novelAbuy Chapter 1370 Sending Letters
Chapter 1370 Sending Letters
Chapter 1370 Sending Letters
When General Feng visited Weishui and met with his old subordinates this summer, he asked about the matter of the General Military Office.
Among the issues raised by former staff, the most prominent one is the shortage of teaching staff.
At that time, Feng Da Sima replied, "Next year there should be a group of soldiers retiring from the army."
This sentence actually shows one thing:
Mr. Feng has already prepared for heavy sacrifices in this battle.
This is not groundless worry, but facing reality.
To be honest, Ji Han's current domestic economic and military systems can be said to have crushed Wei and Wu.
But it was still a feudal society, at most it could be regarded as a feudal society where handicraft workshops were developing rapidly and the sprouts of capitalism could be bred at any time.
The two most representative industries of handicraft workshops - metallurgy and textiles - have developed greatly in Jihan.
For example, in the metallurgical industry, the Wei and Wu states still regarded refined steel as a treasure, but the Han Dynasty was already able to forge steel with water power at will.
The Wei and Wu states were still using charcoal or coal as fuel, while the Han Dynasty had already been using coke.
Not to mention the textile industry.
The reason why it is said that the sprouts of capitalism may be born at any time is precisely because of the rapid development of the textile industry.
Looking at later history, the emergence of capitalism in most countries basically started in the textile industry.
But these are just possibilities.
The upper limit of feudal society is there. The Han Dynasty, which is still in the feudal society, cannot exceed its limit no matter how strong its logistics support system is.
Therefore, regarding this winter military expedition, Sima Feng cannot be too optimistic. He must be mentally prepared for heavy casualties.
When Emperor Gaodi fought Maodun in Taiyuan, due to insufficient preparation, two or three out of ten soldiers lost fingers in the cold winter.
What is this concept?
One-fifth or even one-third of the soldiers had their fingers frozen off.
Now that General Feng is personally leading the army to fight the bandits, it is naturally impossible for this situation to occur.
So be careful.
So Sima Feng ordered Wang Ping, one of his four minions, to be careful.
Wang Ping can be said to be one of the earliest people to follow Feng. He has been tied to Feng since Feng was manipulated by the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty.
Even General Zhendong came later than him.
As one of the five people of the four minions, Wang Ping deeply understood the spirit of Feng Dasima.
So they first set up camps around the entrance to the valley leading to Jingxing, preparing for a long-term attack without seeking a quick victory.
As the easiest pass among the Eight Passes in Taihang Mountains and the only one that can be traveled by horses and vehicles, although the mountain is blocked by heavy snow, if someone is not afraid of death and is determined to pass through it, it may not be impossible.
Setting up a camp at the mouth of the valley can also prevent spies from sending news back to Yecheng through Jingxing.
Jingxing was Sima Yi's main focus in this battle.
After many spies and scouts froze to death or fell off the cliff, the news west of Jingxing finally reached Sima Yi's ears.
Does the bandit Feng really want to attack Jingxing by force?
This was something that was expected, but Sima Yi always felt uneasy.
The thief Feng is extremely cunning and likes to win by surprise. Since he came out of the mountain, he has never been a man who follows the rules.
Now everything this thief does is within expectations and reasonable, which makes people feel a little uneasy.
What is the real intention of Feng Ze?
Alas, if only Zhuge Liang were still alive.
The thief Ge does not like tricks and likes to do things in an upright manner.
If he were in Jinyang, he might not have to think so much about his opponent's intentions.
"Feng thief, Feng thief, Feng thief..."
Sima Yi kept mumbling to himself, and was puzzled. He asked Tuoba Xilu to come and ask, "I asked you to send someone to report back to the tribe. When can you send him back?"
Originally, Tuoba Xilu was somewhat in awe of Sima Yi.
However, no one expected that as soon as the Han army made any movement, Sima Yi suddenly turned into a mentally ill old man, mumbling incoherently all day long.
The Han army has just begun its march and attack, and it looks like this.
If they really cross the Taihang Mountains and enter Hebei, are you sure they won't be scared and flee in panic?
Looking at the disheveled, haggard, worried old man in front of him, Tuoba Xilu's awe disappeared unconsciously.
Instead, there is doubt.
Nanxia Taifu?
Lord of Hebei?
That's it?
Okay ah?
At this time, he even doubted whether it was a mistake for the adults to form an alliance with Sima Yi.
If his tribe had a population as large as that of Hebei and so much food and weapons, let alone relying on Taihang Mountains for defense, it is possible that Taihang Mountains would still be an obstacle for Tuoba Xianbei to sweep away the Han army.
If that were to happen, the Great Xianbei would be able to rise again and become the true master of the grassland, and even complete the unfinished business of Lord Tan Shihuai.
It took the Han Dynasty hundreds of years to train the Huns into watchdogs.
It has only been a few decades since the era of Tan Shihuai, who forced the Han emperor to send a bride to seek peace but failed.
Although King Feng Gui drove out the Western Xianbei, killed Kebi Neng, and subdued Budugen, it can almost be said that the Xianbei people's bones were broken.
But it still takes time for the Xianbei people to become like the Xiongnu people, from the outside to the inside, from the body to the heart.
So when Tuoba Xilu saw Sima Taifu like this, his wolf nature quietly emerged.
The habit of the strong preying on the weak on the grassland even made Tuoba Xilu feel a little contemptuous:
"Master Taifu, it is now the middle of winter, with heavy snow covering the ground. There are many cities in Nanxia. As long as you can find the way, you will not be afraid of getting lost."
"But the grassland is different. There are no roads after leaving the border, let alone any cities. There is snow everywhere, and it is difficult to even tell the direction."
"Don't even mention sending a few people to deliver the letter. Even if we send a hundred people, we may not be able to deliver the letter to the tribe."
It’s not a big deal if you can’t find the way.
If you walk in the snow continuously for a long time, your eyelids will become red and swollen, your eyes will feel like they are filled with sand, you will tear up and feel unbearable pain, and you will not even be able to see clearly.
Moreover, at this time on the grassland, both people and animals were suffering from hunger and cold.
There is no difference between people and animals who are shivering with cold and whose eyes are turning green with hunger.
When you meet a lone or small group of people, will they first ask you where you are from?
I just wish I could swallow you into my stomach in one gulp!
"The messenger I sent is waiting at the border. As soon as the snow melts, he will leave the border and report back to the tribe."
"Why haven't you left the border yet?" Sima Yi frowned, his brows so deep that they could kill a mosquito. "Can't you think of a way to leave earlier?"
"Master Sima, you are not from the grassland, so you don't know how difficult it is on the grassland at this time." Tuoba Xilu shook his head and sighed, "To be honest, walking on the grassland at this time is probably not much easier than crossing the Taihang Mountains."
When Sima Yi heard Tuoba Xilu's excuses, even though he was an experienced and shrewd person, he couldn't help but sigh.
I almost cursed him as a "short-sighted and ignorant idiot".
I am sixty-eight now, almost seventy!
How many people in this world can live to be seventy years old?
I have eaten more salt than you have eaten millet.
After the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the early years, the Hu people in Hebei were everywhere. From Taiyuan to Hanoi, which noble family had not dealt with those Hu people?
What do you think so many Wubao are for?
How could I not know what the situation is like on the grassland in winter?
Do you still need to tell me?
If one person can't deliver the letter across the border, why not send two?
If two aren’t enough, why not send three?
Three isn’t enough, how about four, five, six, seven, or eight?
We are really short of manpower, please tell me!
Would I just sit there and do nothing?
I just don’t believe that, with the power you Tuoba Xianbei have on the grassland now, there would be any tribe that dares to specifically kill your messengers.
At the beginning, I thought Tuoba Liwei was a capable person and had good vision.
How could I give birth to such a visionless son?
And he even sent him to Yecheng to disgust himself.
At the critical moment of life and death, if they were reluctant to let those few people die, would they wait for the whole clan to be exterminated? Or would they wait for Feng to work as laborers?
Although he didn't know what the situation was on the west side of Taihang Mountain, Sima Taifu was almost certain that there were definitely Han troops stationed in Pingcheng at this time, ready to move at any time.
If it were me, I would make the same choice.
Taking advantage of the heavy snow that cut off the communication between the grassland and Hebei, they used the elite cavalry of the Han army to create a time difference.
As soon as the snow melts a little, they will sweep across the northern border at the fastest speed as soon as there is a chance.
With the speed of the Han cavalry, by the time Tuoba Liwei gets the news and gathers his troops, the Han army will probably be able to attack all the checkpoints in the north in turn!
Mr. Feng sent out his troops in winter, probably with this in mind, wanting to defeat the enemies one by one as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, the alliance between Hebei and Tuoba Xianbei probably put pressure on Feng, causing him to make this choice.
Thinking of the speed of the cavalry of Guan, the "Hedong Yihu", when they swept across Hedong in Bingzhou, Sima Yi felt a pang of fear in his heart.
The grasslands north of Jizhou and Youzhou are far more suitable for cavalry combat than Bingzhou!
He didn't want to experience the feeling of being stabbed in the back again.
"Then send more people, send more times, and you will eventually be able to deliver it."
For the safety of his back, Sima Yi cursed inwardly, but on his face he looked as if he was thinking about the other party:
"Lord Tuoba, I am not just worried about the Feng bandits, I am also worried about Liaodong!"
Sure enough, when Tuoba Xilu heard the word "Liaodong", he was immediately attracted.
There was no way around it, Liaodong was the territory promised by Sima Taifu to his tribe.
Although you have led your people to settle in Changchuan for more than 20 years, and now you are in charge of the Tuoba Xianbei, with more than 100,000 soldiers under your command.
But it's almost the limit.
Because the north is too cold and there is not enough food.
If the tribe wanted to grow stronger, it had to either head west or fight against the Han State.
Or go east and take Liaodong.
It would be best if we could go west, because there is Henan (i.e. Hetao), which is simply a treasure land bestowed by God to the grassland tribes.
But the Han Dynasty was too strong, especially Feng the Plague God, who expelled the western Xianbei and massacred the central Xianbei.
Even Kebineng ended up dying and his clan was wiped out.
The Tuoba Xianbei cannot even defeat Kebineng now, so how can they compete with the Han Kingdom?
So we can only settle for the next best thing.
Although Liaodong is not as good as Henan, it is at least much better than Beichuan.
Not only are there people there, but there is also land for growing crops.
If Tuoba Xianbei had Liaodong, they could support at least twice as many warriors as they did now.
only……
Tuoba Xilu looked at Sima Taifu with some suspicion:
"Master Taifu, what does the Han Kingdom's military expedition have to do with Liaodong?"
Liaodong and the Han Kingdom are separated by Jizhou and Youzhou!
It can't be said that the Han Kingdom wants to cross the two states of You and Ji to attack Liaodong this time, right?
"The Han Kingdom is indeed targeting Hebei this time, but Mr. Tuoba, don't forget that the Han Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom in the south are allies."
Sima Taifu said in a deep voice, "The Gongsun clan of Liaodong has always been fickle, paying tribute to the Wei Kingdom and colluding with the Wu Kingdom from time to time."
Several years ago, Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong took advantage of the death of the previous emperor and the unrest in the country to proclaim himself King of Yan and appointed officials to various posts.
He also sent envoys with imperial seals and fake tokens to the Xianbei Buyao and other tribes, in order to enfeoff and appoint titles to the border residents and induce them to invade the north.
After explaining the relationship between the Gongsun clan of Liaodong and the State of Wu, Sima Taifu glanced at Tuoba Xilu:
"As far as I know, before the Han army dispatched troops, Sun Quan, the leader of the Wu bandits, had already gathered a large army in Jianye."
Having said that, Sima Taifu paused, as if he wanted to give Tuoba Xilu some time to digest the news.
Tuoba Xilu really fell into the trap, and the look on his face suddenly became a little bad:
"Master Taifu, are you saying that the Wu people will collude with the Gongsun clan of Liaodong and attack the Wei Kingdom together with the Han Kingdom?"
Tuoba Xilu actually knew about the affairs of the Gongsun clan in Liaodong.
Because in those days Gongsun Yuan also sent people with gifts to find his tribe, begging the adults to send troops south to invade Nanxia.
After all, Tuoba Xianbei was the largest tribe on the grassland after Kebi Neng, and lived in the north of Youzhou, so Gongsun Yuan could not have not heard of it.
However, Your Excellency saw that the Xiongnu and Tadun were greedy for money and plundered the border people. Although they gained something, the casualties were not enough to make up for the loss, and they also attracted more enemies, causing suffering to the people. Your Excellency could not bear it.
Therefore, Gongsun Yuan's request was naturally rejected.
When Sima Taifu saw Tuoba Xilu's expression, he felt contempt in his heart:
They are truly short-sighted and foolish, and they deserve to be trapped on the grassland for generations, freezing to death and starving to death.
A sincere look appeared on his face:
"This is obvious. Think about it, Lord Tuoba. If the Han Kingdom comes from the west and joins forces with the Gongsun clan in the north."
"Wu has the advantage of ships. In addition to attacking from the south, we can also send our fleet to harass the coastal areas of Shandong."
"By then, the Wei Dynasty will be surrounded by enemies on all sides, and the only one we can rely on will be the Tuoba Xianbei."
"If you are not aware of the dire situation and are not well prepared, and if you are unable to rescue in time and Youzhou is lost, how can you seize Liaodong from the combined forces of the Han Kingdom and the Gongsun clan on your own?"
Tuoba Xilu was startled, and quickly stood up and saluted Sima Taifu:
"If it weren't for the reminder from the Grand Tutor, I would have almost missed the important event. I will immediately send someone to the checkpoint to urge the messenger to set off."
Sima Taifu took the opportunity to say:
"The grassland is covered with snow and the roads are blocked. If Mr. Tuoba is short of manpower, I can also send people to escort you."
It’s easy in summer. We can send people out of the border and always find Tuoba Liwei.
But in winter, if there is no one to lead the way, who knows where Tuoba Liwei is hiding from the wind and snow, or where he is breaking ice in the water to catch fish and shrimp?
When Tuoba Xilu heard this, he hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded:
"Then I would like to thank Master Taifu first."
He had never thought about delivering a letter across the border in winter, so he was not prepared and the manpower under his command might not be enough.
(End of this chapter)