Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3384 Power

Just as Cao Chun expected, Zhang He led the vanguard to the outside of Gubeikou Mountain.

Gubeikou.

The Hussars once occupied it, but the Gubeikou Pass was outside, and the entire pass system was originally built to defend the north, so even if the Hussars stayed to hold on, there would be many problems. Therefore, after Zhao Yun withdrew his troops, Gubeikou Pass Then it returned to Cao Jun's hands.

The twilight spread, and the desert that originally looked bright and yellow turned gray in the blink of an eye.

During the day and at night, the desert looks completely different.

In autumn, the desert can be called hot during the day, but it is freezing cold at night.

In order to prevent Cao Jun's scouts from noticing the arrival of the Hussars too early, Zhang He chose a relatively remote location, and it was in a low-lying area of ​​a meadow. This made it difficult for Cao Jun to spot the Hussars even if they were looking from a distance. Traces of the cavalry.

But if you get closer, there will be some trouble.

One is fireworks.

Horses are okay, people need to eat to some extent. Dry food and other things are reserved for emergencies, or called tactical reserves. If you can't eat the special dry food during normal times, you will not eat it, so it is inevitable that there will be some fireworks, which is obvious in places with vast land and sparsely populated areas.

The other is the smoke and dust of action.

It's easier to talk to a small number of people. Once a large group of people is dispatched, the smoke and dust will cover the sky. If the weather is clear, they will be discovered hundreds of miles away...

The solution is not impossible, but the effect is uncertain, and the key is that once Cao Jun forces troops in Gubeikou, it will cause some trouble.

Zhang He summoned the military academies of the cavalry branch overnight to discuss the attack on Gubeikou.

Zhang He did not create any ostentation. He just followed the custom in the desert and sat down around the campfire, warming himself and talking.

"As long as Gubeikou is captured, we will open the door to Yuyang!" 』

Zhang Sheng from the military academy said excitedly.

Zhang He nodded.

Zhang Sheng, well, there is no matchmaker.

If you think that Zhang Sheng is a white-faced scholar, handsome and handsome, you are wrong. This guy is a naturalized Hu, and now he is also called a preparatory Han. As long as he pays taxes on time within five years from the preparatory date and does not commit adultery If you commit various crimes such as criminal offenses, you can officially join the Han household registration and enjoy the same benefits and treatment as other Han people.

In the Northern Territory, if the Yinshan Mountains are excluded first, then it is basically the place with the most naturalized Hu.

Therefore, there is also a special department for the naturalization of Hu people in the northern region to coordinate and handle disputes between relevant Hu people and Han people. Some things are actually differences in perception, not who is right or wrong. In this process, a relatively fair handling agency and law enforcement personnel are very important.

For example, in terms of weight, the Hu people use Hu Jin, and the Han people use Han Jin. There is a difference between them, and everyone thinks they are right. At this time, adjustments and conversions are naturally needed. And fundamentally speaking, the reason why the Han people's Hanjin did not pass through the Hu land and became the only label for the Hu land was that the Han people's cultural erosion and civilization diffusion were not strong enough!

When such a situation arises, those who are officials or superiors should feel the pressure and be ashamed of it. The only way is to strive for excellence, instead of holding literary conferences, hosting banquets, inspecting and traveling, and learning foreign languages ​​​​all day long.

Another Hu military officer, Tuoba Shi, glanced at Zhang Sheng, raised his hands and said, "The Protector is resolute and decisive, commanding with determination, and using troops like a god. He is really admirable." Now that Yuyang City is just around the corner, the general will also achieve unparalleled achievements and build a lasting legacy. It is really wonderful, wonderful..."

Zhang Sheng, in turn, stared at Tuoba with disdain on his face.

Tuoba's expression was calm, as if the superficial flattery he just photographed was his daily habit.

Zhang He was noncommittal, his eyes still on the map, and he reached out and pointed at the Han Military Academy Gan Kai beside him, "Say." 』

Gan Feng is following Zhao Yun. Gan Kai is just an ordinary military academy, with the same surname as Gan Ning and Gan Feng.

Gan Kai was a veteran in the army, and he said a very practical question: "Gubeikou is not easy to fight." When we withdrew before, we set fire to it, but the mountains and stones couldn't be burned, and there was no shortage of trees here... So Cao Jun repaired the pass again. Although it couldn't compare with the previous one, it was still pretty good. Eight, if you really have to use someone to fill it in...it's not really worth it. My suggestion is, still use gunpowder. 』

"Gunpowder also has one...two problems. Han Gun, the Han military commander on the other side, said, "One is that we used gunpowder last time, so Cao Jun will definitely be prepared... The other question is what I just thought of. Gubeikou is a very suitable place for an ambush. If Cao Jun guesses We'll use gunpowder and set up an ambush, and that'll be trouble. So my idea is to explore other trails first to see if I can infiltrate some small troops. Whether it is to go around and invade, or to investigate and cooperate, it is all good... It is this interleaving team that cannot be done by elites. ...』

Zhang He nodded, "Yes, Cao Jun will definitely find a way to ambush us." 』

Zhang He clicked on the map.

"Here, here, and here..."

Zhang He had spent some time in Youzhou before, and he knew which areas were most vulnerable to ambushes.

Several military academies moved forward and memorized the location pointed out by Zhang He.

"Ah, these places are really dangerous..."

A military academy member lamented.

Zhang He nodded, "The main road at Gubeikou has passes, which is difficult to fight. The trail has no passes, but it is difficult to walk... Generally speaking, the trail is more dangerous. If you are not careful, you will be flanked by front and rear, and the whole army will be wiped out." without! Over the years, Cao Jun has known more or less what can and cannot be walked... Have you ever thought about why there are so many passages in Gubeikou, but only one is the main road? 』

The military academy who had just come up with the idea to take the narrow road said with some shame, "General, I, I was wrong, I didn't think carefully..."

Zhang He waved his hand, "I'm not criticizing you... but our strategy should not only be determined based on our situation, but also based on the enemy's situation!" It is better to prepare more but not use it than to encounter problems but not be prepared! 』

"Before, there were more than 10,000 Cao's troops in Youzhou, including more than 10,000 auxiliary troops," Zhang He said slowly, "but last time we defeated 7,788 of them. Now even if Cao Zihe mobilizes horses from Jizhou, ...Hmph, I’m afraid it’s not easy either. So the main thing is still the pass! After clearing the pass, Cao Zihe doesn't have much combat power to deal with us in Youzhou! 』

Several military academies looked at each other, "General, give the order!" 』

…

…

In fact, Zhang He's statement about the changes in Cao's soldiers may not be accurate, but one thing is right. Cao Chunzhen doesn't have many cavalry now. The cavalry he tried his best to preserve, plus the cavalry he tried his best to piece together, that is. Over four thousand. It seems like a lot, but to defend the entire Youzhou, it is still insufficient.

This is the consequence of short legs in the classical cold weapon era.

In the course of Chinese history, short legs or even broken legs have appeared again and again. No matter which feudal dynasty it is, those big bosses who are firmly in high positions in the court always suffer from short legs and even broken legs again and again. Choose the easiest way to deal with the problem...

Since it's injured, short, or broken, just cut it off.

He did not solve the problem when he took office, but left it to future generations. He also vowed to believe in the wisdom of future generations. He made a lot of money and ate so much that even the belt around his waist couldn't break, leaving a mess for future generations.

Future generations are facing bigger and bigger holes and more and more corruption. The top cannot lift the table, and the bottom cannot make it public. The left must maintain stability, and the right must ensure unity. Who dares to open it?

Isn’t it just like covering it up with paper?

If that doesn't work, just blind the people below and stop the mouths of the people below. If the problem cannot be solved, then deal with the person who discovered the problem.

As for the top, as long as the food and drink above are guaranteed, who would care about the diarrhea below? After all, the upper part of the mouth is popular for eating and drinking, but unfortunately, the one with hemorrhoids is the lower part of the anus.

Then when the aliens invaded in large numbers, there was a new round of crying and howling.

Youzhou was corrupted, and Cao Chun wanted to save it, but he was powerless and too busy to do anything.

Although Jizhou has people, horses and money, it is internally corrupted and is disturbed by Wei Yan. There is even more reason not to provide any support to Youzhou, but to blindly let Cao Chun of Youzhou use his subjective initiative. After all, as long as he thinks It’s not a slippery slope, there are always more solutions than difficulties.

Is Cao Chun’s solution...

He slapped his thigh fiercely and whined, "Please suffer the people one more time!" Now is the time to show their loyalty and patriotism! 』

Well, that's a really good idea.

Especially when these cows and horses are silent...

Regardless of how Cao Chun collected food, grass and soldiers' pay, among the dispatched Cao troops, compared with the relatively positive atmosphere in Zhang He's army, the non-commissioned officers of the Cao army who were out in the field were somewhat lifeless, even if they were Sitting around the campfire, they either said nothing or complained every time they spoke.

Most of them are "three-no people".

No money, no background, no connections.

Liu Da'er was originally a "three-no" person, but he succeeded in trying to defeat King Jing of Zhongshan. However, these Cao soldiers who arrived at Youzhou's military academy did not even have a chance to compete. Their surname is neither Liu nor Cao.

Of course, this is not a problem that only occurs with Cao Cao, but has existed for a long time.

In the land of Shandong, those soldiers who have some ability, whether it is human ability or financial ability, will show up after being recruited into the army, and then they will naturally get a relatively good evaluation, that is, Naturally, it can be assigned to big cities and prosperous places.

As for these "Three Nos", they either understand this matter, but can't bring anything to the table, or they don't understand it at all and only know how to train stupidly, so regardless of whether their grades are good or bad, they are all assigned to the frontier.

Those who have poor grades need to go to the frontier to strengthen their training, and look forward to the day when they will be refined into steel and return home with more merit!

If you have good grades, you need to go to the frontiers. The frontiers of the Han Dynasty are in urgent need of such talents. If you don't go to the frontiers, it will be unforgivable!

As for why other people can stay in big cities and be assigned to prosperous places, the clerk also said plausibly, "It all depends on the receiving unit. I have a receiving unit, so of course you can go. If you have any receiving unit, bring out the official letter." Ah, you can too! In our land of Shandong, we pay attention to fairness! 』

So these people came to the border.

If Cao Jun's investment in the frontier is better, then there is no problem. After all, if you are a soldier and eat, where can you not eat? But the question is... Which branch of the Cao army has the best treatment? When there are good things, should they be given to the frontiers first, or should they be given first to the central leading army and the central protecting army?

Lei Zhong sat on the grass and listened to the whispers of several military academy sergeants around him.

In the distance, there are also weak soldiers of Cao's army.

The war is about to start again, but this morale...

Isn't it possible to finally make up for the military pay?

Is this kind of thing something that can be improvised?

Isn’t Shandong very wealthy? I heard that in some places, a bottle of water can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars! It's either some fairy nectar or ordinary mountain spring water. It's just in a special location. It can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars, and there are a lot of Shandong nobles who want to buy it!

However, in the land of Youzhou, Cao's soldiers were not fully paid.

It's going to be a war, but it's still uneven.

That bottle of water is enough to pay several big soldiers, right?

Lei Zhong, the old military academy in Youzhou, couldn't figure out this matter. Could it be that if you can't defend Youzhou and wait for the Hussars to come, what benefits will those Shandong guys have? There was only one reason that made Lei Zhong feel that it made some sense.

But in this case, are these Shandong guys from Shandong or Guanzhong? Or did they originally plan for all the big men to be like one family?

Lei Zhong didn't think about things he couldn't understand, so he just went along, as long as he had food to eat. Now that he is older, some things don't matter to him anymore, and he is not willing to talk too much and ask around. He feels that he should be used to living this kind of happy-go-lucky life. He didn't know if he would be able to see the sun tomorrow, so he never thought about the future. He thought he just had to live a good life today.

Of course, it would be better if he could still eat enough every day, and he would be satisfied.

Over the years, he has fought with different people, and what he feels most deeply is that the more he fights, the more tired he becomes.

At first it was Gongsun Zan, who really beat up barbarians, the kind who was unreasonable and unceremonious, and beat them up whenever he encountered them!

I was poor at that time, but my spirit was high. I really felt that I was protecting my family and the country for the big man. It was worth dying to die, and I was willing to do so!

But then Yuan Shao came, and it became a fake attack on the barbarians.

After all, Yuan Shao's main focus at that time was to focus on the Central Plains. Whether to fight the barbarians was just a matter of name. In fact, he didn't really care at all.

After Cao Cao came...

Historically, Cao Cao really fought against the barbarians, but now that the barbarians have been kept honest by Fei Qian, he has become a liaison with the barbarians and made friends with them.

Because we no longer fight against the barbarians, does the meaning of the border become less and less important?

Lei Zhong couldn't understand.

He just knew that from when he was young to when he was old, he was still here.

Maybe I will be here forever...

Maybe he will die soon, like his comrades before him, falling in any corner anytime, anywhere, and no one will remember him, just like no one remembers his comrades.

The most people in the world can remember are Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao, which is already great. Even though some of these people went to battle to fight against the barbarians, some only beat them on the lips, and those who were more fighting against the barbarians No one remembers the soldiers who died among them.

He heard that there was some kind of Hall of Valor or some kind of War Soul Festival in the Hussars. Anyway, it was used to record the ordinary soldiers who died in every battle...

He thought that he might not have such a fate. He had a name, but it also meant that he had no name.

Because there are always some people who express their superiority, who is this guy Lei Zhong? Never heard of it at all.

"...I wonder how long we have to fight?" 』

"How long will it take?" You might as well ask if you can win the fight! 』

Then everyone fell silent for a while.

After a long time, someone changed the topic and said: "No matter what, after a battle, there is always a chance to be promoted... Look at Lieutenant Lei, wasn't he also promoted last time?" 』

"Um? ” Lei Zhong, who was distracted, came to his senses when he heard someone talking about him, “What are you talking about?” 』

"Speaking of promotion," someone chuckled, "Captain Lei, you won't invite everyone if you get promoted?" 』

Lei Zhong looked around and saw that he didn't recognize the man at all, but he didn't say anything more and just nodded casually, "Easy to say, easy to say." When I go back this time, I’ll find some time to find a place, haha, haha. 』

In fact, at this age, it is considered slow to be promoted to captain.

When Lei Zhong was young, he was aggrieved when he saw others being promoted, but since he experienced too many deaths and buried hundreds of comrades with his own hands, he no longer thought about this issue. He just Want to live.

Look at how many of the soldiers who walked into the military camp with him are still alive now?

Whether they were promoted or not, whether they were his competitors or those who were closely related to him, they were all lying in the cold ground and turned into a pile of bones, and there were even many people with no bones left.

His ability to survive and survive to this day was due to luck at first, but now it's more about experience.

Survival is the greatest meaning. As for other things, in Lei Zhong's eyes, they are like withered grass in the mountains and fields. They come and go, and they are prosperous for a while, but they cannot change everything about this mountain, this water, and this quiet land.

"Captain Lei, why do you think we came here?" 』

A military officer asked, "Are we going to ambush the Hussars in the mountains?" 』

"How is it possible, we only have so few people?" ” Another military academy sneered, “What’s more... is this it? The first two or three days, it’s none of your business..."

"This is a matter for the superiors. Why do we worry about it?" ” Lei Zhong smiled and lay down on the ground, waved his hands and said, “Go to bed. When you sleep, you will live one more day... These days, if you can live one more day, you will earn one more day... Others... Forget it, we all have to set off the next day. It’s getting late now, so let’s all disperse..."

They were sent out to build a warning system in Yanshan, using manpower instead of alarm bells. Once a hussar horse was discovered, they would light a beacon to shake people...

This life is simple but not simple.

Seeing that Lei Zhong didn't want to continue talking, the military academies looked at each other and gradually dispersed.

Lei Zhong waited until all the military academies left before he turned over and sat up again. He looked at the surrounding mountains and his face became as gloomy as the night...

Indeed, which path to take is a big question.