Yan Liang led his army all the way north. A few days later, he arrived in the northeast of the river and joined Wen Chou's 50,000 troops.
Hundreds of thousands of troops were stationed south of Linfen City, forming a strong pressure on the enemies of Linfen City.
Yan Liang was not in a hurry to launch an attack, because according to the scouts' reports, not long after Yan Liang's army arrived, Liu Bei also went south from Jinyang and arrived at Linfen City.
Linfen City is located at the southernmost point of Pingyang County. Looking south for ten miles, there is a mountain pass less than a few miles wide. Fenshui flows north from the mouth of the water and flows south from Linfen City.
It is precisely this terrain protected by mountains and rivers that makes Linfen City a city that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Previously, when Cao Ren had not decided to surrender to Liu, Xu Huang and Le Jin had already built numerous barriers and built a solid waterfront defense line at Shankou Xiazhai, ten miles south of the city and on the north bank of Fen River.
Now that Liu Bei's army has arrived and merged with the state's surrender, nearly 90,000 troops and horses are all blocked here, which has undoubtedly brought the strength of this barrier to a higher level.
Yan Liang spent ten days making several attempts to cross the river, but the result was failure without exception.
After several failed attacks, Yan Liang had to consider whether he should have such a decisive battle with Liu Bei here in Linfen.
In the king's tent, the civil and military officials were talking a lot.
The military generals naturally advocated continuing the fight. After all, the opportunity to make meritorious deeds was right in front of them. How could they, who were eager to win, sit back and watch the battle go unanswered?
Pang Tong said: "Now that Guanzhong is not at peace, the left wing of our army is facing Cao Cao's attack at any time, and on the right wing, there are troops stationed in Puyang and Zhang Fei's troops at Hulao Pass. The area around Luoyang is safe. I think this is the case.
At this time, a decisive battle with Liu Bei in the Linfen area where the terrain is unfavorable to us is not the best strategy."
Yan Liang nodded slightly, quite agreeing with Pang Tong's analysis.
Information has just been sent back from the Guanzhong area. Cao Cao has conquered the Wei River and blocked his westward march. The soldiers are gathering troops and horses. There are signs of seizing the opportunity to seize Pubanjin.
If Pubanjin is recaptured by Cao Cao, then Cao Cao will have the opportunity to cross the Yellow River eastward, attack Hedong County, and intercept his army's return to the south.
According to the report from Xu Shu from Luoyang, Zhang Fei of Yanzhou was ordered by Liu Bei to gather troops and horses in the Hulao Pass area, whether to contain or take advantage of the opportunity. In short, it also formed a wēixié against Luoyang.
As Pang Tong said, at this time, Yan Liang's army was deep into the enemy's hinterland and was being attacked on three sides. Although the total number of soldiers and horses was greater than that of Liu Bei and Cao Cao's combined forces, the battle line was too wide and too long, and the number of troops was insufficient.
The advantages are constantly being offset.
"In the opinion of the military advisor, how should I adjust my strategy now?" Yan Liang asked.
Pang Tong stood up, raised his hand to draw the hanging map, and said: "In my opinion, the army should not return south to Luoyang and advance by land and water. Instead, it should march eastward and capture Liu Bei in Hulao, Puyang and other states on the south bank of the Yellow River, Qingyan and Yanzhou.
At the stronghold, we must first wipe out the wēixié on the right wing, wait until the water in Guanzhong recedes, and then advance westward with troops to eliminate the wēixié on the left wing. After that, we can devote all our strength to the north and fight Liu Bei again. It is not too late."
Pang Tong's strategy was deeply in line with Yan Liang's wishes.
In fact, Yan Liang had long disliked Zhang Fei's garrison on the south bank of the Yellow River, and originally wanted to attack him first.
However, Zhuge Liang's vicious trick of clearing the country turned most of Qingyan and Qingzhou into a deserted no man's land, and Zhang Fei also sent troops to defend key coastal cities. This made Yan Liang's attack difficult.
It will be greatly enhanced.
Now it's different. Yan Liang has captured Luoyang, and he can go eastward from Luoyang and advance by land and water to wipe out Zhang Fei.
Moreover, Yan Liang's grain and grass no longer need to be transported northward from Xuzhou through no-man's land, but can be transported directly from Jingzhou to Luoyang, and then sent downstream from Luoyang.
"The way to use troops is to adapt to changing circumstances. This change of strategy by the military counselor is a master of adapting to changing circumstances. Very good. I will use your strategy to move the troops back south and defeat Zhang Fei first."
Yan Liang had made up his mind and immediately made the decision to transfer Xu Shu north to Hedong, and he and Wen Chou, both civil and military, would guard Hedong. General Yan Liang would lead his army back to Luoyang first.
…
The news of the Chu army's withdrawal soon reached Linfen.
In King Yan's tent, when Liu Bei and Zhu Wenwu heard this information, they all let out a long breath.
Frankly speaking, Liu Bei really felt guilty about Yan Liang. Now that Yan Liang withdrew his troops, he naturally felt relieved.
"Your Majesty, now Yan Liang's energy has been exhausted and he has no choice but to retreat. I ask your Majesty to order the entire army to take advantage of the situation and go south to recapture Hedong in one fell swoop and drive Yan's thieves out of the north of the Yellow River." Cao Ren, who had just surrendered, asked for a fight.
As soon as Cao Ren opened his mouth, Xu Huang, Le Jin and other surrendered generals all angrily asked for battle.
Liu Bei looked like he was thinking, but secretly glanced at Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang then waved his fan and said, "The traitor Yan is very cunning. If he withdraws his troops now, he must have made a secret plan to prevent our army from pursuing him. Given the current situation, it is better to be safe."
Zhuge Liang's words represented Liu Bei's predetermined intention. In fact, Liu Bei did not want to regain Hedong at all.
Once Hedong County is captured, Liu Bei's territory will be bordered by Cao Cao again. Now he has a new state to merge with, and most of the people in the state are Cao Cao's old ministers. If Cao Cao regains his breath and wants to plan to merge the state again, this will naturally be of great benefit to Liu Bei.
Disadvantageous.
Therefore, at Zhuge Liang's suggestion, Liu Bei simply left Hedong untouched and let Yan Liang stand between him and Cao Cao. In this way, Bingzhou would be as secure as a rock.
Liu Bei's idea was that after Cao Ren and a group of surrendered generals were transferred to other places and Bingzhou was completely digested and absorbed, it would not be too late to take Hedong and occupy the entire Yellow River.
But of course Liu Bei would not communicate with Cao Ren and others with this kind of thinking.
After hearing this, Cao Ren sighed secretly in his heart, but he said unwillingly: "Although what the military advisor said is true, if the Yan thief is allowed to be so rampant, coming and leaving whenever he wants, it will only damage the majesty of the king."
Xu Huang and others also agreed.
Liu Bei could see that although this group of surrendered generals surrendered to him, deep down in their hearts, they still hoped to make some contribution to Cao Cao. They encouraged themselves to pursue Yan Liang just to relieve Cao Cao's pressure.
Liu Bei is so smart that of course he cannot agree.
But Liu Bei thought again, what Cao Ren said did make sense. If Rong Yanliang was so arrogant, how could he maintain his majesty in front of Cao Ren and other subordinate generals?
Faced with a dilemma, Liu Bei had no choice but to turn his attention to Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, but a sly smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he shook his fan and said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I have a plan here to kill the Yan Thief's majesty."
Liu Bei was overjoyed and asked what his plan was.
Zhuge Liang then said slowly: "Last time, Cao Cao borrowed troops from the Huns, but Yan Liang killed the Huns' 40,000 cavalry, leaving nothing behind. The Huns must have deeply hated Yan Liang. Now Yan Liang has attacked Hedong County, and Hedong
The northwest area of the county is the territory of the Huns. I think that at this moment, the Huns must be deeply worried, worried that Yan Liang will drive them out of Hedong. If this is the case, why don't the king take advantage of this to make a fuss."
"The military advisor means..." Liu Bei's expression became more and more excited.
"What I mean is that your Majesty can send envoys to the Huns in the south to comfort Liu Bao, the new Xiongnu chanyu, and ask him to lead the Xiongnu cavalry to raid Yan Liang's side and catch Yan Liang's thieves off guard." Zhuge Liang was unhurried.
He slowly revealed his strategy.
After the Southern Xiongnu moved south and joined the Han Dynasty, the then Chanyu Fuluo felt the favor of the Han Dynasty, so he changed the surname of several of his sons to Liu, and Liu Bao was his eldest son.
After Yu Fuluo's death, according to the tradition of the Huns, he was passed down to his younger brother Huchuquan, but Huchuquan had no children. After his death, Liu Bao, who was then the Xiongnu Zuoxian King, became the leader of the five southern Xiongnu tribes.
New Chanyu.
Zhuge Liang's plan of using the Huns immediately reminded Liu Bei, and Liu Bei's eyes suddenly lit up.
However, after being excited for a moment, Liu Bei doubted: "Although the Huns are brave, their vitality has been severely damaged in the battle in Shaanxi County. Moreover, the Huns are brave and have no plans. Even if they are willing to send troops, they may not be Yan Liang's opponent."
Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, Liang has his own plan to help Liu Bao defeat Yan Thief."
Then, Zhuge Liang explained his plan.
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei nodded repeatedly and said happily: "The strategy of the military advisor is really wonderful. Okay, I will follow the strategy of the military advisor and kill the arrogance of that traitor Yan."
Liu Bei made the decision and immediately wrote a letter, using Sun Qian as his envoy, and headed to the court of the Xiongnu Chanyu, who was not far away, with generous gifts.
…
Fenyin City.
Inside and outside the city, the sad and graceful sound of Hujia can be heard all the time.
The Huns were mourning their dead fathers, brothers and children with music.
In the battle of Shaanxi City, all 40,000 Xiongnu soldiers were killed by Yan Liang. The news spread back to the five Xiongnu tribes. The Huns were shocked and filled with grief and anger.
In the back tent of the royal court, the beautiful young woman was holding a silk book in her hand, her face flashing with excitement.
There were footsteps outside the tent, and the young woman noticed someone coming, so she hurriedly hid the silk book and pretended as if nothing had happened.
Not long after, a man with a heavy back and a muscular body, dressed like a Hu Yihan, came in from outside the tent. That man was none other than Liu Bao, the Chanyu of the Huns.
The young woman hurriedly stood up to greet her, and Liu Bao hurriedly stretched out his hand to help her up, and sat down together with her hand.
"Wenji, there is one thing that I would like to hear your opinion on." Liu Bao said.
That young woman was Liu Bao's wife, Cai Yan, the daughter of the late scholar Cai Yong.
"Please tell me, Shanyu." Cai Yan pretended to be curious.
Liu Bao took out the letter, handed it to Cai Yan, and said: "The king of Yan, Liu Bei, has sent an envoy to befriend this Chanyu. He wants to ask this Chanyu to send troops from the west to intercept and kill the Chu retreating south.
Jun, this Shanyu is considering whether to agree, so I want to hear what you think."
Cai Yan read the letter carefully, then closed it and said seriously: "The Yan thief is a traitor to the Han family, but Liu Xuande is a relative of the Han family, and how many Huns warriors did Yan thief kill before?
I have an sworn hatred with the Xiongnu, and I think that the Shanyu should respond to King Yan's call and send troops to kill the Yan thief and avenge the blood of my dead Xiongnu warriors." (To be continued...)
