So, does Xiang Xuan have any follow-up plans?

The answer is, no.

This is also the reason why Xiang Xuan looked at Xuchangcheng from a distance at the moment, but never gave the order to attack.

At this time, beside Xiang Xuan, Guo Huai, the general under his command, told Fang Cai's passage one by one: "...... I thought that Cao Suo and Zou Yuan had successfully led their soldiers into the city, but somehow, Xu Chang suddenly saw a flaw. Seeing Zou Yuan struggling to enter the city, I led troops to help, but I couldn't take advantage of the chaos to attack the city wall, and could only watch the defenders in the city recapture the city gate. ”

"Did Cao Suo and Zou Yuan escape?" Xiang Xuan asked calmly.

Guo Huai shook his head: "I'm afraid I'm trapped in the city......"

"That's a ...... Stealing chickens doesn't take rice.'"

Xiang Xuan sighed slightly.

In all fairness, he thought that his strategy to get Xuchang this time was quite clever, at least Zhou Hu had been deceived for a while, so that Cao Suo and Zou Yuan could still lead the 'rout' to withdraw into Xuchang.

But people are not as good as heaven, but Zhou Hu was really cunning and cautious, so that he and Cao Suo's plan to work together to seek Xuchang not only failed, but instead took Zou Yuan, a general under his command, and sacrificed nearly 2,000 soldiers.

"General Xiang, what now?"

From the side, the rebel general Yan Xuan asked on the side.

"What should I do?"

Xiang Xuan hesitated for a moment, frowned and said: "It's all here, let's attack and see, see if Cao Suo's rebellion will cause chaos among the rebels in Xuchang City." …… General Zhou Gong must have received the news as well. ”

"Hmm."

Yan Yu nodded slightly.

A moment later, around the arrival of the hour, the rebel general Zhou Gong heard the news and led his army to the area of Xuchang and launched an offensive against the east city wall of Xuchang, while Xiang Xuan and Yan Xuan launched an attack on the west city wall of Xuchang at the same time.

However, Xiang Xuan soon discovered that the morale of the Xuchang defenders was not reduced, and there was no disorder, and he steadily blocked the two attacks of his righteous division.

Seeing this, Xiang Xuan sighed and said, "It's useless to attack strongly, withdraw your troops." ”

Hearing this, Yan Yu frowned and said: "Xuchang has lost 10,000 county troops, if you don't take advantage of the lack of troops to step up the attack, in a few days, as long as Xuchang starts to recruit troops, you will be able to recover your strength immediately......"

Xiang Xuan shook his head and said: "The newly recruited soldiers, untrained, untempered on the battlefield, useless, I am not worried about the Xuchang conscription, what I care about is its original soldiers...... According to Cao Suo, Zhou Hu was firmly in his hands when he participated in the county army that defended the city last time, and Cao Suo was not allowed to take it to Yingyin, and now, this force is still in Zhou Hu's hands, if we launch a strong attack, we will inevitably suffer heavy casualties. ”

After a pause, he said: "Besides, this time, you and our army did not carry siege equipment, only some long ladders for siege, if there are Cao Suo and Zou Yuan as internal responses, you can still try to combine the inside and outside, but now, ...... Let's withdraw our troops first, and go back and think about it in the long run. ”

"Okay."

Yan Yu also nodded.

A moment later, with Xiang Xuan and Yan Xuan giving the order to withdraw their troops, the rebels outside the West City Gate retreated like a tide.

Immediately afterwards, the Zhou Gong army outside the East City Gate also slowly retreated.

Seeing Xiang Xuan lead the army to retreat, Zhao Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief: It seems that this Xuan has no other tricks.

In addition to being relieved, he immediately thought that there was still a matter waiting for him to deal with in the city at the moment, that is, Cao Suo's hijacking of Li Junshou.

Telling the Marquis of the Gate to be careful against the rebels, Zhao Yu immediately took Jingnu, Niu Heng, He Shun and his party to the county guard's mansion.

At this time, outside the county guard mansion, the black tiger thieves led by Liu Tu had surrounded this mansion, and several of the original guards on duty were nodding their heads and following behind Liu Tu with a smile on their faces, asking what they were asking from time to time, and listening to Liu Tu's orders.

This made Liu Tu quite angry.

After all, this is the county guard, it is the government of Yingchuan County, he Liu Tu was born as a thief, but now he has rightly taken over the garrison of the county guard, and ordered a pawn, there is no doubt that this is an honor that can be boasted of for a lifetime.

And just when Liu Tu was triumphant, Zhao Yu and his party arrived on horseback.

"Liu Tu."

"Ah, Grand Chief."

After Zhao Yu dismounted, Liu Tu immediately put away the look on his face and stepped forward to report to Zhao Yu: "Great leader, I have sent my brothers to put Cao Suo, Tian Qin, Liao Guang, Liu Jian and their guards under house arrest, and detain them all in Cao Suo's mansion, but the county guard is more troublesome, then Cao Suo took the Li county guard hostage, he said, if they can't leave Xuchang unharmed, he will kill Li Junshou with a sword......

『……』

Zhao Yu raised his eyebrows, nodded and said, "I know, take me there." ”

"Yes."

So, Liu Tu immediately led Zhao Yu and his party into the mansion, all the way to Li Junshou's study.

I saw that in front of the study, Cao Suo and his guard Hou Ping were still holding Li Junshou hostage, and in the open space in front of them, it was overcrowded at the moment, and the officials of the county guard led by Shi Chenlang, the county guard, including the county guard, were all blocked in this open space, loudly denouncing and scolding Cao Suo.

Even Gong Cao's army Xun Yi heard the news and angrily accused Cao Suo of being disloyal and unjust.

During this period, Cao Suo also retorted angrily, putting all the fault on Zhao Yu.

"Let go, ladies and gentlemen, Grand Chief...... No, Captain Zhou is here."

At the end of the crowd, Liu Tu spoke.

"Captain Zhou, Captain Zhou is here."

"Thank goodness ......"

"Zhou Duwei, Cao Suo rebelled and held the county guard hostage......"

When everyone was crowded, Zhao Yu walked to the crowd and saw Cao Suo who was holding Li Junshou hostage, and Li Junshou who was held hostage by Cao Suo.

Do you want to keep Li Junshou?

In fact, even when Fang Cai Xiang Xuan and Yan Xuan led the rebels to try to storm the west city wall, Zhao Yu was thinking about this problem.

You must know that with the loss of power of Song Shu and Cao Suo's rebellion, Zhao Yu, the captain, is already a sure thing, not to mention, he still has the support of Chen Lang, Xun Yi and others - Xun Yi aside, Chen Lang is now 'acting for the affairs of the county', as long as he stands by Zhao Yu's side, Zhao Yu can undoubtedly control Xuchang, and even the entire Yingchuan County.

In other words, if Cao Suo's hand was used to get rid of Li Junshou, it might be more beneficial for Zhao Yu to take the entire Yingchuan County as his own territory.

However, doing so would leave a hidden danger, and that was the imperial court.

You must know that he was promoted by Li Junshou, even if the imperial court approves him, he will not sit idly by and watch the position of 'Yingchuan Junshou' vacant, right? - Let him Zhao Yu or Chen Lang act as the county guard? Sorry, this is absolutely impossible.

In other words, the imperial court will inevitably send a new county guard to replace Li Min.

And this new county guard, what kind of attitude will he have towards Zhao Yu?

Thinking about it this way, Zhao Yu felt that it was better to keep this Li County Shou, after all, this Li County Shou was much easier to deal with than a new county guard who didn't know the details at all and liked it.

"Your Excellency."

In front of everyone's eyes, Zhao Yu hugged his fist towards Li Junshou, who was held hostage by Cao Suo, and said: "The humble post has quelled the riots caused by the rebels in the city, and also repelled the rebels outside the city, please rest assured." ”

Poor Li Junshou was held hostage by Cao Suo for nearly half an hour, and he was over half a hundred years old at the moment, his hair was messy, extremely embarrassed, and even his emotions were mixed with worry, until he heard Zhao Yu respectfully tell him, his heart was a little calmer.

At this time, Zhao Yu set his eyes on Cao Suo.

"If you don't buy people's hearts now, when will you wait?"

With a secret laugh in his heart, Zhao Yu said in a deep voice: "Cao Suo, I already know the conditions you proposed, as long as you promise not to hurt the county guard, I can agree to your conditions, and let you and others and their families leave Xuchang." …… But I have said it first, if you hurt Li Junshou a hair, even if you chase you to the ends of the earth, I will ...... you Big unloading! ”

As soon as the words fell, everyone on the side praised Zhao Yu's loyalty.

"Worthy of Captain Zhou!"

"Zhou Duwei said it well!"

Even Li Junshou, who was held hostage by Cao Suo, was moved by Zhao Yu's words after hearing them, and immediately, he hated Cao Suo more and more in his heart.

Looking at everyone's praise for Zhao Yu, Cao Suo's expression was complicated.

After a long time, he sneered: "There is a hand, Zhou Hu." After this incident, presumably Li Junshou will trust you even more, and your position in Xuchang and even Yingchuan will be unshakable...... It's a pity that I didn't send troops to exterminate your Black Tiger Village in the first place. ”

"Can you destroy it?" Liu Tu scoffed.

Before the words fell, the officials led by Chen Lang and Xun Yi on the side also sneered, which showed that Cao Suo had no status here.

Seeing that a scolding battle was about to start again, Zhao Yu stretched out his hand to stop it, looked at Cao Suo and said, "Cao Suo, don't talk nonsense again, I'll let go of Li Junshou, I'll let you wait." ”

Although Cao Suo was full of resentment to vent, he was also anxious to leave at the moment, and after a little thought, he said in a deep voice: "I can't trust you, and I won't let go of Li Junshou until I leave the city." ”

Hearing this, Chen Lang and the others dissuaded one after another.

"Captain Zhou can't agree."

"Cao Suo is rebellious, despicable and shameless, and may not keep his promise."

Zhao Yu stopped everyone again, and said to Cao Suo in a deep voice: "I promise you, but I hope you will keep your promise." Don't forget, it was Li Junshou who promoted you after all. ”

"I don't need you to say it."

Seeing that Zhao Yu was still buying people's hearts, Cao Suo interrupted with a sneer.

Half an hour later, at the north gate of Xuchang, Zhao Yu ordered the gate to be opened, allowing Cao Suo and his guards to leave in a carriage.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu looked at Cao Suo, who was still holding Li Junshou hostage, and urged: "Please let go of the county guard." ”

"Stand back! All stand back! ”

Cao Suo and his guard Hou Ping held Li Jun hostage and crossed the moat, and immediately, the two suddenly let go of Li Junshou, turned over and jumped on the war horse prepared for them by Xuchangfang, shook the reins, and fled.

Poor Li Jun was over fifty years old, and was held hostage by Cao Suo for nearly an hour, and at this moment his strength had already weakened, and he fell to the ground when he landed.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu hurriedly rushed forward and helped Li Junshou up with Chen Lang, Xun Yi and others.

I saw that this Li Junshou, who had experienced great ups and downs, grabbed Zhao Yu's hand at this time, and whispered in a tone mixed with hatred: "Zhou Hu, you promise me that you will get rid of this fang!" ”

Zhao Yu immediately solemnly agreed: "Lord County Shou, rest assured, Zhou Hu will never let Cao Suo go." ”

Hearing this promise, Li Junshou nodded, and immediately, he fainted on the spot, which made the surrounding officials very frightened.

"Your Excellency!"

On that day, Li Junshou, who was over fifty years old, really fell seriously ill because he was surprised.

Bedridden, he officially appointed Zhao Yu as the governor of Yingchuan on the sickbed, and was in charge of rebel affairs and undecided matters.

To put it simply, as long as it involves the rebels, and the county guard is unable to make a decision in time due to his poor health, it is up to Zhao Yu to decide.

At the same time, he promoted Chen Lang to the county to assist Zhao Yu.

So far, at least during the period when Li County is sick, no one in Xuchang or even in the entire Yingchuan County can shake Zhao Yu's power and status.