Chapter 176 Dong Zhuo's personal expedition, King Hongnong, wait to die!
Dong Zhuo was stunned in place like thunder and lightning.
He couldn't believe it.
Xu Rong, who was cautious by nature, was actually defeated by King Hongnong.
You know, as of yesterday, there was still good news, but only one day later, it ended in defeat and retreat to Daguguan.
No matter how rich Dong Zhuo's imagination was, he could not guess what happened.
Is it possible...
Is it really as worried as Li Ru?
Dong Zhuo turned to look at Li Ru, suppressing the anger in his heart: "Wen You, how did you come to the conclusion that King Hongnong had a conspiracy?"
Li Ru shook his head and said from the bottom of his heart: "I'm just guessing, without any real evidence."
Dong Zhuo clenched his steel teeth subconsciously: "Your guess is really accurate!"
"this......"
Li Ru was slightly embarrassed, swallowed his saliva, and quickly changed the subject: "Prime Minister, what should we do next?"
Dong Zhuo's brows flashed with murderous intent: "The truth is that I want to conquer King Hongnong personally. If I don't kill this son, it will be difficult to eliminate the hatred in my heart!"
"Send the order!"
Dong Zhuo's eyes widened with anger, his fierce glare revealed, and he gave a sonorous order: "Niu Fu will guard Luoyang, Duan Suan, and Hu Zhen will be on guard against the rats from Guandong, and the rest will follow me to Dagu Pass."
At this point, Dong Zhuo clenched his iron fists subconsciously, gritted his steel teeth in his mouth, and made a grinding sound: "I have to smash him!"
The last sentence was almost squeezed out from Dong Zhuo's teeth.
This is enough to prove how angry Dong Zhuo was at this moment.
Li Ru didn't dare to delay and agreed.
Immediately.
He bowed and left the tent, sending people around to deliver orders.
This time, Dong Zhuo really unleashed the fury of thunder and gathered almost all the elite troops to kill King Hongnong.
Orders were conveyed to the garrison in various places like snowflakes, and troops and horses rushed towards Dagu Pass one after another.
The next day, noon.
Daguguan.
Xiliang Camp.
Central army, big tent.
Dong Zhuo sat at the head of the throne, and his subordinates, civil servants and military officials, were arranged on both sides.
At this moment, Xu Rong was reporting on the recent situation in his account: "..., the entire battle at Guangcheng Pass was like this. Although the general was cautious at the end of this battle, he failed to see through the enemy's plan. Please ask.
The Prime Minister punishes."
Originally, Dong Zhuo was holding back his anger.
But......
After listening to Xu Rong's report, he took a long breath and rarely blamed him. Instead, he waved his hand and said softly:
"That's all, you can be considered as trying your best."
Dong Zhuo, who had experienced hundreds of battles, could naturally imagine the situation at that time.
After several days of consumption at Guangcheng Pass, the troops and horses were severely damaged, and the arrows, stones, rolling logs, and kerosene had all been exhausted.
Even if the Liang County cavalry did not raid the enemy's position, Guangcheng Pass would not be able to sustain it for long in the face of King Hongnong's all-out attack.
but......
If we just stick to it, the losses may not be as great as they are now, but the outcome we face will not change.
Xu Rong was slightly startled and flattered.
He seemed not to have thought that Dong Zhuo, who was so angry, would actually forgive him.
Xu Rong did not dare to hesitate at all, and hurriedly cupped his hands and clasped his fists: "Thank you, Prime Minister, for your forgiveness."
Dong Zhuo waved his hand to signal him to step aside. He turned his eyes to scan the crowd and said loudly: "My army is here today with only one purpose, which is to kill the rebels quickly."
After all, there are still a large number of princes' troops stationed in the direction of Yanjin and Hanoi. Once they discover that Dong Zhuo has led his troops to the southern front, they will most likely take advantage of the situation and launch a strong attack on Mengjin and Sishui.
Because of this, Dong Zhuo didn't have much time to waste.
He must make a quick decision so as not to affect the entire Luoyang layout.
"so......"
Dong Zhuo said sonorously: "This time, we must take the initiative to attack instead of passively defending."
King Hongnong is a smart man and can naturally understand the current situation clearly.
Once the other party learns that they are coming to Daguguan, they will definitely take a defensive position in order to delay time and wait for the situation to change.
By that time, Dong Zhuo may have no choice but to withdraw his troops and take care of other things.
In this case, wouldn't this trip to Dagu Pass be in vain?
This is not what Dong Zhuo wants.
therefore.
Dong Zhuo only had one chance.
If he wins, he will destroy King Hongnong and completely eliminate this scourge;
If defeated, send people to defend Dagu Pass and lead troops back to Luoyang yourself to take into account the overall situation;
Dong Zhuo cannot afford to be defeated, let alone be defeated.
otherwise......
He will not stay in Luoyang for a long time, and by then he will have no choice but to retreat to Chang'an, guard Hangu, and become his own local emperor.
"Wenyou."
"exist."
"You tell me the next strategy."
"promise."
*****
Runan, Ruyang.
Yuan's old house.
Ancestral Hall.
Yuan Shu knelt on the futon, with tears in his eyes, staring at the hundreds of spiritual tablets in front of him: "The unfilial son Yuan Shu is ashamed of his ancestors. This time in the battle of Guangcheng Pass, he wanted to show off his grand ambitions, but unfortunately, the army failed.
Overturned."
"..."
"alright."
Just when Yuan Shu was confessing his crime and begging for forgiveness.
Suddenly, an old voice sounded from behind him: "Gao Dao, come with me, let's go to the main house to talk in detail."
Yuan Shu was secretly happy in his heart and quickly got up, waving his sleeves to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and followed quickly, respectfully.
Returning to the main house, the old man sat upright, pinched a strand of goatee under his chin, and said softly: "The highway, my fourth uncle knows what you mean by this, tell me frankly, what do you need?"
Yuan Shu was straightforward and did not hide anything: "Fourth uncle, my nephew needs soldiers, horses, money and food, the more the better. No matter what the process is, the battle at Guangcheng Pass will be won in the end, and my nephew has no reason to escape."
"if......"
Yuan Shu's throat rolled and he swallowed hard.
Although this statement was a bit shameless, Yuan Shu would never give up his last glimmer of hope: "If my fourth uncle can help my nephew gather another group of troops, my nephew can use this as an excuse to return to the allied forces and continue fighting."
The old man pinched his beard and shook his head slowly: "In a short period of time, we may not be able to recruit enough soldiers and horses. The Yuan family has two thousand private soldiers. I will leave them all to you to command."
"two thousand?"
Yuan Shu looked stunned and slightly disappointed: "Fourth uncle, I'm afraid this is not enough."
The old man glanced at Yuan Shu: "I prepared eight thousand for you before, but as for you, your entire army has been wiped out in less than a month. How do you ask your fourth uncle to recruit more troops?"
"Victory and defeat are common matters for military strategists."
Yuan Shu frowned slightly and was quite angry at the old man's words: "I, Yuan Shu, plan for the world, why should I pity these little people! Fourth uncle, don't be reluctant to spend money, our Yuan family does not lack that little thing.
"
"This is not about money!"
The old man was furious, and his eyes that had experienced vicissitudes of life were filled with fierceness.
He glared at Yuan Shu fiercely, his withered body trembling slightly, and he did not hide the resentment in his heart: "If you are really capable, you will use the money to recruit soldiers and horses. I would like to see who dares to enter your Yuan Shu camp."
"I am the second son of the Yuan family, how can I do those chores?"
Yuan Shu kept mocking in his heart. In his eyes, there was no need for him to take action in these matters.
but......
He remained respectful on his face.
After all, for so many years, this fourth uncle has been in charge of everything in Ruyang's hometown.
Perhaps in Luoyang, Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji were all capable, but in his hometown in Ruyang, Yuan Shu could only rely on him.
How could Yuan Shu dare to offend such a person?
He could only use Yuan Wei's letters and his identity as the second son of the Yuan family to exert forceful pressure. He even did not hesitate to move out all the ancestors of the Yuan family. Anyway, as long as he could use it, he had no scruples.
"Fourth uncle~~"
But now, Yuan Shu could only relent: "Please help my nephew! That servant girl's domestic slave not only led tens of thousands of troops in Hanoi, but he actually became the leader of the alliance!"
"snort!"
Yuan Shu snorted disdainfully: "But I am lucky. I am obviously the second son of the Yuan family with a distinguished status, but I bumped into King Hongnong who was in trouble in Nanyang, and was deliberately targeted by him."
"Damn it!"
Yuan Shu was filled with resentment and anger: "If it weren't for King Hongnong, how could I, Yuan Shu, be weaker than that slave?"
The old man responded without hesitation: "Gao Dao, he is your brother who is a concubine, not a slave of the Yuan family. You'd better show some respect, otherwise you can't expect to get any benefit from me."
"嘁~~"
Yuan Shu became even more angry and cursed in his heart: "I really don't know what good that slave is. He is just handsome and can put on a show. Besides, what else does he have? Why do you all think highly of him, but don't look down on him?"
Fuck me!”
"Uncle Fourth!"
Yuan Shu simply stopped talking nonsense and said bluntly: "Can you please give me some kind words, can we raise more troops, money and food? Even if I, Yuan Shu, do poorly, I serve the Yuan family wholeheartedly, so why can't I help?
"
Phew~~~
The old man suppressed his anger and exhaled a breath: "Well, let me tell you the truth, we will have money, food, soldiers and horses, but there are only two thousand people and five hundred stones of food and grass."
"ah?"
Yuan Shu exclaimed: "Fourth uncle, are you kidding your nephew? This army is not even as good as... that Liang Guoxian Zhao Yan. Where do you want the Yuan family to put their face?"
"Don't worry."
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
The old man knew that Yuan Shu would not be satisfied, so he quickly interrupted and continued: "It is true that we cannot collect troops, horses, money and food in a short time, but we received a message this morning that may be useful."
"oh?"
Yuan Shu couldn't help but be curious: "What's the news?"
The old man took a deep breath to calm down his angry mood: "Kong You, the governor of Yuzhou, suddenly fell ill and may not be alive soon. If he dies, the position of governor of Yuzhou will be vacant."
Hiss~~~
Yuan Shu's eyes suddenly brightened: "What Fourth Uncle means is..."
The old man nodded: "Yes! That's right."
*****
Guangcheng Pass.
Hongnong Wang Camp.
Chinese army tent.
Liu Bian held the scroll in his hand, but his brows were slightly furrowed.
On the surface, he was reading, but in reality he was communicating in the Military Advisor Alliance: "What? Instead of pursuing the victory, we must postpone the attack? Teacher, is this really what the experts said?"
"Um."
The voice of the Military Advisor Alliance sounded: "That's indeed what it said."
Liu Bian couldn't help but wonder: "But why? Obviously victory is right in front of us, shouldn't we rush to Dagong Pass as quickly as possible and then break through the gate of its southern defense line?"
The Military Advisor Alliance explained: "Master Bian, although the current battle against Dong is very different from the battle against Dong in history, especially on the Luyang battlefield on the southern front, there is no trace at all."
"but......"
However, the Alliance of Military Advisors emphasized: "The current situation in the fight against Dong is excellent. All three armies of the Allies are present, and Bian Ye's victory in the first battle will definitely attract enough attention from Dong Zhuo."
"Do you think Dong Zhuo will let you easily break through the Dagu Pass and open the south gate toward Luoyang?"
"A little Sun Jian can attract Dong Zhuo's general Li Jue, let alone your tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, Mr. Bian?"
"Expert analysis..."
The Alliance of Military Advisors paused for a moment and continued: "Even if Dong Zhuo doesn't come in person, he will send a strong general and lead his elite troops to help. The battle at Dagu Pass is definitely not easier than Guangcheng Pass."
"This is especially true for the terrain in the direction of Dagonguan!"
The Military Advisor Alliance explained in detail: "It is located in the upper reaches of Yingshui River Valley and is surrounded by mountains. The larger ones include Jishan Mountain and Songshan Mountain, and the smaller ones include Niuxin Mountain, Niuzui Mountain, Laoyangpo, Waizui Mountain, Dafeng Mountain, etc."
"Historical records record that the valley in the upper reaches of Yingshui is 15 kilometers deep. On both sides of the deep valley, there are criss-cross ravines, gurgling streams, sloping peaks, and thick bushes. It can ambush heavy troops and cut off the north and south. It is an ancient battlefield where soldiers of all ages have fought for generals."
"Although......"
The voice of the military advisor alliance softened: "There may be deviations between the modern Dagu Pass and the Dagu Pass during the Eastern Han Dynasty, but it will definitely not be smooth sailing."
"This battle is too important to Mr. Bian. To be on the safe side, we should send out more scouts to ensure safety along the way before slowly advancing. We will also wait for the steps of other princes, especially Cao Cao."
"In this current time and space, his opponent is not Xu Rong. Perhaps Cao Cao may win the Battle of Bianshui. By then, the troops and horses will definitely advance to Sishui Pass, thus easing our pressure from the side."
"certainly!"
The Alliance of Military Advisors emphasized: "Although the princes of Guandong each have their own evil intentions, if they win great victories one after another, those princes who have no intention of taking action will also be unable to sit still. Only then will it be a real all-out war."
Well......
Liu Bian looked a little helpless and sighed.
He turned to look at Xun Yu next to him, and asked tentatively: "Wen Ruo, what do you think we should do next? Should we rush to Dagongu Pass quickly, or should we postpone the attack and avoid its sharp edge?"
"oh?"
Xun Yu frowned slightly and couldn't help but be surprised: "Your Highness actually thinks that the attack should be postponed?"
Liu Bian understood what Xun Yu meant: "Tell me what you think."
Xun Yu paused for a moment: "The route along Dagu Pass is too dangerous, far from being comparable to Guangcheng Pass. If we continue to attack forcefully, it will inevitably arouse Dong Zhuo's fear, and the gains will outweigh the losses."
"After all, Yuan Shao, Zhang Miao and others have been silent. On the contrary, it is us latecomers who have won the first victory against Dong Zhuo. What Dong Zhuo will think and do at this time is directly related to our life and death."
really!
Wang Zuozhi's talent is not limited, he actually thought of it together with the experts.
Liu Bian finally calmed down his restless heart: "Well, that makes sense."
"It's true."
Xun Yu bowed his head and said softly: "I am just trying to advise Your Highness not to listen to King Chen's words. At this time, you should take a proper rest and observe the situation before making a decision."
"I didn't expect..."
Xun Yu's lips curved slightly: "Your Highness actually thinks the same way."
Liu Bian nodded slowly: "In that case, send out more scouts to conduct a clear survey of the mountains, roads, rivers, villages, cities, etc. from Guangcheng Pass to Dago Pass. The more detailed the better."
"Your Highness, don't worry."
Xun Yu was completely relieved: "I will send an order to Wen Yuan and ask him to arrange people to investigate the terrain along the way."