Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3392 Tan

In this world, without order, human beings will be unable to move forward, but once there is order, human beings will use it to greedily plunder and dominate others.

At Gubeikou, the order of Cao's army collapsed.

The cause of the collapse is not at this moment, but at that time and that moment.

Zhang He did not stay in Gubeikou for too long. Almost as soon as Cao Chun retreated, he led his troops to pursue Cao Chun.

The pursuit mode is still that of the desert.

The various groups pursued each other in a staggered manner, stopping every thirty miles and heading south.

Once the Gubeikou node was destroyed and Cao Chun retreated, the entire Cao army's defense line in Youzhou was forced to retreat.

In fact, near Gubeikou, there are still many Cao army squads like Lei Zhong who were stationed in Yanshan. They were originally there to guard against the infiltration of the Cavalry Army, but now they are withdrawing from Yanshan like crazy, just like drowning people grabbing broken wood on the water. Even if they know that the small piece of broken wood can't provide them with much buoyancy support, they will still hold on tightly and won't let go.

During the retreat, Cao's army inevitably encountered various problems...

Fighting for roads, hacking and killing each other, etc., have become commonplace.

Just like Yuan’s army back then.

As long as I can escape, who cares who dies or gets injured behind me?

Everyone knows that order is important. If there is order, even if we cannot resist the cavalry, we can at least allow more Cao's soldiers to escape.

Everyone is complaining about why no one stopped the Hussars, why no one sacrificed themselves, why no one considered the overall situation...

Zhang He had been watching coldly, and finally sighed softly and waved his arms.

The bronze whistles and trumpets of the Hussars were blown almost at the same time. Hundreds and thousands of cavalrymen, whistling and with their horses' hooves rolling, came from Yanshan Mountain, as if they were going to sweep across the world!

Zhang He sent out three military academies, one veteran Han army academy and two Hu military academies, forming a T-shaped structure to launch a pursuit and sweep of the area around Gubeikou.

On the one hand, Zhang He continued to clear the Gubeikou Passage while waiting for the arrival of Zhao Yun's army.

Zhang He was more or less surprised that he was able to capture Gubeikou in such a short time.

Maybe it's luck, or maybe...

But no matter what, Cao's army now seems to be much weaker than before.

This is the "Yan" in the land of Yan and Zhao!

Is Yan State weak?

There are many generous people.

So is Youzhou weak?

It was once a leg of the big man!

Judging from the two foundings of the Han Dynasty, Youzhou has always been very strong.

During the two hundred years of the Western Han Dynasty from Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang to Wang Mang's usurpation of the throne, although the Han Dynasty suffered defeat in the early war against the Huns, it achieved brilliant success in the war against the Huns during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. It is true that the development of the Youyan area was not outstanding at the beginning. However, after Emperor Wu of Han shifted the focus back to internal development, the Youyan area began to prosper with the development of the Han Dynasty.

In the earliest times, Youzhou governed an area from Bohai Sea to Liaodong, from the later Mongolia to Korea...

Liu Xiu rose to power in the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the emperor was weak and the regions were strong. Liu Xiu won the world by relying on three forces: the fortifications of Jizhou, namely the Jizhou crossbows, the cavalry of Youzhou, and the cavalry of Bingzhou. He eventually surpassed Guanzhong and Xiliang and unified the Han Dynasty again.

The land of Nanyang, which belonged to Yuzhou, basically belonged to logistical support during Liu Xiu's reign, including money, food, manpower, and equipment manufacturing. Liu Xiu had money, food, soldiers, horses, and equipment at that time, so the revival of the Han Dynasty was not just an empty talk.

But now, both the order of the Western Han Dynasty and the order of the Eastern Han Dynasty have disappeared in the land of Youyan.

Zhang He mounted his horse at Yanshan Mountain and looked back. He saw towering and continuous mountains.

And in front of us, a vast land slowly unfolds...

……

……

The breakthrough of the Hussar Army at Gubeikou was like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone who heard it so much that they were stunned on the spot.

Cao Chun ran all the way back to Yuyang. Once Gubeikou was lost, Xixi and Guangping to the north of Yuyang were the first to be hit and became the first line of defense.

Cao Liang, who was originally on the second line but now suddenly became the commander of the first line, had a face that was blue, white, red and green.

Cao Chun said he believed in Cao Liang, but Cao Liang wanted to shout, saying that he didn't believe in himself...

If we lose this line, can we defend the second line?

From Gubeikou to Xixi, Guangping, Yuyang, and Jixian behind Yuyang, it seemed to have become a battlefield destined for a bloody battle.

  When the news of Gubeikou's fall came, Cao Chun came in a hurry and fled in a hurry, Cao Liang, the general of Cao's army stationed in Xixi and Guangping, felt cold in his heart. He didn't know whether he should praise Cao Chun for being well prepared and riding two horses like the wind, or should he be terrified to welcome the coming cavalry army!

As Cao's army retreated in disorder, many places were set on fire.

There seemed to be beacon fires everywhere, and war clouds were gathering over the sky of Youyan.

Cao Chun still had a way out, but Cao Liang's way out had been cut off.

To fight cavalry with infantry is nothing more than to use dense phalanxes to fight, but this requires good training, sufficient supplies, and the most critical issue -

order.

If there is good order, many of these battle-hardened soldiers in Youyan have experience in fighting against cavalry. It is possible that there is no need for the Cao army generals to give special orders, and these veterans will automatically organize the infantry phalanxes one by one.

As for the cavalry, if they wanted to charge head-on into an infantry formation with large shields and spears in an era of pure cold weapons, it would undoubtedly be a matter of losing eight hundred percent even if they won.

However, Cao Liang, who was stationed in Xixi and Guangping, did not see this kind of order. All he saw were the panicked eyes of the fleeing Cao army soldiers, and all he heard were the panting and chaotic shouting with fear. It was as if these Cao army soldiers, whose spirits had been stretched to the extreme before, were strangled by the cavalry at Gubeikou, and then fell into a mental breakdown.

  The order in Xixi and Guangping is still intact, but Cao Liang knows that the current situation is actually because obedience has become a habit for Cao's soldiers, which makes them still hold here out of inertia. But as long as the cavalry arrives and touches them slightly, this seemingly intact state will immediately collapse and become uncontrollable!

Every general basically knows that there is a battle called "The Last Struggle".

  But now if he really had to fight with his retreat cut off, Cao Liang really couldn't count on the fighting power of these Cao's soldiers in front of him with their backs to the water!

Could it be that now, while the Cavalry Army is not here, he will ride away on horseback like Cao Chun did?

Seeing this situation, Cao Liang couldn't help but feel panicked by the remnants of Cao's army who were fleeing without any reason.

When he looked around, he found that the ordinary Cao army guards around him also had livid faces.

  Not good!

If this continues...

  We have to think of a solution at least!

The cavalry seemed to be aware of the fear of Cao's army now. Even the cavalry scouts in twos and threes dared to show off their strength within the range of an arrow from the two counties of Xi and Kuangping. They moved back and forth freely and treated the Cao army defenders in the two counties as air!

The two counties of Xixi and Guangping, one on the left and one on the right, one in front and one behind, were stuck on the official road from Gubeikou to Yuyang, supporting each other. Under normal circumstances, the cavalry army would have to besiege Xixi and Guangping at the same time to have a chance of breaking the city and defeating Cao's army. But now with the morale of Cao's army collapsing, Cao Liang didn't know how long he could hold out...

You can’t defend a city in vain.

This is also the key to military strategy.

After thinking it over, Cao Liang decided that it would be wise to fight these cavalry scouts at the stone bridge outside the city before the cavalry brigade arrived.

Firstly, these cavalry scouts are too arrogant and annoying, and secondly, there are not many of them yet...

  In addition, Cao Liang also knew that if he didn't boost morale, he wouldn't be able to hold out for long even if he stayed in the city!

"Magistrate Huang," Cao Liang said to Huang Si, the Magistrate of Xi County, "how about you and I each lead 500 soldiers to challenge the cavalry troops at this stone bridge?"

Huang Si shook his head subconsciously, "Not right, not right."

"What's wrong with that?" Cao Liang said, "It's right at the stone bridge... Look at this stone bridge, even if the Hussars want to rush over, they can only line up in groups of three or five... And the key is that the Hussars haven't come yet, so we can take this opportunity to line up here and challenge the enemy. The enemy will probably not respond, so we can naturally boost their morale. Otherwise, if things continue like this..."

"The enemy won't respond?" Huang Si asked.

Cao Liang nodded.

Small stone bridge across the river.

This side of the bridge is closer to the county town and is easily hit by arrows and crossbows, so cavalry scouts usually operate on the other side of the river and rarely come to this side of the stone bridge.

"Right here?" Huang Si seemed to be confirming whether it was safe again and again, "The enemy won't come over?"

"If you were the enemy, would you charge at this stone bridge or wait for the main force to arrive?" Cao Liang asked. "Hmm..." Huang Si pondered, then nodded slowly.

His ideas are different from Cao Liang's.

Cao Liang's surname is Cao after all, and he was thinking about how to prolong the battle, boost the morale of his own soldiers, and slow down the pace of the Cavalry Army. However, Huang Si was thinking that if just in case... well, not just in case, but if they had to retreat, then at least they had fought a battle, which would be better than retreating without a fight no matter what!

"Okay, okay! ..."

The two men agreed and immediately sent their troops to form a battle line on this side of the stone bridge.

It is not far from the city. Logically speaking, there is a small river and a stone bridge in front, and the city as support behind. Even if we cannot win a battle, at least we can create some momentum by hiding the fog and mist, which should not be a problem.

But something went wrong...

The first cavalry vanguard to arrive at Xixi and Guangping was the military school of the Tuoba clan who loved to flatter.

No one is born to be servile.

Tuoba clan is no exception. The reason why he has become like this is simply because he is Tuoba clan.

That’s right, Tuoba of the Xianbei.

The Tuoba clan was once powerful and had a great reputation in the desert.

but……

Like a flash in the pan.

As their glory faded and their reputation dropped, the Tuoba clan went from being wise kings to being exiled.

A loser, if he wants to survive, has no right to be proud.

Tuoba clan did not want to sink with those royal families, so he surrendered. Back then, he was called Tuoba clan, but he did not enjoy many benefits of Tuoba clan. Now he has to pay back the debt for Tuoba clan. He wagged his tail at any superior to prove his harmlessness and loyalty, but he could not just wag his tail.

So when Tuoba saw Cao Liang and Huang Si lined up on one side of the stone bridge, he did not wait for the arrival of Zhang He's large army or contact other military schools, but quickly made a decision and started a tentative attack.

The stone bridge was obviously a key defensive location. Tuoba clan sent out five or six elite cavalrymen to wander around the stone bridge, but found that they could not attack it at all. Because there were not only long spears and large shields on the opposite side of the stone bridge, but also chevaux de frise and crossbows. A frontal attack was indeed difficult and would cause great damage.

Even using grenades would not have any good effect.

Firstly, the bridge deck was not wide, and if they wanted to get within the distance to throw grenades, it would mean they were within the range of Cao's army. Even if they were to charge to their death, or attack with grenades that exploded, destroying one or two barricades would be useless.

Another limitation is the river terrain...

  Oh, yes, the river!

"Let's go upstream and downstream and have a look!" Tuoba was unwilling to give in. "It's autumn now, the river must be shallower somewhere!"

Tuoba's reluctance to give up caused great suffering to Cao Liang.

Cao Liang was just pretending to be serious and taking the opportunity to boost morale. Although he did prevent the cavalry vanguard from defeating him, to some extent, he had initially achieved his goal. But he did not expect that the Tuoba clan would not retreat despite the setback, and still stood on the opposite bank of the river, looking at this place coldly, and even sent out a scout team to test the depth of the river upstream and downstream!

This……

"Withdraw, withdraw now!"

Huang Si was sweating profusely.

  "Wait a little longer," Cao Liang was a little hesitant, but he felt that the situation could still be controlled. If he withdrew just because the Cavalry Army was trying to cross the river, wouldn't all the previous actions to boost morale be in vain?

Cao Liang was unwilling to retreat. "The water is turbulent both upstream and downstream. It is not easy to cross... Once it gets dark, we will retreat slowly. The cavalry will not dare to advance in the dark. Only then can we complete the mission!"

Huang Si didn't say anything else, but his face didn't look good. He watched Cao Liang shouting to boost the morale of the soldiers, while he led his men to retreat quietly...

The two sides were in a stalemate across the river.

Time slowly passes with the flow of the river.

When the setting sun disappeared in the mountains and the night gradually enveloped the earth, Cao Liang slowly exhaled.

He felt he had won the bet.

"Come here! Throw torches to the stone bridge, and send archers to attack..."

Before Cao Liang finished his order, he heard a cry from somewhere: "The Cavalry has crossed over! The Cavalry has come!"

what? !

  Cao Liang was shocked!

But he soon realized that the shouting did not seem to come from his own formation, but seemed to come from the other side of the river!

Moreover, he had also sent scouts upstream and downstream. If the Hussars really crossed the river, shouldn't the scouts be the first to report? How could it be that the people here were shouting?

"Don't believe it!" Cao Liang shouted, "The cavalry didn't cross the river!"

Unfortunately, Cao Liang did not believe that the Cavalry could cross the river silently, but someone else did...

Amid the chaotic shouting, someone in the Cao army moved.

The person who moved was not any soldier in Cao's army formation, but Huang Si who was at the back of the formation!

Anyone who is selfish is not suitable to be a leader, no matter how talented they are, because such people always consider themselves first when encountering something, and they also cherish themselves the most. Even if these people make some public actions, they are mostly mixed with other selfish desires. Even if there are good results, they are only short-lived, and they often immediately turn to the evil side.

This is the case for Huang Si.

Huang Si served as a county magistrate under Cao's army. Under the banner of the Han Dynasty, he swore an oath that he would closely follow the prime minister, obey the orders of the emperor of the Han Dynasty, benefit the people during his tenure, and work tirelessly and struggle all his life to improve the happiness index of the people of Youzhou...

The words sounded good, but when he really encountered the Cavalry Army and found that swords and spears were almost pointed at his nose, the most important thing became Huang Si's own life!

  As for the benefits and happiness, just listen to it. Anyone who takes it seriously is a fool!

Faced with the overwhelming pressure from the Hussar Army, he was already frightened out of his wits, but Cao Liang was still calm, so Huang Si also held on, not daring to show weakness for fear of being laughed at by others.

When there is no threat to life, face is important.

  When Huang Si felt that his life was threatened, what did face matter?

Just kick it!

Huang Si waited until it was almost dark, and he was eager to return to the county town. Unexpectedly, he heard a loud shout, "The Cavalry has crossed the river." The tension in Huang Si's heart snapped. He was originally the farthest from the river bank and the closest to the city, and was in a relatively backward position. Now he didn't care about anything, and didn't even say hello to Cao Liang, and directly withdrew his troops!

The cold wind in the autumn night made Huang Si even more frightened.

Before he even reached the city, he was already shouting, "Open the city gate! The cavalry is coming! Let me in!"

The scream was sharp and shrill.

The general is the bravest in the army, especially the tradition in Shandong.

If the commander is calm, his soldiers can hold out for a while even if they are in a bad condition. But once the commander panics, the morale of the entire army will collapse in an instant.

Huang Si's running and shouting immediately inspired other Cao army soldiers!

The Cao army soldiers, who were originally lined up in an orderly manner, turned around and found that Huang Si was leading the way and running away. If they did not run, they would be left behind by others and might not be able to survive the night!

Running a step earlier now may mean a better chance of survival!

One person runs, one team runs!

In the blink of an eye, Cao's army formation collapsed completely!

  Cao Liang was so angry when he saw this scene that his hands and feet were shaking. A surge of evil air blocked his throat. With a grunt, he spat out a mouthful of blood and fell backwards!

Tuoba on the other side of the river watched with wide eyes. He never expected that the posture displayed by Cao's army would be so short-lived. Just as he had an idea, he ordered his men to shout, and they just fled!

"This...haha!" Tuoba waved his arms, "Attack, attack! May the cavalry win forever!"

"The hussars are victorious!" 』

"Ten thousand victories, ten thousand victories!" 』

This time, the Hussars really crossed the river...

Is the farce on the stone bridge by the river a cause or a result?

(End of this chapter)