Chapter 41: Night attack from the border, aiming directly at Tao Qian
In the darkness, the north wind was howling. Although it was already spring, the temperature was still surprisingly low.
The braziers lit inside the camp for lighting flickered in the wind.
Sun Jian had not slept. He had an ancient ingot knife on his waist, a red cap on his head, and armor on his body as he patrolled in the night.
Behind him followed several personal soldiers.
The cold wind howled, blowing the red cap on his head and tilting it.
Sun Jian stretched out his hand to straighten it and wrapped it tightly.
When his hand touched the red cap, the image of Zu Mao appeared in Sun Jian's mind.
When they were defeated in the surprise attack by Hua Xiong that day, it was Zu Mao who asked for his red cap and wrapped it around his head.
Then Zu Mao died, and I lived again...
Thinking about it now, I still feel heartbroken.
He just felt as if Hua Xiong had cut off one of his arms.
"I will definitely avenge you!"
In the darkness of the night, Sun Jian removed his hand from his red cap and spoke softly.
At this time, Sun Jian moved away from his original station.
The place where he is now is the camp of Jibei Xiang Bao Xin.
Bao Xin, the Prime Minister of Jibei, lost everything after his death.
The head went to Hua Xiong, the troops went to Gongsun Zan, and the baggage and wives went to Cao Cao. Now the only remaining camp was occupied by the troops led by Sun Jian.
However, Sun Jian led his troops here quietly, and even many princes were unaware of it.
After coming here, we never raised our own flag.
Only a small number of people were left to guard the camp during the day, while Sun Jian and most of the soldiers slept.
At night, they began to patrol the camp quietly...
"My Lord, do you think Hua Xiong will come out to raid the camp again?"
When Sun Jian was inspecting a place, a general handed Sun Jian a bowl of hot water and asked him this.
This general was Huang Gai, also known as Huang Gongfu.
Sun Jian drank two sips of hot water and signaled to the soldiers who followed him on patrol to drink some hot water to warm themselves up.
"Yes, I am Hua Xiong from Xiliang. I am reckless and have already tasted the sweetness of success after a series of battles. I don't take us seriously.
Given his personality, he must have regarded us as walking military merits.
He will definitely come out to raid the camp again, it’s just a matter .”
Huang Gai nodded, and then continued: "But there is news from Yuan Shao that Hua Xiong is in big trouble.
I’m afraid that if things go wrong, we might end up leaving from Sishui Pass.
Many people have become lax because of this..."
"A bunch of people who don't know how to fight are just talking nonsense here."
Sun Jian drank up the hot water in the bowl and put the bowl back to its original place, with some contempt in his voice.
“I don’t want Hua Xiong to leave.
Otherwise, how can we offer Hua Xiong's head to Darong?"
Then he continued, "Gong Fu, if you were Hua Xiong, and were suddenly transferred for the same reason under such circumstances, what would you do?"
Huang Gai touched the iron whip at his waist and said, "If it is a certain family, even if they are really transferred away, they still need to come out and fight again.
Only in this way can you relieve some of the depression in your heart.
It is not impossible that he will be retained here to lead the troops because of his outstanding performance in this battle."
Sun Jian smiled when he heard this and said, "Yes, if it were me, I would do the same.
Although Hua Xiong is a bit hateful, overall, his personality is similar to ours...
Be patient and don't be lazy.
Maybe Hua Xiong will go out tonight..."
Huang Gai nodded, and Sun Jian left Huang Gai and continued to inspect the camp...
In Gongsun Zan's camp, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei slept together in their armor.
Weapons are placed in handy positions.
It was already late at night, and inside the tent, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei both had their eyes open.
It’s just that Zhang Fei’s snoring was like thunder, which meant he fell asleep with his eyes open.
Liu Bei really couldn't sleep.
As the night deepened, all kinds of thoughts surged and spread in his heart as the night rose, making him feel particularly heavy.
"Hua Xiong, don't really retreat back to Luoyang and never come out again..."
After thinking about it for a long time, Liu Bei whispered softly.
Although it was just a whisper, one could hear a lot of chills in it...
In the darkness of the night, the soldiers marched forward silently.
When they reached a place, Hua Xiong, who was in the front, came to the back, patted Gao Shun on the shoulder, and whispered, "Xuan Chang is here."
Upon hearing this, Gao Shun hummed as a response.
Stop taking action right now and just stop.
Then, as agreed before, quickly arrange the troops and defense.
Hua Xiong accelerated back to the front of the team and continued forward without saying a word.
Hua Xiong naturally knew some of Zhao Cen's unspoken intentions.
That is, if he brought Gao Shun and other Northern Army infantrymen to raid the camp, they would be easily stopped and lack mobility.
Hua Xiong was too lazy to explain this to him.
If he can see it, how can I not see it?
Who said that if I brought them out, I would let them rob the camp themselves?
Yu Jin followed Hua Xiong not far away.
Riding on his warhorse again and marching in the night made him feel complicated.
Last time he was dealing with the soldiers from Xiliang , but this time he turned his attention directly to the soldiers from Guandong.
All I can say is, things are unpredictable.
He shook his head, telling himself not to think too much. Some things can easily make people confused if you think too much.
He turned his attention to Hua Xiong's arrangements for Gao Shun and his infantry.
He naturally knew what Hua Xiong was doing.
This is to use Gao Shun and others to defend the rear route to prevent troops from coming to the rear and cutting off their way if a fighting breaks out later.
After all, this time, the camp they attacked was relatively far back.
It is necessary to arrange some such people in the back.
Thinking about this in his mind, Yu Jin couldn't help but shake his head.
It’s not that Governor Hua’s arrangement is bad.
Hua Xiong is really good at using troops.
Rather, it means that the people he hired were not qualified.
It was obvious at first glance that those Northern troops had never been on a battlefield.
By placing them there, there were no soldiers from Guandong who wanted to block their retreat, so it was good that they did not encounter them.
Once they encounter it, these people will probably be defeated in one blow.
In time, it will become a burden.
Governor Hua considered things very well, but this time he was really incompetent in terms of employing people...
Although he thought so in his heart, Yu Jin did not say it out loud.
Because before setting out in the evening, after knowing Hua Xiong's plan, he had already spoken once, but was not listened to.
At this point, the arrow is on the string and has to be shot. It's too late to say anything.
For some reason, he always felt that Governor Hua seemed to have some inexplicable confidence in Gao Shun.
It's hard to understand.
Hopefully he is right...
Hua Xiong walked in the front holding a three-pointed, two-edged sword, leading his troops along the way.
This time, his target was not Gongsun Zan or Cao Cao, but the camp of Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou.
Xuzhou is prosperous, and Tao Qian's troops were there. Hua Xiong's predecessor had seen them, and the quality of their weapons and armor was very good.
What's more important is that Tao Qian does not have any particularly famous generals, and the combat effectiveness of his soldiers is certainly not as good as that of Gongsun Zan's Youzhou border troops.
His camp is relatively far back, so the defenses are not very tight.
His first goal this time was to obtain weapons and armor, not to kill the enemy.
In this situation, the natural thing to do is to target Tao Qian, who is wealthy but weak in combat effectiveness.
Always pick on the weak ones!
After walking for a while, around five o'clock in the morning, Hua Xiong led his troops to approach Tao Qian's camp.
However, as expected, by this time, the Tao Qian camp, which should have already fallen into a deep sleep, was brightly lit! !
