Chapter 1221 Race against time
Feng Duhu has always recognized General Guan's military talent.
Without a sharp enough vision and decisive enough actions, even if Feng Duhu could arrive at Tongguan in time, the situation he would have to face would be far more complicated than it is now.
At a time when the battle situation in Shangdang was confusing and everyone in the Han Dynasty was speculating on Sima Yi's true intentions.
General Guan did not wait for the army to be assembled, but he immediately rushed to Hedong in advance and adjusted the defense deployment in Hedong in time.
On the premise of ensuring that Hedong is safe, he also led the strongest strategic maneuver that the Han Dynasty could mobilize to rush to Taiyuan.
It can be said that General Guan grasped the core contradiction in a timely and accurate manner under extremely chaotic circumstances that made it difficult for people to see the situation clearly.
If the east of the river is lost, Taiyuan will not be preserved.
If Taiyuan is not defended, then the state cannot be defended.
And there is a sequence between the two.
Hedong comes first, Taiyuan comes after.
It was precisely because of the precious time General Guan bought that Feng Duhu had the opportunity to look for opportunities to counterattack after he arrived at Tongguan.
If not, it may be that we have to figure out how to defend the east of the river.
Although the latest news from Taiyuan has not come back yet, Feng Duhu knows that there is a high probability that Guanjue Valley has not been lost.
If it is lost, then the news that General Guan was blocked at the mountain pass should be delivered to him in the next two days.
Since no news has been sent, it means that this is good news.
As long as Guanjue Valley is not lost, the worst-case scenario right now is that Taiyuan City will temporarily fall.
The best case scenario is to protect Hedong and Taiyuan and block Sima Yi in Shangdang.
Think boldly, maybe you can regain Shangdang again.
So everything...may not be too late - as long as Wang Ping and Deng Zhi can hold on until General Guan arrives.
“General, it’s too late, retreat quickly! If you don’t retreat, the thieves may circle back and surround us!”
Wang Ping's camp at Dagukou in Taiyuan is like a lonely boat floating in the sea.
The Wei troops that were rushing out of the mouth of the valley were like huge waves set off by a hurricane.
The lone boat was tossed up by the angry waves again and again, but fell back to the water safely.
It was shaking extremely, but it did not capsize.
The trenches have been filled in, the antlers have been bulldozed, and even the fences of the camp have been mended again and again. In the end, they couldn't be mended, so they used human lives to block them.
Even so, the huge disparity in numbers finally allowed the Wei army to rush into the camp.
Wang Ping stood in front of the commander's tent, holding a long knife with blood still wet on the blade.
The armor on his body exudes the stench of dirty blood.
“Retreat? Retreat to where? How to retreat!”
Wang Ping raised his long knife, pointed it not far below, and shouted sternly.
There, all the Han soldiers who were slightly injured and could still hold swords and guns were already preparing to go back to battle.
The last two thousand soldiers who still have fighting ability are trying their best to prevent the Wei army from rushing towards Shuai Qi.
As for the soldiers who were placed at the back and could not afford serious injuries...if the commander's flag fell, it would mean the death of the commander.
They naturally can only accept the arrangement of fate.
The small high ground with Shuai Banner as the center was the last position of the Han army.
The flag is a symbol of the existence of a combat unit, and it is also one of the means of conveying military orders.
Every organization, from a large army to a small team, has its own unique flag.
Whether attacking or defending, the soldiers of the team must follow and surround the flag, advancing and retreating together.
As long as the flag is there, even if it is scattered and dispersed, the soldiers in chaos can quickly move closer to each other to form a new fighting force by virtue of the flag's location.
On the contrary, if the flag is captured and destroyed, it is also common for it to lead to defeat.
Especially the commander's flag of the Central Army, which is the soul of the entire army and the most important flag.
Once he falls, it is like a person without his brain. No matter how strong his body is, he will fall down and die.
Now, the location of Wang Ping's commander's flag has become the final gathering place for the Han army.
And the Wei army, like smelling **** leeches, rushed forward desperately.
The situation was so urgent that even Wang Ping had led his personal guards and personally went into battle to block the gaps several times.
"In Jinyang, Governor Deng is not ready yet. If we block it for half a day, Jinyang will have half a day to prepare!"
“Otherwise, what are we trying to do if we stay here and so many people die?”
Wang Ping looked towards the distance, the peaks on both sides of the valley.
What a great blocking terrain.
It is a pity that Sima Yi came too quickly.
So fast that Wang Ping had no chance to make full use of this favorable terrain.
“Everyone, follow me!”
Wang Ping raised his sword, ordered the remaining guards again, and took the lead in charging forward.
Countless wooden boards and poles, either cracked or broken, tents wrapped in mud and stones, and even unknown things, were scattered and piled up on both sides of the battlefield.
This is an extremely crude defense line made by the Han army in the camp, using all available objects at hand.
This line of defense only plays a little blocking role.
Soon, the front facing the Wei army with the largest concentration of troops was broken through.
The little role of the defense line is finally reflected at this time.
Thinking that the overall situation was settled, the Wei army did not clean up in time and did not have time to clean up the accumulations on both sides.
They just subconsciously rushed in through the gap.
The Wei army rushed in from the gap in the front and faced small circular formations formed in units of three shi.
Three flower array.
The Sanhua Formation is a circular formation. It is a small and medium-sized formation jointly improved by Feng Duhu and General Zhendong on the basis of the Eight Formation Diagram.
Of course, this is an external statement.
As for whether there is still some country turtle who crossed illegally and wanted to try some formations that are more suitable for combat with new weapons on the premise of improving the Han army's weapons, it is uncertain.
This three-flowered round formation was originally designed to prevent unexpected situations from happening to the commander's flag in battles or melees - for example, the traitor's generals unexpectedly rush into the formation to seize the flag.
At the same time, protect the coach.
It has little mobility, let alone attack. The biggest advantage is that it has strong defensive power - after all, Feng is more afraid of death.
Rotate the staggered formations so that the soldiers at the rear can continuously make up for a certain gap caused by too many casualties.
The small circular formation was constantly rotating, like a winch, crushing and mincing the rebels who rushed into the middle of the two formations.
The Wei army, which had superior strength, was scattered in all directions. From a distance, it seemed that they were forming an encirclement.
But in fact, they were isolated and scattered, and it was difficult for the head and tail to communicate. In the end, they had to fight independently, and the entire army was torn into pieces.
The seemingly turbulent waves crashed into the jagged rocks and turned into countless broken pieces.
This is the last fighting force in Wang Ping's hands, and it is also the most capable and loyal team.
Every small circular formation almost has a core.
These core members are either descendants of the Nanxiang clan, have experience in the staff corps, or have come out of the martial arts hall.
Some even combine three identities into one.
They are the most solid backbone in the army.
The battle formation was filled with blood and flesh. Relying on its superior strength, the Wei army finally broke through a small circular formation. Someone's weapon was forcibly knocked away by several thieves.
Before being overwhelmed by the Wei army, the unarmed soldiers, protected by their fine armor, rushed forward desperately and bit down wherever they could with their teeth.
Using the last bit of strength, he pinched his fingers wherever he could.
Just to cause the last bit of damage to the rebel army.
As if they were not living flesh, but divine weapons far superior to swords.
The air is filled with the smell of thick blood-impregnated metal leather, mixed with some unknown stench, which makes people sick.
Sima Yi stood at the original fence position of the Han army camp, looking at the fierce battle ahead with a somewhat angry face.
How can we not be angry when we are unable to attack a temporary camp with only a few thousand people in it with an overwhelmingly superior force?
At this time, he was already frightened, and even a sense of fear arose from the bottom of his heart:
“It can’t be done, it can’t be done, does the Liu family really want to achieve success?”
Sima Yi naturally did not dare to say these words in his heart.
But as a commander, seeing how crazy the Han army was, some of his thoughts could no longer be suppressed, like weeds in spring, growing crazily.
The Han Dynasty and the Huns fought endless conquests, and the soldiers were elite and tenacious in battle, which can still be praised.
Not to mention Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, even the soldiers who traveled thousands of miles to guard the Western Regions also "boiled their armored crossbows and ate their sinews and hides when they were exhausted and destitute."
It means that in the face of the siege of the Huns, the Han army trapped in Guancheng would rather boil and eat the strings made of animal sinews and the leather worn on the crossbows than to hold on.
It is precisely because of the heroic soldiers of the Early Han Dynasty that the illustrious martial arts of the Early Han Dynasty was created.
Sima Yi, who has been an official since the days of Cao Cao, has seen countless military formations over the years.
However, there are very few armies that have the legacy of the elite soldiers of the previous Han Dynasty.
Because in the Later Han Dynasty, especially in the middle and late Later Han Dynasty, the composition of the soldiers in the army was greatly different from that in the Early Han Dynasty.
The elite soldiers of the former Han Dynasty were composed of truly good men.
In the middle and late Han Dynasty, the so-called good family members were not necessarily good family members. They were more likely to be libertines who were engaged in green trade.
Not to mention that even if there were nominally good family members, there were already very few in the army of the Later Han Dynasty.
Most of them are composed of "lazy children of merchants" and "people who are dull in the countryside".
Although there is a multiplication system, it does not talk about military formations. It is not concise, and it hopes to watch more troops. It does not live up to its name and is difficult to prepare for emergencies.
After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it was difficult to find even nominally good sons.
Cao Cao is indeed good at using his troops, but judging from the repeated massacres of cities, the establishment of many military lieutenants and colonels to supervise the army, and the use of harsh laws and severe punishments to force the soldiers, some aspects of the army may not be satisfactory.
For example, as soon as Cao Cao died, the Qingzhou army immediately beat drums in public, swaggered across the street, and led him away, without even paying attention to Cao Pi.
The difference in military discipline is evident.
Sima Yi has been fighting for decades, and it is not like he has never seen an army of soldiers who sacrifice their lives and fight to the death without retreating.
But those soldiers are all the soldiers who are treated most favorably by the commander.
It is rare for the whole army to be uniform like this.
What concerns Sima Yi most is:
Among the generals of the Han army, Wang Ping did not have much sense of existence at all, and he could even be said to be unknown.
It is even more rare that the soldiers under his command are so elite.
It's just obvious that no matter what the final outcome of this battle at Otaniguchi is, he will become famous.
Seeing that it was crumbling, but it was the last piece of high ground that was still standing, Sima Yi let out a breath:
“Send them back.”
With the sound of gold ringing, the Wei army at the front line retreated from the high ground in embarrassment once again as if they heard the fairy music.
"Tai Tuo, please ask me to personally lead the elite troops to defeat this thief for the army!"
The generals around Sima Yi were unwilling to fight and asked for a fight one after another.
Obviously it was the Western thieves who seemed to be able to break through the formation with the last charge, but they were forced to charge up again and again, and then retreat again and again.
Many people are already filled with anger.
“It can definitely be broken, but it’s not certain when it will be broken.”
Sima Yi stared at the Han army flag still flying, expressionless, not knowing what he was thinking:
"The defensive strength of the thieves is much higher than that of the previous few days. If we can repel the thieves on the hills on both sides of the valley entrance, it is because they did not have time to prepare."
"Then I suspect that the fact that we were able to break through the traitor's outer camp so quickly was because the enemy general did it intentionally."
Hearing what the Taifu said, the generals of the Wei army couldn't help but look at each other.
Someone had the courage and reminded:
“Taifu, it took a lot of effort for the soldiers to attack the bandits’ camp…”
“How does it compare to what’s before you?”
Sima Yi raised his finger and pointed in the direction of Wang Ping, "If the rebel army had been so tightly defended from the beginning, could you have attacked so quickly?"
The generals were a little stunned.
After a while, someone asked cautiously:
“That Taifu means…”
“The thief is showing weakness and wants to drag us here!”
Sima Yi said word by word, "They are stalling for Jinyang City!"
Speaking of this, Sima Yi's face has become a little gloomy:
“We don’t have much time left.”
"But Taifu," the people below still couldn't believe it, "If this is really the case, then wouldn't this army of thieves have the intention of being destroyed together from the very beginning?"
is it possible?
Sima Yi shook his head:
"You don't need the whole army, just the general and the generals below are enough."
As for those soldiers, with the commander making up his mind and the general taking the lead, in the current crisis, is there still a chance to escape?
After Sima Yi finished speaking, his face became more and more gloomy.
After easily breaking through the Huguan Pass and joining the Shangdang Party, people from all over the country fell in love with the situation, and the situation was great, even I, unintentionally, developed a feeling of contempt that I shouldn't have.
Wang Ping is most likely an important figure specially arranged by Feng Yong in Bingzhou.
Sima Yi took a deep breath:
"Leave three thousand men and keep an eye on them. The rest, follow me around and attack Jinyang!"
"But Taifu, there are three thousand people, I'm afraid I can't watch them."
"I have observed that the number of Han soldiers who can fight today is no more than two thousand, and many of them are injured."
Sima Yi turned his head and looked at the generals with bright eyes:
"There is no need to surround them, as long as they do not affect the army and continue to move forward."
Here at Dagukou, a lot of water flows out of the mountains. Wang Ping naturally chose a place to set up camp to ensure the convenience of getting water.
If you want to completely surround this Han army and force them to be unable to fight anymore, it will take at least three to five days.
But after Sima Yi had an insight into Wang Ping's plan, he immediately understood:
Time is running out!
Based on Feng Mingwen’s past combat style and the lessons Sima Yi himself learned from the Han army’s cavalry.
He was certain that the Han army must take advantage of the cavalry to come for reinforcements.
From Chang'an to Taiyuan, the distance is no less than about 1,500 miles.
In addition, the transmission of battle reports also takes a certain amount of time.
But the time left to himself, at most, will not exceed half a month—Sima Yi believes that Feng Yong has this ability.
Because Sima Yi himself had done a quick journey of 1,200 miles in eight days.
Measure others by yourself and show mercy to the enemy. Half a month is the most limited time Sima Yi has left for himself.
For him, this Han army has already consumed too much of his time.
After thinking about this, Sima Yi made a quick decision and decided to immediately give up his plan to continue to entangle with Wang Ping here.
“Now, immediately, send out scouts to find out about Jinyang City!”
“Here!”
ˆPS:
It’s snowing in the northwest, and it’s heavy snow. There’s wind and snow all over the sky, but I don’t feel cold.
It is said that if you drink ice for ten years, it will be difficult to cool your hot blood.
Have I struggled on this land for more than ten years?
But looking at the pot of porridge that was about to burn, I felt very cold, very cold.
I really want to cry.
I'm sorry, I shouldn't be like this, but I broke my guard.
Because there are too many things during this period, I am exhausted physically and mentally, so please forgive me, readers.
I solemnly promise that although I cannot maintain the speed, I will definitely finish writing this book seriously.
(End of this chapter)