Chapter 27 Liu Shuye led troops out of Nanyang, Gan Xingba traced back to seize Wuguan
Wuguan, also known as Qin Nanguan, is located on a steep hillside in the north of Wuguan River, west of Nanyang. Together with Dasan Pass, Hangu Pass and Tong Pass, it is known as the four fortresses of Qin. Guannan is a dangerous Shaoxi Mountain, and the Wuguan River in the north, which are all natural barriers. Moreover, the Kansai road is flat, which is suitable for the garrison or walking of the army, but the road in Kanto is rugged, which is not conducive to the attack of the army. With this natural advantage, Wuguan, like Hanguguan and other Guancheng, they are all ten thousand people. The whole Guanzhong area is really like an iron-shell turtle under the guard of these four Guancheng. In addition, the Guanzhong Plain is a grain production base. In the past, it was said that the pre-Qin, Liu Bang and others occupied Guanzhong and won the world. In history, Zhuge Liang's Longzhong pair is also one of the important strategies to occupy Guanzhong.
One of the reasons why Cao Qian only left 50,000 horses in the whole of Yongzhou is that it has the natural advantages of these four major gates and green mud passes, which is enough to resist thousands of troops and horses. The second reason is that Liu Bei occupies Runan and is too close to Xuchang, so Xuchang needs heavy troops to guard. Although it is said that Liu Bei's lack of food and fodder can't pay for a big battle, considering that Liu Bei is a relative of the Han Dynasty, he is unlikely to attack Xuchang, where the emperor is located. But Cao Yan has never been a person who puts his hopes on others, let alone such a life-threatening event.
Zhu Ling, the general of Wuguan, has also been following Cao for many years since Chen Liuqi. There is no problem with his loyalty. At the same time, his ability to serve as a military governor of Wuguan for a long time. The Wuguan garrison is only 3,000, but if you want to take down Wuguan by hard attack, you need to take at least 30,000 to 40,000 lives. The precondition is that you are ruthless enough and can do it at the cost of any casualties. Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu can't do this kind of thing.
"Kong Ming, why are you in a hurry to seize Wuguan now?" Guan Yu was a little surprised by Zhuge Liang's decision. Junhou, you see, the land of Nanyang is a plain. Cao Yu occupied the land of Yongzhou and could send troops to Wuguan to attack the hinterland of Nanyang at any time, and then threaten Jing Xiang. In the past, when Liu Jingsheng was in Jingxiang, it was because Wancheng and Wuguan were occupied, so Nanyang County could only occupy the small counties of Fancheng. If we don't seize Wuguan, Nanyang County will be too passive. Nanyang has a population of 500,000 and is rich in products. If Nanyang is unstable, Jing Xiang's loss will be great. Zhuge Liang explained in detail.
"This is true. Now Cao Wei occupies Wuguan, just like he occupied Taishan County in Xuzhou. He can only hit me, but I can't hit him. What a headache. Guan Yu remembered what he said and agreed with him very much. In fact, since Zhao Feng blackmailed Taishan County from Lao Cao, Xuzhou has been much better.
"In addition, at present, Cao Yan's army is fighting fiercely with Yanzhou and Yuan Shao, and Yongzhou's defense is empty. If you don't take this good opportunity to take Wuguan, it's too late to regret!" Zhuge Liang said again.
"This is true, but Kong Ming, the previous fierce battle in Jingbei lost a lot of money and grain, and also last year's drought in Jingbei. At present, the food and fodder are not enough to provide the army to fight." Although Guan Yu is not a person in charge of civil affairs, he still knows some of these things.
"Don't worry, Junhou. The previous water flooded Jiangling. Although the granary was also submerged, after salvage and exposure, 40% to 50% of the grain was still preserved. At present, it is not enough for the army to fight, but it is more than enough to send 30,000 to 40,000 people to attack Wuguan. Zhuge Liang said with a smile. He is now a farmer in Jingzhou, and he is responsible for almost all the civil affairs in Jingzhou. When it comes to the allocation of money and grain, and the logistics support of soldiers and horses should be grasped.
"In that case, I will lead the army to knock on Wuguan in person!" Guan Yu has no awareness of being a herdsman in Jingzhou, and he has always been on the front line when he encounters war.
"Your Majesty, this battle does not depend on the large number of people. Why do you have to fight in person? In a clear opinion, it's better to let General Liu Pan lead 30,000 troops out of Nanyang and knock on Wuguan. Zhuge Liang said with a smile.
"Huh?" Liu Pan, who was beside him, was also quite surprised when he heard the words. Why did Zhuge Liang leave this kind of thing to him? However, Zhuge Liang continued to say, "Although Wuguan is dangerous, there is a drawback, that is, the defense is not inside, and the defense of the rear gate is extremely weak. If the general can bypass the Wuguan and attack from behind, the Wuguan will be broken.
"This is true, but Kong Ming, Wuguan occupies a dangerous place in the terrain. How can he get around the back of the pass?" Liu Pan asked uncertainly.
"Ha ha, General Liu, have you forgotten that my Jingzhou navy is sharp. As long as you go up from the Wuguan River, it is not difficult to get around the customs." Zhuge Liang smiled and pointed to the Wuguan River on the map.
"So that's it, Kong Ming, you sent Gan Xingba to lead people to scout all over the rivers for this battle?" Guan Yu remembered what happened a few days ago and immediately understood the intention of Zhuge Liang to do so.
"Ext this is the case, Junhou. According to Gan Xingba, due to the severe drought of the Wuguan River this year, the originally rapid river has been smooth, and it is not difficult to trace the river. There are no sail troops under Cao Qian's command, so naturally he can't think of the natural barrier against the Wuguan River. General Liu can lead a large army to garrison in front of the gate, and at the same time let a fine soldier raid the enemy's rear. Under the two-way attack, Wuguan must be owned by me. Zhuge Liang is full of confidence.
"Except it is!" After looking at the map, Liu Pan was also very excited. Who doesn't like the opportunity to make contributions? Hearing Zhuge Liang's words, it seemed that it was easy to win Wuguan, which also made Liu Pan extremely excited. After a quick discussion with Guan Yu, Liu Pan rushed to rectify the army and horses.
"Kong Ming, why did you let Liu Pan go to this battle?" After Liu Pan left, Guan Yu asked doubtfully.
Knowing the meaning of Guan Yu's words, Zhuge Liang also sighed: "Junhou, this General Liu Pan is Liu Jingsheng's nephew. Although he was quite dissatisfied with our entry into Jing Xiang, on the one hand, he did not have any backlash; secondly, when we first arrived in Jingxiang, if we boldly excluded his people too blatantly, it would inevitably make Jing Xiang's old minister feel at ease; thirdly, General Liu was quite brave, but he was a rare general and talented. However, General Liu's former relatives were mostly in Jingnan, so the lord named him General Yangwei and asked him to garrison Jingbei with us in order to transfer him from Jingnan. Now he is sent to attack Wuguan. After it is done, the lord will transfer it to Xuzhou in the name of reward.
"This is the best. The eldest brother can only be enough to control his people." Guan Yu also doesn't want to fight all day long. Although Liu Pan is a little recalcited, he is also more inclined to use this more gentle method.
It is not to mention that Liu Pan led the army out of Nanyang and drove westward. At this time, Gan Ning's sailors also gathered in Jiangxia, then took Xiangshui, then to Zhejiang, and finally drove into the Wuguan River. This time, Gan Ning dispatched more than 50 strong ships. In addition to the sailors, each ship was equipped with dozens of elite soldiers, a total of 3,000 elite soldiers. Just wait to bypass the Wuguan and launch a sudden attack behind the other party. Although this strategy is simple, Cao Qian and his advisers are absolutely unexpected. There is no reason, because they are completely laymans in water warfare. They absolutely can't expect that the Wuguan River, which they rely on the Wuguan barrier, will become the road for the Jingzhou army to move forward.
"This Wuguan is really majestic!" Liu Panjiu is in Jingnan. Although Wuguan is very close to Jingbei, he is still here for the first time. Seeing the rugged mountain road, a Guancheng is connected to a high mountain on the left and a deep valley on the right. It is really a rare Xiongguan in the world. Liu Pan is also a person who has been in the battlefield for a long time. He knew at a glance that such a dangerous Guancheng would have no effect if he smashed it with a catapult. There is no reason, just because the site before the customs clearance is only enough for 20 catapults at most, and the effect of smashing is limited.
Let the soldiers attack the pass and fill it with their lives? He can't do this kind of thing. At present, Liu Pan also set up a camp five miles before Wuguan, putting on a posture of preparing for a protracted war.
"General, the defenders did not challenge, but just stuck to it." After the camp was settled, I came to report on it.
"I know, go on the order and pay attention to the movement of Wuguan. According to the itinerary, General Gan's sailors can arrive at Wuguan in the middle of the night at the latest. Liu Pan waved his hand and signaled. In the evening, Ganning's 3,000 elite soldiers quietly passed through Wuguan and landed in a relatively flat terrain about 20 miles upstream. Gan Ning ordered the soldiers to eat a little dry food to supplement their physical fitness, and then marched at full speed to raid the back of Wuguan.
Twenty miles is even an infantryman, and a sudden attack is just a matter of time. However, Gan Ning must have exploded in character today. Just after gathering the team by the river, he visited the horse and reported that a heavy team rushed to Wuguan through the green mud pass, with about 300 people.
"Wuguan does not produce grain. It must be the grain allocated for Wuguan in the hinterland of Chang'an." Gan Ning quickly concluded and immediately ordered a raid on the heavy squad. What is the concept of 3,000 people ambushing 300 people? The concept of ten to one. In addition, this is the hinterland of Yongzhou, and the heavy troops are mostly composed of county soldiers or even field soldiers. The combat effectiveness is far from that of the regular army. Therefore, the battle lasted for less than half an hour, and the heavy force was solved. More than 300 people, except for more than a dozen people who fled back to the mainland of Yongzhou quickly, the rest were either annihi out or captured.
"Are you responsible for transporting food and fodder?" Gan Ning looked at the captured marquis in front of him and asked. Yes, Xue Ze, a villain, is the military marquis under the account of Mrs. Zhong, who specializes in transporting grain and fodder to Wuguan. Xue Ze looked at the fierce Gan Ning in front of him and said tremblingly.
"It's very good. Help me open the gate of Wuguan later. It's a lot of rewards. If you dare to play with a ghost, you will be cut off!" Gan Ning shouted. Xue Ze was so scared that he had to nod and agree. Gan Ning ordered all the prisoners to take off their military uniforms, together with a total of about 300 pieces of the deceased. He led more than 300 elites under his command to put them on, disguised as a heavy team, and let the vice general lead the rest to follow.
After the group of people pushed the real heavy grain and fodder to Wuguan City, Xue carefully inspected the ultimatum with the guards, and then the defenders put down the suspension bridge and opened the gate to let the heavy troops in. When more than 300 people were killed in half of the general, Gan Ning suddenly got into trouble with a roar. He pulled out his waist knife and hacked the captain who came to receive food and grass. The rest of the people also pulled out their weapons and fought in a scuffle. After Zhu Ling heard the news, he hurriedly led people to check it, but was stabbed to death by Gan Ning, and the rest were all defeated. At the same time, Liu Pan in front of the customs heard the killings in the customs, and quickly sent troops to attack the customs immediately. Under the two-way attack, the three thousand defenders of dragons did not persist for a long time, and the customs city was broken. Liu Pan sent someone to receive the guard, and at the same time sent someone to report to Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang.
Two days later, Jingzhou sent Hao Zhao and 8,000 elite soldiers to receive Wuguan. After Liu Pan and Gan Ning handed over the Chengguan, they led the army back to Jingxiang. To their surprise, Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu went north to Xiangyang to welcome their triumphant return.
(to be continued)