Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 366 Take the world as the chess game, and the common people as the chess pieces

On the afternoon of October 24th, [-]th Jian'an, after Guo Jia sent Shen Chen the letter of war in the morning, Shen Chen sent a letter back with harsh words in the afternoon, acknowledging the battle.

At this time in Yancheng County Yamen, Xia Houyuan was sitting at the top as the main general of this expedition, followed by Guo Jia, and then Xu Huang and other generals.

As one of the Eight Tigers of the Clan, Xia Houyuan's status is second only to Xiahou Dun Cao Ren in history, and should be similar to Cao Hong. The only problem is that Cao Cao once called Xia Houyuan "General Baidi", which means General Idiot.

But no matter what, Cao Ren and Cao Hong are all dead now. Except for Xiahou Dun, his status in the clan is extraordinary.Although it can't be compared with Xiahou Dun who has never won a war and never stopped being promoted, even if Guo Jia is one of Cao Cao's most trusted advisers, his status cannot be higher than him.

Now Shen Chen sent someone to send the letter to Cao Ying. After Xia Houyuan read it, he slammed the case and said angrily: "The little thief Shen Chen is too rampant. He even scolded Wei Wang Yuan Rang and me in the letter, and said that this battle will involve me and Yuan Rang. Going to see Zilian and Zixiao is really shameless, I swear to kill him!"

"Cough, cough, cough."

Guo Jia's face was pale, he covered his mouth and coughed, and said rather weakly: "General, you don't need to worry about it. The most important thing in this battle is to rescue the former general. If you can rescue the former general, it will be a big deal."

"Yes."

Xu Huang also said: "When the time comes, the former general will join us, and there will be more than [-] troops. Shen Chen can't help but stick to Xiangfan at most. At that time, Nanyang will belong to the King of Wei. Even if Shen Chen defeats Jiangdong, it will be the same Lost important places, some verbal attacks, don't care."

"Ah."

Xia Houyuan nodded thoughtfully.

Although he was scolded by Cao Cao as an idiot general, it was Cao Cao himself who put the blame on him in order to cover up his command mistakes.

In fact, Xia Houyuan is still very capable of fighting, at least in terms of record, he is much better than Xiahou Dun.

Therefore, Guo Jia and Xu Huang's persuasion had an effect. Xia Houyuan thought for a moment, and said: "It's still Ling Jun's clever plan. Since Shen Chen is willing to send him to the door, I will fight with him to cover Yuan Rang's retreat."

"that is."

Xu Huang suddenly hesitated.

"What is it?"

Xia Houyuan asked.

Xu Huang hesitated and said: "I just feel that something is wrong. If I were Shen Chen, it would be more beneficial for him to continue the stalemate. Why would he choose to agree to fight with us outside the city? I'm afraid there may be fraud in it."

Guo Jia said with a smile: "It was because I guessed that he would definitely fight, so I took the initiative to go to war to cover the former general's withdrawal from Xiangyang."

"Oh?"

Xu Huang wondered, "Why?"

"Cough cough."

Guo Jia coughed twice, and said softly: "You have been on the front line for a long time, but you don't know the difficulties in the rear. Do you know how the people in the north are doing now?"

Xu Huang cupped his hands and said, "Please let me clear up your confusion."

Guo Jia shook his head and smiled wryly, "I am the order of the Minister, handling the government affairs of the world. From the previous year to the present, there have been no less than [-] rebellions in the rear of the official documents in my hands. Extremely difficult."

Xu Huang said in surprise: "I didn't expect the rear to be so turbulent."

"Yes."

Guo Jia nodded: "The king of Wei set Guanzhong and Liangzhou in the west, and he went on several expeditions in Guangyongliang. You should also know that in Guanzhong, there was no food in Guanzhong in the early years, and it had to be transported from the Kanto, so people had to be recruited to conscript corvee. After that The king of Wei moved the population of many counties in Liangzhou, and settled in Hedong and Zuo Fengyi, and the situation was slightly better."

"But what does this have to do with Shen Chen?"

Xu Huang was still puzzled.

Guo Jia continued: "If King Wei owns the vast north, years of wars have destabilized the country, and Liu Bei only owns two prefectures. How can he not waste the people's energy in fighting Wei King?"

"I see."

Xu Huang suddenly realized, and said: "Jingzhou was divided into three before, Nanyang was ours, Jingnan returned to Sun Quan, Nanjun, Jiangxia, and Xiling were submerged by floods, and Shen Chen couldn't get food and grass. Liu Bei could only benefit from it." The state sends food and grass far away."

"Exactly."

Guo Jia said: "Furthermore, Liu Bei took the initiative to attack Guanzhong this time, and it was also an expedition of hard work. Now both Shen Chen and Liu Bei need to transport grain from Yizhou for a long time. I can't hold on anymore, can Liu Bei be alone?"

Xu Huang gave a thumbs up in admiration: "Ling Junzhen is the conspiracy of gods and ghosts, even these can be counted."

Guo Jia smiled and said nothing.

It is indeed difficult for ordinary people to see these things, but as a top-notch resourceful man, and knowing the current situation of Wei State, he can naturally guess that Liu Bei, who is fighting for national power with Cao Cao, is now at the end of his battle, and he is eager for a decisive battle sooner.

Therefore, one urgently needs to rescue Xiahou Dun, and the other needs to resolve the Xiangfan war as soon as possible.

According to Guo Jia's calculations in this battle, no one will be able to do anything to anyone.

After all, Shen Chen's army morale is very strong now. Although the number of soldiers is slightly smaller than that of Cao Jun, his command ability and military strength should not be underestimated. Therefore, Guo Jia does not think that Xia Houyuan can defeat Shen Chen.

However, his strategic goal must have been achieved. After rescuing Xiahoudun, Cao's army was able to defend the cities of Nanyang and occupy Nanyang by relying on its numerical advantage.

At that time, Jingzhou will lack the important source of population and food and grass in the Nanyang Basin, and its war potential and overall strength will inevitably decline.

The best situation is that Sun Quan fled back to Jiangdong, which can not only attack Shen Chen, but also weaken Sun Quan, and prepare for Cao Cao's capture of Yangzhou in the future.

The worst result is nothing more than Sun Quan's death in Jingzhou, Liu Bei sent troops to Jiangdong, they can do it, and the two sides continue to open up new battlefields in Yangzhou.

So this is killing three birds with one stone, and Guo Jia wants to make Shen Chen lose everything this time.

"it is good!"

After listening to Guo Jia's analysis, Xia Houyuan also found it very reasonable, stood up and said, "Then according to what Lingjun said, I will leave the camp tomorrow and fight Shen Chen to the death!"

At that moment, Xia Houyuan immediately ordered to reorganize the troops and display the banners to strengthen the army.

The next day.

In the early morning, Cao Jun in Yancheng was dispatched.

In the early winter of October, although the weather is getting colder, there is no snow, and the sun hangs in the air. It seems that there is not much temperature, and it is slightly pale.

After the meal time, the soldiers of Cao Jun who had breakfast half an hour ago had already lined up and left the camp.

Just as several camps were deployed around various important places around Fancheng, Xiahouyuan and Xu Huang's tribes also built several camps around Yancheng and Lingyangpo.

Among them, the main general Xia Houyuan, the deputy generals Xu Huang and Zang Ba, together with more than a dozen generals, big and small, led an army of [-], and marched southward from the camp.

Xia Houyuan and Xu Huang brought 4 people before, but there are still 2 to [-] Cao troops in Wancheng and Xinye, and now Zang Ba has brought nearly [-] people. At present, the total number of Cao troops is [-], which is the same as that of Shen Chen. The number of troops is comparable.

Therefore, in order to prevent Shen Chen from sneaking into the camp, Xia Houyuan believed that 3 troops would be enough to cover Xiahou Dun's retreat, and the [-] camps left behind in Yancheng and outside the city should probably be foolproof.

Although it takes more than 300 miles to retreat from Xiangyang to Yancheng, and it takes at least four days to make a long detour, it is definitely impossible to rush to the battlefield to attack Shen Chen.

But the task of covering Xiahoudun's retreat must be completed. As long as Xiahoudun comes back by then, they will be victorious.

So this time Xia Houyuan has already made a move.

When approaching the beginning of Yuzhong, his troops had already assembled. Xu Huang was stationed in the camp. Go south.

Almost after Xia Houyuan left the city, Shen Chen's army of 4 horses was also dispatched in the direction of Fancheng, more than [-] miles to the south.

This time he sent Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, a total of more than 2 people, plus Shen Tao's [-] Huangmen soldiers, to attack Xiahou Dun in Zhuyangyin County, and ordered Wenpin Zhou to lead [-] people to garrison Fancheng and the surrounding camps. , I personally led Sha Moke, Lu Chang and other headquarters troops, and went north to meet the enemy.

Both sides have a large number of people and horses. Seen from a distance, the armies on both sides lined up, forming multiple army formations stretching for several miles, moving forward slowly, until they stopped at the ancient pavilion three miles south of Lingyangpo. down.

The ancient pavilion was originally a vast plain, surrounded by villages and countless fertile fields, but after the flood, it had already become a ruin.

The soldiers stepped on the yellow soil formed by drying the silt, and the softness under their feet made many people feel uncomfortable.

If it is spring, maybe the sprouting grass will drill out from the soil below, absorb the silt nutrients full of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, grow vigorously, and then revitalize the land buried in the silt.

But it was early winter, and there was still a stench and rotten smell after the flood receded between the heaven and the earth. Looking around, the whole world was desolate and desolate, mixed with the howling of the north wind, which only brought a kind of cold wind and chill to people. , and that pale yellow sadness.

Shen Chen rode on his Yuluo horse, with a tiger knife hanging from his waist, looking at the distant horizon from a distance, and saw countless dense black spots suddenly appeared on the wide wilderness, as if blocking the entire horizon. Full.

As the distance between the two sides got closer and closer, those black shadows gradually acquired outlines and appearances, and finally turned into Cao Wei soldiers in black clothes and black armor who stepped on neat steps and made dull footsteps.

Cao Jun's clothes are black, even the flag.

The costumes and flags of the Jingzhou army are the inherent orange red of Han soldiers.

So in the eyes of Cao Wei soldiers in the distance, they saw countless black spots appearing on the horizon.

When the distance began to approach, those black dots turned into bright red colors one by one, as if the rising sun was shining a light on this desolate world.

"Stop!"

Seeing that the enemy had appeared a mile away, Xia Houyuan raised his hand as a signal.

"Stop!"

Seeing Xia Houyuan's gesture, the messengers in the rear immediately waved the flag.

Soon the military order was issued to the battalions. Because it took some time to transmit the order and due to inertia, the soldiers walked forward for tens of meters before stopping and regrouping.

The Jingzhou army did not stop there, and walked forward for more than 100 meters. The distance between the two sides was half a mile, which was about 200 meters, and then stopped.

The enemy and us lined up in a line, outside the bows and crossbows, facing each other from a distance. Between the enemy and ourselves, we could even see clearly the armor on the other side, the weapons and spears in our hands, and the faces of the Cao army and the Jingzhou army.

Shen Chen rode on a Yuluo horse and was located in the center of the battle formation. His main general, the Chinese Army, was at the forefront of the battle formation. There were three or four square formations arranged in sequence for several miles on both sides diagonally to the left and right.

There are seven or eight square formations in the rear, each with three to 4000 people, forming a pyramidal triangular formation with a large army formation in the shape of a character.

Guo Jia frowned when he saw such a formation on the opposite side from a distance, then calmed down after a while, and said to Xia Houyuan next to him: "As I expected, Shen Chen is also eager to repel us, and he is probably about to hold on." Can't stop."

Xia Houyuan said happily: "Since he wants to fight against us, let's also set up a triangular awl formation to fight against them."

"No."

Guo Jia's pale face showed a touch of sickness. He shook his head and said: "Our task is to delay the time and let the former general withdraw as soon as possible. The right way is to entangle the opponent. We can't confront them. We should defend the formation."

Defensive formation?

Xia Houyuan showed dissatisfaction, Shen Chen's arrogance made him extremely uncomfortable, the enemy wanted to attack, why couldn't he also attack?

But Guo Jia was right, the top priority now is to rescue Xiahou Dun.

So I had no choice but to say: "Then listen to your order."

Guo Jia glanced at him. As the best adviser who can control people's hearts, he naturally knew that Xia Houyuan was unhappy.

But this is also impossible.

In fact, according to Guo Jia's thinking, the best way is to give up Xiahou Dun and drag Liu Bei and Shen Chen down.

Xiahou Dun used small buckets to support the army in the city. If there was nothing to eat, he caught mice, boiled leather, and even ate the corpses of soldiers. After all, he could last three to five months.

However, Liu Bei and Shen Chen's national strength could not be dragged on any longer, and the people in the rear must be in dire straits.

Although Cao Cao's north is about to collapse, but after all, it has a solid foundation, and no matter how hard it is to suffer the people, it is still no problem to last a year and a half longer than Liu Bei.

At that time, even if Xiahou Dun's entire army is wiped out, as long as Jingzhou cannot recover for a day, and Shen Chen cannot take back Nanyang for a day, the rear of Yizhou will completely collapse, and Liu Bei's territory will also be on the verge of collapse.

This is much better than taking risks to rescue Xiahou Dun.

But Guo Jia couldn't say.

Not mentioning that Xiahou Dun is Cao Cao's most trusted and favorite clan general, but simply saying that Xiahouyuan is Xiahou Dun's subordinate brother, it is impossible to agree.

So Guo Jia can only save him, and he has to choose the safest way to rescue him.

So what is the safest way?

Of course, it was to hold back Shen Chen's main force.

As long as Shen Chen's main force is here, Xiahou Dun can safely evacuate.

Thinking of this, Guo Jia said to Xia Houyuan: "General, don't be impatient. The most important thing now is to rescue the former general. When the former general returns, everything will be easy to talk about. Let Rong Jia delay before the battle."

"Oh?"

Xia Houyuan wondered, "What's your idea?"

Guo Jia said solemnly: "I have always wondered why Shen Chen would suddenly send out so many reinforcements. This is impossible. Even if Liu Bei got the news and immediately sent Huang Zhong to organize troops, where did he get so many soldiers? What? I want to ask before the battle."

"You can't do it."

Xia Houyuan hurriedly said: "If you go before the battle, I'm afraid Shen Chen will kill you in pain."

"It doesn't matter." Guo Jia waved his hand: "Wen Ruo also talked with Shen Chen before the battle. He has a high attainment in Confucianism, so he wouldn't act like this."

As he spoke, he said to the boy next to him, "Follow me into the battle."

The two boys led Guo Jia's horse forward slowly, one behind the other. Guo Jia was riding on the horse, holding on to the saddle tightly, coughing twice from time to time, and it was already extremely difficult to go to the battlefield.

"Brother, what does that mean?"

Zhou Buyi saw a middle-aged Confucian scholar riding a white horse slowly forward, wondering.

Shen Chen looked over and saw that the middle-aged Confucian scholar was wearing a wide robe, a blue crane cloak, and a white fox fur around his neck, which looked a bit like the aristocrats of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

His skin is quite fair, although the corners of his eyes and between the brows are covered with wrinkles, it is not difficult to see that this person should be a handsome young man when he was young.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar came to the center of the battle formation. He was [-] meters away from Shen Chen's army, which was already within the range covered by bows and arrows. However, he was not afraid. He rode on his horse and faced Shen Chen's commander's central formation from a distance, bowing his hands .

"My husband would like to invite Shen Daru to speak before the battle."

A boy in his teens hurried over and yelled at the coach Shen Chen's banner from 30 meters away.

"Those Confucian scholars."

Shen Chen shook his head, and said, "It's always whimsical, which kind of scholar wants to persuade me."

"Master, don't bother."

Xie Hui, a disciple at the side, said: "Shoot these rotten Confucians and kill them."

Shen Chen said with a smile: "He came here to talk before the battle. He is so courageous, but I dare not go there. I want to shoot and kill. Wouldn't it make the world laugh at me for being rude? No problem, I just go there."

It's nothing to look at in the past. With his current force value, he is probably only weaker than the top five tigers. Zhang Liao, Gan Ning may be similar to himself at the peak, but now they are all old, and he is still in his prime. When he met Zhang Liao He has the confidence to kill, let alone a Confucian scholar?

As he spoke, he urged the horse, and one of them slowly moved forward.

He was still more cautious. He didn't get close to the Confucian scholar, but was seven or eight meters away, about 120 meters away from Cao Jun's army formation. In this case, he was in a hundred paces position, and it was almost difficult for the arrow to shoot, which was very safe.

When he got close, Shen Chen looked at the Confucian scholar, cupped his hands and said, "Donghai Shen Xiaoqing!"

"Yingchuan Guo Fengxiao."

Guo Jia also bowed his head and cupped his hands in return.

Guo Jia?

Shen Chen was quite surprised, this guy is still alive?
It seems that I indirectly changed the history and made Guo Jia not go to Saibei.

However, I haven't heard any news about Guo Jia in these years. I only heard that Guo Jia was the Secretary of State when Cao Cao called himself Duke Wei a few years ago.

It is probably because of poor health and has been living in seclusion, so the sense of existence is so low.

Shen Chen thought in his heart.

After Guo Jia saw the ceremony, Shen Chen said again: "Guo Lingjun's name is like thunder, I don't know what to say when you come to the front of the battle and face the soldiers of the two armies?"

Guo Jia said with a smile: "My scriptures are not as righteous as Wen Ruo, and even less so than Jing Xinggong. Even they can't argue with the general, so how can I do it?"

"Oh?"

Shen Chen was puzzled and said: "Since that's the case, why did you invite me to talk before the battle?"

Guo Jia thought for a while and said, "There is something unclear about Jia, please ask the general to explain."

"Please say."

Shen Chen stretched out his hand to signal.

Guo Jia said again: "I don't know if the general can play games?"

Gaming in ancient times did not mean a contest, but an invitation to play Go.

"The Analects of Confucius·Yanghuo"—Is there no game player?

There are records of Go in the Spring and Autumn Period. By the end of the Han Dynasty, the game became more and more popular. Cao Cao also liked to play Go. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, it gradually became popular all over the country. It is said that every household in Nanliang has a chess board. The wind can be described as extreme.

In fact, Shen Chen doesn't study Go intensively, and mostly likes to play chess invented by himself, but he doesn't know how to do it at all, so he nodded and said: "Yes."

Guo Jia got off the horse with the support of the boy, and the other boy was holding a mat in his hand. He spread the mat on the ground between the two of them, and then Sa Yazi ran back to his home army, holding the chessboard again after a while Come with chess pieces.

After the boy who helped Guo Jia helped Guo Jia to the mat, after Guo Jia sat down cross-legged, he also ran back to his army, holding an incense burner, a pot of tea and two teacups, and placed the things on the table. at the table.

Shen Chen pouted.

These Confucian scholars are really, a bunch of stinking problems.

Especially during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Seven Sons of Jian'an and the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove were, to put it mildly, to be of the Wei and Jin dynasties, and to put it bluntly, to be pretentiously elegant.

Obviously the common people live in the heat of the water, but they compare themselves to gods and only care about their own happiness.

This is the same as many people in later generations yearn for the so-called elegance of the Republic of China. They only see the luxury of the upper class, but they don't see how hard the life of the lower class is.

Compared with those people, Shen Chen admired Tao Yuanming's self-satisfaction attitude more.

living comfortably without anybody's help.

After all, it is much better than these rotten scholars who rely on family power to squeeze the people, and then use the people's fat and people's anointing to let themselves live a luxurious life.

But he didn't say anything, Guo Jia can do whatever he likes, as long as he is happy.

After the boy had laid out the mats, set up the chessboard, set up the incense burner, and filled the two cups with tea, Guo Jia stretched out his hand and said, "Please!"

Shen Chen got off his horse, his armor creaked, and walked to the side of the mat, but instead of sitting cross-legged, he squatted halfway.

This is a habit he developed in the army. In case of an emergency, he can get up with a kick, get on the horse and retreat immediately, unlike sitting cross-legged and needing the support of his hands to get up.

Seeing his cautiousness, Guo Jia just smiled, and said to Shen Chen: "General Su Wen is a famous Confucian in the world, and I have also read "Zhu Zi Yan" and "Shen Shi Jing", and the affairs of the world are left to the world. People, today we will use Jiangshan as a chess game, and Sheji as a chessboard, and play a good game."

"Ling Jun is very bold, is this planning to use the people of the world as pawns?"

Shen Chen asked back.

Guo Jia looked at him seriously, and said, "If it's someone else, it's definitely not good. But as a general, he is naturally qualified to use the country as the chessboard and the people of the world as the chess pieces."

"Okay, but I have something to say first, my chess skills are not very good, if you want to have a wonderful game, then you are wrong."

Shen Chen put the words first, he really doesn't study Go very much, but Zhuge Liang also likes to play chess, so he learned from him for a while before, although he has a certain level, but there is still a big gap between him and the top players.

"It's okay."

Guo Jia placed four seats, then stretched out his hand and said, "Don't guess first, the general will go first."

Ancient Go did not cancel the seat, whoever moves first will take advantage.

Shen Chen was not polite either, he put the white chess basket on his side, and said, "Then it will begin."

(End of this chapter)