Huang Cheng had been to Jinyang before, but the once prosperous and majestic city is now full of devastation.
Above the city walls, bricks and stones are scattered, and among the broken walls, the scenery of the past has disappeared.
The air was filled with smoke and scorched earth, as if the lingering sound of war drums and the roar of the iron cavalry.
On both sides of the street, the wreckage of shops scattered all over the ground, wooden beams broke and tiles broke, and the once prosperous and lively scene has turned into ashes.
Under the city wall, in the city gate, and on the streets, although most of the corpses were cleaned up, the blood-soaked land and bricks still seemed to tell the cruelty and ruthlessness of the war.
In the city and city, some crying sounds were heard from time to time, making people feel the heart-wrenching pain contained in it.
It takes at least ten years for a person to go from birth to growth, from toddler to running strongly, but under the sword and gun, it may only take a moment to destroy it.
Huang Cheng sighed slightly.
Fortunately, the Hussars insisted on not killing the people of Jinyang on the city wall, and now they have received some rewards. After Cao's army retreated, although the city of Jinyang was in ruins, the restoration of the overall order had begun to be carried out in a difficult and orderly manner.
Among the ruins, some people were griefing, pulling up bricks and wood that could continue to be used.
Under the broken eaves and broken walls on both sides of the street, temporary sheds were also built using half of the walls.
Below the corner of the wall, a simple stove surrounded by bricks and stones is cooking porridge, providing some shallow warmth to the people whose homes have been destroyed.
The shops opened the doors one after another when the battle was far away from the streets and were less damaged. Even though there were no rich products in the shops, it seemed that they were using this method to restore some vitality to the streets and markets.
Hussar soldiers also began patrolling the city to ensure the safety and stability of the city.
However, it is obvious that the trauma of war cannot be healed overnight.
Many families have lost their loved ones, and their hearts are still filled with grief and sorrow.
Huang Cheng didn't expect to restore everything in Jinyang in a short period of time, but at least he could reduce their pain in this process and help them forget their pain as much as possible...
At the intersection of the central street, on the platform built with simple stones and wood, not only were there a few loud Hussar soldiers loudly preaching the "in and outs" of the battle, but also guided the suffering people to register and distribute living allowances.
Many people are ignorant, but even the ignorant people have emotions. They cannot tell the difference between what Cao's army said and the great righteousness mentioned by the cavalry army, but they can tell which side of the materials they get is heavier. They really just want a simple life, but even such a simple wish is still a very difficult thing in troubled times.
Huang Cheng arrived at the inner city of the city.
At the gate of the main government office, several soldiers picked up the military flags left by Cao's army and various arrangements, cleaned up the remaining waste. When they saw Huang Cheng and his party, they immediately bowed and retreated.
Huang Cheng dismounted, nodded slightly at the soldiers, and then stepped inside.
Fei Qian's attitude towards soldiers also affected Huang Cheng's circle of generals who were closer to Fei Qian.
Therefore, even if Huang Cheng doesn't like soldiers, he will at least not be rebellious and beat and scold him at will.
Sitting in the hall, Huang Cheng frowned and thought for a moment, and then ordered the leader of Bai Shiqiang to come...
Yesterday, the battle in Jinyang City was worthy of praise and shortcomings.
Within one day, the capture of Jinyang Xiong City and forced Xiahou Dun to retreat was enough to write a brilliant story in history.
The power of artillery was also fully demonstrated in this attack.
The original offensive and defensive structure of the Han Dynasty had undergone earth-shaking changes after the artillery appeared.
The offense and defense of war are like spears and shields.
Originally, the city wall was an unbreakable shield for most cold weapons, and in front of the cannon, the shield lost its effect of covering up, and this was not the end of the hot weapon, and this new change would also produce more tactical changes...
This change also made Huang Cheng make a mistake in this battle.
Perhaps it was because Huang Cheng focused his main attention on Jinyang City, or perhaps because Huang Cheng could not adapt to the huge changes brought by artillery, so that Huang Cheng himself could not imagine that he could break the city in one day, which caught Xiahou off guard when he finally escaped.
Huang Cheng originally arranged for Bai Shiqiang to cruise outside. The purpose was to maintain transparency on the battlefield, and the other was to prevent Bai Shiqiang from disrupting his attack rhythm and hurting the people in the city. However, he did not expect that Jinyang City was defeated so quickly that the follow-up troops that Huang Cheng had originally prepared were not used for the second wave of attacks...
As a result, when Xiahou Jun appeared on the battlefield with a golden helmet, Bai Shiqiang, who basically didn't know Xiahou Dun, regarded Xiahou Jun as Xiahou Dun, which in turn triggered the pursuit of Xiahou Jun from the large army, causing Xiahou Dun to escape in the chaos.
This is a problem with Bai Shiqiang, but it is also a problem with Huang Cheng.
It is the responsibility of the Qiang and Hu to be warned outside, covering the battlefield, and cruising outside. It is obvious that when Xiahou Dun escaped from the shell, Bai Shi Qiang was trapped, which also affected Huang Cheng's cavalry.
The leader of Baishi Qiang came, looking ashamed.
He knew that his subordinates had a problem. Although he cut off Xiahou Jun's head, he let out a bigger fish, which led to a mistake in the battle of Jinyang, where Huang Cheng might have achieved great success.
Even this mistake was not something he wanted or was caused by him on his own initiative, but it was also caused by his subordinates...
『General…』 The leader of Baishi Qiang didn't know what to say, 『This…』
『This matter…』 Huang Cheng waved his hand, 『It's not your fault. Let's sit down."
To be honest, Huang Cheng also wanted to leave everything in Jinyang right now and then chase and kill the fleeing Xiahou Dun.
But he can't do that.
If I were replaced by a greedy and inconsumable general, I would definitely want it all. I would not only ensure the recovery of Jinyang, but also appease the surrounding people, capture and kill Xiahou Dun, and further conquer Fengkou Xing...
Huang Cheng closed his eyes and thought about what would happen to General Fei Qian, the Cavalry, in this situation?
After a moment of silence, Huang Cheng decided that he should do the things in front of him first.
Bai Shiqiang's combat power is not too strong. It can be said that the combat power of most Hu cavalry is closely related to its leaders. For example, when the leader is Maodun Tan Shihuai, it is very awesome, but once it becomes the leader of Bai Shiqiang who is like a horse monkey who has forgotten his name, it is really a pile of weak chickens. Being able to achieve this now has already been considered an increase in local combat.
The people who wanted to get Bai Shiqiang to chase and kill along the Wukou Xing...
"Chief, there is a problem. I wonder if you have found it?" Huang Cheng said slowly, "Your subordinates have warriors, but... there are not many warriors, most of them are relatively... ordinary, right?"
The leader of Bai Shiqiang's heart skipped a beat and quickly wanted to explain, "General... I... my sons are all good..."
"Don't panic," Huang Cheng said slowly, trying his best to recall and imitate Fei Qian's tone and tone. "This is not accusing anything, but a fact... Your people actually have a big difference in the level of the upper and lower levels... Are you right? The soldiers before us are the same, it's good, but many of them are relatively poor... When they fight, they bravely rushed in front, but they often can't keep up, what's the result..."
"Uh..." The leader of Baishi Qiang didn't know what to say.
Can he say that his whole family brought it to him just to make more rice?
But if you say you are bragging about one and one as a hundred... Well, if you are a warrior who is a ten, just go around the camp, those old-fashioned and hungry little boys can be considered as warriors? The past and the future?
『Whatever people are good at is different...』 Huang Cheng continued, 『It is nothing wrong with brave people going to fight, but what will happen if the timid people follow them to fight? Just like there are so many people in Jinyang City, are they all brave? When the timid people meet Cao's army, they must hide aside. Will the brave people rush up when they see the timid people hiding aside?』
Huang Cheng looked at the leader of Bai Shiqiang, "This is the problem. Originally, when Cao's army fled, as long as there were a few people blocking Cao's army first, Cao's army would not be able to escape, but what would most people do? They would follow the warriors in front to see what they were going to do, and then they would follow them to do...
The leader of Baishi Qiang brought so many people, a lot of people, young and old, and seemed very majestic, but in fact, not many of them could fight, most of them were ordinary herders.
Huang Cheng knew why Bai Shiqiang did this. After all, he could eat Huang Cheng when he came. At least some of the rations were indispensable. If he could eat more Huang Cheng, he would naturally save some of his own. However, letting these Bai Shiqiang eat and drink together was obviously not what Huang Cheng wanted.
The leader of Baishi Qiang could not help but nodded when he heard this, "What the general said makes sense! What I want to do now?"
"You separate the brave and the timid!" Huang Cheng slashed down with his hands, "The brave should fight! The timid will go to herd! In this way, no matter which side of the person will not complain about you, and will play its best! You should do this now. I hope that before the sun rises tomorrow, you will be able to prepare the brave and pursue Cao's army with my soldiers!"
"Split up?" The leader of Baishi Qiang was a little hesitant.
Huang Cheng's words seemed to make sense, but the leader of Baishi Qiang vaguely felt something was wrong. He was actually more like a businessman than a warrior or a leader of a tribe. Although he was carrying a large number of people this time, he did not have much organizational discipline and his combat effectiveness was also low. He was run away by Xiahou Dun in Erzhao Village before, and this time he was broken through the defense line by Cao's army outside Jinyang City...
Huang Cheng nodded, "Although this spring came later and the weather was not good, I always have to take into account the pastures at home? No matter how great the merits are, they will be temporary. The big and small guys in the family will last for a long time, right?"
『Yes! General is right!』 The leader of Baishi Qiang could not figure out what was wrong with Huang Cheng's words, so after thinking for a while, he nodded in agreement, and then said embarrassedly, "General, then...this is the merit of this head level..."
Huang Cheng laughed, "This merit is indispensable! You can go to the military meritorious officer tomorrow to check the meritorious service... However, I suggest you select some warriors first. After all, there are even greater merits waiting. If you go too late, you will really run away! Are you right?"
『Yes! Yes! The general is right!』 The leader of Baishi Qiang slapped his thigh, 『I'll do it now!』
"Okay!" Huang Cheng stroked his palm and said, "Tomorrow will be a united army, and use elite soldiers and warriors to chase and kill the thief chiefs! With all his achievements!"
...
...
Cao's army's Zhongtiaoshan camp.
On the table in front of Cao Cao, there is a map of Hedong counties, and the mountains, rivers, roads and cities are all quite detailed.
However, most of the great men's maps have the same problem, which is the freehand style.
From the perspective of an artwork, these pictures are still very good. The mountains and rivers are folded, the rivers are soft, the composition is simple and elegant, the lines are integrated, and some details on the patterns reflect the painter's superb skills.
It’s a pity that if only this was not a picture album for marching and combat...
The information about the use of sand table by General Fei Qian of the Cavalry was not not transmitted to Shandong, but it is extremely difficult to do something like the sand table that seems very small...
These are two completely different concepts, from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. Because there is no foundation in this area in Shandong, it is very difficult to follow up. In most cases, Cao Cao still had to use this old Han Dynasty map carriage to fight.
Cao Cao raised his hand to play with military chess, and placed the infantry, horses and camps in the Hedong Basin one by one.
Whenever he pushed further, he would tilt the camp forward.
This is a "step-by-step" style of fighting, which Cao Cao discussed with Guo Jia before going to war.
The cavalry is flexible and changeable, and it is obviously impossible for infantry to keep up with the pace of the cavalry. Instead of chasing and running, it is better to go step by step.
In history, Lao Cao also dealt with the Western Liang cavalry in this way...
However, Cao Cao was not as calm as he seemed to be.
He stared at the table, looked at Hedong, but thought about Shandong.
The rose shelf at home has already started to shake.
Cao Cao originally thought he could hold on, after all, he was the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, below one person and above ten thousand people.
Even if there are some guys in Shandong who want to do something, as long as the war passes, the great achievements of the sky will be enough to cover up all the merits and demerits.
But the problem is that Cao Cao needs a "great contribution", and other people from Shandong may not want Cao Cao's "great contribution"...
What's more, now that I haven't gotten the big task, the backyard is already a little uneasy.
Two days ago, Cao Cao got some rumors...
In Shandong, some people are secretly uniting, preparing to use Cao Cao's long-term battle and hard work to cause trouble. On the surface, it is similar to a natural disaster, and then dismiss the three ministers according to tradition...
But the actual signs still point to Cao Cao.
Of course, this title is very open-minded, after all, this is the tradition of the great man.
Natural disasters are the fault of the three kings, not to mention that as long as everything is sacrificed, it is for the Han people, everything is for the Han court, everything is for the Han future...
Three things, just shout, then it will be just.
Old Cao narrowed his eyes.
He often said this before. Although the specific words may be slightly different, the meanings are all similar, but he didn't expect it was his turn today.
It’s still because I’m too soft to make these guys live so comfortable.
Old Cao gritted his teeth.
Thinking of the quietness of the gentry children in Guanzhong, Hedong, Cao Cao felt uncomfortable.
Perhaps, it's not quiet either?
Should we continue to force these gentry members in Hedong?
Should Guo Jia continue to play the strategy?
Damn it, it's really enviable...
However, if Cao Cao was asked to choose again, Cao Cao would still choose to go to Shandong instead of starting a military force in the north like Fei Qian.
Even though I envy you, if Cao Cao did it, I still couldn't do it like Fei Qian.
Not everyone is qualified to play the battle between the world.
Cao Cao frowned slightly. Now the three battlefields are not going well, and there are cats and dogs jumping up and down in the backyard, which is disturbing people's minds.
Now that the war is like this, Cao Cao seems to be unable to get out of his way to deal with these guys, and these guys are taking this opportunity to disgust Cao Cao.
If Cao Cao wins, they will come up to please Cao Cao as if nothing happened. On the contrary, if Cao Cao loses, it will probably be a storm...
Where there is power, there is politics.
If we analyze the current major battle in a comprehensive way, all political situations will be detrimental to Cao's army.
Intrigue in the court.
On the battlefield, the soldiers were exhausted.
However, all the disadvantages of this come down to one point, which is victory.
As long as you can win, you can suppress all the remaining political crises with victory on the battlefield...
In life, how can good days be easily obtained?
『Report! Jingzhou is rushing for 800 miles!』
Outside the big tent, there was suddenly a rapid sound of footsteps, and then a sound interrupted Cao Cao's thoughts.
Cao Cao's heart thumped, his face remained silent, "Show it!"
The guard received the urgent report.
"read."
The guard responded and took apart the urgent report. He looked down and was stunned for a moment, but did not dare to delay it. He whispered: "The Sichuan-Shu army defeated Jiangdong by Yufu... Jiangdong fled all the way to Jiangling... Sichuan-Shu general Xu Gongming led more than 10,000 naval troops to counterattack... Jiangdong General submitted a letter to ask the Prime Minister for reinforcement...
He spoke very slowly, and subconsciously shook his head, suspecting that he was dreaming.
But he knew it was not a dream.
Cao Cao's face was gloomy and he remained silent.
The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became low, like an invisible boulder that made people unable to lift their heads.
"Talking to the filial piety, Gongren came to discuss matters."
Cao Cao ordered.
The guard responded, secretly let out a long breath, turned around and hurried out.