Chapter 291: Heaven-shattering Merit, Offense and Defense Change Form [Subscription Request]

A few hundred miles north of Liaoxi County in Han territory, there is a place called Bailang Mountain.

Further north is Pinggang.

From Pinggang, it advances northeast along the Wuhou Qin River, which is a branch of the Liao River in later generations, until it intersects with another water vein, forming a fertile triangular area.

The Xianbei royal camp is right here.

The Northeast Plain in later generations, with its flat and fertile land, was the base camp of the Donghu people in their early years.

Now it is inherited by the Eastern Xianbei.

In summer, the tribes are busy storing grass and grazing to fatten cattle and sheep.

Nomadic tribes never fight in the summer.

This is the time when they enjoy the harvest.

However, the disastrous defeat in the previous attack on Han from the south cast a heavy shadow over the summer of the Eastern Xianbei this year.

Tens of thousands of young and strong men were killed, shaking the foundation of the Eastern Xianbei.

It even made the position of Murong Tuoye, the leader of the Eastern Alliance of Adults, no longer stable.

Many tribes are clamoring to re-elect their chief chief.

They were very dissatisfied with Murong Tuoye's decision to go south and the losses it brought to the various tribes.

dusk.

King's tent.

Murong Tuoye was born in the Murong tribe of the Eastern Xianbei. He was brave and resourceful since he was young.

He is in his forties and has always been ambitious. He led the Eastern Xianbei to annex many surrounding small and medium-sized tribes.

Unexpectedly, in just two months in early spring this year, we suffered an unprecedented blow.

It is said that it is better to cut off one finger than to injure ten fingers.

Cao Cao concentrated all his efforts, launched repeated ambushes and wiped out the main force of the Xianbei moving south, causing heavy casualties and causing great damage to the Eastern Xianbei.

More important than the soldiers who died on the battlefield was the internal turmoil.

The various tribes no longer trusted Murong Tuoye and believed that it was his decision that led to this result.

Murong Tuoye was wearing a cream-colored light leather robe that exposed his broad shoulders. His brown-red skin made him look very strong.

He sat in the big tent, glanced at the leaders of the tribes that had been summoned, and said to one of them, a thin but tall old man:

"Old servant Lan, do you remember that when I was a child, I often asked you for advice on horse-catching techniques?

Then, no matter how wild a horse is, it will be hard for it to escape your taming.”

The old servant Lan hummed, his gloomy face softened a little, and his voice was hoarse:

"My Pulan tribe fully supported you in this expedition, but we also suffered the greatest losses, with more than 3,600 young and strong men killed. Less than a thousand people returned. I can't explain to the women who lost their men and the elderly who lost their children."

Next to Lao Pulan was the leader of the Aluhuan tribe, a strong man:
"We lost this battle inexplicably. Did the Han Chinese play a trick?

I am different from you. I suggest that we gather our troops and march south again in the fall to recover our losses from the Han people."

The two men spoke one after another, and the attitudes they expressed reflected the current situation of the Eastern Xianbei.

One faction wanted revenge and advocated war, while the other wanted to recuperate.

The old servant Lan said slowly: "The Han people built a stone wall as high as a mountain. How can we take it back if we hide behind it?"

"When we went south before, we also said we wanted to rob people, property and food. What was the result?"

"I heard the news from Liaodong that the Han people have regained their unity."

"The Han leader who unified this time is very powerful. The previous war is a lesson for us."

"If you attack Han again next time, my Pulan tribe will not participate."

"and many more!"

Tuoboben, who had escaped and led his troops south to fight against Cao's army, saw his old servant Lan was about to leave and spoke up to stop him.

He has several injuries that have not yet healed.

“The great leader of my Tuobo tribe, Tuobo Xiongdu, died at the hands of the Han people.

No matter what, we will fight the Han people to the end. I swear by the Shaman God that I will fight the Han people until I die! "

Murong Tuoye said: "My son Murong Baizhi is still in the Han area and has not returned. I don't know whether he is alive or dead.

I have sent an envoy to negotiate with the Han people, in order to confuse them, test them, and also to find the whereabouts of my son. "

“But no matter whether I can find my son or not, I will organize troops and head south again this autumn.

This time, I will lead the troops myself!"

Murong Tuoye said: "In addition, apart from us, the Tuoba tribe of the Central Xianbei and the chieftain of the Kuitou tribe of the Western Xianbei, I believe they will not allow the Han people to reunify and establish a new powerful dynasty.

Attacking Han is in the overall interest of the Xianbei. I have sent a message to them to contact them and we will go south together in the autumn."

When everyone heard that the other two Xianbei tribes might also join in the southward attack on Han, they were immediately cheered up.

The Kuitou mentioned by Murong Tuoye was the leader of one of the seven royal tent tribes of the Western Xianbei. He was very powerful and could almost represent the Western Xianbei.

The Tuoba tribe of the Central Xianbei was also a royal tent tribe, that is, a tribe that produced big-headed men.

There are many small and medium-sized tribes gathered around them.

With these two families forming an alliance with the Eastern Xianbei, even the old servant Lan broke his usual habit and showed great interest in once again going south to invade Han.

"I will set off in the next few days and go west in person to discuss the alliance with the central and western tribes. You all can wait for my good news."

Murong TOEIC:

"If we can persuade the two major royal tents in the middle and west to participate, the Han people will never be able to resist us Xianbei. I hope that all tribes will be prepared in advance."

Tuo Boben echoed, "Next time we fight, we will make the Han people bleed like a river."

----

"How many envoys are there from the Eastern Xianbei?"

"More than eighty, with hundreds of cattle and horses, livestock and more than two hundred slaves."

When Cao Cao entered the border town of Beiguan and had conversations with his own troops, he became more and more certain that the Eastern Xianbei were coming to seek peace.

The only reason a tribe would bring cattle, horses and livestock is to seek peace and surrender.

"Where are they?"

"In Youbeiping County. Gao Shun is on duty there. He knows the King of Wei is here, so he sent someone to ask if we can allow the Eastern Xianbei envoys to enter our Han territory?"

"The things were left behind, but the people were killed."

Cao Cao said calmly: "Let's go east."

Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao and others agreed in unison.

Going east from Dai County, you will reach Shanggu County, where you will meet Qu Yi. Going east further, you will enter Youbeiping County, where Zhang Xiu and Gao Shun are both.

Further east is Liaoxi County.

Yan Rou and Xianyu Fu were governing Liaoxi at that time.

Cao Cao arrived at the top of the Great Wall in Youbeiping County and looked far to the northeast.

That direction is where the Eastern Xianbei royal tent is located, where their largest tribes gather, forming the largest settlement of the Eastern Xianbei.

On the border city wall, the wind is blowing.

The scarlet cloak on Cao Cao's shoulders fluttered.

"We have been fighting these nomadic tribes for hundreds of years. We have both been strong and weak. When will the Xiongnu in the past and the Xianbei today send us livestock and sheep to ask for peace?"

Zhao Yun said: "The situation is not favorable. We can have a chance to catch our breath by asking for peace."

"Yes."

Cao Cao: "When we are strong, foreign tribes will submit to us. If they become strong, they will attack us."

"Their 50,000-man army was routed and defeated, and they came to send cattle and sheep. What does this mean?"

This time it was Zhang Liao who answered: "Summer is the most fertile time. They want to ease the conflict with us and do not want to continue the war."

"In the past hundreds of years, we rarely took the initiative to enter the grassland. Firstly, it is not easy to identify the grassland route and it is difficult to go on an expedition."

“Secondly, the terrain of the grassland is conducive to riding horses.

It would be disadvantageous for us to go to the grassland and start a war."

"Moreover, the nomadic tribes are lightly armed and have few followers. If a large army attacks them, they will be alerted in advance and will be able to migrate immediately. If they can fight, they will fight. If they can't fight, they will leave. If we retreat, they will come back, so there will be no loss.

If we launch an attack, the cost of food and supplies will be huge, but the gains will be small, which is not worth the loss. "

"But at the moment, we still have some supplies in Cao's camp, so it won't be a problem to find the location of their tribe on the grassland."

All the generals followed Cao Cao and looked up at the big bird circling above the city wall.

Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, Qu Yi, Gao Shun and others looked at each other and saw a hint of eagerness in each other's eyes.

In the previous battle, after defeating the Xianbei, Cao Cao did not allow them to return south.

The order received was for them to continue guarding the border.

At this time, everyone understood Cao Cao's intention.

Beat him to death.

The Xianbei had just been defeated, and Cao's army had just won.

Generally speaking, after a large-scale war, regardless of victory or defeat, both sides will suffer heavy losses.

In the era of cold weapons, it was not uncommon for the preparation of baggage and food for a large-scale mobilization to take years.

Therefore, after the war, the troops returned to their hometowns, and the possibility of war breaking out again in a short period of time was very small.

Because I can't afford it.

However, thanks to Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Taishi Ci and others, the Xianbei leader Tuobo Xiongdu was killed at the beginning of the war. The Eastern Xianbei were defeated much earlier than expected.

This saved Cao's army a lot of food and supplies.

After the war, Cao Cao did not allow his generals to return south, but instead went north to the border himself.

When he went north this time, he told everyone that he was coming to patrol the border and reward the soldiers.

Until this moment, Cao Cao's true purpose has become clear.

With elite light cavalry, they launched a surprise attack on the Eastern Xianbei, and at this moment when the Eastern Xianbei had just suffered a heavy blow in a defeat, they unexpectedly struck him with a finishing blow, taking his life!
The internal situation of the Xianbei was equally complicated, and was also an area that could be exploited.

If this battle is successful, the remaining troops of Eastern Xianbei will be hit again and will be completely crippled and lose the ability to fight back.

This will be a tremendous achievement, and it will be the right time for him to return with a great victory and become king.

Cao Cao was on the top of the city wall, pointing his whip towards the northeast:
"The royal tent of the Eastern Xianbei is right there."

"My fellow soldiers, who is willing to join me in taking the top of the Xianbei king's tent and hanging it at the North Gate to commemorate our Han comrades who died at the hands of the Xianbei!"

Zhang Liao shouted, "I would like to be the vanguard and follow the King of Wei to attack the Xianbei and show the power of Cao's army."

Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Taishi Ci, Gao Shun, and Zhang Xiu said in turn:

"We all wish to follow the King of Wei northward."

There was a special emotion stirring in Qu Yi's heart.

He fully felt the difference between being under Yuan Shao's command before and being under Cao Cao's command now.

Cao Cao's ability to seize opportunities when his opponents least expect them to fight is truly amazing.

Once he made a decision, he was decisive and swift, which was completely different from Yuan Shao's hesitation.

Who could have thought that Cao's army would launch another surprise attack and take the initiative to attack the Xianbei.

The attack and defense are easy to change. If the enemy can go there, I can go there too!

This is a surprise attack at the strategic level. The goal is to take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness and to be quick, accurate and ruthless.

"Go ahead, prepare your troops. Don't send too many people. Each of you should select the best troops. Be quick!"

The generals came down from the city wall in high spirits and mobilized troops.

A unit of two thousand men, equal to an army of ten thousand, is enough.

Cao Cao revealed the purpose of the march only at the last moment because of secret considerations.

Once the goal is stated, we must do our best to be fast, rushing and returning with lightning speed.

That night, he personally led the troops, using the tactics of sneaking through Chencang and concealing the truth. The entire army was surrounded by a layer of night fog.

In the previous battles, whether it was the capture of Han Sui alive in Liangzhou or the great defeat of the Xianbei.

Cao Cao was in Yecheng and had not participated in the battle. Given his active personality and his preference for leading troops personally, he was as anxious as a cat being scratched.

This time he lied to Xun Yu, Xun You and others, saying that he was going north to reward the three armies, and that was why he secretly skipped work and came here.

Otherwise, Xun Yu would have advised him seriously not to take any risks.

Cao Cao deceived Xun Yu completely and was very happy.

He left Youbeiping County and led his troops into the plains, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Cao's army was now strong and powerful. For this raid, each soldier had three tall horses, two of which were rotated, and one horse carried the necessary baggage.

One word to describe it: luxury!
The entire army marched at a rapid speed, with large birds standing guard in the sky, hiding like ghosts all the way until they sneaked into the heart of the Eastern Xianbei.

A few days later, the triangular fertile land northeast of Wuhou Qinshui came into view.

The Xianbei king’s tent is just ahead.

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(End of this chapter)