The besieging cavalry charged in five columns, and although the cavalry charged quickly, due to the limited number of people that could pass, the cavalry in front was shot and fell to the ground by the archers of the high mountain before they could rush to the base of the earthen wall.

Cao Wenzhao watched his cavalry fall one by one from a distance, and the follow-up cavalry was still filling up, so he had to bang again and suspend the siege battle. Cao Wen ordered Yang Qi to guard the road that had been opened, and he led the cavalry back to Majiazhuang.

The next day, Cao Wenzhao transferred two more storming vehicles to Guyuan to continue filling in the soil to expand the road ahead. At the same time, javelinmen were brought in to throw javelins at the earthen wall to suppress the archers of the high mountains.

The archers on the other side of the earthen wall were gone, and on the city tower, more than a dozen stone throwers sprinkled stones on the heads of the Guyuan soldiers like raindrops, which made the Guyuan soldiers hug their heads and run away, and the filling operation could not be carried out anymore.

Hu Ying, the garrison of the Guyuan soldiers, came to Cao Wenzhao: "The stone thrower that reported the ——, thieves is too powerful, and our filling operation can only be stopped." ”

Cao Wenzhao was also helpless, although he also had a stone thrower, but he had no stones available. He ordered the Guyuan soldiers to withdraw first and prepare to lead the heavy cavalry into battle in person.

"Master Cao, let my nephew rush this first battle for you." Cao Bianjiao wore heavy armor and rode on his beloved jujube red horse, and said to Cao Wenzhao.

Cao Wenzhao nodded.

Cao Bianjiao shouted loudly: "Anyone who rushes to the city gate will be ten taels of silver per person, and the brothers will rush with me!" ”

A thousand heavily armored cavalry followed behind Cao Bianjiao, forming four columns and killing the earthen wall.

There was no one behind the first earthen wall, and the Huzun cannon on the tower of the city opened fire on this heavy cavalry, and the charging war horses kept falling, but the torrent of advance did not stop.

Cao Bianjiao rode on the jujube red horse, because the people and horses were covered with heavy armor, the speed of the advance was not fast, fortunately he was not hit by the iron ball knocked down from the city tower, although the knights around him fell one by one, he still had a belief, "Rush to the city gate." ”

Cao Bianjiao finally approached the opening of the earthen wall, and he was about to wave the big knife in his hand to shout something, but his jujube red horse tripped over the tripping horse on the ground, and the person fell to the ground heavily. At this moment, a series of powerful crossbows fell from the castle tower, raining down on him, and he was struck by an arrow in the shoulder, which pierced his shoulder guard and pierced his shoulder, and the blood stained his shoulder guard red. The red horse next to him was hit with three arrows, one of which was three inches deep into its head, and it was never able to stand up again.

Seeing all this, Cao Wenzhao hurriedly withdrew his troops, and Cao Bianjiao was rescued by his own soldiers. Cao Bianjiao saw Cao Wenzhao and said regretfully: "I am about to rush over, I am about to rush over." ”

In fact, Cao Bianjiao didn't know that what he was rushing was only the first earthen wall in front of him, and Gao Junshan had prepared three earthen walls for them.

The Ming army collected its troops and returned to the camp and did not fight again. Then it rained heavily for three days, and Cao Wenzhao had no choice but to hang up the war-free card.

On this day, Cao Wenzhao discussed countermeasures in the big tent of the Chinese army, and in the face of a strong opponent, everyone agreed that they would be in chaos after a three-month siege of this stubborn force.

Cao Wenzhao concluded: "In order to completely trap these thieves, we must also cut off their water sources. ”

Yang Jiamo's face was embarrassed: "Cut off its water source? How easy is it to say? This is a huge project, even if it is 120,000 people, it will take a month to complete. With our current strength, that's a barren night. ”

Cao Wenzhao also thought it was difficult to do, so he decided to draft a report to his boss Hong Chengchou and ask him to send more troops.

In the end, Cao Wenzhao deployed a specific plan for besieging Pingliang: Yang Jiamo divided 5,000 troops to surround the east gate; Wang Xingshan divided 5,000 troops around the south gate; He Huchen and Yang Qi surrounded the West Gate with 6,000 men; He himself surrounded the north gate.

Since Cao Wenzhao only besieged and did not attack, Pingliang's Gaojun Mountain had no intention of breaking through, and in this way, the two sides passed peacefully for more than 20 days.

In June of the sixth year of Chongzhen, Cao Wenzhao did not expect Hong Chengchou's reinforcements, but ushered in a prison sent to him by Zhu Youzhen, this person is called Sun Maolin, and Cao Wenzhao has dealt with him in Heshui.

The prison army sent by the emperor, Cao Wenzhao did not dare to slack off, he picked up the wind for him with good wine and meat, and prepared a generous gift for him. Sun Jianjun did not refuse Cao Wenzhao's kindness, and accepted the gifts as he did, and ate the wine and meat. It's not that the prison Sun Maolin is bad, but giving gifts to the boss became the norm at that time, so everyone was not surprised.

At the banquet, Sun Maolin did not rely on the fact that he was a eunuch next to the emperor, but was arrogant to Cao Wenzhao, and because Sun Maolin had a friendship with Cao Wenzhao in Heshui, so after three rounds of wine, Sun Maolin sighed and said: "Cough! Our family came to General Cao this time, but it was a chore! ”

Cao Wenzhao was puzzled: "Why did the Lord of the Prison Army say this? ”

"You don't know," Sun Maolin put down the chopsticks in his hand, "Hong Chengchou participated in your copy, saying that you were suspected of colluding with thieves." ”

Cao Wenzhao's face changed: "What nonsense!" ”

Sun Maolin grinned and said, "General Cao is angry. You didn't hook up with the thieves, why didn't you fight Pingliang for nearly two months? Not only did you not be able to beat it, but you also asked Hong Chengchou for a salary. When the saint found out, Long Yan was furious and ordered our family to come to supervise the battle and be sure to take Pingliang in ten days. ”

Cao Wenzhao was taken aback: "Ten days to take Pingliang? ”

Sun Maolin nodded: "Yes, take Pingliang on the tenth day." Do you think our trip is a chore? ”

Cao Wenzhao bowed his head and was silent. It is absolutely impossible to capture Pingliang City within ten days, and the person who came up with such a bad idea is obviously trying to force him to a dead end.

Liu Chenggong, who was accompanying him on the side, accompanied him with a smiling face: "Please check the prison army, it is really difficult to take Pingliang within ten days." ”

Sun Maolin waved his hand: "General Cao is brave and wise, no one knows, he has dozens of battles against thieves, and every battle must be defeated." How can this peaceful and cool thing not make people suspicious? ”

Cao Wenzhao secretly suppressed the anger in his heart: "Lord Supervisor, tomorrow Cao will start attacking the city, and I hope you will rest early tonight." ”

Sun Maolin laughed: "Our family has been tired all the way, and now we are really a little sleepy." General Cao was on military affairs, so he didn't bother anymore. ”

Cao Wenzhao motioned to Liu Chenggong to help Sun Maolin to rest, and after Sun Maolin left, he had mixed feelings in his heart and couldn't taste the meaning of Sun Maolin's words.

Late at night, Cao Wenzhao tossed and turned in bed and couldn't sleep, he didn't know how to use troops tomorrow, if he didn't send troops to fight Pingliang, wouldn't it mean that what Hong Chengchou said was true? Cao Wenzhao couldn't sleep well anymore, he asked Feng Ju and Ping'an to discuss countermeasures, Cao Bianjiao's arrow wound did not heal, and it was inconvenient to speak, so he didn't call him.

Cao Wenzhao told Feng Ju about Sun Maolin's intention, and Feng Ju was indignant: "Let's fight with our heads, he Hong Chengchou is high, if he doesn't send troops or send food, he will go to the emperor to sue us." I think this battle will be fought by Hong Chengchou himself! ”

Cao Wenzhao said to Feng Ju with a heavy heart: "Gao Ming (Feng Juzi), the words of the prison army are the holy decree, and if you disobey, it is the crime of killing the head." It is better to say less of your anger. I have promised Sun Jian Jun that I will fight the thieves tomorrow. ”

Ping An couldn't help but worry: "Why war? ”

Cao Wenzhao said: "I must first make a gesture to show my desire to fight, as for 'why war', I want you to give me an idea!" ”

Liu Chenggong shook his head again and again: "Master Cao, if we have the idea to break the city, why wait until today?" ”

All three fell silent.

At this time, the soldiers came to report that Sun Maolin came to visit.

In the middle of the night, why did Sun Maolin come? Cao Wenzhao was very strange, he asked Liu Chenggong and Feng Ju to avoid it for the time being, and met Sun Maolin alone.

Sun Maolin entered Cao Wenzhao's tent, and when he saw that there was no one around, he whispered: "Is it convenient to speak here?" ”

Cao Wenzhao responded softly: "The prison army has everything to say, and only you know what I say here." ”

Sun Maolin asked: "What is the victory of General Cao tomorrow?" ”

"There is no chance of winning."

Sun Maolin nodded and said, "It seems that General Cao didn't deceive our family!" Although our family does not understand the art of war, the fortress that cannot be broken can only be tried if it is first allowed to mess with itself, and this truth is still understood by the Sprinkle family. You besiege but do not attack, you are waiting for a good opportunity to attack the city, in other words, you are waiting for him to run out of food, and then give him a fatal blow. We understand your intentions, can Hong Chengchou understand it? ”

Cao Wenzhao asked: "What does the prison army mean by this......?" ”

"I won't tell you," Sun Maolin coughed lightly, "Did you offend Hong Chengchou?" Do you know that in the summer of last year, the governor of Yushi Fan Fucui, played the Shengshang, Shaanxi suppressed bandits, and there were more than 36,600 outstanding military achievements, Cao Wenzhao ranked first in military merit, followed by Yang Jiamo. However, Hong Chengchou suppressed General Cao's military exploits and did not report it. ”

Cao Wenzhao didn't believe it: "There is such a thing? I don't have half an inch of work, why do I want to unify the troops of the two provinces? ”

Sun Maolin said: "Last year, Shanxi thieves made a vigorous noise, Zijin Liang, King Chuang, King Chaoshi, Ji Guansuo, Eight Kings, Cao Cao, Chuang Tian, etc., many tens of thousands of people, less than half, ravaged Fenzhou, Taiyuan, Pingyang. Zhang Chenji, the imperial historian, recommended the general to the saint, and said the general's bravery, so the saint ordered the generals of Shaanxi and Shanxi to be controlled by the general, and entered the Jin Dynasty to fight against the thieves. ”

"Since the emperor trusts Wen Zhao so much, why did he force Wen Zhao to take Pingliang on the tenth day?" Cao Wenzhao asked again.

Sun Maolin whispered in Cao Wenzhao's ear: "The villain, it's all the villain's bad." ”

Cao Wenzhao asked again: "As far as Hong Chengchou's words are concerned, the emperor also believes it?" ”

"Have you had a holiday with Liu Lingyu, the imperial historian of Henan? He also participated in one of you. ”

Cao Wenzhao fell into deep thought, and only after a moment did he say: "I had a verbal conflict with him. ”

Sun Maolin said: "It's easy to dodge open guns and hard to defend against dark arrows!" As for who else is hurting you behind your back, I won't say much. ”

Cao Wenzhao arched his hand and said: "Thank you for the reminder, otherwise, Wenzhao is still in the clouds." After this matter has passed, Wen Zhao will definitely come to the door to thank him. ”

"General Cao, don't be in a hurry to say thank you, you still want to think about tomorrow's battle, you really can't think of any clever tricks?" Sun Maolin said anxiously.

Cao Wenzhao spread his hands helplessly: "If I have any tricks, do I have to wait until now?" ”

Sun Maolin vigilantly observed the surroundings and said to Cao Wenzhao: "Our family has a clever plan to ensure that you can pass this pass safely." ”

"Willing to listen to the teachings."

Sun Maolin blinked: "Please come over with General Cao's ears." ”