At dawn, a remnant of the army staggered through the dirt road.

The sergeants were disgraced, their morale was low, their flags were hanging low, and their clothes were already stained with mud. And the leading Cao Cao's hair bun was messy, and the Shu brocade red robe on his body was already dirty, riding on a war horse, walking in embarrassment.

Cao Cao saw that the sky was already bright, and he couldn't help but slow down his horse's speed, and saw the vast and boundless Yun Mengze, which was full of wetland grass and trees, and asked, "Where is this?" ”

Cai Mao shook his head and said, "Prime Minister Qiqi, yesterday's fire made it difficult to see the road, our army should get lost in Yunmengze, and it is not a great road." ”

Yunmengze is hundreds of miles away, inhabited, and lacks landmark buildings, so it is very easy to get lost. Cao Cao collected the defeated army one after another on the road, but he remembered that he was going south, and as he walked in the dark night, he deviated from the avenue.

Cao Cao glanced at the tired sergeant and said, "After running all night last night, you are already tired, so you can rest here for the time being." Deju, you ask Jiang Han's soldiers to explore the direction of the avenue and see what is feasible. ”

"No!"

As the military order to rest was issued, the remnants of the defeated army shouted for joy and thanked Cao Cao for letting them stop and rest, so that they did not have to continue their journey.

After finding a clean place, Cao Cao got off the horse to rest, felt the unbearable hunger in his belly, and asked left and right: "Are there any cakes and preserved meat?" ”

Both left and right shook their heads and said nothing, they were afraid that they would be burned by the fire, and they would take food with them when they fled.

Yang Xiu symbolically touched his sleeves, sighed and said: "Prime Minister, where are the Hu cakes coming now, there are only mud, reeds, shrimp and crabs on the left and right?" ”

"I have it!"

Sun Quan took out the already cold Hu cake from his arms, offered it to Cao Cao diligently, and said: "Prime Minister, Quan has Hu Biscuit, but it is cold, and the public can barely eat it." ”

Looking at Sun Quan, who was serving Hu cakes, Cao Cao was very moved, and said: "Under the hunger and cold today, Zhong Mou can serve Hu cakes without eating them, and he is very relieved. ”

Out of face, Cao Cao pushed and said: "However, the solitary view of Zhongmou's complexion is not good, you can use Hu Bier for yourself!" ”

Sun Quan's face was excited, and he arched his hand and said: "The prime minister has the hope of China, and now he should respect his body. Quan is a villain, how can he be compared with the prime minister, and how can he swallow his own bread? ”

"Please eat the cake!"

Seeing that Sun Quan was so sincere, Cao Cao was not ambiguous, reached out to take the Hu cake, and said with emotion: "Since this is the case, eat it alone." ”

When Sun Quan saw Cao Cao take the Hu cake, he was overjoyed.

Last night, the fire burned Dazhai, when he was hungry in his belly, he got up to eat night food. Therefore, when he fled, he carried two Hu Biscuits in his arms, and never thought that he could use them now. Of course, Sun Quan was also conscious, in order to please Cao Cao, and then offered.

Cao Cao swallowed his saliva and was about to open his mouth to eat the cake, but he saw that the eyes of the literati and military generals on the left and right seemed to be looking at him.

Cao Cao's mind moved slightly, and he tore the Hu cake in his hand into several pieces, and said: "All the kings are also hungry, how can you eat alone." ”

Saying that, Cao Cao distributed the cakes to Xun You, Yang Xiu, Kuai Yue, Cao Hong and others, and said with a smile: "Don't be humble and eat this cake." Lone has ordered the sergeant to find some wild vegetables, fruits and vegetables, fish, turtles, shrimps and crabs, thinking that he will satisfy his hunger. ”

"Prime Minister Xie!" The people took the pitiful pieces of bread and said gratefully.

"It doesn't have to be like this, if it weren't for the battle of Jiangdong soldiers and horses last night, and the defeated army was gathered, my life would have rested!" Cao Cao said out of thin air.

Cao Cao's head knows that although a cake can satisfy hunger, it is useless for his great cause, and it is better to use it to buy people's hearts.

After a short rest, suddenly a sergeant shouted, "There are pursuers, there are pursuers." ”

The people who sat down to rest were panicked and wanted to get up and leave. Then Sergeant Fang changed his tone and shouted: "My own people, Cao Hubao is riding here." ”

Everyone heard that it was their own people, and the buttocks off the ground quickly sat back on the ground.

"Boom~"

With the sound of horses' hooves, Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen and other tiger and leopard riders rode their horses, and when they saw the embarrassed Cao Cao, they hurriedly dismounted, arched their hands and said: "Meet the prime minister, we have lost the left and right guards, please punish the prime minister." ”

Cao Chun explained: "Last night, the camp fire, when I wanted to enter the camp, but I saw that the fire had burned to the camp of the Chinese army, and the war horses were afraid of the fire. And in the morning, when I saw the defeated army on the road, and saw the smoke, I knew where the prime minister was. ”

Seeing his henchman Cao Shi's generals and son Cao Zhi, Cao Cao was slightly happy in his heart and said: "Under the fire, everyone is afraid, which is normal. You've worked hard, so sit down and rest for a while. ”

"No!"

"Father!"

Cao Zhi saw that his father was so embarrassed and had lost his former majesty, and said sadly: "Last night's fire, Zhi searched in the camp, but he suffered in the dark night, and it was difficult to see his father. Seeing his father today, Zhi is both happy and sad. ”

Cao Cao's face was slightly gloomy, and he scolded: "Lonely is not dead, why are you crying here?" ”

As he spoke, Cao Cao waved his hand and said indifferently: "Victory or defeat is a common thing in soldiers, although our army lost this battle, but the north is still under my control, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses in the Central Plains still exist, why is it so sad." And there are more than 10,000 soldiers and horses in Jiangling, more than 30,000 people in the Xiakou Seventh Route Army, and 10,000 people in Xiangfan, and there are still 50,000 or 60,000 victorious soldiers. ”

When the troops entered Jianghan, Cao Cao led an army of 160,000, subdued 40,000 soldiers and horses of Jianghan, and contracted an army of 200,000. The Xiakou Seventh Route Army had about 40,000 people, and the army headquarters had 160,000 people. Cao Cao left 10,000 people in Xiangfan, arranged nearly 20,000 people in Jiangling, and led an army of 1230,000 to conquer Jiangzuo's army.

Today, Cao Cao's army of more than 100,000 troops in the southern expedition suffered heavy losses, and the soldiers and horses in the divided territories were not affected by the defeat.

Seeing Cao Cao talking and laughing, unaffected by the defeat at all, the hearts of the civil and military strategists relaxed a little. However, what everyone saw was only on the surface, how could Cao Cao not feel sorry for these soldiers and horses, this was the family foundation he had accumulated for more than ten years.

"Prime Minister, the way has been discovered."

Cai Mao emerged from the crowd and said, "Prime Minister, our army has deviated from the main road for dozens of miles, and now we should turn to the southeast and go to Wulin Grain Village." Go west again, you can reach Huarong and Jiangling. If the prime minister wants to go to Xiangfan, he can go to the northwest, take the wetland trail to the Han River, and go up the river along the Han River, and return to Xiangfan. ”

After a pause, Cai Mao said: "However, the northwest trail, and deep into the hinterland of Yunmengze, is full of mud, and it is difficult for the army to walk. There are no people for hundreds of miles, and it is really difficult to walk away from the lack of food and grass today. ”

Cao Cao pondered a little and said: "There are many soldiers, horses, and sailors in Jiangzuo, and our army is running to Hanshui, so it must be prepared. And if our army goes to the Han River and has to return to Xiangfan, it will be difficult to defend Jiangling. Our army went south to Ulin, where it was replenished, and then westward to join the troops of Gangneung. ”

Nanjun was too rich, which made it difficult for Cao Cao to give up Jiangling in his heart. After all, the wealth of Jingchu is not a lie when it converges in Jiangling. If he has to go to Xiangfan, Jiangling is afraid that he will not be able to hold it.

Xun Yu stroked his beard and groaned, and said: "Our army was defeated in Jianghan, how could it be unprepared with Huo Jun's soldiers. I thought that Huo Jun would definitely intercept our army on the retreat road, and it would not be a wise move to go to Jiangling now. ”

Jia Xu, whose beard was covered with mud, said with a wry smile: "Qi Ming Gong, Huo Jun is a native of Nanjun and is familiar with the terrain of Yunze. At this time, Huo Jun sent less pursuers, not because he was unable to pursue, but because he let his army fall into Yunmeng Daze, and set up an ambush on the road that must be passed. And our army is exhausted, and its soldiers and horses are waiting for work, and the remnants of our army will inevitably be defeated! ”

Huo Jun played Zhaoyang Mou, Yunmengze was hundreds of miles away, and it was convenient to enter by land and water at that time, which did not mean that it was easy. Now it is necessary to let them go out of Yunmengze without food, and let all the Cao soldiers and soldiers play in the wilderness to survive.

Cao Cao's gaze fell on Jia Xu and asked, "In Wenhe's opinion, how should our army march?" ”

Jia Xu looked around and said in a low voice: "Cheng quite abandoned the army of foot soldiers, led the elite cavalry to go, carried horses, carried baggage, and took the northwest trail to the bank of the Han River. If you see Hanshui, there will be people, and our army will be out of the cage! ”

"Abandon the army?" Cao Cao hesitated.

"Exactly!"

Jia Xu nodded and said: "Yunmeng Daze is hundreds of miles in radius, leading an army of foot soldiers, but there is a lack of food and grass on the way, and it slows down the speed of the march. It is better to abandon the army and lead the cavalry to march away. It had to return to Xiangfan, gather the Seventh Army of Xiakou, and aid Jiangling in the south. ”

"If the prime minister is afraid that the remnants of the army will stay in Jiangzuo, he can lead the army deep into Yunmeng Daze. When times are difficult, abandon the army, and then ......"

Speaking of the back, Jia Xu kept his mouth shut and let Cao Cao experience it for himself.

Listening to Jia Xu's words, everyone gasped. Jia Xu really only lives himself, not others. But if Cao Cao abandons the army, loots the remaining baggage, and leads the cavalry out of Hanshui, it is basically inevitable to live, but these remnants of the defeated soldiers basically have no way to live.

Cao Cao looked at Jia Xu and fell silent.

After half a ring, Cao Cao sighed and said, "You can still get tens of thousands of remnants of the army today, why bother with such a desperate road." It is better to lead the south to Wulin to eat, and order someone to ask Jiangling for help, maybe you can still protect some soldiers and horses. ”

"Wulin Grain Village, guarded by Zhu Gai and Yin Bureau, has five or six thousand soldiers and horses under these two people's accounts. Even if Huo Jun led the elite to attack Wulin, the second general would be able to save some grain and grass. ”

Cao Cao stood up and ordered: "The whole army is running south to Wulin, and the soldiers and horses of Erliu can fight only 30,000 or 40,000 soldiers, and with the help of Zixiao (Cao Ren), they may be able to defeat Huo Jun!" ”

As he spoke, Cao Cao glanced at Jia Xu and said, "Wenhe, and go with Gu." ”

"No!"

and Cao Cao led the army to set off and marched along the edge of Yunmengze. However, even Yun Mengze, who was on the edge of more than 200 miles, was a nightmarish existence.

The cold winter disappeared, and on the road to the state tomb, the road gradually became muddy. Cao Cao also asked the sergeants to cut down trees as a passage through. On the way, when the old and weak fall to the ground, no one asks, and becomes a stepping stone on the road of others.

The road is difficult to travel is still the first thing, Cao Cao collected the defeated troops along the way, and there was no food and grass to replenish along the way, which became Cao Cao's headache.

After two days of continuous marching, tens of thousands of hungry Cao soldiers sat paralyzed on the ground to rest, and once they sat down to rest, it was difficult to get up. The wild vegetables, shrimps and crabs along the way alone were not enough for Sergeant Cao Jun to replenish enough energy. And it was another day of muddy marching, which had already exhausted all their strength.

The sergeants pulled everything they could eat along the way, and almost all of them were eaten by the sergeants, regardless of whether the plants and trees in the muddy wetlands were poisonous or not. Shrimps, crabs, and mussels have long been extinct, and the mud is full of sergeants who do not want to move because of hunger.

Cao Cao and the civil and military people looked at the war horses in the army, their eyes were already fierce, and they all tried to kill the horses and eat them to relieve the hunger in their stomachs. In the end, considering that Huo Jun might be surrounded in front, he only killed a few hundred war horses to ensure the combat effectiveness of the elite soldiers, and the rest of the remnants of the soldiers were all blessed by themselves.

However, Cao Cao's act of slaughtering war horses and eating them aroused the greed of the foot soldiers under the tent. On that day, many old and weak people were taken advantage of the opportunity to be harmed, and a bonfire was lit in the middle of the night, and the barbecue was fragrant. Cao Cao and his subordinates turned one eye open and closed one eye, pretending to be deaf and dumb, pretending not to know.

And from dawn the next day, smoke rose from the ranks of Cao's army, who were short of food, and when the sergeant finished eating the dried meat, he was ready to go. However, it can be seen with the naked eye that there are some fewer people in Cao Cao's team.

On the edge of Yunmengze, which is more than 200 miles away, 30,000 or 40,000 remnants of the army went to the second and third pavilions due to illness, hunger, and dried meat. By the time they arrived in Ullin, they were all hungry and ragged, and their eyes lit up at the sight of anything to eat.

Cao Cao, who wanted to go to Wulin to eat, met Zhu and Yin on the way, and after learning the news of Wulin, he was full of joy and sorrow.

(End of chapter)