As early as two days ago, Huo Shijian led 300 cavalry to catch up. In order to gain more time and opportunities to attack, it was originally a three-day journey, and Huo Shijian led his cavalry to stay overnight and catch up in just two days.
After reuniting with Tian Dongxin and grasping the enemy's movements, Huo Shijian led the cavalry to hang on to the opponent twenty miles away, looking for opportunities to fight.
The opponent is very cautious. The Fo Lang Cavalry team has been falling behind for several miles, so once the whereabouts are exposed, the opponent will immediately be alert. A frontal attack is absolutely not advisable. Huo Shijian would rather not do it than do that. Then there is
It could cost the lives of all the cavalry.
On the first night after catching up, the Folangji people camped on a mountain. That night, Tian Dongxin and others hoped that Huo Shijian would order an attack. Huo Shijian flatly refused.
A night attack is certainly a good idea, but the terrain is obviously not suitable. The opponent is camping on a hill, and their defensive posture is from a high position, which is obviously a precaution. The cavalry charge can dive, charge on the ground, and charge up the hill. Wouldn't it be a joke?
The next night, the opponent camped on a flat ground. Tian Dongxin and others thought that they would attack tonight, and everyone was ready to launch an attack. However, Huo Shijian still refused to give the order.
Everyone was very puzzled, and some even thought that Huo Shijian was afraid. Even Tian Dongxin was puzzled. Huo Shijian severely reprimanded his cousin. His cousin acted timidly and cautiously before, but since
After joining the army, he seemed to be a new person. He released the impulse and bloodiness in his bones and became very impatient in doing things.
This time, he actually said that he was timid and afraid of death. Naturally, Huo Shijian wanted to teach him a lesson. Not only did he scold him in public, but he also whipped Tian Dongxin several times. As a result, the cavalrymen did not dare to say any more. Although
I still muttered in my heart, but I didn't dare to say it anymore.
In this way, all the cavalrymen followed them to the Giant Lake.
Last night, the Fo Langji people worked hard until midnight before setting up camp. Their exhausted looks were clearly seen by the Ming cavalry in the distant woods. After the enemy camp calmed down, everyone was sure that Huo Shijian should
We have to order an attack. This is the best time, and we are getting closer to the coast. If we don't attack, we may not have a chance.
However, Huo Shijian still did not give the order. Instead, he ordered everyone to retreat a few miles away from the Giant Lake and hide in the woods for the night. This time, no one could understand it. It seemed that Huo Shijian really had no intention of taking action. He had let down the country.
He was afraid of the father-in-law's trust. They all went to Huo Shijian for explanations and demanded an explanation indignantly.
Huo Shijian responded to them coldly.
"All of you, listen carefully to my orders. I know you are dissatisfied with me. After all, I am just a school captain, and many of you are more senior than me. But don't forget, I am the Duke of the country who has ordered me to command this operation.
If anyone disobeys military orders, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Huo Shijian, it's not that we are dissatisfied with you, but that you are timid and afraid of death, dare not attack, and have betrayed the trust of the Duke. That's why we came to you to argue." Xiao Qi, a guard, shouted.
Everyone nodded and agreed.
Huo Shijian shouted: "What a joke, am I a coward and afraid of death? I issued a military order in front of the Duke. If I can't annihilate the enemy, I will be executed under military law when I return. Don't I want to attack more than you do?"
Everyone fell silent and had nothing to say for a while. Yes, Huo Shijian issued a military order. If he let Fo Langji go, he would be beheaded in public. If he was afraid of death, he should launch an attack at all costs.
.
"Cousin, if that's the case, why haven't you launched an attack for so long? Tonight is the best time to attack, and you don't want to. What's the matter?" Tian Dongxin was so anxious that his hometown dialect came out.
Huo Shijian sighed, looked at Tian Dongxin and everyone and said: "Everyone, for the sake of the overall situation, the Duke of Guo does not want to waste time on these Fo Lang robots. The main reason is that he does not want to cause casualties. Our Invincible Fleet currently does not have enough troops.
There's a big one at the back
During the war, the Duke of Guo also loves his brothers very much and does not want any unnecessary casualties. In fact, letting go of these Fo Langji people is not a major event related to the overall situation in the eyes of the Duke of Guo. This is what I insist on coming.
Opportunity. How could I refuse to attack?"
Everyone was silent.
"However, since I have been ordered to pursue the Francois, I cannot do whatever I want and cannot go against the Duke's ideas. We cannot suffer too many casualties, otherwise even if we win, it will go against the Duke's ideas. I know everyone
I'm not afraid of death, but the overall situation is the most important thing
. How can we easily die and be injured here? So I must be very cautious and look for an absolutely advantageous fighter plane to kill the Folangji with the minimum cost of casualties. This is the reason why I have not ordered an attack. Because I have not found what I think.
The right time." Huo Shijian said.
"The opportunity tonight is not good? So what is a good opportunity?" someone asked.
Huo Shijian said: "The Duke of Guo uses his troops to win by surprise, and he can often attack the enemy when they are unprepared. He also grasps the timing of his attacks very accurately. He can often use various factors to trick the enemy into taking the bait. Tonight is like this
The situation seems to be that the enemy is tired and can launch a surprise attack, which is indeed a good time. But this is also the time when the enemy is most alert. The Francois are very cautious. At night, they will be extremely alert. This is not a surprise attack.
A good time.”
Everyone vaguely understood the key point of Huo Shijian's words. What Huo Shijian meant was that the closer it was at night, the more likely it was that a fighter plane could launch a surprise attack. However, this was often the time when the opponent was extremely cautious to guard against it. This would not have the effect of a surprise attack.
"You should also have seen that they were busy working until midnight and did not rest, that is, they were camping. If they were not prepared, they could simply camp by the lake. They did this because General Franco led the army and was vigilant
The nature is high. When we attack tonight, if the hoofbeats of the horses sound, they may be hit head-on with firearms. There are many of them, and although they are tired, they are not something we can easily solve." Huo Shijian said solemnly.
Everyone nodded, and what they said made sense. They also saw that the other party was indeed setting up camp seriously. There were also cavalry scouting along the lake shore, and it was true that the other party was very vigilant.
"Maybe what you said is right. However, tonight should be our last chance. We are already very close to the coast. If we miss tonight, we will have to watch them escape later." A small flag officer sighed.
road.
Huo Shijian said: "I don't think so. They built a camp fence and erected a sentry tower. They were probably waiting for the ship to arrive. Maybe one day, maybe two or three days, I can't tell. But I don't need to wait.
Two or three days. Because there are better fighters coming soon. I firmly believe this."
"Cousin, what kind of fighter plane? You have kept everyone in the dark, which makes everyone feel uneasy. Tell us." Tian Dongxin said.
Huo Shijian said: "Do you still remember the last battle when the Duke of Guo quelled the rebellion of Liu Liu and Liu Qi? The Duke of Guo chose a day of heavy rain to fight them and made all preparations. Because the Duke of Guo believed that,
The other party would take advantage of rainy days to come out and actively seek battle. At that time, the rebels believed that our artillery and firearms would be useless on rainy days, which was their best opportunity. The Duke of Guo took advantage of their situation.
With this mentality, I set up a battle formation and annihilated all the rebels in one fell swoop. After that battle, I admired the Duke of Guo. I used the opponent's psychology, the weather, and judged based on the situation that the opponent would definitely attack.
The brilliance of the strategy of leading the army is not as if it is a battle, but a performance. The opponent actively cooperates and throws himself into the trap, which is admirable and admirable."
Everyone nodded.
"What does that have to do with the current situation? The situation is different, and you can't imitate it. You don't have the wisdom and strategy of the Duke." Someone said in a deep voice.
These words were blunt and a little hurtful. But Huo Shijian was not angry and said with a smile: "Of course I can't compare with Duke Guo, but even though I can't reach it, I yearn for him. Of course I want to learn from Duke Guo's strategy.
Maybe we can only learn a little bit, but it's enough. I think that in the current situation, we can
The Duke of Xueguo took advantage of the timing. The Francois camped by the lake. The weather has been hot these days. You can see that the sky is full of stars and cloudless. Tomorrow is bound to be another hot day. If it is you, the hot weather is here.
What will you do when you stay next to the lake and it’s so hot that you have nowhere to hide?”
"Go into the water and swim in the lake to cool off." Tian Dongxin said with wide eyes.
"Yes, that's right. This is what I want them to do. According to common sense, they will do this. Once they go to the lake to swim and play, they will be a group of unarmed and naked lambs waiting to be slaughtered. Then
It is also the opportunity I most hope to see. It is precisely because I think there is such a possibility that I reject your proposal to send troops. Because a better opportunity may come, I naturally cannot act too hastily." Huo Shijian said solemnly.
Everyone suddenly understood and were greatly impressed. Huo Shijian was indeed thoughtful and his endurance was beyond ordinary people. He should have been thinking about attacking tonight, but after seeing the situation of the opponent's camp being set up, he analyzed and judged that there would be a better chance.
So I decided to keep waiting.
If the situation he mentioned happens, it is obviously an excellent offensive opportunity.
"Huo Baihu, what if they don't go into the water tomorrow? What if they break camp and leave early tomorrow morning? What then?" Someone asked this question.
Huo Shijian smiled and said: "If that's the case, then I can only go back to lead the military law. But I don't think I will be so unlucky. This is a plan learned from the Duke of Guo, using the right time and understanding the opponent's psychology.
"The Duke has set a precedent, I think I will not fail. Let's take a good rest and approach from the dense forest on the north bank after dawn. Just wait and move."