West of Wei County.
Thirty miles east of Sheguo County.
Zhang Liao is currently leading his army to be stationed here, preparing to camp for the night and rush to Sheguo early tomorrow morning.
Sheguo County is located at the junction of the two states.
It is also the largest town in the far west of Wei County.
Although it is far from prosperous compared to a big city like Yecheng, it is at least higher and deeper than a small town like Maocheng.
Defend based on such a big city.
For the defenders, it was quite convenient.
At the same time, the little black bandits led by Sui Gu and others, after crossing the border between the two states, will definitely attack medium and large-scale towns with large reserves of resources, rather than going to remote areas to plunder.
Zhang Liao had expected this.
Just now he will lead his army straight to this place.
We must enter Sheguo County before the arrival of the enemy, and quickly implement the strategy of strengthening the walls and clearing the country, and deploy a large number of defenses inside and outside the city.
Convert geographical advantages into war victory.
While Zhang Liao was thinking.
A "swish" sound.
With the sound of the camp curtain being opened, Le Jin and Cao Chun appeared in front of Zhang Liao one after another. Like Zhang Liao, they were the leading generals in the crusade against the Little Black Mountain Bandits.
"General Zhang, the detective horses sent out by the army have returned. There is nothing unusual in the area east of Qingzhang River. Sheguo County is still heavily defended."
"It's just that after crossing the Qingzhang River, our soldiers discovered sporadic Black Mountain bandit spies. I guess their army should have arrived nearby."
…
Listen to the words of the two people on the left and right.
Zhang Liao couldn't help but be shocked.
Not caring about so many false gifts, after extending his hands to the two of them and inviting them, he frowned and said.
"This group of thieves came so fast!"
"I thought that we could still have three days to prepare for the battle, but unexpectedly the enemy arrived earlier than I expected."
"Since their spies have been discovered on the west side of the Qingzhang River, it proves that the main enemy force will gather on the west bank of the river in one to two days at most."
"It's almost equivalent to us entering the city with the front foot, and then they can start preparing to cross the river with the back foot."
Regarding what Zhang Liao said.
Le Jin and Cao Chun naturally knew it well.
But that's all.
It is completely unreasonable to say that because the enemy came quickly and arrived early, there will be any panic.
After all, the location, people and people are all on their side.
If you only need to deal with this group of enemies, it's really not too difficult at all.
Just treat them as Qingzhou Yellow Turbans and fight them.
But when I was thinking about it.
Zhang Liao's calm and steady voice suddenly came to the ears of Le Jin and Cao Chun.
"Wen Qian, Zihe, if our army does not enter the city in this battle, but instead garrison heavy troops on the east bank of the Qingzhang River to guard the enemy's crossing of the river, is it possible?"
…
When the two heard this, they were stunned for a moment.
Then everyone was a little surprised.
The two of them are either people who have been on the battlefield for a long time and have rich experience, or they are fierce men who can lead a group of local warriors to capture the Yellow Turban Qushuai.
So after thinking about Zhang Liao's words for a while, I understood what he meant.
"Wen Yuan's intention is to block the enemy's route across the river and get ahead of them to hold the river. Once they dare to cross, our army will attack them halfway across the river?"
"exactly!"
Zhang Liao nodded heavily.
And after getting Zhang Liao's affirmative answer.
Le Jin's eyes couldn't help but flicker for a while.
Then he said with some hesitation: "Striking halfway across the river is a good method, but if you abandon the convenience of Sheguo County's city wall and replace it with river water, isn't this a bit too far-fetched?"
Le Jin spoke straightforwardly.
But Zhang Liao didn't take it seriously.
Speaking of which, he was the one who introduced Le Wenqian to Cao Ang in the first place, so among the generals under Cao Ang's command, he and Le Jin had a relatively close relationship.
Therefore, we also know Le Jin’s character.
In fact, he is a very reckless person. The reason why he is acting a little conservative now is purely because the enemy has too many troops and his own side has too few available people.
Moreover, abandoning the city is not in line with the usual way of fighting the refugees.
That's why Le Jin raised questions.
…
"Abandoning the high walls of the city without using them is indeed a dangerous move. However, the current situation is urgent, and in order to achieve a quick victory, we have to use this dangerous move."
Zhang Liao explained to the two people on the left and right very patiently.
Pointing at the map spread out on the desk.
Then the reason will be explained.
"Before I left, the general had given me a great trust, asking me to fight as quickly as possible and defeat this group of Black Mountain bandits in the shortest possible time."
"Only in this way can we give the greatest deterrent to the enemies from other parties, so that they will not dare to act rashly, or even take the initiative to retreat."
"If we follow the traditional fighting method and our army defends based on the counties involved in the country, it will be extremely safe, but the initiative on the battlefield is in the hands of the enemy. It is almost impossible to win a quick victory!"
Speaking of which.
Zhang Liao took a deep breath.
Then he nodded heavily at Zhangshui.
"If our army sets up a position on the east bank of the river, then our army will have the initiative when to start fighting and when to avoid fighting, and the pace will undoubtedly be accelerated a lot."
"Compared with the two, fighting a battle to attack and defend the city is stable and slightly damaging, but it is long-lasting. It will take at least seven or eight days, or even more than ten days to see the outcome."
"On the other hand, if we look for opportunities to cross over and attack, once we seize the opportunity and reproduce Gongsun Bogui's brilliant record in Dongguang Realm, it will only take two or three days to end this battle! "
…
That’s it.
Only then did Le Jin and Cao Chun realize that Zhang Liao's real intention was not to be reckless, but to fulfill General Cao Ang's instructions to them.
That is to find a way to end the war as soon as possible.
As a fierce general who likes to advance wildly, it was rare for Le Jin to suppress his temper and persuade Zhang Liao before.
Now I know that Zhang Liao has such considerations.
So what are you worried about?
Dang Ji held his hands to Zhang Liao and said, "In that case, as General Zhang said, I agree to station troops on the east bank of the Zhang River!"
Zhang Liao had a smile on his face after hearing this.
Then he turned his attention to Cao Chun who was aside.
But unlike Le Jin who was so decisive, Cao Chun showed a little hesitation at the moment.
After thinking about it again and again.
Cao Chuncai cupped his hands to Zhang Liao and said: "General Zhang, stationing troops on the river bank, naturally holds the initiative on the battlefield in his hands."
"It's just that there are more than 100,000 enemy troops now, and no matter how elite our army is, there are only less than 15,000 troops. With such a huge gap, the risk taken in a head-on battle outside the city is not small! "
"Our army does need to fight quickly now, but according to the general's arrangements, the other parties such as Zhang Yan and other parties have already had countermeasures. The time left for our army is not sufficient, but it is not nervous at all. "
"If you only pursue speed, but end up losing troops and generals because of it, it is actually against the general's original intention. It is better to fight slowly and steadily, which will be more appropriate!"
…
The reason why Cao Chun still insisted on this view after Zhang Liao made his purpose clear.
It's not that he's not good enough, can't see through the situation on the battlefield, or is too timid to take the initiative.
It's entirely because he is from the Cao family!
In Cao Chun's opinion.
A general with a foreign surname like Zhang Liao must give top priority to completing the tasks assigned by his superiors, and he may even make many sacrifices for this purpose.
As a member of the Cao clan, this army of more than 10,000 people is equivalent to family assets.
He has responsibilities and obligations. While completing the tasks assigned to him by Cao Ang, he must also preserve as much as possible this viable force that belongs to the Cao family.
This is based on different positions.
resulting differences in the way of thinking.
Zhang Liao is a smart man.
He may not have reacted at first.
But after thinking about it carefully and carefully savoring Cao Chun's words just now.
Immediately there was an understanding.
I made some mental drafts.
"Snapped!"
Zhang Liao patted the table gently with his hand, making a crisp sound.
Then he said firmly.
"What Zihe said is ridiculous!"
…
Zhang Liao first clarified Cao Chun's words.
Then he said in a gentle voice.
"The general did say that he has made corresponding arrangements for Zhang Yan and other forces. The time left for me to wait may not be as short as three or five days."
"But you and I, as generals leading the troops in battle and marching, how can we rely on the factors that determine victory or defeat on the battlefield on things that are not yet known?"
"It's not that I'm disrespectful to the general. It's just that if there is a flaw in one of the general's aspects, and we are still stuck on the battlefield here, it will probably cause incalculable serious consequences!"
While talking.
Zhang Liao cupped his hands in the direction of Yecheng.
He continued with a face full of respect and solemnity.
"Besides that, there is another thing, but it is the fundamental reason for me to make such a decision."
"That is, after all the troops under his command were handed over to three of us, there were still less than a thousand soldiers left in Ye City to defend the general."
"And I think Bizzi and you also know that Yecheng is extremely unstable right now. No one knows what the big and small families are thinking behind their backs."
"If the time is short, the general can still suppress it with force, but if it lasts for a long time, with less than a thousand people, once civil strife breaks out in the city, it may threaten the general's safety at any time!"
Speaking of which.
Zhang Liao made a fist with his right hand and waved it down heavily.
made a generous sound.
"So we must insist on a quick battle, defeat Sui Gu and others in one fell swoop, and then rush back to Yecheng to defend the general!"
…
So far.
Cao Chun's expression changed drastically.
His loyalty to Cao Ang is no less loyal than anyone else.
If it was just about the battlefield itself, then Cao Chun would probably have to think about it some more, but if it was about Cao Ang's safety, how could he not regard it as a top priority?
"Uh-huh!"
Cao Chun said nothing.
Then he bowed his hands to Zhang Liao and responded.
"According to what Wen Yuan said, our army will not enter Sheguo County tomorrow, but will go straight to the east bank of Qingzhang River to station troops!"
Seeing that Cao Chun also agreed to his battle plan.
There was a bit of a smile on Zhang Liao's face.
In fact, he led the army on an expedition this time.
The commander-in-chief of the three armies appointed by Cao Ang was Zhang Liao.
Le Jin and Cao Chun are each his right and left hand.
And he has clearly stated that everyone should discuss all matters in daily life.
But once there are conflicting opinions and conflicting decisions, they must obey the commander's orders to avoid chaos within Cao's army.
Zhang Liao can fully exercise his power as coach and force Cao Chun to act according to the rules.
It's just that Cao Chun is a member of the Cao family after all, and there is not much difference with him in terms of level. If he forcibly displays the dignity of the coach, the matter will be done, but it will inevitably lead to conflicts in the future.
Therefore, it is best to persuade with words.
But after getting the unanimous consent of the two.
Zhang Liao still said something extra.
"You two, please rest assured that I am not a stubborn person. If something cannot be done, I will naturally quickly withdraw to Sheguo County and defend the city."
"Now we have set up a formation on the river bank. We can advance, attack, retreat or defend. Our army has long been in an invincible position, so why worry?"
…………
The next morning.
After a simple breakfast.
Zhang Liao then ordered the entire army to set off and rush to the Zhangshui River as quickly as possible.
Anyway, the enemy has been identified. They are still some distance away from the river bank, and there is Zhangshui cutting it off.
Even if Cao Jun rushes forward regardless of energy consumption, he does not have to worry about encountering the enemy.
With such convenience.
The army's marching speed could be said to have reached its extreme.
The thirty-mile journey that originally required a day was now shortened by half, and not long after noon, they had already crossed Sheguo County.
And arrived at the east bank of Zhangshui in the afternoon.
But the price paid was that the entire army was exhausted. They even rested for a long time next to the selected station before they had the strength to form a camp.
And at noon the next day.
Cao Jun was responsible for keeping an eye on the soldiers on the other side, and then he discovered the arrival of the little black bandit.
The distance was much closer than that of Cao's army, but it took a full day and a half. Not only was the foot power slow, but the team was also lazy, which was very consistent with the characteristics of the refugees.
…
The east bank of Zhangshui River.
On the high platform specially built by Cao Jun.
Zhang Liao and others stood on it, looking across the river from a distance, observing the movements of the Black Mountain bandits.
At this moment, there is a slightly wider river, but you can still clearly see the Zhangshui on the other side. The scenes on both sides of the river form an extremely sharp contrast.
In the camp of Cao's army on the east side, it can be said that order is in order, the military formations are neatly distributed, and the soldiers are all full of energy. Facing the orders of the lieutenant general, they are doing the things at hand in an orderly manner.
On the other hand, after the arrival of the Black Bandits.
The temporary camp was really chaotic. There was a tent in the east and a camp in the west. There was no order at all.
Most of the soldiers in military uniforms are sallow and thin, except for a few who can possess weapons.
Most of the others just wrapped themselves in a layer of cloth and carried chopped bamboo spears and agricultural tools ground from stones.
The combat capabilities of the two sides are worlds apart.
As can be expected.
Once there is no river blocking it.
In the current state, no matter how many enemy troops there are, they will be suppressed by Cao's army at the beginning of the battle.
certainly.
It is precisely because there is this river blocking it.
Only the Black Mountain bandits led by Sui Gu and others were so lax, otherwise they would have to be more or less mean, just like the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans back then.
…
"General, the first batch of felled trees has been transported. I wonder if we need to build a pontoon bridge or just build other equipment?"
A general came to ask Zhang Liao for orders.
Originally, Zhang Liao did not plan to build a pontoon bridge.
After all, his strategy is to wait for the enemy to rush over, wait for work, and seize the initiative.
Instead of using a few people to fight against the majority, that is purely asking for trouble. Even if you can win, it is still an act of betrayal. The faster you fight, the more you will lose.
But just when he was about to refuse.
Suddenly an idea came to my mind.
A thought flashed across his mind, causing Zhang Liao's eyes to flicker a few times.
"Give me the order to build the pontoon first!"
"Not only must we build it, but we must do it with great fanfare. The louder the noise, the better. We must let the other side know clearly what we are doing!"
After this general goes down.
Cao Chun looked at the chaotic scene on the other side of the river, and then suddenly smiled at Zhang Liao.
"Wen Yuan's plan is to make Sui Gu and others mistakenly think that we are going to cross the river on our own initiative, so that they can't figure out our movements and mess up their position?"
After all, Cao Jun's strategic plan was to wait for the Black Mountain bandits to cross the river on their own initiative. So this is probably the only explanation for why Zhang Liao issued this order.
Just faced Cao Chun's inquiry.
Zhang Liao smiled mysteriously.
Then he waved to Le Jin and Cao Chun, and then whispered something in their ears.
The content is not yet known.
The only ones who knew it were Cao Chun and Cao Chun. After listening to Zhang Liao's words, the expressions on their faces gradually changed from calm to excited.
There was even a hint of joy.
After a while.
Zhang Liao finished speaking.
Cao Chun handed him over and said, "I think Wen Yuan's plan is very feasible. Without further ado, I will make preparations now!"
Le Jin grinned.
He also said goodbye and left.
…………
Half an hour later.
Located on the west bank of Zhangshui River.
The Xiaoheishan Army was busy for a long time, and finally imitated Cao Jun's movements, and finally built a high platform for watching.
Sui Gu, Bai Rao, and Yu Du stepped onto the high platform respectively, and then observed the movements of Cao's army on the other side in the same posture.
It was discovered that Cao Jun was in full swing in the camp.
The lieutenants of the army were in groups, building the components of the pontoon bridge, and were almost ready to put together a complete pontoon bridge.
The other two people had no reaction yet.
Suigu bento burst into laughter first.
Bai Rao and Yu Duxiao were confused.
"Brother White Rabbit, why are you laughing?"
It's quite interesting to say that the character for Sui Gu is the word "white rabbit".
Logically speaking, a word is an explanation of a name. It usually has a certain meaning and is not chosen randomly.
However, the two characters "White Rabbit" and "Sui Gu" don't seem to come together.
And after hearing the inquiry.
Sui Gu reluctantly stopped laughing, then pointed to the other side of the river with a smile, and said with a sneer on his face.
"What I'm laughing at is that on the other side of the river, the general leading Cao's army is really a man with no plans and little wisdom!"
…
"Why did Brother White Rabbit say this?"
"Yes, Cao Jun's army is well-organized, and all the soldiers are brave and elite. This is an indisputable fact. How can we tell that the leader of Cao Jun's army has no plans and little wisdom?"
Seeing that the two people on the left and right don't understand.
The smile on Sui Gu's face became more and more proud.
He shook his head and explained: "The enemy has few soldiers and we have many. Even if Cao's army is an elite soldier, it is extremely unwise to take the initiative to cross the river and attack our military formation."
"Besides, our army has come from a long way and is huge in force. The consumption of military rations is huge. If it continues like this, we will be the first to be unable to hold on. Therefore, when the two armies are facing each other, our army should take the initiative to cross the river."
"If Cao Jun is smart, he should strictly guard his position and remain unchanged in response to any changes. When we launch an attack, they will respond, instead of building a pontoon bridge with great fanfare like now."
Bai Rao and Yu Du seemed to understand.
But this is a long story.
Anyway, it seems reasonable.
Therefore, both of them looked like they were suddenly enlightened and nodded thoughtfully.
…
This look.
Sui Gu swelled even more.
Although the three of them are the same leaders in the army and usually treat each other as brothers, they still secretly have a feeling of superiority and inferiority in their hearts.
Now this is a comparison.
Isn’t that just a matter of judgment?
In terms of intelligence, I severely crushed these two young brothers. I should be the leader in the army!
At the same time, Sui Gu also secretly rejoiced.
Fortunately, I have a resourceful person in charge.
Otherwise, with their slender heads, these two little guys would probably be fooled around by the other side, and they would die without even knowing how.
What a blessing, what a blessing!
And after showing off his IQ.
Sui Gu patted the handrail on the high platform and pretended to be indifferent.
"Originally, because of the above concerns, I planned to build a pontoon bridge immediately after the army set up camp and quickly attack the other side."
"No matter how heavy the casualties are, we must capture Cao's army in the shortest possible time, adopt a life-for-life method, and defeat Cao's army on the opposite side."
"But now that I think about it, it doesn't have to be like this. I will send my order later to allocate some of the bridge-building manpower to set up defenses on the river bank. We must always be alert to the enemy troops and directly cross the river to kill them."
…
Speaking of which.
Sui Gu couldn't help but snorted coldly.
Put your hands behind your back, looking up at the sky like a master.
"What a shame, what a shame!"
"Everyone in the world says that Cao Zixiu is a god with his troops, and he can be called a famous general in the world. If he personally led the troops here today, I would not dare to respond vaguely."
"But now what's on the other side of the river is just a straw bag under his control. I will show my kindness today and get rid of this straw bag for him, so as not to leave this guy behind and disgrace Cao Zixiu's reputation!"
This kid is naturally not Cao Ang's fanboy.
There is no such thing as worship at all.
The reason why I say that.
Just pretending to be cool.
But Sui Gu didn't know that although the world is big, not everyone can show off.
There are a few people like Cao Ang who can pretend to be smooth and shocking.
But most people only pretend to be cool and get slapped in the face, hard!
…………
Monthly ticket recommendation ticket
ps. I suddenly found 1 million words. It was published for 86 days and 810,000 words were written, which is close to the daily average of 10,000. It can be considered diligent after all, hehe (cheeky)
(End of chapter)
