Farmer of Shu Han

When Feng Da Sima inspected the Weishui River this summer to meet with his old troops, he asked about the Tongjun Mansion.

Among the problems raised by the old ministry, the most prominent one is the shortage of teaching staff.

At that time, Feng Da Sima replied, "Next year there should be a group of soldiers who have retired from the army."

This sentence actually indicates one thing:

Feng was already prepared to make heavy sacrifices in this battle.

This is not unfounded worry, but a face to reality.

Frankly speaking, Ji Han's current domestic economic system and military system can be said to have crushed Wei and Wu.

But it is still a feudal society. At best, it can only be regarded as a feudal society with the rapid development of manual workshops and the possibility of giving birth to the germination of capitalism at any time.

The two most representative industries of handicraft workshops - metallurgy and textile industry - have both achieved great development in Jihan.

For example, in the metallurgical industry, Wei and Wu still regarded steel-making as a treasure, but Ji Han's could already use water power to forge steel at will.

Wei and Wu were still using charcoal as fuel, or coal, but Ji Han had long been using coke.

Not to mention the textile industry.

It is said that it may give birth to the seeds of capitalism at any time, precisely because of the rapid development of the textile industry.

Throughout later history, most of the emergence of state capitalism basically started with the textile industry.

But these are only possibilities.

The upper limit of feudal society is there. Ji Han, who is still in feudal society, no matter how strong the logistics support system is, cannot exceed its limit.

Therefore, Feng Dashima did not dare to be optimistic about sending troops in the middle of winter this time. It was necessary to be mentally prepared for a large number of casualties.

When Emperor Gao was fighting against Mao Dun in Taiyuan, due to lack of preparation, the officers and soldiers in the army suffered "two or three broken fingers" in the cold winter.

What is this concept?

One-fifth or even one-third of the soldiers lost their fingers due to freezing.

Now that Feng Da Sima is personally leading the army to defeat the thieves, it is naturally impossible for this situation to happen.

So be cautious.

So Feng Da Sima told Wang Ping, one of his four minions: Be cautious.

Wang Ping can be said to be one of the first people to follow Feng. He has been bound to Feng since he was rubbed around by the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty.

Even General Zhendong was later than him.

As one of the five members of the Four Minions, Wang Ping deeply understood Feng Da Sima's spirit.

So they first set up camps around the entrance of the valley entering Jingxing, and were prepared for a long-term attack, without seeking a quick victory.

As the best pass among the eight passes of Taihang, it is the only one that can pass carriages and horses. Although the mountain is blocked by heavy snow, if someone is determined to cross it without fear of death, it may not be impossible.

Setting up a camp at the entrance of the valley can also prevent the dead soldiers from sending news back to Yecheng through Jingxing.

Jingxing was where Sima Yi focused his attention in this battle.

After many scouts froze to death or fell off the cliff, the news to the west of Jingxing finally reached Sima Yi's ears.

Does Feng Thief really want to attack Jingxing?

This was something that was expected, but Sima Yi always felt uneasy.

Feng Thief is extremely cunning and likes to win by surprise. Since he came out of the mountain, he has never behaved according to the rules.

Now everything about this thief is expected and reasonable, but it makes people a little uneasy.

What is Thief Feng’s true intention?

Alas, it would be great if Zhuge Liang was still here.

Ge thieves are not good at tricks and like to do dignified things.

If he were in Jinyang, he might not have to think about his opponent's intentions so much.

"Thief Feng, Thief Feng, Thief Feng..."

Sima Yi kept mumbling and was puzzled, so he summoned Tuoba Xulu and asked, "I asked you to send someone out of the fortress to report the news back to the tribe. When will it be delivered?"

Originally Tuoba Xulu was still a little in awe of Sima Yi.

I just didn't expect that as soon as the Han army made some movement, Sima Yi would suddenly turn into a mentally ill old man, talking all day long and not knowing what he was talking about.

Now the Han army has just begun to march to attack the key points, and it looks like this.

If they really cross the Taihang Mountains and enter Hebei, are you sure they won't be frightened and flee in panic?

Looking at the disheveled, haggard and worried old man in front of him, Tuoba Xilu's awe disappeared unconsciously.

Instead, there was doubt.

Nanxia Taifu?

Lord of Hebei?

That's it?

Okay ah?

At this time, he even doubted whether it was a mistake for the Lord to form an alliance with Sima Yi.

If our tribe can have a population as large as that of Hebei, as well as such a large amount of food and weapons, not to mention defending by the Taihang Mountains, it is impossible to say that the Taihang Mountains are still an obstacle that prevents Tuoba Xianbei from sweeping the Han army.

If that is the case, Da Xianbei can rise again and become the true master of the grassland, and even complete the unfinished business of Lord Tan Shihuai.

It took hundreds of years for the Han family to train the Huns as watchdogs.

But now we are only a few decades away from the Tanshihuai era, when the emperor of the Han Dynasty was forced to send his relatives to seek peace but failed.

Although King Feng Gui expelled Xianbei from the west, killed Ke Bineng, and subdued Bu Dugen, it can almost be said that he broke the bones of the Xianbei people.

But it still takes time to make the Xianbei people, like the Huns, transform into the shape of a big man from the outside in, from the body to the heart.

So when Tuoba Xulu saw Taifu Sima looking like this, his wolfish nature quietly emerged.

The habit of eating the weak and the strong on the grassland even made Tuoba Xilu couldn't help but feel a little contempt:

"Master Taifu, it is the middle of winter now, with heavy snow covering the ground, and cities all over the southern summer. As long as we can find the way, we are naturally not afraid of losing our way."

"But the grassland is different. After leaving the fortress, there are no roads, let alone a city. At this time, there is snow everywhere, and it is difficult to even distinguish the direction."

"Don't say that only a few people are sent to deliver the letter. Even if a hundred people are sent, they may not be able to deliver the letter to the tribe."

It's easy to say that I can't find the way.

If you continue to walk in the snow for a long time, your eyelids will become red and swollen, your eyes will feel like they are filled with sand, you will shed tears, the pain will be unbearable, and you will not even be able to see clearly.

Moreover, on the grassland at this time, both humans and animals were suffering from hunger and cold.

There is no difference between humans and animals who are shivering with cold and whose eyes are green from hunger.

When encountering a team that is alone or has a small number of people, they will first ask you where you are from?

I just want to swallow it in one gulp!

"The person sent by the villain to deliver the message is waiting at the pass. As soon as the snow melts, he will leave the fortress immediately and return to the tribe to report the message."

"Why haven't you left the fortress yet?" Sima Yi frowned, and the wrinkles were so deep that they could trap mosquitoes. "Can't you think of a way to leave early?"

"Master Sima, you are not a grassland person, so you don't know how difficult it is on the grassland at this time." Tuoba Xilu shook his head and sighed, "Really speaking, walking on the grassland at this time is probably not much easier than crossing the Taihang Mountains."

Sima Yi couldn't help but "tsk" when he heard Tuoba Xilu's evasive words, even though he was so scheming.

I almost cursed him as a "short-sighted and ignorant idiot".

I am now in my sixties, almost seventy!

How many people in this world can live to be seventy years old?

I have eaten more salt than you have eaten millet.

After the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the early years, barbarians spread all over Hebei. From Taiyuan to Hanoi, which aristocratic family had not dealt with those barbarians?

What do you think those so many Uburgers are for?

Do you know what the situation is like on the grassland in winter?

Still need you to tell me?

One person can't send a message across the border, but two can't?

If two are not enough, why not send three?

Not three, not four, five, six, seven or eight?

We are really short of manpower, tell me!

Could it be that I will just sit back and ignore it?

I don’t believe it. With the power you Tuoba Xianbei have on the grassland, there will be tribes that dare to specifically intercept and kill your messengers.

At first I thought Tuoba Liwei could be considered a figure, and he had a good eye.

Why did you give birth to such a visionless son?

Moreover, he was sent to Yecheng to disgust himself.

At the critical moment of life and death, those few people who are reluctant to die are waiting for the entire clan to be wiped out? Or are you waiting to work as a laborer for someone Feng?

Although he didn't know what the situation was in the west of Taihang Mountain, Sima Taifu was almost certain that there were definitely Han troops stationed in Pingcheng at this time, waiting for opportunities at any time.

If it were him, he would make the same choice.

Taking advantage of the heavy snow that blocked the communication between the grassland and Hebei, we used the Han army's elite cavalry to create a time lag.

Just wait for the snow to melt slightly, and as soon as there is an opportunity, they will sweep through the northern pass as quickly as possible.

With the speed of the Han cavalry, once Tuoba Liwei gets the news and gathers his troops, the Han army will probably be able to attack all the passes in the north in turn!

When Feng sent out troops in the winter, he had just one idea: he wanted to defeat them one by one as quickly as possible.

On the other hand, the alliance between Hebei and Tuoba Xianbei probably put pressure on Feng to make him make this choice.

Thinking of the speed of "Hedong Yihu" Guan's cavalry when he swept through Bingzhou Hedong, Sima Yi felt a panic in his heart.

The grassland north of Youzhou in Jizhou is far more suitable for cavalry warfare than Bingzhou!

He didn't want to taste the feeling of being stabbed in the back again.

"Then send more people, send more times, and you will always get it."

For the safety of his back, Sima Yi cursed secretly in his heart, but his face looked like he was thinking about the other person:

"Mr. Tuoba, I'm not just worried about Thief Feng, I'm worried about Liaodong!"

Sure enough, when Tuoba Xulu heard the word "Liaodong", his attention was immediately attracted.

There is no way, Liaodong is the territory that Taifu Sima promised to his tribe.

Although your Excellency has led the tribe to establish a foothold in Changchuan for more than 20 years, he now leads Tuoba Xianbei and has more than 100,000 people who control the strings.

But it's almost the limit.

Because it is too cold in the north and there is not enough food.

If the tribe wanted to grow stronger, they would either go west and compete with Han.

Either go east and capture Liaodong.

It would be best if we could go west, because there is Henan Land (ie Hetao), which is simply a treasure land given to the grassland tribes by God.

But the Han Dynasty was too strong, especially Feng Wenshen, who drove away the Xianbei in the west and massacred the Xianbei in the center.

Even Ke Bineng ended up dead.

Tuoba Xianbei can't even compete with Ke Bineng now, so how can he compete with Han?

So we can only settle for the next best thing.

Although Liaodong is not as good as Henan, it is at least much better than Beichuan.

Not only are there people there, but there is also land to grow food.

With Liaodong, Tuoba Xianbei can at least raise twice as many warriors as now.

only……

Tuoba Xulu looked at Taifu Sima with some suspicion:

"Master Taifu, what does Han's dispatch of troops this time have to do with Liaodong?"

Liaodong is separated from the Han Kingdom by Jizhou and Youzhou!

It can't be said that the Han Kingdom wants to cross Youzhou and Jizhou to attack Liaodong this time, right?

"The Han Kingdom is indeed aiming at Hebei this time, but Mr. Tuoba should not forget that the Han Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom in the south are allies."

Sima Taifu said in a deep voice, "And the Gongsun clan of Liaodong has always been fickle, paying tribute to the Wei Kingdom and colluding with the Wu Kingdom from time to time."

A few years ago, Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong took advantage of the death of the previous emperor and the unrest in the country to establish himself as the King of Yan and set up officials.

He also sent envoys with seals and seals to the Xianbei Buyao and other tribes, enfeoffed the border people, and lured them to invade the north.

After explaining the relationship between the Gongsun clan of Liaodong and the Wu Kingdom, Sima Taifu glanced at Tuoba Xilu:

"As far as I know, before the Han Kingdom sent troops, the Wu bandit leader Sun Quan had already summoned a large army in Jianye."

Speaking of this, Sima Taifu paused, as if he wanted Tuoba Xilu to have time to digest the news.

Tuoba Xilu was indeed tricked, and the look on his face suddenly became a little bad:

"Master Taifu, are you saying that the Wu people will collude with the Gongsun clan of Liaodong and attack the Wei Kingdom together with the Han Kingdom?"

Tuoba Xilu actually knew about the Gongsun clan of Liaodong.

Because Gongsun Yuan had sent people with gifts to find his tribe, begging Master to send troops south to invade Nanxia.

After all, Tuoba Xianbei was the largest tribe on the grassland after Kebi Neng, and it was located in the north of Youzhou, so Gongsun Yuan could not have not heard of it.

However, Master saw that the Xiongnu and Tadun were greedy for money and looted the border people. Although they gained something, their casualties were not enough to make up for it, and they also attracted enemies and the people suffered. He felt sorry for it.

So he naturally rejected Gongsun Yuan's request.

When Master Sima saw Tuoba Xilu's expression, he felt contempt in his heart:

He is really a short-sighted and foolish person, and he deserves to be trapped on the grassland for generations and freeze to death and starve to death.

A sincere look appeared on his face:

"This is obvious. Think about it, Mr. Tuoba. If the Han Kingdom comes from the west and joins forces with Gongsun in the north."

"The Wu Kingdom has the advantage of ships. In addition to attacking from the south, it can also send ships to harass the coastal areas of Shandong."

"By then, Wei will be surrounded by enemies on all sides. The only one we can rely on is Tuoba Xianbei."

"If your lords don't know how dangerous the situation is and are not well prepared, once they are too late to rescue, once Youzhou is lost, your lords will be How can I seize Liaodong from the combined forces of the Han Kingdom and the Gongsun clan by myself? "

Tuoba Xilu was startled, and quickly stood up and saluted Sima Taifu:

"If it weren't for the reminder of the Taifu, I would have almost missed the big thing. I will send someone to the pass immediately to urge the messenger to set off. "

Taifu Sima took the opportunity to say:

"The grassland is covered with snow and the roads are blocked. If Tuoba Langjun is short of manpower, I can also send people to escort him. "

It's okay in summer. If you send someone out of the pass, you can always find where Tuoba Liwei is.

But in winter, if there is no one to lead the way, who knows where Tuoba Liwei is hiding from the wind and snow, or in which water to break ice and catch fish and shrimp?

Tuoba Xilu hesitated for a moment when he heard this, and finally nodded:

"Then I will thank you, Taifu. "

He never thought about sending a letter out of the pass in winter. He was not prepared, and the manpower under his command might not be enough.