Three Kingdoms: Cao Cao and Liu Bei help me to ascend the throne

Chapter 253 Chaos and chaos, round and invincible

Li Jing, the "Military God" of the Tang Dynasty, once mentioned:
——"The so-called array, all kinds of changes, all start from the measurement of the square and the circle."

It is precisely because of this that the "one-character long snake formation", "two dragons emerge from the water formation", and "the heaven and earth three talents formation" written by Liu Yu are all bullshit... for "bluffing people".

In fact, at the end of the Han Dynasty, there were nothing more than two types of military formations, a "square formation" and a "circular formation", and there were only two directions for the formation.

Use the phalanx when attacking;

Use a round formation when you are leaning towards defense!
Let's talk about the "square formation" first. Since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the conventional military system has been divided into a rectangular formation of the left, middle and right armies.

It seems simple to do so, but the benefits are also obvious.

First, it is easy to train; second, the formation is not easy to be scattered, causing stampede and collapse; marching in the third formation can also give the opponent a sense of uniformity and oppression, just like the phalanx that will be used in military parades in later generations.

As for the so-called "Eight Diagrams Formation" of Zhuge Liang, the "Six Flower Formation" of Li Jing, the military god, etc., it is more about the behavior of dispatching various square formations to form a joint force on the battlefield...requires extremely strong on-the-spot adaptability!

When commanding, there is often a general standing at the center of the formation, and the general cannot move easily. The change of the formation is through the change of the military flag, which makes the eight surrounding squares begin to change.

This is how Li Jing, the military god of the Tang Dynasty, played...

Unlike "Li Er" who always said "I will form the head", first light cavalry to lure the enemy, and then go around and then crit, Li Jing also advocates this kind of formation layout in the command screen, through the phalanx scheduling Push forward and lead the Tang army to crush them step by step!

As for…

Zhuge Liang's "Eight Diagrams Formation" cannot be compared with Li Jing's "Six Flower Formation" because it has been lost, but according to the description in ancient books, there is no doubt...the Eight Diagrams Formation is better.

To put it simply, Zhuge Liang’s gossip formation was more about the pain points of the battle between the Shu army and the Wei army. The Wei army had a large number of cavalry, while the Shu army was mostly infantry and was good at crossbowmen. Combining the formation method with the mountainous geographical conditions of Shu, teach troops how to camp in the mountains, and then use the terrain to turn weaknesses into strengths, give full play to the characteristics of infantry, and effectively attack the enemy.

This is equivalent to adding the height of the mountain to the square matrix of the two-dimensional plane, turning it into a 3D model, and giving Cao Wei a three-dimensional blow.

It also changed the disadvantage of infantry to cavalry to an advantage.

This is why, after the fall of the Jihan regime, Sima Zhaohui immediately sent his cronies to study and search in Shuzhong, in order to preserve Zhuge Liang's 3D strike method on a two-dimensional plane for the first time!
…and deduce it accordingly.

Liu Yu can clearly draw the conclusion that if the Northern Expedition to Wuhuan is in the offensive stage, it must make a fuss about the terrain and rely on the mountains as much as possible... Use the phalanx to build a wider attack surface, so as to have a chance of winning.

As for... the second formation...

——Circular array, more effective.

To understand the circular formation, one must understand why the circular formation is more defensive.

To put it simply...

From a geometric point of view, after forming a circular formation, the contact surface of our side to face the enemy forms an arc, which can effectively reduce the enemy's attack surface, narrow our defense line, and form a denser formation. It is also more efficient.

If there are deep hills behind our side to rely on, we can further form a semicircle, the defense line will shrink again, and the formation will become denser!

This is also why Sun Tzu mentioned in the Art of War that there are many divergent, chaotic but not chaotic; chaotic and chaotic, round and invincible.

It can be seen that... the circular defense can be called "impregnable"!
This is why in the Battle of Gaixia, Xiang Yu led only 30 cavalry to break through after being besieged. Facing Han Xin's 28 army, he killed only [-] people all the way.

It is impossible to fight back with this kind of people.

Therefore, in order to further break out of the encirclement of the Han army, Xiang Yu led the remaining 28 cavalry to form a circle and carry out the final defensive mobile battle.

It can also be seen from this article...the circular array is terrifying.

Three Kingdoms period…

When Cao Zhang and Tian Yu attacked Wuhuan in the north, they were attacked by enemy cavalry. Tian Yu asked the soldiers to form a circle around the chariots, and the crossbowmen used the chariots as cover to shoot outwards. In the gap, prevent the enemy from breaking up the formation.

Facing such a solid circular formation, Wuhuan's cavalry suffered heavy losses, and in the end they could only leave in disappointment

Another example is Gao Huan's crusade against the Erzhu Clan at the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Because of the failure of the attack on Yecheng, there were only less than 3 horses and less than [-] infantry left.

They were overtaken by the enemy at Hanling Mountain, so Gao Huan ordered his subordinates to form a circular formation, connecting cattle, donkeys and other livestock to block the road, and finally blocked the enemy's attack.

Based on this similar thinking, when Song Taizong arrived, in order to resist the vast cavalry, he created an extremely complex Pingrong Wanquan formation, connecting chariots as obstacles, and adding many horse-repelling wooden barriers to the chariots. The main function of the defense system is to block the first round of the Liao cavalry's attack.

After all, Liu Yu doesn't understand soldiers and horses, he can only provide a general idea... to help the capable people of this era, so that they can reverse the disadvantage of infantry against cavalry.

And on the basis of these "circular formations", there are traces of records... which can provide Liu Yu with many references.

"General Zhang Yan seems to be very good at riding, right?" Liu Yu stopped the pen in his hand, and suddenly said something.

ah... ah...

Zhang Yan scratched her head, "Forget it...forget it!"

"Then..." Liu Yu drew a picture with a few strokes. "If... General Zhang led the cavalry, might they have broken the formation?"

While talking...Liu Yuhua drew a circle, and the periphery of the circle is a circle of chariots, they are placed horizontally... airtight!

hiss…

Zhang Yan lowered his mouth, his eyes flickered, and he pondered for a long time before shaking his head, "In the past, Emperor Qin built the Great Wall to defend against the Huns, using the towering walls of the Great Wall to block the charge of horses. This round formation of chariots... has the same effect. Wonderful!"

"Ah…"

Hearing this, Liu Yu smiled...

Combining formations, in the end... it has to be you... Qi Jiguang's heavy-fire chariot battalion!
Cooperating with the round formation, what you are playing is defensive counterattack!
...

...

In Luoyang City, the award list for the crusade against the Yellow Turban has come down.

Huang Fusong (General, Commander-in-Chief of the Second Route Army);

Xu Que (the governor of Jingzhou), Tao Qian (the governor of Xuzhou), Guo Dian (the prefect of Julu), Zhu Jun (the general who suppressed the thief), Qin Jie (the governor of Nanyang), Wang Yun (the prefect of Runan), Cao Cao ( Captain Qi), Lu Zhi (General of the Right Middle Lang, Commander-in-Chief of the Third Route Army), Dong Zhuo (Inspector of Xiliang).

Other low-level service personnel are rewarded and placed by the local governments or chiefs themselves.

Speaking of...

Although Cao Cao only belongs to the management and logistics personnel, he is the riding captain of two thousand shi.

Impressively on the award list, Huangfu Song's love general Fu Xie, who is also in the Second Route Army, Sun Jian, a subordinate of Zhu Jun in the Third Route Army, and Huang Zhong and Wei Yan under his command are not on the list because of their ranks.

Huangfusong was posthumously named "Quyang County Marquis", compared to Guan Yu's "Han Shouting Marquis" in history... the county marquis is two levels higher.

Zhu Jun was granted the title of Doctor Guanglu, with an increase of [-] in the city, and was changed to Qiantanghou, with a special advancement.Although he was given the title of Marquis, Doctor Guanglu is not a full-time job after all.Just when Zhu Jun's mother passed away, Zhu Jun prayed to return to his hometown to observe his filial piety. His general and fellow countryman Sun Jian only got the vacant title of "General Polu"!

The most inexplicable one is Cao Cao...

The emperor Liu Hong swiped his pen... and made Cao Cao the "President of the State of Jinan"... You know, this is the reduction of the captain of the riding capital with a salary of [-] shi to the prime minister of a vassal state with a salary of [-] shi. There is also a state of Jinan on it Lord... the whole thing is inexplicable!
As for…

Why such a seal, Liu Hong has a deep meaning.

"Your Majesty... made Cavalier Captain Cao Cao the Prime Minister of Jinan... this..."

In the Hall of Long Live Qianqiu, Qiao Xuan raised a question...

Although Cao Cao's military rank of Captain Cavalry is only in charge of the army's logistics supplies... This is a job that a five-hundred-dollar salary master should do, but it can't stand it... The whole army is well-known for Cao Cao's achievements and meritorious deeds!
"Have you forgotten, Qiaozi, I mentioned it last time...do you want to go to the folks to see it?"

Liu Hong's voice startled Qiao Xuan.

"Your Majesty wants to... go to Jinan?" Qiao Xuan asked in shock.

"Jinan is in Jizhou, and the birthplace of this rebellion is also in Jizhou. The governor Wang Fen who wants to abolish the real one is also in Jizhou. I am too curious... What is the reason that makes the people 'not dare to wear clothes when cold, and dare not eat when hungry'... It can make the governor think of dismissing me!"

Phew... Qiao Xuan exhaled lightly.

In fact, he has always taken the matter of His Majesty's private visit to his heart, but Liu Yu mentioned Nanyang... This is because Nanyang is safer, and His Majesty is the Son of Heaven after all... How can he be in a dangerous place?

嗏

"Your Majesty... Jinan is really risky." Qiao Xuan was still persuading.

"Haha..." Liu Hong laughed and said, "Isn't there our Jinan Prime Minister Cao Cao?"

...

...

Luoyang, Cao Mansion.

The appointment of the Prime Minister of Jinan has not yet come down, but... the edict of commendation has already been sent.

Originally Cao Cao happily rushed back to the mansion to show his father...

I never thought that the atmosphere was not right as soon as I entered the door. More than 200 soldiers who came to the Cao Mansion for the Chinese New Year greeted me. Everyone lowered their heads and looked aggrieved.

Cao Cao saw something was wrong, quickly put away his original smile, and asked, "What's the matter? What's the matter? Is it because the house's hospitality is not good enough?"

Cao Cao was worried that his brothers would be restrained here, so he specifically told all the servants in the house.

Treat them kindly...as if they were masters of the house.

certainly…

It is impossible for the servants to treat them as masters, but... even so, the more than 200 soldiers are already very pleased, they feel cared for and cared for.

This time... everyone's grievances are not because of the Cao Mansion, but...

For a while there was a lot of chatter, but they couldn't explain clearly... An older soldier reminded: "Captain Cavalry...you go to the Sima Gate of the Imperial Palace and have a look...and then...you will know!"

Cao Cao immediately turned around and rushed to the Sima Gate of the palace, surrounded by a large number of soldiers...there was the first army, the second army, and the third army...

When everyone gets together, it seems that there is a lot of discussion about something.

"Have you heard? The pension and military pay for this Northern Expedition have been halved!"

"Why didn't I hear that? The group of eggless eunuchs said...what did you say...you can get your signature and painting later, and if you don't sign your painting and deposit, you will lose a penny!"

"The promise was good when I went to the expedition, but now... but... oh... oh..."

Numerous complaints came one after another...

Outside the Sima Gate was supposed to be a place where military salaries and pensions were distributed, it should be a place of joy, but...

Some soldiers of the Northern Expedition recognized Cao Cao.

"Isn't that the captain riding?"

"Is the salary of the riding captain also halved?"

"Captain Rider, our brothers fought bloody battles, what we want... is... this is the salary! Can Captain Rider help us find a solution?"

Hearing this... Cao Cao became very angry. He walked to Simamen and saw the notice posted, "The moth thief rebelled, and a hundred wastes were destroyed. Due to insufficient national use, the original salary was reduced to half. For the sake of fairness , the pension is also halved."

In history... when the Yellow Turban Rebellion was put down for the first time, there was indeed a move to reduce salaries and pensions...

It's just that it's not half... but more than half!

That's because the eunuch persuaded the emperor to use copper to cast human figures and display them in the four sides of the imperial city to achieve the goal of "green" over "yellow".Four directions, three bronze figures in each direction, exactly twelve, also coincident with the twelve permanent attendants.

According to historical records, Liu Hong wanted to cast a bronze man, but the national use was insufficient, so he ordered the transfer of people's land and collected ten dollars per mu.It is worse than floods and droughts, and the people are poor!
What's even more exaggerated is... In order to deal with disasters and accidents, the weather of the court declined, so... the eunuch suggested that the emperor should do things artificially and turn to the gods and heaven for help.

Gou Dun ordered Song Dian to repair Nangong Yutang, and Ye Ting ordered Bi Lan to cast four rows of bronze figures and place them outside Canglong Gate and Xuanwu Temple, and cast four bells to hang in front of Yutang and Yuntai Hall.

As we all know... Just like building roads in later generations, doing these constructions is the easiest way for eunuchs to make money. Where will the money come from?Naturally, it is to deduct the salaries of the counter-insurgency soldiers.

even…

This farce of accumulating money in history eventually turned into the dismissal of officials who suppressed the rebellion and rewarded the Yellow Turbans... The specific method is to send the postal supervisor to the local inspection, and each county has to dismiss some...

Unfortunately, Liu Bei, who was the magistrate of Anxi County in history, became a member of the recall list this time.

And it wasn't Zhang Fei who whipped Du You, but Liu Bei himself. He was the one who questioned Du You in anger.

It's just that Duyou didn't expect Liu Bei to be so stubborn!

Of course, these are off topic...

But... In fact, even if Liu Hong did not agree to cast the bronze man, the eunuchs would not let go of the opportunity to make money by distributing pensions and military ranks!

These eunuchs...the genes for making money run deep in their bones.

In fact, deducing from the overall situation of a war...

In the whole process, preparation for war in advance accounted for one-third, battlefield accounted for one-third, and post-war summary accounted for one-third.

Every stage will have such and such disputes, contradictions and injustices.

Take the summary of the war as an example, economic accounts have to be settled, how many enemies have been killed?How many dead soldiers need pensions?How much will be distributed to the entire army?
Among them, the most troublesome and the most rewarding is the reward for meritorious deeds.

...

...

(End of this chapter)