As the governor of Yongliang in the Wei Dynasty, Cao Zhen really had a pitiful role in this defensive battle in Guanzhong.
But this is not Cao Zhen's fault. His responsibilities determine that he cannot leave Chang'an easily and must sit and command in Chang'an.
In fact, Cao Zhen has done quite well so far.
Cao Zhen formulated the basic strategy of defense in Guanzhong, which was to defend the enemy from the outside.
Guanzhong is really too important. It is not only one of the largest economic regions in the world, but also the starting point of foreign trade. It is the most important logistical support point for controlling the two states of Yongliang and fighting against foreign invasion.
Guanzhong has been gradually developed since the pre-Qin period, and it has lasted for thousands of years. Although there have been some twists and turns in the process, it has long been a densely populated and economically developed area, and it is an important source of tax revenue for the imperial court.
In the early years, several rebellions in Liangzhou spread to Guanzhong, especially during the years when Ma Chao and Han Sui occupied Guanzhong. The Liangzhou warlords attacked Guanzhong wantonly, which indeed caused Guanzhong to lose a large number of people, and the land was abandoned and ruined. It was indeed a mess.
But after Cao Cao regained Guanzhong, the first thing he did was to move the population of Yongliang and even Hanzhong to Hanzhong on a large scale to restore the population and taxation of Guanzhong. This shows the importance of the Guanzhong area.
In such an area, Cao Zhen made the decision to defend the enemy from outside. It can be said that he also wanted to ensure that the Guanzhong area, especially the three core areas of Zuo Fengyi, You Fufeng, and Chang'an, would not be damaged by war as much as possible.
For this reason, Cao Zhen carefully planned the defense method, and at the same time, he also gave sufficient autonomy to the local guards. Not only Guo Huai, but also veterans like Zhang He, Sun Li of Sanguan, Xiahou Mao of Chen Cangdao, Cao Zhen all gave They have certain rights to make spontaneous decisions.
In fact, if everything develops according to Cao Zhen's plan, Cao Zhen is really confident that he will block these Shu troops from the Northern Expedition along the Wei River and prevent them from entering the hinterland of Guanzhong.
However, since Liu Bei officially sent out troops for the Northern Expedition in October, when the troops left Baoxie Road and approached Wuzhangyuan, Cao Zhen has not received any good news.
First of all, Xia Houmao actually decided to abandon Chencang Road and retreat into the hinterland of Guanzhong after only guarding it for half a day.
Really, Cao Zhen really wanted to kill Xiahou Mao directly. But if you tie a dog in Chencang City, you won't be able to guard it for only half a day, right? !
But Cao Zhen couldn't do this. Xiahou Mao was not only the husband-in-law of the eldest princess of Wei, but also the eldest son of Xiahou Dun. He even directly ordered Xiahou Mao to be executed for fear that Cao Pi would get angry. Cao Zhen didn't dare to tell Cao Pi in the report. Xiahou Mao only stayed at Chencang Road for half a day.
If he really wanted to kill Xiahou Mao, Cao Pi would not only be unable to explain to his sister, but also to Xiahou's family.
The Cao family and the Xiahou family can be said to have an interdependent relationship. Xiahou Dun and Xia Houyuan can be said to have risked their lives for the foundation of the Cao family. It doesn't matter if they have many in-laws with each other, Xiahou Mao. , but the relationship between the Cao family and the Xiahou family cannot be affected by this.
This was the first thing that Cao Zhen felt aggrieved about.
The second frustrating thing was the loss of Mei County.
Let’s face it, it’s complicated.
Yes, Cao Zhen can continue to blame Xiahou Mao. After all, if Xiahou Mao had not abandoned Chen Cangdao so easily, Mei County would not have been immediately besieged by the Shu army.
However, Cao Zhen also knew that he had his own responsibility for the fall of Mei County. Why did he choose such a loser to garrison Mei County? !
Cao Zhen still values Wang Sheng more, because this man is extremely brave, has made many military exploits, has both seniority and merits, and is half a local. Cao Zhen wants to use such a man to win over the people of Guanzhong. , so Wang Sheng was asked to guard Mei County to show his importance.
But Wang Sheng actually only guarded Mei County for two days, and allowed Shu general Wei Yan to easily capture Mei County. This is another waste.
Cao Zhen didn't understand. You only had two thousand defenders in hand. Facing six or seven thousand Shu troops attacking the city, who gave you the courage to open the city gate and run out to fight with others? !
Why don't you look at who your opponent is? !
That is Wei Yan, a general who has followed Liu Bei in many expeditions in the early years. He can be trusted by Liu Bei and entrusted with the military affairs of a state. Do you think you, a lieutenant who can only be stationed in a small county, can defeat him? !
Can't you just guard the city and wait until you rescue it? !
Good guy. It was only two days, only two days of guarding, and Mei County was lost in such a muddle.
Cao Zhen was so depressed. When he received the battle report about the loss of Mei County, it had only been three days since he left Chang'an with 15,000 forbidden troops.
Even if he could fly now and fly to Mei County, it would be impossible to take Mei County back from Wei Yan's hands.
To be honest, at this time, Cao Zhen really didn't know whether he should retreat or continue to advance.
However, considering that the loss of Meixian County, the main force of Cao Wei's army along the Weishui River is at risk of running out of food. Sun Li, who has dispersed, has no way to rescue, but the Guo Huai Army in Wuzhangyuan must find a way to come back.
Cao Zhen really couldn't afford to lose the Wei army of more than 42,000 men.
Once Mei County is lost and the Shu army enters Guanzhong in large numbers, then the Guo Huai Army will be the main force guarding Chang'an in the future, and Cao Zhen must take care of this army.
Otherwise, with Cao Zhen's current 15,000 men, plus Zhang He's 10,000 men on the right, Chang'an would be difficult to defend against the nearly 100,000 Shu army that joined forces.
Therefore, Cao Zhen did not think about retreating halfway, but continued to march in the direction of Mei County, but his goal had changed from supporting Mei County to cooperating with Guo Huai's retreat.
Cao Zhen trusts Guo Huai's ability. He believes that when Guo Huai learns that Mei County has been lost, he will definitely choose a suitable time and route to withdraw the Wei army from Wuzhangyuan. Cao Zhen is not sure how much he can withdraw, but the number There will definitely not be too few, and people will definitely be needed to support them.
So what Cao Zhen has to do at this time is to continue to march towards the coast of the Weishui River, and at the same time send out scouts to find a way to contact Guo Huai and determine Guo Huai's retreat route so that he can respond.
However, on the way, before Cao Zhen's scouts could contact Guo Huai, the scout messenger sent by Guo Huai had already found Cao Zhen and brought Guo Huai's new plan to counterattack Mei County.
Guo Huai brought the latest information to Cao Zhen. The Shu general currently stationed in Mei County is indeed Wei Yan, but Wei Yan attacked Mei County with light troops. There are only five or six thousand people in the city. The large army led by Wei Yan has not yet arrived. Arrive at Mei County.
Now Guo Huai has ordered Guan Qiujian to lead 3,000 cavalry to delay the march of the main force of the Shu army's partial division. If Cao Zhen is not far from Mei County and can arrive at the gate of Mei County in time, then ask Cao Zhen to lead the army to attack Mei County first. County, or cooperate with Guanqiu Jian's troops, first defeat the main force of the Shu army's partial division and surround Mei County.
Guo Huai will lead his army from Wuzhangyuan back to Mei County in no more than ten days and cooperate with Cao Zhen to attack Mei County.
As long as Mei County is recaptured, this important logistics supply town is regained, and then Mei County is used as a basis to continue to block the Shu army's advance, Guanzhong's overall strategy of defending the enemy from outside can still be realized.
Of course, Guo Huai will not only think about good things but not bad things. If he cannot recapture Mei County, then at least Guo Huai can join Cao Zhen's troops and obtain some grain and grass supplies from Cao Zhen. If that doesn't work, he can still Cao Zhen responded and withdrew to Chang'an, preparing for a defensive battle in Chang'an.
After all, Cao Zhen's grain and grass supplies were sent from Chang'an, and he did not need to rely on Mei County's grain and grass supplies.
But, all this depends on how the battle develops and whether Mei County can be recaptured quickly. If it can be recaptured, the next defensive battle in Guanzhong will become much easier to fight.
Therefore, on the one hand, Cao Zhen led his soldiers to start a rapid march, wanting to get to the Mei County city as soon as possible. Whether it was a siege attack, or cooperating with Guanqiu Jian to repel the main force of the Shu army's partial division, the sooner the better.
On the other hand, Cao Zhen also wrote to Manchong in Chang'an, asking him to increase the supply of grain and grass, and at the same time collect large and small ships in the Chang'an area, and when necessary, go north along the Wei River.
This was to prepare for Guo Huai's retreat in case the war went unfavorably.
But at this time, Cao Zhen still hopes to retake Mei County. If the Shu army breaks into the hinterland of Guanzhong and burns the war to Chang'an City, even if Chang'an is defended, it will not take a year or two to recover.
Therefore, Cao Zhen really marched in a hurry along the way, and with the help of Cao Wei's elite imperial army, he traveled more than two hundred miles in four or five days, and arrived at the gate of Mei County two days earlier than expected.
But as soon as he arrived at Mei County, Cao Zhen received the third bad news.
After all, Guanqiu Jian failed to stop the main force of the Shu army's partial division from entering Mei County and joining forces with Wei Yan.
But Cao Zhen also got some pretty good news at the same time.
Even if the main force of the Shu army's partial division has entered Mei County, the Mei County defenders only have about 10,000 people. Moreover, they have experienced two wars and hastily withdrawn to Mei County. The morale of the army will inevitably be affected.
Cao Zhen mentally calculated the comparison of the enemy's and ours' military strength.
There are more than 10,000 Shu troops guarding Mei County, but Mei County is not a military fortress, it is just an ordinary county. With less than ten days, Wei Yan should not have time to deploy too many defensive measures.
On his side, in addition to the 15,000 forbidden troops he brought, in about five or six days, Guo Huai's army will come from the west and attack Mei County.
Even if Guo Huai had to arrange for some of his soldiers to break off the rear and block the Shu army's pursuit, Guo Huai could still bring over at least 30,000 troops.
Based on this calculation, the total strength of our troops should be about 45,000 to 50,000. The comparison of the enemy's and ours' military strength is five to one.
There is no problem in attacking the city at this ratio. The only question is when to conquer the city.
Wei Yan will definitely defend the city, and the main force of the Shu army will not just watch Mei County fall. They will definitely find a way to quickly defeat Guo Huai's rear-end troops and come to pursue the main force of Guo Huai's army.
Therefore, what he has to do now is to weaken the Mei County defenders as much as possible and create sufficient conditions for a one-hit kill after the arrival of Guo Huai's army.
If that's the case, why are you hesitating? Build hooks and ladders immediately and attack the city with ants.
(End of chapter)
