Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 141 General Xiahou Dun, the Guardian of the North

On that day, the armies of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao faced off at a fortified position outside Xu County.

Previously, when Yuan Shu attacked Xu County, Xi Zhicai was in a difficult situation because Cao Cao's army had to deal with four warlords at the same time, and Yuan Shu also brought 100,000 troops. With the troops divided, it was impossible to hold the city.

The policy of fortifying the walls and clearing the fields, abandoning fourteen counties in order to defend Yangdi, Xuxian and other places, was a last resort.

The invading Cao army numbers no more than 30,000, and Yingchuan is densely fortified with blockhouses and camps, which is sufficient to hold the line.

Therefore, Yuan's army had no need to abandon other counties and concentrate its forces to defend one place.

However, having already ascertained through layers of beacon fires that Cao Cao's main force was approaching Xu County, General Xiahou Dun, the General Who Guards the North, immediately issued an order to all seventeen counties of Yingchuan, instructing troops in each region to fortify their positions in the fortified positions.

Under the "protection" of Taishi Ci and Chen Dao, he led 10,000 troops to Xu County, vowing to keep Cao Cao's army outside Xu County and not give up an inch of Yingchuan.

The main problem is that Yuan's army only has 30,000 troops in Yingchuan at present. If too many are drawn from the army, the remaining troops will be too few and they will not be able to resist.

It would be easy for them to repeat the mistakes of Lei Bu and Chen Lan, who were easily captured by Cao Cao's vanguard.

With 10,000 people currently being transferred out, only a little over 1,000 remain in various regions. Even if the local district chiefs are not as outstanding as Xu Sheng, they can still take the initiative and defeat them.

However, Cao Cao's main force was tied down by General Xiahou Dun, and could not spare too many troops to launch a surprise attack elsewhere.

Troops in various regions could hold out for a period of time by relying on nested bunkers and fortifications, and wait for reinforcements.

In any case, Yuan's army is on the defensive this time. For General Xiahou Dun, who is in charge of guarding the seventeen counties of Yingchuan and forcing Cao's army to return empty-handed, it would be a great achievement for Yuan Gong.

Although Xiahou Dun himself doesn't seem to think that way? But that doesn't matter, it's not important.
Importantly, the strategist Yang Hong had already issued the General Who Guards the North's orders to various regions, conveying to the world his determination to personally lead the troops to the front lines to resist Cao Cao's army, resolutely defend the city, and vow to live and die together with Yingchuan.

And what about our General Zhenbei himself?
Every day, he would ride a tall horse, under the "protection" of Taishi Ci and Chen Dao, to inspect the front-line camp, as if afraid that people would not see him.

Every time they saw his arrogant behavior, it infuriated Yue Jin and the others in Cao Cao's army, but they couldn't do anything about it.

Because they had ample time and manpower in Yingchuan, Yuan's army had trenches in front of all these camps. The trenches were six feet deep, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and filled with bamboo spikes.

The camp walls were eight feet high and had ramparts, from which soldiers could shoot arrows and throw logs and stones.

Each bunker only had a dozen or so people inside, but they defended the bunkers and took turns supporting them from inside and outside. Cao Cao's army often lost dozens of men but still could not conquer them.

What's even more infuriating is that the trenches are only visible; every now and then, while walking on perfectly flat ground, there's a hidden pit that can leave you either dead or crippled if you fall in.

So frightened were the Cao army that when they charged, they were all careful and dared not run too fast, for fear that they might fall into the pit if they were not careful.

How could this be considered a fair battle between generals? Heaven knows, these past few days, Le Jin has been fighting on the open field more mentally exhausting than in a siege.

What made him even more desperate was that when he launched a fierce attack at all costs and paid a heavy price, he was finally about to capture a camp by virtue of his superior numbers.

Suddenly, they saw Yuan Jun retreating under the guidance of the ostentatious "Xiahou" banner that had been parading through the streets.
Before he could figure out why this was happening, he saw that behind these bunkers and fortifications was another bunker and fortification.

Under the banner of Xiahou Dun, the General Who Guards the North still walks to the front of the brand-new camp every day. His occasional angry glances at Cao Cao's camp often make Yue Jin feel deeply ashamed.

The enemy general was actually angry that I didn't fight?

This is blatant mockery!
Le Jin has been getting angrier and angrier these past few days.

Just then, a soldier came to report.

"Reporting to the general, our men have investigated thoroughly. Based on the district-level administrative units implemented by Yuan Shikai in Yingchuan, there are at least twenty fortified strongholds in the Xu County area before us." "Twenty?"

Le Jin looked up at him in disbelief, almost doubting that he had misheard. But the messenger not only nodded, but also added to his statement.

"Not only in Xu County, but also in Yingchuan's seventeen cities, there are twenty cities outside each county seat."

"Damn it! Yuan Ni has gone completely mad!"

At that moment, Yue Jin felt dizzy and disoriented. If they weren't going to fight, what was the point of the battle? What kind of war was this?
The Han Dynasty did not lack places that were easy to defend and difficult to attack, such as Hangu Pass, Tong Pass, or the difficult Shu Road, where a small number of troops could hold off an army of 100,000.

These places are easy to defend and difficult to attack. Without ingenious strategies and cunning tactics, they are so difficult to conquer that they can drive the attackers to despair.

But all of these places rely on natural barriers and impassable terrain.

But what did he see today? Yuan Gonglu, determined to conquer nature, transformed the once flat Yingchuan into a man-made natural fortress.

With 340 bunkers and barracks in 17 counties of Yingchuan, even if his 30,000 men worked themselves to death, they couldn't break through them.

If 100,000 troops were stationed here, it would be enough to keep a million-strong army at bay.

Fortunately, Yingchuan had few soldiers; Xiahou Dun only brought 10,000 men, enough to defend the city but not enough to advance. This allowed Le Jin to barely maintain the stalemate.

"Fight back to Xu County?"

When Le Jin thought of the bold words he had sworn when he set out to lead his troops to reclaim everything his lord had lost, he felt a headache coming on.

The Xu County before me was even more stinky and hard than a rock in a latrine.

To break through Xu County, at least 100,000 troops would be needed, along with the cooperation of Xiahou Dun on the other side, who would only have 10,000 troops and would not send any more.

But right now, let alone recovering Yingchuan, they can't even take down a single city or territory, let alone contain Yuan Shu's main force to send troops to support Yingchuan, so as to achieve the political goal of relieving pressure on the Liang Kingdom's battlefield and forcing Yuan Shu to retreat.

None of the military objectives promised to the lord before the expedition were achieved. The massive army of 30,000 men came to attack, but it was like a picnic, and they returned empty-handed.

After returning home, Le Jin was too ashamed to explain to his master.

Amidst the headache and annoyance, I saw the Xiahou banner rise again in front of the opposite camp, and a familiar figure, as if afraid no one would know, came to inspect the front line once more.

Le Jin stared intently at the figure, and suddenly an idea came to him. He then instructed the messenger soldier who had just delivered the message.

"Quickly summon General Dian Wei."

Before he could finish, Dian Wei entered and bowed respectfully.

"General Yue, what brings you here? Do you have a plan to attack the city?"

Unwilling to listen, Le Jin shook his head slightly and said with a wry smile.

"I never imagined that Xiahou Yuanrang's ability to defend the city was even greater than that of General Cao Ren; it was truly terrifying."

He is now heavily fortified, relying on the advantages of his fortifications and strongholds, and is determined to hold his ground. If we attack, we will only lose the lives of our soldiers. What good will it do us to gain a few empty fortifications in the end?

(End of this chapter)