Chapter 759: Captured by mistake and bewitched by Zhang He
Compared to Xia Houlian's excitement, Tian Yu, who has been in charge of the army for many years, still retains some sense.
"For today's top priority, the first thing is to quickly deliver the military information in the rear to the hands of the Grand Sima."
When Xia Houlian was very excited, Tian Yu's words were undoubtedly like a basin of cold water, pouring on Xia Houlian's head.
Xia Houlian was very puzzled.
"Why?"
On a high mountain outside Xinye City, Xia Houlian pointed to Xinye City in the distance and below, and said to Tian Yu:
“That’s Shinno Castle!
It is the lifeline of Deng's thieves and the escape route for tens of thousands of thieves.
Today, the new field is unprepared, which is a great opportunity for our army to surprise the new field.
If our army can capture Xinye City in one fell swoop, the rebel army will be defeated.
By that time, the land in northern Jing will be as easy to get as picking something out of a bag.
Can’t the general see this?”
While Xia Houlian was puzzled, there was already some doubt in his tone.
Xia Houlian didn't think Tian Yu didn't know what he said.
After all, they would trek to the rear of the Han army. This was Tian Yu's clever plan to Cao Xiu.
Precisely because he knew this, Xia Houlian couldn't help but become suspicious of Tian Yu.
In other words, because of Tian Yu's past, the Cao clan's suspicion of Tian Yu has never dissipated.
Tian Yu could certainly hear the doubt in Xia Houlian's tone.
But he has his own reasons.
"I proposed a plan to the Grand Sima before. My original intention was to cut off the rebel army's food route and disrupt the rebel army's rear.
In order for my plan to be a great success, Da Sima's positive cooperation is essential.
Although our army can trek to the rear of the rebels, in the end our army is a lonely army, and most of the land in northern Jing is under the control of the rebels.
If I am not careful and my lone army is surrounded by a heavy army, my death will be small and it will delay the great Sima's important affairs. What should I do?"
Tian Yu expressed his worries.
Tian Yu is not afraid of taking risks, otherwise he would not have personally led his troops behind the Han army as Cao Xiu suggested.
But even though he has successfully led his army to the outside of Xinye City, the fact that he is alone has not changed.
Tian Yu originally wanted to lead his army around the rear, in order to respond to Cao Xiu's front and rear, mainly from the side.
He definitely did not think that relying on his own army alone would be able to plunge Deng Ai's tens of thousands of Han troops into a situation of irreversible danger.
Because Tian Yu knew that his lone army had a fatal weakness.
That is, the communication between him and Cao Xiu could not be smooth in time.
There was no network communication in the world, and communication between the two parties basically relied on human power in most cases.
The dangerous terrain around Niyang will further invisibly increase the difficulty of communication between Tian Yu and Cao Xiu.
This means that Cao Xiu did not know at all that Tian Yu had successfully led his army to outside Xinye City.
In this case, if Tian Yu takes the risk of using troops, Deng Ai, who is sandwiched between Tian Yu and Cao Xiu, will get the news first before Cao Xiu.
Perhaps the time difference between such information will only be a few days.
But we are alone. Without the support of the frontal army, a few days are enough for us to face danger.
After Tian Yu finished explaining, he saw that Xia Houlian's face was not very good, so he continued:
"Our army is an extraordinary force, and the most important thing about an extraordinary force is mobility.
As long as our army attacks the rebels' food route outside the city, even if Deng Ai learns of our army's arrival first, our army can take advantage of the terrain to move left and right, leaving Deng Ai at a loss for what to do in a short time.
And once our army sends the news to the Grand Sima, taking advantage of the turmoil of the rebel army, the Grand Sima launches a fierce attack, and Deng Ai will eventually be defeated.
By then, Xinye City will be in our army's possession sooner or later, so why rush it?"
Tian Yu made the strategy very clear, and he thought Xia Houlian would finally accept his views.
Unexpectedly, Xia Houlian asked in a sinister tone:
"During the Bowang Incident, why didn't Zhang He act like a general?"
Xia Houlian cited an example that happened not long ago.
Although that example was a tragic experience for the Wei army, in Xia Houlian's view, Zhang He's surprise attack on Bowang was very similar to his current situation.
Since they are similar, why not learn?
Tian Yu didn't expect that Xia Houlian would suddenly ask this question, and after quickly coming to his senses, Tian Yu almost cursed.
When Zhang He unexpectedly attacked Bowang, it seemed to be very similar to the situation our own side was currently facing, but in fact it was completely different.
At that time, Cao Xiu was afraid of Mi Yang and placed all his troops in Wancheng.
The Wei army in Xuchang mainly defended the city. How could Xiahou Shang abandon the safety of Xuchang and lead his troops out of the city rashly?
At that time, Zhang He seemed to be surrounded by enemies from both sides, but as long as he failed to hit a single blow and retreated quickly, there would be no big risk.
What about your own side?
If our side wants to retreat, it must return via the original route to Nieyang. Tian Yu has just experienced how difficult the journey to Nieyang is.
Under the dangerous terrain of Niyang, it is impossible for our side to retreat quickly.
Did Xia Houlian think Deng Ai was a piece of wood?
Moreover, at that time, Mi Yang sent Zhang He to surprise Bowang in order to capture Bowang, so Zhang He had no choice but to make a desperate move.
But now our side clearly has a more reliable method, so there is no need to imitate Zhang He and make a desperate move.
Tian Yu was really angry at the idea of being "talked about on paper" by Xia Houlian.
Tian Yu wanted to open his mouth again to point out the fallacy in Xia Houlian's ideas, but before Tian Yu could open his mouth, Xia Houlian asked Tian Yu a heart-wrenching question with a dangerous smile:
"Is the general thinking of Liu Bei's kindness to you back then and thinking of being open to the traitors?"
Xia Houlian's question directly made Tian Yudu's face turn red.
After seeing Tian Yu's angry look, Xia Houlian thought that he had spoken to Tian Yu's heart, and already put his hand on the blade at his waist.
Xiahou Lian is not Cao Rui. Cao Rui is willing to make a promise to Tian Yu, but Xiahou Lian is not.
Since Xia Houlian joined the army, most of the topics he heard about Tian Yu were related to his "longing for Liu Bei".
When Xiahou Dun was still alive, he also told Xiahou Lian about Cao Cao's suspicions about Tian Yu, Yuan Huan and others.
In such an environment, how much trust can Xia Houlian have in Tian Yu?
Of course, not only Xia Houlian had doubts about Tian Yu, but also Cao Xiu, who seemed to respect Tian Yu.
Otherwise, why would Cao Xiu specially arrange for Xia Houlian to serve as Tian Yu's deputy general?
Since he has doubts about Tian Yu in his heart, no matter how reasonable Tian Yu's words are, his words will be greatly discounted once they reach Xia Houlian's ears.
What's more, Xia Houlian's heart was already filled with the four words "eager to make meritorious deeds".
Perhaps as Tian Yu said, they can just harass, but how can the mere harassment compare to taking over the new field?
After the Battle of Chang'an, Xiahou Mao's whereabouts were unknown, and Xiahou Dun's lineage suffered heavy losses.
As the younger brother of Xiahou Dun, it was impossible for Xiahou Lian to sit back and watch Xiahou Dun's lineage become lonely in the political arena of the Wei Dynasty.
If you want to rebuild the glory of your own lineage, you can only make great contributions!
Tian Yu's keen eyes noticed Xia Houlian pressing the knife.
He also realized that the surrounding Wei troops seemed to have a faint tendency to surround him.
Tian Yu, who was not trusted by the Cao family, did not have any troops at his headquarters.
The thousands of Wei troops he led this time had basically followed Xia Houlian for many years.
In the eyes of these thousands of Wei troops, Tian Yu was only their nominal commander.
After realizing that the situation would be unfavorable to him, Tian Yu closed his eyes helplessly.
"Just do everything as General Xiahou said."
With a sigh, Tian Yu uttered these words.
And these words made Xia Houlian's hand on the knife handle relax.
Tian Yu's softening of attitude suddenly made Xia Houlian less malicious toward Tian Yu.
"Don't worry, General Tian. After I capture Xinye City, your contribution will not be lost."
In Xia Houlian's opinion, Tian Yu had indeed made the greatest contribution to his ability to arrive outside Xinye City without any danger.
After Tian Yu "agreed", Xia Houlian quickly arranged the next combat mission.
...
As time goes by, the sunlight on the horizon is slowly moving westward.
When dusk filled the sky over Xinye, Xia Houlian led thousands of Wei troops and suddenly rushed out of the mountains and forests outside the city, roaring towards Xinye City.
Xia Houlian, who has been in the army for many years, knows military common sense.
At that time, all counties and cities had the custom of curfew.
At dusk, it is the time when every county town closes its gates.
Often at that time, people who want to leave the city and those who want to enter the city will worry about being blocked and cause panic at the city gate.
This was the perfect time for the Wei army to launch an attack on Xinye.
When Xia Houlian led his army towards Xinye City, he saw the anxious people of Xinye, who seemed even more confused after seeing an enemy suddenly appear.
The bewilderment of many people instantly disrupted the defense of Xinye City Gate.
Under such circumstances, it was undoubtedly a delusion for the Han army, which always claimed to love its soldiers as its own sons, to close the city gates in time.
What made Xia Houlian even more happy was that the Han troops defending the city in Xinye seemed to realize that the loss of the city gate was inevitable.
Before the Wei army came close, they all dropped their weapons and fled.
Once the soldiers guarding the city fled, not to mention the people at the city gate.
When Xia Houlian led thousands of Wei troops across the suspension bridge, there was only an empty gate in front of him.
Thinking that his opportunity to make a name for himself was right in front of him, Xia Houlian's breathing became rapid.
Without much hesitation, Xia Houlian, who took the lead, led his troops and stormed into the gate of Xinye City.
Xinye City serves as the seat of Yiyang County, and its city defenses were expanded under the leadership of Li Yan.
Under Li Yan's expansion, Xinye City had Wengcheng.
Xia Houlian had seen this in the intelligence of previous investigations.
But in Xia Houlian's view, the soldiers who defended the city had all fled in all directions, so what was the use of the taller barbican?
Xia Houlian entered Xinyeye City and ran towards the Wengcheng gate dozens of steps in front of him with rapid breathing.
Because the situation was so urgent, in Xia Houlian's eyes, the gate of Wengcheng was not yet closed at this moment.
But what Xia Houlian didn't expect was that when he was only a few steps away from the gate of Wengcheng, a large number of Han troops appeared in his eyes.
The large number of Han troops were like hunters waiting for a rabbit. At this time, they could no longer suppress their excitement. Team after team appeared and garrisoned in front of Xia Houlian.
The garrison of a large number of Han troops undoubtedly blocked Xiahou Lian's possibility of continuing to advance.
Before Xia Houlian could wake up from the shock, many Han archers suddenly appeared on the surrounding Wengcheng walls.
Zhang He looked down at Wei Jun, who had become flustered by the sudden change of situation. There was no emotion in his eyes.
"put!"
As Zhang He's cold voice came out, thousands of arrows landed like meteors from the sky into the dense crowd of Wei soldiers.
With nowhere to dodge and no shields to protect them, these thousands of arrows caused a lot of damage to thousands of Wei troops.
When many Wei troops fell to the ground screaming, a riot broke out among the surviving Wei troops.
They who originally followed Xia Houlian and rushed forward struggled to escape towards the city gate at the rear.
Looking at the large number of Wei troops crowded into a ball below, anxious to escape, Zhang He couldn't help but have a question in his mind:
"If you can lead the army to the outside of Xinye City with great difficulty, how can you fall into the trap so easily?"
"There are still many measures to lure the enemy that have not yet been used."
...
After controlling the Wei army, Zhang He's questions were quickly answered.
Zhang He looked at the two people tied up in front of him. He first focused on Tian Yu.
Zhang He knew Tian Yu.
"Before, I was curious about who could dare to lead an army outside Xinye City without avoiding difficulties.
After seeing Guorang, I no longer had any doubts in my heart."
Faced with Zhang He's compliments, Tian Yu's face turned pale and he didn't want to respond to him.
Tian Yu just stared at Xia Houlian standing aside.
If Xia Houlian could listen to him, how could he be captured by mistake?
And the situation that was originally improving for Wei Jun was ruined by the man next to him!
Seeing that Tian Yu didn't want to respond to him, Zhang He also wisely turned his attention to Xia Houlian.
"Xiahou Dun was defeated many times in battles during his lifetime. You really have the spirit of being a brother."
As soon as Zhang He said these words, Xia Houlian was furious to death.
"You can kill me, but you can't humiliate me!"
As he said this, Xia Houlian was so excited that he tried to break away from his restraints, but after receiving a few punches from the Han army behind him, he became more honest again.
After regaining control of Xia Houlian, Zhang He walked up to Xia Houlian and found his seal directly from his arms.
Tian Yu, who was on the side, became excited instantly after seeing Zhang He's actions.
"Zhang Junyi, you have delusions, I won't let you succeed!"
The clever Tian Yu immediately guessed Zhang He's intention.
Previously, Tian Yu was unwilling to take risks due to poor communication between him and Cao Xiu.
And what he can think of, Zhang He can definitely think of it too.
In this world without face verification, sometimes it is easy to commit fraud.
After getting Xiahou Lian's seal, Zhang He asked people to take Xia Houlian down first.
When Tian Yu was the only one left in front of him, Zhang He's confusing words came to Tian Yu's ears:
"Guorang, I just learned from the soldiers why you were defeated like this today.
I really don't deserve it for you.
Compared with the likes of Cao Ren and Cao Chun, your talents are like the bright moon compared with the candlelight.
But everyone knows Cao Ren and Cao Chun is a famous general, how many people know you?
Living your whole life without anyone knowing about it is definitely not what you want.
One year of injustice can be tolerated, but how can one endure decades of injustice?
You wholeheartedly planned to rebel against the Wei Dynasty, but you almost ended up with a violent death. If this doesn't wake you up, then I really misjudged you."
Zhang He's tone was full of regret.
These regretful words made Tian Yu become restless.
Shameless Zhang He, why do you stab yourself in the heart with every word you say?