"The ridge is broken!"
"The ridge is broken!"
The barely assembled Shu army was just getting ready to attack when a Shu general rode his horse over the rugged mountain road and crashed into Damantian Village, moving in a hurry and shouting loudly.
Seeing this, the hesitation on Wang Zhaoyuan's face immediately disappeared. When he entered the camp, he quickly ordered someone to pull the messenger off his horse and asked sternly: "What did you say!"
Facing Wang Zhaoyuan's rebuke, the military academy just calmed down and lamented: "Privy Minister, Xiaomantian Village has been lost!"
"Impossible! You guys, could you be a spy of the Han army who came to disturb the morale of our army!" Wang Zhaoyuan looked in disbelief and shouted sternly.
"Xiaoling has really been lost!" Faced with Wang Zhaoyuan's expression that seemed to bite people, the military academy who reported the news felt a little innocent.
Hearing this, Wang Zhaoyuan asked angrily: "We have been in a stalemate until now, so why did we suddenly fall! Didn't Wang Shenchao still have two battalions of sergeants as backup? Where is Wang Shenchao? How did I lose the camp?"
"The Han army attacked fiercely. We tried our best to fight and resist, but suddenly a Han army took advantage of our unpreparedness and rushed out from behind the stronghold. Attacked from two sides, it was really difficult to stop. Before the stronghold was broken, the younger one was ordered to fight out and come forward. Report. General Wang, General Wang is trapped in the rebel army, and he doesn’t know whether he is alive or dead!" the military academy replied.
Hearing what he said, Wang Zhaoyuan's breath almost got stuck in his trachea. He was both angry and ashamed. He had just started to supervise the army from the north, but the stronghold had already been lost. He thought about the military strategy he had just given, and he was so high-spirited that he almost broke through the defense directly.
After all, he is a person who has been in a high position all year round. He tried his best to calm down and suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. However, Zhao Chongtao and other generals and the surrounding soldiers were all staring at him. The uncomfortable feeling came from their gazes.
Sensing the wavering of military morale, Wang Zhaoyuan reacted. He looked at the military academy who had come to report, thinking of his performance of shouting for entry into the camp, and resisted the urge to kick him.
Looking at his appearance, I knew in my heart that I couldn't ask more information from him, so he immediately ordered: "Send someone immediately to check the battle situation and explore the movements of the Han army! Hurry up and let the Shendu army withdraw. !”
"Yes!" A herald responded and left.
"Privy King, now that the North Stronghold is broken, I will definitely be defeated. Once the Han army is allowed to occupy the road and the rest is over, they will definitely lead troops to attack our Southern Stronghold. The military situation is urgent. Since you are here, how will you resist the enemy? Please make up your mind quickly?" "Zhao Chongtao, with a solemn expression, asked Wang Zhaoyuan on behalf of the generals, who slowly fell silent.
At this time, he was no longer interested in fighting Wang Zhaoyuan in the ring. It was not because of his high level of awareness, but because he felt the danger. After all, we are all in the same boat now, and although the boat is a little leaky, it still needs a helmsman. On the other hand, if Wang Zhaoyuan makes the decision, no matter what the consequences, the main responsibility will not fall on him.
He raised his eyes and looked at the performance of the soldiers around him. He didn't feel that the eyes were full of expectation and trust. After a little consideration, he tried his best to act calmly and said: "Let Shendu's army withdraw to Damantian Stronghold immediately and burn down Fuliang. Ask the Lieutenant General of the village to make adjustments immediately, appease the soldiers, increase vigilance, and strengthen the defense of Damantian Village. The North Ridge has been lost, and there can be no more problems in the South Ridge!"
After saying that, Wang Zhaoyuan led his soldiers back to the commander's tent in Damantian Village. A group of Shu generals were left behind, looking at each other in confusion. Everyone turned their attention to Zhao Chongtao. Seeing this, Zhao Chongtao waved his hands: "What do you think I am doing? Privy Master Wang has an order in front, why don't you dismiss the soldiers and obey the orders?"
When Wang Zhaoyuan entered the commander's tent, he took out the Shu army's Lizhou military defense map and studied it carefully, as if he wanted to get inspiration from it, reverse the defeat, and save the crisis.
He looked at it seriously, but his eyes were actually a little blank. However, Wang Zhaoyuan still had many thoughts in his mind. He was thinking deeply about where the Han army that attacked came from? Are there other secret actors? Do you want to take the initiative by surprise, lead a counterattack, and take back Xiaomantian Village? Should we transfer troops from the south to the north to support us?
But no matter how much you think about it, it will be useless. When the time comes, we still have to see the next movement of the Han army. From the moment Xiaomantianzhai fell, or when Gao Huaide's partial division moved behind enemy lines, a big hole leaked in the Shu army's defense line, and the initiative in the war completely fell into the hands of the Han army.
For the first time, Wang Zhaoyuan felt a sense of powerlessness and doubted himself. The development of the war was completely beyond his expectation. The strength of the Han army and the cunning of the general left him at a loss.
When Qin Feng was defeated, after all, he was giving remote control in Chengdu, so he didn't feel that deeply. He just thought that the Shu generals were incompetent and could not use his strategies and tactics. But now that he was on the battlefield in person and had not actually met the Han army, the pressure and power that came to him made him feel as if he was being strangled.
After not waiting too long, the battle situation ahead became clearer and clearer. Of course, bad news continued. The Han army not only defeated Xiaomantian Village, but also took advantage of the victory to move south, and happened to run into the northward advancing Shu army. After a series of attacks, the Shendu Shu army was directly defeated by Han general Gao Huaide. The Han army took the opportunity to advance quickly and successfully captured Shendu Fuliang.
In the Damantian stronghold, the military morale was shaken when they heard the news of the defeat in the north, especially the defeated Shendu troops who were fleeing back one after another, which made them even more anxious. The superiors and subordinates couldn't help but wonder. The small Mantian stronghold was so dangerous that it was attacked by the Han army in half a day. How long could the large Mantian stronghold resist?
Not long after Shenchu, the autumn sun shifted, and the light spreading among the Sichuan villages became a bit colder. Another defeated Shu army came south quickly. They were in a state of embarrassment. They had abandoned their helmets and armor, but they still had their weapons. There were not many people. At a glance, there were only about two hundred people. They were walking in a hurry, as if there were hungry wolves chasing behind them.
As he came closer, a military officer jumped out from among the defeated soldiers. He looked very strong and spoke in a Sichuan accent. He said urgently, "We are the defenders of Shendu. Open the gate of the village quickly and save us. There is a Han army chasing behind us!" "
In the previous half hour or so, some defeated Shendu troops who had been scattered and fled south had been gathered together, but there were not as many people as this time. However, listening to that familiar accent, I saw Han flags fluttering faintly on the mountain road at the end of my field of vision.
The situation was somewhat urgent. The military academy at the gate of the village did not think twice and immediately ordered people to open the door. At the same time, they sent someone to report the approaching enemy troops and warn the whole village.
"You guys come in quickly, don't block the door. Immediately go ahead to the left village. Ambassador Zhao has arranged a place for you to rest!" the military academy stepped forward and commanded.
The leader of the defeated army stepped forward, raised his eyes with a spring-like smile, and said sincerely: "Thank you very much!"
"No..." Before the officer guarding the door realized the meaning of that smile, he saw a flash of light, and then nothing happened...
After cutting down the Shu school guarding the gate, the leading officer only shouted "kill" and then led his men to kill the Shu soldiers at Zhaikou who were completely unresponsive. Behind, the "pursuing" Han army advanced even faster. In less than a moment, the entire Shu Damantian Village was filled with killing sounds.
When he suddenly heard the sound of killing in front of the stronghold, Wang Zhaoyuan was shocked and quickly ordered someone to investigate. Zhao Chongtao walked in personally, looked at Wang Zhaoyuan, and said urgently: "Privy Privy Wang, please stop studying the map of the stronghold. The Han army has suddenly arrived and is already attacking the stronghold! The gate of the stronghold has been broken!"
Hearing this, Wang Zhaoyuan was a little incredulous: "Aren't the Han troops afraid of being tired? They captured the North Stronghold and the Deep Crossing, but they still dare to attack our Nanling stronghold?"
"What? You said the gate of the stronghold has been broken down!" As he said this, Wang Zhaoyuan suddenly reacted and his eyes widened: "Didn't I tell you to step up your guard? The sound of killing started, so how could the stronghold be broken down?"
"A small group of Han troops turned into a defeated army in Shendu. The gatekeepers ignored the command and let them in!" Zhao Chongtao was also furious.
"Damn it! How dare you be so careless!" Wang Zhaoyuan's eyes were splitting. "The main force of the Han army will definitely follow behind and immediately send people to recapture the village gate!"
"I have already mobilized the army!" Zhao Chongtao looked at Wang Zhaoyuan and said seriously: "Privy Wang, the Han army is attacking the stronghold in a large scale, so it is better not to sit in the tent and resist the enemy!"
After hearing what he said, Wang Zhaoyuan suppressed the fear in his heart, stood up, picked up his sword, and staggered out of the tent.
But the whole Sichuan village was already in chaos, like water dripping into a pot of oil, boiling violently, with people surging and noisy everywhere. Although this stronghold is huge and has strong fortifications, after the Han army successfully broke in, the outcome was already doomed.
Generals of the Shu army such as Wang Zhaoyuan and Zhao Chongtao still struggled and commanded the army to resist, but they were defeated like a mountain. The Shu soldiers who were hit repeatedly could not be the opponent of the Han army with such momentum. After fighting fiercely for more than an hour, they completely collapsed. Wang Zhaoyuan and Zhao Chongtao, with less than 3,000 remaining soldiers, broke away from the battle and abandoned the stronghold and retreated to Miangu.
On the way, they also sent people to Miangu to inform Yi Shenzheng to lead the army to respond. However, before they arrived at the city, they heard bad news again. During the fierce battle between Han and Shu in the Big and Small Mantian Mountains, a Han army attacked Miangu. Yi Shenzheng was defeated and his men abandoned the city and fled to the south.
After hearing this, he took a deep breath as if struck by lightning, as if to suck the cold air out of the air. Thinking of Yi Shenzheng's sworn promise before the battle in Beishang, he had the urge to strangle him to death.
At the same time, his expression was a little sad. Why were the Han troops attacking everywhere? How many people did the Han army send to make a detour? Could this difficult road to Shu be fake?
"If we are blocked in front and pursued by soldiers behind, we will be captured by the Han army!" Wang Zhaoyuan sighed.
"Go to Jubaijin!" Zhao Chongtao said: "As long as the ferry is still there, I still have a glimmer of hope!"
Without hesitation, the two hurriedly led the people, sparing no effort, and hurriedly diverted to the Jialing River ferry southwest of Miangu: Jubaijin.
During the night, the fire was blazing on the Jubaijin, and the red light reflected on the faces of the defeated soldiers of the Shu army who were trying their best to come, and the look of despair was fully visible on their faces.
It was not the Han army that burned the pontoon bridge, but Yi Shen Zheng who fled in advance...
"Yi Shenzheng mistaken me!" A shrill curse sounded along the Jialing River, and was quickly covered up by the sound of Feng Shui.
On the side of the Shu division, Guo Jin, who led the attack on Miangu City, arrived at the ferry late. Although he only led two battalions in pursuit, seeing the defeated army of Wang and Zhao was like seeing a piece of fat meat. Weiji, there was a flickering fire coming from the northeast, the sharer was coming!
This time, we are really in dire straits!
The Big and Small Mantian strongholds were destroyed, Miangu City was captured, and the Lizhou strategy was fully realized.
