The flames burned more and more, and not only the mountains where Cao's army was stationed spread thick smoke and flames, but even the surrounding hills were not spared.

After the fire, the nearby hill could not be restored to its current verdant verdant for at least a decade.

Lu Bu's brows furrowed tightly, staring at the burning hill.

Just as his face was solemn, waiting for news, a fast horse came to a place not far from him.

The cavalry on horseback turned over and jumped down, came to Lu Bu's side, bowed to him and said: "Qi Chu Hou, Xiahou and Cao Ren led a few Cao troops to kill from the mountain, but our army failed to stop them and let them escape. ”

"Gone?" Lu Bu was stunned for a moment, and then asked the soldier who reported the news, "How long have they been gone?" ”

"About two sticks of incense." The soldier replied: "When I found them, I rushed to report them, but unfortunately it was too late. ”

"If you came when you found them, how do you know when they got away?" Lu Bu frowned and asked the soldier.

The soldier replied: "We have few people, and after Xiahoudun and Cao Ren came down the mountain, no one could stop them at all." I hadn't gone far yet, they had already fought their way out of the encirclement, so I knew when they were leaving. ”

"Bo Fu took Zhou Tai over to have a look." Lu Bu immediately ordered, Sun Ce received the military order, greeted Zhou Tai, and led a group of Xuzhou troops in the direction that the soldier said.

Zhou Yu came to Lu Bu's side and said to him, "Chu Hou, even if you leave, Xiahou and Cao Ren don't have to worry. After this battle, Cao Jun must have become jealous of the Marquis of Chu. After that, our army will advance, and the obstacles will certainly be much smaller than at present. ”

Glancing at Zhou Yu, Lu Bu said: "Cao Cao divided his troops and deployed them, and our army broke them one by one, which is actually good for us. What I was really worried about was not that Xiahoudun and Cao Ren had gone, what really worried me was that Cao Cao found it difficult to resist our army and personally led a large number of Cao troops to the decisive battle. ”

"The Marquis of Chu crusaded against Cao Cao, and it was only a matter of time before he fought a decisive battle." Zhou Yu asked, "I don't know what Chu Hou is worried about?" ”

"If Cao's army is deployed everywhere, when our army fights with them, the military strength will be superior." Lu Bu said: "If they gather the army in one place, with Cao Cao's current strength, we will not have the strength to fight with him. ”

"The morale of the soldiers is high, and I don't think it's particularly difficult to defeat Cao's army." Zhou Yu said: "Chu Hou has also fought with Cao Jun in the past, when did he win so smoothly as he does now?" ”

"Or Gongjin can speak." The corners of Lu Bu's mouth pulled up slightly, and he said to Zhou Yu: "With you to explain, I am much better." ”

"Chu Hou didn't need to worry about anything in the first place." Zhou Yu said: "Xiahoudun and Cao Ren are just Cao Cao's two generals, and letting them escape will not have much impact on Chu Hou's plans. At most, it was just a victory over them, and Cao Cao's men had two more available people. ”

"I understand what Gong Jin means." Lu Bu nodded: "Actually, I didn't think that I could completely destroy Cao Cao through a battle, I crusaded against Cao Cao this time, in order to let his subordinates have fewer available generals, and then seize Xu Du from him, and save His Majesty to Pengcheng." ”

"If Your Majesty knows Chu Hou's mind today, he must be very grateful." Zhou Yu said to Lu Bu: "Bo Fu took Zhou Tai to check, if Xiahoudun and Cao Ren didn't escape, they would definitely be able to stop them." ”

"Xiahoudun and Cao Ren fled from the hill, how could they give them a chance to stop them?" Lu Bu shook his head with a smile: "I'm afraid that when they arrive, the two of them have already fled far away." ”

Looking at the burning mountain, Lu Bu didn't say anything more, but the expression on his face was very solemn.

Zhou Yu, who was beside him, didn't speak again, and the expression on his face was equally solemn.

Both of them knew very well that although the escape of Xiahoudun and Cao Ren did not have much impact on the overall battle situation, they were able to recount to Cao Cao how Lu Bu deployed and what strategy he used to attack Cao Cao this time.

Cao Cao has many strategists around him, and after being described by someone who came, he will definitely get along with each other.

Knowing that Cao Cao's strategists couldn't be avoided, Lu Bu also knew very well that since he had chosen to go on the expedition, the day would come sooner or later, and the difference was just whether it was one day earlier or one day later.

The escape of Xiahoudun and Cao Ren,

Sun Ce took Zhou Tai away, and after more than two hours, seeing that the sun was about to set as soon as possible, they returned to Lu Bu's side.

Coming to Lu Bu, Sun Ce said, "Marquis of Chu, when we arrived at the place, the fighting there was over. Xiahoudun and Cao Ren were nowhere to be found, and although the officers and men of our army tried their best to stop them, they only killed a few Cao soldiers who tried to escape. ”

"With the soldiers there, if they can stop Xiahoudun and Cao Ren, the names of the two of them will be in vain." Lu Bu said: "Order the soldiers, let everyone be on strict guard, and don't let go of the Cao army again." ”

Looking back at the hill that was still emitting black smoke, Sun Ce said: "The grass and trees on the mountain have been burned to the ground, and even birds and beasts will not survive, even if there is still Cao Jun on the mountain, it must have been burned to charcoal." In fact, Chu Hou didn't have to care about whether Cao Jun would escape down the mountain at all. ”

"I hope so." Lu Bu nodded, and said to Sun Ce and the others: "Rest on the spot tonight, and early tomorrow morning, choose a few people to accompany me up the mountain to have a look." ”

Sun Ce and the others answered, accompanied Lu Bu to look at the mountain for a while, and did not return to the camp until it was dark.

That night, the lieutenant generals of the Lu Bu army were on strict alert, guarding against the robbing of the camp by Cao's army.

In fact, Lu Bu and the soldiers knew very well that the nearby Cao army had fled, and it was impossible for anyone to come and rob the camp.

In order to prevent unexpected situations, the generals still patrol in shifts at night.

Cao Ren and Xiahoudun escaped from the mountain and killed the interception of the Xuzhou army, they looked back, and the Cao army behind them was only forty or fifty people.

Xiahou said with annoyance: "Why didn't we expect Lu Bu to set fire to the mountain? ”

"Even if you think about it, what?" Cao Ren said: "If we deploy our defenses like that, once Lu Bu leads the army to rush up, there will be no chance to fight back at all." ”

"Fortunately, Zixiao found out that something was wrong, otherwise we would definitely be stuck in the mountain." While riding forward, Xiahoudun said angrily: "Lu Bu is treacherous, if I find an opportunity, I will definitely take his head!" ”

"Don't think about taking Lu Bu's head first." Cao Ren said: "Let's think about how to talk to the lord when we see him. ”

His face was very ugly, Xiahou didn't say anything more, and continued to move forward with Cao Ren.

As he was walking, a detachment of men and horses suddenly rushed out in front of him.

One of the leaders shouted, "Who is here?" ”

Seeing that it was a team of Cao Jun who rushed up, Cao Ren shouted: "I am Cao Ren, but you are under the command of General Yu Ban?" ”

Hearing that it was Cao Ren's voice, the officer of the Cao Army who took the lead hurriedly caught up.

Cao Ren and Xiahoudun also slowed down.

The officer bowed to them: "The two generals are not in Lumen Pavilion, why are they here?" ”

"General Yu is here?" Cao Ren didn't answer him, but asked if Yu Ban was there.

"The general is discussing military affairs with Duke Xun in the army." The officer replied, "I'll have someone go and report to the general." ”

Cao Ren said: "There is no need to report it, General Xiahou and I will go to find him." ”

The officer did not dare to disobey, and ordered the soldiers who followed behind him to make way for Cao Ren and the others.

Seeing Cao Ren and Xiahoudun riding over with dozens of embarrassed Cao Jun, a Cao Jun whispered to the officer, "Captain, what's going on with the two generals?" ”

"Can't see it?" The officer glared at him and said, "They must have lost Lumen Pavilion and come here to find our general." ”

"Lost Lumenting?" Cao Jun, who was asking, was taken aback: "I heard that Lu Bu had just arrived at Lumen Pavilion, how could he take it down so quickly?" ”

"Today's Lu Bu is not what it was when we crusaded against Xiapi." The officer said, "When he comes here, he will have more eyes." If you can save your life, don't rush up. I heard that Lu Bu was almost a god, and the army under his command was completely different from the past. In the past, he was crusaded against by the lord of our family, but now he is leading a large army to crusade against the lord, which shows that his power is no longer comparable to that of the past. ”

The soldiers of the Cao army who followed him glanced at each other and whispered in response.

"Don't look at things that shouldn't be in our hands." The officer greeted Cao Jun, who was following him: "Follow me to continue the inspection." ”

Everyone answered, followed the officer, and continued to patrol the perimeter.

Cao Ren and Xiahoudun came to Yu Ban's military camp, and when they heard that they were coming, Yu Ban and Xun Yu and several other generals came out one after another.

With them, there is Xiahoudun's brother Xiahou Yuan.

Seeing that the two of them looked black and gray and looked very embarrassed, Xiahou Yuan split his head and asked, "What did my brother and Zixiao meet?" How can it be so embarrassing? ”

Xiahou Yuan is a straightforward person, and his hands will not beat around the bush.

He asked this question, which made Xiahoudun and Cao Ren's faces hot for a while.

Sighing, Xiahou replied with annoyance: "Don't mention it, Lu Bu led the army to Lumen Pavilion, and we only fought with him for a day, and we were defeated by him. Most of the soldiers were buried in the fire, and Zixiao and I only brought a few dozen people. ”

Glancing at Cao Jun who was following behind Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, Xun You asked, "How did Lu Bu break the two generals?" ”

Cao Ren told everything that happened after Lu Bu led the army to Lumen Pavilion, and then said to everyone: "Lu Bu is indeed a capable person, we deployed like that, he actually broke the ...... in just one day"

"Deploy like two generals, and I can break it in a day." Xun You frowned and said, "The two generals originally planned to use their backs to the mountain hill and use the thunderbolt and crossbow on the hill to break the air force under Lu Bu's command. But when he arrived at the place, he didn't plan to use the air force at all, but his only son rushed to kill twice. His two killings not only made the soldiers cowardly, but even the two generals were a little more jealous of him. The two generals should not have retreated to the mountain, so they gave Lu Bu the opportunity to set fire to the mountain. ”

As soon as Xun You said this, Cao Ren and Xiahou were even more annoyed.

Yu Ban opened his mouth and said: "This is not the place to speak, and I invite the two generals to come to my tent and tell me in detail what happened today." ”

invited the two of them to enter the tent to talk, and Yu Ban undoubtedly gave Cao Ren and Xiahoudun a step.

Xiahoudun and Cao Ren responded and followed everyone into Yu Ban's tent.

When they arrived at the tent, they recounted what had happened in Lumenting.

Everyone sighed when they heard it.

"Lu Bu fought in Dangshan at the beginning, and he dealt with dozens of fierce generals of our army alone." Yu Ban said: "Now he has repeated his old skills in Lumenting, and he has twice fought in and out of our army, which shows that his reputation as the number one fierce general in the world is not groundless." ”

"But where there is fame, there must be a source." Xun You said: "Lu Men Pavilion has been lost, and now we have to think about how to intercept Lu Bu in Zhecheng. ”

"In the area of Zhecheng, the terrain is much flatter than that of Lumen Pavilion." Cao Ren said: "I think I should still inform the lord of the loss of Lumen Pavilion between me and Yuan Rang, and ask the lord to make a decision." ”

"Of course the lord has to send someone over." Xun You said: "Zhecheng is the second line of defense to intercept Lu Bu. Although the terrain here is flat, we have a city to defend. Compared to Lumenting, it is not without advantages. ”

"With his back to the mountains and still unable to deal with Lu Bu, how can just Zhecheng stop him?" Xiahoudun asked Xun You, "Does Gongda have other plans to block Lu Bu from Zhecheng?" ”

"Not really." Xun You replied: "I don't have a suitable method, and the best way now is to send a group of men and horses out and camp in the hills outside the city, echoing the army in the city." If Lü Bu besieged the city, the soldiers outside the city could attack and harass the enemy army at any time. And if they attack the soldiers outside the city, the defenders inside the city can also find the opportunity to kill out of the city. In any case, it is enough not to let Lu Bu please him in Zhecheng. ”

"With Gongda here, it shouldn't be as easy for Lu Bu to attack Zhecheng as it is to take Lumen Pavilion." Cao Ren said: "It's a pity that the lord didn't assign wise people to me and Yuan Rang. ”

"Lu Menting has been lost, and it's too late to say anything now." Xun You said: "The two generals don't always think about this matter, in fact, the two of them came to Zhecheng, but it increased the defensive strength here. ”

"I am willing to lead the troops outside the city and meet the city at any time." Xiahoudun stood up and said to Xun You: "Please also ask the public to complete it." ”

"No!" Xun You waved his hand and said: "Yuan let the general stay in the city, and the outside of the city will be given to the general." ”

Looking at Yu Ban, Xun You asked him: "Dare to ask General Yu, are you sure that when Lu Bu attacked Zhecheng, he led the soldiers to inflict heavy losses on them from behind?" ”

"Fighting alone with Lu Bu, I am definitely not his opponent." Yu Ban's answer was also honest, and he said to Xun You: "If the leader of the army ambushes outside the city first, and then kills from behind when he besieges Zhecheng, I have some confidence." ”