On February 17, as the ice and snow gradually melted, Meng Zhong realized that Sima Cuo and Bai Qi were about to launch an offensive against him, so he invited Meng Sui, Zheng Shi, Le Jin and the other two to discuss tactics to defend Yangguan.

At present, the army in another city is mainly stationed in Yingshan, Yangguan and Yinshan. The guardians of Yingshan are Wu Ying, and the guardians of Yinshan are Wei Xu and Yu Ying. The guardians of these two places are mainly to prevent the Qin army from crossing Yinshan and Yinshan and sneaking into Yeyi and Wuyang behind Yangguan.

According to the war reports sent by Wu Ying, Wei Xu and Yu Ying before the New Year, the Qin army did send troops to cross the two mountains many times, but in the end they were repelled by the Wei army, which had geographical advantages. It was not until the beginning of winter last year that the Qin army retreated to Wancheng in large numbers. Since then, the Qin army temporarily stopped the infiltration of the corresponding mountains and Yingshan.

Yes, stop for the time being.

Now that spring is approaching, the Qin army may attack Yangguan again. If Yangguan cannot be conquered in the short term, it is difficult to guarantee that the Qin army will not set its sights on Yingshan and Yinshan again. Therefore, Meng Zhong thought about it and prepared to build some beacon towers in Yingshan and Yinshan so that he could grasp the movements of the Qin army at any time.

When he and Meng Sui, Zheng Xi and Le Jin were discussing this matter, the cavalry sent by Mu Wu arrived at Yangguan first and reported good news to Meng Zhong: a day ago, Meng Hu, Hua Hu and Mu Wu had led 3,000 cavalry to wipe out the two thousand Qin cavalry that invaded the territory in the mountains southeast of Yeyi, and only a few Qin cavalry fled.

Upon hearing this news, Meng Sui, Zheng Shi, Le Jin and others immediately showed joy on their faces, but Meng Zhong was stunned for a moment and frowned slightly.

Seeing this, Zheng Shi asked in confusion: "Meng Sima and others wiped out all the cavalry of Qin. Isn't Fang Chengling happy?"

Under the curious and puzzled eyes of everyone, Meng Zhong smiled bitterly and said, "I'm not unhappy, but... I didn't expect Ah Hu and the others to wipe out the cavalry so quickly..."

Hearing this, Meng Sui suddenly realized and asked, "Are you worried about affecting the war in Yangguan?"

Meng Zhong nodded and explained to the generals: "I once said that we can only fight quickly in this battle. If it is delayed, Qin will continue to send reinforcements. The pressure on our Yangguan will be greater... But at present, the Qin army under Sima Cuo and Bai Qi still has at least 100,000 people, and we cannot compete with Yangguan. Therefore, I planned to adopt the strategy of cutting off food channels..."

Hearing this, Meng Sui, Zheng Shi, and Le Jin nodded at the same time.

Meng Zhong explained to the three of them at the beginning of the year that when the Qin and Chu coalition forces entered Fangcheng again, they found ways to hold back the main force of the Qin army, and sent cavalry to attack Wancheng on the other hand, and cut off the Qin army's grain transportation line from Wuguan to Wancheng.

At that time, this Qin army will be in an embarrassing situation of advancing and retreating.

However, at present, Meng Hu, Hua Hu and Mu Wu destroyed the cavalry under Bai Qi early... Of course, the more important reason was to escape Qin general Hu Yu and others. Once these things returned to Bai Qi's army, the destruction of the cavalry was told to Bai Qi that the secret of the bilateral stirrup could not be kept. I believe Bai Qi would be more cautious about the attack of the other cavalry. Since the Fangcheng cavalry has solved the cavalry under his command, he will naturally return to Yangguan. How could Bai Qi not imagine such an obvious thing?

In this way, Meng Zhong's tactics of attacking Wancheng in the back will probably be affected.

"Let this be released in advance, and wait until Meng Hu, Hua Hu, Mu Wu and others return to Yangguan before discussing."

"Here!"

The next day, Meng Hu and Hua Hu led two thousand cavalry back to Yangguan.

After learning the news, Meng Zhong immediately summoned the two to the commander in the pass.

"Where is Mu Wu?"

Seeing that there were only Meng Hu and Hua Hu and the other two returned, Meng Zhong asked in confusion.

Hua Hu explained when he heard this: "Awu felt that since the Qin army attacked our Yancheng this time, Ye Yi, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be another next time, so he decided to temporarily station in Yancheng, discuss with Cai Wu, and set up some posts between Yancheng and Shangcai..."

"oh."

Meng Zhong nodded clearly.

He was still very relieved about Mu Wu, so he stopped essaying and asked Meng Hu. Hua Hu and the other two said, "Why did you wipe out all the two thousand Qin cavalry so quickly?"

Indeed, according to his estimate, the duel between the two cavalry must first be for ten days and half a month.

Hearing this, Hua Hu told Meng Zhong all the way through the battle, and said to Meng Zhong with a smile: "I felt puzzled at that time. I felt that the Qin general almost didn't understand military tactics. Later, when I asked the captives of the Qin army, I realized that Hu Yu was born in Yiqu... This barbarian actually wanted to ambush our army. We just tempted him a little, and he led the entire army to try to raid our army. As a result, he was naturally easily defeated by our army."

As he said, he said to Meng Zhong with enthusiasm: "A Zhong, this battle can prove that it is completely feasible to use cavalry to attack the infantry's square formation. As long as the cavalry are equipped with thick armor, it is best to have thick armor for war horses..."

Beside me, Meng Hu also echoed.

Meng Zhong smiled slightly.

Of course, the cavalry may attack the infantry phalanx, so he certainly knew this, otherwise the cavalry would talk about the king of the plains.

However, at the moment, when Meng Hu and Hua Hu said this, he was willing to pour cold water on two people. After all, the elite of the cavalry lies in the strategic level, rather than recklessness with the enemy infantry that had formed a formation.

"Those are not real infantrymen, are they? They are just some cavalrymen who have taken off their horses. Even if they are easily defeated, they cannot mean that cavalry can restrain infantry. At least the cavalry will be difficult to break through with the crossbowmen's phalanx... Don't believe it. If I set up the crossbowmen formation, will you both have the confidence to break through?"

"Three-stage shot?"

Hua Hu was stunned for a moment and said with a strange expression: "That can't be counted, right?"

Beside, Meng Hu said dissatisfiedly: "A Zhong, compare the crossbow formation with three segments to shoot. Isn't this too naughty? As long as there are enough crossbow arrows, no one can break through, okay? This cannot be used as an example."

Indeed, the biggest weakness of the three-stage crossbow shooter tactics is that the continuous suppression of crossbow arrows requires too much crossbow arrows. Looking back on the feint attack of the Qin army on Yang Pass before the winter of last year, less than a moment ago, the five thousand crossbowmen at Yang Pass consumed tens of thousands of arrows. Without hundreds of thousands of arrow reserves, such a tactic would not be able to be played several times.

"Okay, okay."

Seeing that Meng Hu and Hua Hu were very dissatisfied with their example, Meng Zhong thought for a while and said, "Then take infantry as an example. In my opinion, the Ge Shideng Hand is fully capable of resisting the cavalry's assault... In this way, put a shield of up to one person on the ground, and put a long spear and spear that is ten and a half or even two feet long. When the cavalry suddenly approaches, the cavalry's long spear and spear can stab the cavalry and dismount. When the cavalry suddenly becomes close, the cavalry's long spear and spear can stab the cavalry and dismount. How should you two break it?"

"this……"

Meng Hu and Hua Hu looked at each other in a speechless manner.

Seeing the two of them showing frustration, Meng Zhong thought for a while and said, "Actually, in my opinion, your two of them are feasible... If you cast iron armored cavalry, the cavalry will not be afraid of swords, bows and crossbows..."

"armor?"

Meng Hu and Hua Hu were stunned for a moment, and then a little light appeared on their faces.

Isn't it? Armor cast with iron is stronger than wearing more layers of armor?

However, at this moment, Meng Zhong spread his hands and said, "The problem is that our city cannot afford it... Now our city has more than 40,000 troops and about 5,000 people do not have enough armor. How can we equip the cavalry with more armor? Not to mention casting armor with iron."

When Meng Hu and Hua Hu heard this, they were a little disappointed.

According to their personality, compared to leading cavalry to follow the enemy and waiting for an opportunity to harass them, they are more inclined to lead the army to raid directly while they are unprepared. After all, such a tactic is the most direct and effective, and it is very likely to defeat the enemy in one fell swoop. In contrast, archery harassment in distance is at best, at best, causing some casualties and morale strikes from the enemy. Even if the troops are equal, it will take a long time for Moji to destroy it.

For example, if one thousand Qin troops were versus one thousand Fangcheng cavalry, according to the previous guerrilla tactics, if the Fangcheng cavalry wanted to destroy these thousand Qin soldiers, they would have to trap the opponent for at least a few days, until the opponent was exhausted from dry food and forced to move, so that there was a flaw in the formation. Only then would the Fangcheng cavalry have the chance to defeat them. If the opponent had complete soldiers and sufficient food, the thousand Qin soldiers would set up a square gate formation like an iron barrel, and the cavalry would almost have no way to defeat them at a small price.

Of course, if the enemy does not know the power of the cavalry, it can be done. But the problem is that the Qin army is now increasingly aware of how to deal with the Fangcheng cavalry, so whenever a small group of Qin troops with hundreds of people encounter the Fangcheng cavalry, they will immediately set up a Fangmen formation, neither chasing nor running away, and just waiting for the main force and the main business to send support. In this case, the Fangcheng cavalry has no choice but to use these Qin infantry infantry. At best, they can only shoot a few arrows from a distance and kill a few unlucky guys.

Therefore, Meng Hu and Hua Hu believed that the cavalry must have the ability to attack the infantry phalanx, otherwise the threat of the cavalry would be greatly reduced.

Hearing the two of them’s opinions made Meng Zhong think of another type of cavalry, a cavalry specially used to attack the enemy’s formation and heavy cavalry.

At present, cavalry in other cities can only be said to be light cavalry with long-range strike capabilities. Faced with infantry that are truly fully armed and formed into military formations, they almost do not have the ability to attack formations. However, heavy cavalry can do it. Heavy cavalry with both man and horse armor is not afraid of spear shields, bows and crossbows, and cavalry. Once a charge is launched, its power is almost unstoppable. The only problem is that the cost of building a heavy cavalry is too great, almost three times that of building an equal light cavalry.

More importantly, the limitations of heavy cavalry are too great. Without the assistance and protection of other troops, they are too likely to be played with by the same number of light cavalry until they die. Meng Zhong is very clear that it is almost no difficulty for a thousand light cavalry to kill a thousand heavy cavalry.

Considering these reasons, Meng Zhong did not intend to form a heavy cavalry.

He explained the reasoning to Meng Hu and Hua Hu, and then comforted him: "After talking about this matter in the future, now our city can't afford the heavy armored cavalry you said... If I am lucky enough to be promoted to Grand Marshal in the future, I might consider building a heavy cavalry to let you two play."

"Master Sima?" Meng Hu said with a strange expression: "It will take a long time... I'm afraid it will take ten years?"

Meng Zhong rolled his eyes.

And beside him, Hua Hu touched his chin and said, "Since the iron-armored cavalry cannot afford it for the time being, then... If we seize the enemy's armor, we can first let the cavalry wear more layers of armor, just like Wei Wuzhu, A Zhong, I think that the cavalry must have the ability to attack the enemy's formation, otherwise the threat of the cavalry will be greatly reduced..."

"Wearing more layers of armor will affect the cavalry's ability to move? Moreover, excessive load-bearing is also a burden to war horses..." Meng Zhong said with a frown.

"It's okay. Anyway, the cavalry of the Qin army has been defeated by our army. Since that's the case, you might as well strengthen the cavalry. I think you can try it and ask the cavalry to participate in the head-on confrontation..."

"Well...I'll think about it."

After hearing Hua Hu's words, Meng Zhong fell into deep thought.

Although the significance of light cavalry lies in restraining and harassing the enemy, it is undeniable that Hua Hu is right. If there is a cavalry to assist the main force in fighting, then when the battle begins, the cavalry can quickly split the enemy's formation and raid the enemy's main formation. The only problem is that the casualties of the cavalry will intensify.

Suddenly, he asked Meng Hu, and Hua Hu and his two said, "According to what you said, the Qin general named Hu Yu is sure to escape?"

Hua Hu nodded and explained: "I chased Ah Hu for two hours. Even if this guy escaped into the mountains and forests, we would lead the soldiers to chase him, but really... I couldn't catch up and didn't know where to escape."

“…”

Meng Zhong frowned and pondered for a while, then nodded and said, "Okay, since that's the case, I'll allow you to build a 'thick armored cavalry', like the Wei Wushu, wearing three layers of thick armor, specifically for head-on confrontation. However, considering that there are still many soldiers in our city who lack armor, the number of this thick armored cavalry will be temporarily maintained within 500 people."

"There are five hundred people each?"

Meng Hu and Hua Hu looked at each other and said in unison.

Meng Zhong looked at the two of them angrily, hesitated for a moment, nodded and said, "Five hundred each!"

“Ohhh!”

Meng Hu and Hua Hu cheered, bid farewell to Meng Zhong, turned around and left.

As soon as they left, Meng Sui came to the house. He smiled and asked Meng Zhong, "I just saw Ah Hu and Hua Hu's faces full of joy. What's wrong?"

So Meng Zhong told Meng Sui about the situation.

After hearing this, Meng Sui frowned and said, "Five hundred thick armored cavalry each? Wouldn't it take three thousand sets of armor? Our army still lacks armor..."

Meng Zhong suppressed his hand and explained: "One of the time, Hua Hu is right, cavalry can only have greater threats only if they have the ability to attack the enemy formation; furthermore, the Qin general Hu Yu was asked to escape this time. Once this person returns to Bai Qi, Bai Qi will not be unable to see through the role of the bilateral stirrups. If he really understands this, then the next time when Bai Qi forms a cavalry, the Qin State's cavalry will also be equipped with bilateral stirrups. In this way, the advantages of our city's cavalry will be greatly weakened. Therefore, it is necessary to form a thick armored cavalry to let these cavalry be familiar with attacking the enemy first. This is believed to be of great help to fight against the Qin State cavalry in the future or assist the main army in combat."

"All right."

Meng Sui nodded, and then, he seemed to think of something and said to Meng Zhong: "By the way, I almost forgot my purpose... I just got the news and the Qin army had begun to take action."

Hearing this, Meng Zhong looked shaking, and he nodded and said, "It's really almost the same as the day... Where is the Chu army?"

"This is exactly what I want to say. This time, the only Qin army was operating towards our city and Yangguan. The number was about 100,000, but the Chu army was heading towards Xibei."

"Xibei?" Meng Zhong frowned and said, "That's not South Korea..."

Speaking of this, he nodded suddenly: "It seems that Zhaoju did not lie to me that day. Sima Cuo and Bai Qi did have some doubts about him, so he sent him to attack South Korea this time..."

Meng Sui nodded and said, "I think so too...what should I do now? The current situation is very different from our original estimate."

“…”

Meng Zhong frowned and pondered.

I remember that after reaching a tacit understanding with Zhaoju, Meng Zhong planned to use the method of Ying Ji defeating his righteous brother Tian Zhang in Pu Shang to deal with Sima Cuo and Bai Qi.
To be continued...