In the winter of the third year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao attacked Gongsun Zhan with all his might. The generals sent by Gongsun Chan to defend the camp in the south knew that they could not hold on, and they knew that Gongsun Chan would definitely not send people to help, so some surrendered and some scattered.

Yuan Shao's army drove straight into the city and arrived at the gate of Yijing City. Gongsun Zan sent his son Gongsun Xu to ask for help from Zhang Yan of Montenegro, and prepared to lead the elite cavalry out of the city and rush to Xishan, leading the Montenegrin army to counterattack Jizhou and cut off Yuan Shao's retreat.

Guan Jing dissuaded Gongsun Zan and said: "Now the general's subordinates are scattered, so they can still hold on, just because the whole family is here, and they rely on the general to preside over the overall situation here." Continuing to hold on and delay time may make it difficult for Yuan Shao to retreat. If the general abandons them and leads his troops out of the city, there is no one in the rear to call the shots, and Yijing falls, it will be just around the corner. ”

Gongsun Chan then gave up going out of the city, Yuan Shao's army gradually advanced, and Gongsun Chan's troops became increasingly embarrassed. In the spring of the fourth year of Jian'an, Zhang Yan, the leader of the Montenegrin Army, and Gongsun Xu led 100,000 troops to rescue Gongsun Chan in three ways, Zhang Yan's reinforcements had not yet arrived, Gongsun Chan secretly sent a messenger to send a letter to Gongsun Xu, asking him to lead 5,000 iron cavalry to the low-lying areas in the north to ambush, igniting a fire as a signal, Gongsun Chan planned to go out of the city to attack Yuan Shao's besieging troops.

The patrols of Yuan Shao's adviser Tian Feng captured Gongsun Zhan's messenger and obtained the letter. Tian Feng offered Yuan Shao: "The lord can raise a fire on schedule and shoot an ambush outside the city." Gongsun Chan thought that reinforcements had arrived and would lead the army to battle. ”

Yuan Shao acted according to the plan, Gongsun Zhan really led his troops out of the city, Gongsun Zhan instigated the white horse to step forward, and saw that there were no reinforcements outside the city. Yuan Shao's general Lu Yi took the lead in the camp and suddenly launched an attack, and the soldiers who first boarded the camp shot down a large area of Gongsun Zhan's cavalry with strong crossbows.

On both sides, Yan Liang and Wen Chou led troops to attack, and Gongsun Chan was defeated and returned to the city to continue to hold on. Yuan Shao's besieging troops couldn't attack the city for a long time, Yuan Shao pinched his beard and asked, "Yi Jing can't be attacked for a long time, what are your best strategies?" ”

The scribe with a thief's eyebrows and rat-eyed eyes at the bottom of the stairs came out and said: "There is a plan, the lord can order the soldiers to dig the tunnel, dig under the city tower where Gongsun Chan is firmly guarded, support it with wooden pillars, and it is estimated that half of the city tower will be dug up, and then set fire to the wooden pillars, and the city tower will collapse." ”

Yuan Shao stroked his palms and exclaimed: "Wonderful! It's a great plan. ”

Yuan Shao used this method to gradually attack Zhongjing, where Gongsun Zhan lived. Gongsun Chan was on a tall building, and when he heard the sound of knocking on the ground, he thought that he would not be spared, so he hanged his sister, wife and children, and then set himself on fire.

Yuan Shaowang saw the high-rise building on fire, pulled out the dragon's tooth knife and pointed at the high platform and shouted: "The person who beheads Gongsun Zhan will be rewarded with a thousand gold!" ”

Yuan Shao's soldiers all stepped forward bravely, and Gongsun Zhan's general Tian Kai fought to the death and was killed by Lu Yi's troops. Guan Jing sighed: "If I hadn't stopped the general from leaving the city by himself before, there might not have been no hope. I have heard that the gentleman has put people in danger, and I must share the hardships with him, how can I escape alone! ”

Guan Jing rode into Yuan Shao's army and was killed by Yuan Jun. Gongsun Zhan was killed by Yuan Jun, and a generation of white horse generals withdrew from the world of great contention. Gongsun Xu, the son of Gongsun Zhan, fled to the Xiongnu and was killed by the Xiongnu Tu tribes, and dedicated the head of Gongsun Xu to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao owned most of Hebei, Qingzhou, Bingzhou and Youzhou, becoming the strongest separatist force in the north, and began to prepare for a major southward advance.

When the news of Yuan Shao's devouring of Gongsun Zan came, the Quartet shook. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were adjacent to each other, so they were naturally very worried, and immediately convened all the strategists to discuss after receiving the news. Why didn't the lord take advantage of Yuan Shao's lack of time to take care of it, and send a general to garrison it, which could block Yuan Shao's southern strategy. ”

Cao Cao pondered for a while and said: "What Gongda said is very true, I want to personally lead a large army to capture Hanoi, and Xudu and Guangling will be handed over to you." ”

Cao Cao then led a large army into the Yellow River and sent generals Shi Jian and Cao Hong to capture Hanoi County. Previously, Zhang Yang, the former Hanoi Taishou, was killed by the general Yang Chou, and the lieutenant general Zheng Gu killed Yang Chou, attached to Yuan Shao, and garrisoned Yu Shooting Dogs. Shi Jian and Cao Rendu attacked the shooting dog and killed Zhenggu. Cao Cao then personally led his army across the Yellow River and besieged the shooting dogs. The former Hanoi Governor Shi Xue Hong and others surrendered. Cao Cao appointed Wei Chong as the Taishou of Hanoi to take control of this strategic location.

Lingling, Zhao Yun came back from the Xichuan expedition and asked Liu Dudao: "Why did the lord take in Li Dao and not inform Yun and others?" Li Dao is a thief of the Han Dynasty, and the lord is a member of the Han family who does not kill him, but entrusts him with a heavy responsibility. The lord is like this, why did he revive the Han Dynasty? ”

Liu Du was angry and anxious when he heard what Zhao Yun said, he cherished Zhao Yun's talent and couldn't bear to scold him. Li Ru beside Liu Du scolded: "Zhao Yun, don't rely on the lord to spoil you, so rude." At the beginning, the Son of Heaven was still able to reward Yang Feng and other white wave thieves as officials, why can't the lord accept the old general? ”

Zhao Feng snorted coldly: "What an old general, Li You, you are also an old general of Dong Zhuo, right?" I heard rumors in the market that you are Li Ru who killed the young emperor back then! ”

Li Ru was shocked when he heard this, and he didn't dare to speak again. Seeing this, Liu Du hurriedly said: "How can the rumors in the market be believed to be true, General Wanwang Zihu takes care of the overall situation, and I still have to rely on you and Zilong to resist Han Xuan for me." ”

Zhao Yun bowed to Liu Du: "The generals of Yun's subordinates have returned from the battlefield, and the tired army cannot fight again. ”

Zhao Feng lifted his robe and turned to leave: "Zilong, let's go." ”

Liu Du was just about to stretch out his hand to leave them, Zhao Yun and Zhao Feng left without looking back, Li Ru walked to the bottom of the steps and knelt down to Liu Du and bowed: "The lord took in Confucianism and others, so that the lord lost the heart of Zhao Yun and Zhao Feng, and Confucianism was willing to die to calm his heart." ”

Liu Du took a breath and said: "Xing Daorong died in battle, the only one I can rely on is you, if we and other soldiers are separated, we will be captured by Han Xuan." Li Ru, don't worry, even if everyone in the world wants to kill you, as long as I, Liu Du, am here, I will protect you! ”

Li Ru thanked and said: "The lord is very gracious, Ru Wan can't repay him if he dies." ”

Liu Du stood up and turned his back to Li Ru, silently wept, and said regretfully: "Yusen, I hurt you." If you hadn't saved me to the death, I wouldn't have been able to get out of the way. Alas, alas! ”

Li Ru said: "My lord, Han Xuan's army has been transferred to Changsha, Guiyang and other places recently, and he will not give up if he wants to come. The lord must unite with Liu Biao in order to confront Han Xuan. In addition, Confucianism had heard from General Zilong that the name of Zhang Xiu's adviser was Jia Xu, who was an old friend of Confucianism. Zhang Xiu was helped by him and repeatedly defeated Cao Cao, which shows his ability. If the lord is interested, Confucianism is willing to say that the lord is coming! ”

When Liu Du heard that it was Jia Xu, he was immediately excited, that was a poisoner, Jia Xu's plan could hit the enemy's key point every time. Liu Du hesitated and said: "I heard that Jia Xu has worked for Dong Zhuo, Duan Xuan, and Zhang Ji, and now he is obeying orders under Zhang Xiu's account, seeking others first and seeking himself, I am afraid that no one can be his master." ”

Li Ru was shocked when he heard what Liu Du said, he actually knew Jia Xu better than himself. Li Ru bowed down and said, "The lord doesn't have to worry, Confucianism has his own plans." Confucianism first went to Liu Biao to rescue the soldiers, and asked the lord to stick to it until Confucianism returned! ”

Liu Du agreed, and after Li Ru was ready, he set off for Xiangyang in the starry night. Liu Du sent Pan Feng, Xiahou Lan, Feng Xi and others to garrison Zhaoyang, Chong'an and other Lingling counties to guard against Han Xuan. Liu Duzi and Li Dao, Lai Gong and others were stationed in Wuling.

Han Xuan's side was also sharpening his sword, and Han Xuan convened everyone to discuss: "Yuan Shao has annexed Gongsun Zhan, and Cao Cao is holding each other in the north, and Cao Cao has no time to look south." I should take advantage of this to defeat Liu Du and attack Liu Biao. ”

Zhang Zhao tried his best to persuade him, but Han Xuan disagreed, he mobilized most of Guiyang's military horses, Wang Cang governed Guiyang very well, the population increased a lot, and nearly 10,000 troops were recruited this time. Han Xuan also asked Hua Xin to send troops and horses from various counties in Yuzhang to gather in Changsha, and with the soldiers and horses of Changsha County, Han Xuan gathered an army of 40,000.

Han Xuan learned that Liu Du and Li Dao were stationed in Wuling City, so he sent troops from Yiyang to prepare troops to besiege Wuling City. On the border between Changsha and Wuling, a big war is about to break out, and even the animals in the mountains can feel the murderous aura in the air.

(End of chapter)