Chapter 119: No Journey to the West
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi beside him and said, "Sikong, in your opinion, what will Lu Xun do next?"
Sima Yi thought for a moment and said, "Lu Xun is blocked by our army to the east, with mountains to the north and hills to the south, so returning the same way is naturally the best option for Lu Xun."
"However, if we calculate the time, Wang Ling's troops south of the trailer should have already been attacking the trailer."
The Wu army was retreating westward more than a mile away, and Cao Rui witnessed this scene with his own eyes surrounded by 5,000 cavalrymen.
Cao Rui was naturally nervous, but as the Wu army continued to move westward, his nervousness gradually turned into excitement. After months of planning, could he see results today?
However, at this time, Liu Ye behind Cao Rui reminded him: "Your Majesty, I think the current priorities are, first, to block the Wu army's way back west, and second, to delay the Wu army as quickly as possible."
"We are still unable to determine whether the 15,000 men under Wang Ling's command have captured the trailer."
"There are 15,000 cavalrymen on the west side to stop the enemy. It would be better to let Xiahou Ru lead his 8,000 cavalrymen from the core battalion to attack the trailer with Wang Ling's troops to prevent them from being prepared."
"Although Man Chong's troops are still being reorganized, Zhu Gai's troops can be transferred over to take over and hold down Wu's army."
After listening to Liu Ye's words, Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and several ministers behind him. After seeing all the ministers nodding in agreement, Cao Rui then looked at Jiang Wei who was responsible for delivering the secret message beside him.
Jiang Wei knew the emperor's intention and immediately went to pass on the order.
Liu Ye's tactical suggestions were just for safety's sake, but how to deal with the 70,000 Wu troops on the battlefield was still a big problem that could not be avoided.
The 70,000 Wu troops were just a problem for the Wei army at the moment, but for the Wu army it was a fatal crisis of life and death.
After all, the 20,000 elite infantrymen of the central army led by Cao Zhen were on their way to the trailer without any resistance.
At this moment, on the battlefield covering a radius of dozens of miles, the Wei army had more than 40,000 cavalry. The available infantry included the 15,000 men of Wang Ling, the remaining 5,000 men of Jia Kui's army, and the more than 10,000 men who had been gathered by Man Chong.
The dilemma facing the Wu army was also very clear. On the plain, the Wu army had no mountains to the north and no hills to the south, and was surrounded by the smaller number of Wei cavalry. It was obviously in a critical situation.
At noon, the Wu army finally closed up and formed a long strip of three miles from west to east. At this moment, the Wu army was still ten miles away from the trailer that had just left early in the morning.
After arranging their troops, generals Zhu Huan, Quan Cong, Bu Zhi, Sun Huan, Chen Biao, Hu Zong and Pan Zhang came to Lu Xun's camp in the middle and east according to military orders.
Lu Xun had completely lost his usual calm demeanor. With bloodshot eyes, he looked at the generals of the Eastern Wu army and said, "More than an hour ago, our army was divided into two parts, east and west, by the Wei army. Although our army has been united, it is still surrounded by the Wei army."
"The situation is only critical, but there is still a glimmer of hope! If we can reoccupy the trailer before dark, the outcome is still uncertain."
"But according to the current formation of the Wei army, with so many cavalry, the Wei State should have transferred all the cavalry of the central army here. You and I both know that the Wei State's central army has 30,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. I suspect that the 20,000 infantry of the Wei State's central army are chasing us from the east at this moment."
Everyone looked frustrated. However, Zhu Huan was an exception. He said fiercely, "Why are you all so frustrated? The commander-in-chief is right. Our army's only way out is in the west."
Zhu Huan stood beside Lu Xun with his hands on his hips, looked at his colleagues and said, "What you are worried about is that the 3,000 defenders at the trailer have been captured by the Wei army, right?"
"Since we were able to capture the trailer once, we can certainly capture it a second time! Commander-in-Chief, my Zhu Huan's 20,000 troops are closest to the trailer, so let me be the vanguard and take the trailer back for you!"
As Zhu Huan spoke, he pulled off the helmet on his head and put it in his hand, then turned to stare at Lu Xun. His hair was untied, and sweat was radiating into visible heat in the cold winter. Zhu Huan's eyes were full of ferocity and determination, without any trace of the obedience he had shown in the Wancheng camp that day.
Lu Xun sighed heavily, took a half step back, and bowed to Zhu Huan: "Now the army is in danger, all because of my poor command. I should die to apologize, but I can't abandon the army, so I can only keep my determination to die for the time being and try my best to bring these troops back for the Supreme."
Zhu Huan laughed loudly, looked at Lu Xun, and then looked at Quan Cong beside him: "Grand Commander, didn't you tell Quan Zihuang that day that it was his business to select 20,000 of the 30,000 troops under his command?"
"I have overstepped my bounds today. Commander-in-Chief, the Supreme has entrusted you with 90,000 troops of the Great Wu. It is up to you to decide how to take them back. As for me, Zhu Huan, I will lead my 20,000 troops to clear the way."
After Zhu Huan finished speaking, he turned around without looking at the crowd again. He mounted his horse and headed west to find the 20,000 troops he led.
Since Zhu Huan had already left, only Quan Cong, Bu Zhi, Sun Huan, Chen Biao, Hu Zong and Pan Zhang were left here.
Lu Xun was inspired by Zhu Huan's words, and his slightly depressed will was somewhat lifted. Lu Xun said: "Zhu Huan's 20,000 troops are heading west, and we can't slack off at all."
"The original long and narrow formation must be changed, reducing the length and increasing the width, so as to reduce the impact of the Wei cavalry on our army."
Lu Xun glanced at everyone and said, "Hu Zong! You lead our 10,000 Jiefan troops to clear the way for the main army in the west."
"I obey the order of the Grand Commander." Hu Zong bowed and replied.
Lu Xun continued to assign troops: "Bu Zhi, Chen Biao! You two will each lead your troops, following Hu Zong and lead your troops to the north and south sides respectively." "Quan Cong, Sun Huan, Pan Zhang, you will follow Bu Zhi and Chen Biao in order. I will lead 5,000 troops to cover your retreat."
Seeing that Lu Xun wanted to cover the rear, the burly, bearded Pan Zhang was the first to object: "General, you should be in charge of the central army, and let me cover the rear!"
Lu Xun shook his head slightly: "Wen Gui, you are by my side, so why should we say whether it is you or I who will cover the rear? Let's wait and see!"
Lu Xun looked at the faces of the generals seriously again and said, "Everyone, return to your camp. After Zhu Huan marches west, the other troops will march forward."
All the generals took orders and left.
The terrain of the trailer is naturally dangerous. A few days ago, when Zhu Gai sent a vanguard to explore the way for the first time, he was shot by Wu army archers who were ambushed on the mountains on both sides of the trailer.
Not to mention that Wang Ling's 15,000 infantrymen have already occupied the strategic location of the trailer. The passage between the low hills on both sides is narrow and about one mile long. If the Wei army is deployed in battle array, it will be extremely difficult for the Wu army to conquer it in a short time.
And Zhu Huan was indeed about to suffer a setback here.
Zhu Huan had just left the main camp with 20,000 infantrymen when he was pincered from the south and north sides by Wei cavalry.
Wang Ling had just sent someone to inform the Wei army in the east that they had occupied the strategic location of the trailer.
After discussing with Sima Yi, Liu Ye and others, Cao Rui thought that it was now time to encircle the Wu army, and immediately ordered the cavalry to increase the force of their flank attacks on the Wu army.
At this time, Zhu Gai, who had been organizing the troops behind Jia Kui's army in the east, led his troops back to the battlefield. The Wei cavalry charged at the Wu army's moving formation, and the offensive became more fierce.
Zhu Huan's troops only reached the trailer after making great sacrifices and losing almost two to three thousand lives in the outer circle of the army formation to the Wei army.
However, after seeing the deployment of the Wei army on the trailer, Zhu Huan sighed and tears almost came out of his eyes.
What Wang Ling said was correct. He did lead his troops to occupy the trailer, and he did guard the trailer firmly by taking advantage of the terrain.
Under the premise of constant harassment by the Wei cavalry, Zhu Huan launched the most fierce attack in his life against the Wang Ling garrison in the trailer for nearly an hour and a half. However, it did not go as planned and he was unable to capture it.
At this time, most of the Wu army was surrounded by Wei cavalry and was still two miles away from the trailer.
The sun had begun to set in the west. Lu Xun observed that Zhu Huan's flag was still there on the east side of the trailer, but it had been attacked by the Wei cavalry for a long time and obviously had no way to attack the trailer.
The glimmer of confidence that Lu Xun had originally built up fell to the ground again.
At this moment, Lu Xun, the famous general of Eastern Wu, governor of Jingzhou, and commander-in-chief, had two choices.
The first was to continue marching westward, braving the repeated attacks of the Wei cavalry that were like a razor scraping off flesh and blood, and to advance to join Zhu Huan's troops.
But the place where the trailer is located is indeed difficult to attack. If it cannot be captured before dark, the Wu army soldiers here will be in danger of being wiped out because they are being pursued and have no camp.
The second option is to turn around and head south. The trailer is located in the south, and the battlefield is a long and narrow plain with mountains to the north and hills to the south. If all the troops are taken to the hills, there may still be some hope.
At least in the mountains, the Wei army's cavalry can't play much of a role. If they cross the hills to the south, although it is nearly a hundred miles away, maybe they can reach Wancheng and the riverside, and have a glimmer of hope?
Lu Xun sighed deeply, then waved the flag and sent messengers to the generals, notifying them to march southward into the hills.
Lu Xun's 50,000 troops gradually turned south, and Emperor Cao Rui, who followed Lu Xun all the way and commanded 5,000 cavalry to observe the battlefield, immediately understood Lu Xun's meaning.
Sima Yi stroked his beard and said, "I want to congratulate Your Majesty on your great success. Lu Xun knew that he could not go west, so he had to turn south and enter the hills."
"This place is ninety miles away from Wancheng, and nearly a hundred miles away from Wankou. How could Lu Xun and his Wu army escape? Your Majesty can definitely annihilate the Wu army!"
However, Cao Rui's performance was not as excited as Sima Yi. Instead, he sighed and said, "Since Lu Xun has led his troops southward and intends to enter the mountains, order the cavalry to stop killing and force the Wu army to enter the mountains."
"How long can they stay in the mountains? At most one or two days, then they will have to surrender."
"They were all good men. They did not die on the battlefield against foreign enemies, but died in the civil war. Since the Wu army is doomed to fail, there is no need to kill any more people."
Sima Yi was stunned for a moment, and after a moment, he nodded heavily.
(End of this chapter)
