With the intelligence from the reconnaissance cavalry, the generals at Zuowuguan did not rush to respond. The full strength of Zuowuguan should be 10,000 people. Currently, there are only 6,000 soldiers. If the 4,000 new soldiers can be supplemented before the war, it will not count.
We are short of major generals.
If it is ten, it is to surround it, if it is five, it is to attack it, and if it is twice as many, it is to fight.
The special terrain of Zuowuguan is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Besides, there are 4,000 veterans of the frontier army. Everyone was just shocked by the number of 200,000 enemy troops. After a deduction in the afternoon, the entire enemy army could attack.
There are only three blocks on the left and right of the outpost.
If the two low walls of Lianshan were broken and Zuowuguan was besieged by the enemy, it would only be possible to add the left and right imperial and rear passes. Under the city wall is a steep stone vein dozens of meters high, and large siege weapons would not be able to reach it.
, What’s more, Jiuhu people may not have it.
Therefore, the more the generals discussed, the brighter their eyes became.
However, Su Ce was not as optimistic as his generals. When he left Chang'an, the old commander had warned that because there had been no campaign for three years, among the three prefectures of the Anbei line and the two Anbei prefectures of Beiyuan, they could only wait until Zuowuguan was captured.
If the border is broken, no troops will be provided to assist the Three Passes Protectorate.
Therefore, this battle can only be endured by the Sanguan Protectorate's Palace alone. As the last one to be established among the three, the Sanguan Protectorate's Palace does not have as many soldiers as imagined.
Logically speaking, the Protectorate of the Three Passes is the Protectorate of the Upper Gate, commanding 100,000 troops. However, according to the military report in March, the number of soldiers of the Protectorate of the Three Passes has reached 75,000.
However, the defensive area under the jurisdiction of the Sanguan Protectorate is quite large. The Langyan Mountain Range stretches thousands of miles from east to west. Not only are there only three valleys that can be passed through, but there are many canyons in the mountains. Although the canyons are difficult to navigate, they cannot stop a small group of Jiuhu people from going south.
Therefore, in addition to the three passes, the Three Passes Protectorate also built large and small beacons, forts, and military towns in the dozens of passable canyons in Langyan Mountain. In the south of the mountain, in addition to the location of the Three Passes Protectorate
The Langyan City also has four garrison cities: one on the left, two on the left, two on the right, and one on the right, totaling one prefecture, four cities, twelve towns, and thirty-six garrisons, with more than a hundred beacons.
As for the troops and horses, because the Three Passes Protectorate was guarding the Langyan Mountains, there were only 20,000 cavalry among the 75,000 troops, and the remaining 55,000 frontier troops were infantry.
Su Ce listened to the quarrels among his generals and thought carefully about how to hold Zuowu Pass longer.
The headquarters of the Protectorate has 20,000 soldiers and horses, four garrison cities, each with 6,000 people, and a total of 13,000 people in town, garrison, and beacon. These alone use up the 57,000 troops of the Protectorate of the three passes.
, There are only 18,000 troops left for the three levels, including 6,000 new soldiers who have just arrived. Before Su Ce came, each level had 4,000 troops.
Su Ce had previously asked Zhao Yu to ask for soldiers from the Protectorate of the Three Passes, and the number he gave was not five thousand or ten thousand, but four thousand. In fact, it was because the number of new soldiers drawn from the armies of each wing in March was just right for the Protectorate of the Three Passes.
It was 6,000 people. Originally, these 6,000 people were to stay in the Duhufu until June, and then they would be distributed to the various armies after they had collected enough 100,000 troops for the three Dufufus.
Su Ce had received two thousand new soldiers when he came, and he wanted another four thousand because the situation was urgent and there was no other way.
Four thousand old frontier troops plus six thousand new soldiers, with ten thousand soldiers under their command, plus the danger of Zuowuguan, the Jiuhu people will not be able to cross Zuowuguan without breaking their bones this time.
After planning the soldiers under his command, Su Ce felt confident.
After the end of May, Zuowuguan is expected to become a millstone of flesh and blood, so Su Ce's first military order is not to defend the city, but to call back the new soldiers who were trained in the mountains on both sides of the valley. As for Jiuhu
Scout, you can do whatever you want.
As for the 100 cavalrymen in the two bunkers at Beishan Pass, Su Ce also called them back.
In the evening, Su Ce looked at the generals who were preparing to perform all night and did not disturb them. He just asked Li Huaimin to bring some food and tea at night, while Su Ce returned to the backyard to find Zhao Yu.
How long will Zuowuguan be guarded? After all, we need the generals in the War Hall. However, relying on the dangerous city defense and tens of thousands of troops to make the impregnable fortress, there is still one last shortcoming, which is Zuowuguan's armaments and supplies.
Su Ce entered the backyard. The backyard was divided into north and south courtyards. In the north courtyard lived Su Ce and his bodyguards, while in the south courtyard lived Zhao Yu, Cao Cao and his subordinates. There were more than a hundred people living in both courtyards.
The pass is dangerous and troops are stationed inside, so it is not as loose as Chang'an City. The two thousand new soldiers and five hundred cavalry under the third general live in the inner square of the city, while the soldiers under the seventh captain do not live in the pass.
The soldiers of the other five battalions can still live in hillside huts, while the soldiers of the other five battalions can only live in large and small arrow towers or in row huts under the city walls they defend.
The nearly two hundred people in the Duwei Mansion can only live in a backyard that is 100 meters wide and more than 100 meters long.
There are two large courtyards in the backyard. There are several small courtyards in the large courtyard. Zhao Yu and all the Cao Shenjun live in one courtyard. The houses inside are all huts with suites. The servants live in single-room huts. On the left
Wuguanzhong is already considered a good house, at least much better than the five-person house in the North Courtyard where the guards sleep on the same bunk.
The guards don't care, but if they really care, what about the Datongpu with ten people living in the arrow tower?
The purpose of guarding the border is to endure hardship!
Su Ce walked into the south courtyard, nodded to his personal guards who were patrolling the backyard at night, walked into Zhao Yu's courtyard, "Boom! Boom! Boom!" and knocked on Zhao Yu's door.
The right hall dispersed early today, and Zhao Yu and all the Cao Shenjun were all lying down at this moment.
"Who is it?" The oil lamp in the room was lit, Zhao Yu put on his clothes, asked, put on his shoes and went to open the door.
As soon as he opened the door and saw Su Ce who was still wearing his armor, his old face turned red. The general was not asleep yet his right room had left early. This was indeed a bit inappropriate.
"Don't let me in yet!" It was dark at night, and under the illumination of the oil lamp, Su Ce did not see any change in Zhao Yu's expression.
"Alas! Alas! Please!" Zhao Yu quickly stepped aside and allowed Su Ce to enter the room. Su Ce said to the ten guards behind him: "Stand here!" and walked into the door.
Su Ce didn't like to beat around the bush and made his intention clear as soon as he sat down: "Zhao Changshi, you need to take a trip to Langyan Mountain for me in the future. The food and grass in Beiwuguan are prepared according to the share of four thousand people."
, four thousand people will be gone by September, this battle will last for a long time, we Zuowuguan need to prepare at least 10,000 people this time to eat food and grass until next spring.
Tomorrow, a hundred cavalrymen from Beigukou will return to the pass and ask them to escort you to Langyan Mountain. Together with Qin Shanming, the general who sent the reconnaissance cavalry back before, they will bring four thousand new soldiers to escort the grain and grass back to the pass. Today is the fourth day of the lunar month, so it is twenty-fifth
The date is limited, and the enemy said it will arrive at the end of the month. We need to prepare early. When you come back, the war will probably begin.
After that, I will lead the war, and your lord will not slack off on important matters related to my Anbei lineage. If you have any pen and ink in your room, bring it to me and bring my letter with you. Governor Gongsun will fully support you.
"
When Zhao Yu heard this, he didn't ask any more questions and hurriedly went to get pen, ink, and cloth. Su Ce did not avoid Zhao Yu. When Zhao Yu finished grinding the ink, he picked up the pen and started writing.
"Gongsun's military leader personally announced that he would not fight for three years. It is a foregone conclusion. War and chaos are inevitable. Zuo Wu's request for help has been sent. Four thousand new soldiers, 400,000 arrows, six months' quota of food and grass are in compliance with the law and not in compliance with the war.
I see that Zuowu is a dangerous fortress that cannot be defeated unless the enemy is ten times stronger. Once the battle begins, the enemy will be under attack for a long time and will go around the pass to the south. There are ravines in the south valley of Hulukou. We can station troops here to prevent Jiuhu from bypassing the pass.
Invade our land.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army ordered, on top of the documents, to add half a year's food and grass, 300,000 arrows, wound medicine, and herbal medicine, and to use all the transportation capacity of Langyan City to assist Zuo Wu, and deliver it 220 days ago. After that, all efforts will be made to defend Hulukou.
Change the big war to a small war, then Anbei's plan can be successful."
After Su Ce finished writing and the ink dried, Zhao Yu brought a bamboo tube and fire paint with a wink. After heating the fire paint, Zhao Yu watched Su Ce take out a black jade Xuanwu seal from his arms.
Xuanwu is not a combination of turtle and snake as the folk say, but a fight between turtle and snake.
"Xuanwu Seal!" Zhao Yu opened his eyes wide and shouted.
"Silence!" Su Ce glanced at Zhao Yu. The Duke of Yueyang County said hello when he came. Zhao Yu is his nephew. He can take care of him if he can. Su Ce was not polite to Zhao Yu, even though he was younger than Zhao Yu.
How old he is, but he still managed to get away with a slap.
Zhao Yu was slapped on the back of the head and recovered from the surprise. His father was the younger brother of Zhao Tan, the Duke of Yueyang County. He was demoted to a higher rank and the title was not for him. He could only pin his hopes on his son.
The title of Daqian is rare, and it is even more difficult for the children of the royal family to obtain the title, because as a supervisor, unless the army is in desperate situation, it cannot go to the battlefield.
Su Ce slapped Zhao Yu, but Zhao Yu's body did not shake. Su Ce thought to himself, find an opportunity to let Zhao Yu go up the city wall and earn some military merit.
Thinking of this, Su Ce's mind became a little confused. Now the three generals and seven lieutenants in Zuowu Pass may seem stupid, but in fact they are all human beings. They are just pretending to be stupid in front of him.
This battle, which the Anbei lineage planned for two years, was actually the generals selected by the Anbei lineage for him. The families of these generals are not prominent now, but for several generations, they were all Anbeixun.
Uncle Hou from Guizhong.
Next year, there will be more such down-and-out nobles' sons appearing on the battlefield. The generals also have a good reputation. If the nobles can suppress the generals and nobles, how can they be just a group of reckless men who just keep silent and get rich?
Su Ce didn't let Zhao Yu see him off. He tapped his fingers on his waist and walked back to the north courtyard with eight-figure steps.
Li Huaimin served Su Ce to remove his armor. The 40-year-old Li Huaimin was a child picked up by Su Ce's teacher Li Sizhe on the roadside. He had followed the coach for more than 20 years and was one of the talents in the coach's pocket. Now he seems to be just a taciturn person.
The leader of the guard actually followed the old commander in his early years, and he was also a warrior in the military. Just to repay his kindness, he always called himself a personal guard. The old commander couldn't resist, so he followed his wish.
Su Ce returned to the room, thinking that Li Huaimin had gone to sleep in the side room. Who knew that Li Huaimin knocked on the door at this time. As soon as the door opened, Li Huaimin came in carrying a footbath bucket.
"Uncle Li, I'll do it myself!" Looking at the footbath bucket brought by Li Huaimin, Su Ce slapped his forehead and came again. How could he wait for him? Such treatment would be comparable to the old coach's.
"Young Master, this is what a subordinate should do!" Li Huaimin put down the footbath bucket stubbornly and pressed Su Ce next to the bed. Su Ce stopped resisting. He had been like this since he came from Chang'an. If he didn't follow him I mean, this old uncle will be sad for several days, and he doesn’t know what stimulation he received when he was a child.
"Oh, Uncle Li, I'll do it myself! I'll do it myself!" Su Ce took off his shoes and socks. When the water cooled down, Su Ce took his feet out of the bucket, wiped his feet, lay down obediently, and covered himself with a quilt. , Li Huaimin saw Su Ce close his eyes, blew out the oil lamp, and left Su Ce's room with a footbath bucket.
The room darkened, but Su Ce opened his eyes and sighed. After hundreds of years of fighting, there were many poor people like Li Huaimin.
The father guarded the border and died in the battle, the mother remarried, and some were brought there to change their surnames. Some of the remaining children were adopted by relatives, and some lived among the people. The hardships they endured will never be forgotten in their lives.
Some are bitter, and even if you eat sugar for a lifetime, it will never be sweet again!
If Zuo Wu holds on, how many of the thousands of border troops under his command will be left in the end?
One general's success will cause thousands of bones to wither, and his white bones will cast thousands of territories!
"Compassion does not control soldiers!" Su Ce murmured, wrapped himself in a thin quilt and fell into a deep sleep.