Chapter 257 Formation, drumming, blocking the enemy
At night, Cao Cao is in the camp.
According to the scouts' investigation, all the soldiers and horses from Xuzhou, Jizhou and Nanyang were concentrated in front of the camp, and there were no soldiers and horses behind the camp and on the left and right sides.
"Ming Gong, the soldiers and horses of Xuzhou and Jizhou haven't had time to surround the camp. They may not expect that we will abandon the camp and leave tonight." Lu Qian felt slightly happy after hearing this.
Cao Cao smiled softly: "It may not be that they are too late to encircle the camp. Even if they can't encircle the camp on all sides, they should still block our retreat to the west. It is impossible to gather all the troops in front of the camp. Do they still expect to be alone?"
Are you going to leave the camp and fight with him? If my prediction is correct, there will be an ambush behind our camp."
"Yes, Liu Bei must know that we are eager to retreat to Yanzhou and must go west. We should surround the west with troops and horses. If they don't surround us, they must want us to retreat from the west. An ambush appears and wants to kill us.
I was caught off guard." Guo Jia followed up with analysis.
"Then what should we do? Do we still want to retreat to the west?" Lu Qian asked.
"Of course we have to retreat, and we must retreat to the west. At this time, if we go south or north, we are all destined to die. We can only survive by going to the west. The so-called ambush can only be carried out if we don't know where it is. Now that we know where it is, we can do it
Not for the sake of hiding."
Cao Cao continued: "General Lu, you lead 3,000 men in front. Divide a thousand men into one team and divide them into three teams, half a mile apart from the front and back. As I expected, there will not be many enemy soldiers. If they attack
If the front team is attacked, the rear team can rush forward to help. If it attacks the rear team, the front team can immediately turn around and counterattack, attacking from both front and rear. In short, we must find a way out before we can return to Yanzhou."
"No." Lu Qian cupped his hands and responded.
Lu Qian immediately divided the three thousand men into three teams, one thousand men per team. He took charge of the squadron, knocked down the wall behind the camp, removed the antlers, and left the camp.
After Lu Qian's 3,000 men and horses all left the camp, Cao Cao led more than 5,000 men, followed by Xiahou Dun's 10,000 men.
As soon as the troops in Cao Cao's camp left the camp, the scouts who were waiting to investigate went back to report to Liu Bei and others.
Liu Bei and Jushou Zhang Xiu met to discuss.
"Xuande, Cao Cao really abandoned the camp and left. Fortunately, you have already laid an ambush to wait for us. You can be said to have predicted the enemy before he moved!"
Jushou also expected that Cao Cao would abandon the camp and retreat, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.
Liu Bei said: "Although there is an ambush, there are only a small number of ambush troops. It may be difficult to stop Cao Cao. We must chase him with troops and horses to prevent him from getting away."
"Yes, General Liu, how do you think we should pursue him?"
Zhang Xiu finally had a chance to speak and express his presence.
He came from Nanyang with 20,000 troops and failed to defeat Xuzhou. Now he is attacking Cao Cao and has not gained any military exploits. He is completely marginalized in front of the soldiers and horses of Xuzhou and Jizhou. He is just trying to win the glory in one battle!
"General Ju, General Zhang, we have a large number of troops and horses. It may be inconvenient if we move at the same time. To prepare for this, although Cao Cao has abandoned the camp and retreated, it is difficult for all his troops to leave the camp for a while. It is better for General Zhang to lead the troops and horses from the south.
Pass the enemy camp and pursue to the west. Gu leads Xuzhou soldiers and horses to bypass the enemy camp from the north and pursue them. General Ju, you Jizhou soldiers and horses can directly attack Cao Cao's camp, kill the enemy soldiers in the camp, and then go through the camp and pursue. What?
?”
Jushou said happily: "What General Liu said is exactly what I meant."
Zhang Xiu also agreed: "It's also my intention."
Liu Bei stood up and said, "Then let's send troops immediately."
Although Cao Cao retreated, he still had nearly 20,000 men and some food and supplies. It would take some time for them all to leave the camp. Now Xiahou Dun leads 10,000 troops and horses and remains in the camp. He has to wait for the men and horses led by Cao Cao to leave.
Only then can he lead the troops and leave.
Liu Bei asked the Jizhou soldiers to attack Cao Cao's camp directly, while he and Zhang Xiu's troops were divided into two teams, bypassing the enemy camp to pursue the enemy soldiers who had left the camp, so as to cut off Cao Cao's troops, especially those who retreated.
, it is almost impossible to escape.
There are 50,000 soldiers and horses in Jizhou. Even after excluding the battle losses, there are still more than 40,000 people, which is more than Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu combined.
Liu Bei left 5,000 men to guard the city, but now he only has more than 20,000 men, about the same as Zhang Xiu.
Therefore, it is most appropriate for Jizhou soldiers to directly attack Cao Cao's camp.
Liu Bei asked Gan Ning to lead 10,000 men to go first, and Chen Dao temporarily replaced Xu Chu to protect him. He led Guan Yu and 10,000 horses behind.
Jushou asked Wen Chou to lead 10,000 troops to attack the camp. Xiahou Dun did not expect that before he left the camp, the enemy soldiers came to attack the camp in the middle of the night.
There is no other way. In order to block the enemy soldiers, he can only lead the troops to guard the camp and cover Cao Cao's retreat.
Gao Shun led five thousand troops and waited in ambush five or six miles behind Cao Cao's camp.
Since Cao Cao could not be waited for, some soldiers became impatient and often came to ask if Cao Cao had arrived.
Gao Shun asked them to be calm and calm, Cao Cao would come.
It was not until nightfall that the soldiers who were monitoring the camp came back and reported: "General Gao, the enemy soldiers have left the camp."
Gao Shun was overjoyed when he heard that he finally waited for Cao Cao.
However, later another detective reported back: "General Gao, the enemy troops are divided into teams of a thousand men, half a mile apart in front. It seems that they have expected that we are waiting here, and their front team is almost here. What should we do?"
"
Gao Shun thought for a moment and said: "The purpose of our ambush here is to block Cao Cao and prevent him from escaping. The lord must know that Cao Cao has retreated, and will definitely lead his troops to pursue him from behind. As soon as Cao Cao's front team arrives, we will kill him."
, block them."
"Report...General Gao, the enemy's front line has arrived." As soon as Gao Shun finished speaking, soldiers rushed to report.
"Walk, line up, beat drums, stop the enemy."
Gao Shun ordered and rushed onto the road first.
The soldiers behind him rushed to the road, lit their torches, and beat their war drums.
"Dong dong dong dong dong..."
In such a quiet night, the sound of war drums is particularly shocking and can be heard ten miles away.
The front line of troops led by Lu Qian was only more than 200 steps away from Gao Shun's formation. When they heard the beating of war drums, they all stopped immediately and did not dare to move forward.
Cao Cao had already left the camp at this time and heard the sound of war drums a few miles ahead. He thought that his front troops had engaged the enemy, so he immediately ordered: "Quick, hurry forward and charge forward!"
Although he was shocked in his heart, he could not show it at this time. He must give the soldiers confidence that they would be able to break through the enemy's obstruction.
Xiahou Dun was leading his troops to guard the camp and was fighting with Jizhou soldiers. When he heard the sound of war drums, he was shocked and knew that what was supposed to come had finally come.
A school captain came to report urgently: "General Xiahou, Duke Cao has left the camp. Let's leave quickly to help Duke Cao break out of the encirclement."
"If we retreat at this time, the enemy soldiers will follow us, and Duke Cao will be in greater danger. Let's block the enemy soldiers first, and Duke Cao will fight his way out." Xiahou Dun was even more afraid of being closely pursued by the enemy soldiers at this time.
"Then what should we do?"
Xiahou Dun hesitated for a moment and said, "You take three thousand people to help Duke Cao. I am blocking you here."
"promise."
The captain took the order and retreated from the camp with 3,000 men, leaving only 7,000 men and Xiahou Dun to block the sudden attack of Jizhou soldiers and horses.
Liu Bei, Zhang Xiu and others also heard the sound of war drums and knew that Gao Shun had blocked Cao Cao's troops.
"Go quickly, don't let Cao Cao escape!"
Gan Ning shouted urgently, urging his troops to move quickly.
Zhang Xiu also urged his soldiers and horses to pursue him, fearing that he would fall behind again and lose the credit.
Lu Qian led the squadron to the place where the front team was staying. When he saw the soldiers and horses stopped, he shouted, "Why did you stop and not leave?"
"General Lu, there is an ambush in front of us. I don't know how many people and horses are blocking the road!"
"No matter how many people there are, we must rush over, even if we crawl, we must crawl over. Go up quickly and kill the enemy soldiers, and we will live!"
Lu Qian shouted, drew his sword and rushed forward.
The hundreds of soldiers he brought with him rushed forward immediately. Seeing this, the other soldiers also straightened their weapons and rushed forward.
"Coming, coming, the enemy soldiers have arrived."
When a military commander saw the enemy soldiers rushing towards him, he shouted urgently.
Gao Shun shouted: "Stabilize the formation and don't move randomly. If the formation does not move, you will not be able to defeat us."
Lu Qian led his troops and charged forward. First, there was a hail of arrows, and many of the soldiers and horses following Lu Qian fell.
But Lu Qian had no retreat at this time and had to press forward even if he died.
After two to three hundred people were shot to death, Lu Qian led his soldiers to rush to Gao Shun's formation and started fighting.
The soldiers and horses led by Gao Shun held their formation steady and did not move. When those in front fell, those behind immediately made up for them, blocking the enemy's advance at all times.
All he needs to do now is block the enemy soldiers, and when the pursuers arrive from behind, they will attack from both front and back, and the enemy soldiers will be defeated.
The three thousand soldiers and horses led by Lu Qian had all rushed to join the battlefield, but they suffered six to seven hundred casualties and still did not rush Gao Shun's military formation.
At this time, the soldiers and horses he led became timid, thinking that they would never be able to break through the enemy troops.
Some people started to back away.
At this time, Cao Cao arrived with his troops. When he saw someone retreating, he immediately ordered: "Behead those who retreat!"
His guards immediately stepped forward and killed more than a hundred people in a row, so that the people in front did not dare to retreat, but pushed forward in one breath.
It was this momentum that stirred up Gao Shun's military formation, causing chaos and chaos. The soldiers and horses of both sides fought together.
Cao Cao's soldiers and horses were trying to escape for their lives at this time, and there were people behind them who were urging them forward with swords. They were more desperate than the soldiers and horses led by Gao Shun, and they looked more brave in fighting.
Not long after, Lu Qian led his troops to fight through, while Gao Shun's troops were in chaos, fighting on their own.
Dian Wei protected Cao Cao and Guo Jia, and there were many soldiers guarding them, and rushed into the ambush formation.
Guo Jia had no force and followed Cao Cao closely.
Cao Cao carried a long sword, and occasionally enemy soldiers who approached were cut down by his sword.
You know, Cao Cao's military force is not that bad, and he is considered a brave general.
Gao Shun watched the enemy soldiers rushing over, feeling anxious and hoping that the pursuers would catch up quickly. At this moment, he saw Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was short, so it was not easy to spot him, but the guard Dian Wei beside him was very thick, so it was easy to spot him.
When you see Dian Wei, follow and you will see Cao Cao.
Gao Shun immediately pointed at Cao Cao and shouted: "Cao Cao is there, kill Cao Cao quickly, don't let him escape."
He slashed the enemy soldiers with his sword and went towards Cao Cao.
The soldiers dispersed, but when they heard Gao Shun's shout, they all rushed towards Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was shocked and thought: "Quickly leave!"
"Don't be alarmed, Ming Gong. With Dian Wei here, I will teach Ming Gong that nothing will happen to you!" Dian Wei responded.
Most of those who crowded over to kill Cao Cao were killed by Dian Wei in the end.
Gao Shun watched Cao Cao move forward step by step, and was very anxious, especially when he saw many soldiers falling. He just wanted to rush over quickly and kill the guards around Cao Cao so that his soldiers would die less.
"Cao Cao, don't leave!"
Gao Shun finally squeezed behind Cao Cao and slashed with his sword.
Dian Wei had already spotted Gao Shun and shouted: "Ming Gong, let's go first."
Pushing Cao Cao forward, he blocked Gao Shun's sword with his halberds.
Cao Cao glanced behind him and knew that with Dian Wei's force, he would be able to quickly defeat the enemy general.
He stopped and waved his sword in front to block the enemy soldiers, allowing Dian Wei to concentrate on dealing with the enemy generals.
Guo Jia followed closely behind Cao Cao, and there were more than a dozen soldiers protecting them.
"Death!"
Dian Wei roared angrily and pecked the halberd in Gao Shun's neck with his right hand. He then pulled forward with force and pulled out the halberd. Gao Shun immediately fell down.
When the soldiers saw Gao Shun fall, they all knew that the guards around Cao Cao were too brave and did not dare to get too close. They just went to look for those enemy soldiers to fight.
Cao Cao's soldiers, on the other hand, saw that the enemy general was dead and became more confident in fighting.
"Ming Gong, leave quickly."
Dian Wei killed Gao Shun and did not dare to stop. He walked in front of Cao Cao and fought his way through.
Gan Ning led his soldiers to pursue them in a hurry. After going around the enemy camp, they happened to encounter 3,000 soldiers and horses sent away by Xiahou Dun, so he pursued them from behind.
At this time, Zhang Xiu led his troops to catch up, followed Gan Ning, and also pursued the enemy soldiers.
Behind Zhang Xiu, the men and horses led by Liu Bei and Guan Yu went around to the back of the enemy camp. Liu Bei saw that there were still soldiers and horses resisting in the enemy camp, and asked hurriedly: "Who else is resisting in the enemy camp?"
One of the detectives replied: "They are the troops led by Xiahou Dun."
"The Jizhou soldiers haven't broken through the enemy camp yet! Yun Chang, let's cover up the enemy camp from behind and help the Jizhou soldiers. Cao Cao has left his troops here. There must not be many soldiers in front. Xingba and Nanyang soldiers and horses are chasing them.
Can."
Guan Yu accepted his promise and led his troops to rush in from behind the camp and kill Xiahou Dun's troops.
Xiahou Dun stayed to resist, and was already prepared to fight to the end.
At this time, a soldier rushed to report: "General Xiahou, there are enemy soldiers coming from behind."
"Come on, let's fight through it!"
Xiahou Dun shouted and led his troops to kill behind.
Now he wanted to give the soldiers a hope, a hope to retreat.
Although he knew that this hope was very slim, only when people have hope can they be motivated and work hard.
Xiahou Dun rushed to kill more than a dozen enemy soldiers, and then met Guan Yu who was rushing towards him from the opposite side.
It was still dark at this time, but the light from torches and tents had already illuminated the camp.
Although Xiahou Dun only had one eye left, he still saw Guan Yu's long beard fluttering, his green robe and shawl, and the Qinglong Yanyue Sword in his hand, which was so powerful that it made people tremble without a fight.
"Guan Yu, today I come to fight you to the death!"
Xiahou Dun shouted, slapped his horse and raised his sword and rushed towards Guan Yu.
"as you wish!"
Guan Yu responded, clapped his horse and raised his sword to greet him.
One is the person whom Cao Cao is closest to, trusts the most, and the other is the person Liu Bei is closest to, trusts the most, and the two fight against each other, just like Cao Cao and Liu Bei fight against each other.
Liu Bei immediately watched from a distance. At this time, the soldiers and horses of both sides had already charged together.
