Chapter 33 Xu He

The Liang Fu Yellow Turbans are another branch besides the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans Guan Hai, and their leader is Xu He.

Xu He is also an old yellow turban. More than ten years ago, the great sage Zhang Jiao had already joined Taiping Dao before the uprising, and he was a die-hard loyalist. Earlier, during the Taiping Road uprising, there were many handsome men, big and small, but he was only one of the young generals. When Zhang Jiao died, the Yellow Turbans were defeated, and Xu Hecai gradually rose to prominence.

As Zhao Yu said, among the Yellow Turbans, there are always a few who have ideals.

It’s hard to say how far-reaching it is. Compared with Guan Hai, Xu He's background was even humbler. His hatred for the dark court and corrupt officials is even worse. Therefore, he has never had the idea of ​​being a good person. When Guan Hai vaguely mentioned it, he rejected it outright, and a rift arose between them.

Qingzhou Yellow Turban was divided into two, creating a gap. This was not what Guan Hai wanted to see, but Xu He deliberately did it.

He felt that Guan Hai was no longer on the same path.

Therefore, the two were stationed in different places. One was in Bo County in the north, and the other was Liang Fu in the south. Although they were horns and watched each other, they were not of the same mind.

Bao Xin led an army to attack, but it only numbered ten thousand people. How could it be considered by Xu He?

What's more, Bao Xin's troops are not elite soldiers.

Although Xu He is not a handsome man, he is still very good at using the crowd tactics.

He only sent 20,000 troops as bait, led Bao Xin into an ambush, and shot Bao Xin dead.

If Cao Chun's armored soldiers hadn't arrived in time, Yu Jin might have been trapped inside.

It's not that Yu Jin is not good at fighting, Bao Xin is the decisive one. Bao Xin insisted on fighting, but Yu Jin, as a subordinate, had no choice but to bite the bullet.

After defeating Bao Xin, although the number of soldiers and horses lost was several times more than that of Bao Xin's troops, a victory was a victory. Bao Xin even lost his life. Doesn't Xu He count as a victory?

It was time to celebrate victory. At this time, Xu He was drinking with his subordinates in Liangfu City.

During the excitement, a soldier came to report: "The county officials and troops came out in full force, tens of thousands of troops, rushing to kill them."

As soon as the news arrived, there was a sudden silence in the hall.

Xu He frowned and said, "What kind of Xiahou's troops are they?"

"The Chinese army carried a banner with the word Cao."

When Xu He and the leaders heard this, they suddenly thought: "Is it Cao Mengde, the dog official?"

"It must be him."

A leader said: "Big leader, Cao Mengde must have sent troops to avenge Bao Xin's death."

Xu He nodded: "Cao Mengde is coming to attack. What do the leaders think?"

"Cao Mengde only has a mere 10,000 people. The big leader's army of 200,000 people can drown him with just a drop of spit from one person."

Everyone was chatting, and they were speaking boldly, but in fact, everyone looked a little heavy.

Fight against Cao Mengde not once or twice. Failures are certainly not accidental. Cao Mengde was good at fighting and his soldiers were fierce. He defeated them steadily. Even if his troops were twenty times stronger, he still felt guilty.

Xu He then asked the soldiers who came to report: "Where has Cao Mengde's army arrived? How long is it until Liang Fu?"

"The forward of Cao Mengde's army is about 2,000, and the middle army is 8,000. The forward is already ten miles away."

"It came so quickly."

Xu He pondered for a moment, then looked at the leaders and said, "There are only two strategies right now, either to send troops to attack, or to defend the city. What do the leaders think?"

"this..."

Leaders, you look at me, I look at you, they are all silent.

After a long time, someone said: "Cao Mengde is good at field battles. Our army is better to defend the city. When his food and grass are cut off, we will naturally lead the troops away."

Someone raised his head, and then everyone came up with their own suggestions. Someone said: "We have a lot of troops, so if we defend the city, we won't be afraid of him. But we have to wait until his food and grass are cut off. I'm afraid it won't be possible. It's better to send an army out of the city first and not fight." Cao Mengde, just keep an eye on his food path, only in this way can you achieve success."

"It makes sense!"

Many leaders thought so.

Xu He nodded: "Forget it, that's it. Who is willing to lead troops to rob his food route?"

"Big boss, let me go."

Sima Ju stood up.

"Okay, this matter is important, let's leave it to Brother Sima."

When Cao Mengde came, everyone was no longer interested in celebrating. Xu He ordered everyone to go back to their homes and prepare for the battle.

After the leaders left, Xu He, alone, looked gloomy.

In fact, Xu He knew very well that Liang Fu wouldn't be able to hold on here for long. The leader of his subordinates proposed to rob the grain road, but their own grain and grass were also almost unable to support them.

Just like Guan Hai, Xu He was actually planning to plunder food and grass from elsewhere, but he had not chosen a target yet.

If Cao Mengde had come a few days later, Xu He's main force might have left Liang Fu. However, now that Cao Mengde's army suddenly arrived, Xu He did not dare to move.

Facing Cao Mengde, Xu He did not dare to fight with him in the field no matter how much superior his strength was. If he led his troops out of the city to escape at this time, once Cao Mengde attacked him, Xu He could almost predict the outcome - a huge rout would be unavoidable. We can only bite the bullet and stick to it.

Sighing slightly, Xu He summoned his men, donned armor and held swords, led horses, and headed towards the city wall.

...

Yu Jin led two thousand elite soldiers as the vanguard and sent out scouts. The army rushed forward and saw Liang Fu watching.

A scout came to report: "A group of thieves were found leaving the city and heading north."

Yu Jin reined in the reins and issued an order: "The army will rest temporarily!"

Then he said to the left and right: "Get the map."

Opening the map, Yu Jin looked at it carefully and asked the scout, "How many people are there?"

"About twenty to thirty thousand."

"Twenty to thirty thousand..." Yu Jin frowned.

If they were to fight against these 20,000 to 30,000 thieves, Yu Jin would not be afraid. Although he has two thousand soldiers and horses, they are all elite soldiers in steel armor. A mere mob will be defeated at the first touch, and he has absolute confidence in the ban. It's just that this bandit army went north, and it was clear that they were not here to fight.

He said: "Let's explore again."

Then he said to the officers on the left and right: "In broad daylight, our army did not hide its whereabouts. Liang Fu's thieves must know it. He sent out 20,000 to 30,000 troops and horses, but he did not come to stop my vanguard, but went north into the mountains. You think, Why is this?"

An officer asked: "Do we want to set up camp in the mountains and become enemies with Liang Fu?"

"It's possible." Yu Jin nodded: "But I don't think so."

He said: "The thieves want to set up camp, but I'm afraid it's too late now. If our army were to attack at this time, they would be able to defeat them before they could cut down the wood for their camp."

"Why is that?"

"Making a posture, or..." Yu mused in the forbidden mind: "Either use the momentum to hide in the mountains to threaten my rear or flanks, so that our army does not dare to use all its strength, and must be distracted to guard against him. Or it is to... thieves There are many soldiers, but our army is strong. The many previous battles must have made him remember it. He must not expect to come back from the encirclement and defeat our army. It is also impossible to ask for help. The Yellow Turbans in Bo County have surrendered. Then there is only one Possibly, they are trying to force our troops to withdraw."

So he called Qingqi: "Report this matter to Duke Cao quickly, without making any mistakes."

Then he said to his left and right: "If the bandit army enters the mountain, let them enter the mountain. My vanguard's goal remains unchanged and the troops will enter Liang Fu."

Cao Mengde's army, which was only seven or eight miles behind, received the news from Yu Jin and couldn't help but said to Xia Houdun: "Yu Wenze is really capable."

He said: "The thieves will never dare to go out of the city to fight with me. I have elite soldiers in steel armor. It will be easy to defeat him. They just want to cut off my food routes or attack the county to force me to withdraw my troops."

Cao Mengde pondered for a moment and counted the geography of this area in his mind. He said to Xiahou Dun: "Yuan Rang, you lead two thousand men and horses to ambush at Youlai Mountain Pass. I predict that the traitors will come out from here. Although I don't think so. The thieves take it seriously, but 20,000 to 30,000 people are not a small number after all. If we are allowed to wreak havoc, I will feel uneasy."

"Here!"

Xiahou Dun accepted the order, led two thousand soldiers and horses, separated from the central army, and headed for Youlai Mountain Pass.

When the bandit soldiers split up and head north, they must take a detour, come out of Yulai Pass, go straight behind the army, and even attack counties, so as to cut off the food route. Cao Mengde had a rift in his heart, which he had known for a long time.

After Xiahou Dun divided his troops and left, Cao Mengde's army did not stop. In the afternoon, they arrived at Liangfu City.

At this time, Yu Jin was calling for formation under the city.

"Bo County has been conquered by Cao Gong, and 300,000 Yellow Turbans have surrendered. Cao Gong has the virtue of a good life. He does not kill, but rather lives and settles. If you Liang Fu Yellow Turbans understand the current situation, you will quickly open the city gates and abandon your weapons. Just tie him up, otherwise when the army comes and breaks the city, he will be crushed into powder and will never recover!"

Cao Mengde could vaguely hear this and couldn't help but said to Dian Wei beside him: "Yu Wenze is well versed in the art of using troops."

Dian Wei scratched his forehead and smiled innocently.

Cao Mengde laughed. He knew that talking to a fool like Dian Wei about how to use troops was a mistake, so he said: "Send my order and the army will set up camp."

Cao Mengde knew that the thieves in the city did not dare to come out. At this time, the army was a little tired after traveling for half a day, so it was time to take a rest.

Seeing that Cao Mengde's army had arrived, Yu Jin withdrew his troops and came to see him.

"Mr. Cao, the thieves dare not leave the city."

Cao Mengde looked at the city in the distance and saw the bustling figures above. He nodded and said, "The Yellow Turbans have been defeated in many battles before. They are already frightened. When my army comes to attack, how can he dare to come out?"

Yu Jin said: "But... our army is small and we cannot trap the city. He can leave as he pleases."

Cao Mengde smiled and said: "He is frightened, how can he dare to leave? He also drags his family with him, for fear of being implicated by me. He will definitely defend the city. Send more light cavalry to monitor the surroundings, I bet even Xu He will not dare to move."

"What Mr. Cao means is..."

Yu Jin was thoughtful.

"I only need to hold him back to win." Cao Mengde said: "Mr. Zhao has gone to Beihai to surrender to Guan Hai. Once Guan Hai surrenders, Liang Fu's Yellow Turban will truly be alone. By then, he will have to surrender even if he doesn't surrender. drop."

Yu Jin suddenly realized: "Cao Gong is wise."

Cao Mengde shook his head: "It's not my wisdom, but Mr. Zhao's contribution. If not, I don't know how much effort it would take to subdue these yellow scarves."

So Cao Mengde only had a few thousand men and sent some light cavalry to monitor everywhere, so that Xu He in the city did not dare to move.

After three days of this, they still did not attack the city.

Xu He felt uneasy and asked the leader to discuss the matter.

Someone said: "This Cao Mengde fights but does not fight, retreats but does not retreat. What does he mean?"

"Could it be that Guan Hai of Bo County really surrendered? I'm afraid he is waiting for the troops of Bo County."

"Then what should we do? Boss Guan also has 200,000 soldiers and horses. If we surrender Cao Mengde, our army will have no advantage."

"In my opinion, it is better to leave Liang Fu as soon as possible. The longer it is delayed, the harder it will be to escape."

Someone suggested: "Big leader, Cao Mengde came to attack just because our army wants to attack Yanzhou. Why don't we send someone to him and say: If you don't attack Yanzhou, you are going to Xuzhou. Ask him to withdraw his troops temporarily and let me leave." What does the leader think?"

Xu He couldn't think of anything else, so he had to say: "You can give it a try."