The weather in early August has gradually turned gloomy. The north wind from the Siberian plains is blowing on the hills, and all the trees are swaying gently with the wind.
The island landing strategy planned by Yu Jin obviously failed.
He lost more than 4,000 people in this battle, of which less than 1,000 died in battle. At least 2,000 people died in the chaos of grabbing the ship and escaping, and the remaining nearly 2,000 people chose to surrender.
Zhou Buji looked at Cao's army fleeing in embarrassment, and even regretted whether he had struck too hard. If Cao's army did not dare to land on the island to fight, what kind of excuse should they find to evacuate, pretending to be defeated and "escape" To the south?
"Uncle Master."
Deng Ai wiped the sweat from his forehead and ran back all the way, reporting to Zhou Buyi: "The battlefield has been cleaned."
Shen Chen and Zhou Buyi were both students of Song Zhong, and they usually referred to each other as seniors. In the Han Dynasty, there was no such thing as seniors. At that time, they were only classmates or classmates, and there was no particularly strict teacher-sect relationship.
Later, Shen Chen established his own school, carried forward Shen Xue and became a great Confucian. He standardized the titles, etiquette, and formats among his fellow disciples, which made it easier for fellow disciples to hug each other for warmth.
Although it sounds unpleasant to be a scholar, no matter in any era, one person's hard work will never be as good as a group of people with the same goal working together.
What Shen Chen advocated to his disciples was to support national unity, safeguard the development of the Han nation, ensure the survival and interests of the people, weaken the influence of aristocratic families, and strive to build a beautiful world where everyone has food to eat and clothing to wear. country.
When he does it alone, the resistance and difficulties he encounters are naturally endless.
Only by building a professional team can someone come to help him with this thankless job and career.
Now Zhou Buyi has become another person who inherited his ideas after Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu, Pang Tong and others. His disciples include Deng Ai, Xie Hui, Shan Yi and other outstanding talents. One day he will be able to realize his vision.
After hearing Deng Ai's report, Zhou Buji nodded slightly, and then waved his hand and said: "Cao's army should not attack in the next few days, but I still have to be careful. My senior brother told me that I must hold on for twenty days. We can't evacuate until the end of August, and I must not lose Yuliangzhou."
"only."
Deng Ai solemnly raised his hands in salute, his eyes full of determination.
And when Yu Jin and Zhou Buyi took the lead in the first battle, Liu Bei, who was far away in Guanzhong, was still fighting with Cao Cao.
This time Liu Bei sent out not the rabble recruited from Wudu, but the elite of Guan Yu's army, 60,000 of his old team who had followed him, plus 10,000 people and 10,000 cavalry, the total number of soldiers reached eight. Ten thousand.
Due to the extremely long battle line, as many as 120,000 civilians were mobilized from Hanzhong alone, and the army was said to be 300,000. They rushed to Chang'an in a mighty manner and arrived south of Huaili in Youfufeng.
This battle is actually very unfavorable for Liu Bei. Hanzhong is less than 300 kilometers away from Chang'an, but more than half of it is rolling mountains, and even the road is directly on the plank road on the cliff. It is extremely inconvenient to transport food, and it is the Mid-Autumn rainy season. It rains constantly.
Even when Zhuge Liang was most successful in history, he only reached Wuzhangyuan south of Xi County, which is still a hundred kilometers away from Ganting south of Huaili. Therefore, in terms of objective factors such as transporting grain and long-distance fighting, Liu Bei Innate deficiencies.
However, even though he knew that this battle was extremely unfavorable to him, Liu Bei still had to forcefully go out. Because strategically, even if this battle failed, Hanzhong would not be lost. As long as Hanzhong was not lost, other losses would be negligible.
.
If the southern strategy is successful, he will be able to obtain the entire Yangzhou and Jiaozhou.
Therefore, although Pang Tong, Xu Shu, Fazheng, Jia Xu and others all believed that this victory was slim, Liu Bei must attack Chang'an to contain Cao Cao's main army.
Fifty miles south of Huaili County is Ganting, which is the Huyi District of Xi'an City in ancient times. It was called Hu County in ancient times. Ganting is located to the west of Hu County. There is a small river in the middle called Lao River, which later became the Laoyu River in Hu Yi District.
Liu Bei's army was stationed to the west of the Lao River, and Cao Cao's army was stationed in Hucheng to the east of the Lao River.
There are several reasons why the two sides fought here. First, due south of this place is the Ziwu Road, and fifty miles to the south is the Tangluo Road. From Hanzhong, a small force of several thousand people can be sent out of the Ziwu Valley to harass the flanks of Cao's army.
Second, from here you can go straight to Wuguan all the way to the east, and go straight to Chang'an to the northeast. You can also pretend to rush to Nanyang, or you can attack Chang'an. It is an extremely important strategic location.
The third and most important point is that it is closest to Chencang Road and Baoxie Road, making it convenient to transport grain. Otherwise, if you go from other places, you have to cross the Wei River.
Therefore, based on the above points, sending troops to Hu County is the best choice.
Cao Cao naturally understood this, so he urgently withdrew his troops from Nanyang and returned to Guanzhong to support him. The men and horses on both sides were about the same, and both were elite men. The only difference was that Liu Bei's food road was long, and supplies were more difficult, so he could not fight for a long time.
At this moment, Liu Bei's camp in Ganting is surrounded by the vast Guanzhong Plain to the east, west, north, and to the south are the majestic and tall peaks of the Qinling Mountains. Several rivers flow out and merge into the Wei River to the north.
Liu Bei stood on the high base in the village and watched. In the distance, Cao Jun's camp on the other side of the river was constantly mobilizing troops. Soldiers and horses were constantly going back and forth between the camp and Hu County. The waterlogging was not serious, but it was the rainy season in the Qinling Mountains.
The autumn rain continued, so the waves were rolling, and Cao Jun was building a pontoon bridge downstream.
"Your Majesty."
Fazheng walked up to Liu Bei and saluted him with his hands raised.
Now along the route from Hanzhong to Hu County, Liu Bei's group has built strongholds and sentries everywhere.
Jia Xu was in charge of grain and grass transportation in Hanzhong, Pang Tong was in the Tangyu Township area of Wuzhang as the rear grain and grass center, and Xu Shu and Wei Yan were in Taiting, which was later Zhouzhi County, as the rear army to prevent Cao Cao from cutting off the grain route.
Liu Bei's main army, including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang De, Zhang Ren, Yan Yan, Huang Quan and Guan Ping, formed a camp stretching for more than 20 miles from Ganting to Taiting in the rear.
At this moment, Fazheng came over and said to Liu Bei: "Cao Cao's intention to fight this time is to fight us as soon as possible. After repelling us, he immediately rushes to Nanyang to help. Your Majesty, you should hold on and let him provoke you without any response."
That’s it.”
"Um."
Liu Bei looked towards the east with a deep gaze and said softly: "Logically speaking, this is what I should do."
"Then why"
Fazheng asked in confusion: "Your Majesty wants to order the troops to reorganize their troops and leave the camp at noon?"
Liu Bei unconsciously touched his gray hair on his temples, and remembered his old face when he looked in the bronze mirror this morning, and sighed: "Xiaozhi, I am sixty years old. Since we started the army in Zhuojun, we have been fighting for more than thirty years? But?
But I never defeated Cao Cao, so the country collapsed and the Han Dynasty and the country were held by thieves."
Fa Zheng said: "In this case, we should stick to it. Kong Ming sent a letter to Hanzhong a few days ago. The letter said that Sun Quan had entered the trap and all the main troops had entered Nanjun. When Huang Zhong's army was dispatched, he cooperated with Xiaoqing to annihilate his troops.
You can get it from Jiangdong."
"yes."
Liu Bei sighed: "But as I just said, I have lost and escaped all my life. This time, I don't want to run away again. Because maybe after this time, I will never see Cao Cao again. If we fight
I have never defeated him in my whole life. Isn't this life very boring?"
"Forehead"
Fazheng thought for a moment, then raised his hands and responded: "In that case, please put on the royal crown and get on the chariot. This time, the king should condescend to let Cao Cao take a good look. In the world of Han Dynasty, there is still a king like you."
Like a pillar holding up the sky, it stands on the dome."
"good."
Liu Bei nodded solemnly.
After noon, Cao Jun crossed the river on a large scale from the pontoon bridge to the north of Laoshui River.
Liu Bei's army did not intercept them because the Guanzhong Plain had a clear view and there was no place to ambush. They built earthen hills on the other side and could see Liu Bei's army more than ten miles away.
Therefore, if they were to dispatch directly, the most they would do would be to have Cao's army retreat to the north bank of the flood river, which would be of no use to the war between the two sides. Moreover, Cao's army could also cross the Wei River from the north. What if Cao's army crossed the river in two directions, one side to contain it here, and the other side coming from the Wei River?
Are we going to be ambushed by Cao Jun again?
Moreover, Liu Bei wanted to fight Cao Cao head-on. Apart from the difficulty in transporting supplies and the inability to fight for a long time, Liu Bei believed that he would never be inferior in terms of military strength, quality, equipment, and combat effectiveness.
In this case, what's so scary about the confrontation between the two sides?
So he didn't hesitate to fight.
After Cao Jun crossed the river and assembled more than ten miles away from Liu Bei's camp in the south, Liu Bei also began to mobilize the entire battalion of soldiers and left the camp to form an array.
In this battle, except for Zhang Fei's over 10,000 cavalry cruising to Taiting in the northwest to prevent Cao's cavalry from taking the opportunity to sneak attack on the rear grain road, almost the main force was dispatched. Only more than 10,000 people stayed in the camp, and 50,000 troops left the camp in a mighty manner.
Cao Cao is riding on a war horse. His face is also very old, and his hair is gray and white. He is also wearing the imperial robes of the King of Wei. The specifications are not as good as those of the emperor, but they are the attire of princes and kings. Logically speaking, it is an act of transgression.
However, his power has reached its peak in the north. At this time, let alone violating the White Horse Alliance and becoming a king with a different surname, even if he usurps the throne and becomes the emperor, there is probably no obstacle. Therefore, no one can stop his arrogance, not even Liu Bei.
Accusing, but unable to move him at all.
Behind Cao Cao, there was a vast plain, densely packed with Cao Cao's soldiers in pitch black. Farther north, there were large cavalry galloping, with billowing gray smoke flying in the air and splashing countless dust.
The distance between the two sides quickly shortened, and about six miles away from Liu Bei's military camp, the men and horses on both sides finally met.
There are floods about two miles east of them, and vast plains in all directions.
This once was part of the fertile Guanzhong Plain. After years of war, no one has cultivated it. The dilapidated villages have been eliminated. The fields have turned into barren land, overgrown with weeds, and have become a paradise for herbivores such as rabbits and deer.
If you look down from a high altitude, you will see that the crowds on both sides are more than a mile apart, lined up in a line for several miles, divided into countless square formations, facing each other from a distance.
In the center of the formation, Liu Bei's chariot is majestic and tall. He is wearing the royal crown of the princes, with nine strings of crowns, second only to the emperor's twelve. From a high position, he looks down at Cao Cao in the battle formation in the distance. At least today, he is in the position
Already on an equal footing with Cao Cao.
When Cao Cao saw this scene, he said to his left and right officials with some displeasure: "I didn't come out in a chariot, but Liu Bei, a little peddler, was placed in a high position."
Xu Chu said: "King of Wei, please be at ease. In the end, the general will march directly to Liu Bei's center and seize the chariot from King Wei."
"Hahahahahaha."
Cao Cao laughed and stroked his beard and said, "What do you want from the chariot that Liu Bei rode in? If you bring Liu Bei's head, I will be happy."
"Cao Cao!"
At this moment, Liu Bei's chariot was slowly moving forward. He stood on the chariot and shouted loudly: "Do you dare to come out and reminisce with your old friends?"
"snort."
Cao Cao looked at the distance and saw Guan Yu holding a sword and sitting on a red rabbit horse to protect him. Then he patted the horse and said, "Why don't you dare?"
The two sides quickly approached.
When they arrived at the center of the battle formation, they were about six or seven feet apart. Guan Yu was protecting Liu Bei, while Xu Chu was protecting Cao Cao.
Cao Cao looked at Liu Bei, who had the same old face, and suddenly felt a little emotional for some reason.
At that time, Cao Cao would never have imagined that the person he once admired would become his biggest opponent in the future.
Even if he has been defeated repeatedly, even if he has never gotten an advantage in his own hands.
Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, Tao Qian, those powerful enemies could not stop Cao Cao from moving forward, but Liu Bei, who was driven around and was running around, blocked his steps to unify the world.
Maybe this is life.
At the end of time, it is not that you have great power, but that a person who you once looked down upon and was far inferior to you finally works hard and not only catches up with you, becomes equal to you, but even wants to surpass you.
Fate in the world is so wonderful. Just like Qin Shihuang spent his whole life without finding the elixir of immortality, Guan Yu, who he dreamed of, left him and returned to Liu Bei after killing Yan Liang.
"Yun Chang."
Cao Cao looked at Guan Yu and said unconsciously: "You are also much older."
"Sikong."
Guan Yu still called him the same name as before, cupped his hands and said: "People will grow old and die. Only if you don't waste your life, you can be a man."
"Hahahahahaha."
Cao Cao laughed and said: "My life has not been wasted. Xuande, back then you were just a general under my command. You betrayed the imperial court many times and were chased away by me like a chicken or a dog. Do you think you can defeat me today?"
"
Liu Bei stood on the car and said seriously: "Meng De's kindness back then is unforgettable, but the big man is a big man defeated by his ancestors. I want to take it for myself, but Bei doesn't agree, and neither do Bei's ancestors. Thanks to those years ago."
I have favored you, but I have fought against Yuan Shu and Lu Bu for Meng De, and Yunchang has also killed Yan Liang for Meng De. This kindness has been repaid, and now it is time to prepare to take back the country of our ancestors."
"hehe."
Cao Cao sneered and said: "You are an immoral person, how dare you claim the fate of heaven? How did you get beaten by me back then and run around in embarrassment? Today is just a repeat of that time. You'd better think about how to escape."
"Be prepared to never run away this time!"
Liu Bei looked at him solemnly and said firmly: "Cao Mengde, let's decide the outcome of this battle."
After saying this, he did not hesitate to order the coachman to go back.
The whole world seemed to have a flash of thunder because of these powerful words.