Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 596: Divide the troops and attack
Clear skies and good visibility. The black smoke ignited on the pontoon covered the sky for miles, and was visible to the Northern and Southern Wei troops on both sides of the strait.

Knowing that the pontoon bridge was prone to breaking, Cao Hong hurriedly gathered his soldiers and sent bold Wei soldiers to the bridge to see if he could find a way to save the pontoon bridge. However, the Wei soldiers who got on the bridge either fell into the Huai River under the swaying pontoon bridge, or were injured by the arrows shot by the Han army.

As the bridge deck was engulfed in flames, the pontoon shook severely and was in danger of breaking. No matter how the Wei generals tried to coerce and induce them, these Wei soldiers from the north were unwilling to go to the pontoon bridge to die. After all, you will die if you go to the bridge, but if you don't go on the bridge, you still have a chance to survive.

As the pontoon bridge became increasingly dangerous, Wei soldiers simply stayed on the shore to watch the battle, providing all help except sending troops to fight.

Moreover, Lu Xun and Pang Tong attacked the pontoon bridge from above and below. A large number of ropes and wooden beams fixing the pontoon bridge were cut off by the Han army. The iron cables connecting the boats finally broke under the fire and the impact of vehicles and ships.

Not long after, the iron cable connecting the two places hung down weakly in the Huaihe River. The boat serving as a bridge pier went down the river, and the pontoon bridge completely broke in the horrified eyes of the Wei army officers. Pang Tong in the upper reaches and Lu Xun in the lower reaches passed through the gap opened by the break of the pontoon bridge, and the two armies merged up and down.

The pontoon bridge that the Wei army had carefully maintained for a long time was reduced to nothing in less than half a day when the Han army burned and hacked it. Without the floating bridge, the Huai River lacked the power to contain the Han navy. The Han navy gathered up and down and showed off its power on the water.

Standing on the north bank and looking south, Cao Hong showed countless worries in his expression.

What should we do if the Wei army on Shaoyangzhou and the south bank loses its pontoon bridge?

In the former, tens of thousands of soldiers on Shaoyang Island hang alone in the middle of Zhouzhu. Although they are only more than two hundred steps away from the north bank, due to the presence of the Han navy, the distance between them is like a natural chasm.

"Let's wait and see for a while to see if there is a chance to build a bridge!" Cao Hong gritted his teeth and said: "If the water thieves and the navy keep staring at Shaoyangzhou, they will burn the stronghold, abandon the baggage and retreat."

Cao Xiu has been in charge of Jianghuai for many years and is very familiar with the terrain of Jianghuai. Now that the Shaoyangzhou pontoon bridge has been breached, as long as he retreats properly, he can still lead his army to escape from danger.

However, after Cao Xiu became frightened, he became more and more unwilling, with a look of anger on his face. Why did the Han navy appear upstream when Zhongli City was about to be defeated? Damn it, Jia Kui, how on earth did he stay on guard?

Without the pontoon bridge and the navy, the sergeants on Shaoyang Island are no different than the fish on the chopping board.

Zang Ba rode his horse and followed closely. When he saw the scene on the Huai River, he was also stunned.

Fortunately, Zang Ba had gone through many dangerous battles, and Shanneng was somewhat calm. He looked at the iron lock drifting on the Huaihe River and said: "Cao Yangzhou, the return route is cut off by water thieves. Our army should find another place." Retreat. If we stay in Zhongli for a long time and do not retreat, our army will be surrounded by water thieves and the army will be defeated by then!"

Cao Xiu looked back at Zhongli City, then exhaled and said: "Abandon the siege and abandon the baggage. The whole army immediately marched westward to see if they could cross the Huaihe River from the Tushan area and return home."

Their escape route is cut off!

"promise!"

The pontoon bridge broke and the Huai River was occupied by the Han navy. Thousands of oars and oars cut through the waves, and hundreds of ships formed a fleet of nearly ten miles, like a giant dragon galloping in the Huai River, surrounding the Wei Village in Shaoyangzhou.

"General... what should our army do now?" the attendant asked in panic.

The Wei army in Huaibei is in the most optimistic situation because it is on the north bank, but because of the small number of troops, it cannot be said to be safe.

After receiving the news, Cao Xiu rode his horse from the formation to the shore, where he could see the Wei army officers and soldiers on the shore.

The Wei army on Shaoyang Island is surrounded by the Huai River, and its situation is the most dangerous; followed by the Wei army in Huainan, which has many soldiers and horses, but because its retreat is cut off, it must find a way out as soon as possible.

Compared with Cao Hong's worries, Cao Xiudang was stunned when he learned that the pontoon bridge was broken.

The current situation is very simple. Since the pontoon bridge is broken and the Wei army cannot effectively control the Huai River, Shaoyangzhou and the Wei army on the north and south banks of the Huai River will be cut into three parts. Then, the next situation is very obvious. The Han army will inevitably eat three Wei armies in batches.

There is Tushan Mountain more than a hundred miles away from Zhongli City, and the west of Tushan Mountain enters the control area of ​​​​the Wei army. Once they enter the control area of ​​​​the Wei army, they can lead the army back to Huaibei from the ferry, or return to Shouchun.

At this time, the defeated Wei soldiers got off the boat, looked at the pursuing Han soldiers behind them, and fled to the shore in fear, their expressions full of panic. The Wei army officers and soldiers on the shore looked at the Han army navy galloping on the Huaihe River. Everyone was panicking, and many of them looked desperate.

Cao Xiu stood on the bank and looked north at the Huai River. He saw that the pontoon bridge was in a sea of ​​fire, and the road back to the north bank of his troops was completely cut off. Even Cao Xiu, who had always been strong, and even like the sergeants, couldn't help but feel a little panic in his heart.

The current situation is as Zang Ba said, the way back is blocked, Cao Xiu's troops are destined to be unable to stay in Zhongli for a long time, and they must find a way to return home. Although Cao Xiu is fierce, he is not a brainless person. If they did not retreat quickly while the Han army was launching their initial offensive, the Wei army in Huainan would not be able to return home when they were surrounded by the Han army.

A moment ago, Cao Xiu asked the sergeants under his tent to prepare for the battle on the city, hoping to completely conquer Zhongli City. Then Fang came to report that the Han navy had suddenly appeared upstream and attacked the pontoon with fire ships. Lu Xun led his troops to counterattack from the lower reaches, and attacked the pontoon bridge together with the Han army upstream.

All this must be done quickly, and cannot be carried forward slowly with baggage. Once the speed slows down, in addition to the Han navy, there will be Han soldiers and horses chasing them, and it will be another big defeat.

As for the Wei army on Shaoyang Island after he led his army to withdraw westward, Cao Xiu could only say that he was helpless. The Wei navy was almost wiped out, and the Wei army on the island was destined to be defeated.

Moreover, the pontoon bridge was destroyed, and it was inescapably related to Jia Kui, who was responsible for the defense. If Jia Kui hadn't made a mistake in holding on to the pontoon bridge, the entire army would not have collapsed. If the floating bridge can be defended, Zhongli will surely be destroyed by him.

"what!"

Thinking of this, Cao Xiu angrily drew his sword, split the stone with all his strength, and looked up to the sky and roared unwillingly.

This defeat was not his fault. Now he must bring his troops back as much as possible, otherwise everyone will accuse him of attacking Zhongli for a long time and causing the defeat!

On the Huaihe River, Lu Xun boarded a large boat, sailed across the pontoon bridge, and met with the sergeants led by Pang Tong. The upstream and downstream armies joined together and successfully destroyed the pontoon bridge. The strong men on the big ship beat the drums and trumpets vigorously, making a thunderous rumbling sound. The officers and soldiers stood on the deck, holding arms high, cheering and jumping for joy.

As the fighting on the Huaihe River subsided, the Han army's ships anchored. Pang Tong walked across the plank bridge set up by the two ships and met Lu Xun, who was commanding the army.

"General Chariot!"

"Dudu Pang!"

Pang Tong greeted Lu Xun and saluted, and said, "If Lu Chaoqi had not led his army to counterattack now, the pontoon bridge would probably be difficult to break!"

"Don't dare!"

Lu Xun looked humble and said: "If Pang Du was not afraid of the dangers, he led the navy to launch a surprise attack, entered the Huai River from the Feishui River, and the cars and ships rushed down, and burned the pontoon bridge upstream. I am afraid that Pang Du would have been restrained by his pontoon bridge for a long time, and it would be difficult to destroy the bridge. And relieve Zhongli’s siege.”

Cars and ships, one of Pang Tong's important tools for raiding the pontoon, were naval battleships developed by Huo Jun. Traditional boats and boats use oars and oars as driving tools, and wind and water are used as driving forces.

Cars and boats are different from traditional boats. They use wheels instead of oars as the driving tool, and their traveling speed is much faster than traditional boats. Of course, in addition to being faster than traditional boats and boats, vehicles and boats lack oars and oars, making it difficult to maneuver flexibly, have a single function and use environment, and cannot enter the sea.

But now it is used on the pontoon bridge, and it is most suitable for vehicles and boats. It does not need to fight with the boat, it only needs to use its speed to hit the pontoon.

"Don't dare!"

Pang Tong smiled and said: "This is not the result of Tong, but actually the strategy laid out by Da Sima to defeat the enemy."

With that said, Pang Tong pointed to the Wei army's camp on Shaoyang Island and asked: "The pontoon bridge is broken, and the Wei army is divided into three parts. The current situation is as Great Sima said, and we may be able to open the bag of tips given by Great Sima!"

"please!"

Pang Tong took out the brocade bag from his arms, opened it under Lu Xun's gaze, and unfolded the scarf.

However, seeing Huo Jun's military orders in advance, Lu Xun divided his troops of 10,000 people with Pang Tong, and asked Pang Tong to lead 20,000 sergeants to stay in Shaoyangzhou, deal with the Wei army on Zhouzhu, and try his best to force them to surrender and reduce the casualties of the sergeants.

Huo Du led 10,000 soldiers and horses and sailed upstream to Surabaya to break the siege of Xiapi City. After the siege was lifted, he stayed in Xiapi City to contain the troops in the Qingxu area.

Jiang Ji led 10,000 men, including his troops, to land in Huainan and break the siege of Zhongli. Then along the way they captured Cao Xiu, abandoned his baggage, and pursued the Wei army.

Lu Xun led 30,000 soldiers and horses, and did not care about the Wei army in Shaoyangzhou, nor the Wei army on the north and south banks. Instead, they directly took the boat upstream and took advantage of the Wei army's lack of troops in the Huaixi area to occupy military strongholds such as Xiashi, Yingkou, and Xiacai in the northern perimeter of Shouchun. Whenever the Wei army attacks, be sure to hold on.

Looking at the task assignments on the scarf, Lu Xun frowned slightly and said, "I am ordering you to garrison the surrounding cities of Shouchun. Could it be that the Grand Sima has a plan to defeat Shouchun!"

From the perspective of task allocation, Lu Xun was in a difficult position. He had fought against the Wei army for about half a year, and now he had to take on the arduous task of guarding the garrisons north of Shouchun. Pang Tong only attacked and burned the pontoon bridge, but was assigned the task of attacking Shaoyang Island.

Fortunately, it was Huo Jun who assigned the task. Although Lu Xun was slightly dissatisfied, he must obey Huo Jun's orders from now on.

Pang Tong nodded slightly and said: "Da Sima will set up defenses at Luojian River. If Cao Xiu can be defeated, he will lead his troops west to Shouchun and carry out a plan to besiege Shouchun. The land chariots and cavalry should lead their troops to the garrison perimeter and do not allow the Wei army to reinforce their troops. Shouchun."

After a pause, Pang Tong said: "Shouchun is a strong city in the world. If we don't take advantage of it now and destroy it, if we want to attack it again in the future, we will have to spend several times the effort today before we can do it!"

In order to smoothly connect the siege of Shouchun, someone must sacrifice. Only Lu Xun could shoulder the task of guarding Shouchun's peripheral areas.

Xiacai, Xiashi, Yingkou and other strongholds in the north of Shouchun are all dangerous points for the Central Plains to go south to rescue Shouchun. If it can be captured in advance, it will be a good start for the Battle of Shouchun.

"good!"

Lu Xun nodded and said magnanimously: "Since it is the military order of Grand Sima, how dare you disobey it. Now Shaoyangzhou will be handed over to Shi Yuan. After discussing with the generals, we will divide our troops and march to various places."

After speaking, Lu Xun pointed to the Wei army on the north bank and said: "After the armies are dispersed, I am afraid that the armies on the north bank intend to rescue the enemy invaders in Shaoyangzhou, so I hope Shiyuan will use his troops carefully."

Pang Tong asked Lu Xun for advice and said, "Does Lu Cheqi have a high level of education?"

"I dare not express my opinion!"

Lu Xun pondered for a while and said: "Now that the pontoon bridge has been destroyed, the enemy troops on the island are already timid, and the Wei army on the north bank is like a frightened bird. Xun thought that tonight Pang Du could lead his army to pretend to attack the Wei soldiers on the north bank, and it was a bluff. Cao Hong was frightened and would definitely lead his troops to withdraw. Let’s go. The Wei soldiers on the north and south banks are defeated, and the Wei soldiers on the island are waiting to surrender!”

"Thank you Bo Yan for the advice!"

"Don't dare!"

(End of this chapter)