Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3710 July's Blazing Heat (Bonus Chapter)
The setting sun struggled on, as if trying to pour its last rays of light and heat onto the vast Heluo Plain, coating everything with a heavy and viscous golden-red hue.

The temperature in the evening is almost like two different seasons compared to midday. As the evening breeze picks up, the temperature of the earth continues to drop.

At the front lines of Cao Jun's army in Gongxian, the earthen fortress, with its rammed loess walls, cast long, slanted shadows, as if something were extending or collapsing.

As the colorful banners occasionally fluttered by, the hot evening breeze, carrying dust and the stench of blood, made a monotonous and taut sound, like the low hum of a taut bowstring.

Zhang Liao reined in his horse and stood solemnly on a slightly higher earthen slope. His dark helmet gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the setting sun, obscuring most of his face.

The heavily armored infantrymen, their massive shields stacked tightly together, formed a formidable steel wall at the foot of the slope.

That's right, Zhang Liao is no longer the pitiful "Zhang Babai" of history.

Historically, he led 800 men to fight against 100,000 soldiers.

Before the gap was cleared, such a huge difference could not be achieved without a strong mentality.

Now, Zhang Liao not only has the heavily armored infantry battalion that inherited Gao Shun's will, but also crossbowmen, cavalry, and so on. Compared to the pitiful eight hundred men in history, this is many times better.

At this moment, the crossbowmen knelt before the battle lines, their crossbows nocked, the cold bolts pointing diagonally towards the sky, their arrowheads gleaming with deadly glints in the afterglow of the setting sun.

On the flanks, the Bingzhou cavalry, controlling their restless warhorses, could vaguely see oil-soaked cloth and tinder in the bulging leather bags on their saddles. Like a pack of wolves poised to pounce, their sharp eyes scanned the opposing camp.

Zhang Liao turned around and looked at the setting sun.

Yes, the angle is perfect.

Zhang Liao raised his hand in a gesture.

The guards standing behind his horse, holding black banners with gold patterns, immediately approached him with swift and agile movements.

"Pass on the order."

Zhang Liao's voice was deep and resonant, each word ringing with power:

"The vanguard, advance to within 100 paces of the enemy trench, form a circular formation and hold fast; the shields must not be relaxed."

"The crossbowmen, firing in rapid succession, one arrow every three breaths. They assemble at the watchtowers and ramparts."

The cavalry spread out on both flanks, using fire arrows to harass their sides and disrupt their formation.

"When the infantry reaches fifty paces from the enemy's trench, they must not advance unless their red flag is pointing forward."

"only!"

The guards responded resolutely, without the slightest hesitation, and turned to run quickly toward the captains waiting down the slope.

The order was loudly repeated, and the captains' eyes sharpened. They bowed slightly in Zhang Liao's direction and then rushed to their respective battle formations.

A moment later, in the center of the army, the triangular command flag with a black background and gold patterns suddenly tilted forward under the powerful swing of the flag-bearer's arm!

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Three deep yet penetrating war drumbeats suddenly rang out, like thunder that had been suppressed for a long time rolling across the scorched earth, striking heavily in the hearts of every soldier and breaking the deathly silence of the battlefield.

"Boom!" What followed was a continuous pounding, the sound of war drums shaking the earth.

"Ha! Charge! Lin! Lin!"

The captain of the Trapped Camp raised his short halberd high and let out a short, powerful growl.

His response was the heavy thud of the front-row shields merging together, and the sharp metallic whirring of countless armor plates rubbing together.

The steel barrier has begun to move!
Their steps were heavy and uniform, as if they were moving as a whole. Each step caused the ground to tremble slightly and stir up clouds of yellow dust.

There were no shouts of battle, no clamor, only the clanging of armor and the earth-shaking sound of footsteps, converging into a silent yet chilling torrent that steadily pressed down on the earthen wall in front of Cao Cao's camp.

Even faster than the heavily armored Trapped Battalion was the bow and arrow.

'Boom! Buzz!'

A chorus of bowstrings, sharp enough to make your teeth ache, vibrated and tore through the air!

A dense black "cloud" rose above the crossbow battalion's position, which was the sound of thousands of powerful crossbows being released from their bows!
The crossbow bolts, with their ear-piercing whistles like the grim reaper's laughter, tore through the dim sky and slammed into the crenellations and arrow towers of Cao Cao's camp!
In an instant, wood chips and gravel flew everywhere, interspersed with the suppressed groans and screams of the defenders who had been hit by arrows.

Even more chilling was that behind the crossbows, there were also catapults firing stones that turned into black or gray meteors in the air, rushing towards Cao Cao's wooden watchtowers and earthen ramparts!

The initial reaction of Cao Cao's camp was exactly the same as the previous reconnaissance report.

The counterattack arrows were sparse and weak, some even landing limply in front of the giant shields of the Trapped Camp, futilely embedding themselves in the soil.

The drumbeats within the camp sounded sluggish and slow, as if the drummers themselves were also dozing off in the sweltering heat.

However, when the silent, steel torrent of the Trapped Camp, braving a sporadic hail of arrows, advanced to within about 120 paces of the trench—

*Thump thump thump thump thump!!!*

The drumbeats in Cao Cao's camp suddenly became as rapid as a torrential downpour, and a striking red flag was violently waved on the watchtower in the center of Cao Cao's northern camp!
At the same time, the density and force of Cao's crossbow bolts in the counterattack suddenly increased. Arrows and crossbow bolts poured down like a sudden rain, densely hitting the giant shields of the Trapped Camp, producing a dull and continuous impact sound, and stirring up pieces of broken wood and flying sparks.

Deep within the camp of Cao Jun's Gongxian vanguard, smoke and dust rose noticeably, accompanied by the glint of metal armor plates colliding and rubbing as they ran, and the faint shouts of officers, indicating that troops were being urgently mobilized.

On the slope, Zhang Liao raised his binoculars and carefully observed everything before him.

This was a large-scale "firepower reconnaissance" launched on Pang Tong's advice.

It's a mix of reality and illusion, reality and illusion.

The apparent weakness of Cao Cao's army in a certain area could be real or it could be a facade.

However, if a large-scale attack is launched, many of Cao Cao's forces may no longer be able to conceal their true intentions...

While Zhang Liao was pondering, the Bingzhou cavalry on both flanks were dispatched.

Relying on their long-standing tacit understanding, they rushed across the riverbank and swept towards the flank of Cao Cao's earthen ramparts in a fan shape.

As the swift warhorses galloped, the riders skillfully lit the oil-soaked cloths used for arrowheads and drew their bows.

In an instant, dozens of meteors, trailing thick smoke and flames, traced deadly arcs and accurately struck the corners of the Cao army's earthen ramparts, where some miscellaneous items were piled up, and several haystacks that had not yet been taken care of...

*Pfft!*

"Fire! Help!"

Several targets were ignited almost simultaneously!
The continuous exposure to direct sunlight made the wood and straw extremely flammable.

The flames greedily licked at everything around them, crackling and popping, and thick columns of black smoke shot into the sky, particularly glaring in the twilight.

The Cao army on the flank was thrown into chaos, with panicked shouts rising and falling.

Several blue flags, representing urgent calls for help or chaos, fluttered frantically in the firelight. The Cao army defenders, who were originally concentrated in front of the fortress, had to divert some of their men to rush to the fire and put it out, causing a slight, almost imperceptible, disarray in their formation.

However, in Gongxian County in the rear...

Cao Jun's banners did not flutter in panic.

Zhang Liao pondered for a moment, then stretched out his hand, "Send the order! Halt!"

Behind him, the red command flag suddenly stood up high and then swung forcefully to the left and right!
"Clang, clang, clang!"

The rhythmic sound of drums and gongs rang out.

The military order is like a mountain!

Advancing to within fifty paces of the trench, the vanguard of the battalion suddenly slammed their massive shields down with a dull thud, as if a giant beast's foot had stomped deep into the earth and taken root instantly!
The long halberds in the rear, like steel thorns, emerged menacingly from the gaps in the shield wall. In the blink of an eye, the entire army formation transformed into a giant, motionless steel hedgehog, radiating a chilling killing intent that kept strangers at bay. The crossbow bolts continued their relentless barrage, maintaining a relentless rhythm that kept Cao Cao's soldiers at the crenellations of the earthen ramparts from raising their heads.

The scouts on both flanks were even more active. Like butterflies flitting among flowers, they constantly changed positions at a safe distance, firing sporadic fire arrows to ignite new fires, or shooting burning arrows into the chaotic crowd, further amplifying the chaos and exhaustion on Cao Cao's flanks.

Zhang Liao's gaze pierced through the billowing smoke and dust, and he discovered that the Cao army's ranged counterattack had indeed weakened. Although the arrows were dense, their impact points were scattered, lacking precise concentration, and their force varied greatly. Clearly, they were not fired by well-trained, well-coordinated elite archers, but rather by ordinary archers hastily assembled and hastily deployed.

The dust raised inside Cao Cao's earthen ramparts covered a considerable area, but it was low and diffuse, like loose soil blown by the wind. This dust was raised by the infantry, and there was no indication of targeted dust being raised by the cavalry...

However, several places near Cao Cao's earthen ramparts, behind the trenches and mounds most suitable for ambush, remained deathly silent, with no glint of spears or armor.

Is this because no soldiers have been deployed, or are they preparing to abandon the mudflats and trenches in front of Gongxian?

"how?"

Pang Tong's voice rang out behind Zhang Liao, somewhat calm and indifferent, as if he were asking about a trivial matter.

It's all show and no substance.

Zhang Liao's words were concise and to the point.

The garrison was a mixed bag, their bows and crossbows of varying strength, their counterattacks urgent but utterly disorganized. The dust and smoke from the camp's movements were scattered and disorderly, not the mark of elite troops, and there was no trace of cavalry. The pre-arranged ambush points were empty. Cao Cao's army hadn't deployed any elite troops. Perhaps they were hidden within, or perhaps they had been redeployed elsewhere. However… Gongxian remained peaceful…

Pang Tong nodded, looked around for a moment, pondered for a while, and said, "It's getting late, let's call it a day."

Zhang Liao immediately gave the order.

As the main force of the Flying Cavalry, under the command of the flag, steadily retreated and regrouped like the receding tide, the sky had already been completely swallowed by the inky darkness of night.

The front of Cao Cao's camp was a mess, with countless arrows scattered like wormwood. Burning haystacks and timber emitted a dark red light, reflecting off the scorched earth and the rising smoke that smelled of burning.

……

……

In the big tent.

The evening breeze blew away some of the heat.

"Is it confirmed that Cao Cao's army has mobilized?" Fei Qian asked.

Pang Tong nodded, then shook his head. "Or perhaps they're preparing to transfer him."

"How so?" Fei Qian asked.

Zhang Liao also cast an inquiring glance from the side.

Pang Tong stroked his beard, squinted, and said, "Cao Cao's army is currently in a state of decline... Both the northern and southern fronts are facing difficulties, and our troops in the central front have yet to move out... It's common practice to divert troops from the central front to support the north and south, or elsewhere. However..."

Pang Tong smiled and said, "I suspect that Cao Zilian... wants to be transferred, but hasn't been yet..."

"What do you mean?" Fei Qian asked subconsciously, then nodded. "Oh, I understand..."

Zhang Liao glanced at Pang Tong, pondered for a moment, and nodded. "What you've said, sir, is probably the truth about Cao Cao's camp."

Cao Hong set a trap.

Cao Hong may indeed need to redeploy some troops to solve some problems, but he is also worried that if elite troops are redeployed, the defense of the central route will be compromised, so this may be a kind of "rehearsal".

Or perhaps it is a form of 'seduction'.

If the miscellaneous troops can hold off the Flying Cavalry for a period of time, then Cao Cao's army can use elite troops to do something, or simply pretend to be weak, let the Flying Cavalry attack, and then take the opportunity to launch a big attack. After the Flying Cavalry is wounded and retreats, then redeploy troops...

"Furthermore..." Pang Tong stroked his chin, "I have another idea... Cao Mengde is probably struggling to hold on... However, news is cut off right now, so it's hard to make a judgment... I'm still waiting for news from Kongming... As for the present, I have three plans..."

Fei Qian chuckled, "If we're talking about the middle strategy, there's no need for further explanation."

"Tsk!" Pang Tong seemed somewhat bored, so he cut to the chase and uttered a single word: "Fight."

Seeing the somewhat disgruntled looks on Fei Qian and Zhang Liao's faces, Pang Tong chuckled twice and added, "The cannonballs for Guanzhong have been replenished, so we can use the artillery now..."

Fei Qian nodded, then changed the subject after a moment, saying, "However... the summer harvest is coming soon."

Several major crops in the Han Dynasty were harvested in late summer, roughly corresponding to the sixth or seventh month of the lunar calendar.

This is the first harvest, but the most important thing is in the fall.

Summer harvest, or early autumn harvest or early spring millet. This is currently the most important of the five grains, a vital pillar of food supply, and its harvest directly affects people's livelihoods and social stability.

Previously, millet cultivated during the Han Dynasty took about 120 days to mature. Later, through selection and improvement by Zao Zhi, the maturity period was shortened to about 100 days, meaning that the millet harvest season would begin in the next month.

At the same time, following millet is sorghum.

Sorghum was not originally a mainstream crop during the Han Dynasty, likely because of its poor taste. Compared to millet and wheat, sorghum, which is difficult to husk, was not only unpalatable but also hard to digest. Crucially, Han Dynasty sorghum was not as robust as later sorghum; it was prone to lodging and had a low yield.

However, sorghum has one advantage over millet and wheat: it is not picky about soil type and can be grown even in barren land. Areas where millet and wheat cannot be grown, such as saline-alkali land and dry plateaus, can cultivate sorghum.

Therefore, in Guanzhong, Fei Qian also encouraged people to plant sorghum in large quantities on some relatively barren land, wasteland, and even in front of and behind their houses. The yield was certainly not high, but it was still a kind of food supplement, especially since it could be used to replace millet for brewing, which naturally reduced the consumption of staple food caused by brewing.

Historically, sorghum flourished and became widely cultivated during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, a period marked by bloodshed. Compared to crops like millet and wheat, which require meticulous cultivation and maintenance, sorghum, which is less demanding in terms of soil and requires minimal upkeep, became a crucial food source after the chaos and upheaval of the Five Barbarian Invasions.

The Han Chinese who knew how to farm were killed, and those who didn't know how to farm had to learn...

Or perhaps the Han people all hid in the mountains and forests, and the fields naturally became barren. Even if they planted some, they didn't have time to take care of them every day...

As a result, agricultural literature during the Han Dynasty contained virtually no descriptions of sorghum, but by the Tang Dynasty, a great deal of writing about sorghum appeared. Beneath the ink of these additional words, lies a poignant story of hardship and suffering.

Besides millet and sorghum, some beans also ripen and enter the harvest season in late summer and early autumn.

Fei Qian's original plan was to send soldiers to assist with this part of the harvest, and then use the freed-up manpower to assist with the other late autumn harvests. This way, the labor force could be fully utilized, and the autumn harvest would not be delayed due to the war, thus affecting the entire harvest season.

If an attack were to be launched now on the central section of Cao Cao's army, from Gongxian to Sishui, it would inevitably involve a large amount of manpower and resources, leaving Fei Qian with no available manpower...

"My lord," Pang Tong stroked his beard, smiling, "the harvest is naturally of great importance... However, my lord, please don't forget that we've also gained some new manpower..."

Fei Qian's eyes lit up. "You mean... Wen County? But for people from Wen County to get to Guanzhong... the journey..."

Cheng Yu originally intended to resist to the death in Wen County and implement a scorched-earth policy, so he concentrated a large amount of resources and people in Wen County. Now that Cheng Yu is dead, these people are left behind. Under the scorched-earth conditions in Wen County, nothing can be harvested in a short time. So it is indeed possible to mobilize these surrendered soldiers and laborers to other areas. However, the problem now is that the transportation conditions in the Han Dynasty are very poor. It is impossible to have trains, airplanes, or buses to transport these people.

In later times, perhaps 5,000 men could be mobilized and they could enter Guanzhong from Wen County in half a day, but now...

"By boat?" Fei Qian frowned. "It's too late..."

Pang Tong smiled, walked to the sand table to the side, picked up a few flags, and said, "My lord, please look... this is it..."

Pang Tong's plan was quite simple: it was a relay race!

The surplus labor force from Wen County in Hanoi was transferred to the Huguan area of ​​Shangdang, while laborers from Huguan were transferred to Pingyang in Hedong, and then laborers from Pingyang were transferred to Guanzhong. In this way, the distance traveled by each group of laborers was short, and the time was also short. Otherwise, if people from Wen County were to be transported to Guanzhong, it would be impossible to complete the task in less than one or two months, as a longer journey would bring more problems.

Upon seeing this, Fei Qian was taken aback. "Oh dear, how could I not have thought of that! Excellent... However, Wen County only has two generals, Jiang and Zhu... Liang Dao can be transferred there. As for the Prefect of Shangdang, Zhang Derong can temporarily assume the position."

Pang Tong clapped his hands, "My lord is wise!"

The two of them laughed heartily.

Zhang Liao watched from the sidelines, deeply moved.

He naturally wouldn't meddle in matters of civil administration, and it wasn't exactly his forte. However, Zhang Liao understood one thing: if it weren't for the current new political system of the General of the Cavalry, if it weren't for Xun You in Guanzhong, Xun Chen in Hedong, Jia Qu in Shangdang, and Zhang Ji, even if Fei Qian and Pang Tong had such ingenious ideas, they still wouldn't be able to put them into practice!

This kind of large-scale complementary labor plan, which involves multiple regions, multiple locations, and multiple stages, will cause a major problem if any link in the process goes wrong!
But looking at Fei Qian and Pang Tong's smiles, Zhang Liao saw not reluctance and worry, but confidence and composure...