"Lü Bu was defeated miserably at Donglinkou because of me. Most of his six to seven thousand men were lost, and even his Bingzhou cavalry also joined in. He has never been defeated in more than a year, but this time he was defeated so miserably."
At the gate of Ankou County, on the horse walking path, Liu Bei supported the city wall with his eyebrows furrowed.
Yesterday during the day, Cao Cao led an army of more than 10,000 people to press the border. The whole army was on tenterhooks.
Fortunately, Cao Cao just kept wandering around the city and did not attack the city. He seemed to want to check the city defense of Ankou County and choose a suitable place to attack.
A tense atmosphere filled the area around Ankou County, but in the end, Cao Cao retreated at dusk.
This made Liu Bei very puzzled. If it was just to check the city defense, it would be enough to bring a group of cavalry. How could he bring a large army and not even say a word, just admire his own city defense and then leave?
This is not like Cao Cao's usual military style.
It wasn't until the evening when I received the scout's report that I learned that Lu Bu had led troops to rescue him after learning that he was besieged. As a result, he fell into Cao Cao's plan of encircling the point for reinforcements, and it was a double siege.
This battle resulted in heavy casualties.
For a moment, Liu Bei felt guilty and grateful towards Lu Bu. The hatred of seizing the city in the past was gone.
"These slaves with the three surnames have done a number of things that are impressive. They even knew how to rescue the eldest brother. They are just a little stupid. How could they be ambushed."
Zhang Fei said carelessly, then he thought of Lin Mo and continued to complain: "Isn't his son-in-law said to be a genius? Why didn't he help Lu Bu break his plan?"
Liu Bei may not have resented Lu Bu's sneak attack in his heart, but Zhang Fei did remember it clearly, and he had three slaves in his mouth.
"Cao Cao is full of tricks and knows the art of war. It's not surprising that he got his way." Guan Yu sighed while stroking his long beard.
Liu Bei just sighed heavily. He found that his two younger brothers didn't seem to realize the seriousness of the problem.
Lu Bu is here to rescue him. Now that his energy is severely weakened, he may not be able to take care of himself.
In other words, if Cao Cao really attacks the city next, Lu Bu may not be able to come to the rescue or even dare to come to the rescue.
And with the few troops, military supplies, logistics, etc., everything is crushed by the opponent. How can I withstand the fierce attack of this tiger and wolf journey?
Breaking out of the current three-legged situation in Anfeng County, Liu Bei is really willing to see Lu Bu fold for a while. The person who used to be under his fence has suddenly become the leader of the two states. For Liu Bei, who has always been ambitious but has difficulty in fulfilling his ambitions. To put it bluntly, it was a big blow.
But considering the current situation, he really didn't want Lu Bu to lose.
In addition to the possibility that Lu Bu could not send troops to rescue, Liu Bei was more worried about something, that is, not only could the other party not be able to send troops, but they might even withdraw directly to Jiujiang.
You know, the food and grass that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei obtained from pacifying the mountain stronghold have long been used up. The small amount of food, grass and weapons in the city now were sent by Lu Bu.
Once he left, he was not only left alone, but also without food and logistics.
Thinking about this, Liu Bei even had the idea of crossing the river to join Wu Ju.
Of course, this thought was just a fleeting thought.
Now the three parties have reached a stalemate, and he is Cao Cao's target. Once he leaves Ankou County, the other party's cavalry will rush up immediately.
Liu Bei slowly raised his head and looked at the sky, his eyes full of confusion, as if he hoped to get guidance from God.
Just at this moment, Jian Yong ran over, holding a bamboo slip in his hand, "My lord, my lord, Lu Bu has sent a letter on horseback."
Hearing this, Liu Bei took the bamboo slips from Jian Yong's hand and quickly opened them.
He hoped that this was the same as the letter he received a few days ago, and that it contained Lin Mo's ingenious plan to defeat Cao Cao again.
If the fire in Anfeng County could happen again, it would be impossible for Cao Cao to gather his forces to attack the city.
"What's going on, brother? Does that guy named Lin have any ideas?" Seeing Liu Bei's frown slowly relaxing, his eyes becoming more and more doubtful, even Zhang Fei couldn't help but curiously asked.
"Yes, yes."
Liu Bei nodded, then suddenly shook his head, "I just don't know what he wants to do, maybe he should also imitate Cao Cao and surround the area for reinforcements?"
Seeing Guan Yu's expectant eyes, Liu Bei simply handed over the bamboo slip.
After the latter read it, he was not as suspicious as Liu Bei. Instead, his eyes lit up, he squinted and snorted in a nasal voice, and said with a smile:
"This guy has some skills. He uses grain and grass to attract Cao Cao. Moreover, these grains and grass are related to the life and death of our army. Cao Cao will definitely come to rob the grain. Then he will ambush the good guys in advance and attack. It can be considered as some tricks."
Zhang Fei, who stretched his neck on the side, sneered and said disdainfully: "Second brother, this kid's strategy this time is a bit too frivolous. The surrounding area is mostly plains. Except for one Donglinkou where an ambush can be carried out, it is impossible to do so elsewhere." Ambush thousands of people without being discovered.
If I were Cao Cao, I would not go to Donglinkou to rob food. "
Zhang Fei's words were rude but not rude. Even Liu Bei nodded in agreement and said: "It's really not a clever method."
There is another sentence he didn't say. Could it be that there is a mystery hidden in it that we can't see through?
"What do you think, brother?" Guan Yu looked at Liu Bei.
"After all, this is Lu Bu's personal letter. Besides, we don't need to send troops or food. It's just a few letters."
Liu Bei hesitated for a while, then said with a hint of distress: "It's just a pity that we have to take the lives of several scouts."
After saying that, he looked at Guan Yu and said, "Just do as he said, Yunchang, you go and select the five people yourself. After I write the letter, they will be taken to Luying in batches."
"This matter is easy to handle." Guan Yu nodded, then turned around and left the city gate.
Liu Bei exhaled a breath, and immediately looked in the direction of Cao Ying in trance.
This method may work on ordinary days, but if someone just comes to the area to help, and you want to follow suit, you won't be able to deceive even a kid with a bad mouth.
Even though he thought so in his heart, Liu Bei still hoped that Lin Mo would succeed.
Only if he succeeds will he have a chance to survive.
At the Cao camp, Cao Cao's camp is reorganizing its troops and preparing for war. When they are ready to send out troops again, they will conquer Ankou County in one go, kill Liu Bei, and tell the people of the world that betraying the imperial court will only lead to death.
Le Jin, who was originally practicing in the camp, hurried to the Chinese army's tent.
"Wen Qian, what's going on here?" Cao Cao couldn't help but ask, looking at Le Jin who looked a little strange.
"Sikong, something strange happened in the camp."
Without waiting for Cao Cao to ask questions, Le Jin directly took a horseshoe and placed it on the handsome desk, "This piece of iron was taken from the hoof of a war horse."
Cao Cao picked up the dirt-covered horseshoe and looked over it. He frowned and said, "The shape seems to correspond to a horse's hoof. Could it be specially used to deal with war horses?"
"At first, the general thought it was a trap modified by iron caltrops to target war horses, but after checking it later, it was discovered that all the Lu Army's war horses captured from Donglinkou were nailed with this thing. It was obviously intentional."
Hearing this, Cao Cao's pupils suddenly gathered. Are all the horses equipped? "Take me to see it."
This is really a strange thing.
After arriving at Le Jin's camp, the soldiers had already driven all Lu Jun's horses to one place. The soldiers lifted up the hooves of the fixed horses so that Cao Cao could see clearly.
After looking at more than 20 horses in a row, all of them were shoed. Cao Cao finally believed what Le Jin said, and it was really intentional.
"What is the use of these iron tools? If these iron tools are nailed, wouldn't the war horses look clumsy?" Cao Cao muttered to himself as he looked at the horseshoe in his hand again.
Le Jin on the side explained: "Otherwise, Sikong, the last general just tried to ride these war horses in person, and they are no different from ordinary war horses."
Cao Cao glanced at him and said that it was definitely impossible to say that there was no difference. Lu Bu was not full of food. If it was useless, what was the use of nailing these iron tools? It cost money.
It should be useful, but I don't quite understand its purpose yet.
"This thing must have been made by Lin Yunwen."
First, the curved shaft plow, keel waterwheel, and even the thunderbolt wheel invented by Liu Ye were all thought by Cao Cao to have been designed because of Lin Mo's help.
It is not surprising at all for such a geek to invent a piece of iron that he does not know what it does.
But instinctively, Cao Cao felt that this piece of iron was very useful, otherwise Lu Bu would not have spared no effort to equip all the war horses.
"Lin Yunwen is truly a genius in the world."
Cao Cao did not hesitate to praise Lin Mo at all, and even did not hide his love for him in his eyes.
Even if he lost to Guo Jia, his status would not be reduced by half.
After all, that was Guo Jia. In Cao Cao's mind, he was the best in the art of war. It wouldn't be embarrassing to lose to him.
Moreover, in addition to being an outstanding strategist, Lin Mo also knew so many ingenious skills. It is not surprising that the talented Cao Cao fell in love with him.
I hate Zhang Wang for not being able to bring Lin Mo back to me.
"Sikong likes this person so much. After defeating Lu Bu, he will automatically serve under his command." After the victory at Donglinkou, Le Jin was full of confidence.
Cao Cao chuckled and patted him on the shoulder, "That's right!"
Then he threw the horseshoe in his hand and told Le Jin, "This matter must be kept secret. When we return to Xuchang, we will also build some horses to shoe on."
"Here!"
Although he didn't know its specific use, if Lu Bu used it, he had to use it too.
The purpose will be figured out gradually.
This is really an unexpected surprise.
When he was about to turn around and leave, Yu Jin ran over quickly, holding a roll of bamboo slips in his hand, cupping his hands and saying: "Sikong, just now I took someone to survey the terrain. I found a scout running out of Ankou County, so I asked him to hurry up." The horse caught up with him and shot him over, and the letter was found from his body.”
Cao Cao took it immediately, and the content of the letter made his expression serious.
After a moment, he quickly closed the bamboo slips with a click, rolled his eyes, and felt that this was probably true.
Liu Bei fled on a temporary basis. He had no military rations, no military supplies, and no supplies. The reason why he was able to launch a fire and poison attack in An County was obviously because of Lu Bu's support behind the scenes.
Therefore, it is reasonable to ask the other party to provide food when there is no food supply.
"Send orders to the civil and military forces, and discuss the troops in the central army tent!"
"Here!"
(End of chapter)
