Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3848 Unknown

Caution stems from a reverence for uncertainty.

However, caution can easily slip into stubbornness.

At this point, caution can turn into absolute confidence in one's own judgment, making it impossible to listen to different opinions and believing that other people's suggestions are wrong. In a specific field, this cognitive loop can manifest as arrogance towards others and impatience when implementing one's own plans.

He has always been cautious, but that doesn't mean he's incapable of acting impulsively.

When hormones are raging, is reasoning even useful?
It's like going into a lottery shop; is probability theory even useful?
I always thought he was going to win the lottery.

He was familiar with the terrain and knew where to set up ambushes.

You don't understand...

Forget all that, just do it my way...

However, he did not expect that Cao Jun had also been in the Heluo region for quite some time and knew where the Flying Cavalry would be on high alert.

After passing the fork in the road, they chased through a grove of withered trees and crossed a dried-up riverbed. Along the way, they only saw some tattered supplies and flags abandoned by Cao Cao's army, and even more than a dozen abandoned empty wagons with damaged axles...

The planks and ropes were scattered haphazardly on the ground.

The empty vehicles seemed to foreshadow something.

All of this became clear evidence that Cao Cao's army was fleeing in panic and unable to resist.

People tend to believe what they want to believe.

My excitement and underestimation of the opponent were always stronger.

In my previous impression, after passing the three-way intersection, what lay ahead was not a formidable pass or a dangerous mountain pass, but rather a gently undulating plateau.

These loess plateaus are no more than a few dozen feet high, with gentle slopes, and are sparsely covered with drought-resistant shrubs and withered grass, offering a fairly open view.

The official road passed through the depression between these loess plateaus. Although it was not particularly wide, it was more than enough to accommodate a cavalry column.

Compared to the three-way intersection he had to be wary of before, and the treacherous canyon passes he knew about further away, the terrain here was quite 'friendly'.

"Look! I told you the enemy army was at its last gasp, unable to even hold onto a decent stronghold!" Zong Lai laughed loudly, his last trace of vigilance vanishing.

He even found Sima Yi's warning somewhat laughable—setting up an ambush in such a place?
How effective will it be?

A single charge by cavalry could flatten these small mounds!

"The enemy army is really going to collapse! Give it your all! They're almost there!"

He always shouted loudly and took the lead. Seeing his commander so confident and the terrain indeed not too dangerous, his soldiers relaxed and burst into laughter, as if victory was already in sight.

The team maintained its pursuit formation, following the official road like a long, swift dragon, and plunged into this seemingly harmless loess plateau region.

However, just as the vanguard had barely crossed the bottom of the first earthen plateau and most of the follow-up troops had entered this depression, a sudden change occurred!
"call out--"

The sharp whistling arrow, accompanied by a piercing shriek, streaked through the air with a long trailing sound.

My heart skipped a beat!
Before any orders could be given, almost at the same time the signal arrows were launched into the air, as if by magic, a number of Cao army archers suddenly stood up from the tops of the low earthen slopes and behind the messy bushes on both sides!
They seemed to have been lying in ambush for a long time, and their bodies were even covered with withered grass as camouflage!

This was originally the 'signature move' of the Flying Cavalry, but now Cao Cao's army has learned it!
"Enemy attack! Raise your shields!"

The cavalry reacted quickly; almost the instant the Cao army archers appeared, the warning sounded!
However, Cao Cao's arrows and crossbows arrived very quickly!
"Shoot!"

"Strong winds! Strong winds!"

At Cao Jun's command, in an instant, the sharp sound of arrows piercing the air was like the flapping of a swarm of poisonous bees, so dense that it made one's scalp tingle!
The arrow rain was not a random, indiscriminate volley, but rather a targeted barrage aimed at the middle and rear of the cavalry formation, intended to cut off their retreat and create chaos!
*Pfft pfft—*

A series of sounds, like bullets piercing flesh, followed one after another!
In order to pursue Cao Cao's army, the warhorses were never covered with armor or dressed in horse clothing. After all, whether covered with armor or dressed in horse clothing, while increasing defense, it would also reduce the warhorses' stamina.

Now, the problem of not having horse armor and horse clothing has been exposed.

Cavalrymen on horseback are better off, as they have at least some armor and shields, but warhorses can only endure the pain with their bare flesh.

Although a horse's rump is thick-skinned, injuries to its neck and legs can still be quite damaging to a warhorse.

Arrows rained down, and screams and the mournful cries of warhorses instantly replaced the previous laughter!

"Don't panic! The hill isn't high! Follow me and charge up there, let's slaughter these cowardly rats!"

He was always surprised and angry, but never completely lost his composure.

He reacted quickly, judging that the slopes of the loess plateaus on both sides were gentle, and the cavalry could easily attack from below!

Once they charge in and engage in close combat, these archers are no match for the elite cavalry!
"Frontline change formation! Follow me up the hill!"

Always brandishing his sword, he led the vanguard of about two hundred riders, who were not yet completely thrown into chaos, as they charged towards the earthen slope on the right, where the arrows were coming from the fiercest direction!
The horses' hooves kicked up dust, and the cavalrymen roared, trying to crush the ambushers with their speed and the force of their charge.

This reaction cannot be said to be incorrect; in fact, it can be said to be one of the most direct and effective ways for cavalry to counterattack when encountering such an ambush.

However, Xun Yu's calculations fell precisely on this "seemingly correct" reaction!
As they charged uphill with their men, just as they were about to reach the top of the earthen slope, they suddenly saw a whole row of barricades appear in front of Cao Cao's archers at the top of the slope!
These barricades were secured with sharpened, thick pieces of wood in a crisscross pattern. Although crudely made, they were densely packed together, like fangs that suddenly grew out of the ground, effectively blocking the last gentle slope leading to the top of the hill!
The cavalry's charge was invincible on flat ground, but it was already weakened when attacking uphill slopes. Now, faced with this sudden obstacle, it was instantly contained!
The momentum of the high-speed charge suddenly came to a halt. The warhorses were startled, the knights were caught off guard, and the formation immediately fell into chaos!

"Dismount! Climb up on foot! Tear down this junk!"

He was always anxious and angry, and seeing that all his efforts were about to be in vain, he roared and gave the order.

Since the horses can't charge forward, let's fight on foot!

As long as the elite cavalry can get close, they can still scatter these Cao army archers!
The command was still not entirely wrong, but it was also within Xun Yu's calculations.

Some cavalrymen dismounted quickly as ordered, drew their ring-pommel swords, and attempted to use the slope as cover to climb up and destroy the barricades.

But just as they dismounted, lost their mobility, and gathered in front of the barricades to attempt an assault...

Xun Yu's second wave of attacks arrived in quick succession!

Behind the archers at the top of the hill, another group of Cao army crossbowmen suddenly stood up!
They were clearly Xun Yu's reserve force, and at this moment they were holding crossbows and aiming at the cavalry soldiers who had dismounted and gathered near the barricades!
This time, the crossbow bolts were clearly much more deadly!

Ugh!

My legs!

"Shields! Raise your shields!"

Screams kept coming!
Having lost the speed advantage of their warhorses, the cavalrymen became perfect targets on this slope!

Cavalry shields are not large; they can protect the face, chest, and abdomen, but they are not enough to cover the sides or the hands and feet.

People kept being hit by arrows and falling to the ground, rolling down the slope.

Soldiers who attempted to breach the barricades were the first to be shot down, often before they could cause much damage to the barricades!

He himself had almost been hit in the face by a crossbow bolt, but he parried it with his sword, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Only then did he realize the significance of the plateau, the gentle slope, the barricades, and the two groups of archers...

Nothing of this is a coincidence!

This is an elaborately designed death trap!

Every step he took was caught in the schemes of others!
The seemingly unimportant earthen plateau and slope were designed to lure him into making the seemingly reasonable choice of "charging down the slope to counterattack," and then, in the instant when his cavalry advantage was lost and his infantry was gathered, to inflict maximum damage!
"Retreat! Retreat now!"

Finally realizing the danger, he roared and tried to lead his remaining troops down the slope to regroup.

However, this move by Cong Lai was still within Xun Yu's expectations. Just as Cong Lai and his men were struggling to break through the slope but were blocked by the barricades and subjected to a hail of arrows, a Cao army infantry unit appeared on the main road!

At the very front of this infantry column of Cao Cao's army were not long spears and shields, but vehicles fitted with wooden planks!

Suddenly, I remembered some abandoned vehicles I had seen on the road earlier...

Cao's soldiers used vehicles to block the retreat route on the official road and formed a gun and shield line to seal off the exit of the depression!

On the other earthen mounds on both sides, more Cao soldiers appeared. They did not rush down to engage in hand-to-hand combat, but instead used crossbows to suppress the enemy. Although their accuracy was not as good as those on the hilltop, the resulting crossfire was enough to immobilize the rear guard of the Flying Cavalry trapped in the depression and prevent them from effectively supporting the front.

Advance, but barricades block the way, and arrows rain down from the hilltop.

Retreat, retreat blocked, the traffic jam stands ready.

To the left and right, on the earthen plateau, there were crossbowmen spying.

He and his hundreds of elite cavalrymen were unexpectedly trapped in a seemingly simple but actually deadly encirclement in this low-lying, loess plateau they had previously considered a "safe place"!

The balance of victory or defeat tipped suddenly in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, due to a slight oversight in understanding the terrain and a moment of underestimation of the opponent!

He stared wide-eyed at the soldiers falling around him, at the hilltop so close yet so far, and at the solid blockade behind him. A chilling despair, mixed with the stench of blood, suddenly filled his chest.

Suddenly, I remembered Sima Yi's words of advice...

"West Mountain!"

Xishan is not far from here!

Since our escape route is cut off, then...

Follow me!

He kept shouting, "Turn! Turn! West Mountain! West Mountain!"

……

……

At Mengjin Ferry, formerly Cao Cao's army camp, the tricolor battle flags of the Flying Cavalry are now flying.

Some traces of the bloody battle have been cleaned up, but even with the cold wind blowing, the smell of blood still lingers in the air.

The river flowed ceaselessly outside the ferry crossing, with countless boats still busily making their way back and forth. The pontoon bridge swayed and rocked, continuously transporting soldiers, horses, and equipment from the north bank to the south bank.

The central command tent was set up on a slightly elevated earthen platform overlooking the entire ferry crossing camp.

Fei Qian had only recently set foot on the southern shore, still wearing his armor and covered in dust from his journey.

Upon arriving at the south bank of the Dahe River, he immediately met with Jiang Jiong and Zhu Ling to learn about the battlefield situation.

Jiang Jiong reported on the battle of Mengjin, and Zhu Ling also described how he controlled Beiman Mountain and cut off Cao Cao's army's communication lines...

Zhu Ling explained how he used Li Qi, Lao Wangtou, and others to control key outposts, intercept Cao's beacon fire signals, and even ambush and kill several reconnaissance teams sent by Cao Shuo.

"My lord! Now that the entire Beiman Mountain is in our hands, Cao Cao's army should have difficulty detecting our movements in the short term..."

Zhu Ling concluded, her tone carrying a hint of confidence after completing the task.

Fei Qian affirmed the work of Jiang Jiong and Zhu Ling, but just as Fei Qian was preparing to deploy the next phase of the plan, a soldier suddenly came to report, "General! Military Advisor Sima has come to see you! He says he has urgent military information to report!"

Fei Qian was taken aback.

Wasn't Sima Yi in Luoyang?
Could it be that something happened in Luoyang?

"Quickly! Invite them in!"

Fei Qian ordered Sima Yi to come.

Before long, the tent flap was lifted, and Sima Yi strode in. Although he had traveled a long way and his face and body were covered in dust, his expression remained calm, and his demeanor exuded elegance.

Sima Yi stepped forward, bowed deeply to Fei Qian, and said, "Your subordinate, Sima Yi, greets your lord!"

Seeing Sima Yi's reaction, Fei Qian guessed that Luoyang was probably not in too much danger, but he still inquired, "Zhongda, you must be tired from your journey... How is the situation in Luoyang?"

Sima Yi straightened up, speaking steadily and clearly, without beating around the bush, and said directly: "Reporting to my lord, when I left the city, Cao Cao's army outside the city had already withdrawn... seemingly retreating towards Yique and Taigu..."

Upon hearing this, Fei Qian's heart skipped a beat. He exchanged a glance with Jia Qu beside him, and they both saw the seriousness in each other's eyes.

The problem that Fei Qian feared still happened.

"As expected... our whereabouts have been exposed." Fei Qian sighed softly, his tone tinged with regret. "Cao Mengde has a keen sense of smell... perhaps he knew of the fall of Mengjin, or perhaps he saw that the signal was cut off... or perhaps he learned of our army's movements through other channels, so he abandoned Luoyang and wanted to retreat into the dangerous passes of Songshan... If we let him succeed, then pacifying Shandong will require even more time and manpower..."

Jiang Jiong rose to his feet, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble general is willing to lead troops south immediately to pursue and kill the traitor Cao!"

"This humble general is also willing to go!" Zhu Ling stood up and said loudly.

Fei Qian waved his hand, "Sit down first... don't be impatient..."

Cao Cao and Fei Qian are in some similarities in their current situations.

Whether Fei Qian was planning a large-scale southward march or Cao Cao was fleeing with his family, the journey could not be calculated based on the fastest cavalry units...

Fei Qian needed to get his warhorses across the river, establish a forward base, and transport supplies and provisions from the river valley to the south bank—a task that couldn't be accomplished in just a few days. Fei Qian was also prepared for the possibility of being discovered by Cao Cao's army at any time; his initial work was simply to minimize and delay the probability of such discovery.

The same was true for Cao Cao's side.

If Cao Cao were to flee alone, determined to abandon all his soldiers, the Flying Cavalry would find it extremely difficult to stop him, given his familiarity with the terrain and the rearguard he left behind.

But Cao Cao also had a large group of men...

Moreover, it is unlikely that Cao Cao would escape alone. After all, the Cao family is not as powerful as before. If Cao Cao is really just an old man, he might be wiped out by the people of Shandong.
Therefore, even if Cao Cao wanted to escape, he would want to bring some people back with him. If he had his family with him, his speed would naturally be slower. At least it wouldn't be as fast as "speak of the devil and he appears."

The key question now is what Fei Qian should do?
Sending Jiang Jiong and others with the initial cavalry lightly equipped southward immediately would undoubtedly be the fastest countermeasure. However, on the one hand, Cao Cao's exact location is unknown. The Heluo region is neither large nor small, and scattering three to five thousand cavalry would be a daunting task. On the other hand, while a direct assault on Yique and Taigu could indeed intercept a significant portion of Cao Cao's army, and perhaps even stop Cao Cao himself, it's also crucial to guard against Cao Cao's army resorting to desperate measures. Furthermore, if the Flying Cavalry were to advance lightly southward and hastily seize Yique and Taigu, it would mean insufficient equipment and slow reinforcements…

As Fei Qian was pondering, Sima Yi spoke again, instantly drawing everyone's attention: "My lord, there is no need to worry. Before leaving the city, I made some arrangements that may... delay Cao Cao's advance..."

"Oh?" Fei Qian looked at Sima Yi, "What arrangements has Zhongda made?"

Sima Yi lowered his head slightly, adopting a humble and harmless demeanor. "Knowing that Cao Cao's army was retreating in force, the Colonel insisted on being ordered to pursue them out of the city. Both the Prefect of Zao and the Attendant Du advised against it, but the Colonel refused to listen."

Sima Yi paused, as if stating something unrelated to himself, "I believe that it is entirely reasonable that the Cao army retreated, and the colonel rashly pursued them, only to be ambushed... "

Fei Qian's brows furrowed even more as he stared at Sima Yi. "Since Zhongda knew they were bound to fall into an ambush, why didn't he forcefully stop them? Or go to their aid? Why did he come here instead?"

Fei Qian was already displeased.

Sima Yi raised his head, his face calm. "My lord, you are wise. Firstly, the Colonel's mind is made up. I am but a lowly subordinate, and to forcibly stop him would likely create internal strife, which would be detrimental to the defense of the city. Secondly… I judge that Cao Cao's army has suffered repeated defeats, its morale is low, and its fighting strength has been greatly diminished… The Colonel's troops are all elite; even if they were ambushed, although losses are inevitable, they should not be wiped out instantly… For Cao Cao's army to annihilate them completely, it will require a price, and it will be time-consuming and laborious."

Sima Yi continued, “When I left the city, I sent someone to inform the Colonel that if things went wrong, he could go to the Western Hills and hold out… The Western Hills are crisscrossed with ravines and gullies, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack. Most importantly, the mountains are full of earth and rocks, but devoid of vegetation. Cao Cao's army has no way to achieve a quick victory… Moreover, the Western Hills have no water. If Cao Cao's army sees that a swift attack is not possible, they will most likely surround and besiege it… To besiege the Western Hills, Cao Cao's army would need at least several thousand elite troops… These several thousand elite troops would also need water and provisions. In this way… the Colonel could use only a few hundred men to tie down several thousand of Cao Cao's troops…”

Jiang Jiong frowned and said, "You yourself said there's no water in Xishan! Since the captain's troops are trapped in Xishan, aren't they also cut off from water and food?"

Sima Yi glanced at Jiang Jiong, then lowered his head slightly. "I believe... even if the Colonel is trapped in the Western Mountains, he can at least hold out for five days... The Colonel's forces... are all cavalry... if so... perhaps they can hold out longer..."

"Kill the horse..." Zhu Ling gasped, looking Sima Yi up and down as if trying to memorize his appearance.

Sima Yi, seemingly oblivious to Zhu Ling's gaze, remained standing with his hands clasped in a humble manner and calmly said, "If the Commandant is besieged in Xishan, he will certainly send someone to Luoyang for reinforcements... Cao Cao's army will most likely let him go... Firstly, they want to retaliate against the troops in Luoyang, and secondly, they may harbor the delusion of launching a counterattack against Luoyang..."

Sima Yi, explaining his calculations, cupped his hands and said, "In this way, if Cao Cao's army becomes greedy, they will linger. Whether their main force stays or leaves, whether they retreat with all their might or attempt a counterattack, will become uncertain... This uncertainty is your opportunity, my lord! A captain trapped on a mountain can survive the entire war! My lord can also seize this opportunity to encircle and annihilate Cao Cao's main force in the He-Luo region!"