Chapter 24: Better Than Bad (Additional Update for the Alliance Leader’s Joy)
By the end of August and the beginning of September, the clouds of war had completely enveloped Luoyang.
On the sixth day of September, the owner of the building, Mi Huang, came to the military camp again - not leaving this time. The war was imminent, and it was impossible for the nominal supreme commander not to be present.
He was accompanied by a palace servant named Pei Shiliu. From his name, he knew that he was the concubine married to Concubine Pei. He was in his thirties, with a serious face and a humble expression.
Mi Huang left first on the pretext of inspecting the military camp.
Pei Shiliu saluted and said: "Uncle Shao."
"Pei Dianji." Shao Xun returned the salute.
"To make a long story short." Pei Shiliu whispered: "Two days later, Sikong and the princess will enter the inner city for temporary refuge. They will be escorted by General He Lun of the upper army. Mi Duhu and the thousands of troops led by General Wang Bing will Five hundred people cannot enter the city in the short term. The princess is concerned about the governor and sent me a message -"
"The bandit army is fierce and there are many desperadoes. The morale of the king's division is low, and the forward battle is at a disadvantage."
“The food and grass in the city can only last for half a year. If we continue to maintain a stalemate for a long time, we will definitely lose.”
"Don't be aggressive in everything, let alone push yourself. Wait for the situation to turn around."
Shao Xun waited silently for a while, and after confirming that he had finished speaking, he bowed again: "Thank you, Princess, for your love."
Pei Shiliu nodded and left.
Shao Xun watched his back disappear outside the door, and then slowly straightened up, gently stroking the tip of the bow with his left hand, and holding the handle of the knife with his right hand.
The message is not flowing smoothly.
As a junior officer, it is difficult to get a full view of the battlefield.
This is like when tens of thousands of people are arrayed in a field battle. The military formation is spread out for several miles.
Some phalanxes are already fighting with the enemy, and some phalanx soldiers are still sitting on the ground, eating food and water to restore their strength.
The front formation has been defeated, and the rear formation is still advancing happily without receiving any news.
Just imagine, as a pawn on a vast battlefield, how can you possibly know what is happening? Shouldn’t we just act according to the banner and the golden drum?
As soon as the flag falls and rumors come out, if the morale is not high, I don’t care what you do, just run away, don’t you know, “lose, lose”?
Now Shao Xun is faced with such a situation. He has no information and does not know the progress of the battlefield. He can only observe by himself, or make guesses based on information that is difficult to distinguish between true and false, combined with the approximate historical process.
I can only make a rough guess. It’s hard to know the details, but sometimes it’s the details that scare you. Because your body is too weak, even if the general direction does not change, a small fluctuation in the historical tide may cause you to capsize.
It’s hard to resist.
Fortunately, Mi Huang came back soon.
"Pei Shiliu is gone?" he asked.
"Leave."
"Well, now I will tell you everything I can say, and don't ask about what you can't." Mi Huang sighed and said: " Don't worry, you and I are in the same boat now. I have to rely on your ability to survive, so as not to cheat you."
"Let me talk about the first thing first," Mi Huang collected his thoughts and said, "Guanzhong soldiers and horses are here. Soon, the vanguard was fighting with Wang's division in Yiyang. Wang's division had more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry, commanded by Huangfu Shang. The military newspaper said that there was a "win or lose", but anyone with a discerning eye knew that it would be a big deal. "It's a loss."
"The commander-in-chief of the Western Army is Zhang Fang. He has 70,000 troops, and there are currently more than 20,000 people." At this point, he glanced at Shao Xun and said, "This Zhang Fang." He came from a very humble background and was a man of courage and talent. He came to challenge Sima Ji last year and commanded a total of 20,000 soldiers with Li Han, which shows his ability. He is very trusted by the King of Hejian.”
Shao Xun felt something in his heart after hearing this.
The King of Hejian is Sima Yong, who is based in Chang'an and has been spying on Luoyang's treasures.
Zhang Fang has no family background, but he can actually command an army of 70,000 people. On the one hand, it shows his talent. On the other hand, it also shows that if there is a chance, ordinary people can also rise to high positions. Although this example is extremely Very few.
His life seems a bit inspiring.
"Zhang Fangxiao is brave and difficult to defeat, but he is cruel and does not like to impose military discipline. After his troops entered Hongnong County, they looted and even killed people to use as military rations. You - don't learn from him." Huang continued: "Huangfu Shang's association should be in Yiyang. Once defeated, Zhang Fang can attack Luoyang. The Western soldiers are actually very close."
"Why didn't the governor reinforce Huangfu to join the army? ?" Shao Xun asked: "There are not enough people in the Western Army. Do you really want to send people to Luoyang to fight?"
Mi Huang thought for a while and said: "According to me. As we know, the governor is implementing the strategy of "defend in the west and attack in the east", that is, use a partial division to resist the western troops, and use the main force to fight against the Ye division. "
"At this time, we should not concentrate on the best troops and strong generals. Defeat the Guanzhong army and then lead a decisive battle with the Hebei army?" Shao Xun wondered.
There are only 70,000 troops in Guanzhong, while there are more than 200,000 in Yecheng. If he comes to take command, he will mobilize the main force to first defeat the 70,000 Guanzhong soldiers, and then face the Yecheng army with the high morale of the victorious division. Moreover, the troops from Guanzhong came quickly, and the troops from Hebei came slowly. There was a time difference in between.
Why does Sima Yi fight like a chess player? If the Western Army has few troops, I will send fewer troops to defend. If the Ye Division has more troops, I will send more troops to intercept. Has he ever fought in a war? Are the decision-making bodies of his shogunate all composed of nobles and not a single general?
"You are taking too much risk..." Mi Huang was a little surprised.
"We are already at a disadvantage. If we don't seize the opportunity, we will just wait for death." After speaking, Shao Xun took a breath and said, "However, there may be some inside information that is difficult for us to understand."
Mi Huang nodded and continued: "The coach of Ye Master is Lu Ji."
After that, he introduced this person again.
The grandson of Lu Xun, the prime minister of Eastern Wu, and the son of Grand Sima Lu Kang. He is a rare genius with world-renowned articles. He once joined the army in Sima Lun's house. Later, he was appreciated by Sima Ying, the king of Chengdu, and served as the internal historian of Pingyuan.
Lu Ji actually had no experience in commanding an army, and his military career was negligible, but this time he suddenly became the commander-in-chief of an army of more than 200,000 people.
In fact, there were people within Yecheng who were dissatisfied, and Beizhong Lang General Wang Cui (the grandson of Wang Jun, the general who destroyed Wu in Jin Dynasty) was one of them.
Sun Hui, the governor of Baisha (the great-grandson of Sun Bi, the Eastern Wu clan and the prefect of Yuzhang) and Lu Ji were both Wu people. Knowing that his abilities were limited, he persuaded him to give up his position as commander, but he refused.
Shao Xun was shocked after hearing this...
Is it such a child's play for someone who has never had any combat experience to increase his strength as soon as he comes and lead an army of more than 200,000 people?
Is it because he comes from a wealthy family?
To be honest, it is not as good as Zhang Fang arranged by Sima Yong. Although he is cruel, he has climbed up step by step from the lower ranks of the army, even though he has the glory of being a Hejian countryman.
What does Luji have? You were so exhausted that you conducted a family song, right?
"Master Ye is still north of the river, and it may take half a month to cross the river to the south." Mi Huang said: "So, if we want to fight, the first batch of people we encounter will probably be Zhang Fang's people. . ”
“Half a month, ugh.” Shao Xun felt that iron was not as strong as steel, so this time difference could be used.
"Don't think too much." Mi Huang looked at his look and smiled: "To be honest, I don't know how to fight. I don't know if the strategy you mentioned is right. But since the governor has deployed it like this, the military order will be It cannot be violated. As long as Sikong supports the Governor for one day, we must obey the order."
After saying this, Shao Xun couldn't help but look at him.
Mi Huang laughed and said: "You are a smart man, you should know what I mean."
Shao Xun smiled bitterly and said: "This battle is inexplicable."
He worked hard to hoard supplies, survey the terrain, and formulate targeted tactics. He was so busy that some people didn't intend to fight.
Yes, it’s better to listen to Concubine Pei.
"Don't push yourself" and "wait for the opportunity to turn around", there is something in the words, it is very clear - but if someone gets into his hands and the opportunity is right, he will not let it go. .
"Who says it's not the case?" Mi Huang said helplessly: "However, Shao Langjun does things well, and with you here, I feel much more at ease. To be honest, many soldiers in the Sikong Mansion talk loudly and clearly. , I didn’t think it was anything before, but now it seems like nonsense. Some of them have not even lived in the camp for a day, but they are treated as guests and serve as military advisors. This is going to kill people.”
A person who has never lived in a military camp for a day can become a key figure in a military decision-making body, or even the commander-in-chief of the army. Who can blame him?
It seems that no one can blame it, the system is like this.
If you really want to blame it, just blame the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System. It’s really outrageous and unprofessional.
There were no heroes at that time, so Zhuzi became famous. He was beaten again and again, but he was still worse than he was.
"There is one last thing." Mi Huang said seriously: "In the past few days, the emperor, the governor and the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty have been inspecting the garrisons in various places, and they may pass by here. Don't slack off and get your troops in order. Ichiban, don’t let others look down upon you.”
“No.” Shao Xun responded.
He was said to be the emperor, but in fact he was just the governor Sima Yi who was patrolling everywhere. It's just that he wanted to use the name of the emperor to boost morale and strengthen the determination of the troops to defend.
In this matter, the emperor is just a tool.
Speak of Cao Cao, Cao Cao has arrived.
On the tenth day of the ninth lunar month, there were clouds of ceremonial guards on Kaiyangmen Street, and flags covered the sky and the sun.
Emperor Sima Zhong, Queen Yang Xianrong, Governor Sima Yi and hundreds of civil and military officials, surrounded by guards, went south to patrol in a mighty manner.
At the beginning of the period, he passed Guozixue and traveled beyond Piyong.
(End of this chapter)