Liu Bei seemed very preoccupied these past two days. Even though he had captured Zuo Fengyi and was close to Chang'an, he frowned and remained silent every day.
Not only Guan Yu, Wang Lang Dianwei and other people around him could see it, but even during the meeting, Cao Cao, Sun Jian and Bao Xin could see clearly.
Everyone thought he was worried about food and grass problems and was under too much pressure, so a few people comforted him and gave him some advice.
In fact, the Kwantung Army's food and grass supplies are increasingly running out, which is indeed a sword hanging over everyone's head.
Fortunately, now that the rain has passed and the sky is clear, there is always a glimmer of hope.
Naturally, the princes from all walks of life did not know that this was Chen Mu's backup plan. He had long expected that with his big brother's character, he would be eager for quick success and focused on breaking into Chang'an to rescue the emperor, so he asked Yan Zhong to pay attention to the battle situation in advance and be ready to take action at all times.
Help.
By the end of November, close to the beginning of December, the Kwantung Army's food and grass supplies had completely bottomed out.
On the upper floor of Yangling County, Xu Rong looked far to the left in the direction of Fengyi County from time to time.
The sky was getting dark and it was almost dusk. There was still no enemy figure visible on the distant horizon, as if they had never thought of continuing the attack.
In fact, Xu Rong was very puzzled these days and didn't understand why the Kwantung Army stopped at Zuo Fengyi inexplicably.
If they withdraw their troops now, Xu Rong can understand.
After all, there is not enough food and grass.
But now we are withdrawing but not withdrawing, fighting but not fighting. What does this mean?
Could it be that the follow-up food and fodder has caught up?
impossible.
According to the reports from the scouts, there has been no movement at all in Huayin County in the past few days.
As a veteran on the battlefield, Xu Rong had already arranged a large number of spies around Zuo Fengyi and Huayin County.
Not only is there no movement in Huayin County, but Zuo Fengyi has also been calm these past few days, which is really unusual.
Xu Rong was confused and turned to ask the messenger: "Has Tan Ma come back?"
The ordering soldier said helplessly: "General, the previous team of scouts has just reported to you, and the next team will take some time."
"oh."
Only then did Xu Rong remember that this was what happened.
When you stare at a certain place for a long time, you always feel that time flies by quickly, but in fact it only lasts a while.
"Forget it, let them do whatever they want. It's a waste of their time anyway."
Xu Rong saw that the sky was getting darker and darker and the sun had already set, so he was too lazy to continue patrolling the city and turned around to leave.
At this moment, dust was flying in the distance, and in the cold wind, several scouts came galloping towards them.
"Emergency military situation!"
The leader of the scout team came to the city and shouted.
The city gate opened, and Xu Rong had just stepped off the city wall. When he heard the scouts coming back, he waited at the city gate.
"how?"
The scouts rushed into the city. Before the scouts could dismount, Xu Rong had already asked questions.
Several scouts turned over and dismounted, and the team leader knelt down on one knee and kowtowed: "General, at three o'clock in the evening, the Kwantung Army suddenly came out in full force and headed for the Wei River."
"What?"
Xu Rong was shocked and said: "Could it be that they want to cross the Wei River directly and attack Chang'an?"
Tan Ma replied: "Because it is already dark and the Kwantung Army is surrounded by scouts, we dare not get close. We don't know whether it is true or not, so we dare not delay and report back immediately."
"At this time when the water is dry in winter, there are indeed some places in the Wei River that can be passed. It turns out that this was the idea of the Kwantung Army."
Xu Rong clasped his hands behind his back and frowned.
But after a moment, the frowning eyebrows relaxed again.
hehe.
Since the Kwantung Army was looking for death, it's no wonder he was killed.
How can there be such a war in this world?
Just ignore the two wings and want to go straight to Huanglong?
However, the city of Chang'an is strong and there is no problem in defending it for a few days. As long as Yangling and Baqiao soldiers and horses are dispatched together to attack from the front, left and right, the enemy will definitely be able to be wiped out.
It turns out that Xu Rong thought that defeating the Kwantung Army was the limit. Who would have expected that the Kwantung Army would completely ignore his own retreat? This is a way to die.
Thinking of this, Xu Rong said to the messenger: "Send an early warning in the direction of Chang'an and send someone to speak to General Duan. If there is a war in Chang'an, attack from the right immediately."
"only!"
The messenger immediately went to report the news.
There are countless battles in this world, and it is not without the strategy of bypassing a difficult pass in one place to attack another place by surprise.
For example, in the Battle of Wuchao, Cao Cao bypassed Guandu and directly burned Wuchao behind Guandu.
But the prerequisite is that you must first be able to defeat the target you want to attack by surprise.
Chang'an is no better than Wuchao. Such an important town will definitely not be captured in a short time, and the Kwantung Army's military rations have been exhausted. As long as the people can be evacuated and prevented from getting food on the spot, and they hold on for a day or two, the Kwantung Army's military morale will inevitably be weakened.
At this time, they will attack in three directions, using a two-wing pincer offensive to hit the left and right sides of the Kwantung Army. Chang'an's troops will come out in full force again. I am afraid they will be able to defeat the Kwantung Army without waiting for Lu Bu to come back.
However, Xu Rong still thought too much. Every time he arrived at a city and fought all the way, he could at least ensure there was a way out behind him. Even Cao Cao would not dare to play this kind of death-defying strategy.
Therefore, Xu Rong never thought that this was not a desperate fight by the Kwantung Army, but simply that they went to the Wei River to collect food and grass.
Carloads of grain and grass were delivered to the Wei River under the cover of darkness. The Kwantung Army sent scout horses in all directions to prevent enemy scouts from detecting them, and it can be said that they carefully protected this hard-won grain.
In fact, it is not easy for the princes of the imperial court now. There is not much food and grass they can collect. There are seven or eight hundred carts in total and less than 40,000 dan, which can only sustain the Kwantung Army for four or five days.
However, this is normal. If you save some food, you will be able to survive for five or six days without any problem.
Seeing a handful of grain and grass being transported to the military camp, Cao Cao said happily: "With this grain and grass, our chances of winning are much greater. Everyone, I have a plan that will definitely defeat the enemy."
Bao Xin asked: "Will Meng De's plan be implemented?"
Cao Cao smiled slightly: "Our army is short of food and grass, and Chang'an must also know it. If our army pretends to be demoralized and withdraws at this time, Dong's thieves will definitely send people to pursue them. We will ambush the troops in advance and wait for work. When they pursue too deep, we will suddenly kill them."
If we go out and the main force turns around to counterattack, great things will happen."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "This plan takes seconds."
Sun Jian praised: "I think it's feasible."
"So, based on what Meng De said, what does Xuande think?"
Bao Xin looked at Liu Bei.
Liu Bei frowned and said nothing. This silence had been maintained for several days.
"Xuande?"
Bao Xin asked again.
"oh."
Liu Bei seemed to have just come back to his senses. He hesitated for a moment and whispered: "Just follow Brother Mengde."
"Then we will arrange to withdraw our troops tomorrow."
Cao Cao felt very high-spirited, thinking that if he could defeat the pursuers, fight back all the way back to Chang'an, break through the city gate, and welcome back the emperor and the princes of the Manchu Dynasty, this would be an incredible achievement.
This is the real way to turn the tide from falling and to support the building before it collapses. I am afraid that the entire Han Dynasty will have to sing about their heroic deeds.
At that moment, everyone returned to the military camp, arranged for the soldiers to live and cook, rested for a night, and prepared to set off the next day.
Early the next morning, Cao Cao was resting in his tent when he was woken up by a loud noise.
"What happened outside?"
Cao Cao was sleepy-eyed and came out to ask the guarding soldiers.
Cao Hong came from not far away and said: "Mengde, the leader of the alliance has ordered us to set up camp and prepare to withdraw our troops."
Because Zuofengyi is a county town, there are many refugees living in it, and there is no place to stay. Therefore, the coalition forces only have a small number of soldiers to maintain order in the city, and most of the troops are outside the city.
Hearing that Liu Bei ordered the withdrawal of troops, Cao Cao nodded: "Well, then withdraw the troops."
This is the plan made yesterday.
Sun Jian led the ambush troops and left Feng Yi to retreat to the official road of Xiagui. Once the Yangling enemy troops chased them out, they immediately ambushed them and defeated the Yangling enemy troops in one battle.
Cao Cao's troops also began to reorganize, and they set up camp and moved closer to Liu Bei's main camp, preparing to evacuate to Xiagui.
But on the way, Cao Cao suddenly saw from a distance in Zuofengyi City, countless people supporting the elderly and young, slowly walking out of the city. At the entrance of Liu Bei's military camp, hundreds of large pots were placed, with corn porridge cooked in the pots.
They were scrambling for food, and Liu Bei led his troops to maintain order.
this?
When Cao Cao saw this scene, his eyes widened and he immediately rode towards the entrance of the camp.
Arriving in front of the camp, Cao Cao dismounted from his horse, hurriedly walked up to Liu Bei, and asked, "Xuande, why is this?"
Liu Bei was helping a middle-aged man in his forties. Almost all the old people and children in the city had died. Most of the people who survived now were adults, but they were also very weak from hunger. They were sallow and thin and could not even walk steadily.
Seeing Cao Cao coming to question him, Liu Bei personally served a bowl of porridge to the victims and replied, "Didn't Meng De see it? I'm helping the victims."
"But, this is our army rations!"
Cao Cao couldn't help but said: "If it is eaten by the people, what should our soldiers do with it?"
Liu Bei glanced back at him and shook his head: "I have calculated it. If these millets are used to cook porridge, they should be enough to eat for a few more days and distribute some to the victims. After all, we can save some people. Now if we can withdraw to Huayin,
We can save more people."
"Withdraw to Huayin?"
Cao Cao frowned: "Aren't you pretending to withdraw your troops and actually setting up an ambush?"
Liu Bei looked up at the sky and sighed: "Does Meng De know how many victims who have migrated from Luoyang are left in Chang'an?"
"How would I know?"
"I sent people to ask, but the people didn't know. But they know that since the winter, thousands of corpses have been transported out of the city every day, and the population is decreasing day by day. That Dong thief has not cared about their life and death at all.
"
"What does this have to do with us?
Cao Cao raised his hands in the direction of Chang'an and said angrily: "Our mission is to capture Chang'an and welcome back the Emperor. Is Xuande going to abandon His Majesty for the sake of these victims?"
"How miserable are all the peoples?"
Liu Bei was silent for a moment and just whispered: "It's not that we won't fight, but I want to send people to escort Zuo Fengyi and the people of Xiagui to Huayin, and then concentrate our forces to attack Chang'an."
"But how much time will this waste? Our army is already low on food and grass, and you still have to divide your troops. This is a taboo!"
Cao Cao's expression turned extremely ugly.
"I can't bear to abandon the people. Withdrawing troops today will lead Dong's army to attack. As long as we ambush good troops, we can win the victory."
Liu Bei just shook his head.
"snort!"
Cao Cao snorted coldly and walked away: "Mrs. Xuande's benevolence is not enough for her."
This sentence is equivalent to swearing.
But Liu Bei turned a deaf ear and carried a dying old man on his back and fed him millet porridge himself.
After a long time, Cao Cao has left. I don’t know where he went.
The fierce new wind is still blowing.
There is no snow around Chang'an City for the time being, but everything is quiet, the grass is withered, and the cold wind is like a knife and hurts the face.
All the people drank a mouthful of hot porridge and barely regained some strength.
Liu Bei is leaving too.
He wants to take these people away.
After noon, on the horizon, countless people dragged their families and families, just as they came, slowly migrating eastward under the protection of the army.
do not fight.
Enough people died in this battle.
Liu Bei turned back to look in the direction of Chang'an and suddenly smiled miserably.
His eyes were full of loneliness and sadness.
After the death of King Chenliu, the late emperor had only one heir, the Young Emperor.
If he failed to save him and was poisoned by Dong Zhuo, the late emperor would be extinct.
After all, he failed to fulfill his duty as a minister.
I have not let down the country and the people of the world.
He only failed the late emperor.
If the late emperor had a spirit in heaven, I am afraid he would also be punished.
Liu Bei turned around and walked away with his lonely figure in the direction away from Chang'an.