Chapter 162: Floating Horse (9)

Style: Historical Author: Grenades are afraid of waterWords: 5928Update Time: 24/01/12 01:38:14
The current emperor of the Wei Dynasty, Cao Che, has many characteristics, but his love of success, impatience, and unquestionable character, as well as his extreme lack of regard for human life, are some of the most obvious ones.

These items are often displayed in series.

The most common example is to require a huge scene and project, and then set a minimum time limit. If there is a delay, people would rather lose their lives than see any discount.

This was true for Xiudong, Jianmingtang, Tongtian Tower, and the Great Golden Pillar. This was true for the Western Inspection. It also seemed to be true for the previous two expeditions against Dongyi.

However, there is a saying. During the third expedition against Dongyi after the Chinese New Year, the Mao Ren Sage seemed to pay special attention to the stability of the rear and made many detailed arrangements:

For example, in addition to sending the British Gongbai Hengqiu out to Taiyuan, he also placed the heavyweight Shangshu Zuocheng Zhang Shizhao in charge of the Bianzhou camp in charge of the front line of logistics, and also sent two generals, Qu Tuda and Zheng Shanye. They were stationed in Puyang and Liyang respectively, forming a civil and military division on the logistics road.

For another example, when it was decided to let the three prime ministers Sima Changying, Yu Changji, and Zhang Han accompany him, Cao Lin, Emperor Cao, Su Wei, and Niu Hong could have taken charge of the overall situation in the east capital and behind them... But the emperor still set a The Dongdu left-behind man with a very junior qualification but a very subtle background is Zhang Shiben, the youngest son of the great master Zhang Fuzi Zhang Bofeng, who is also the father of Zhang Changgong, the poster girl of Jing'antai... This is not included, and Duan, the Minister of the Ministry of War, is added. Wei Wei, the new Minister of Punishment Gu Yi, the Minister of Rites Bai Hengjin, and Shangzhu Guo Qian Shiying formed an eight-person Dongdu deliberative body.

According to the clearly issued imperial edict, major military and state affairs in the Eastern Capital require the resolution of eight people before they can be issued in place of the previous Nanya edict. If the matter is contradictory and invalid, Zhang Shizhao and Zhang Xianggong of the Bianzhou Camp can be asked to express their position.

Finally, for example, in this Eastern Expedition, the imperial court abandoned the old practice of Zhuguo and Shangzhuguo directly leading the troops, and only used the generals of the guards to directly lead the troops, and first made extensive adjustments to the positions of these generals who actually led the troops... Among them, Sima Changying, one of the prime ministers of Nanya, personally led General Zuo Yiwei;

Yu Shuwen, the famous general of the dynasty and the general manager of Beidi West Road, was recalled, and General You Yiwei was added;

General Zuo Xiaoqiwei is Bai Hengyuan, the general manager of Nanyang;

The general of the right cavalry guard is Zhang Shi'an;

Xue Changxiong, the general of Youyiwei;

Han Yingong, the general of Youyiwei;

Sima Huada, the general of Zuotunwei;

Li Anyuan, the general of Youtun Guard;

There are also left guard general Xin Changxiong, right guard general Zhang Jin, left guard general Cui Hongsheng, right guard general Zhao Xiaocai, left guard general He Xi, right guard general Zhao Guang;

These fourteen guards, plus the left and right Jinwu guards, are the expanded and more powerful version of the system of eight pillars, twelve guards, generals and four soldiers after the establishment of the Wei Dynasty. It is the so-called sixteen guards system.

As for these generals, they include senior generals, famous national generals, generals, famous generals with family backgrounds, local generals, and even talented generals from poor families like Zhao Guang.

According to the rules, once the government troops are mobilized, they will be assigned to these generals according to the Yingyang Mansion and let them lead... However, if there are still 40,000 recruited troops in the upper five armies, the specific distribution of troops may be more complicated. .

And these are only the middle troops directly led by the saint, and there are also the three battalions or general state troops led by Lai Zhan'er and Zhou Xiaoming in the south; Li Cheng in the north; and Dengzhou guard Huangfu Changyi and others in the front.

For a time, there was a gathering of famous generals and heavy troops.

Perhaps it was precisely in order to wait for the main figures here to take their positions first that the imperial court rarely delayed and delayed sending troops to the east.

Moreover, regarding this arrangement, Zhang Xing, who was chatting around the fire at night, was as mean as ever - the arrangement on the logistics road was obviously a separation of civil and military affairs, and was to prevent Yang Shen's story; the arrangement in the Eastern Capital was obviously to restrain Uncle Cao Huang... No one would think that Uncle Cao would be bored and rebel, and he didn't need it. But once this person showed up to separate from the saint, he was destined to be the emperor's most feared and powerful enemy. As for the reconstruction of the military organization, It is for the most direct strategic and tactical expression and intervention.

Since this saint is determined to fight for the third time, let alone how to fight, at least he will not allow the slightest disobedience within the Eastern Expedition army.

The one hundred thousand military personnel in Jue Dong Capital have actually been mobilized early... No matter how they escape, how they try to bribe or take advantage of loopholes, one city in Dong Capital has a population of one million orders of magnitude, plus the surrounding territories, how can it be less? One hundred thousand poor people?

Therefore, Zhang Xing didn't know whether there was the "son" of the old man who sent firewood to his family in the newly re-established camp in the east of the city.

Of course, Zhang Sanlang was also very busy in the past ten days. In addition to dealing with more and more officials, chamberlains, and generals who took the initiative to show their kindness, he also had to deal with other arrangements-such as whether to let Yueniang go to Youyou. Zhou, Dengzhou, Taiyuan? Or stay in Luoyang and go to Baifu?

Of course, in the end, she chose to keep Yueniang in Luoyang, not only because she had full confidence in Uncle Cao, but more importantly, Li Ding, who like Zhang Xing failed to buy an official position, suddenly got promoted and became the envoy of Dushui. Although his duties only changed from building roads to dredging waterways, he crossed that threshold in terms of rank and became a serious fifth-grade master... According to the rules, the family members of the fifth-grade officials must stay in the Eastern Capital, so, Zhang Xing and Qin Baoma Liu decided to let Yueniang go to the great master Zhang Shiniang.

Specifically, what happened on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month.

Two days later, these men, together with the old lady Bai Yousi, set off in a hurry following the imperial decree and military orders.

The upper five armies have 40,000 recruits, 10,000 Jinwu Guards, 150,000 troops stationed in Guanxi, Shaanxi, Luohe, and Dongfu, 100,000 civilians, and even thousands of chambermaids and maids, totaling nearly 300,000 people. They have opened their arsenals and armed themselves. It was completed, and started with a bang, directly downstream from the north bank of Luoshui River, heading straight to Luokou Cang... When the leading troops arrived at Luokou Cang, the rear troops were just dispatched, like a long dragon.

That's not all. After arriving at Luokou warehouse, we opened the warehouse and took out all the rice, grain and cloth. After a slight boost in morale, we gradually waited for the follow-up soldiers and civilians from Hebei and Kansai... Kansai is a little further away. Later, 50,000 soldiers and 50,000 civilians came from the ground. Fifty thousand soldiers and 50,000 civilians also came from Hebei. However, 250,000 civilians came. Although all the soldiers from the Central Plains gathered in the Xuzhou camp, they sent out another 200,000 civilians without delay. To Luokou.

So far, 300,000 soldiers, 600,000 civilians, and nearly a million people have gathered in the narrow riverside area of ​​Luokou-Sishui-Biankou-Liyang-Puyang.

Zhang Xing once again realized his insignificance, and at the same time marveled at the storage in Luokou and Liyang warehouses. He spent many days here and saw with his own eyes that the grain and silk in the warehouses were overstocked and decayed. But he didn't know whether to mock the late emperor or the current hairy saint.

Not only that, Zhang Xing didn't know until this moment that he had actually conquered Dongyi once during the late emperor's time, but it was completely defeated due to the storm at sea and the efforts of the Dongyi Governor... It can only be said that Zhang Sanlang has become more awakened. , no wonder this saint is so persistent.

After all, considering the life experience of this saint, it is absolutely nonsense to say that his one hundred and forty to fifty pounds does not contain thirty pounds of his father's pressure fluid.

"here we go."

On the third day after all the soldiers and horses gathered together, on the eighth day of February, the newly appointed Dushui envoy Li Ding came to look for Zhang Xing, and he became a riddle man when he came up.

"What's going on?" Zhang Xing, who was wiping an unsheathed sword in the room, didn't even raise his head.

"It's not something... it's a person!" Li Ding finally started to feel resentful. "Soldiers are valuable and quick. Do you know why the troops and horses were gathered together for three or four days, but no troops were sent yet?"

"You are the envoy of Dushui." Zhang Xing was puzzled. "You don't even know, how can I know?"

"Because some people think he can do it again." Li Ding replied angrily. "I met my uncle's old troops today, and after his advice, I realized that the reason why he didn't send troops was not for any other reason. I'm afraid it was just because he didn't expect the pompous way of marching... Wasn't the Guanfeng Palace burned down? I won’t be able to make new stuff for a while.”

Zhang Xing was stunned, nodded, then shook his head, and just started to wrap the sword layer by layer with the silk and satin he picked up from Luokou warehouse.

"What does this mean?" Li Ding was confused for a moment.

"The saints have just started, but in fact the people have already started." Zhang Xing answered calmly while wrapping his sword. "This morning I met a small official from Wu'an, Hebei Province, and treated him to a meal of bacon. I asked him... It turns out that Hebei, the hometown of the Eastern Qi, has been completely in chaos... The actual number of troops stationed in their county When there was not enough, they took advantage of the recruitment process to arrest people to make up the number. As a result, one man knew that he was going to fight in Dongyi, so he escaped on the road. He was caught by the government and handed over to the local garrison general, who asked him to restrain him. Guess what?"

Li Ding wanted to respond, but he became a little angry and shut up instead.

And Zhang Xing did not give in. "The general simply took a whole group of people and fled into Dalu Ze under the banner of fleeing... officially rebelled."

Li Ding chuckled for a moment, then laughed immediately: "This kind of thing happened twice before, but it was just swept away by the army afterwards and eliminated invisible."

"You don't understand." Zhang Xing put away the long sword wrapped in cloth, turned around and took out a golden awl, rubbing it carefully, and at the same time responded faintly. "The best thing about this matter is not that they escaped from service or were afraid of fighting, but that Wu'an County did not dare to report the matter at all. Instead, they captured another 400 soldiers and sent them over as a garrison..."

"Four hundred... This is a lesson learned." Li Ding wanted to laugh but couldn't.

"Isn't that right?" Zhang Xing wiped the golden cone and continued to speak calmly. "Four hundred people were sent to Liyangcang on the other side of the river. Finally, there were more than a hundred left. I grabbed a few more civilians and stuffed them in. They barely made up the number, but they had to go back to continue to supplement the civilian labors. This time they crossed the river. It’s just that the civilian husband matter has not been fooled... It’s hard to say that Zhang Han’s character is hard to say, and his ability is indescribable... So I have to go back and continue to capture. But guess, how many of the 300,000 army are civilian servants? In order to mend this hole, how many more civilians were arrested and how many thieves were arrested in Hebei, Central Plains, Jianghuai and other places? As for the saint, I say, let him do as he pleases!"

As he said that, Zhang Xing took out the second golden awl, raised his head and asked seriously: "Why don't you go and write a letter to remonstrate? Isn't it true that you are in the fifth rank?"

Li Ding opened his mouth to speak, but he had nothing to say.

Just like that, after sitting for a while, when Zhang Sanlang started polishing his newly received steel crossbow, Li Silang finally gave up the entanglement and started polishing the weapon with him.

After waiting for another two days, Zhang Xing was on duty, but he was lucky enough to see the solution to what Li Ding said in front of the emperor.

Let's say that on that day, the saint went up to the hill outside the city to watch the scenery. A favored concubine, hundreds of palace people, and chamberlains opened the ceremony. Wine, delicacies, and seasonal vegetables were all available. However, the banquet was only for three rounds, so the saint stood up and put his hands behind his back. He stood there, looking at the huge camp that filled the entire field of vision and said nothing for a long time.

The ministers who stood up behind him had long understood the saint's intention, but no one said anything... This is of course understandable. After all, the matter is so important that not everyone dares to play tricks easily, especially when there are so many famous generals gathered together, it would be unavoidable to just flatter him. To make people laugh... But when Zhang Xing saw that Sima Xianggong and his son were among them, they just remained silent, which was even more strange.

Logically speaking, this husband should have stopped caring about his reputation.

The one who finally broke the silence was Mr. Zhang, one of the originators of this Eastern Expedition, who accompanied him for the first time.

"Your Majesty." After waiting for a long time, Zhang Han suddenly stepped forward and saluted. "I take the liberty of saying that there is nothing more spectacular in the world than the sun hanging over a great river..."

"This is natural." The saint turned around and sneered, as if he was impatient.

"However, I believe that the great river cannot be as prosperous as your majesty's hundreds of millions of people; the sun is hanging high in the sky, but it cannot be as prosperous as the saint's virtues from all over the world..." Zhang Han actually didn't find it disgusting.

The saint still did not look back, but his tone was still much gentler: "Although Sanhui does not have sexual essence, he is still the supreme one. I am the emperor on land, how can I compare with him?"

"The matter of the Supreme cannot be understood by mortals like me who can't even pass half of the normal lineage. But as the saying goes, there is no day in the sky. In my eyes, Your Majesty has always been a supreme being." Zhang Han pointed with his finger. Taiyang, resolute and unhesitating, made other civil and military officials behind him stunned.

Zhang Xing stood sideways next to the curtain dozens of steps away and saw with his own eyes that Yu Shuwen, the general of Youyiwei who had just returned from the north, pulled out a piece of his beard.

But...it's disgusting, but it's effective.

When the saint heard this, he actually turned around with a smile, and then twirled his beard and sighed: "Of course Mr. Zhang's loyalty is good, but the army is about to leave, the formation is not orderly, and the military power is not strong. I really am not in the mood to enjoy the scenery."

Zhang Han nodded slowly, and then said thoughtfully: "Actually, after seeing the sun hanging over the river and seeing His Majesty in front of millions of people, I have an idea, but I don't have any military experience, so I'm afraid I won't say it well. wrong."

"It's okay, you can tell me." The saint responded and stopped walking back to the banquet.

"Your Majesty." Mr. Zhang answered seriously. "I heard that Emperor Bai sent troops from Shu to revive the Central Plains. The army stretched from Hanzhong to Nanyang, along the Han River, with banners covering the mountains and fields, like a real dragon patrolling... Now, why don't you send an army of 300,000 people? It is divided into thirty-two armies, and one army is sent out every day. Each army is thirty miles apart, with flags facing each other, and golden drums heard, connected end to end, stretching for thousands of miles, like a big river; while His Majesty leads the servants, palace people, and nearby The guards, who have been supervising the army since then, are like the sun soaring in the sky... This is the grand occasion that I, the Wei Dynasty, should have when I leave the army."

There were many civil and military officials below, a few of them were at a loss, and most of them looked at each other in bewilderment.

The emperor was startled for a moment, then immediately raised his hands and laughed: "Why didn't I think of it? Can Mr. Zhang do this?"

"I can't march and fight, but it is my duty to make overall arrangements and be the official dispatching officer." Zhang Han responded quickly.

Hearing this, Yu Shuwen, the general of Youyiwei who had not been in the court for seven or eight years, could no longer bear it. He went out to salute on the spot and earnestly admonished: "Your Majesty, you must not... gather millions of people and wait in thin air. Not to mention spending a lot of money and food, the key point is that the morale of the army is also weakening day by day. If we march in this way, won't it take a full month to set off, and we will have to regroup in Dengzhou? There will be countless troubles by then. .”

The saint's expression changed on the spot, but he seemed to realize that the military perspective was indeed inappropriate. He did not refute directly, but asked one of the questions coldly: "What does it mean that military morale is also weakening day by day?"

"Your Majesty." Yu Shuwen seemed to have noticed the saint's tone and quickly explained. "I dare not hide it. I and Sima Xianggong are ordered to control the general affairs of the army. These days are clearly measured...There are too many people fleeing, from civilians to the garrison, and even some of the five armies...it is impossible to restrain them. .”

"If the soldiers are not in charge of the army, they should be severely punished if they run away. As a general, how can you demoralize the army and whisper other people's opinions?" The emperor's tone became more and more impatient, but it was obvious that he could not deny the other party's military opinions. It turned out to be nothing more than impatience and scolding. "Since you've made the suggestion, do you have any good ideas?"

I have a ghost!

Yu Shuwen was speechless, but he could only bow down and salute, claiming to be ashamed.

"Some of you people have just come from other towns and don't know my temperament. I never like to give advice. If you want to say that there is something wrong with me, you should have better ideas. You are just talking useless nonsense. How can I Aren't you just talking in vain for fame and reputation?" When the emperor saw this, he seemed even more angry, but he also said some sincere truth.

I have to say that Zhang Xing, who was listening not far away, actually thought it made sense.

As for the famous general of the dynasty, Yu Shuwen, who was said to be close to the master in cultivation, could only lower his head and bend down. He was panting and did not cover up at all, which also caused the atmosphere on the hill to become tense.

"In this case, does anyone have any good ideas?" The saint seemed to have noticed something, but he just pretended not to hear and instead asked other civil and military officials.

"I have a strategy, I don't know if it can meet your Majesty's wishes." Sima Changying suddenly spoke.

"Come on." The emperor responded immediately.

"I think we might as well build a large military city following the example of the military city that surrendered that day?" Sima Changying quickly explained. "Organize the army into Henan and Hebei, and form two or three square formations. For example, here in Henan Yujia, there are 40,000 soldiers on each side, defending outward on all four sides. The Yujia, palace officials, hundreds of officials and cavalry are all inside the square formation... In this way, it can not only show the majesty of the saint, but also enable the army to set off on the same day without delaying the march, and it can also effectively prevent people from escaping."

Everyone was talking about it. Some people said that this would probably trample the young crops, but others quickly refuted it. If they only trampled on the young crops on the road to the military city, it would be a model of marching... In fact, doing so would reduce the impact on the towns and rural areas along the way. of destruction.

Some people also said that this has a great advantage. It is very convenient to deal with a surprise attack. However, some people immediately ridiculed that in broad daylight, who would be crazy to attack a military city surrounded by 300,000 troops?

After some discussion, they all felt that this method was very useful... Of course, it is also very likely that many military generals who know military skills will immediately understand the harm of doing this, but would rather not say it... because no matter what, , it’s much better than delaying the attack for a month, right?

The emperor finally nodded, agreed to this plan, and put forward a reasonable plan of closing the city in three days, then thirty miles a day, and arriving at the Dengzhou camp in forty days.

As for a martial artist, Deputy Changjian Zhang, he thought about it for a long time based on his three-legged cat's military talent, but he couldn't figure out the pros and cons... This is understandable... But it didn't stop him from wanting to step forward and ask:

"Why can't you walk properly?"

"Something is going to happen." That night, after hearing the latest information, Li Ding immediately came to a conclusion.

"How do you say that?" Zhang Xing perked up. He really didn't understand.

"What can I say? If you don't walk well and build a military city, the soldiers will be afraid..." Li Ding said angrily. "Thousands of miles, having to walk in formation... How tiring is it?! Do you think all those garrison troops are the fifth army, fat and strong? Even the fifth army, the three armies are exhausted ...Why don’t you walk well?”

Zhang Xing suddenly realized that he indeed had some talent, but his inability to walk well was the biggest problem.

As if echoing Li Ding's words, three days later, three military cities, one large, two small and three small, were formed and marched eastward... After walking no more than two hundred miles or six or seven days, the civilians and soldiers began to get tired...especially the civilians. , they were also responsible for transporting military rations and materials. However, although there was no shortage of armor and food for this expedition, the ships and vehicles were limited, and many materials required manpower. Over time, they could not keep up with the marching speed, so they began to naturally Scale escape.

The soldiers carried swords and guns, and the civilians carried food. They often camped overnight, and there were many fewer people the next day.

At the end of February, after walking for more than ten days and three to four hundred miles, we entered Dongping County. The largest group of refugees appeared. An entire small camp, more than 500 civilians, plus a group of 50 soldiers responsible for guarding, actually colluded together. , collectively fled to Juye Ze in the south.

Now, nothing could be kept secret. The military information was sent to the saint's case in the city. The saint was furious and sent the cavalry "out of the city" to pursue the case. They captured three to four hundred people, and then beheaded them all and took their blood to smear the war drums. Drum head...According to the saying, this is called provoking the drum to establish authority.

It must be said that the effect was very good. The "city bricks" of the military city witnessed this scene with their own eyes and immediately began to flee on a larger scale. Some even took away the saint's royal horse.

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