Three Kingdoms.

Chapter 3273: Flying Dust

If anyone could get the results afterwards and then reverse the previous process, then everyone would be like Zhuge Liang. But only those who can make plans in advance before things happen can be considered wise.

Fei Qian is not considered a wise man, but he is moving in this direction. After all, for so many years, I have been in the whirlpool of this big man, and I am in a high position, and I have mastered enough information. If I am still being calculated at every turn, instead of planning beforehand, then it is undoubtedly a kind of situation for Fei Qian. fail.

From a strategic perspective, Cao Cao's attack on the Yuncheng Basin in the east of Hedong is of little significance.

 Because the Yuncheng Basin in the east of the Hedong River is a "connected" land.

 I can go and he can come, which is called "tong".

Since it is in the shape of Tong, it will be located in Gaoyang first to benefit the grain road and win in battle.

Gaoyang is not a county, but refers to a high place and a sunny side. Cao Cao first built a camp in Zhongtiao Mountain, and then gradually entered the Yuncheng Basin in Hedong. This is undoubtedly a manifestation of his thorough understanding of military tactics.

 But this "tong" is time-sensitive.

 Because the spring floods are coming.

Affected by the late spring cold, the river froze longer than in previous years, which made Cao Cao more threatening when crossing the river in the early stage. Because Cao Cao can have the opportunity to open several ferries from Hedong to Guanzhong, he not only threatens Pingyang, but also can invade Guanzhong.

 But unfortunately, Cao Cao's strategy was ruined.

Sima Yi used his extraordinary performance to stop Cao Hong.

Even if Sima Yi failed to stop Cao Hong, Zhang Xiu on the Emei Mountains would become Linfen's new line of defense. On the west bank of the river, Pang Tong and his cavalry had already moved to Zuo Feng Yi, which would not leave any chance for Cao's army to sneak attack Guanzhong.

 Cao Cao's first step of pulling failed.

 Including Cao Cao's plan to lure Fei Qian, it also failed.

Fei Qian's calmness exceeded the imagination of these people in Shandong.

In the minds of Shandong people, Fei Qian should be like those Xiliang warriors. He would stroke his spear and scream about hunger and thirst, and then rush up with his troops...

 Shanxi is good at attacking, while Shandong is good at defending. This is the Han Dynasty's understanding. Just like people often say that Kansai will produce generals and Kanto will produce ministers, it is actually the same reason. Because the original manor economic and political system in Shandong determined the customs and choices of Shandong people, and the deep integration of Shanxi and nomadicism also led to some nomadic habits of Shanxi people.

 If Fei Qian can't take the initiative to attack, then the original open ground will gradually turn into a hanging ground.

 You can go there, but you can't go back. It's called hanging.

 So Cao Cao began to turn his back and force the rural gentry families in the Yuncheng Basin, and began to drive out the Yuncheng people on a large scale...

Even killing the common men of Heluo.

All of these things are not just something Cao Cao can do whatever he wants, but they all have strategic significance.

 Just like throwing gold and silver money on the road, deliberately assuming that the flags and drums in the mountains and forests, etc., actually serve the overall strategic purpose.

Cao Cao has now forced the rural gentry clan in the Yuncheng Basin into a dead end with no way out. He threatens life and death, uses gold and silver power as bait, and supplements it with the reputation of righteousness and Confucianism, so that these Hedong natives in the Yuncheng Basin will no longer have any chance. There is no possibility of riding on the wall. In this way, Cao Cao is actually ready to withdraw his troops, just as Yang Xiu guessed.

Use the natives, population, and wealth of the Yuncheng Basin to cover up the fact that Cao Cao's attack was unfavorable, and then package it up to prove that he won victory in Hedong.

 The most important part of this plan is that Cao Cao must force Fei Qian to come out and fight.

 If the war is beneficial, then of course there is no need to say more.

If the battle fails, Cao Cao will retreat immediately.

Anyway, Cao Cao has already obtained part of the benefits.

Even if this income does not match its war expenditure at all, as long as it is averaged and played with the data, it is enough to deceive the ignorant people.

 The direction of retreat is actually very clear. It is to use the Zhongtiao Mountain Camp as a defense point and retreat from Tongguan Ban Road, Shaanjin, and Zhiguan Road. As for the remnant and injured soldiers that cannot be taken away, Cao Cao will leave them with Fei Qian. And they will try their best to arouse the blood of these disabled soldiers and carry out the final fight. The so-called sad soldiers will win because in that desperate state of mind, the destructive power produced is almost terrifying.

It's just that Fei Qian never paid attention to Cao Cao's flirting.

 So Cao Cao was in a hurry.

 The reason for being anxious is that Cao Cao and the others are approaching the critical point of support.

 If we don’t fight, there will be a chain of collapses...

On the south bank of Tongguan, many half-built wooden pontoons hang loosely on the south bank, but no one continues to work on it. The civilian workers who were as dense as ants a few days ago suddenly disappeared, and several places that looked like military camps were also empty. It was so vast that there was no one to move or handle the wood piled inside.

Tongguan Lower City has been destroyed by Cao Jun in the continuous battles, regardless of manpower, and was reduced to ruins. However, Cao Jun was unable to continue attacking Tongguan Lower City on Linzhi Plateau.

 The reason is very simple. What is a toe?

 Because the road leading to Tongguan City is the gap between the toes.

 Similarly, there seem to be many roads leading to Emei Mountains, and every fold seems to be climbable, but there are only a few main passages. Did the infrastructure and transportation capabilities of later generations far exceed those of the Han Dynasty? However, there are still only a few main passages in Emei Mountains, and it is impossible to have passages everywhere.

 So if Cao Cao wanted to fight, he could only lure Fei Qian down.

 This point, as the core of the frontline generals, Cao Xiu also knew.

The Hussars abandoned the Yuncheng Basin, and the forward retreated to the Emei Ridge. Only Sima Yi on the flank was left on the Puban line. Cao Jun stationed his advancing camps at Slope, Anyi and Wenxi.

Cao Xiu ordered Liu Zhu to erect the flag of Cao's general at the foot of the slope, preparing to lure Fei's hidden army to Zhang Xiu at the front for a decisive battle. According to Cao Xiu's assumption, Zhang Xiu must have wanted to fight, otherwise he would not have led troops to raid Cao's advancing camp. Therefore, Cao Xiu hoped to lure Fei Qian out of Linfen by luring Zhang Xiu to fight down the slope, consuming some of the hussars and horses.

As spring leaves in a hurry, summer comes belatedly, and it seems that the vegetation in this land is a little confused.

 Fifteen miles down the **** from the Emei Mountain pass, the scene has completely changed from before.

 This became the camp where Liu Zhu held hostages.

Two deep trenches were dug outside the camp and sharpened wooden stakes were inserted. The village wall is also thickly covered with mud on the wooden wall, so it will not be easily ignited. A tall sentry tower was erected in the camp, and soldiers were stationed on duty day and night.

 In the direction of the camp towards Emei Ridge, there is an open wilderness. There is no complex terrain in the entire area. There were only sparse shrubs, not even some cover.

 The rest of the land is not flat, but covered with vegetation, mostly ferns.

 Emei Mountains is not as towering and steep to the Yuncheng Basin in Hedong as the Taihang Mountains are to Shandong, but it is difficult enough for ordinary people. In the passage that humans often walk, the plants and animals have receded, leaving only soft loess, and a layer of flying sand blown by the wind. If you don't take the usual route, it's common for your foot to slip halfway up and slip back to where you were, thus wasting all your efforts.

 Where it is difficult for infantry to move, it is also difficult for cavalry to pass.

 Therefore, Liu Zhu and the hostage's camp were watching the pass here.

Liu Zhuzheng climbed up the sentry tower and looked towards Emei Ridge.

 Liu Zhu is from Shandong, so he once thought that it was only natural to come to Guanzhong.

 The Han Dynasty had only one emperor, the Han Dynasty, so naturally there could only be one chancellor's desk. What can be said about the Xijing Shangshutai? But after he actually followed Cao Cao all the way to Hedong, his thoughts on regaining Guanzhong gradually dimmed for some reason.

Perhaps it’s not that I don’t know, but I just don’t dare to think too much about it.

 When he served under Cao Cao in Shandong, Liu Zhu admired Cao Cao quite a lot.

 When Cao Cao was young, he was a warrior who wielded a sword to slay dragons.

 Let’s not say how many dragons he actually killed, but at least he was a warrior who dared to hold a knife and roar at the evil dragon.

At that time, there were many so-called celebrities who kept their mouths tightly shut. They were really driven into a hurry, and they would occasionally come up with one or two indifferent words to criticize.

Later in Suanzao, it was Cao Cao who actually showed his sword towards Dong Zhuo, even though he was beaten unconscious. Most of the other Shandong princes and local scholars just showed their middle fingers to Dong Zhuo and then went back to drink.

More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Now that he is fighting Guanzhong and Xiliang warriors again, Liu Zhu feels that there have been many changes. Recalling those things back then, it feels like a dream.

 The rumble of horse hooves brought Liu Zhu back from his memories. A group of cavalry was heading north at the edge of the camp.

The casualties among Cao Jun's scouts were so severe that Liu Zhu didn't have many experienced scouts in his hands. Inexperienced and lone scout teams were easily attacked by the hussars, so now they have become such a large-scale scout cavalry formation. Strictly speaking, they are not scouts at all, but an early warning team.

Although this camp blocks the largest pass in Emei Mountains, there are still some small passages that are passable. It is difficult for large groups of people to pass, but small groups of troops can pass. The hussar scouts sneaked out through those small passages that Cao Jun was unfamiliar with and attacked Cao Jun's scout queue.

In order to ensure that these precious war horses are not lost again, Cao Jun’s scouts no longer try to detect the north. At least, they do not go together, but only the people sneak past...

 In Shandong, people are cheaper than horses.

If you hit and kill a person, you can pay thousands of dollars and that's it. If you hit and kill a cow or horse, oh, that's expensive!

This group of cavalry went to pick up the people who were hiding in the past according to the originally planned time.

 Some of the war horses were replenished by Cao Xiu.

 To make a horse run, you always need some grass...

Liu Zhu could tell that these war horses originally came from Hedong. They were scattered and not very gregarious. There was still a big gap between them and real war horses. They were just generals who could use them.

Suddenly, the cavalry team that had just gone to the north ran back in disorder, with an inexplicable fear, "Here they come!" coming! The hussars are coming! 』

The camp suddenly became chaotic, and many soldiers screamed subconsciously.

　　　『Calm down! 』

 Liu Zhu shouted loudly.

 The soldiers gradually calmed down.

　　　beat the drum! Gather together! Get ready to fight! 』

Liu Zhu came down from the sentry tower and ordered the guards around him, "Report to General Cao in the rear..."

The guard responded in a low voice, and then said, "General Cao...will he come to help?" 』

Liu Zhu did not answer and went straight to the central military tent.

 …

 …

On the Emei Mountains, Xun Chen and a group of troops were looking down at the "Cao Jun scouts" who were escaping in a hurry.

What Xun Chen brought was not his own general’s flag, but Zhang Xiu’s flag.

Of course Xun Chen also wore a suit of armor. He took off the Jinxian crown he was used to wearing on weekdays and replaced it with a douchi.

Looking at the "Cao Jun scouts" who were running so fast, Xun Chen was a little surprised. He turned to the military lord Li Er and asked, "Is this what Cao Jun scouts are like now?" 』

Li Er had previously brought the private servants of the Hedong gentry and squires to confront Xiahou. When Xun Chen asked, he said: "These don't look like regular Cao army scouts, but more like those Hedong private soldiers. Disorganized and vulnerable. 』

Xun Chen nodded, "As expected. 』

 He originally thought that these Cao soldiers at the foot of the **** were bait.

What Xun Chen brought was not the main force of the former army at all. He just used Zhang Xiu's flag to sway around.

He will not attack the camp down the slope, but he can take a walk in the wild to scare Cao Jun. It not only serves as a cover for the deployment of the army, but also poses a posture to accept the battle. Otherwise, if Cao Jun really felt that the attack was hopeless and retreated without any reason, it would be even more difficult to deal with.

The war horse under Xun Chen's crotch seemed a little anxious and restless. It shook its neck frequently, snorted, and kicked and kicked, refusing to stand still.

Li Er glanced at it, coughed, and hesitated a little, but finally reached out and grabbed Xun Chen's horse's reins, "Chang Shi, don't pull this too tight..."

Xun Chen’s war horse is nervous because Xun Chen is nervous.

 When you are nervous, you always tighten your grip subconsciously. The war horse naturally feels uncomfortable...

If it weren't for the long-term training of the war horse, it would be impossible to say that he would have lost his temper now.

It’s not that Xun Chen doesn’t know how to ride a horse, it’s because this time it’s different.

Xun Chen has been in Pingyang before, and he prefers civilian logistics work. Although he can also ride a horse, it can be said that this is the first time he has actually led soldiers and horses into battle. Of course, Xun Chen can continue to do civilian work in the rear, and there is no need to take the risk of going to the front. Anyway, according to Shandong's custom, the task is given to Li Er. If it is executed well, Xun Chen plans and strategizes well. If he does it wrong, it means Li Er's execution was not in place...

 But the Lu Bu incident had a great impact on the officials under Fei Qian.

 Military glory, who doesn’t want military glory?

 Of course, in addition to military merit, there are some other reasons.

Xun Chen took a quick breath and relaxed his hands and feet.

 The war horse felt Xun Chen's change and relaxed, not as anxious as before.

Xun Chen nodded to Li Er, "Thank you for your advice." You are still better at riding. 』

Li Er smiled and said, "Chang Shi doesn't think I'm too talkative." 』

"where. Xun Chen said, "I hope the military princes will remind me more." 』

 Li Er nodded in agreement.

 This is not a polite statement.

Xun Chen is the commander of this army after all. It cannot be said that the horse was accidentally frightened and ran out directly. So should Li Er and others follow or not?

Xun Chen also knew that he was in some trouble, so he turned his horse and walked behind, saying to Li Er, "Next, I will trouble Marquis Laojun!" 』

Li Er laughed loudly and said, "How dare you say anything?" This is my own business! 』

Compared with Xun Chen who was a little nervous, the other hussars had long been accustomed to it and were skillfully prepared for battle. Most of them looked relaxed. Under Li Er's greeting, they roared through the pass and came from Emei Ridge. The top of the **** goes down the slope.

Far away in the wilderness down the slope, two groups of hussars with a total of one hundred riders were galloping back and forth, chasing down the fleeing Cao Jun scouts.

Li Er sent out scattered scout teams to expand further to the two wings. They ran around in the wilderness, exploring bushes and ditches hidden from sight.

  The rest of the men and horses lined up horizontally and moved forward slowly.

 So although the number of hussars going downhill was not large, they seemed to be all over the mountains and plains.

The weather has been sunny these days, and the land is dry. When the cavalry runs a little, yellow dust is flying in the sky, forming a huge formation invisibly, which frightens Cao's soldiers and hurriedly retreats to the camp.

Cao's army did not have enough cavalry in the camp down the slope. Even if there was a large group of cavalry, the quality was very poor and they could not compete with the hussars. This caused Cao's army to fall into passivity on the local battlefield.

 Cavalry, as the controller of the battlefield in the cold weapon era, is by no means a false claim. Those soldiers of Cao's army who acted as "scouts", after seeing the power of the hussars, did not dare to step forward to detect Xun Chen and Li Er's strength. Even if they were hindered by the forced order, they stepped forward and wandered around. Before he could wait, The hussar rode forward, then retreated in panic. As a result, Liu Zhu and the others knew that the Hussars were coming, but they did not have accurate information about how many of them were coming.

At this moment, Liu Zhu understood that the cavalry of Cao's army under his command were too weak. Perhaps only the cavalry of the central leading army and guarding army could compete with these hussars, and he could not let the only cavalry of Cao's army defeat them. After all the losses, some people were still left to be responsible for asking for help or reporting to the rear, so in the end we could only order these Cao cavalry to return to camp.

　　　　Looks like an elite hussar indeed. Liu Zhu frowned and thought, "Are these hussars really here?" 』

The guard looked desperate and muttered in a low voice: "It's over...these trash, trash!" It's over, regardless of whether the Cavalry fell into the trap or not, I just know that we are going to be trapped here! 』

Liu Zhu turned to look at the hostage, "If you can't keep your mouth shut and can't control your legs from shaking, then just go back to your own tent!" 』

 Huzhu's face twitched nervously a few times, "Okay!" Makes sense. Anyway, I'm not good at military affairs, so I leave everything here to you..."

 After speaking, the guard shook his hands and feet and left the command position with both hands and feet.

 No one laughs at the hostage, because everyone knows what the next war will ultimately mean...