In the dark of night, Cao Qing, the commander of the Western Army, was leading a cavalry of 3,000 people on a rapid march. Their target was Xinping Town, fifty miles away, where was the logistics and food camp of Han Chang's army. The food transported from Liyang River would be in Xinping.
They were gathered in the big camp and then sent to the big camp ahead by cart.
The decision to sneak attack on the enemy's logistics camp was made this morning. For this reason, the commander-in-chief Yang Zaixing and Wang Duo had different opinions. Wang Duo was Niu Gao's subordinate and inherited Niu Gao's combat style. He advocated a steady and steady attack and no risky moves, but Yang Zaixing
However, he insisted that sneak attacks on the enemy's food and fodder had a miraculous effect and could seriously demoralize the enemy's morale.
The two sides argued fiercely, but after all, Yang Zaixing had a higher military position, and finally decided to attack by surprise. Commander Cao Qing led 3,000 light cavalry to Xinping Town carrying kerosene.
At the fourth watch, the army entered Huangniu Valley, which was still twenty miles away from Xinping Town.
The Huangniu Valley is the only way to go through the official road. There are low hills on both sides with lush trees. Cao Qing was a scout and had rich experience. When he entered the Huangniu Valley, he became a little wary. He sent his men to explore first and found nothing unusual.
Lead the army to advance slowly.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. A full moon hung in the night sky, coating the earth with a layer of silver. Halfway through the march, suddenly there was a flock of night birds flying above the mountain forest. Cao Qing was shocked and ordered quickly: "All the troops, hurry up."
retreat!"
It was too late, only a bang was heard, and thousands of arrows were fired from the mountains and forests on both sides. The Western Army cavalry was caught off guard, and their men fell off their horses, causing heavy casualties. The rest of the Western Army raised their shields to block the arrows.
Cries of killing rang out from all directions, fires broke out from the front and rear, and countless soldiers held torches to block the retreat and way out.
Cao Qing saw that they were surrounded by tens of thousands of people and had no hope of breaking out. He gritted his teeth and said: "Brother, spit out the kerosene and light a fire!"
Every soldier carries a kerosene skin bag, which is a special fire attack oil bag with a copper pipe on the top. By squeezing the skin bag, the kerosene can be sprayed out seven or eight feet away, which is very suitable for fire attack.
Two thousand soldiers sprayed kerosene on both sides. Some soldiers threw torches, and the forest hundreds of steps wide suddenly burst into flames. This move was very beautiful and turned against the enemy. Han Chang, who was commanding the battle on the top of the mountain, was shocked and immediately ordered the troops to withdraw from the valley.
.
Seeing the opportunity coming, Cao Qing shouted: "Brothers, follow me to break through!"
More than two thousand cavalry followed Cao Qing and galloped towards the entrance. Cao Qing was as clear as a mirror. Since they were ambushed, the so-called grain and grass camp in Xinping Town must be untrue. They must break through and return to the camp to inform the general.
Tens of thousands of soldiers intercepted the enemy at the mouth of the valley, and the arrows were like a rainstorm. The Western cavalry was hit by arrows and fell off their horses. Cao Qing finally led his troops into the enemy group and fought fiercely with the enemy.
More and more enemy troops retreated from the mountains. The Western Army suffered heavy casualties, with only a few hundred men left. Cao Qing was stabbed thirteen times, and the last arrow hit his neck. He turned around and saw the enemy general Han Chang.
With a long sigh, he fell off his horse and died in battle.
In this fierce battle, the Western Army finally broke through with only a few dozen people. The rest of the soldiers were outnumbered and the entire army was destroyed.
In front of the big tent, Yang Zaixing looked at the looming fire in the distance. He wondered if it was the fire burning in the enemy's grain and grass camp. A spy from the distance rushed over, knelt down on one knee and reported, "Report to the capital,
We captured an enemy spy and brought him behind!"
Yang Zaixing nodded and asked: "How is the enemy's defense situation?"
"The number of patrol posts in the enemy's camp has doubled compared to usual. It is heavily guarded and we cannot get close to investigate."
"Are there any signs of withdrawal?"
"The enemy shows no signs of withdrawing!"
At this time, a dozen scouts escorted an enemy spy forward. He was blindfolded and his hands were tied behind his back. He was escorted to Yang Zaixing. The soldiers tore off the blindfold and saw a Han Chinese in his thirties with panic in his eyes.
"Kneel down!"
The soldier gave him a kick, and the spy knelt down, lowered his head and said, "General, spare your life!"
Yang Zaixing said coldly: "I don't have to kill you, but you have to tell the truth!"
"The villain has a low status and knows very few secrets."
"I'm not asking you for secrets, I'm just asking for some common sense. How many troops are there in the military camp now?"
"Reporting back to the general, there may be 46,000 to 7,000 people. I know that an army of 3,000 people has gone to escort the grain and grass."
Yang Zaixing asked a few more questions, then waved his hand to escort the spies away.
At this time, Wang Duo hurried over, clasped his fists and said: "Yang Dutong, please immediately send someone to investigate the fire in the distance. I feel something fishy!"
"General Wang, what do you think is wrong?"
Wang Duo was Wang Yan's younger brother and Niu Gao's deputy general. He was very senior. Although Yang Zaixing had a higher military position than him, he was quite polite to him.
"The distance is wrong!"
Yang Zaixing was startled, "The distance is wrong?"
Wang Duo said to Yang Zaixing: "Perhaps Yang Dutong can't see it, but I have been the master of projection for a long time. I can't say that no one can measure the distance, but I also have extraordinary abilities. I can judge the big fire in the distance."
It's thirty miles away, but the food camp is fifty miles away, so the two are not the same place."
Of course, Yang Zaixing knew Wang Duo's ability, and he was worried, but it was wrong! When he interrogated the spies just now, they didn't send troops. Could it be that they encountered Sima An's army?
Yang Zaixing immediately sent a scout team to investigate the situation.
At daybreak, Yang Zaixing stood up to wash up. Suddenly, a soldier came to report, "Inform the commander-in-chief that General Cao's men have escaped back. They said they were ambushed and the entire army was destroyed!"
"Clang!"
Yang Zaixing was so shocked that he dropped the cup in his hand, "What's going on? Where are they?"
After a while, a bloody Dutou was led into the tent, knelt down and cried, "Dutong, we were ambushed by tens of thousands of people in Huangniu, the entire army was destroyed, and General Cao was unfortunately killed in battle!"
Yang Zaixing was so shocked that he couldn't say a word. After a while, he asked: "What happened to the fire last night?"
The commander said with tears: "We were ambushed by thousands of enemy arrows. In order to escape, General Cao ordered to spray out kerosene to burn the forest, and then break out. However, there were too many enemy troops, and we were surrounded. First, there were five or six thousand, and then there were nearly 1,000 people.
Twenty thousand people stepped up the siege, and we fought tooth and nail to clear a bloody path. Only thirty-three of the three thousand brothers were killed. General Cao was shot in the neck by an arrow from Han Chang and fell off his horse and died. I saw it with my own eyes."
"Han Chang?" Yang Zaixing was stunned. Was Han Chang not in the camp last night?
At this time, the commander could no longer hold on and fainted. Yang Zaixing urgently ordered him to be carried to the medical camp for treatment.
Yang Zaixing immediately sent someone to bring the spy arrested last night. There was something wrong with the spy's confession.
Not long after, the soldiers came to report, "The spy arrested last night committed suicide by taking poison. Who knows where he hid the poison?"
Yang Zaixing suddenly understood that the Jinbing camp was empty last night, and Han Chang led his army to ambush him. However, he was worried that he would attack the camp at night, so he pretended to let a spy be caught to confuse him.
In the first battle, he was severely fooled by the enemy and lost three thousand brothers. Thinking of the dispute with Wang Duo yesterday, Yang Zaixing's face burned hot and he felt extremely ashamed.
He sighed and said: "Go and ask the king to come to my handsome tent to meet you!"
Soon, Wang Duo hurried to the Chinese army's tent. He also received the news that the Western army was ambushed last night and the entire army was destroyed.
When he entered the tent, Yang Zaixing bowed to him and said, "A certain family apologizes to the general for what happened yesterday!"
Wang Duo hurriedly said: "The commander-in-chief does not have to be like this. In fact, he is also responsible. There was a fire last night. He should have led the army to attack the enemy camp, but he still failed to make up his mind and missed an opportunity."
"yes!"
Yang Zaixing also sighed and said: "Last night was really a chance. I was deceived by Han Chang's cunning scheme."