Zhang Xi, the coach of Lueyang's defense line, and his three generals got together to discuss Wu Yi's plan, and finally formulated a plan that satisfied everyone.
Most of the strategies were implemented according to Wu Yi's plan.
Wu Yi personally acted as a bait and acted as if he was defeated by Cao's army and had to abandon the camp and retreat.
Wu Ban and Chen Shi on both sides of Wu Yi's camp should not retreat immediately. They should continue to resist for a period of time. When the enemy is about to surround the two camps, they should give up the defense of the camp and retreat proactively. , Set up another camp and continue to hold on.
This will give Cao Jun the illusion that they relied on their own ability to break through three camps in a row, forcing Liu Bei's defense line to retreat across the board. Even Zhang He might not be able to sit still in the face of such a situation. .
At this time, Wu Yi needs to take the initiative to attack Cao Jun and put on a posture of retaking the camp. However, after attacking for a period of time, he will make a posture of retreating because the attack is unfavorable and attracting Cao Jun step by step. Go to the preset ambush circle.
The purpose of this is to deepen Cao Hong's impression that Liu Bei's army is weak and has no hope of counterattack. Under the guidance of this impression, even if Cao Hong suspects an ambush, he probably won't care too much.
In this way, even if Zhang He really sees through everything and advises Cao Hong, there is a chance that Cao Hong will not listen to the advice.
Of course, even at this time, Cao Hong was still calm and willing to follow Zhang He's advice, and Zhang Xi also had backup methods.
When necessary, Zhang Xi would personally lead the troops to recapture the defense line, but had to retreat if the attack failed. He used his status as the coach of the Lueyang defense line to attract Cao Hong to pursue him.
If even this move can't attract Cao Hong to pursue, then Zhang Xi will have no choice but to abandon the front line of defense, set up a new line of defense in the rear, and continue to resist.
Just in this way, the subsequent defense may become quite unfavorable due to the loss of advantageous location, but at least there will be no large-scale loss of troops.
After Zhang Xi formulated the entire strategy, Wu Yi and others were somewhat speechless. This coach really lived up to his reputation and was too cautious.
Anyway, the three of them thought about it from their perspective and felt that they should have been fooled in the second step of the entire plan, and there was no way they could use the third or fourth step to lure the enemy.
My own coach, really, thinks too much.
Facts have proved that Zhang Xi did think too much, because Cao Hong was not as smart as Zhang Xi thought, and Zhang He was not as serious and responsible as Zhang Xi thought.
The entire plan to lure the enemy deeper had just begun. The moment Cao Hong saw Cao Jun defeating Wu Yi's camp, he could not wait to issue a pursuit order to the entire army.
In Cao Hong's view, this is a great opportunity to break the surface.
After such a long confrontation, Cao Hong's patience was almost reaching its limit.
At this time, Zhang He finally fulfilled his duty as a deputy general and reminded Cao Hong.
"General, don't be careless, be careful of enemy ambush!"
"Hmph! How can you use troops if you are so timid?!"
Yes, pretend I didn’t say it.
Zhang He thought, "I've reminded you anyway. If you don't listen, that's your problem and it has nothing to do with me. If you start talking about it later, I'm not responsible."
Zhang He is not a Yuan Cong like Li Dian, and his character is not as conscientious and responsible as Li Dian. If you don't mess up immediately, you can't live up to your conscience. After reminding you once, don't expect him to remind you a second time.
Therefore, Cao Hong did not even send troops to besiege Chen Shi and Wu Ban's camp, but directly led his troops to pursue Wu Yi in the direction of his retreat.
Wu Ban and Chen Shi were both a little stupid. Is this guy so innocent? !
But no matter what, since you are so simple, it would be a shame for your IQ if I don't cheat you to death.
Wu Ban and Chen Shi did not choose to retreat at all. Instead, after Cao Hong pursued in depth, they sent troops directly from both wings, cutting off the follow-up troops pursuing Cao Hong, leaving Cao Hong alone.
However, Cao Hong didn't realize it yet, chased Wu Yi all the way, and ran directly into the ambush. Zhang Xi was a little dumbfounded.
If I had known that this guy had this IQ, I shouldn't have thought so much from the beginning. If you dare to rush into the ambush of 20,000 troops with five or six thousand people, you are not looking for death.
Immediately ordered the ambush troops to be dispatched, and at the same time asked Wu Yi to turn around and fight back, surrounding Cao Hong.
Cao Hong didn't realize until this moment that he was trapped in a tight siege, and he was suddenly shocked.
But Cao Hong is Cao Hong after all.
Cao Hong's level is not good, and that is the conclusion drawn from comparing with a group of first-line generals. Among the second- and third-line generals, Cao Hong's ability is not too bad.
Although he could not be a commander, and his use of troops was too simple and crude, as a general, Cao Hong still had the ability to charge into battle.
After realizing that he was surrounded, Cao Hong immediately gathered his soldiers, turned around, and charged on the road in an attempt to break out of the encirclement.
Zhang Xi quickly discovered Cao Hong's intentions and immediately ordered his soldiers to block Cao Hong's retreat. At the same time, he quickly sent orders to General Wu Ban and Chen Shi to rush over from the rear and completely close the door for Cao Hong to break out.
Once Chen Shi and Wu Ban arrived and led their soldiers to close the gate of the encirclement, it would be impossible for Cao Hong to break out of the encirclement.
In fact, this is what Cao Hong is most worried about now, so he takes the lead and rushes with all his strength, just to get out of the encirclement before the retreat is completely blocked.
It doesn't matter how many casualties he brings. As the commander-in-chief, he must not be trapped in the encirclement, otherwise the entire Cao army in the Lueyang direction will collapse because they are leaderless.
Cao Hong is desperately trying his best now, really desperately, trying desperately to break through the enemy and seek a chance of survival.
But after all, Cao Hong is not the Cao Hong he was 20 years ago. The Cao Hong who was still able to fight his way out of the siege after giving up his horse to Cao Cao to escape has slowly disappeared with the pampering over the years.
Cao Hong fought hard for a long time, but was finally caught up by Wu Yi from behind, slowing down his progress. In front of him, Cao Hong could even see the flags of Chen Shi and Wu Ban.
By this time, Cao Hong was a little desperate.
But at this moment, God gave Cao Hong hope again - Zhang He led his troops and fought out from behind Chen Shi and Wu Ban. Before the two armies were completely encircled, he forced his way through a passage and came out.
Seeing this, Cao Hong ignited the hope of survival, and immediately unleashed his final fighting strength. He led his guards to fight again, desperately approaching Zhang He's troops.
After the two armies joined forces, Zhang He personally led the troops to break through the encirclement again, and led Cao Hong out of the encirclement.
Zhang Xi was quite helpless about this.
This means that plans cannot keep up with changes.
Because Cao Hong was fooled so easily, Chen Shi and Wu Ban did not retreat first and then retreat as planned, but sent troops in advance to cut off the connection between Cao Hong and the rear army.
Originally, this approach was not wrong. After all, cutting off Cao Hong's retreat early could turn the soldiers led by Cao Hong into a lone army, making it easier to be surrounded and killed.
However, the two sent troops to cut off the retreat in advance, but Zhang He, who stayed in the rear army, also discovered the problem in advance. He discovered that Cao Hong had been lured into the enemy by Zhang Xi and others, so he quickly mobilized his troops and sent out troops to rescue.
Furthermore, Chen Shi and Wu Ban did not retreat a certain distance, which also led to the encirclement of Cao Hong. It would take a certain amount of time to tighten the entire encirclement, and this time also gave Zhang He an opportunity to send troops to rescue. .
Finally, and most importantly, Zhang He was so fierce. With only 3,000 men, he broke through the encirclement defense line composed of Chen Shi and Wu Ban. After entering the encirclement, he ruthlessly abandoned most of them. The besieged Cao army only assisted Cao Hong to break out of the encirclement, and the others were ignored.
As a result, Zhang Xi couldn't even send people to pursue him.
Once pursued, there will be loopholes in the entire encirclement network, and Cao's army trapped in the encirclement may break out. Zhang Xi must choose whether to pursue Cao Hong or completely leave behind the six to seven thousand Cao troops brought by Cao Hong.
Zhang Xi thought for a moment and decided to choose the latter.
One Cao Hong is nothing to worry about, and the pursuit may not be able to survive.
If these 6,000 to 7,000 Cao troops retreat, who knows how much damage will be caused to our own troops in future battles between the two sides.
Therefore, Zhang Xi ordered to continue to close the encirclement. While surrounding and killing these Cao troops, he sent people to persuade them to surrender. Cao Hong has left you and ran away. No matter how worried he is, it is not as important as his own life, right? !
After some persuasion to surrender, about five to six thousand Cao Jun chose to surrender. The group that refused to surrender were mostly officers within Cao Jun. Compared with the soldiers, these officers had some things they couldn't let go of.
Such as their wives and children.
According to the laws of Wei, after a soldier is killed in battle or surrenders, his wife, children and property will be redistributed to other soldiers. How can ordinary soldiers have any property? !
As for wives and children, as long as the wives and children of ordinary soldiers can survive in this world, the soldiers will not blame them for whatever choices they make. After all, they are all for survival.
Therefore, the soldiers can choose to surrender. After all, everyone wants to survive, but these officers still do not want to surrender if they can return to Wei alive.
The officers had some social status, and they certainly did not want to see their property owned by others, or their wives and children remarrying others. As long as there was hope of breaking out, they still wanted to go back.
These officers had the will to resist, and it took Liu Bei's army a little time. In the end, there was no hope of breaking out. These officers either died in the battle, or those who did not had no choice but to surrender.
This is not anyone's fault, not Liu Beijun's fault, nor Cao Wei's fault, but purely the fault of this world.
(End of chapter)
