Three Kingdoms: Ancestors of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 283 Braking with static
On the second day after Dailing's defeat, Zhang He received the news that the Han army had harvested winter wheat, and quickly assembled 9000 people from Zuli and Haiyuan, leaving a thousand people to defend Haiyuan, and went south to rescue the first city of Gaoping, preventing the Han from The army continued to harvest winter wheat.

On the same day, Wang Ping led [-] troops to the first city of Gaoping, and then went down the Qingshui River northward, and set up camp at the fork where the river turned, trying to block Zhang Yun with the narrow river.

Two days later, Zhuge Liang arrived at the first city of Gaoping, leaving Gao Xiang to lead an army of [-] to surround the first city of Gaoping and build siege equipment.He led his army to the upper reaches of the Qingshui River, heading towards Xiaoguan, ready to meet Cao Zhen.

At the same time, Cao Zhen, who got the news, led his army to the first city of Gaoping day and night, and ran into Zhuge Liang's army head-on outside Xiaoguan.

Cao Zhen was not afraid at all, and stationed there more than ten miles away from Zhuge Liang.

It was night, the night was cold in the northwest, and the cold wind was howling, and the lights in the Han army camp were brightly lit.

Prime Minister Zhuge Liang wore a robe, held an oil lamp, and illuminated the map hanging on the wall of the tent with ropes, frowning in deep thought.

On the left side of the tent, the Central Military Adviser Pan Jun was reviewing military affairs for Zhuge Liang in more than [-] battles in the army, as well as the recent rewards and punishments for soldiers; Yang Yi was beside him calculating how much rations and equipment were left, and dealing with military reports.

Everyone in the tent was busy with military affairs, silent.

After Pan Jun finished handling military affairs, he took up a pen and copied a list of criminals to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang looked at Gaoping City on the map and considered the next military deployment.

Yang Yi, who was the first to deal with the military affairs, stepped forward a few steps to Zhuge Liang's side, and said in a low voice, "It's getting late, Prime Minister, why don't you rest for now, and discuss the military affairs tomorrow."

Zhuge Liang waved his hand and said, "No hurry, now that the battle situation is beginning to emerge, I have some ideas, let me think about it for a while."

Yang Yi took the oil lamp from Zhuge Liang and illuminated the map in front of Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang pressed his fingers on the map and moved along the road to the Hexi counties in Liangzhou. He stopped at the Fuyin Ferry, and then picked up a pen to draw a few outlines at the Ferry.

Then go west along the Yellow River, and make marks at Hubao Ferry, Naowei Ferry, Ulanjin and Baidu Ulanjin respectively in sequence.

Zhuge Liang put the pen on the case, stroked his beard and meditated silently.

Holding an oil lamp in his hand, Yang Yi asked curiously: "Prime Minister, now that the enemy is at hand, why don't you think of a strategy to defeat the enemy, but instead think about the crossing of the great river?"

Zhuge Liang heard the words, stroked his beard and said: "Duke Wei (Yang Yi's word), Cao Zhen is not the enemy in front of us. Now our army has harvested the winter wheat in the Wushui River Valley. It is not difficult for our army to defeat it. The difficult thing now is to defeat Cao Zhen. From where should the army cross the great river and capture the four counties in the west of Hexi?"

Yang Yi looked at the Heyin Ferry on the map and said, "If you don't cross the river at the Heyin Ferry, Zhang Ji, the governor of Wei Liangzhou, crossed the river at the Heyin Ferry by force, attacked Lushuihu, and pacified Liangzhou."

Zhuge Liang shook his head, and said: "Although Quyindu is flat and suitable for a large army to cross the river, don't forget that Zhang He is in the north. If our army defeats Cao Zhen later, with Zhang He's ability, he will cross the big river first, defend the ford of the big river, and prevent our army from crossing. Cross the great river and attack the four counties in the west of the river. Among them, crossing the Yinyin River is the most important thing, and Zhang Yun must be prepared."

"I don't know where the Prime Minister is planning to cross the river?" Yang Yi asked curiously.

Zhuge Liang smiled without saying a word, and picked up a pen to draw a large circle in the north of Guyindu, near the Qingshui River flowing into the Yellow River (now Zhongwei City).

Yang Yi was stunned, this location involved his knowledge blind spot.

Seeing this, Pan Jun, who was silent, clapped his hands and sighed, and praised: "The Prime Minister is wise, and Shuyindu seems to be the closest to our army, but he doesn't know that the most convenient way is to go straight down the Wushui River, from Maitian City (now Zhongwei City) Cross the great river nearby."

"Wheat Field City?" Yang Yi questioned.

Zhuge Liang laughed lightly and said, "Exactly, when Emperor Wudi of the former Han Dynasty regained Hexi and first established the four counties, he set up a city called Maitian City here, and there is a Shapo Ferry near this city. Therefore, Beidi County often passes through here. The ferry communicates with Guanzhong, and you can cross the river from here."

Zhuge Liang sighed and said, "It's a pity that after the Later Han Dynasty moved Beidi County to the interior, the city was basically abandoned, and the ferry was little known. If Liang hadn't looked through ancient books not long ago, he would not have known about this place."

Yang Yi nodded thoughtfully, and asked, "Now that there is a ferry, I don't know when the Prime Minister will send troops to defeat the enemy."

Zhuge Liang, who had figured out the next strategy, was in a good mood, and jokingly said, "No hurry, our army has just finished harvesting the winter wheat. Let our army stay with Cao Zhenzhen for a while to see his movements."

After a pause, Zhuge Liang continued: "At the same time, the messengers continued to block Zhang He, to wear down his patience, and wait for the enemy to get tired."

"No!" The reporter replied.

Yang Yi didn't understand why, and asked suspiciously: "Prime Minister, our army can't fight for a long time, why don't we fight Cao Zhen first, if we wait for the reinforcements from the Wei army to support Cao Zhen. It would be a pity that Cao Zhen will have more soldiers than our army then."

Zhuge Liang and Pan Jun looked at each other, laughed loudly, and explained: "Duke Wei, Liangzhou is so poor that it is difficult to raise troops. The reason is that it is located in the military camp near Gaoping City in Wushui. The anti-Wei hoarding of the troops on Xiaoguan Road all depends on the Wushui River Valley. , Stabilize the army and grain in Guanzhong.”

"Now that the winter wheat in the Wushui River Valley has been harvested, Cao Zhen's army will inevitably be short of rations in May and June, but our army's rations will last for several months. Moreover, there is freshly cut green wheat to nourish the army. Although humans cannot eat it, horses can. Food. Come and go, one increase and one decrease, but it depends on Cao Zhen's attitude?"

In fact, Zhuge Liang has another meaning, that is, he hopes to judge whether the Wei army is really in a state of food shortage by confronting Cao Zhen and watching the next movements of the Wei army.

If the food and grass situation of the Wei army is worse than that of the big man, Zhuge Liang can take the initiative on the battlefield.If the Wei army had good food and grass, Zhuge Liang could only use the attack on Gaoping City as bait to attract Cao Zhen to attack.

Yang Yi obviously understood Zhuge Liang's deep meaning, nodded suddenly, and praised: "The Prime Minister's use of troops is just in line with what Sun Tzu said: 'Those who are good at fighting will attack people but not others'. Braking, this method of using troops, is like the rebirth of Sun Wu."

Although Zhuge Liang didn't say anything, he couldn't hide the smile on his face, obviously very optimistic about the progress of the battle.

Seeing that it was getting late, Zhuge Liang waved his hand, and said: "It's getting late, everyone, go back and rest first. In the next few days, our army will dig deep trenches and repair the camp. If we can't hold out, we can see Cao Zhen's actions."

"promise!"

Everyone bowed their hands and slowly left the tent, only Pan Jun stayed behind.

Seeing that Pan Jun hadn't left, Zhuge Liang asked curiously, "Chengming (Pan Jun's character), do you have something important to report?"

Pan Jun took the list of criminals who had just copied from the case, handed it to Zhuge Liang, and said, "Prime Minister, this is the list of offenders who have committed crimes in more than [-] battles, and the reasons for the criminals' punishment are attached. Read it, no need to review it again."

Zhuge Liang looked at the thin scarf and said with emotion: "The army has a lot of troubles. Fortunately, Cheng Ming helped him, which greatly relieved Liang's burden and allowed Liang to concentrate on thinking about the enemy's military strategy."

"This is my duty. Jun will resign first, and I hope the prime minister can rest soon." Pan Jun answered with his hands clasped.

"good!"
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①: There are many Yellow River ferry crossings in the northwest, and the Yinyin ferry crossing is one of the better ones. There are five ancient ferry crossings in Jingyuan County.There are also many ferries in Lanzhou (Jincheng County). Huo Qubing attacked the Xiongnu and crossed the river from the ferries near Lanzhou.

② There are nine crossings of the Yellow River in Zhongwei City, which Genghis Khan passed through when he attacked Xixia. The Shapo Ferry is only a famous representative of them.

(I will post a topographical map based on the battle situation and the ferry tomorrow)

(End of this chapter)