynasty is finally going to take action against Hanzhong!
In Zhang Lu's view, no matter how many paddy fields and fertile lands were added, they were not as important as the Chu State's "covetous" eyes on the Central Plains and Xichuan.
At this time, Zhang Lu was so moved that he no longer cared about the disappearance of the believers who went to Chu during his previous investigation of Huang Tianji.
After all, after pacifying Longyou and recuperating for more than a year, Yong Hou Ma Teng and Zhai Hou Han Sui had already led their troops to Yangping Pass...
Although Hanzhong is a place with natural advantages, Zhang Lu understands his current strength. If he faces either Ma Teng or Han Sui, he can only be evenly matched at best. As for facing both of them, he might need an internal conflict between them to break the deadlock!
And everyone knows that if Ma Teng and Han Sui take action, they will be representing the Han Dynasty behind them.
The Han Dynasty, which has now formed a "horizontal and vertical alliance" trend, is definitely not something Hanzhong can stop. What's more... even if Liu Zhang is a coward, once the Han Dynasty takes action in the north, he will definitely send troops to Jiameng and attack Hanzhong from both sides.
Although I know that Chu is trying to "protect itself", but now Chu is the savior of Hanzhong...
The reinforcement of troops to Jiangling made Xichuan dare not act rashly, and the reinforcement of troops to Wancheng also made the Han Dynasty cautious!
"It's a pity that the Chu State cannot directly send reinforcements to Hanzhong... Can't the boats that can go upstream in Wu Gorge work in Han River?" Zhang Lu said a little irritably.
When Zhang Lu heard about the Han River Weir, he held a special meeting to confirm that even if the weir was built, the Chu navy would not have the ability to go upstream from the Han River. Only then did he cooperate... Otherwise, let alone cooperate, how could he expect to build the weir safely?
However, Zhang Lu now wished that the Chu army could easily go up the river and directly reinforce him...
Of course, this is an emotional expectation in the face of the current situation. If it is really "easy", Zhang Lu will probably have to worry about the problems of the State of Chu again.
"If Chu is willing to send reinforcements, with the help of vehicles and ships, although we are not helpless, I am afraid the number is limited. Especially now is the flood season, and it is quite difficult to go upstream, especially in those areas where it is difficult to arrange trackers... It will take at least another two months to set off, which is difficult to solve the urgent problem." Yan Pu said cautiously.
Yan Pu is considered to be one of the few capable strategists in Hanzhong, or in the Tianshi Palace.
"Ma Teng... Han Sui... the barbarians from the northwest! Do they really think that it would be as easy to conquer Hanzhong as to defeat the foreign races? Hold on to... Yangping Pass, we will guard it for a few months and see if those barbarians can hold on!" Zhang Wei slapped his thigh.
Zhang Wei is Zhang Lu's younger brother and one of the main generals of Tianshi Mansion.
Compared to Zhang Lu, who still has some "Taoist" characteristics, Zhang Wei is more impulsive and seems to be brave but reckless.
Yang Song, who was standing by, said with a look of surprise: "My Lord, after holding out for a while, I am willing to risk my life to meet with the two bandits Ma and Han, and then I will persuade them with emotion and reason, and try my best to make them withdraw their troops."
Zhang Lu was relieved after hearing this and said, "Fortunately, we have the great masters and the Taoist tradition of the Heavenly Master here, so Hanzhong will not fall into the hands of the enemy!"
Yang Song once again expressed his loyalty, while Yan Pu, who was standing beside him, glanced at Yang Song with a subtle look of caution.
Yan Pu definitely understood Yang Song's character more clearly than Zhang Lu.
Unfortunately, due to his identity and the situation in the Tianshi Mansion, he was unable to give Zhang Luchang the advice he wanted to give.
Unlike the large influx of refugees, Hanzhong has always been in a state of loss of high-end talents. Only a part of the local gentry supports it, and a large part of them enter the Tianshi Mansion but not the Tianshi Dao, such as Yan Pu, who only holds a position in the Tianshi Mansion.
This not only made the core of the Tianshi Mansion's military and political system unclear, but also, apart from Yan Pu who was somewhat capable, there were really no other capable people.
The number one general leading the army was Zhang Lu’s own “relative” Zhang Wei.
It would have been fine if Zhang Wei had great ambitions but little talent, and he was also arrogant. In history when there was no white rabbit effect, when Cao Cao attacked Hanzhong, Zhang Lu wanted to surrender to Cao immediately, but Zhang Wei refused and resolutely led his troops to defend the pass. Naturally, he was defeated.
Other generals like Yang Ang and Yang Ren were able to lead the army only because they believed thoroughly in Tianshi Dao. Their abilities were quite average and their levels were quite limited. In the State of Chu... With such levels, if their superiors were not powerful and could not lead them to achieve meritorious service, they would probably be majors or lieutenant colonels at most, and the position of deputy regiment commander would be their limit.
As for the two brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai among the civil officials, they were even more of a drag. It would be considered a good deed if they could be less timid when stabbed in the back.
However, the brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai are not so particular. Now they are both the chief priests of Tianshi Dao. Therefore, not only Yang Song is more trusted by Zhang Lu, but Yang Bai is also able to join the army as a general.
Unfortunately, Zhang Lu didn't know Yang Song's intentions and still trusted him. After listening to Yang Song's words, he encouraged him...
