,!
At the same time, the news of Qu Yi's death and Gao Lan's surrender also spread to the Eastern Capital of the Western Dynasty. From the civil and military officials to the army sergeants, everyone was overjoyed when they heard the news. Even Liu Bei came to court. He mocked the officials and said, "Cao Cao has been resolute in the affairs of the court for so many years, but this time he finally lost his temper!" After that, he sighed: "Although I deeply hate Qu Yi, I also admire his military strategy. I originally wanted to win a decisive battle with him on the battlefield, but I couldn't get what I wanted. It's really a shame!"
As the intelligence further improved, many knowledgeable people in the DPRK and China realized that the opportunity to regain Hebei in World War I was ripe. Fazheng analyzed this in the above table and said that with Qu Yi dead and Juyong changing hands, Cao Cao's military morale will definitely be greatly turbulent. According to reliable information, Cao Cao is starting to move the capital again. Many scholars in Hebei are opposed. This shows that Cao Cao is out of balance internally and externally. , the difficulty is difficult to solve.
Last year, the country captured Yecheng and Handan, but now it is in mediocrity, and the Eastern Dynasty has no depth to speak of. At this time, it only needs to raise troops to defend the capital and destroy the enemy's leaders, and it is very possible to capture Hebei in one battle. Of the so-called three dangers of heaven, earth, and man, Cao Cao has lost two, but the country has all of them. This battle is bound to win! Therefore, I advise Liu Bei not to hesitate. If you don’t take it now, when will you wait?
Liu Bei was convinced. At this time, the war in Jingzhou had come to an end. Liu Bei immediately ordered Wei Yan to take a defensive position in Xiangyang, while he recruited the general Guan Yu, the governor of Dingxiang Zhang Fei, the governor of Puyang Yuan Tan, the governor of Jizhou Qianzhao, and the governor of Jizhou. He Nai Pinglin, the captain of Wuhuan Guards, and other tribesmen traveled day and night to gather in Yecheng.
When the prince Liu Xie heard that Liu Bei was going to personally conquer the army again, he took the initiative to ask for his orders and said: "My father has been honored as the emperor. The so-called emperor means that the safety of the world depends on him. It is also said that the elder of the tree must strengthen its roots and not move rashly. If the expedition is cut off, kill him. Cutting down is originally the work of the ministers, why do you need to take part in it? I think that the great ancestor who conquered the world for many years was nothing more than driving the three heroes. Later, he suffered the loss of Yingbu and became seriously ill. It was nothing more than a fault of filial piety! [1] Today is the year of my father! The matter is already high and the East bandits are at the end of their rope, so why use my father to conquer me? Although my son is not talented, I am willing to fight for it on your behalf!"
Liu Bei was pleased with his growth, but still refused and said: "Cao Cao and I have known each other in the early years, and have been fighting each other for more than ten years. Now that he has finally got the opportunity to distinguish himself, how can I not go?" "
Seeing the disappointment on Liu Xie's face, Liu Beikuan explained: "It's good if you have this intention. Now that the Prime Minister is recuperating, after I go to war, you and Kong Ming will still discuss national affairs. You did nothing wrong last year, and I am very happy. But this You have to fight me personally, so you don’t need to say more."
Liu Bei read the eucalyptus slips in Shangshu Taizhong again. He saw that after years of war, military supplies were wasted and the national treasury was empty. He sighed for a long time and said to Wang Ling, his servant: "I have been a ruthless soldier in my life and have fought countless battles, but I have never been able to rest with the people. This is my fault. After this battle is won, I am willing to live for ten years so that our people can enjoy peace." He also ordered people to spread this message to the army. When the soldiers heard the news, their morale was greatly boosted. win.
Before departure, he received another letter from Chen Chong from Chang'an. In the letter, Chen Chong did not discuss any major national affairs, nor did he make military suggestions to Liu Bei. He only wrote a poem on the front of the letter, and the full text said:
"There are many beautiful days in spring and autumn. I climb high and compose new poems. When we pass the door, we greet each other and have wine to drink."
"We all go back to the farm work, and we often miss each other in our spare time. When we miss each other, we wear clothes and talk and laugh endlessly."
"Is this principle going to be unwinnable? Do nothing and suddenly go away. You must take care of your food and clothing, and don't deceive me if you work hard."
At the end of the poem, he wrote: "I have heard your promise, and I am waiting for good news."
After Liu Bei read the letter, he led the letter to the Tai Pavilion and said: "The Prime Minister said it well. After this battle is over, we will retire with success and enjoy peace and happiness at home."
By the end of July, all the armies gathered in Yecheng. Liu Bei was there to inspect various ministries. He saw that there were many strange and strong young men among the officers of each government. However, many of the old brothers around him had gray hair and beards. He couldn't help but think of Liu Xie's invitation to fight, and he suddenly aroused pride and said with a smile to his generals: "Although Lian Po is old, he can't let his descendants be more beautiful than his predecessors!" So he immediately set off with the number two hundred thousand, With 60,000 men on horseback, the flags were armored and the sun was shining brightly, they marched forward with drums beating all the way. The army was in great glory for a while.
As for the large-scale mobilization of the Western Dynasty, the Eastern Dynasty had already expected it. While Cao Cao forced his eldest son Cao Pi to continue to take charge of the capital move, he also mobilized the troops from the four states of Qingxu, Youji, and Hebei. They contracted 80,000 men and 10,000 horses, and they all gathered in Xindu. After that, he continued to send people to collect grain and grass from the prefectures and counties, and the land rent was also collected for three consecutive years. Hebei's treasury was almost empty, and there was no remnant of the civilian settlements, so that there were many complaints from the government.
Someone advised Cao Cao, saying that this would harm the people's livelihood, so could he slow down the move? Cao Cao sneered and said: "This is a time when the country's life and death are at stake. How can we use common sense to judge it? If we win this battle, I will take advantage of the victory to invade Henan, and the food shortage will be solved." . If this battle cannot be won, Hebei will no longer be owned by the state. What does the quality of the people's livelihood have to do with the imperial court? What you are saying is ridiculous!"
During this period, Cao Cao continued to send scouts to inquire about the Western Army. At the same time, he loudly announced that Sun Quan had united with the Eastern Dynasty and would soon send troops north to attack Yan and Henan. Secretly, he tried to cause a commotion in the Western Army and sent a letter to Yuan Tan. The words in the letter are quite commensurate with elders and old relatives, recalling the past events between himself and his father Yuan Shao, and saying: "The day when the Han Dynasty prospered, that is when Han Xin, Peng Yue, and Yingbu died together. Wise men should think twice." In the end, he even said: He sent an envoy to Liu Bei and said: "Li Shu is unlucky, so why use a large army? Isn't it wonderful that you and I each hold swords and decide the outcome with our own bodies?"
Liu Bei knew all of Cao Cao's actions. He immediately invited Yuan Tan out and confronted the envoy, saying: "Meng De is deceitful. How can you believe it? After a life and death battle on the battlefield, there is no need to say more!" Then he took all of Cao Cao's possessions. Come and send them back together.
Without waiting for a reply, Cao Cao ordered to build a fort at a high point in the north of Jiangshui River, dig ditches, and trap all the supplies and grain in it. The troops on foot and cavalry surrounded the outside, waiting for the army of the Western Dynasty.
Although he used various means, Cao Cao knew that Liu Bei was determined this time. If he could not win this battle, he would no longer be able to gain a foothold in Hebei. Therefore, before the arrival of the Western Dynasty army, he scattered all the gold and treasures and distributed them to the elite soldiers. He also promised the armies that after victory, women would be distributed to every soldier.
But even so, he was not at ease and still worried that his subordinates would not fight to the death or surrender to the enemy before the battle. So he sent envoys to inform Cao Pi that while moving the capital, they would also take the soldiers' families into the Liao Dynasty, in order to blackmail the soldiers and prevent them from having second thoughts.
At this time, the leading cavalry of the Western Army had arrived. They saw Cao Cao's camp from a distance and quietly built a camp to monitor it. On the second day, the Chinese armies of Liu Bei and Guan Yu also arrived, as well as He Naipinglin's Wuhuan Army and Yuan Tan's Dongfu Army. At this time, about 150,000 people rushed to the battlefield first, and the Xifu army in the rear was still more than 70 miles away.
The generals have fought against the Eastern Army several times, and this is the first time they have attacked the capital of the Eastern Dynasty. From a distance, the walls of Xindu are towering, but from a closer look, the Eastern Army is dejected. The generals are all full of pride, and they all ask Liu Bei to fight.
Liu Bei estimated that it would take about four or five days for the Xifu Army to arrive. He also saw that the morale of all the armies was high, but Cao Cao's army had few horses and horses and was outnumbered. They still formed their formation with their backs to the water and were in a desperate situation. Cao Cao's many previous attempts also showed that he was in an unprecedented political crisis at this time and did not want to fight a decisive battle with himself.
Liu Bei quickly made up his mind and planned to try a battle first. Although he wanted to take down Cao Cao in one go, he still said: "Cao Cao used his troops cunningly. Have you forgotten the defeat of Beipi? You must not underestimate the enemy." He still ordered all the troops to take a rest and prepare. Go out to battle on the second day.
It was about the Mid-Autumn Festival at this time, and the sky gradually darkened until Mao hour, when the sky was dim and bright. After daybreak, the wind weakened, but the wind blew from the northwest. The flags of both opposing sides fluttered in the wind and made a sound. Ji Han's army came out from the southwest, made a circle to the north, formed an east-west horizontal formation, and pressed towards Cao Cao's camp from the north. This is because Xun You considered that the wind was blowing from the north, so he suggested to Liu Bei to set up the formation with the north and south facing the wind.
By Chen time, the Western army had already formed its formation, but the Eastern army was not seen coming out of camp to fight. A few moments later, dozens of light cavalry rushed out of the Western Army's formation and galloped towards various parts of Cao Cao's camp. However, seeing that the Eastern Army had high bases and deep ditches, they could not avoid fighting, so they had no choice but to return to the formation and report.
In the open space surrounded by the guards of the Western Army, several Hu beds were placed, and Liu Bei sat on one of the middle ones. Although he was wearing armor, he felt cold despite not moving around, so he put another robe on his upper body. After the scout reported back, he looked up at the gray and gloomy sky, and said to Xun You who was sitting sideways: "It's not that Cao Cao didn't come out, he was waiting for the wind to stop. It is estimated that the wind weakened at noon, and they would not come out until they had lunch." I have already expected it, and all the armies have prepared dry food and water, and are moving around, waiting for him to come out and fight again."
After that, he got up, asked someone to take his mount, and inspected the armies, which was considered a little exercise.
The generals and staff who followed him crowded around, and the hot air from the war horses formed bursts of white mist. It seemed that the wind had indeed dropped a lot.
Liu Bei and General Guan Yu were riding side by side. Guan Yu's horse, Red Rabbit, suddenly tilted its neck for no apparent reason and bit Liu Bei's ankle. Liu Bei was startled and pulled his leg hard, while Guan Yu also pulled the reins back and whipped the horse's neck with a whip. It took a lot of effort for the horse's mouth to loosen its hold, and during the struggle, Liu Bei's boots almost came off.
Everyone on the left and right were frightened and jumped off their horses to see if the emperor's feet were injured. Liu Bei waved his hands repeatedly, asking everyone not to disturb others and that he had no problems. But he endured the pain and thought to himself, everyone said that the old horse has a spirit, could this be a warning of bad omen? When fighting Cao Cao, one must be extra careful. The smoothest battle he has fought in his life is against Yuan Shu. But against Cao Cao, without Ting Jian's help, he has never defeated Cao Cao alone. Although he has the advantage this time, he still has to fight against Yuan Shu. Be careful and don't show any flaws.
At this time, Fei Bao, a reconnaissance rider, said that the East bandits had set up camp and went out to fight, marching in a horizontal column from south to north, with the riders in front and the foot soldiers behind.
[1] Filial piety and benefit: During the Yingbu rebellion, Liu Bang wanted to order the prince Liu Ying to lead the army, but Liu Ying was afraid and refused. After Empress Lu interceded, Liu Bang had to fight with his sick body to fight in person. Later, Yingbu's rebellion was suppressed. , as a result, he was hit by an arrow on the battlefield, which aggravated his condition, and he died shortly after putting down the rebellion.
