Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 233 Survival in the Wilderness
At first light, a remnant of the soldiers staggered along the muddy road.

The sergeants were disgraced, their morale was low, their flags were low and difficult to fly, and their clothes were already stained with mud.Moreover, the leader, Cao Cao, had his hair in a mess and his red Shu brocade robe was dirty. He was riding on a war horse and walking in embarrassment.

When Cao Cao saw that it was getting light, he couldn't help but slow down his horse. He saw the vast Yunmengze, which was full of wetland vegetation, and asked, "Where is this?"

Cai Mao shook his head and said: "Prime Minister, there was a fire yesterday and it was difficult to see the road. Our army should have got lost in Yunmeng Ze. The route we followed was not the main road."

Yunmengze is hundreds of miles away and is sparsely inhabited. It lacks landmark buildings and makes it very easy to get lost.Cao Cao gathered the defeated troops one after another on the road, but he remembered to go south. Walking in the dark, he deviated from the main road.

Cao Cao took a look at the tired sergeants and said, "You are tired from running all night last night. Please rest here for now. Degui, let the Jianghan soldiers explore the direction of the road to see if there is any feasible way."

"promise!"

As the military order to rest was issued, the remaining defeated generals cheered and thanked Cao Cao for allowing them to stop and rest instead of continuing on the road.

After finding a clean place, Cao Cao dismounted his horse and rested. Feeling unbearably hungry, he asked his neighbors, "Are there any biscuits or dried meat?"

Everyone on the left and right shook their heads and said nothing. They were afraid that the fire would burn their bodies, and they would not be able to bring food with them when they fled.

Yang Xiu symbolically touched his sleeves and sighed: "Prime Minister, how can we get Hu cakes now, when there are only mud, reeds, shrimps and crabs on the left and right?"

"I have it!"

Sun Quan took out the cold Hu cake from his arms, offered it to Cao Cao diligently, and said, "Prime Minister, Quan, here is the Hu cake. It's just cold, so I can eat it reluctantly."

Looking at Sun Quan who offered Hu cakes, Cao Cao was very moved and said: "In today's hungry and cold weather, it is so comforting for Zhongmou to be able to serve Hu cakes without eating them himself."

Out of dignity, Cao Cao declined and said: "However, Gu Guan Zhongmou doesn't look good, so you can use the biscuits for yourself!"

Sun Quan looked excited, raised his hands and said: "The Prime Minister has placed his hopes on China, so he should respect himself now. Quan is a villain, how can he be compared with the Prime Minister, and how can he swallow the cake for himself?"

"Please, Prime Minister, have some cake!"

Seeing Sun Quan's sincerity, Cao Cao was unambiguous. He stretched out his hand to take the cake and said with emotion: "In this case, let's eat it alone."

Sun Quan was secretly happy when he saw Cao Cao taking the cake.

Last night the village was set on fire. When he was hungry, he got up to eat the night food.Therefore, when he was fleeing, he conveniently carried two biscuits in his arms, never thinking that he would be able to use them now.Of course, Sun Quan also consciously offered it to please Cao Cao.

Cao Cao swallowed his saliva and was about to eat the cake, but he saw the eyes of the literati and military generals on the left and right seemed to be looking at him.

Cao Cao thought slightly, tore the biscuit in his hand into several pieces, and said: "Everyone is also hungry, how can I eat alone?"

After saying that, Cao Cao distributed the Hu cakes to Xun You, Yang Xiu, Kuai Yue, Cao Hong and others, and said with a smile: "Masters, please do not give in and eat all this cake. I have ordered the soldiers to find some wild vegetables, fruits and vegetables, fish, turtles, shrimps and crabs. I thought it would satisfy my hunger."

"Thank you, Prime Minister!" Everyone said gratefully, holding the pitiful pieces of cake.

"It doesn't have to be like this. If you hadn't fought hard against Jiangdong's troops and collected the defeated troops last night, my life would have been over!" Cao Cao said with empty support.

Cao Cao knew clearly that although a piece of cake could satisfy his hunger, it was useless to his great cause. It would be better to use it to win people's hearts.

After a short rest, a sergeant suddenly shouted: "There are pursuers, there are pursuers."

Everyone who sat down to rest was panicked and wanted to get up and leave.Then Sergeant Fang changed his words and shouted: "One of our own, Cao Hubao is here with his cavalry."

When everyone heard that it was one of their own, their buttocks that had left the ground quickly sat back on the ground.

"Hey~"

With the sound of horse hoofbeats, Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen and other tiger and leopard cavalrymen came on horseback. Seeing the embarrassed Cao Cao, they quickly dismounted, raised their hands and said: "Greetings to the Prime Minister, we have failed to protect the left and right guards. Please punish the Prime Minister."

Cao Chun explained: "Last night there was a fire in the camp. When my cavalry was about to enter the camp, I saw that the fire had burned to the central camp. The horses were afraid of the fire. I led the cavalry outside to search for the prime minister, but I rescued the young master. By dawn. , when you see defeated troops on the road and smoke from cooking stoves, you will know where the prime minister is."

Seeing his confidants Cao's generals and his son Cao Zhi, Cao Cao was slightly happy and said: "Under the fire, people and horses are afraid, which is normal. You have worked hard, please sit down and rest for a while."

"promise!"

"Father!"

Cao Zhi saw his father in such a mess and lost his former majesty. He said sadly: "Last night there was a fire, and Zhi was searching in the camp. However, due to the dark night, it was difficult to see his father. Seeing his father now, Zhi is very happy and sad at the same time."

Cao Cao's face darkened, and he scolded: "I'm not dead yet, why are you crying here?"

As he spoke, Cao Cao waved his hand and said nonchalantly: "Victory and defeat are common matters for military strategists. Although our army lost this battle, the north is still under our control. There are still hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses in the Central Plains. Why are you so sad? And Jiangling soldiers There are more than 16 horses, the Xiakou Seventh Route Army has more than 20 soldiers, and there are also 4 soldiers in Xiangfan. There are still 16 or 2 victorious troops, so why worry about not being able to fight Jiangzuo again." When the troops entered Jianghan, Cao Cao led an army of [-] , conquered Jianghan's [-] soldiers and horses, and contracted for [-] troops.The Seventh Route Army in Xiakou has about [-] soldiers, while the army headquarters has [-] people.Cao Cao left [-] people behind in Xiangfan, deployed nearly [-] in Jiangling, and led an army of [-] to [-] to attack the Jiangzuo army.

Today, the more than [-] troops led by Cao Cao in the southern expedition suffered heavy losses, and the soldiers and horses stationed in various areas were not affected by the defeat.

Seeing that Cao Cao was chatting and laughing and was not affected by the defeat at all, all the civil and military counselors felt a little relieved.However, what everyone saw was only the surface. How could Cao Cao not feel sorry for these soldiers and horses? This was the wealth he had accumulated over more than ten years.

"Prime Minister, the path has now been discovered."

Cai Mao emerged from the crowd and said: "Prime Minister, our army has strayed from the main road for dozens of miles. Now we should turn southeast and go to Wulin Liangzhai. Then go west and reach Huarong and Jiangling. If the Prime Minister wants to go to Xiangfan, You can go northwest, take the wetland trail to the Han River, and go upstream along the Han River to return to Xiangfan."

After a pause, Cai Mao said: "However, on the northwest trail, and deep into the hinterland of Yunmengze, there are mud and swamps all over the ground, making it difficult for the army to move. There are no people inhabited for hundreds of miles. With the lack of food and grass now, it is really difficult to walk."

Cao Cao pondered for a while and said: "There are many soldiers, horses and naval forces on the left side of the Yangtze River. Our army is rushing to the Han River, so they must be prepared. Moreover, if our army takes the Han River and returns to Xiangfan, it will be difficult to defend Jiangling. Our army will go south to Wulin, and in After Wulin replenished their supplies, they headed west again to join forces with Jiangling."

Nanjun was too rich, which made it difficult for Cao Cao to let go of Jiangling.After all, the saying that the wealth of Jingchu would converge in Jiangling is not an empty lie.If he had to leave Xiangfan, Jiangling might not be able to hold it.

Xun You caressed his beard and pondered, and said: "Our army went deep into Jianghan and was defeated. How could Huo Jun's military strategy be unprepared? You thought that Huo Jun would intercept our army at all levels on the way back. It is not a wise move to go to Jiangling now."

Jia Xu, whose beard was stained with mud, smiled bitterly and said: "For your information, Mr. Ming, Huo Jun is from Nanjun and is familiar with the terrain of Yunze. The fact that Young Master Huo Jun is sending pursuers is not that they are unable to pursue them, but that they have trapped our army in Yunmeng Daze. They also set up ambushes on the road they must pass through. When our army arrives exhausted and its soldiers and horses wait for work, the remnants of our army will definitely be defeated!"

Huo Jun played a trick. Yunmengze was hundreds of miles away. At that time, it was convenient to march by land and water, but it did not mean that it was easy.Now we have to let them leave Yunmengze without food, and let all the soldiers of Cao Cao play in the wilderness to survive.

Cao Cao's eyes fell on Jia Xu and asked: "In view of Wen He, how should our army march?"

Jia Xu looked around and said in a low voice: "The Prime Minister abandoned the infantry army and led his elite cavalry. He took the horses and baggage and walked along the northwest path to the Han River. When he saw the Han River, there were people, and our army went out. A cage too!”

"Abandon the army?" Cao Cao said hesitantly.

"Exactly!"

Jia Xu nodded and said: "Yunmeng Daze is hundreds of miles away, and we are marching with an army of infantry. There is no food and grass on the way, and it slows down the march. It is better to abandon the army and lead the cavalry quickly." Let's go. We must return to Xiangfan, gather the Seven Xiakou Army, and assist Jiangling in the south."

"If the Prime Minister is afraid that the remnants of the army will stay on the left side of the river, he can lead the army deep into Yunmeng Daze. When times are difficult, abandon the army, and then..."

When it came to the latter part, Jia Xu kept silent and let Cao Cao experience it on his own.

Hearing Jia Xu's words, everyone took a deep breath.Jia Xu really only lives for himself and not for others.As long as Cao Cao abandons his army, plunders the remaining baggage, and leads his cavalry to flee the Han River, survival is basically inevitable, but these defeated soldiers have basically no way to survive.

Cao Cao looked at Jia Xu and fell silent.

After a while, Cao Cao sighed and said: "We can still get tens of thousands by gathering the remaining troops, so why bother with such a desperate route? Why don't we lead the troops south to Wulin to eat, and order people to ask for help from Jiangling? Maybe we can still save some troops." horse."

"Wulin Grain Village is guarded by two generals, Zhu Gai and Yin Shu. These two men have five to six thousand soldiers and horses. Even if Huo Jun leads an elite attack on Wulin, the two generals can still save some grain and grass."

Cao Cao stood up and ordered: "The whole army is running south to Wulin. The Liu soldiers and horses can only fight with 4 or [-] soldiers and horses. With the help of Zixiao (Cao Ren), they may be able to defeat Huo Jun!"

With that said, Cao Cao glanced at Jia Xu and said, "Wen He, please go with me."

"promise!"

And Cao Cao led his army to set off and march along the edge of Yunmeng Ze.However, even Yunmengze, who was more than two hundred miles away, was a nightmare.

The cold winter disappeared, and the road to Zhouling became increasingly muddy.Cao Cao also asked his sergeants to cut down trees to serve as passages.When someone old or weak falls to the ground on the way, no one asks, and they become a stepping stone on the road for others.

The first thing that happened was that the road was difficult. Cao Cao gathered defeated troops from various tribes along the way, and there was no food, grass and baggage to replenish along the way, which became a headache for Cao Cao.

After marching for two consecutive days, tens of thousands of hungry defeated soldiers of Cao's army collapsed on the ground to rest. Once they sat down to rest, it was difficult to get up.The wild vegetables, shrimps and crabs along the way alone were not enough to replenish Sergeant Cao's energy.Moreover, they had been marching through the mud for several days, which had already exhausted all their strength.

The sergeants grabbed everything they could eat along the way. Regardless of whether the vegetation in the muddy wetland was poisonous or not, almost all of it was eaten by the sergeants.The shrimps, crabs, river mussels have long since disappeared, and soldiers who do not want to move due to hunger can be seen everywhere on the mud.

Cao Cao and all the civil and military personnel looked at the horses in the army with fierce eyes, and they all tried to kill the horses and eat them to relieve their hunger.In the end, considering that Huo Jun might be encircling the front, he only killed a few hundred horses to ensure the combat effectiveness of the elite soldiers. The rest of the remaining soldiers were left to themselves.

However, Cao Cao's act of killing his horses and eating them aroused the greed of his infantry.Many old and weak people were killed that day, and bonfires were lit in the dark, and the aroma of barbecue filled the air.Cao Cao and his generals turned a blind eye, pretending to be deaf and dumb, pretending not to know.

At dawn the next day, smoke was rising from the Cao army, which was short of food. After the soldiers finished eating the dried meat, they were ready to go.However, it can be seen with the naked eye that Cao Cao's team is missing some people.

At the edge of Yunmengze, which is more than two hundred miles away, thirty to forty thousand remnants of the army were sent to the Second and Third Pavilions due to illness, hunger, and dried meat.By the time they arrived at Wulin, everyone was hungry, dressed in ragged clothes, and their eyes lit up when they saw something edible.

Cao Cao, who wanted to go to Wulin for dinner, met generals Zhu and Yin on the way. After learning the news about Wulin, he was filled with sorrow and joy.

(End of this chapter)