When the battle of Xuchang was underway, the war was already going on Huanwen's side. But the battle situation on his side was different from that outside Xuchang City, because when Huan Wen led the army to the northwest of Xuchang, the army led by Sun Xi retreated. Seeing this situation, Huan Wen naturally ordered to march and chased after the other party. However, due to the cautiousness and the fact that most of the 20,000 troops were foot soldiers, this speed naturally could not be fast.

After chasing for about ten miles, Huan Wen realized that it was impossible to go on like this. After all, no matter how hard you rush, you can't catch up with the opponent's four legs, not to mention, the most important thing is that it is very easy to exhaust your own soldiers if you go on like this.

If you are dragged down by the other party, the final result is very likely to be defeated by the Yan army who is waiting for work. Therefore, after chasing for a while, he simply stopped chasing and prepared to order to return to Xuchang City.

After all, if you calculate the time now, Xuchang City should also be about to be taken. With this city as a basis, even if the other party's reinforcements arrive, it won't have much effect, right?

However, it was only at this time that Huan Wen realized that the real trouble was coming. Because after seeing the retreat on his side, the cavalry of the Yan Army, who had originally fled, immediately turned around and killed him. As a result, Huan Wen had to immediately order a formation to protect himself and prepare for the battle.

What is infuriating is that when the army was on full alert and preparing for a big battle, the other party only shot in front of the formation for a while, and then ran away directly. In this way, it is almost the same as not fighting.

The situation after that was basically the case, Huan Wen saw this, he already understood the other party's strategy, but he couldn't help the other party. After all, there are too few cavalry on his side, and even if he is sent out to pursue the other party, it is impossible to beat it.

And once there is no cavalry around, it will be difficult to resist the opponent's attack when there are only foot soldiers left. If his 20,000 troops suffered heavy losses, it would be quite unfavorable for subsequent operations.

The other side made it clear that he was playing a game of cat and mouse, relying on his own maneuverability and flexibility, and engaged in guerrilla tactics such as you retreat and I fight, and you fight and I retreat.

Under such tactics, the Huan Wen army was struggling and had to maintain a formation and retreat in the direction of Xuchang. But if you march like this, your speed can be imagined, not to mention that there are still many soldiers who were shot by the Yan cavalry in the process of retreating.

In the short distance of more than 50 miles, Huan Wen only walked for an afternoon when he came, but when he went back, he walked for a whole night. This was not only because of the defense against the enemy's charge, but of course because it was inconvenient to march at night.

If it was a normal situation, Huan Wen would definitely directly order the army to be stationed on the spot and wait until dawn before marching. But he can't do it now, because if he is stationed here, who knows if the Yan cavalry will quietly kill under Xuchang City and attack the 20,000 troops?

After all, the distance from Xuchang was too close, and it would hardly take long at the speed of cavalry. Therefore, Huan Wen had to use his army to contain and attract the other party.

In this way, it can be regarded as the only benefit in the disadvantage!

Fortunately, at dawn, he finally got the good news. Huan Yun sent someone to inform him, saying that Xuchang City had been successfully taken, and the army outside the city had taken over the city, and Huan Yun had personally led an army of 10,000 to support.

After getting the news, Huan Wen~ finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to plan how to defeat the enemy cavalry. After consulting with Xi Chao and other strategists, he finally decided to form a formation on the spot to attract the attention of the Yan army.

At the same time, he sent someone to inform Huan Yun in the rear, and led the army to go around behind the Yan cavalry from other directions, and with his own cooperation, he tried to encircle it and destroy it.

This idea is still very reasonable, although it is not easy to besiege the cavalry with foot soldiers, especially when the chariot formation is not used like the Huashan army, but Huan Wen and they have no more suitable way.

The idea is beautiful, but the reality is often cruel. When everything was arranged and Huan Wen was preparing for a big battle with the enemy, Sun Xi's side also got the news that Xuchang City was missing, so there was no need for him to stay here any longer.

After all, his task was not to fight a decisive battle with Huan Wen, but to constantly disrupt his army so that it could not advance smoothly.

Especially after discovering that Huan Yun's army had also begun to move north, he realized that this might be dangerous to him. Therefore, after shooting around Huan Wen's military formation for a while, he ran east like a gust of wind.

Huan Wen, who got the news, knew that his plan had failed. There was no way, he had to rush back to Xuchang City with the army first, preparing to rest there first, and then plan the next move.

"Xuchang City was successfully won, and this time the Northern Expedition finally achieved a good result! Next, we need to take advantage of the victory to pursue and recover the other counties from the enemy as soon as possible. "In Xuchang City, after Huan Wen saw it, he summoned all the generals and strategists to discuss the matter.

"General, after Xuchang City is taken, the goal of our army has basically been achieved. The subordinates feel that it is more appropriate for us to wait for the news of the other two armies before deciding on the next move. Otherwise, if the other two armies can't go hand in hand with us, it is very likely that we will go deep alone, which is extremely disadvantageous! Fujun Sima Wang Tanzhi suggested.

Generally speaking, the three armies are going north along the waterway, and if the expected goals are achieved, then the three armies will form a straight line parallel to the Huaishui north of Huaishui.

In this way, when attacking further north, no matter where the enemy forces are dispatched, they will inevitably be blocked north of this line and will not threaten the rear.

The problem now is that Huan Wen's progress is the fastest, and the other two roads are a little behind. Once there is a problem with the connection between the three armies, it is very easy for Murong Trai to take advantage of it.

"I just received the news two days ago that Huan Chong has already taken Qian County, and now it is attacking Chen County. If he can take Chen County, and then go north to take Changping County, which is not far away, he can be horns with Xuchang and echo each other! When the time comes, our troops will increase greatly, and at the same time, we can continue to go north with confidence! Huan Wen said lightly.

"I don't know how General Yuan's progress is? But have you successfully arrived in Changyi County, Gaoping County? Xi Chao asked below.

Gaoping County used to be a feudal state of the Western Jin Dynasty, but later the country became a county. This county is located just south of Junozawa, and in particular, the county seat of Chang-eup, which is located not far from the southern shore of Junozawa.

Junozawa is a large lake that joins a Suishui tributary that originates near Xingyang in the southwest, and Surabaya in the east.

This Surabaya is a big river at this time, all the way to the south, first in Xuzhou Xiapi and Yishui convergence, and then go south and finally into the Huaishui into the sea.

Therefore, if Yuan Zhen's army set off from Xiapi, it could enter Juyeze along the waterway, and then turn around into Xingyang, Luoyang and even the Yellow River.

And along this waterway, there are many important counties, all of which have fallen into the hands of the Yan army before, and Yuan Zhen's goal is to take them back.

Among them, Changyi County, Gaoping County, because of its proximity to Junoze, if it masters this place, it is equivalent to holding Junoze in his hands, which is naturally extremely important for the Jin army that relies on the navy.

Therefore, Changyi County has become one of the main targets of Yuan Zhenyuxi's soldiers. However, due to years of war, in fact, this waterway has been silted up in some places.

In particular, there is a stone gate upstream, and if it is closed, the water of the Yellow River will not be able to enter the Juyeze, and naturally it will not be able to flow into Surabaya. In this way, when the amount of water in the river is greatly reduced, the warships will not be able to move at all.

"I received information last time that his side is stepping up its attack on Suiyang County. If this place can be taken, Liang County will basically take it. At that time, the water will be in our hands, which will be very beneficial to the operation of the water army. Especially if you go west along Suishui, you can go directly to Chenliu County, which plays an important role in our recapture of Chenliu County. However, he reported that he had found traces of the Yan army over there, and now he doesn't know what the situation is! Huan Wen groaned for a moment and said with some concern.

When Yuan Zhen's soldiers and horses set off in Xiapi, they were divided into two parts. Part of it was to go directly north along Surabaya, preparing to recover Pengcheng, Rencheng and Lu counties along the Surabaya. This road of soldiers and horses was led by Yu Xi.

The soldiers and horses led by Yuan Zhen entered Suishui and went west along the river to take Peijun and Liangjun. After that, the navy will continue to move north, and will join Huan Chong in Chenliu County.

Yuan Zhen led the infantry to advance northeast by land and rushed to the territory of Gaoping County. In this way, Yu Xi led a large army to go ashore in the east of Changyi County and recover the northern counties of Gaoping County. Yuan Zhen attacked from the south and recovered the southern counties.

In the end, the two armies will converge under the city of Changyi, and after taking the county seat of Changyi together, it is okay to attack west and north.

"I heard that Murong Trai also divided his troops to the south, and all we saw on our side was thousands of cavalry on the other side. From this point of view, Murong Chui should have transferred most of his troops to other places, presumably to defeat us individually! We should raise our vigilance and wipe out those cavalry as soon as possible, and don't let Murong Trai hold his nose and leave! After hearing this, Xi Chao immediately said.

"You know what you said, but it's time for us to march into the army now, and it's time for the others to move!" Huan Wen nodded and said inexplicably.