Chapter 75: Abandon

After Cao Yuanzhong left, Zhang Mai immediately summoned his confidant generals to discuss how to deal with the current situation.

Yang Yi said: "There are three roads in front of us. The first road is to return to Gaochang regardless of everything, send an edict to Hexi, and raise troops from the three towns to attack the Cao family."

The old-fashioned people among the confidant generals thought this method was good, and Tian Hao said: "But is it easy to return to Gaochang?"

"It's not easy, but it's not impossible. We used the elite cavalry to cross the gate. Three thousand people brought enough meat biscuits and food to avoid the sharp and sudden weak brigade. According to my calculations, it should be fine for us to escort the PRINCE back. This is the least risky way for us."

All the generals were excited to think of the generals. Guo Zhang, who had already become friends with Jiang Shan and others over the past few days, suddenly remembered something and said, "Three thousand elites...that hundred tents..."

"They are afraid that most people will not be able to go to Gaochang." Yang Yi said: "Now that our communication with Gaochang has been cut off and we cannot contact Gaochang directly. Yong Shu and Xue Fu and others do not understand the situation here, so they cannot respond effectively. So if we choose this path, we must abandon all the weak people," Zhang Mai understood that the weak people Yang Yi mentioned are the people who have been relying on during this period, including those who fled outside Jinchang City, and the herdsmen of the Hundred Tents who have no combat effectiveness. "Along the way, we must abandon eight or nine out of ten peasant soldiers and six or seven out of ten herdsmen, and the three thousand elite cavalry should have a great opportunity to be preserved."

Shi Ba originally thought it was a bold thing to break through the pass and kill generals, but he couldn't help frowning when he heard this. The Anxi Tang army had two big banners, one was to follow the Tang Dynasty, and the other was to love the people. The method Yang Yi said now was to ignore the Baixin who would surrender in the future, and then use the newly returned Muqi and peasant soldiers as cannon fodder. There was nothing wrong with military tactics, but such utilitarian practices would inevitably seriously affect the image of Anxi Tang army in the minds of the people of Hexi, and even had a huge impact on the inner beliefs of Shi Ba and others.

Now the Anxi Army and the Guiyi Army are strengthening propaganda and smearing each other. The people of Hexi say that they are skeptical about both sides. If Zhang Mai fled back to Anxi himself when encountering danger, but left most of the people who came to rely on him. It is difficult to predict what changes will happen to the people's hearts of Shagua.

Tian Hao said: "Maybe this can be done. We ask them to spread all over Guabei first, and they will come to greet us when we lead the troops back."

Yang Yi sneered, "Don't make such naive thoughts. Although the herdsmen of the Hundred Tents have gained some benefits and love the courage of the Great Protector, after all, the New Tents has not been around for a long time. If we have been with them forever, they should continue to follow us. But if we abandon them under such circumstances, most of them will turn to Cao Yijin or Di Yin after weighing the interests. And as soon as we leave, the cavalry of Dunhuang and Ganzhou will follow us. Once we leave, these people who have attached us will probably face a purge immediately if they don't surrender." At this point, Yang Yi suddenly remembered Yang Dingbang, who had not heard from for two years, and sighed: "If my uncle and our old subordinates of Xinshuoye City, they might try to save in this situation, but the herdsmen of the Hundred Tents will never be able to wait for us stoically."

Zhang Mai nodded and said, "Yes, it's useless to say so much before. The people just see it. When Liu Bei was driven from Xinye by Cao Cao to Jiangxia, the reason why he could easily gain Jingzhou was related to his rather than losing his military advantage along the way. If we brought so many people, we would be afraid that we would not be able to escape the encirclement of the Cao family and the Hu people. But if we abandon them, they would treat us as strangers. At that time, even if we had all the soldiers from the three towns, we would only forcibly invade Hexi. It would be difficult for us to have any help from within. Our trip to Hexi would have become a waste."

Yang Yi thought to himself: "Liu Bei was driven to Jiangxia and never left the people all the way? Is there anything wrong with this?" But at this moment, he never studied this history.

Shi Ba shouted: "Major Protector, we cannot do this! The brothers of the Hundred Treasures Army and the elders of Guazhou are sincere to us! If others support us, we cannot let them down!"

Tian Hao said: "That's right, but if we bring so many people, we will never be able to break through and escape."

"Why do we escape?" Shi Ba said: "Let's go directly to Dunhuang! Humph, although Cao Zhengjin has many people, he may not be able to stop our iron cavalry!"

Tian Hao and Qiu Ziqian looked at each other. Both of them had been Shi Ba's bosses. At this time, the official title was under him. They couldn't say anything to this fierce general who had climbed so fast, but their eyes obviously felt that he was too aggressive.

Unexpectedly, Yang Yi said: "What Shiba said is also a way. If you use three thousand elite cavalry as the core, the peasant cavalry and the peasant soldiers as the auxiliary, you will first defeat Changle and use partial troops to attack Jinchang, but in fact, you will go straight to Dunhuang with a surprise soldier, then you will have a 20 or 30% chance to defeat Hexi in one fell swoop!"

Shi Ba was so excited that his blood was surging, but Tian Hao and Qiu Ziqian said in unison: "Twenty or three percent?"

"It's 20% or 30%, that's already a big deal." Yang Yi said: "Then it must be Changle's victory in conquering. Cao Yijin was caught off guard, and Dunhuang is really as Cao Yijin said that the military strength is weak, so we may succeed. But if one of these three conditions is missing, we may be in a dilemma. If two of the three conditions are missing, we may face the desperate situation of a strong city in front and a pursuer in the back."

Zhang Mai pondered: "Changle City has weak defenses. We have just come out of the city and are aware of its defense. If you use sneak attacks, it is very likely to capture it. But Cao Yijin is an old fox. Since he wants to touch us, how can Dunhuang not be defended! And I don't believe that the troops in Shazhou are really as weak as he said."

He said this as a quarantine. Yang Yi said: "If this is the case, then there is only the third way left."

"What way?" Guo Zhang asked.

"Put it to death in order to win the whole world!" Yang Yi said word by word: "It won the hearts of the people and the complete victory in Hexi! But if you follow this path, whether you can succeed depends not only on us, but also on how our brothers in Gaochang cooperate."

Tian Hao and Qiu Ziqian were a little bit, but Zhang Mai understood what Yang Yi meant. After pondering for a long time, he finally said, "I trust Zheng Wei, Xue Fu, I trust Uncle Yong, I trust Murong Chunhua, I trust Xi Sheng! I not only trust their loyalty, but also their wisdom!" He looked at Yang Yi, and found support in his eyes, and said, "Ayi, let's do it like this!"

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After knowing that the Cao family had already broken up with Zhang Mai, those who were far-fetched in the hundred tents were worried. If Guabei and Anxi bordered, they would not be confused, but now Zhang Mai's flying army is obviously surrounded by Shaguayisu.

"Zhang Dadu's guardian is invincible and may be able to rush back, but what should we do?"

Even if it is just a fool among the herdsmen, he will consider this issue.

Cao Kun, the captain of the auxiliary camp, brought a bottle of horse milk wine and came to search for Xue Yunshan. Seeing that there was no one around, he laughed at him and said, "Why, you can't go in? I heard that there are many people in the main tent of Zhang Dadushi. Recently, you have issued a manifesto and made plans, and flattered them. I thought I would definitely have a place to go in this time. Who knows that I will still be here to watch it!"

Xue Yunshan snorted and said, "I didn't think so much."

"Didn't think so much? Really?" Cao Kun said: "In order not to let Jiang Shan Xue Yunfei think so much, they deliberately asked them to lead their troops out for inspection this time, but to you, it seems that they are too lazy to use this kind of thought."

Xue Yunshan snorted again and said, "What the hell are you going to say!"

Cao Kun said: "What do you think I want to say?"

Xue Yunshan pondered and said, "Zhang Dadu protected my father-in-law and saved money from helping the poor. Now all the lower-level tribes who have turned over think that he is a hero who saves the world. I also think he is a hero, so I am willing to follow him."

"But you don't even have the chance to enter that tent now."

"Some things need to be done step by step." Xue Yunshan said: "If it were you and me, would you trust someone so quickly?"

Cao Kun made a haha, took out two bowls, poured the horse milk wine, took a sip, and exclaimed: "This horse milk wine is really good! Although the older generation said that there are many fine wines in the Central Plains that can be served at the Yaochi Peach Banquet, I think this maximus wine is already delicious enough. I can't imagine the fine wine at the Yaochi Banquet, and I always think it may be fake."

Xue Yunshan said, "It's just because you haven't walked out of Hexi. The Central Plains can stand for so many years. It shouldn't be fake. You doubt it just because you haven't seen it!" He also took a sip and said, "I think this horse milk wine is too sour. Since you have the chance to drink the jade juice in Yaochi, you have to try it anyway."

Cao Kun said: "But the situation of the Dragon Face General is not good now. I don't know whether he can fly to the nine heavens. If you are not careful, you will immediately fall into the abyss. At that time, we will follow him and drink the jade juice from Yaochi. It is very likely that we can drink the iron juice from hell!"

Xue Yunshan's face became a little ugly, but Cao Kun seemed to have not seen it, and seemed to have seen it, but he deliberately wanted to continue: "And, looking at their current behavior, I always doubt it..." He lowered his voice and said, "I wonder if they will abandon us in a critical moment."

"Give up!" Xue Yunshan browed. In fact, he had never thought about this matter, but he had never made any comments like Cao Kun.

Cao Kun said: "The man surnamed Zhang killed your father-in-law and did not take his property but distributed it to all the 100-tenth tent ministries. I admire him very much - this proves that he is ambitious, so he will not be greedy for money. But I dare not believe the loyalty and righteousness he said! Anyway, he can do whatever he wants to say. When a person is in good times, who can't say a few beautiful words! But this time Cao Linggong suddenly gave him a secret and forced him into a difficult situation. I think this is a good opportunity - a good opportunity to see his true face clearly!"

Xue Yunshan also lowered his voice and said, "You mean..."

Cao Kun said softly: "Let's see what he is going to do next, then we will know what kind of person he is. If they come out of the tent and announce that they will break through the siege and return to Gaochang, then we have to be careful! Now there are many people in Guashasu provinces that have come to rely on him. These people cannot fight. Not to mention fighting, they cannot even protect themselves. If they take them, they cannot walk. So if he wants to break through, the first step is to abandon the people! The second step is to select the breakthrough troops, which will most likely let the peasant soldiers attack the guild, and their main force will take the opportunity to return to the west. The third step is to use us newly surrendered people to pave the way so that their three thousand iron cavalry can step on our bodies and go back to Gaochang!"

Xue Yunshan said: "This...is not enough..." But he knew in his heart that Cao Kun's judgment was not only possible, but also quite possible!

Cao Kun said: "No matter what, you will see how they come out and say it clearly. If they say they want to break through, hum! Then we don't have to wait."

"What are you going to do?" Xue Yunshan was a little surprised.

"What are you doing? Protect yourself!" Cao Kun said: "If they want to break through, it should be possible for the three thousand cavalry to rush back. Jiangshan's inner camp also has the opportunity to follow them back, but like our auxiliary camp, most of them have to block the guns and knives! But, hum! I won't sit and wait for death. If they really have such a plan, I will have my way of survival!"

Xue Yunshan stared at Cao Kun: "You...are you going to sell Zhang Dadupu"?"

Cao Kun did not answer this question, but said, "Do you still remember a sentence that Zhang Mai said in "The Long March of the Tang Army in Anxi"? He said, 'If one day I abandon you, then you can abandon me!' Humph, what this person said is always so heroic, so people are moved when they hear it, but I don't want to believe it easily. What I want to see is what he does! Now is a good opportunity. If he really plans to abandon us and break through by himself, then he is no different from Cao Yijin, Di Yin and others. Such people are just a mouth! Naturally, it is not worth our efforts for him! Although I don't like to use conspiracies, in order to protect myself, some things have to be done."

Xue Yunshan knew very well when Cao Kun looked at him. Since he said such things in front of him, he was intentionally invited to join, but Xue Yunshan still said: "I want to see again that a person who can rise from a small place like Xinruiye City and sweeps across the Western Regions for several years should not be as unbearable as you said!"

Cao Kun said: "I hope he is not, but what if he is? Do you think: Even if the people cannot break through, the peasant soldiers cannot break through, and the muqi cannot break through, I should be able to break through after being by Zhang Mai - do you think so?"

"What are you saying? Did you know me on the first day?" Xue Yunshan said calmly: "Hexi is my root, Guabei is my source. If they use this root to spread branches and leaves, then I will of course be happy to follow. But if..." He stopped, as if thinking about how to speak, and finally said: "If his decision is to cut off our roots, then I will not wait to be worried."
Chapter completed!