In the midst of strategizing, victory can be achieved thousands of miles away. -------Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty, "Historical Records of the Great Ancestor"
It is said that the Lingling Military Academy was in full swing. Suddenly, an envoy from Chang'an came and brought a secret message from Zhong Yao. Chen Long and several think tanks actually smelled an extremely dangerous atmosphere from the simple letter.
Dong Zhuo's men included Jia Xu and Li Ru in literature, Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji in military affairs, and tens of thousands of Xiliang cavalry who were loyal to Dong Zhuo. They were indeed strong. If he colludes with Han Sui's rebels, there will be no rivals in Yongliang.
Although Chang'an is empty, it is very likely that it was Dong Zhuo's trap to trap Chen Long. If trapping Chen Long fails, Dong Zhuo is likely to let the ambush troops stationed in Chang'an again, and the imperial troops of Huangfu Song and Sun Jian will be locked up and beaten. Then find a reason to ride eastward, Luoyang can be reached in a few days, and then use the emperor to control the princes, reenacting the Dong Zhuo rebellion in official history.
Li Ru is now taking the imperial examination in Lingling. At that time, Li Ru was still unknown, and he was probably an undercover agent sent by Dong Zhuo. It's a pity that Chen Long is a time traveler who is familiar with history. He has long known about the famous Li Ru. In the official history, he even became Dong Zhuo's son-in-law. Li Ru was wise, not inferior to Jia Xu, and he was ruthless and left no escape route. He was an extremely dangerous person.
Li Ru's arrival actually sounded the alarm to Chen Long and proved that Dong Zhuo valued him. Zhong Yao's letter mentioned that the whereabouts of Dong Zhuo's army were unknown, and it was probably because of Chen Long's arrangement, waiting for Chen Long to lead the army to defend Chang'an.
If Chen Long is unexpectedly defeated or even killed on the way, Dong Zhuo's southwest side will only have the weak Yizhou Liu Yan army and the Jingzhou Liu Biao army that has not yet formed its wings, posing no threat to Dong Zhuo. Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Sun Jian, etc. were all still in the imperial court and were still in their infancy, and there were no separatist forces in the southeast and northeast that could compete with Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo's unification of the world will be just around the corner.
Therefore, the scent of Chang'an was definitely left by Jia Xu specifically for Chen Long. His discovery that Chen Long had left Zhong Yao undercover in Chang'an was a perfect proof of Chen Long's ambition towards Chang'an.
What Jia Xu didn't know was that Chen Long's original intention of taking Chang'an was to welcome Xun You who surrendered and to prevent Dong Zhuo's army from entering Luoyang. He did not want to start a war with Dong Zhuo immediately. After all, Chen Long's strength was just starting to grow. The only one competing against the Xiliang Iron Cavalry was Huang Gai's First Legion.
Chen Long set the candidate's training period at three months to buy Zhang Ning time to verify the candidate's true identity. Within three months, the candidates in question will definitely find ways to contact the outside world from remote training locations, so that Zhang Ning can discover evidence of undercover agents; Zhang Ning’s agents will also go to the places where the candidates come from to collect information on the suspected candidates. , to determine identity. After three months, candidates with no problems will enter various positions as officials, while candidates with problems will be ruthlessly purged by themselves.
Early the next morning, Chen Long put aside the martial arts examinations and asked Jiang Wan and Huang Gai to continue hosting. Chen Qun started to publish the liberal arts exams and arrange the location for liberal arts training. In the secret room of the city lord's palace, there were only six people, Zhang Ning, Gan Ning, Zhao Yun, Guo Jia, Zhou Buyi and Chen Long, studying how to crack the Chang'an trap of Dong Zhuo and Jia Xu.
Zhou Buyi made a simple map overnight, marking the mountains, rivers, and cities between Tianshui and Wancheng one by one, and spread it out among the people sitting around the table. Zhou Buji pointed at the map and started by saying: "Dong Zhuo's army sent troops from Chang'an. It turned out that we thought he would go from Jincheng County, pass through the gap between the rebel Qiang in Tianshui County and the Han Sui rebels in Anding County, and go straight to Wuwei The county is divided. Now it seems that this is just the smoke released by Dong Zhuo's army, and there is no news of the arrival of Dong Zhuo's army in Wuwei County. What we need to determine now is where Dong Zhuo's army went."
Chen Long nodded and said: "Now assuming that I get the order from Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty and lead the troops north to Chang'an for rescue, which route is most likely to be taken?"
Zhou Busuo said: "The most convenient way is of course to take the water route. The Xiangjiang River turns to the Jingjiang River, then enters the Han River, arrives at Shangyong Landing, and then goes straight to Chang'an through Shangluo County."
Chen Long thought of the vast Shangluo mountains he had walked through, and several mountains and valleys suitable for ambush immediately appeared in his mind. Putting his hand in the middle of the map representing Shangluo Mountain, Guo Jiadao said: "What I think is also what the enemy thinks. An ambush in Shangluo Mountain is the easiest thing to think of. We must send people to search in this mountainous area first."
Chen Long nodded and said: "If we cannot guess Dong Zhuo's conspiracy, we will naturally not be wary and will definitely take the most convenient route. Therefore, give the mistress two months to arrange for people to dress up as hunters and search these places. ." As he spoke, he marked several suitable ambush locations in Shangluo Mountain that he thought of on the map.
Zhang Ning nodded in agreement: "However, Dong Zhuo will definitely set up hidden sentries along our route. If our army does not go through Shangluo Mountain, will he find out immediately?"
Chen Long smiled and said: "Your hypothesis is based on the fact that we really send troops. But before the true location of Dong Zhuo's troops is discovered, I will not send troops at all."
Guo Jia also smiled and said: "So, what we have to consider is: first, determine the location of Dong Zhuo's troops; second, arrange a surprise force in advance to assemble on the movement route of Dong Zhuo's troops without anyone noticing. Once Dong Zhuo's troops have been moving for a long time, If our army doesn't come, it will definitely move towards Chang'an, so we will launch a counter-ambush and beat Dong Zhuo till he peees and sends him back to Xiliang."
Everyone also laughed, and the atmosphere relaxed a little. Zhao Yun hypothetically said: "Suppose we are sure that Dong Zhuo's army is in Shangluo Mountain, how should we deploy our surprise troops?"
Chen Long frowned and said: "Zilong's problem involves many aspects. First of all, the army must be broken into pieces, scattered to the assembly point and then assembled to avoid Dong Zhuo's eyes, so that it can have the effect of a surprise army. Second, The assembly point must be unexpected, not too far from Shangluo Mountain, and not under the control of Dong Zhuo's army. Third, the assembled army must not be less than 30,000, which means that the first army will almost be outnumbered, and there must be a normal supply line. Only in this way can Dong Zhuo's army be severely defeated. Fourth, the main task of the assembled troops is to ambush. It must be determined that the main force is crossbows, with cavalry and infantry as supplements. Therefore, there should be no less than 15,000 crossbows. Fifth, we must consider The retreat in case of failure to win.”
Zhou Buyi's fingers slowly traveled westward along the Han River, and finally stopped at the source of the Han River, the base of Zhuge's Northern Expedition in later generations, and Hanzhong, the northernmost city in Yizhou. He said slowly: "If we can control Hanzhong, it will be an excellent supply base."
Guo Jia nodded and said: "From the map, Hanzhong is behind the Shangluo Mountains. It is not a city controlled by the Xiliang Army, but it is a good base for supplies and Tibetan troops. But who is the guard of Hanzhong? I'm afraid he won't be that easy to talk to. "
Zhou Busuo said: "Su Gu, the prefect of Hanzhong, controls the source of the Han River and the only way in and out of Chang'an and Sichuan. It has always been a battleground for military strategists. Liu Yan in Yizhou is weak, and Su Gu supports his troops and controls the entry and exit of salt and iron. Yizhou, the profits are huge. The total force should be about 30,000."
Chen Long shook his head and said: "It is definitely unrealistic for us to attack Hanzhong. But it should be possible to control Su Gu. If we can control Su Gu unknowingly and let him cooperate with us in fighting Dong Zhuo, it is a feasible plan."
Gan Ning got excited and said, "My lord, are you going to use special forces?" Gan Ning had just been transferred to the navy as commander and had a deep affection for the special forces. If my lord asked him to participate in this secret meeting, he might be tempted to use special forces. idea.
Guo Jia suddenly frowned and said, "Xiliang's troops entered Shangluo Mountain. Where did their supplies come from?"
Zhao Yun said: "Is it Su Gu who provides them with supplies?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at each other in shock. If Su Gu's Hanzhong had been controlled by Dong Zhuo long ago, everything he planned just now would become a moon in the water and a flower in the mirror.
After a moment of silence, Chen Long waved his hand and said: "In any case, we have to go to Su Gu in Hanzhong first. Yuan Shu's army is heavily entrenched in Nanyang County. It is impossible for us to set up a supply base in Nanyang. There is no more suitable place than Hanzhong. "
Guo Jia suddenly said: "Perhaps we don't need to send troops at all. If we can find a way to secretly surrender to Su Gu and use his 30,000 troops, all problems will be solved. Not only will the passage from Lingling Army to Xiliang be opened, but also Control Liu Yan in Yizhou and make Hanzhong the bridgehead for the Qinglong Army to unify the northwest and southwest."
Chen Long said with a smile: "What Fengxiao said is the most ideal situation. I ordered Zhang Ning to sit in Lingling and send spies first to Hanzhong to set up a front line. Three days later, I pretended to be a salt dealer, and Zhao Yun and Gan Ning pretended to be writers. Ding was the guard, Zhou Buyi was pretending to be the accountant, Guo Jia was pretending to be the master, and the special forces, starting from Lu Chang, took hundreds of people to pretend to be clerks, and asked Yang Huai to fill a boat of well salt and go straight to Hanzhong along the waterway, and then act according to the opportunity." Everyone was shocked. He stood up and said yes.
Chen Long also ordered: "As for the troops, Zhao Yun will be the commander of the ambush on Dong Zhuo this time, and the special forces will be assisted by Lu Chang, Zu Lang, Hu Ji, Li Tong, and Hao Pu. If the special forces cannot capture Su Gu, the special forces will be responsible for the ambush of Dong Zhuo." The mission of breaking an army into pieces and secretly delivering it to the vicinity of Hanzhong was planned and completed by Zhang Ning in accordance with my latest instructions."
Zhou Buyi said: "The matter of breaking up the army into parts is quite complicated, so I suggest you start immediately." He pointed to the mountainous area between Hanzhong and Shangyong and said: "We can first divide the 15,000 archers into small units. , carrying their own bows and arrows and a month’s supply of dry food, they marched along the waterway and stationed in the bay area by the Han River where ships can be hidden to gather and stand by.”
Chen Long said: "It is imperative to capture Su Gu and capture Hanzhong. Otherwise, we can only give up Chang'an. First, secretly assemble a force, which should be put to use. The premise is that within a month, we can convince Su Gu or capture Hanzhong City. . Otherwise these 15,000 people will have no choice but to retreat if they run out of food. In this way, let Lu Changshang* arrange this matter, and be sure to cover up and hide it, and don't let the warlords along the way know."
Zhou Buji nodded and said: "There are twenty large disguised merchant ships, each with a few hundred crew members is not too much. If the troops are assembled too slowly after we capture Su Gu, Dong Zhuo's troops may be impatient to wait. It would be troublesome to go directly north to capture Chang'an." Guo Jiadao: "Exactly, I'm afraid Dong Zhuo's patience in waiting for my lord to take the bait will not exceed three months."
Chen Long couldn't help but have a headache. He was reluctant to give up Chang'an to Dong Zhuo, and felt that the time for his arrangement was tight. He stood up and said: "Since Dong Zhuo and Jia Xu want to play dirty tricks, let's play with them. Otherwise, when Dong Zhuo threatens the emperor to order the princes, we will have to be cowardly. Everything will go according to plan. The rest, It just depends on destiny."
Everyone went to prepare their own things, but Guo Jia frowned and opened his mouth several times to speak, but hesitated.
