Zhang Yangchi.
It was a cold and chaotic morning.
If it weren't for human beings' own judgment of the time, it would be difficult to distinguish the current morning and dusk from each other based on the dark sky in front of us.
The light gray and dark gray clouds in the sky cover all the views.
It was originally a puddle, but now it has basically frozen into solid ice.
If it is summer and autumn, the scenery here is very beautiful. The long-term warm climate of the Han Dynasty made Zhangyangchi, an inland lake, look like a huge mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains, woods, and the sky.
In the past, the lake had faint ripples, and the sun shining with light, like countless elves dancing in the lake.
And now, the snowflake elves dancing gracefully are sharp-mouthed, which also look like the crystal clear on the summer lake, but they are so dark that they can secretly tear people's skin, causing frostbite to grow on their exposed ears and fingers.
If Zhang Yangchi in summer is beautiful and full of vitality, then Zhang Yangchi is now full of murderous intent.
On the field heading towards Zhangyangchi, the Hussars and cavalrymen ran around and chased and fought with the scouts of the Cao army.
Under the snowflakes, they ran around the wilderness, fighting each other among the withered shrubs and bushes everywhere and the wreckage of abandoned villages. Although the number of these scouts was not large, the fight was not vague at all.
Ambush, counter ambush, sneak attack, counter attack.
It seems to be happening in every corner.
When the game comes to the back, it seems that there will be scouts appearing in the void at any time.
Overall, the Cao army's scouts were a little lost, but the Cao army had many scouts. They even began to use infantry and cavalry to advance forward, clearing out the pure cavalry scouts of the cavalry.
This tactic of not seeking speed but seeking stability caused Sima Yi's scouts to suffer a little, but the same loss of Cao's army was also very large. Many of these losses were not caused by direct loss of hand-to-hand casualties, but due to the problems caused by the severe cold.
Of course, at this moment, the Cao army still felt that dying some people was not a problem...
After all, Shandong has many people, and some are people.
This is the cognition of the Shandong ruling class throughout China.
ingrained.
Cao Hong had some experience in dealing with the cavalry of Hussar. Without any necessity, the limited cavalry in his hands would never face the Hussar cavalry head-on. He could only use a small group of cavalry to restrain the two wings of the Hussar cavalry array, and then consume the Hussar cavalry with infantry, and then look for opportunities to attack the weak flanks.
Cao Hong knew that Sima Yi wanted to harass him with cavalry, which made the Cao army unable to camp near Zhangyangchi, forcing the Cao army to go further when fighting. Cao Hong of course hoped to be closer to the battlefield, which would save the soldiers' physical strength, so he had to continue to advance and march towards Zhangyangchi under the pressure.
Zhang Xi, the general who followed Cao Hong, walked forward a few steps and whispered beside Cao Hong: "The scout returned and found a cavalry of about 800 people, which seemed to be coming here. It is said that the flag of general was "Sima".
『"Sima"…』 Cao Hong gritted his teeth and muttered, 『What does this beast want to do?』 Because Cao Hong gritted his teeth, it sounded more like a dead horse, or something else.
"We are coming to attack us? But there are only eight hundred people..." Zhang Xi also frowned, unable to understand, "Eight hundred people want to attack me, do you really think they are not able to fight?"
Cao Hong sneered twice, "I can't say they really think that cavalry is omnipotent."
Cao Hong really wanted to let him take the initiative to attack, after all, Cao Hong believed that the infantry would be enough to compete with the cavalry after forming a formation.
After a while, Cao Hong asked: "Where is a reply from the lord?"
Zhang Xi shook his head.
Cao Hong looked back and saw a thin snow in his sight. He was silent for a moment and whispered: "It's best not to snow tomorrow..."
...
...
At the intersection of Zhongtiao Mountain.
Cao Jun camp is also being built here.
Five miles away from the mountain road entrance, Cao's army had already arranged the formation and was vigilantly checking around in the wind and snow.
From time to time, the cavalry of the Cao army were running back and forth, passing orders, or detecting surrounding situations.
Before the barracks were built, the left and right flanks were equipped with 3,000 people to form a military formation that was both offensive and defensive. It could not only resist and drive enemy cavalry with a regular dense array, but also rely on the long-range firepower in the rear to drive away those cyclists who were trying to take advantage.
Behind the two wing array were Cao's soldiers surging from the mountain road entrance. The minor officials responsible for planning the camp area brought signs on the roads and open spaces. The advance personnel of each battalion guided the same team to the camp based on these flags and flags.
Relying on Zhongtiao Mountain, Cao Cao put on the stance of a plum blossom camp.
This kind of plum blossom camp, also called the Six Out of the Camp, probably because this camp has six main passages, like a blooming plum blossom, and each branch camp and main camp can support and contact each other.
As the main camp, the left and right army and the left and right Yuhou Army each had three battalions. The central army was located in the center and the six armies were distributed around. This kind of camp was cumbersome, but it could flexibly respond to different battlefield needs.
Cao Cao was naturally built in the central camp, which was like moving Mount Tai from Shandong here. The high-rise flag of the commander of the three armies fluttered in the wind. The lines drawn by wooden walls and trenches around the camp were constantly extending.
The left and right wings each have their own battalions to echo the central army, independent and closely connected. The soldiers and tents inside the camp are neatly arranged, and occasionally the sound of iron collisions are heard. The patrol queues slowly rotate around the camp.
The smoke rose and connected it with the clouds in the sky.
In the entire camp, the soldiers of Cao's army were operating in an orderly manner, either strengthening the camp, sorting out supplies, practicing in the cold wind, or strengthening their own tents.
Cao Cao seemed to be posing as if he wanted to turn completely to the Hedong battlefield, and spared no effort to show his advantages.
My big Shandong is so crowded that even if it is consumed, it can consume the cavalry to death!
Um……
Can the tactics with a large number of people in the ceremonial service really work?
Although the wind and snow are slightly smaller now, it is undoubtedly difficult to fight with high intensity in such weather.
So what did Cao Cao want to do when building the camp with great fanfare?
After Cao Cao arrived at the Central Army Camp, he went to the snow to check. The snow layer was not deep, at least it had little impact on the march. He immediately climbed up to the high platform to observe and could vaguely see people and horses shaking outside.
Guo Jia also climbed onto the high platform.
"Have you discovered it yet?" Cao Cao asked directly without looking back.
"The last time the scout reported, he did not see a large number of cavalrymen." Guo Jia said, "After the scouts detected, the Hedong soldiers were deployed along Puban, Jie County and Pi County, and Anyi was used as a logistics gathering place. There were nearly 10,000 people... but they were all ordinary Hedong soldiers... and no artillery was found in each county...
"Architecture." Cao Cao nodded, then paused for a moment, frowned slightly, "Is the cavalry... in Hedong? He is not coming to attack?"
Guo Jia shook his head and said, "I caught several living words, and the confessions were mixed, or there were, or there were, and it was difficult to determine for the time being."
Cao Cao thought for a while, "Tell all the battalions to speed up, and be sure to build a camp before nightfall... Well, there are also strict prevention of night attacks by the Cavalry Army... In addition, if the snow stops, you should wake up immediately at any time..."
Although there is no direct evidence, Cao Cao felt that Fei Qian was in Hedong.
It can only be in Hedong.
...
...
"It's even more exciting when it snows? These crazy dogs from Shandong..."
A Hussar cavalry was cursing.
Not far from the west of the Cao Army Camp in Zhangyang Chi, a three-color battle flag stands in the wind and snow. Below the flag is Sima Yi and his men arrive here, looking at the camp that Cao Hong is building from afar.
Cao Hong's camp is in a normal manner. Although Cao Hong's strength may not be as strong as in history, after all, his basic skills will not be too poor after years of war.
However, Sima Yi has now shown his edge earlier than in history.
During the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, many people have some understanding of Sima Yi because of the confrontation between Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang. In fact, in the Cao Wei group, in the early days of Cao Cao's command, Sima Yi was almost invisible and did not show up very much.
On the one hand, Cao Cao had a suspicious personality, which led to Cao Cao being wary of those who were more capable but loyal. On the other hand, Cao Cao had many talented and outstanding people around him at that time, and their abilities even surpassed Sima Yi in some aspects. So Sima Yi only emerged until others were old or dead.
Now, Sima Yi has a bigger stage. He doesn’t need to endure or endure. He just needs to fully demonstrate his abilities and prove that he can not only be a good logistics clerk, but also a good commander on the front line.
Well, it's just the commander.
Sima Yi is self-aware.
In fact, it is not as complicated as Cao Hong thought. Sima Yi came to check the military situation himself. The reason why he brought the 800 cavalry was not to attack or sneak attack Cao Hong, but just...
fear death.
After all, the scout battle was so fierce before...
Sima Yi put down the telescope in his hand and handed it to the Junhou who was beside him.
Junhou was stunned, quickly took the telescope and checked it carefully.
"Did you see something?" Sima Yi pointed to the soldiers who were building a camp in the distance and said to Huo Nu.
Huo Nu is from Youzhou, with a big beard on his face, densely packed like his hair growing from the top of his head to his chin. At a glance, he knew that he had some Hu blood...
Alas!
So, is Mr. Zhang San with a bearded face...
(Zhang Sanye was furious, "I'm pure! Don't leave, eat my spear!")
Youzhou was originally a border area and a place of bitterness and coldness. In addition, since Liu Yu's death, he has never been purified again.
First, there was a great battle between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, and later the invasion of the Hu people. Later, Cao's army ruled Youzhou, but there was a lot of friction with the Cavalry Army. The land around Youzhou was originally more difficult to cultivate than Jizhou and Yuzhou. As a result, after years of war and arresting strong men, the population of Youzhou continued to decline, and a lot of arable land was abandoned.
Therefore, many people in Youzhou have moved to other places, some have gone to Shandong, and naturally many have come to Guanzhong.
Huo Nu, unlike Zhang Sanye, he mainly did not meet Liu Da'er. He had not lived well in Youzhou before. You can tell by looking at his name. He could understand that when he was in Youzhou, his status was not high, otherwise he would not have been named "slave".
Except for nicknames. After all, there are many nicknames like Dog Sheng Dog Dan, but the big name is also called Dog Dan Dog Sheng...
After arriving in Guanzhong, Huo Nu joined the army.
"General, are you... asking me?" Huo Nu was a little uncertain.
Sima Yi smiled, "I am not a general yet... I just join the army... I am asking you, have you seen the problem with Cao's army?"
Shocked! Sima Yi is good at being a teacher?
In fact, it was not, but Sima Yi found that during this trip to Hedong, he found that there were too few people under his command who could use it.
The Sima family's private soldiers are indeed good and have strong loyalty, but it is useless to be loyal. Compared with the military academy of soldiers and military trained under the cavalry, it is still a lot worse. Therefore, Sima Yi wants to make some good relationships, and may not necessarily use them at any time. When you meet someone who is willing to study and improve, you can just give some advice. It will not take much effort and get some good impressions. Why not do it?
After hearing this, Huo Nu quickly turned his head, continued to hold up the telescope, and tried hard to observe.
After a while, Huo Nu seemed to see something, put down the telescope, then looked up at the sky, and said to Sima Yi with some hesitation: "It seems... it's a little slower...
"Yes, it's slow." Sima Yi nodded, reached out to take back the telescope, and stared at Cao Hong's camp in the distance.
Generally speaking, it is only possible to march for a long time, and then camping in the afternoon. Otherwise, when night comes, soldiers will not be able to rest in the camp.
However, Cao Hong was "slow" and it was obvious.
Huo Nuba smacked his lips, "At this speed, I guess I can't set up the camp at night... Since that's the case, is it possible...?"
Sima Yi still laughed, then nodded and shook his head again.
...
...
In Cao Hong's camp, Zhang Xi was also laughing.
It's just a sneaky smile.
I dare not smile bitterly in front of Cao Hong.
A military academy who was usually close to Zhang Xi came to Zhang Xi and asked in a low voice: "General Cao...what is wrong?"
"Nothing." Zhang Xi sighed.
The military academy couldn't help but be stunned, "I asked General Cao how he was, why did you sigh?"
Zhang Xi shook his head and smiled bitterly and said in a low voice, "I don't hide it from you... You also fought with the Cavalry Army back then... Now we are in the belly of the Cavalry Army, around..."
Zhang Xi tried hard to visit the surroundings, but the snow was long and he could not see anything. "I can't say that the cavalry army will be around... and we can't build the camp now... You said, can I laugh if I don't sigh?"
The military academy secretly pointed at Cao Hong's back, "That General Cao..."
"General Cao... General Cao has a grudge against the defenders here..." Zhang Xi whispered.
『General Cao has a grudge, but we have no grudge with the general…』 The military academy muttered, 『This weather... I still have to set up an ambush, I am afraid that if the cavalry and horses did not come, we would freeze to death by ourselves, and we would not need the cavalry and horses to do it…』
"Shh! Be careful!" Zhang Xi pointed to the military academy, "This is the words of a chaotic army."
The military academy also sighed, and after a moment, he whispered, "In this kind of weather, even if we can defeat the Cavalry Army... I'm afraid that many of us will die... After this battle, even if we win, what will we win? If the Cavalrymen run away, we don't have enough war horses and we can't catch up..."
"Well..." Zhang Xi was silent. He didn't want to answer this question because he couldn't answer it at all.
"Minister, give me a good word... How much do you think we will win this time?" the military academy asked, pulling Zhang Xi's sleeve.
Zhang Xi turned his head and looked at the military academy, then looked around and said, "How do I know this...?"
"Just say a little bit, guess...
Zhang Xi shook his head, "It's hard to say, it's hard to say... Go to work, stop muttering, be careful that General Cao will be in trouble when he sees you..."
The military academy left helplessly and slightly frustrated.
Zhang Xi took a breath and then slowly exhaled.
The white smoke quickly dissipated in the wind, like a dissipation of hope.
The soldiers in the middle and lower levels of Cao's army were either ruthless, righteous, flesh-and-fate war machines. They would also feel the changes of the times and the steep situation. As the soldiers in the middle and lower levels of Cao's army who had fought with the Cavalry Army, when they faced the Cavalry Army, they had long lost the confidence to surround Henan and Hebei.
This kind of confidence may not be seen in normal times, but it is very critical at some moments.
...
...
In the evening, scouts from both sides carried out a small-scale scout war in the wilderness. Both sides tried hard to prevent the other side from investigating, but in fact, the scouts of Cao's army were completely defeated.
Because Cao Jun did not have a telescope.
In this weather, without the blessing of a telescope, the vision was actually very poorly suppressed. The Cao army scouts thought they had successfully blocked the snooping of the Hussars, but in fact, it was just the Cao army scouts unilaterally thought they had succeeded.
Cao's army scouts returned and said that they did not find Sima Yi's troops.
Cao Hong heard this and refused to comment.
That's right, after hearing about Sima Yi's movements, Cao Hong didn't know whether it was his sixth sense as a general or some other reason. He felt that Sima Yi was close to him and was always peeking at him.
Even though Cao's scout reported that he did not find it...
Not finding it does not mean there is really nothing.
Cao Hong firmly believed it.
In addition to his hatred for Sima Yi, there is another very important reason that Cao Hong understands that in such weather, the party that launches the attack will bear more risks.
For example, if he wants to attack the defending troops in Zhang Yangchi, then he not only has to set out from the camp during the day, step on the snow in the wind and trek in twenty to thirty miles to attack. If the attack goes well, everything will be easy, but if the attack fails, then he will have to walk twenty or thirty miles before dark to return to his camp.
Moreover, there is another very serious problem, that is, the cavalry is a cavalry unit. Therefore, during the process of Cao Hong's march or withdrawing, he must be careful that the cavalry and horses would rush out at any time...
The hard land made it difficult for Cao's army to dig trenches and set up camps.
The defense system of the camp is naturally much simpler.
Compared with Cao's army, the cavalry army relied on local counties to defend, and the wood and materials needed would be much more abundant, while Cao's army could only log on site and work hard.
So, Cao Hong wanted to do it once and for all.
If...
Chapter completed!