Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1031 It’s hard to stop the defeat
The general that Cao Jun has been most worried about over the years is not Zhao Yun, but Guan Yu.

In the battle between Yuan Xi and Cao Cao in Xuzhou a few years ago, Zhao Yun successfully killed and wounded many Cao Cao generals, which made everyone in Cao's camp feel in danger and timid to fight, thus establishing a great reputation.

But in the end, Zhao Yun really participated in the battle with Cao Ying, which was this battle. At other times, he was either in Black Mountain or fighting against the barbarians everywhere. Therefore, in the past few years, Cao Ying had fought hundreds of major and minor battles, and never encountered it again. After visiting Zhao Yun, the generals gradually forgot about it.

But Guan Yu was different. Guan Yu also participated in the Battle of Xuzhou at that time, and almost killed Cao Cao. Later, he followed Liu Bei to fight in Jingzhou, Yuzhou, and had been fighting Cao Cao's army for several years.

What's more rare is that Guan Yu is proficient in land warfare at water stations and cannot be defeated by Cao Cao's generals in land warfare. The navy trained by Guan Yu also suppresses Cao's army and fights. Dozens of Cao Cao's generals were defeated by Guan Yu. One of them even killed Cao Cao in formation. Wen Chou, whom Cao Ying held in high esteem, felt extremely frightened every time the generals in Cao's camp heard that Guan Yu was on the other side.

So now when the generals heard that Guan Yu was attacking Xudu directly and attacked several big cities, Zhang Xiu and Cao Ren were unable to resist. Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong and other generals were all panicked.

When Xun You saw it, he asked, "Are you too timid? There are tens of thousands of soldiers and horses around Xudu. If Cao Ren gathered together to defend the city, it wouldn't be a problem to hold on for half a year, right?"

This is only two hundred miles away from Shouchun. How can anyone retreat at the door of someone else's house?

Moreover, it is not impossible to defeat the copycat camp in front of us, but the damage caused by a hard attack is too great. If we attack with all our strength, thousands of more people will be killed or injured, and we can rush over. It is not impossible to defeat it. Is it necessary to go back now?
But he couldn't say these words directly, so he had to point it out tactfully. Xia Houyuan and other generals naturally had different opinions. The two sides argued for a long time, each holding his own opinion.

Cao Cao didn't say a word and slowly looked around the field. He was agitated. When he saw Yang Xiu's hiding face, he suddenly felt angry.

Soldiers on both sides continued to fall, and stone bullets kept flying overhead. However, many slingshots had been occupied by Cao's army in a surprise attack, and they in turn attacked Yuan Xi's army. Both sides were carrying heavy arrows and stones to fill the lives of people.

"I believe that with my filial piety, I will be able to defend Xu Du!"

Cao Cao took advantage of the situation and said: "I like to use surprise troops in my life. Although it seems to be a dilemma at this time, in my opinion, it is a great opportunity!"

Everyone was shocked. They were preparing to make a desperate move. If they could not capture Shouchun, they would be in a situation where they could not advance or retreat, and would be attacked from both sides.

Are you trying to retreat?
Retreat from your mother!
Even your father, Yang Biao, doesn’t dare to hold me back, but you dance happily. Do you really think I don’t dare to hold you back?

Zhang He and Xu Huang came from the Chinese army camp at the same time and threw the soldiers they brought in. The two sides launched a fierce attack and defense.

"Otherwise, all the previous efforts in this battle will be in vain and years of planning will be ruined!"

Cao Cao understood everyone's thoughts and snorted coldly: "Even if we rush back now, it may not be too late!"

Be careful, I killed your father and took away your mother. Do you still dare to guess my thoughts?

Everyone was silent, agreeing with Cao Cao's words. Cao Cao was the most brilliant counselor at any time, and his vision was always higher than theirs.

After hearing this, everyone stood up one after another and responded loudly: "I will defend Ming Gong to the death, and I will win!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked. Are you planning to ignore Xu Du?

"I will personally go to the front line tomorrow to attack the enemy with you all!"

"Now that we can't attack in two days, the other side will definitely be arrogant. Tomorrow I will attack with all my strength to penetrate their defense line, rush out of the mountainous area and enter the Jianghuai plain. Then, before they can gather their troops, I will rush to the Shouchun siege city at full speed!"

"If we retreat at this time, the other side will definitely follow us, harass and attack us. Even if we can go back, how many people will be left?"

At dawn the next day, Cao Jun launched a decisive and ferocious all-out attack. Several camps at the forefront of Yuan Xi's army were breached in just half an hour, and there were loopholes in the defense line.

However, Cao Cao stood up and said, "Yes, we will risk our lives and survive. Only by capturing Shouchun and taking away the warships of the Shouchun navy can we return to Xudu as quickly as possible and use Shouchun's star in the future." Nail plots Jiangdong!"

Cao Cao suppressed his anger and made up his mind to say: "Today the army will be organized. Early tomorrow morning, the entire army will attack fiercely. No retreat is allowed until the enemy's formation is broken!"

However, Cao's army came well prepared. After more than an hour, all the frontline camps of Yuan Xi's army were declared to have been lost. Cao's army rushed across the mountains and fields and launched an even more fierce attack on the Chinese army's camps.

Zhang He's face was covered with blood. He was holding a gun and hiding behind the gate of the village. Dozens of soldiers from Cao's army rushed in. Zhang He took a shot and stabbed the soldier at the front to death. The guards around him also rushed in, and Cao Jun's soldiers stood up.

As a result, a hail of arrows came from Cao's army, and soldiers from both sides were hit by arrows. Zhang He cursed when he saw this. Cao's army was really crazy. He ignored his friendly forces. His soldiers were dying faster and faster. He would definitely not be able to hold on like this!
Cao's soldiers poured in one after another, and Zhang He was about to lose all his men. At this time, Xu Huang led his men and rushed over, temporarily repelling Cao's army. Xu Huang's face was black and gray, and his body was covered with traces of fire. He said to Zhang He: "Jun Yi, retreat. The flank defense line I was guarding was attacked by Cao Jun's fire. A fire has already started. When the camp gate burns the couch, Cao Jun will break through the defense line. , we can’t leave even if we want to!”

"Our strength lies in the cavalry, but we are not good at infantry warfare in the mountains. Only when we reach the plains at the rear can we make full use of our strengths!"

Zhang He punched the wooden fence in front of him hard and roared: "You haven't defended it for three days, how can you explain to the envoy when you go back!"

Xu Huang sighed: "The envoy will not criticize us harshly. What he told us is to support Cao Cao. We have delayed it for half a month, and we have done our best!"

"If we fill this place with people, there will be no one on the ground to stop Cao Cao for the two hundred miles to Shouchun. By then Shouchun will become an isolated city, and it will be even more dangerous!"

"If we really lose Shouchun, we will die without mercy!"

After hearing this, Zhang He could only stand up bitterly, "I didn't expect that I would fail in the end and end like this!"

"That's fine, let's burn everything here to slow them down, and then reorganize the army in the plain behind!"

Soon, the hundreds of camps at the Taihang Pass were all ablaze with raging fires. The fire was overwhelming and spread to cover the mountains for dozens of miles. Cao Jun was unable to rush through and had to temporarily stop.

Cao Cao sat in the camp and listened to the reports from the generals. He said: "Rest on the spot. When the fire subsides, the whole army will come out immediately no matter day or night."

"The infantry will clear the way for the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry behind them. The opponent will definitely try to block it on the plain, but as soon as the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry enters the plain, they will attack the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry as quickly as possible and defeat the opponent!"

"Cao Xiu, I leave all the tiger and leopard cavalry to you. You must completely defeat the opposing cavalry!"

Cao Xiu quickly stepped out of the queue, cupped his hands and said: "Don't worry, Ming Gong, Xiu will swear to the death to complete the military order!"

Everyone in Cao Cao's camp was full of confidence. This time Cao Cao brought not many cavalry, only more than 2,000 cavalry. It was difficult to travel in the mountainous area. This was already the limit, but this sharp knife was about to come in handy. In recent years, in Thanks to Cao Cao's painstaking efforts, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry uses Liangzhou horses and finely armored soldiers, who will definitely not lose to the Youzhou Cavalry!
At three o'clock the next day, most of the mountain fires were extinguished. Cao Cao's army came out in full force, holding torches to open a road. The mountains under their feet were still hot to the feet, and there were still flames on the charred branches of the forest. There was an unpleasant smoke everywhere, but Cao Jun did not stop at all, and moved forward in a hurry, and finally left the mountain pass before dawn.

When everyone saw the endless Jianghuai plain, they were all excited and finally came out!
Xia Houyuan gave an order, and the infantry gave way to the middle passage. The tiger and leopard cavalry roared out one after another, running towards the depths of the night-shrouded plain.

Cao Cao's rapid march was beyond Zhang He and Xu Huang's expectations. They had already moved quickly enough. After burning the camp, they withdrew from the mountainous area to retrieve the war horses placed in the rear.

At the mountain pass more than ten miles away behind the camp, hundreds of war horses were left in advance, and the rest were in the horse farms in the towns around Shouchun. The nearest ones were dozens of miles away, so Zhang He and Xu Huang took the infantry to the horse farms respectively, preparing to convert into cavalry. .

This journey took at least most of the night, and the two of them arrived at the nearest horse farm. Seeing that it was getting late, they rested and camped on the spot.

However, Cao Jun braved the unquenched mountain fire at this time to break out of the mountain. The entire Tiger and Leopard Cavalry army was dispatched to outflank the nearest town route!
Naturally, things at the racecourse could not be hidden from Cao Jun's spies, so the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry's initial target was here. As expected, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry led by Cao Xiu encountered Xu Huang who was resting.

Xu Huang's cavalry was outnumbered and was caught off guard and was attacked in a very awkward manner. They were even surrounded by tiger and leopard cavalry several times and almost died on the spot.

At this time, the intelligence network deployed in the Jianghuai Plain came into play. The moment Xu Huang was attacked, a messenger found Zhang He's army as quickly as possible to report the danger. Zhang He was shocked when he learned about it and quickly brought his cavalry to help.

When Xu Huang was in danger, Zhang He finally rushed over and rescued Xu Huang from the siege. The two wanted to counterattack, but the spies reported that Cao's army was quickly encircling them, so the two could only fight and retreat until they arrived at Li A hundred miles away from Shouchun, the retreating stone still could not be stopped.

Because Cao Jun was like a tarsus, following the two men in pursuit, assuming a fight to the death attitude!

Xu Huang looked tired and said to Zhang He: "I finally know why the Jizhou army was unable to defeat Cao Cao's army."

"If you reveal a slight flaw, you can be exploited to this extent. Cao Cao is really terrible."

Zhang He's face was full of bitterness, "Indeed, I am not afraid of anyone in Cao Ying, but the one I least want to meet is Cao Cao himself."

"Now that we continue like this, it will be difficult to explain to the envoy. If we return all the way to Shouchun, it will be too late to mobilize the young people in the surrounding towns, including the tens of thousands of migrant workers who established the camp before, and they will be requisitioned by Cao Cao. This is the most terrifying thing. of!"

"Back then, Cao Cao could easily coerce hundreds of thousands of people and drive them to attack the city. Shouchun would have to face more than just these tens of thousands of Cao's troops!"

(End of this chapter)