Chapter 200: First Defeat
The army garrisoning Anlu County is Fu Tong’s force, but Fu Tong’s 12,000 troops are not in the county town; they are at the salt mine participating in labor. This is Gan Ning’s order, and the army is also involved in mining.
The other two armies, Huang Zhong’s force in Xiling County and Taishi Ci’s force in Yundu County, these three armies are deployed along an arc line, with Anlu County in the middle, and the Cao Army is precisely blooming from the center.
Anlu County is located on the east bank of the Wei River, and the surrounding salt mines are widely distributed. The two major salt mines currently being mined, one on the west bank of the Wei River, which is the salt mine Gan Ning inspected, and the other salt mine southeast of Anlu County, which is a newly opened salt mine.
Fu Tong is at the old salt mine on the west bank of the Wei River when he suddenly receives news that the Cao Army has occupied Anlu County. This news shocks Fu Tong greatly.
“How many Cao Army troops?”
“Around 30,000 to 40,000.”
Where did the Cao Army come from? Could it be—
In that instant, he suddenly understood; it must be Pingjing Pass. Something has gone wrong with Han Jing.
Fu Tong felt both regretful and hateful in his heart. At this moment, another soldier came to report, “Report to the colonel, 30,000 Cao Army troops have crossed the Wei River and are charging toward us here. They are less than 30 li away.”
Compared to the Han River, crossing the Wei River is much easier; just cut some trees, tie them into dozens of rafts, and you can cross the river. It is thus very normal for the Cao Army to cross the river quickly.
Fu Tong’s scalp tingled. What should he do now?
But after only a moment’s hesitation, he made a decision and notified everyone to withdraw south.
“Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!”
The gong sounded urgently, and the soldiers shouted loudly: “The Cao Army is coming! Run for your lives!”
The mine was in chaos, with tens of thousands of miners fleeing in panic. To buy time for the miners to escape, Fu Tong led his 12,000 troops to meet the enemy. The mine originally had 5,000 garrison troops, who have now moved to the new mine on the east bank.
The old mine on the west side now only has Fu Tong’s 12,000 garrison troops.
At this time, 30,000 troops led by Cao Ren were charging toward the mine. Cao Ren had mobilized precisely to capture the salt source; he did not care about Anlu County at all and only wanted to seize the salt source.
Cao Ren received a report that Yuzhang Army troops, around 10,000 strong, had appeared a few li ahead. Cao Ren sneered; like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, they were courting destruction. He immediately ordered: “The whole army attacks! Crush the enemy!”
The 30,000 elite Cao Army troops accelerated toward the Yuzhang Army three li away.
The outcome was not unexpected. The 12,000 Yuzhang Army troops were no match for the Cao Army at all. They held out for less than half a shichen before their entire army collapsed in defeat. Countless were killed or surrendered. Fu Tong led several thousand remnant troops in retreat to the south.
After shaking off the Cao Army’s pursuit, only around 4,800 of the 12,000 troops remained. The rest of the soldiers were either dead, surrendered, or had fled into the mine.
Anlu County is today’s Yunmeng County. Its south is the core zone of the ancient lake Yunmeng Marsh. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, it was still a vast watery expanse, a shallow water area covering over a million mu, nearly occupying the entire southwest of Jiangxia Commandery. It was uninhabited and extremely desolate.
But there is also land at the edge of the watery zone. Fu Tong led the remnant army through the land in the watery zone, withdrawing toward Yundu County 100 li away.
Xu Shu is currently in Xiling County. Huang Zhong first received the carrier pigeon message from Anlu County. He hurried to report to Xu Shu. This news greatly shocked Xu Shu as well: Cao Ren had led 30,000 troops to attack and occupy Anlu County and the salt mine.
“Strategist, Cao Ren probably came from the Northern Three Passes, so our blockade of the Han River had no effect.”
Xu Shu nodded. “The situation is now very unfavorable. The 50,000 enemy troops in Jingling County are very likely to charge into Jiangxia Commandery as well. We have been a bit overconfident. If we do not increase troop strength, Jiangxia Commandery will be hard to hold, and the salt source will be hard to hold.”
Huang Zhong sighed and said: “This subordinate agrees with the strategist’s plan. We should immediately request aid from Chaisang. We cannot afford to be careless!”
Xu Shu’s carrier pigeon letter reached Gan Ning that very afternoon. Gan Ning immediately summoned several key ministers to deliberate on the urgent military situation.
Faced with the harsh reality, Jiang Wan also admitted that his previous judgment was mistaken.
“General, Strategist Xu is right. The loss of our salt mine has major implications. We must immediately recapture it. Jiangxia Commandery lacks sufficient troops. This subordinate agrees to reinforce as quickly as possible.”
Gan Ning then looked toward Lu Su. Lu Su slowly said: “The 30,000 Cao Army troops are just a feint, making us think the enemy has not committed many troops. But the enemy’s commander is Cao Ren, and that is the key. Behind Cao Ren is an army of over 100,000. If we let our guard down, the 50,000 troops from Jingling County will soon cross the Han River, or tens of thousands of troops will charge into Jiangxia Commandery by land route. At that point, Jiangxia Commandery will face 80,000 enemy troops, and we may completely lose Jiangxia Commandery. General, the situation in Jiangxia Commandery is currently extremely perilous. What we face is not only Cao Ren, but also experts like Cheng Yu.”
Gan Ning nodded and immediately decided: “Quickly transfer Zi Long’s force to support Jiangxia Commandery. Also transfer Xu Sheng’s army to join the blockade of the Han River. No matter what, the Han River cannot be lost.”
Gan Ning immediately mobilized troops and dispatched Zhao Yun’s force of 15,000 to join Huang Zhong’s force in Xiling County. Meanwhile, Xu Sheng also led his own force of 15,000 troops and over 1,000 warships to join the blockade of the Han River, ensuring the Cao Army’s main force could not cross.
A series of military orders were issued, bringing the Yuzhang Army troop strength in Jiangxia Commandery to 85,000. But the Cao Army was far from just 30,000; adding the 50,000 troops in Jingling County, the Cao Army’s commitment also reached 80,000.
But the Cao Army’s weakness was also quite obvious. As long as the Han River was completely cut off, the Cao Army from Nan Commandery could not join the fight. With Xu Sheng’s army joining the Han River blockade, Cao Ren suddenly became isolated and without aid in Jiangxia Commandery.
Huang Zhong’s army and Zhao Yun’s army left Xiling County and headed north. There were also 5,000 troops garrisoning the mine. When the Cao Army arrived, they too were forced to withdraw south. Now, together with the main force, a total of 35,000 troops marched majestically toward Anlu County.
At the same time, Taishi Ci also received Xu Shu’s carrier pigeon message. According to the appointed time, he led 15,000 soldiers to join Fu Tong’s 5,000 troops, a total of 20,000 troops leaving Yundu County and also hurrying at full speed toward the salt mine.
At this point, Cao Ren’s army had already withdrawn to Anlu County, while transporting 300,000 shi of mine salt to the county town and setting fire to burn down the mine’s warehouse and various facilities. This was also the utmost the Cao Army could do; they could not destroy the salt mine itself.
Cao Ren stood on the city wall, gazing toward the south. Great General Yu Jin suggested: “General, why not take advantage of the enemy army not yet assembled to defeat them piecemeal!”
Cao Ren nodded. “That is also what I am considering. But which one should we deal with first?”
“Capture the leader first. Of course, the main force coming from Xiling County. Concentrate troops to defeat them, and dealing with the army from Yundu County will be easy as pie.”
Cao Ren pondered for a moment and said: “Very well, then!”
One shichen later, Cao Ren led 30,000 troops out of Anlu County, charging toward the Huang and Zhao armies to the south.
