In Wugong County, Zhang Xi, Liu Yin, and Gao Xiang gathered together to warm themselves over the fire and discuss matters.
Feng Xi's injury still hasn't healed, but he finally woke up. However, his body is very weak and he needs to rest peacefully. Therefore, Zhang Xi decided to wait until spring gets warmer before sending Feng Xi back to Chengdu to rest.
This injury basically doesn't require half a year's rest, so there's no way he can recover from it.
Therefore, in Wugong County, there are only three generals left: Zhang Xi, Liu Yin, and Gao Xiang.
Originally, heavy snow had fallen and the roads had been blocked. This winter, Liu Yin and Gao Xiang both felt that there would be no war. Even if they wanted to fight, they would at least have to wait until the snow melts in spring.
Although it is a bit of a waste of time, there is nothing we can do if the weather does not cooperate, so we plan to stay in Wugong County with peace of mind and spend this winter.
Speaking of which, when it comes to heating, compared to the people of aristocratic families in Wugong County, the conditions of the Northern Expeditionary Army are better.
The anthracite coal produced in Xianxian County now belongs to the royal family and is also an important logistical material for the Northern Expeditionary Army. This means that even in winter, the soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army can still huddle in tents and live by the charcoal fire.
This treatment is better than that of the aristocratic families in Wugong County. After all, these people can only rely on charcoal to survive. Before, there were wars all the way from Wuzhangyuan to Wugong County, and there were almost no caravans. These aristocratic families We have to use the charcoal we have hoarded sparingly.
It was originally like this. Even Liu Yin and Gao Xiang had never thought that they could still use troops in the middle of winter.
But Zhang Xi, after a while of tinkering, actually came up with a way to transport food in the snow, solving the problem of logistical transportation and supplies.
This made Liu Yin and Gao Xiang look at him with surprise and admiration - maybe he is a genius in the world and a famous general in the world.
Why is there everything in this brain? !
As long as the problem of transporting supplies can be solved, the biggest obstacle to using troops in the snow will be solved. Using troops in winter will naturally become possible.
Therefore, the three of them got together to discuss sending troops to Zuo Fengyi.
Generally speaking, it is indeed more difficult to use troops in winter. If there is no special purpose, for the sake of military morale, it is better to try not to use troops in winter.
The simplest and most straightforward reason is that the soldiers are unwilling.
In the winter of this year, not only was the weather much colder than in later generations, but the soldiers' means of keeping warm were also limited. Cotton was still lying around in the Western Regions, let alone down jackets.
In this kind of weather, there is no need for people to go out. If you let the soldiers march and fight in this kind of weather, it will definitely affect the morale of the army.
In these days, the power of voice of the grassroots soldiers is indeed the same, but when something obviously goes against common sense and triggers large-scale complaints in the army, you have to consider what the consequences of mutiny in the army will be.
Regarding this point, Zhang Xi did not dare to take too much of his own initiative. He invited Liu Yin and Gao Xiang to discuss together how to find a suitable reason so that these soldiers could launch winter operations without complaining.
Well, actually in this era, there is really no special way, just two words - reward and punishment.
Rewards are to give soldiers higher rewards and treatment. As the saying goes, "there must be brave men under heavy rewards."
Punishment means strict military discipline, restraining soldiers with military orders, and deterring possible complaints from soldiers.
It is impossible for you to rely on the slogan or goal of "reviving the Han Dynasty" to make these soldiers work hard. These soldiers only have themselves in their minds. People with a little brain will think of their families, nothing more.
To them, reviving the Han Dynasty was just a rumor and a slogan with no practical significance at all.
You really can't expect the soldiers of this era to have much awareness and dedication.
Therefore, Liu Yin, who is familiar with the details of the military, and Gao Xiang, who is familiar with the needs of the grassroots people, proposed to Zhang Xi to increase the share of land rewards in the military merit system, and also to have the army strengthen the enforcement of military laws, so as to motivate the army sergeants. Their morale and desire to fight.
Zhang Xi immediately adopted it.
Originally, when Zhang Xi was running the army, he always emphasized the importance of military discipline and law. Military law enforcement was always strict, so as long as Zhang Xi was the commander-in-chief, the military discipline and law were always good.
As for the reward issue, he already owed a lot anyway, so it wouldn't be a problem to owe more this time. Zhuge Liang, the internal affairs wizard, took care of everything, so Zhang Xi really didn't worry about this issue.
In this way, Zhang Xi followed Liu Yin and Gao Xiang's suggestions and re-issued military orders. While strictly enforcing military discipline, he also increased the amount of military merit rewards to observe the reaction of the army's sergeants.
It's okay, some people will inevitably complain, but compared to this, the soldiers discussed military merit rewards more than they complained about sending troops in winter.
Well, military morale is still available for the time being.
Now that there is no problem with the morale of the military, the only thing left is to formulate a battle plan.
This is something that the three generals need to worry about.
Since Zhang He withdrew his troops from Zuo Fengyi, Zhang Xi often sent scouts to Zuo Fengyi to contact the three assistants stationed in Guanzhong to learn about Zuo Fengyi's detailed defense situation.
After more than 20 days of hard work by the scouts, Zhang Xi finally got the information. After Zhang He led his troops to withdraw Zuo Fengyi, he was sent to Luoyang to recuperate because of his serious injuries. Now Zuo Fengyi's The leading general was Zhang He's former deputy general Wang Chang.
Although this person was not easy to deal with, Zhang Xi suddenly became much more confident than Zhang He.
In addition, when Wang Chang led his troops back to Zuo Fengyi, there were only about 6,000 soldiers. Including Zuo Fengyi's local garrison, the number was just over 10,000.
It is definitely unrealistic to spread this small amount of troops over an area as large as Zuo Fengyi.
Therefore, Wang Chang chose the strategy of focusing on defense, stationing troops in Changling, the important town of Zuofengyi, and on the front line of Weicheng to defend the northwest flank of Chang'an City.
On the southwest wing of Chang'an City, Cao Zhen and Guo Huai led troops to garrison at Zhihuaili of Youfufeng County. They led the Wei army that had withdrawn from Mei County to join forces with the remaining county soldiers in Youfufeng area. There were about 20,000 people, and they were stationed in Huaili. this.
Theoretically speaking, the distance from Wugong County to Huaili, Fufeng County is shorter, and it is more suitable to directly attack Chang'an. As long as you break through the Huaili defense line and cross the Wei River, Chang'an City will be behind you.
But the problem with Zhang Xi is that he doesn't even have 15,000 men on hand. He still has to arrange soldiers to guard Wugong County and support Liu Bei's main army in Mei County behind him. Therefore, he only has 10,000 soldiers to go out. About three thousand people.
As for Guo Huai, although Cao Zhen was defeated, those who were able to retreat were basically the Central Forbidden Army. Their combat power was there and their numbers were superior. If Zhang Xi ran into Huaili, he might have to hit his head again. Blood flow.
Therefore, Zhang Xi pondered over it and decided that he should do his usual job as a partial division, cross the Weishui River, and march towards Zuofeng Yi, which is the defensive area in the northwest corner of Chang'an.
First, it can attract the attention of the Wei army and make the Wei army mistakenly believe that the main offensive force of the Shu army is from the direction of Zuo Fengyi, so that Cao Zhen and Guo Huai who are on the right in Fufeng can be mobilized to lead troops to rescue Zuo Fengyi.
Secondly, Zhang Xi thinks that compared to Cao Zhen and Guo Huai, Wang Chang is easier to bully.
As for Huaili on the right side of Fufeng, leave it to the main force of the Han Dynasty's Northern Expedition behind him, which had just won a great victory by the Wei River in Mei County.
There were not only Liu Bei's personal convoys there, but also Zhang Fei, Wei Yan, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Wu Yi, Huang Quan and many other famous generals and counselors. Pulling any one of them out would be enough to give Guo Huai and Cao Zhen a headache for a while.
Therefore, Zhang Xi discussed with Liu Yin and Gao Xiang, and the three of them reached an agreement, and then Zhang Xi wrote a letter to Liu Bei.
There is no need to wait for Liu Bei's reply. Zhang Xi has the right to make decisions on the spur of the moment. As long as he feels it is appropriate, he can naturally lead the troops directly.
Therefore, after Zhang Xi completed the letter, he immediately began to prepare to cross the river to attack Zuo Fengyi.
Zhuge Liang, who was in Mei County, really wanted to beat Zhang Xi at this moment.
Well, it took a lot of effort to calm down His Majesty's impatient mood. As soon as Zhang Xi's memorial and battle report were delivered, His Majesty was immediately anxious to send troops.
It's not that Zhuge Liang is opposed to sending troops at this time.
There are indeed many concerns about sending troops in snowy weather, but as long as the problem of grain and grass transportation can be solved, sending troops in snowy weather will have unexpected effects.
Zhuge Liang, who was familiar with the art of war, would certainly not object to sending troops just because of this.
Zhuge Liang's main worry is that if His Majesty is so impatient to advance the army, if someone is not thinking carefully, or is caught in an ambush or something, His Majesty will easily be put in danger.
Your Majesty must not allow any mistakes in his personal expedition.
Zhuge Liang didn't understand. With Zhang Xi's cautious character, why didn't he consider this possibility? !
But Zhuge Liang couldn't persuade him.
One is that Liu Bei is now eager to regain Chang'an. Seeing that he can march, he is naturally unwilling to wait any longer and heads eastward.
The second one is Pang Tong. Pang Tong, the mastermind of the Northern Expedition, strongly agreed with Liu Bei's strategy of advancing troops at this time.
Pang Tong's use of troops has always been about peace and victory. When using troops in snowy weather, it is absolutely surprising. Guo Huai, Cao Zhen and others would never have thought that the Han army could have a way to transport food in snowy weather.
In this case, Guo Huai, Cao Zhen and others might not even have time to prepare, and the Han army would have already arrived at the city.
Previously, Pang Tong helped Zhuge Liang to persuade Liu Bei to be calm. That was because Pang Tong had no way to march in the snow. Although Pang Tong was easy to use dangerous tactics when using troops, Pang Tong pursued high risks and high returns. He didn't just go to death knowing that it was impossible. .
Now, since we have the conditions, we wouldn’t be Pang Tong if we didn’t give it a try.
Therefore, Liu Bei and Pang Tong have reached an agreement, and the issue of entering the army in snowy weather is basically a foregone conclusion.
This is very painful for Zhuge Liang.
Who asked Zhuge Liang to take charge of the logistics and supplies of the entire Northern Expedition army camp? It was Zhuge Liang who should handle the matter of making sleds specifically.
Zhuge Liang's depressing Zhang Yuanchang specializes in tricking people.
You only have more than 10,000 people on hand, and there are only so many grain and grass transportation vehicles. It is not too troublesome to build this sled. But I have more than 60,000 people here.
With my lord's eagerness to advance into the army, I can spare a few days to build these sleds! ! !
Self-explosion, there is a section in the front and middle where the positions of Zuo Fengyi and Right Fufeng were mistaken. As a result, Zhang He's garrison jumped back and forth between Zuo Fengyi and Right Fufeng. Now I have to go back and revise it. The chapters involved are too many. There are too many, and it’s a little bit impossible to change.
Therefore, although it is a bit illogical to the logic of war, the bug has been formed, so let’s aggrieve the famous general Zhang He, and if you have nothing to do, go around in a circle from Zuo Fengyi, run to right Fufeng to fight, and then run back to Zuo Fengyi .
Now I understand why Luo Guanzhong is a geography idiot.
I often write wrongly when I have a wife to check, let alone Luo Guanzhong, an unlucky counselor who lives in a corner of the south of the Yangtze River.
(End of chapter)
