12dz Chapter 302 Bad Premonition
Chapter 302 Bad Premonition
Chapter 302 Bad Premonition
After noon.
Cao Cao led his army and launched a fierce attack on Huixiaguan.
This time, Cao Cao had no intention of testing the enemy at all. His army poured down, and all kinds of siege equipment were piled up, as if he would not give up until he broke through Xiaguan.
Cao Cao even personally supervised the battle and confronted the people returning to Xiaguan from a distance.
"kill!"
Xiahou Dun charged forward, waving his spear and roaring.
Cao's army surged like a tide, attacking the small Huixia Pass.
When they returned to Xiaguan, not only Hua Xiong, Zhang Ji, Guo Si, Li Ru and others had appeared. Facing the fierce attack of Cao's army, they did not dare to be careless at all, which was very different from their previous calmness.
The battle lasted from noon to dusk, and Cao's army finally called off the attack.
Cao Cao looked back at Xiaguan and returned to the big tent.
While he was discussing with Guo Jia and others, Xiahou Dun walked in and said, "General, three thousand dead and five thousand wounded."
Cao Cao had a blank expression on his face. He had expected this, but he still glanced at Guo Jia subconsciously.
This is only the first day, and the number of casualties makes him sad.
The others had different expressions, and the silence in the hall was somewhat depressing.
Guo Jia understood what was going on, and said to everyone present with a smile: "Don't worry, Miaocai may arrive tomorrow. He said in his letter that he will bring a lot of good things."
With Guo Jia's help, everyone looked a little better.
Yang Xiu suddenly responded, "Military Advisor, if Dong Zhuo suddenly goes south to Jingzhou, and Liu Biao of Jingzhou is not in Changsha now, the cities are almost deserted, how should we respond?"
"That's a dead end!"
Cao Cao sat upright and dignified, and then said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow morning, continue the siege. I don't want Dong Zhuo to leave and return to Xiaguan!"
Everyone already knew Cao Cao’s strategy—to trap Dong Zhuo to death!
"I obey your command!" Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and other generals responded loudly.
Cao Cao nodded, and then asked Le Jin, "Have the spies around reported anything?"
Le Jin said: "So far, no signs of Dong Jun have been found. It seems that Dong Jun is all returning to Xiaguan."
Cao Cao immediately shouted: "Keep investigating, send more spies, the small return to Xiaguan can't accommodate so many people!"
"Yes, sir!" Le Jin responded and turned to leave.
Guo Jia drank his strong tea, looking thoughtful.
What Cao Cao said was correct. In addition, Cao Cao's appearance in Huixiaguan must have some plan. What was it?
Without figuring this out, Guo Jia always felt somewhat uneasy.
"Report!"
A loud shout was heard outside the door, and then a soldier came in quickly, knelt on one knee, and said happily: "General, Xiahou Sima has arrived."
"Miaocai has arrived?"
Cao Cao slammed the table and rushed out without caring about anything else.
Naturally, everyone followed and left the tent.
Not long after walking out, they saw the plump and pale Xiahou Yuan riding a horse, followed by hundreds of soldiers.
"Wonderful talent!"
Cao Cao walked quickly forward and shouted loudly.
Seeing this, Xiahou Yuan dismounted somewhat uncomfortably, strode over, raised his hand and said, "General Xiahou Yuan, I pay my respects..."
Cao Cao helped him over and said, "No need to worry, let me see!"
He looked Xiahou Yuan up and down, patted his stomach, and laughed, "Miaocai, how much weight have you gained?"
Xiahou Yuan also looked at Cao Cao and said, "There was nothing else to do in prison except that you sent so many delicious foods and drinks every day. I ate well, slept well, and gained 40 kilograms..."
"Hahaha,"
Cao Cao laughed, took his hand and said, "Let's go! Zixiao, pass the order, a truce for one day. I will not return until Miaocai and I are drunk today!"
Cao Ren was stunned when he heard this. Before he could say anything, Xiahou Yuan hurriedly said, "Meng De, no, no, you can't let me mess up your plans. Just have a drink!"
Cao Cao ignored him and pulled him towards the big tent.
Seeing that he could not persuade Cao Cao, Xiahou Yuan was grateful and said quickly, "General, I have brought many things with me. Please check them first."
Cao Cao tried to pull him, but found that he couldn't pull him, so he stopped and said, "What is more important than our reminiscence? Let's go, drink three bowls of his wine first!"
Xiahou Yuan smiled and said, "You must be happy after reading it. Come and have a look first."
As he spoke, Xiahou Yuan pulled Cao Cao back and walked towards the things he brought.
Guo Jia, Xiahou Dun and others were curious and followed.
Xiahou Yuan brought hundreds of people and thirty carts and horse-drawn carriages, which were full of things but covered with canvas, so no one knew what they were.
Cao Cao patted a box and said, "Miaocai, you brought so many things, and you came so quickly?"
Xiahou Yuan was beside him, and ordered the soldiers to untie the ropes, saying, "The Supreme Court reduced my sentence and released me ten days earlier, so I came early."
Cao Cao was startled and looked back at Yang Xiu.
Yang Xiu didn't know what to say.
The current Chief Justice is the only person recognized as a member of the Yang Party and also Yang Xiu’s teacher—Wang Lang.
Wang Lang released Xiahou Yuan ten days in advance, which was not against the law and also did Cao Cao a favor.
Cao Cao and Yang Xiu smiled and nodded, but when they turned around, they were stunned.
When the canvas was opened, the carriages were filled with weapons, armor, swords, spears, bows and crossbows, arrows, almost everything.
Seeing Cao Cao's expression, Xiahou Yuan smiled with satisfaction, stretched out his hand and pulled out a crossbow, saying: "General, these are specially approved for you by Minister Huangfu, who asked me to bring them. They are all made by the smallest craftsman in the arsenal. I have checked them. The armor is lighter and stronger, the swords are sharper, especially the crossbow..."
As he said that, Xiahou Yuan tried to pull it, but found that he could only pull it halfway.
He withdrew his hand somewhat angrily and said, "I can't pull it."
Cao Cao was still thinking about 'Minister Huangfu' when he took the crossbow. He found that he couldn't pull it open even though he tried his best and his face turned pale.
Cao Ren, Xiahou Dun and others couldn't help but show surprise on their faces when they saw this.
You know, although Cao Cao loved reading, he was also a military general. Although his martial arts were not as good as theirs, he rarely failed to pull a bow.
At this time, a military officer stepped forward, raised his hand and said with a smile: "General Yangwei, this is not for the archers, they must be equipped with this."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to indicate a very sturdy tool on the carriage - a pure wooden structure, similar to a horizontal crossbow, but with four slots, and it seemed to be folded at the bottom.
Cao Cao thought about the reason why Xiahou Yuan brought these things, and nodded calmly, "Try it."
The military commander responded and ordered his men to move it down, prop it up on the ground, and aim the slot at a large rock a hundred feet away.
Everyone watched curiously and saw something like a triangular table. A soldier took the arrow, put it into the slot, and then pulled the bowstring.
shhhhhh
Four arrows were shot at the same time.
In the blink of an eye, it hit a large rock in the distance, and the sound could still be heard faintly.
Cao Cao opened his eyes slightly, tiptoed to look, and seemed to see an arrow stuck in the crevice of the stone!
"Good bow!"
Cao Cao's eyes lit up as he stared at the crossbow in front of him and couldn't help but reach out to touch it.
Xiahou Yuan said, "General, there are a total of 100 sets. General Huangfu said that after the summer harvest, when the military department has money and food, we can make more."
Cao Cao nodded repeatedly, his mind already wandering to using these to deal with Dong Zhuo.
Xiahou Yuan took Cao Cao to inspect the many weapons he brought until dark.
Everyone gathered in Cao Cao's tent and talked about the past with both tenderness and heroism. The tent was filled with a joyful atmosphere of reunion after a long separation.
That night, Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan slept side by side. They talked until dawn, but were still wide awake.
Perhaps it was because of Xiahou Yuan's arrival that the morale of Cao's army was high. After having dinner in the morning, they launched another fierce attack at noon.
The small Huixiaguan was shaking and trembling.
The battle lasted from morning to noon. Cao Ren withdrew and was replaced by Xiahou Dun. After another hour after noon, Le Jin and Xiahou Yuan took his place.
After fighting for a whole day, Xiaguan was not captured. Rivers of blood flowed inside and outside the pass, and corpses piled up like mountains.
Both armies were extremely exhausted from the fighting, and only when the sun set did they slowly withdraw their troops.
The setting sun was blood-red, and the shouts and cries of killing gradually faded away.
When he returned to Xiaguan and looked at the retreating Cao army, he felt fear for the first time.
Cao's army was too fierce, attacking without regard for life and death. At least tens of thousands of people were lost in that day!
This fierce attack and defense is the most terrifying.
Jia Xu, dressed in white, appeared in an arrow pavilion, carefully avoiding the blood on the ground, and then leisurely walked to a high place, overlooking the Cao army camp.
Guo Si's face was filled with worry. He said, "Military Advisor, has Cao Cao gone mad? If we continue to fight like this, all his soldiers will die!"
Jia Xu was silent, as if he was thinking about something.
Guo Si waited for a while, but couldn't help but continue to ask: "Military Advisor, can it really be done?"
Jia Xu stared at the Cao army camp and said calmly, "I used to think that Cao Cao was just a reckless man, but now I see that he is surrounded by people, both civil and military. It is indeed a good strategy to force our way back to Xiaguan. If we continue to delay like this, we will have no choice but to die."
Guo Si's face changed slightly. He glanced around and stepped forward and whispered, "Military Advisor, Lord Dong, are you really going to lead us back to Xiliang?"
Jia Xu frowned slightly, his eyes flashed with annoyance, and asked: "Can you persuade Mr. Dong?"
Guo Si looked suspicious for a moment, and then he sighed and said, "How can we escape from Cao Cao's fierce attack?"
Jia Xu did not say anything, but just looked at Cao Cao's camp quietly.
Cao Cao was able to attack back to Xiaguan at all costs. I am afraid that there are few people in the world who have such determination and courage.
Because even if Cao Cao captured Huixiaguan, he would not gain much benefit as their forces were equal and it would be impossible for him to kill Dong Zhuo.
If you can't break through, then it will be futile.
Regardless of success or failure, at least half of Cao Cao's 50,000 troops were lost.
These are not random soldiers, they are elite soldiers trained by Cao Cao for many years. If it were someone else, who would have the courage to do this after considering their own interests?
Although Jia Xu's expression remained unchanged, Guo Si still felt that he was worried and hiding something.
He had always doubted Dong Zhuo's plan of "returning home", which was too risky. Although his men were homesick, to go from Yuzhou to Xiliang, they had to pass through Sili, the core area of the imperial court.
This is simply a way to die!
They tried their best to persuade Dong Zhuo, but he refused to listen and was determined to fight back.
Jia Xu remained silent, which made Guo Si and others suspect that it was he who gave Dong Zhuo the strategy.
At this time, footsteps were heard, and Li Ru came hurriedly, looked at the two people and said, "Have you seen Hua Zhonglang Jiang? I have something urgent to discuss with him."
Guo Si was startled, then he remembered that he had not seen Hua Xiong from last night until now.
Li Ru knew what happened when he saw the expressions of the two men. He glanced at Jia Xu, coughed, walked towards Guo Si, and said, "General Guo, what do you think of what happened today?"
Guo Si understood immediately and said calmly, "I think Cao Cao is determined to break through and return to Xiaguan. I wonder what Li Junshi thinks, should we defend or retreat?"
Li Ru sighed and said, "It is definitely impossible to defend. Yuan Shu should have been wiped out by the imperial court. Once the troops from all over the place return, we will be surrounded."
Guo Si nodded and said, "Return to Xiang County?"
Li Ru shook his head and said, "We should go to Xuzhou and join forces with Lu Bu. It will be the summer harvest time, and the southern princes will be exhausted and lack food and grass. It is a good opportunity to go south and take over half of the country!"
Guo Si's expression changed, and he asked, "Military Advisor Li, have you submitted this to Lord Dong?"
"Mr. Dong said he would consider it." Li Ru said.
Jia Xu listened to the two people singing in unison, but it seemed like a passing wind. He said motionlessly: "At this time, there is only one way to go to the end."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Guo Si and Li Ru watched his back, both with slightly cold expressions.
They all realized that Jia Xu and Dong Zhuo must have other plans, but they kept it secret from everyone else.
Guo Si and Li Ru looked at each other. They seemed to have something to say, but were hesitant. They smiled and left.
On the other hand, although Cao's army suffered heavy losses, they were relatively optimistic.
In an open space, Xiahou Yuan was waving his spear and practicing with a humming voice.
He had been locked up for many years and had been well fed and well-fed, so he was really too fat. Soon he was sweating all over and gasping for breath, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered.
Cao Cao was standing aside, eating mutton, drinking wine, with a smile on his face, looking very comfortable.
Cao Ren and Cao Cao grew up together and knew his bad taste. After waiting for a while, he whispered beside him: "General, nearly ten thousand people were killed today."
Cao Cao nodded calmly, his narrow eyes flickering coldly, and said, "Have you noticed that there seems to be some relaxation in the return to Xiaguan today?"
Cao Ren thought about it carefully and said, "I haven't found it yet."
Cao Cao turned his head and looked at Guo Jia, who was holding a teapot not far away and looking at Xiahou Yuan sadly, and said, "Fengxiao, what do you think?"
Guo Jia was craving for alcohol, and the strong tea could not suppress it. His face was pale and his spirit was weak. He said in an erratic tone: "We have to ask Commandant Le about this."
Le Jin happened to be walking over from not far away. Hearing the voice, he asked, "Military Advisor, what do you want to ask me?"
Cao Cao took over the conversation and asked, "Did the spies report anything?"
Le Jin stepped forward, raised his hand and said, "No. I went out and looked around myself, and apart from the rain, there was no sign of the army moving."
Wherever the army passes, it will inevitably leave serious traces that are difficult to erase!
Cao Cao frowned slightly and said to himself: "How strange..."
He believed in his own judgment. Today, the situation at Xiaguan was indeed relaxed, as if there were fewer soldiers guarding the pass.
But the spies we sent out found no trace. Could it be that the missing soldiers just disappeared out of thin air?
Cao Cao thought for a while, looked up at the sky and said, "Is it going to rain again?"
Le Jin sat down next to Cao Ren and leaned over to say, "General, I have asked the farmers around us and found out that this period of time is the most rainy."
Cao Cao couldn't figure it out, so he took the wine pot, walked towards Guo Jia, and said, "Feng Xiao, I think there is something wrong."
Guo Jia looked at the wine jug handed over by Cao Cao, his throat moved, but he still stretched out his hand to push it away, saying: "General, don't forget, we don't know why Dong Zhuo came back to Xiaguan, and what he did before coming here."
Cao Cao's eyes were unusually calm. He thought for a long time and said, "Feng Xiao means Dong Zhuo is going to take action?"
Guo Jia stood up, looking serious, and looked back to Xiaguan, his eyes flickering in an obscure way, and said: "It may not be that there are fewer soldiers inside the pass. Perhaps, there are soldiers hiding outside, hiding outside the range of our spies!"
Cao Cao's expression suddenly changed, and he suddenly shouted to Le Jin: "Le Jin, send more spies to expand the area by 20 miles and find out everything for me!"
"Especially in the north." Guo Jia added.
Le Jin was startled and quickly stood up and left as ordered.
Cao Cao and Guo Jia looked at each other, and for some reason, they both had a bad feeling in their hearts.