Chapter 915 Zhang Fei Cuts Off the Queen
After some discussion, Cao Zhen and Han Hao unanimously decided to send troops to pursue the Yuzhou Army. In fact, it was not only because Cao Xiu was angry with the enemy and shot and wounded Xiahou Dun, but more importantly, it was to recover more than 30,000 people who were kidnapped by the Yuzhou army.
There are more than 30,000 civilians, including about 5,000 to 6,000 young men aged over 16 and under 50. As long as these people wear armor and hold weapons, they can transform into soldiers. And these 30,000 people are used for farming, which is also a huge amount of productivity, and it must not be given up easily.
Among the princes in the world, only Cao Cao has the ability to compete with Liu Ye, but Cao Cao's strength is far inferior to Liu Ye. Liu Ye occupied Yong, Liang, Sili, Yi, Yan, Yu, Hebei, seven prefectures and one part of Jingzhou in Guanzhong (the local administrative system of the Han Dynasty was thirteen prefectures, one part was Sili Xiaowei) Ministry) with a population of more than 10 million, but under Cao Cao's rule there were only Xu, Qing, Yang and a small half of Jingzhou, and their strength was only half of Liu Ye's.
Therefore, these 30,000 people are very important. After all, the population under Cao Cao's rule was not as large as Liu Ye's. Losing these 30,000 people would be even more damaging.
Historically, the first thing Zhuge Liang had to do after his defeat in the Northern Expedition was to move the people under Cao Wei's rule to Hanzhong, because the population of Shu was too small.
Han Hao immediately ordered Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao and other four troops to enter the city, and then dismissed the 10,000 people brought by Cao Zhen. In addition to the 3,000 soldiers brought by Cao Zhen, there were still nearly 30,000 soldiers in the city. horse.
"In this case, how about dividing the army into two parts, with Han Hujun leading half to stay in Shouchun City, and X and General Zhu and Lu to pursue Liu Bei and recapture the abducted population?" Cao Zhen suggested.
"That's fine. But Zidan must be careful. Liu, Guan, and Zhang are not easy people." Han Hao warned.
Cao Zhen nodded and immediately gathered his troops. He led more than 13,000 soldiers and horses, and two generals, Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao, to pursue Liu Bei all the way west. Although Cao Zhen was young and had no more military rank than a captain, he was still a general of the Cao family clan. Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao had higher military positions than Cao Zhen, so naturally they could only obey Cao Zhen's command. However, although Cao Zhen was young, he was familiar with military books and was very good at marching and fighting. Therefore, Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao were also convinced.
In fact, despite Cao Cao's words of "approval based on talents", he once issued an order to recruit talents from poor families in the world, but in fact, he still used his own family members in important positions. For example, the commander-in-chief of Cao Wei's Western Front was Xia Houyuan. After Xia Houyuan was killed by the veteran Huang Zhong at Dingjun Mountain, Zhang Jaw temporarily took over as commander.
In the south, Cao Ren was guarding Wancheng, and Xiahou Dun was stationed in Huainan. After the Xiahou family and the Cao family died, the successors were still the Cao family. Cao Xiu served as the commander-in-chief of Cao Wei's eastern front, Cao Zhen succeeded him as the commander-in-chief of the western front, and Xiahou Shang served as the commander-in-chief of the southern front.
In the later period, the reason why the Cao family fell away from power in Wei and was eventually replaced by the Sima family had something to do with the decline of the Cao family's generals. It was precisely because Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, Xia Houshang and others died one after another that the people who controlled the military and political power became Cao Shuang, who was eventually plotted to usurp "Wei" by "Cao".
In fact, Emperor Wei Ming Cao Rui deliberately did not use Sima Yi because of this. Later, everyone in the Cao family died, so he had no choice but to ask Sima Yi to come out.
But now, Cao Ren, Xia Houyuan, Xiahou Dun and others are still alive, and Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, Xia Houshang and others are even younger. The Cao family is still full of talents.
Huai River.
Although a long time has passed since the earth-shattering Battle of the Huai River, red can still be seen faintly on the land on both sides of the Huai River. The blood-stained soil spreads a rotten smell of blood in the air, and from time to time Some animals can be seen tearing at the corpses of the dead, while the plants nourished by the corpses are growing rapidly.
Tap tap tap!
A shocking stamping sound suddenly came from the east avenue. A fox that was tearing away carrion was suddenly startled. He glanced to the east and saw an army of more than ten thousand people marching in densely. He couldn't help but be startled. , not daring to stay where he was, turned around and ran away with a large piece of rotten meat in his mouth.
"Captain Zhu, is the Huaihe River in front of us?"
Cao Zhen rode on his horse, looked forward from a distance, and said to Zhu Ling beside him.
Zhu Ling nodded: "Exactly, not long after crossing the Huai River, we will reach Xiacai City. After fifty miles of Xiacai, we will enter Runan County."
Cao Zhen hummed. He could already smell the smell of blood in the air. It didn't take long before he arrived at the bank of the Huai River. Seeing the scene in front of him, he recalled the tragedy of the previous battle in his mind. He didn't know how many of Cao's soldiers were buried there. this. Thinking of this, Cao Zhen couldn't help but sigh.
"Pass my order and quickly explore the upper reaches of the Huai River to see if any enemy forces have done anything." Cao Zhen ordered.
The battle of Huai River is ahead, so Cao Zhen cannot be cautious. If the enemy army imitates Han Xin and Xiahou Dun, blocks the river in the upper reaches, and takes advantage of Cao Zhen to lead his army to cross the river, digs up the upper reaches in one fell swoop, how can the more than 10,000 Cao troops survive?
Not long after, the spy reported back: "Report! Nothing happened upstream."
Cao Zhen nodded, waved and said: "The whole army crosses the river!"
More than 13,000 Cao Cao's troops immediately started erecting the pontoon bridge. After the pontoon bridge was erected, more than 13,000 Cao Cao's troops crossed the Huai River in a mighty manner. Cao Zhen himself did not cross the river first, but ordered Zhu Ling to lead 5,000 people across the river first, then he led 3,000 people to cross the river, and finally Lu Zhao led 5,000 rear troops to cross the river.
In the famous Battle of Weishui, Long Qie led 200,000 Chu kings to fight against Han Xin. Long Qie personally led the front army to cross the river. As soon as they crossed the river, Han Xin ordered people to dig out sandbags blocking the upper reaches. The flood surged and divided the Chu army. For two paragraphs.
Only a small number of Chu troops followed Long Qie across the river. Han Xin immediately ordered the Han army to attack fiercely, and finally killed Long Qie and defeated the Chu army.
Cao Zhen, who was cautious by nature, naturally could not make this mistake, so he ordered Zhu Ling to cross the river first, placed himself in the middle, and followed Lu Zhaodian behind. There was no big mistake in being careful.
After all 13,000 Cao troops crossed the river, Cao Zhen ordered all Cao troops to continue advancing.
More than 13,000 Cao Cao's troops hurried towards Xia Cai. Suddenly, on the path ahead, they saw a black-faced general like an iron tower, with a black horse on his crotch, an eight-point steel spear in his hand, a leopard head with eyes, and a beard. Like a steel needle, majestic.
"I am Zhang Fei from Yan. If Cao Jun's son doesn't get off his horse quickly, he will be captured!"
This loud shout was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky. Zhu Ling and a group of Cao Jun in the front row felt their eardrums hurt.
"Zhang Fei?"
Zhu Ling was stunned and immediately ordered: "Stop the whole army!"