Traffickers and pawns are the lowest level of society, and the casualties of an ordinary soldier are not at all in the eyes of those big people, especially for an army of tens of thousands of people. Now, Guan Yu not only sent someone to find the soldier, but also told the others to slow down at the same time. This "people-oriented" order was conveyed, and the soldiers were all moved.

But everyone understood the weight of the burden on their shoulders, and they were grateful, and their pace did not slow down, but added many whispered reminders to each other, and the speed of the procession on the mountain road was faster.

After walking through this mountain road, Tiangong also seemed to be moved, Yue'er appeared from the clouds and opened her face, and the surrounding scenery became hazy for a while. By the light, the soldiers began to trot all the way, and finally arrived ten miles south of the city of Liang at the fourth watch.

Receiving the order to rest in place, the soldiers hula lala lay down in a large area. Although we usually do long-distance cross-country training, it has never happened to march more than 300 miles in one night like this, and many people can't even breathe, so it is necessary to seize the time to rest and recover their strength.

Guan Yu's father and son did not rest, and a large marching map was spread out in front of them. Guan Yu looked at it for a while and asked, "Ping'er, which one do you choose between Liang Qi and Handan?" ”

Guan Ping said without thinking: "I'm going to fight Handan!" ”

Handan is the county seat of Zhao State, the city is high and the pool is deep, and it is definitely not comparable to a small county like the Liang period. Guan Yu was very satisfied with Guan Ping's answer, and stroked his palms and said: "Okay, you have ambition, wait for the news of your victory for my father!" ”

In order not to attract the attention of the defenders of the Liang period, so as not to make preparations in Handan, Guan Yu waited until after dawn to launch an offensive against the Liang period after Guan Ping's army left.

At this time, Liu Xin had also led the army to arrive at the blocking position. Although there were only 10,000 people, the company camp he had set up stretched for dozens of miles, which surprised him very much.

When Yan Yan learned of the arrival of the army, he had already left the camp to greet him, and when he saw Liu Xin's question, he quickly explained: "Your Majesty, this is the old camp of Lu Yizha, and there are still 300,000 troops living in the camp, so it has not been demolished. ”

Liu Xin couldn't help frowning and said, "Why are there still 300,000 surrendered troops living here?" Didn't I order them to be disarmed and returned to the fields? ”

Yan Yan arched his hand and said, "Back to Your Majesty, these people are unwilling to leave." They said that even if they returned home, sooner or later they would be forcibly recruited again, and it was better to stay here. And they don't want to leave because they eat well at our place. ”

"Oh, there's such a thing? Hasn't Yuan Shao's grain and grass always been sufficient? Liu Xin suddenly became interested, waved his hand, and said, "Let's go, take me to have a look." ”

In the barracks, those Yuan soldiers were having breakfast, and everyone had a bowl of porridge and two steamed buns in front of them. Liu Xin couldn't help but groan: "This food is also very ordinary." ”

The food of the Han army is very particular, even the breakfast will be quite rich, in addition to porridge and steamed buns, there will be eggs, milk or soy milk, and meat at noon and evening. But the food of these Yuan Jun's soldiers in front of them is very ordinary, why are they unwilling to leave?

Yan Yan said with a smile: "They are on Yuan Shao's side, and they eat much worse than here, and the steamed buns are mixed with a lot of miscellaneous grains, even wheat bran." ”

Liu Xin nodded secretly, turned to Xu Huang and said: "See, Yuan Shao is just a superficial scenery, after years of fighting, he is now a strong foreign cadre, and if this continues, I am afraid that he will start to deduct the soldiers' salaries." ”

Xu Huang said with a smile: "After this battle, he has no chance to deduct his salary. ”

All the generals laughed, and the Yuan soldiers who were eating turned their heads and looked at this side, one after another listless faces, some of them were already drooping old men, and some were just childish teenagers. Liu Xin sighed again, shook his head and sighed: "This is the so-called elite of the Yuan army, which shows that Yuan Shao has not only gradually lacked money and food, but even the soldiers have been very nervous. The elite is still like this, and the newly recruited soldiers in Yecheng can be imagined. ”

Zhang Fei shouted on the side: "Big brother, then what are we waiting for, hurry up and kill the past and catch Yuan Shao's old man!" ”

Zhang He laughed and said: "Third brother, why are you in a hurry, Your Majesty is waiting for the news of the seven people, so that Yuan Shao can be captured." ”

"Yes, I also hope to end this war as soon as possible, so that all the people of the world can live in peace." Liu Xin looked up to the sky and sighed, then suddenly turned to Xu Huang and said, "However, how this battle is fought depends on yours." ”

Liu Xin has always emphasized that let the most suitable people do the most appropriate things, he himself is more suitable to find problems from a strategic height and make decisions, and it is more appropriate to hand over specific operations to Xu Huang and others, so he doesn't want to point fingers too much. The price paid by the indiscriminate command was the lives of thousands of soldiers.

The news from the front did not make them wait long, and two hours later, the men and horses sent to various places came back, and the seven cities were taken down almost without much effort. The county guards were unprepared, of course, one aspect, but more importantly, the city was empty, and there were no soldiers available.

Take Handan as an example, this is the seat of Zhao State, and it is the gateway to the north of Yecheng, which should have been heavily guarded, so Guan Ping was very careful. He first sent troops to set up checkpoints on the main road leading to the four gates of Handan, intercepted all the people who went to Handan in the early morning, and then let his soldiers change into the clothes of the people so that they could sneak into the city quietly.

The gates of the city were opened on time, but there were only two soldiers guarding the gates, and they were all yawning, and the people who entered the gates were not questioned at all. In just a few moments, nearly a thousand Han soldiers entered the city in disguise. While most of the people in the city were still asleep, these disguised soldiers quietly took control of the four gates, signaled that the Han army brigade ambushed on the outskirts of the city swarmed into the city.

Zhao was originally a feudal country, but now there are no princes, Yuan Shao set up a county guard here, but he has not had time to change Zhao to Zhao County. However, due to Handan's important geographical location, Yuan Shao still sent his important advisor Xin Bi to serve as the county guard.

However, Xin Bi's plan was also so-so, and it was too incompetent to be a county guard, and when Guan Ping entered the city, he was still sleeping with his head covered, and was finally pulled out of the bed by the Han soldiers. Afterwards, everyone knew that even if Xin Bi had been prepared, he would not be able to hold Handan City, because Yuan Shao only left him a thousand soldiers. Originally, with these 1,000 soldiers, relying on a strong city, it could still cause trouble for the Han army. It's just that many men over the age of fifteen and under fifty have been forcibly conscripted into the army, and there are not many young people in the city to help defend the city.

Guan Yu was not as careful as Guan Ping, and when he ordered the army to rest in place, he organized people to go to the nearby mountains to cut down trees and tie up siege equipment. Because many materials were discarded on the march, there was certainly no way to make large siege equipment, but it was no problem to get a few long ladders.

As the order to attack was given, the soldiers divided into four routes and launched an assault on Liang Qicheng at the same time. As a result, when the brave soldiers put the long ladder up the city wall, they found that there were not many people on the city at all. Hearing the shouts of killing, the defenders who hurried to see the Han soldiers attached to the ants were so frightened that they threw away their swords and guns, turned around and left. After capturing the county seat, Guan Yu knew that the defenders in the city were only 500 people at that time, and he led 10,000 people to attack the city, and made careful preparations.

After getting these news, Xu Huang and the others were all excited, and said in unison: "Yuan Shao is now at the end of his rope, and His Majesty's domination of the country is just around the corner. ”

Liu Xin shook his head and sighed: "Xing, the people are bitter." Death, the people suffer. After years of war, Yuan Shao has reached the end of the crossbow, but the people of the northern states have also suffered from this great disaster. ”

The generals who were still in high spirits just now listened to Liu Xin's words and lowered their heads in shame. Liu Xin waved his hand and said, "Let's go, capture Yecheng as soon as possible, and save the people of the world from fire and water!" I please! ”

All the generals were moved, stood up together, and said loudly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the ministers will also recover Yecheng even if they die!" ”

Although Yuan Shao has been cowering in Yecheng, he has also sent a lot of meticulous work, and the movement of the 150,000 Han troops to open up together is big enough that he has long been detected. Of course, Xu Huang didn't intend to hide anything, he just wanted to let Yuan Shao know in a big way. As long as Yuan Shao transferred the army out of the city, this battle would be much easier.

In the general's mansion in Yecheng, all the strategists under Yuan Shao's men gathered together, but the atmosphere was very depressing, or Wen Chou couldn't help it, and said: "Lord Qi, a few days ago, although the elite soldiers of our army were defeated by the Jingzhou army, the Jingzhou army must also have heavy casualties, otherwise why are there only more than 100,000 soldiers and horses left, and how to be afraid of the end of this strong crossbow!" The last general is not talented, and he is willing to lead the army out of the city and fight a decisive battle with it, and he will be ashamed! ”

Xun Chen had seen the appearance of the Han army when he was in Xiangyang, and hurriedly got up and persuaded: "Absolutely not! Although the Jingzhou army is small, they are all elite, and our army is mostly recruits. ”

The judge waved his hand and said: "Now that Liyang and Dongjun are occupied by Liu Xin, and Yecheng is close to Hanoi, it is very convenient for the Jingzhou army to assemble and supply. The subordinates thought that it was not appropriate to hold on, if the lord did not want to fight with the Jingzhou army, he could abandon the city as soon as possible, move to Youzhou, and make a comeback in the future. ”

Xu You is greedy for money, and has placed many industries inside and outside Yecheng, how is it worth abandoning, he immediately objected, and said: "Zhengnan is wrong!" The lord has been operating in Yecheng for many years, how can he abandon it! The subordinates heard that the cavalry of the Jingzhou army is the most advantageous, if they leave the fortified city, what will our army do? ”

Yuan Shao continued to carry forward his indecisive style, listening to his subordinates, it was always difficult to make a decision, and suddenly heard a horse outside the door and said loudly: "Lord Qi, Wucheng has been lost, and the Jingzhou army has come to the city!" ”