Chapter 740 Disaster
"How far is it from Xin'an?"
In the torrent of cavalry, Zhang Chong leaned on his horse and asked Meng Ju beside him.
Meng Ju is an old man in the Taishan Army. Ever since Zhang Chong entered Taishan, he has been serving as his vanguard, You Yi. Later, he was in charge of the Feijun Foreign Army. He was so powerful that even the princes and ministers under his sect were very jealous of him. .
Without him, people engaged in intelligence work have been like this since ancient times.
In fact, it stands to reason that since the reorganization of the Fei Army where Meng Ju is located, its original function of selecting forwards has been simply split down to each army, so this time Meng Ju is accompanying the army as an intelligence officer.
But even so, Meng Ju was responsible for conveying the contact between his army and the armies in Kyoto, and sending information about the current battlefield confrontation on both sides of the Luoshui River to Zhang Chong. As for how far it is from Xin'an, Mengju shouldn't have to answer it.
But Zhang Chong asked, and Meng Ju answered without hesitation. He was very sure:
"There are still twenty miles to Xin'an."
Zhang Chong didn't ask anything else, nodded, and then looked at the torrent of cavalry at the foot of the slope. The smoke and dust could not hide his fatigue.
So Zhang Chong ordered to Guo Zu beside him:
"Pass my order to all armies to rest where they are."
Guo Zu received the order and led the generals to chase the generals.
Soon, the fast-moving team slowed down their horses, and then the smoke dispersed, and the troops began to step down and lead their horses to the stream to drink water.
Eight thousand people and more than 10,000 horses drank freely from the stream, which felt almost dry for a while.
The ministries here were drinking water and eating dry food, and Cai Que quickly walked to Zhang Chong carrying a portion of dried meat.
The king was talking to the generals on horseback.
When Cai Que approached, he happened to hear the king say:
"I know the information you reported, and the status of each department is still good. It seems that our Taishan Army's assault cavalry is worthy of being our pillar, but we still cannot slack off. Even if the Han army is defeated, our army will continue to advance eastward to Kyoto, where we will It’s a real decisive battle.”
All the generals on the assault cavalry nodded, realizing that the hard battle had just begun.
At this time, Zhang Chong saw Cai Que coming up with dried meat in his hand, and said:
"Pass the dried meat out first, and we'll talk while eating."
Cai Que nodded, and then generals like Ma Chao and Pang De hurried forward to help distribute the dried meat.
At this time, Zhang Chong found a stone and sat down. Then Li Hu and more than ten generals of the sudden cavalry also sat on the spot without mats, with their legs crossed around Zhang Chong.
Zhang Chong first summarized the recent series of wars:
"Before the war, I thought it would be simple to go around the back and make a surprise attack. I didn't expect that the Xiaohan Road would be so difficult. So everyone suffered a lot along with me these days, but the final result was very smooth."< br>
"We first successfully crossed the river, defeated Duan's army in the west, and then marched all the way eastward. Now we are only twenty miles away from the enemy. If we go further, the enemy's sentries will notice Us. So I asked each army to rest first and called you over, just to hear what your plans are for this battle."
First came Li Hu, Xu Huang, and Ma Wu. They all said that the morale of the troops was high and they would definitely annihilate the enemy troops under Xin'an City for the king.
Zhang Chong did not comment on the generals' request for a fight. Then he asked Fazheng beside him and told him:
"Dharma Lord, the army will rest for another two hours soon. You can take General Hengchang's officers behind you to check the forage and war horses of each army. I want to be aware of it."
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Fazheng nodded, not finding this task difficult.
Although it only lasted two hours, the officers and soldiers of General Hengchang had all received some basic arithmetic, and there were also a small number of civil servants in each army, so it was not a big problem.
On the other hand, Fazheng also knew that when the army left Shaanxi County, they specially replenished a large amount of baggage and forage, so the army was not lacking in logistical supplies. He guessed that the king was concerned about this because something had happened in Kyoto. Therefore, we must speed up our return to Kyoto.
And sure enough, after Zhang Chong said this, he muttered:
"Just now, the foreign army behind the flag received news from Kyoto that Yu Jin was discovered, and then the military advisor has asked him to take the Central Guards back to Kyoto. In other words, the final decisive battle will be at Luoshui. And now there is something to worry about.”
Having said this, Zhang Chong was silent for a moment, but still told all about the current battlefield situation.
"From the current point of view, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu have joined forces, and their military strength has reached almost 120,000. Our army currently has 70,000 troops on the front line in Kyoto, but because I have mobilized all the cavalry from all armies, there is no The only way to block the battlefield is to confront the enemy in Luoshui under the cover of barriers. In other words, our army, which lacks cavalry, has lost the initiative on the battlefield, and we must finish this battle as soon as possible."
Now all the cavalry generals understood what Zhang Chong meant, and their expressions were no longer relaxed.
After all, no one can avoid panic when facing an army of 120,000 people.
After Zhang Chong finished speaking the most important thing, he said to Meng Ju on the side:
"Aju, please tell everyone about the situation at Zhao Yun's side and let them have an idea of the situation at Xin'an."
Meng Ju nodded, and then distributed the prepared map of the Xin'an area to Li Hu and others.
This map not only depicts the mountains and rivers near Xin'an, but also clearly outlines the location of the fortress built by Guo Si's troops.
Li Hu and the others listened carefully to Meng Ju's explanation with the detailed map in their hands.
Meng Ju preached:
"Zhao Junzhu fought very well this time. It can be said that he not only successfully attracted Guo Si and Liu Bei, but also contained them both under Xin'an City. But Zhao Junzhu said that the trick he used to mislead the soldiers could not last long, so he was not worried. The enemy will attack Xin'an City, but they are worried that these people will escape to Kyoto through the loopholes in the defense."
As he spoke, Meng Ju pointed out a location on the map to everyone and said:
"That's where the Hangu Pass of the previous dynasty was located. Although this pass was abandoned during the Battle of the Two Capitals. But it's still where the key is, and now it is used as a food and fodder point by Guo Si's army, and his army continues to camp. At the foot of Badou Mountain. So this time we make a surprise attack, we must be prepared for the enemy's breakthrough in two directions: one is to retreat westward into the Hangu Pass, and the other is to rush eastward into Badou Mountain."
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While the other cavalry generals were still thinking, Zhang Chong added:
"So we have to divide our troops here. I need one to lead the troops across to the south bank of Jianshui River, and then go straight to Jiuguan to block the retreat of Guo Si and Liu Bei."
He looked at the generals present and said frankly:
"From the west bank of Jianshui here to Guanmen Gate, there is about twenty miles of mountain road. The width of this place is only two or three feet. The passage is winding and rugged, with steep cliffs on both sides and numerous peaks and rocks. The terrain is dangerous, so the risk is not small."< br>
After Zhang Chong finished speaking, these generals were also thinking, but no one stepped forward to take on this task.
This is not to say that these people are afraid of danger, but that they understand that if they divide their troops to the south, they may miss the subsequent battle in Kyoto. And what level of war is that?
It can be said that as the situation in the world becomes increasingly clear, they know very well that it will be very difficult to have such a huge war in the future.
As for generals at their level, if they want to advance further or distance themselves from their peers, it is of little use to fight small battles. They must have a battle situation involving hundreds of thousands of troops from both sides to achieve great success. This is the same as the fact that a small pond cannot raise a dragon.
These people are worried about this, so no one takes the initiative to take up the matter.
When Zhang Chong saw these people's hesitation at first, he thought they were afraid, but then he thought about it and figured it out.
So Zhang Chong added:
"Those who have accomplished this feat can be regarded as meritorious deeds."
As soon as these words came out, while several others were hesitating, Yan Gang stood up, cupped his fists and said:
"Your Majesty, I will do this task and I will not let the enemy retreat into the old pass."
Zhang Chong nodded and looked around everyone again:
"After the battle in Kyoto is over, the Central Plains will be determined. There will not be many opportunities to use the cavalry on such a large scale. By then, everyone will have to fight in the local area. My original intention is to drink with all the brothers. But this is before the war. I will save this meal for a celebratory drink with you. Today I will drink water.”
With that said, Zhang Chong raised the water bag and took the lead to drink. Li Hu and others over there also raised the water bag, raised their heads and drank it all in one gulp.
People like Li Hu understood what the king meant.
Indeed, if they do not attack the northern grasslands in the future, then there will not be many opportunities for these cavalry generals to perform such illustrious martial arts feats.
This does not mean that cavalry will no longer be used in the future, but it means that cavalry generals of their level will no longer have the opportunity to use force, because it is unrealistic to think of tens of thousands of cavalry fighting.
On the one hand, most of the enemy troops encountered in the future will gather in the Jianghuai River, where water networks intersect and it is hot, which is suitable for naval and infantry troops. On the other hand, the large-scale concentration of the cavalry is too expensive.
Take this time's deployment of 8,000 cavalry as an example. The fodder consumed in one day alone required more than 1,000 dan, and since their departure, they probably spent no less than 20,000 dan.
And with the same expenditure, 40,000 troops can be supported.
So where is the place that can supply such a huge consumption at once? Not only did they get a large amount of food and grass from Shaanxian County this time, they are still starving now.
And after the battle in Kyoto, what happens next? The king just said that it was a turbulent stage.
After annihilating most of the resistance forces in the world, the Taishan Army actually has no enemies, and this stage is to rush forward and pursue the victory.
By then, far away from the base area, the supply of food and fodder can only depend on the local area. But how much can the Central Plains supply after being plundered by Yuan Shao and other princes?
Instead of feeding them with refined grains, there are no such large pastures in the Central Plains to raise war horses of this size.
So when the time comes, an army will be equipped with 5,000 cavalry, and the army is the largest unit. Which of these generals of cavalry is not responsible for the regulation of 5,000 cavalry?
It is precisely because of their clear understanding of the outside world that these cavalry generals understand that there will be few opportunities to make great achievements in the future, so they cherish this opportunity more and more.
Drinking water instead of wine, everyone drank freely, and soon two hours passed. When the sun set slightly, Yan Gang first led thousands of horses to cross the stream south, and then the horns of all the armies sounded simultaneously, heading towards the last twenty miles. Surprise attack and run wildly.
……
On the way, Li Hu was frowning and thinking. Li Rong beside him frowned when he saw his clan brother coming back, and wanted to relieve his troubles:
"Brother, why are you so worried?"
After hearing this, Li Hu first sighed, then repeated what Zhang Chong and them said, and finally sighed:
"Fight this battle well, there won't be many opportunities in the future."
Li Rong listened to Li Hu's narration and smiled:
"Brother, what's the trouble? In my opinion, the king has an advantage now. He thinks that all the heroes in the world will surrender after this battle. That's why I think so. If there is a big enemy behind, how can there be so many cavalry? No need?”
Li Hu didn't understand what Li Rong meant, and said with squinting eyes:
"What do you know? How much does a cavalry cost? What does an infantry cost? One of our cavalry can cost five steps. In the past, when we fought in the plains, one of our cavalry can cost ten steps, so it is certainly cost-effective to raise a cavalry. But later on In the south, can we fly across the river? When the time comes, the cavalry will eat more and kill less, so how can it be of any use?"
But Li Rong disagrees with this concept:
"Brother, no matter how poor the Central Plains region is, it can't tolerate our thousands of horses? The Jianghuai region is intertwined with water and network, and it can't tolerate our thousands of horses galloping? In the final analysis, our king is too virtuous and takes those Central Plains people too seriously. We must I’ll do it, let alone Wanqi, Wanqi can be raised as well.”
Li Hu stopped talking because he knew what Li Rong said was right.
In fact, he sometimes advised Zhang Chong, that is, you can't do things with too much bottom line. Otherwise, if someone doesn't have a bottom line and you do things according to the rules, wouldn't you just suffer a loss?
He also understands that the king wants reputation, but isn't this something just for use? In wartime, extreme measures must be used. After the war is over, wouldn't it be enough to let the people recuperate?
He felt that there was a sentence that was right:
"If you want to defeat evil people, then you have to be more evil than evil people."
And if you let those who write the pens apply more smudges afterward, isn’t the world praising virtues?
In the final analysis of this world, winning is justice.
But he only vaguely mentioned these words to Zhang Chong. After seeing that the king had his own set of ideas, he said no more.
Regarding values, it’s useless for anyone to say anything.
Just when Li Hu was feeling disappointed, more than a dozen riders came running from the front, led by his general Guanqiu Xing.
Li Hu had a keen eye and saw at a glance that Guanqiu Xing's horse had several bloody heads hanging on its neck. It must be the Han army's sentinel cavalry.
Sure enough, Guanqiu Xing drove the horse to a sudden stop, then circled around Li Hu twice before controlling the horse, and then said:
"Military leader, we just killed a group of rogue knights, not a single one was missed. But as long as this wave of sentry knights does not go back for a moment, the enemy will definitely find out that something is wrong. Should we hurry up?"
Li Hu looked at the sky and saw that the sun was already setting in the west, so he immediately ordered:
"Send a message to Li Fu behind, and then charge the whole army at a galloping speed without leaving any horsepower behind."
All the generals, including Guanqiu Xing, clasped their fists:
"Here."
At this time, the smoke and dust blown up by thousands of cavalry troops on Xin'an Road was like a sandstorm, covering the sky and the sun and pressing towards the Han army in front.
Guo Si and Liu Bei were doomed.