N-A-A Chapter 149
Chapter 149
Outside Luoyang City, the night fell, the moonlight was thin, and it was reflected on the tight military tent, casting mottled light and shadows. The candlelight in the tent flickered, reflecting two solemn and resolute faces.
"Li Ru, the situation is urgent now. The Guandong coalition is like a wolf and a tiger, pressing forward step by step. What should our army do? It is really a critical moment. What do you think?" Dong Zhuo's voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.
""Li Ru heard this, his eyes were deep, and he said slowly: "Grandmaster, although the situation is dangerous, our army's morale has not been dispersed, and the fighting spirit is still there. Facing the sharp edge of the coalition forces, retreating will lead to failure at every step. Only by holding on can we find a turning point."
"Hulao Pass is the gateway to Luoyang, and it is also an insurmountable natural barrier for the enemy. We must do our best to defend it to the death. Relying on this place, we can not only delay the enemy's offensive, but also buy precious time for subsequent planning. It is the best strategy to advance and retreat freely."
Dong Zhuo heard this, his brows slightly relaxed, and his eyes flashed After a hint of praise, he nodded slightly, and his voice became more firm: "You are right. How can the men of the Xialiang Army be afraid of death? Hulao Pass is the stage for us to show our loyalty and determination. Pass the order down, the whole army must work together and swear to defend this pass, so that the Guandong coalition will know that there is no weak force under my Dong Zhuo!"
Li Ru's strategy is like a delicate layout on a chessboard, advancing and retreating freely. Hulao Pass stands tall and becomes their indestructible barrier. They can march south when advancing, and retreat as solid as a rock.
Dong Zhuo gently stroked the seven-star sword flashing with cold light at his waist, his eyes deep, as if thinking about the unknown changes in the wind and clouds. And Li Ru, on his face, a cold murderous intent quietly emerged, and his words revealed an unquestionable determination.
"Grandmaster, to resist foreign aggression, we must first stabilize the country. This is an ancient saying. Now, although Cai Yong, Huangfu Song and other Liu Yao wings have left Luoyang, there are undercurrents in the court that cannot be ignored. Especially Yuan Shao's uncle, Yuan Wei, who has a great prestige. If we relax a little, he will be able to take advantage of the situation, contact the ministers, and collude with the inside and outside. At that time, the situation may take a sharp turn for the worse, which will be very unfavorable to us."
Li Ru's words, every word is like a pearl, like a sharp blade, which makes people feel cold. Dong Zhuo also knows that in this vortex of power struggle, every step must be cautious to ensure an invincible position. And now is the critical moment to eliminate internal troubles and consolidate the foundation.
"Well, this is very much in line with my opinion!" Dong Zhuo turned his eyes slightly, glanced at Lu Bu deeply, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"My son, please listen to my order. Today, I will appoint you as Marquis Wen and grant you 5,000 households as a reward. From now on, you must lead the elite troops to quietly besiege Yuan Wei's mansion in the dark night and execute thunderous means to eliminate future troubles!"
"I obey your order and will live up to your adoptive father's high expectations!" Hearing this, Lu Bu's eyes flashed with excitement. He suddenly waved the cold Fang Tian Huaji in his hand, as if he had seen the dawn of victory, and then turned around and walked out of the tent with firm steps, with an unparalleled domineering spirit in his back.
Dong Zhuo looked at Lu Bu's departing back, and a complex look flashed in his eyes. He knew that Lu Bu was brave and unparalleled, but also greedy. Although he could control him with high positions and generous salaries, who among the heroes in Guandong could guarantee that there would not be the same means to induce this double-edged sword to strike back?
Now, as long as his hands are stained with the blood of Yuan Wei's family, he will have a mortal enemy with Yuan Shao! From now on, he has only one way, that is to follow the Xiliang Army, and there is no other choice.
Dong Zhuo's voice was deep and resolute. He suddenly drew out the sword inlaid with gems and shining coldly, as if even the air was filled with the solemn atmosphere on the eve of the decisive battle.
"At dawn tomorrow, we must organize the entire army, gather the 150,000 elite troops in Luoyang, and head straight for Hulao Pass!"
The generals under his command also hurriedly stood up and responded: "I will obey the order of the Grand Master!"
...
A few days later, Liu Yao took the lead and led a high-spirited coalition cavalry to arrive in front of Hulao Pass in a mighty manner, and set up camp under the majestic pass.
At this moment, the 18 princes gathered from all directions and formed a magnificent army of nearly 300,000 people. Its momentum was as strong as a rushing river and unstoppable. On the march, the battle flags fluttered, blocking out the sun, and the sound of horse hooves and the shouts of the soldiers intertwined into an exciting war song, echoing between heaven and earth.
However, if you take a closer look at the military appearance of the coalition army, there are some discrepancies hidden in its inner appearance. From a distance, the crowds are surging, and the dark clouds are pressing down on the city, showing the majestic grandeur; from a close look, it is not difficult to find that there are many loose teams and lax discipline, just like the gangs of people who occasionally gather in the streets and alleys, lacking the rigor and solemnity of the regular army.
It's like a group of gangsters who made an appointment to fight in a group, but there are also a few people whose military appearance is very neat, such asGongsun Zan and Liu Yao.
The troops led by the two were also the real combat effectiveness in the coalition.
The White Horse Volunteers and the Black Armor Heavy Cavalry were all cavalry. The most important thing was that they had rich combat experience. Their enemies were all grassland peoples in the border areas, not the bandits and robbers in the Central Plains.
The second was the troops under Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shu. Although they were also carefully carved, with bright armor and orderly battle formations, they seemed to lack a sense of agility and determination. Their soldiers, like the carefully carved terracotta warriors, were majestic but not agile. Especially the generals, although they had their own strengths, they seemed to lack the precision and courage of the final blow in strategic vision and battle command.
To put it bluntly, the troops led by Liu Yao were not a sound team at all. Instead, they were like uniting several villages to fight a group fight.
Many people in the coalition didn't even have decent weapons. Some held a tetanus blade, and the armor they wore was out of the question. They were like candles in the wind. On this vast battlefield, apart from being human shields under the enemy's rain of arrows and adding numbers to the enemy's merit book, it seemed that their only fate was to consume food and fodder.
On the other hand, although the Xiliang Iron Cavalry under Dong Zhuo's command did not have an overwhelming advantage in numbers, the wildness and fierceness that came from their bones were enough to scare any opponent. Once the drums of war sounded and the iron hooves trampled the dust, it would be a feast of slaughter without suspense.
Liu Yao knew it very well in his heart.
Dong Zhuo's retreat at this moment was just a temporary shock after a series of setbacks. It was an illusion that he was deceived by the seemingly huge momentum of the coalition.
Now the other legions of the Bingzhou Army are gathering quickly in the north. They are waiting for Guo Jia's order, and they will definitely not be able to come to reinforce Liu Yao in a short time.
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