As I said, Zhang Xi has a very deep understanding of the principle of "shooting the man first, shooting the horse first, and capturing the thief first, capture the king". So Zhang Xi aimed at Cao Zhen's horse and shot at it. Is there any problem? !
Although in Wuzhangyuan, Zhang Xi was reprimanded by Zhang Fei for doing this, and was tactfully criticized by Zhuge Liang, who thought it was an act without martial ethics. But that time Guo Huai and Zhang Xi made a bet to fight. The battle between victory and defeat is not a life and death battle.
Didn't Zhuge Liang once reply to Guo Huai, saying that if it was a real battle on the battlefield, Guo Huai would have been killed long ago. Obviously, now Zhang Xi and Cao Zhen are fighting for their lives in a real sense.
So what's the problem with shooting horses? !
This is not a time to pay attention to martial ethics. This is a matter of life and death. After Cao Zhen entered the range of his repeating crossbow, Zhang Xi did not hesitate to depress Zhuge's repeating crossbow and shoot at Cao Zhen's horse.
In less than a breath, ten crossbow arrows were fired one after another. Although there was indeed a problem with the shooting accuracy, most of them hit Cao Zhen's horse accurately.
Of course, this also has a lot to do with Cao Zhen's response.
After Cao Zhen realized that Zhang Xi wanted to shoot his horse with a crossbow, he had no time to consider whether this was in line with martial ethics. In today's life and death situation, Cao Zhen had no time to consider this issue.
Cao Zhen only knew that if his horse was sniped and thrown to the ground, he might also face the danger of being surrounded and killed by enemy infantry.
Therefore, Cao Zhen tightened the reins almost subconsciously, trying to avoid the crossbow arrows fired by Zhang Xi by suddenly slowing down.
Generally speaking, this method is extremely effective on the battlefield. After all, although the shooting accuracy of crossbow arrows is higher than that of bows and arrows, it is also necessary to calculate the advance amount. Once the war horse suddenly slows down, the advance amount will be wrong, and the crossbow arrow is likely to Shoot empty.
Once Zhang Xi's crossbow arrow was empty, there was no chance to reload it. After shooting the second arrow, Cao Zhen was absolutely sure that he would reach Zhang Xi within this time and kill the bastard with his own hands.
However, Cao Zhen only considered the shooting speed of ordinary crossbows, and never thought that the Zhuge Liannu in Zhang Xi's hand could actually fire continuously.
Cao Zhen did avoid Zhang Xi's first arrow by slowing down his horse, but then, when Cao Zhen tried to speed up again and rushed toward Zhang Xi, he was shocked to find that Zhang Xi shot the second arrow, the third arrow, and the fourth arrow. arrow.
This time, Cao Zhen couldn't escape at all. The war horse was injured one after another in less than a breath. After a burst of wailing, he fell to the ground. As a result, Cao Zhen was thrown to the ground by the war horse.
Fortunately, Cao Zhen was a military commander after all. Although he was thrown to the ground, due to the deceleration effect of the previous war horse and his own excellent physical fitness, he was not thrown to the ground. Instead, he continued to roll to relieve his force, and at the same time, he avoided the damage from the last two crossbow arrows fired by Zhang Xi.
Cao Zhen was indeed a little shaken at this time, but fortunately, apart from the bruises caused by the fall, Cao Zhen did not suffer any substantial injuries.
Looking up, Cao Zhen found that he was still about twenty steps away from Zhang Xi, and the cavalry guards rushing over with him were slowing down one after another, as if they were concerned about their own safety.
Cao Zhen is really anxious now. What's so good about my safety? Now the enemy's commander is twenty steps away. You bastards should kill the people first and worry about me later.
But at the same time, Cao Zhen also knew that the most important task of his escort cavalry was to protect his own safety. Whether Zhang Xi died or not was not important in their eyes. His own life and death were the first priority.
Therefore, Cao Zhen immediately got up and shouted, "Kill this beast quickly!"
On the battlefield, the situation was changing rapidly. Cao Zhen didn't want to talk nonsense and directly ordered his cavalry guards to kill Zhang Xi. But before he finished speaking, Cao Zhen saw that Zhang Xi took out another crossbow that was exactly the same as the one just now. .
But this time, he no longer aimed at the horses, but directly aimed at Cao Zhen. Another ten consecutive shots.
Cao Zhen is worthy of being Cao Zhen. Thirty years of diligent martial arts training, coupled with the battlefield sense developed by more than 20 years in the army, saved his life at this moment.
Before Zhang Xi could pull off the weapon and launch the repeating crossbow, Cao Zhen had already begun to crouch and roll to avoid the possible crossbow arrows.
But the problem is that with ten consecutive shots, Zhang Xi's shooting speed must be much faster than Cao Zhen's dodging speed.
After ten consecutive shots, although Cao Zhen relied on his sense of battlefield to roll and dodge in advance and avoid most of the arrows, he was still hit by one arrow each in the shoulder, thigh, and waist and abdomen.
Cao Zhen was lucky. Although he was hit by arrows, they were not in vital parts, and the injuries were not too serious. However, the arrows in his thigh and waist also temporarily deprived Cao Zhen of his ability to move, and Cao Zhen could only half kneel on the ground.
Such a sudden change made Cao Zhen's cavalry guards dare not compete with Zhang Xi for speed.
What if this guy also has that weird repeating crossbow? !
Yes, the cavalry guards can indeed kill Zhang Xi, but the problem is, what if the coach they are guarding is shot to death by Zhang Xi before that? !
For the cavalry guards, there is no so-called credit for killing Zhang Xi, but if their coach unfortunately dies in battle, then these cavalry guards will be dead ends if they go back.
The life and death of Zhang Xi and Cao Zhen was not a multiple-choice question at all in the eyes of the escort cavalry. Seeing that their coach was injured and fell to the ground, the eighteen escort cavalry all gave up their attack on Zhang Xi, quickly gathered around Cao Zhen, and surrounded Cao Zhen. Surround.
And Zhang Xi. At this time, Zhang Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Yes, Zhang Xi was also betting that Cao Zhen's life was more important than his own life in the eyes of the escort cavalry.
There was no other way. If Zhang Xi didn't gamble this time, he would probably have been killed just now.
Counting the flag bearers, there are only eight people, and they are all infantry. How can they fight with eighteen cavalry? Even the eight infantry at hand cannot protect themselves.
Therefore, Zhang Xi could only target Cao Zhen. In fact, the purpose was to tell Cao Zhen that your cavalry escort might be able to kill me, but before that, I am sure to put you to death.
At the same time, Zhang Xi was also betting that Cao Zhen wouldn't dare to take the risk with him and exchange the limit for one.
Now it seems that Zhang Xi's gamble has been successful.
Under the protection of eight infantry regiments, Zhang Xi rode on a war horse with an expressionless face and looked sharply at Cao Zhen twenty steps away. But in fact, Zhang Xi's hands were busy reloading and had already fired. Two Zhuge Liannu.
If Cao Zhen discovers that he has actually fired all the repeating crossbows, the consequences will be, well, hurry up and reload.
Although the handheld version of the Zhuge Liannu is relatively convenient and fast to load, Zhang Xi did not dare to move too much to let Cao Zhen see through the reality. So, sitting on the horse, Zhang Xi did not dare to say a word.
And Cao Zhen. At this time, Cao Zhen had already stood up again with the help of his guards, looking at Zhang Xi who was twenty steps away with an angry look.
Twenty steps, just twenty steps away, I would be able to succeed in one battle and avenge my previous shame! ! !
But now, after all, the success fell short.
Cao Zhen couldn't judge, and didn't dare to bet, whether Zhang Xi still had the twenty-step range of the continuous-firing machine crossbow. With that kind of rapid-firing machine crossbow, even with the protection of the cavalry, Cao Zhen couldn't completely It can be guaranteed that Zhang Xi will not shoot himself.
Cao Zhen did not come to find Zhang Xi to die together. This would not be of any benefit to the Wei army.
Zhang Xi's death in battle will cause chaos in the command of the Shu thieves, but at least Zhao Yun is still there. It may still have a big impact on the morale of the army, but with Zhao Yun's prestige to gather the troops and appease the morale of the army, the Shu thieves will at least Not a complete meltdown.
But if Cao Zhen and Zhang Xi die in a one-for-one battle, then the remaining Wei soldiers, whether Dai Ling or Wang Chang, will not have enough prestige and ability to appease the military morale. I am afraid that the Wei army will be worse than the Shu army by then. Crash first.
Therefore, risking one's life with Zhang Xi is not Cao Zhen's first choice. Besides, even if Cao Zhen orders his cavalry guards to surround and kill Zhang Xi, these people will probably not obey the order.
The first duty of the escort cavalry is always to protect Cao Zhen, not to go into battle to kill the enemy.
Taking the initiative to attack was out of the question, so what was left was to leave this place of right and wrong quickly before Zhao Yun could break through the infantry he had left behind to intercept, or before Zhang Xi's gathered rear army could return to defense.
Otherwise, even if you want to leave, you may not be able to leave.
There was not much time left for Cao Zhen to make a judgment, and it was impossible for Cao Zhen to stay where he was. In just two or three breaths, Cao Zhen slowly retreated under the protection of his own guards. After retreating for a distance, Cao Zhen , Cao Zhencai got on his horse under the cover of the escorting cavalry and retreated to the east side of the battlefield.
Zhang Xi didn't pursue him. What was he pursuing? He was just bluffing. If something happened after this pursuit, who would be responsible? !
Being able to save a life from Cao Zhen's sudden attack this time was considered extremely lucky. Until the time before Zhao Yun came to help, Zhang Xi had been worried that Cao Zhen would see through his bluff and kill someone with a counterattack. .
As Zhao Yun broke through the Wei army's interception and ran to join Zhang Xi, Zhang Xi's first suggestion was to gather his soldiers and withdraw the troops back to the camp.
It's not that Cao Zhen was afraid of breaking out this time, but that there was no need to fight anymore.
The 10,000 infantry led by Zhang Xi were successfully cut off by Cao Jun and became two groups.
The rear army can be gathered back, but the front army needs Zhao Yun to bring the cavalry to support it. If the battle continues, the front army will suffer heavy losses.
As for the cavalry, because Zhao Yun chose to break out of Cao Zhen's army, they are now in a scattered state. If they continue to fight, without the support of the organized cavalry, it will be difficult to fight in the future.
It would be better to take advantage of this moment when Cao Zhen has not fully returned to the camp, resume command, quickly gather his troops, and be ready to withdraw to the camp.
As for the losses on Cao Zhen's side, the Wei army was much larger than his own. Cao Zhen himself was injured. It is hard to say whether the Wei army will continue to fight.
And things were pretty much what Zhang Xi expected.
After Cao Zhen withdrew his army again under the protection of the cavalry escort, the first thing he did was to order Wang Chang to gather the soldiers on the battlefield and prepare to return to camp.
The best opportunity for a decisive victory has been wasted by Cao Zhen. If the fight continues, it will be nothing more than a cross-over melee.
Cao Zhen didn't feel that he had reached the point where he could only make a last-ditch effort to withdraw, and it would not be too late to fight again in the future.
In this way, with the tacit understanding between the two sides, the frontal battle in Tongguan ended temporarily after the battle lasted for about two hours.
(End of chapter)
