However, didn't my father bring all the artillery to Xiangyang? And where did these artillery pieces come from?

At this critical moment, there are more artillery, but there are many more chances of victory, at least the city can be defended for a longer time, and hold on until Cao Cao comes back to help.

Cao Pi immediately changed into armor and brought a sword, which was also a reflection of his cautious character.

He went up to the south gate with Xun You and Xun Yu, who came to hear the news.

I saw that there was indeed a convoy under the city wall, and it was far away, and the people in the convoy were all carrying torches, and there were fifty or sixty wagons, each of which was drawn by four horses.

Each car had a large wooden box more than a zhang long on it, and the soldiers who drove the car and escorted it were all in the clothing of the Wei army, and there were thousands of people.

At the front of the convoy, there was a man dressed as a general, but looking at the costume, the position was not high, probably just a captain.

Cao Pi held on to the battlements of the city wall and asked loudly: "I am Cao Pi, the prince of the King of Wei, you said that you came from Jiujiang to deliver artillery, but what evidence do you have?" ”

"I haven't received any messages about this!"

The lieutenant hurriedly raised his head and replied, "I have seen His Royal Highness the Prince of the World, we are indeed from the military merit workshop in Jiujiang. On the order of the lord, the forty cannons newly produced by the general's workshop rushed to Xiapi to strengthen the city defense of Xiapi City. ”

"The subordinates have a handwritten letter from the lord here, and I also ask His Royal Highness the Prince to take a look."

After that, the lieutenant ordered his subordinates to open several large wooden boxes at the front of the convoy, and inside was indeed a swarthy cannon, which had not yet been assembled.

When Cao Pi heard this, he was suspicious, and he ordered someone to put a manned hanging basket down and take the captain to the city.

"Subordinate Ma Gang, I have seen His Royal Highness the Prince!"

Hanging this person to the head of the city, Cao Pi saw this person's appearance clearly under the lights, and he looked like a talented person with a burly figure.

When he saw Cao Pi, he quickly knelt down on one knee, saluted the courtier, and then took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Cao Pi.

With the help of dim lighting, Cao Pi could also see clearly that it was really Cao Cao's handwritten letter, which said that he had asked the military workshop in Jiujiang to immediately transport all the latest artillery to Xiapi to strengthen the city's defenses.

The end of the letter is indeed stamped with Cao Cao's imperial seal, but this letter is genuine.

Ma Gang took out a list of the transfers of the Jiujiang Army workshop, which clearly showed that forty artillery pieces would be transported to Xiapi, the capital of the Wei State.

Seeing that the formalities were complete, Cao Pi naturally had no doubts.

Ordered to open the gates of the city and let the convoy into the city.

The city gate of Xiapi slowly opened, and the Wei army guarding the gate rushed out, keeping guard inside and outside the city gate according to custom.

Cao Pi, Xun Yu and others also went down to the city and went to the city gate to take a look.

That Ma Gang naturally stood in front of the convoy and introduced Cao Pi, this is a new artillery, and the weight is lighter than the first batch of artillery.

Xun Yu looked carefully and felt that there was a big gap between the details of this artillery and the artillery on the city, and the workmanship was much finer.

Moreover, except for the first few carriages with open boxes, the wooden boxes on the back carriages were tightly covered, and the horses pulling the carts were obviously not as difficult as the first few carriages.

Xun Yu is so experienced that he ordered someone to open the boxes behind him.

As soon as the horse saw Xun Yu to inspect the box behind him, he knew that things were going to be bad.

He reached into his arms, took out a cylinder, held it high above his head, and heard a bang, and a red light rushed into the night sky, and it did not disperse for a long time.

Ma Gang yelled, "Do it!" ”

He drew his saber and headed straight for Cao Pi.

Fortunately, Cao Pi served in the army for three years, was agile, and learned a few tricks from Xu Chu, which can be regarded as both civil and military.

Ma Gang drew his sword and slashed at him, he also took out his sword to parry, the swords struck each other, and Cao Pi's saber actually broke Ma Gang's saber in two.

It turned out that Cao Pi's sword was a sword given to him by Cao Cao, the Qinghong sword, which was sharpened like clay.

Cao Pi retreated and shouted, "Enemy attack, close the city gates!" ”

The Wei army defending the city also fought with these fake Wei troops, and when Ma Gang saw that the saber was broken, he knew that he had missed the opportunity to kill or kidnap Cao Pi.

He turned and rushed to the Wei army, who was twisting the winch and intending to close the city gate, and shouted loudly as he went: "Hold the city gate and wait for the army to enter the city!" ”

The large wooden boxes on the carriage were opened by themselves, and there were hundreds of Han soldiers with loaded guns hidden inside.

While shooting at the Wei army, they installed their bayonets and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Wei troops around them.

The alarm bell of Xiapi City rang for a long time, and the Wei soldiers from all directions flocked to recapture the city gate in one fell swoop.

The soldiers of the Han army were not afraid, they grabbed grenades from their arms or from the wooden boxes and threw them.

At this time, there was a rumbling thunder in the night, and it was a large group of cavalry running.

Cao Pi was in a hurry, "Block the city gate, quickly!" ”

The Cao army also threw grenades at the city gate, and the Han army also suffered heavy casualties, but it was very difficult to recapture the city gate.

The convoy transporting artillery not only blocked the hole in the city gate, but also blocked the surrounding area of the city gate, and in a hurry, the city gate could not be closed at all.

Finally, the first cavalry came out of the city gate hole, and the black military uniform was indeed the Han army.

He rushed into the distance to make way for the city gate, followed by a large group of cavalry swarming, and a few charges dispersed the Wei army at the city gate.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Xun Yu immediately dragged Cao Pi and fled to the west gate, not even returning to the palace.

On the other hand, he sent someone to inform Xun You and Cao Cao's family to gather at the West City Gate.

When Cao Pi and Xun Yu came to the West City Gate, Xun Yu escorted Cao Cao's family and hurried to arrive.

Fortunately, in those chaotic years, fleeing had become commonplace, and people packed up and fled with great efficiency.

Xun Yu and Xun You discussed slightly, and Xun You led a part of the guards, drove the prince's car to bluff, went out of the west gate, and ran all the way to the west.

Xun Yu took Cao Pi and Cao Cao's family members, all dressed as ordinary people, and fled with the rest of the guards first to the north and then to the west.

Sure enough, Xun You's chariot escorted Cao Pi from the West Gate to the west less than ten miles, when torches suddenly lit up around, and a large group of Han cavalry emerged from the surroundings.

The leader of the team was a handsome young general, he saw Cao Pi's car, and said very happily: "Welcome, Xiliang Ma Chao, I have been waiting for the prince here for a long time!" ”

Xun You nodded, and replied unhurriedly: "General Ma Chao has a good means to deceive the gate of Xiapi City, but His Royal Highness the Prince is not with me. ”

Ma Chao stepped forward and lifted the curtains of several carriages, and sure enough, they were all empty, he turned to Xun You and asked, "Dare to ask Your Excellency?" ”

"Yingchuan Xun is also!"

"It turned out to be Mr. Xun You, who has admired his name for a long time, since he can't invite Cao Pi Shizi, then ask Mr. to be a guest! Take it away, take care of it, and don't be reckless! ”

(End of chapter)