Time back to noon on the thirtieth day of the Chinese New Year's Eve. After Liu Ye left Xu Liangcheng with his army, Peng Mao directly found Xiao Pi, who was in charge of defending the city.

"General Xiao, the old man has a chance to make meritorious service here, I wonder if the general is willing to go with the old man?" Peng Mao said.

Xiao Pi looked at Peng Mao in surprise: "An opportunity to make meritorious contributions?" Can the military advisor make it explicit? ”

"Zhang Shumo attacked Xiu Wuzhi this time, I always felt that he had some conspiracy, but I couldn't think of it. But no matter what conspiracy he has, his army has already driven to Xiuwuzhi, and now the troops in Qinghua City are weak, if we take the opportunity to take Qinghua City, even if Zhang Shumo's conspiracy succeeds, his lair will also be taken by us, do you think this is a big achievement? ”

Xiao Pi smiled after hearing this: "The military advisor is going to let me act without authorization, if I let General Liu know, I will be dealt with by military law!"

Peng Mao shook his head: "This is a bad word, the general will only make great contributions, what is the crime?" And I will go with the general, and I will take on any responsibilities then. ”

Xiao Pi was moved by Peng Mao's words, in these few battles, Liu Ye always asked Xiao Pi to defend the city, and Xiao Pi had already complained in his heart. Now that such a good opportunity is in front of him, Xiao Pi finally couldn't help it: "Is there a military strategy?" There are not many soldiers in our city, and if the defenders of Qinghua City can't hold out, we won't be able to break the city. ”

Peng Mao smiled slightly: "Does the general know the lord of the city, Bo Niu Heng?" Seeing Xiao Pi nodded, Peng Mao continued: "His father Niu Zheng is now invited by Zhang Shumo to be the county commander of Qinghua City, I ordered someone to capture his son as a hostage, as long as he is allowed to return to Qinghua to be our internal response, it is not easy to break through Qinghua City?"

Xiao Pi was overjoyed after hearing this: "Okay, Xiao will listen to the dispatch of the military division today!"

The next day, Hu Gen returned home with a black iron cavalry, while Zhang Shumo escorted more than 200 cavalry from the captives and rushed to Xiuwuzhi again.

In the city of Xiuwuzhi, there is a bleak scene. Although it was the first day of the Lunar New Year, there was no one on the street, and the people hid in their homes for fear of being implicated in the war.

He Tao was still a little afraid when he sat in the county office, yesterday Zhang Shumo actually entered the city all at once, is the defense in this city paper-paste? As soon as he thought of this, He Tao couldn't help but be angry, the county lieutenant of Xiu Wuzhi was He Tao's third brother, his younger brother didn't care about his business all day long, he knew that he was eating, drinking and having fun, yesterday others came in, and he was still sleeping at home, if he was someone else, He Tao would have pulled people out and beheaded them to show the public!

was sulking, and a guard hurriedly ran into the county office: "Master, it's not good! That Zhang Shumo came back with someone to kill again! ”

"Huh?" The corners of He Tao's mouth twitched, the situation last night was too chaotic, he only knew that Liu Ye chased Zhang Shumo and left the city after breaking through the city, but he didn't expect Zhang Shumo to kill him again! It stands to reason that Liu Ye should not let go of Zhang Shumo, could it be that Zhang Shumo won in the end?

"How many of them are there?" He Tao hurriedly asked.

"It's a big area, and I don't know how many people there are in them!"

He Tao showed a shocked expression when he heard this, it stands to reason that even if Zhang Shumo wins, it will only be a miserable victory at most, but how can he still have so many people? Could it be that Zhang Shumo's strength is already so strong?

Thinking of this, He Tao hurriedly got up and asked the soldiers to take him to the wall.

When he arrived at the city wall, He Tao saw Zhang Shumo's army neatly lined up under the city, and he couldn't believe it anymore. Because he had promised Zhang Shumo before, as long as Zhang Shumo defeated Liu Ye, he would bow down and be a subordinate. So He Tao had no choice but to obediently open the city gate and welcome Zhang Shumo's troops into the city.

Zhang Shumo is still quite satisfied with He Tao's performance, although he has no talent, but he can still be regarded as trustworthy and can be used.

"He County Order, do you remember the agreement between us?" Zhang Shumo asked.

He Tao hurriedly saluted Zhang Shumo: "Please rest assured that Gongzi Zhang, he will never break his word, Xiu Wuzhi and my He clan are willing to serve Gongzi!" ”

Zhang Shumo smiled: "Okay! In that case, then I emptied Taicang in Xiuwuzhi yesterday, and Lord He has no opinion, right? ”

"Since you have decided to work for Childe, how dare you have an opinion? Not only that, but my He family still has some food and equipment in stock, so I will order someone to send it to Gongzi's army! ”

Seeing that He Tao was so generous, Zhang Shumo was even more satisfied: "Then I will thank Lord He for his kindness on behalf of the lieutenant generals and soldiers of the army!" But after receiving so many things, I have to say something. After this battle, there were less than 2,000 soldiers and horses in Xiuwuzhi City, so I left a thousand garrisons to assist Lord He in defending the city! ”

He Tao frowned, he understood that these thousand people were left by Zhang Shumo to spy on him. At the same time, as long as he accepts this thousand people, outsiders will know that he will return to Zhang Shumo, and it will be difficult to clear up the relationship with him in the future. Even so, He Tao could only smile and say: "Then thank you first!" ”

Zhang Shumo knew that He Tao's performance was all so that he would not interfere in the matter of cultivating Wuzhi, so as to retain his right to cultivate Wuzhi. But now that the situation in the northwest is chaotic, he has to keep a hand in case He Tao defects.

"Hu Xing listens to orders! I will now make you the supervisor of Xiu Wuzhi, and give you a thousand men and horses to assist Lord He in guarding Xiu Wuzhi! Zhang Shumo said.

Hu Xing hurriedly stepped forward to accept the title: "The subordinates must do their best and die!" ”

He Tao also hurriedly greeted Hu Xing, Zhang Shumo understood that although He Tao was happy on the surface, he would definitely not accept Hu Xing in his heart, so Zhang Shumo deliberately said: "Hu Xing, although you are a prisoner, you only have the duty of guarding the city, and you must not interfere with Lord He's handling of the affairs of the city. ”

Hu Xing hurriedly said yes, but He Tao was happy on the side. The meaning of Zhang Shumo's words couldn't be clearer, although he left people to monitor him, he did not interfere in the affairs of the city, that is to say, as long as he did not oppose him, this Xiu Wuzhi still had the final say!

Zhang Shumo arranged everything properly, and eagerly returned to Qinghua City with everyone. After this battle, Liu Ye's strength was greatly reduced, and the threat to Qinghua City was naturally greatly reduced, as long as he held Qinghua, he left a way for the Western Route Army to live, so that the northwest side became a three-legged situation of himself, the Western Route Army and the Northern Route Army.

Along the way, Zhang Shumo and his entourage were in a good mood, this time they not only defeated Liu Ye, but also obtained enough food and equipment from Xiu Wuzhi, which was really a double win!!

Just as everyone was moving forward happily, a team of people and horses in the distance ran over in confusion. Zhang Shumo looked at the other party's banner and sighed in his heart: "Isn't this the banner of Qinghua City?" Hurry up! ”

Everyone hurriedly rushed to meet each other. When I got closer, it was Shang Lei who was headed by the other party. Shang Lei saw Zhang Shumo and quickly knelt down: "Zhang Gongzi, Qinghua City is lost!"