Three Kingdoms.

Chapter 3316 A small discovery under Wenxi City

 At the foot of Wenxi City, Zhang Xiu defeated Cao Jun.

Defeat, not annihilate.

Zhang Xiu also wanted to annihilate them all, but when his manpower and horsepower were exhausted, he did not choose to chase Yu Yong after the bandits, but began to clean up the mess under Wenxi City.

During the cold weapon war period, the cruelty and primitiveness of war required more precise control of military tactics and force management. Annihilating the enemy's troops, that is, completely wiping out the opponent's combat effectiveness, is an extremely arduous task. It not only requires precise strategic deployment, but also involves a direct comparison of the enemy's and ours' military strength.

To achieve this strategic goal, the attacker usually needs to have at least as many troops as the enemy. This means that if the enemy has a certain number of pawns, then you need at least the same number or even more to ensure pressure and ultimately victory in the battle. The reason is that battles in the cold weapon era often rely on direct confrontations between soldiers. The combat effectiveness of each soldier is real and cannot be multiplied through high-tech weapons like modern warfare.

If you can outnumber the opponent, it means that you can form a local advantage at certain key battle points, and increase the possibility of annihilating the enemy through encirclement, flanking attacks, or concentrating superior forces to break through the enemy's weak defense line. sex. However, even if the force exceeds the opponent's, there are still many uncertain factors, such as terrain, weather, army morale, commander's ability, etc., which may affect the final battle situation.

And there is another very critical issue, that is, if you want to completely wipe out the enemy, it means that the battle may last longer. Due to the lack of effective long-range anti-personnel weapons and fast communication methods, every battle requires soldiers to fight at close range, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. When faced with a desperate situation, the enemy may put up fierce resistance, which will also increase the losses of the attacker.

Therefore, for most of the nobles who are in the rear and have never been on the battlefield, the word "total annihilation" will undoubtedly stimulate their G-spots and stimulate them, but in actual wars, specific circumstances still need to be met Specific analysis.

Although in theory Zhang Xiu has the possibility of annihilating all road moves, in the actual implementation process, it cannot be denied that this is a process full of variables, which requires a high degree of strategic arrangement, strict tactical execution and constant adjustment and response. In many cases, even if the enemy is successfully annihilated, one's own side will often pay a huge price. This is also an unavoidable cruel reality in war in the cold weapon era.

Cao's army retreated, leaving behind a slightly dilapidated camp and corpses on the ground.

There was still some food and grass left in the dilapidated camp. Zhang Xiu asked people from Wenxi City to move it. He also met Pei Xi who was guarding the city.

Although Zhang Xiu has no good impression of Pei Xi, and there is no comradeship at all, even at the beginning of the battle, the entire Yuncheng Basin in Hedong was cruelly designated as a combat zone by Fei Qian, but in the world Most of the time, heroes are judged by success or failure. Now that Wen Xi can stand firm under Pei Xi's defense, he deserves Zhang Xiu's respect.

The sun gradually sets in the west, dragging out long and short shadows on the human figures above and below Wenxi City.

If you can still move, you are alive.

Outside the camp where Cao Jun stayed, there were many hussars with blood-stained armors sitting on them.

The doctors accompanying the army were busy going around, bandaging one wound for a while and sewing the wound for another.

After asking about some conditions in the city, Zhang Xiu understood that the situation in Wenxi City was not optimistic. But he didn't have any good ideas. Most of the remaining supplies in Cao's camp were given to Wen Xi, and Pei Xi could not ask for more supplies and help.

Zhang Xiu looked at the soldiers who were being treated outside the camp for a moment, and suddenly said to Pei Xi, "Wounded warriors in the city can also be sent to the military camp for treatment." 』

Pei Xigong cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, general." 』

The two were silent for a moment.

Yes, that’s all that’s left…

Soldiers, armor, swords and guns are everywhere in the wilderness. Although some are damaged, many are still usable, and there is no need for these things in Wenxi City.

That's right, neither abandoned equipment nor corpses are what both sides of the war want.

War, a shadow that has accompanied human civilization since ancient times, often produces things that run counter to the essential needs of human survival. In the smoke of war, the weapons, ruins and suffering created are not necessary to maintain people's lives. However, human history has always repeatedly used extreme methods such as war to compete for resources, power or ideas. , so in this process more things that did not need to exist were produced.

Including but not limited to destroyed towns, broken families, lost lives, physical and mental trauma, and those cold weapons and equipment.

None of these things are truly needed by humans in order to survive.

Instead, these things often represent pain, sorrow, and turbulent living conditions.

Human beings have time and again chosen to use war to resolve disputes and compete for so-called "interests." Behind this contradictory behavior are complex intertwined desires, fears, pursuit of power, and desire for resources.

When Fei Qian finally took a different path from Shandong, the absolute political irreconcilability naturally led to the inevitable outbreak of war between Fei Qian and Cao Cao.

In the course of the war, whether it was the people in Wenxi, the civilians in Hedong, or the soldiers under Zhang Xiu and Lu Zhao, they were all consumables in the war.

Pei Xi did not blame or abuse Zhang Xiu for not coming to the rescue earlier, and Zhang Xiu did not express why he did not reward Wen Xi with wine or cows after rescuing him.

Pei Xi secretly looked at Zhang Xiu. He originally thought that Zhang Xiu would look domineering and domineering after winning, pretending to be the savior of Wenxi and yelling at him.

But Zhang Xiu didn't. Instead, he first asked about the situation in Wenxi City, and then asked people to deliver supplies to the city, and then said that he could treat the wounded soldiers in the city...

This made Pei Xi's heart beat again and again.

It's not that Pei Xi has a tendency to bend, but Pei Xi found that Zhang Xiu was not simple, and had gradually moved away from being a pure brave warrior and moving towards a commander-in-chief.

Although there are not many, and the methods are very immature, they are two different concepts after all.

If Zhang Xiu is like this, what about the other generals under Qiusi?

If these generals can mount their horses to kill the enemy and dismount their horses to govern the people, how much room for survival will they, the gentry, gentry, and natives have?

"When will the general leave?" ” After a moment of silence, Pei Xi suddenly asked.

Zhang Xiu was a little surprised, "How did Wen Xing know that someone was leaving?" 』

Pei Xi looked back at Wenxi City with a wry smile.

Looking around Wenxi, in addition to numerous battle scars, all that was left were various burned siege equipment and rotten corpses mixed in the mounds of soil.

The blood and bones were exposed, attracting groups of scavenging birds and beasts.

These scavenging birds and beasts do not avoid people at all, staring at the remaining people with blood-red eyes, as if silently asking or scolding, "When will you die?" Why aren't you dead yet? 』

Cao's army came, cut down the trees and burned the forest.

Most of the water sources around Wenxi are also polluted.

Herbivorous animals either ran away or died.

The remaining scavengers are still partying in the doomsday.

Zhang Xiu nodded, "Wen Xing's guess is good." Here... I will repair for about two days and then return to Emei Ridge. 』

"What's more..." Zhang Xiu raised his head slightly and pointed at the remaining Hedong civilians who were as numb as walking corpses with his chin, "It's not appropriate for these people... to stay here..."

The water was polluted, and when the carrion rotted into bones, it gradually recovered.

The city wall was dug down and collapsed. Once the earth was pounded and the bricks were re-paved, the damage would no longer be visible.

But what about human life?

How many people died inside the city and how many died outside the city?

It was only at this moment that Zhang Xiu suddenly realized.

He used to think that Fei Qian's letter to him was for him to learn Zhao Yun's tactical skills, but now he has more indescribable insights, those insights hidden in the darkness of the strokes under the bright letters. .

Zhao Yun also took away a lot of people from Youzhou...

Everything is yin and yang that complement each other.

The Yuncheng Basin in Hedong can never go back now, and it will never go back.

In the past, the Yuncheng Basin was dominated by the Hedong gentry family, which could be called Guyin or Guyang. Anyone else entering this area would be excluded.

General Hussar was also ostracized back then. Even though he took some actions later, he still did not change the overall environment of the Yuncheng Basin.

Now that Lone Yin or Lone Yang has been greatly invaded, there is the possibility of rebalancing Yin and Yang. Therefore, Zhang Xiu must take away these remaining people from Hedong and bring them back after the war subsides.

Pei Xi also understood this, so he asked.

Zhang Xiu glanced at Pei Xi, pondered for a moment, and said, "Wen Xing, you can also go with a certain person." 』

Pei Xi frowned slightly and said, "The general's kindness is appreciated." 』

"Ha," Zhang Xiu added, "I mean to take the people in the city with us...Cao Jun may still come." 』

"Go together? ” Pei Xi was stunned.

Zhang Xiu nodded, "With the situation in front of us, we can't deal with it in a year and a half. Why don't we just give up now? Otherwise, if Cao's army comes again, wouldn't it be an advantage to Cao Cao's thieves?" 』

"Cao Jun is coming again?" "The wrinkles on Pei Xi's brow were as deep as a knife, "How did the general know? 』

Zhang Xiu said: "A certain person intercepted and killed Cao's army's grain transport team and found that the grain and grass utensils transported were slightly too much... No matter how you calculate it, it is wrong, so there is probably Cao's army coming later..."

This is not a simple slogan.

The importance of logistics support in war preparation is crucial to the success of any military operation.

If Zhang Xiu was just an ordinary general, then maybe he was just satisfied with destroying the enemy's grain transport team, burning how much grain and supplies, and killing how many Cao soldiers, just like that Li Er, thinking about what he could gain No matter how many achievements you make, you rarely think about why.

On the chessboard of war, every move is related to the outcome of the entire battle.

First of all, Cao Cao is not a fool, and Cao's army does not have so much food and grass that there is no place to use it.

Food and grass are the lifeline of the army and the source of motivation for soldiers to fight.

In the age of cold weapons, victory in war often depended on the army's lasting combat effectiveness, and the basis of all this was an adequate supply of food and grass. If food and grass are not available, morale will be low and combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. Therefore, the storage and transportation of grain and grass have become key factors in determining the outcome of the war.

If we just look at Wenxi, a road camp, it is true that Cao Jun does not have a lot of food and grass here, but is Cao Jun here really short of food and grass, or is it "worth it" for Cao Jun to specially transport such food and grass?

If Zhang Xiu hadn't tried to use a higher perspective to observe the details on the battlefield, he would have left this issue behind.

Putting food and grass first means that careful planning and layout are needed before the war breaks out.

This includes familiarity with the battlefield terrain, assessment of the strength of both the enemy and ourselves, and prediction of the course of the war.

If you infer it the other way around, it is easy to draw the conclusion that Cao Jun attaches great importance to Wenxi and specially sent a large amount of food and grass, which means that Cao Jun will make more moves in Wenxi...

So this time, Zhang Xiu not only wanted to bring back these remaining seeds, but also his own little discovery.

These Hedong civilians who were destroyed by Cao's army survived the blood and iron. Even if they did not change their inexplicable feelings for the Hedong men, they would still have a deep hatred for Cao's army. This kind of hatred will be passed on between at least two or three generations, and then it may slowly die out in the peaceful years.

These people who are full of hatred for Cao Jun are undoubtedly useful to their lord's cause.

Similarly, the people of Wenxi who survived Cao Jun's attack are worthy of Zhang Xiu's win over and help.

But the prerequisite is that the people of Wenxi, including Pei Xi, must leave this place and go to Linfen.

"X...this matter is of great importance, I need to consider one or two..."

Pei Xi did not refuse on the spot. He said goodbye to Zhang Xiu and returned to Wenxi City in a daze.

That's right, Zhang Xiu has no intention of entering the city at all, which also proves from a certain perspective that Zhang Xiu will not stay here long.

At dusk, everything in Wenxi City seemed to be stained with blood.

Everything that was broken was shaking in front of Pei Xi's eyes.

Although the haze of death has temporarily dissipated, the rotten smell unique to death still lingers over the city.

The extent of Wenxi's destruction was extremely shocking.

It can be said that if Zhang Xiu was one step later, Wen Xi would definitely fall.

War, death.

Pei Xi originally thought that he already knew a lot about war. Even when he discussed the art of war with others, he never lost in a debate. When Dong Zhuo was in chaos in Heluo and Li Guo was in chaos in Chang'an, Pei Xi also thought that it would be enough chaos and misery. But now, what happened in Wen Xi made Pei Xi know what troubled times really mean!

Troubled times, troubled times!

The word "troubled times" was often mentioned during the Zhongping period, and became a sentiment representing the concern for the country and the people among the gentry's children.

In their studies, at literary gatherings, in restaurants, and on outings, they lamented about the troubled times, imagining how chaotic and tragic it was, and then lamented, as if they had already seen the troubled times. However, most of this emotion comes from reverie and dissatisfaction with reality rather than real experience.

But now, in front of Pei Xi, what is truly a scene of "chaotic times"!

Those tragic scenes that once existed only in books suddenly became reality before our eyes.

Cities were destroyed, villages were burned, people were displaced, and hunger and death followed. On the streets, there is no longer a bustling market, but the tears and blood of refugees. In the ditch, there was no longer clear water, but rancid blood and bones. In the sky, there are no longer peaceful flocks of doves, but carrion-eating crows and eagles.

Such a scene is unimaginable and unbearable for literati who could only lament the troubled times in books before. How could their pen and ink describe such a tragic situation? How can their poems express such grief? How can their spirits withstand such an impact?

In troubled times, all emotions have turned into powerless shouts.

When watching the people around him fall in the flames of war, hearing the children crying in hunger, smelling the burnt smell of burning flesh and blood, the **** of death grinning in the air, and the devil dancing in the smoke, what Pei Xi had previously thought "Troubled times" is as ridiculous as a child thinking that adults play every day and don't need to study.

And when the danger passed, this mental shock did not dissipate. On the contrary, it is like a sequelae, deeply imprinted in the depths of Pei Xi's soul. Pei Xi began to reflect, why are there such troubled times? Why does human nature become so ugly in war? Why is Hedong so fragile?

Pei Xi walked slowly and watched.

The smell of corpses fills the air inside and outside Wenxi City, but now there is no manpower to bury these dead souls.

Because we have to take care of eating first.

The remaining people in Wenxi City, as well as the soldiers who had survived while defending the city, now found broken copper cauldrons and earthen pots in the city, and they were busy cooking. It seemed that only by devouring food like this could he distinguish himself from the carrion-eating birds and beasts outside the city.

In the face of brutal hunger and exhaustion, a person's sense of smell is his little brother.

Pei Xi saw a soldier guarding the city. After getting the food, he took a few bites and fell asleep, no matter where he was, whether on the street or beside the rubble.

Pei Xi pointed.

The guard understood and stepped forward to wake up the soldier.

No matter what, you must eat before sleeping, otherwise you may not wake up due to such extreme fatigue.

Pei Xi looked at the soldier and suddenly had some insights.

Yes, if you don’t have something new to eat, sooner or later you will be unable to wake up. These people in Yuncheng, Hedong, have stayed at the bottom of the well for so long that they have even forgotten that the world has changed...

"Give me the order." Prepare to abandon the city. 』

After the guards came back, Pei Xi said slowly.

It’s not an easy decision to make, especially leaving your homeland and hometown.

"Tell everyone...only when you are alive, you have hope..."