Until the next morning, when the sky was about to dawn, the movement outside Hengshui City finally calmed down. Inside and outside the city, flowing north and south, fell into an eerie calm.

The sun is rising, the morning fog is slowly dissipating, and the situation in front of Hengshui City is revealed. The south side of the city wall of two or three miles has become a phalanx and is covered with Yulin soldiers, and if you look at its scale, the number is not much, when there are two or three thousand. The national flag fluttered, the military flag flew, and the Yuan Emblem stood high in the center of the array, which was very conspicuous.

The soldiers' expressions couldn't help but show some fatigue, after all, they rushed to the battlefield overnight. Deterred by military orders, even if he is physically and mentally exhausted, he does not dare to relax. Even the soldiers who are arranged to rest in rotation are sitting and lying in an orderly manner, and they can get up and fight at any time.

There were not many corpses lying in the vast open space of the city wall from the river beach, but many of them died miserably, not by swords and spears, but by trampling to death. You can imagine what kind of scene it is at night.

The cavalry was divided into several groups, half dismounted and rested in front of the earthen ridge on the southwest side, guarding a group of captives who were encircled. The two teams wandered along the waterfront, monitoring the rebels to the south, while the rest galloped outside Hengshui City, circling the city walls to show their might.

At the head of the city, the banner of the "Tang Dynasty" trembled in the wind, and the rebels guarding looked at the cold officers and soldiers in the south with fear, and were uneasy.

In the Yulin army column, Yuan Hui was in the stars and the moon, asking Zhang Zhi about the situation.

Last night, the advance cavalry went south to raid, and Yuan Hui led the foot soldiers to follow them slowly, lightly armed, and before dawn, they lined up in the southern city.

"The rebels who crossed the river were defeated by our army in one blow, killing more than 300 people, capturing more than 900 people, and most of the rest scattered towards the periphery, and the rest retreated to the city!" Pointing to Hengshui County, Zhang Zhi reported to Yuan Langjun.

Yuan Langjun's handsome face was left with a faint sense of fatigue, he looked at the county seat, and then looked back at the rebel joint camp on the opposite bank: "The rebels in the south didn't cross the river to help?" ”

"We only sent more than 100 horsemen to shoot a few rounds of arrows to the south, and the rebels on the other side did not dare to make any moves, and they cowered and watched us defeat the rebels who crossed the river." Referring to this, Zhang Zhi glanced contemptuously at the south bank: "Those rebels, if they are really a rabble, can't make a big deal...... Dadu Governor, we simply broke the county seat and attacked directly to the south, and the rebels must not be able to stop it! ”

Slanted his eyes and glanced at Zhang Zhi, Yuan Hui frowned: "You are more confident than me!" ”

Hearing Yuan Langjun's salty tone, he raised his eyes and noticed his eyes, Zhang Zhi couldn't help but tremble, and the smugness on his face immediately retracted, and he smiled at Yuan Hui.

Zhang Zhi probably also realized his arrogant performance, and was simply beaten by Yuan Langjun, and then lowered his eyebrows and pleasing his eyes, and did not dare to casually put "sassy words".

"The Metropolitan Governor, the soldiers galloped for more than 70 miles, traveling lightly and quickly, and now the people are sleepy and the horses are lacking, and the armament is insufficient. Although there was a victory in last night's raid, the rebels were defending the city, and most of the enemy was peeping on the other side, so we need to be cautious! Beside him, Xiao Zhizhong naturally entered the role of a strategist and explained the status quo.

"Just three miles of Guo, the thief of chickens and dogs, can you stop me from being upright?" Hearing this, Yuan Langjun immediately expressed disdain.

The stubbornness on Yuan Hui's face was much stronger than that of Zhang Zhi, seeing this, Xiao Zhizhong hurriedly opened his mouth to advise: "Governor, don't be careless......"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Yuan Langjun waving his hand: "I know it in my heart!" ”

Touching the stubble, after only thinking for a while, Yuan Hui moved his uncomfortable ass that was saddled twice, and gave the order: "Pass the order, set up camp for the time being, let the soldiers rest for half a day first, and then break the thief!" ”

"Yes!"

Under Yuan Hui's order, the surrounding soldiers who heard the order were all subconsciously relieved, and no one was willing to fight mentally in this state.

Soon, the officers and troops changed their positions and moved around the perimeter of the city wall. Captives also came in handy, and were whipped to do manual work, not for human use.

The intention of the officers and soldiers to camp was naturally known to the rebels, and it was right under their noses. The rebels in Hengshui City did not dare to make a nuisance, and they did not even release a few symbolic shots of bows and arrows. As for the army of Xiaozhang on the south bank, they must first be able to cross the river......

When a simple barracks was erected, in the rebel camp on the south bank of Zhangshui, Xiao Zhang was roaring wildly, venting his temper at the upper echelons of the snake spirit.

"The officials and troops are attacking, but there is no news coming, you people in the Nine Halls are such a waste?" Holding the case with both hands, Xiao Zhang gasped, glared at Gu Yumei, and said angrily.

At this time, Xiao Zhang looked particularly irritable, his pupils were covered with bright red bloodshots, and he looked like he was eager to devour people.

In the face of his reprimand, Mrs. Gu had no fear, but replied to him very calmly: "Since Jiutang is incompetent, then ask General Xiao to send another person to detective......

"You!" Gu Yumei's attitude obviously angered Xiao Zhang.

Immediately about to attack, a purple figure walked into the tent leisurely, but it was Yu Wenzhong, the falcon swept around, his mouth sneered, looked at Xiao Zhang and said slowly: "The officers and soldiers seem to know our situation well, obviously prepared, Jiutang and my men have suffered heavy casualties......"

With a deep frown, Xiao Zhang and Yu Wenzhong glanced at each other, and when they saw his indifferent expression, their eyes became extremely cold. I was afraid of it, but I couldn't show it, I thought about it for a while, and then turned my head to look at the other big man: "What about the blood spirit?" ”

"In Hengshui City!"

"What should we do?" There was a little silence in the tent, and Xiao Zhang held back a question in his mouth.

glanced around, but no one answered, and the atmosphere was extremely dull. After a long time, Yu Wenzhong still spoke quietly, just like an outsider's tone: "The vanguard army of crossing the river is almost completely annihilated, the official army is here, and Hengshui County is only afraid that it will not be able to stop Yuan Hui." When I entered the camp, I found that the morale of the army was turbulent, the morale of the people was weakened, and the soldiers began to fear the enemy. General Xiao, let's think about how to stabilize people's hearts and think about how to deal with the officers and soldiers......"

Surprised to glance at Yu Wenzhong, this person actually took the initiative to propose? But that tone is really difficult to make Xiao Zhang comfortable.

Yu Wenzhong's words were obviously not finished, admiring Xiao Zhang's embarrassment, and added: "Now, the eldest sister is not here, and I am afraid that the situation will be difficult to manage." In my opinion, Mo Ruo retreated from the army and replied to the capital, and waited for the eldest sister to go south to take over the overall situation. Xindu has at least a strong city to rely on, to defend, to fight with the imperial court's Yulinwei, to intercept the Zhanghe, or don't be delusional......"

Yu Wenzhong's words seemed to be making suggestions, but in the ears of everyone, the tone was almost a naked question of Xiao Zhang's ability.

When Xiao Zhang heard it, his feelings were much stronger and extremely harsh. His face was ugly, his mood was depressed, and he seemed to have a mouthful of old blood in his chest, which was extremely uncomfortable.

"Reply to the capital, and then sit and wait for the officers and soldiers to come to the city?" After holding back for a while, Xiao Zhang asked rhetorically: "Now retreat, I'm afraid that the people's hearts will be completely dispersed!" ”

After discussing it for a long time, there was no resolution.

Staying alone in the military tent, Xiao Zhang looked extremely tired, and at the same time, a deep sense of powerlessness surged in his heart. Commanding the army to rebel is really much more troublesome than he imagined......

There was a hunch that things were going to fail, but he didn't really care. What he was worried about was to live up to the trust of his eldest sister Xiao Qingfang.