As Lin Mo guessed, Cao Cao had arranged a large number of secret agents to investigate the military situation in the northern country.

In this era, the shadows placed in a region are actually very elegant, and a county usually does not exceed five groups of ten people, and it has to be a strategic county.

Of course, it's not that there are not enough personnel, but that the cost of supporting these shadows is a huge expense.

They have been active behind enemy lines for a long time, not to mention risking their lives, they will always have to carry a virtual identity, they will not be able to see their families all year round, and the cost will naturally not be comparable to that of ordinary sergeants in captivity.

Even Jingzhou, the belly of the world that has long been coveted by Cao Cao, has only 100 hidden sons deployed, and there is no way, Cao Cao is not rich enough to toss as much as he wants.

Especially in the past three years, although the territory has expanded somewhat, the defeat has been a basket, and the lost soldiers and horses, grain and grass and ordnance are all astronomical money, so even the use of shadows has to be searched.

However, in the northern country, only in the land of two states, Cao Cao scattered 300 shadows, which were enough to feed an army of 3,000 people.

Although the cost is amazing, the benefits are also very intuitive, and Xiahoudun, who is in Taiyuan, can receive the news about the north as soon as possible.

For example, Zhang Yan sent 10,000 men to raid the two counties of Changshan and Zhongshan at the same time; For example, Lü Bu transferred 20,000 men from the front to quell the rear.

Zhang Yan changed his previous style this time, in Xiahoudun's opinion, of course, Xun You's clever plan has achieved miraculous results, after all, he is a talent in Yingchuan, and it is indeed not a problem to handle a mountain bandit.

As the assassin of the state, Xiahoudun not only took over the military affairs of the border, but also had a crucial task, that is, to balance Lu Bu, at least not to let him live too comfortably.

Even Zhang Yan moved, how could he not move at all, even if he wanted to send 10,000 soldiers and horses over Taihang Mountain to attack Zhao County and Guangping County, so that he could achieve a strategic contiguous effect with Zhang Yan, and directly plunge half of Jizhou into turmoil.

However, as the favored overseer, he proposed that only the 2,000 cavalry in the city should be sent to attack the two counties.

Because Cao Cao's task for them is to harass and contain Lu Bu, not to attack the city, even if you can occupy a few cities at a small price now, when Lu Bu returns with his troops, you will still have to evacuate.

Moreover, Taihang Mountain is Zhang Yan's land after all, and there are many people who go, in case this guy Zhang Yan suddenly cuts off the way to retreat, it will become a turtle in an urn.

It is true that Xiahoudun is a often defeated general, but he is not a fool, except for his impulsive personality, he is definitely a general who can take charge of himself.

After careful consideration, he agreed to implement it according to the practice of full favor, so he sent Che Zhou as the main general and Cao Zhen as the deputy general, and led the two thousand cavalry in Taiyuan City, crossed the Taihang Mountain, and entered Zhao County and Guangling County to start a large-scale attack.

Che Xuan's luck is still very good, because if it weren't for Lin Mo's intervention that caused history to change, his grave grass would be more than a meter tall now.

Compared with Che Xuan, as the only adopted son of the Cao family who does not have the blood of the Cao family and the Xiahou family, Cao Zhen still has practical combat experience to be accumulated, especially this kind of action that goes deep behind enemy lines and needs to make his own decisions in front of the enemy, which is still very important for his growth.

At first, Che Xuan was still cautious, and after the 2,000 people entered Zhao County, it was not for the purpose of attacking the city or plundering, but only to deter Lu Bu's rear, so that the local officials could ask Lu Bu for help.

But after a few actions, Che Xuan found that although Cao Zhen was young, he was definitely not a soft persimmon, on the contrary, he was brave and good at fighting, and he knew how to judge the situation and act at the opportunity, and he also had his own unique opinions.

So, in order to make the battle bigger, Che Xuan chose to give Cao Zhen a thousand cavalry, let him enter Guangping and act alone, just agree on the day of retirement.

Facts have proved that Cao Zhen's generals are indeed on top of the chariot, and in only ten days, he traveled to seven counties in Guangping County, causing panic among the people who attacked the entire county, and many county towns closed their city gates.

There are also some big families who have a good impression of Lu Lin Weng's son-in-law, but they can't help Cao Zhen at all, he is very smart, he implements Huo Quai's blitzkrieg tactics, does not covet any baggage, grain and grass and capture, fights where to eat, and often changes routes, so that the soldiers sent by several families to ambush have no effect, and can only watch Cao Zhen mess around.

In the romance film and television dramas of later generations, Cao Zhen is a gentleman who was able to climb to the position of the third prince by relying on the title of Cao's nobleman, and when he is in danger, he will only hold his head and shout: "Shuang'er save me!" ”

In fact, Cao Zhen is very strong, and in terms of military talent alone, he is not inferior to the five good generals at all.

Not to mention anything else, just when Zhuge Liang came out of Qishan, his military exploits were enough to overwhelm Sima Yi.

The first shot, on the Xiegu Road defeated Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi's partial division, after the battle, and predicted that when Zhuge Liang came out of Qishan again, he would make a fuss about Chen Cang, so he secretly ordered Hao Zhao to rush to repair Chen Cang and strengthen the city defense.

After the spring of the second year, Zhuge Liang really pointed his troops directly at Chen Cang, but because Hao Zhao was prepared to fight, the Shu army's grain road could not be opened for a long time, which directly caused Zhuge Liang's second Northern Expedition to be aborted.

It's a pity that in the film and television, Cao Zhen's sky-throwing work was added to Tsukasa Hu Sima Yi.

In the scheduled fifteen days, Cao Zhen's battle results were richer than Che Guan, and when the two converged, Che Guan's team lost more than 200 horses, but Cao Zhen's troops only folded fifty-seven horses when they charged.

At this time, the two had also received a military order from Xiahoudun and withdrew to Taiyuan by the same route.

In more than half a month, it only took 2,000 cavalry to toss the two counties of Jizhou, and the two Taishou even sent three sets of fast horses to urgently ask Lu Bu for reinforcements.

However, Xiahoudun was anxious for them to return, not because of this reason, but because the reinforcements of the Lü army had already arrived in Zhongshan Kingdom, and even rushed directly to Taihang Mountain, and fought several encounters with Zhang Yan's Montenegrin army.

"Zhang Yan has been tossing in Taihang Mountain for more than ten years, and he has broken three times in a row, what a waste!" In the council hall of Jinyang City, the Taiyuan County Governor's Office, Xiahou, who was wearing armor, had a halberd in his beard.

He originally wanted to mobilize Lu Bu's army and make him tired in several counties, who would have thought that only 20,000 people would fight Zhang Yan and flee all the way to the south, and he also sent an urgent letter, saying that he couldn't stand it, and quickly transferred the soldiers and horses of Guangping and Zhao County back, otherwise the retreat route would be blocked.

You must know that if he is so vulnerable, the siege of Youzhou cannot be changed at all, and his own people must all be withdrawn.

"Zhao Yunyong championed the three armies, Yan Liangwen Chou is the general of the Northern Kingdom, it is not easy for these three people to join forces."

Man Chong pinched his beard and groaned: "What's more, Zhang Yan's Black Mountain thieves are also a rabble after all, how can they be able to defeat Lu Bu's most elite troops." ”

The reason is understood, but Xiahoudun really doesn't want to watch this plan collapse.

Once Yuan Xi learned that he and Zhang Yan could no longer contain Lu Bu, although there were tens of thousands of people in Zhuoxian County, they had no fighting spirit and would be defeated sooner or later.

What he hopes to see more is that when he and Zhang Yan join forces, they can force Lu Bu's army back, at least forty or fifty thousand people, only in this way will Yuan Xi have enough confidence to collide with Lu Bu head-on.

But the current situation seems that Lu Bu only used 20,000 people to break the tired situation under Xun Youbu.

"Only by cleaning up the 20,000 people on Taihang Mountain can we force Lu Bu to divide his troops and return to help."

Xiahoudun paced in the hall, and sat back in the handsome chair, his eyes were condensed, and his cheekbones were highlighted, "We must not let Lu Bu annex Youzhou so smoothly, otherwise, not only will Bingzhou be in danger of breaking the city, but the Central Plains will also fall into the threat of the frontal Lu army." ”

Youzhou is very important, and this is the most critical place to contain Lu Bu to become bigger.

When he was in Xuchang, Guo Jia, Xun You and Xun Yu all said that although Lu Bu had Ji and Qing Erzhou, but Yu and Erzhou were not in his hands, he was always strategically passive.

Especially Youzhou, which is not like Bingzhou, there is a Taihang Mountain moat blocking, which is directly facing the land of Hebei and Qingdao, once this worry is solved, Lu Bu's strategic flexibility will be greatly improved in the future.

"General, have the scouts of our army ever witnessed the battle between the Lu army and the Black Mountain bandits?" He asked suspiciously.

"But no."

Xiahoudun shook his head, "But the seven cottages along the way were burned down, which has been confirmed." ”

"It seems that this time it is Lu Bu's elite division that is used."

Man Chong didn't think that there could be any collusion between Zhang Yan and Lu Bu, because in his opinion, it was unwise, and it was long overdue to join forces and not drag on to this day.

What's more, anyone with a discerning eye can see that Zhang Yantou Lu Bu can't get any benefits, and there was an old grudge between the two in a life-and-death war.

He just wanted to judge the combat strength of the Lu army from the news from the scout's mouth, but unfortunately, he found nothing.

Purely from the strategic choice of the overall situation of the northern country, Manchu also supported Xiahoudun to go to Taihang Mountain to fight with the Lu army, after all, if Lu Bu was allowed to annex Youzhou too easily, it would be difficult to resist their multi-road attacks in this corner of the state.

Moreover, Zhang Yan has 20,000 or 30,000 people on hand, and now it is a rout, as long as Xiahoudun leads the army to set up an ambush at the designated place, and when Zhang Yan attracts Zhao Yun and others to the ambush circle, it is not difficult to swallow these 20,000 people.

"How many people does the general plan to take?"

Hearing Manchu Pet's question, Xiahoudun knew that the opinions of the two had been unified, and immediately took a shot at the case, "This battle is related to the overall situation of the northern country, and I want to go out of the city to capture and kill Zhao Yun and Yan Liangwen!" ”

"No, no, no!"

Hearing this, his two hands were raised, "General, Zhang Yan's Black Mountain thieves are no less than 20,000, and our army can't go to so many people, not to mention that this time our army is waiting for work, and please ask the general to stay behind thousands of troops, at least to guard against Huchuquan's plundering and annexing of the state." ”

Xiahoudun stood up again, rubbing his beard back and forth.

It is true that the whole territory is now in his hands, but at the moment, people's hearts are also unstable, and the families in various places have not completely changed their minds from the rule of the Yuan family.

If the Xiongnu are allowed to plunder like this without showing any performance, I am afraid that it will provoke civil strife.

In addition, there is a certain truth in what Man Pet said, after all, Zhao Yun is only 20,000 people, and he has become a weak army after chasing and killing all the way, and he has taken more than 10,000 people up the mountain to set up an ambush in advance, and then cooperate with Zhang Yan's people, and it is not a problem to beat him to the annihilation of the whole army.

"Good! How about leaving 5,000 men for you to defend the border, and I will take 15,000 men up the mountain to set up an ambush? ”

Man Chong shook his head again and again when he heard this, "Very good, very good, but in mountain warfare, the cavalry cannot be used, and the general is asked to leave the cavalry below." ”

"It's nature." Of course, Xiahoudun understood this truth, so he agreed very happily.

After the two agreed on the strategy of using troops, Xiahoudun pulled Man Pet to the sand table on the side and began to deploy the problem of ambush.

According to Zhang Yan's letter, Zhao Yun's people are still on the mountain range on the boundary of Zhongshan Country, and it is most appropriate to set up an ambush in Guangping, because there are still more than 500 miles away from Zhongshan Country, and he has plenty of time, but at the same time, he is worried that Zhao Yun may not dare to pursue so deeply.

For the sake of conservatism, Xiahoudun decided to set up an ambush on the Taihang Mountain on the boundary of Zhao County.

Although it is only less than three hundred miles away from Zhao Yun's position, it does take a little time to go from Taiyuan, but there is no post road on Taihang Mountain, and their marching speed will not be too fast, as long as Zhang Yan can block and slow down Zhao Yun's troops, there is still plenty of time.

Man Zhong watched Xiahou Dun's deduction on the sand table, and from time to time bowed his head in agreement, and after changing the choice of several ambush locations, the two reached a consensus proposal to ambush in a lot called Descending Longgang.

Probably took a fancy to the name of this location, Zhao Yun Zhao Zilong, so please descend the dragon here.

After agreeing, Xiahoudun immediately sent a letter and asked Zhang Yan's messenger to bring it back to Taihang Mountain.

At this point, he also quickly went out to inspect the soldiers and horses, and prepared to wave his troops to Taihang Mountain early tomorrow morning.

On Taihang Mountain, at the border between Zhongshan Kingdom and Zhao County, Zhao Yun, Yan Liang, Wen Chou and Zhang Yan looked at Xiahoudun's reply, with different thoughts, and even their expressions were quite happy.

Zhang Yan, who was in her forties, was even biting her nails in wonder, hell, they obviously didn't let me write a letter asking for help, but instead asked me to write an urgent letter, asking Xiahoudun to withdraw the soldiers and horses, why did he still take the initiative to come and ask for an ambush, can this Lin Mo really be a prophet?

Yan Liangwen Chou showed admiration on his face, and captured Zhang Yan alive as soon as he made a move, and eight hundred people disintegrated the stubborn Black Mountain Thieves in the north for many years.

But that's fine, as long as the Cao army can be broken here, the last hope of the Yuan army in Youzhou will be shattered, and when the two brothers shout like this under the city pass, are they afraid that they will not surrender?

Zhao Yun was indifferent, thinking about how to bring Xiahou Dun's head back to make Lu Bu and Lin Mo happy, as for the plan to come to this point, in his opinion, this is Lin Mo's normal operation, and there is nothing to make a fuss about.

In the end, it was Zhao Yun who took the lead in breaking the silence, "How far is Zhenlonggang from here?" ”

Zhang Yan slowed down for half a beat before coming back to his senses, and hurriedly responded: "It's more than two hundred miles, it's almost to the boundary of Guangping." ”

If he was still a little cautious before, at this point, Lin Mo's amazing trick of playing with Xia Houdun between applause was completely suppressed.

It seems that he didn't brag, such a prodigy, he could indeed take me once, and he could take me twice, or honestly help them clean up Xiahoudun, and now, there is no way out.

"So far"

You can't ride a horse on the mountain, and you can't walk through it for more than 200 miles in ten days, so it seems that you don't have the opportunity to survey the terrain.

"Do you have a map?" Wen Chou on the side asked knowingly.

"Our group of people have been tossing in Taihang Mountain for so many years, where do we need any maps."

Zhang Yan smiled, and then said: "But it is a mountain col, it is indeed suitable for ambushes, although I don't have a map, but I can roughly draw the landform of Zhenlonggang, which can also be used as a reference." ”

The Montenegrin army called it an army, but there was never such a strategic item as a map or sand table, and the map had long been in their hearts.

Fortunately, the Taihang Mountain, which stretches for thousands of miles, has been trampled by them in more than ten years, and Zhang Yan did not delay at all, and drew the general appearance of Zhenlonggang at the empty flat outside the village.

Zhao Yun crossed his chest and looked at the graphics on the ground, without saying a word.

There are two risks here, first, he can't be sure if Zhang Yan is really so cooperative, whether he will make a stumbling block on this map; Second, from the topographical point of view, Zhulonggang is an open land like a valley, but the entrances and exits in the front and back are very narrow, which is indeed suitable for ambushes, and the problem is that it is not clear how Xiahoudun will set up an ambush.

However, there is a wonderful advantage from the terrain, once Xiahoudun's people rush out, Zhang Yan takes the Black Mountain thief to fight back, and the people who cooperate with him are two-line attacks, and Xiahoudun has no way to escape.

This is also the only thing that makes Zhao Yun a little excited.

It's a pity that Lin Mo is not around, and no one can guide him.

"What, General Zhao doesn't believe me?" Seeing Zhao Yun's deep face, Zhang Yan smiled bitterly.

"Just thinking about how to fight back." Zhao Yun's gaze did not take his eyes off the ground.

"Good!"

Zhang Yan said decisively: "If General Zhao trusts me, when our people flee in front, Xiahoudun will wait for you to fully become a shareholder, and then seal the retreat, intending to eat all 20,000 people, and then the general can reserve a group of people to respond outside the post, so as to ensure that Xiahoudun is buried here!" ”

In fact, Zhao Yun also thought so in his heart, of course, the biggest risk point was Zhang Yan's body.

If he really helped sincerely, then Xiahoudun really had no way to live, but in case he . .

Zhao Yun took a deep breath and looked at Yan Liangwen and the ugly brothers, both of whom nodded heavily, signaling that they also agreed with this method.

At this point, Zhao Yun clenched his fists and raised his eyes to look at Zhang Yan, "General Zhang, after this battle, what you lost on Taihang Mountain, Wen Hou and Yunwen will make up for you." ”

"You and I are both true people, if you are willing to believe me, you will not be disappointed." Zhang Yan just chuckled, and didn't seem to care too much about Zhao Yun's promise.

Perhaps, in his opinion, Zhao Yun's trust in a mountain bandit is more reassuring than those big cakes.

The four of them returned to Dazhai again, from noon to dusk, and made arrangements for the detailed deployment of the battle of Zhenlonggang.

As for the result, you can only really see it when you get to Jinlonggang.

The evening wind is whistling on the hill, and there is a smell of mountain rain coming and the wind is full of buildings.

(End of chapter)