In the second year of Taiwu, on the second day of July, the night was unexpectedly cold.
Zhao Rong and Ding Wu were the first to leave the camp, with a total of 4,000 officials holding torches and marching toward the northeast.
They originally wanted to show their intention to come to the rescue so that the assault troops in the northeast would know about it, so naturally they were not afraid of leaking their whereabouts.
The number of torches alone is four thousand, but as long as anyone present takes a look, they can find that these former military officials are holding two torches each. In other words, there are actually only two thousand people rushing to the northeast to help.
How is this going?
It turned out that just when Zhao Rong and Ding Wu were reorganizing their troops and were about to leave the camp, they saw Ding Sheng coming in person.
Because time was tight, it would be a waste of time to hold a military meeting again. However, Ding Sheng was worried that military reports or passwords would not be conveyed clearly, so he simply rushed over by himself.
Zhao Rong and Ding Wu glanced at each other and knew something must have happened, so they rushed to meet Ding Sheng. One of them held Ding Sheng's reins, and the other wanted to help Ding Sheng dismount.
Ding Sheng waved his hand, dismounted neatly, and then said:
"The plan needs to be changed. The military order for the attack remains unchanged, but the specific execution needs to be changed."
After that, Ding Sheng and his two favorite generals Zhao Rong and Ding Wu stated the military strategy they had just thought of.
It turned out that not long after Ding Sheng and Zhao Rong left, Ding Sheng thought about it and still felt that this matter could not be done this way. He still remembers that when the king told them about military strategy, he always mentioned one sentence repeatedly, that is, using troops
The way is to lead people without harming them.
Although his previous plan took into account the enemy's ambush, so he adopted a two-stage march strategy, but in the end he still thought within the framework of rescuing the enemy.
But now can we change our thinking, that is, he does not consider the ambush at all? Instead, he simply thinks about what to do to maximize his own interests in this situation.
After such a change of thinking, Ding Sheng realized that there was no need to save him directly. Why?
First of all, he himself was mainly infantry, but the battlefield in the northeast was dominated by cavalry. Even if the enemy ambushed his cavalry, it would be easy to defeat them, but it would be difficult to annihilate them because the cavalry can move at high speed.
It is precisely for this reason that even if Ding Sheng sends reinforcements, they may not arrive in time, and the assault cavalry will switch to another place.
Just because it doesn't help directly, doesn't mean it can't help indirectly.
The battlefield intelligence that Ding Sheng has now is like this. The main force of Cao's army is currently attacking the Dongpo Front Stronghold and the Cavalry Stronghold in the northeast. The current location of the Han soldiers in Pingyuan County is unknown. It is very likely that they are waiting for an ambush halfway.
Own.
Based on this calculation, most of the enemy's troops are deployed on the battlefield, so the camps in the rear must be empty.
As long as some troops are inserted directly into the Han army's camp and then set on fire, the rescue goal can be achieved and the Han army's battlefield foothold can be destroyed.
And Ding Sheng was sure that his strategy of attacking in the east and in the west must have exceeded the enemy's expectations.
But what Ding Sheng couldn't possibly know is that in the normal timeline of history, his choice was exactly the same as what Yuan Shao made when he was in Guandu.
At that time, Yuan Shao learned that Wuchao was besieged, and he faced the same choice as Ding Sheng.
To save or not to save.
If he goes to rescue, he may be ambushed by Cao's army on the way, and even if he doesn't go to rescue, maybe Chun Yuqiong of Wuchao can guard the camp gate. But if he doesn't go to save, if Wuchao is breached, the army will be in danger
Already.
They are afraid of thinking about this eventuality, especially when the consequences of this eventuality are beyond their ability to bear, almost everyone will choose to save them.
But Yuan Shao was also very smart. He expected that Cao Jun would ambush him, so he did not directly rescue Wuchao but instead attacked Cao Jun's camp. In this way, he could achieve the purpose of encircling Wei and rescuing Zhao, and also destroy Cao Jun's camp.
Yuan Shao's time at that time was just like Ding Sheng's time at this moment.
Two unrelated people inexplicably chose the same choice, but they don't know whether the results are different.
Therefore, because of Ding Sheng's temporary change of plan, Zhao Rong and Ding Wu decided to go their separate ways.
Zhao Rong continued to carry Ding Wu's flag to the northeast to rush for reinforcements, holding high the torch to determine the direction for the sudden cavalry to break out.
Then Ding Wu took his two thousand officials and soldiers and headed straight to Cao Ying.
In this way, after the two captains left the camp, they divided their armies and implemented the new plan.
…
But it was said that two hours before Cao's army was dispatched, the Pingyuan Army camp was located due east of Pingyuanjin.
Shen Pei still sat in the front seat, and the seat on the side belonged to Gai Tong, which was empty at this time.
Also not present was Liu Jie, who held 5,000 heavy troops. After being humiliated by his colleagues in the army, this man had already taken his troops to the rear and set up another camp.
And Shen Pei didn't care, so he was allowed to do it.
At this moment, there were no lights in the tent, but all the generals of the battalion were there. They were doing one thing, which was to soak the bowl of water in front of them with rice. Except for a little sour plum and pickles on the rice, there was nothing else.
Nothing else.
For these middle- and high-level military officials, this meal was a bit simple, but everyone present ate it with gusto.
Because the officers of the New Army were all selected farmers, hard-working and obedient, their hard-working and tenacious style has not changed at all under these years of care.
From this point of view, it is much better than those friendly forces who drink honey water on the battlefield at every turn. Is it impossible to fight the war without drinking honey water?
But don't be too harsh, after all, people are different. One is a farmer, and the other is a poor farmer. Maybe the latter can eat corn rice with pickles, which is already a first-class good thing.
When the New Army officials were cooking rice, Shen Pei was no exception. He finished the last bit of rice in three or five mouthfuls, then wiped his mouth and put down his bowl and chopsticks with satisfaction.
As soon as the judge here put down his bowls and chopsticks, the New Army officials below also put them down almost at the same time.
Shen Pei smiled and said to the following beloved generals:
"You don't have to be like this. You should eat. I have a small appetite and can be satisfied with just one bowl of rice. You can't. How can you fight a tough battle if you don't eat a few more bowls?"
But after Shen Pei said this, none of the new army officers below dared to move, because they knew that their commander was very angry.
Sure enough, after the judge said this, the corner of his mouth turned cold. He leaned directly on the table and sneered:
"I wonder why your battle is so sluggish. It turns out it's because you don't have enough rice. Today I specially called you all here just to make you all eat. No matter what I judge, this rice is still enough.
Can I stop you guys?"
All the new army officials lowered their heads in shame.
Indeed, it is no wonder that the commander-in-chief ridiculed them so much, they themselves were ashamed. During the more than ten days of fighting, they clearly had a large force, but their hands were tied at every turn, and the entire war fell into passivity.
In fact, what they don't know is that the person they are most ashamed of is their commander-in-chief, Shen Pei.
Earlier, I had ridiculed Ding Sheng for being a middle-aged man who made great achievements due to his talents. Later, he was slapped in the face. First, he wiped out one of his troops, and then inserted them behind him. He even used half of his troops to contain his nearly 20,000 troops.
Here it is.
It was a bad fight, but in the end he had to beg Cao Cao to come.
Yes, he did have the intention to vote for Cao Cao. But is it the same thing to vote for Cao Cao after winning a battle and to vote for him after losing a battle?
At the previous military meeting, Cao Cao held his hand and called him "Han Xin is alive". At that time, his face was filled with embarrassment.
Who, Han Xin, was like him, so panicked that he asked for reinforcements?
Not to mention, Shen Pei himself is disgusted with the title Han Xin. What kind of happy ending will King Han have?
So this evil fire has been suppressed until this moment when it was released by Judge.
After the judge finished speaking, the next general couldn't help but clasped his fists and replied:
"Commander, my brothers have finished eating and are full. It's a bit ridiculous for me to pat my chest and say anything to avenge my previous shame. But please believe me, Commander-in-Chief. The shame of Commander-in-Chief is
We will wash away our shame with the blood of thieves."
The person who said this was Jiao Min, an important general in Shenpei. He was Jiao Chu's younger brother. During the battle of Qinghe, his brother Jiao Chu died in the battle. Then he inherited his brother's battalion leader and continued to serve as the leader of the battalion.
Former military lieutenant.
Brother dies and brother dies, father dies and son succeeds. This is the tradition of the New Army, and it is also the key to the failure of the Qinghe New Army.
Hearing Jiao Min's words, the judge laughed heartily. He pushed the case back and scattered the bowls and chopsticks all over the floor.
As Shen Pei stood up, Jiao Min, Shen Rong, Zhao Rui and other generals also overturned the case and stood up.
The moonlight shone on the open space where the curtain was set up, and the judge said to everyone present:
"I might as well make it clear to all the brothers that the person I am trying to match does not believe in destiny, but believes that everything depends on man. If I believed in destiny, I should have died in Kyoto back then. If I had believed in destiny, when the Yellow Turbans from Qingzhou passed through Xiajin, I should have been with him
The city is in ruins. If life works, what else do you have to do? I pulled you out of the fields and buildings just because you refused to obey orders and were unwilling to be like cows and horses. But how did you do it? You have been killed by Mount Tai.
The army scared away the courage."
After saying this, the faces of the officials present turned red.
But the judge didn't care at all, he said coldly:
"Is it easy to go from being an ox or a horse to becoming a human being? Then you have to fight, you have to exchange your life. It is not enough for you to die, and you have to continue to fight for your sons and nephews. Don't talk to me about justice, the world is like this. And only
I will give you this opportunity. In my place, if you dare to work hard, you will be able to rise to the top, and if you dare to kill, you will be rich. But if you can't do it, go back to farming. Now I will give you one last chance."
After saying this, all the generals clasped their fists and shouted in unison:
"Commander, please give me instructions."
The judge first asked everyone:
"This rice bowl is quite filling."
"Enough to eat."
"Do you still have this strength?"
"Strong enough."
In this way, the judge looked around at the generals and said this:
"Since you are full and have enough strength, then follow me to kill people tonight. Today's battle will involve death or life."
The whole audience sang:
"Here!"
…
In the darkness, Ding Wu and his two thousand men marched cautiously eastward.
To their southwest and northeast, the sky was blazing with heat, and the little lights and candles made the sky on both sides shine brightly. Only the east side where Ding Wu and the others were walking was dark.
Under the moonlight, Ding Wu and others held on to the backs of those in front of them and marched step by step. They wrapped their armor and weapons with cloth, fearing that the reflection of the weapons and armor would reveal their traces.
Ding Wu was not as calm and determined as his subordinates. He felt uneasy from the moment he left the camp.
He is not a coward. Among the group of Ding clan members who came out with Ding Sheng in the Spring and Autumn Period, only Ding Wu has remained in the army and served as a captain. This is also a senior military officer in the Taishan Army.
Already.
For this reason alone, Ding Wu is not an easy person to deal with.
Ding Wu now regrets that he could not persevere. When Ding Sheng made a change in his plan, he refuted his clan brother.
This is what he said to Ding Sheng:
"Commander, when you were doing this kind of military strategy, did you ever think that the Han army's fortifications were not so easy to break down? Our army has attacked the Han army in Pingyuan more than ten times, and we know their fortifications very well. In our current situation
To the east, just outside this narrow river beach, the Pingyuan Army built twelve fortifications. Some were based on the hillside, some stretched across the straight road, some surrounded our army's fortifications, and some stood out as bases.
It can be said to be very organized.”
When Ding Wu said that, Zhao Rong also added:
"What Lieutenant Ding said is correct, and judging from the battle reports sent from Jinquan in the surrounding area in the past few days, the opposite side is constantly reinforcing these camps. It is obvious that they are standing in preparation for a long-term confrontation with our army."
Then Ding Wu continued:
"Moreover, these camp walls are very similar to our army's layout, and they support each other. Even if our army can break through one or two of its camps after a night attack, support from the subsequent camps will soon arrive. When the time comes, I will
The army has insufficient strength and has no choice but to retreat."
Finally, Zhao Rong whispered:
"That's the truth. After all, no matter how good our army is in fighting, it can defeat two or three of them, but can it still defeat twelve battalions in one go? This is the situation. No matter how good your plan is, Commander, I think It’s also quite difficult to implement.”
But who knew that the opinions of Ding Wu and Zhao Rong did not sway Ding Sheng, and Ding Sheng laughed loudly:
"It doesn't matter, it's precisely because of this that you are attacking Cao Jun's camp. Cao Jun on the opposite side just arrived today and is launching a night attack now. The camp must be loose and crude. Once your troops arrive, Cao Jun will not be able to stop it. .And once Cao's army is defeated, those plains soldiers will be nothing more than meat on the board, even if they have strong strongholds to back them up."
In the end, Ding Sheng finally convinced Ding Wu.
In this way, Ding Wu set off with his troops.
It was not until under the silent moonlight that Ding Wu suddenly had a thought:
"What if Cao's army's camp is also strong?"
But the matter has come to this, and there is no point in thinking about it.
The military system of the Taishan Army is like this. Before the military order is issued, you can express your military strategy freely, but once the military order is issued, there is only one thing to obey.
Even if there are mountains of corpses and seas of blood ahead, we must move forward with courage. This is the military discipline of the Taishan Army.
I don't know how long they walked until Ding Wu and the others suddenly saw a huge camp in front of them. When they saw the military flag with the word "Cao" flying beside the lights, everyone knew that they were approaching Cao's camp.
In the moonlight, Cao Jun's camp looked like a giant beast lurking in the dark night, dimly visible, its mouth wide open to welcome uninvited guests like Ding Wu.