Zhang Ji had already heard that the Bingzhou army, with Zhang Liao as the main commander, attacked Hongnong in two ways.

He didn't think that the 30,000 people of the Bingzhou Army could be compared with his own 30,000 people, he was one of the few people in the Xiliang Army who had fought head-to-head with the Bingzhou Army, and the Renju Army was considered a small number of people with one enemy and three enemies.

While he was pondering what he should do, a guard came to report that the young general had returned, and he was covered in blood.

Zhang Ji hurriedly went out to take a look, he was the closest to this nephew, he had no son, and he had always treated this nephew as his own son.

As soon as he arrived in the front yard, Zhang Xiu rushed in, and sure enough, his robe was torn and bloodstained.

"Son, what's wrong with you?" Zhang Ji asked anxiously.

"Uncle, Hangu Pass was lost, and I finally managed to break out of the encirclement and run back." Zhang Xiu replied breathlessly.

"Huh? Didn't the state army just arrive at Hangu Pass? It's only been a few days? I've given you the best of the 5,000 men. ”

"Alas, don't mention it, the day after the arrival of the state army, they came to attack the city, they used shields to cover, rushed to the city, right at the city gate, I don't know what was used, and the city gate was blown to pieces with a bang." Zhang Xiu took a few deep breaths and continued.

"Then they rushed in through the gates, and at the same time set up ladders to attack the city, their crossbows were so powerful that they completely overpowered our archers, and there were some large crossbows, and the crossbows were almost as long as throwing spears."

"The gate of the city can't be blocked at all, and an arrow can penetrate several people, so I can only abandon the city and flee, and five thousand people will come back with two thousand."

Zhang Ji was also dumbfounded when he heard this, Hangu Pass is a number of Xiongguan natural dangers in this world, and this can't stop the state army? He knows Zhang Xiu's ability best, he couldn't keep it, and he gave it to others in vain, what else can he do?

"Uncle, why don't we withdraw Sanfu too! They beat them, no, let's withdraw to our hometown in Liangzhou and start all over again! ”

"Anyway, now that Liangzhou is in a mess, let's follow Ma Teng or Han Sui to mess around, there's no problem!"

Although Zhang Ji felt that what Zhang Xiu said made some sense, he was still hesitating. Outside the door, there was a report from the ministry that there were several people from outside the city who were dressed as the state army, and the leader was a man dressed as an officer on a white horse, shouting to see the general.

"And the state army?" Zhang Ji groaned.

Zhang Xiu stepped forward and asked, "How many people are here?" Can you see the army of the state? ”

"General Hui, there are only five people, an officer on a white horse, and four soldiers, it seems that they are just guards, and there is no military army behind them."

"Uncle, there are only five of them, why don't you meet and hear what they want to say?"

Zhang Ji nodded, "Come on, bring the guests of the state army in, don't be reckless, be polite." ”

Soon, the visitors of the Bingzhou Army were invited into the General's Mansion, and Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu greeted them at the gate.

Sure enough, there were five people who came, the first one was wearing a crimson military uniform, a silver helmet and silver armor, riding a white horse, and the four behind him were just ordinary Han soldiers.

When the officer on the white horse saw Zhang Ji's uncle and nephew, he hurriedly jumped off the horse, walked a few steps quickly, and saluted with his fists: "Zhang Liao has seen two generals in Bingzhou!" ”

Zhang Ji was stunned, of course he knew who Zhang Liao was? The rising star in the Bingzhou army, the hero who once fought with the Xianbei people, and the commander of the Bingzhou army who attacked Hongnong this time, I didn't expect him to dare to come on a single horse, and he had the courage!

"I have admired the name of General Zhang Liao for a long time, please come inside, come into the house and talk!" Zhang Ji invited Zhang Liao in.

After the three of them sat down, Zhang Xiu asked first: "General Zhang Liao, you and I are at war, I don't know why you are here?" ”

Zhang Liao was not in a hurry, and responded with a smile. "Major General, presumably you have already seen the methods of my state army in Hangu Pass, I don't know if you can be sure to hold Hongnong City?"

Zhang Xiu shook his head and said truthfully: "General Zhang Liao asked knowingly, I don't know what means you used to destroy the city gate at once. If you can still use it, I don't think the gate of Hongnong is any stronger than Hangu Pass. ”

"Oh, this is the heavenly fire, it is the most secret weapon of our army, and it is this treasure that defeated Zhang Liang that day. But I'm not here today to talk about weapons. ”

"Two generals, we know your situation very well. Because you killed Dong Zhuo, Li Dao and their old subordinates all regarded you as traitors, and they couldn't tolerate your uncles and nephews at all. ”

"That's why I banished you to Hongnong, and you were squeezed out because of the lack of soldiers and food. My lord, Lord Lu Bu, admires your courage and responsibility to eliminate traitors and harms for the country, as well as your talents. Zhang Liao took a sip of tea before continuing.

"The lord believes that General Zhang Ji's ability is enough to serve as the assassin of a state, and the major general should also go to our military academy to learn the new generation of tactics and the use of new weapons, so that he can command more troops in the future to fight for more honors and interests for the Han Dynasty and the people of China!"

Speaking of this, Zhang Liao said with a serious expression: "On behalf of my lord, I sincerely invite the two of you to join us and join the state army, and we welcome two such heroes!" ”

Zhang Xiu is relatively simple, as soon as he heard Zhang Liao say this, he was very excited, as a soldier of the younger generation, who does not regard Lu Bu as the god of war of the Han Dynasty, he appreciates himself so much, he is very impulsive, and he has to agree.

Zhang Ji is much more sophisticated and steady, and he will not be as impulsive as a young man because of Zhang Liao's few words.

Zhang Ji also responded with a smile, "Thank you General Zhang Liao and Lord Lu Bu for your appreciation, my uncle and nephew are indeed in a bad situation, but I don't know if the two of us go to the past, how does Lord Lu Bu plan to settle the two of us?" ”

Zhang Liaoxin said that it was really an old fox, and if he didn't see the real benefits, he wouldn't be willing, which was also expected.

"It's normal for General Zhang Ji to be worried, so I'll talk about this condition."

"After the subordinates of the two generals surrender, they will be reorganized, and those who meet the conditions will be given priority to enter the state army, and the rest of the people can choose to go to tuntian or grazing, or they can do business, and they can even participate in the road administration bureau to repair roads and protect roads, and the treatment is rich, which must be better than now."

"General Zhang Xiu, if you are willing, you can enter the eighth phase of the Shaling Military Academy to study, mainly to master some new combat methods and theoretical knowledge, as well as the use of new weapons, after graduating from the military academy, according to the level of performance, the corresponding position will be awarded, generally a company commander."

"However, my father-in-law specially approves that as long as General Zhang Xiu successfully graduates from the Military Academy and passes the grades, he will be directly appointed as the head of the regiment, which is a special case."

Zhang Xiu had long heard that there was an officer school in the Bingzhou Army, which taught a lot of novel knowledge related to marching and fighting, and had probably heard of the positions of division commander, brigade commander, regiment commander, and battalion commander in the Bingzhou Army.

The regiment commander is also a middle and senior officer, in charge of two or three thousand people, and the combat strength of two or three thousand Bingzhou troops is equivalent to tens of thousands of ordinary troops, Zhang Xiu is already very excited.

(End of chapter)