Li Ru, the Minister of Shangcheng Pavilion, the Crown Prince Tutor, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the General Manager of the Royal Forest Army of the capital, personally took charge of the fifth route team. He was also accompanied by military generals Pang De and Gao Shun. In addition, Xu Shu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate was the military advisor, and three thousand Jingqian With the military accompanying them, twelve artillery pieces, and three thousand firearms battalions, the word "luxury" cannot describe the luxury of the fifth route team.
With such a lineup, no other generals dared to raise any objections.
Because accompanying the army to the battle were Prince Dajing, the future prince Zhang Biao, and the two princes Zhang Xiang and Zhang Ling.
With such a powerful lineup, Yecheng was breached by twelve artillery pieces in just one day.
The army is already at the foot of Xiangcheng.
The commander-in-chief of Xiangcheng was Cao Zhen, the general of Cao Wei. Later generations recorded this eight-character evaluation of Cao Zhen: Unless Cao Zhen dies, there will be no Sima. Cao Zhen has a strong comprehensive ability. He is loyal and loyal. He does not rely on the favor of his relatives at home and is not arrogant outside.
After learning that Jing's army had broken Yecheng, they set up a defense line along Ru River, which was bound to stop Jing's army in Ru River. At the same time, he also learned that Jing's army had powerful firearms, so he thought hard about countermeasures and dug a pit one foot deep in the forward position. If the enemy was attacked by firearms, the soldiers would hide in the pit to prevent injuries, and the artillery would stop before coming out to fight.
At the same time, the thirty-year-old city heavy crossbow was hidden inside the thick and high earth wall made of rammed earth, like a fortress, with a window in front to shoot at the Jing army crossing the river.
When Li Ru and Xu Shu saw Cao Zhen's tight defense, they knew that this was a tough nut to crack.
"Cao Cao established Diannong Zhonglang General in Xiangcheng to work in the fields. Xiangcheng has plenty of food and grass and soldiers and horses. Cao Zijia is well prepared for a long-term battle with our army!" Xu Shu came back from an inspection outside and took a sip of tea. Said slowly.
Li Ruge sneered: "It's not up to him to decide whether to fight for a long time."
Hearing Li Ru's sarcastic laugh, Xu Shu couldn't help but shudder. Everyone knew that Li Ru and Jia Xu were notorious poisoners. Li Ru's smile could make life or death unpredictable.
Because of the special nature of the fifth team, Pang De did not dare to take the seat even though he was the commander. He could only leave the seat vacant and sit on the first chair on the left: "Does Prime Minister Li have a plan to defeat the enemy?"
Li Ru said: "Soldiers are crafty! Fifty miles up the Ru River, there is a city called Jiacheng. Cao Zhen established the main defense line in Xiangcheng, which is impregnable. We don't have to waste our military strength to fight him. We can order the army to go north. , defeat Jiaxian and cross the river, then go south and attack Xiangcheng. Without the obstruction of Ru River, Xiangcheng will be defeated by our army's artillery."
Pang De frowned: "Cao Pi personally led the army eastward to defeat Wu. Our army is pressed for time. If we attack Xudu before Cao Pi joins forces, by the time Cao Pi joins forces and morale is high, our army may not be able to defeat it."
Xu Shu had already understood Li Ru's plan and explained with a smile: "Fake is also true and sometimes true is also false. Inaction sometimes comes and goes. Going north is a trick to lure the enemy. How can we go around a long way? However, Cao Zhen is not someone else. I want to I have been deceived so much, how can I make Cao Zhen believe him?" He said, looking at Li Ru.
"This is...simple!"
Li Ru said with a smile: "The general immediately ordered the entire army to go north, leaving only one empty camp. Our mighty army is really heading north to Jiacheng. How can Cao Zhen doubt it?"
Zhang Xiang frowned: "Prime Minister Li! Then... where are the troops to attack Xiangcheng?"
"Hahaha!"
Li Ru laughed, pointed to his feet and said: "Of course it's underground. He immediately ordered the army to bury six artillery pieces and twelve heavy crossbows to defeat the city under the surface, and then dig tunnels to hide hundreds of elite soldiers until Cao Zhen left. When Jiaxian is setting up defenses, use artillery fire and arrows to cover it, and five hundred elite soldiers will cross the river and they will definitely be able to defeat the enemy!"
Zhang Ling expressed doubt: "Can five hundred elite soldiers defeat the enemy?"
Xu Shu already understood what Li Ru was up to, so he explained: "When Han Xin fought his last battle, he planted military flags all over the mountains, which made the enemy mistakenly think they were surrounded and lost their courage in defeat. The battle was fictitious and real, with torches and military flags scattered along the coast. , the Wei army does not know the situation and must flee for their lives, five hundred elites are enough!"
After listening to Li Ru's plan, Zhang Biao, who was sitting on the left side of the seat, nodded: "These five hundred soldiers and horses must be able to fight well and not be afraid of death. Well... let's choose five hundred people from the Jingqian Army."
Li Ru stood up: "Absolutely not! Prince, the Jingqian army is responsible for the prince's safety, how dare you make trouble?"
Others expressed their opinions.
Their army not only shoulders the task of fighting, but also protects the prince. However, Zhang Xiu issued a strict order. Zhang Biao was only the deputy general of the army in this battle. He was too young to go to the battlefield, but he had to learn the formation of troops with the army. After all, Practice is more important than theory, and we must not just talk on paper.
Zhang Biao waved his hand: "With so many of you here, are you afraid that Cao Zhen will fly over from the other side of the river? The Jingqian army is one of the best in a hundred. If you select 500 people from these 3,000 people, they will definitely be able to complete such a difficult task." Task."
Qin Zhen came out and said: "Your Royal Highness, I would like to lead these five hundred people to defeat the enemy."
Ever since he became a personal bodyguard with Zhang Xiu, Qin Zhen has always been eager to have the opportunity to establish a battlefield and establish military exploits. He also wanted to prove his ability. Unfortunately, he had no chance. Today, he finally got the opportunity. He did not hesitate to ask for help.
Zhang Biao saw Qin Zhen's eyes full of hope and couldn't bear to refuse. He thought for a while and said, "Okay! Since you want to go, I will let you go, but -" he looked solemn and said seriously, "-you are the one between me and As the emperor's bodyguard, going to battle represents the dignity of me and the emperor. If you lose, the national prestige and military law will not tolerate you! Do you know this?"
No one here expected that Zhang Biao, who was only eleven or twelve years old, could be so coercive.
What he said was loud and full of aura.
At this moment, people had the illusion that the person sitting there was not Zhang Biao, but the future domineering and majestic emperor.
Qin Zhen screamed and knelt down: "If there is a loss in the battle, I will die to apologize!"
"good!"
Zhang Biao's slightly childish voice revealed some sophistication: "If the general is not afraid of death, how can he be afraid of a mere Wei army? If we win this battle, I will personally reward the general!"
Qin Zhen was overjoyed and knelt down to thank him.
Li Ru was extremely happy when he saw that Zhang Biao was showing kindness and grace in a calm and measured manner. This is the successor of Dajing that he, Jia Xu, and Liu Ye have cultivated with their hard work. Today's performance makes him feel gratified, and his hard work has finally been in vain.
Dajing has a promising future.
Pang De said: "In that case, I will give the order now to prepare the entire battalion to move north."
Li Ru stood up and said: "The tunnels and burials must be 100% concealed. Well... let's dig the tunnels in the Jingqian Army's camp. Just choose the right people to enter directly. Remember to carry out the new soil dug out." , we must not let the enemy find out."
Pang De smiled: "Don't worry, Mr. Li, I guarantee that Wei Jun won't notice."
