The vanguard led by Lin Mo was lightly armed, and it took more than twenty days to reach Zhongshan Kingdom. If you include the time to reach Fanyang's front line, it took a full month.
One can imagine how slow they would be with a 60,000-strong army and a Chinese army carrying heavy baggage.
It wasn't until early March that they finally arrived at Fan Yang's village.
Lu Bu was surprised to hear that in more than 20 days since he came here, Lin Mo had not used any troops except sending out scouts to investigate the military situation.
This is not like his son-in-law's usual style. At the beginning, his own strength was obviously weaker than Cao Cao's, and he was still able to make some fools. However, now that he has strong troops and strong horses, he is indifferent to the weak Yuan Xi.
"What are you waiting for?"
Lu Bu walked into the central military tent and patted the fog on his body. His face was dusty and he looked a little tired.
"It's almost there. In half a month, we can take people to Taihang Mountain to deal with Zhang Yan." Lin Mo took the initiative to take Fang Tian's painted halberd from his old father-in-law and wanted to put it away, but it was very heavy and it was a bit difficult for Lin Mo to lift it up. Wen Chou Smiling, he hurried forward to help.
"Take care of Zhang Yan? Then we have to call back our troops?"
Lu Bu sat down on the handsome chair, frowning and looking at Lin Mo, "The army is here, Zhang Yan is naturally undefended, but if we move, tens of thousands of people can't hide it from Zhang Yan. Besides, I always thought you had the army We were brought to Fan Yang's front line to deal with Yuan Xi."
"Attack Zhang Yan first, then Xiahou Dun, and finally Yuan Xi. This order cannot be messed up."
Lin Mo emphasized again, "The purpose of moving the army here is just to let Yuan Xi know that even if we accompany him here, there will be no chaos in the rear. Let him die as soon as possible. Cao Cao's intention to rescue him is also to let Yuan Xi know." The three armies in the county know the overall situation and facilitate subsequent recruitment and surrender.
As for Zhang Yan, please rest assured, your father-in-law, there is no need to ask generals Zilong and Yan Wen to bring 800 people up the mountain, which will be enough to overthrow Zhang Yan. "
Lin Mo's plan sounded very reasonable, and it could indeed reduce unnecessary casualties.
There is only one thing. Lu Bu tilted his head and chuckled: "There are twenty to thirty thousand bandits in the Black Mountains. They are divided into more than thirty strongholds. Eight hundred people are you sure you are not joking?"
"There is no other way. There can't be too many people going up the mountain, otherwise they won't be able to hide it from Zhang Yan."
Lin Mo shrugged and said in a deep voice: "I guess the scouts have almost mapped out the map. They have been there for almost a month, and they can at least find a few ways to bypass the black mountain bandit's outposts. , eight hundred people is already the upper limit."
eight hundred
Lu Bu leaned back on the handsome chair and rolled his eyes, probably referring to the trap.
Their combat power is naturally not comparable to that of the Black Mountain bandits, but with 800 people, the amount of noise they can make is very limited.
Perhaps he had long been used to Lin Mo's surprising habit of using troops, or maybe he was determined in the order of Zhang Yan, Xiahou Dun and Yuan Xi. Lu Bu felt that his son-in-law, who was dealing with the Black Mountain bandits this time, would inevitably become famous again.
Think about it, he, Zhang Yan, has been struggling in the Northern Kingdom for more than ten years. Yuan Shaoshang, who is at the height of his power, can't defeat him. You actually have to use 800 people to deal with Zhang Yan. Okay, I am very interested to see what you want to do.
"Okay, let's wait and see. By the way, Yuan Xi hasn't done anything these days?" Lu Bu asked instead.
"Marquis Wen, except that the head of the Lu family, Lu Yu, personally came to the military camp, there is nothing special. Yuan Xi is still far away in Zhuo County and has no intention of sending troops for reinforcements." Zhao Yun reported with cupped hands.
"Lu Yu?"
Lu Bu chuckled lightly, "He is a smart man. Did he say anything?"
"What can I say? It's a lot of nonsense. I just want to clarify the relationship with Yuan Xi."
Lin Mo rested his head on the support pillar of the central tent with his hands, and said casually: "It is obvious that the two are not helping each other, otherwise with the strength of his Lu family, he would not be unable to open the gate of Fanyang City.
It seems that the Lu family is also aware of the connection between Yuan Xi and Cao Cao. "
Lu Bu nodded slightly. That was true. After all, this was Yuan Xi's only trump card. If he wanted to win over the Lu family, he could only show it.
Lu Yu is a smart man, but he may not be sure whether Cao Cao will attack him when he goes north to Youzhou. He really does not dare to take sides rashly until the situation is not clear enough.
It's a pity, Lu Bu hates this person the most, so he has to find an opportunity to deal with him later.
"Report!"
A scout ran in quickly, knelt on one knee and bowed, "Marquis Wen, Marquis Lanling! The map of the Taihang Mountains that will be drawn a month ago is in trouble."
"Say." Lin Mo frowned.
The scout first placed a piece of silk cloth on the table, and then reported: "This is a map of the Taihang Mountains and Black Mountain bandit villages on the border of Changshan. There are twelve bandit villages in total. There are five bandits in the Zhongshan section.
After catching a few tongues and interrogating them, I learned that there are still eighteen bandit villages left, which are located in the boundaries of Zhao County and Guangping County. If we want to find them all, I am afraid that we will not be able to complete them in less than two months. The brothers are still in Zhongshan. At the end of the country, the general came here to report, please order the marquis. "
Lin Mo held his forehead and took a deep breath.
I know you Zhang Yan is a cunning rabbit, but we don't want to do this, right? You actually deployed more than thirty cottages in four counties.
This is the geographical advantage of Taihang Mountain, which is thousands of miles deep, so Zhang Yan can choose any point to set up a stronghold and spread the stronghold. If there is any emergency, he can move immediately.
What a bandit with brains.
"Yunwen, more than two months is too long. Even if I attack Youzhou by force, it won't take that long." Lu Bu slowly shook his head.
"no."
Lin Mo said firmly: "First fight Zhang Yan, then deal with Xiahou Dun, and finally Yuan Xi. This order must not be messed up!"
For this situation, I have deployed more troops and horses in various places with great fanfare. If the order is messed up, there is a risk that Jizhou will change hands.
"Do you really want to wait two more months?" Lu Bu asked.
Lin Mo did not answer immediately this time, but picked up the map to look at it.
This map is still very clear. All the Taihang Mountain bandit villages on the boundary between Changshan and Zhongshan are marked. The roads and byways are also clearly marked. In some places, open and hidden sentries are even marked.
Seventeen.
God knows where Zhang Yan is now.
Today is already the second day of March, and there are only thirteen days left until the agreed date, so we can’t delay it any longer.
I can only gamble on luck.
Lin Mo handed the map to Zhao Yun, took a deep breath, and said: "Zilong, take the two generals Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and the brothers who are trapped in the camp to investigate one by one.
There are a total of seventeen cottages here, but there are eight that are relatively close to the one posted here. It’s just a matter of luck, and we follow the plan I told you before. "
"Don't worry Yunwen, there are only a few hundred of us. Even if we approach Taihang Mountain, we won't arouse Zhang Yan's alert."
After Zhao Yun finished speaking, he raised his eyebrows at Yan Liangwen Chou. The three of them stood together and bowed to Lu Bu, "Marquis Wen, I will retire at the end of the day."
"etc!"
Lu Bu nodded and waved his hand, and the three of them were about to retreat, but Lin Mo stopped Zhao Yun.
"Zilong must remember not to have a head-on conflict with the Black Mountain bandits before seeing the signal."
Lin Mo thought for a while and then added: "There should be more tongues at the foot of the mountain. This is also a way."
"Don't worry Yunwen, we will definitely find it." As Zhao Yun, who has already learned about Lin Mo's entire plan, he knows very well that there are only 800 people involved in this operation, but it is the most critical link in the entire layout.
If the source of the signal cannot be found, all Lin Mo's previous plans will be in vain, and he cannot take action against Youzhou.
Lin Mo nodded, and the three of them bowed again and turned to leave.
He let out a breath and frowned.
I never expected that Zhang Yan would create so many copycats.
But it makes sense if you think about it carefully. Having fought guerrilla warfare for so many years, the Taihang Mountains must have been thoroughly eaten.
In addition, although the Black Bandits only have 20,000 to 30,000 members, their family members, old and weak, must number over 100,000. They really need so many cottages to house them.
The place Wei Yue talked about last time when he came back was Changshan County, so his attention was all on this end. I hope he doesn't move too far away.
(End of chapter)
