Chapter 3404: The Farthest End

Chapter 3403 The farthest end

Fei Qian also played with building blocks when he was a child.

All building blocks will eventually point to a building, a tower.

In the beginning, stacking was decidedly simple.

Even if you place a ball randomly, you can add bars or squares to frame the ball, or you can also use the ball as part of the tower base.

The difficulty is at the back, at a high place. The higher you go, the easier it is to collapse.

Therefore, Fei Qian should not be in a hurry. He had to handle each building block carefully to ensure that the building blocks were stable and would not shake before proceeding to the next step until the tower was completed.

Otherwise, a small shake in the lower layer will eventually cause a large deviation in the upper layer.

Fei Qian is now dealing with the newly added building block of Hedong Yuncheng.

Originally, Fei Qian thought it would be slower and more troublesome. Fei Qian even discussed it with Xun Chen in advance and asked Xun Chen to prepare it. However, what Fei Qian didn't expect was that Pei Ji accelerated the process.

Pei Ji is like a catalyst, but he himself is not involved in the interest relationship. Those who reacted were the die-hards from Fei Qian's side and the old Yuncheng gentry. It might have taken Fei Qian a while to identify and eliminate these die-hards, but now the time has been shortened and the effect is more thorough.

It's not that these die-hards don't know the situation they're facing, and it's not that they haven't seen the force displayed by Fei Qian, but the concepts in these guys' heads cannot be changed. A big man is a big man, but a family is a family.

With this old philosophy in mind, these guys are trying to come up with a new equation, a hussar is a hussar.

Under such guiding ideology, the powerful old gentry in Hedong, even though Fei Qian openly and secretly said that things were different from the past, some people still felt dissatisfied. But what's very interesting is that such people are often the stupidest among the nobles, and they are also the first to be betrayed.

Just like now, Pei Ji went out for a lap and harvested a row of heads.

Fei Qian sat at the top and looked at the heads.

Men and women, old and young, are like the harvest in the field, returning every grain to the barn.

Pei Ji showed no mercy at all when he beheaded these guys.

Not only was he beheaded, but he also registered purchases and sales one by one according to the roster, doing it meticulously.

"Among these, is there anyone familiar to Wen Heng?" Fei Qian asked.

Pei Ji didn't hesitate, nodded and said, "We are indeed acquaintances." However, Ji is willing to go to the Western Regions, because of this old friendship... It’s okay not to! 』

Fei Qian nodded.

This is a ruthless person.

However, in a place like the Western Region, if you are indecisive and hesitant, it will definitely not work.

Fei Qian said, "It's a long way to the Western Regions." Wen Hengke still has some unfinished business and worries, so he might as well talk about it. 』

Pei Ji raised his hands and said, "Thank you, Lord." There is indeed something wrong with my subordinate, and I hope that my lord will take care of it a little bit. His second brother has a weaker character and is often pedantic. Now that my subordinates have killed these traitors, there are still many omissions in the marriage alliance in Hedong. This subordinate is leaving..."

"Understood. ” Fei Qian nodded, “I will note this matter. But there is something else? 』

Pei Ji fell to the ground and said, "There is nothing else to do." 』

Fei Qian came down, helped Pei Ji up, and then had someone give him a brocade robe, a set of armor, and a war horse, which could be regarded as a courtesy to Pei Ji.

After Pei Ji thanked him, he set off directly with the team heading to Chang'an, without even returning to Anyi City.

Nowadays, Longmen Ferry and Puban Ferry on the river are still under the control of Fei Qian. In terms of convenience, it is naturally not as smooth as the Shaanxi Ferry. However, it still operates normally and can transport some troops and supplies. It is not too convenient. Big question.

Killing is often a choice made when the conflicts between the two parties cannot be reconciled or compromised, and there is no room for coexistence.

Fei Qian wanted to break the old subordinate relationships in Hedong and release the land controlled and hidden by the old gentry, so he could not avoid conflicts with these old gentry.

At this point, it was impossible for Fei Qian to give in.

Otherwise, everything he has done before will be meaningless and will cause doubts and turmoil in the original political group.

Therefore, if these old gentry and squires also refused to give in, they would naturally be left with a dead end.

It’s not that Fei Qian left no room, nor was he opposed to land sales across the board.

From a certain perspective, land sales are not a bad thing from an economic perspective.

Land can also be regarded as a commodity. Simply talking about the "goodness and evil" of this commodity is meaningless.

It's like discussing the "good and evil" of a knife.

What Fei Qian opposed and guarded against was "land annexation" because it was divorced from normal economic transactions. Instead, the landlord class used various means to rob farmers who owned land, sell their land and properties, and become propertyless. Sharecroppers.

Attention, it’s “snatching and plundering”!

Especially the "snatching and plundering" concealed under the "law"!

For the "right to use" the land, the tenant farmers have devoted their whole life's labor. They are firmly bound by the "right to use" the land and have lost all vitality and creativity.

This is sad and even more terrible.

Especially in Hedong, there are still a lot of hidden real estate.

These concealed real estate properties will not correspondingly reduce the output of acres of land because of their concealed properties. On the contrary, these hidden acres of real estate not only destroyed the institutional system of the country's operation, but also strengthened the ambitions of these landlord classes, causing one feudal dynasty after another to enter an irreversible cycle.

Fei Qian used gentle methods to ease the situation before, which is an attitude of tolerance.

But then it showed a tough side of force, which again showed that it was a non-negotiable decision.

Those who don't know how to change and adapt after being given two chances can only lead to destruction.

If it were not between wars, Fei Qian might be a little more patient. If given a little longer time, fewer people might die.

Pei Ji left with the family tree. Maybe one day a new Pei family will appear in the Western Regions, but at least it will be different from the old Pei family.

New things will always replace old things, no matter how nostalgic humans are for the old things.

After humans eat barbecued cooked meat, they will never go back to eating raw meat and drinking blood. Even if they occasionally eat one or two meals of sashimi, they will definitely not be able to eat raw or cold food every day.

This is the simplest development and change.

Once a feudal dynasty stops, it will decline and fall.

Only forward.

Keep moving forward, expanding to the farthest point that human power and productivity can reach!

So even if they really fall, some Chinese people will remember that they once traveled so far and built so big, instead of staying in a small room and boasting that they are in heaven and have rich products!

Sometimes, Fei Qian feels like he is becoming less and less like a person...

Just like facing these heads, Fei Qian might have felt nausea, vomiting, and fear in the early years, but now he can stroll around in the blood, and then casually outline the elimination of these people's lives.

I am also constantly moving forward!

Even if he wants to stop, there are probably many people who are unwilling and will push him forward.

Until...

The farthest point humanly possible!

Fei Qian thought quietly for a moment, then raised his voice and said, "Come here!" Hang these heads to the top of Anyi City and expose them to the sun for three days as a warning to others! In addition, the captain is ordered to come to discuss matters! 』

…

…

The hussar army rolled forward, and Xu Chu's vanguard and Sima Yi and Li Li gathered together.

"You did a great job. Xu Chu said to Li Li, "Don't worry about temporary failures and setbacks. Under the command of the lord, as long as you are willing to follow the three-color flag and never stop, you don't have to worry about falling and no one will help you." Help you bandage your wounds! 』

Li Li kowtowed and said, "The plow should break your body into pieces to repay your lord's kindness!" 』

Xu Chu helped Li Li up.

Sima Yi cupped his hands aside.

Xu Chu nodded, "Let's discuss military affairs first. Little else is said. 』

The old Han military system was very strange.

On the one hand, there is the crime of losing the army, and it is very strict. It doesn't matter how many times you have won before. As long as you lose once, you must be punished. On the other hand, they advocate that "victory or defeat is a matter of military strategism", so that some people can easily use this back door to slip away at certain moments, and then take office again after the situation calms down a bit...

For example, Fei Qian's approach, which is to teach martial arts, is relatively fair.

At least in terms of punishment, everyone agreed, and no one could say anything.

Such as Lu Bu.

The three of them quickly put aside their previous successes and failures and began to discuss the Zhongtiao Mountain Camp in front of them.

In the past few days, the Hussars, under the command of Sima Yi and Li Li, basically controlled the plateau area at the north foot of Zhongtiao Mountain, and also made some early detection and other preparations.

The entire battlefield was swept, and the main roads were even checked back and forth multiple times to ensure that no traps or secret passages were missed.

Temporary grass sheds were built on the high ground, and sentries were set up to be manned on a twelve-hour basis.

In addition, because Cao Jun has polluted and filled up the water sources more than ten miles north of the Zhongtiao Mountain camp, on the one hand, they are digging and cleaning them, and on the other hand, they have also established two supply routes from farther water sources. The car is in transit.

People from Shandong probably cannot understand how familiar water trucks are on the Loess Plateau.

After Xu Chu briefly understood the situation, the first thing he did was to walk the front line with Sima Yi and Li Li.

The soldiers of the Hussars army were building a camp, and the dust they raised covered the sky and the sun.

Cao's army on Zhongtiao Mountain obviously saw this situation, but did not send troops to harass or attack the camp built by Xu Chu's former army.

Sima Yi pointed to Cao Jun's Zhongtiao Mountain Camp and said that Cao Jun still had some cavalry troops at first, but as the battle continued, these cavalry troops were gradually depleted, so now it is difficult for Cao Jun to stop us from building with only infantry. of the camp.

After all, there is still a certain distance between the two sides, and the cavalry is fine. If you only use infantry, you have to go more than ten miles to attack, and then you have to be outflanked and intercepted by the hussar cavalry to get back...

So now Cao Jun was helplessly watching the hussars setting up camp, helpless.

"Do you have a plan for the main attack direction?" 』

Xu Chuduan sat on horseback and looked at the Zhongtiao Mountain camp on the plateau.

"have. ” Sima Yi pointed, “The direction Colonel Li and I attacked last time was one of them... But Cao Jun was not idle during this time. They were making some arrangements on the mountain, which should have strengthened the defense of these locations... 』

Xu Chu took out his telescope, squinted for a while, and nodded, "There is smoke and dust on the mountain." 』

Sima Yi nodded, "Either they are building construction, or they are ambushing." 』

"What about the other passages?" Xu Chu asked, "I remember there are several roads, but they are not easy to follow." 』

Sima Yi nodded and said, "That's right. I have walked through it with Hao Bodao before. Some places are really steep and difficult to walk. And after the last time...I think Cao Jun will be more careful..."

Hao Zhao is now stationed at Puban to prevent Cao's army from detouring and attacking the flank.

Xu Chu nodded, "Zhongda, do you think Cao's army will turn around and use the trail to sneak attack our army?" 』

The road is over there. If Sima Yi can walk, Cao Jun can certainly walk too.

Sima Yi said, "It is indeed possible, but I have sent people to watch several mountain passes day and night..."

"Several mountain passes. ” Xu Chu nodded and understood, “It is indeed difficult to be comprehensive. Such a big mountain... If I wasn't familiar with the specific terrain, it would be easy for me to go wrong when leading my troops into the mountain. 』

Sima Yi nodded and sighed: "That's exactly it." It's a pity that two of the guides died last time. Otherwise, the craftsmen could more or less rush to make a map sand table... The Qiang people are illiterate. If multiple people corroborate each other, it will be more or less accurate. Drawing a map based on the oral description of one or two people is probably the opposite. The army was harmed. 』

"Well, it's better to be cautious. ” Xu Chu agreed.

Most of the roads that Sima Yi used for his surprise attack on Zhongtiao Mountain are now sealed, and Sima Yi has not walked on other roads. The expressiveness of the Qiang guides is really worrying, and there is no time for the Qiang people to take the craftsmen to take another one. A new way to draw…

Xu Chu and Sima Yi looked at Zhongtiao Mountain lying like a giant snake, and they couldn't help feeling a lot of emotion in their hearts.

Before, Cao's army attacked Emeiyuan, and now they attack Zhongtiao Mountain.

One peck and one drink, as if there is a destiny.

At first, Cao Jun had trouble with Emeiyuan, but now it was Xu Chu and others' turn to have trouble with Zhongtiao Mountain.

"If I march, I will divide my troops into three groups. One will be used to feign attack, one will be used to intercept, and the other will be used to break the outer camp of Cao's army..." Xu Chu gestured, "Enter from that intersection, and then turn around the valley... …The only thing that may be threatened is Cao’s army’s camp in the valley. If they are shot at with bows and crossbows from a high position, there will definitely be a lot of losses…”

Sima Yi nodded and said, "General, this is a good route. But I also thought about another way, that is, from there...The mountain is higher than the surrounding area, so I can seize the top of that mountain first, and then suppress the other enemies..."

"That hilltop is not big, so I'm afraid not many people can go up there." "Xu Chu turned the telescope and took a look, "If there are fewer people, it will not be able to suppress it. If there are more people, it will be crowded on the mountain, but it will expose Cao Jun's weaknesses..."

Sima Yi laughed and said, "I just want to expose a flaw to Cao Jun!" 』

"oh? ” Xu Chu suddenly realized, “That way I understand a little bit more...”

"It's just that the last attack failed to detect the location of Cao Jun's stone cannons, but I think they should be in these places..." Sima Yi pointed with his hand.

"Stone cannons..." Xu Chu had a complicated expression on his face, "Zhongda, how many stone cannons do you think Cao Jun will deploy here?" 』

"Big and small hills are different, and the number that can be deployed is also different," Sima Yi said quickly, "If we follow our army's dense layout and deploy one every fifty feet, then there may be hundreds of them on the big hill, and there will be hundreds on the small one." There are thirty or fifty... But I think Cao's army should be deployed on the third line, mainly to suppress the mountain roads, so the overall number should not be large... There are about three to five hundred units distributed on each mountain road..."

"Three to five hundred..." Xu Chu repeated half of the sentence.

"Yes, and because stone bombs, oil bombs, etc. are difficult to make, the first wave should be the most ferocious..." Sima Yi said, "I want to occupy that mountain for this reason. If I can climb up and overlook it, I can detect it first." Where the stone cannon is located, you can use the big yellow crossbow to wait for an opportunity to destroy it..."

"forage. What is the situation of Cao's army's food and grass? Can some people go in and burn the food and grass? ” Xu Chu asked again.

Sima Yi shook his head, "It's difficult." 』

Sima Yi briefly talked about his previous actions with Hao Zhao, saying that Cao Jun probably dug some caves in the mountains to store grain and grass, so unless they invaded the camp and the caves, it would be possible to destroy the grain and grass.

If you want to light a fire to burn food from a long distance, it is not very effective.

The key is that Sima Yi felt that Cao Jun's grain and grass stores should be running out. It made sense to risk burning Cao Jun's grain and grass before. But if he tries to burn Cao Jun's grain and grass now, the results may be very mediocre...

Xu Chu thought for a while and nodded, giving up the idea of ​​burning food and grass.

Xu Chu and Sima Yi discussed for a while, then suddenly turned around and saw Li Li standing aside, seemingly at a loss, and asked, "Li Xiaowei, what are you doing?" What's going on? 』

Li Li asked with some confusion: "General Xu, are we going to attack immediately?" 』

"Who said that? ” Xu Chu was stunned for a moment, then he understood. He laughed loudly and turned to Sima Yi and asked, “Zhongda, haven’t you discussed like this in the past few days? 』

Sima Yi smiled and said, "Colonel Li is newly promoted, and some things are still unfamiliar... It is true that Colonel Li and I have never discussed this before." 』

Sima Yi bit "like this" harder, Xu Chu also understood, and waved for Li Li to come closer, "Don't be restrained... You are also a captain now, and you need to get familiar with this matter as soon as possible... My lord is wise, enter Since taking charge of Chang'an, the most common saying is that we are afraid of not having enough talent to be used, rather than fearing that we have many talents! And as a frontline commander, the most important thing is to make on-the-spot decisions... And how can this ability of on-the-spot decisions be just a given? 』

Of course, it was impossible for Xu Chu and Sima Yi to command their troops to attack now, but how could they not be excited in the face of such a big battle, and it was very likely to be a battle that would change the course of the entire Han Dynasty?

The discussion between Xu Chu and Sima Yi before the battle was also to reserve experience for the future...

After all, the world is so big, there are always some battles to fight.

Li Li understood a little, but also didn't understand a little.

But before Li Li could figure this out, he saw several cavalrymen running hurriedly behind them. It was obvious that something was going on...