The Tongguan battlefield is becoming calmer and quieter day by day.
With the end of the Battle of Tongguan, Cao Zhen's strategic operation in counterattacking the pass was considered a complete failure.
The Wei army used a total of 70,000 infantry, plus 20,000 cavalry, a total of 90,000 troops to counterattack Tongguan. In the end, the two fronts were defeated. Guo Huai was almost wiped out. Now he can only defend Wuguan, while Cao Zhen was almost blocked. Died in Guanzhong.
Ninety thousand troops marched westward, but in the end only 25,000 returned to Tongguan, resulting in heavy losses.
Cao Zhen was quite depressed about this, leaving Xiahou Shang and eight thousand imperial guards to guard Tongguan. He led his troops and retreated to Hongnong to rest and recuperate, and at the same time wrote a letter to the emperor to apologize.
The Han army on the west side of Tongguan still did not withdraw at this time. Instead, it occupied the camp left by Cao Zhen after his withdrawal, and was also thinking about the subsequent combat strategy.
Judging from the final result of this Guanzhong defense battle, it seems to be a victory, but judging from the actual results, the Han army cannot be said to have taken much advantage.
Of the 40,000 Yongzhou County soldiers, including the 5,000 soldiers and horses still guarding Chongquan, there are only about 10,000 left. As for the Liangzhou Army brought by Zhao Yun, more than half of the cavalry has been lost, and the infantry is still under siege. Huayin's five thousand infantrymen only had a total strength of fifteen thousand.
The two prefectures of Yongliang invested a total of 70,000 people in this Guanzhong defense battle, and the loss of troops was as high as 40,000. In fact, it was not much less than the casualties of the Wei army.
The most terrible thing is that under the city of Tongguan Pass, the total strength of the Han army is only about 20,000. If they want to continue the offensive and follow the trend of the Northern Expedition, they are no longer able to continue.
Twenty thousand soldiers and horses attacked Tongguan, which was guarded by 10,000 Cao Wei imperial troops. Zhang Xi thought that his head hurt, but he could not think of a suitable way.
Who designed this Tongguan in the first place? Oh, Cao Cao, that’s okay.
Zhao Yun and Wei Yan also had headaches.
The cavalry led by Zhao Yun cannot be used to attack the city, but can only be used as mobile troops to guard against possible attacks by the Wei army.
And Wei Yan. Wei Yan is also regretting it. You said that if he had persisted a little longer, really, he would have just persisted for two more days.
Well, Wei Yan has now learned about the real food and grass reserves of Cao Zhen's army before the war, and is now falling into a very regretful mood.
But it's a pity that ten thousand dollars can't buy these three words "I knew it earlier". Wei Yan is so regretful.
Both Zhang Xi and Zhao Yun noticed Wei Yan's absent-mindedness, but both of them understood it. In fact, when the two defenders returned to the camp and exchanged information, Zhao Yun himself regretted it half to death.
It was only a day or two before he could accomplish something extraordinary, but now he fell short.
But things are already like this, what's the use of regrets? It's better to think about whether there is a way to break through Tongguan and continue to march towards Sili.
Both of them are the kind of people who are open-minded and not very good at cutting corners. Of course, Zhao Yun is experienced and can deal with things calmly, while Zhang Xi is too lazy to get entangled. Anyway, it won't change the reality if you get entangled yourself.
As for Wei Yan, Zhang Xi and Zhao Yun originally understood Wei Yan's regrets. After all, Wei Yan proposed the strategy of "Meeting Different Taoists at Tongguan", and judging from the subsequent review, it was achievable and ultimately failed. The reason is not Wei Yan's fault. It is understandable that Wei Yan regretted and struggled with Zhao Yun's forced withdrawal.
But you can’t always be so trapped in tangled emotions that you can’t come out.
"Chang Wen, you have been guarding Tongguan for several days and you know the defenses at Tongguan very well. Do you have any strategies to break through the pass?!"
No way, Zhao Yun had to speak, seemingly asking Wei Yan, but also reminding Wei Yan in disguise, stop worrying and think about what to do next.
There is no way, Zhang Xi can't speak easily at this time. After all, everyone knows Wei Yan's temperament. Zhang Xi, a person who does not support the strategy of "different religions meeting Tongguan", no matter what he says, Wei Yan will think wrongly.
Only Zhao Yun, a veteran whose qualifications and abilities surpassed Wei Yan's, could stop Wei Yan from thinking too much.
When Wei Yan heard this, he quickly raised his head, and then subconsciously started thinking along Zhao Yun's question. In the end, he shook his head slightly.
"If there are 50,000 troops, we can attack it by force, otherwise it will be difficult." Wei Yan replied.
Upon hearing Wei Yan's answer, Zhang Xi suddenly gritted his teeth.
"When General Wei retreated, didn't he set fire to the grain, grass and ordnance in Tongguan? Is there any way to start from here?!" Zhang Xi couldn't help it and asked.
Where can I find 50,000 soldiers and horses? Let’s pin our hopes on the internal problems of Tongguan itself.
Didn't Wei Yan burn all his grain, grass and weapons? Can't you make the siege a little less difficult? !
But Wei Yan just glanced at Zhang Xi with disdain, and then said, "Although Tongguan does not have food, grass or weapons, the way back is not cut off this time. Also, does Zhang Cishi have enough siege equipment?!"
Zhang Xi understands the meaning of this.
But the tone of Wei Yan's words was "no food, grass or weapons" and "no way out". No matter how you heard it, it sounded a bit sinister.
Who is this old man? ! Are you still thinking about your unfinished strategy of "Meeting Different Paths at Tongguan"? !
Well, this time Zhang Xi has to admit that this old man's strategy still has the possibility of success, but the problem is, now that the results are like this, what's the use of regrets? Why can't you just talk properly! ! !
In other words, after getting along with Zhang Xi for a long time, I gradually got used to this guy's weird way of talking, and I didn't bother to argue with him.
Wei Yan's meaning is very clear.
Although the grain and ordnance stored in Tongguan were burned by Wei Yan, the Wei army's back road was not cut off. They could transport supplies from Hongnong and even Luoyang, but it only took a little time.
Another thing, Zhang Xi is fighting a field battle this time, a pursuit battle. The army has no siege equipment at all, so it must be built. Thirty miles west of Tongguan, if you look for it and find a mature tree, it will be a waste for Wang Chang. .
Now Zhang Xi does have siege equipment in his hand, but these are all things that Cao Zhen did not take with him when he withdrew his troops. In total, there is one half-burnt ladder, thirteen sets of hooks and ladders, and several hand-thrown stones. The devil knows why. There are also hand-thrown stones in the Wei army camp. These things can pose a serious threat to the eight-foot-high Tongguan Wall.
With just a few siege equipment, it’s impossible to defeat Tongguan! ! !
The generals of the Han army here were worried about taking Tongguan, but over there, Xiahou Shang was equally worried about defending Tongguan.
In terms of military strength, Xiahou Shang led 10,000 forbidden troops to attack Tongguan from behind. They fought for seven or eight days and suffered more than 2,000 casualties. Now he only has more than 7,000 troops on hand.
This is not a big problem. Before Cao Zhen withdrew his troops from Hongnong, he selected 3,000 people from part of the forbidden army he led and supplemented them with Xiahou Shang, making up 10,000 people.
Therefore, from the perspective of military strength, Xiahou Shang led 10,000 people against 20,000 Shu bandits outside the pass and did not suffer a loss.
But the real problem is that Tongguan was burned down and nothing was left.
The army rations hoarded in Tongguan were completely burned. Even if Wang Chang sent 5,000 soldiers in advance to put out the fire, Wei Yan did a great job. Before leaving, he not only lit a fire, but also blocked all the wells in Tongguan. I couldn't find water to put out the fire.
It's okay to say that the army rations are gone. Xiahou Shang still has some rations in his army, which can last for a while. It's just that he needs to send people to Hongnong in the rear to urge the next batch of rations.
But the city defense weapons were also burned down, which was the biggest trouble.
The bed crossbow on the wall had been almost destroyed in the fierce battle before. The arrows, wood, swords and carts used by the defenders were all killed in the sea of fire, and nothing was left.
In addition, the archery tower, archery holes and Tibetan Soldier Cave in Tongguan are all stone structures. The temperature generated by the fish oil fire will not crack these stone buildings. They are still barely usable now, but they are burned everywhere by the fire. The traces of black smoke are scary to look at.
Xiahou Shang, who was guarding Tongguan, was also on tenterhooks.
All the defensive equipment was destroyed, and the arrows could only be replenished by the ordnance he brought. What's even worse is that in order to attack the city and suppress the wall some time ago, Xiahou Shang had already used up all the arrows he brought. Okay. If the Shu thieves had siege equipment, not too many, thirty hooks and ladders, then Xiahou Shang would really have to fight hand-to-hand with the Shu thieves.
When he thought of this, Xia Houshang couldn't help but want to scold his mother. Cao Zhen has made it clear to you. These ten thousand forbidden troops are the emperor's last support and cannot be wasted on the battlefield of Tongguan. Why don't you let me guard it? Tongguan? !
But similarly, Xiahou Shang also understood why Cao Zhen did what he did.
There was no way. The Wei army under Cao Zhen was actually fighting with one breath. But after these Wei troops withdrew through Tongguan, the breath had dissipated. Now they have completely lost their combat effectiveness. Cao Zhen must find a place to rest and replenish before he can let the Wei army retreat. They regained their fighting strength.
In this case, only the forbidden troops brought by Xiahou Shang still have the will and combat power to continue fighting. If Cao Zhen is allowed to come down to guard Tongguan, God knows what jokes will happen.
Moreover, Cao Zhen also promised Xiahou Shang that as long as he was given about fifteen days to rest and recuperate, he would send someone to take over the defense of Tongguan and let Xiahou Shang lead his troops back to Luoyang as soon as possible to protect the safety of the emperor.
Furthermore, Cao Zhen and Xiahou Shang also discussed that if the Shu thieves came from afar and pursued them all the way, they would definitely not bring siege equipment with them.
On the west side of Tongguan, the correctness of Wang Chang's tactics in the past has been fully demonstrated. Wang Chang built his own siege equipment and had to go thirty miles away to chop down trees. How could the Shu thieves be an exception? !
With this distance and efficiency, even if the Shu thieves were willing to sacrifice their lives, they would not be able to gather the necessary siege equipment in a short while. In fifteen days, Xiahou Shang held Tongguan with 10,000 people, which was enough.
If Xiahou Shang hadn't recognized Cao Zhen's judgment, he wouldn't have stayed to defend the city. Although Cao Zhen was a general, Xiahou Shang was also a general protecting the army. In front of Cao Rui, no one was inferior to the other.
But soon, Xia Houshang felt that maybe he and Cao Zhen were wrong.
That is to say, on the third day when Xiahou Shang was guarding Tongguan, Xiahou Shang, who was standing on the city tower to check the enemy's situation, vaguely discovered that there was an army of Shu thieves to the west of Tongguan, in the direction of Huayin County, approaching the Shu thieves camp at the foot of Tongguan. .
What's even more terrible is that according to the reconnaissance report sent by Xiahou Shang, this Shu bandit army has a strength of about 10,000 people, and the banner of the leading general has two big characters written on it.
Zhuge! ! !
(End of chapter)
