Zhang Yun leading Liu Biao's troops was actually prepared as bait after Yuan Shao and the other commanders discussed it. Unfortunately, Yang Rui objectively estimated the probability of victory and did not take the bait.
This plan was proposed by Cao Cao and approved by Yuan Shao. This was because the most difficult bone to chew was Yang Rui's Great Wall of Ice and Sand. It was also Yang Rui's greatest advantage.
Yang Rui also recognized the importance of the Great Wall of Ice and Sand. Even if they had a great morale advantage, they would also lose their natural advantage. Furthermore, once they attacked, they would face many variables.
In reality, if Yang Rui really led his troops out of the Great Wall of Ice and Sand, he would face a variable. Cao Cao's troops had a method to raise morale. This would mean that the morale advantage that Yang Rui's troops had built up would no longer exist.
Actually, the most important point was that Yang Rui valued the lives of his soldiers very much. Even if he could achieve a great victory by chasing after them, he would still have to pay a certain price. As the saying goes, don't chase after a cornered enemy. This was also the reason why Yang Rui didn't chase after them when he was faced with an opportunity.
On the other hand, Cao Cao's final plan had failed. Yuan Shao's plan to force Yang Rui to a duel had failed. At the same time, Liu Biao's commander, Cai Mao, had also been killed. This caused the morale of his troops to take a huge hit.
The most important thing was that there was a lot of trouble in the rear.
Hanoi's Governor (Fake) Chen Gong was the most troubled. Taking advantage of the Yellow River being frozen and the fact that most of Hanoi's troops had been mobilized to participate in the Merit Conference, a large number of players had crossed the river. Their numbers were almost ten times that of Hanoi's troops and they were attacking everywhere.
The rear of Yuan Shao's territory was not peaceful either. Fang Lan had already messed up the Ji Zhou region in the northwest of Bohai Kingdom. The number of cities in Yuan Shao's territory that had been forced to use the Battle Exemption Token had already exceeded ten, and there were still many places that were being attacked by Fang Lan.
Liu Biao's forces were also implicated. Taishi Ci led the Changjiang Navy to attack the docks upstream from Xiakou. They sank and damaged hundreds of Liu Biao's navy ships. It was as though they had entered a deserted land and were unstoppable.
In truth, before the Dong Yue Wu navy was developed, Liu Biao's navy was invincible in the Yangtze River. However, Yang Rui's navy came. The difference in equipment between the two sides caused Liu Biao's navy to be unable to fight back.
As for Cao Cao, Han Sui, and Zhang Xiu, if they left the territory for a long time, they would also face all kinds of problems. In fact, these problems were already in the process of breeding.
Among the various vassals who had won the Excellent Meeting, perhaps only Liu Bei had no worries. This was because he had lost his base and rear. It would not make much of a difference if he were to wander around.
Under such circumstances, the camps of Yuan Shao's allies who had retreated from the icy surface of the Yellow River were filled with pessimism. Meanwhile, the various commanders that Yuan Shao once again gathered were all silent, momentarily unable to think of a good plan to defeat the enemy.
Han Sui had even ordered his soldiers to prepare to retreat. They had started to pack up their tents and luggage, preparing to leave the Jiahui Alliance's camp.
This situation naturally could not be hidden from the eyes of the various parties. Soon, it reached the ears of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and the others, allowing them to be aware of it.
"Although everyone's territories are in chaos right now, once we defeat Blazing Sun, the King of the Eastern Sea, who controls three provinces, why should we worry about not having a foothold?
There is no point in rushing back. Blazing Sun's methods have already reached their goal. I fear that Blazing Sun wants to use such methods to make everyone lose the will to fight here. Once you return, Blazing Sun might really succeed. "
Cao Cao saw that everyone's mood was not high and once again spoke up.
"Then in Meng De's opinion, is there a good plan to defeat the enemy?"
Someone asked unhappily. In the past, it was Cao Cao who suggested this and that. In the end, it ended in failure several times in a row.
At the beginning, it was the same with the fire attack. Later, it was the same with the two groups of troops. Even the one on one battle just now ended in failure. It was normal for people to doubt Cao Cao.
"Blazing Sun's troops are strong and powerful. Even if we combine our troops, we still might not be able to match them. Moreover, Blazing Sun is crafty and cunning. His various small tricks cannot be judged by common sense. It is normal for us to lose like this.
There is a saying in the art of war that victory and defeat are commonplace. Only by not being arrogant in victory and not being discouraged in defeat can one achieve a lasting victory. Just this point alone makes us inferior to Blazing Sun.
To think that Blazing Sun is nothing more than a strange person. At the beginning, he was only an official in a village, a town, or a county. The reason he was able to accomplish such great things was because of his tenacity.
Speaking of which, there is no need for everyone to be so melancholy. I have a capable person under my command. His surname is Liu, his name is Ye, and his courtesy name is Ziyang. He is from Huainan and is a descendant of Emperor Guangwu's son, Prince of Fuling, Liu Yan.
This person is extremely proficient in the construction of machinery. Recently, he has mastered the construction of a powerful siege machinery called the Thunderclap Chariot. This morning, he informed me that if this Thunderclap Chariot is used to attack Blazing Sun's Ice Sand City across the Yellow River, it will have an incomparable effect.
Here, I can slightly reveal that Liu Ye's Thunderclap Chariot has a special characteristic that can restrain the Ice Sand City. For the time being, I will tell everyone when the time comes.
With sufficient materials and craftsmen, Liu Ye's Thunderclap Chariot can be built up to 50 chariots a day. We only need to wait for two or three days before we can tear a hole in Blazing Sun's Ice Sand City. What does everyone think? "
Cao Cao confidently said these words. Gradually, the emotions of Yuan Shao and the other people present were stirred up. Their attention slowly gathered on Cao Cao.
"Is what Meng De said true?"
Everyone thought for a moment. Yuan Shao was the first to ask.
"It is true. Currently, I do not have enough low-grade wood, strong tendons, and other materials. I wonder if anyone has any extra materials?"
Under Yuan Shao's inquiry, Cao Cao's answer was very certain. He also mentioned a few materials to build the Thunderclap Chariot. It was as if he was looking for a buyer.
After the Thunderclap Chariot was built, although it was only used to attack the Ice Sand City, once the city wall was breached, there was a high probability that the Thunderclap Chariot would fall into Cao Cao's hands. At the very least, it would not return to everyone's hands.
"For the materials Meng De needs, I still have 10000 units of Grade 7 wood, 1000 units of Grade 6 wood, and 100 Intermediate General Level strong Wild Bull tendons. I am willing to use all of them to build the Thunderclap Chariot …"
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