Really, sometimes, Sima Yi really wants to go back to Yecheng to see how the current group of ministers in the DPRK persuade the emperor.
When Cao Rui's edict was conveyed to Yanzhou, Sima Yi's feeling was extremely strong.
With such an obvious wrong decision, couldn't anyone stand up and remind the emperor? !
Attack in advance? !
Is this so easy to do? !
Hasn't the emperor considered what kind of blow and impact it will have on the morale and morale of the army if an early attack fails without sufficient preparation? !
And if the Shu thieves took advantage of the situation and entered Yanzhou at this time, how could I rely on myself to stop the Shu army's counterattack? !
Therefore, Sima Yi, who received the edict, was actually very helpless and unhappy, but he had no way to refuse to carry out the edict.
Not to mention where he lives, he cannot rush back to Yecheng immediately to meet the emperor and tell his interests. Even if he can do this, if he leaves Yanzhou, it is estimated that the Wei army in Yanzhou and Heluo will be under the command of Cao Shuang in advance. Launched an attack.
He didn't object. The Battle of Luoyang was definitely going to be fought. In that case, it was better for him to command it than for Cao Shuang, a idiot.
Therefore, Sima Yi accepted his fate and began to arrange his troops. In mid-February, the beginning of spring, he personally led 50,000 soldiers from Yanzhou into Hulao Pass to coordinate Wang Ling's garrison in Gong County.
Even so, Cao Shuang was still very dissatisfied with Sima Yi.
The reason is that the emperor's edict arrived in Yanzhou in mid-January, but Sima Yi delayed it for a month before sending troops. In Cao Shuang's view, it was a bit too slow.
Yanzhou and Heluo have been preparing for sending troops to Luoyang for more than half a year. If they want to send troops, ten days of preparation time is enough, but Sima Yi spent a full month. This is disrespectful to the emperor. The imperial edict will delay the opportunity to fight.
Moreover, Cao Shuang couldn't understand why Yanzhou had a hundred thousand soldiers and horses since he took the initiative to launch an attack on Luoyang. Sima Yi only led 60,000 soldiers to fight in Chenliu County. Why did the 40,000 people stay there? !
Going to the theater? !
For this reason, Cao Shuang strongly questioned Sima Yi.
But at this time, Sima Yi had ignored him.
When not on an expedition, Sima Yi, the guarding general, still had to explain and communicate any suggestions and opinions the guards had.
But once the army goes out for an expedition, Sima Yi, as the commander-in-chief, can ignore any doubts from the army. He only needs to deploy and command the army according to his own ideas.
If you, Cao Shuang, feel that this is wrong and you strongly oppose it, you can also ask the emperor to come out to fight. Then I will hand over the military power now.
If not, then shut up! ! ! !
To be honest, Cao Shuang really wanted to invite the emperor to fight. After all, this was a good opportunity to seize Sima Yi's military power.
However, the current Cao Shuang is not the Cao Shuang in history who was completely dazzled by power. He is somewhat self-aware and knows that he cannot command so many soldiers now, let alone defeat Zhuge Liang and conquer Luoyang.
So, Cao Shuang tolerated this anger.
Here Sima Yi finally got rid of the flies buzzing in his ears and could concentrate on taking this active attack seriously.
As for Luoyang, Zhuge Liang was also frowning and thinking hard about how to retreat from the enemy.
It was almost, really, it was just a little short of time. If Zhuge Liang was given another month, then it would not be Sima Yi who led the troops to Hulao Pass, but Zhuge Liang who would send troops to attack Gong County.
But unfortunately, time was ultimately in Cao Wei's favor.
But it doesn't matter. In fact, when he made the plan for the Northern Expedition, Zhuge Liang had already considered the possibility that the Wei thieves would prepare earlier than himself and launch an attack.
What he has to do now is to guard Luoyang and wait for his main force to come and assemble.
Now, Zhang Xi and Xu Shu have arrived in Nanyang and are waiting for the follow-up troops to gather. As soon as the main troops in Dongsanjun and Guanzhong are assembled, they will immediately go north for the fifth Northern Expedition.
Therefore, for Zhuge Liang, the most difficult thing is this first month.
Moreover, Zhuge Liang now has 70,000 soldiers in his hands, 50,000 in Luoyang and 20,000 in Hongnong County.
Zhuge Liang did not transfer the 20,000 people from Hongnong County, but ordered Wang Chang to guard Hongnong County to prevent the Wei army from crossing the river from Hedong County like the last battle.
On the Luoyang side, Zhuge Liang sent Zhang Yi and Huang Quan to lead 10,000 troops to hold on at Mengjindu. On the other hand, he sent Wei Yan to lead 30,000 Northern troops to attack Gong County.
Why are you, Sima Yi, dragging his feet in Hulao Pass? If you are capable, come to Luoyang! ! !
Zhuge Liang wanted to attack Gong County to force Sima Yi to lead troops to rescue Wang Ling, and then take the opportunity to extend the return distance of Yanzhou County troops to prepare for the next Northern Expedition.
But with this little trick, it's still a bit difficult to get Sima Yi to take the bait.
On the one hand, in Sima Yi's view, Gongxian County was too close to Luoyang and had no strategic value. Putting Wang Ling here to hold on had more political significance than military significance.
Now that Zhuge Liang has sent people to attack Gong County, there is no practical significance in holding it. Why should we defend it? !
On the other hand, Sima Yi sent troops to attack Luoyang this time. Although it took a month to delay, this month was not delayed casually. Sima Yi was coordinating the Wei troops in Hedong County and Hanoi County to conduct coordinated operations.
There is no way, separated by a Yellow River, communication is inconvenient, being able to coordinate such a large-scale battle within a month is already a manifestation of Sima Yi's extremely high coordination ability.
Therefore, now that Sima Yi is staying at Hulao Pass, it is not that he does not dare to go to Luoyang, but that he is waiting for Hedong County and Hanoi County to take action to disperse the forces of the Shu thieves.
So, if Zhuge Liang wants to attack Gong County, then Sima Yi directly orders Wang Ling to withdraw to Hulao Prison.
But at this time, Cao Shuang came again.
After learning that Sima Yi asked Cao Shuang to abandon Gong County, Cao Shuang expressed his different opinions.
Since Sima Yi's purpose is to divide his troops, why can't Wang Ling be allowed to hold on in Gong County to contain the Shu bandits' forces, so that the soldiers from Hedong County and Hanoi County can make a breakthrough at Mengjin Ferry? !
Cao Shuang's idea of objecting just for the sake of opposing it. It's not a joke that Sima Yi even bothered to talk about his strategic plan. How could he just change it? !
It took a month to straighten out the strategic deployment. It was agreed that Hanoi County would send troops to Mengjin Crossing for a feint attack to distract the Luoyang defenders. Now it is temporarily changed to let them attack mainly. You will fly over and notify them? !
But don't talk about letting Wang Ling stick to Gong County. Sima Yi really has some ideas.
Actually, it wouldn't be a bad thing if Wang Ling could hold on in Gong County.
On the one hand, Wang Ling held firm in Gongxian, and his delay in sending reinforcements would inevitably mislead Zhuge Liang's judgment, making him think that Gongxian was just a cover, and that the Wei army's main attack direction was Mengjin Ferry. If he could lure Zhuge Liang from Gongxian to It would be the best thing for the county to divide its troops to support Mengjin Ferry.
On the other hand, Wang Ling still has 10,000 people in his hands. Gong County is still a county no matter what. It is protected by city walls. He has an advantage in defending the city.
Wouldn't it be a bit outrageous if a force of 10,000 men could not defend a county town for even a month in the face of a siege by no more than 40,000 enemy troops? !
Thinking of this, Sima Yi also changed his mind and ordered someone to send an order to Wang Ling of Gong County, asking him to stick to Gong County.
However, Sima Yi also considered Wang Ling's actual difficulties and did not want Wang Ling to die in Gong County. Therefore, Sima Yi gave Wang Ling the right to retreat at the last moment. If you can, you can defend. It is best to hold on for a month. Of course, really If you can't hold on, it doesn't matter if you return to Hulao Pass.
Wang Ling received such an order, what can he say?
Wei Yan is also an old rival. Wang Ling fought against Wei Yan in the last offensive and defensive battle of Luoyang. He knows his military style and highlights a fierce point. I can't defeat you in a field battle, but this is a city defense battle. You No matter how fierce you are, if you have the ability, just fly up the city wall! ! !
In this way, Wang Ling stood firm in Gong County and refused to retreat, while Wei Yan besieged the city and attacked fiercely. After fighting for several days, Wei Yan noticed something was wrong.
According to the Prime Minister's predictions and his own judgment before the war, Gong County has no value in holding on. The Wei army may hold on for a while, but in the end they will take the initiative to retreat to Hulao Pass to conserve their troops.
But now, with Wang Ling's defensive posture, it doesn't look like he is about to withdraw his troops.
For this reason, Wei Yan continued to command his soldiers to besiege the city and attack, and on the other hand, he quickly passed the news back to Luoyang and informed the prime minister.
After receiving Wei Yan's military report, Zhuge Liang also began to think.
Could it be that I had made a mistake? !
Is Sima Yi's real focus of attack at Mengjin Ferry? !
Zhuge Liang thought carefully for a long time, but still thought it was impossible.
After all, Sima Yi was in Yanzhou. There was a Yellow River between him and Hedong County and Hanoi County, so it was inconvenient to communicate with him. How could he command the Wei army on the north bank of the Yellow River to attack Mengjin Ferry from a distance? !
Or maybe he, Sima Yi, believes so much in the abilities of Sima Shi, Qin Lang, and Xia Houba? !
Anyway, Zhuge Liang felt that Sima Yi was not the kind of person who pinned his hopes on others, and his main attack direction should still be on the front line of Hulao Pass.
But within a few days, Zhang Yi from Mengjindu sent an urgent report.
The Wei army forcibly crossed the Yellow River and attacked Mengjin Ferry.
The number of troops is approximately 70,000 to 80,000.
This time, Zhuge Liang really hesitated.
I'm home for the Mid-Autumn Festival. There are only two chapters today. There should be no updates tomorrow. However, we will not take a break during the National Day and will continue to type. By then, we should be back to four chapters a day.
Also: I wish everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day.
(End of chapter)
