Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 343 Fear of ridicule

Chapter 343 Fear of ridicule
  In May, Hanzhong, Hannan camp.

In the big tent, Feng Xi stood in the tent, raised his hands and said: "On the order of General Guan, Xi led five thousand troops to Hanzhong to wait for Huo Du's dispatch."

Huo Jun got up from the couch and asked, "General, can your troops and horses fight today?"

Feng Xi's face straightened slightly, he raised his hands and said, "Please give me your instructions, Mr. Huo!"

Huo Jun walked to the sand table in Hanzhong, pointed to Hannan, and said: "Cao Cao sent troops to cross the river and attacked the Xishan camp many times. Now there are many sergeants in the army deployed, and this camp is short of troops to garrison. The general has come from a long way, I don't know if the general is willing. Reinforce the Xishan camp to prevent Cao Cao from crossing the river."

Huo Jun's words seemed to be asking, but his tone contained a command.

Feng Xi straightened up and said, "Xi must obey Huo Du's order."

"good!"

Looking at Feng Xi's back, Huo Jun sighed slightly.

Seven days ago, Cao Cao's troops arrived in Hanzhong. Cao Cao, who came with anger, ordered his army to cross the river and attack Hannan. Fortunately, Huo Jun had already made arrangements and stationed troops at dangerous strategic points in Hannan. He built mountain fortifications from Dingjun Mountain to Liangshan.

The generals of Cao's army led their troops to attack one after another. Not only did they suffer a large number of casualties, but they also caused losses to the southern army. To be on the safe side, Huo Jun dispatched his troops to rotate their camps and block the Hannan mountain fortress, preventing Cao's army from even an inch of land.

Although there were fortifications to support him, Huo Jun always had few troops and had to withstand Cao Cao's strong attack. However, Huo Jun was also willing to bear the loss, because Cao's army on the attacking side would suffer greater losses if they climbed the mountain and crossed the river.

If we count from the time when Cao Cao sent troops into Hanzhong, Xiahou Yuan's siege of Mianyang was the early stage, Huo Jun's relief of the siege was the middle stage, and Cao Cao's forced entry of troops into Hanzhong can be said to be the later stage. Just to survive this period, Cao Cao had to withdraw his troops even if he didn't want to.

Huo Jun put his hands on the table and watched the distribution of Cao and Liu's soldiers and horses on the sand table. Each flag represented a battalion of sergeants.

With Yangping Pass as the center, Cao's army was distributed inside and outside the pass, reaching Mianyang in the east and Qishan Road in the west, totaling [-] to [-] people.

Liu Jun arranged seven forts from Dingjun Mountain in Hannan to Liangshan for seventy or eighty miles, each with five to ten thousand people, serving as horns to each other. In the two cities in northern Han Dynasty, there are [-] people in Mianyang and [-] people in Chenggu. There are nearly [-] people in total.

With [-] men holding the camp without fighting, with sufficient logistical support and water on the mountain, Cao Cao really couldn't do anything to Huo Jun.

Of course, Huo Jun had never thought of attacking Cao Cao. Out of fear of Huo Jun, Cao Cao's camp was also in danger.

If Huo Jun wants to move Cao Cao, he must also consider his own strength. Han Sui died in battle, Ma Chao surrendered, and Cao Cao almost made up for the troops he lost at Jinkou from Guanzhong and Longyou.

Cao Cao incorporated Guanlong Buqi into the army and trained them in military discipline. Their combat effectiveness was only strong but not weak. In particular, Ma Chao led the Guanlong cavalry and galloped across the north of Han Dynasty, which frightened Huo Jun who lacked cavalry.

All in all, Cao Cao is currently afraid of Huo Jun's military strategy and dare not act recklessly; Huo Jun is afraid of the Guanlong cavalry and dare not attack forcefully.

"Hodo!"

Yan Pu took the bamboo slips and put them into the account and said, "The Bazhong people have sent another thirty thousand stones of grain to the camp. Please give Du Huo Du's approval."

Huo Jun signed the official document with a pen and said: "I ordered the sergeants of the Seventh Battalion to eat more food tonight and cook more meat. At dusk, the grain and grass should be walked along the river, and they must be seen by the soldiers of Cao Cao."

"promise!"

Seeing Huo Jun's arrangement, Lu Xun laughed and said, "Huo Du must be trying to mess with the hearts of Cao's soldiers and generals!"

Huo Jun handed the official document to Yan Pu and said with a smile: "The Qishan and Chencang roads are hundreds of miles long and rugged. Cao Cao has [-] soldiers and no less than [-] cavalry. They can eat horses and chew them. They are far better than our army."

After a pause, Huo Jun said: "The scouts sneaked into Cao's camp and saw very few meat. This shows that Cao's army is probably short of food and grass!"

In terms of logistical supply difficulties, Huo Jun's difficulty was less than that of Cao Cao.

First of all, in terms of the number of soldiers and horses, Cao Cao had about [-] and Huo Jun had about [-]. Due to fighting in the mountains, Huo Jun's army had few horses, with only two or three thousand riders out of [-]. The number of Cao Cao's horses should be several times that of Huo Jun's, at least ten thousand.

The consumption of one war horse is equivalent to the consumption of three soldiers. According to Cao Cao's current army structure, he is equivalent to the consumption of at least [-] soldiers.

A sergeant eclipses two big stones in the moon. Cao's army consumes [-] big stones of grain and grass every month, while Huo Jun only consumes ten big stones of grain every month, which is half of Cao's army.

The distribution of [-] large stones of military rations required Bazhong men to fight and women to be lucky. What kind of trouble will the north go through to supply Cao Cao's army?

Lu Xun pointed to Cao Cao's army on the sand table and said: "Since Xia Houyuan died in the battle, Hannan has been occupied by our army, and Hanzhong is no longer within Cao Cao's reach. Today's invasion is mostly out of anger. You should seek defeat!"

Huo Jun nodded slightly and said: "General Guan has sent Lu Meng north from the Jinniu Road to attack Cao's army's food road. This may be a way to retreat from the enemy."

Lu Xun pondered for a while and said, "In this case, the general may go out to Baishui Road, contact Lu Meng, exchange information, and see if he can find out where Cao's army stores food and grass."

"good!"

Huo Jun ordered: "Zi Jun ordered his men to dress up as common people chopping firewood and go out of Hanzhong to contact General Lu Meng to see if they could get information about Cao's army's food route."

"promise!"

Not to mention that the soldiers of the Southern Army were delighted with the news that Huo Jun had given them extra food. Today's Cao Cao is indeed, as Huo Jun said, having a headache for the supply of food and grass.

"Wei Gong, our army has a large number of troops and horses, and they have been exhausted so far. There are only one hundred thousand dan of food and grass left, which is less than a month's use."

Yang Xiu submitted the amount of food and grass expenditure in the camp and said, "Should we save food and grass now to prepare for a long war?"

Cao Cao frowned slightly and said, "The food and grass in Guanzhong haven't arrived yet?"

Yang Xiu bowed and replied: "Today, the grain and grass arrived in Guanzhong, totaling [-] shi. Totaling this number, we only have [-] shi of grain."

"Oh!"

Cao Cao patted his head, as if remembering something, and said: "At noon, I will submit a reply to Yu Gu for approval. I almost forgot!"

"Does that mean we should save food and grass for a long war?" Yang Xiu asked again.

After hearing Yang Xiu's inquiry and remembering the recent losses of troops and horses, Cao Cao already felt regret, and the anger gradually disappeared from his mind.

The road to Shu is too difficult to travel, and Hanzhong is not easy to fight. Except for Yangping Pass, Mianyang and Hannan were all in Huo Jun's hands. Huo Jun used the time he spent in Shu to repair fortifications near the mountains and rivers. When his troops arrived, Huo Jun would be ready.

During the battle, Bazhong continued to send more troops and supplies, which gradually made Cao Cao want to withdraw his troops and did not want to continue fighting with Huo Jun in Hanzhong.

This is the difference between Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Liu Bei values ​​​​love, but Guan Yu died in the battle. He was furious and sent the entire country's troops to attack Lu Xun. After fighting in Yiling for half a year, they hoped that Cao Pi would intervene and refused to withdraw their troops. In the end, the company camp was burned by Lu Xun. Not only was the brother's revenge not avenged, but tens of thousands of troops were also involved.

Cao Cao was ruthless and ruthless. Even though his brother Xia Houyuan died in battle, he was only angry for a moment. He won't be able to calm down for a long time and fight hard. After all, Cao Cao ranks among the top ranks of the Three Kingdoms in terms of military use. You can tell by looking at the territories he has conquered.

Just as Cao Cao was deep in thought, suddenly there was a commotion outside the tent.

Cao Cao shouted outside the tent: "What's going on outside the tent?"

The sound of footsteps sounded, and Cao Hong reported it and entered the account.

"I am reporting to Duke Wei that the southern thieves are eating more food today. They are killing pigs and sheep along the south bank. The aroma is overwhelming. More than a thousand grain trucks have been transported to the camp, and they are piled up like a mountain. When our officers and soldiers see it, many of them are envious. , I asked if I could eat more like the southern thieves today." Cao Hong said.

"Huh?" Cao Cao was suspicious and said, "Let's go and have a look with Gu!"

"promise!"

Under the leadership of Cao Hong, Cao Cao watched the movements of the Confederate army across the wooden fence camp and across the Han River.

Seeing five to six hundred pigs and sheep being washed by the Han River, the blood of slaughtered animals was all over the river, and the Confederate gunmen were talking and laughing.

In the distance, thousands of sergeants came out of the camp to carry the baggage on the trucks, and then piled them up at a high place for fear that Cao Jun would not see them.

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and asked, "Gong Ming, what do the sergeants here say?"

Xu Huang pondered for a while and said: "Today, the soldiers who crossed the river to attack the mountain were full of envy, and their words were full of offense!"

"Ha ha!"

Cao Cao sneered a few times and said, "Huo Jun thought that our army had no food, so he took this strategy to disrupt the morale of our army."

"Come on!"

Cao Cao ordered: "Send the order to increase food tonight, and each tribe will have its share."

"No!" The attendant took the order and left.

Xu Huang hesitated a little and said: "Wei Gong, today's army is short of food and grass, how can we be like Huo Jun? Why not just reward the army that crossed the river to attack the mountain, and the other troops will eat according to their usual quota."

Cao Cao smiled and said, "The food team is coming. Our army has no worries about food and grass, so why do we need to be frugal?"

With that said, Cao Cao looked at his generals and said: "Our army has entered Hanzhong. The soldiers have traveled thousands of miles to fight. Many of the soldiers are tired. We will add food tonight just to reward the soldiers in the army!"

"Wei Gong is kind and virtuous, I will thank you for your kindness!" the generals said.

"Ha ha!"

Cao Cao supported the generals out of thin air and said: "The south is thieving the mountain fortress, I hope all the ministers will encourage it."

"promise!"

Yang Xiu was confused when he saw Cao Cao's actions, but after thinking about it carefully, he understood the meaning of Cao Cao's actions and watched Cao Cao's performance quietly.

On the way back to his tent, Cao Cao said to the soldiers passing by with a kind face: "More food tonight, everyone will eat more, and everyone will have his share."

"Thank you, Duke Wei!"

"Wei Gong is kind and kind!"

"Long live Duke Wei!"

"Long live!"

I don’t know who took the lead in shouting long live. Under the leadership of the soldiers, they raised their arms and shouted: "Long live!"

Cao Cao accepted it calmly and raised his hand to say hello to everyone.

In the sound of long live, Cao Cao walked into the big tent.

Yang Xiu wanted to follow him into the account, but was stopped by Xu Huang, who asked him to enter the side account.

The two of them sat down. When Yang Xiu saw that Xu Huang had something to ask, he smiled and said, "General Gongming, as we are friends, it doesn't matter if you say it."

Xu Huang hesitated a little and said: "Wei Gong has been in the army for half his life and is well versed in the art of war, but he is helpless against Huo Jun. Now we are recruiting [-] troops to conquer Hanzhong. The road is difficult and dangerous, and food and grass are scarce. Wei Gong knows that this is Huo Jun's plan, and he Why follow Huo Jun's wishes?"

"Ha ha!"

Yang Xiu laughed a few times and said, "This Duke obviously doesn't know Wei Duke!"

"Sir, please elaborate!" Xu Huang asked for advice.

Yang Xiu stroked his beard and said: "The military strategy of Duke Wei is not inferior to that of Huo Jun. Looking at ancient and modern times, the only person who can defeat Duke Wei with military force is probably the Emperor Shizu!"

"The Duke of Wei often has great taboos when using troops. He is suspicious of things and forgets the danger when his soldiers are in obedience. Therefore, there are the defeats of Feishui and the loss of Chrysostom. The defeat of Duke Wei is not a crime of war, but is actually due to his temperament!"

"Then why do you reward the soldiers of various ministries regardless of the shortage of food and grass now?" Xu Huang asked puzzledly.

Yang Xiu sighed slightly and said: "Young Ming doesn't know what Duke Wei is thinking. Huo Jun is holding a dangerous position and there is no shortage of troops and food. This cannot be fought for a long time. Duke Wei raised the army because of his anger. Now that we see the situation, his anger is gradually disappearing. Xiu Wei Duke has given birth to materials. The thought of retreating has no intention of fighting for a long time!"

Xu Huang suddenly understood, nodded in agreement and said: "What Mr. Huang said solved the confusion in Huang's heart!"

After a pause, Xu Huang asked again: "As Mr. Cong said, if you want to defeat Hanzhong, you must work hard. There is no hope of defeating Hanzhong now. Why doesn't Wei Gong withdraw his troops to avoid wasting the soldiers?"

Yang Xiu shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said: "The troops sent out this time did not prevent Liu Bei from taking Shu. Instead, they lost the generals and caused over [-] casualties among the sergeants. It can be said to be a great defeat. The prime minister was afraid that he would retreat and be ridiculed by the world, so he stationed troops in Yangping to watch Huo Jun. Is there a shortage of baggage?"

Since Cao Cao took control of the Han Emperor, his burden has become heavier and heavier, making it difficult for him to show his vulnerability to outsiders. In particular, the Battle of Chrysostom completely shattered the myth of Cao Cao's invincibility, which made Cao Cao even more concerned about his own image.

In the Battle of Hanzhong, a large army was mobilized to break the siege of Bashu. Unexpectedly, Xia Houyuan died in the battle, and Cao Cao's efforts were in vain. With this withdrawal, Cao Cao was destined to be disappointed and Liu Bei's reputation was achieved.

Xu Huang pondered for a while and said: "Sir, Wei Gong guessed that Huo Jun's actions today were a strategy to confuse our army and show that he has plenty of food and fodder."

"Hmm~"

Yang Xiu stroked his beard and thought about it and said: "Wei Gong is suspicious. He probably believes that Huo Jun is not short of food, but also thinks that Huo Jun is short of food."

Xu Huang became enlightened again and said: "According to what Mr. Wei said, Duke Wei wanted to inspire the soldiers to fight hard. Whether he succeeds or not depends on the next few days. If it is difficult to break the bandit camp, he should retreat due to lack of food and grass; if The troops destroyed the bandit camp, captured Hanzhong, and then rested and reorganized on the spot."

Yang Xiu nodded slightly and said, "Gong Ming's words must be what Duke Wei is thinking!"

Xu Huang showed admiration on his face, raised his hands and said, "Sir, you are unparalleled in resourcefulness. I deeply admire you!"

Yang Xiu sighed and said, "If Ruo Xiu is unparalleled in resourcefulness and helped Duke Wei defeat the enemy and win, why would he say these words to the general!"

Seeing Xu Huang's embarrassed expression, Yang Xiu smiled and said: "Today's remarks should be made casually by Xiu. General Gongming doesn't need to care!"

"Huang will not say what he said today to outsiders!" Xu Huang replied.

"good!"

Yang Xiu stepped out of the tent and headed towards Cao Cao's tent.

 Zhang Lu's official position was written incorrectly before. He was always the General of Zhenxi.
    
   
  (End of this chapter)

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