In the city, Pang Ji's heart was very chaotic, but his hands were not idle, because he had a lot of official business to deal with, and he had not slept peacefully for three consecutive nights. A large number of refugees poured into the city from outside the city, and the collection of grain and grass, the dispatch of soldiers, and the report to Xiangyang and other official duties not only gave him a headache, but also a back pain. Because he is over forty years old, he has been sitting for a long time these days, staying up late, and a delicate concubine who has only been accepted for a few months, Pang Ji's body is a little unbearable. Pang Ji hammered his waist, stood up and walked to the window, he needed to rest for a while, if he waited until Zhang Ji attacked the city, he was afraid that he would not even have a chance to take a breath.

At this time, the guard at the gate came in and reported: "Pang County Order, there are two teenagers outside the door who want to see you." ”

Pang Ji stretched his waist and said impatiently, "Don't you think I'm not busy enough?" ”

When the guard heard this, he said, "One of the young men said it was your relative. ”

Ponti paused and asked, "What does that boy look like?" ”

The guard said with some embarrassment: "The young man who claims to be a relative of the county order is a little ugly, but the young man next to him is very delicate. ”

When Pang Ji heard an ugly word, he could basically confirm who was coming, so he went out to greet him in person. When Pang Tong and Ma Hong saw Pang Ji come out, they hurriedly saluted him, and Pang Ji simply said a few words to Pang Tong and Ma Hong and took the two into the house. After entering the house, after serving tea, Ma Hong looked at the pile of books on the table, and asked, "Uncle, aren't you tired after doing all the work of the county magistrate?" "[In the Eastern Han Dynasty, counties with more than 10,000 households set up a county magistrate, and counties with less than 10,000 households set up a county magistrate, and the county magistrate and the county magistrate are the highest local administrators; The county has a person in charge of the paperwork and account books, as well as the granary prison; County Lieutenant: Two people in large counties and one person in small counties, in charge of investigating and arresting thieves, similar to the current director of the Public Security Bureau. 】

Pang Ji sighed and said: "The county Cheng went to Yuyang to visit relatives, but Yuyang was captured by Zhang Ji, and the county Cheng didn't have time to escape. ”

Pang Tong said: "When we came to the city, we had already listened to the people who had fled back from the north, and Zhang Ji threatened to attack the city. ”

Pang Ji snorted heavily after hearing this, picked up the book and slapped it heavily on the bookcase, gritted his teeth and said: "The warlords of Xiliang are not all people, they burn, kill and loot along the way, and do all kinds of evil, but it is also said that grabbing some grain and grass is in the past, but there is no grass where they pass. ”

Pang Tong persuaded: "Uncle, don't be angry, I see that you are also tired, why don't you sit aside and rest, these books are handed over to your nephew to do, okay?" ”

"Then you can calculate the food and grass you need! I'm really sleepy. ”

Pang Ji twisted his neck and said, he knew Pang Tong's skills well, and he didn't obstruct it. Pang Tong corrected the official document for Pang Ji, Ma Hong roughly told Pang Ji about their intentions, and after listening to it, Pang Ji just told the two not to run around, no matter what happened, they had to follow him. With a cup of tea, Pang Tong corrected all the official documents and counted the grain and grass data that needed to be reported.

In April of the first year of Jian'an, Zhang Ji led 8,000 Xiliang troops to besiege Qicheng, Liu Biao took Liu Pan and Liu Hu as the vanguard and led 3,000 infantry to Qicheng, Kuai Yue accompanied by military divisions, and Cai Mao gathered troops in Nanjun and then reinforced Qicheng.

Zhang Ji led the army to besiege the city but did not attack, asked the defenders of the city for grain and grass, and attacked the city if they did not provide grain and grass. Kuai Yue came forward to stabilize Zhang Ji's army first, saying that he was willing to provide grain and grass to Zhang Ji, but it would take a certain amount of time to prepare grain and grass, so let Zhang Ji wait for three days. Zhang Ji waited under the city for two days, did not see the grain and grass transported out of the city, on the third day let Zhang Xiu lead the army in front of the city to scold, Zhang Xiu led more than 30 cavalry people straight to the city gate, each cavalry with a rope tied to a human head, under the city gate to shake the guard on the city tower to scold, let the guard quickly hand over the grain and grass.

Liu Pan looked at the Xiliang soldiers under the city tower and was extremely arrogant, and he was furious for a while, and said to Kuai Yue: "Military division, these Xiliang soldiers are carrying the heads of my Jingzhou soldiers and scolding, you can bear it, I can't bear it, I want to lead the army out of the city to meet the battle." ”

Kuai Yue said: "Don't be angry, this Zhang Ji is short of grain and grass, let's hold him for a few days, and then consume some of their grain and grass." ”

Liu Pan gritted his teeth and said, "Could it be that we just watched those Xiliang mongrels play with the heads of our Jingzhou soldiers?" ”

Kuai Yue persuaded again: "If we can delay one more day, General Cai will be able to prepare for one more day, and our victory rate will be improved." ”

At this time, Zhang Xiu suddenly whistled, and more than 30 heads were thrown out of the hands of the cavalry and smashed towards the city tower, just a human head smashed on Ma Hong's feet, Ma Hong was startled at first, but still bent down to pick up the head and put it aside.

Liu Hu roared angrily, pulled his bow and shot at Zhang Xiu under the city, Zhang Xiu had already been wary of it, but he dodged an arrow with a tilt of his head. Liu Hu stood in front of the city tower and shouted: "Brothers! Shoot me arrows and kill these bastards. ”

With Liu Hu's order, the archers shot arrows one after another. Zhang Xiu turned around and ran, and the Xiliang cavalry who did not come and escaped at the first time were shot under the horse.

Liu Pan said loudly: "Huzi, what are you doing?" I did not give the order to release the arrows. ”

Liu Hu gritted his teeth and replied: "Brother, you can bear it, but I can't bear it." ”

Liu Pan was familiar with his brother's character, knew that he had a fiery temper, and he also knew that this big battle with Zhang Ji was impossible to avoid, so he smashed his fist on the city wall, drew his long sword and said to Kuai Yue: "Military advisor, it seems that this war is going to be advanced." ”

Kuai Yue just smiled and said, "Okay, we're ready anyway." ”

After listening to Kuai Yue's words, Liu Pan picked up his long sword and pointed it directly at Zhang Ji's army, and said loudly: "Kill!" ”

When the soldiers heard the general's order, they drew their bows and shot arrows, shouting: "Kill!" Kill! Kill! ”

It was getting late now, and Zhang Ji did not immediately order the army to attack.

Ma Hong and Pang Tong dressed up as Pang Ji's entourage guards and stood beside Pang Ji, but he was estimated to have been recognized by Liu Pan and Kuai Yue, not to mention whether they could recognize Ma Hong, just with Pang Tong's appearance, it was really difficult not to be recognized. Kuai Yue and Pang Ji are good friends, and they worked together when Liu Biao first entered Jingzhou, and they would not say anything to him.

When Liu Pan saw that Zhang Ji didn't attack, he walked to Pang Ji's side and said: "Pang County Order, this sword has no eyes, if the enemy army comes to attack, you have to let Pang Tong leave first." ”

Pang Ji smiled: "It's okay, it's okay, this kid asked for it himself, and I will take care of him." ”

When Liu Pan wanted to say something again, his eyes swept to Ma Hong's face, he looked at Ma Hong's face as if he remembered something, but he couldn't think of it, and he was very uncomfortable for a while.

Ma Hong smiled at Liu Pan before Liu Pan recognized him: "Brother Shi, long time no see." ”

When Liu Pan heard Ma Hong call him Brother Shi, he was stunned for a moment, and then pulled Ma Hong's arm and said, "Hey, Xiao San'er, I haven't seen him for a few years, I can't recognize it, why did you come here, does your father know?" ”

When Liu Biao first entered Jingzhou, Liu Pan lived with Liu Biao's family in Yicheng Ma's house for more than three months, although he was nearly thirty years old, much older than Ma Hong, but he could talk to Ma Hong, and often took Ma Hong to drink when he was at Ma's house. Ma Hong called Liu Pan Brother Stone and Liu Hu Brother Tiger at that time.

Ma Hong smiled slightly: "Brother Shi, I am now worshiping under Mr. Shuijing, the teacher let the two of us come out for a long time, and then we came to the city, I didn't expect to see Brother Shi and Brother Tiger." ”

Liu Pan said with a smile: "The little third son is not simple now, that nursery rhyme about you is about to spread all over Jingzhou!" ”

Then Liu Pan beckoned Liu Hu to come over, Liu Hu saw Ma Hong first come to a bear hug, and then said with a serious face: "Little third son, once Zhang Ji comes to attack, you have to go into the city to hide, you know?" ”

Ma Hong saw that Liu Pan and Liu Hu were really worried about their safety, and it was inconvenient to say anything more, so he nodded and agreed.