The next day, early in the morning.

Xu Huang, who had not slept all night, finally decided to give up the breakthrough and chose to stick to it.

There are three reasons for this.

First, the grain and grass in the city are quite sufficient, barely able to supply more than 10,000 people for about half a year.

Second, he has already sent people to rescue Cao Zhen, and I believe that it will not be long before Cao Zhen's reinforcements will arrive in time to rescue them.

The third and most important point is that Hedong is a flat river, and there is no grain and grass left, if he retreats now, he can only retreat to Bingzhou, which means that Cao Wei will give up the entire Hedong County.

Since it is only the second day of the war, Zhu Ling's side does not know the result, and if he retreats, it will cause Zhu Ling's side to be in an extremely embarrassing situation and sell his teammates.

So no matter how you think about it, Xu Huang can't evacuate, so he can only carry it to death.

As for what to do with the cavalry outside the city, Xu Huang ordered Xu Shang to retreat to Yanchi, then walk from Wushan to the Zhongtiao Mountains to Dayang County, and then from the north of the Yellow River, to Hebei County to find Cao Zhen to join him.

This route is probably from the later Yongji City to Yuncheng City, then from the road of the Zhongtiao Mountains to Sanmenxia City, and then west to Ruicheng. There were Cao Zhen's troops along the way, but there was no need to worry about food and grass and being ambushed by the Han army.

As long as Xu Shang's cavalry can retreat to Hebei County in its entirety and join Cao Zhen, Cao Zhen's main force can come to the aid of Xu Huang in Pusaka.

Therefore, Xu Huang's arrangement is still relatively reasonable, so that it will not cause a complete rout of Cao's army, so as to give up the entire Hedong County; It won't make Zhu Ling's situation more difficult.

The only problem is that he'll be a little sadder on his side.

Surrounded by the Han army on three sides, fighting alone, and if Shen Chen was not stupid, if he didn't come out when he saw Xu Huang, he would definitely send someone to shoot arrows into the city, telling the soldiers that the grain and grass in the city were destroyed, so as to shake the military heart of the Cao army's soldiers.

Therefore, in order to prevent future troubles, Xu Huang summoned the soldiers and told them frankly that because of his poor consideration, the grain and grass in Jiucheng had been damaged, and they had no follow-up grain storage.

As Xu Huang thought, as soon as the news came out, the whole army was in an uproar, and the soldiers were talking left and right, and their mood and morale fell to the bottom.

But soon Xu Huang informed everyone that the grain and grass in the city were enough to last for a year, and at the same time, he had sent people to ask for reinforcements from Cao Zhen, the general of Zhengxi, as long as they held on to the city and insisted on waiting for the arrival of reinforcements, they would be safe and sound.

An open and frank exchange quickly restored morale, and the soldiers of the whole city were encouraged by Xu Huang, and they all bothered to defend Hedong to the death.

In fact, Xu Huang also played a little trick in this.

That is, he concealed the real grain storage situation in the city, only half a year of grain and grass, he said that there was a year.

Because the fire in Usuki can't be hidden.

If Shen Chen shoots arrows into the city again and informs the soldiers of the whole city, it will definitely cause panic among the soldiers in the city, and if it is not good, there will be a mutiny.

Therefore, it is better to tell everyone about this matter, so as to prevent Shen Chen from spreading the news, so that the soldiers can calm the morale of the army.

But if the grain and grass can only hold on for half a year, the soldiers will definitely not be at ease.

Therefore, after saying that for half a year, after learning that the grain and grass are sufficient, the soldiers will definitely be much more stable, as long as they can continue to hold on and wait for reinforcements to arrive, then there is still hope for everything.

In the time that followed, Shen Chen's side was stationed outside the city, about 50,000 people and horses, surrounded Pusaka, and the defenders in the city were about 16,000 people.

More than ten days later, the Han army's camps were built, everything was ready, and sure enough, they began to adopt offensive tactics against Puban City.

Shen Chen's main force feigned an attack in Xicheng, but in fact covered the Han army in the north and south cities, constantly shooting arrows into the city with bows and crossbows, and a large amount of paper on the arrows, persuading the Cao army in the city to surrender, and informing them of the news of the loss of the granary in the city.

But Xu Huang coped with it properly, and this incident did not cause much fluctuation, but instead inspired the Cao soldiers to defend the city.

"Strange."

A few days later, in the big tent of the commander of the Chinese army in the main camp of the Han army outside the west city of Puban, Shen Chen sat on the main seat, looked at the generals on the left and right, and said: "This plan to attack the heart has been used, why is there no movement in the city at all?" ”

"It's weird."

Jiang Vienna said sullenly: "When Cao Jun learned that his food and grass were exhausted, shouldn't the army be depressed and feel panicked?" No matter how elite they are, someone should want to surrender. ”

Ma Dai thought for a while and said, "Maybe that Xu Huang deceived the soldiers, saying that we were spreading rumors, so that Cao Junjun's heart was temporarily stabilized. ”

"It won't take long to deceive you."

Deng Ai pointed out the crux of the problem: "We only need to besiege for a while, and if they don't replenish their grain and grass when they should be replenished, the news will be self-defeating." Xu Huang shouldn't be so stupid, if he really lies, Cao Jun will probably tear him apart when he learns the truth. ”

"Hmm"

Shen Chen muttered: "Then there is only one possibility, that is, Xu Huang informed the Cao soldiers of everything in advance, and comforted them that reinforcements should arrive soon." It seems that we still underestimate him, and we should not take it lightly because we have cut off their food and grass. ”

Deng Ai said: "Metropolitan Governor, in my opinion, Xu Huang should be waiting for Cao Zhenchi to help. After so many days, Cao Zhen's side should have received the news, and now he is probably on his way over. ”

Shen Chen launched a surprise attack on Hedong on February 9 of the first year of Jianxing, and in one day, the Han army made a surprise attack on the rear of the mountains in the north, breaking through the walled wall built by Xu Huang on the bank of the river. At the same time, Deng Ai highlighted the surprise soldiers, rushed for more than 70 miles, and directly took the grain storage site of the Cao army, and burned the grain and grass of the Cao army.

Subsequently, the Han army began to build a camp outside Puban City, and copied Puban City, just like Cao Cao did in the Battle of Guandu, wanting to take advantage of the loss of Jiucheng and the fact that Cao's army did not have much food to force Cao's army into a panic, so as to surrender or abandon the city and flee.

If Cao's army surrenders, if it abandons the city and escapes, Shen Chen will directly start the pursuit, drive Xu Huang's army all the way out of Hedong County, and then go north to eliminate Zhu Ling, and finally gather troops to take Tongguan from Fenglingdu.

In this way, Hedong changed hands, and Shen Chen was much easier to fight whether he was fighting Shaanxi County, that is, Sanmenxia City in the later generations, or Tongguan or Bingzhou, and could even directly threaten Luoyang, the capital of Cao Wei.

It can be said that this raid was successful, and in just over ten days, Shen Chen would shock the entire Cao Wei and give the newly appointed Cao Wei Emperor Cao Rong a little surprise.

But what people didn't expect was that Xu Huang actually withstood the pressure, neither retreated nor surrendered, but chose to hold on.

Then Shen Chen obviously had to continue to touch the nails.

However, he didn't plan to die in Pusaka, there was no supply of grain and grass outside the city, and the city was just sitting on the empty mountain and slowly consuming it, Xu Huang would always run out of food one day.

The key is that if it drags on, Cao Zhen's side will definitely send someone to rescue, and then there will be too many uncertain factors.

Now that more than ten days have passed, Cao Zhen must have received the news, it is very likely that the reinforcements have set off, and even now that Shen Chen's ambush troops placed in Leishou Mountain are already fighting with Cao's army.

Therefore, Shen Chen had to consider the next step.

After Shen Chen thought about it, he said to Jiang Wei and Deng Ai: "Shizai, Boyo, you two have a good plan, what do you think I should do at this time?" ”

Jiang Wei arched his hand and said: "The next strategy is naturally to attack the city, there is not much food and grass in the city, it could have been besieged to death, and if the city was forcibly attacked, the soldiers were afraid that they would suffer heavy casualties, and the last general thought that it was not advisable to attack the city." ”

"Hmm."

Shen Chen nodded, this was the most pertinent opinion.

Jiang Wei continued: "The middle strategy is to go north to cooperate with General Pang to break Zhu Ling first, and after General Pang joins us, we can surround Xu Huang while going south to fight Cao Zhen, but this protracted time may not necessarily be able to defeat Cao's army quickly." ”

"The best strategy is to defeat Cao Zhen, let Xu Huang know that Cao Zhen's reinforcements are gone, and the Cao soldiers in Puban City will definitely despair, and once Puban is broken, the entire Hedong will return to the Han soil."

Deng Ai took over the conversation.

From a military point of view, this is indeed the best policy.

But the problem is that Cao Zhen's army is the main force of Cao's army on the Western Front, not only in terms of the elite of soldiers, but also in the number of troops about the same as the main force of the Han army, about 50,000.

Zhao Yun only brought 10,000 cavalry and thousands of foot soldiers to contain Cao Zhen, and in terms of troops, he may not be able to contain Cao Zhen for too long.

So when the time comes, Cao Zhen will definitely lead the main force to cross the Yellow River to support Xu Huang, then Shen Chen will have to surround Xu Huang while facing the attack of the main force of Cao's army, and go south to repel Cao Zhen.

Shen Chen naturally couldn't have thought of this, and thought: "Cao Zhen has a lot of soldiers and horses, although General Zhao is in Huayin to contain him, he will definitely not be able to contain him for too long. If he only sent 10,000 or 20,000 people, it would be fine, but if only 10,000 people were left to guard Tongguan, and the rest were dispatched, it would be difficult to deal with. ”

"Then breaking Zhu Ling first is the best choice."

Jiang Wei said.

Deng Ai disagreed, and said: "Boyo is too stable to take risks." Even if we defeat Zhu Ling and join General Pang, it is probably that we plus General Pang, and face off against Xu Huang and Cao Zhen's soldiers and horses here, with Cao Zhen responding, the grain and grass in the city will definitely be replenished, and the number of soldiers and horses on both sides will be about the same, Cao Jun still has the city, how long will everyone have to confront each other? Only by breaking Cao Zhen first can we seize the entire east of Hedong and threaten the state and Hanoi! ”

Jiang Wei said: "But senior brother must understand that we are short of manpower now, if we don't go to help General Pang first and let General Pang join us there, then we will have to deal with more Cao Jun with fewer troops, and we don't occupy the right time and place, and it is not so easy to break through Cao Zhen." ”

Deng Ai shook his head: "Boyo is wrong, at least we occupy a favorable position, if Cao Zhen wants to help, he must pass through the passage between the Yellow River and Leishou Mountain, if we can block here, we will definitely be able to intercept them." Even if Cao Zhen can't be defeated, camp there and drag it out for a few months, the Cao army in Puban City will run out of food and collapse, in that case, wouldn't it be possible to take Hedong? ”

Leishou Mountain is located at the southwest end of the Zhongtiao Mountain Range in Shanxi Province in the later generations, between the Yellow River and Jianshui, the main peak is in the northwest of Ruicheng, Shanxi, and the only way to pass through the Yellow River and Zhongtiao Mountain, there is a tourist attraction here in later generations, that is, the hometown of Yang Guifei, if you want to cross the river from Tongguan to Hedong County, here is the only way.

When Cao Cao crusaded against Ma Chao, he first crossed the river from Tongguan to Fenglingdu on the other side of the river, and Ma Chao almost killed Cao Cao here. Then, after Cao Cao arrived in Hedong, he asked Xu Huang and Zhu Ling to cross the river from Puban to cover the main attack.

Therefore, it can be said that this area is indeed a dangerous place, if they can send troops to hold the passage here, then at least theoretically, they can indeed intercept Cao Zhen.

But Deng Ai's suggestion made Shen Chen hesitate for a while.

If he was still the same young man as he was at the beginning, I'm afraid not to mention Cao Zhen's tens of thousands of troops, even if it was more than 100,000 troops, he would dare to lead the soldiers to rush over.

However, now that he is the commander of the 100,000 troops on the western front of the Han army, the consideration cannot be as simple as before.

used to be done with Cao Junmang.

If you are reckless now, the slightest carelessness will be the loss of 100,000 troops, which is obviously a matter of life and death for the Han army on the Western Front.

This undoubtedly requires more caution.

"The Grand Governor."

Jiang Wei looked at Shen Chen and said, "The best strategy is too dangerous. ”

Shen Chen was about to nod in agreement.

Deng Ai stood up and said solemnly: "The governor of the capital, the soldiers are dangerous, and there is a miraculous effect, when Cao Cao hijacked the Son of Heaven in Xudu, and Yu Guandu and Yuan Shao resisted, isn't it that the governor of Dadu personally led the troops, and the three were in Xuchang, so that Cao thief moved the capital to the east to avoid the edge?" ”

"Hmm"

Shen Chen pondered for a long time before he looked at everyone seriously and said, "Shi Zai's words are indeed reasonable, if you don't dare to make a risk, how can you talk about marching and fighting?" Where is Ma Dai? ”

"The last general!"

Ma Dai stood up and bowed.

Shen Chen said: "You lead 10,000 people, immediately go to Leishou Mountain to set up camp, stand on the avenue, and stop Cao Zhen!" ”

"Yui!"

Ma Dai should be handed over.

The current situation is a bit like when Zhuge Liang came out of Qishan.

When they came out of Qishan, the Wei army was difficult to resist, and several counties surrendered, only Guangwei County and Longxi County refused to surrender.

When Zhuge Liang was besieging Guangwei County and Longxi County, he guessed that the Wei army would rush to the aid from Jieting, so he sent Ma Tan to guard the Jieting to block the Wei army.

It can be said that if Ma Tan successfully intercepted the Wei army and prevented the Wei army from entering Xiliang, then Zhuge Liang could calmly exterminate the Wei army in Guangwei and Longxi two counties, and then go to Jieting to confront the Wei army.

At that time, the entire Liangzhou will fall into the hands of Ji Han.

But Ma Tan failed.

The same is true today.

Shen Chen was besieging the Cao army in Hedong, and Cao Zhen would come to his aid in a short time.

Leishou Mountain is also like a street pavilion, which is the main road for Cao Jun to come to help.

As long as Cao Zhen can be intercepted in Leishou Mountain, and Shen Chen's side can calmly dispose of Xu Huang and Zhu Ling, then the entire Hedong will return to the Han Dynasty.

So to a certain extent, this battle depends on whether the Han army can intercept Cao's army at Leishou Mountain.

When Deng Ai heard that Shen Chen had sent Ma Dai, he immediately said, "The Grand Governor, the last general is also willing to go." ”

"Let me think about it."

Shen Chen frowned.

He was a little hesitant to send Ma Dai.

The great man once commented that the battle of the street pavilion should be seen in person.

The same thing.

Lei Shou Mountain is blocking Cao Jun's reinforcements, and it is advisable to come in person in the morning!

However, before the Battle of Jieting, Zhuge Liang dealt with Guangwei and Longxi Cao Jun, a group of fish belly, Zhuge Liang asked his generals to go, and it was okay to go to Jieting by himself.

But now it is slightly different from the Battle of the Street Pavilion that Xu Huang is not a simple character.

If he went to Leishou Mountain in person, it would not be a big problem to block Cao Zhen.

But if there is no general watching on Pusaka's side and stops Cao Zhen, there will be a problem in the rear, and it will be a lot of fun.

So a headache for a while.

Jiang Wei and Deng Ai don't look at the later stage, but now they are still in their thirties, young and vigorous, and they are not qualified for the position of general.

Thinking about it, Zhao Yun can, Pang De can, Ma Dai's words. It can only be said that it is relatively reluctant.

It's a pity that I don't have a doppelganger, if only I could doppelgänger.

"Lei Shoushan is very important to intercept Cao Zhen, I should go in person. But Pusaka surrounded Xu Huang, Xu Huang was not easy to follow, and he also needed the general to watch him. ”

Shen Chen thought about it, and finally decided: "Ma Dai." ”

"The end will be."

Ma Dai had no choice but to stand up again and receive the order.

Shen Chen said: "You go to Huayin immediately, if General Zhao is retreated by Cao Zhen, you will take over the cavalry, and after Cao Zhen's army crosses the river, you will cross the river from Ruixiang and attack Cao Zhen's rear." Let Zhao Yun go to Pusaka and take over my defense of the three armies, and I should go to Leishou Mountain in person! ”

"Yui!"

Ma Dai took over the military order.

Shen Chen looked around and looked at the generals below and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, this year, the prime minister and the generalissimo are also about to send troops, the northern expedition to Cao Wei, and the revival of the Han Dynasty." If I send troops first, I must not be defeated, and at the worst I must take Hedong. The selection strategy is protracted and cannot cooperate with the south to coerce Cao Wei Luoyang, and only by taking the first step can it be effective. If I want to let the Cao army in Hedong be annihilated, I can't cower, I will go to Leishou Mountain in person, and the generals must use their lives to intercept Xu Huang here, and they must not let him run away, understand? ”

"Yui!"

All the soldiers stood up and gave up their hands.

Shen Chen gave a death order, they had to carry it out, and now there were more than 10,000 and less than 20,000 Cao troops in Puban City, if Xu Huang was allowed to escape, then they wouldn't have to do it.

Good news, you shouldn't have to go on a date in the next month, and you will continue to double change tomorrow, last month's result is just 200,000 words, which is not too bad, continue to work hard this month, and strive to end in July.

(End of chapter)