Cao Chun immediately thought of one person, the most suitable candidate, Xia Houshang.
To Cao Chun's surprise, Xin Ping seemed to be seriously thinking about Cao Chun's "strategy."
However, Xin Ping quickly added, saying that the candidate for the test could be Xia Houshang, but the direction of the test still needs to be paid attention to.
For Cao Jun in Yuyang, the greatest threat was not the unknown Hu troops that emerged from the Gushui area, but the Northern Territory Protectorate to the west.
In fact, Youbei is still facing the threat from Liaodong...
It's just that because the Wuhuan people have never moved south, Cao Jun has never paid attention to the Wuhuan people. Even though Cao Cao had made a trick in the name of the Wuhuan people before.
Among the forces faced by Cao Jun in Youbei, the largest number was actually not the Northern Territory Protector, but the Hu people. Whether it was the Hu people in the Gushui area or the Wuhuan people in the Liaodong area, the total number was
There are more than the Northern Territory Protectorate. But obviously, the number of people is not the only criterion that determines the victory or defeat of the war.
This point was already practiced once by the Six Kingdoms during the Warring States Period, and the feudal dynasties that followed continued to practice it. Until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they still emphasized that they had many people, vast land and abundant resources, and dreamed of the dream of the Central Dynasty.
War cannot be fought without blood and courage, nor can it be fought without population. But it is very difficult to fight with blood and courage and population alone.
As for why the Northern Territory Protectorate, with a smaller number of people, was harder to attack than the more numerous barbarians, Xin Ping didn't say anything because he was interested, and Cao Chun had no intention of asking. It was almost a tacit understanding.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been ecstatic to hear that Zhao Yun was to be replaced.
Cao Chun's idea was to attack these barbarians, especially the barbarians who appeared on the Gushui side. However, Xin Ping felt that the number of these barbarians was not large. Instead, he could urgently contact the Wuhuan people and let the Wuhuan people
Come forward and attack these barbarians.
The enemy in the north is too deep and is indeed difficult to defeat.
The enemy's base in the west is in Changshan City, which is far enough away from Youbei. If Cao's army launches a conquest, the Hussar Northern Territory Protectorate may not even engage Cao's army head-on, but use the vast Mobei to maneuver.
What's more, if we attack the hussars in the west now, wouldn't that give Zhao Yun a perfect reason to stay?
Cao Chun's eyebrows were almost kneaded into a ball at the center of his eyebrows.
Luring the Wuhuan people out and killing people with borrowed knives is indeed a way, but it will also lead to more hidden dangers. If the Wuhuan people come out, they will end up combining with the barbarians who came down from Mobei in the middle of the battle, and in turn take advantage of Cao Jun's army.
How about a sneak attack when attacking the Northern Territory Protectorate?
Both Hu and Han people have done this kind of back-tracking. The key is where the balance of cost and gain is tilted.
Xin Ping agreed with Cao Chun's idea.
Cao Chun stood still in Yuyang, Youbei, which was an invisible deterrent to the Hu people. Before Cao Jun's military intentions and marching route were thoroughly understood, neither the Hu people in Gushui nor Liaodong dared to invest all their strength.
Give it a try.
However, Xin Ping also said that even if he really wants to attack the Northern Territory Protectorate, Cao Jun's cavalry cannot be fully dispatched. After all, some of them have to be left to look after their hometown. The fewer mobile troops, the less effective the attack will be.
And the war may also take new changes. After all, behind the Northern Territory Protectorate, there are two Mobei defense lines of Hussars.
Yinshan City.
Cao Chun nodded. Xin Ping's concerns were very reasonable.
Cao's cavalry now needs to be dispatched and arranged in three directions, and the entire battlefield is still in the vast northern desert. It is indeed extremely difficult to win. But this battle must be fought.
Otherwise, Cao Jun would be like being stuck in the soil. It would be difficult for him to even grow branches and leaves, let alone blossom and bear fruit!
But once a war begins, there will be winners and losers.
Although Cao Chun is determined to win, there is no guarantee that there will be no mistakes or accidents, and if something goes wrong...
Just imagining the desolate and tragic scene of the great defeat in his mind, Cao Chun's hands seemed to tremble slightly due to being overwhelmed, and he had to press hard on the table to avoid this trembling.
Xin Ping looked at Cao Chun and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He pondered for a moment and said softly: "General... there is another plan here... but it may wrong General Xiahou..."
…
In the forward camp, Xia Houshang was silent for a long time before he said with difficulty: "Someone..."
As soon as he said the words, Xiahou Shang was startled. He didn't know when his throat became dry and hoarse, as if he was half dehydrated. At the same time, he felt the burning in his throat, so he quickly picked up the bottle beside him.
He came to drink syrup, but because he drank so fast, he choked and coughed violently.
Tears and snot spurted out at the same time, and I was extremely embarrassed for a moment.
"Why so-and-so!?" Xia Houshang wiped his face with his hands, but his red face and eyes made him feel a little more cruel in addition to his embarrassment.
"Why not?!" Cao Chun stared at Xiahou Shang indifferently, "Is it possible that despite repeated defeats and the loss of troops and generals, one can still be unharmed?"
"Someone..." Xia Houshang also wanted to stand up and shout, "I have shed blood for the big man and sweated for the prime minister, but when I think about it, I seem to be sweating, am I bleeding... It seems not. Now go and get yourself a knife."
, I don’t know if it’s too late or not?
"But I have been punished! Now I have lost my position as general!"
Xia Houshang still wanted to present the facts and reason.
How can one be unreasonable?
Obviously, a little fairy, er, little fairy who is so handsome, unrestrained and beautiful, met someone of the opposite sex, and got confused for a moment, confused her thoughts, and did some trivial wrong things, and even apologized and punished her.
I paid, what else do you want?
Cao Chun still said indifferently: "Last time, it was the last time, this time, it is this time."
"What the last time..." Xia Houshang's body swayed. He felt that his legs and feet were a little weak, and he couldn't care less about maintaining a dignified posture. He sat down and pressed his hands on the desk, sweat rolling down his face.
Isn’t it just writing a short composition...
Bah, isn’t it just a matter of losing a few battles?
As a general in command, how can I be victorious in every battle? Moreover, I have been defeated repeatedly!
Shouldn't it be commended?
Why has the world become like this now?
Cao Chun walked up to Xia Houshang, stretched out his hand to hold Xia Houshang's shoulders, lowered his head, and lowered his voice: "No one else is worthy of trusting at the moment. I can only trust you..."
"..." Xia Houshang wanted to cry but had no tears.
Please, don't believe me, I don't believe myself, but Xiahou Shang also knows that this is indeed the case. After all, according to the relationship between the Cao family and the Xiahou family, Cao Chun can be trusted to never betray, and he will never betray. It is indeed only Xia Houshang.
Xia Houshang suddenly raised his head and said, "That's right! General, you believe me, so how can they believe me? If I go over there, wouldn't I be asking for death?"
"It's not a way to die, but a way to live." Cao Chun also sat down in front of Xiahou Shang, stared at Xiahou Shang and said, "You continue to lead the army... How many more times do you want to be defeated? We can be defeated by the Hussars." I understand, and I won’t say anything... Then you were defeated by Zhang He and Zhang Junyi... Now you face the barbarians... Say it yourself, if this continues, what chance will you have to survive? Either die in front of the battle, or die in front of the battle. Under the gate!』
"This..." Xia Houshang was stunned.
I have to say that what Cao Chun said is not unreasonable.
Military law is ruthless. If Xiahou Shang always treats Xiahou Shang so favorably, how will Cao Jun in Youbei manage the army? There is no need to pay the price for defeating the battle, and you can still get promoted and make a fortune, so who will want to win the battle? Then everyone will Everyone is staring at Xia Houshang. How can he convince the public if he doesn't deal with Xia Houshang?
"If what I expected is true," Cao Chun looked outside the tent, "there must have been a lot of discussion in the camp...but you didn't pay attention to it..."
Xia Houshang raised his head and looked at Cao Chun, with a bitter look on his face, "Really...is this the only way it can be? If someone...if..."
Cao Chun said in a deep voice: "Do you know that the son of Guanzhong Hussar wants to replace Zhao Yun and Zhao Zilong?"
"What?" Xia Houshang opened his mouth, "Is this serious?"
"There are some things that are hard to say clearly in front of Xin Zongzhi," Cao Chun patted Xia Houshang's arm, "I think the lord's strategy of estrangement has worked... If you are more friendly to Xin Zuozhi after you arrive in the Northern Territory... At the same time, we must also make good friends with Zhang Junyi..."
"Zhang Junyi?!" Xia Houshang couldn't help but said, "He is a traitor!"
Cao Chun snorted, "What happened to Zhang Junyi back then... This matter is not important anymore. What is important is that since Zhang Junyi defected once, why can't he defect a second time?"
Xia Houshang's heart turned into a mess, with mixed flavors and he didn't know what it was like.
When Cao Chun spoke about Zhang He, his words contained a lot of contempt.
That's right, no one likes traitors. Everyone thinks that loyalty is the best quality of a person, so they will despise traitors and respect loyal ministers. Therefore, for Xin Pi and Zhang He, they probably did not live well under the hussar. Okay, this is what Xia Houshang can imagine, but...
If Xia Houshang follows Cao Chun's plan and "rebels" in the past, even if he can really complete the so-called spying situation in the future, understand the truth, and fight for the great cause of the Cao family for the rest of his life, will Xia Houshang still have to die forever?
The name of a traitor has been despised and ridiculed by everyone since then?
This feeling is very bad.
Xia Houshang couldn't help but feel a little angry when he thought of this, so much so that his eyes changed a little, his breath became thicker, and his fists were clenched at some point.
Cao Chun pressed Xiahou Shang's fist on the table, "Boren... think more about Xiahou Clan... you are not alone... don't forget that when you were in Qiao County, we all gathered together under the lord's banner."
, the oath I swore... The lord needs to unite the Han people, isn't there any danger in this? Is it possible that only the lord takes the risk, and the rest of us can enjoy it safely?"
"..." Xia Houshang was silent.
"In the Northern Territory, we originally sent scouts, but for a period of time, we have been conducting thorough raids inside and outside Chang'an, including the Northern Territory, and we have lost a lot of manpower... This son of a hussar wants to withdraw from Zhao Duhu.
It took a lot of effort to get the news out..." Cao Chun said in a low voice, "And we don't know whether this thing is true or not. If...we can only enter the interior of the Northern Territory and inquire about the more detailed arrangements of the Hussars, we
Now we have a chance to win!』
Xia Houshang was silent for a long time, and couldn't help but ask: "Do you have to ask me to go? Change... Change to another one. I think the military lord of the Cao family in the camp is good..."
Xiahou Shang also understood what Cao Chun meant, and wanted Xia Houshang to investigate the situation in the Northern Territory. If Zhao Yun was really replaced, there would inevitably be some shocks in the Northern Territory Protectorate. When Cao Chun came with his troops, then
Xia Houshang, who was coordinating internally and externally, was able to overthrow the Northern Territory Protectorate in one go without saying a word!
However, it is very dangerous to pretend to surrender and become a spy. If the other party finds out, there will be no way to survive.
The other side doesn't need hundreds or even thousands of people to besiege them. They can just use a few soldiers and jailers to directly kill Xiahou Shang. Moreover, the other side is not a fool. On the surface, they will give preferential treatment to those who surrender. In fact,
Maybe he is very vigilant and does not allow him any chance to come into contact with secrets.
Isn't this how Cao Cao treated his surrendered generals?
Cao Cao even went to Yuan Shao's grave to reuse the same old team members. The more famous and powerful those who later surrendered to Cao Cao, the more they were feared by Cao Cao. On the contrary, some of them had no following at all.
Only those from poor families would be promoted and used by Cao Cao.
One more thing, is it easy to be a spy?
Haven't you heard that there is a Wensi under the Hussars, who specializes in catching spies and spies? Has he already gained a reputation?
This is definitely a high-risk, low-reward task!
Cao Chun wanted to let Xiahou Shang go, expressing his trust in Xiahou Shang, his reuse, a bright future in the future, and a shortcut to gain merit. However, no matter how nice he said it, he could not hide the danger involved.
Could it be that for the sake of the Han Dynasty and the foundation of the Prime Minister, he should give up everything without hesitation, including his own life? Xiahou Shang blinked his eyes and smacked his lips. He wanted to show that he had sworn to follow the crowd, but there were so many people anyway.
As they gathered together, Wuyang Wuyang shouted, who knows who is shouting and who is not?
Besides, is there any evidence of what I swore back then? Is there any preserved image data? Who can prove that I said these words back then? Who can prove that the witnesses back then were not telling lies?
Xia Houshang thinks he is not that noble yet.
The passion to go through fire and water for a word has gradually faded with age. On the contrary, the idea that I have worked hard for the Han Dynasty and the prime minister's foundation for so many years, and now I should enjoy it more or less, is increasing year by year.
.
"General...can you not go here?"
That’s not even...』
Cao Chun let go of Xia Houshang's hand, pondered for a moment, and said coldly, "Are you...sure you don't want to go?"
Xia Houshang coughed a few times and said sincerely: "I'm not afraid of being too dangerous...but this matter is very important. I'm worried that if I can't do it well...it will miss the general's important mission..."
Cao Chun didn't say anything immediately. He stared at Xia Houshang silently.
Xia Houshang was stared at and was a little scared. He had already expressed his refusal, so next, would Cao Chun just let him go, or would he use his previous defeat to force him?
Xia Houshang has been observing Cao Chun's expression.
He knew very well that most of the time, recruiting spies was nothing more than using two methods, one was coercion and the other was inducement.
Take the handle and force it to obey orders, either by making a promise, or directly giving you some benefits that you can't usually get, and using the heavy reward, there must be the golden rule of a brave man to tempt it to sacrifice your life.
The first method can indeed be used by Cao Chun now.
Xiahou Shang was defeated and could not manage the army well. Is this a problem? It is indeed a problem, and Xiahou Shang cannot shirk it. But if Cao Chun wants to use this as a coercion and expresses his intention to take Xiahou Shang's life...
Xia Houshang said that he was not scared.
After all, beating a dog...
Bah bah.
By continuously dealing with people in the Xiahou family, even if there is a legitimate reason, can it be said that everyone in the Xiahou family will be convinced? Don't you suspect that the Cao family wants to take the opportunity to eliminate dissidents and start crossing the river and burning bridges?
If Cao Chun opened fire as soon as he came up and killed him with a knife, then what could be said? But what if Cao Chun did not dare to kill him, but just wanted to force him to do dangerous spy work, and then give him
Cao Chun paved the way himself...
Juma Maipi, why aren’t you a traitor with thick eyebrows and big eyes?
Cao Chun pondered for a long time, and finally sighed and said: "That's okay! If you don't want to go, then you have to give up... I will consider this plan again..."
Xiahou Shang swallowed his saliva. Did he go too far?
Xia Houshang said that he was not afraid of coercion, but he was just saying that he wanted to discuss the price of this "inducement" again!
He also knows his own weight to some extent. If he really has to rely on military merit to climb, then... Cao Chun's words are really right. If it works, it will be a shortcut! Leading the army in battle will not work, but drinking and building relationships, on the surface,
Saying nice words, secretly spreading maggots to cause some destruction, isn't that what it is?
What's more, I didn't really go to Guanzhong for three and three years. I just stayed in the Northern Territory to see if Zhao Yun was really dismissed...
As for the danger, it is indeed there, but it is also done once and for all!
Done, I’ll eat this once in my life!
Seeing Cao Chun leaving, Xia Houshang's eyes widened. Was he really going to leave like that?
In fact, Cao Chun also wanted to directly threaten Xiahou Shang, but in this kind of espionage matter, the most important thing is the spy himself. If Xiahou Shang was forced too much, and then really defected to the Northern Territory, and in turn exposed Cao Chun's plan,
Wouldn't it be that he was digging a hole for himself instead? Therefore, Cao Chun tried his best to present the facts and reason, so that Xia Houshang could "volunteer"...
"General Zihe!" When Cao Chun was about to walk out of the tent, Xiahou Shang stopped Cao Chun, "......I want to think about it...think about it..."
Add money!
asshole!
Cao Chun stopped, turned around and looked at Xia Houshang, and nodded after a moment, "Okay, just think about it again... But now the opportunity is fleeting... If you miss it, it's...
