Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 387: The Strategy to Determine the Flood

March, Shouchun, Bagong Mountain.

With his hands on the wooden railing of the watchtower, Liu Bei climbed up and looked down. More than ten miles between the Huai and Fei rivers, he had a panoramic view of the movements of the Wei army on the other side of the river.

"Hey!"

Liu Bei sighed slightly and said in a low voice: "Cao Mengde deployed his army on the other side and locked me in Bagong Mountain. His military strategy is truly outstanding."

To be honest, he has been fighting in the Central Plains for more than ten years. The ordinary generals are not his opponents, but Cao Cao is his lifelong enemy. So now in Shouchun, facing off against Cao Cao, the psychological pressure is really not small.

Fortunately, he has been making progress for more than ten years, from being chased by Cao Cao, to contending with Cao Cao, to raising his troops for the Northern Expedition. In a sense, it can be regarded as his victory.

Looking at the pontoon bridge on the Huai River, which connects Shouchun and Huaibei, and where Cao's soldiers are constantly crossing, Liu Bei looked troubled.

Suddenly, Liu Bei asked: "It is difficult to use troops in Shouchun this year. Does Zilong think that he can let Yunchang go north and pretend to capture Xiangfan? Is this a containment?"

Zhao Yun hesitated for a long time and said: "Your Majesty, General Guan raised his troops as a feint, and his duty is to guard Wuhan. If we take Xiangfan from the north, Jiangxia will be empty, and the troops will rush in, which will endanger Wuhan!"

Although the emperor's defense of the country can stabilize the political situation, it is not conducive to the mobilization of the army. It is necessary to always leave a large army for control in the north of the Yangtze River to prevent soldiers and horses from Runan and Xiangfan from breaking into Wuhan and causing a sudden change.

Now that Liu Bei has mobilized his entire country to conquer the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, Wuhan is mostly empty. Guan Yu and Wenpin were guarding Wuhan, so it was even more difficult to use troops easily.

"That's it!"

Liu Bei also knew the importance of this, and sighed and said: "Cao Ren has been stubbornly refusing to fight all year round, only repairing the fortress in the mountains and rivers. Even if Zong Yun Chang leads his army to the north, he may not be able to do anything."

Seeing Liu Bei's troubles, Zhao Yun comforted him and said, "Your Majesty, in the matter of soldiers, victory or defeat mostly happens in a moment. Victory with troops may happen tomorrow or next month. The Northern Expedition should be carried out slowly."

Then, Zhao Yun smiled and said: "It's hard to say whether something might happen to General Yide."

"Yide?"

Liu Bei smiled and said: "The troops sent from Hanzhong are just empty troops. Yide sent troops thousands of miles across the Qinling Mountains. It is a good thing that we are not defeated in this battle."

As he said that, Liu Bei looked at Zhao Yun and said with a smile: "Zilong is becoming more and more stable. It is a blessing to have a minister in charge of the Chinese army."

"I am loyal to you on official business!" Zhao Yun replied with cupped hands.

Liu Bei nodded with satisfaction. He chose Zhao Yun as the leader of the central army instead of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. The victory is that Zhao Yun is steady and fair. And he has served the country faithfully for many years and has never changed his mind.

While the monarch and his ministers were chatting, the attendant shouted from below the watchtower: "Your Majesty, your ministers have arrived at the big tent!"

"good!"

Liu Bei gathered his emotions, went downstairs along the wooden ladder, and returned to the tent under the protection of his attendants.

The layout of the big tent is simple, with a dozen easy-to-carry chairs, a table, a couch, and a map of Shouchun.

Seeing Liu Bei enter the account, all the civil and military officials bowed their hands and said, "Greetings to the king!"

"Gentlemen, please sit down!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Looking at the civil and military personnel in the tent, Liu Bei asked: "Cao Cao raised his troops to Shouchun and confronted our army at the Huai and Fei rivers. Since the confrontation, it must have been more than ten days, and it has been difficult to make any progress. I wonder if you have any strategies to teach me. ?”

The generals looked at each other in confusion. In the current situation, they didn't have a good plan.

After a long silence, Huang Zhong said: "Your Majesty, our army is stronger than the navy. It is the rainy season and the Huai River has risen sharply. Zhong thought that we might use boats to isolate the Huai River and besieged Shouchun. The enemy camped ten miles away from the water, Zhong Zhong thought. I am willing to lead our troops and horses across the water, carry the water to camp, and explore the enemy's strength."

"No!"

Liu Bei shook his head and said: "Although the water in the Huai River surges in summer, it is not a natural hazard. When the Huai River surges, it is not impossible for Cao Cao to build a pontoon bridge and cross the river upstream. You have crossed the Feishui River and want to carry the water to camp. Not a good idea."

"Tian Yu and Yu Jin are not foolhardy generals. Now that they have retreated ten miles, they have the intention of attacking halfway across. Your strategy is too risky and difficult to use."

"How about letting Huo Du lead his army to the west to join the army?" Huang Quan suggested.

Liu Bei objected and said: "Zhongmiao's soldiers are for our army's back-up use and should not be touched lightly!"

After Huo Jun captured Huaiyin, he sent people to divide the cities of Zhongli and Xuyi, and sent the excess boats to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was very happy with Huo Jun's progress and wrote a letter to express his appreciation. However, for the new mission, Liu Bei asked Huo Jun to temporarily station in Huaidong to act as a back-up for the army.

"Your Majesty, our army is stronger than the navy, but weaker than the cavalry. Shouchun is located in a low-lying area, and the Feishui flows out of Shaopi and passes around the city. Now we may build a dam on the upper reaches of the Feishui. When the rainy season comes, the Feishui will rise sharply. , dig river weirs and fill them with fertile water for Shouchun."

Pang Tong pondered for a while and then said: "During the Feishui Battle, although Yu Jin, Tian Yu and other generals were brave, they had no boats and could not rescue them. Our army took the opportunity to attack Shouchun with its elite troops, or besieged the camps with troops, looking for opportunities to take advantage of the situation to break the city!" "

Shouchun diverted fertilizer water into a moat, which destined Shouchun to be a low-lying land. If there is a flood, it is inevitable that Shouchun City will be washed away.

Although Yu Jin, Tian Yu and other generals stationed troops on the west bank of Feishui, Cao Cao knew that Shouchun was a low-lying area, so he ordered his generals to camp at higher ground. After the fertilizer and water are eliminated, the low-lying areas will inevitably be washed away and each camp will be isolated. At that time, Liu Bei sent out his troops, and it was probably feasible to deal with the various battalions surrounded by Feishui.

After hearing about Shuijue, Liu Bei's eyes lit up and he said happily: "I heard that Shouchun is always wet, so there is a drainage gate. It is difficult for ordinary water to break through the city. But even so, if the Shuijue strategy is successful, even if Shouchun cannot be destroyed , but it can also severely damage the enemy."

After a pause, Liu Bei said worriedly: "But when Cao Cao crossed the river south to attack Bagong Mountain, how should our army treat him?"

"This is easy to hear!"

Pang Tong stroked his beard and said proudly: "The rain is heavy, so we can use fire boats to go down the river. At that time, Cao Cao was in control of building a bridge to the south, but there was nothing we could do. We could only take the upper reaches of the Huai River to cross the river, and when Cao Cao crossed the Huai River, the water would break. The strategy has been accomplished!"

"Shi Yuan has the talent of a national scholar and uses water to replace soldiers. This is a wonderful strategy!"

Liu Bei stroked his beard and smiled and said: "The water flooded Shouchun, and we rushed our troops across the river to attack the camps. We should implement this strategy quickly!"

"Your Majesty, please wait!"

Lu Su looked at Pang Tong, who was quite proud, and said: "Cao Cao raised all his troops in Huaibei to wait for our army to take action. Now the king wants to defeat Feishui to defeat the thieves, but Yu Jin, Tian Yu, and Xiahou Dun all defended from high places. At that time, If it cannot be overcome, Cao Cao will lead his army southward to capture the Bagong Mountain camp."

"Although the fire boat can destroy the pontoon bridge, Cao Cao has boats in his hands. There is a sandbar in Xiacai, and a pontoon bridge can be built to cross the river. At that time, Cao Cao used all his troops to attack Bagong Mountain, but our army was unable to defeat the camps, both inside and outside. , our army will definitely be defeated."

Lu Su has been in Jianghuai for many years. He is not as good as a foreigner from Pangtong, and he knows the water conditions of the Huaihe River very well. Regardless of whether the plan is good or not, it would be interesting if Cao Cao steals the Bagong Mountain camp after failing to conquer each camp!

"This~"

Liu Bei looked troubled and said, "Now it is better to mobilize Zhongmiao's troops to march westward and join our army, and the two armies will work together to defeat Cao Cao." "Otherwise!"

Fazheng thought for a while and said: "I'd like to inform the king that if you send Huo Du to march westward, it might arouse Cao Cao's alert. Now it's better to send Huo Du north to Xiapi to disturb Cao Cao, and then send his troops to the east to help Xiapi. At that time, there are few soldiers in Huaibei. , the water plan may be possible!"

"Tune Zhong Miao Bei Shang Xia Pi?"

Liu Bei looked thoughtful and said: "Xiapi is hundreds of miles away from the Huaihe River. If we go north of Zhongmiao and go up to Xiapi, there is a risk of a lone army going deep."

Pang Tong advised: "Your Majesty, Huo Du is advancing in a boat. The Wei people are weaker than the navy. Even if the enemy Kou Dong attacks, Huo Du can advance and retreat freely!"

Lu Su looked serious and said: "Your Majesty, the Jianghuai River is not that of Wu and Chu, and the water conditions of Wu and Chu cannot be used to control the water conditions of Xu and Huaihe. Cao Cao is not a man without plans. He has many advisers and generals under his command, and many of them are high-ranking scholars. Today, at the beginning of the fall of Huaiyin, we must guard Zhongli. , Huo Du has few troops, so it may not be a wise move to let the troops go deep."

"Your Majesty, the army was blocked by Cao Cao at Bagong Mountain. Now we don't have the strategy to defeat Feishui. How can we defeat the enemy? If we don't move Cao Cao's army in the north of Huaihe to stay away, how can our army look west?"

Pang Tong handed over to Liu Bei and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please think deeply about the interests involved. If you don't break Cao Cao's military strength, this Northern Expedition may be in vain."

Liu Bei gritted his teeth and said: "The words of Shi Yuan and Xiao Zhi are reasonable. They store fat and water to determine longevity. It is a good strategy to divide the troops and attack the camps to relieve the pressure on the main camp and move the enemy troops away from Huaibei."

"I have sent a letter to Huo Du, and I have ordered him to lead his army north from Sishui, plan to capture Xiapi, divide the heavy troops in Huaibei, and force Cao Cao to send troops to the east for reinforcements."

"promise!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Pang Tong praised.
-

The scouts sailed down the boat and reached Xuyi in Shouchun for three to four hundred miles, and they arrived at Xuyi in one or two days.

Huo Jun marched west from Huaiyin and stationed troops in Xuyi, but he was in a state of despair.

Xuyi was a prosperous place during the Eastern Han Dynasty, but during the decades of war, Xuyi had long since declined. Even in the establishment of Cao Wei, Xuyi County did not exist.

When Huo Jun entered Xuyi City, there were only a dozen or so households in the city, most of them elderly people living alone. The people were panicking about the arrival of the army. Huo Jun provided food relief to more than ten households with orphans and widows, and asked sergeants to move south with dozens of people to live in the hinterland of Huaidong.

In the past, Huo Jun often fought in Jiangzuo or Jingchu, where the people could often see him. The previously abandoned Wancheng was surrounded by people hiding in the mountains. Ran led his army north to Huaidong and made Huo Jun fully understand what desolation is.

The vast fertile fields in Jianghuai are abandoned, and the graves are overgrown with weeds. The abandoned city is deserted, with only empty and toppled houses telling the story of past prosperity.

Huo Jun sent people to briefly clean up the abandoned Xuyi City, and then led his sergeants to move in.

After staying in Xuyi City for about half a month, Huo Jun received Liu Bei's military order to go north to Xuzhou.

In the spacious courtyard in the north of the city, military officers and soldiers were ordered to enter the hall to discuss military matters.

In the hall, Huo Jun put down the letter and said: "Cao Cao's army is approaching Shouchun, and the number of his soldiers and horses is as high as more than 100,000. The king has 60,000 to 70,000 soldiers and horses, but only 40,000 to 50,000 can fight. Therefore, Your Majesty is deeply worried about Cao Cao's large army and the difficulty of advancing Shouchun. Now he orders our army to march north to Surabaya and pretend to capture Pi, in order to mobilize the enemy's reinforcements from the east."

Gao Xiang laughed a few times and said: "Since the beginning of the war, Zang Ba has been afraid of the name of the governor, and he has fortified the walls and cleared the country. When our army goes north, he will ask Cao Cao for help because of his deep fear. It is very easy to feign an attack!"

Young Ding Feng was very complacent and said with a smile: "Captain, the king ordered us to pretend to capture Xia Pi, why not actually capture Xia Pi now. Xia Pi is the county of Xuzhou. If we can really capture it, it will be a great achievement!"

Huo Jun saw that the generals were floating up, and the things became more and more outrageous. His face darkened, and he warned everyone: "When it comes to soldiers, you should guard against arrogance and impetuosity. Xiapi is a large town in the Central Plains. Thousands of people are stationed there, which is enough to retreat." Ten thousand soldiers. In the past, Cao Cao captured Pi and led the Si River to fight it, and then captured Lu Bu."

"If we go north to Surabaya and besiege Xiapi, it will not be an easy task. You should not take it lightly."

"promise!"

Seeing Huo Jun's warning, everyone responded with serious expressions.

"Commander, I am heading north to Surabaya. I don't know when to march and what arrangements are there?" Jiang Ji asked.

Huo Jun pondered for a while and then said: "The entire army will be prepared with two months' worth of food and will send out troops in five days. Zhongli Fei was ordered to lead 3,000 troops to guard Zhongli, and Xu Sheng was ordered to supervise 5,000 troops to guard Huaiyin. More than 20,000 troops were sent north to Surabaya. We surrounded Kapi to lure Cao Cao to divide his troops and march eastward."

"promise!"

After the generals retreated, Jiang Ji stayed alone.

Jiang Ji thought for a while and asked: "The king ordered the governor to go north to Xuzhou. Could it be that Shouchun has his own plan?"

In response to Jiang Ji's inquiry, Huo Jun did not hide anything and said: "The king wants to conquer the Feishui to flood Shouchun. When the water rises greatly, he will lead his troops to cross the Feishui to capture Shouchun, or besiege the camps."

"However, Cao Cao has led a large number of troops in Huaibei, and they are eyeing the Bagong Mountain camp. Therefore, the king ordered me to lead the army north to Surabaya to divide the troops in Huaibei."

Hearing this, Jiang Ji stroked his beard and thought deeply.

Seeing that Jiang Ji was silent, Huo Jun asked, "Is it possible that the strategy of fattening water is difficult to achieve?"

Jiang Ji shook his head and said: "I'd like to report to the Governor that the strategy of fattening water may be possible, but Ji is worried that there are wise people in Cao Cao's account who can recognize this strategy!"

"Who is Zitong?" Huo Jun asked curiously.

Jiang Ji frowned and sighed, and said, "This person is none other than Liu Ye!"

"Liu Ye, a Chengde native of Jiujiang, has lived in Shouchun for a long time. At that time, Duke Ying (Liu Fu) of Yuan Dynasty was in charge of the Jianghuai River. He invited Liu Ye, Hu Zhi and Ji to visit Xuchang. Liu Ye and Hu Zhi were rare heroes in Jiujiang. Today Fortunately, Ji returned to the king, and the two of them went to serve under Cao Cao."

"Hu Zhi is good at governance and can work well with others; Liu Ye is good at military strategy and good at planning. Both of them have their own strengths and can be used in important ways."

"Liu Ye?"

Huo Jun stroked his mustache, looking thoughtful.

In terms of fame, Liu Ye is not as famous as Guo Jia, Er Xun, and Jia Xu. But in terms of actual ability, Liu Ye is definitely underestimated.

For example, after Cao Cao captured Hanzhong, if he had listened to Liu Ye's advice, he would have conquered Bashu in the south. It is probably difficult to know whether there will be Shu Han in the future.

Huo Jun thought for a while and said: "Although Liu Ye is talented, he is not a man who can never leave any strategy behind. Now that the king has sent troops to occupy Bagong Mountain, there is no other strategy available except the strategy of water decision. If you plan and act, maybe can succeed."

The Battle of Shouchun was not commanded by Huo Jun, and it was difficult for Huo Jun to know the specific details of the arrangement. Whether any strategy will succeed is unpredictable. Now, as Huo Jun said, if you try more strategies, you will always have a chance of success.

Huo Jun pointed to Xiapi on the map and said with a smile: "Send troops to Surabaya and besiege Xiapi. Our army first arrived in the north to fight, so we need to check the geography and water conditions more. Lao Zitong should be responsible for this matter, and he will fill in the gaps in Jun's inspection. !”

"No!" Jiang Ji responded.

(End of this chapter)