The intensity of Cao Zhi's attack exceeded Zhuge Liang's expectation, especially the loss of two horse-repelling formations, which surprised Zhuge Liang. *Literature Hall* In his opinion, Cao Zhi could only break through three formations at most, as it would take two thousand to break each formation. In human terms, three roads equaled 6,000 men, which was almost half of Cao Zhi’s available troops. According to common sense, no matter how strong-willed a soldier is, once more than half of his casualties exceed half, his confidence will be severely dampened and his morale will plummet. At this step, it is very valuable to be able to control the subordinates from collapse. If you want to continue attacking, and continue to attack an enemy whose strength is obviously greater than yours, it is simply impossible.
However, Cao Zhi did it, and it exceeded Zhuge Liang's expectations. Not only did he defeat three horse-rejecting formations in a row, but he also shook the morale of the Shu Han army, which directly caused the fourth horse-rejecting formation to collapse without a fight.
Zhuge Liang controlled the situation through bloody killings, but he was unable to drive Cao Zhi back. Now, Cao Zhi was less than 400 steps away from him. Although the thunderbolt chariot and even the ballista chariot could not hurt him, arrows and stone bullets could Can attack the front line of the Chinese army.
This had a big impact on the morale of the Shu Han army.
Zhuge Liang did not want to retreat and could not retreat, so the Chinese army could not move. Facing the Wei army's attack, they could only put up more shields and strengthen their defenses. Xiang Lang was even more nervous. He was afraid that stray arrows might hurt Zhuge Liang, so he ordered Meng Meng to be guarded on foot. Yan led dozens of soldiers from the Hubu Camp to protect Zhuge Liang.
Although he and Zhuge Liang were fighting openly and secretly, he knew very well that Zhuge Liang could not die. Whether it was from the interests of the Jingxiang Clan or the Shuhan Kingdom, Zhuge Liang could not die now.
Under heavy protection, Zhuge Liang watched the battlefield intently. Night shrouded the valley. Although many torches were lit, he could not see clearly as well as during the day. Especially because he was overworked and his eyesight was not good. He could barely cope with it during the day. At night, everything a hundred steps away was a blur to him. He could only see flickering shadows, but he couldn't tell whether they were the enemy or me.
Zhuge Liang complained secretly, his eyes were sore, but he still couldn't adapt to this kind of night battle. He became more and more uneasy, but he couldn't express it clearly. It wasn't that he wanted to fight or not. It was that Cao Zhi didn't intend to end it at all, so he had to risk his life to accompany the gentleman. .
However, Cao Zhi became more and more courageous as he fought. He held a battle flag in one hand and a sword in the other, commanding batches of warriors to rush to the front line. Constantly attacking the Shu Han army's positions. As long as they broke through this last line of resistance, Even if Zhuge Liang's front army position changes hands, he can directly face Zhuge Liang's central army. At that time, Zhuge Liang will either use the central army to fight, or mobilize the left and right armies to move forward and intensively defend. In that case, his opportunity will come Already.
The river valley is about 1,200 paces wide. Zhuge Liang set up the most common eight formations here. In addition to the five armies in the front, rear, left, right and center, there are three square formations at the rear of the formation, each with two to The number ranges from three thousand people. These three square formations are used to defend against enemies coming from the rear. They are also reserve forces reserved for the final decision. Under normal circumstances, these three square formations will not move, even with the Chinese army. Neither the rear army nor the rear army will move. The front army is really involved in the battle. If the front army is defeated, the left and right armies will move forward to cover the front of the middle army, or rush forward to form an outflank with the middle army. .
Zhuge Liang's formation was located in the west of Lishui. On the slope east of Lishui, he also arranged a battle formation of about two to three thousand people. This was to prevent the Wei cavalry from coming around to his back from the east bank of Lishui.
Of course, these two or three thousand men could not stop the Wei cavalry, but they were enough to slow down the Wei cavalry and buy time for the reinforcements to cross the river.
Cao Zhi's plan was to defeat Zhuge Liang's front army and force Zhuge Liang to mobilize his left or right army to support and supplement. In this way, his forces on both sides would be weakened and Xiahou Ba would have the opportunity to attack. If the attack was
Army, that is not enough. The battle formation of the Chinese army is the thickest. It is impossible to break through with more than two thousand cavalry. However, it is relatively easy to break through one of the three square formations reserved for the rear.
Already.
At least there is a chance.
In order to maximize this chance, Cao Zhi insisted on fighting at night. Fighting at night would bring difficulties to the cavalry charge, but it would also bring difficulties to the defenders. In the dark, it is more difficult to spot the rapidly charging cavalry and interact with each other.
It is also impossible to convey messages through war flags like during the day, and the sound of war drums is not always as direct, quick, and clear as the message conveyed by war flags.
What's more, in the dark night, the enemy cannot accurately see the number of cavalry, and the psychological fear will be amplified due to the dark night.
This is Cao Zhi's plan, and it is the ultimate he can achieve. Everything is for this glimmer of opportunity.
Those soldiers didn't know this. They only knew that if they couldn't break through Zhuge Liang's battle formation, they would only die. Since King Chen was not afraid of death, they had no reason and no right to be afraid of death. It was based on such a simple belief.
, they launched wave after wave of attacks on the Shu Han army's positions.
Zhuge Liang's bloody methods shocked the soldiers in the Juma formation and greatly slowed down Cao Zhi's attack speed, but they still could not stop the crazy Wei army. After an hour of hard fighting, the Juma formation finally changed hands.
Cao Zhi planted the battle flag on the last line of horse-rejection formation. Standing beside him were more than 3,000 exhausted and panting soldiers. In order to break through the last horse-resistance line, he paid more than 2,000 casualties. Now,
Except for the groaning soldiers who fell to the ground and the more than two thousand cavalry hidden in the darkness, there were only more than three thousand people around him.
He has run out of fuel.
However, Cao Zhi did not flinch, nor did he feel depressed at all. He wiped the blood from his face and sang loudly with a hoarse voice.
"When you are fighting Wu Ge, you are wearing rhinoceros armor, and when your chariot is on the wrong side, you are fighting in close combat.
The sun is blocked by the sun, and the enemy is like a cloud, and the arrows are falling, and the soldiers are fighting for the lead..."
This is Qu Yuan's "National Sorrow". It is one of the few popular ballads in the army, and it is also the ballad most suitable for soldiers serving in the army. In the eyes of later generations, this is an elegant and difficult-to-speak diction, but in the eyes of soldiers in the medieval era,
Come on, this song "National Sorrow" is their inner voice, and many people can sing it skillfully. At this moment, listening to Cao Zhi singing this song "National Sorrow", all those who can sing sang along.
"The remaining formations are still in the woods, and the left side is wounded by the right blade.
Two wheels of haze come to feed four horses, and jade canals come to support and the drums are beaten.
The sky is full of anger and powerful spirits, killing them all and abandoning the wilderness.
If you can't go in or out, you can't go back, and the plain suddenly becomes too long..."
More and more people were humming, and the voices were getting louder and more uniform. As the melody became more exciting, the eyes of the soldiers of Wei lit up and their waists straightened up. They were not singing, but singing loudly.
Roaring, every time he roared, the strength in his body increased by one point. They gathered around Cao Zhi, all of them angry and impassioned.
"The body is dead, the spirit is the spirit, the soul is resolute, and the ghost is the hero!" Cao Zhi raised his sword and shouted sternly: "The body is dead, the spirit is the spirit, the soul is resolute, the ghost is the hero! Warriors, live as a hero, die as the ghost hero,
On the road to the underworld, I have to walk with you all and die without any regrets!"
A tiger warrior raised his sword and shouted loudly: "Follow the king and you will die without regrets!"
More Wei soldiers raised their weapons and laughed loudly: "Death without regrets!"
"Follow me!" Cao Zhi took a shield and marched toward Zhuge Liang's army.
"I am willing to live and die with the king!" the guards roared, taking a few steps forward and rushing in front of Cao Zhi.
More soldiers roared and rushed towards Zhuge Liang's central army. They did not have a strict formation, only an indomitable murderous intention. They ignored the enemy who was ten times their size, and only Cao Zhi's figure and burning flames were in their eyes.
Zhuge Liang stood up from the command podium, separated from the personal guards in front of him, walked to the edge of the podium, looked at the swaying torches in the distance, and remained silent. He couldn't see Cao Zhi's face, but he could hear the voice.
He is familiar with Chu songs, and he also knows the meaning of this song "National Memorial".
Xiang Lang walked over and stood silently beside Zhuge Liang. He was from Jingxiang, so of course he knew the song "National Sorrow" by heart, which was created by the sages of the Chu people.
Yang Yi also came over, with a pale face, and reminded in a low voice: "Prime Minister, one person is fighting for his life, but ten people are not worthy of it. Ten thousand people will die, and he will run rampant in the world. If Cao Zhi wants to fight for his life, it is better to be careful."
Zhuge Liang nodded: "Send the order, the left and right armies rush forward to cover the central army."
"Here." Yang Yi turned around and ordered.
Zhuge Liang turned around and looked at Xiang Lang with some doubts in his eyes: "Mr. Xiang, where are those cavalry? Are they leaving under the cover of night?"
Xiang Lang frowned and became a little worried: "The Prime Minister said...Longguan?"
"Not only Longguan, but also Chencang." Zhuge Liang said worriedly: "I received news from Wang Ping a few days ago, saying that Hao Zhao led ten thousand people out of Ji County and gathered many ships along the Weishui River.
There is still a lot of food. I am worried that he will risk crossing Jigu and entering Guanzhong, so I have arranged for Chief Wen to intercept him in case Xiahou Ba returns..."
Xiang Lang's brows furrowed and he didn't speak for a long time. This was the first time he knew this information. For such an important matter, Zhuge Liang didn't give him a break. This was too disrespectful of him. If he hadn't been caught in front of him,
Forced by the situation, I am afraid that when the war in Linwei is over, he, the bandit general responsible for the defense of Shanggui, will still be kept in the dark.
Seeing that Xiang Lang didn't speak, a look of shame flashed across Zhuge Liang's face. At this moment, he didn't know how to explain to Xiang Lang.
The two of them were silent, each thinking their own thoughts.
However, Cao Zhi had already reached the front of the formation, leading the wolf-like tiger guard battalion to attack the Shu Han army's central army unstoppably. The officers and soldiers of the central army were ready, and the left and right armies were ordered to move closer to the central army and outflank Cao Zhi.
.They ran very fast and were about to surround Cao Zhi.
Cao Zhi was overjoyed and shouted loudly: "Send the order, the cavalry will attack!"
"Here!" The messenger who was following him sounded the war drum, and the sound of the war drum spread along the valley.
Xiahou Ba suddenly jumped up, listened for a moment, and shouted: "Everyone mount up and attack!"