On the same day, when Zhao Yu was about to dispatch troops, Cao Suo, who fled back to Yingyin with his family yesterday, came to the county prison in the city to visit Tian Qin and Liao Guang, two former subordinates.

"Yo, isn't this Cao Qushuai?"

As soon as Cao Suo entered the county prison, Liao Guang, who was lying on the grass with his hands on his pillow and pretending to sleep, noticed the former, and sneered and sneered: "When will Cao Qushuai return to Yingyin?" Two days ago, I went to Xuchang Fraud City, wasn't it smooth? ”

Hearing this, Cao Suo's face couldn't help but sink.

Yes, he and Xiang Xuan's strategy of 'conspiring with Xuchang inside and outside' failed, not to mention the loss of many soldiers, but also took Zou Yuan and Liu Jian - he was also in a hurry to escape from Xuchang that day, and he forgot about those two.

"Doesn't it look like it's going well?"

Liao Guang sat up on the straw bunk, his face full of sneers.

At this time, in the prison next door, Tian Qin stopped Liao Guang, immediately looked at Cao Suo with a complicated expression, and finally greeted him, causing Liao Guang to laugh disdainfully.

Under the gaze of Tian Qin and Liao Guang, Cao Suo slowly walked to the prison and said in a heavy tone: "Tian Qin, Liao Guang, General Xiang sent me to persuade you two to defect to the righteous master......

"Tsk."

Liao Guang sneered, laughed, looked at Cao Suo and mocked: "General Xiang? Ha, Cao Suo, you're really ...... The more I lived, the more I went back......"

From the side, Tian Qin said with a complicated expression: "Du Wei, you have made a mistake, I hope you can restrain yourself from the precipice and repent in time, so as not to make a big mistake." ”

"Repent in time? lest it be a great mistake?'

Cao Suo smiled bitterly in his heart.

Defecting to the enemy and rebelling, holding the county guard hostage, can he still go back?

The crimes he committed were far more serious than those committed by Zhao Yu at the beginning - at least Zhao Yu would never dare to openly collude with the rebels in private.

Seeing that Cao Suo's face was expressionless and unresponsive, Tian Qin sighed, shook his head and said, "Please go back." …… In your absence, Liao Guang and I have made an agreement that even if you die, you will never surrender to the enemy. ”

“……”

Cao Suo wanted to speak and stopped, but in the end, he silently left the county prison.

A moment later, he came to the county office, met with Xiang Xuan, the general of the rebel army, and said to the latter: "General Xiang, Tian Qin and Liao Guang refuse to surrender. ”

"Oh."

At this time, Xiang Xuan was discussing the next battle with Yan Xuan in the house, and when he heard this, he didn't care, and said casually: "If you don't want to surrender, let's negotiate with Xuchang and exchange them for Zou Yuan and Liu Jian." ”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and motioned for Cao Suo to sit down, and said in a deep voice: "I am just discussing the next battle with General Yan, and I want to hear your opinion." …… General Cao, as far as you know, how many soldiers are there in Xuchang City? ”

Cao Suo hugged his fists and said truthfully: "Before Zhou Hu arrived in Xuchang, there were about 30,000 soldiers in Xuchang City......

"It's 10,000 less than we estimated." Yan Yu stroked his beard and said.

Xiang Xuan nodded thoughtfully and made a 'please continue' gesture to Cao Suo.

Seeing this, Cao Suo continued: "As of the time I sent my troops to Yingyin, there were about 26,000 soldiers in Xuchang City, and I took 10,000 people, and there should be more than 16,000 more, but these more than 16,000 soldiers have all experienced the last time to defend the city, and they are not well-trained new soldiers in vain......

"Hmm."

Xiang Xuan nodded, and said in a deep voice: "Guo Huai has already told me about this matter yesterday, saying that today's Xuchang soldiers have high morale and are brave in battle...... Oh, that Zhou Hu really had a hand. ”

Cao Suo didn't feel good when he heard it, and said with unhappiness: "It's just that Zhou Hu has given heavy rewards several times to boost morale." ”

"This is said as if Zhou Hu only knew how to give heavy rewards to boost morale......

Xiang Xuan glanced at Cao Suo, but did not expose it, and asked Cao Suo instead of the topic: "General Cao, since the two generals Tian Qin and Liao Guang refuse to surrender, can you still control the county guards in the city?" ”

Of course, Cao Suo understood what Xiang Xuan meant, and hurriedly said: "Please rest assured General Xiang, Cao will definitely be able to convince those county guards." ”

"How are you going to persuade?" Xiang Xuanrao asked with interest.

I saw a little complicated color flashing on Cao Suo's face, and said in a deep voice: "I will tell those county guards that it was precisely because Zhou Hu deceived Li Junshou and refused to send reinforcements to us that we were defeated...... I will tell them that I will only survive because of the kindness of the righteous master, and then persuade them to join forces with the righteous master to attack Xuchang......"

"In the name of something similar to the Qing Jun's side?" Xiang Xuan asked with a smile.

Cao Suo nodded with an embarrassed expression.

"Well, that's a good idea."

After thinking for a while, Xiang Xuan nodded and said: "If General Cao can convince those county troops, this army will still be commanded by General Cao, I hope General Cao will strengthen military discipline, don't ask them to abscond to Xuchang ......"

"I understand."

Cao Suo solemnly hugged his fists.

The so-called big husband can't be without power for a day, Cao Suo has been a lieutenant for more than ten years, where is he willing to let go of military power?

Even if Xiang Xuan didn't remind him, Cao Suo would do his best to persuade the four or five thousand soldiers who had been captured by the rebels to hold this force firmly in his hands.

A moment later, after Cao Suo took the lead in saying goodbye and leaving, he asked Xiang Xuan in confusion: "Why do you want to return four or five thousand county soldiers to him?" Wouldn't it be nice to break it up and add it to your army? ”

Xiang Xuan shook his head and said: "Those four or five thousand county soldiers, most of them are Xuchang locals, Xuchang has not been captured by my righteous division, how can those county soldiers fight for my righteous division?" Even if they are dismantled and added to your and our army, they must be specially sent to keep an eye on them, rather than this, it is better to hand them over to Cao Suo...... Although Cao Suo defected to my righteous teacher because of his selfish desires, those county guards didn't know that even if Cao Suo said it, he could put the fault on Xuchang and Zhou Hu. Cao Suo has been the captain of Yingchuan for more than ten years, and the ordinary county guards are still willing to believe him, so they simply let him take that county guard to help me and others attack Xuchang together. …… You can rest assured, this time Cao Suo even brought out his family, which is enough to show that he has no place in Xuchang, and he will not turn his back on the righteous teacher, otherwise, he will have no place to live. ”

"Hmm."

Yan Yu nodded slightly, and then asked, "Do you really want to attack Xuchang?" I also believe that Cao Suo will not deceive, and there may be only 15,000 or 6,000 soldiers left in Xuchang at present, but if we take a strong attack, I am afraid that our righteous division will have to pay corresponding, or even twice as many casualties...... Zhou Gong was afraid that he would not agree. ”

"That's what gives me a headache too."

Xiang Xuan frowned and said: "Cao Suo kept claiming that Zhou Hu only knew how to give heavy rewards to boost morale, so I didn't believe his statement, and the failure of this fraud was due to Zhou Hu's cunning and prudence...... Although Xuchang currently only has about 15,000 or 6,000 soldiers, I am not sure that this person is in Xuchang. ”

Speaking of this, he turned his head to look at Yan Yu: "In short, ask the soldiers to build some siege equipment first, prepare for the siege, and then discuss it with the two generals Zhou Gong and Zhong Fei." ”

"That's all it can be." Yan Yu nodded slightly.

Around midnight, a rebel army came to the west gate of Xuchang under the banner and shot an arrow at the west gate tower.

The Marquis of Xichengmen did not dare to slack off, and after getting this arrow book, he immediately sent someone to send it to the Governor's Office.

At this time, Zhao Yu happened to be idle, sitting in the room reading a book, and suddenly saw Wei Shi Hanhe walking in with a letter of arrows, and bowed his hand and said: "Duwei, the Marquis of Xichengmen sent someone to send this arrow book, saying that it was sent by the rebels." ”

"Take it for me."

"Yes."

Reaching out to take the arrow book handed by Han He, Zhao Yu opened it and looked at the contents of the letter carefully.

"Captain, I don't know what is written in the letter?" Han He asked curiously.

Zhao Yu chuckled: "Xiang Xuan wants to exchange Tian Qin and Liao Guang for Zou Yuan, Liu Jian, and Cai ......Wei."

"Cai Wei? Is it the rebel general who was beaten to the ground by the ox that day, and only half of his breath remained?"

Zhao Yu was slightly stunned and asked Han He: "Han He, the rebel general Cai Wei who was captured by Niu Hengsheng that day, is he still alive?" ”

Han He was stunned, and replied: "This, the humble position is not clear. …… Let's check it. ”

"Hmm."

After a while, Han He went and returned, and said, "Captain Qiyu, that Cai Wei is still alive." …… Although the injury has not yet healed and he is unable to move, there is no need to worry about his life. ”

"Oh?"

Zhao Yu was secretly surprised.

You must know that as far as he knows, Cai Wei was broken several bones by Niu Heng that day, with less air in and more breath, although Zhao Yu ordered someone to treat him afterwards, but he really didn't expect the latter to survive.

He picked up the arrow book sent by Xiang Xuan again, and thought a little in his heart.

Seeing that Zhao Yu looked at the arrow book and fell into deep thought, Han Hehui was mistaken, and cautiously persuaded on the side: "Du Lieutenant, I think that Tian Qin and Liao Guang did not rebel with Cao Suo, which is enough to prove their loyalty, and now I am short of good generals in Xuchang, Du Wei might as well exchange it back, I believe that the two of them will be grateful to Du Wei......

Hearing this, Zhao Yu suddenly laughed and said, "What? Do you think I'm hesitating to exchange for Tian Qin and Liao Guang? ”

As he spoke, he didn't wait for Han He's reaction, looked at the arrow book and said in a deep voice: "I'm just wondering if Xiang Xuan will attack Xuchang after exchanging prisoners...... Forget it, I'll talk about it later, Han He, you sent someone to send a reply letter to Yingyin's rebels, saying that I promised to exchange prisoners, and exchanged Tian Qin and Liao Guang for Zou Yuan and Liu Jian, as for that Cai Wei, I suspect that Xiang Xuan is not sure whether he is still alive, at most he just listened to Cao Suo say a few words, you don't want to make a noise, keep this person, maybe it can be of great use. ”

"That lowly position lied that Cai Wei died in prison due to injuries." Han He arched his hand.

"Hmm." Zhao Yu nodded.

On the same day, Xuchang sent someone to send a reply to Yingyin, expressing his willingness to exchange prisoners, but also claiming that Cai Wei had died in prison.

Hearing this, Xiang Xuan was heartbroken and regretful, after all, Cai Wei was the most powerful brave general under his command.

After all, although Xiang Xuan doesn't care about Liu Jian's life or death, Zou Yuan must find a way to save him.

The next day, that is, on the second day of the seventh month, Xiang Xuan sent his general Guo Huai to come forward and exchange prisoners with Xuchang.

Facts have proved that Zhao Yu and Xiang Xuan are very upright in this matter, and they did not do anything to put dark arrows, and the rebels exchanged Zou Yuan and Liu Jian, and Liu Jian's family, while Xu Changfang exchanged Tian Qin and Liao Guang.

"Thank you, Captain, for saving your life."

After returning to Xuchang alive, Tian Qin and Liao Guang couldn't care about going home, so they immediately came to the Governor's Office, asked to see Zhao Yu, and thanked Zhao Yu in person.

I have to say that the two of them never thought that Zhao Yu would exchange them back, after all, the two of them had 'betrayed'.

Looking at the grateful appearance of the two, Zhao Yu naturally reassured him with kind words.

As long as there are people who are willing to work for him, he has never too many, not to mention, Tian Qin and Liao Guang do have certain abilities.

"Next, it depends on whether Xiang Xuan dares to take a desperate gamble and take the risk of attacking Xuchang...... I hope Chu Yan and the others can catch up."

After Tian Qin and Liao Guang left, Zhao Yu sat in the room and pondered secretly.

If his expectations were correct, Xiang Xuan would most likely make a final attack attempt on Xuchang, and as long as he could repel this attack, Xiang Xuan would most likely retreat.