Chapter 20: Regrouping (Part 2)

  "Big brother! The casualties have been counted clearly, more than a hundred rebels were killed, and with some servants, nearly two thousand people are left! Moreover, except for a small number of damaged weapons, the guns, shields, and knives are almost all intact!"

  Zhou Yu finished counting the casualties of the troops and reported to Cao Xin.

  Arriving at a hill, Cao Xin sat on his horse, gazing at the distant sunset's afterglow, and with a sense of melancholy in his heart, he heard the other person's words but seemed to have not taken them in at all.

  "Master... if you had only listened to me, Cao Xin... how did it come to this..."

  At this moment, Cao Xin suddenly felt a sense of suffocation in his chest, yet it was from the time he crossed over to the present day, ten years had passed. Cao Xin originally only wanted to be an ordinary person, but due to his grandfather's death, he began to understand that even if you don't go against history, history will always be watching you silently. Unfortunately, when Cao Xin realized how absurd it was to be an ordinary person in a chaotic world, everything was already advancing in an extraordinary direction.

  Cao Xin originally thought that he would casually mention a strategy and Lord Cao would adopt it, achieving victory every time.

  Here, Cao Xin's repeated reminders fell on deaf ears of his lord Cao Cao, not because Cao Cao was incompetent, but perhaps because Cao Xin was too confident. In this era, Cao Xin was more confident than anyone else about the unknown future.

  "Big brother? Big brother! What's wrong with you, big brother?"

  Suddenly breaking free from his daze, Cao Xin felt a violent shaking of his body. Turning back to look, he found Zhou Yu staring at him with eyes wide open in astonishment.

  Xin knew he had been a bit out of sorts just now, and Cao Xin smiled and said: "Oh, I'm fine, just feeling a little sentimental. By the way, how did you come? How are the casualties? Is the battlefield cleaned up?"

  Seeing Cao Xin was unharmed, Zhou Yu let out a sigh of relief and smiled: "Everything has been cleaned up. We killed 130 rebellious soldiers and there are still 2,000 people left. Also, 1,500 shields, 500 guns, and 1,500 knives."

  "What else?" Frowning slightly, Cao Xin always felt that something was wrong.

  "The Duan brothers just watched it, and there are some battering rams and giant logs."

  Before his eyes suddenly lit up, Cao Xin immediately asked: "How many giant trees?"

  "There are fifteen." Zhou Yu was suddenly somewhat perplexed by the other's meaning.

  The latter, however, was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately said: "Order to separate all the giant trees and siege vehicles, within three days, let all soldiers whittle these giant trees into 10,000 wooden spears, each wearing five, do you understand?"

  "So many wooden guns?"

  "Remember it must be within three days."

  "Good!" At this time, Zhou Yu also understood the meaning of the previous one. Having witnessed Cao Xing's gun power earlier, he was overjoyed in his heart and ran towards the camp at the foot of the mountain with a smile.

  Two thousand people, what can they do?

  This is what Cao Xin thinks in his heart.

  Lü Bu has 30,000 cavalrymen from Bian Province, while Cao Xin currently only has 2,000 infantrymen. If they were to encounter the enemy on flat terrain, they would be instantly annihilated.

  So now Cao Xin has to sit alone on a hill, repeatedly thinking about the classic battles in history and the characteristics of ancient cold weapons, even the rogue tactics during the Anti-Japanese War.

  "Wait, the Anti-Japanese War..."

  Suddenly a flash of light flashed through his mind, and three huge Chinese characters appeared instantly.

  Guerrilla warfare!

  That's right, it's guerrilla warfare.

  When it comes to China's war tactics, what is the most powerful? Undoubtedly, guerrilla warfare is the answer. As early as during the Anti-Japanese War period, the land of China was filled with guerrillas, and at the same time, it was also the most suitable for facing battles where a small force defeats a larger one.

  Isn't this what I am like at this moment?

  Cao Xin had only 2,000 cavalrymen under his command, while Lü Bu had 30,000 elite Iron Cavalry from Pingzhou. Moreover, most of Cao's troops were new recruits, and even with the addition of Bian Rang's soldiers from Puyang, they numbered no more than 7,000 men. Among all the counties, Puyang had the largest military force, but most of its soldiers had been drafted by Cao Cao to attack Xuzhou.

  So at this moment, Cao Xin must think of a way to prevent Lü Bu from breaking through Puyang. If Puyang falls, not only will the entire Dongjun be finished, but also the entire Yan Province's gate will be opened, and everything between himself and Cao Cao will be lost.

  Of course. Cao Xin knew that he was just a typical farmer, a farming official who plowed the fields, and taking command of the army without authorization was a violation of military law. But even so, Cao Xin had no way out now, and the road ahead might be more difficult than he imagined.

  Cao Xin had not yet contacted the various prefects and had not even informed Xun Yu, who was stationed in Yan Province.

  Secondly, Cao Xin took control of the army without permission, and whether or not he had incorporated the rebel troops, he ultimately committed a major taboo in the military. During the great chaos in Yanzhou, it was inevitable that he would be suspected, and Cao Xin himself also needed to make preparations for this.

  Third, the military strength was weak and mostly new recruits. Cao Xin had to think of ways to rely on geographical advantages, reasonable distribution of weapons, tactics, morale, food and other aspects. This was Cao Xin's first time leading troops, and it might also be the most difficult one. Everything seemed too urgent for him.

  "General, where are we going?"

  At this time, Cao Xin was secretly speculating about the date of the expedition when Dian Wei suddenly came up from the mountain slope with a tall and thin man by his side. Dian Wei approached him and asked.

  Seeing the person coming, Cao Xin couldn't help but chuckle and glanced at the person behind Dian Wei, but didn't mind, and said seriously: "Go to Yangyi County thirty miles ahead."

  "What's in Yangyi County?"

  Upon hearing this, Cao Xin frowned and said: "I reckon that Yangyi County has already fallen into the enemy's hands, and there are not many defending troops. I plan to launch a surprise attack on Yangyi County!"

  Suddenly, as if intentionally or unintentionally, the tall and thin soldier behind Dian Wei couldn't help but tremble all over, lowering his head in silence.

  At this time, Cao Xin suddenly asked: "Who is this?"

  Dian Wei pointed behind him and said: "His name is Liu Er, previously we were both partners, this time I let him be my personal soldier."

  "Little Liu Er has met the general."

  "Oh." He smiled carelessly and didn't pay attention to the other person, instead turning to the former and instructing:

  "Dian Wei, transmit my orders: have all the halberdiers recall their weapons and assign three shield-bearers to each of them. Divide into teams of four, forming five hundred small squads and five battalions. The central army will form three battalions, with two on either side as wings. Dian Wei, you take charge of the left wing battalion, Zhou Yu takes charge of the right wing battalion, and I'll lead the remaining three battalions in the center. It's getting late, so let the whole army rest for half a day. Tomorrow morning at dawn, cook meals and set out at the third watch! Rush to Yangyi County!"

  "I will obey." With a slight bow, Dianwei hesitated for a moment but still followed orders. Apparently, he was not convinced and didn't know what Cao Xin was up to, but thinking about it, he decided not to intervene and left after receiving the order.

  And on this side,

  Just as Cao Xin was about to show off his skills.

  On the other hand, Lü Bu had already led the remaining 27,000 troops and divided them into three routes to attack various counties in Yanzhou.

  *

  P.S: Looking for recommendations, looking for collections!

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