As the late autumn was almost half past, the soldiers received new winter clothes.

With the burden on his back, every soldier was ready to go out of seclusion to attack the Jie people.

The military camp at Yanmen Pass is actually not big, and it is impossible for the school ground to accommodate tens of thousands of people to practice at once.

But tens of thousands of people line up in neat arrays, that's another matter.

Cao Heng did not order the local standing army in Youzhou to bring along. Yanmen Pass has relatively weak defenses, leaving the standing army here, which is a great help to guard the pass.

He only planned to lead the army brought from Luoyang out of the seclusion and attack the Jie people.

Standing on the high platform of the school ground, Cao Heng looked around the Wei soldiers in front of him. The soldiers lined up neatly square formations, and their eyes were all staring at him.

"The military equipment and food are all ready." Cao Heng shouted: "You all know what we are going to do next."

The school ground was quiet, and everyone stood up straight, waiting for him to continue talking.

Of course, the soldiers knew what they were going to do. They had been to Yanmen Pass for a few days. Since they arrived here, when the Jie people attacked the city, they had a battle, and have been resting and waiting for supplies since then.

Waiting is always very difficult, and many soldiers are even tired of it.

Fortunately, they didn't wait too long, and Guan Xing transported supplies from Luoyang.

The day the supplies arrived, the soldiers knew that the day they went to war was closer.

Sure enough, when all the materials were sent down, Cao Heng finally issued an order to leave the customs.

Looking at Cao Heng, none of the soldiers made any noise that should not have. The school grounds of tens of thousands of people were quiet, and the sound of wind and people's breathing were quiet.

"Some people say that winter is coming soon. Once it is winter, the road outside the pass may be blocked by heavy snow, becoming a piece of ice and snow." Cao Heng continued to shout: "Many of you understand that when attacking places, you usually choose to defend and fight in autumn, because autumn and winter are not suitable for marching. Only in spring is the best time to fight."

Cao Heng paused and then shouted, "But you must also understand that spring is indeed the best time for us to fight, but for the Jie people, isn't it? The Jie people are familiar with the terrain outside the pass, and when the grass and trees are lush in spring, their cavalry will not have to worry about feeding horses. We are not as familiar with the terrain outside the pass as they do, and most of our army is infantry and cavalry are pitifully few. Even if we need to feed horses, the forage and black beans carried in the army are enough. In other words, it is extremely unfavorable for us to really choose to start the war in spring, but for the Jie people, it is very favorable. Wait for a few months and finally choose the season that is suitable for the enemy. Do you think it is suitable?"

"Not suitable!" Although the soldiers were confused by Cao Heng's words, they still responded in unison.

A faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and Cao Heng continued to shout: "It would be better if you think it is not suitable. I also think it is not suitable, so I chose to lead you out of seclusion in late autumn. I chose to go out of seclusion at this time, because our military supplies were delivered soon. If there were not enough supplies, we would be frozen to death and starved to death after we left seclusion. If the supplies were really insufficient, I would rather send troops in the season suitable for the enemy than choose to take risks at this time!"

The soldiers held their breath and stared at him intently.

"Secondly, I chose to leave the customs at this time because the Jie people cannot react appropriately. I once heard that in winter, the Jie people will huddle in their tribes, and only raise their cattle, sheep and horses every day, and they will not even do grazing after leaving the tribe." Cao Heng shouted: "The Jie people are nomadic people, but they are a very lazy nation. They do not work on farming and even do not grazing well, so they often lack food. In the past, when they come to the Central Plains, they will plunder our population and even slaughter the robbed people as livestock. In fact, there is only one reason, that is, the Jie people have too few cattle and sheep, and they are not enough for them to eat in winter. Once they cannot support themselves, and they do not want to plunder, what else can they do?"

When Cao Heng analyzed the attributes of Jie people, the soldiers clenched their fists one by one, with unconcealed resentment on their faces.

When marching and fighting, when food is scarce and starving to death, feeding on people is not impossible.

However, it is not easy for people to feed on people all year round, and even to go to the Central Plains to plunder people for this purpose.

"The Jie people are the most barbaric nation, and the Jie people are also the most brutal nation!" Cao Heng shouted: "Their existence is undoubtedly a great threat to us Central Plains people, so the King of Wei once made a decision to completely erase the Jie people from the world. It was precisely because of this instruction that I would lead you out of the Central Plains and to Yanmen Pass."

After pausing again, Cao Heng's eyes swept across the soldiers' faces, and then shouted loudly: "We are here not for war or conquest, but for extermination of the clan!"

Cao Heng never concealed the purpose of slaughtering the Jie people and asking them to destroy their clans and races. Of course, the soldiers also knew what he was going to do.

The school ground was still quiet, and no one made any noise.

The eyes of each soldier were still on Cao Heng's face.

Cao Heng raised his hand and shouted to the soldiers: "I won't say much else. I will only make one request to you. After you come out of seclusion, you will kill every strong Jie man, kill their women, rob their cattle, sheep, horses and all the things that can be robbed back. They once robbed us, and the feng shui took turns, thirty years from Hedong to Hexi, and now it's our turn to rob them!"

Cao Heng's words were undoubtedly very aroused, and the soldiers raised their weapons and cheered loudly.

After a moment, Cao Heng pressed his hands.

When the school grounds became quiet, Cao Heng shouted: "Listen to our military orders and set off!"

When the order was issued, a captain rode his horse to the side of the formation and shouted loudly: "Change the direction and follow the eldest son out of seclusion!"

Teams of soldiers left the school ground and drove out of the military camp.

Watching the soldiers leave, Yang Fu asked Cao Heng: "Sir, what should I do?"

"Three things," Cao Heng said: "First, take back all your scouts, no one can let them out of the pass. Second, guard Yanmen Pass to the death, no matter what, you cannot let half of the Jie people get in. Third, take advantage of these days to hoard materials, and as much as you can hoard them. The army's expedition is quite expensive. Although I have brought enough materials, no one on the way will tell you if there will be any loss. You can hoard some, and when I need them urgently, you can ask you for it."

He then strengthened his tone and said to Yang Fu: "Governor Yang is an official in the local area and should also know the administration of the Great Wei Dynasty. I want you to hoard materials not to exploit the people, but to purchase them from the people by normal means."

"Don't worry, eldest son, I understand all this." Yang Fu responded.

Cao Heng didn't say much to him, greeted the generals and rode his horse to the outside of the military camp first.

The generals followed Cao Heng and walked out of the military camp.

When the army set out to fight, the people who had been waiting outside to hunt the Jie people were all ready.

Many hunting teams had already made plans. When the army set out, they followed behind, so that they could avoid meeting a large number of Jie people, so that they could not deal with it.

In that case, we can observe the direction of the Jie people's collapse and follow them to hunt.

They cannot compete with the army for credit, but they can follow the fleeing Jie people.

As long as you have a goal to follow, these people will not search aimlessly everywhere when they are outside the barrier.

If you rely on your own ability to search, you will be better off following the Jie people.

As long as you can see where the Jie people flee and find them and kill them, it is much better than searching outside the pass like a headless fly.

The army drove out of Yanmen Pass in a mighty manner.

Following Cao Heng, Jiang Wei looked back at the people following him and said to Cao Heng: "Those people really know how to think of ways. If they follow the army, they don't have to worry about being surrounded and suppressed by Jie people, and they can also discover the whereabouts of Jie people in time. It can be seen from this point that most of them are veterans with rich battlefield experience."

"Most of them are military households, and only a small number of villagers in ordinary villages." Cao Heng said: "In fact, when they came to Yanmen Pass, I had asked everyone to investigate. All those who have been on the battlefield are of course allowed to leave the barrier. As for those who have not been on the battlefield, most of them have been persuaded to go back. If they have no experience in the battlefield, they will not be like hunters hunting the Jie people on the battlefield, but just lambs sent to the Jie people to slaughter."

"It's still the eldest son who thought it carefully." Jiang Wei said: "The purpose of the Tu Jie Order is to kill more Jie people, rather than sending people from the Central Plains outside the pass to massacre for Jie people. It is also a protection for those who have no experience in the battlefield."

"I am protecting them, but not everyone can understand." Cao Heng smiled slightly and said to Jiang Wei: "Those who were persuaded to go back are mostly not convinced, thinking that no matter how others can do it, they can't."

"Why can't it be? Don't they think it's not clear?" Jiang Wei said with a smile: "After leaving the customs, they can only give it to the Jie people to slaughter. What's the use of them following them?"

"That's it." Cao Heng also looked back and a quiet smile appeared on his lips: "Most of them were persuaded to go back, and a small number of people who did not believe in evil will follow them out of seclusion, saying that they were killing the Jie people was their wish. How could I not know whether these people would be so persistent in killing the Jie people without a generous reward? I am afraid that only they themselves know. After all, many of them did not grow up in Yanmen Pass, nor did they have unimaginable hatred with the Jie people. Their wish was not to kill the Jie people, but to achieve the goal of gaining benefits through massacre."

"Do you want to send someone to persuade me again?" Jiang Wei asked.

"No!" Cao Heng said: "Let them go. They may think that killing people is simple, but they never thought that while killing Jie people, they are also the target of the Jie people's slaughter. Killing is mutual, but one side has an absolute advantage, while the other side is at a disadvantage. The Jie people at a disadvantage are of course just waiting for the slaughtered prey. But we are definitely not completely in danger. After all, what we are going to hunt is wolf, not goats. Wolves have fangs and eat people. Without rich experience, when they meet them, the only ending is to wait for death."

"The eldest son is right." Jiang Wei nodded in agreement.

The army opened the gate and walked twenty or thirty miles forward, and the sky gradually darkened.

Cao Heng greeted Jiang Wei and others: "The generals all came to my tent and asked the soldiers to camp on the spot and sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, we may not move forward so smoothly."

The order was issued, and everyone responded.

A lieutenant conveyed Cao Heng's order and rode his horse to the back team.

While running, he shouted: "Camp on the spot, the eldest son has an order, have a good rest tonight and continue to march tomorrow morning."

After walking for a day, the soldiers did have some hard work.

After receiving the military order, they stopped and set up camp tents on the spot.

Before Cao Heng's tent was built, he brought Jiang Wei and others to an open space.

There are many large stones on the open space. These large stones are not far away from each other, and at least half of them are buried in the soil, which is integrated with the ground and is inseparable.

After choosing a big stone to sit down, Cao Heng greeted the generals: "Sit down first."

The generals agreed and each chose a stone to sit down.

"We have been to Yanmen Pass for some time." When everyone sat down, Cao Heng said, "The generals have worked very hard along the way. What I want to tell you is that the hard work has just begun, and the real hard work is still behind. We have mostly figured out the Jie people's residence, but I don't really believe in Yang Heng's subordinates. Just like I had an appointment with Bo Yan and Bo Yan said earlier that there are traitors who send messages to Jie people in Yanmen Pass."

Of course, Jiang Wei and Lu Xun knew that there was a traitor in Yanmen Pass, and the expressions on their faces were very calm.

But the other generals received no news.

They looked at each other one by one, and Ling Tong asked Cao Heng: "Sir, there are traitors in Yanmen Pass. Have we caught them?"

"Since it's a traitor, the hidden things must be very deep." Cao Heng asked: "How could it be easy to catch them out?"

Everyone looked at each other and nodded one after another.

"Can they be the spy of Jie people?" Wen Yang still didn't believe in the traitor's statement. The Jie people brought so many troubles to the people of the Central Plains. Will there be people of the Central Plains who will convey messages to them?

"The Jie people and our Central Plains people have a great difference in appearance. If their spies enter Yanmen Pass, will they be discovered by the soldiers and civilians in the pass?" Cao Heng shook his head: "The information about us will definitely not be a spy from the Jie people. It must be a traitor in the pass. I am very sure of this. Boyue and Bo Yan have also found evidence of the existence of the traitor. That's why I ordered Yang Fu not to send his scouts when he left the pass. From now on, we have to use our own people to explore the road."

"The evidence of the existence of the traitor has been found, and the eldest son has no intention of capturing them?" Zhao Tong asked Cao Shu: "Do you just let them be free in Yanmen Pass?"

"Boyou said something." Cao Heng signaled Jiang Wei to continue on his behalf.

Jiang Wei said to everyone: "What the eldest son said is indeed implementation. After investigation, Bo Yan and I sent people to check the houses of people suspected of being traitors. No matter what the traitors judged from any sign, the traitors are real. The eldest son had discussed with us before, not to capture the traitors, but to send people to stare at them. Using the news they sent to Shi Xieyiyu to adjust the combat deployment. We claimed to the outside world that we wanted to defeat the Jie people's royal court, and Shi Xieyiyu would definitely mobilize a large number of Jie people to the vicinity of the royal court, trying to fight to the death with us. But we didn't do that, but led the soldiers on another road and wiped out the Jie people's tribes one by one along the way. After all, we went out of seclusion this time to completely destroy the Jie people, not just conquering them. Knowing that the Jie people's king's tent had a heavy defense, if we still chose to attack there, we would be strategic incompetence."

"Bojo is right." Cao Heng nodded, and he said to the generals: "Please come over, I have something to do."

The generals looked at Cao Heng, and no one said anything.

They were all waiting for Cao Heng to continue talking.

"Bo Yan, bring the map you sent to Lu Xun." Cao Heng explained to Lu Xun.

Lu Xun reached into his arms, took out a stack of paper, stood up and came to Cao Heng, holding it with both hands and handed it to him.

After taking the map handed over by Lu Xun, Cao Heng shook and said to the generals: "This is the map outside the pass that Bo Yan asked someone to copy. Every tribe of the Jie people is marked on it. We came outside the pass. It is impossible to fight this battle in three or five months. Please come here. I want each of you to assign a pair of scouts to explore the location of the Jie people tribe marked on the map. If we are not dealing with the Jie people, we don't need to do this. But the Jie people are nomadic people after all, and they will decide where to migrate based on whether the water and grass are abundant. The Jie people marked on the map will also change over time. You have to send scouts to do only one thing, that is, to determine where the Jie people are, and not let the army end up empty."

"Bojo, assign it to the generals." Cao Heng ordered Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei stepped forward to take the map and assigned it to the generals one by one.
To be continued...