Volume 5: Overlord of the Sea Chapter 627: Explosive Hammer
Knowing that Chu was in mid-October, they forcibly broke through the defense line and headed north...
In Yecheng , officials and civilians were all shocked. At one time, memorials requesting to move the capital floated in front of Cao Cao like snowflakes.
However, Cao Cao was worried on the surface, but happy in reality - there was indeed a huge gap between Wei and Chu. If Bai Tu did not make a mistake, it would be difficult for him to win, just like... Yuan Shao in the past!
However, in Cao Cao's view, Bai Tu was just making a fool of himself.
It is obvious that most of our troops are in the south, but we actually want to fight with the northerners north of the Yellow River in winter?
The weather alone can reduce the gap between the two sides by 30%. Considering that the terrain is suitable for cavalry to perform, the gap will be even smaller...
Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but sigh.
At this time, the inner discussion was in progress. All the people present were Cao Cao's confidants. Seeing Cao Cao sigh, everyone was puzzled. Xun Yu seemed to have guessed something and asked in a gentle voice, "My lord, have you thought of Feng Xiao?"
"Yes, if Fengxiao were here, our chances would be three times greater..." Cao Cao couldn't help but sigh.
This difference in time and location is most suitable for Guo Jia to launch the "general trend" strategy, and the effect is also the best.
Of course, Cao Cao did not keep saying things that would undermine his own prestige, and quickly turned the topic back to how to deal with the State of Chu!
"It seems that the previous estrangement did have some effect. Lu Xun and Bai Tu are obviously getting anxious." Yang Xiu said somewhat boastfully.
The previous strategy of sowing discord was mainly done by him - originally, no one else had much hope, but... it didn't require too much cost, so they just let him do it!
"Yes, this time it's all thanks to Dezu." Cao Cao looked at Yang Xiu with a more favorable attitude at this time.
After the marriage between Yang Xiu and Xiahou Juan fell through, Yang Xiu waited for another eight years and married Cao Cao's daughter who had just reached the age of 15 the year before last...
More importantly, because Yang Xiu had never relied on the Yang family before, his interests were not aligned with those of other aristocratic families, and his relationship with Cao Zhi was not so good either.
Of course, even if Cao Cao likes Yang Xiu now, it is impossible for him to really command the three armies. Cao Cao still has this in mind.
However, this time he did bring Yang Xiu with him, and he himself was prepared to lead the army to meet the enemy in person!
Other generals from the Xiahou and Cao families, as well as some of Yuan Shao's trustworthy former subordinates who surrendered after the pacification of Hebei, were among them.
Faced with this battle, Cao Cao even temporarily relaxed his suppression of the north and Youzhou, and was determined to go all out to severely damage the morale of the Chu State.
Even if after this battle, the noble families in the north and Youzhou rebelled, it would not matter!
As long as the arrogance of Chu is suppressed, he can go back and restore the country. Even if he is seriously injured, he can first enter Guanzhong, recuperate, and even plan to send troops from Guanzhong to Hanzhong...
After all, there is only one chance to defeat the State of Chu. Not to mention that if they fail to win this time, the State of Wei will most likely be destroyed. And we can't expect that Bai Tu will make a fool of himself a second time!
Moreover, Bai Tu was different from Yuan Shao in that he was not from a military background. Even if he was in charge of the army himself, he would definitely be at the back. It would not be a great chance for Bai Tu to be killed like he almost killed Yuan Shao during the Bai Ma victory.
Of course, in reality, Wei’s chances were definitely much smaller than Cao Cao imagined!
While Cao Cao was "excitedly" discussing with his staff how to take advantage of Hebei's winter, the Chu army had already begun distributing cotton-padded clothes...
It doesn't need to be too thick. Wearing a layer of cotton clothes that does not affect movement under the "bulletproof armor" can basically ignore the winter in Hebei. After being equipped with Ji-made soldiers, they can maintain more than 80% of their combat effectiveness.
Even for the Wei army, which relies on northerners as its military source, its combat capability would probably drop by more than 20% in winter!
The Chu army's current armor mainly consists of dome-shaped steel helmets and "bulletproof armor", which is a vest plate armor - a vest-like thin stamped steel armor that only protects the upper body.
During World War I and even World War II, this type of bulletproof armor could still be seen on the battlefield, and it was considered the last remnant of plate armor...
In winter, it is indeed a bit cold when worn directly on the body, but the coldness will be reduced with cotton clothes.
Can the cold winter be a good time and place? Of course it can!
Even in modern wars, the Mao Kingdom was saved by winter more than once, but... that was the winter in Moscow.
In comparison, winter in Hebei, even though it is a relatively cold period now, is still livable compared to North Asia, and cotton clothes are enough!
After Lu Xun forced a crossing of the Yellow River in the Guandu area, he used it as a vanguard and ordered the Chu State to gather 16 divisions in Wangjing Road, a total of 250,000 troops, and began to use this as a springboard to march out of Hebei.
At the same time, Cao Cao ignored the objections and prepared to fight the Chu army in the Liyang area south of Yecheng!
Although Wei's national strength was far inferior to that of Chu, its military strength was not weak. Even if the Huns and Qiang were not introduced, the pure Wei army was no less than that of Chu.
And Cao Cao also accepted Yang Xiu's advice...
As for the aristocratic families who insisted on moving north, they compromised to a certain extent and even ordered Cao Zhi to move the small court to Yijing...
However, the price of leaving was to be severely slaughtered by Cao Cao, who then "hired" the Xianbei and Wuhuan people.
Of course, just like the Western Jin Dynasty's "Yu Zhu Man", written as "hiring" and pronounced as "beating and subduing", it must be that they first subdued them and then gave them bones to attract some of the scattered tribes...
The main expense is also to arm them!
As a result, Wei's military strength was almost twice that of Chu, but... even Cao Cao himself did not think this was an advantage. If they were to face off head-on, Wei's chances of winning would probably be less than 20%.
During this period, the speed with which Chu State mobilized its troops really caught Cao Cao off guard - wasn't it said that the front line would be closer to me?
Originally, Cao Cao wanted the frontline soldiers to delay the battle as much as possible and put the decisive battle at the end of November, or preferably in the dead of winter!
However, because the Chu army poured in too quickly, far exceeding expectations, the initial defense line was naturally broken by the end of October. Without Wei's full mobilization of troops, a decisive battle began in the Liyang area...
Cao Cao did not dare to retreat any further, otherwise the "Marquis of An Wei" in Nanpi would be out of control.
The reason why they can still hold on now is that thanks to Lu Bu's strong resentment towards the "foreigners" entering Hebei, he did not join forces with the Chu's central army to attack the main force of the Wei army, but began to intercept the Xianbei and Wuhuan people heading south.
On the eighth day of the eleventh month, Cao Cao had already led his army to Liyang, facing the Chu State, including the front army, a total of 19 divisions, plus the explosive hammer of the Xuzhou detachment led by Zhang Fei...
Cao Cao admitted that there was an element of gambling on his part, and that Wei's chances of winning were even smaller, perhaps 40% to 60% or even 30% to 70%. However, in this fierce battle between Chu and Wei, one side must suffer a heavy loss!
However, what was unexpected was that there was no fight between dragons and tigers, but only a beating...
