Rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 441 The confrontation between the two armies
At this time, Hanzhong was in panic. Liu Bei led the army to attack Yangping Pass, and it seemed that he would last until the winter. Unexpectedly, Ma Chao and Liu Zhang sent troops at the same time. When the urgent report came, everyone was panicked.

Just one Liu Bei already made Zhang Lu feel as heavy as Qinling. How should we deal with Xiliang Jinma Chao and the feuding Liu Zhang?
At this moment, Zhang Lu killed Zhang Xiu. Not long after he took over the Five Dou Mijiao, the people of Hanzhong had not yet fully surrendered, and Liu Bei had already spread rumors secretly, revealing that he deliberately killed Zhang Xiu, which aroused many suspicions.

Internal and external troubles made Zhang Lu feel helpless, but he had killed the court envoy earlier, and Liu He used this to send troops to crusade. He was afraid that he would not let him go.

Adviser Yan Pu said: "The mountains in Hanzhong are dangerous, and the road to Shu is difficult to travel from Yizhou. Liu Zhang has nothing to fear from his soldiers and horses. Ma Chao leads many cavalry, and it will be difficult to move within the Han River. Winter is coming now, and the sky The cold ground makes it difficult to transport food and grass. By the time these two groups of people cross mountains and ridges to arrive, it will be the beginning of spring next year, which is still half a year away. Why should my lord worry?"

Zhang Lu felt much relieved when he heard the words, and asked, "However, Liu Bei refused to retreat at Yangping Pass, it is really like a gnat in his throat, and he can't vomit, what can I do?"

Yan Pu said: "Hanzhong's wealth is fertile, the people are well-off, food and grass are abundant, there is a natural danger in Yangpingguan, and Liu Bei has few soldiers and horses, so he will not attack by force, and the consumption of food in the inclined valley is [-]% more than before. Heavy snow falls from the sky, the mountain roads are blocked, and Liu Bei's food is exhausted, so he will retreat without fighting!"

After Zhang Lu heard this, he stroked his beard and laughed and said, "I have a military adviser to help me, and I can easily defeat the enemy. It's really my son's house!"

Yan Pu clasped his fists and said, "Second General Yang Ang is guarding Yangping Pass. If he hears that troops are dispatched from three directions, the soldiers may feel slack. My lord, I should send General Zhang to supervise the battle and appease the soldiers. This will ensure that everything will be safe."

Zhang Lu took it seriously, and immediately ordered his brother Zhang Wei to go to Yangpingguan to supervise the battle. As long as Liu Bei, a powerful enemy, was exhausted first, it would be much easier to deal with Ma Chao and Liu Zhang.

Zhang Wei led his troops to Yangping Pass, analyzed the situation of the enemy and Yang Ang, and then told all the battalions not to relax, and they will retreat when Liu Bei runs out of food.

A secret agent sent the news to the camp overnight, Liu Bei frowned secretly when he heard it, but at this time he was glad that Wei Yan had taken a step earlier, otherwise, the battle opportunity would be delayed, and Yangping Pass might be difficult to capture.

On the second day, I saw Xu Shu looking at the mountains outside the gate with his hands in his hands. Liu Bei stepped forward and asked, "Now the people and horses are in a dilemma, and Zhang Lu sent reinforcements. We will wait here for [-] days, but I don't know whether Wen Chang and the others can pass through Ziwu smoothly." valley."

Xu Shu's expression was much more relaxed than that of the previous two days, and he said with a smile: "My lord, don't worry, if Zhang Lu doesn't send reinforcements, I have nothing to do. Now his reinforcements are defending to the death, and if I want to retreat when I run out of food, I don't need Wen Chang's surprise soldiers. Can enter Hanzhong."

Liu Bei was excited when he heard the words, and hurriedly took two steps forward and asked, "What's the strategist's plan?"

But Xu Shu didn't answer, pointing to the mountains in the distance, he said slowly: "Today the weather changes suddenly, the northwest wind is strong, and there will be heavy snowfall in a few days, I will take Yangping Pass, after this heavy snowfall."

Zhang Wei and others deployed heavy troops at Yangping Pass, conducted strict inspections every day, and sent soldiers who were familiar with the terrain to lurk in the mountains to monitor the enemy's movement at any time.

Unconsciously, a few days passed, and suddenly heavy snow fell from the sky, the mountains and fields were covered with a vast expanse of whiteness, the birds and beasts disappeared, there were no people, and the world was quiet.

At this time, it was freezing cold, and everyone in the pass felt unbearably cold, let alone camping in the wild. Liu Bei's army must be in great pain. Zhang Wei guessed that they would retreat soon and sent more scouts to patrol.

On this day, I suddenly came to report that a group of grain trucks came from Chencang, there were more than [-] vehicles, and they were entering the Xiegu and coming to Yangping Pass.

"Not good!" Zhang Wei was shocked when he heard the report, and said with a frown, "Liu Bei must wait for Ma Chao's soldiers to arrive when he transports food, and attack Hanzhong from two directions. He must not be allowed to succeed."

Yang Ren nodded and said: "What the general said is true. I reported that Liu Bei's army was short of food and grass, so they sent people into the mountains to hunt and collect wild fruits to survive. If it snows heavily today and the prey disappears, they will come from Chencang again. Transporting grain, it seems that they are unwilling to retreat."

Zhang Wei sent an order: "Immediately select those who are familiar with the terrain from the army, bypass the front camp and go to Xiegu to rob grain. At any cost, this batch of grain and grass must be destroyed, otherwise Hanzhong will not be safe!"

Yang Ren clasped his fists and said: "This is a big matter, and the general is willing to lead the troops there in person."

Zhang Wei was overjoyed, he clasped his fists and said: "If this can be done, the defense of Hanzhong will be a great achievement for the general."

Yang Ren immediately went to order soldiers, selected a thousand soldiers who were good at crossing mountains and mountains, and under the leadership of the guide, he immediately set off from the west mountain outside the pass and went straight to the inclined valley.

From Xiegu to Yangping Pass, there are still many small roads in the mountains to the west. Unless the local people often go to the mountains to collect firewood, no one can recognize them. Most of the soldiers brought by Yang Ren are local soldiers, and they walk very freely in the mountains. .

The group set off at noon and found a cave when it was dark. There were traces of burnt wood in it. It was also a place for woodcutters or shepherds to hide from the wind and rain, because no one came for a long time because of the heavy snow.

The soldiers each brought dry food, spent the night in the mountains, and set off to the north the next day. There was a guide ahead to inquire about the news, and at noon, the guide reported that a large number of horses and horses were found ahead.

Yang Ren personally went to a high mountain to check. Sure enough, he saw horses and horses moving slowly in the winding valley, stretching for nearly three or four miles. Numerous vehicles carried by mules and horses were moving in an orderly manner in the snow.

"Hmph, it really is a grain truck!" Yang Ren sneered, seeing the vehicles full of grain and grass clearly, and ordered people to watch carefully.

The rest of the people walked back for four or five miles. Here is a cliff and a rocky beach. The snow has only fallen a thin layer, and it can avoid the cold wind. It is estimated that the journey of those vehicles should be completed tonight. Rest here.

When it was dark, people shouted and neighed under the cliff. After a while, a bonfire was lit. Soldiers gathered in twos and threes to warm up and prepare dinner, and all the vehicles were piled up on the beach under the cliff.

Yang Ren thought that a fight would be inevitable, but he didn't expect that these people were not vigilant at all, and they gathered the grain trucks together, which was like a miracle.

In the middle of the night, the wind was biting on the top of the mountain, and the hands and feet were already numb from the cold, and everything was silent except for the roar of the northwest wind. Yang ordered people to light all the prepared firewood and stakes, and threw them off the cliff.

Rumbling--

With a burst of muffled sound, the dry firewood and trees that were burning were thrown down, and the grain trucks were instantly ignited, burning in the night wind.

At this time, the grain guards were awakened. When they rushed out, there was already a sea of ​​flames in front of them. The water sources in the cliffs in winter were all frozen, and there was no way to put out the fire.

"Hahaha, I can't bear to see you waiting in the cold, so I will send you a big fire to warm your body."

Seeing the sea of ​​flames rolling, Yang Ren knew that the food and grass had been completely destroyed, so he led his men and horses with torches, and walked away from the top of the mountain in a grandiose manner.

(End of this chapter)