On 13 May, the Han army marched eastward.

After the general Huang Zhong and the rear guard Li Yan converged with more than 30,000 people in the Meifu Division, known as 50,000, they were the Northern Route Army, and they attacked Jiangxia by boat from Hanjin; Guangluxun's left protector Huang Quan, together with more than 10,000 people of the barbarian king Shamoke, and more than 30,000 people of Liu Feng's department, also called himself 50,000, and attacked Wuchang for the South Route Army.

The general Guan Yu was the front, and he led more than 40,000 sailors and infantry troops from Wulin to Xiakou.

Liu Bei personally commanded more than 20,000 Chinese troops, and the whole army claimed to be 200,000, but it was actually 130,000.

After capturing Wuchang, about 20,000 Nanyang Haoqiang troops and Wenpin and Tian Yu will be mobilized to assist in the defense of Wuchang, and the overall scale of troops will be 150,000.

In addition, Wu Yidu, the protector of the army and the governor of Guanzhong, led the headquarters to stay in Jiangling.

On the 15th, the news of the Han army's eastward expedition arrived in Xudu from Jiangxia, and Cao Pi put 3,000 cavalry of Niujin's department into the army.

At this time, a fence has been built between Yexian and Tianxin camps, and at night, 10,000 people from the three armies of Mengda, Xu Zuo, and Shen Tan are carrying grain back and forth lightly, or pushing carts, or oxen and horses, or shoulder-resisting, or flattening.

The bright moon is hanging in the sky, Tian Xin's mood is restless, and the stronger his physique, the more excited and sleepless he is on the full moon night.

There were bundles of reeds in each circle 50 and 70 paces outside the camp, and if the Wei army launched a night attack, the rockets would ignite the reeds containing fish oil in these two circles, which would be enough to drag it until dawn.

Ma Chao and Guan Ping in Yexian County were also excited and sleepless, waiting for the Wei army to attack.

When the news of the main crusade of the Han army reached the Central Plains, if the Wei army remained silent, it would hurt morale.

Xiahou Shang walked across the tributaries of Lishui, crouched down at close range to watch the Han army's grain transportation team: "There are really 10,000 people? ”

"Yes, it is the three armies of the general Shen Tan of Zhengbei, the general of Yangwu Meng Da, and the general of Pinglu Xu Zuo."

The military officer lurking here replied in a low voice: "The moon is bright tonight, and these three armies are all able to walk, and they should be elite." ”

There was no night blindness, and night blindness was not serious before the explosion of population data, when the classical military system still existed.

This is an era when the strong and well-born can be a soldier, and the frail and poor are not qualified to stand in the front row of the array if they want to die.

The common people are rich in land resources, and they will raise poultry and livestock when they are ploughing and resting on the land, and those who can join the army are generally the middle strata of society, so the source of rations is abundant, not a single grain to satisfy hunger.

Rich in nutrients, night blindness is not serious.

Meng Da's troops did not eat less fish when they were stationed in Tunyidu, Shen Tan's troops mostly relied on hunting to make a living in mountain cities, and most of Xu Zuo's soldiers came from river valleys, so these three armies had the least night blindness.

After observing for a while, Xiahou Shang calmly retreated and returned to the Kunyang camp.

"The defeat of the enemy will be in three days."

Summoning the generals to participate in the war, Xiahou Shang compared Ye County and said: "The Han army is very vigilant against our army today, and its morale is high but it is difficult to last. The grain to be transported will be exhausted, its sharp spirit is not there, it is like an arrow, and it is easy to break. ”

The Wei army also successively completed the harvesting, drying and storage of summer wheat, Zhao Yan suffered a big loss, and carefully reminded: "General, I also want to ask General Zhennan to raise troops to respond, and it is the best policy to flank the enemy army with me." ”

"Well, I have received a reply from General Zhennan, and the 20,000 officials under his command are waiting for him."

Xiahou Shang affirmed his words, and looked sideways at Yu Ban, who was full of white hair: "What does the old general think?" ”

Yu Ban's beard became more and more thin, and his skin was gray at night: "Tian Xiaoxian is cunning and cunning, if he waits for three days, the old man is worried that he will abandon Ye County and the surplus grain to join the army, calmly organize the team, and retreat alternately." ”

He coughed dryly twice, and then said: "Tian Xiaoxian's Yongdao road built by Chi Road is unusually strong, and if our army pursues it deeply, it will suffer." ”

Although I have not observed the Yongdao up close, I know from a distance that it is similar to the Great Wall and the side walls of the Great Wall built during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and combines the advantages of defense and troop transportation.

Yu Ban looked around at everyone, and the conversation changed again, saying: "The Yongdao he built must be demolished, otherwise the military tun along the Yongdao will definitely send troops to the Central Plains every year in the future." With its 20,000 people, dragging 50,000 of our people is the defeat of our army. The Central Plains has no danger to defend, its troops are on the side, and the people are terrified and have no intention of producing. As time goes by, the Central Plains will inevitably be tired. ”

He said and took two steps forward and nodded in Guanzhong: "Liu Bei Ruo's eastward expedition is triumphant, and Sun Quan is in Yuzhang, and more than 30,000 troops are stationed in Tunjiangxia and Wuchang. If 30,000 people will replace Tian Xiaoxian and Ma Mengqi, and there will be 70,000 or 80,000 troops available. If the troops go out of Wuguan Road again, General Zhenxi may not be able to respond. ”

The backhand is blocking Yang a little more: "This throat of the north gate of Jingxiang, if it is controlled by our army, and our army is 30,000 people, then Nanyang will be turbulent, and at least 50,000 Han troops can be contained and held against me." If I don't break my 30,000, Liu Bei will not dare to invade Guanzhong easily. And Guanzhong, you can't lose it. Only by dragging Liu Bei to death can our army relax, otherwise there will be no place to bury him. ”

Guanzhong has long been broken, but it really can't be lost.

Being held in Liu Bei's hands will immediately remind people of the miraculous experience of Han Gaozu in the seven years of peace in the world, when people's hearts were even more turbulent.

Drag Liu Bei until he dies of old age, so that everyone can take a breath. Until then, we must work together and not let up.

Xiahou Shang hesitated and frowned: "I join forces with General Zhennan, with fifty or sixty thousand soldiers, if I pursue with all my might, I can't afford to be negligent." ”

Guan Yu was stuck at a critical time to counterattack Cao Ren, who was about to march south, and collapsed the newly formed southern expeditionary army, and Guan Yu was in his early 20,000s at that time.

Now the size of the Han army on the opposite side is also 20,000 people, if the battle of Xiangfan is repeated again, and Ma Chao and Tian Xin are pushed under the city of Xudu, then the counties of the Central Plains will not be simply turbulent.

Yu Ban strongly advised: "General, old decay often sees the arrogance of his army. Only by defeating them can we ensure the stability of the Central Plains. Otherwise, next year, Guan Yunchang will come in person, and our army will have to gather more than 100,000 soldiers and horses. ”

Zhao Yan bowed his head and was silent, and Yu Ban urged him to say: "Today, Ma Mengqi, Tian Xiaoxian, and Guan Dingguo are not familiar with the geography of the Central Plains, so they dare not rush into the army. If Guan Yunchang commanded the army, with Ma Mengqi and Tian Xiaoxian as his minions, he would run rampant south of the Yellow River, who could resist? ”

Can't wait until next year, next year Guan Yu will lead the Han army to attack the Central Plains, and the war will be even more difficult.

Not to mention anything else, if Guan Yu is in Ye County, then Ma Chao and Tian Xin will dare to go deep alone and completely mess up Kanto.

It was necessary to block the Han army to Nanyang and hold on to the Han army far from the Central Plains.

Only in this way can the Central Plains stabilize production and provide supplies for the front-line army.

Zhao Yan still didn't speak, and he was not liked by Cao Pi because he was about to die of old age, so he was naturally not afraid of the bad impact caused by the defeat of the rash army.

Yu Ban didn't care about the consequences of defeat, Zhao Yan and Xiahou still had to care.

It is one thing to win the Han army, and it is also one thing to expel the Han army; If you want to break Ma Chao and Tian Xin, you can't spare any effort.

It's too high a stakes to put it all in on it.

Seeing that these people were all cautious, Yu Forbidden looked up to the sky and sighed: "The erector is not enough!" Alack! ”

Yu Ban went away indignantly, leaving everyone looking at each other.

Xiahou Shang coughed dryly: "When this country was first established, there was no room for negligence. When the soldiers are well fed next year, Guan Yunchang has no water army ships to help, how to run rampant in the Central Plains? Since the defeat of Jingzhou, the old general has been afraid of the enemy like a tiger, and it is inevitable that he will lose his temper, so don't care. ”

Zhao Yan also said: "At this time of seeking stability, our army urgently needs a victory, but it cannot tolerate defeat. Instead of fighting, it's good to get some cheap, not extravagant. ”

Dianman followed the other generals to give a salute, and most of the enthusiasm in his heart was gone.