Chapter 196: The Weiwei Raid

Just a few days before the war in the horse-land war fell into heat, an army of 8,000 people secretly crossed the Wei River. This army was walking lightly, without heavy armor, but had excellent swords and extremely fast action! The troops had less than 10,000 people, and almost no one could realize it across the river for dozens of miles. What was even more amazing was that their commander was Liu Zhiyuan!

Their operation was top secret. Liu Zhiyuan did not tell anyone in advance. Even Wang Jun, the deputy general of the operation, knew that he only selected elite soldiers according to Liu Zhiyuan's orders. He did not know until he crossed the river that the operation was extraordinary. All the soldiers thought: "It seems that Liu Shuai is going to sneak attack Guo Weizhi's back."

Wang Jun secretly advised Liu Zhiyuan when crossing the river: "Ship Liu, you are responsible for the heavy responsibility of the Western Expedition, so you should be in charge of the army. Just arrange for such sneak attacks to do it."

Liu Zhiyuan said: "You don't understand! You can't do this!"

Wang Jun knew that behind Guo Wei's car formation was Fengxiang Mansion, and there were sentry patrols on the north bank of the Wei River in Fengxiang Mansion - he had also prepared the Shu army, and the Jin army would bypass the south to attack, so Wang Jun believed that crossing the river and traversing the sneak attack was not a good idea.

However, Liu Zhiyuan did not cross the river and attack the south of Fengxiang Prefecture. Instead, he continued to stay in the morning and traveled at night. After crossing the Wei River, he crossed the Xigu. He went back to the place where the Meng Shu army was deployed in two nights and one day, and then he learned about the Shu army.

Meng Chang was shocked when he heard the news. He was shocked and suspicious, and asked Wang Chu: "Liu Zhiyuan is Shi Jingtang's right-hand man. He should be stalemate with Guo Wei on the north bank of the Wei River. Why did he suddenly appear here silently? What does this mean? He... isn't he going to attack me?"

Wang Chuhui pondered slightly and said, "According to the situation, it's not! Shi Jingtang's biggest enemy now is Zhang Mai, not us."

Meng Chang said: "That's true, but now the Khitan has the upper hand. If they are confident of defeating the enemy and Shi Jingtang uses the treacherous plot to take advantage of the chaos to hold me hostage, then he can come to Bian Zhuang to stab the tiger and eliminate Zhang Mai and I two major concerns!"

Wang Chuhui was a civil servant, and he was familiar with history books. He also knew that there were many similar conspiracies in history. He said: "Your Majesty should have this concern, but we should be careful. This is where I gather a large army. As long as we deal with it carefully, we will not make any mistakes. The visitor is a guest, and they are allies. Liu Zhiyuan is not an ordinary general in the Shijin army, so we should still see him."

Meng Chang was an emperor who grew up in a greenhouse in the palace. Although he had practiced martial arts and read military books, he was always frightened when he was in the battle. At this time, he was about to meet a foreign general who was famous all over the world and often fought in the northern country. He couldn't help but feel worried, but he still said: "Transfer."

Wang Chu replied: "He is an important official, so don't be disrespectful, and wait for him to come out in person."

Meng Chang said: "Okay, you go."

Liu Zhiyuan's army was stationed ten miles outside the camp of Mengshu Army. He led a hundred personal guards to the camp, but although only a hundred people were powerful, a thousand people were powerful! The Shu army was originally weaker than the Jin army. Wang Chuhui was a little scared when he saw it outside the gate, so he personally welcomed it into the camp.

Liu Zhiyuan walked in with his armor and walked all the way, but he saw that the main tent of the Shu army was made of yak leather and covered with silk, which was very noble and brilliant. Four small tents were protruded from the four corners of the main tent. These four small tents were extremely small, only five feet high and four feet in diameter. If a person enters, he stands up and pushes to the top of the tent, and lies down and cannot stretch his hands and feet. He thought that since Zhuge Liang, the Shu people invented wooden ox, flowing horses and crossbows, which is better than other places. This is probably another new military invention, so he asked Wang Chu: "In the north, the army is well known, but I don't know what the arrangement of the main tent is. What is the use?"

Wang Chuhui did not answer, but an eunuch who was waiting at the door of the tent burst into laughter. Liu Zhiyuan was a country bumpkin who had never seen the world before, and smiled and said, "That's a warm tent." He walked over and opened the corner of the small tent, and there were indeed eight charcoal furnaces inside.

Liu Zhiyuan casually said, "Isn't it just to put the warmer in the tent? Why do you need to build these four small tents again?"

The eunuch smiled and said, "The warmer stove is placed in the tent, and the smell is not good. If these four small auxiliary tents are set up, the heating can be borrowed into the big tent, but the smell will not be in. Wouldn't it be the best of both worlds? If it weren't for my genius, others wouldn't have thought of such a wonderful setting."

When Liu Zhiyuan heard that this setting was originally Meng Chang's invention, he frowned. Wang Chu replied: "My Lord has been waiting for a long time. General Liu please come in."

The main tent is so big, it is like a movable palace. The ground is made of high-quality Byzantine floor felt - this floor felt can cover the entire floor of the main tent. It can be seen that as for the essence of material selection and weaving skills, it goes without saying that even if it is placed in Byzantium, it is also the best luxury in the world. It has been transported to the Central Plains thousands of miles away, and the price has increased tenfold. In addition to the floor felt, the other places of the main tent are also very exquisite. The lamp must be glazed, the pillars are made of pear wood, and the decorations are mostly gold and jade. At this time, the army was expeditioning, and the north wind was whistling, and the huge main tent was still spotless, so the material must have been spent on this.

There was also an entrance hall when he opened the tent. There were four other palace maids and four eunuchs in the entrance hall. Wang Chuhui had already removed his boots and replaced them with a pair of soft and clean cotton-plated loafers.

When the palace maids and eunuchs saw that Liu Zhiyuan's cowhide boots were covered with mud, they wanted to take off his shoes and change them. Liu Zhiyuan's eyebrows frowned again, and his expression was not angry and powerful. The palace maids and eunuchs were scared away two steps. Liu Zhiyuan then stepped in with these sludge boots and transported the priceless and spotless Byzantine felt from Taixi, step by step. The palace maids and eunuchs covered their mouths and glanced at them.

Liu Zhiyuan walked into the tent. The big tent was divided into two parts, front and back. The front was a hall, where Meng Chang met with civil and military personnel, and behind was a room, where Meng Chang rested. But he saw that the civil and military personnel on both sides had already prepared wine and food. Liu Zhiyuan looked up and saw that there was a pearl curtain between the main seat and the outside, and there was a vaguely sitting inside.

The king came forward to report: "Your Majesty, General Liu Zhiyuan of the Great Jin Dynasty asked for a visit."

Only two palace maids took the jade fork and opened the bead curtain. There were carved leaves inside the bead curtain and a sandalwood beard bed. On it was a young king, wearing a spacious dragon robe, with a gentle and elegant appearance, and his every move was elegant and graceful. Such a rich and gentle atmosphere would make the two generals who followed Liu Zhiyuan in the scene.

Liu Zhiyuan thought to himself: "Did he come to lead troops to fight or hunt for a trip?" But he was not easy to say anything, and just bowed and bowed. Meng Shu's founding of the country was made by Meng Zhixiang. Meng Zhixiang was originally a general of the Later Tang Dynasty, and his status seemed to be Liu Zhiyuan today. Later, he seizures Bashu and proclaimed himself emperor. Although Jin and Shu are allies, in the hearts of the ministers and generals of the Central Plains, Meng Chang is just a prince and does not really think he is the emperor.

Meng Chang saw Liu Zhiyuan walking in with his armor and sword, and he was a little scared in secret. Seeing that he didn't change his shoes, he stepped on his proud floor to the point of being dirty. He was frightened and felt a little dissatisfied. He saw that he couldn't kneel down and only performed the courtesy of the host and the host, and he felt even more dissatisfied.

After both sides settled, Meng Chang asked Liu Zhiyuan about his purpose. Liu Zhiyuan said: "The last general came here this time, so he asked Your Majesty to dispatch elite troops to force the Wei River and attack Qinzhou together! Capture Zhang Mai together!"

These words were about to come out, not only Meng Chang was shocked, but Wang Chuhui was stunned, but even the two generals brought by Liu Zhiyuan were secretly shocked.

After a while, Meng Chang reacted and said, "What did General Liu say? Forced crossing the Wei River? Attack Qinzhou together?"

"yes!"

Meng Chang said: "General Liu, do you know how many soldiers Zhang Mai has in Qinzhou?"

Liu Zhiyuan said: "According to the spies' reward, in addition to the Modao Battle Axe formation arranged in the north, the unknown sweat-blooded cavalry regiment, and Guo Wei's troops who were in Fengxiang Prefecture, Zhang Mai's other men and horses, including the left and right Longxiang Iron Armor Army, were waiting in Qinzhou, and even Murong Chunhua's Yingyang Army, might be near Qinzhou."

Meng Chang said: "It turns out that this intelligence general knows it. In this way, Zhang Mai's army near Qinzhou has no 100,000, and 80,000. This is not the army that surrendered in the Qinxi prefectures. If even the army of Qinxi prefectures were included, there would be no 200,000 troops near Qinzhou."

Liu Zhiyuan said: "It is impossible to have an army of 200,000!"

Meng Chang said: "Even if there are not 200,000, there are always more than 100,000. General Liu is going to sneak attack Qinzhou, but he doesn't know how many people he brought this time?"

Liu Zhiyuan said: "Eight thousand people."

Meng Chang couldn't help laughing. When the palace maids and eunuchs next to him saw it, they covered their mouths and helped them laugh. Meng Chang smiled and said, "Using eight thousand people to sneak attack more than 100,000 troops, General Liu, wouldn't you go to a fire if you do this?"

Wang Chuhui also shook his head and said, "General Liu is a famous general in the northern country and is well-known, but this time... it's too ridiculous, too ridiculous!"

"Not ridiculous!" Liu Zhiyuan said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Mai's action looks vigorous on the outside, but there are quite unnatural things in it! I think Qin Xi's layout must be deceitful!"

Director Wang replied, "What's the fraud?"

Liu Zhiyuan said: "Zhang Mai used the Modao and Battle Axe formation to resist the Khitan. Since he was about to collapse, Guo Wei's chariot formation resisted our army and retreated step by step. These two troops should not be abandoned by Zhang Mai. As for Liangzhou being attacked and Lanzhou being attacked, that was the fundamental reason for Zhang Mai. However, Zhang Mai had no ability to send powerful reinforcements, but only came to clear the fields. As Your Majesty said, if Zhang Mai really had such a powerful force in Qinzhou, Lianglan Xiguo would not have seemed so difficult! Zhang Mai's layout seemed to be delaying time no matter how you look at it."

Director Wang replied: "What did he delay time?"

"I don't know this." Liu Zhiyuan said: "It is possible that Zhang Mai wanted to drag one of the parties to exhaustion, and then wait for the effort to defeat one of them, and defeat them one by one. But there may be other tricks. But in short, I think there is a 50% chance of Qinzhou being empty! If we can break in with elite troops, we only need 30,000 to 40,000 troops and cross the river and attack, we may make a contribution in one battle!"

Wang Chuhui was slightly moved, but Meng Chang shook his head and said, "Although I have never fought a war, I have read military strategy. I know that the attacking party must use more troops than the defense party to succeed. Zhang Mai has the Wei River to defend and Qinzhou city to defend. Even if he is really empty, the army that Qinxi surrendered has *** 10,000 troops. No matter how empty Zhang Mai is, he will always have 10,000 or 20,000 troops under him. Together, it is at least 10,000 troops. We use 30,000 to attack 100,000 troops, how can we have a chance of winning!"

"The Qinxi army, let alone the *** million, even ten thousand is not afraid!" Liu Zhiyuan said: "These are fence-stricken troops, and they can only be used as decorations. Whenever there is a turmoil, they will collapse as soon as they touch it! The real one who can fight is Zhang Mai and the personal soldiers around him. If our army suddenly approaches the city, he will be panicked, and the Qinxi troops will definitely surrender. At that time, Guo Wei's car formation and Xi Shengmodao were also shocked. Khitan was suppressed from the north, and our great Jintian army came from the east, and the Tiance army would collapse all over the line! This is a once-in-a-lifetime extraordinary achievement. In a battle, the northwest will be settled! Please make a quick decision!"

Meng Chang heard this and shook his head. Wang Chu replied, "General Liu, although what you said is reasonable, there is no evidence. According to the spies, there are Tiance troops patrols and guards around the states in Qinxi, and restrain the surrendered troops in Qinxi. If Zhang Mai had only a small number of troops, it would be impossible to conquer the states in Qinxi. It is difficult for us to know exactly whether the troops from Lianglan to Qinxi were 100,000 or 50,000, but in short, it is more than 10,000 or 20,000."

Liu Zhiyuan said: "Although Zhang Mai brought a lot of people from Lianglan, he may just pretend to be elite soldiers by militia. The Longxiang Army and the Yingyang Army may just be militia camps and pretending to be mysterious after being put on banners. There must be not many real elite soldiers!"

Director Wang replied: "Is General Liu's saying this evidence or is it just a speculation?"

"This..." Liu Zhiyuan said: "Although there is no sufficient evidence, according to reason, this must be the case!"

Wang Chu replied: "If the facts are true as the general's inference, our army's battle to cross the water may indeed succeed, but what if the general's speculation is wrong? Wouldn't it be that my Bashu children trapped in the fire pit?"

Liu Zhiyuan sent troops this time, but he only wanted to hide the secret and speed. He not only hid the enemy, but also his own people. He is a brave general in the north. Therefore, when he was inspired, he captured the opportunity to win and dared to take risks. If you want to tell him how confident he is, there is actually no evidence. On the contrary, this decision actually has many hidden worries and many future troubles. However, the lightning-like light passed through his mind, and suddenly there was a decision!

Although Liu Zhiyuan Fei didn't know that he would leave many flaws in such a short time, he had a judgment that was not entirely rational: as long as he killed Zhang Mai, the victory would be decided!

In this judgment, Zhang Mai's life and death are the key, and everything else is the branch. Even if you lose a local battlefield, even if you lose 100,000 generals and soldiers, even if the world is temporarily in chaos behind, you will not be able to change the victory!

This is the key that Liu Zhiyuan wants to bet on! He believes that it is definitely worth betting on the possibility of losing the key and winning the key, but King Meng Chang didn't think so. After talking about it, they all tangled around what Liu Zhiyuan thought of as "shortness", which made Liu Zhiyuan a little angry.

He suppressed the dark fire and said, "In this battle of crossing the Wei River, the vanguard will be the last one, and the Shu army only needs to be a backup. If there is danger, our army will take it. If I have great benefits, your Majesty will collect it."

It is important to know that Shi Jin's army is also very large, but it is strangled by Guo Wei and cannot move westward. It is not difficult to divide 30,000 to 50,000 people. However, the key to this battle is "speed" and "hidden". An ordinary army of 30,000 to 50,000 is like these 8,000 elite troops traveling a hundred miles across the Weinan Plain. It is difficult to cross the river twice without being noticed. Once Guo Wei notices it, the other party will naturally have a way to deal with it. Therefore, Liu Zhiyuan needs the support of the Shu army, which is limited by military geography.

But after hearing Liu Zhiyuan's words, Wang Chu replied, "You do the difficult things, we will take the benefits? How can there be such a cheap thing in the world?" The gap between Jin and Shu was so deep that it was originally above Tang and Shu. The reason why Meng Chang joined forces with Jin to attack Tang was entirely due to Zhang Mai's strong edge. As for the fact that there was actually no deep foundation of trust between Jin and Shu. On the contrary, there was a consensus among the elites of Shu people: whether it was Tiance Tang Army or Shi Jin, who would destroy the other party would definitely annex Shu Kingdom next!

Therefore, for Shu, the best strategy is that Tiance and Shijin are both defeated. The Shu army took the opportunity to collect Guanzhong and seal Longyou. This is also a thought that Meng Chang had before. Of course, it is not very likely to do this. To settle for the second best, it is to pursue Tiance and Shijin to maintain a balance. As for any of the Tang, Jin, and Khitan to achieve complete victory, the Shu people are unwilling to see.

At this time, no matter how Liu Zhiyuan was trying to persuade him, Wang Chuhui just shook his head. Liu Zhiyuan was angry and said to himself: "This matter didn't require me to be so dangerous. Attacking Tiance on the southern front was what your Shu army should do. If you could send 50,000 or 60,000 troops to attack the Weihe River with all your strength and advance into Qinzhou, Zhang Mai's reality and reality will be tried out at once. Then why should we just guess here? Now I'm here to bring troops to do what you should do. Who knows that it would be like this? If I had known this, it would be better not to help you, but there would be less control!"

Thinking of the anger, he slapped the table suddenly and said hatefully: "My Lord made a mistake and he became an alliance with the child!"

Meng Chang's face changed drastically: "Liu...what did you say!"

Liu Zhiyuan, who was unable to turn against Meng Chang in this fashion, knew that he had made up his words and said politely: "I will despise the martial arts man in the north for a while, and I will speak nonsense for a while. Please forgive me for your crime."

Meng Chang snorted, and Wang Chuhui was unwilling to turn against Shi Jin for this, and said, "In short, it is not a good opportunity to send troops now. But if General Liu really plans to attack Qinzhou, our army can use the road and cheer for the general in Weinan. But he has to say that General Liu knows that the Tang army is five steps per post and ten steps per whistle, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to attack Qinzhou."

Liu Zhiyuan said: "If this is the case, then go to explore first. However, if Qinzhou is empty, you will raise a fire on the north bank. At that time, you will ask Your Majesty to raise troops to respond! In addition, you need to ask your army for a number of ships."

Wang Chu replied: "The ship has to say that if Qinzhou really has an opportunity, our army will naturally not let it go."

The two sides parted in disagreement, Meng Chang was so angry that he pointed to the direction where Liu Zhiyuan left, saying, "This ordinary man looks down on me like Zhang Mai! Grand Tutor Wang, if it weren't for you to stop him, I really wanted to kill his head and send it back to Shi Jingtang!"

Wang Chu replied: "Your Majesty calms down. Although Liu Zhiyuan is a death sentence, the two countries are allies and should not kill allied generals without mercy."

Meng Chang snorted, after a while, his anger calmed down, and then said again: "Liu Pifu said that Qinzhou is empty, and Zhang Mai's subordinates actually lack military strength. What do you think?"

Wang Chu replied: "Liu Zhiyuan's analysis actually makes some sense, but the military strategy says: if the reality is false, the reality is true. Zhang Mai is best at playing tricks of false and false. Perhaps he deliberately shows weakness and wants to lure us into his trap."

You should know that on the battlefield, there are all kinds of information at all times. At this time, it is extremely important to judge the generals of the intelligence. Sometimes the same kind of information can also make two completely different countermeasures. It is not difficult for the military advisor to offer various strategies. What is difficult is how the commander accepts the judgment.

Meng Chang also felt that Liu Zhiyuan's plan was too risky and said, "Since he said Qinzhou is empty, let him try it first. We arranged a large army behind us. If Liu Zhiyuan gains benefits, we will beat the drums and cross the river. If Liu Zhiyuan fails, then 8,000 Shi Jingtang will die, and the overall situation of this battle will not have any impact."

The king replied: "Your Majesty is wise!"

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Liu Zhiyuan returned to the garrison and then summoned his generals to explain his true intentions. Wang Jun said: "It's too dangerous to directly attack Zhang Mai! Besides, we only have eight thousand people, although they are elite, after all, there are too few and no equipment to attack the city. It's better to report to His Majesty first and ask for reinforcements before coming."

Liu Zhiyuan said: "The opportunity to win is fleeting. I came here without asking for a call, just for the word "speed"! Not to mention the large army from Chang'an, even if the number of troops is directly ordered from my command, Guo Wei will notice it. Once the opportunity is exposed, the other party will have a solution to it! Eight thousand people siege the city too few, but as long as Zhang Mai's bluff is broken, the advance strategies of the north, east and south will be adjusted at that time, and this battle is inevitable! Since I crossed the Wei River, there is no reason to retreat! Why, you are not afraid of the Khitan's confidant, but are you afraid of Zhang Mai at this time?"

All the generals were inspired by Liu Zhiyuan and said together: "A real man is outrageous when he goes to the battlefield! But he listens to Liu Shuai's orders!"

Liu Zhiyuan nodded and said, "Okay! This time we don't seek complete victory, or even seek to escape without any mercy. Just win, so that the people of Shu know that Qinzhou is empty. Meng Chang saw that there was a bargain, so we would definitely come to pick it up. At that time, our goal was achieved!"

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In the northeast of Fengxiang Prefecture, a cavalry also took advantage of the dusk. This army had only 5,000 people, all light cavalry, but it was one of the most elite cavalry units of the Tiance Tang army! The leader was Yang Xin, the king of guns!

This cavalry was one of the important bargaining chips that Guo Wei relied on to fight against Liu Zhiyuan. At this time, he stopped and detoured from the north. Deputy General Tian Han rushed over and said, "General, Liu Zhiyuan has a strict layout. Even after nightfall, we are afraid that we will not be able to approach his main business silently."

"Then prepare to burn and kill all the way after the night!" Yang Xin said: "We have been on the defensive position for too long. This night attack is to catch them off guard and fight back! Our army comes and goes, as long as we retreat before Liu Zhiyuan's army gathers together! But if the enemy has the opportunity, we will step on them all the way!"

Tian Han said: "In fact, will it be too risky to do this?"

Yang Xin said: "Governor Guo was under Liu Zhiyuan's command, and his judgment on Liu Zhiyuan should be correct. He believed that Liu Zhiyuan must have other plans in the past two days, but he couldn't figure out what he was going to do for a moment. Our battle was to disrupt the chess game. Even if he couldn't capture Liu Zhiyuan, at least he would disrupt his position and try out his true intentions!"

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After the Chinese New Year, I started working, started typing, and started to update...

Thank you for your friends who still support Tang Qi. I have no other purpose to continue writing this article, I just code for you.

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