Great Han Empire

Chapter 142

Zhang Niujiao invited several leaders to the tent today.

Li Hong's army has arrived for two days.He set up his camp on the Shuangjingtun Plain, [-] miles away from Yingtao City, and sent out more than a dozen cavalry every day to harass the camp of the Yellow Turban Army who attacked Yingtao City day and night, but did not take a step forward.

The Hu people in the Leopard Army are fierce and brave, and their arrows are accurate. They haunt the Yellow Turban Army camp all day long like ghosts. portion.

Bai Rao took a sip of water and said slowly, "Commander, the leopards broke up the army into small groups of rangers and harassed us day and night. The soldiers were very nervous and couldn't rest well. After a long time, not only the troops The combat effectiveness of the army will decrease, and it is estimated that it will also affect the siege."

Sun's relative immediately went on to say: "Commander, they are so hateful, just like wild wolves in the Taihang Mountains who are extremely hungry, they will not let go of their prey. As long as we are negligent, they will immediately come to attack. Now every military camp There is a loss."

"Is it a big loss?" Zhang Niujiao asked.

"Together with several large military camps, more than 2000 people were killed, many of whom were soldiers on duty at night."

"We should take the initiative to attack them. I don't believe it, 20 of us can't defeat more than 1 of them?" Wang Dang said angrily, "If he bites like this, it will drive people crazy."

Zhang Niujiao smiled coldly, "The fish is hooked."

He paused for a moment and continued: "The leopard's tactic is the attack tactics of wild wolves on the grassland. When the wolves on the grassland hunt and kill the bison, they always adopt harassment tactics first, constantly harassing the bison. Paralyze the bison in the herd, and patiently look for opportunities to attack. As long as a cow loses vigilance or is provoked and rushes out of the herd, they will swarm up and hit them with one blow. I think the sunspot is the enraged bison."

Wang Dang smiled embarrassedly.Wulu glanced at Zhang Niujiao and thought, you, a bison, can't do better than that, a self-righteous bison.

Yang Feng said solemnly: "The leopard is very cunning. He has stationed his camp thirty miles away. As long as we have any troubles, he will immediately find out. If we take the initiative to surround him, he will immediately escape without a trace. No trace. But if we continue to make trouble like this, our losses will increase and our morale will drop rapidly. After all, he killed 10,000+ of us, and the soldiers are still very afraid of him.”

Zhang Niujiao's face suddenly became very ugly.Chu Feiyan glanced at him with complicated eyes, mixed with doubts and a little disappointment.Sun Qin's face immediately turned red, and he lowered his head, not daring to meet Yang Feng's gaze.Wulu secretly rejoiced, but he was afraid that others would see the smile on his face, so he lowered his head immediately and covered it up by drinking water.

"Yang Shuai, do you have any suggestions?" Seeing the awkward atmosphere in the tent, Bai Rao hurriedly asked.

Of course, Yang Feng saw everyone's expressions in his eyes. He smiled slightly and continued: "In my opinion, it is better for us to concentrate our main force and capture Yingtao City as soon as possible. Taking Yingtao will not only solve the problem of the troops The problem of food shortage can also relieve the supply pressure in the rear. First of all, you must be invincible before you can attack the enemy. What does Bai Shuai think?"

Bai Rao grabbed his short beard, pondered for a moment, and said slowly: "Fengyun Cavalry is not a pack of wolves, but a pack of leopards. In terms of military strength alone, our 20 cavalry can indeed fight a bloody battle with his 7 cavalry One battle, but at least half of our troops were lost. We lost 10 people in the fight against Guo Dian's troops, which is basically two soldiers in exchange for one enemy's life. Now we fight leopards, if we can exchange six or seven soldiers The enemy will have to pay a price of [-] people for one life. In this way, plus the loss of the siege, the strength of our Yellow Turban Army is basically exhausted, and the rest are some old and weak soldiers. If Jizhou gathers a few more soldiers this year Thousands of people are coming to attack us, what should we do? So I agree with Yang Shuai's idea and immediately attack Yingtao with all our strength. As for the leopard, we will always have a way to deal with him. Commander and Chu Shuai, what do you think?"

Neither Zhang Niujiao nor Chu Feiyan answered.

"Why did the two lose their courage when the leopard army came?" Wang Dang said angrily, "There are only five to six thousand people in Yingtao City, and we are forty times the enemy, so we can take it down quickly. However, there is no such thing as Yingtao City." The leopard cavalry army will flee immediately. If you lose this opportunity, it will be very difficult to wipe them out. In the future, with their maneuverability on the battlefield, we will definitely suffer. The failure of the Northern Expedition is a very obvious example. Example. If the troops of Yang Shuai and Bai Shuai are attacked by the Leopard Army, are you sure you will be able to escape unscathed?"

Yang Feng and Bai Rao's expressions tightened, and they didn't answer.

"But the leopards are now adopting this kind of loitering and harassment tactics, repeatedly attacking our soldiers, damaging our morale, and delaying our offensive. Even if they don't fight us head-on, we can't find a chance even if we want to encircle and wipe them out. Heizi, handsome, what can you do?" Wulu said pretending to be helpless.

Wang Dang's black face immediately laughed dryly in distress, "Master, you can't do anything, let alone me. However, the opportunity that the commander deliberately created to destroy the leopards this time is very rare. It's a pity to give up. Next time, maybe It was the leopards who surrounded us."

There was silence in the big tent.

"After taking down Gaoyi City, I explained this plan to everyone here. We can indeed stop hunting Yingtao this year, but we are short of food this winter. If we capture Yingtao, we can solve the problem of food shortages for troops and refugees everywhere. "Zhang Niujiao said: "But we can't fight Yingtao smoothly, because there is a leopard eyeing it. That's why we have this plan to kill two birds with one stone. This is also the best time to wipe out the leopard."

"After we took Yingtao immediately, as Heizi said, the leopard ran away, and we will be in great trouble in the future. Shuai Bai's worry is not unreasonable, but Yanzi has made a lot of preparations to eliminate the cavalry, which should reduce our casualties And if the leopards are eliminated, there will be no large troops in Jizhou, so we can take a breather for a while and recruit a large number of people to supplement the troops. So the problem now is not whether to fight the leopards, but how to fight the leopards. I hope everyone will not Wrong topic." Zhang Niujiao spoke in a cold tone afterward.

Bai Rao immediately connected and said, "Please tell the commander."

Zhang Niujiao looked at everyone seriously, and said sternly: "Let's attack the city with all our strength, keep the attack rhythm, don't be too fierce, and don't be too soft, and consume a large number of enemy soldiers effectively. Regarding the leopard's group attack and harassment tactics, everyone Don't pay attention, isn't it just a few soldiers? Everyone pretends to be paralyzed, let them attack, and prepare to be attacked by the Leopard army day and night. As long as the Leopard army comes, any part of it will hold him back and wait for the large army to catch up. To encircle and annihilate. Once the encirclement is closed, the Yanzi's troops will be the main attack, and other troops will attack, and we must demand complete annihilation."

Yang Feng suddenly asked: "What if it snows?"

Zhang Niujiao said loudly: "If it snows, the leopard's cavalry will be the first to retreat. In ice and snow, the cavalry's flexibility will be greatly reduced. If he stays here, he will kill himself, so the leopard will retreat immediately. He ran Yes, our plan is naturally cancelled. We will attack the city immediately. Yingtao City has already been battered by us and is dying. If 20 people attack such a city at the same time, it will not take long. Therefore, as long as it snows, Everyone attack the city immediately, don't hesitate, and don't wait for my order."

"Understood?" Zhang Niujiao looked around coldly, no one objected.

"Commander, if we don't have enough food and grass, even if it doesn't snow, we have to give up the plan to encircle and wipe out the leopards and start attacking the city." Looking at Zhang Niujiao's stern face, Wulu asked without fear, "Can the commander tell us , if it doesn’t snow all the time, will we attack the city one day?”

Zhang Niujiao sneered, "Eight days later."

At this time, Wang Dang suddenly laughed, and he said loudly: "There are still eight days, now let's see who has the worst luck, and the prey caught by the leopard must be worried."

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Because Gao Lan couldn't ride a horse, he had been lying on a cart carrying horse straw and marching with the troops.Because Li Hong was not very familiar with the situation in Jizhou, after the troops were stationed, he asked Gao Lan to stay in the tent of the Chinese army to help him identify and analyze all kinds of news sent by the scouts and discuss the military situation.

Li Hong put down the cinnabar pen in his hand, took a piece of hot dry biscuit from Zhao Yun, gnawed it vigorously, and said with a smile: "These military masters have done a good job. They work in shifts day and night. Zhang Niujiao probably needs more time." Crazy."

Gao Lan was half lying down, with a worried look on his face, and said worriedly: "It's been six days, I don't know how Yingtao City is?"

Zhao Yun handed Gao Lan a bowl of hot water, and said with a smile: "Zhang Niujiao is afraid that we will run away now. He wants to attack but dare not attack violently. He must be uncomfortable. Brother Zhengqing, Yingtao City should be fine for the time being. I guess Feng My lord is standing on the tower, looking forward to the snow."

Li Hong slammed the piece of dry biscuit in his hand on the table, making a crisp "dong dong" sound, and shouted loudly: "It's snowing, it's snowing, it must be snowing."

Suddenly a beautiful face popped up in his mind, the blond-haired and blue-eyed Feng Xue seemed to smile sweetly at him right in front of his eyes.Li Hong felt a sudden pain in his heart, but he couldn't shout anymore, and sat down on the cowhide tape.At that moment, the soul-wrenching longing was so clear and painful.

"My lord..." Zhao Yun suddenly noticed Li Hong's expression was abnormal, and hurriedly shouted, "My lord, what's wrong with you..."

Gao Lan also found out, and immediately asked nervously: "Is there anything wrong? My lord, did you find anything wrong with the enemy?"

Li Hong shook his hands at them, indicating that he was fine, and then lay down on the mattress, his mind was full of Feng Xue's smile and tears.

Li Hong suddenly knew that missing someone was so depressing and depressing. Not only was his whole body weak and weak, but also his whole body was soaked in deep melancholy like ice-cold water, and the soul-piercing chill went straight to the bone marrow.

Li Hong was thinking like that, his eyes were red, his heart was sore, and he fell into a deep sleep not long after.

Zheng Xin raised the curtain and strode in.Zhao Yun hurriedly signaled to him that Li Hong was asleep.

Zheng Xin immediately walked lightly to the brazier and sat down, whispering: "Zhengqing, good news."

Gao Lan hurriedly asked: "Speak quickly, Shouyan, you speak quickly."

"Tiger Head and the others attacked the grain and grass camp of the Yellow Turban Army, and found that their food reserves were very low."

Gao Lan was taken aback, and immediately asked, "Brother Zishan, can you burn them?"

Zheng Xin shook his head, Gao Lan let out a long breath.

Zheng Xin said with a smile: "Zhengqing, don't look at Hutou's murderous and ruthless appearance. He is actually a very good man who knows how to fight. The people admire him very much. They think he is calm-headed, decisive in dealing with things, meticulous in executing orders, and has a good understanding of tactics. His understanding is also very thorough. Now it seems that it is true, in the face of a mountain of food, he can know whether to burn it, which shows that his understanding of this battle is really very thorough."

Zheng Xin then asked Zhao Yun, "Zilong, tell me, why doesn't Hutou burn food?"

Zilong blushed, a little embarrassed.Gao Lan encouraged with a smile: "Tell me. You read a lot, you have a good literary talent, you can also melody, and you must have dabbled in the art of war. I think you have analyzed the battle situation in a clear way these days, and you must have your own views. Tell me. "

Zilong hurriedly handed Zheng Xin a bowl of water, and said in a low voice, "After the food is burned, Zhang Niujiao will immediately give up his plan to encircle and annihilate us, and turn to attack Yingtao with all his strength. At this time, he is on high alert against us, and it is difficult for us to find an attack." opportunity. If Yingtao can’t get our help, he will lose it naturally.”

"If you don't burn his food and continue to maintain the status quo, Zhang Niujiao must still want to eat us, and he will continue to keep Yingtao City to lure us. If Yingtao is not lost, we still have a chance. Your lord has said it many times, As long as it snows, there is opportunity."

"Once it snows, the snow will fly, and it will be frozen three feet. The cavalry is not as flexible as the infantry. We have to withdraw. The Yellow Turban Army saw us withdrawing, so they had to give up their plan to lure us. At this time, they have no worries. Attack the city with all your strength, and take Yingtao before it freezes."

"The opportunity is in these few hours of snow. We rushed back shortly after the heavy snow fell, and took advantage of the unpreparedness to make a large-scale surprise attack. The Yellow Turban Army was caught off guard and must deploy troops to stop us, so that the attacking force will be weakened. Yes. Master Feng in the city has received our help. As long as he sticks to it, the Yellow Turban Army will not be able to attack the city until the city walls are completely frozen at night. The only solution to the danger posed by the imminent depletion of provisions was to retreat."

"However, there are too many uncertainties in this master's plan, and it is very risky. Will it snow? When will it snow? If we suddenly turn around and attack, will the enemy be prepared? Can Master Feng hold it? If Yingtao City If we fall, can we get out of the battlefield in time? If Zhang Niujiao sees that the siege is hopeless, and turns to besiege us with all his strength, can we break through?"

"My lord is so bold and risky in order to rescue Yingtao and for this very slim chance of survival, it is really admirable."

Gao Lan and Zheng Xin nodded at the same time, showing approval on their faces.

Zhao Yun blushed, and asked in a low voice, "Do the two military marquis think what I said is right?"

Zheng Xin and Gao Lan nodded again and again.Gao Lan stretched out his hand and patted him on the shoulder, and praised in a low voice, "Thought, thorough."

Zheng Xin even gave a thumbs up and said: "Your words are basically the original words of the captain. I really underestimate you. But he is a lunatic, and he is a lunatic with good luck, so he can win every time. , this time is no exception. It’s snowing, and we’re looking forward to it now. In four more days, as long as it snows, we’ll win.”
Seeing Zheng Xin's full confidence, Zhao Yun and Gao Lan looked at each other, feeling very uneasy.

"Xiaoxue..., Xiaoxue..." Li Hong suddenly cried out in his sleep, then turned over and fell asleep again.

"Look, adults think about it every day and dream at night, and in their dreams they are talking about snow." Zhao Yun pointed to Li Hong and said with a smile.

Zheng Xin's face darkened, and he remained silent for a long time.

"That's a girl's name." Zheng Xin said to Zhao Yun and Gao Lan suddenly, "A Xianbei girl's name."

Zhao Yun and Gao Lan were taken aback, and looked at Li Hong for a long time without making a sound.

"Is she pretty?" Zhao Yun asked.

"The most beautiful girl in Xianbei, she has long golden hair and blue eyes."

Zhao Yun and Gao Lan's eyes widened with disbelief.

"You know him?" Gao Lan asked, "You saw it with your own eyes?"

"I don't know." Zheng Xin whispered, "Yan Wuwei and Huzi both know each other."

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(End of this chapter)