Chapter 165: Rushing like thunder, catching the enemy unprepared
The moon is bright and the stars are sparse, and the night is long.
The ministers left the palace.
The civil servants gathered together to discuss the current changes in the situation and come up with strategies to deal with it to the emperor. So they came to a courtyard in Chang'an late at night.
Dong Zhongshu settled here.
After entering the house, Dong Zhongshu took out a chessboard from the wooden shelf.
Liubo chess board.
Since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Liubo chess has gradually become a favorite entertainment activity for people, and it was called gambling at that time.
By the Qin and Han dynasties, gambling became even more popular.
The word "Bo" in the word "game" comes from Liubo chess, and "chess" refers to Go.
Liubo is related to astronomy, elephants, and mathematics.
Throwing chopsticks first, then playing chess, a battle of wits and skill, with astronomical divination and military implications.
Dong Zhongshu took out the chessboard, not to play chess, but to sort out his thoughts through the game on the chessboard.
The room was quiet, with slightly dim lamps swaying.
Fan Xie, Zhou Ping and two other civil servants sat aside.
Dong Zhongshu's disciples Sima Qian and Bai Yu were also there.
Several people watched him throw 'chops', which are bamboo dice, on the chessboard and make moves step by step.
After a long time, Dong Zhongshu put down the chess pieces, and Zhou Ping asked: "Master, what do you think the champion's chances of winning this time are when he attacks the rebels?"
Dong Zhongshu was silent for a moment and said: "I can't see clearly."
Fan Xi and Zhou Pingping, civil servants, were surprised and said: "So, Master, you think it is possible for Huainan to resist the champion's attack?"
A few shallow wrinkles appeared in the corners of Dong Zhongshu's eyes:
"A month ago, Huainan suddenly launched a rebellion, and there were signs of rebellion. At that time, you must have thought, like me, that Huainan's rebellion was nothing to worry about.
Now I know that the Huainan uprising was just their first step, a way to combine with the Xiongnu and create turmoil.
This shows that the other party has a very detailed and careful plan. In this case, if they are not sure, they will never take action again at this moment."
Zhou Ping said: "Having said that, why do they think they can deal with the soldiers and horses of my big man to suppress the rebellion, and the soldiers of the champion?"
Although they had different political opinions, both Zhou Ping, Fan Zhongshu and Dong Zhongshu all recognized that Huo Qubing had actually become one of the representatives of military strategists with outstanding military talents.
The Liubo chess piece in Dong Zhongshu's hand was spinning unconsciously: "I still can't figure out what the opponent's methods are.
But this battle will never be that simple. The opponent must be sure, prepared, and aware that he can withstand my big man's offensive before he dares to take action."
There is no doubt that the other party is plotting secretly and has exploded at this moment, hiding a huge trump card.
Therefore, Dong Zhongshu said that the outcome of Huo Qubing's attack was unpredictable.
"The other party's plan is to cede territory and govern themselves."
Dong Zhongshu Qingjun's face showed confusion:
"But our country, the Han Dynasty, is at its peak. Even if they occupy a few cities, they can fight on our land. In terms of supplies, supplies, people's hearts, and national luck, our Han army has the upper hand.
After all, it is difficult for them to achieve great things. The other party cannot fail to think of this. So where does their confidence come from if they dare to take action?
unless……"
"Unless what?"
"Unless they can cut off part of my Han national destiny!" Dong Zhongshu said worriedly.
"This is impossible!" several civil servants said in unison.
The national destiny is the popular sentiment of the people. It is a spirit cultivated by the good weather and the long years of peace and prosperity for the country and the people. It is impossible to shake the national destiny.
Dong Zhongshu analyzed: "This is exactly what I can't figure out.
However, King Huainan is also a member of the clan, which may provide them with a possibility..."
————
Dark clouds covered the moonlight.
Three thousand elite soldiers left Chang'an late at night and were hundreds of miles away by dawn.
Huo Qubing slightly slowed down the advancement of the magical marching method, and the team's marching speed slowed down slightly.
Zhang Cigong, who was wearing a battle armor, came closer and asked: "How is Lang Zhongling planning to fight this battle?"
On the other side of Huo Qubing is General Tong Xuan, the right middle man of the Wei army.
On his bronze face, his slender eyes were shining with light. He and Zhang Cigong were watching Huo Qubing on the horse.
Dong Zhongshu and others could tell that the opponent had been preparing for a long time and must have many trump cards. This battle was not easy to win.
Generals such as Huo Qubing can naturally think of it.
Therefore, how to defeat the enemy and suppress the opponent is a question that the leading general must consider.
Tong Xuan and Zhang Cigong were thinking about ways to defeat the enemy, but they had no good strategy.
The pass at the junction of Shanggu County and Yuyang County was built over hundreds of years to resist foreigners.
The Great Wall has a majestic pass, and the walls are high and thick.
The opponent has already made the first move. If they occupy the strong city, they rush over to defeat it and quickly establish their advantage, but it is impossible to do so.
Otherwise, the Xiongnu and other foreign tribes would not have fought hard for many years to no avail.
"The border city in Shanggu and Yuyang counties was built on the basis of the city built in the Yanzhao period. It was reinforced again in the Qin period, and then came into the hands of our Han Dynasty. Hundreds of thousands of laborers were mobilized for years to build it.
With its current scale.
There are also defensive arrays set up by the Mohists and military strategists to protect the city at all levels.
If we really fall into the enemy's hands, it will be impossible to defeat them in a short period of time." Tong Xuan looked worried.
Zhang Cigong also had the same opinion.
Because of the strong city walls and thick walls, Huainan wanted to use it as a foundation to resist the counterattack of the Han Dynasty and cede territory for independence.
Zhang Cigong and Tong Xuan thought about it so hard that they still had no countermeasures and their hearts were heavy.
Huo Qubing said: "They have been preparing for a long time and are fully aware. The first thing we have to do is to attack them slowly and attack them unprepared."
There is a saying in the art of war: The passion of a soldier is speed, taking advantage of others' inadequacy and attacking the enemy's unpreparedness.
It is said that soldiers are quick and quick, and taking the initiative in a war is an unbreakable truth.
After Huo Qubing said this, he promoted his magical marching method, and his speed increased rapidly. He crossed mountains and rivers and approached Beiguan.
As the sky gets brighter, the team speeds up and goes straight to the destination.
The scorching sun rose into the sky, and the time soon came to afternoon.
Outside the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, officials gathered again at the emperor's order.
Dong Zhongshu got off the carriage, and Prime Minister Gongsun Hong's carriage just arrived at the palace gate.
Gongsun Hong was old and no longer visited the court every day. The power of the prime minister was gradually transferred to Li Cai.
If there was no important matter, he would not even come to Weiyang Palace every day.
But this is clearly an exception right now.
Dong Zhongshu and Gongsun Hong met at the palace gate and walked into the palace together.
"Didn't you sleep last night?" Gongsun Hong glanced at Dong Zhongshu.
"Well, I have been studying the terrain around Shanggu and Yuyang. I pride myself on knowing a bit about military affairs, but I can't see that Champion Hou Bensheng has a chance of winning. The opponent is waiting for work in this battle. If the border city is captured, its solidity will be...
It is absolutely difficult for our army to defeat the enemy by running and attacking."
Dong Zhongshu said slowly: "What do you think, Prime Minister?"
Gongsun Hong said frankly: "Like you, I also stared at the border maps of Shanggu County and Yuyang County all night."
Dong Zhongshu said: "I have calculated the outcome of both sides several times, and I always feel that the other side must have some tricks that we don't know, so they dare to launch at this time and invade Shanggu, an important town at the junction of Yuyang and Yuyang counties."
"Your Majesty, the champion princes also have their own considerations and arrangements. It is useless to think too much. After all, we are not military strategists, and there may be some oversights."
"I actually wanted to remind Your Majesty yesterday that General Wei and the Champion Hou should go together. Their cooperation may increase the hope of defeating the enemy." Dong Zhongshu was obviously not very optimistic about the current situation and sighed.
"If this battle becomes entangled and we cannot quickly establish an advantage, we must prepare in advance." Gongsun Hong said solemnly.
The two of them walked and talked, and soon entered the emperor's study.
Wei Qing, dressed in military uniform, sat at the head of the military commanders.
Next to him is Ru Bohu, who is wearing a reddish-brown embroidered official robe.
The emperor asked the ministers to come to watch the battle together, so that they could know the situation in Beiguan and Huainan's plans in time, so that they could deal with it.
On the borders of the Han Dynasty, the emperor could divide the fate of the country and observe the location of the war situation at any time.
After the ministers came in, the emperor stretched out his hand to hold it up, and a bronze mirror rose up and hung in the air.
There was a fleeting reflection in the mirror, and thousands of miles of mountains and rivers passed by in a flash.
In the end, the picture stabilized, showing the scene of a majestic pass, visible to everyone.
That is the pass city at the junction of Dahan Beiguan, Shanggu County and Yuyang County.
At this time, the city was shrouded in a foggy atmosphere, and it was hazy, and only the general scene could be seen.
This shows that the city has indeed fallen into the hands of the opponent, and the opponent has used means to cover up the reality in the city.
Liu Che stretched out his hand and brushed it, and the purple energy of the country's fortune rose.
The scene in the mirror began to become clearer, forcibly breaking through the other party's obstacles.
Looking through the mirror, one can see that the city gate at the pass is closed and the atmosphere is solemn.
The opponent is obviously ready for battle.
Time passes and the scorching sun moves westward.
The emperor had previously judged that Huo Qubing would arrive at his destination this afternoon and launch an offensive against the enemy.
But until evening, there was actually no movement inside or outside the city.
"The Champion Lord should have arrived, but the city gate is difficult to attack. He did not launch an offensive, but was dormant somewhere looking for opportunities?"
"Could it be that the opponent sent troops to obstruct it, and the champion had already fought with the opponent elsewhere before approaching this city?"
The officials guessed.
Sunset evening.
Inside and outside the city, it was still quiet.
Obviously, even the emperor's judgment was wrong.
The team led by the champion did not arrive at the destination at a fixed time.
Dong Zhongshu and others frowned slightly, feeling more and more that the situation was not good.
Was there an accident, or did Huo Qubing have other plans?
"Your Majesty, look in another direction!" Wei Qing thought for a while and suddenly suggested.
The emperor asked: "Where does Wei Qing think Qu Bing is?"
While asking, he took out an ancient scroll and wrote the three characters Huo Qubing.
In the study, a voice like a dragon's roar could be heard faintly. The emperor had obviously used more powerful means to find traces of Huo Qubing.
He saw the scene in the mirror change, and slowly traced back the traces of a team, which turned out to be the three thousand elite troops led by Huo Qubing.
And they are fighting with others. The battle is extremely fierce and affects people's hearts.
Prime Minister Gongsun Hong and others observed for a moment, but they slowly showed a look of surprise: "So that's it! It's unprepared."
boom!
In that scene, Huo Qubing led his team into a city like a whirlwind.
Ps: Regarding Huainan and the secret forces, whether there is a chance to control several counties in the northeast corner of the Han Dynasty, but the emperor is unaware of it. There will be a reasonable explanation later.