Liu Shi saw that he was anxious not to break Li Xuan and Guo Yan, and the Son of Heaven went to Anyi again, asking Zhao Yun to build a city to refuse, in order to avoid the wind and rain, and Yan Rou guarded Huayin to appease the people. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info took Shi Lian, Liu Zheng, and Jia Xu back to Chang'an.

When I entered Chang'an City, I saw that there were broken bricks and tiles everywhere, white bones everywhere, and the entire Chang'an City was empty except for the soldiers who were patrolling, and there was no one in the people, and my heart was sour.

From a distance, the inner city is even more ruins, and only a few places are still there, which is particularly conspicuous.

However, at this time, Liu Zhen had already asked people to block the inner city and not be allowed to enter.

The soldiers guarding the inner city saw that it was Liu Shi who arrived, and hurriedly saluted.

Liu Shi glanced at it from a distance, but did not go in, and ordered the soldiers to guard well and not let anyone in. I also saw that many soldiers were renovating the outer city, clearing the rubble, and burying all the bones, Liu Zhen and Li Ru were not there.

It is reported that the two are now separately inspecting various parts of Sanfu to release grain to save the disaster.

After investigation in recent months, the population of Sanfu is less than 100,000. At the beginning, Dong Table moved nearly one million people in Luoyang to Guanzhong, and now it is eight or nine out of ten.

At this time, Liu Shi saw Cao Xuan coming in a hurry, and Liu Shi asked, "How is Chang'an City now?" ”

Cao Xing said: "At present, there are 2,000 tuntian troops in Chang'an City, and the rest are arranged to plough the farmland, renovate the water conservancy, and prepare to plant corn. Master Li said that if you miss a time, you will miss a season. It is possible to starve a group of people to death. Only a small number of people were left here to defend the city, renovate the city gates, city walls, and clean up the waste and dead bodies in the city. This city is so big that there were originally eight gates alone, but when I came, I found that all of them were destroyed, and many of the city walls had collapsed, but now only part of the city walls, city gates, and some waste and garbage near the city gates have been cleaned up. ”

Liu Shidao: "The city gate and city wall can be delayed, and someone can quickly find someone to clean up the dead bodies in the city and bury them to prevent the plague." Fortunately, it is the middle of winter, otherwise the city is very susceptible to disease. ”

In order to speed up the tidying up of Chang'an City, Liu Shi transferred more than 5,000 people from Huayin and Pujin to work together, and after half a month, the entire Chang'an City took on a new look, only the inner city was still full of rubble. As soon as the cleanup was completed, Liu Shi received a report from Peng Tuo, "Ma Teng led tens of thousands of troops to seize Xiaoguan, rushed straight to Chencang, and quickly asked for reinforcements to replenish grain and grass." ”

It turned out that Ma Teng learned that Chang'an was empty in Hanyang, and Li Xuan and Guo Yan chased the Son of Heaven into Huayin and Hongnong, and hurriedly led troops to seize it.

Peng Tuo followed Liu Shi's orders and rushed to Chencang, and then divided his troops and sent Wei Yan to lead 3,000 men and horses to Dasanguan to build a fortress and garrison. This small city of Chencang, after many wars, has been dilapidated, and there are not many people in the city anymore. After Peng Tuo arrived, he immediately arranged for the sergeants to repair the city walls and gates. In just two days, Ma Teng rushed to Chencang City. Peng Tuo was defending the city on the one hand, and on the other hand, he urgently informed Liu Shi.

When Liu Shi received Peng Tuo's letter, he immediately rushed to Chencang with three thousand elites, and saw that Peng Tuo's face was tired, and his broken clothes and armor were covered with blood. It can be seen that the battle is fierce.

When Peng Tuo saw Liu Shi, he was overjoyed and reported the situation to Liu Shi in detail.

Ma Teng originally had no one in Chang'an City, and he should have come to pick up a big bargain, but before he arrived in Chencang, he heard the pioneer report: "Chencang has been occupied." ”

Ma Teng was furious, and hurried to Chencang, and when he saw Peng Tuo's army standing on the city, he was angry in his heart, and the overseer army rushed to attack.

Chen Cang was dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and after many fierce battles, Ma Teng was finally repulsed.

Liu Shi asked, "How many people are here from Ma Teng?" ”

Peng Tuo replied: "About 30,000, all of them are light horsemen, most of them are Qiang, these people are very good at throwing, and they have great harm to the soldiers defending the city. ”

Liu Shi's face sank, Liu Shi had also seen this kind of fighting, five years ago, in the battle of Yanmen Pass, Xianbei used this method of fighting. Although the Xiliang army was brave, it was not good at attacking the city.

The next morning, Liu Shi was having breakfast when he heard the drums outside the city shaking the sky, and the guards came to report: "The Xiliang army has come to attack the city again." ”

Liu Shi asked about the situation, and said in person: "The terrain of Chencang is steep, and it can only attack the city on one side, and I heard that the Xiliang army can only come up with a few thousand people at a time. ”

At this time, Peng took off his armor and reported: "Xiliang warrior Ma Chao has come to challenge again, and he is insulting outside the city." ”

Liu Shi asked strangely, "Who is Ma Chao?" Siege is siege, why insult? ”

Peng Tuo's face was calm and said: "Twenty days ago, our army had just taken over Chen Cang and was renovating the city wall, and the secret agent came to report: 'A small group of Xiliang troops was found outside the city. I immediately asked the infantry army to prepare to defend the city, and I took 500 light horsemen to inspect it, and walked about 50 miles, and met the Xiliang pioneers, about 3,000 people. The leading general is Ma Teng's eldest son, named Ma Chao. Ma Chao saw that I had few soldiers, and he was brave and brave, so he openly challenged me and asked for a heads-up. ”

Liu Shi smiled: "Didn't you agree, turned around and ran?" ”

Peng Tuo said: "Naturally not. The two sides fought for more than 100 rounds, regardless of victory or defeat. At that time, it was getting late, and I proposed to fight again tomorrow, looking at Ma Chao, it seemed that he was still unsatisfied, and proposed that the two sides fight at night, and the losing side withdrew from Chang'an. Of course I won't agree, Ma Chao is helpless, and promises to fight again tomorrow, and he will definitely win or lose. ”

Liu Shidao: "You must have taken this opportunity to run away." ”

Peng Tuo smiled bitterly: "It just so happened that the lord said that the two sides agreed not to rob the camp, and each retreated ten miles back to camp. After Ma Chao retreated, I also retreated ten miles and set up a virtual camp, leaving a few light horsemen to guard the camp that night as a suspicious plan. The rest quickly returned to Chencang and repaired the city wall overnight. The next morning, when Ma Chao came to challenge, he found that it was just an empty camp, so he was naturally angry, and rushed to Chencang, and happened to see me patrolling the city. ”

Liu Shi said with a smile: "I can't imagine that General Peng Tuo, who has always been sincere, will also cheat, and if it were me, I would not be able to bear it." Walk! Let's go up to the castle tower and have a look! "Let's go.

Peng Tuo said with a wry smile: "Although Chen Cang is dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, this city wall has been war-torn and seriously damaged, although it has been repaired, it has not yet been completed, as the saying goes, 'soldiers are not tired of cheating!'" 'I had to do it. ”

Liu Shi smiled: "I like it!" Let Ma Chao suffer a loss and hold him back. Ma Teng came from afar, and there was not enough food and grass, so he must have wanted to fight quickly. Therefore, the scolding these days is also trying to provoke you to fight. ”

As soon as I went up to the city tower, I heard a person below shouting, "Is it Liu Shi?" I know you've arrived. I am in the Xiliang Army, and I have heard that you are brave and powerful, but you have the courage to fight with me. Don't be like that guy Pengtuo, although he has good courage, he is a turtle with a shrunken head. said that the winner was decided the next day, but he ran away overnight, what kind of hero is it? Liu Shi, do you have the courage to fight me? ”

Then it attracted countless laughter, Xiliang people, like Youzhou, advocate heroes and like martial arts competitions.

As soon as Ma Chao finished speaking, countless voices said: "Liu Shi! I have the courage to fight with my major general. Don't be a shrunken turtle again, if so, it's better to go home and hide on the kang and shrink into the belly of the mother-in-law. All kinds of laughter and scolding continued.

Liu Shi saw that Ma Chao used the agitation method again, and his words were rude, he didn't care, and saw that there were only less than three thousand people and horses below, and there were three people standing in front of the formation, one in the middle, not very old, it looked like he was at most seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in armor, riding a white horse, holding a spear, with an arrogant face, and it was he who spoke, knowing that it was Ma Chao.

Said with a smile: "Ma Chao! I heard that you are born with divine power, bravely champion the three armies, you have the courage to retreat one arrow, I Liu Shi will try to compete with you, don't say that I bully the small with the big! ”

Ma Chao said proudly: "Don't just talk about it, like Peng Tuo, you will only know who the hero is after the battle." Only with your head can you wash away the humiliation of our Xiliang army being beheaded in the first place. I'm a stone's throw away, waiting for you. After saying that, with a wave of his hand, the horse rode back slowly, which can be regarded as a good military appearance.

"My lord! You gave Xiliang a deep memory of the first war! Be careful! ”

Liu Shi smiled: "It's nothing! Unless he has the courage of Lu Bu, it is a pity that he has not personally experienced the courage of Lu Bu. However, you can fight him fiercely for more than 100 rounds undefeated, and he can't be any higher! Treat me well, Ma Teng taught this son who doesn't know the height of the sky. ”

Liu Shi walked down the city tower and put on armor and battle robes.

Peng Tuo said: "Lord! There is no need to be angry for Ma Chao'er, now there is a shortage of food and grass in Sanfu, and the Xiliang army has come from afar, which is even more insufficient. I heard that they were slaughtering horses to live, and it didn't take long for them to retreat, so we just had to hold on. ”

Liu Shidao: "You don't understand the people of the border stopper, the expedition will always drive a lot of cattle, sheep, and old horses. In addition to hunting and robbing the people's food to make a living, they often slaughtered cattle and sheep to survive. You're right, Xiliang has been here for nearly twenty days, and there is not much food and grass to come. You defend the city, wait for me to gather him, kill his majesty, and let him know that Nanyang is not without warriors. ”

Peng Tuo said: "How can you let the lord take risks alone, since the lord goes, he will naturally be accompanied by him." Defend the city, arrange Xiang Xiong and Meng Da! ”

Liu Shi said: "Okay! As you said, it's enough to bring only 500 light horsemen, so that no one can say that we bullied him too much. What's more, the Xiliang army is only a few miles away from here, and it is only a blink of an eye for the fast horses to come to reinforcements. ”

The two ordered five hundred light horsemen and opened the door to go out of the city.

Liu Shi took the lead in front of Ma Chao's formation, and Peng Tuo was about to step forward to answer, but was stopped by Liu Shi.

Liu Shi stepped forward and shouted to Ma Chao, "I am the Lantian Township Marquis of the first emperor himself, the general of Annan who served in the court, and the Taishou of Nanyang. ”

Ma Chao said angrily: "What you say is better than singing!" The land of the three auxiliaries can be occupied by you alone? It's just that he wants to use the name of reassuring the people's hearts to try to occupy the truth. ”

Liu Shi said with a smile: "Your Xiliang army is a repeat offender of Sanfu, and the people of Sanfu are frightened when they hear it, and now their intentions are unclear, and it is natural to be blocked." I advise you to turn back to Xiliang and wait for the court's decree to be the best policy. You don't respect your elders, you honor my name in vain, I don't care if you are young. You can ask your father, Shou Chenggong, to come out and answer. ”

Ma Chao looked at Liu Shi contemptuously and laughed wildly: "Don't talk about these useless things, we only respect strength, we want to see our father, and we will win the gun in my hand first." With that, he rushed forward with a pistol.