At the same time that Liu Biao sent his envoy north, Zhang Xiu also rushed back to Wancheng before Cao Cao arrived.

After returning to Wancheng, Zhang Xiu immediately summoned Hu Che'er and asked, "Hu Che'er, where has Cao Jun arrived now?" ”

Hu Che'er immediately replied: "Lord, the Cao army has broken through Xi'e County and Bowang County and is marching towards Wancheng, and the Xi'e guard general Tian Jie and Bowang guard general Nie Li are both killed!" ”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiu was very nervous and asked Jia Xu beside him: "Wenhe, Cao Jun is menacing, what should I do?" ”

"Don't be good! The soldiers and horses of the Cao army dispatched to the west of Wang Zhenxi will naturally be dispatched, and we only need to hold Wancheng for 15 days, and the Cao army will retreat. ”

"Okay, just follow what Wen and said!"

Subsequently, Zhang Xiu immediately mobilized 30,000 elite soldiers and horses under his command to strengthen the city defense of Wancheng.

As for the soldiers and horses of Xi'e, Bowang and Zhixian County, they were all county soldiers recruited by Zhang Xiuxian.

Besides, after Cao Cao took Bowang and Xi'e, he sent Le Jin to take Duyang County.

At this point, Cao Cao's forces in Nanyang County were connected.

After Cao Cao learned that Le Jin had taken Duyang County, he raised his troops to kill Wancheng.

When Cao Cao led his troops to Wancheng, he immediately said with emotion when he saw the city defense of Wancheng: "Wancheng is so strong, it seems that it will take a little more effort to defeat Wancheng, if Zhang Xiu can directly surrender, it would be great!" ”

Hearing Cao Cao's emotion, Cheng Yujin said: "My lord, Zhang Xiu is afraid that when he sees the prestige of our army, he will change his mind and ask the lord to surrender." ”

"I hope so!"

Then, Cao Cao immediately sent the army outside the city.

Following.

After Cao Cao led the army to line up, he immediately said to Cheng Yu beside him: "Cheng Yu, you come forward to persuade me to surrender again, Wancheng Chengjian is supplemented by Zhang Xiu's Xiliang soldiers, and the strong attack will definitely suffer heavy casualties, if the soldiers are not bloody, it is naturally the best, if Zhang Xiu is stubborn, it is not too late for me to order the siege of the city, by the way, the conditions I promised Zhang Xiu before are still unchanged." ”

Cheng Yu immediately rode out of the horse and shouted loudly: "General Zhang, listen, Cao Sikong is grateful that you are a talent, as long as you open the city and surrender, Cao Sikong will still be reused for you, if General Zhang is stubborn and wants to confront the imperial army, Cao Sikong can only endure the pain and attack Wancheng." ”

After hearing Cheng Yu's shout, Zhang Xiu immediately asked Jia Xu beside him: "Wenhe, this Cao Cao is really willing to spend his blood!" What do you think would happen if I really opened the city? ”

"Your lord, no! Wancheng is the core of Nanyang County, and now the power of Nanyang County is complicated, we should stick to Wancheng and wait and see what happens. ”

Seeing that Jia Xu was a little nervous, Zhang Xiu hurriedly replied: "Wenhe, I just said it casually, you don't have to take it seriously." ”

"Lord, now Nanyang County is the object of contention between all forces, and our occupation of Wancheng is the biggest reliance, and please remember that if Wancheng is lost, then our army will be slaughtered, and our army can only occupy Wancheng to save their lives."

After hearing this, Zhang Xiu solemnly agreed.

At this time, Cheng Yu saw that there had been no reply in the city, and he suddenly shouted again: "Has General Zhang thought it through?" ”

After hearing this, Zhang Xiu immediately replied: "Please go back and tell Cao Sikong that if you want to take Wancheng, you can take the real ability!" ”

When Cheng Yu heard this, he immediately snorted and went back to Cao Cao to return to his life.

When Cao Cao learned that Zhang Xiu was unwilling to surrender, he suddenly sighed helplessly and then let his army start to attack the city.

When Zhang Xiu saw the Cao army attacking, he immediately led his troops to meet the battle.

After a few days of fierce fighting, Cao Cao had no way to take Wancheng, after all, the Xiliang army under Zhang Xiu's command was not weaker than the elite of Cao's army.

In desperation, Cao Cao had no choice but to order a temporary truce.

At this time, Liu Biao's letter for help was finally delivered to Wang Kai in Chang'an.

When Wang Kai learned that Cao Jun had also entered Nanyang, he was finally anxious, because Nanyang County was the only way for him to move the people of Hanzhong, if Nanyang County fell into the hands of Cao Cao, then he would not want to develop it in his life, after all, Yongliang was tired, although Hanzhong was rich but it was difficult to get in and out.

Subsequently, Wang Kai immediately gathered everyone under his command.

When Fang Qiao, Xu Tao, Li Ru, Pei Xingyan, Li Jing, Luo Cheng, Gan Ning, Wei Chigong, Huang Fuhong, Zhang Ji, Ma Teng, and Han Sui arrived, Wang Kai immediately said to everyone: "Everyone, I received a letter from Liu Biao asking for help, Cao Cao raised a large army to enter Nanyang not long ago, this move is tantamount to blocking the road of our army's progress, and I intend to immediately raise troops south to fight for Nanyang County." ”

At this time, Fang Qiao said: "Lord, although Nanyang is heavy, but Heluo should not be underestimated, Cao Cao's attack on Nanyang will definitely seize Luyang County, in this way, Cao Jun will open the passage between Nanyang and Heluo, once Cao Jun has a firm foothold in Heluo, it is also difficult for our army to get out." ”

After hearing Fang Qiao's words, Wang Kai nodded and replied, "This is natural!" Heluo and Nanyang are the lifeblood of our army. ”

Speaking of this, Wang Kai suddenly pondered, because he was struggling with whether he would send troops to Heluo to surround Wei and rescue Zhao or go south directly to confront Cao Cao head-on.

After a while, Wang Kai finally made up his mind.

"Li Jing, Gan Ning, and Luo Cheng obey orders!"

After the three of them heard Wang Kai's shout, they immediately stood up.

"Order Li Jing to be the main general, command 30,000 troops, send Hangu to contain Cao's army, and wait for an opportunity to capture Heluo."

Li Jing saw that Wang Kai had appointed him as the main general, and he immediately stood up and solemnly accepted the order.

Immediately afterwards, Wang Kai said: "Shixin, you serve as Li Jing's vanguard and lead 3,000 people out of the Han Valley." ”

When Luo Cheng suddenly heard this, he glanced at Wang Kai in disbelief.

When Luo Cheng saw that there was no compromise in Wang Kai's eyes, he suddenly reluctantly took the order: "The last general will obey the order!" ”

Then, Wang Kai said to Gan Ning: "Xingba, you led 4,000 Jinfan troops to swim the Yellow River, and they are both under the jurisdiction of Li Jing." ”

"The last general obeys!"

After arranging the partial division, Wang Kai said to Fang Qiao, Zhang Ji and Huang Fuhong: "Xuanling, Derong, Jianshou, you stay in Chang'an to coordinate the overall situation." ”

After receiving the order, the three of them immediately stood up and received the order.

In the end, Wang Kai said to the rest of the people: "The rest of the people will go with me to Nanyang!" ”

Li Ru, Xu Tao, Pei Xingyan, Wei Chigong, Ma Teng and Han Sui immediately received orders after hearing this.

Following.

Li Jing took Luo Cheng by land to the east towards Hangu Pass.

As for Gan Ning's Jinfan Army, it set out from Shuizhai near Chang'an and marched towards Heluo.

Two days later, Wang Kai ordered 60,000 soldiers and horses to go south to Wuguan.

So far, Wang Kai has dispatched a total of 90,000 soldiers and horses from Chang'an.

Fang Qiao led 30,000 soldiers and horses to garrison Chang'an.

After Wang Kaijun dispatched, he immediately wrote an edict asking Qin Qiong in Hanzhong to send 30,000 soldiers and horses to Shunyang County, Nanyang County to join him.

A few days later.

When Qin Qiong received Wang Kai's edict, he immediately gathered 30,000 soldiers and horses and rushed towards Shangyong, where he planned to rush to Shunyang County by boat from the waterway.

After Qin Qiong led his troops out, he left Du Ruhui and 20,000 soldiers and horses to sit in Nanzheng.

At the same time, in order to prevent Wancheng from falling into the hands of Cao Cao, Wang Kai asked Xue Li, who was stationed at Wuguan, to lead 10,000 soldiers and horses to Wancheng first.