"Hahaha! It's so good! Hurry up! The whole army is in formation! Passing orders to Anmin to cut off the Tongguan Ferry! Archers, are the bows and arrows lined up?" A series of orders came from Cao Hong's mouth, full of murderous intent.
All the Cao army soldiers held the weapons in their hands tightly and stood in the open space in the camp to gather. From time to time, the sound of military academy sounded in the queue.
When the so-called "dealership" banquet in the New Year was held, the Cao army had already greeted him, saying that the cavalry army was definitely not a human being and would definitely come for a night attack. So when they really heard the noise of the night attack, the Cao army soldiers immediately got up automatically, lined up in the middle of the camp, and were full of anger...
Among Chinese customs, which festival is more important than the New Year?
Even if you have to harass the New Year, you will have to go night to attack and harass it. How can this make people accept it calmly?
Cao Hong disliked the slow movement of the guards' armored straits, so he slapped the guard in front of him and then started to do it himself, tied the knots in three or two, while walking out. Ordinary soldiers were holding their breath because they were disturbed on the New Year holiday, while Cao Hong was angry because of the safety of his son.
Of course, Cao Hong's anger could not be posted on Cao Cao. After all, no matter how stupid Cao Hong is, he knows that Cao Cao is the core of Cao's family, and his son Cao Zhen is just...
This is my son!
Cao Hong gritted his teeth and came to the front of the military formation that had just been lined up. He didn't say anything nonsense, but raised his arms and raised his head to whistle, "Ah... the enemy died!!"
The general was the courage of the army. Seeing him like this, the Cao army soldiers lined up shouted together. The swords and guns were raised like a forest, and a murderous aura suddenly arose. Perhaps the eyes, which were a little nervous, now also exuded a fanatic look, and the boiling fighting spirit surged.
"The offender dies!"
"Die!"
The roar sounded like thunder, resounding throughout the world.
Cao Hong called out "invading the army", but he thought in his heart that he was "invading me" or "invading my son"...
Even if most parents dislike their children on weekdays and say stupid things, they still love their children in their hearts. If others say stupid things...
Therefore, Cao Hong was full of anger and couldn't find a place to vent his anger. Now that the Cavalry Army is attacking at night, isn't it just right?
Even so, Cao Hong still did not forget his responsibilities as a general. He issued several orders one after another to stabilize the defense of the camp, especially the Central Army camp, and then he was ready to take his men and horses to meet the guys who came to attack the night after a while.
But when he raised his long sword and got on the horse and was about to go to the Tongguan Ferry, the guards on the side felt something was wrong when they saw this, so they took two quick steps and grabbed Cao Hong's horse head reins, "The master... was not in Tongguan Ferry, but in Niutou Yuan..."
"Hmm? Ah?" Cao Hong was stunned.
The anger that rose in Cao Hong's heart just now was not completely unaffected. After receiving the warning, he subconsciously thought that it was the night attack soldiers of the Cavalry, who were in the Tongguan Sakata or Tongguan Ferry direction, because this direction was the most convenient, whether it was attacking or retreating.
But why is it in the direction of Niutouyuan?
Suddenly, Cao Hong shivered suddenly, and the originally angry expression on his face reduced by three points. His own personal guards would not deceive him, and there was no need to deceive him, so what he said must be the facts, and there is no need to ask or doubt again, but this means that the Cavalry Army has always had another offensive line?
Cao Hong turned his horse's head and headed towards Niutouyuan. "Niutouyuan... sent someone to tell the lord if he had he done this?"
The personal guard responded to the affirmative answer, and Cao Hong was a little relieved, but what he was puzzled was how did the Cavalry Army come from the gap between Niutouyuan and Linzhiyuan?
No matter day and night, the Cao army sent people to patrol the Ganggu. Moreover, the reason why Tongguan was chosen on Linzhi Plain instead of building on Niutou Plain is that the gap between Niutou Plain and Linzhi Plain cannot be easily crossed?
Did the cavalry get around the gap?
impossible.
Even if you really walk along the gulf, the gulf is winding and winding, at least two hundred miles. Even if you don’t care whether there is any threat from beasts and bears in the wilderness forests around the Qinling Mountains, you don’t care about the wrinkled and cracked gaps at the edges of the two plateaus. Just climbing up and down and going back and forth, there must be at least six or seven hundred miles. How can you go without water?
Everyone knows that water is indispensable in baggage, but it must not be carried too much.
Generally speaking, Baili is a limit.
If there is no water for more than a hundred miles, you should consider abandoning other loads and bringing more water. Once there is no water source for more than three hundred miles, soldiers may be attenuated and injured or killed. Then some extraordinary measures may be taken, such as killing horses, or...
Or did the cavalry army dig a tunnel for water storage in advance?
It's also impossible.
Who would have nothing to do and dig a water storage pit in the wilderness? And if you really dig such a pit, where will the water transport it from? Although the river is right next to it, the water flows downward. It would be better to dig a water storage pit on a loess-structured plateau like Niutou Yuan or Linzhi Yuan. It would be amazing to have half the effort with twice the effort. The labor consumed is also amazing. The cavalry would be so stupid, just to open up another road?
But if this is not the case, how could there be a cavalry and horse appear on Niutouyuan?
Countless questions came over, which made Cao Hong feel a little restless. Then he led his men out of the camp and walked along the Honggu towards the Qinling Mountains of Niutouyuan, Cao Hong was still thinking about these questions but could not find the answer.
After walking for a while, suddenly in the cold wind, Cao Hong heard some creepy sounds, and suddenly he stood upright instinctively. With a scream, he hid his body on the other side of the sound, and shouted loudly: "Disper! Be careful of the arrow!"
Cao Hong called him wrong, not an arrow, but a crossbow.
Due to the limitation of human arm strength, in addition to some non-human existences (Huang Zhong: Hum?), the maximum range of most trained archers is about thirty or forty feet, and a few people can reach fifty or sixty feet, that is, a distance of nearly two hundred meters. The range of a strong crossbow is not limited by human arm strength, but is divided into three stones to eight stones according to the string force of the crossbow.
Most of the three-stone crossbows in the Han Dynasty, which are commonly equipped crossbows in the army, can reach a range of about 180 meters, and four-stone crossbows can reach a range of about 250 meters. If it is a ten-stone crossbow, it can reach a range of 600 meters.
Of course, the so-called strong crossbow is at the end, so under normal circumstances, whether it is a bow or a strong crossbow, the actual combat distance is about 100 meters. For most people, it is no longer an effective shooting target.
Unless it is...
Cover shot.
The gap between Niutou Yuan and Linzhi Yuan is a distance of hundreds of feet wide and a narrow distance of thirty or forty feet. This distance is beyond the shooting range of ordinary archers, and most of the time it is windy, so the shooting accuracy is even more important than that.
Without shooting accuracy, you can only count based on shooting density.
In the darkness, countless crossbow arrows rose into the air, crossed the gap, and fell in a terrifying whizz.
However, it was a very long-range cover shooting after all, and it was in the dark. Although Cao's torches were used as guidance, it was difficult to control the correct head. Many crossbow arrows fell directly to the ground, but at least a small part of the crossbow arrows fell on the Cao's soldiers who were moving forward in an array.
Accompanied by the crossbow arrows slammed on the armor and body, a series of terrible cry sounded on the edge of the chasm.
The Cao army soldiers who were shot fell to the ground and moaned in pain. Cao army, who was lucky enough not to be shot, held up a shield and was still in shock.
Normally, there are three or more things like arrows and crossbows, so experienced Cao army soldiers stayed in place as much as possible, using shields or other cover to protect themselves. Only the new recruits will stand blankly, or run subconsciously in a panic, and then ushered in the second wave, as well as the subsequent Rain of Arrows and Crossbows.
But the second wave of arrow rain in the nine-year New Year of Taixing is obviously coming later than usual...
For some reason, Cao Hong, who was surrounded by his personal guards, suddenly felt chill all over, just like a single horse being targeted by a tiger and leopard in the forest.
Cao Hong pushed away the guard in front of him and stared at the opposite side of the gulf. Then he saw some torches suddenly lit up on the opposite side, and these torches looked a little weird...
Before Cao Hong could figure out where the weirdness was, the outline of a black object was reflected in his eyes, causing his heart to shrink suddenly, and then he almost instinctively shouted: "Scatter!"
"boom!"
『Boom boom boom boom...』
In the night sky, the roar of artillery fire was like thunder.
The gushing light illuminated the entire night sky in an instant, causing the stars in the sky to lose their color.
The shells easily flew over the gap, flew across forty or fifty feet, and rushed directly into the Cao army's array. Especially the Cao army's flag not far away from Cao Hong, which was the focus of artillery fire.
Cao Hong lay on the ground.
I don't know if it was the earth trembling or he was trembling himself.
The Huang family's workshop has not yet developed a hollow cannon, but the solid cannon shell has more powerful kinetic energy, destroying all the things in front of it. In an instant, it was like seven or eight small knives, cutting the bloody holes of Cao's army.
After the roar of artillery fire, the torches on the other side of the Great Valley were extinguished one after another.
Cao Hong's ears were still buzzing. He found that his legs were as weak as soup cakes and could not use any strength. He hit the side of his legs twice before he had the strength to get up from the ground and stood shakingly.
The long sword that Cao Hong originally grabbed in his hand was thrown to where he was thrown.
And the flag that represents his identity and status is now covered with blood and limbs.
The flag fell to the ground, and panicked soldiers stepped on it.
Cao Hong stood in a daze and looked at the opposite side of the Great Gou in a daze.
The surroundings were the howlings of soldiers, and the breath of blood and smoke gathered into a scent that made Cao Hong frightened. He suddenly felt that the gap opposite seemed to be rising, rising, and rising to a height like the sky, while his own side was shrinking and shortening until it tilted to fall into hell...
Suddenly, Cao Hong realized that he fell to the ground again because of his weak legs.
The stars in the sky seemed to be spinning, like his chaotic heart.
This is not the war he is familiar with.
This is a terrifying future.
This is the terror of human beings in the face of artillery fire, which is as terrifying as humble ants.
Martial courage and armor are ridiculous in the face of this power as if a mantis blocks a car.
Generals and soldiers will face the same threat and death. Even if there are many guards standing in front of you, they will still be unable to withstand the power of the artillery...
Cao Hong was creepy.
This is not the first time he has seen artillery, but this is the first time he has experienced the breath of death with his own eyes under the threat of artillery, and he is almost embraced by death. This feeling is undoubtedly stronger than standing behind the formation from a distance and watching the shells smash several pits on the Tongguan Sakura...
『General!』
『Reign of Lord!』
The guards beside him only reacted at this moment, shouting in a hurry, looking for Cao Hong.
"Oh..." Cao Hong wanted to speak out, but found that his voice was extremely hoarse.
He was afraid of instinct, he was angry of fear, he was ashamed of anger.
"Ahhhhhhhh..." Cao Hong roared, hammered the ground with both hands, stood up again, and roared to the other side of the gulf.
At this moment, even Cao Hong himself didn't know what he was roaring.
Maybe it's concealing something.
"Don't raise the fire..." Cao Hong gasped and issued an order, "Scatter the queue...Scatter...
As a long-time general, Cao Hong almost understood how to defend against artillery without any instruction.
Cao Hong comforted himself that the cannon is just a mutated catapult at the moment, so what should I be afraid of?
That's right, it's not worth fearing at all!
Then what am I afraid of?
No, I'm not afraid at all!
Cao Hong shook off the guard's hand and took a deep breath. Even though the smell around him was not so good, even though his legs and feet were still shaking slightly, he could already stand firm and his breathing became smoother again.
『Calculate the losses! Treat the injured!" Cao Hong shouted, "The forward line is forward and avoid the gap! Be careful that the cavalry and horses take the opportunity to attack!"
The soldiers of Cao's army were revived after having the backbone, but before they had completely restored the stable order, some lights and fires suddenly flashed in the distance of Niutouyuan...
After being covered by crossbow arrows and artillery, the soldiers of the Cao army were more or less frightened, and suddenly became restless. Everyone raised their shields and clenched their swords and guns, ready to face the attack from the darkness.
『Puchi, sir... sir... sir... sir... sir... 』
But this time, it is not a weapon of destruction.
A strange, strange, but colorful fireworks splattered in the night sky. Countless silver, gold, purple, and red light spots formed a gorgeous light in the night sky that Cao Jun and others had never seen in their lifetime.
These colorful brilliances are like elves, competing for glory with the stars in the sky, or playing in the sky, and then disappearing in an instant, leaving only the afterimages in their eyes, and they are unwilling to leave for a long time.
The soldiers of Cao's army widened their eyes and opened their mouths, like dumb geese, raised their heads, looked at the fireworks and the colorful colors blooming.
The Cao army camp in the distance was also alarmed, and even made a louder sound than the previous artillery fire. It was a buzzing sound, and countless eyes were staring at this sky, chasing the moments of light and gorgeous light and shadow, as if pursuing the meaning of their life...
Zhu Ling was almost lost in the gorgeous fireworks, but the pungent smell of gunpowder reminded him that he was still in the dangerous range, and kicked his subordinates who were almost unable to walk, trotted all the way and returned along the same route.
Without the influence of the heavy objects carried by Zhu Ling and others, they quickly walked along the simple centipede ladder and sneaked into the gap. Then, they shook the centipede ladder below, pulled them off the soil wall one by one, tied them together, and then ran along the gap to the opposite side.
Zhu Ling never expected that the items he and his subordinates would actually be this type of "weapon"...
But suddenly, he also had some insights.
Beauty is actually a kind of power.
This power does not require words, race, or justice for Confucius and Mencius. It will not differ because of men, women, age and young. It is a force that can directly impact the soul, even on this bloody battlefield.
Perhaps it is the bloody battlefield that makes the fireworks look even more thrilling and beautiful.
While Zhu Ling and others were climbing along the rope ladder thrown by the people on Linzhiyuan, a batch of fireworks were ignited on the side of Linzhiyuan. So in the night sky, another whole patch of dreamy colors rose into the air, splashing, jumping, and rotating in the night sky, which once again attracted the attention of everyone on both sides of the gulf...
Zhu Ling looked up and smiled a big smile, then accelerated his pace, grabbed a hand that stretched out from the gap, and flipped onto the ground of the earthen plateau.
In the distance, a large group of loud soldiers gathered on a raised mound, surrounding their hands at their mouths and shouting horns.
『Three, two, one!』
"The thunderbolts bid farewell to the old year, and the fire trees and silver flowers welcome the new year!"
After pausing for a moment, he repeated this sentence in the brilliance of fireworks.
Fireworks bloom above the head, and words echo in the ears.
The people on both sides of the gulf were vaguely seen by the fireworks, but for some reason, no one wanted to continue fighting or wave weapons at the other party. Even Cao Hong and others who had just been attacked seemed to be stunned and forgot everything...
Power and beauty.
It's about as strong as it is.
The fireworks are gorgeous and eventually disappear.
After returning to the darkness, the soldiers under the cavalry shouted one after another in the darkness:
『Thank you for your hard work, Prime Minister!』
『Happy New Year, Prime Minister!』
"It's gone, it's gone..."
"Don't stand stupidly, there are no gifts..."
"Everything is back! Remember to report your safety to your family..."
Then there were bursts of laughter and laughter, accompanied by the cheers of the cavalrymen above and below Tongguan City, gradually fading away...
Chapter completed!