Xingyang.
There is a pavilion outside the city called Guo Pavilion, which is the former site of the Guo Kingdom.
Yes, that’s right, it was the Guo Kingdom that attacked Guo with false doctrines.
It snowed again in mid-February, and the weather was extremely cold. Just when everyone was talking about the abnormal weather this year, the temperature began to rise sharply.
By the end of February, after nearly ten days of rising temperatures, the whole of Henan Province has already begun to feel springy. Willow trees along the river are sprouting new buds, and spring mulberry branches are spreading on the banks.
On the last day of February, under the warm breeze of the rising sun, Zhang Heng was in high spirits and took dozens of soldiers to go out for an outing outside the city.
Feeling the coming of spring, Zhang Heng took off his thick winter clothes early in the morning, put on a white gown, and looked into the distance from a pavilion outside Guoting.
Liu Bei's group has been stationed in Xingyang for nearly ten days. During these days, Liu Bei was busy integrating the previously surrendered soldiers. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were busy training their soldiers, trying hard to create an elite army. Even Zhang Liao was not idle. He was sent by Liu Bei as a reconnaissance team to check the movements of Dong Zhuojun in Chenggao.
While everyone was busy, Zhang Heng became an idler.
It's not that he wants to be lazy, it's just that he really has nothing to do.
A series of tasks such as counting grain and supplies, appeasing the people's hearts, etc. were already completed in the first few days after entering the city. Now it is just pure army preparation for war, and Zhang Heng naturally cannot be of much help.
As for the original plan to relocate the people of Juan County, it failed unexpectedly under Zhang Fei's leadership.
Zhang Heng was not surprised by this and could understand it.
As long as they can survive, who among the people is willing to leave their homes?
In the pavilion, Zhang Heng sat quietly for a while, then stood up and looked into the distance with a smile on his face.
"Everything is revived, the spring scenery is pleasant, and it is such a vibrant scene!"
Hearing this, Zhang Liao behind him just nodded and did not answer.
Zhang Liao didn't read much and didn't like arty things, so naturally he couldn't express his own opinions on the scenery.
Fortunately, Zhang Heng did not expect Zhang Liao to recite poems in response. After sighing, he ordered his soldiers to bring a pot of wine and drank it with Zhang Liao.
"Master, are we really going out for an outing today?"
After two glasses of wine, Zhang Liao couldn't help but express his doubts.
"if not."
Zhang Heng shrugged and smiled.
Zhang Liao shook his head and expressed disbelief.
"The Chief Registrar has always made clever calculations. At this juncture, he should not do anything in vain."
Hearing this, Zhang Heng smiled. Of course he understood what Zhang Liao meant, and pointed in the direction of Cheng Gao in the distance.
"Okay, Wenyuan, let me ask you, how many troops and horses can you give you to capture Cheng Gao?"
"this……"
Zhang Liao pondered for a moment and finally shook his head.
"Master, I am really not sure that I can capture Cheng Gao."
In Zhang Heng's view, there are three levels of great passes in the world.
The best one is the real natural danger. Either it's close to a mountain or it's close to a river. Anyway, it's a fortified city built based on natural conditions. For example, Yangping Pass and Jiange in Shu are both truly heavenly places. As long as the city defenders do not cause any problems, there is no possibility of being breached given the technical conditions of this era.
The second level is checkpoints like Chenggao and Jiangling, which have excellent city defenses and deep ditches and high fortifications. Even with elite soldiers and generals, it is difficult to use them.
The third level is a giant city built on a plain with no danger to defend. Although it is strong and strong, there is still hope of breaking through.
As for the others, they are all inferior cities, and it is not difficult to conquer them.
Let’s talk about the Chenggao city in front of us. The city is five feet high and eight feet wide. There is also a urn city inside. It is simply an unbreakable fortress. Not to mention that Hu Zhen's 10,000 Xiliang elites are stationed inside. With Liu Bei's small number of troops, he may not be able to break the city until he retires.
Therefore, even if he is as brave as Zhang Liao, he would not dare to boast to Haikou.
"Since we can't break the city, why are we in such a hurry?" Zhang Heng said with a smile.
Hearing this, Zhang Liao also smiled, but it was a bitter smile.
"Master Chief, it's not that I'm anxious, but that the previous bandit army was defeated in consecutive battles and suffered heavy losses. How can Thief Dong remain indifferent. I think that if I'm not around for ten days, Thief Dong will definitely send troops to attack again."
"That's not a good idea. We can't defeat it anyway. It would be a good idea to occupy the city and defend it."
"But... Chief Secretary, Dong's thieves are numerous and powerful. If we are passively beaten like this, Xingyang will be defeated sooner or later."
Oh, I didn’t expect that you, Zhang Liao, are quite crisis-conscious.
"Since it is mentioned that Thief Dong is attacking, Wen Yuan might as well guess how many troops Dong Thief will send this time."
Zhang Liao pondered for a moment and then replied: "The general thinks that Dong Thief will attack this time with at least 50,000 troops under his command!"
"Oh, why?"
"The traitor army has been defeated in consecutive battles, and the morale of the army has been affected. If the army fails to win this time, General Dong will be very upset. Therefore, at least 50,000 troops will be sent out this time, and they will all be elites!"
Hearing this, Zhang Heng nodded in approval.
Zhang Liao can think of so many things, which shows that he has the talent of a general. But he only saw the battlefield, but not the situation outside the battlefield.
"If I were Thief Dong, I would send at least 100,000 troops for this attack, and I would personally lead the army!" Zhang Heng said firmly.
"Master, one hundred thousand is too much!" Zhang Liao said in disbelief.
The Xiliang Army under Dong Zhuo's command only numbered over 100,000 people. When including the Bingzhou Army and the Luoyang Forbidden Army, the number was less than 200,000. Pulling out 100,000 at a time is equivalent to an overwhelming force. Once defeated, there will be no room for maneuver.
"Not much, not much at all." Zhang Heng shook his head and smiled.
At this moment, all the eyes of the world are looking at Dong Zhuo. Once he loses again this time, everyone in the world will regard Dong Zhuo as a paper tiger who is strong on the outside but weak on the inside. At that time, there is no need for the princes of Guandong to take action. The secret spies will swarm up and bite Dong Zhuo clean.
The most critical point now is whether they can withstand Dong Zhuo's first wave of offensive.
As for who will take the lead, of course it is the Liu Bei Group.
Thinking of this, Zhang Heng couldn't help but sigh.
If possible, he did not want to confront the Xiliang Army head-on. But Dong Zhuo led his troops eastward, and Xingyang was the first to bear the brunt. He had to fight even if he didn't want to.
Fortunately, we only need to withstand the first wave of attacks.
Assuming that Dong Zhuo led an army of 100,000 to attack, then the vanguard must have at least 30,000 people.
The combined strength of Liu Bei and Cao Cao is nearly 20,000, so this battle can still be fought.
However, you still have to arrange it in advance.
Because simply withstanding the attack, it was impossible to mobilize the enthusiasm of the Kanto princes.
They must win, and it must be a big victory, to make the princes of Suanzao believe that Dong Zhuo is dead, so that they will have the motivation to rush forward to bite Dong Zhuo and divide the benefits.
Zhang Heng raised his head again and looked in the direction of Cheng Gao, thinking about how to win this first battle beautifully.
Chenggao is a hundred miles away from Xingyang. Of course Zhang Heng can't see the city. What he can see is only the Bianshui River three or four miles away.
Just when he saw Bianshui, an idea suddenly popped up in Zhang Heng's mind.
"Wenyuan, let's go!"
"Secretary, where are we going?" Zhang Liao asked in confusion.
"Go to Bianshui and have a look."
Zhang Heng's eyes were full of smiles, ready to confirm his thoughts.
Just do what you say. Under the escort of Zhang Liao, Zhang Heng arrived at the east bank of Bian River outside Guoting in a short time.
Bian River is a branch of the Yellow River, and it is winding and winding. When it reaches the south side of Guoting, it is almost at the end. The water is only a hundred meters wide, so the water flow is not large, and there are even signs of drying up.
"Master, what's so strange about Bianshui?"
Seeing Zhang Heng staring at Bianshui, Zhang Liao couldn't help but asked curiously.
"Water is water. It has been flowing for thousands of years. How can it be so strange?" Zhang Heng smiled and shook his head. "However, there is an opportunity now."
As he spoke, Zhang Heng squatted down and touched the water with his hand, and the thin ice surface immediately shattered.
Since the beginning of winter, the entire Bianshui River has been frozen. It was not until the weather suddenly warmed up that the Bianshui River thawed. Today, the entire Bianshui River is sparkling in the middle, with only some residual ice remaining on both sides.
Seeing that Zhang Heng refused to speak clearly, and Zhang Liao couldn't figure it out, he had no choice but to keep silent and accompany him to watch the water flow.
After a long while, Zhang Heng came back to his senses and said, "Wen Yuan, find a local person to come over, preferably an older man. I have something important to ask?"
"only!"
Zhang Liao cupped his fists and turned around.
