Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3368 This...That...

Fires flickered inside Cao’s army camp.

The night is heavy.

I feel heavy-hearted.

In the firelight, Cao Hong looked a little pale.

Right now, what Cao Hong is facing is not only physical pain, but also a series of difficult problems.

They were short of food and fodder, and even if they wanted to use some money and food to stabilize people's hearts, it was not enough to cover their expenses.

And even if I take it out now, it will be of no use.

The grain transport queue is already five days behind schedule, and it is not known when it will arrive.

Cao Hong suddenly lost confidence in completing his task.

To pull, there must be pulling and pulling, there must be wins and losses. Only by consuming the power of the cavalry as much as possible can the next plan be implemented smoothly...

But all these goals now seem to be becoming more and more distant and more and more difficult to achieve.

  How to do?

What is happening to Dahan Cao Co., Ltd. now?

Not to mention the shareholder turmoil within the management level, now even the middle and lower levels are beginning to become chaotic and are not in agreement with the top.

  The employees who were originally obedient and hardworking no longer talk about blessings, and even go as far as to start discussing remuneration and conditions. This is simply going against the grain!

All the instructions and performance targets, after being broken down and issued, are damn near impossible to accomplish.

With this year’s semi-annual and full-year financial statements, are we again wondering where to start telling the story?

  Can't these cows and horses just listen to their commands and let the boss concentrate on his work in peace?

Is Cao's company doing well now? The economy is down, the business is bleak, and it is in a precarious situation!

There is absolutely no sympathy at all!

Why can't these bullies continue to empathize with capital? !

Why can’t you just consume and have children honestly?

Cao Hong took a breath of cold air.

It hurts.

My flesh hurts and my head hurts too.

  He had to admit that this mission was unprecedentedly difficult!

But think about it the other way around, if it wasn't a difficult task, why would Cao Cao insist on asking him to carry it out?

Cao·Professional rear guard·Hong, looked down at the wound on his calf, and couldn't help but think of Xu Chu's amazing knife move before!

  The knife flashes, blood splatters!

The horses were trampling and the people were in a panic.

Everything seemed to be caused by this knife, but it also seemed to be more than just this knife...

"Wrap up the Lord..."

The guard whispered.

Cao Hong gritted his teeth and said, "Put on my armor! I need to patrol the camp!"

"My Lord..." The guard hesitated, "Your injury..."

"Go get some armor!" Cao Hong waved his hand, "These injuries are not a problem!"

To say it doesn't matter is, of course, a lie.

Cao Hong's sword strike missed and he knew something was wrong. His years of experience on the battlefield made him instinctively make some evasive moves. Otherwise, he would not have injured his calf but might have lost his entire leg!

Although Cao Hong's calf was protected by greaves, Xu Chu's sword was also finely tempered, so a gash was left on Cao Hong's calf, deep enough to reveal the bone.

Although it has been bandaged, it is still slowly bleeding.

"General, you are not able to move well..." the guard whispered, "I'll go patrol the camp!"

Cao Hong took a breath and said, "No, I have to go! It should be fine if I don't move while riding a horse!"

Seeing Cao Hong's insistence, the guards said nothing more. They helped Cao Hong to stand up, put on his armor, and then carried Cao Hong onto the horse.

Cao Hong was also tough. He endured the pain, gritted his teeth, and said nothing.

When we say that something is “unhindered”, how can it be possible that it is truly “unhindered”?

Not to mention the wounds that were so deep that the bone could be seen, which caused piercing pain when moving. Even ordinary pain could often cause a person to collapse directly.

Well, for example, if you have a cut on your finger...

But now Cao Hong didn't even dare to call a doctor, so he could only ask the guards to bandage the wound.

Of course, as Cao Hong, he naturally has to have top-quality golden medicine around him.

His guards also have certain means of treating some minor wounds.

But after all, there is a little difference between him and a professional wound doctor.

However, Cao Hong didn't dare to send a doctor now...

  Otherwise, I don’t know how the rumors would spread within the camp!

"The commander is patrolling the camp!"

"Stay away, everyone!"

Cao Hong's guards raised the flag and led the way.

This was an abnormal patrol under abnormal circumstances.

Cao Hong sat on the horse, trying to maintain his dignity as much as possible, but every bump of the horse brought him pain.

But the physical pain cannot cover up the pain in my heart.

I'm afraid this camp won't be able to hold out for a few days...

The night is getting darker.

Inside the camp, lights flickered.

Now in Cao’s army camp, every good position is occupied by soldiers.

Camps are within camps, and village walls are connected to village walls.

Traps and flaps, chevaux de frise and antlers.

Everything is the result of the hard work of Cao Cao and Cao Hong, especially Cao Hong.

This is a huge masterpiece that he almost created with his own hands.

The long suspension bridge on the plateau is the best passage for launching surprise attacks and flank assaults.

Hidden beneath those flaps and traps were some secret underground passages that allowed Cao's soldiers to unexpectedly appear behind the Hussars.

Cao Hong once believed that with such a camp, even if the General of Cavalry could take it, he would have to pay an extremely heavy price. But now, he suddenly felt a little weak...

But this road is my own road after all, I have to finish it even if I have to endure the pain!

Along the way, countless eyes were watching Cao Hong and his party secretly and silently, either in the cracks of the tents, between the fences, or in the dark corners of the night.

Cao Hong rode his horse slowly along the hillside and gully, nodding from time to time to a squad leader, or smiling at a military officer he knew. When he met a familiar soldier on duty, he would stop and say a few simple words of comfort.

After Cao Hong walked around like this, some of the sounds disappeared.

From this perspective, Cao Hong's persistence did have an effect, but it is hard to say how effective it was...

The night is dark.

The stars are everywhere.

The night had just begun, but the darkness seemed to remain forever.

Everything seems to be the same as before, and everything also seems to be completely different.

Halfway through the journey, Cao Hong suddenly pulled his horse back. "What's wrong, General?"

  The guards were a little nervous. They stood closely on both sides of Cao Hong and looked around, as if enemies would jump out of the darkness at any time!

"Hmm..." Cao Hong suddenly smiled, with some ease and confidence, "Nothing! Nothing! Haha, haha! Go, tell... um, tell Bao Shuyi to come out of the camp to see me!"

Cao's army's main camp was a combination of large camps and small camps.

Asking Bao Zhong to leave the camp, of course, does not mean asking him to leave the main camp, but asking Bao Zhong to leave the small camp where he is stationed to meet...

A moment later, Cao Hong met Bao Zhong at a bare half-tree stump.

Bao Zhong did not wear a helmet, but a simple armor, without a halberd or shoulder guard, not to mention a belly guard or robe belly. Bao Zhong's slightly messy hair was floating in the air. He was waiting with two or three guards. When he saw Cao Hong coming, he bowed respectfully.

Because he didn't know why Cao Hong suddenly summoned him, and it was at night. Bao Zhongxin felt a little weak, and there were some beads of sweat on his back and forehead, which sparkled under the starlight and moonlight.

Bao Zhong did feel a little guilty.

Cao Sheng returned in defeat and was said to be slightly injured, which was more or less related to Bao Zhong.

Although according to "convention", Bao Zhong "bravely" stood up after Cao Sheng's defeat, cleaned up the final mess, and led Cao's soldiers to slowly retreat, doing the "best effort" that a defeated general could do, but the problem is...

What if something goes wrong if you get caught?

Fake is still fake, no matter how you pretend, it is still fake.

  If he had not been injured, Cao Hong would have certainly thought that Bao Zhong looked a bit thief-like, but now, for some reason, Cao Hong's perception and attitude towards Bao Zhong had slightly changed. Perhaps Cao Hong was also pretending?

Therefore, although Cao Hong saw Bao Zhong's forehead was slightly sweaty, he did not think much about it and thought that Bao Zhong was in a hurry to leave...

And now Cao Hong is mostly thinking about one thing...

  This was something that made Cao Hong a little excited, and he even felt that it was a great opportunity to turn defeat into victory!

"Shuyi, please stand up. There is no need to be polite in the army."

Cao Hong waved his hand.

Bao Zhong responded.

Cao Hong was sitting on the horse. It was inconvenient for him to dismount, so he felt a little embarrassed. He pretended to be calm and said, "It's just a small defeat now, but our army still has a lot to do."

This is like saying that the economy will improve next year and the stock market outlook is good.

"Yes... the general said..."

Bao Zhong replied.

Cao Hong ignored Bao Zhong's tone. He sat on his horse and turned his head to the north. "Shuyi, do you think the cavalry will launch a surprise attack at night?"

  Hearing Cao Hong say this, Bao Zhong's heart suddenly skipped a beat!

What does this Cao Hong mean?

Cao Hong was not looking at Bao Zhong, he was looking towards the north.

That is the direction of the cavalry camp.

Cao's army is human, and the cavalry is also human. After a day of fighting, they all need to rest...

But if the Cavalry Army ignores the fatigue of the soldiers and sends people to attack at night, then will Cao Hong have a chance to deal with the Cavalry Army?

At that moment, Cao Hong really had no intention of testing Bao Zhong's intentions.

While inspecting the camp, he looked at the excavated fortifications and defense systems, and suddenly thought of a question...

  Just as Cao Hong was worried that if the news of his injury spread, it would cause instability in the Cao army camp, did the Cavalry also think that his current injury was a good opportunity for a sneak attack?

This is Cao’s army camp!

  It was Cao Cao and Cao Hong who spent a lot of thought and effort, and invested countless manpower, material resources and financial resources to build this huge military camp!

Cao Hong naturally knew how troublesome it would be if he really gnawed at the camp bit by bit, so if he were a cavalryman, he would definitely not be willing to choose to attack the camp honestly!

Now, the news of his injury will inevitably spread among the Hussars, and how will the Hussars react?

Would you be so kind as to wait until his injuries are healed before returning to fight?

  Obviously impossible!

So, the result is obvious...

"Night attack!" 』

Cao Hong's voice was firm and decisive, "Tonight! The cavalry will definitely send people to attack at night! Please give me a helping hand, Shuyi!"

Bao Zhong was flustered, but he pretended to be calm on the surface, patting his chest to show his determination...

  The cavalry can attack at night if they want, why did Cao Hong come to me?

Could it be...

Most of the time, when the bread slice falls, the butter side is always facing down.

After a while, Cao Hong explained some matters, gave a few words of encouragement, drew another pancake and threw it down, then left with his guards.

Bao Zhong felt as if he had just been beaten up by Cao Hong beside the tree stump, and was in a daze.

Why did Cao Hong come to find Bao Zhong specifically?

That's because Cao Hong discovered that Bao Zhong was actually a very "stable, mature and cautious" general!

  It’s rare!

In the previous battles, Bao Zhong's every move was beyond Cao Hong's expectations, and he ultimately achieved extraordinary results!

Others held their ground and were beaten by the cavalry, suffering heavy casualties, but Bao Zhong deviated from his original position, and as a result, his army remained intact and his troops were intact...

Others chased the cavalry, roaring and fighting, and then were counter-charged by the cavalry, and immediately there were ghosts and wolves howling, and there were heavy casualties. Bao Zhong walked slowly, which was infuriating at first glance, but Bao Zhong stood up in the end, stabilized the position first, and rescued his friendly forces...

Others charged forward with seemingly great momentum, but were then blasted to pieces by artillery fire, with their bodies nowhere to be found. However, Bao Zhong went into battle several times in a row, almost every time, but was completely unharmed...

Others only knew how to attack when they were attacking, and only cared about their own retreat when they were retreating. However, Bao Zhong not only paid attention to the position of his friendly forces during the attack, but also covered them when he was retreating, walking at the back...

  Tell me, how rare is it to have such a general who knows how to advance and retreat in moderation, who is steady and mature, especially in a situation like this? !

So when Cao Hong thought that the Cavalry Army might launch a night attack, he almost immediately thought of Bao Zhong.

  Because only such a "steady" veteran can take on the important task of faking a defeat to lure the Hussars into the trap!

Other troops either only knew how to charge or flee. None of them could be like Bao Zhong, who could command a group of second-rate, oh, or perhaps third-rate soldiers so ‘perfectly’ and ‘orderly’!

That’s right, it’s ‘perfection’ and ‘order’!

And the key point is that Bao Zhong's troops suffered the least losses in the previous battles...

Oh, siege warfare is an exception.

In a siege battle, it is normal to kill one thousand enemies but lose eight hundred of your own. Therefore, the fact that Bao Zhong suffered heavy losses during the previous siege does not mean that he is incapable. Instead, after accepting those stragglers, he was able to quickly integrate them into a team with a well-controlled advance and retreat. This is his real ability!

Now that the situation is so unfavorable and there is such a capable person under his command, Cao Hong will of course give Bao Zhong more responsibilities.

And others will also be convinced.

Otherwise, it would be inappropriate to ask an officer who had just violated military regulations and received a serious warning to take on such a heavy responsibility!

If it weren't for his inconvenience, Cao Hong would have dismounted, patted Bao Zhong's shoulders hard, and expressed his confidence in Bao Zhong, hoping that Bao Zhong would continue to dedicate everything to the chairman... oh, for the lord, and for the Han Dynasty...

What can Bao Zhong say?

Of course I could only smile on my face but feel uneasy inside.

Bao Zhong was almost breathless under such a heavy burden.

I never knew who came out from that shadowy corner. "What did General Cao say?"

"General Cao wants us to go to the front of the camp..." Bao Zhong saw Zeng Lai, as if he had seen a savior, "He said that at midnight tonight, the Hussars will definitely come to attack... He wants us to pretend to be in a panic and lure the Hussars to the deep, so that we can surround and destroy them... What do you think we should do? What should we do? !"

Never answered immediately, but sniffed, "General, do you smell anything?"

"What?" Bao Zhong had not yet recovered from the shock.

"There is a smell of blood." Yuan Lai said softly, "I see General Cao has not dismounted from his horse... How does he behave?"

Bao Zhong was stunned for a moment, and then his face changed. "You mean..."

"Well, Cao Zilian was probably really injured, but not too seriously..." Yuan Lai frowned and said, "But there is one thing I still can't figure out..."

"What?" Bao Zhong didn't realize that after what happened in the past few days, he gradually lost his ability to think. "What's the matter?"

"Logically speaking..." He glanced at the high platform in the camp, "You said Cao Zilian was injured. Logically, shouldn't Prime Minister Cao come out to beat the drum to gather the troops and calm the soldiers? But Cao Zilian was the only one patrolling the camp with an injury... Interesting, hehe... And he had to lure the cavalry army in, straight to the bottom of the high platform..."

Hearing this, Bao Zhong also turned his head and stared at the platform, "You mean..."

"I mean, didn't you ask me when before... Now should be the time..." Yuan Lai said with a smile, "This is a really good time... Should I fake it? What if I accidentally make it real?"

Bao Zhong sweated like raindrops. Although he had more or less realized that this moment would eventually come, he still couldn't help being nervous and panicked when he really faced such a choice.

The night was dark, the stars were twinkling overhead, and the world was quiet. In this environment without the pollution of later generations, no matter when you looked up, you could see the brilliant Milky Way, like a large piece of treasure scattered on a dark blue velvet. If you looked carefully, you could vaguely see the glare of the nebulae between these stars.

"General Bao! Tonight is the time to make a decision!" His eyes shone with an indescribable light, "If this is accomplished, it will be a great achievement!"

"This..." Sweat rolled down Bao Zhong's forehead. "That... I need to think about it. I need to think about it carefully..."