Li Meng didn't dare to be careless, and reluctantly arched his hand. "General, we know, you give the order."

Xu Rong looked at the others, and when Fan Chou and the others heard this, they had no choice but to ask for their lives.

Xu Rong immediately ordered the generals to set off in turn, paying attention to cover, so as not to fall into Sun Ce's ambush. The generals were awe-inspiring and promised one after another. Zhang Liao listened to it on the sidelines and was puzzled. Sun Ce didn't have cavalry, how could he set up an ambush? These people were already reluctant to fight in the middle of the night, and they had already lost time, so wouldn't it be even slower to have such concerns?

The generals went out of the tent, and each returned to the camp to raise some men, and after a period of chaos, they left the camp one after another.

Zhang Liao was desperate. In order to seize the county, Sun Ce rushed through the starry night regardless of the danger of being ambushed. These people dragged on for a long time before leaving, and when they arrived in Xi County, Sun Ce probably entered the city.

Xu Rong was very indifferent and waved his hand. "Alright, let's go back and rest, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

Zhang Liao hurriedly said: "General, now is a good opportunity to intercept Sun Ce, and when he enters Xi County, it will be much more difficult for us to attack the city again." How can the generals move so slowly? ”

Xu Rong said: "Do your best, listen to the destiny of heaven, wait and see what happens, and wait for Sun Ce to enter the county." ”

Zhang Liao sighed. He knew that Xu Rong didn't want to send someone to intercept Sun Ce, but Nanyang was not Luoyang, Dong Zhuoyuan was in Chang'an, Li Meng and the others had no sense of urgency, they were passive and sluggish, and Xu Rong's command was ineffective. Just like a master's move, if the opponent is a mediocre person, even if the hands and feet are slow, it's fine. But if the two sides are about the same level, the slightest negligence can be fatal. Compared with Sun Ce's orders and prohibitions, which were vigorous and resolute, Xu Rong's orders were not so efficient.

Zhang Liao really wanted to ask Ling to lead his more than 1,000 horsemen to intercept Sun Ce, even if it was to buy a little time, but when he saw Xu Rong's expression of closing his eyes and preparing to sleep, he swallowed back the words that came to his lips again. Xu Rong taught him a lot, but he still felt that he couldn't see through Xu Rong and didn't know what Xu Rong was thinking in his heart.

Zhang Liao withdrew from the big tent, closed the tent door, stood outside the tent door for a moment, sighed heavily, and left with his head down.

Inside the tent, Xu Rong slowly opened his eyes, looked at the blue-black tent, listened to the night breeze outside the tent, and sighed softly, his iron-like face showed tiredness that could not be concealed.

Sun Ce occupied Xixian County, Wuguan Road was completely closed, and I don't know when the news from Chang'an will come again, and what kind of news will it be.

Dong Gong, are you okay in Chang'an?

Xu Rong was lying on the quilt, but he couldn't sleep for a long time. He used to sleep very well, and even as he got older, he could still fall asleep as soon as he touched the pillow. But for more than a year, he often had insomnia, couldn't sleep all night long, had nightmares, and as soon as he closed his eyes, he saw corpses all over the mountains, wanton blood, and dreamed that he was screaming in pain in the boiling water like Li Min, the Taishou of Yingchuan, and the burning under the pot was not firewood, but the burning of Luoyang City.

The Hu monk of the White Horse Temple said that those who kill will go to hell, go through all kinds of torture, and atone for the sins committed in life before they can be reborn, and the heavier the sin, the more suffering the person will suffer, and the longer the time. I'm going to go down to the bottom of hell and never be able to live again, right?

What about Dong Gong, what about those Xiliang soldiers under his command?

What about the eunuchs who troubled the court?

What about those Qingliu celebrities who talk loudly, enjoy great fame, and occupy high positions without rational political talents, will they become Buddhas or go to hell?

Putting down the butcher's knife, can you really become a Buddha on the spot? I want to let go, but can I put it down?

Xu Rong was groggy and his mind was in a mess, and he barely closed his eyes until dawn, until he was awakened by Zhang Liao's footsteps again.

"General, Captain Li sent a message, they couldn't catch up, Sun Ce had entered the city in the morning." Zhang Liao's voice was hoarse and calm, unable to hide his disappointment.

"Got it." Xu Rong slowly opened his eyes, his voice tired.

——

Walking into Xixian, Sun Ce mentioned that his throat and eyes were really relaxed, and then he found that his back was full of cold sweat, soaking the golden silk brocade armor.

This rapid march was like walking on a ghost gate, and although he was safe and sound, the tension during it made his heart palpitate. During the march, every sound of horses' hooves suffocated him, for fear that the Xiliang people would come roaring from the darkness. Fortunately, the Xiliang people came much slower than he expected, and when Qin Mu sent the news that the Xiliang knights were rapidly approaching, he had already arrived in Xixian, otherwise it would be a disaster.

Guan Nan, the chief of analysis, greeted him and shook Sun Ce to the end. He described him as haggard, with two eyes as black as a panda, and the armor on his body did not fit well, but it was bloodstained and arrow marks were faintly visible. It can be seen that he is suffering a lot these days.

"General, you're finally here." Before Kannan could speak, tears came down and he bowed his hands again and again. "It's so hard for the elders of the county to look forward to the general's help."

Seeing Guan Nan crying, Sun Ce couldn't help but make a joke. Ming Ting's words are untrue. Half a month ago, Nanyang was too obedient to the counties, but you didn't reply. At that time, you probably didn't want me to come. ”

Guan Nan was a little embarrassed, and then said: "If the general comes here for plundering, even now, we are not welcome." ”

"Presumptuous!" Lin Feng snorted and pulled out half of the long knife. "Dare to be rude to the general, do you think that the sword of the Xiliang people is sharp, and my knife is not good?"

"Alright, alright." Sun Ce smiled: "Don't scare him. By the way, Ming Ting's appearance is Sven, this armor obviously doesn't fit, it should be a scholar, right? I haven't asked for a name yet. ”

Kannan politely bowed his hand. "Xiaguan Guannan, the word Xiusi, a new savage, has studied in Taixue for two years, because of his studies, he has stayed up for ten years to do this analysis, but he didn't expect to encounter such a thing soon after taking office, which is really embarrassing."

"When I learned that the Xiliang people had entered the country, I didn't think about escaping?"

Kannan was silent for a moment. "I thought about it, but then I hesitated for a while, and I couldn't run away, so I had to stay and guard the city with the elders of Xixian County."

Sun Ce couldn't help laughing, this county magistrate is not only a scholar - it is not something ordinary people can do because of his studies - he is also a sincere person, no wonder he can persist until now, it is really not easy. "Why are you hesitating?"

"The lower officials have three fears: one is afraid that they will not be able to see their fellow villagers after returning to their hometowns, the second is afraid that they will not dare to face Guo Linzong after a hundred years, and the third is afraid that they will be infamous and left in history after a thousand years."

Sun Ce thought for a moment and nodded. "The master has three fears, and the Ming court has three fears, in contrast, the three fears of the Ming court are more realistic, I like it."

A red cloud of excitement appeared on Guan Nan's face. "The general has won the award, how dare Guan Nan be compared with a saint."

The two gossiped a few words, which was very speculative. Guan Nan led Sun Ce up the city wall, inspecting the city defense while introducing the situation in the county.

The county is built according to the topography, roughly rectangular, but not regular, slightly narrow from east to west, and slightly wider from north to south. The length of the four walls varies, and the total length is more than five miles. The north side is built by the mountain, there is no city gate, the east and west sides are all more than ten zhang high cliffs, only the south side is a gentle slope, straight to the river valley, can attack. The water flows from the west of the city and is led into the moat. Now it has been filled by the Xiliang soldiers, and there are countless arrows and weapons scattered under the city, the corpses have been removed, the blood stains are still there, and the city wall is full of holes, and the traces left by the war can be seen everywhere.