A few hours later, in Xunyang City, Gao Chi received a battle report from the front, Hao Zhanwei and Yuan Zhen battled, more than half of them were killed and wounded, and now they have retreated into Banzhou City.

"General, aren't we going to rescue General Hao?" Gao Chi's other lieutenant general, Wei Chi Hun, asked.

"No," Gao Chi explained, "Let Yuan taste the sweetness first, and then he can go deep alone." After he enters Banzhou City, we will surround and annihilate him. ”

Wei Chihun and Tian Zigeng suddenly realized, and they all admired the commander's way of using troops, "I see! ”

"Besides, General Hao is at most a defeated word, and he will not be killed by Yuan Zhen!" Gao Chilang's eyes were raised, his eyes were clear, he believed in Hao Zhanwei's ability, "As the commander-in-chief, you must have the ability to recognize people and tolerate people" He remembered a sentence that someone had said, and his heart was full of strength and confidence.

On the same day, Gao Chi also received news from the capital, and learned that Pei Yun had led his troops upriver and was on his way to Jingzhou.

At this time, outside the city of Banzhou, the fierce battle had just passed, and the corpses were all over the field.

"General, Hao Zhanwei has fled to the city, should we take advantage of the victory to pursue him?" Yuan Zhen's side asked the deputy general.

"No, I will reorganize and rest tonight, reward the soldiers, tell them to recuperate, and take half of the continent in one fell swoop tomorrow." Yuan Zhen commanded.

At the same time, he instructed a scout to go to Xiakou to report the situation of the battle in Jiangzhou, "You let the general not have to worry, taking Jiangzhou is just around the corner!" ”

The scout took the order and left.

In the early morning of the second day, that is, on August 26 of the 14th year of Jingxi, Yuan Zhen reorganized his troops and horses early in the morning, and the troops marched towards Banzhou in three ways.

After a day of fierce fighting, Yuan's army occupied Banzhou City smoothly, and the city gate was full of gunsmoke and corpses, which was unbearable.

At this moment, Yuan Zhen was sitting in the Banzhou Guard's Mansion, resting and celebrating with the generals, he raised his wine glass, and chuckled at the corner of his mouth: "Isn't this Hao Zhanwei the first fierce general under Yin Hong?" It seems that it is not Er'er, and our soldiers and horses from afar can kill them without leaving a piece of armor, so it seems that Gao Chi will either surrender obediently, or wait for the butcher's knife of this general! Ha ha! Cheers! "Drink a glass of wine and laugh out loud.

The soldiers in the hall also raised their glasses to each other, "Congratulations to the general on his victory!" ”

At this time, a soldier ran outside the hall and reported: "General, Hao Zhanwei is heading south with the remaining thousands of soldiers and horses, and Li Li, the guard general of Banzhou, has been captured by us and is waiting outside the hall!" ”

"Poor Kou Mo chase, Hao Zhanwei doesn't care about it first, bring Li Li in!" Yuan Zhen put down the wine glass and said with a straight face.

"Yes!"

As he spoke, Li Li, the defender of Banzhou City, was tied up by two soldiers and brought in.

As soon as Li Li saw Yuan Zhen, he hurriedly said loudly: "General, the general has arrested the wrong person," he moved forward vigorously as he spoke, explaining: "Under the secret order of General Gao Chi, the general must not be hindered from entering the city, I wanted to take all the soldiers to meet the general outside the city, but I didn't know what to do Hao Zhanwei sent someone to watch me, did not let me go out of the city, and sealed Banzhou City, I originally wanted to let the generals enter the city without blood, but now I still let the people suffer!" After that, he sighed again and again.

Yuan Zhen saw that he was sweating, and said it with deep affection, but he didn't want to embarrass him, "Is that really the case?" ”

"It's true, General Gao Chi has prepared the Shuai Order, the Jiangzhou Assassin History Order and the civil registration books, and is waiting for the general in Xunyang City!" Li Li replied.

"In this case, General Ben is already in Banzhou, so let him send things to Banzhou, so as to show his sincerity." You and I Yuan Zhen are vegetarians, go to find Yang, what if there is a change? Yuan Zhen said angrily.

Taechu nodded, thinking that was exactly that.

"The general doesn't know, General Gao is in danger, the foundation is unstable, after all, General Gao is not the only one in Xunyang City, this civil register is in the hands of Teng Yuan, Jiangzhou. What General Gao means..."

He looked at Yuan Zhen and chuckled slightly, and said in a low voice: "General, you will go to Xunyang in person, and General Gao's side will definitely not stop you, so that General Gao's reputation will be complete, and you can do what you want." ”

He glanced at the lobby, knowing that the statement had already moved them. But seeing that they were still hesitating, he added,

"General, there are no enemies in Xunyang City, the general can personally lead a strong army to Xunyang, and the army can be stationed outside the city, so the general has no worries."

"Where have all the soldiers who are looking for the sun gone?" Tai Chu asked, as far as he knew, there were at least 50,000 soldiers and horses in Jiangzhou.

"Lord Hui, Jiangzhou is only 50,000 soldiers and horses, General Hao has now lost 25,000, and Yin Hongyi's old department learned that the imperial court appointed General Gao as the assassin of Jiangzhou, and in a fit of anger, he led 8,000 soldiers and horses to take refuge in Yuzhang Taishou Yan, this matter has been concealed and not reported, there are 8,000 battalions scattered in Xunyang City, and 10,000 soldiers and horses are all old, weak, sick and disabled troops, in order to prevent Yuzhang from changing, they will guard in Jianchang." Li Li looked helpless.

Yuan Zhen nodded lightly, he was clear about the situation of Jiangzhou's troops, Li Li didn't lie, and said: "Loosen the ties of General Li and take General Li down to rest!" ”

Li Li had a smile on his face and said, "Thank you, General!" Then satisfied, he retreated with the soldiers.

Yuan Zhen got up and walked to the bottom of the hall, all the generals got up and looked at him, Yuan Zhen asked, "Tell me, what should I do?" ”

A general with a black beard on his face said loudly: "General, there is no need to talk to him, wait for the army to be reorganized, go straight to Xunyang, and control Jiangzhou." He waved his hand, as if he didn't care about Xunyang's troops.

"I still have to let people inquire about the situation of Xunyang." Another soldier said cautiously.

"That's right, general, you can't take risks lightly, it's better to send an army to find the sun to test the truth." Tai Chu was still not worried about Gao Chi, who also served as Sima of the General's Mansion, he had heard that this Gao Chi general was good at making decisions, although Gao Chi intended to support the Yuan family, in order to have a place in the new dynasty in the future, but the heart of defense is indispensable.

After Ling Heng heard the opinions of the generals, he pondered for a while and said: "General, when the decision continues, it is not the work of the wise, we will first control the gate of Xunyang, half of the army is stationed outside the city, half is stationed in Banzhou, and the general will bring thousands of strong troops into the city, and Gao Chi will surrender, then it is best, if Gao Chi does not fall, he will take it immediately." Now we, the soldiers of the long war, are still afraid of him, and the old and weak remnants of the soldiers will not be able to do it. ”

Yuan Zhen looked at Ling Heng when he heard this, with a hint of recognition in his eyes, or Ling Heng's opinion was closest to his original intention, Ling Heng had followed him for many years, he was good at planning and decisive, and he was his confidant. His opinion is also the most appropriate approach at the moment.

Then he made up his mind and no longer hesitated, "The people will listen to the order!" ”

"The last general!"

"Tai Chu led 30,000 soldiers and horses to garrison Banzhou, and settled the grain, grass and military salaries." Yuan Zhen threw a general and Taichu.

"Command!" Tai Chu bowed and replied.

"Ling Heng will lead 30,000 soldiers and horses to Xunyang early tomorrow morning, if the guards will surrender to Cheng, they will control the city gate and garrison the troops outside the city." Yuan Zhen continued to command.

"The rest of the generals and the generals of the subordinate will enter the city with this general at the beginning of tomorrow." Yuan Zhen said that he would return to his seat in the hall and instructed Zhu to continue drinking.

The night was dark, and the general's mansion in Xunyang City was still brightly lit, and Gao Chi and several lieutenant generals were holding up the lights to look at the map.

"General, why did they let them bring some soldiers into the city, why didn't they annihilate them in one fell swoop?" Wei Chihun asked.

Gao Chi's face sank, and he said, "Annihilation? Don't forget, they are also soldiers of Dahuan, and the good men of our Huan country did not die on the battlefield of resisting Yan, but died in infighting, how ridiculous and pathetic! Gao Chi's voice was excited, his eyes were like lamps, and his face was full of blood.

The two lieutenant generals both turned red when they heard this, "The general is right, fighting for the country is our mission!" ”

"And what is the general going to do?" Tian Zigeng asked.

"It is the best policy to capture the thief and capture the king first, and it is the best policy to surrender the army without a fight, so you can prepare according to what I say!" Gao Chi replied.

Tian Zigeng and Wei Chihun both nodded to receive the order, and then saw that Gao Chi's face was tired and no longer spoken, so they both said goodbye.

After Gao Chi saw the two of them go out, his expression was as usual, and at this time, a dark shadow also appeared in the house.

Gao Chi heard the sound, turned around and looked, his expression immediately relaxed, "Where has General Yan marched?" ”

The man in black replied in a cold voice: "Yuzhang's army has been reduced to zero, and small teams of soldiers have secretly rushed to find the sun, and they will arrive at the predetermined place at noon tomorrow." ”

"So good! The situation in Jiangzhou will be clear tomorrow. He looked at the map and said firmly.