After all, Zhang He is a veteran general who has been on the battlefield for a long time. Even if he is eager to march to seize time, he will not forget the most basic things of marching and combat.
Although Zhang He was walking hard on the mountain road, he did not miss the number of scouts he should send.
It's just that originally on flat land, scouts should be sent out to investigate at least twenty or thirty miles away, but in this unlucky mountain road, it is difficult for people to walk, and the scouts can scout out ten miles, which is considered to be a scout doing his duty.
Therefore, when he was still ten miles away from Dachangji, Zhang He received a report from his scouts and learned that the Shu army had seized Dachangji.
This matter is a bit intriguing.
Zhang He couldn't tell whether Zhang Xi had seen through his plan and sent people to block Dachangji.
It is possible, but it is also possible that Zhang Xi just discovered the mountain road that the hunters originally took, and was afraid that Zhang He would lead his troops from that mountain road and send people to garrison Dachangji. It's just for warning, or just in case.
There are actually both possibilities.
Moreover, Zhang He was not unprepared for the Shu army sending troops to block Dachangji.
Just like Wang Chang said, there is a gap in the combat power of the soldiers on both sides.
Dachangji itself is not large, and it cannot accommodate or deploy too many combat troops. At most, it can only be a melee of several hundred people.
With the combat effectiveness of the Wei Imperial Army, Zhang He was still confident that he could break through the mountain road and take back Dachangji when facing an equal number of Shu troops in a small range of hand-to-hand combat.
But there is a premise, that is, the number of Shu troops cannot be too large.
Once the number of the Shu army was too large, the Wei army and the Shu army fought back and forth in Dachangji, delaying Zhang He's time and giving Zhang Xi a chance to lead an army to help. At that time, Zhang He could not leave even if he wanted to.
After all, time is really unfriendly to Zhang He. If he could not quickly defeat the Shu army's interception, he would not be able to lead his troops out of Dachangji to attack Wuzhangyuan.
Therefore, Zhang He must achieve a quick victory in one battle and defeat the Shu army entrenched in Dachangji in one fell swoop.
Before that, Zhang He must first understand the reality of this Shu army, and at the same time, he must not act rashly to alert the Shu army gathered in Dachang. Therefore, Zhang He ordered the entire army to suspend their march, rest on the spot, and sent out scouts again to carefully investigate Dachang. Collect detailed information about the Shu army.
As time went by, the sky became darker and darker.
The scout came back from the second inspection and basically figured out the situation of the Shu army in Dachangji, and Zhang He fell into thinking because of this.
According to the scouts' reports, the number of Shu troops in Dachang was not large, and they could only hold down 500 people. With this small force, Zhang He really didn't need to worry too much.
As for whether this army has reinforcements and how many reinforcements there are, it is not known yet because the Shu army blocked Dachangji and it was dark, so the Wei army scouts did not dare to go too deep.
The information that the scouts brought back that concerned Zhang He the most was that the Shu army in Dachang was still building fortifications with torches even when it was getting late. At the same time, the entire army did not rest in Dachang. Instead, they set up a tent to rest in the center of Dachang Market, which is very strange.
The construction of fortifications had just begun, indicating that this Shu army had just arrived at Dachang Market. But why did they leave the people's houses in the market unoccupied and have to set up tents to rest just like marching in the wild? !
After much deliberation, Zhang He could only think that the garrison commander of the Shu army was very vigilant and had been preparing for an enemy invasion at the Dachang gathering. This was a bit difficult to handle.
When it was judged from the scouts' reports that the Shu army had just arrived at Dachangji, Zhang He did consider whether to directly raid Dachangji.
At this time, the Shu army had not yet had time to set up their defense facilities, and it was getting dark again. Under normal circumstances, the army at this time would be making rice and preparing to rest. The army at this time would generally not be too prepared. Being tight can indeed catch the enemy by surprise.
But later, when he heard from the scouts that the Shu army was building defense facilities overnight, and that the soldiers did not disperse to rest, but concentrated in tents for the night like in field battles, Zhang He suddenly stopped thinking.
The Shu army stationed in Dachangji obviously did not relax its defenses. If he rushed out so hastily, he would not be able to achieve the effect of a surprise attack.
If you want to defeat the enemy in one battle, you must find a time when the enemy's defenses are lax. Obviously, this is not the time.
After Zhang He thought carefully, he ordered the entire army to rest on the spot and wait for the opportunity.
At this time, Feng Xi was still a little uneasy in the Dachang assembly and kept patrolling back and forth to supervise the soldiers building fortifications.
Feng Xi always felt that Zhang He might suddenly appear from somewhere, and if he was a little careless, he might suffer another big defeat.
It's really a bit PTSD.
Even Liu Yin couldn't bear to look at him like this.
Liu Yin actually arrived about an hour later than Feng Xi. When Feng Xi was urging his soldiers to build fortifications in Dachangji and set up tents like in field battles, Liu Yin had already arrived at the outskirts of Dachangji with 500 soldiers.
Because Dachangji was too small to accommodate so many soldiers, Liu Yin did not rush into Dachangji. Instead, he found an open space outside Dachangji and set up camp on the spot. As for himself, he was surrounded by several guards. Accompanied by him, he entered Dachangji and met with Feng Xi.
Liu Yin was a little puzzled when he saw that Feng Xi was lighting torches at night and building defensive measures such as wood and antlers, and not allowing the soldiers to enter the house to rest.
After all, most of the Han troops who followed Zhang Xi to Wugong County this time were ordinary county soldiers. Their overall quality could not be compared with the thirty thousand elite Han troops who went to Mei County to encircle and suppress Guo Huai.
During the day, he was rushing all the way, and at night, he had to build defensive equipment overnight. Liu Yin was also afraid that he would be pushed too hard and his army's morale would change.
Therefore, after Liu Yin found Feng Xi, he tactfully persuaded Feng Xi not to be so anxious.
The mood is understandable, but after all, it is already dark. In these days, there are only a few soldiers who can fight at night. There is really no need to be so cautious.
Not to mention making yourself nervous, if the soldiers complain or don't get enough rest, then it will affect the combat effectiveness of the entire army.
Liu Yin is actually very good at life. Strictly speaking, Feng Xi at this time is just a captain under Liu Yin. If he really doesn't want to give face, Liu Yin can directly order the soldiers to rest. No need Even at night, we had to set up defensive measures.
But Feng Xi is a general of the Jingzhou faction after all, and he is capable, but he just lost power temporarily. Since Liu Yin wants to mix in the army, he doesn't want to get too stiff with these Jingzhou faction generals.
As for Feng Xi, he was not that arrogant character. He did listen to Liu Yin's advice.
But Feng Xi also had reasons to do so.
Feng Xi sorted out his thoughts, bowed his apologetically to Liu Yin, and then said, "Xi should have obeyed the general's words. It's just that the general didn't know. Zhang He is a treacherous and elusive man. We are in an important place. You must be on guard. General, please inspect it carefully."
After saying that, Feng Xi told Liu Yin where he lost twice in the previous battle with Zhang He.
There is a saying that Feng Xi lowered his profile and reported to Liu Yin as a subordinate. At the same time, he took the initiative to analyze his defeat. Most people really couldn't do this.
With this attitude alone, Liu Yin couldn't even take what Feng Xi said to heart.
And after Liu Yin listened to Feng Xi's story about how he was defeated, he did not dare to show any slightness to Zhang He. If he really wanted to do what Feng Xi said, then Zhang He would really probably launch a night battle.
First of all, Zhang He has this ability, and the soldiers under his command are all elite. Although not everyone has the ability to fight at night, it is not impossible to select five hundred soldiers with the ability to fight at night to attack in a sneak attack.
Secondly, according to Feng Xi's description of Zhang He's method of using troops, it is really a method of using troops that is unexpected and sees the unusual from the ordinary. You can't be too wary of this kind of person.
In his heart, Liu Yin had vaguely approved of Feng Xi's approach. But Liu Yin really couldn't agree with Feng Xi's next idea.
"In Xi's humble opinion, if Zhang He's army really comes from the trail, it will arrive tomorrow if not tonight. Tonight, our army must strengthen its defenses all night long, even if it means not sleeping day and night."
What Feng Xi meant was that he planned to repair the Jumu antlers overnight. If possible, Feng Xi also wanted to put up a protective fence outside Dachangji, just like the camp.
Come on, Liu Yin really can't stand listening to this.
If Feng Xi follows this tossing method, then the five hundred soldiers under Feng Xi will not be able to sleep tonight.
If Zhang He suddenly led his troops out of the mountain road tomorrow, how much combat power would Feng Xi's troops have left? !
This is definitely not possible.
"What Xiu Yuan said is reasonable, but it should not be overstated. If it is true as Xiu Yuan said, the entire army will build defense overnight and wait for the enemy to arrive tomorrow. How will Xiu Yuan defend against the enemy?!" Liu Yin shook his head and said to Feng Xi.
But Feng Xi said, "This is not difficult. Xi will be here tonight and lead five troops of his headquarters to build defenses. The general will return to the camp first and arrange for the rear soldiers to have a good rest. He will go to Dachangji early tomorrow morning to replace me and others. Just garrison it. In this way, we can not only build defenses, but also be prepared for sneak attacks by the bandits day and night, wouldn’t we get the best of both worlds?!”
Good guy, this is going to be two shifts! ! !
But don't say it, Liu Yin listened and felt that it was true and had a little bit of a head start.
After all, Dachangji was only such a big place, and there couldn't be many soldiers stationed inside. Liu Yin arrived with 500 people, but he could only station outside Dachangji.
It is better to divide them into two groups and replace them back and forth. Half of the soldiers are responsible for garrisoning during the day, and the other half are responsible for garrisoning at night. Not only can they build defense facilities day and night, but they also don't have to worry about Zhang He launching a sneak attack at any time.
No matter how you think about it, it seems to be a way to get the best of both worlds.
(End of chapter)
