When the soldiers and horses came to the outside of Xinye City under the howling wind and snow, it was already night, and by the light, the night was brighter than usual.

"Tinghou, catch a Cao Jun carefully!" He had just set up a few tents when he saw two scouts pressing one of them.

"It's not a fine work!" The man struggled twice, but the two scouts held him down and couldn't move.

Liu Yi didn't let him go, although the other party was just wearing ordinary clothes, but at this time, the whole Nanyang was fighting, and it was not normal to hang out outside in the middle of the night, and looking at the other party's physique and temperament, it was not like ordinary people.

"Who are you?" Liu Yi looked at the other party and asked.

"I want to see your commander, I have an important military report!" The other party said in a deep voice.

"I am." Liu Yi looked at the other party and said, "What kind of military situation is it?" ”

"Are you ......?" The person who came frowned and looked at Liu Yi and said.

"Look clearly, this is the master craftsman, General Annan, and Liu Yi, the marquis of the fishing town!" Beside Liu Yi, a guard shouted.

It may be very powerful to take a series of official names in front, but when he heard Liu Yi's name, the person who came hurriedly bowed to Liu Yi: "See Tinghou." ”

Today's Liu Yi is not a nobody, Liu Bei has been in almost all the big battles over the years, and his importance is not low, maybe not as prominent as Guan Yu, but it must not be ignored.

"You haven't told you who you are?" Liu Yi still has some knowledge of his current reputation, and he is not surprised, but he said indifferently.

"The humble position is Xie Chao, the lieutenant of Xinye County, who risked his life to go out of the city this time, just in the hope of being able to welcome the emperor's army!" Someone bowed down.

"Oh?" Liu Yi raised his eyelids and motioned for him to continue.

"Don't hide the Pavilion Marquis, Cao thief's name is Hanchen, it is really a Han thief, these years in Nanyang, the people have been exploited very hugely, forced labor, miscellaneous taxes, the people of Nanyang have been longing for the Ming Lord for a long time, and now they hear that the emperor's uncle is benevolent and righteous in the Northern Expedition, all rejoice!" Xie Chao saw that Liu Yi didn't believe it, and hurriedly said.

"Then why don't you just dedicate the city?" Liu Yi is still quite cautious about this kind of thing, the people of Nanyang resist Cao Cao's matter, Liu Yi naturally knows that Cao Cao has been exploiting the people of Nanyang very heavily in order to reduce rear expenses over the years, and at the same time maintain Nanyang's military advantage, which is also the reason why there will be riots and rebellions in Nanyang over the years, as long as there is turmoil in Xiangyang, there will be riots and rebellions in Nanyang, but such reasons cannot convince Liu Yi, there are obvious loopholes in the other party's words, even if you don't want to, you must not take risks.

"Go back to Tinghou." Xie Chao smiled bitterly: "The humble position and the Xinye Order are like-minded, but the Cao thief sent Ying Luo to guard the city, and the four hundred soldiers and horses in the city and the Xinye Order also have to obey him, how can there be any freedom, this time I also came at night, hoping to join forces with the Tinghou Li Yingwai, kill Ying Luo, and welcome the emperor's uncle's benevolent and righteous teachers into the city." ”

"How do you want to be inside and out?" Liu Yi looked at Xie Chao and asked rhetorically.

"The lowly post came out this time, and the Xinye Order has discussed the countermeasures, there are only five hundred defenders in the city, of which 100 are Xinye county guards, and they are all dispatched by the lowly post on weekdays, but Na Yingluo does not believe in the humiliation, and after entering the city, he will transfer these more than 100 county guards to his command to disrupt and reorganize."

Liu Yi nodded, this method is not bad, then Ying Luo does not seem to be a wine bag and rice bag, his eyes looked at Xie Chao, and motioned for him to continue.

"However, there are still some henchmen in the county guard, and there are still some people in the government office, if Tinghou agrees, he can help Tinghou open the city gate tonight and welcome Tinghou into the city!" Xie Chao affirmed that since he came, he was naturally prepared.

When Liu Yi heard this, he quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

Xinye only has 500 garrisons, if it is a strong attack, even if the siege equipment is done to attack it, I am afraid that the loss will be more than 500 people, if Xie Chao can help him open the city gate and send a team of men and horses to kill it, with mental calculation or not, the loss will definitely be less than 500 people, even if it is a trap, it is also within the scope of Liu Yi's responsibility.

If the other party just wants to delay time, at this moment, it should be said how to do it in a day or two, so that they have a chance to ask for help, and in this way, the possibility of Xie Chao's sincere surrender is not low.

"How did you get out of town?" Liu Yi suddenly asked an insignificant topic.

Xie Chao was stunned when he heard this, and subconsciously said: "Take advantage of the night, find your former subordinates, put down your humble duties with a hanging basket, and return to the city later, just pass on the code."

The defenders of Xinye City are only 500 people, and there are naturally not many soldiers patrolling the night, so this gap can be exploited.

Liu Yi nodded and said: "Okay, according to your wishes, I will send someone to go tonight, you and I set a code, tonight at the third watch, I will have people raise a paper lamp outside the city, and when you see the paper lantern vacating, you will open the east gate!" ”

Xie Chao obviously didn't quite understand why the paper lamp was able to ascend to heaven, but he still nodded and agreed, and after telling Liu Yi some details, he said goodbye and left.

"Tinghou, do you believe him?" Liao Hua leaned over to Liu Yi and asked.

"Seventy percent." Liu Yi nodded: "I deliberately asked a few questions just now, such as how he got out of the city, such as the name of the new Ye Ling, in order to disrupt his thoughts, if he lied, there would be mistakes before and after, but no, so it is very likely that this person really came to dedicate the city." ”

"Tinghou is smart." Liao Hua admired that in addition to commanding the troops, Liu Yi seemed to know everything.

"Less sycophants." Liu Yi shook his head and scolded with a smile: "Later, you will personally select five hundred sharp soldiers to enter the city, but you must be careful, I listened to what this person said, that Ying Luopo is strategic, and this person ...... If it is calculated by that Yingluo, deliberately released to lure our army to attack the city, there will be an ambush, after you enter the city, remember to be careful, send people to guard the city gate, occupy the high ground near the city tower for the first time, empty the city wall, and then wait for my army to enter the city, and then kill into the city, step by step, steady and steady, do not be greedy! ”

Even if he is absolutely sure, Liu Yi also maintains enough vigilance, he doesn't want to capsize in the gutter, and Liao Hua is not the kind of person who is greedy for merit, mainly because Liu Yi rarely steals merit from others, and the generals who have worked under him admire Liu Yi quite much for this.

"Tinghou rest assured!" It is not the first time that Liao Hua has fought with Liu Yi, and he is quite familiar with Liu Yi's style, so he assured at the moment.

The defenders at the head of the city have already discovered Liu Yi's army, and Ying Luo has already sent people around to find the main force of the Cao army, hoping that the main force of the Cao army can come to the aid as soon as possible, and at the same time step up the layout of the city defense, preparing to defend Xinye to the death, and wait for the reinforcements to come.

It's just that I never dreamed that this battle hadn't started yet, and the county commanders and county lieutenants of Xinye had already begun to think about how to surrender to the enemy.

That night, when watching a paper lamp slowly ascend to the sky, many Cao Jun did not understand what was happening, but the east gate of Xinye City had been quietly opened, Liao Hua took the men and horses into the city smoothly, the fight did not last long, Liu Yi brought the men and horses this time are elite, well-equipped, in the case of losing the protection of the city wall, Cao Jun even if he wanted to fight for his life can not do it, and was soon wiped out by Liu Yi, the guard general Ying Luo was killed by Liao Hua himself, when Liu Yi commanded the army to slowly enter the city, all the important places in the city have been occupied, Cao's army either died or surrendered, which can be regarded as a victory.

Liu Yi summoned Xie Chao and Xinye Ling, and ordered them to be responsible for the affairs of Zhang Bang and the people, the officers and soldiers of the three armies must not disturb the people, and at the same time send people to the rear to contact, Guan Yu and Wu Ban's soldiers and horses are nearby, ready to support Xinye at any time, and at the same time protect the grain road in the rear of Xinye, otherwise, with this little people in Xinye City, they can't feed Liu Yi's 4,000 men and horses.

At the same time, Cao Ren, who was stationed in the Yuyang area, also received news from Ying Luo.

"General Cao!" Sima Yi, a strategist with the army, looked at the map and said suddenly.

"Oh?" Cao Ren looked at Sima Yi suspiciously, not understanding what he meant: "What does Zhongda mean?" ”

"Look, General!" Sima Yi spread out the map, pointed to the map and said: "Although the Jingzhou army has invaded many cities these days, many of them are just away, and there is no intention of attacking the city at all, there are only two places, Huyang and Ping's are now obtained by the Jingzhou army. ”

Cao Ren looked at the map and frowned: "So what?" ”

"If it's just Huyang and Ping's is fine, but if even Xinye is occupied by the other party, then Huyang Ping's, Xinye and then Zhuyang can be connected into a line, south of the four counties, Fuyang, Xiangxiang, Caiyang, Zhangling and other counties will all fall into the hands of the enemy, once this Xinye is occupied, this front will be pushed to this area." Sima Yi drew a line on the map and said solemnly: "The Jingzhou army can already threaten Wancheng, and the chaotic people who are dissatisfied with our army in Nanyang will definitely respond in droves!" ”

Sima Yi didn't say any more, but the problem has come out, up to now, it is basically Cao Jun and Liu Beijun two armies scuffle, those Nanyang gentry and scholars have been suppressed by Cao Jun with iron and blood several times before, and they have already been killed, if it is just a confrontation between the two sides and a war, these people will not do it, but if Liu Beijun pushes the battle line to the point where he can coerce Wancheng, then the problem will be different.

Although those people are nothing more than a rabble in Cao Ren's opinion, now the main force of the Cao army is basically contained by Liu Bei's Jingzhou army, and once there is chaos in the rear, the Cao army has no way to take care of it.

"Xinye can't be lost!" After understanding Sima Yi's worries, Cao Ren's face also became solemn, and he immediately gave an order: "Pass my military order, and the officers and soldiers of the three armies can send troops to Xinye, there must be no mistake!" ”

"Whoa!" A guard outside said yes and prepared to go to give the order.

Sima Yi looked at Cao Ren with a smile: "Yi wishes the general a victory!" ”

"Huh?" Cao Ren looked at Sima Yi suspiciously: "Zhongda is going to stay here?" ”

"Yes, if you don't know the strategy, even if you go with the army, you can't help too much, so you still have to guard the rear for the general." Sima Yi said with a smile.

"Zhong Damo wants to laugh, he didn't let you charge into battle, but you are the military advisor set by the King of Wei, and the army is on the march, how can you be absent? Go and get ready, and come with me. ”

Sima Yi: "This ...... 喏~"