Guo Jia's advice is excellent.

It's just that, according to his assumption, more than 100,000 troops are needed to carry it out.

Xu Ding thought for a moment.

Huang Zhong's Central Plains Field Army and Guan Yu's Hebei Field Army probably numbered nearly 100,000 people. Cheng Yu, who was stationed in Youzhou, could also raise an army and go to Taiyuan to participate in the war.

However, it is not possible to lay out the overall situation in one or two days.

"Your Majesty, this matter must be considered in the long run, and you must not startle the snake and scare Liu Bei. Otherwise, if he escapes into Taihang Mountain, it will be a disaster for eternity. Guo Jiadao.

Xu Ding thought about it for a long time...

In the end, he said: "I first took Dian Wei and three thousand royal forest army light horses to Jinyang to attract Liu Bei's attention." You are responsible for commanding the army and laying out the periphery of Taiyuan. When you are ready, you will inform me, and then I will ask Guan Yu to assist you. In addition, I will give Cheng Yu a military order to send a force to Taiyuan to participate in the war. ”

"That's very good." Guo Jia arched his hand and said: "The minister obeys the order!" ”

............

Taiyuan Jinyang.

Guan Yu was ordered to capture this place.

Since he came to Jinyang, he has launched seven consecutive attacks, but none of them have been able to conquer the city. And the general who blocked him from becoming successful, named Chen Dao, was recruited by Liu Bei in Yuzhou in previous years. He has an elite army under his command, named White-Haired Soldiers, who are extremely combative. Guan Yu couldn't win for a long time.

"General, Your Majesty is here..."

"Where?"

Guan Yu returned to the camp with the soldiers.

Xu Ding inspected the Hebei Field Army and reached the Chinese Army.

Guan Yu came and bowed: "See Your Majesty." ”

"Yun Chang is exempt. How's the war going? ”

"The end will be disappointed, Your Majesty's high hopes. I came to Taiyuan for a few months, but I didn't build an inch. Guan Yu said ashamedly.

"It's no wonder that you have a lot of cavalry and are not good at siege." Xu Ding did not blame Guan Yu.

Guan Yu said: "It's not that the Hebei Field Army is not good at attacking the city, but there is an elite in Jinyang City, who will not retreat from the battle, and the last general will personally lead the army to kill the city tower seven times, and he was also forced down the city tower." ”

Xu Ding was shocked: "Under Liu Bei, is there such an elite?" Can there be a flag? ”

"Yes, their banner is white-haired soldiers, and their clothing is different from that of other soldiers, and they are extremely brave and good at fighting." Guan Yu said.

"It turned out to be a white-haired soldier."

Xu Ding thought about it.

Liu Bei does have such a force under his command, which is not only Liu Bei's elite vanguard, but also Liu Bei's personal guard. Every time Liu Bei was in distress, they rescued him.

"Is the general who led the troops called Chen Dao?" Xu Ding asked.

"It's Chen Dao, how does the lord know?"

"That's right." Xu Ding said: "Chen Zhi commanded the white-haired soldiers and personally commanded the defense of the city, no wonder you failed to conquer the city after attacking for several months." But you don't need to fight first, and lead the whole army to retreat to the main road of Taihang Mountain. ”

"Your Majesty, this... Why? Guan Yu clenched his fists and said: "Please Your Majesty give the last general another three days, and he will definitely capture Jinyang City!" ”

"No need, you lead the army to evacuate, I have my own strategy to defend against the enemy." Xu Dingdao.

Guan Yu was extremely unwilling, but he didn't dare to openly disobey the order, and said: "Yes, the last general will be ordered to withdraw immediately." ”

.........

Guan Yu's Hebei Field Army still has more than 40,000 people, half of which are cavalry, and they are the best at field warfare.

He led the army to leave Jinyang and emptied the defense area within a radius of several hundred miles.

Meantime.

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, who entered Bingzhou, returned to Jinyang smoothly.

Zhuge Liang was very worried, and said: "My lord, we have already received news that Guan Yu led an army of nearly 50,000 to besiege Jinyang. It has not been overcome. And now that the lord has returned, he should have sent cavalry to intercept us, so that we could not return to Jinyang, and then break each one. but they all withdrew. Something is unusual, and the lord has to guard against it. ”

"How to prevent it?"

"The minister can't guess Guan Yu's mind for a while, please send 30,000 troops to be stationed outside the city, and form a pincer with Jinyang, if Guan Yu comes to attack, we will attack from both sides, and he is bound to lose."

"Okay."

Liu Bei accepted Zhuge Liang's suggestion and asked Chen Zhi to lead the white-haired soldiers and 30,000 foot soldiers to be stationed outside the city.

He and Zhuge Liang guarded the city.

Guan led the army to retreat to the main road of Taihang Mountain and lurked into the mountain.

He still couldn't understand why Xu Ding did this.

"My lord, why did we withdraw our troops?" Guan Yu came to Xu Ding's camp and asked the doubts in his heart.

"In all the counties of the state, there are Taihang Mountains, which are extremely dangerous. If you continue to attack Jinyang City and fight bloody battles with Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, I believe that with the strength of the Hebei Field Army, you should be able to win. But can you promise to destroy them all? Once Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang are allowed to sneak into the mountains, even if we have an army of one million, it will be difficult to exterminate. Therefore, I have set up a plan to besiege and kill Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang in Taiyuan. Xu Ding smiled and said, "Yun Chang doesn't have to be anxious, and wait patiently for a few days." We have nearly 100,000 troops, and we are heading towards Taiyuan. When the layout is completed, it is not too late to fight Liu Bei, and when the time comes, he will not be able to escape! ”

"I see."

Guan Yu said happily: "If you can eliminate Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang in one fell swoop, it would be the best policy." It's just that... Where did we get the 100,000 troops? ”

Xu Ding said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about this, within half a month, there will be 100,000 troops to help in the war." ”

"The last general will go to reorganize the army, let the soldiers rest for a few days, and then eliminate Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang in one fell swoop!" Guan Yu retreated.

Dian Wei walked in and gave Xu Ding a recital: "There is a team of cavalry from outside the camp and present a recital." ”

"It must have been sent by Cheng Yu, bring it quickly."

Xu Ding opened it and looked at it.

The letter said that Lu Bu urged armor and ordnance in Jixian County, and heard that the army was attacking Bingzhou, so he insisted on leading 10,000 iron cavalry to help in the war. Now it's almost time to merge the state. In addition, Cheng Yu dispatched 20,000 garrisons from border counties to march west along the Taihang Mountain, and it is expected to arrive in Taiyuan after 20 days.

"Haha... Good! Xu Ding was very happy.

Dian Wei also grinned and asked, "Your Majesty, why are you so happy?" ”

Xu Dingdao: "Lu Bu is also coming to Bingzhou, and he also brought 10,000 cavalry. It's a huge boost for us. I surrounded and suppressed Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, and my grasp increased. ”

"Well, that kid Lu Bu is indeed very brave." Dian Wei also had to admire.

"Lu Bu is here, I don't have to worry about it. Dian Wei, pass the order Guan Yu for me, three days later, all the infantry troops blocked the main road of Taihang Mountain, and the cavalry followed me to Jinyang to fight. This time, I will personally command and take down Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. ”

"No."

Dian Wei left the account.

A few days later.

Lü Bu's army arrived in Taiyuan.

He originally wanted to meet Xu Ding first, but he was afraid that Xu Ding would not allow him to fight, so Guan Yu took advantage of it. So he led the army to Jinyang alone.

Outside Jinyang City, there are Chen to 30,000 infantry troops, as well as brave and good white-haired soldiers.

Lu Bu didn't even think about it, and he didn't send anyone to investigate, so he led 10,000 cavalry and killed him directly.

Da Da...

When the cavalry entered the camp, a fierce battle began.

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang did not expect that tens of thousands of enemy cavalry would suddenly appear in Taiyuan, and the march was so fast that they entered the camp almost in the blink of an eye.

Chen arrived too late to fortify, so he could only lead the white-haired soldiers into battle.

However, the white-haired soldiers are infantry troops, and although they are extremely brave, they are not the opponent of Lu Bu's wolf cavalry.

The two sides fought for a quarter of an hour before they were routed.

Officers and men in various parts of the battalion were also severely damaged.

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang rushed over and attacked Lü Bu from behind.

Lu Bu hurriedly turned around and fought hard.

The battle lasted from midnight to noon the next day, with heavy casualties on both sides. Lu Bu was also wounded, and the remaining 1,000 foot soldiers of the wolf cavalry under his command were all killed in battle.

And the 70,000 enemy troops who fought with Lu Bu were beheaded 30,000!

There are not many white-haired soldiers left.

Lü Bu broke out of the siege and rushed to Xu Ding's military camp.

"Lu Bu!"

In the military tent, Xu Ding was furious: "I thought that you would lead 10,000 iron cavalry to come, which would be enough to deal with Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, but who would have thought that you were so stupid that you would go deep alone and attack the enemy's camp." Can't you see that Zhuge Liang camped outside the city to lure the enemy? Once you've got deep, he'll sneak up from behind. ”

"In the first battle, you will break me 10,000 cavalry, can you be guilty?"

"The last will be convicted..." Lu Bu knelt in front of the camp, not daring to meet Xu Ding's gaze.

"Left and right, take down Lu Bu!" Xu Ding roared.

"No."

The soldiers stepped forward and held Lu Bu down.

All the generals came out to plead: "Your Majesty, please bypass General Lu." ”

"No, he is greedy for merit and rash progress, causing our army to suffer heavy losses, if he is not punished, how can military discipline exist?" Xu Dingdao: "Push him out and behead him to show the public!" ”

Lu Bu was frightened by Xu Ding.

Guo Jia arched his hand: "Your Majesty, although General Lu has advanced rashly, it has caused heavy casualties to our army. But this battle also caused Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang to suffer heavy losses. Can you give him another chance to make amends? What's more, General Lu is the general of the First Field Army, and he has made outstanding achievements, how can he be easily killed? ”

Xu Ding walked back and forth a few steps and glared at Lu Bu angrily: "If it weren't for filial piety and intercession, you would be punished." But... If you are not punished, it will be difficult to convince the people. Dian Wei, take Lu Bu down, and weigh forty rods! ”

"No."

Dian Wei took Lu Bu out of the tent.

And all the generals followed.

And he was executed outside the tent, and fought forty battles.

Guo Jia whispered: "Your Majesty, Lu Busheng loves to hold grudges, if you fight him in the army, aren't you afraid that he will have different intentions?" ”

Xu Ding said: "If you don't fight, you can't do it." If I don't fight him, all the generals will follow suit, lead the army to fight by myself, and be greedy for merit, how can I still lead the army? Besides, Lu Bu is too crazy and needs to be beaten. Otherwise he will go mad to heaven.... ”

"Don't worry, I'm measured."

After the execution is completed.

Xu Ding took the best gold sore medicine and went to Lu Bu's camp to treat his wounds.

and told Lu Bu the reason why he had to beat him.

When Lu Bu heard this, not only did he not feel hatred, but he became more loyal and respected Xu Ding a little more. And promise not to be greedy for merit in the future.

"Fengxian, you take care of your injuries. After some time, when we encircle and suppress Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, you still have to be the vanguard and attack and kill the enemy. Xu Dingdao.

"Yes. But... The army of the last general has been.... ”

"I know that your army has been destroyed in the last battle. I will ask Guan Yu to give you all the cavalry, which is more than 20,000. Whether you can capture Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang or not, it's all up to you. Xu Dingdao.

Lu Bu was moved, endured the pain, got out of bed and said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the last general will definitely make a contribution this time!" ”

Armies from all walks of life converged in Taiyuan.

Although he had been very careful to hide his whereabouts, he had not been able to hide Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

After they were severely damaged by Lu Bu, there were only 40,000 troops left.

And Zhuge Liang received news that the Huaxia army marching towards Taiyuan had more than 100,000 foot riders.

No matter how good his strategy is and how exquisite his formation is, it will be difficult to win.

Zhuge Liang suggested to Liu Bei: "My lord, for the sake of today's plan, you might as well retreat into Taihang Mountain and avoid the edge for the time being." When Xu Ding's army withdraws and goes to deal with Cao Cao, we will come out again and counterattack and annex the state. ”

"You want me to give up and merge with the state?" Liu Bei exclaimed: "This is absolutely not good! ”

"My lord..."

"You don't have to say it, I finally seized the state, and it is also the foundation of my support for the Han family. If you lose it, how difficult it is to regain it. Kong Ming, we can't lose the state! ”

"The minister knows, but the enemy is strong and I am weak, how can the state hold it?" Zhuge Liang persuaded: "If we retreat to Taihang Mountain, even if we have a million troops, we will not be able to encircle and suppress us." ”

"The lord lives in the state and stands up, isn't it also important to value the danger of Taihang Mountain, why don't you want to use it now?"

Zhuge Liang bowed his hand and said: "Please believe that in the next year, we will come back!" ”

Liu Bei knew in his heart that what Zhuge Liang said was extremely right.

When there is no choice, it is also the best policy to retreat and abandon the state.

But there are some things he really can't give.

Merging states is his hope and the foundation of Kuangfu's Han family.

Even if he loses a year and can finally get it back, he is not willing to take this risk.

"Jinyang City is tall and strong, no matter how strong Xu Ding is, he may not be able to attack it. What do you think of us holding on to the city until he runs out of food? Liu Bei said.

Zhuge Liang said: "Lord, Xu Ding has won most of the world, and most of the counties and counties have fallen into his hands, and the soldiers, horses, money, and grain can be transported to the state in a steady stream, how can the food be exhausted?" ”

"I implore the lord to retreat to Taihang Mountain!"

Zhuge Liang knelt down and insisted on his opinion.

"Ugh...."

Liu Bei frowned, waved his hand and said, "This matter must be cautious, let me think about it." ”

Liu Bei locked himself in the room and thought about this problem.

Zhuge Liang and the generals were anxious outside the house.

"Mr. Kong Ming, just now the scout came to report that Guo Jia's soldiers and horses have occupied all the dangerous points in Taiyuan and are coming towards Jinyang. Xu Ding and Lü Bu also went from Yanmen County from north to south. If you don't decide, within three days, Jinyang will be surrounded by water. Chen Zhi said.

"yes..."

Zhuge Liang had already guessed that Xu Ding wanted to completely eliminate Liu Bei with superior forces.

"General Chen, we can't sit still in Jinyang. It is necessary to retreat into the mountains, temporarily avoid the edge, and then counterattack Taiyuan. Do you agree with me? Zhuge Liang asked.

"The Admiral agrees."

"Since I agree, I'd like to ask you to do me a favor, I don't know if it's okay?"

"Please sir."

Zhuge Liang leaned close to Chen Zhi's ear and whispered a few times.

Chen Zhi was shocked: "This... The last general will not dare. ”

"Didn't you agree with what I said? Everything we do is for the good of the Lord, why not? You must know that if we wait any longer, when Jinyang City is besieged, we will not be able to leave if we want to, and the lord will also be annihilated by the flames of war... Zhuge Liang argued skillfully.

Chen Zhi finally made up his mind, gritted his teeth and replied: "Sir, don't worry, the last general will definitely handle this matter!" ”