Shuxing Yuanfu, West County.

To the south is Dingjun Mountain, to the west is the Han Shui Beiyuan Fushui, which is facing the Sichuan Shu Post Road, and now it has become a fortress to resist the Han army entering Kouxing Yuanfu. Later Shu has been peaceful for a long time, and so has Hanzhong, although it has maintained a certain army for a long time, but the military equipment is still inevitably slack.

Therefore, when the battle of Qin Feng was defeated and the war was approaching Hanzhong, this ordinary county town was obviously caught off guard, and the whole city fell into a tense and busy atmosphere.

Up and down inside and outside the city wall, a large number of people, against the cold wind, repaired the city walls, ditches, and towers, and carried out city defense construction in an urgent situation. At the ferry port in the west of the city, several horses were rejected, thinking that there was a battalion of Shu troops guarding the checkpoint, screening the fleeing people.

In front of the ferry, there were a bunch of people, big bags and small bags, with the old and the young, and they were in a chaos, with noise, noise, and scolding. Under Liu Chengyou's order, Xiang Xun led his division to the south, although it was to achieve unification of the world, but what it brought to the people of Shuzhong was war and exile first.

It is also since the confrontation between the two countries that the propaganda of the Shu people has been too ruthless, and the Han army has been too demonized, so that the soldiers are so strong that the Han sergeants and people are scrambling for refuge. Since Li Tingqi and other generals of the Shu army led the army to retreat to Xixian, more than 5,000 people have fled south.

Of course, the increase in refugees has also brought a lot of defensive pressure to Xixian County. The city has a limited capacity, it can't accommodate many people, and the old and weak women and children are of little value, and they have to guard against the Han army's meticulous work to sneak in.

"Line up for me, accept the interrogation, dare to trespass, and punish those who trespass as Han army spies!" Seeing that the scene was chaotic and chaotic, and almost out of control, a military academy in charge of the ferry rushed forward angrily, waved the whip in his hand, and whipped it at the several refugees crowded in front.

The fierce color on his face seemed to want to eat people, and after a few whips, the refugees in front of him were also more honest. Feeling the fear in the eyes of the refugees, the military academy's expression softened slightly, and he whipped a few more whips, and scolded: "A pariah is not beaten!" ”

"Where are you all from?" Sticking his waist and glaring at the few men crowded in front of him, the military academy asked.

Several people looked relatively strong, and the frail people couldn't squeeze in front. One of them was whipped in the face, and the mark was obvious, and it hurt hotly, but when he heard the words, he still spoke in a local accent: "We all fled from Xingzhou!" ”

After observing a few times, he beckoned the soldiers to search for his package, except for a few ordinary clothes, there was only a little iron money. Seeing this, he secretly scolded the poor man, collected the money, returned the burden, pointed to the open space next to the ferry, and ordered: "How many of you are waiting over there?" ”

"Dare to ask Master Jun, when will we be allowed to cross the river?" One asked.

What I got was still a scolding: "Let you wait and wait, where is the nonsense, and so-and-so!" ”

Ordered the soldiers, drove those few people, and waited on the side, where dozens of men were already concentrated, all young and strong.

"The one in the back, get checked!" shouted.

They were followed by a group of apparently well-dressed men and armed with weapons, which aroused vigilance. The leader, with a smile on his face, stepped forward and stuffed some silver nuggets familiarly, explaining that he was a Nanzheng merchant, surrounded by servants, and fled home, Yunyun.

Money opens the way, the effect is different, a little check, still let go, but the weapons are detained, in order to strengthen the armament. I don't suspect that they are spies of the Han army, and the spies will not be so public.

In this way, in the long whip and shouting and scolding, many people were still spared from the frustrated water ferry. An inventory is almost searching, and some oil and water must be left to replenish military funds.

Fleeing for work is not an easy task.

"Military Night, Villain ......" An old man, with a child, was covered in loneliness and groveled.

As soon as he opened his mouth, he was whipped by the Shu army who was inspected, and scolded in his mouth: "A lot of age, poor and decrepit, the scholars are fleeing, I really don't know whether to live or die!" ”

"Get out!" Pointing to the pontoon bridge behind him, the sergeant said contemptuously: "After crossing the river, you are not allowed to stay for a long time, leave Xixian as soon as possible!" ”

Time passed slowly, the winter wind became more and more urgent, and it became cooler and colder, and the refugees gathered in front of the Fushui ferry were finally fewer, but the atmosphere became more and more tense, and there was a sense of restlessness, as if a fierce beast was attacking.

Pointing to the more than 100 Ding Zhuang gathered on the side, he ordered a captain: "Escort these people to the city and hand them over to the trench envoys!" ”

"Yes!"

After giving the order, he looked back at the nearly 1,000 refugees still piled up in front of the ferry, and his brows were furrowed. The mood of the military academy became more and more irritable, and there was no way not to be irritable, the Han army could not tell when it would come, and it was sent to check and screen the refugees at the ferry, although it could get some oil and water, but it was too dangerous, and it was useless in the current situation.

"Get out of the way! Move! At this time, I saw from a distance that several Shu horsemen were galloping, following the post road, their hooves and feet were flying until they got closer, and they did not slow down.

The refugees dodged in a hurry, stumbling over a large area, and did not stop until they could refuse their horses. This is the post guard of the Shu army, the leader took a few breaths, and said loudly: "Xingzhou military situation, we will cross the river to report, and quickly move the rejected horse away!" ”

The military academy did not order the release, but stepped forward first and asked: "Brother, how is the situation in Xingzhou, can you tell me?" ”

Glancing at him, the post knight frowned, and refused: "Emergency military situation, you can't find out!" ”

At this time, the morale of the Shu army had long been fluctuating, and the wavering caused by successive defeats made them not as disciplined as usual. The military academy immediately said: "Just tell me that Xingzhou is still not in the hands of the defenders!" ”

"If you don't say it, don't think about crossing the river, just stay here with us!"

Facing the vicious gaze of the military academy, the post rider was also a little helpless, looked around, and could only lower his voice: "We were just ordered to report the news, before leaving, Shunzheng City was not broken, but now, I don't know!" ”

Seeing that it didn't seem to be a lie, he ordered to let him go, and as soon as he refused to open the horse, a group of refugees behind him immediately rushed up, intending to break through. The guards were also ruthless enough, wielding knives and guns, and they made a lot of killings, dozens of lives, and calmed people down again, and after a while, the ferry was quiet, and after a while, a sad cry sounded......

In the west city, in the garrison hall, Li Tingqi, Zhao Chongtao, and Han Baozhen were discussing the army. The three of them are the most authoritative in the Shu army in the north at the moment, and when they learned that Xingzhou was coming, they immediately met with them.

The news of the post cavalry is very clear, they were ordered by the Xingzhou defense envoy to report that the Han army is attacking the city more urgently, and the city will be broken.

Hearing this, the three of them looked at each other a few times, and their expressions became more and more contemplative. Li Tingqi shook his head slightly, and said with a wry smile: "This security defense, before surrendering, he also sent someone to remind us, which can be regarded as the last friendship!" ”

"The heart is gone!" Zhao Chongtao sighed.

Li Tingqi looked at the post horseman: "You have come all the way to report the military situation, and you have worked hard, go down and rest, and have a full meal!" ”

"Thank you!"

"Shunzheng City is weak, the defense is not solid, it is a city that slows down the enemy, and it is a matter of time before it falls, and it is rare to drag the Han army for a few days!" Han Baozhen said with a serious face.

"Shunzheng is only eighty miles away from Xixian, the road is also smooth, Xingzhou is down, and tomorrow at the latest, the Han army will be in Guancheng!" Li Tingjun said abruptly: "We need to be ready!" ”

"Right now, although there are 20,000 soldiers in Xicheng, there are many auxiliary soldiers, and the soldiers withdrawn from the north are chaotic and demoralized, and the only one who can fight is only the 3,000 forbidden army supported by Nanzheng...... Zhao Chongtao analyzed with a serious expression: "Although the Han army does not move many troops this time, the soldiers are sharp and vigorous, and it is Xiang Xun who personally commands the troops, which is not easy to deal with!" ”

"No matter what, at this pass in Xixian County, the Han army will never be released again, so that it can easily succeed!" Li Tingqi said solemnly, looking at Zhao and Han.

After a pause, Li Tingjue's face became more solemn, and he said: "Two, the situation in Yixi County, it is still not easy to hold on!" On the strength of the city, it should be Nanzheng. I hope that the two of you can return to Nanzheng and rectify the garrison and city defense, and I am here to delay the Han army! ”

"Brother Li, who are you?" Han Baozhen heard something strange from Li Tingjun's tone.

The corners of his mouth showed a trace of bitterness, and Li Tingqi sighed: "I have been favored by two generations of kings, promoted as a general, and led the army, but I can't win the battle, I can't defend it, I have been defeated repeatedly, I have lost my teacher and humiliated the country, and I am in danger of dying, and the border situation is urgent. At this point, I really have no face, goodbye to Your Majesty, and I don't ask Your Majesty for forgiveness, but only fight to the death to repay the country's kindness. In Xixian County, it is bound to live and die with the city! ”

Li Tingqi said seriously, resolutely, and had the will to die, which was revealed from his eyes, and Zhao Chongtao and Han Baozhen both felt it.