Chapter 114

"Zhang Lu's personal ability is not important."

"What is important is that, relying on the terrain of Hanzhong, even if Liu Yan is formidable, it would take him several years to conquer Hanzhong."

"In a few years, our army will have already moved the capital to Chang'an, and moving south will be an inevitable necessity."

"Whether it is Zhang Lu or Liu Yan, by then, both will be under the blade of our army!"

As his voice fell.

A trace of relief appeared on Dong Zhuo's face.

That's right!

There is no need for Zhang Lu to defeat Liu Yan.

All that is needed is for him to cause Liu Yan massive trouble.

Yizhou, this land of abundance, has an extremely superior geographical position.

But its unique terrain also brings great trouble to itself.

Easy to defend but difficult to attack also means that expanding outward from Yizhou is very troublesome.

Looking back through thousands of years of history, there has not been a single faction that started in Yizhou and went on to unify the world.

The only one who could be brought up is Liu Bang.

But it would be more accurate to say that Liu Bang did not use Yizhou as his base of operations, but rather used Hanzhong and Guanzhong as his headquarters.

Yizhou was merely his rear granary.

His political center of gravity was never placed in Yizhou from beginning to end.

Therefore.

The unique terrain of Yizhou destined it, at least at this stage and in an era without a technological explosion, to be difficult to serve as a dragon-rising land for unifying the world.

However, Yizhou could serve as a rear granary, with all sorts of buffs stacked to the max.

Including the Longzhong Plan in history.

In reality, according to Zhuge Liang's original intention, Yizhou was to be the rear granary, and Jingzhou was to be the front line for the Northern Expedition.

That is to say, the military center of gravity was to be placed in Jingzhou.

But with Jingzhou gone, only Yizhou remained.

With no other choice, Zhuge Liang could only cross the towering mountains and ridges time and time again, using the strength of one province to launch a Northern Expedition against the several provinces of Cao Wei.

Now.

Liu Yan occupies Yizhou.

Not to mention whether he actually has the strength to swallow the world.

As long as Zhang Lu, entrenched in Hanzhong, rebels, it will likely be enough to keep Liu Yan overwhelmed.

Moreover, Gu Yi knew that Liu Yan was already a frail old man at this time.

In another two or three years, he would pass away due to illness.

Among the sons he left behind, Liu Mao and Liu Zhang, not one could compare to Liu Yan.

Having finalized the plan.

Dong Zhuo immediately dispatched an envoy to Hanzhong, preparing to confer upon Zhang Lu the titles of Administrator of Hanzhong and Marquis of Bai Shui!

This Marquis of Bai Shui corresponded to Bai Shui Pass.

As the gateway between the Shu region and Hanzhong, Bai Shui Pass belonged to Shu Commandery.

Yet Dong Zhuo conferred upon Zhang Lu, the Administrator of Hanzhong, the title of Marquis of Bai Shui; the implication contained within was naturally self-evident.

However.

Because this attempt to win over Zhang Lu involved many matters.

It required an eloquent (and skilled at brainwashing) person to serve as the envoy.

Under Gu Yi's recommendation.

Jia Xu, who had been living a leisurely life of slacking off recently, was appointed as the envoy.

(Jia Xu: "Gu Yi, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? This old man really wants to thank you!")

……. ===== CHAPTER 115 =====