Chapter 37 The Battle of the Yangren and the Law of the Empty City
After the garrison was stationed in Yangren City, Cao Cao and Liu Bei each sent two smaller troops to camp secretly near Yangren City, while most of the troops were stationed in Yangren City.
Cao Cao, as a general, naturally had the ability to command the overall situation. He asked Tao Shang to guard the west gate and Liu Bei to guard the east gate. He personally guarded the north gate, waiting for the arrival of Hua Xiong's army.
Because of his later career, the pottery merchant read a wide range of books and knew more.
But knowing more doesn't mean he knows how to organize troops. When it comes to commanding troops, for now, he still has to rely on Xu Chu and Mi Fang.
During this period of time, the pottery merchant studied with Xu Chudong, looking here to see how to camp the troops and horses, and there to see the distribution and arrangement of grain and grass, and through practice he increased his experience bit by bit.
But it is a pity that Xu Chu only has a rough understanding of military aircraft.
When it comes to fighting in front of the battlefield and charging to kill the enemy, Xu Chu is considered a first-class expert, but in terms of the art of war, this guy only has a "little understanding" of it.
Tao Shang knew in his heart that Xu Chu was a fierce general, but not a handsome man... It seemed that his subordinates still lacked many talents.
That morning, the pottery merchant followed Xu Chu at the gate of the city tower and arranged the storage of rolling stones and bows and arrows. Although it took a lot of thought during the process, he finally learned the general routine.
"Zhongkang, how is the training of the Tiger Guards?" While taking a break, Tao Shang took the time to ask Xu Chu about the training situation of the Tiger Guards.
Xu Chu chuckled a few times: "What do you think of training as a soldier? Do you want to achieve great success in just a few days? No matter how good you are in training, you still have to practice on the battlefield with real swords and guns to gradually mature."
Tao Shang nodded. He also knew the importance of experience. It is said that raising an army for a thousand days and using it only for a short time, the key to gaining experience is on the battlefield. This thing is just like an exam. No matter how good you are in your usual review, it will be the same if you have stage fright and cannot perform well in the exam.
Nonsense.
"This time to deal with the Huaxiong Army, we must create the best opportunity for the Tiger Guards. Firstly, we must try to avoid casualties of the Tiger Guards, and secondly, we must maximize their experience."
Xu Chu was dumbfounded after hearing this for a while, and then said: "You are too bully. The two armies are fighting, life and death. The weather, terrain, morale, troop formation, armor and equipment can all determine victory, defeat, life and death. This is terrible.
It’s not me, Xu Chu, who has the final say!”
"Then I don't care." The pottery merchant began to be unreasonable: "Anyway, you are the one who leads the soldiers, and I issue the orders. No matter what method you think of, it must be done for me. I only want the result and not the process. After the battle, I
I want your results."
The flesh on Xu Chu's face twitched.
If the pottery merchant had told him this matter in an arrogant manner, he would have been able to handle it. However, this boy acted like a humble gentleman, but the words he spoke were even more unreasonable than the words of the most rogue person.
.
Xu Chu began to consider whether to find an opportunity to seek refuge with Hua Xiong.
"Young Master! Eldest Young Master!" An urgent voice came from behind.
The pottery merchant turned around, only to see Mi Fang running towards him in a hurry, panting and handing a slip in his hand to the pottery merchant.
"My eldest son, there is news from Hanoi County that Leader Yuan has an order!"
The pottery merchant took the slip over in confusion, unfolded it and looked at it, his eyes suddenly widened.
Seeing the sudden change in the pottery merchant's expression, Xu Chu and Mi Fang became curious and asked hurriedly: "Elder Master, what is written in the letter?"
The potter's hands were trembling slightly, as if he was too excited to speak.
After a long while, he tremblingly handed the opened slip to the two of them.
Xu Chu reached out and took it first. He and Mi Fang moved their heads to the front of the slip, as if they wanted to dig their faces into it.
"Whoever beheads Hua Xiong... will be rewarded with 500 Linzhi gold!?... Beheads Xu Rong, and will be rewarded with 300 Linzhi gold!?" The two people exclaimed in unison.
Xu Chu raised his head in surprise and asked in confusion: "What does Yuan Shao mean?"
Chief Tao Shang breathed a sigh of relief and said leisurely: "The Fourth Generation and the Three Dukes are very wealthy... Yuan Shao was afraid that the Southern Route Army would lose the battle, so he encouraged the soldiers of the three armies with heavy rewards. It is said that under heavy rewards there must be brave men. This is the truth.
"
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At this time, waves of horn sounds came from the wilderness not far from the west gate of Yangren County.
Far away from the west gate of Yangren City, a huge army is slowly advancing towards Yangren City. There are countless sergeants wearing iron armor, leather armor, cloth and leather armor, and carrying various equipment on their backs.
Qing's halberds lined up in the army, endless swords and bucklers clashed with each other, making heavy muffled sounds, and in the middle of the army, a general riding a black horse was glaring with stern eyes.
Looking at Yangren's city in the distance.
This person is Hua Xiong.
He appears to be in his forties, with a full black beard, broad cheekbones, slender eyes, and thick eyebrows. His long hair is untied and scattered on his shoulders in the wind. He is dressed in a mighty armor suit.
With his black jersey, he is definitely the most eye-catching person wherever he goes.
Hua Xiong served under Dong Zhuo from the first day he joined the army, and gradually climbed to the position of governor. He may not be the most adept at fighting and using troops under Dong Zhuo, but in terms of fighting style and killing
Determined and ruthless, he is the person closest to Dong Zhuo.
There was a sound of hoofbeats, and a scout horse quickly ran towards Hua Xiong's formation.
"Captain! My subordinates have investigated and found out that three groups of rebels, led by Cao Cao, are currently entrenched in Yangren City. The city is fortified with solid stone walls and is extremely well-defended!"
Hua Xiong said a low "Hmm" and asked, "Where are Sun Jian's troops and horses?"
The scout shook his head and said, "Not here!"
"Is the investigation true?"
The scout raised his hands and said, "The general's investigation is true. Sun Jian's army is indeed not in Yangren City!"
Hua Xiong raised his eyebrows and said: "It's really strange. I led the army here, but Sun Jian didn't come to fight me, but went elsewhere... Could it be that he really led the army to fight Xu Rong?"
Next to Hua Xiong, Captain Li Su laughed and said, "Sun Jian is not around, so how can Cao Cao, Kong Niao, Tao Qian's son Nuonuo and the like be the rival of the Grand Governor?"
Hua Xiong smiled nonchalantly and said: "Among the rebellion in Guandong, the only one to worry about is Sun Jian. Now that he is not here, it is really God's will that helped me succeed! Let's wait until the governor defeats Yangren City.
and Xu Rong to encircle and suppress Sun Jian... If we can get rid of Sun Jian, let's see who among the rebels can be our enemy?"
Riding Captain Li Su had a flattering look on his face and expressed his agreement with Hua Xiong's suggestion.
At this time, a thought suddenly flashed in Li Su's mind and he said: "Captain, Xu Rong sent someone to send a message yesterday, saying that he didn't meet Sun Jian there?"
Hua Xiong frowned and said, "What do you mean? Are you saying that Sun Jian is very likely nearby, intending to cooperate with the rebels in the city?"
Li Su frowned and said: "This possibility cannot be ruled out. After all, Sun Jian is good at using troops and is known as the Tiger of Jiangdong. How could he not understand the importance of soldiers and their speed? Xu Rong has not encountered a single soldier of the rebels so far.
One pawn, I'm afraid..."
Hua Xiong's eyes flashed and Leng Buding said: "Never mind, Dang Duan continues to suffer the chaos, and we will capture Yangren City first! Send an order to the attacking army, set up ladders, install charging vehicles, and prepare to attack!"
After the order was conveyed, Hua Xiong's army began a series of rearrangements. The siege equipment was moved from the rear array to the front array, and the sergeants of the death squads also stepped forward one after another...
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Above Cheng Guo, Mi Fang's legs were trembling a little, and she said tremblingly: "Didn't you say that Hua Xiong's army is most likely to attack from the north gate? Why did it appear at the west gate!"
Xu Chu snorted heavily, despising Mi Fang's timidity and panic, and said: "Since it is 'most likely', it is just a guess. Now that people are here, what can we do? Young Master, let's
let's hit!"
The potter was also very uneasy.
After all, such a large formation is completely different from the last confrontation with the Fuyun Yellow Turban Army in Yingchuan.
The Floating Cloud Yellow Turban Army is just a remnant of rogue bandits, but the troops in front of them can be said to be the most brave and capable army in the entire Han Dynasty. Facing such an army, it may be a life-and-death situation.
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After finally being reborn once, and finally getting such a young body, Tao Shang understands how precious the value of life is. He doesn't want to die, he wants to live... to live to be one hundred, two hundred, three hundred, four
One hundred...then God had better give him another five hundred years.
"Open the city gate!" the pottery merchant ordered: "Without my order, no one is allowed to fire an arrow. Anyone who violates this will be killed immediately! In addition, prepare a banquet and put it on the top of the city."
After hearing the first words of the potter, Xu Chu thought he was going to lead his troops to attack, but after hearing the second words, he was a little confused.
Opening the city gate, I can somewhat understand... What's the preparation for the banquet? Have a picnic with Hua Xiong?
Just as Xu Chu was about to speak, the pottery merchant said urgently: "Don't say so much now, I will explain to you later... Listen to me, open the city gate, prepare for the banquet, and order the soldiers and horses to line up in the urn city.
Stand ready."
Although Mi Fang didn't understand what the pottery merchant meant, the longer she spent time with the pottery merchant, for some reason, the more Mi Fang trusted him in her heart.
I don't know since when, Mi Fang developed a deep admiration for the pottery merchant's quick wit, and it was the kind of unconditional and blind admiration.
This is a very normal phenomenon. Brainless people worship those with brains. It is an inevitable law of social development.
………………
The west gate of Yangren City slowly opened in front of the Xiliang army. Hua Xiong couldn't help being surprised when he saw the city gate open. Then he straightened his face and said, "Stop attacking the city for the time being and let the cavalry take the lead."
The Xiliang army hurriedly made arrangements again.
However, as Hua Xiong imagined, the city did not rush out with troops and form formations to confront his side. There was still a solemn silence on the other side's tower, and not a single soldier flashed out of the empty city gate.
"Captain, look over there!"
On the top of the city tower, I saw Xuzhou soldiers setting up a table, and steaming food cauldrons were brought up to the top of the city one after another. A large vat of wine was also carried up along with the food cauldrons. Tao
Shang sat in front of the table, holding the steaming dishes in the cauldron, drinking and eating above and below the city, in full view of the two armies.
On the plain far away from Yangren City, the eyes of the soldiers of the Xiliang Army widened.
This guy is just enjoying the food... but isn't he a bit too disrespectful of us?
Hua Xiong was riding on his horse, looking at the situation on the tower with some disbelief, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
"What...what is going on?" Hua Xiong raised the sword in his hand, pointed at the pottery merchant sitting on the tower and eating, and said angrily: "Whose son is that person eating in front of the two armies?"
Li Su squinted his eyes for a long time and said slowly: "Wearing white clothes, no armor, young... It should be him. He came to vassal the rebellious Tao eldest son on behalf of Tao Qian, the old and immortal man. He seemed to be called
What, what potter...or Taoshang?"
Hua Xiong curled up the corner of his mouth and made a "tsk tsk" sound: "I don't care whether he is a Taoist or a Taoist, but he is the first one who dares to make a meal in front of me! If I don't eat him alive today!
Scraping it alive is really difficult to eliminate the hatred in my heart!!"