Soldiers come to the world

Since the elimination of Cao Xiu, Xiahou Dun has fully grasped the military power in Yedu. With Cao Zhang returning with his army, the strength of Cao's army has been further strengthened. At present, the total strength of Cao's army in Yedu is 12, including [-] cavalry. Except for the newly recruited soldiers, most of the remaining [-] troops were elite troops. At the same time, Cao Jun still had more than [-] shi of grain in storage. The elite soldiers and enough grain in storage gave Xiahou Dun the confidence to fight the Han army decisively.

However, the situation in Yedu is indeed not optimistic. Zhao Yun and Wenpin led an army of 16 troops across the north of the Yellow River. Liu Hu led an army of 40 troops in Fukouxing, eyeing Weijun. Huang Zhong and Gan Ning led an army of [-] troops from Qingzhou to Yedu. , and the [-] troops led by Liu Jing entered Hebei from Jingxing, and nearly [-] troops surrounded Yedu from all directions.

Cao Jun is like a beast caught in a trap, either trapped to death in the trap, or the trapped beast will fight desperately.

Above the lobby of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Cao Zhi, Xiahou Dun, Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, Zang Ba, Guo Huai, Cao Zhang, counselors Guoyuan, Liu Ye, Simpi and others gathered to discuss the final decisive battle with the Han army.

There is a sand table of the whole of Hebei in the lobby. Everyone looks solemn and stands silent in front of the sand table. At present, their opinions are slightly different. Cao Zhi advocates sticking to Yedu and fighting against the Han army. If the army cannot win, they will retreat.

But Xiahou Dun didn't want to passively defend the city. He hoped to find the weakness of the Han army, concentrate his forces to defeat them one by one, and defend Yedu until he was finally trapped to death. That was definitely not his character.

"General Zang Ba, tell me, where is Zhao Yun's army?" Xiahou Dun turned around and asked Zang Ba.

Zang Ba originally defended Luoyang together with Xu Huang. After Cao Ren's disastrous defeat in the Central Plains War, he was temporarily transferred back to Hebei and led [-] troops to guard the north bank of the Yellow River in Baimajin, thus escaping the destruction of Luoyang's Cao army.

The [-] troops led by Zang Ba have withdrawn from the north bank of the Yellow River, and are currently stationed outside the southern city of Yedu. He sent many scouts to investigate the situation of the Han army on the Yellow River, and he has a better understanding of the Han army in the south.

Zang Ba saluted and said: "At present, the main force of the Han army Zhao Yun is in the south of Dangyin County, about 150 miles away from Yedu. They have not gone north, and they seem to be waiting for orders."

"Where is Huang Zhong's army now?" Xiahou Dun asked Guo Huai again.

At present, Guo Huai is in control of Cao Xiu's original 150 troops. The troops are stationed in the east of the city and are mainly responsible for intelligence in the east. About [-] miles."

At this time, without waiting for Xiahou Dun to ask, Cao Zhang stepped forward and said, "Liu Jing's [-] troops have already passed Jingxing, and they were in Changshan County for three days, so they should be in Zhao County now."

Cao Zhang rushed back to attend his father's funeral. Of course, this was just his excuse. He left Yedu in anger because the [-] Youzhou army was wiped out. But he heard that Bingzhou had been captured by the Han army, and Liu Jing stationed troops In Taiyuan, he realized that the main force of the Han army would enter Hebei from Jingxing, so that his Youzhou army would bear the brunt of being attacked by the Han army.

Cao Zhang also considered retreating to Liaodong, or returning to Yedu, and joining forces with other Cao troops to fight against the enemy, but when he was unable to make a decision, news of his father's death came from Yedu. As a son of man, he had to go to Yedu It is for this reason that Cao Zhang finally decided to abandon Youzhou and lead his army back to Yedu.

In Yedu, Cao Zhang had only [-] troops, unable to compete with Xiahou Dun who controlled [-] troops. At the same time, he also learned the lesson of Cao Xiu, and tried his best to cooperate with Xiahou Dun's army deployment without losing control of the army. Of course, Cao Zhang also He opposed defending Yedu and advocated sending troops to a decisive battle with the Han army. In terms of strategy, he coincided with Xiahou Dun, which is why he has been silent and never opposed Xiahou Dun.

Xiahou Dun nodded, quite satisfied with Cao Zhang's attitude. Although with his personality, he would definitely take away the command of the Youzhou Army, but now the situation does not allow internal strife, he can only reluctantly accept Cao Zhang's cooperation instead of handing over power.

At this time, Xiahou Dun picked up the wooden pole and said to Zhao Jun: "Liu Jing's main force is in Zhao Jun, about [-] miles away from Yedu. If we send troops to the north overnight to fight Liu Jing's [-] troops, the winner can be determined in a day at most. , and Huang Zhong's army and Zhao Yun's army were too late to support, as long as we can defeat Liu Jing's main force, and then turn around and defeat Huang Zhong's army, then we will not only win a big victory in Hebei, but even regain Qingzhou, Xuzhou and Yuzhou, and regain Occupy the strategic advantage over Han, so success or failure depends on it."

"But what if we fail?" Guoyuan asked hesitantly.

Xiahou Dun shook his head, "How can the servant of the state say such uninformed words? We are not sure about anything, but we have [-] elite soldiers, and Liu Jing is also [-] elite soldiers. Points, at least we have the hope of defeating Liu Jing's main force, which is much better than dying in Ye."

"But what if Liu Jing doesn't fight?" Liu Ye, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help but finally asked.

This sentence seemed to hit Xiahou Dun's vitals with a needle. Xiahou Dun was furious immediately. He pointed at Liu Ye and cursed: "Do you think that you can get benefits from Liu Jing because you are a clan member of the Han Dynasty? You are a foodie." Bastard, if I don’t kill you today, how can I convince the public?”

Xiahou Dun drew his sword and rushed towards Liu Ye, so frightened that Guo Huai and Zhang Liao hugged him quickly, Guo Huai persuaded: "The general calm down, killing an adviser before the battle is not a good omen."

Perhaps because it is more taboo to say that killing a general before a battle, Xiahou Dun put away his sword and ordered the guards on both sides, "Shoot this man with a stick!"

Liu Ye was also filled with resentment, and before the guards stepped forward, he snorted heavily and walked out quickly.

Liu Ye was driven away, but Xiahou Dun's lingering anger still persisted. He turned back and asked Xin Pi, "Could it be that Xin Zhongcheng also objected?"

"I have no opinion!"

Xiahou Dun let out a long breath, and turned his head to look at Cao Zhi. He waited for Cao Zhi's final statement. Cao Zhi had no choice but to nod slowly, "Everything is up to the general!"

"Then it's settled, leave [-] new troops to guard the city, and the remaining [-] troops, follow me north to face Liu Jing, and set off today!"

After everyone dispersed, Xia Houdun came out of the Prime Minister's Mansion, turned on his horse and said, "Go to the Northern Army Camp!"

At this time, a voice came from behind, "General, please stay."

Xiahou Dun looked back, but saw Guo Huai chasing him, he reined in his horse and asked, "What else is there for Boji?"

Guo Huai ran forward and said, "Why didn't the general let Wen Yuan defend Yedu? He was able to defend Hefei back then, and I feel that it is more certain for him to defend Yedu."

The [-] new army was trained by Zhang Liao for more than a month. Zhang Liao and the [-] new army had a deeper relationship, and they were also very prestigious among the [-] new army. Therefore, Guo Huai suggested that Zhang Liao lead the [-] new army to defend Yedu, but Xiahou Dun It was not decided in this way. The defense of Ye involved the military power of the [-] new troops, so Xiahou Dun decided to let his son Xia Houmao command the [-] new troops.

Xiahou Dun pondered for a moment, then still shook his head, "If my main force is defeated, there will be no more eggs under the overturned nest? I have made up my mind, don't persuade me anymore, Boji can return to Dongying quickly, and lead the army to join me in an hour !"

Xiahou Dun urges his horse and gallops away. Guo Huai shakes his head regretfully. go east

That afternoon, Xiahoudun personally led an army of [-] to leave Yedu. Before leaving, he repeatedly told his second son Xiahoumao to stick to the city and never be lured by the Han army to go out to fight. Xiahoumao also promised his father one by one. exhortation.

Xiahou Dun immediately urged to march to the north. He had to defeat Liu Jing's main force before the reinforcements of the Han army arrived, so as to gain the initiative in this battle. Xiahou Dun still had a glimmer of hope in his heart, maybe they could seize the opportunity to attack Kill Liu Jing or capture Liu Jing alive, then the situation in the world will be completely reversed.

At this time, Liu Jing's army had arrived in Xiangguo County in the north of Guangping County. Xiangguo County is today's Xingtai, Hebei. Marching to come.

This was expected by Liu Jing. His original intention was to lure the snake out of the hole and lead Xiahoudun's army out of Yedu, and then Zhao Yun's main force would cut off Xiahoudun's retreat and defeat Xiahoudun and Yedu respectively. Of course, Liu Jing also considered that they were defeated by Xiahoudun's army. The possibility of defeat, for this, he made full preparations.

Handan is about 130 miles away from Xiangguo. If it is pursued by cavalry, it can arrive in a day, but Liu Jing knows that Xiahou Dun will never let the army disperse. At this critical moment of decisive battle, both sides are very cautious and will not be careless.

Liu Jing immediately ordered the army to withdraw to the north and continued to lead Xiahou Dun's army to the north. At noon the next day, [-] Han troops arrived in Gaoyi County, Zhao County. There are many low and gentle hills, and the groundwater is very rich. It is also easy to dig wells for water on the hills and hills, which is very suitable for camping.

Hanlonggang is a gentle hill, abruptly on the plain, about [-] feet away from the plain, and the hill is very flat, covering an area of ​​about [-] mu. Liu Jing sent General Guan Yu to lead [-] soldiers to build a strong mountain in ten days. The slab-walled barracks, watered to freeze, the big camp is condescending, easy to defend but difficult to attack.

In fact, it was Liu Ye's worry. Liu Jing didn't plan to fight Xiahou Dun immediately, and used delaying tactics to drag down Xiahou Dun's morale.

The soldiers in the barracks were very busy. They set up large tents, built fire shelters, dug wells to fetch water, and built sentry towers. Teams of scouts were sent to all directions. Surrounded by dozens of generals, Liu Jing patrolled the camp. When he came near the gate of the South Camp, he saw more than a hundred artisans accompanying the army installing the giant trebuchet. He stepped forward and asked, "Has the trebuchet on the east side been reinstalled?"

The leader of the craftsman stepped forward and saluted: "His Royal Highness, it has been reinstalled, and there is nothing wrong with it."

At this time, Guan Yu, the general behind him, said in a low voice: "Your Highness, if Cao Jun uses catapults to attack the camp, will it pose a threat to the camp?"

This is not only Guan Yu's worry, but many generals have this worry. If Cao Jun uses fireballs to attack the camp, as long as one fireball hits the camp and ignites the tents in the camp, the consequences will be disastrous.

Liu Jing smiled lightly and said: "The Han army started by playing with fire, how could it be defeated by fire attack, everyone can rest assured that we have sufficient countermeasures."

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