After resting for a day in Yinping County, early the next morning, Xin Er, Beigong Yue and others divided their troops into two routes, pulled out the camp and set off.

The four Qiang prisoners totaled more than 2,000 people, and they were allocated to the Koji Qiu commander, and the remaining Qin soldiers were temporarily left in Yinping County, guarded by the troops left behind, and then sent to Guyin after the defeat of Longxi, or as soldiers, or as slaves.

When Xin Er came, he walked to Minshan, and went to Longxi County, but he didn't have to go the same way. Out of Yinping County, go northwest for more than 100 miles along Baishui, change to the north, cross the Bailong River, and then go less than 100 miles, it is the southernmost county of Longxi County, Lintao County (Min County).

Lintao, Lintao, as the name suggests, this county is near Taoshui, on the south bank of Taoshui. Taoshui is roughly in the shape of an acute angle, Lintao County is at its corner, Taoshui is in the north of Lintao, from which it flows northward, about 300 miles away, into the Huangshui flowing in the east-west direction; It flows westward in the section of the river to the west of Lintao, until it flows to the west in the area now occupied by Tuyuhun Xianbei.

From Lintao Shun Taoshui to the north, more than 100 miles, is Didao County, this county is Li Liang's hometown; About 100 miles to the northeast, it is Yan County. The two mountains, Baishi Mountain and Birds and Beasts Tongxue Mountain, where Cao Fei and Tian were trapped before, are between Didao and Yanxian.

There were also garrisons of the Qin army in Lintao County, but the number was not large, and it was only to maintain law and order.

The defeat of Pu Badger Sun and Tongho Liang was only four days ago, and when Xin Er and Koji Ball arrived in Lintao County, the Qin army defenders in the county did not know about the defeat of Pu and Tongho. The guards in the city suddenly received a report, saying that there were more than 10,000 Dingxi soldiers and horses coming from the south, and they were immediately surprised, so they personally went out of the city to watch.

The guard sent a few daring scouts to spy closely.

The scouts could see clearly that in the dust was a Dingxi army with bright armor, and the main general in its army had two banners, one was "General of the Tang Dynasty" and the other was "General Longxiang of Dingxi". The official names and lives of Xin Er and Koji Qiu were known to everyone in the Qin army, so the scouts hurried back and reported what they saw to the Lintao guards.

When the guard heard this, he was shocked and urgently summoned the general to discuss.

However, the generals under his account were unanimous, and they all strongly recommended that the city be abandoned immediately and the county should be withdrawn.

The guard was a good man, and immediately ordered to pack up the goods and goods that had been plundered in these days, and then left Lintao in a hurry with the soldiers and rushed to Yanxian. Yan County is not too far from Lintao, they went out of the city in the morning, because of the fear of Xiner, Koji Qiu sent troops to chase, did not dare to stop on the road, walked for most of the day, plus one night, around noon the next day, arrived outside the city of Yan County.

The gate of the city was closed, and the guard sent a subordinate to call the door under the city.

It happened to be Yao Tao's second brother Yao Chang who was on duty at the head of the city for many years, and after receiving the report, he went out of the city tower and looked out in front of the battlements on the city gate.

The general who reported the news said: "The man under the city claimed to be the defender of Lintao, and said that Xin Er and Koji Qiu led more than 10,000 troops to Lintao County, and they had few soldiers and were outnumbered, because they abandoned the city and came to our county. ”

The soldiers and horses of the Lintao Qin army gathered on the south bank of the moat.

Yao Changnian carefully inspected it and said, "Are you sure it's Lintao's garrison?" ”

The general who reported the news replied: "Judging by the color of the banner, it should be correct." He asked, "Why don't you open the gates of the city and let them in?" ”

Yao didn't know the officer who called the door for a long time, and said, "No." The soldiers are not tired of cheating, and they must be prevented from being Cao Fei and Tian Ju using tricks to deceive me! The command said, "Call the guard of Lintao to come forward, let me take a look." ”

And the general took his word to the city.

The officer under the city couldn't, so he had to turn back and ask the Lintao guard to come out.

This guard is a general under Shi Shou's subordinates, Yao Changnian recognized him, so he passed down the order, called to open the city gate, and let his troops in.

Lin Tao Shou will be a person, the roots are Miao Hong, and he is quite dissatisfied with Yao's refusal to open the door for many years, and the boss said unhappily: "Captain Yao, do you have to call the door in person?" It's really hard to get into the door of your county! ”

When he was under the account of Yao Guo, Yao Changnian's official title was General Yaowu, and under the Qin Army, his official position was changed to that of a captain.

He smiled and said: "It's not that the gate of my county is difficult to enter, be careful in everything, and there is nothing wrong with it." ”

The guard of Lintao followed Yao Changnian to the county temple in the city and met Yao Tao.

After listening to his report, Yao Tao asked: "It's okay to have koji balls, how could Xin Er lead his troops from the south and appear in Lintao County?" ”

Although the guard general abandoned the city and fled, he was full of momentum in front of Yao Changnian and Yao Tao, spread his hands, and said, "How do I know!" ”

"You can see clearly, it is indeed the military flag of Xin Er and Koji Qiu, and there are more than 10,000 Dingxi soldiers brought by the two of them?"

"Not only are they undoubtedly the military flags, but the soldiers brought by the two of them are at least more than 10,000 people."

Yao Tao wondered: "Strange! Yesterday, General Shi's military report said that Xin Er, Cao Fei, and Tian Ju surrounded Shouyang City on three sides, and the siege was very urgent, but how did Xin Er appear in Lintao? ”

The monk Zhu Fatong, who was deeply trusted by Yao Guo and Yao Tao's brothers, thought for a while, frowned and said: "Ming Gong, General Shi's military report will not be wrong, then there is only one possibility." ”

"What is possible?"

"In fact, there are only two Longbing soldiers from Cao Fei and Tianju outside Shouyang County."

"You mean?"

"The Xin Er Shuai Banner outside Shouyang County should be fake, and it is very likely that Xin Er has already led his troops to sneak south, so now there are his troops from the south."

"Sneaking south?" Yao Tao was shocked and said, "If he really sneaked south, and now he appears in Lintao, what about Dangong and General Tongho?" ”

Zhu Fatong said: "He sneaked south, only to save Yinping. Now that he has appeared in Lintao, with his subordinates and the general flag with koji balls, if there is no accident, the siege of Yinping County should have been solved, and Pugong and General Tonghu may have been defeated. ”

Yao Tao had been fighting with his father and brother Rongma since he was a child, and he was quite proficient in military affairs, and immediately realized that if Zhu Fatong's guess was correct, then Longxi County would soon face the dangerous situation of "being attacked from both sides". He couldn't sit still, so he got up from the Hu sit, walked around the hall, paced for a while, stood on his feet, and said: "There are Cao Fei and Tianju in the west, and Xin Er and Koji Ball in the south, and my Longxi will be attacked by the Longbing soldiers!" This is not good for our army. How to deal with it? Will the plan be settled? Does Master Zhu have a high opinion? ”

Zhu Fatong is an old man under the Yao family, he has followed the Yao family for many years, he is very familiar with Yao Tao, and he knows him very well.

And what is the countermeasure that Yao Tao thought of? Zhu Fatong has also guessed.

Zhu Fatong said: "As Ming Gong said, once my Longxi falls into the situation of being attacked on both sides, it will be very unfavorable to our army, and our army cannot take care of it!" At this moment, the only good strategy is to shrink the troops, so as not to be broken by Xin Er and Cao Fei. ”

The general said, "What do you mean by this? ”

Zhu Fatong Heshi said: "Do you need a translation of the poor road? ”

The general said, "You translate for me." ”

Zhu Fatong said: "It means that you should be like a general, temporarily leave this city, go to Xiangwu and join forces with General Lu, in order to fight against Xin'er." ”

The guard said angrily: "I left without a fight, because I have too few soldiers and horses, and now you have three or four thousand soldiers, relying on the city wall, so you can defend yourself, how can you abandon the city like me?" ”

Yao Tao heard his words, and thought in his heart: "It's true that I have three or four thousand soldiers under my account, but half of these three or four thousand soldiers are miscellaneous soldiers, and they have no combat power, and the rest are the only remaining parts of my family, and they must not be buried here!" ”

Zhu Fatong's suggestion won his heart, thought about it for a while, found an excuse, and said earnestly to the guard, "What the general said is very true, my army has 4,000 soldiers and horses, and it is said that it is enough to defend the city against the enemy, but Yan County has been abandoned for a long time since the previous dynasty, and when he entered the city, the general should have seen it with his own eyes, and now the city wall is really damaged, and there are few residents in the city." Thinking about the Xiner, Koji ball, and the famous generals of the West, if you want to resist it with this abandonment of the city, I am afraid that it will inevitably end up with the destruction of the city and the army. Rather than this, it is better to follow the advice of the Zhu Division, and first withdraw into Xiangwu County, and after joining forces with General Lu, then plan a strategy to defend the war. ”

The guard was furious and said, "If you dare to leave without a fight, I will report to General Shi and punish you heavily!" ”

Yao Tao and Zhu Fatong glanced at each other.

Zhu Fatong came out to alleviate the situation and said: "Then let's do it, now send an envoy to Xiangwu to inform General Lu of all the military information we have learned so far, and wait to see how General Lu decides, whether to defend or withdraw, all from General Lu's will, what is it?" ”

Although Lu Ming is a Di person, he is a rising generation, and he is not in the eyes of the guard.

The guard general said: "The chief of Longxi is General Shi, what is the use of asking General Lu's opinion?" If you ask, send someone to Shouyang and ask General Shi! ”

Shouyang, where Shi Shou is now stationed, was besieged by Cao Fei and Tian Ju, and if he sent an envoy to Shouyang to ask Shi Shou's opinion, he was afraid that the envoy would not even be able to enter the gate of Shouyang City. The five words "General Shishi" are easy to say, but how difficult it is to do! It's basically impossible.

The air in the hall was tense, and the situation was deadlocked.

Yao Tao's eyes rolled, and after thinking about it, he pretended to agree, and said with a smile: "Okay, then listen to the general!" After a pause, he said, "The general came to my county from Lintao, and I am afraid that he has not rested along the way, right?" Please take a short rest in the guest house of the county temple, and wait until the evening, I will set up a banquet to wash the dust of the general. The military officials outside the hall led the guard out and sent him to the guest house to rest.

Zhu Fatong was worried and said, "Ming Gong, why did you promise him?" Shouyang is now under siege, even if the Ming Duke sends an envoy to go, I am afraid that he will not even be able to see General Shi's face, that is, it will take two days to go back and forth, and Xin Er and Koji Qiu Department are Lintao County that arrived yesterday, late is the day after tomorrow, early tomorrow, maybe it will be to my county, and when they arrive, even if General Shi allows our department to withdraw, our department will not be able to leave! ”

Yao Tao said: "Look at his anxious white face, if I don't agree to him, he will turn his face with me on the spot, and maybe he will meet my swordsmen." This person is General Shi's confidant, how can you and I argue with him? It is my right to do it. ”

"Right and right? Does Ming Gong have another idea? ”

Yao Tao smiled: "Didn't I say that tonight a banquet will be held for him to wash the dust?" At the banquet, let's get him drunk. When he got drunk, our department left the city overnight and went to Xiangwu. ”

Zhu Fatong laughed and said: "Ming Gong Shicai also said, this person is Shi Shou's henchman, isn't Ming Gong afraid that he will wake up and be angry?" ”

Yao Tao said lightly: "The wood is already in the boat, he is angry, what is the use?" At most, he reported this matter to General Shi, and General Shi reported it to the king, and the king is to summon the heroes of the world, and he likes to treat people with benevolence and righteousness, and Meng Lang framed me a while ago, saying that I want to rebel against Qin and Wei, such a big thing, the king did not sin me, is it possible, will I be punished for this little thing? If the king is really unhappy because of this, it doesn't matter, I have my own words to excuse me and dispel the king's wrath. ”

If it was someone else, he was framed, and he almost fell into an accident, maybe in the face of the current matter, he would be cautious and wronged, from the words of the guard, but Yao Tao is not, he can be called a daring act.

Zhu Fatong said admiringly: "The courage and wisdom of Ming Gong are rare in the real sea!" ”

These words were words of praise, but they aroused Yao Tao's sadness.

Zhu Fatong is his own person, Yao Tao did not hide his thoughts from him, walked to the door, looked at Xianyang from afar, pulled the hair strand hanging on his chest to the back of his head, pressed the sword in his hand, and sighed: "My brother was defeated and died, you and I cannot be free, and then have the courage and wisdom, and the husband is used?" ”

That night, at the banquet, Yao Tao and others got drunk with the guard, pretended to pass on his military order, took the headquarters, and the Lintao guards brought by the guard, and went out of the county seat of Yanxian County during the third watch, and went to Xiangwu County under the starry night.

After Yao Tao and the others left the city, the next morning, Xin Er and Koji Qiu led their troops to kill outside Yan County.