Chapter 105 Chapter Fourteen

Yuan Shao's youngest son just recovered from a serious illness. Yuan Shao finally launched a large-scale war against Cao Mengde.In the first month of the spring of the fifth year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao actively prepared for the war and initially completed the formation of the Southern Expedition Army. Counting from the first military meeting where he was determined to conquer Cao Cao, it took about eight full months, that is to say, Tian Feng was already in prison. Spent eight full months. Tian Feng learned that Yuan Shao had made up his mind to march south, and cried in prison: "Cao Cao has just broken Xuzhou and recruited Zhang Xiu, and his arrogance is in full swing. My lord is going to throw a sheep to a hungry tiger. There is no way to go." Come back!"

After Yuan Shao heard this, he was very annoyed, and made people spread rumors to Tian Feng, saying: "What do you know, if you die one day earlier, the tree on your grave can grow so that people can hug their hands!" Tian Feng grabbed the iron window with both hands, and wailed: "Grand Yuan sent troops, Guandu is the biggest cemetery for soldiers!" Guo Tu said: "This old thing is cursing us, cut off his fingers!" A sergeant slashed at him with a knife, and Tian Feng's three fingers fell outside the bars, but he kept shouting and cursing. Amidst Tian Feng's cries, Yuan Shao's army marched south.

The final target of Yuan Shao's Southern Expedition Army was naturally Xu Du.From Yecheng (Yuan Shao's government) to the outpost Liyang, use this as the starting route for the attack.Yuan Shao already had a very clear battle policy: the most direct and powerful marching route is to cross the Yellow River from Baimajin or Yanjin, pass through Suanzao, cross Yingou River and Beiji River to Yangwu, and then cross Guandu River and Qu River, Then you can go all the way south and go straight to Xudu.This route of advance is also Cao Jun's main frontal line of defense.Hanoi County and Qingzhou in Sili District have also become the auxiliary fronts on the left and right wings of the main battlefield.

It is about five hundred miles from Yecheng to Xudu, and a normal march of thirty miles a day, even if there is no disturbance, it will take at least seventeen days to travel. Yuan Shao unfolded the map again: countless green arrows indicated that there were many rivers along the marching route. "Mr. Xuande, you are familiar with Cao Cao's military deployment. Which army has the weakest defensive force?" Yuan Shao and Liu Bei walked side by side. Liu Bei said: "Zang Ba's Qingzhou Army is loosely organized and should be the most serious weakness on Cao Cao's left wing."

Xu You said: "In my opinion, Yuan Tan's army should break through the right wing of Cao's army, and the main army of the Lord should break through the center to attack and eliminate possible threats from the left wing at the same time, so as to make up for the various difficulties we have in fighting on the opponent's territory for a long time. .” Yuan Shao suddenly realized that he should assist Liu Bei in Xuzhou in the past. In doing so, he would increase the advantage of the Eastern Front. Yuan Shao didn't know whether it was out of genuine affection or a sudden emotional agitation, he held Liu Bei's hand tightly and said, "Xuande, if I didn't send troops to Xuzhou with the child's lingering sickness in mind, the situation would be very different from what it is now. "

Liu Bei's emotions also seemed to be infected, and he said with firm eyes: "My lord, don't worry, aren't we just going straight to Cao thief's lair?" After careful analysis, Yuan Shao established a more specific combat intention: First, at the beginning of the battle, attack Yanjin's Yujin army with all its strength. If Yujin's army collapses or retreats, Cheng Yu in Zhencheng will inevitably become a lone army, making it difficult to defend effectively. This will cut off the connection between Zang Ba's Qingzhou army and the main force of Cao army. Tan's army will then have a complete advantage in Qingzhou.

Second, send people to encourage the people in Runan's hometown to respond, and instigate the county guards in Yuzhou to respond, so that Cao Cao will be flanked back and forth, so as to disintegrate Cao's fighting spirit. Third, strengthen the connection with Liu Biao in Jingzhou and increase the pressure on Cao Jun in Yuzhou. The Yellow River, the ancient river, the wild river, the turbulent turbid waves come empty, galloping away like a wild horse, like a giant pen dipped in thick ink, swaying the bloody and difficult history of the Chinese nation.The successful heroes, the defeated bandits, the banners of the victors, and the blood and tears of the losers were all washed away without a trace by the torrential Yellow River in an instant.

The water of the Yellow River comes up from the sky, rushes to the sea and never returns. The Yellow River in the night is so docile, as quiet as a sleeping baby in the cradle, and the roar during the day has turned into a low singing, like a lullaby that lulls people to sleep. Cao Mengde and his party inspected Guandu at the junction of Henan and Hebei in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River.Prior to this, in order to deal with Yuan Shao's military threat, Cao Mengde also actively adopted the strategy of substituting offense for defense.In response to Yuan Jun's deployment, Cao Mengde did not completely wait on the defensive line. Instead, he used more active and alert mobilization to seize Yuan Jun's weak links at any time, and used mobile warfare and assault warfare as his main tactics to disrupt the outposts and vanguards of Yuan Jun's Southern Expedition Corps. force.This is Cao Mengde's basic strategic thinking.

Yuan Shao began to march south, Cao Mengde's main force was still assembled in Yanzhou, the main battlefield, and the command was organized as follows: Commander in Chief: Cao Cao General Staff: Xun You, Guo Jia Commander in charge of land occupation: Jia Xu Logistics support command: Liu Ye, Ren Jun Captain of the Imperial Guard: Xu Chu Guard Cavalry Command: Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen Governor General: Xia Houyuan Directly under the command of the army generals: Zhang Liao, Guan Yu, Xu Huang, Le Jin, Zhang Xiu Commander of the Guandu Battalion in the special area (the general assembly theater under planning): Cao Hong

Zhencheng Defense Commander: Liu Yan Commander of the Yanjin Task Force: Yu Jin Commander of the Cavalry Regiment: Cao Mengde concurrently served, and Zhong Yao was in charge of logistics supplies. In order to cope with Yuan Shao's deployment on the east and west fronts, Cao Mengde also organized three independent legions. The personnel structure of each legion is as follows: Qingzhou Army: Commander Zang Ba (Lv Bu surrendered general), led the Montenegro Army to fight independently.The purpose is to contain the pressure that Yuan Tan's army on the left wing of Yuan Jun may exert.

Sili District Legion: Commander Cao Ren, a supportive reserve force with strong independent combat capability. Hanoi Garrison Corps: Commander Wei Zhong fought independently, aiming to contain the high-ranking army on the right wing of Yuan Shaonan's conquest. Cao Mengde's left-behind staff in Xudu, the base camp, is organized as follows: Left-behind coach: Xun Yu.General Xiahou Dun will be in charge of defense and support, and Li Dian, Shi Huan, and Han Hao will cooperate. Defense Commander of the Capital District: Li Tong, responsible for the defense and diversion operations of Jingzhou District in the southwest. Defense of Runan District: Yuan Shao's hometown of Runan may cause an uprising in response to Yuan Shao's actions. Man Chong, the prefect of Runan County, is specially dispatched to take charge of management and defense. Guo Jia broke the tranquility first. "The Yellow River is at the junction of Jizhou and Yanzhou. Yuan Jun must cross the Yellow River before launching a general offensive." Xun You went on to say: "Yuan Jun's attack outpost is set up in Liyangjin on the north bank of the Yellow River, and our army's outposts in Zhencheng, Baima, and Yanjin may all become the main battlefields of the initial battle."