Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Xia Houlan, Zhang He, Gao Lan... these people are all very powerful talents under Liu Jian. As their experience in battle increases, their personal combat power and command ability are getting stronger and stronger. Several people are at the same level.
It is also gradually improving.
These generals are all still young and have not yet reached the peak level in history. However, there is one person under Liu Jian who is already at the highest level in history. This person is Xu Rong.
Xu Rong was in his forties. He had fought against the Xianbei people in the border counties of Liaodong for twenty years, followed Liu Jian through the Yellow Turbans, and participated in the Liangzhou campaign against Beigong Boyu. It can be said that he had full experience in battle.
Full.
If we compare individual martial prowess, let alone Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, let alone Zhang He and Gao Lan, even Xia Houlan can't lose to Xu Rong when it comes to single combat.
But when it comes to commanding troops and horses to charge into battle and defeat the enemy, Liu Jian's young generals are still far behind Xu Rong.
Although Liu Bei didn't have much contact with Xu Rong, since returning to Liu Jian's military camp, he also had contact with Liu Jian's generals and got a general understanding of them.
Liu Bei was born with extremely precise eyesight, and he quickly saw that Xu Rong was not an ordinary person.
This Captain Xu was a master who could surpass him and Liu Jian at the military level. I had this feeling when I was conquering the Yellow Turbans, and now this feeling is even stronger.
Even Liu Jian would ask Xu Rong for advice if he didn't understand anything about military affairs and troop formation.
Immediately, Liu Bei and Xu Rong, together with a thousand men and horses led by Xu Rong himself, came out from the camp due west, and ran roundabout towards the enemy's main formation in the rear to kill them.
This unit led by Xu Rong himself was indeed very powerful. Although it was only a short-distance charge, it was really not easy to keep the team together and march quickly to achieve the goal late at night.
Liu Bei followed Xu Rong, quietly observing his command of the soldiers, praising him silently, nodding secretly, and learning humbly.
During night battles, the generals in the army usually hold torches in the rear formation, and those in the front formation are responsible for charging the army. After all, it is impossible for one hand to hold a torch and the other to hold a weapon to fight with the opponent. This is very important for fighting.
For soldiers, the difficulty is too high and unrealistic.
But precisely because of this, how many sergeants should be assigned to be responsible for lighting, and how to protect these torch-holding sergeants, is a very difficult matter for the generals who command the troops.
But it is obvious that Xu Rong has done a good job in this aspect.
But he also did something even more surprising.
Seeing that his front army was already fighting with the opponent's central army, Xu Rong turned to Liu Bei and said: "Liu Xiaowei, Xu will fight with the opponent here later. Xiaowei can now command three hundred troops.
Go to the woods to the west to ambush, and you will be rewarded later!"
Liu Bei was surprised when he heard this: "What is the profound meaning of Brother Meng Tong's move?"
Xu Rongdao: "Actually, it doesn't mean anything. I just noticed that although the enemy's Sanhe soldiers are capable, they are by no means a match for our Jizhou army. The other party's general is also someone who knows how to use soldiers. I must be able to see this. Now I am leading my troops to charge."
His army will surely gain the upper hand later!"
"At that time, in order to ensure his own safety, the opponent's general will inevitably go west and enter the dense forest on the side. Lieutenant Liu will ambush there, which is exactly what he wants!"
Liu Bei thought carefully about Xu Rong's words and found that there were several details worthy of scrutiny.
First of all, Xu Rong could tell that the soldiers and horses led by the opponent were Sanhe warriors.
This must have been observed through combat experience.
Since they are the soldiers of Sanhe, if we carefully consider the various forces currently stationed around Luoyang, the identity of the opponent can be easily revealed.
No wonder Xu Rong would say that the opponent's general was a man who knew how to use troops.
Liu Bei asked: "Why does Meng Tong think that the other party will leave from the dense forest?"
Xu Rongdao: "From the forest road, you can turn to the highest hill in the west, where you can supervise the battle and continue commanding the soldiers to attack the camp. It is really the best choice for the general!"
Liu Bei was stunned when he heard this.
He didn't ask any more questions, and immediately led a group of people and galloped towards the forest to the west according to Xu Rong's instructions.
…
At this time, Jushou and Shenpei were waiting for news in the commander's tent along with Liu Jian.
Regarding today's night attack, the two of them did not have too much worry. After all, as Liu Jian's right-hand men, they knew the strength of Liu Jian's soldiers best.
However, at this time, they were wondering about another thing.
"Who is it that came to attack our army? This matter is really strange!"
Jushou frowned and said: "Judging from the current situation, there should be no army around Luoyang that is our enemy..."
In fact, Liu Jian was also very curious.
But right now, you can't guess just by guessing. You can only defeat the opponent first, and then see what the situation is.
Soon, there were messengers outside the tent bringing battle reports back to Liu Jian and others.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Sima has defeated the enemies in the southern camp."
"Your Majesty, Zhao Sima has retreated from the enemies in Dongying!"
"Your Majesty, Lieutenant Xu leads the troops out of the camp and faces the enemy's central army head-on!"
After listening to the battle reports everyone brought back, Liu Jian made no comment. Obviously, these results were within his expectations.
Until a scout quickly came to Liu Jian, raised his hand to him and said:
"Your Majesty, Lieutenant Liu is killing the opponent's general in the woods in the southwest!"
"The enemy's general is dead, his force has been defeated, the enemy soldiers have all fled in all directions, and some of them have surrendered to our army."
When Liu Jian heard this, he immediately became energetic.
"Very good, let all the commanders leave the camp and try to bring back as many people as possible."
"promise!"
Then, Liu Jian stood up slowly and said coldly: "I want to see whose troops are seeking death."
…
Soon, Liu Bei brought the corpse of the opposing general to Liu Jian.
From the corpses of the enemy and the confessions of the surrendered soldiers, Liu Jian knew that the man who led the troops to attack him was Cavalry Commander Ding Yuan.
Logically speaking, this person is an old official of the Yuan family, and he should be preparing to attack Luoyang's Dong Zhuo together with Zhang Yi. Why did he attack Dong Zhuo?
If Ding Yuan can be captured, he can inquire about the specific situation from this person.
But the problem is that Ding Yuan is also quite brave. After being ambushed by Liu Bei, he resisted desperately and almost led his troops to escape.
Seeing that Ding Yuan was about to escape, Liu Bei had no choice but to order him to be shot with random arrows.
But even so, Liu Jian probably guessed what was going on, but he was not completely sure.
After knowing Ding Yuan's identity, Shen Pei said with some hesitation: "Could it be that the two leaders of the Yuan clan, Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji in Luoyang, saw that the envoys refused to obey their orders to attack Dong Zhuo, so they sent
Are people coming to hunt down your envoy?"
Liu Jian replied: "I don't know exactly what happened, but since it has happened, we can't hide. After all, Dingyuan is also an important town. Now that he died in my hands, I have to make a decision to the court."
Just explain."
Speaking of this, Liu Jian's face turned cold and he said: "In addition, I have to send someone to see Yuan Ji. After all, the matter is very important. I have to ask him for an explanation no matter what!"