Chapter 320: Liangzhou Damascus, roaming the world
"Brother, even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about your brothers. We rushed thousands of miles to attack Yangping, breaking through barriers all the way. We stayed up all night and night, and now the soldiers are all breathing their last breath. レ♠思♥
Passenger レ”
"Yes, Major General." A Xiliang general said: "There are many bows and arrows at the top of the city. They have obviously been prepared for it. Plus there are so many refugees, Ma Hoo can't charge at all. Since the Sichuan army is so unbearable, let's rest for a few days and come back, waiting for Major General
After recovering from your injuries, are you still afraid that you won’t be able to conquer Yangping Pass?”
The generals tried to persuade each other, but Ma Chao hesitated for a long time, pointed his sword at the top of the city, and immediately shouted: "Liu Zhang, just wait, I will come in a few days to take your head."...
Liu Zhang led the powerful Fazheng and other generals to the top of the city and shouted: "Horse, just wait, I will tame your fierce horse sooner or later."
"Hmph, I don't know how powerful a guy is, he's still showing off at this time." Ma Chao snorted, and finally turned his horse's head unwillingly and retreated north with his troops.
Liu Zhang and others watched the Xiliang army retreat from a distance and joined other cavalry to go north. Fa Zheng said: "What a Ma Chao. No wonder people in Xiliang call Ma Chao the mighty general. Everyone in the Qiang people knows his name. It is indeed well-deserved."
, if you recruit your subordinates, you can defeat an army of 100,000 people."
Liu Zhang smiled: "I prefer an army of 100,000. Ma Chao's tens of thousands of Xiliang cavalry, so many horses, so many knights, if you can have them, you can dominate the world."
Fazheng sighed: "It's a pity that the enemy is strong and we are weak, and our army has just been defeated, so we can only take a defensive position temporarily."...
Liu Zhang frowned and said to Yang Ren: "Give me the order to send the people to Nanzheng first, then reorganize the city defense and count the casualties of this battle."
"yes."
The refugees were concentrated and transported to the farming areas around Nanzheng. Before dusk, the defeated soldiers returned to camp one after another, and many of the lightly and seriously wounded supported each other and entered Yangping Pass together.
Liu Zhang led his soldiers to inspect the wounded and listened to Yang Ren's report on the casualties.
"In this battle, our army suffered heavy losses. Tens of thousands of people did not return to the pass. Countless weapons and armor were discarded. More than 20,000 of those who returned were wounded and their morale was low.
But fortunately, regardless of whether they were injured or not, most of the soldiers have returned to camp, and there are still soldiers rushing back one after another. It is estimated that the actual number of casualties will not exceed 10,000. As long as we guard the pass and rest, the Xiliang army will not be able to invade."
"Where can they go if they don't come back?" Liu Zhang said coldly: "From now on, there are mountains and mountains to the north, and there are no human beings. The Xiliang army doesn't have much food. If they don't come back, they will freeze to death and starve to death.
"
Yang Ren was speechless.
The soldiers had no food and had to retreat. Moreover, the mountains here were undulating, and the jungles on both sides of the road gave the defeated soldiers a place to hide.
Liu Zhang thought in his mind that if this was a battle on the plains, it was hard to say whether he would be able to run back, and the troops and horses would definitely lose more than this. He sighed and said, "I underestimated the enemy in this battle." Liangzhou's horses are rampant in the world.
,'Although I had an estimate of the Xiliang Army's combat strength, I didn't expect it to be so strong. Let's release the imprisoned soldiers."
"Lord..."
"The loss of the pass is not their fault. It's my fault, let alone them."
"Yes." Yang Ren accepted the order and left.
Liu Zhang was walking in the wounded barracks and saw Hu Che'er lying down. Hu Che'er was seriously injured, but luckily he ran fast and outran the horses and ran back. Liu Zhang comforted him a few words and continued to look at the wounded.
Fazheng listened to the grunts of the wounded, frowned and said to Liu Zhang: "My lord, our soldiers were originally very afraid of the Xiliang soldiers. Now that they have suffered a great defeat, they are probably even more afraid to fight. We must have countermeasures."
Liu Zhang nodded. In fact, the cavalry was not good at attacking the city. Sometimes the defenders were frightened by the cavalry troops. Liu Zhang believed that if he was not in the pass and Yangping Pass suffered such a defeat, he might abandon the pass and flee.
In today's troubled times, the army is not as powerful as the conscripts of the Qin Dynasty, nor can it compare with the professional soldiers of Rome. They are basically recruited from the farmland and trained with spears for a few days. Such an army, as long as it suffers a major defeat, will lose 10,000 soldiers.
If more than a thousand people die, the entire army will collapse.
When you are not an elite soldier, morale is a very important issue.
Liu Zhang summoned the generals to discuss matters. All the generals looked solemn. Liu Zhang spread a map on the table with his own hands and said casually: "Are you all scared?"
Several generals looked at the map and said nothing.
At this time, Wei Yan, who had a band of gauze tied around his arm, said: "My lord, you are worrying too much. As long as you rest for a few days, I will lead the army to defeat the enemy."
"That's right." Huang Zhong said: "Ma Chao is so brave, I will fight him for three hundred rounds."
Wei Yan and Huang Zhong remained arrogant, and other generals also took courage.
Liu Zhang pressed the folds of the map with his hand and said: "Okay, as long as you are not afraid, Wei Yan, you said you would lead an army to defeat the enemy. The Xiliang soldiers are brave, why are you so confident?"
"Humph." Wei Yan snorted and bowed to Liu Zhang: "My lord, you won't know if you don't fight. You will know the details only after fighting. The Xiliang cavalry is very powerful, but it is also this battle that lets the general know that the Xiliang army is still far away."
Not to the point of being invincible.”
"Tell me about it." Liu Zhang lowered his head and carefully examined the place names and terrain in the Yangpingguan area.
"First, our Changge soldiers and hook-scythe spears are useful to the Xiliang army. Today our army formed a formation, but the Xiliang army did not break through in one fell swoop. It was because of the Changge soldiers and hook-scythe spear soldiers that they were finally defeated.
The breakthrough was due to Ma Chao's bravery.
Although Ma Chao is very brave, but as long as someone entangles him, it will be difficult for the Xiliang soldiers to break through our infantry formation, no matter how many long-range soldiers and hook-scythe spearmen are there. I think General Huang Zhong is not inferior to Ma Chao in terms of force.
"
Huang Zhong laughed loudly: "It is my long-cherished wish to fight against the mightiest generals in the world. If I don't fight with Ma Chao, I, Huang Zhong, will never be willing to do so."
"The old general is brave and invincible, what about the second one?" Liu Zhang asked.
"Secondly, the Xiliang army is brave but less resourceful, because the Xiliang army is like a sharp blade that can break anything. Ma Chao is also the most brave general in Xiliang, named General Shenwei Tian. With such a brave general, plus such a
Anyone who wants to build a strong army will be arrogant and ignore basic intelligence.
Today, although our army is defeated, I don't appreciate Ma Chao's approach. Ma Chao knew that the Xiliang army was exhausted and that our army was waiting for work, but he still went to fight.
If I, Wei Yan, were leading the Xiliang soldiers, I would definitely avoid fighting and cultivate my fighting strength. This would prevent the enemy from knowing my true fighting strength, so that I could recharge my batteries and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop. If so, Ma Chao would take advantage of the opportunity to attack the city today.
, Yangping Pass must be lowered.
Today, the Xiliang Army has no choice but to retreat because of exhaustion. This gives us time to gather our soldiers. And knowing the true combat power of the Xiliang Army, it is unwise.
This is due to this three points of arrogance. Ma Chao thinks that the Xiliang army is not afraid of fatigue and is invincible. Even if he wins today, this is the fatal weakness of the Xiliang army and Ma Chao.
An army that has won many battles will inevitably suffer a defeat, and it will definitely be a disastrous defeat."
"Is there a third one?"
Wei Yan said: "No, these two points show that our army has advantages and the enemy has weaknesses. Using the long force to attack the weak force can be fatal."
"Third." Liu Zhang stood up and said, "The Xiliang army is not united. Have you seen it? We are fighting today. The Xiliang soldiers are shouting loudly, but there is one unit that lacks fighting spirit and has a large number of people.
There are five to six thousand people."
"Which army?" all the generals asked.
"Qingyi Qiang."
"Qingyi Qiang?" The generals looked at Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang said to Fa Zheng: "Xiao Zhi, haven't we deduced it? Nine out of ten leaders of the Tsing Yi Qiang died at the hands of the Xian Ling Qiang. It is obvious. The people of the Tsing Yi Qiang are not fools. Xian Ling Qiang attacked the Tsing Yi Qiang at the first opportunity.
The people of Qingyi Qiang are well aware of the annexation.
So today I carefully observed the position of the Tsing Yi Qiang’s flowing water flag (totem flag, three lines of flowing water). Except for a few puppet leaders who are high in fighting spirit, the people of the Tsing Yi Qiang are lifeless and have been falling at the very back.”
"My lord, you are really aware of everything." The generals bowed to Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang raised his hand to stop everyone, and said solemnly: "But no matter how you analyze it, the enemy is strong and we are weak right now. Our army's morale is low. If the Xiliang soldiers attack in a few days, we probably won't be able to defend it."
How long, our first task is to consolidate defense, Yang Ren."
"The end will be here."
"Divide all the soldiers who can fight into echelons of 6,000 people and take turns responsible for the city defense. If the Xiliang army attacks, 5,000 people will defend the city and 1,000 people will supervise the battle. They will take turns going into battle. Anyone who retreats in fear will be killed without mercy."
"yes."
"All seriously injured soldiers were transferred to Nanzheng, and military doctors concentrated on treating the lightly injured and trying to recover as quickly as possible."
"yes."
"Urge the people in the rear to send the long-armed soldiers and hook-scythe spear soldiers as quickly as possible, and step up the training of the long-armed soldiers and hook-scythe spear soldiers. We will hold on for half a month. After half a month, I will fight with the West
The Liang army will fight again, and this battle will be won."
"Another decisive battle?" A general asked in surprise. Liu Zhang looked at him coldly: "What, are you afraid?"
The general shook his head quickly.
Liu Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Yes, if we meet head-on, we still won't be able to match Ma Chao, so we need to outsmart them."
Liu Zhang turned to a local general: "Are you from Hanzhong?"
"yes?"
"Where is your hometown?"
"It's the village southeast of Yangpingguan."
"Do you know a place called Jiguan Mountain?" Liu Zhang asked.
The general was surprised and said: "How do you know, my lord? It is a barren mountain in the northeast of Yangping Pass, deep in the mountains and old forests. I used to go there with my playmates when I was a child, and I was scratched by the Pixiu (giant panda) there."
"Draw the terrain."
Liu Zhang handed a piece of white paper and a pen to the general, who took it. He always remembered the place where he played when he was a child very clearly, and he drew it very skillfully.
Liu Zhang looked at it and nodded. It was indeed similar to what he thought.
In fact, Liu Zhang knew this place because the Mongolian army of later generations attacked Yangping Pass and annihilated Cao Youwen's army of the Song Dynasty outside Yangping Pass.
This war is very famous because Cao Youwen and other anti-Mongolian generals died unjustly. Cao Anwen led the Song army to fight against the Mongolian army under extremely unfavorable conditions and won a great victory. However, the general in charge of the army in the rear ordered them to abandon the north of Yangping Pass.
Dangerous pass, retreat to Yangping Pass.
Although the mountains outside Yangping Pass are also undulating, they are far less dangerous than other places in Shu. Within dozens of miles to the north of Yangping Pass, only Jiguan Mountain is dangerous. Cao Youwen took advantage of this place to form a dichotomy with Yangping Pass.
Attacked from a flank and defeated the Mongolian cavalry.
Although Cao Youwen won a great victory, he also suffered heavy losses. In addition, the Mongolian army continued to flow from the rear and his power was in danger. However, the general in charge of the army in the rear refused to send reinforcements.
In the end, Yangpingguan couldn't stand it anymore, and Cao Youwen was forced to withdraw, intending to give up the Mongolian army and contain the Mongolian army from the rear. In the end, he was annihilated by the Mongolian cavalry, and all the generals who followed Cao Youwen were killed.
The tragedy of this war was spread to later generations because of the tragedy of Cao Youwen, and Liu Zhang also knew about it. In other words, outside Yangping Pass, you can find a place that is at odds with Yangping Pass, and then guard Yangping.
"Wei Yan, you choose the best of the army, including my own soldiers. Form a force of eight thousand soldiers and horses, bring water bags, and sneak into Jiguan Mountain." Liu Zhang remembered that Cao Youwen said at that time that there were few water sources in the Jiguan Mountain area, although there were some.
Life as a panda shouldn't be a big problem, but if you have to stay there for more than half a month, you have to consider it.
"Yes." Wei Yan agreed loudly.
"Hurry." Liu Zhang thought for a while and said: "Be sure to keep it secret. The Xiliang army has been exhausted these days. The sentinels will not be deployed too far. You should be able to sneak into Jiguan Mountain. When making rice and lighting fires in Jiguan Mountain, be sure to avoid smoke. Wait.
Half a month later, I will have another decisive battle with the Xiliang Army. You can take the opportunity to send troops to sneak attack the rear of the Xiliang Army."
"Wei Yan will never disgrace his orders."
"By the way, do any of you know anyone from Tsing Yi Qiang?" Liu Zhang asked.
The generals shook their heads, and Liu Zhang looked at a young Qiang general who was selected through the Four Civil Service Examinations. He said to him: "I remember that you are from the Tsing Yi Qiang. Don't you know the leader of the Tsing Yi Qiang?"
The young general was inexplicably excited when he heard that Liu Zhang actually knew him. But he was stunned for a moment and replied weakly: "My lord, please forgive me, I am from the Qiang people in the south of Qingyi, and I have nothing to do with the Qiang in the north of Liangzhou."
Liu Zhang shook his head, and everyone sighed, knowing that Liu Zhang wanted to contact the Qingyi Qiang, but the Shu people were conservative, and although they were adjacent to Liangzhou, they had basically nothing to do with the Liangzhou people.
"Forget it, that's it. Let's go back and rest first." Liu Zhang sighed and put away the map of Jiguan Mountain drawn by the general together with the map.
"yes."
The generals retired, but Fazheng stayed. Liu Zhang looked at Fazheng and said in a deep voice: "Xiaozhi, I saw you were silent just now. I know you have something to say, so go ahead and say it."
"My lord, I see you clearly." Fazheng bowed and said with some worry: "My lord, I know what your lord means. There must be a victory to boost morale, but my subordinates feel that the risk of fighting with the Xiliang army is too high, even if there is
If Wei Yan attacked from both front and back, and then trained the Ge soldiers and Hook and Sickle soldiers to restrain the cavalry, the chance of victory was not great.
Just like today, we have exhausted the Xiliang army. We originally went to lure the Xiliang army to fight, but instead we lost. In the face of absolute strength, it is difficult for intelligence to play a decisive role.
We now have less than 50,000 soldiers and horses. Excluding the seriously injured, I am afraid there are only 40,000. However, the Xiliang Cavalry has as many as 80,000. Even though they are coalition forces, they are not unified, but they are powerful and numerous. We
It’s really time to be on the defensive.”
Liu Zhang suddenly sat on the chair, feeling exhausted all over. He took a long breath, closed his eyes tightly, regained some energy, smiled, and said to Fa Zheng: "Xiaozhi, you forgot that we are here again."
purpose."
Fazheng was stunned.
Liu Zhang pinched his temples with his fingers. It was really tiring to think about so many issues every day, and he had to deal with everything against strong soldiers. If he got one detail wrong, he would be doomed.
"Building morale is only one aspect, and it must also be done. After a big defeat, we are unable to recover. That is Yuan Shao. If he does not have the will to start over, no matter how strong he was at the beginning, he will be defeated. So we are not afraid of failure, we just want to
To seek another chance, Sichuan soldiers must develop a belief that failure is not terrible and they will surely make a comeback."
"The belief that we will make a comeback?" Fazheng muttered silently.
Liu Zhang smiled: "In addition to boosting morale, there are two reasons. First, we have tens of thousands of people fighting. If it is delayed for a long time, the overall situation of rest and recuperation will be shaken. We need a decisive battle.
Second, the most important point is that the purpose of our coming here is to eliminate the four-year troubles in the north, not to defend Yangping Pass. If we insist on avoiding war, we may be more likely to save Yangping Pass, but what will happen to the Xiliang Army?
Do you think we will only defend and they will attack the city without any risk?
If you lose, you will lose a little food, but your troops will not be lost. If you win, you will win the whole Hanzhong. Who wouldn’t bet on such a game? The Xiliang soldiers wouldn’t bet? The Xianling Qiang wouldn’t bet?
You can never mess with the nomadic cavalry. Once you mess with them, they will become a pack of wild dogs that will not let you go. Only when you scare them will they know how powerful they are."
"Then what if we are still defeated?" Fazheng asked.
Fa Zheng knew that he was discouraged by asking such a question, so he didn't bring it up in the military discussion just now, but as a military advisor, he had to mention it, even though the Sichuan army had Ge soldiers and hook and sickle soldiers, and Wei Yan was attacking from both sides.
However, the number of Ge soldiers and hook soldiers is not large, and the power of Wei Yan's thousands of infantry to attack the cavalry is also limited. With the combat power of Xiliang cavalry, tens of thousands of people, even if they are consumed one by one, the Sichuan army will suffer a loss, and the Xiliang army has a chance of winning.
At least more than 70%.
Liu Zhang let out a long breath: "Xiaozhi, maybe you think I'm too risky. I just don't want to scare myself, and I don't dare to scare myself. It's like a person who is poisoned and has no antidote. Fighting poison with poison may lead to death quickly, but
It's cowardly to wait for the poison to develop. I usually choose to fight fire with fire.
We must fight the Xiliang Army. I have made the worst plan, which is a complete defeat of the entire army. A complete defeat. Our entire army will withdraw from Yangping Pass and retreat to Jinniu Road. I have deployed two thousand people on Jinniu Road.
Build a second line of defense and wait to receive us.
If we really fail again, we will mobilize the entire Yizhou army to resist the Xiliang army. If this happens, the Xiliang army will be too far away for supplies and will inevitably retreat due to internal conflicts."
"This will shake the foundation of our rest and recuperation."
"Hahaha." Liu Zhang looked at Fazheng and chuckled softly: "Isn't this right? If we stick to Yangping Pass and there are constant troubles from the north, we will be shaken to the foundation of recuperation. If we lose once, it will also shake the foundation of recuperation.
The foundation, one is harsher and the other is gentler, what is the actual difference?” (To be continued.)