On the Hanoi side, when Zu Lian led the front army to cross the Yellow River, Li Ju had already exhausted his troops and horses and launched a rapid attack on the defense line of the Zhao army.

However, Wang Yang and others received Shi Lemi's order, and before rushing to Xingyang, they had already made a good arrangement, although it was not perfect, but it was also quite tightly arranged, and the army was based on the state and county, and Shanyang and Huai counties were the horns, and the company camps were stacked on top of each other, and the layers of fortifications were like an iron plate. Li Shihui hit his head and almost broke his head.

So he urgently summoned Dongyuan's nephew Guo Yu to come to the rendezvous, and it happened that Zu Jian arrived with his troops, so that the number of Jin troops on the battlefield in Hanoi completely overwhelmed the Zhao army. The three generals parted ways to attack, although Guo Yu was young, but extremely brave, taking the lead, taking the lead in breaking through the enemy base, Li Ju and Zu Lian took the opportunity to advance, and the Zhao army's defense line was like dominoes, and it collapsed continuously. After 12 days of fighting, the Jin army finally reached the city and besieged the city.

The Zhao army from Shanyang and Huaixian rushed to reinforce them, but they were all blocked back. As long as the Jin army can conquer the city in front of them, the triangular defense system will be broken at one end, and then it will be easy to take Shanyang or Huaixian. It's just that the county seat of the state is dense, and although the Zhao army is small in number, it is extremely firmly defended, and Li Ju tried several hard attacks, but he lost his soldiers in vain, and it was difficult to advance an inch.

During this period of time, Zu Ti sent two envoys north to Hanoi to urge Li Ju, and said that the key to the overall battle situation was in Shihui, and if he could break through, he would be the first to make progress - and if the troops were under the state and county, it would be difficult to make progress for a long time, then I would be very passive in the direction of Xingyang......

Because after Shi Le summoned Wang Yang and others to cross south from the vicinity of Huting, he did not directly take Xingyang or Chenggao, but ordered them to help Lu Ming to attack Juan County, and Wei Ce defended Juan County hard, and its situation was precarious. If the county is lost, the back road of the Qianjun army can be guaranteed, and Wang Yang, Lu Ming and other troops can be mobilized to enter the main battlefield under Xingyang City together. In this way, not only can the morale of the Jin army be greatly boosted, but also Shi Lede has spare strength, guarding Aocang in the north, going to Dasuo City in the south, and adding the frontal cities such as Li and Long, so as to compress the mobility of the Jin army as much as possible.

Although Xingyang City is well defended, the grain is sufficient, and the morale of the Jin army is still quite high so far, but if you are forced to only take the defensive position, and cannot take the initiative to attack, harass or even mobilize the enemy army, it will be no different from falling into death. In addition, Shile may also be able to find an opportunity to get Chenggao, or even break into the Yiluo Basin...... Then the initiative will be in the hands of the enemy, and the ancestor will have no good plan except to pray to the heavens and Wangshile to retire early.

Therefore, Zu Ti also sent people to break through to the east to urge Su Jun to march into the army - you either hurry up to attack Yan County to cut off the back road of the thieves, or go north to attack Fangtou, in order to mobilize the army, don't stop there and do nothing!

However, Su Jun did not plan to follow the order for the time being.

On the one hand, because the soldiers and horses expanded too quickly, the good and the bad were uneven, and the overall combat effectiveness declined. He once personally went to the vicinity of Yan County to see the fortifications of the Zhao army, and had to admit that Zhang Fu was quite talented in defending the emperor and defended very tightly - perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he was an old general of Liu Yan. After consulting with the generals and judging on paper, Su Jun estimated that if he wanted to defeat the army in front of him, his own losses might be more than 3,000 people - most of them were elite! This is something he could not bear and was unwilling to bear.

On the other hand, the grain is not abundant, and it still needs to be collected and collected from the counties of Qingdao and Yan. If you go north to attack Fangtou, considering that Wenshijin, Jianjin and other places are still in the hands of the army, it is bound to go east to go around a big circle, hundreds of miles of marching, and the consumption is not a small amount.

Therefore, he concealed Zu Ti's military order, and the generals knew that there were heralds coming from Xingyang, but no one knew what was in Zu Hussar's official document. If asked, Su Jun just said: "But report the situation of the battle in Xingyang, and encourage me to fight bravely to kill the enemy and make contributions to the country-but now there is not enough food, so I can't waste the war." ”

He sent people south to Chenliu, Jiyin and other places to ask for food, but most of the county guards were perfunctory and refused to open the treasury for transportation-you, Su Zigao, is the governor of Qingzhou after all, what qualifications do you have to give me an order?

The key is that Su Jun's door is too low, and he is out of the big Sima system. Most of the counties in Yanbei are the old officials of the Zu clan in order to protect the river ferry, while the Chenliu and Jiyin in the south exchange interests, and the guards are mostly appointed by the Xun clan. The Xun family can handle it, even if it is a long-term official, at least he must be from a middle-grade background, who can afford to look down on Su Jun? After all, they live in the same state with the Zu family, and there is always some friendship between them, if Su Jun is the general of the Zu family, it will be enough, even if it is the old department of the Great Sima, it is inevitable that there will be some emotional estrangement.

If it weren't for the six or seven thousand troops under Zhang Fu's department to block it head-on, even if the Jin people didn't attack, they would have to prevent the Zhao army from killing the base, and Su Zigao would almost have to transfer his troops south to give the guards who refused to obey a little color. However, it has fallen into the lost land, and it can be said that for those counties and counties that have not encountered the enemy, if they brazenly fight each other, it will not be reasonable after all...... Xu Gong Yin Jian was in front, and Su Jun didn't dare to be too presumptuous.

So he can only hope that Qingzhou will send grain and grass again.

In this way, there was a break for more than half a month, and this day suddenly got a report, Wang Taishou of Le'an asked to see him, Su Jun heard it, and couldn't help but be overjoyed - why did Wang Gong come here if he had nothing to do? You're definitely here to bring me food!

Hurriedly arranged the guard of honor and personally went out to welcome Wang Gong, but after the king paid tribute to the horse, there were only more than ten horse guards, where was the grain cart?

After inviting Wang Gong into the account, after the guest and host sat down, he asked about the matter, and Wang Gong said: "We were ordered to report to Luo, and passed through the general's office, so I came to pay a visit before." ”

Su Jun let out an "oh", with a look of disappointment on his face. Wang Gong smiled and said to him: "The general's envoy has arrived in Qingzhou, and the county has searched all the treasury and borrowed from the merchants of the other counties, so that he can get 30,000 grains, and he is escorting them here......

Su Jun frowned, and asked, "Why are Qi countries, Beihai and other places unwilling to supply me with grain, and I still have to give them a loan?" "I am the governor of Qingzhou, although the base camp is stationed in Le'an, but it does not mean that the source of grain and materials is only Le'an County, Qingzhou can have seven counties, my 30,000 people, how can Guangle'an be full?

Wang Gong smiled bitterly and spread his hands: "Why does the general need to ask...... "When you were in Pugu, they dragged their feet and refused to supply supplies, not to mention that you ran thousands of miles away?" "Fortunately, General Feng of Licheng gave me half of the grain and grass supplied by Jinan, otherwise I am afraid that even 30,000 Hu will not be enough......"

When Wang Gongtu passed through the city, he specially visited Feng Long and borrowed grain and grass from his merchants.

Feng Long had previously led the "revenge army" to the north to rescue the enemy, but suffered a major defeat, almost the entire army was wiped out, and since he returned to Licheng, he had to set up a recruitment banner and re-enrich the army. But he is different from Su Jun, the quota of the "revenge army" is 5,000 people, so it will only recruit 5,000 people, and will not recruit more, and only choose honest farmers or homeless people in the county, not scoundrels. After recruiting troops, he urged strict training every day, lest he be defeated again, and completely ruined the prestige of the "revenge army".

After the main Su Jundong returned to Xu Fang, Bian Yan couldn't control him, and Xi Jian couldn't control him, which caused the arrogance and unscrupulousness in this person's bones to ferment day by day. Feng Long was different, when he first took the lead to beg for work, he was looked down upon by the generals of the Zu clan - even the owner of Xiaowu Fort looked down on the homeless, and he was still the most notorious beggar with the most bad reputation.

-- In later generations, some people carried the beggar to heaven, and it was almost characterized as a "nationalist armed force that spontaneously resisted foreign aggression...... However, in fact, begging is just a relatively powerful rogue, although Chen Wu "admonishes his people not to do anything Hu", but he has not cooperated with other Hu people before, and Chen Wu is only one of the many begging handsomes. It was not uncommon for beggars to loot and slaughter cities, and their reputation at that time was really not very good.

Therefore, Feng Long was quite excluded in the ancestral army, only Zu Li felt his loyalty and bravery, and looked at it differently, and his deceased master was dead, so it was convenient to use, so Feng Long also swore allegiance to the death. He was forced to clamp his tail and be a man, and he was more satisfied with the situation of worshipping Tianque as a homeless general in the past, so although he was stationed in Licheng and far away from his ancestors, he did not dare to act recklessly like Su Jun.

Wang Gong asked that the West was fighting fiercely, why didn't General Feng go to reinforce it? Feng Long sighed and said, "When a soldier is first trained, it is still difficult to get on the battlefield. Of course, there was another reason, that is, he didn't want to go to the west to see Su Jun's face. Previously, Su Jun did not move, so he let him go alone to save the tired times, which led to defeat, and Feng Long was already unhappy; After that, Shao Zhu and others came to the city from the west, and Feng Long was hospitable, but when Su Jun came, he went around the city and didn't meet him at all-Feng Long said in his heart: You also know that you don't have the face to see me, right?

But because of this, Wang Gong said: "The Su military fought viciously with the thieves, and the army was short of food, so he repeatedly asked me for it. Now that General Feng has no intention of going to war, he must have abundant supplies, so he may borrow one or two for the army? ”

Feng Long's words were perfunctory, but he didn't deserve Wang Gong's three-inch incorruptible tongue, and blamed him with righteousness, Feng Long was finally moved, and apologized: "If it weren't for the words of the king, I would almost spoil the state affairs because of my personal anger, and I am afraid that it will affect General Zu......" Immediately took out half of the stored grain, said that there is no need to borrow it, and gave it to you!

Wang Gongnai received a secret letter from Pei Wei, asking him to return to Luoyang in the name of reporting on his work, preside over the overall situation, and respond to changes in the times; He just went to Licheng to borrow grain, and went through the Wating to visit Su Jun, of course, it was impossible to take the grain team slowly. So when he saw Su Jun's face, he explained the previous situation, and said that the grain trucks were all behind, and the general could send the general to pick them up.

Su Jun thanked Wang Gong first, and then sighed: "It's a pity, 30,000 is probably not enough......

Wang Gonggui persuaded: "Fang saw that the general's camp was widely spread in the four fields, and there were many of them, but there were many banners and the order was not in order, so it must be a new recruit in Yanzhou?" In Pugu, the department was indiscriminate, making it difficult for us to provide funds; Now it will be doubled, and there will be a shortage of grain. Why bother? ”

Su Junxin said that the eyes given by this prince are very poisonous, and with a glance, I can see that most of my subordinates are recruits...... immediately explained: "The main force of the thieves confronted the ancestor in Xingyang, and the number was no less than 200,000. Besides, most of the new recruits are defeated and disabled soldiers in Yanbei, if I let them go, I am afraid that the newly restored land will not be peaceful, and I will not be able to move forward with peace of mind. ”

Wang Gongxin said that this was an excuse - "In this case, why did the general garrison here and refuse to continue westward?" ”

Su Jun replied: "First, there are too many soldiers, and it will take time to practice, and second, there is not enough food, how dare you continue to advance?" After a pause, for the heart of King An's tribute, he pretended to promise: "And when the food of the prince arrives, he will go straight forward, break through the enemy's defense, and recapture Yan County." "The implication is that your 30,000 grains are enough for me to fight the battle in front of me, after taking Yan County, if there is no other income, I should stop, and I will not go to Xingyang again.

Wang Gong thought about it for a while, and asked: "In that case, why don't you cross north from Puyang and Baima to seek a fangtou?" A thief sends out the army of the country, and the land of Hebei must be empty, or it can be attacked; The two thieves' grain and straw are all gathered in the fangs, if they can be captured, what else does the general have to worry about? ”

Su Jun waved his hand and said, "Zici's words are wrong. In front of me, Jindu is still in the hands of thieves, and Hebei is densely covered with enemy bases, if I wade between Puyang and Baima, is it easy? And since the thief's grain gathers fangs, the defense must be strict, and it is easy to take; If I can take it, will the enemies on all sides besiege me, and I will not be put to death? ”

Wang Gong said with a smile: "What the general said is indeed reasonable, but the ancestral prince fought hard in Xingyang, and it is expected that there will be an envoy to urge the general to go to the battle to help......" Su Jun heard this, and his heart couldn't help jumping slightly-did this guy guess, or did he hear something?

"No matter what the general's reasons are, if he does not move for a long time, the grandfather will win, and the general will be blamed, and the grandfather will be defeated, or he will be blamed for the general. Da Sima is in Kansai, and he doesn't know the feelings of the East, so he may not be able to ease the general's cheeks, isn't it worrying? ”

Su Junxin said that I have naturally considered this situation, but the lesser of two evils, as long as the soldiers and horses are in hand, I am not afraid that Zu Li - or even Pei Gai - will be ruthless to me, and if I launch an attack in a hurry, or if I attack Fangtou in a hurry, once I am defeated, then I will really be unlucky...... Pretended to wrinkle his brows and ponder, and then asked Wang Gong: "However, our army really can't fight...... I don't know what good advice Zici has to teach me? ”

Wang Gong said with a smile: "When I came, I met General Shao in Weicheng, and when I saw that he was eager to fight, and General Yu was unwilling to rush to the fortress, he also had a slight excuse. Why didn't the general order the Shaw Brothers' troops to cross north to attack the fangtou? One is that it is easier to have fewer soldiers than to wade into a large army; Second, if the former is defeated, the general can blame the Shaw Clan; If it succeeds, it can make the Shaw Clan general's grain, and in the southern transportation army, how dare he not come from? ”

Su Jun glanced at Wang Gong and said lightly: "It turns out that Zici is here to be lobbyists for Shao Zhu and Duan Wenyang......"

Wang Gong put his hands into his sleeves and responded with a smile: "The so-called lobbyist, but the words are beneficial, not harmful. That's why when I say the general, what I say is naturally beneficial to the general, and as for the harm, I wait for the general to cross-examine. "Do you think I have a bad idea? What's the harm, you can tell me about it.

Su Jun pondered for a long time, and then said slowly: "The Shao Clan has less than 2,000 remnants, and most of them can't break through the river defense and get close to Fangtou. And what if...... "If 2,000 people can do this great thing...... won't it completely overwhelm me?" But this can't be said explicitly, otherwise the ugly face of jealousy and jealousy will be too obvious.

Wang Gong bowed his head and said: "What the general is worried about is also reasonable. In that case, why not order a general to lead a thousand men to protect his army? If you lose, you will blame the Shaw Brothers, and if you win, it will be the general's canvas painting, and the Shaw Brothers can live alone? ”