Hui County, at the beginning of the year, this city has been demolished most of the population, the population withered, Wei Ge simply demolished the surrounding two subordinate counties, with their wall stones to rebuild the county, and at the same time moved the county population into the city, soon it was restored to its original appearance, the city wall became taller and stronger, the population gradually increased, now, it has become a cross-throat road to prevent Zhang Huan from advancing east and Duan Xiushi going south, after Wei Ge led the army south, Hui County is still stationed with 15,000 heavy soldiers, the commander of the county is called Wang Guangmao, is also an old retainer who has followed the Wei family for many years.

From the night of the winter solstice, a violent snowstorm began to sweep the land of Helong, the wind carried the snowflakes, whirling in the air, every household closed the doors and windows, and the pedestrians inside and outside the city disappeared.

But Wang Guangmao, the commander of Huijun, did not dare to take it lightly, Wei Ge had given him a strict order when he left, to always be on guard against Zhang Huan's sneak attack in Hexi, and like others, during this time Wang Guangmao's ears were filled with the news of the party's chaos in Hexi, and Zhang Huan's messengers kept crossing the river to ask for help, and he was tired of hearing it.

Fortunately, since the Yellow River could not be sailed, the messenger from the west of the river did not come again, and he became pure.

On this morning, the snow had gradually lightened, and Wang Guangmao was arranging to clear the snow in the city, when he suddenly received an urgent report from the guard tower on the Yellow River, saying that there were signs of someone crossing the river on the Yellow River.

Wang Guangmao was taken aback, the Yellow River had frozen, what if the Hexi army came to kill him? He immediately ordered his lieutenant general to strictly guard the city, but he himself took a thousand men to the Yellow River to personally inspect the situation.

Like on the other side, Huijun also built several guard towers along the Yellow River. In order to monitor the situation in Hexi, Wang Guangmao rushed to the Yellow River. A hundred guards were already on standby, and the sky was gray, and there were still fine snowflakes fluttering.

"What's wrong?" In the hazy snow, Wang Guangmao saw countless people in ragged clothes walking on the ice, but he didn't see his own defenders to stop him, and he didn't feel a little annoyed.

"Report to the general, my subordinates have already gone to interrogate, and some party members have fled from Hexi." The captain of the watchtower came running to report.

"Party members?" Wang Guangmao wondered in his heart, didn't the party members fight Zhang Huan in Hexi? Why did they come back again, could it be that they were defeated by Zhang Huan?

Just thinking about it. Several soldiers brought one person over, and Wang Guangmao recognized him at a glance, it was Tuoba Wanli, the son of Tuoba Xi, the original prince of the party.

Tuoba Wanli stepped forward and saluted Wang Guangmao in a panic: "See General Wang!" ”

Wang Guangmao smiled disdainfully: "I heard that you didn't fight Zhang Huan in Hexi?" How did you become so embarrassed again? ”

"Alas! It's a long story. Tuoba Wanli sighed, "We just want to live a peaceful life, but it was Tuoba Qianli and others who made trouble, which affected us, and now we are fighting fiercely." Luo County Ling of Huixi County was a good person, and he couldn't bear to kill us, so he sent us out of the country. ”

Wang Guangmao saw that Tuoba Wanli's nose was blue and his face was swollen, his clothes were in tatters, and he didn't know how many falls he had fallen on the ice, so he couldn't help laughing, "What kind of gift was sent out of the country, it was obviously driven out." ”

Wang Guangmao also slowly put his mind at ease, he knew Tuoba Wanli, a pampered son. He has no ambitions.

"And where are you going now?"

Tuoba Wanli hurriedly bowed his hand and said: "Our ten thousand people are about to return to Yinchuan County, and now it is already in the afternoon, I would like to implore the general to let us rest in Huijun for one night." ”

Tuoba Wanli secretly glanced at his face, and said, "If it doesn't work, we will go north to Lingwu County." With that, he arched his hand and left.

Wang Guangmao saw that most of the party members were young and strong people, and there were many beautiful women, and he suddenly had evil intentions in his heart, how could he let go of these fat sheep easily, Wang Guangmao took two steps in a hurry. stepped forward and grabbed Tuoba Wanli and said with a smile: "It's okay, I'm not allowed, it's getting late now, for the sake of old friends, I will allow you to go to Huijun to rest for the night." ”

"Then disturb General Wang."

Tuoba Wanli gave a salute. Hurriedly went to greet the clansmen. Wang Guangmao stared at Tuoba Wanli's back, called a school captain and said, "You bring five hundred brothers to follow them." I'll go back and make arrangements. ”

There are still dozens of miles from the Yellow River to the county town, the sky has gradually darkened, about 20 miles away from the county halfway, Wang Guangmao has ordered 5,000 soldiers to lay a net, just waiting for the party members to enter the bag.

Although it was icy and snowy, thinking that those young and beautiful party women would be his own tonight, Wang Guangmao couldn't help but feel a burst of lust in his heart.

"General, here!" A soldier pointed ahead.

Wang Guangmao looked intently, only to see that in the snow two miles away, there seemed to be a large black shadow moving towards this side, Wang Guangmao began to rub his hands, he lowered his life left and right and said: "Pass the order, prepare to do it." ”

After a while, it seemed that the large black shadow began to move northward, and at a very fast speed, "Not good! They want to flee. ”

Wang Guangmao knew that he had been discovered by the other party, so he decisively ordered, "Attack!" ”

"Woo" The low horn sound suddenly sounded, and the wildness of the soldiers of the five thousand Longyou Army was stimulated by the horn sound, they rushed forward like a large group of wolves, flying snow, there was no longer a formation, they shouted wildly, as if they were no longer party members in front of them, but fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered. s

Five hundred steps and three hundred steps were getting closer and closer, and they had even heard the shouts of the party members.

But at this moment, many of the soldiers who rushed to the front suddenly braked, and they had already seen clearly that there were women in front of them, all of them were soldiers wearing party uniforms in black and press, all holding weapons in their hands, and they were waiting for them with a cruel smile.

Not only that, a cavalry suddenly rushed out behind them, the snow splashed in front of them like a waterfall, they raised their swords, shouted loudly in their mouths, and instantly rushed into the Longyou army, killing it like a withering and decaying, and the Longyou army was smashed to pieces.

Wang Guangmao was taken aback, and did not wait for him to give the order to form a formation. A tall and sturdy Dawan horse rushed to him, and immediately a young general. I saw that he was less than twenty years old, eight feet tall, broad shoulders and round waist, especially his arms were extremely long, he was covered in silver helmets and silver armor, and the cold light flashed in his eyes.

He held a big iron spear in his hand, and with a flash of cold light, the tip of the spear hit his heart, and Wang Guangmao was so frightened that his heart was about to stop. He turned backwards, dodged the tip of the spear, and fled, but only two steps away, only to feel a strong force pull himself backwards, and his body was already volleyed into the air.

He then fell heavily to the ground, and several soldiers held him down. Pulled in front of the young general, several horizontal knives rested on his neck.

At this time, a deep voice sounded in his ears: "The governor has an order, if General Wang surrenders, he will still seal you as the assassin of Huijun, otherwise the head will be sent to Kaiyang County." ”

Wang Guangmao couldn't believe his ears, he looked at the young officer incredulously, "What are you?" ”

"You think it's a party member, and tell you that there has never been a party member who has ever made a mess. Now in front of you is the Xiliang Army, and I am Wang Siyu, the general of the Liangzhou Governor's Account. ”

Wang Guangmao's brain buzzed, and he finally understood that the handsome man had been tricked.

"I'll ask you, to descend or not to descend!"

Wang Guangmao saw that his subordinates had completely collapsed, running around on the snowy field, he wanted to surrender again, but he felt sorry for Wei Ge, and his heart was in chaos.

"How's it going, has he descended?" A rough voice came from the night. A bearded general flew close on a flying horse, and he pointed his knife at Wang Guangmao and said sharply: "I am Li Hengqiu, the Hexi general who demolished your Hui County, and tell you that the governor didn't want the Tang army to kill each other, so he gave you a way out." Otherwise. Changing into your uniforms, we can also deceive the West City Gate of the meeting. ”

Wang Guangmao was shocked. I couldn't help but sigh and said, "Please be merciful to your subordinates, I will surrender." ”

On the same night, the 15,000 garrisons of Huijun all surrendered to the Xiliang Army, and all of them were escorted to Huixi Fort to be reorganized, Li Hengqiu led 3,000 people to enter Huijun, and the young general Wang Siyu led 5,000 cavalry to pretend to be a party member of the Xiliang cavalry to the south, they were like an extremely sharp dagger, straight into the heart of the Wei family: Kaiyang County

In Kaiyang County, there was silence in the lobby of the Wei family, and dozens of Wei family members gathered together, and everyone's eyes were on Wei Du.

Wei Du sat in front of the desk in a daze, he looked at the two letters on the desk with blank eyes, one was a pigeon letter, which was sent from Hexi in the morning, saying that the party members had been defeated by Zhang Huan and fled eastward, and that it was possible to cross the Yellow River, while the other was an 800-li express letter, which had just been sent from Huijun and was written by Li Guangmao himself, saying that tens of thousands of party members had surrounded Huijun and asked for assistance.

Wei Du is cautious, to put it bluntly, he is timid, he has never encountered such a situation, and Wei Ge didn't tell him when he left, what should I do if this happens? In front of everyone's eyes, he seemed to have deep eyes and was thinking about problems, but in fact, his mind was in turmoil, and his brain was blank.

There was silence in the lobby for a full quarter of an hour, Wei Du still didn't say a word, but his face became more and more pale, and everyone couldn't help but look at each other, not knowing what this temporary master of the Wei family was doing.

At this time, only to hear a sneer, a middle-aged man walked out, his name is Wei Ping, is Wei Ge's brother, but also the original Kaiyang County Thorn History, the past few years of government affairs lackluster, in April by Wei Ge asked the court to transfer to Yan'an County Thorn History, he came back this time to urge food, just encountered the county crisis.

Wei Ping is Wei Ge's own brother, he is the direct son of the Wei family, and his family status is much higher than Wei Du, he has always been angry about Wei Du replacing him as the assassin of Kaiyang County, just now he has been watching coldly, seeing that Wei Du can't make up his mind, he sneered and stood up, "In my opinion, this Wang Guangmao should be removed from his post and investigated!" Wei Pinghuan glanced at the crowd: "He has 15,000 troops there, and he has high walls and strong cities to defend, but he can't defeat tens of thousands of party nomads, and he still has to come to ask for help, doesn't this make people laugh off their big teeth!" ”

Although Wei Du is not good in military affairs, he is a veteran in the officialdom struggle, he saw Wei Ping taking the lead, immediately sobered up, and said coldly: "Wang Guangmao is a veteran of the Wei family, how can he not know that Kaiyang County does not have many troops, he asked for help like this, of course, the problem is very serious, there must be a hardship that we don't know, fourth brother, you shouldn't say that about him." ”

Wei Ping snorted and said disdainfully: "That third brother means to send troops to save the county!" Did the eldest brother explain this when he left? ”

Wei Du also said-for-tat: "Although I didn't explain it like this. But he gave me the right to make decisions on the fly, and of course I could call the shots. ”

Just when the two were arguing. Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried and heavy footsteps outside, and a family member ran in, holding a scroll of documents and shouting: "Third master, the big thing is not good!" Huijun has been broken by the Dangxiang people, General Wang does not know whether he is alive or dead, and a 5,000-strong Dangxiang cavalry is killing Kaiyang County, which is less than 200 miles. ”

"What!" Verduhodi stood up and sat down again.

Not only him, but this news was like a thunderbolt from the sky, and all the people in the lobby were stunned. Even Wei Ping, who was fighting with Wei Du just now, turned pale with fright, and he immediately thought that the Hui people had captured Kaiyang County in this way the year before last, and his two daughters were killed in that rebellion.

"Someone!" Wei Ping was the first to react, and he roared repeatedly, "Immediately use the pigeon letter to ask the court for help, and the party members take advantage of the chaos to ask Cui Xiangguo to send troops to help immediately!" ”

A few of the housekeepers ran out to release the pigeons. Wei Du did not object, this decision was correct, at this critical juncture, he abandoned the feud between the two, he immediately stood up and comforted everyone: "Don't panic, everyone, we still have 20,000 elites of the Longyou Army in Kaiyang County, and 5,000 people can't help us." "Not necessarily, if these 5,000 people are just the vanguard, and the brigade is behind, even the county will not be able to hold it." Wei Ping seemed to be saying to everyone. It's like talking to himself.

"What about the fourth brother's thoughts?" Wedo asked for his opinion.

Wei Ping lowered his head and thought about it, and said categorically: "Now the strength is everything, and the five thousand troops of Jincheng County should be transferred immediately." ”

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from the corner of the lobby, "The five thousand troops of Jincheng County must not be transferred!" ”

Everyone looked back together, only to see a young man standing in the corner, many people didn't know him, he was Wei Deqing, who had a very low status in the Wei family. If it weren't for this relationship, he wouldn't have been qualified to stand in the lobby at all.

But Wei Ping knew him, and in the last Hui Rebellion, he had saved his life, and Wei Ping said gently: "Deqing." You don't interject. Go get busy! ”

"Wait!" Wei Du also knew Wei Deqing, and his eldest brother told him. This son is quite talented, he stopped Wei Deqing and asked him: "Why do you say that the 5,000 troops in Jincheng County can't be transferred?" ”

Wei Deqing was listening from beginning to end, from the moment the party people attacked Wang Guangmao of Huijun for help, he felt that it was wrong, since the party members were defeated by Zhang Huan, where did they still have the morale and siege equipment to attack Huijun, and actually conquered it, then Wang Guangmao didn't become an idiot, Wei Deqing suddenly came to an astonishing conclusion, could this be Zhang Huan's doing? Everything was a huge conspiracy, but he also knew that no one would believe this conclusion, but would drive him out of the lobby.

He held back the doubts in his heart and said to everyone: "Don't you think it's strange? The 800-mile express arrived in the morning, and it was less than two hours before the news of the conquest of Huijun came, which seemed to be a little too fast! ”

Wei Du nodded, everyone was frightened by the news, and they didn't think about it, it was indeed a little strange, and after a deep groan, Wei Du asked, "Then what do you say is going on?" ”

"The juniors suspect that Huijun has actually been taken down a long time ago, and the news was not delivered until a few days after the five thousand cavalry were dispatched."

At this time, Wei Ping also asked, "Then what is the purpose of their doing this?" ”

"The two pieces of news coming in succession will disrupt our thinking, and the attack of five thousand cavalry on Kaiyang is to make us feel threatened, so as to transfer the troops of Jincheng County." Speaking of this, Wei Deqing sighed and said, "If I'm not mistaken, the other party's main force is to take Jincheng County first!" ”

At dusk the next day, Jincheng County, Zhang Huan rode a horse and stood on a hill three miles west of Jincheng County, looking at this big city of Longyou with a cold expression, behind him, nearly 40,000 Xiliang troops were waiting for the whole army, countless banners were waving against the cold wind, their morale was high, murderous, just waiting for the commander's order, they killed the Yellow River.

According to Zhang Huan's deployment, first take the county, and then divide the troops into two routes, all the way with 5,000 cavalry pretending to be party items as virtual soldiers, bypassing the state and county to take Kaiyang, but this is just a false shot, the real goal of the army is to take Jincheng County. Finally, Kaiyang County will be attacked.

Under the setting sun, the head of Jincheng County is bathed in red light. It was very quiet, as if there were no soldiers guarding the land, "Could it be that my strategy has caused the Wei family to transfer the troops of Jincheng County?" Zhang Huan looked at Chengchi and thought.

"Cheng Lie!" He commanded in a low voice.

"The last general!" A burly general came out, this is a Qiang general, a foot tall, vicious, infinitely powerful, he is a foot general, holding a one-fifty-pound one-horned bronze man in one hand, known as the first fierce general of the Xiliang Army.

He was found on death row in Tianbao County, Huang County. The mind is not very good, but he is very loyal to Zhang Huan.

"You lead two thousand sword and shield troops to call the city, and if the other party refuses to open it, you will crash into it."

"Order!" Cheng Lie waved his hand and led a battalion of soldiers to run towards the big city of Jincheng County, Zhang Huan thought about it again and again, and said to another general: "You lead three thousand cavalry to meet behind." If there is an accident, be sure to bring them back. ”

Although Cheng Lie was very thick, but his movements were extremely agile, he began to practice martial arts at the age of five, and the master who taught him martial arts was a Han man, who trained him for eighteen years, and taught him a superior martial arts.

Three miles away, for him a moment to arrive, at this moment, on the battlements of Jincheng County ambushed thousands of soldiers. They were led by Wei Deqing, who arrived overnight, Wei Deqing stood on the city tower, staring coldly at the 2,000 Hexi Army that was rushing to this side, his judgment was not wrong, it was Zhang Huan's army that came, not any party members, all this is a conspiracy, it is a conspiracy to let the marshal rest assured that he will lead the troops south, Zhang Huan succeeded, no! He was a treacherous traitor. Before the ink was dry, he tore it up.

Wei Deqing had already realized that the catastrophe in Weijiadi was coming, and the imperial court was attacking Jiannan with all its might, how could it be possible to divide troops to support the disturbance of the party members.

More than a dozen loud-voiced soldiers have already called the door under the city, saying that Hexi Jiedu made General Zhang Huan attack Kaiyang when he heard about the party. Coming to the rescue. Wei Deqing couldn't help sneering, this reason is indeed well made. If I hadn't come by myself, I might have been deceived by them.

At this time, a soldier ran quickly with a letter pierced on the arrow and handed it to Wei Deqing next to the Jincheng County Thorn Shi Duya, Du Ya was originally in the imperial court, and was the protégé of Wei Jiansu, the original head of the Wei family, Zuo Xiangguo, who had served as the assassin in Jincheng County for three years, and had quite a lot of political achievements.

He looked at the letter, the letter was written by Xin Yunjing, Bai Yuanguang, Ma and Li Fei Yuanli, they wrote very sincerely, they did not say that Zhang Huan was a plan, but said that Zhang Huan was the prince of Yu, and he had the ability to revive the situation of the sluggish imperial power, and hoped that Du Ya would look far ahead and not care about the change of the owner of one place and one domain.

Duya sighed, he didn't say anything? Silently put the letter away, Wei Deqing, who was looking at him on the side, saw that he was a little moved, so he clenched the hilt of his knife and said coldly: "Du Yuanjun wants to open the city and surrender?" ”

At this time, several of Du Ya's generals saw Wei Deqing's eyes showing murderous intentions, and immediately drew their knives and stopped in front of their masters, Du Ya waved his hand, signaling his subordinates not to be excited, he glanced at Wei Deqing and smiled slightly: "I am just a civil official, I only think about the welfare of the people, the five thousand troops in this city are the private army of the Wei family, I am not in command, whether to surrender or defend, General Wei will deal with himself!" ”

With that, he turned around and left, Wei Deqing kept staring at his back and disappeared, and suddenly ordered: "Release the arrow!" ”

Suddenly ten thousand arrows were fired in the city, the arrows were like rain, the two thousand Xiliang troops under the city were caught off guard, and hundreds of people were shot down at once, Cheng Lie was also hit by an arrow in the shoulder, he was furious, grabbed a huge shield to block the arrows, flew down the moat, quickly swam past, jumped on the opposite bank, and began to raise the bronze man to smash the suspension bridge.

"Boom! Bang! The drawbridge made a loud noise, and swayed in pain, and the splinters of wood flew and sawdust scattered, and in a moment three logs were broken, and with a loud sound, the drawbridge fell to one side, and the defenders of the city were dumbfounded when they saw such a savage, and all the arrows above their heads were shot at him, and in a moment the huge shield he held was shot like a hedgehog.

Cheng Lie hid in the city cave, took advantage of the feather arrow to stop, rushed out and smashed twice, and then hid back, at this moment, several horses galloped in the distance, holding a gold medal and shouting to Cheng Lie: "The governor has an order, order you to retreat immediately!" Cheng Lie had no choice but to stare at the crumbling drawbridge and roar, bow down and jump off the moat, and evacuate the battlefield under the protection of the soldiers, and the two thousand sword and shield soldiers dropped hundreds of corpses and retreated to the camp.

On the hill, Zhang Huan looked at all this coldly, he smiled, turned around and ordered: "Regardless of Jincheng County, the army continues to advance towards Kaiyang County!" ”

At the sound of an order, the 40,000-strong army slowly started and slowly walked away in the approaching night

Wei Deqing leaned on the battlements, watching the army go away, his eyes flickered, as if he was thinking about something, looking up at the transparent moonlight for a while, and looking down at the suspension bridge that Cheng Lie was about to smash for a while, he suddenly made up his mind, gritted his teeth and ordered: "Order the whole army to gather and follow me to attack Zhang Huan's camp!" ”

The night is getting deeper and deeper, the night wind is cold and biting, and the 40,000 Xiliang army has marched to twenty miles away, Zhang Huan suddenly waved his hand, smiled and said indignantly to the road: "You will lead 5,000 people to the south and quietly go back to Jincheng County, to accept Du Ya's surrender, give me a good life and appease, and you are not allowed to disturb the people." ”

Cheng Lie was overjoyed, he answered, ordered troops to go south, Zhang Huan smiled slightly and ordered: "Order the whole army to camp on the spot and prepare to welcome our distinguished guests!" ”

When it was almost dawn, Zhang Huan led the army into Jincheng County.