Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3829 The Lingering Banners
Hanoi County, Huai County.

Autumn has deepened, and on the surface, this ancient county town still maintains basic operations. However, in reality, the entire town is under military control and shrouded in an unusual atmosphere.

Although the market still opened at the fixed time, and the cries of vendors were still heard, and the city gates opened at dawn and closed at dusk as usual, the guards had been changed. Their eyes were sharp, and they were completely different from the disheveled and lazy county soldiers of the past.

The Flying Cavalry seemed to be showcasing a unique style in Huai County...

Or rather, it's a showcase.

In the past, the Han Dynasty's armies, especially the large-scale garrisoning of troops, were often 'destructive'.

It's like a sour jujube.

Suanzao was originally a decent county, but after the Allied forces stationed there, it became a "legend." The transformation from a populated area to a desolate wasteland seemed inevitable and tragic.

In Huai County, apart from the presence of cavalrymen stationed and patrolling the streets, city walls, and county government offices, it seemed that the lives of ordinary people were not greatly affected.

Apart from the shopkeepers who looked worried, ordinary people could still go out of the city to gather firewood and trade at the market.

The shopkeeper originally wanted to hoard goods and make a fortune, but now that the price ceiling has been set, there's still some profit to be made, but not much. Naturally, this has dampened the shopkeeper's spirits.

The headquarters of General Fei Qian was set up in the former prefectural governor's residence.

Compared to the bustling traffic and constant flow of officials and soldiers a few days ago, the gate is now noticeably quieter.

However, the number of guards did not decrease; in fact, it increased slightly. These elite cavalry guards, fully armored and holding halberds, stood at attention, their sharp eyes scanning every figure that tried to approach. Clearly, something important was happening inside the government office.

Inside the gate, messengers occasionally hurried in and out, all with solemn expressions and no noise whatsoever.

As these orders were issued, subtle changes were taking place around Huai County.

In the drill grounds west of the city, soldiers still drill during the day, but the scale seems smaller than before. Meanwhile, in some of the cavalry camps outside the north gate, the lights are turned off early after nightfall, and the silence is somewhat unusual.

The people of Huai County who live near the city wall would occasionally hear footsteps coming from outside the city at night, along with the faint sounds of weapons clashing. But when they listened carefully, the sounds would disappear, as if it were just the illusion of autumn wind blowing through withered branches.

On some roads leading southwest, there would be a large number of fresh and neat hoofprints and footprints in the early morning, but they would soon be deliberately swept away and covered up by the cavalry.

The source of all these changes, of course, lies with that person within the Huai County government office…

Fei Qian stood with his hands behind his back before the map, his gaze calm and serene.

On the map, there are winding lines drawn with cinnabar in a particularly fine way, stretching from Hanoi all the way to Heluo.

These lines do not all converge on the official road, but cleverly meander through the hills and sparsely populated valleys of the southern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. Like several hidden blood vessels, they quietly extend from several points around Huai County, eventually converging on two key points on the banks of the Yellow River...

Mengjin and Xiaopingjin.

"If You Ruo feigns an attack on Shaanxi and Tianjin..."

Fei Qian slowly said, "Cao Mengde's best course of action now is to quickly leave the He-Luo region..."

News came from Pang Tong's side that Zhao Yun's Northern Army was relatively stable, and the conquest of Ye City had exceeded Fei Qian's expectations. Therefore, Fei Qian no longer needed to worry too much about the problems north of Hanoi and could concentrate on fighting against Heluo.

Indeed, as Fei Qian said, after receiving news of the attack by the Ferry Crossing at Hedong, Cao Cao's best course of action was to immediately pack up and run away. But the problem was, was Cao Cao willing to do that?
The reason why Fei Qian did not place a great general in Luoyang was that, of course, Fei Qian did not expect Huang Zhong to come, but Huang Zhong's reputation was obviously not as great as that of Zhang Liao or Taishi Ci. Therefore, from the perspective of Cao Cao's army, the Heluo region was indeed "without a great general".

Old Cao is willing to give up such an opportunity?
The previous plan to seize grain and burn the Heluo region was not fully implemented, and now that the foundation of Heluo cannot be completely destroyed, it means that Cao Cao's strategic deployment has failed by more than half.

All that effort and resources was wasted, and all that was left was a hasty retreat...

Would Cao Cao be willing?
Jia Qu, standing to the side, said in a deep voice, "If Cao Cao's army flees... they will only be prolonging their lives! Morale, public support, supplies, and weaponry are all at a disadvantage. Their only hope is to use the Emperor as a shield and survive in the Yu and Jing regions... If they flee, they will only live a few more days!"

Fei Qian nodded and said, "Cao Mengde raised his army in Qiao County, sweeping across Henan and Hebei. His unwavering resolve is beyond the reach of ordinary people."

This is Lao Cao's strength, but similarly, strengths can sometimes become weaknesses.

If he were not of sound mind, he would probably have been frightened and fled by Xun Chen's feigned attack by now...

Fei Qian stretched out his hand and pointed to the locations of Mengjin and Xiaopingjin on the map. "If Cao Mengde doesn't flee, he will definitely send scouts to strengthen patrols here and prevent our army from maneuvering... And if our army can break through the natural barrier of the Yellow River at these two points with lightning speed, then the gateway to Luoyang will be wide open, the Heluo region will be shaken, and the entire situation can be settled!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiong seemed to realize something. He scratched his forehead and then the back of his head, finally exclaiming, "My lord! Could it be Wenbo...?"

Fei Qian nodded slightly.

Zhu Ling was merely a precautionary measure and not a primary offensive tactic. The immediate priority was to move the main force silently to the crossing point right under Cao Cao's nose on the south bank of the Dahe River.

To realize this bold strategic vision, Fei Qian demonstrated logistical and organizational coordination capabilities far exceeding those of ordinary commanders of the time.

Infiltrating a small force without being detected is not too difficult, but when the force numbers in the thousands, it becomes extremely difficult to operate covertly.

The biggest challenge in a large-scale secret operation is not defeating the enemy forces encountered, but rather ensuring the covert march over long distances in uninhabited areas and the element of surprise in the final attack.

Relying on traditional, large, slow-moving, and easily visible labor transport teams to assist in this effort is tantamount to exposing our whereabouts.

Therefore, Fei Qian abandoned the old methods and adopted a sophisticated and meticulously executed system of "relay supply" and "pre-set warehouses".

And those who carry out the orders are the people right in front of us...

Fei Qian asked Xu Chu to take out a rather special map from a wooden shelf next to him.

This special map is made of silk, and it is very thin. It only has red and black dots on it, but no markings.

Fei Qian took it personally, then unfolded it and covered the map on the table.

When the two maps are superimposed, the red and black dots suddenly take on a different meaning...

"This is..." Jia Qu was the first to react, looking up at Fei Qian in surprise, "My lord... could this be...?"

"A supply point." Fei Qian nodded. "When the army left Heluo, not all the supplies were brought here... Now everything is ready... Gentlemen! The success or failure of this operation depends on this moment!"

Fei Qian surveyed the area and uttered four weighty words: "Divide the forces! Combine them!"

Everyone was also greatly encouraged.

Fei Qian took out two detailed marching routes for the troops and handed them to Jiang Jiong and Huang Cheng respectively.

"Dividing is like spring rain, nourishing silently! Uniting is like thunder, invincible!" Fei Qian said, emphasizing each word. "The troops are now located twenty miles north of the city. You two can go directly to take command and immediately act according to the plan!"

Huang Chengjiang immediately accepted the order and strode away.

Fei Qian picked up another map and handed it to Jia Qu, saying, "Once the vanguard has departed, Liang Dao must proceed according to this map tomorrow, replenishing supplies along the way so that the rearguard can follow."

Jia Qu bowed and accepted the order.

Fei Qian watched Jia Qu leave and couldn't help but let out a long sigh. This was a massive plan that exceeded the military concepts of the Han Dynasty.

The establishment of this system had already begun quietly long before the emperor arrived at Sishui Pass.

A small team, directly under the command of the General of the Cavalry and composed of skilled clerks and veterans, quietly planned the key points along the marching route, guided by the sons of gentry in Hanoi and local surrenderers...

These guides included peddlers traveling between villages, woodcutters who regularly entered the forest to cut timber, and hunters who lived in the mountains for generations. These guides from Hanoi had no idea that the shortcuts and mountain paths they usually took had become the secret routes of the Flying Cavalry. The locations of the mountain springs they used to replenish their water supply also became crucial for maintaining secrecy during their marches. Abandoned caves, natural rock caves, and even some long-abandoned fortresses covered in weeds and vines along the way were carefully selected and meticulously planned for stockpiling supplies in advance.

These stockpiled supplies were also carefully considered.

The main focus is on foods that are durable, easy to carry, and can provide energy quickly.

Large quantities of fried rice and fried noodles were sealed in earthenware jars or leather bags.

The marinated and dried meat is cut into even small pieces, stuffed into bamboo tubes, and sealed with wax.

Dry firewood, and cooking utensils.

Water reserves were relatively limited, and the soldiers relied mainly on reliable streams and springs along the way as a source of replenishment. The leather water bags they carried were enough to last until they reached the next water source.

In addition, there were some emergency medicines, burlap for bandaging wounds, and necessities such as flint and tinder.

At the same time, a highly efficient and covert communication and guidance system was also established.

They were not fast horses or post stations in the traditional sense, but mountain soldiers under the General of the Cavalry.

In the region of Hanoi, which is a mix of loess plateaus, hills, mountains, and plains, these experienced mountain soldiers, skilled in mountain stealth, formed the nerve endings of this system, operating before the main force of the Flying Cavalry arrived.

They were familiar with the routes of every path, the entrances to every valley, and the water levels of every stream. Their task was to repeatedly confirm the safety of the routes before the main force set out, eliminate potential threats, and leave simple markings at key forks in the road and supply points that only the cavalry could recognize.

They would also maintain contact with the officers of the cavalry in the surrounding villages and counties of the supply points, receive information about the stock of supplies, bandits in the vicinity, or any emergency changes, ensure the safety of these supplies, and deliver messages quickly.

Under the command of the General of the Cavalry, the troops in Huai County immediately sprang into action.

This was completely unimaginable for the traditional military operations of the Han Dynasty...

Unlike the mechanized armies of later generations, the things that the Han Dynasty army needed to carry often exceeded people's imagination. Those cumbersome machines, heavy tents, luggage and provisions, and even some secondary weapons that affected the speed of movement were originally things that soldiers of the Han Dynasty army had to carry.

The supply train of the Han Dynasty army was less a fighting force and more a mobile miniature city. Its complexity and burden were on a completely different level compared to modern mechanized forces that rely on fuel and machinery.

In later generations, seeing soldiers fully armed marching in the field already seemed like carrying too much and was quite arduous. In the Han Dynasty, for long-distance large-scale troop marches, in addition to the necessary weapons, armor, and daily rations, soldiers also had to carry their own clothing, shoes, bedding, as well as non-personal cooking utensils belonging to a squad or unit, such as pots or buckets, fire-making tools, tools for repairing weapons and armor, medicines, and so on.

Individuals carried only a small portion of the load; the vast majority had to be loaded onto supply wagons. Even when pulled by mules and horses, a large amount of fodder was still required, especially for the cavalry. In an era without mechanized forage collection, collecting or transporting fodder was a massive undertaking.

Therefore, if it were to operate according to the traditional marching pattern of the Han Dynasty, how could it possibly conceal its whereabouts?

Now, under Fei Qian's overall planning and operation, which transcends the thinking patterns of the Han Dynasty, the Flying Cavalry left all the heavy equipment in Huai County. Everyone's goal was clear: to travel light, keep quiet, and move like ghosts in the dark, preparing to secretly pass through the complex terrain of southwestern Hanoi County, reach the north bank of the Yellow River, and launch a surprise attack right under Cao Cao's nose.

That night, several pre-designated remote areas around Huai County became the starting point for this grand and covert operation...

There were no grand pronouncements, no blazing torches illuminating the night sky, and no inspiring, earth-shaking war drums.

Only the hushed commands of mid- to low-ranking officers carried swiftly through the cold night wind. The soldiers silently inspected their equipment, carefully wrapping their horses' hooves in thick cloth and securing their weapons with ropes to prevent them from clattering during the march. Following orders, they moved in units of hamlets, like streams flowing into an underground river, quietly setting off under the cover of darkness.

This originally large army has now split into dozens of smaller streams, turning from the main roads onto unmarked paths on ordinary maps, disappearing into the loess plateaus and hills. They have begun this major flanking maneuver, crucial to the entire Central Plains war, heading west and southwest.

The markers provided beforehand by the mountain troops served as silent guides for these cavalry units.

The stars and moon seemed to know of the battles and conflicts in the human world, and deliberately concealed their light, leaving only a few sparse stars that occasionally cast a faint, almost negligible, cold glow through the gaps in the thick clouds.

In this dense darkness, the main force of the cavalry began a stealthy advance that transcended the limitations of this era.

The group proceeded along a rugged and difficult trail.

There are no smooth official roads here, only narrow, winding paths half-hidden by weeds. Sometimes you have to climb steep slopes, sometimes you have to wade through icy streams, and sometimes you have to pass through dense forests where you can only find your way by touching the bodies of those who came before you.

This is an unprecedented and likely unparalleled arduous journey.

Without Fei Qian's consistently high winning rate and unshakeable prestige, the current cavalry would not be so disciplined.

Without Fei Qian's consistent education system within the army, which enabled even junior and middle-ranking military academy students to understand maps and receive clear instructions, the Flying Cavalry Army would likely be easy to disperse but extremely difficult to regroup!

Of course, another important factor is that the distance from Huai County to Xiaopingjin in Mengjin is not too far.

If it were a journey from Chang'an to the Western Regions, Fei Qian would never have dared to do such a thing.

And so, this scene unfolded in western Hanoi district...

The silent squad marched in silence.

No one complained along the way, and few people talked loudly. Even coughs were suppressed as much as possible, turning into a few muffled sounds.

Aside from the commands that had to be conveyed, it seemed as if only three voices remained in the world…

The sound of footsteps, a mix of horses and people.

To maintain their balance, the soldiers inevitably made friction and collision sounds as they walked, due to the friction between their weapons and armor parts.

And the commands of officers and military academy personnel patrolling and relaying orders.

Each of these cavalrymen placed their trust in the figure ahead and the tricolor flag fluttering in the sky above.

Even on the steepest and slipperiest sections, the formation rarely breaks down. Those in front will subconsciously slow down and reach out to help their companions behind them, while those behind will steadily support the arms of those in front. Everything is accomplished in silent, tacit understanding.

Everyone loves three-star veterans in real-time strategy games, but once they actually become commanders themselves, they often say things like "necessary sacrifices are inevitable"...

Sacrifices on the battlefield are indeed unavoidable, but the key question is whether the person who makes the decision to make the "necessary sacrifice" is under immense moral and psychological pressure, or whether it is merely an excuse to recklessly squander the lives of others.

When Fei Qian transformed from an individual bearing local costs to someone taking on global responsibility, his values ​​and decision-making logic also underwent this transformation.

Fei Qian possessed experience and wisdom that surpassed those of the Han Dynasty, as well as a genuine appreciation and respect for life and value that surpassed that of most of the Han Dynasty's warlords...

This appreciation and respect made Fei Qian genuinely consider the well-being of every soldier.

A truly great commander is not one who coldly shouts slogans, but one who understands that behind every "number" is a living, breathing life. Even in special, extreme circumstances, after painfully weighing the options and making that "necessary" decision, one must still have the courage and responsibility to bear the untold stories of the victims.

Through various measures, Fei Qian truly demonstrated this characteristic to all the cavalry officers and soldiers, and also took on this responsibility. Therefore, he naturally received the most generous and sincere reward in the present moment...

Okay, I'll add an extra chapter tonight.