: Human Killer

Guandu.

The flags were flying, and nearly 50,000 Liangzhou troops were like rolling iron streams, rushing forward.

Among them were the 20,000 elite military farms led by Gao Shun, the 8,000 cavalry led by Xu Huang, the 10,000 naval army led by Gan Ning, and the 10,000 Hanzhong surrendered army led by Fang Yue (Fang Yue attacked Hangu Pass at any cost, resulting in heavy casualties and nearly half of the Hanzhong surrendered army). If the 20,000 army in Nanyang was added, Ma Yue invested a total of 80,000 troops in this battle.

But now there are only 70,000 left.

If we do not count the three 100,000 cavalrymen in Zhoucang and Pei Yuanshao in charge of Mobei, this is almost the entire force of the Liangzhou Legion to which the horse butcher belongs! In addition to the 5,000 people of Zhang Xiu in Hanzhong and the remaining 30,000 troops in the Xihe Camp, there are only less than 10,000 county soldiers left in Shuozhou, Liangzhou and Yongzhou.

[After the rest and reclamation began, Ma Yue carried out a large-scale dismissal of all the troops under his command, retaining only 30,000 elite troops as a standing military force. All the other dismissal soldiers were sent to Mobei and were under Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao. The officials were appointed as the three departments and ten thousand households to control them.

Among the 30,000 elite troops, all 10,000 naval troops in Ganning were retained, which shows Ma Yue's importance to the navy!

In addition to these 30,000 elite troops and the cavalry in Mobei, only the 50,000 military farms led by Gao Shun were considered regular troops. Later, 20,000 Bingzhou surrendered troops and 20,000 Hanzhong surrendered troops were added. However, after the end of the Battle of Hanzhong, more than half of the 20,000 Bingzhou army had suffered casualties. On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Ma Yue's total strength was more than 110,000.

Among them, Xihe Camp is stationed with 50,000 military troops from Gao Shun, Nanyang County is stationed with 20,000 elite troops from Ma Chao, Hanzhong is stationed with 5,000 Zhang Xiu's army, Hedong is stationed with 8,000 Xu Huang's army, Xinfeng Port is stationed with 10,000 naval troops from Ganning, and Chang'an Camp is stationed with 20,000 Hanzhong surrendered troops from Fang Yue.

Ma Yue had only 110,000 troops in total, but he mobilized 80,000 troops to attack Cao Cao. It can be said that he was willing to spend all his money.

However, even if Ma Yue mobilized 80,000 troops, it did not affect the rest and recuperation under his rule, because Ma Yue did not recruit troops on a large scale in the states under his rule. In the past few years, Ma Yue has been conquering constant wars, but they are all foreign wars. The war has not affected the states under his rule, and they are all small-scale wars. Even if the defeated troops are not much damage, it has not caused a large amount of consumption of young and strong labor under his rule, so it has not had any impact on industrial and agricultural production!

Of course, to maintain the cost of 80,000 troops, the military rations and supplies consumed are quite amazing.

However, everything has its disadvantages, it will inevitably be beneficial. The large consumption of grain and armies by the 80,000 Liang army also made the production and trade of Guanzhong's weapons and grain prosperous unprecedentedly. Due to the deliberate support of industry and commerce by the horse butcher, he spared no effort to raise the social status of merchants at that time and encouraged the children of merchants to enter politics and join the army, thus promoting the prosperous situation of industry and commerce in Guanzhong.

After tasting the sweetness of the war, the weapons and grain merchants began to spare no effort to support the Liangzhou Legion's foreign war.

At this point, the two major incentives that led to the Liangzhou Legion's continuous large-scale military expansion operations in the later generations took shape. One was that the three Mobei tribes carried out inhumane population plunders surrounding ethnic groups and regions for the huge profits of population trade, and the other was weapons. In order to pursue profits, the grain merchants spared no effort to provoke and support the Liangzhou Legion's armed invasion.

In the middle and late stages, the military armed forces of the three Mobei ministries were directly linked with the weapons and grain oligarchs of the Central Plains, because the slaves plundered by the three Mobei ministries were just enough to give weapons and grain production to the factory owners and farmers in the Central Plains, and the weapons and grain produced by the commercial oligarchs could in turn support the three Mobei ministries to carry out population plunder.

The direct consequence of the formation of these two major inducements is that hundreds of years later, the emergence of a huge empire spanning Asia, Europe and Africa, with an area of ​​more than 30 million square kilometers. It is known in history as the Daliang Empire! Historians are more willing to associate the eight hundred years of Liang Dynasty and the four hundred years of Han Dynasty, collectively known as the Hanliang prosperous era!]

In front of the Liang army, Gao Shun was in front, Fang Yue, Xu Huang and Gan Ning were side by side, and slowly walked forward. He rode his horse like flying, rushed to the four generals like lightning and suddenly pulled the reins. The strong mount under his crotch suddenly stood up, and his front hooves kicked in the air for a while before they landed steadily, and remained motionless.

The young Ma Dai rode a horse on his back and said to Gao Shun and the other four with a stern hand: "See the four generals!"

Gao Shunsu said, "The Major General is exempted from courtesy. What is the situation in Guandu?"

Ma Dai said: "General, the situation in Guandu is very strange!"

"Oh?" Gao Shun said, "The Major General said it."

Ma Dai said: "The Yuan army and Cao army are all deep in the ditches and high in the camp, and they cannot leave. They have never shouted and scolded each other. They fought. The last general led hundreds of cavalry to the Cao army camp to yell and scold them. Cao army still stayed in the door and ignored them at all. The Yuan Shao camp ten miles away was also silent and had no response."

Gao Shundao: "Is this kind of thing actually happening?"

Ma Dai said: "The last general cannot understand the attitudes of Cao's army and Yuan Shao's army, so he has never acted rashly."

Gao Shun turned around to Fang Yue, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning, "The three generals can go to Cao's army camp with me to inspect and see what tricks Cao's army is playing?"

The four of them lit up three thousand iron cavalry and, under the guidance of Ma Dai, climbed an unknown earth mountain on the west side of the Cao army camp.

Looking down from the earthen mountain, I saw flags waving and drums in the large camp of Cao's army. Teams of soldiers holding spears were patrolling back and forth in the camp. It seemed that Cao's guard was extremely strict, but Gao Shun always felt something strange! He ordered Ma Dai to lead 500 cavalry to fight in front of the camp, but Cao's army did not respond at all.

The four of them went to the outside of the Yuan army camp ten miles north to check and found that the Yuan army camp was exactly the same as the Cao army camp. Ma Dai led the iron cavalry to swagger outside the camp, and the Hebei army did not send a cavalry to investigate! When Gao Shun's eyes finally fell on the messy battlefield outside the Hebei camp, he suddenly shouted: "No, the Hebei army is probably defeated, and the Cao army has left Guandu after winning! These two camps are just empty camps, and there are only a few suspicious soldiers in the camp!"

Gan Ning said: "How do you know about it?"

Gao Shun said: "The Cao army, like our army, were all wearing iron armor. However, the Hebei army was wearing bronze armor because of Yuan Shao's personal preferences. The iron armor was dark and the bronze armor was shiny, which was very easy to distinguish. Please see outside the Hebei camp, the only bodies of the Hebei army were killed in the trenches, but no bodies of the Cao army's fallen soldiers were found. What does this mean?"

"Cao Army is not a heavenly soldier and general. Since it is a war, there is no casualties!" Xu Huang said, "There is only one possibility, that is, the bodies of the fallen soldiers of the Cao army have been collected and buried by their companions. Therefore, the Hebei Camp has actually been captured by the Cao army. Only after the Cao army controls the Hebei Camp, can the Cao army calmly collect the bodies of the fallen soldiers and bury them!"

Gan Ning said: "So Yuan Shao was indeed defeated! But I don't know where Cao's army went? Could it be that he took advantage of the victory to pursue Yuan Shao's old nest, Yecheng?"

"Before there is no definite news, any situation is possible!" Gao Shun said in a deep voice, "Let me!"

The four generals Fang Yue, Xu Huang, Gan Ning and Ma Dai were straightening their chests at the same time and staring at Gao Shun with bright eyes. Gao Shun was not only the commander of the three armies designated by Ma Yue, but also the famous general who convinced them.

"Major General Ma Dai!"

"The last one will be there."

"Many slept in horses and roars have been sent to expand the reconnaissance range to a radius of 100 miles in Guandu, but if you find it, come and report it immediately."

"Affect the order."

"General Xu Huang!"

"The last one will be there."

"Lead 8,000 cavalry to protect the food route from Hulao Pass to Yingchuan, and never let the Cao army tray our army's retreat!"

"Affect the order."

"General Fang Yue, General Gan Ning."

"The last one will be there."

Fang Yue and Gan Ning took a step forward at the same time and stood side by side in front of Gao Shun.

Gao Shundao: "Each leader of the troops (10,000 Hanzhong surrendered troops and 10,000 naval troops) went south and rushed to Xuchang to attack Cao Cao's lair. The so-called soldiers are indefinitely in power, but they will never leave their roots. Once Xuchang is attacked by our army, Cao Cao will inevitably return to his army to save himself. Only in this way can the disappearing Cao army out of its true form!"

"Abide by the order!"

"Abide by the order!"

Fang Yue and Gan Ning took the order with a loud bang.

Gao Shun said again: "I will rule the central army and support it in the middle."

Chenliu, Cao's army camp.

In order to avoid a head-on collision with the Liang army, Cao's army first went east from Guandu, and then turned south from Chenliu to return to Xuchang. However, as soon as the army had just settled the camp, Liu Ye hurried into Cao Cao's military tent and said hurriedly: "Lord, just procured the horse and returned, Gao Shun, Fang Yue, Xu Huang, and the Liang army from Ganning four routes had already advanced to Guandu yesterday!"

"So fast!" Cao Cao said in a lost voice, "What are the movements of Liang's army after they arrive at Guandu?"

Liu Ye said: "The military plan has been discovered by the Liang army. Now Fang Yue and Gansu and Ningbo have gone south and rushed to Xudu."

"What?" General Zangba said inexplicably, "Has Liang Jun seen through the lord's intention so quickly?"

"Awesome!" Cao Cao said in a voice, "Gao Shun is worthy of being a famous general. He may not have seen through Gu's intentions, but he knows that Xu is the foundation of Gu. If Xu Du is attacked, Gu will definitely return to his army to rescue him! He sent an order, and the army drove away overnight and returned to Xu Du quickly, and then ordered Zhang He to lead 5,000 light cavalry west to face Fang Yue, Gan Ning, and he must be delayed by the Liang army for at least ten days!"

Since the cunning plan has been discovered, Cao Cao has no choice but to fight the Liang army head-on!

After all, Xu Du is the old nest that Cao Cao has been running for many years. Although the emperor and all officials have been kidnapped by Guan Yu, the people are still there. Cao Cao's foundation is still there. Cao Cao will never, and he dare not abandon it easily. The so-called "one move will affect the overall situation". Once Xu Du loses, the entire Yanzhou will become the bag of the Liang army, and the southern Yuzhou is not enough to become the foundation. Even if the emperor is taken back, Cao Cao will have no place to stand.

Xun You said worriedly: "The military advisor still has no news. It seems that the decisive battle with Gao Shun's army is inevitable. Since this is the case, why don't the lord condemn the general to lead a team of elite cavalry to attack Liang's army behind and cut off its food route? Even if it cannot succeed, it can restrain the enemy and prevent it from daring to attack Xudu with all its strength."

"Good!" Cao Cao said happily, "You can ask Zhang Liao to lead three thousand light cavalry to detour near Xingyang and wait for an opportunity to cut off the Liang army's food route!"

Three days later, Ma Yue's army barely advanced to Xiangcheng.

In the central army's tent, Ma Yuezheng and Jia Xu and Li Su were discussing matters. Ju Tu suddenly stepped into the tent and shouted: "Lord, Yingchuan is urgent to report, Runan is urgent to report!"

"Oh?" Ma Yue stood up and said, "Tell me."

Ju Tu said: "General Gao Shun condemns Malay, the battle of Guandu has ended."

"The Battle of Guandu is over? So fast!" Ma Yue said in a deep voice, "Is Yuan Shao defeated?"

Ju Tu said: "Yuan Shao has been defeated and returned to Yecheng."

Ma Yue said: "Where is Cao Cao's army?"

Ju Tu said: "I don't know where to go, General Gao Shun is sending additional probes to investigate."

Ma Yue said: "What are Gao Shun's plans?"

Ju Tu said: "General Xu Huang led 8,000 cavalry to protect the food road. Fang Yue and Gan Ning led their troops south to Xudu, and General Gao Shun led his army to support him."

"Okay, Gao Shun's arrangement is very appropriate!" Ma Yue's eyes showed admiration and said happily, "At that time, I will lead a large army to cross the Ying River to advance north. It will form a force of attacking Gao Shun's army from north to south. Even if Cao Aman personally leads the army to rescue Xu, he will be unable to make a comeback, haha."

Ju Tu said: "Lord, General Xu Chu also sent an urgent report from Runan."

Ma Yue said: "Tell me."

Ju Tu said: "General Xu Chu captured a small school in Cao's army south of the ancient city. The small school said that Cao Cao's general Guan Yu had rebelled and kidnapped the emperor. All officials and Cao Cao's family Xiaozheng fled to Runan. Cao Cao's general Yu Jinzheng's army chased him. Cao Hong and Cao Zhen suddenly turned south. It was because of hearing this news that they hurried to the ancient city to meet with Yu Jin."

"Ah?" Ma Yue was shocked when he heard this and said in a lost voice, "Guan Yu betrayed! The emperor was robbed?"

Jia Xu also looked dark and said, "Lord, this is a difficult thing!"

Ma Yue said: "When Guan Yu kidnapped the emperor and fled to Runan, was he going to defect to Liu Biao in Jingzhou, or Sun Jian, a tiger in Jiangdong?"

Jia Xu said: "The possibility of defecting to Sun Jian is greater!"

Li Su said: "Lord, the emperor is of great importance, why not lead a large army to pursue him? If there is any slowness, I am afraid that Guan Yu will run into Lujiang and it will be difficult for him to welcome the emperor again."

Jia Xu shook his head and said, "It was at least half a month ago that Guan Yu rebelled and the emperor was robbed. At this time, it is probably too late for the lord to raise the army to pursue him. Moreover, the army went deep into Runan and even Lujiang, and it would become extremely difficult to replenish food and grass. It is easy to take advantage of the enemy, but it is actually not taken by the wise."

Ma Yue, who was paced back and forth, suddenly stopped and said to Ju Tu: "Immediately sending orders to Xu Chu and Chen Dao, but don't pay attention to Yu Jin, Cao Hong, Cao Zhen's remnants, and the light cavalry rushed forward to pursue Guan Yu. He must intercept Guan Yu before he escaped into Jiangxia or Lujiang! The emperor cannot fall into Liu Biao and Sun Jian's hands!"

"Affect the order."

Ju Tu agreed and took the order and left.

Ma Yue took a deep breath, finally calmed down, and said in a deep voice: "The army will continue to go north to attack Xuchang. Although the emperor is important, Cao Cao is even more of a disaster! If he cannot take this opportunity to beat him to death with one stick, it will be difficult to destroy him when he recovers."

Li Su said: "The Cao army's military rations were originally extremely scarce. At this time, the emperor was robbed. Xuzhou and Huainan might change, and then stop the delivery of food and grass to Cao Cao. In this way, the situation of Cao army will be even worse, and the battle in Xuchang may be easier than expected."

"That's not necessarily!" Ma Yue's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he said in a deep voice, "There is no food to eat, at least there is still someone to eat!"
To be continued...