The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 273 The Correct Use of Artillery Formations

This is a trap!
Cao Zhen immediately realized what was going on.

The so-called fireproof cowhide is actually oil-soaked cloth used to aid combustion!
The purpose was to make the fire burn as fast as possible.

Even if the southeast wind doesn't blow today, it won't stop this place from turning into a sea of ​​fire!
This is a trap specifically designed to target me!

Otherwise, there's no way to explain all of this!
And speaking of the present moment...

Cao Zhen looked around.

Due to the sudden and terrifying fire, most of the knights under his command had their mounts run away in fright.

Even if they weren't startled, they still had to scatter and run away to avoid the fire and heat.

Thus, the two thousand elite knights who were once as at ease with each other were scattered around the fire.

They want to reunite.

They could either run far away from the fire and regroup in an open area.

The only option is to come through numerous encirclements.

Not to mention that such actions are extremely inefficient.

These corner panels themselves were also covered with tarpaulins!
There is no doubt that the fire will spread very quickly.

This was clearly planned in advance by the enemy general!
Thinking about it this way, who knows, Wei Yan might have gone to rescue Hu County just to lure me out of the fortified camp?

Was Zhuge Liang using a counter-strategy?
Even Wei Yan's earlier provocation was intended to create the illusion that Zhuge Liang could not subdue him.

Guo Huai had weathered the past few rainy days unscathed.

Not only because this was part of the Han army's plan to lure the enemy.

Also, the Han army was waiting for the rain to stop.

Waiting for the rainwater to dry in the sun?
In an instant, Cao Zhen thought of many possibilities.

The more I think about it, the more terrified I become.

But with the situation so urgent, he had no time to think further.

He could only try to urge his men to retreat along the route they had come from.

We'll rescue as many people and horses as we can.

A moment later, the Wei army regrouped.

To put it roughly, only seven or eight hundred riders managed to escape.

The rest either perished in the flames or were scattered by the fire, losing all control.

What's worse is that the two generals surnamed Jiang and Deng, whom he had previously looked down upon, were also involved.

Not only have they regrouped, but they have also made great strides.

The military strength has been greatly enhanced.

A banner bearing the character "麋" (Mi) stood prominently between the two generals.

This person was not an unknown figure in Cao Zhen's eyes.

Liu Bei's favorite general.

Guan Yu's son-in-law.

He was appointed as the acting governor of Yuzhou and the military commander of Wan, Ru and Ying provinces.

He once single-handedly killed three officials of the Guanzhong region with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain).

Last year, he once again displayed his might on the front line of Fangcheng, causing generals and ministers such as Cao Hong and Jia Kui to suffer repeated defeats.

The so-called General Zhao Han, the mighty and skillful general!
Today, this young general of the Ji Han dynasty, who has repeatedly created military miracles, is a rising star.

It suddenly blocked his way out.

Cao Zhen finally realized that this was a trap set for him!
When he planned to burn down the cannon formation that the Han army used to scare people in front of everyone in Chang'an.

The Han army also intended to kill him right under the noses of ten thousand people in Chang'an.

Everyone has the same idea!
But it is clear that Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, including Mi Wei in front of us, are a cut above the rest!
With things having come to this point, Cao Zhen had no choice but to fight desperately to break through the encirclement.

Raise the flag, spur the horse, and charge.

More than seven hundred Wei cavalrymen charged southward like spears.

Just like before.

But after a round of intense fire, and suffering heavy losses,

This spear has clearly lost its original sharpness.

In contrast, the Han army that came to reinforce...

The formation was well-organized and the equipment was excellent.

The four infantry units positioned in the center not only had over 70% armor, but also featured striking white animal fur as decoration.

These are clearly Liu Bei's most elite White Feather Soldiers!

Taking advantage of the Wei army's sudden entry into the formation and the temporary loss of speed.

Nearly two thousand White Feather soldiers from the Fourth Army charged forward following the banner bearing the character "麋" (Mi), and immediately seized Cao Zhen's position.

Cao Zhen's men fought desperately to cover their commander's breakout.

However, the white feathers surged in like a tide, and the more Cao Zhen tried to break through, the more he was trapped in the white ocean, unable to extricate himself.

However, after only half an hour, only thirty or forty riders remained alive by his side.

Meanwhile, in the other directions...

The knights in the northwest direction were already showing signs of defeat because the fire had suddenly broken out and their commander was surrounded by the enemy.

The force in the northeast was pushed back by Liu Bei's personal troops and was routed.

The only hope lies with the infantry who remain in the camp.

However, because he was flanking and attacking the artillery formation from behind.

At this time, several Han troops were separating the two sides.

A vast sea of ​​fire blocked the way.

At the infantry's speed, it was too late for them to detour and come to the rescue.

As for Xiahou Mao in Chang'an?

He should be thankful that he managed to keep the city under control and prevent people from running away!

Soon, Han troops from all sides flocked to the scene after their victories.

Cao Zhen was completely surrounded by tens of thousands of Han soldiers. The sun was already setting.

Cao Zhen squinted and looked westward, vaguely seeing a Wei general's flag approaching Chang'an.

Looking further east, towards Baqiao, a group of knights carrying banners bearing the character "Zhang" are crossing the river.

Behind it, Chang'an was as quiet as a dead city.

Therefore, Cao Zhen had no further thoughts.

He held the sword horizontally to his throat.

Before slitting his throat, Cao Zhen glanced at the enemy in front of him one last time.

The southeast wind, which had been blowing for half a day, had now weakened.

That expanse of white fur filled the field of vision, swaying in the wind like a blooming reed bed.

Above that was a banner with the character "麋" (mí) fluttering in the wind.

The elk is a species of deer.

The deer have now fled into the Central Plains.

Is the world about to change hands?
Cao Zhen suddenly widened his eyes.

He couldn't actually think too far ahead.

It just suddenly dawned on me.

In fact, the southeast wind blowing today is still valuable to the Han army.

Because the wind was blowing west, the fire would not reach Liu Bei's camp on the east side.

This startled the Han emperor, who was on his last breath.

The stronger the east wind, the safer Liu Bei will be.

There's no need to take risks and go through all that trouble.

Think about it this way.

The three-wheeled vehicle that was inexplicably attacked this morning.

It was probably the Han army testing the wind force in advance.

That's truly... a plan that leaves no stone unturned.

……

"Gone……"

There was a snap.

Xiahou Mao collapsed to the ground.

Cao Zidan was such a brave and valiant man.

Those thousands of elite knights.

They were scattered by a great fire and then wiped out by the Han army.

Xiahou Mao was not unaware of the meaning of the ruthlessness of water and fire.

It's not that I don't know what the power of heaven and earth is.

He simply couldn't accept that his side had clearly secured victory that morning.

How did the situation suddenly reverse after only half a day?
Cao Zhen, who had always bullied him, was also his greatest military reliance.

How could he have suddenly disappeared?

And more importantly.

Cao Zhen is gone.

Guo Huai was not there either.

Such a large city as Chang'an.

Such a formidable group of Han soldiers and generals.

Who will defend us?
Am I Xiahou Mao?
"General..."

A dejected voice came from behind.

Xiahou Mao shivered involuntarily.

Turning around, he saw Wang Zhao returning from outside the city.

Xiahou Mao subconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword, forcing a calm expression as he said:

"Before Cao Zidan went on the expedition, he must have ordered you to guard the camp, right?"

Wang Zhao nodded.

Xiahou Mao: "Then what do you mean by coming uninvited?"

"Now that Zidan is dead, do you think no one can control you?"

Wang Zhaolian said he dared not.

Then, in a panic, he said:

"It's Zheng Gan!"

"Seeing that Cao Zhenxi had been defeated by the Han army, he led his troops to surrender to the enemy!"

Xiahou Mao was not surprised at all.

They were even somewhat relieved that Cao Zhen's influence was still intact, and that Zheng Gan had only defected and had not taken the opportunity to occupy the camp outside the city.

He slowly stood up and sneered:
"He didn't surrender earlier or later; he only thought of surrendering after Liu Bei's great victory. I'm afraid that if he really joined Liu Bei's forces, he would be regarded as a pig or a dog."

Wang Zhao could certainly tell that Xiahou Mao was warning him not to follow Zheng Gan's example.

However, he never had that ambition.

Or rather, if they were to actually vote, they would have to vote along with the entire city of Chang'an.

In short, never be the first to stick your neck out.

Xiahou Mao's threat, on the contrary, was a sign of weakness.

So he mustered some courage and said seriously:

"General, you should think about how to defend Chang'an if it loses external support!"

"Zheng Gan did not go south directly to join Liu Bei, but instead crossed the river north to join Zhao Yun!"

(End of this chapter)