Chapter 913 Pursuit
When Taishan's army lost the main force of Cao's army in the east and west, Ding Sheng in the middle was busy with more important matters.
That is to build his own central military base on the original wall of Cao Cao's camp to connect the east and west.
Communication of information on the battlefield is very difficult.
If both parties want to build a stable information channel, both parties must have fixed positions. Otherwise, as long as one party moves at will, the information transmission will be one-way.
Therefore, in order to allow troops from all over the battlefield to contact him in time, the first thing Ding Sheng did was to secure his battlefield command post.
At this time, after selecting the camp left by Cao Cao, Ding Sheng immediately sent out a group of sentries to look for his troops on the east and west sides and told them the current location of his army.
Of course, these sentries didn't just go there for such a thing, they also needed to obtain the battle damage information of each department and the current battlefield situation.
After doing this, Ding Sheng walked around the military tent left by Cao Cao to observe the large tent left by Cao Cao's thieves.
After walking around, Ding Sheng unexpectedly found a stack of bamboo slips from under the curtain. He thought it was some important information, but when he opened it and took a look, he found that it turned out to be "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.
Of course Ding Sheng had heard of Sun Tzu's Art of War. King Zhang used this method when he taught them with the army.
Thinking of this, Ding Sheng took it out and flipped through it.
This overturn really shocked Ding Sheng, because he saw that on this bamboo slip, there were some small characters written on the side of each line.
Ding Sheng opened his eyes and took a closer look, only to realize that these were all comments on the original text.
But after just one glance, Ding Sheng threw the bamboo slip aside and smiled:
"How can this thief Cao be able to comment on "Sun Tzu's Art of War"? He is also ignorant. My Prince Zhang is as talented and powerful as he is and he didn't even mention that he could comment on "Sun Tzu's Art of War"."
After saying that, he ignored the bamboo slips and sat directly on the couch, ready to receive news from all sides.
But later on, a group of people came back.
It turns out that those who went out only contacted Jinquan on the eastern front, but Zhang Heizi and the others were never contacted.
However, Zhang Heizi's troops soon found the camp and brought it to Ding Sheng. They had already occupied Hulinkou, but unfortunately, Xiahou Dun's main force escaped.
Even though the soldiers later said that they had captured hundreds of Cao's troops, it still made Ding Sheng furious. What made Ding Sheng even more angry was that there was a reply from the east road, saying that Cao Jun on the opposite side had also been let go.
At this time, Ding Sheng no longer doubted Cao Cao's retreat in his heart, and loudly reconciled and issued orders:
"Tell Xu Miao to run for me and chase the enemy!"
Then he asked the two soldiers to go back separately, so that they could go directly to chase the fleeing enemy without joining his central army.
He wanted to see where the hilly road lay ahead, where these Cao soldiers could go!
……
After successfully retreating from Huyangkou, Xiahou Dun did not pursue Cao Cao directly. Instead, he retreated to Yaowang Mountain outside Guangxian City in accordance with the military orders Cao Cao had given him.
It is said that Yaowang Mountain was visited by Yao during his hunting tour, and later generations named the mountain after it.
Putting aside the mythical connotations of Yaowang Mountain, it is actually the junction area between the hills and mountains of Qi State and the Beihai Plain.
It can be said that after passing Yaowang Mountain, you will reach the vast Beihai Plain.
Xiahou Dun's purpose of coming here is also very simple, that is to completely block the Taishan Army's exit from the mountain here.
According to Cao Cao's plan, the Taishan Army was eliminated in the hilly and mountainous areas of Qi State, so Cao Cao ordered the five generals Shen Pei, Xin Pi, Bian Bing, Du Xi, and Cui Yan to lead 4,000 troops in Jindoushan and Heishan in advance. , Mingzu Mountain and Queshan Mountain.
Among them, Mingzu Mountain is in the north, Heishan is in the west, Jindou Mountain is in the southwest, and Queshan is in the south. Together with Yaowang Mountain in the east, the four mountains surround the hilly land in the middle like Wuzhi Mountain.
It can be said that once the Taishan Army pursues here, as long as it cannot break through the easternmost Yaowang Mountain, it will really be a turtle in a urn and it will be impossible to escape.
In order to complete this overall strategy, the stability of the Yaowang Mountain position has become a top priority.
It is for this reason that even though Cao Cao knew that Xiahou Dun's troops might have withdrawn too late, he still let them go straight to the Yaowang Mountain position.
Xiahou Dun was worthy of being a famous general. He led his 14,000 men and marched for 20 miles. When it was getting late, he finally arrived at the Yaowang Mountain position.
At this time, the ravine had been dug at the foot of Yaowang Mountain and extended all the way to the south and west until the passage out of the mountain on both sides was completely blocked.
These trenches were dug by Cao Cao and Minzhuang, and because there are dense forests on both sides at the foot of the mountain, the trenches have added blocking capabilities.
So when Xiahou Dun climbed to the top of the mountain and looked down below under the afterglow of the setting sun, he was sure at a glance that the dense forests on both sides were perfect places to hide troops.
So he still asked the two battalions of Liu Zhu and Lu Jian, who had performed outstandingly in the sniper battle, to ambush in the dense forests in two places, and then ordered all the troops to rest on the spot.
Xiahou Dun personally went to the plain behind the mountain, where Cao Cao's central guard army was located, which was used as the general reserve of the entire army.
After all, Xiahou Dun was still a little worried, and still wanted to go to Cao Cao in person. It would be good just to hear the voice of this clan brother.
Because Xiahou Dun knew very well that if he failed this time, it might be the last time he saw his clan brother.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines on Xiahou Dun's cloak, illuminating his figure riding a horse, making him look so sad and lonely.
……
It's the ninth day of March, no time.
Jin Quan and Xie Hui's tens of thousands of troops were chasing Zhao Yan's remnant army into the mountains.
At this moment, in the winding mountain road, countless apricot-yellow flags are flying in the wind, and countless Taishan army officers are chasing an enemy army.
Jin Quan turned his horse up a dirt slope, and then he saw an enemy cavalry squad running around in confusion out of sight. Many of them had arrows stuck in their bodies, and from time to time they saw howling and falling off their horses.
About a hundred steps behind them, the assault cavalry of the Taishan Army were waiting unhurriedly.
They didn't go up to get close to those Cao soldiers, but shot arrows at the opposite side from time to time. In short, it keeps you in a state of not letting you fight hard but letting you bleed all the time.
This method of warfare is a typical grassland warfare method. It can be said that it is a military skill derived from hunting on the grassland.
Jin Quan on the slope could clearly see that Cao Jun's remaining cavalry were at the end of their rope, and they might soon fall on the sudden cavalry.
Sure enough, Jinquan had this idea, and the knights of Cao's army in the distance also realized that if they didn't fight hard, their horses might not be able to run.
So with the cheers of several warriors, these knights of Cao's army turned their horses one after another and began to charge towards the Taishan army.
Even if you are about to die, you should have someone on your back.
But although this idea is heroic, it is quite unrealistic. Why? Because in a riding battle, when your horsepower is not as good as others, it is a luxury to try your best.
When Cao's army rushed over, Taishan's army roared and turned around and ran away.
These Taishan Army knights must have many grassland warriors, because they were able to turn their heads and shoot while retreating. So after a series of arrows came down, the more Cao's army charged, the more they fell from their horses, but their speed from Taishan's army did not decrease at all.
At this moment, all Cao's troops were in despair and seemed to be roaring. They also gave up chasing and stayed where they were.
But in the next moment, the Taishan Army's sudden cavalry, who originally turned around and ran, turned diagonally in a circle at the command of a whistle, and finally rushed straight towards Cao's army where they were.
So, without any surprise, this cavalry team of Cao's army was completely wiped out.
There were also some fallen Cao soldiers, but they were captured by Taishan's army. Then one of the soldiers, dressed as a military official, began to torture Cao Jun's intelligence directly on the spot.
Perhaps having obtained some important information, the Taishan Army cavalryman ran directly towards the rear, and the direction was exactly where Jinquan was.
On the hillside, Jin Quan looked at the cavalryman running towards him from a distance. He smiled and said to his colleague Xie Hui:
"Lao Xie, what do you think of Ren Rang?"
Xie Hui also smiled and commented on the riding battle just now:
"This little Ren has really mastered the essence of riding and fighting."
Jin Quan laughed, then sighed with a smile:
"Old Ren knows Huang Tian, so he should have no regrets when he sees this beautiful girl."
Xie Hui nodded silently, then changed the subject and said:
"Lao Jin, what do you think of Cao Jun's hasty retreat?"
Jin Quan was also very serious at this time. He frowned and asked:
"Lao Xie, do you also think there is something wrong with this matter?"
Xie Hui nodded, but shook his head:
"I can't tell. I just feel that given Cao Cao's reputation, it definitely shouldn't be like this."
Jin Quan remained silent and kept thinking.
At this time, Ren Rang, who was running from a distance, had already ran over. When he saw the two generals on the hillside, he hurried over.
While the man was still on the horse, Ren Rang shouted:
"The general will report important military information at the end."
The tooth soldiers standing at the bottom of the slope did not stop Ren Rang. Instead, they helped him dismount and then took the horse aside.
Then he let a man run up the slope alone.
The armor rustled, and Ren Rang shouted to the two generals:
"The general clearly knows that the last general has just chased a remnant of the enemy's cavalry and obtained two pieces of information from the prisoners. The last general does not dare to be expert, so he came here to report it."
Seeing Ren Rang's seriousness, Jin Quan said seriously:
"Speak quickly."
Ren Rang then told the two pieces of information he had obtained.
This is a report. The ones they You Yi just chased were indeed Zhao Yan's men, and they were also the most elite flying tiger cavalry in their army.
But the second part is important, because the prisoner said that they had indeed received the news of the retreat from above early, but their general Zhao Yan ordered them to wander around in this gap, insisting on seeing the Taishan Army. Only trace can be retreated.
Originally, these people could have run away, but how did they know they would encounter You Yi from the Taishan Army?
The horses of You Yi may not be the strongest, but they must be the fastest and best at running.
So when these people were unlucky enough to meet the Youyi people of the Taishan Army, the outcome was already doomed.
After Ren Rang finished explaining the situation, Jin Quan and Xie Hui both frowned and looked very serious.
Because this is the first piece of information, it confirms that their pursuit is correct. But something is wrong with this second point, because those Cao soldiers clearly had hooks left on them so that the Taishan army could continue to pursue them.
Although he could run away, but he had to stay and chase them, didn't this mean there was a conspiracy ahead?
Something is wrong, very wrong.
At this moment, Jin Quan kept thinking about today's battle situation. He saw that the Cao troops he encountered either fled without fighting or fled in despair. This was obviously trying to lure the enemy deeper.
At this moment, Jin Quan looked at the vast forest in front of him and felt that it was a bloody mouth that preyed on people.
So, Jin Quan just said to Xie Hui:
"The situation is not right. We can't continue the pursuit. We need to rest on the spot."
Xie Hui is also a veteran, so he naturally understands the joints involved, so he nods in agreement.
But Xie Hui added something:
"It's OK if we don't pursue, then we can rest on the spot, but we must not retreat at this time."
As he spoke, Xie Hui pointed to the vast mountains and forests nearby and said worriedly:
"We understood at this time that it was actually a bit late, because we had actually entered the mountain. It is better to be on the spot now. If we retreat, the armies will be in chaos, and the enemy troops in the dark will rush in, then we will Something bad happened.”
It's okay that Xie Hui didn't say this. When he said this, he looked at the nearby mountains and felt really frightened. It seemed that every gust of wind blowing was a disturbing movement of the enemy.
Even as the sun continues to set, the mottled shadows make people feel like the enemy's spears and armor are flickering.
At this moment, Jin Quan did not hesitate anymore and immediately ordered the entire army to stand guard on the spot.
And he camped right where he was.
Anyway, there is a lot of wood in the nearby mountains and forests, so let's cut some and build some fortifications.
Being in the wild without the protection of a large camp is really unsettling.
……
When something was wrong at Jinquan, on the other side of the mountain road, Zhang Heizi was also leading his troops galloping through the mountains.
But unlike Jinquan, they were not able to capture Xiahou Dun's team. They even fainted in the mountains during the pursuit. Even the local guides in the army did not know where they were now.
They had no choice but to rely on their feelings and start groping in the mountains and forests in the direction of the sun.
And this search really allowed them to find a Cao army.
In order to find out the reality of these Cao troops, Zhang Heizi ordered Dou Tai to lead 300 people to quietly go over.
In a small-scale attack, Dou Tai and the others successfully annihilated Cao's army, and then headed deeper into the mountains.
Because the sun went down, thick fog quickly rose in the mountains and forests, and the temperature in the mountains began to drop rapidly.
At this time, Zhang Heizi ordered the entire army to camp in a mountain valley, and inadvertently ordered that no open flames were allowed to be used.
Although they did not understand what the general above meant, the Taishan military officials who always obeyed military orders still obeyed.
Fortunately, the Taishan Army did not abandon their baggage packs when they pursued, and they also had a cloak to keep out the cold, so although they suffered at night, it was generally bearable.
But an accident happened the next morning. When the officials who got up early went to look for water nearby, they suddenly found that the nearby mountains were covered with Cao Jun's flags.