Chapter 3438: The Gentleman Under the Wall

Chapter 3437 Gentleman under the Wall

What kind of system determines what kind of combat effectiveness.

This is not a new argument that has only appeared in later generations, but a truth that has been proven again and again in ancient times, even in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

In ancient times, theocracy and royal power coexisted. In the Shang Dynasty, the struggle between theocracy and royal power became fierce. The King of Shang and the King of Zhou were unwilling to let theocracy encroach on royal power, but the strategies they adopted were different. The King of Zhou learned from the King of Shang and did not directly conflict with him. Instead, he spread the way of divination, that is, Zhouyi, to the people and broke the mystery of the witch.

After breaking the shackles of the witch, the productivity that burst out in the Zhou Dynasty and the new system adopted made the Zhou Dynasty last for 800 years.

The Han Dynasty broke the shackles of the old aristocracy, which made the Han Dynasty have a lifespan of 300 to 400 years.

Shandong is mostly a place of scholars, so it is impossible for them not to understand this. They may not understand the definition of class, but they can appreciate these changes.

But when it was their turn to do it, they still liked to put shackles on others, and began to form a class shape.

The system of Cao's army also determined the combat effectiveness of Cao's army.

The core strength of Cao's army was composed of veterans recruited in the early stage and Qingzhou soldiers gathered in the early and middle stages.

These Qingzhou soldiers did have a certain advantage when facing the soldiers of the princes in other parts of the Central Plains.

This advantage, to a certain extent, was also brought by the system.

The princes in other places did not allow the "Yellow Turban Bandits" to survive.

There were many reasons why Yuan Shu was followed by the world at the beginning, but then rebelled against the world in the later period, but one of them was that the elders of Runan were not satisfied with Yuan Shu's collusion with the Yellow Turban Bandits in Runan, even if Yuan Shu said that he just ate fast food occasionally.

This attitude can be seen in the fact that after the Yellow Turbans were wiped out, the whole world praised Huangfu for his reasonable killing and killing.

Yanzhou's rebellion against Cao Cao was not only because Cao Cao refused to give him a position, but also because Cao Cao dared to make peace with Qingzhou.

At the same time, Shandong's hostility towards Guanzhong was also partly because Fei Qian had gathered a large number of "thieves" under his command, even more than Cao Cao!

Xiliang thieves, Baibo thieves, Heishan thieves...

Therefore, Fei Qian was a thief chief, which was almost recognized by the people of Shandong.

Before, Cao Cao's troops swept across the Central Plains, defeated the two Yuans, occupied Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Jingzhou, incorporated soldiers from other princes, and reorganized a lot of troops. Although these troops were not short of elite soldiers, they were relatively not very harmonious with the core of Cao's army. At the same time, these earlier Qingzhou soldiers also gave Cao Cao a headache, and they often looted and caused trouble in the countryside.

Therefore, the system of Cao's army was obviously problematic, but the problematic system would only expose its drawbacks when there was a certain amount of external pressure, just like the problems exposed by Cao's army at Suoyang Pass now, which made Cao Hong suffer a great loss.

Is it because Cao's army's equipment is messy?

No.

Is it because there are more old and weak soldiers and fewer strong and powerful ones?

No.

But when fighting against the cavalry army, they just don't have firm confidence and will.

When they have the upper hand, they fight smoothly, but once they are at a disadvantage, they fight worse and worse.

Cao Cao himself is also clear about these problems.

However, it is not very useful for him to know them alone.

In the early days, Cao Cao, like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, rose to power with the help of aristocratic families and local tyrants, so it is impossible for him to completely get rid of the stigma of aristocratic families. In this regard, he may have been influenced by Yuan Shao and followed Yuan Shao's old path. When Cao Cao found something wrong, it was already difficult to change.

Unless you cut off your flesh and exchange your blood...

Before planning, Cao Cao was worried about gains and losses, but after the actual implementation, Cao Cao did not toss and turn. His heroic nature was reflected. He acted according to the planned sequence, watching the bloody storm he had rolled up with his own hands with cold eyes, without any pity or softness in his heart.

Cao Cao wanted to reform the system a long time ago.

Xun Yu never agreed.

Cao Cao's feelings for Xun Yu were very complicated, so in the end, Cao Cao still did not break up.

But now, Xun Yu could no longer refuse.

The order and system of the Han Dynasty that Xun Yu hoped to restore are gone forever.

So this time, Xun Yu was also forced to agree to the reform. But only the Xun family of Yingchuan does not mean that the Central Plains gentry also agree to change and agree to cut off their flesh and exchange their blood.

Unless...

Cutting flesh and exchanging blood, is it painful?

Nowadays, Cao Cao is heartbroken whenever he thinks of the deaths and injuries of his brothers and clansmen in the war. But on the surface, he was still calm. Every day, in addition to receiving reports from various places and carefully reviewing them, he arranged the retreat and carried out personnel transfers. Every night, he went to sleep after finishing his work. Even though countless people died because of him every day, Cao Cao did not even have a nightmare.

Cao Cao has done his best to make adjustments for everything now.

But there are still accidents...

"Zilian went to Suoyang Pass? !" Cao Cao frowned, thought for a moment, and then slammed the table, "Stupid! Come on, tell it quickly..."

Halfway through the words, Cao Cao stopped.

The messenger arrived outside the big tent, but did not hear the second half of the sentence. He couldn't help but move his feet in embarrassment, lowered his head and did not dare to look at Cao Cao.

『Order Le Wenqian to march to Yuban Road immediately! Be sure to stop the cavalry from leaving Heluo!』

…

…

If Cao Hong knew that the plan he had made would eventually lead to an accelerated slide into the abyss of failure, would he still struggle?

The answer is, he would still struggle.

It's like a person falling into a swamp. Although he knows that the more he struggles, the more likely he is to fall deeper and drown, there will still be people who desperately grab and fish, trying to grab the last straw.

Suoyang Pass is the straw in Cao Hong's hand. He grabbed it, but it was light and could not bear the strength at all.

There was a fierce attack from Xu Chu in the south, and the destruction from Conglai and others in the north. It was like there was a tiger at the front door, a wolf at the back door, and a cliff outside the window...

The morale of the Cao army was visibly collapsing.

『General! Come up with a decision quickly!』

The military school urged.

『General! We can't stay here anymore!』

The guards also shouted anxiously.

Whether it is making a decision or not being able to stay, it actually means the same thing.

Retreat.

As the saying goes, a step back will open up a new world, and a gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall, and so on. Anyway, it doesn't matter what you say.

But what does retreat mean? Cao Hong knows it better than anyone else!

Once retreating, it is not too difficult. As long as Cao Hong immediately turns around and withdraws the troops in the south to kill Conglai and others, he will either kill Conglai and others at the north road entrance, or Conglai and others will be forced to flee again and give up the passage to the north road entrance. So Cao Hong can go straight to Heluo along the north road entrance.

But in this way...

Cao Hong may survive, but he will leave too many things behind.

The first is Qian Zhao.

Qian Zhao took the order to come to rescue in a hurry, but Cao Hong slipped away first?

This is not just a moral issue, but it represents the complete collapse of Cao's army's credit system!

Although there is not much credit left...

But you have to have a pair of underwear. If you can't afford it, you can wear a headscarf or socks. Anyway, if you have something to cover yourself, you can show that you are not naked. At least you have one layer of clothing, right?

But if you don't retreat, you have to fight Xu Chu in the south and divide your troops to eliminate traitors in the north. Can the Cao army, whose morale has collapsed, really complete the task of fighting on two fronts?

Cao Hong thought it was possible before, but now it is difficult.

"General!" Cao Hong's trusted guards bowed to the ground, "I have received your kindness for many years, but I have no way to repay you...Now it is urgent, I am willing to defend Suoyang Pass for you! It is difficult to go north or south, you can go down the mountain along the remaining path on the rock wall with a rope!

Let the substitute stabilize the morale of the army, and then walk down the remaining path on the rock wall? The remaining path on the rock wall, although it was demolished and burned before, only a rope is needed to go down from the top, which is much easier than going up from the bottom.

This is indeed a way. Because the confidant had been with Cao Hong for many years, he was familiar with Cao Hong's habits, etc., and when he put on the armor and mask, it was difficult for people who were not familiar with Cao Hong to tell whether it was the real person or the substitute.

Just like Cao Cao's previous substitute.

Cao Hong was stunned, and then he helped the confidant up, "How can I bear to let you take risks?

"General, now the cavalry is attacking from both sides, and the soldiers are in chaos. If the general's flag changes a little, the whole army will collapse! I am grateful to you and can borrow your armor and helmet to stabilize the army! 'The confidant guard said earnestly, "Now if we want to have the best of both worlds, the only way is for me to stabilize the whole army here, and you will quickly go down the rock wall and rush to the Zhongtiao Mountain camp, and then send troops to help. Otherwise, if you are really attacked from both sides by the cavalry, you will be trapped here. Not only will your personal safety be in danger, but the Zhongtiao camp will also be in danger! As the saying goes, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Please think twice, general! '

'This...' Cao Hong hesitated.

The confidant kowtowed again, 'General! Don't hesitate any longer, make a quick decision! I don't ask for anything else, just ask the general to take care of my wife and children! '

That's right, the condition for dying for others is to entrust your wife and children to the other party for care.

This seems incredible in the later generations, but it is very common in the Han Dynasty.

In the later generations, most people have names, but in the Han Dynasty, most ordinary people don't even have a big name, only a humble name, or even a surname!

Because their ancestors were not famous and had never been high officials, they were not worthy of a surname.

Therefore, in the minds of some people in the Han Dynasty, sacrificing themselves in exchange for their children to have a name and a surname, and a brighter future, is undoubtedly the right thing for parents to do for their children and their families.

Cao Hong was silent for a while, and finally sighed to the sky, 'Don't worry, I will take care of your wife and children! '

The confidant kowtowed deeply.

…

…

Compared to Cao Hong's hesitation and concerns, Xu Chu seemed much more determined.

Before, Cao Hong tricked him in Anyi. Although Xu Chu later stabbed Cao Hong, Cao Hong still escaped in the end. Now Cao Hong was blocked at Suoyang Pass, so Xu Chu had no reason to give up easily.

At the beginning, Xu Chu's main attack direction was the gate passage of Suoyang Pass.

In the city gate passage, Xu Chu also encountered a Cao army school who dared to challenge him.

In Shandong, there are also many brave and sturdy men in the Cao army. There is a Cao army school, who is like this. Relying on his bigger size than Xu Chu, he tried to challenge Xu Chu.

This man might be a good fighter in Cao Hong's army, but when facing Xu Chu, he couldn't hold on for a few rounds and was killed by Xu Chu.

The Cao army soldiers who came with this tough man were shocked and turned around and ran away.

Being big does have some advantages at certain times, but it also requires the cooperation of combat skills.

Xu Chu's attack also requires skills.

At first, Xu Chu and others wanted to follow the Cao army and directly kill the Cao army, but they were fiercely shot by the Cao army near the mountain road. Even with shields, many cavalry soldiers were injured by rounds of arrows and crossbows.

Seeing this, Xu Chu could only temporarily withdraw from the Cao army's range.

Although Xu Chu could also infer that the number of arrows left by the Cao army was small, it was not a solution to try it bit by bit with human lives. Xu Chu looked around and immediately changed the direction of the attack, avoiding the shooting range of Cao's archers above the city gate, and chose to build a ladder to climb up the earth wall connected to the outer wall of Suoyang Pass...

Coincidentally, this was also the route Cao's army chose to capture Suoyang Pass before.

When Xu Chu chose to attack on multiple fronts, Cao's army was a little overwhelmed, just like they had never been able to withstand Cao's multi-line attack before. Suoyang Pass is narrow, and the overall defense structure belongs to the model of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It is simply unable to adapt to the new war model that has evolved a lot. Whether it is Lai Lai or Cao Hong, they can only work hard on software, but the hardware limitations cannot be broken through.

The outermost circle of Cao's army quickly collapsed, and they all retreated to the second layer of defense circle.

Perhaps it was because the inner circle's defense area was smaller, the density of Cao's army increased, or the Cao's soldiers saw Cao Hong still standing with a knife on the high ground, so the two sides entered a short stalemate.

"Follow me! 』

Xu Chu, who had retreated to rest for a while, saw that the front line was blocked, so he immediately picked up his sword again and led his men to break through.

In this situation, whoever breaks through first will be able to roll the advantage like a snowball!

The place where the two sides were deadlocked was actually a small earth slope.

The Cao army occupied the upper end of the earth slope. Because of the advantage of height difference, when the cavalry army attacked upwards, the vital parts of the head and face would be directly exposed to the attack range of the Cao army, and the Cao army only had to prevent the cavalry army from cutting their legs and feet.

『Why not use grenades? 』

Xu Chu rushed to the front line and asked.

In a stalemate like this, most people used shield soldiers to push forward before, but now there is an additional option.

『The grenades are almost used up! There are not many left! I have to leave them for the general... just in case...』

The military school answered hesitantly.

In case they really have to retreat, it would be good to have a few more grenades to clear the way for Xu Chu.

The military school meant well.

Grenades, like arrows, are consumables, and the number of grenades is even less than that of arrows.

Previously, the cavalry used grenades to blow up the infantry line of Cao's army and break Cao Hong's arrangement, but they also consumed most of the grenades they carried. When they broke through the outer wall of Suoyang Pass, they used another batch. Now there are basically no grenades left.

"Stupid! Use them first! I am important, but the soldiers are not important? ! '

Xu Chu made a decision quickly.

The military school responded, but still did not use them all, secretly saving two.

The grenades were thrown up, and the Cao army formation on the earth slope was in chaos.

Xu Chu took this opportunity to pick up his sword and cut out a small open space.

When they just climbed up the earth slope, they were outnumbered, and the most important thing was to stabilize the line and let their own soldiers follow behind.

Although there were Cao's army guarding the earth slope, how could they stop Xu Chu?

More cavalry soldiers surged up.

The Cao army soldiers were all veterans. Even if their morale was low, they still had fighting instincts, and their deployment was not bad. A group of Cao army soldiers rushed over from the other side, all holding spears, and stabbed Xu Chu and others. Behind this group of Cao army soldiers, there were also several archers, staring at Xu Chu and greeting him with a round of arrows.

At this time, Xu Chu's ability was seen.

But Xu Chu had already picked up the shield and blocked it in front.

If it was during the climbing process, it would be difficult to block, but now that it has climbed up, it is naturally different. In addition, Xu Chu's shield skills are considered to be at the master level. The heavy shield in his hand is flexible and easy to operate. He constantly changes the angle according to the attack direction of the Cao army, not only covering himself tightly, but also taking care of his comrades around him.

Cao Hong and other Cao army soldiers believed that the cavalry cavalry was powerful on horseback, but their combat effectiveness would be discounted if they got off the warhorse. This may be true for ordinary cavalry, but it is an exception for Xu Chu.

Xu Chu originally took the infantry route, and learned horsemanship and cavalry warfare from the general of the cavalry, Fei Qian, but he was better at infantry!

This time, Cao's army retreated to Suoyang Pass, thinking that they could weaken the combat effectiveness of the cavalry, but unexpectedly gave Xu Chu a full stage to show off!

In addition, the Suoyang Pass was attacked back and forth several times, even if there were any insidious and vicious defensive fortifications and killing methods, they were basically destroyed. Now the two sides are competing to see who is more brave, who is more tenacious, and who has stronger hand-to-hand combat skills, and who can take more advantages after the two armies collide.

When two armies meet, the brave one wins.

Xu Chu's bravery in infantry combat is naturally top-notch, and Cao Jun can't resist it at all!

Ordinary people may be in a hurry to deal with the array of Cao Jun soldiers, but Xu Chu only needs to take a glance and know which side he should shift to, which side to dodge, block that part of the sword and spear, and then let the other part of the sword and spear miss.

Xu Chu also noticed the figure of Cao Hong on the top of Suoyang Pass, who seemed to still stand on a high place and command the battle. It is also an important factor that these Cao Jun soldiers are still resisting and persisting.

What traps did Cao Jun set up on it?

However, the structure of Suoyang Pass is simple and almost clear at a glance. No matter what actions the Cao Jun has, what traps there are, and no matter what Cao Hong's plan is, as long as he rushes straight into the middle and kills him, everything will be settled!

Xu Chu believes that Cao Hong may have seen the reinforcements coming, and maybe he is holding him and entangled him, waiting for his retreat to collapse and have to retreat, and then he will turn around to chase and outflanking.

For this, Cao Hong did not hesitate to use himself as bait!

In this case, Xu Chu would just swallow this bait!

As long as Cao Hong is killed, not only will Cao's army at Suoyang Pass collapse, but even the Zhongtiao Mountain area can be pushed down!