After bidding farewell to Princess Liu Ning of Wannian, Pei Qing went to recruit Hu Zhen and Li Su and others with a military talisman, and asked them to gather at the gate of the North City within half an hour, and then went to the pavilion post to explain to Cai Zhaoji and Dong Bai, asking them to follow Princess Wannian, and at the same time took Cai Yong and Xun You to gather at the gate of the city.

Cai Yong and Xun You also knew that as soon as Pei Qing left, they couldn't stay in the pavilion, and now that the army was in chaos, it was not certain who would win or defeat the army of Xiliang and the imperial court, they didn't dare to get involved in this matter, and they had to follow Pei Qing all the way after thinking about it, to put it mildly, even if Pei Qing was defeated, he would still be able to escape back to Yuzhou, which was much better than their precariousness.

After Pei Qing arrived at the gate of the city, after the time when there was no incense, Li Su arrived, he was very excited after seeing Pei Qing, first to pay homage to Pei Qing with military etiquette, and then said with a grateful face: "Last time, thanks to the help of the Metropolitan Governor, let the last general pick up a big bargain in vain, our army captured more than 100,000 pieces of grain and grass, countless armor and equipment, General Lu Bu has already expressed the end of the general Zhenwei Zhonglang General, this time to be able to fight side by side with the Metropolitan Governor, the last general and there is honor." ”

Pei Qing picked up Li Su lightly, and said with a smile: "Gongjing (Li Su's words, made by the author, don't take it seriously) don't have to be polite, since we are fighting together, how can we divide each other?" This time the thief is powerful, you and I need sincere cooperation to have hope, we don't say dark words, this time I really need the general to work with me with one heart and one mind, and strive to be the first, if you violate the military law, don't blame me for not being merciful. ”

Li Su immediately looked serious when he heard this, and said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, the glory of the last general is given by the governor, this time you must advance and retreat with the governor, the last general swears here, as long as the governor does not take a step back, the last general will never take a step back, if you violate this oath, the last general will die and have no place to be buried!" ”

After that, Pei Qing and Li Su talked about the details of this battle, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of those Xiliang generals, but they waited for most of the hour, but they never saw Hu Zhen arrive, and Pei Qing's face couldn't help but become ugly.

After another stick of incense, Hu Zhen came slowly pacing in all directions, and after seeing Pei Qing, he quickened his pace, came to Pei Qing, and arched his hand and said, "This is Pei Dudu, right?" It's really disrespectful and disrespectful, and the last general is a little slower because of his illness, and I ask the governor for forgiveness. ”

However, Pei Qing was gloomy, and shouted: "What a sick person, I see that you have a red face, refreshed, and you don't look like you are sick at all, if you are really sick, it is also a heart disease, or a disease of arrogance, which is to despise me." How can a person like you, who openly violates military discipline, be able to convince the public if he does not punish him? ”

Then he commanded the left and right: "Drag me out of the city gate with me, and behead the public!" ”

Seeing this, Hu Zhen's face suddenly changed greatly, and he shouted: "Pei Qing, you dare to kill me?" Do you know that I am General Lu Bu's person, you want to kill me, and don't want to mess around in this Chang'an City in the future! ”

"Hmph, why don't you dare? Now the Xiliang thieves are coming, the whole city generals are nervous, the whole body is on guard, even General Fengxian himself is fully clothed, urgently patrolling the city, all the soldiers want to serve the country, swear to fight with the thieves to the end, only you, after receiving my Jiangling, do not hurry, walk as a car, like a leisurely stroll, nearly half an hour later than the specified time, you violate the military order, violate our military law, even if General Fengxian comes in person, it will definitely not spare you. ”

When Pei Qing said this, he shouted to the left and right: "What are you still doing in a daze?" Drag him out and decapitate him! ”

"No." The soldiers on the left and right did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly set up Hu Zhen and walked out.

At this time, I saw Li Su open his mouth and said: "The Metropolitan Governor keeps people under the sword, and now that the imperial court is employing people, it is a little ominous to kill the general in the face of the enemy, and I also ask the Metropolitan Governor to give Hu Zhen a chance to let him make meritorious contributions." ”

Pei Qing snorted, his face softened slightly, and then said, "For Li Zhonglang's sake, spare his life." ”

Then Pei Qing ordered people to catch up with the left and right soldiers, and pushed Hu Zhen in front of him again, and then said to him: "You violated my military order, according to the military law, you should have been killed, fortunately Li Zhonglang interceded for you, so this head is sent to it, if you commit it again, the governor will be counted with you before and after the account, but you violate military discipline, you can't do without a little punishment, and hand over millions of money as a fine, temporarily demoted from Zhonglang to a captain, the commander of the soldiers and horses will be halved, and the rest will be led by Li Su, and after the meritorious service, he will resume his original position and bring back the original soldiers and horses. You first give this half of the soldiers and horses to Li Zhonglang, and then lead the army to follow behind and go out of the city with me!" ”

Hu Zhen was so angry that his face turned blue, but he didn't dare to say anything at this time, because just now Pei Qing's personal soldiers lifted him up like a fierce god, and the steel knife in his hand kept drawing on his head and neck, which really made him experience the feeling of death approaching, so Hu Zhen lowered his head, endured the humiliation and assigned half of the army to Li Su to command, and gritted his teeth with hatred for Pei Qing in his heart, and secretly decided to surrender to Li Dao Guo Yan after he arrived in Xinfeng, and after capturing Pei Qing, he must let him not survive and die.

But Pei Qing didn't seem to see it, calmly issued a military order, straightened out the army, and then took out the talismans, drank open the city gate, led the army out of the city, and joined the old troops who had been waiting outside the city gate.

In fact, at this time, although there were still more than 8,000 people outside the city, there were already more than 2,000 elite Zhu Jun's private soldiers who were already under the command of Xu Xuan and were about to enter the city, so Pei Qing's army outside the city was only about 6,000 people, plus Li Su and Hu Zhen's army, the total number was less than 20,000, plus Xu Rong's 5,000 people, the total number was not less than 25,000, and his enemy army was at least four times as large as his, and they were all Xiliang elites, so almost no one could be optimistic about this battle, in their opinion, The best result of this expedition is to successfully resist for three or five days, and I only hope that within three or five days, the teams of Qinwang from all over the country will arrive as soon as possible, and may be able to avoid this crisis.

However, Pei Qing was unmoved, the two major generals Deng Dang and Xie Yingdeng beside him, as well as the general Zang Ba, did not have the slightest fear, but had an eager expression on their faces, even Zhang Chao, who had always been timid, did not flinch this time, but said respectfully to Pei Qing: "The Grand Duke, the last general has retreated many times, but now the last general will not back down anymore, the Grand Governor has brought so many benefits to the last general, and now it is time for the last general to return." ”

Seeing Zhang Chao say this, Pei Qing immediately nodded, and said praisefully: "I am very relieved that my son can be like this, I don't like to be the commander of the whole army, but I like my son and grow up day by day." ”

When Zhang Chao heard this, he was immediately moved to almost tears, he bowed down and said to Pei Qing: "The teachings of the Grand Governor, the last general will keep it in mind, if you have a place to get the last general in the future, you must do your best to repay the virtue of the past." ”

Pei Qing gave a few more words of encouragement, and then gave an order, and the army set off immediately and hurried to Xinfeng.