There is nothing wrong with what Zhao Yun said. It is indeed dangerous to divide the combat power too thinly, but the danger Liu Xiang thinks is dangerous is different from the danger he thinks.
After dividing the troops, the Yulin Army is really not dangerous at all. The entire cavalry force can fight when they want and leave when they want. Who can stop it? Who can catch up? It would be good to have five hundred cavalry in the entire Lujiang River.
Already.
The real danger is the infantry remaining in Shu County. If they are besieged, the combat strength of 8,000 people is indeed a bit weak.
Liu Xiang was hesitant whether to take a risk and go north to Lu'an to join Guan Yu's troops in crossing the river and quickly establish a victory, or to be more cautious and slowly wear down the enemy's morale.
Entering behind enemy lines during the autumn harvest, the conditions for feeding on the enemy are very mature. You don't have to worry about long-distance transportation of baggage in the short term, and slowly wearing down the enemy seems to be a good choice.
But this style of fighting is inconsistent with his war philosophy. Find the flaw, attack its weakness, hit it with one blow, and win the battle quickly. This is the way he likes to fight. If it is delayed for too long, the nights will be long, and the war will be prolonged and consume too much.
It's big, and the harm to the people is also big.
Chibi's 50,000-strong naval force was held back by Gan Ning, and Le Jin blocked him downstream. It seemed that he could not move, but Zhang Xian in Jingnan had an ambiguous attitude. The 40,000-strong navy was a force that could not be ignored. Who knew whether he would
Suddenly raise troops to break the deadlock on the southern front?
Can Sha Xian and Xiling withstand the attack of 90,000 enemy troops? Liu Xiang was unsure.
"Zilong, the war has lasted for too long, and I'm afraid I'll have many nightmares at night."
Zhao Yun is a veteran who has been in the army for more than ten years. Of course he understands this truth, but he has a bigger reason:
"Your Majesty, even if we fail in this battle, our army can still march south again. If it fails once, we can do it twice, and if it fails twice, we can do it three times. Even if we do it ten times, the imperial court can still fight, but Your Majesty must not make any mistakes."
It was already very dangerous to enter the enemy's rear alone. The last time he divided his troops, he hesitated. He just thought that with the protection of 20,000 forbidden troops, he could go all over the world. Unexpectedly, a night attack in Juchao almost destroyed the trapped camp.
This incident sounded the alarm for him. He was going deep alone, the terrain was unknown, and he was surrounded by enemies on all sides. If he hadn't understood His Majesty's temperament, he would have suggested withdrawing the troops.
It is absolutely impossible to divide the troops again!
He knelt on his knees, straightened his waist, bowed his hands solemnly, and said in a sonorous tone: "I heard that the ancient sages advised the king not to risk his life. If your majesty insists on having your own way, I am willing to follow suit."
As soon as this posture was put out, Dian Wei, Shi A, and Zhao Jing next to them were all a little confused. What's wrong? His Majesty has led the cavalry to fight, not once or twice. Why does Lao Zhao have to live or die this time?
Is it so serious? The military strategy of the three of them was limited to defeating the target pointed out to them by His Majesty. They didn't quite understand what was different this time from the past. They looked around hesitantly, wondering whether they should follow.
kneel.
"Okay, okay, you're good, okay! No more, no more, get up."
The two had been king and minister for eleven years, and Liu Xiang knew that Zhao Yun was really capable of admonishing him to death.
It is not important to divide the troops and go north, and it is not necessary to force the death of one of his trusted generals.
What a good tactic. If he had to stop it, he complained helplessly: "It is said that admonishment will be fought to the death, and fighting will be fought to the death with force. When you are ready, you have taken advantage of both. Hurry up."
"I am guilty." Zhao Yun solemnly paused and dropped his head to the ground.
"You can do it!" Liu Xiang was upset. He didn't have to put up airs with these cronies all day long, and there was no need for them like Corporal Li Xian. He said angrily: "Don't do this with me. I'm still here."
Can I punish you for this little thing? Get up quickly!"
"only."
The emperor was so angry that he even forgot to call himself. Zhao Yun also stopped thanking the emperor for his kindness, and with the courtesy of a retainer, he agreed and stood up.
He is loyal and upright, but he is not stupid. If he continues to behave like a courtier, he will probably be punished by cleaning the toilet. Your Majesty is not a tyrant, but he does not like people to disobey his orders.
"If you don't divide your troops, they will be exhausted slowly. It is not a good idea to attack Shu County. If the whole army goes north, it will be out of touch with Le Jin and Zhang Ren. The war will be unclear." Liu Xiang was a little distressed.
Now that we have agreed not to divide our troops, we have to think carefully about how to capture Shu County.
More than 20,000 young men are placed on the city wall. It is difficult to break the city without paying a price.
"I would like to lead the team to climb first!" Zhao Yun handed over his hand and asked for orders.
"Without siege equipment and feigned attack coordination, I don't want to risk the lives of the imperial soldiers on the city wall." Liu Xiang couldn't possibly agree to a forced attack. After pondering for a moment, he gave up the idea of quickly seizing the city and gave the order:
"The right supervisor of Yulin dispatched three hundred light cavalry to investigate the enemy's situation in three directions. Longshu County in the northwest, Lu'an County in the north, and Hefei County in the northeast. I want to know the specific situation of these three places.
A detachment of two thousand Qingqi was dispatched to visit Wubao, a manor near Shu County, to raise military supplies on the spot. It would take at least four days for Gao Shun's troops to arrive. It was not safe to rely solely on supplies from Wan County. Juchao also had to provide relief to the victims.
That little food won't last long, and our army needs to search for new supplies."
"General, I will send people out of the camp right now." Dian Wei responded and mobilized his troops.
You have to be prepared for a protracted battle.
"Send someone to Xiangyang to convey the order, and the winter clothes to keep out the cold will be shipped immediately."
When Liu Xiang sent troops from Chang'an, the weather was hot, so he naturally did not bring winter clothes. According to the plan, they would be transported to Xiangyang for storage, and then distributed to various war zones.
It should be used in another month. The winter in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is wet and cold. If you don't keep warm, it is easy for wind and cold to break out.
After originally planning to break through the Huai River defense line, the Lujiang War Zone would be provided with baggage supplies from Runan, and winter clothes would naturally be shipped from there. This supply line was several hundred miles shorter than that of Xiangyang.
Now it seems that it is safer to let Xiangyang start the journey first.
"Keep an eye on Shu County, be vigilant, and make sure all battalions take time to rest."
Except for the more than 2,000 light cavalry from the right prison of Habayashi who left the camp, most of the soldiers returned to their tents to rest after each battalion was put on guard duty.
In the blink of an eye, half the afternoon and one night passed. The defenders of Shu County waited timidly on the city wall, but they never waited for the imperial army to attack. Deng Dang was a little confused, why didn't he attack?
It was clear that when the emperor first arrived yesterday, the emperor himself drove the horse to gallop, so why was there no follow-up action?
He was fully prepared to guard the city overnight, and was even prepared to fight to the death on the city's walls.
As a result, the opponent feinted with a shot, making the people in the city fearful and wasting energy in vain. However, the imperial army returned to the camp to rest. Every time they came in and out, they worked and the situation suddenly changed. Is this the way a famous general in the world uses his troops?
It’s really mysterious!
I am not as good as me.
Liu Xiang didn't know what Deng Dang was thinking, and he didn't care that the Shu County defenders were so nervous that they couldn't sleep because his attention was attracted by other things.
In the direction of Longshu County, enemy troops were found, numbering about 20,000 to 30,000, fifty miles away from the main camp.
"The Master once said: If you hear the Tao in the morning, you will die in the evening. This is a wise saying. It is morning now, and I feel that the enemy will die in the evening."
Dian Wei scratched his head. What does Your Majesty mean by this, do you mean to go out to attack the enemy now and kill them all at night?