In Jingzhou, on the horse walking path at the head of Xiangyang City, Cao Cao held the city wall with both hands and looked up into the distance. He was shocked by the surging Han River moat in front of him and his heart was surging.
"I have always known that the defenses of Xiangyang City are impregnable and unrivaled in the world, but I didn't know that the width of the moat alone is fifty feet, and even Chang'an and Luoyang are a bit inferior.
This city only needs 5,000 soldiers and horses, which is enough to withstand an army of 100,000. "
"Such a magnificent pass will eventually be ruled by the Ming Dynasty. When Sikong takes over Jingzhou, he will surely achieve eternal hegemony."
Guo Jia, who was standing behind Cao Cao, echoed.
This is really not flattery. From the moment they entered Jingzhou, Cao Jun's civil and military personnel were all crazy. In addition to the Han River moat in Xiangyang City that could withstand a hundred thousand troops, the account books submitted by various counties and counties were also jaw-dropping.
Whether it is acres of land, taxes, population, or the wealth of powerful families, none of them can be compared to any state or county under Cao Cao's rule.
Even if it is as strong as Yingchuan, it is only on par with Jingxiang County.
The only pity is that the account books of Jiangxia, Changsha and Guiyang, the three counties southeast of Xiangshui River, are missing, because these three counties now only belong to Liu Cong in name, but the actual person in power is Liu Qi, or Liu Bei.
Cao Cao already understood this.
In fact, it was also because of this that Cai Mao and Liu Cong were willing to let Cao Cao lead his army to Xiangyang.
Cai Mao is indeed a reckless man, but there is no shortage of capable people and strangers around him who can understand the overall situation. They know very well that Cao Cao's explicit order to attack Liu is irresistible. If he refuses, they will probably fall into the dilemma of being attacked from both sides. .
That time, when I was passive and came to offer the city, I couldn't be as active as I am now.
In any case, Cao Cao now has the overlord of Bingzhou, Yuzhou, Yanzhou and half of Sizhou, plus the emperor of the Han Dynasty who calls on the world's scholars, he is the best choice no matter how you look at it.
As for Lu Lin and Weng's son-in-law, their refugee status was destined to be despised by the aristocratic family.
Even Liu Bei, whose identity as the uncle of the Han Dynasty was whitewashed, would often be scolded for weaving mats, selling shoes, and cheating the world. In the final analysis, it was his origin that caused the trouble.
"I'm thinking now, should I settle down in Jingxiang and go directly north to deal with Lu Bu, or should I recover the three counties of southern Hunan first? Can you guys help me?" When he said this, Cao Cao didn't seem to be discussing military plans. First things first, more like small talk.
He was in a very relaxed mood. Looking at the roaring Han River, he had the ambition to swallow up the whole world.
Although only six of the nine counties in Jingzhou are now in hand, the taxes, money and food of these six counties are actually more than those of Yan and Hezhou combined. What is the concept?
In addition, what gave Cao Cao the greatest confidence was the Jingzhou soldiers they had on hand. The combined navy and army troops numbered an astonishing 140,000. In addition to 80,000 naval troops, there were also 60,000 infantry and cavalry. Although before accepting Jing Xiang, , Cao Cao already had a basic understanding of Liu Biao's troops, but when he actually got it in his hands, he still couldn't help but be amazed.
Of course, the fly in the ointment is that the Jingzhou Navy's military appearance looks good, but its specific combat power is unknown, but the combat power of 60,000 infantry and cavalry is definitely not as good as the troops and horses he brought.
This is also understandable. The water system in the Jingxiang area is developed, and it has been dealing with Jiangdong for many years. The navy is indeed a leader, but the elite of the infantry must be accumulated through experience in hundreds of battles. In this regard, the Jingzhou Army appears to be a bit weak.
However, the armor coverage rate is very high, over 40%, and if you have money, this can make up for the shortcomings in combat power.
What excites Cao Cao even more is that in addition to the navy generals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, there is also a land warrior Wenpin in Jingzhou. Cao Ren and others tested Wenpin's quality and found that this man was not only strong in combat, but also powerful. Proficient in the art of war, Cao Cao is currently the most scarce general who can lead the army.
Cao Cao really couldn't understand that Liu Biao had such strength and was willing to lie dormant in Jingxiang for many years. If he were in a different place, he would probably have the Central Plains in his hands. It's really annoying to be so stupid.
It is precisely because of this foundation that Cao Cao, who suffered repeated defeats, finally rediscovered the ambition to conquer mountains and rivers when he welcomed back the emperor.
Guo Jia and Xun You looked at each other and smiled, obviously they both had their own opinions, as if they were just letting each other speak first.
However, before they could speak, a panicked scout staggered towards him, and finally fell directly in front of him, holding up the bamboo slips tied with white cloth in both hands, crying: "Sikong, Sikong! The governor-general is asking for help, Jinyang City is in dire need!"
"Bring it!" Cao Cao's heart sank. What happened? Why did Jinyang suddenly become so urgent? That was the administrative center of Bingzhou. Could it be said that more than half of Bingzhou had been lost?
While Cao Cao was looking at the bamboo slips, the scout was lying on the ground choking: "Zhang Yan conspired with Lu Jun to lure General Xiahou to the Taihang Mountains. After a bloody battle, our army lost more than 8,000 men, and General Xiahou and General Che Zhou died in the battle. .
Before his subordinates came here, Zhao Yun was leading tens of thousands of troops towards Jinyang City. The Manchu Army and Vice General Cao were leading ten thousand people in the city to resist desperately. Sikong Sikong, please send reinforcements quickly, otherwise Jinyang City will not be protected! "
At this moment, the faces of everyone on the horse walking path at Chengguan turned pale. Their originally excited moods instantly fell into the ice cave, and the whistling wind in their ears turned into the sound of drums soaring into the sky.
Xiahou Dun is deadXiahou Dun is actually dead
The news exploded in the crowd like a depth charge.
He was Xiahou Dun, a talented general who led Cao Cao's army. He had followed Cao Cao through bloody battles for many years, and he died in the Taihang Mountains.
Once this matter spreads, it will probably be more turbulent than the Northern Army that lost Yan Liang in the past.
Guo Jia, Xun You and others did not even dare to speak.
On the other hand, Xia Houyuan, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Xu Huang and others knelt down on one knee, "Sikong, please send troops quickly to rescue Jinyang City. The last general is willing to lead the troops back and carry Zhao Yun's head!"
Especially Xia Houyuan, he was stunned.
Although the two Xiahou are not blood brothers, they are clan brothers after all. They have fought together for many years and come back to back. They are not blood brothers but more like blood brothers. He doesn't care how brave you are, Zhao Yun. He must take off your head to avenge his brother. .
Cao Cao put down his hands, and the bamboo slip slowly fell down, revealing his gloomy face. The cheek flesh was even trembling, which was daunting.
Pa da~
Cao Cao suddenly smashed the bamboo slips into pieces and shouted angrily: "Xu Chu Dianwei!"
"The general is here!"
"I ordered you and me to quickly lead our cavalry and the Jingzhou cavalry to march towards Jinyang at midnight tomorrow. I will lead an army of 50,000 to Bingzhou. I must kill all Zhao Yun's Lu army!"
Cao Cao's roar echoed above the city, and all the generals raised their hands and shouted in unison, "Here!"
As military generals, they all had a more or less close friendship with Xiahou Dun and were willing to avenge his murder of Zhao Yun. When they heard such military orders, they were naturally very angry and wished they could fly to Bingzhou with wings.
However, as counselors, Xun You and Guo Jia were in panic. Now was not the right time to go to Bingzhou anyway.
But at the same time, they also knew that seeing Cao Cao's situation, they might not be able to listen to anything he said. After all, in his heart, Xiahou Dun was never as simple as a general.
"You go down and rest first. Later I will send a team of cavalry to escort you back to Jinyang."
Cao Cao personally stepped forward to help the scout up, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice: "Tell Man Chong and Cao Zhen to let them hold on for another fifteen days, at most fifteen days, the army will reach Jinyang, and we should cooperate with each other immediately. Gather and annihilate Zhao Yun!"
"Thank you Sikong, thank you Sikong!" After the scout got the definite answer, the huge stone hanging in his heart could finally fall to the ground. He finally had an explanation to the brothers in Bingzhou.
After giving all these instructions, Cao Cao left the top of the city with his hands behind his back and a dark face.
"Sikong." Guo Jia wanted to block Cao Cao's path, but Cao Cao ignored him.
If he couldn't even listen to Guo Jia's words, there would be no need for others to speak.
Looking at Cao Cao's firm steps, Guo Jia could only sigh.
"Lin Mo plotted against me." After a long time, apart from the sergeant on duty, the only ones left on the walking path were Guo Jia and Xun You. The latter seemed to finally understand what happened, with a look of annoyance on his face.
"The purpose of sending more troops to Xiaoguan and Xiaopei is to confuse us. The elite are indeed in the North. This is true. The problem lies with Zhang Yan." Guo Jia also responded in a low voice.
On the eve of the war, Lin Mo raised suspicions in Xiaoguan and Xiaopeigu, but they all firmly believed that this was just to capture Youzhou better. After all, Zhang Yan was entrenched in the Taihang Mountains, and it was impossible for the Lu army to cross the Taihang Mountains to attack Bingzhou, so Only then could he confidently and boldly suggest that Cao Cao mobilize 20,000 troops to merge with the state.
I never thought that Zhang Yan would suddenly turn against the enemy at such a critical moment. Now, no one cares about how Lin Mo managed to dismantle the Black Mountain Bandits without anyone noticing. They just clearly realized that he had been tricked. Lin Mo's plan from beginning to end was aimed at Bingzhou.
The so-called increase in troops was just to transfer 20,000 soldiers and horses from Bingzhou. The Yingchuan duo, who claimed to be excellent in strategy, failed to notice his thoughts.
Regardless of whether they are willing to admit it or not, both of them bear a certain responsibility for Xiahou Dun's death.
Probably because they had a complete understanding of Lin Mo's plan, the two people's expressions became even more ugly.
As for Youzhou, there is no longer any idea. Whether it is Zhang Yan or Xiahou Dun of Bingzhou, they were Yuan Xi's last life-saving straw. Now that they have all fallen, how can they still have the confidence to compete with Lu Bu?
It was originally thought that Jing Xiang's troops would be obtained without bloodshed, and tens of thousands more troops would be added at the same time. As long as the trapped dragon ascends to the sky can temporarily stabilize the situation in the north, then at the right time, going north can deliver a fatal blow to Lu Lin's son-in-law.
Who would have thought that just after Jingzhou was acquired, this situation happened again in Bingzhou? It was true that the sky was unpredictable and people were prone to misfortunes and misfortunes.
"I have always thought that Lin Mo was good at mental calculations, especially when the two armies were confronting each other. He could always seize fleeting opportunities. Unexpectedly, he was also extremely proficient in controlling the overall strategic situation. He was truly an unparalleled talent." Guo Jiayang He looked up at the sky and sighed.
Perhaps, at this moment, he felt a sense of bitterness that he couldn't be more grateful for the ink.
Probably because of his age, Xun You was much calmer. He just frowned and said solemnly: "According to Lin Mo's military habits, since he has reached out to Bingzhou, he must have a plan to deal with reinforcements. Let's find it again." Let’s go to Sikong.”
Guo Jia's pupils suddenly gathered, and he realized this problem. If Lin Mo dared to suddenly change direction and attack Bingzhou, he would have calculated a series of things that might happen next. This is him, Lin Yunwen.
Guo Jia believed that if Cao Cao was really determined to lead his army northward, especially if he was marching in a hurry, he would definitely suffer a big loss.
The two of them hurried down the city gate, and when they arrived at General Xiangyang's Mansion, they were turned away. It was said that Cao Cao didn't see any guests, nor anyone else.
Both of them had an ominous premonition that Xiahou Dun had been defeated and could no longer be defeated.
By coincidence, Xia Houyuan was also planning to go to Cao Cao, but of course he was turned away.
However, these people could stop Guo Jia and Xun You, but they could not stop Xia Houyuan, who was bent on avenging Xia Houdun, so he pushed them away directly.
"I have been to the military camp. The soldiers and horses inside were not moving at all. I knew there was something wrong. What were you two doing? Sikong had already given the order, but you two turned a deaf ear and did not go to the military camp to mobilize the troops. Are you disobeying the military order?"
After entering the inner courtyard, he saw Dian Wei and Xu Chu standing outside the door of Cao Cao's bedroom like door gods. Xia Houyuan stepped forward and asked sternly, blowing his beard and staring.
If things were to go by in the past, the hot tempers of these two brothers would have been easy to control. No matter what your military position, they would just start fighting.
But today, both of them showed a tacit understanding and smiled bitterly, "Wonderful talent, I can't wait for you. If Sikong doesn't give us the tiger talisman, how can we dispatch the cavalry out of the camp?"
"What?"
Xia Houyuan was very surprised when he heard this, frowned and said, "Where is Sikong Ren?"
The two of them glanced at the back room, and Xia Houyuan opened the door knowingly.
In the room, Cao Cao was sitting on his knees next to the table, with his back to Xia Houyuan. There were two wine glasses in front of him, but he never picked up the wine glasses.
Of course Xia Houyuan was also very anxious, but he didn't dare to be presumptuous when facing Cao Cao. He knelt down on one knee and choked up: "Brother, all the ministries are ready, why don't you give me the Tiger Talisman? Don't you plan to avenge Yuan Rang's death?" ?"
Cao Cao didn't even look back at him. He probably knew clearly that Xia Houyuan would come to question him.
He didn't explain a word, he just picked up the wine glass, banged it on the glass on the empty seat opposite, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Brother, aren't you afraid of chilling the hearts of the brothers by doing this?" Xia Houyuan couldn't figure out why Cao Cao could be indifferent to Xiahou Dun's death.
He was obviously furious on the horse trail at the city gate and wanted to lead the army northward, but at this moment, he looked like an unknown person.
Finally, Cao Cao stood up, and he stepped forward to help Xia Houyuan up. When the two looked at each other, Xia Houyuan realized that Cao Cao had burst into tears at some point.
"Brother, don't blame me. It's not that I don't want to avenge Yuan Rang, but I can't do it now." Cao Cao's words were full of helplessness.
But Xia Houyuan didn't understand. He shook his head and said: "Now there are nearly 200,000 troops stationed in Jingxiang and Xiang counties. Why not transfer 50,000?"
Cao Cao let out a long sigh, turned around and sat down on his knees again, and said bitterly: "Miaocai, do you know that those are not our soldiers and horses?"
"What?"
Xia Houyuan looked shocked, "Brother, what do you mean, is the Jingzhou Army led by Cai Hao pretending to surrender?"
"But it's not."
Cao Cao poured his own wine and explained: "The reason why Cai Mao is willing to serve me is just because it is most beneficial to the Cai family to choose my side in terms of the overall situation.
But once he learns that Yuan Rang died in battle and Bingzhou changed hands, he will immediately feel rebellious. If I lead the army to leave at this time, I will not be able to come back to Xiangyang. "
Xia Houyuan was silent, thinking carefully about the mystery behind Cao Cao's words.
But Cao Cao didn't care whether he understood or not, and continued: "Miaocai, although we have taken over Jingxiang, people's hearts are unstable and families are not attached to them. I need time. The only way is to completely absorb Jingzhou into our strength. At that time , only then can we have a chance to avenge Yuan Rang."
After saying this, Xia Houyuan became much clearer.
When I was in Xuchang, I just heard how the Cai family dominated Jingxiang. But when I came in and saw him this time, I didn't think he was so arrogant. Most of the time, he was even quite humble.
That's because our own side is strong. As Cao Cao said, in a situation where the world is spread, only the Cao family is the wisest choice.
But, that was before that.
Now that Xiahou Dun is dead, if his troops leave Xiangyang City and go north, Cai Mao might really show his minions.
After thinking about it, Xia Houyuan wilted, walked to the empty seat in front of Cao Cao with a sad face, sat down, and drank the wine in one gulp.
"Furthermore, Lin Yunwen has a deep mind. Since he has chosen to attack Bingzhou first, he must have a backup plan. If I rush to rescue Jinyang at this time, I will definitely fall into this kid's way. If the defeat is compounded, let alone If the Jingxiang gentry becomes a clan, even our foundation in Yingchuan will be shaken."
Cao Cao's eyes were a little cloudy, but he still smiled bitterly, "Miaocai, going north at this time is like a moth flying into a flame. Can you understand?"
Xu really understood Cao Cao's good intentions. Xia Houyuan knew that annexing the state was a dead end. He couldn't help but clenched his fists, and his nails even dug into his palms, and he choked:
"So what the eldest brother said at the gate was just to give the brothers in Jinyang City a glimmer of hope to continue fighting to the death in order to kill more Lu Jun."
Cao Cao remained silent.
This is of course the default.
Xia Houyuan couldn't help crying anymore, "Brother, Zi Dan is still in the city, Boning is also loyal to brother, and there are more than 10,000 brothers. Can we just sit back and watch them die in battle?" Don’t you care?”
Cao Cao's eyes were gloomy and he murmured: "What I can do is to stabilize Jingzhou as soon as possible, and then wait for an opportunity to regain the three counties of southern Hunan. As long as we are not the one crying in the end, it will be our victory."
In fact, Cao Cao himself was heartbroken when Xiahou Dun died, but he could not lead his army to take revenge arbitrarily.
Because if we go there, it is very likely that the Cao family's foundation will be ruined in one battle.
Jinyang will definitely fall in the end, and now the only hope is that he can contain Lu Jun for a longer period of time, so as to buy more time for himself.
No matter what, as long as he completely digests the fat piece of Jingzhou and has the heart of the world as his strategic backyard, he may not necessarily be at a disadvantage in future confrontations.
What's more, it will take some time for the chess pieces deployed by Guo Jia to take effect. Judging from the past, Lu Lin and his son-in-law were too difficult to deal with after all.
Once this chess piece works wonders, Lu Bu will definitely be defeated even if he holds the Northern Kingdom and Xuzhou.
Cao Cao slowly closed his eyes, Yuan Rang, you will understand me, right.
(End of chapter)
