Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi beside him and asked, "General Yi, in your opinion, what will Lu Xun do next?"
Sima Yi pondered for a moment: "Lu Xun is blocked by our troops to the east. There are mountains to the north and hills to the south. Therefore, returning along the original path is undoubtedly Lu Xun's best choice."
"However, if we calculate the time, the troops led by Wang Ling south of the hanging cart should have already commenced their attack on the hanging cart by now."
The Wu army was retreating westward more than a mile away, and Cao Rui, accompanied by five thousand cavalrymen, witnessed this scene with his own eyes.
Cao Rui naturally felt a sense of tension in his heart, but as the Wu army continued to retreat westward, that tension gradually shifted to excitement. After months of planning, could today be the day to see the fruits of their efforts?
However, at this moment, Liu Ye, who was behind Cao Rui, reminded him: "Your Majesty, I believe that the current priority should be twofold: to block the Wu army's path westward and to delay them as much as possible."
"Whether the 15,000 men led by Wang Ling have captured the hanging cart, we cannot make a definitive conclusion yet."
"At present, there are 15,000 cavalrymen on the western side to block the enemy. It would be better to have Xiahou Ru lead his core battalion's 8,000 cavalrymen to go west first and attack the hanging cart together with Wang Ling's troops, in case of any unexpected events."
"Although Mancun's troops are still in the process of reorganization, the Zhu Ge division can be transferred to take over and hold the Wu army."
After listening to Liu Ye's words, Cao Rui looked towards the Shangshen behind him, including Sima Yi and several Zhongshu. Seeing that the officials nodded in agreement, Cao Rui then glanced at Jiang Wei, who was responsible for conveying orders.
Jiang Wei understood the emperor's intentions and immediately went to deliver the orders.
Liu Ye's tactical suggestions were merely for insurance, but how to deal with the seven million Wu soldiers on the battlefield was still an unavoidable major problem.
The 70,000 Wu troops were merely a problem for the Wei army at the moment, but for the Wu troops, it was a critical life-or-death crisis.
After all, the 20,000 elite infantry led by Cao Zhen are on their way to the hanging cart at Wugou Pass.
At this moment, the battlefield, which covers tens of thousands of square meters, has over 40,000 Wei cavalrymen. In addition to Wang Ling's 15,000 men on the hanging cart, there are approximately 5,000 leftover foot soldiers from Jia Kuai's division and over 10,000 people who have been gathered by Manchun.
It was clear that the Wu army was currently in a tight spot. In the open plains, without mountains to the north or hills to the south, and with fewer cavalrymen from Wei surrounding them in a smaller number, it was obvious that they were in urgent need of help.
By noon, the Wu army had finally closed their formation, stretching into a long strip over three miles long from west to east. At this moment, the Wu army was still ten miles away from the hanging cart they had left early in the morning.
Zhu Huan, Quan Cong, Bupu Yizhuo, Sun Huanguan, Chenbiao, Hu Zong and Pan Zhang were several generals. After arranging their generals to lead the troops, they all came to Lu Xun's camp in the middle of the east according to the military orders.
At this moment, Lu Xun had completely lost the composed demeanor of the past, his eyes filled with blood vessels as he looked at the Wu generals: "More than an hour ago, my army was divided into eastern and western parts by Wei troops. Although our forces have now reunited, we are still surrounded by Wei troops."
"The situation is precarious, but it is not without a sliver of hope! If we can recapture the hanging cart before nightfall, the outcome can still be undecided."
"However, according to the current formation of the Wei army, with such a large number of cavalry, the Wei country should have transferred all the cavalry of the central army here. We both know that the Wei central army has three thousand horses and two thousand foot soldiers, which is a fixed number. I suspect that Wei's two thousand foot soldiers of the central army are currently pursuing us from the east."
Everyone's faces were filled with disheartenment. However, Zhu Huan was the exception, his expression intense as he said, "What are you all upset about? The Great Commander is absolutely right. Our path to survival lies to the west."
Crossing his arms, Zhu Huan stood to the side of Lu Xun and looked at his fellow officers and said, "What you are all worried about is probably that the 3,000 guards at the hanging cart have been captured by the Wei army at this moment, isn't it?"
"Since the hanging cart can be taken down once, it can also be taken back down again! Great Commander, I, Zhu Huan, and my 20,000 troops are the closest to the hanging cart. Let me, Zhu Huan, be the vanguard and recapture the hanging cart for you!"
As Zhu Huan spoke, he pulled off his helmet and placed it in his hand, then stared intently at Lu Xun. His hair was loose, and the sweat from his body in the cold winter air formed visible steam. Zhu Huan's eyes were now filled only with ferocity and determination, no longer showing any trace of the compliant attitude he had back at the camp in Wan City.
Lu Xun sighed heavily, took a step back, bowed to Zhu Huan: "Now that our troops are in danger, this is all my fault for being unable to command properly as the Great Commander. I should have died in shame, but I cannot abandon the army and go away. Therefore, I can only temporarily put aside thoughts of death and try my best to lead these troops back for our Sovereign."
Zhu Huan laughed loudly, looking first at Lu Xun and then at Quan Cong beside him: "Great Commander, don't you remember what you told Quan Zihuang the other day? That choosing 20,000 out of the 30,000 under his command was his own affair?"
"I am also overstepping my bounds today. Great Commander, since the Great Sovereign has entrusted our Wu nine thousand troops to you, it's up to you how to bring them back. As for me, Zhu Huan, I will lead my 20,000 troops to pave the way."
After Zhu Huan finished speaking, he turned around and no longer looked at anyone. Mounting his horse, he rode off to find his own 20,000 troops, heading westward.
Since Zhu Huan had already left, there were only a few generals remaining here, including Quan Cong, Bupu Yizhuo, Sun Huanguan, Chenbiao, Hu Zong and Pan Zhang.
Stirred by Zhu Huan's words, Lu Xun's somewhat despondent spirit was revived to some extent. Lu Xun said, "Zhu Huan's 20,000 troops are moving westward. We cannot relax our efforts either."
"The narrow and long formation must be changed, shortened in length and widened, to reduce the impact of the Wei cavalry on our troops."
Lu Xun glanced around at everyone: "Hu Zong! Lead your 10,000 Ji Furuan troops to pave the way for our main force in the west."
"According to the Great Commander's order." Hu Zong bowed and replied.
Lu Xun continued to assign tasks: "Bupu Yizhuo and Chenbiao! Each of you leads your respective troops, following Hu Zong's lead, to the north and south sides respectively."
"Quan Cong, Sun Huanguan, Pan Zhang, follow in order behind Bupu Yizhuo and Chenbiao. I, as the Great Commander, will lead my own 5,000 troops to provide rear guard for you."
Seeing Lu Xun's intention to take on the rear guard himself, Pan Zhang, a tall man with bushy beard, objected immediately: "Great Commander, you should be the center of the army and let me, as a mere commander, take on the rear guard!"
Lu Xun shook his head slightly: "Wengui, you are beside me. How can we distinguish who should take the rear guard and who should not! Just go and see!"
Lu Xun looked seriously at the faces of the various commanders: "Gentlemen, return to your respective formations. Wait until Zhu Huan advances westward before you move out."
The commanders all carried out their orders and left.
The terrain of the hanging car is naturally hazardous. A few days ago, when Zhu Ge sent a vanguard to explore the path for the first time, he was hit by an archer ambush from the hills on both sides of the hanging car.
Let alone the 15,000 infantry under Wang Ling, who had already occupied a strategically advantageous position at the hanging car. The pass between the two low mountains was narrow, about a mile wide, and if the Wei army set up an array within it, it would be extremely difficult for even a larger number of Wu troops to conquer it in a short time.
Zhu Huan would indeed be facing setbacks here.
Zhu Huan led his 20,000 infantry just after leaving the formation, when they were surrounded by Wei cavalry from the north and south sides.
Wang Ling had just sent messengers to the Wei troops to the east, stating that he had occupied the strategically advantageous position at the hanging car.
After discussing with Sima Yi, Liu Ye, and others, Cao Rui believed that the time had come to encircle the Wu army and immediately increased the intensity of the cavalry's attack on the Wu army's formation from the side.
At this moment, Zhu Gai, who had just organized his troops after being behind the Ji Kui formation in the east, returned to the battlefield again. The cavalry of Wei's army attacked the moving formation of Wu's troops, and their offensive momentum became even more fierce.
Zhu Huan's troops, after making great sacrifices and losing nearly two to three thousand men from the outer perimeter of their formation to the Wei cavalry, finally reached the hanging car.
However, upon seeing Wei's deployment at the hanging car, Zhu Huan sighed heavily and tears were about to roll down his eyes.
Wang Ling was right. He did lead his troops to occupy the hanging car, and he did indeed take advantage of the terrain to firmly defend the hanging car.
Under the constant harassment of the Wei cavalry, Zhu Huan launched the most ferocious attack he had ever made against Wang Ling's garrison at the hanging car, for nearly one and a half hours. However, it was not to his liking, as he was unable to take the position.
At this time, the majority of Wu's army, surrounded by Wei cavalry, was still two miles away from the hanging car.
The sun had begun to set to the west, and Lu Xun observed that Zhu Huan's flag was still flying to the east of the hanging car, but had been subjected to continuous cavalry attacks from Wei's troops for a long time and clearly had no way of entering the hanging car.
The sliver of confidence that Lu Xun had mustered had now fallen to the lowest ebb.
At this moment, there were two choices before Lu Xun, a famous Eastern Wu general, the Governor of Jingzhou, and the Grand Commander.
The first choice was to continue moving westward, facing the relentless and repeated attacks by the Wei cavalry like a knife slicing through flesh, to join Zhu Huan's troops.
However, the location at the hanging car is indeed difficult to attack. If they cannot take it before nightfall, these Wu troops would be in great danger with pursuers closing in and no camp to retreat to.
The second choice was to turn south and advance. The location of the hanging car is already to the south, and the battlefield itself is a narrow strip of plain, with mountains to the north and hills to the south. If all troops were taken to these hills, there might still be a glimmer of hope.
At least in the mountains, the cavalry of the Wei army would be of little use. If we could cross the hills and head south, although it's nearly a hundred miles, there might still be a chance to reach Wan City or the riverbank, giving us a slim chance of survival.
Lu Xun sighed deeply and immediately waved his flag, sending messengers to notify the various generals to lead their troops southward and into the hills.
Lu Xun's 50,000 troops gradually turned southward, and the Emperor Cao Rui, who was following Lu Xun with his 5,000 cavalry troops observing the battlefield, also immediately understood Lu Xun's intention.
Sima Yi stroked his beard and said, "I wish to congratulate Your Majesty on the great success. Lu Xun knows that there is no way to go west and can only turn south to enter the hills."
"This place is only 90 miles from Wan City and over a hundred miles from the mountain pass of Wan Pass. How could Lu Xun and his Wu army escape? Your Majesty can definitely annihilate them completely!"
However, Cao Rui's reaction was quite different from Sima Yi's excitement. He sighed and said, "Since Lu Xun has already led his troops south with the intention of entering the mountains, order the cavalry troops to cease their attacks and force all Wu troops into the mountains."
"How long can they stay in the mountains? At most a couple of days, and then they will have to surrender."
"These are all excellent young men who have died in the wrong place, not on foreign battlefields. Since the Wu army's defeat is inevitable, let us not kill them unnecessarily."
Sima Yi was momentarily stunned, and after a brief pause, he nodded heavily.
(End of this chapter)
