Huaipu City, the northernmost city among the three major cities of Huaiyin Prefecture. Here, Li Chi arranged for a garrison of 15,000 people. Among them, there are 8,000 regular soldiers and more than 7,000 new soldiers. These soldiers were urgently transferred from the rear by Li Chi.

"General Qiyu, the Yanzhou army sent someone to send an urgent military order, saying that the Qi army in the east of Yuzhou began to withdraw eastward after the Yanzhou army advanced eastward, and the Qi army showed signs of abandoning Quyang City. Therefore, the Yanzhou army asked us to send troops to block it, separate the Qi army in the west of Quyang City from Murong Cheng, and encircle and annihilate it. ”

"Huh? The Qi army in Yuzhou actually gave up? Didn't fight with the Yanzhou Army? How can it be? Huaipu City Guard Wei Gang frowned and muttered to himself, very puzzled.

Regarding Li Chi's plan, Wei Gang is naturally clear. It is hoped that after Murong Cheng finds that he cannot go south, he will return to Yuzhou and fight a decisive battle with the Yanzhou army occupying Yuzhou. After all, this Yanzhou army not only occupied half of Yuzhou, but also betrayed the Qi army, so it stands to reason that Murong Cheng should return to the army.

However, now Murong Cheng not only did not return to the army, but instead transferred the army from Quyang City to Huaiyin City to Huaiyin City and attacked Huaiyin City, which already made Wei Gang a little unclear. And at this moment, the Qi army in Yuzhou faced the attack of the Yanzhou army, and even withdrew directly, and even Quyang City had to give up, which really made him a little overwhelmed.

"Send someone to Quyang City to inquire about the news and see if the situation is true." Wei Gang ordered in a deep voice, this Quyang City is more than two hundred miles away from him, if the news from the Yanzhou army is wrong, then it will be ......

"General, don't we care about the withdrawal of the Qi army? The soldiers are very fast, if the situation is true, it will be a delay in the military situation. The general said in a deep voice.

Wei Gang's face turned cold, and he said sharply: "Delay the military situation? Do you really think that we and the Yanzhou Army are allies who can work together? What if this news is fake? Even if it is true, there are more than 20,000 Qi troops in Quyang City, plus the Qi army evacuated from Yuzhou, how many will there be in total? If the Qi army did not want to evacuate Quyang City, but instead wanted to hold on to Quyang City, then what would be the result if we led the army away? This is not a trick by the Yanzhou army to let us fight to the death with the Qi army. Once we've got the exact news, we're going to take action. ”

General Pi said with an embarrassed face: "General, the herald of the Yanzhou Army is still here waiting for a reply, how do we respond?" ”

Wei Gang frowned, and said coldly: "Just make an excuse, do you want me to teach you too?" ”

After a while, General Pi came back again, and said to Wei Gang with a stiff face: "General, the envoy of the Yanzhou Army is leaving, and he was very dissatisfied with us when he left, and said that since we don't send out the army, then they will accept Quyang City." ”

Wei Gang was irritated for a while, and said, "Okay, don't worry, it's very likely that the Yanzhou army provoked you." Let's scout intensifying. After a pause, he added, "In addition, 8,000 soldiers will be dispatched to prepare for action." ”

"Lord, our people have returned, and as expected, the defenders of Huaipu City have simply ignored the herald we sent. For our news, they simply did not pay attention. Wei Dong said with a smile.

Zhao Xun said lightly: "Wouldn't it be good like this?" We gave them hints, but they ignored them. In this case, it is also reasonable for us to occupy Quyang City in order to pursue the Qi army. Wei Dong, let the army accelerate towards Quyang City, let the spies of Huaipu City take a look, we are also very interested in Quyang City. By the way, have our strikers already escorted a batch of grain into Quyang City? So how are the preparations for the withdrawal of the Qi army? ”

Wei Dong said in a deep voice: "Quyang City originally had 20,000 Qi troops, but now most of them have evacuated and rushed to join Murong Cheng. As far as we know, it is estimated that the offensive and defensive battle of Huaiyin City has reached a critical juncture, and after Murong Cheng is ready to break the city, he will immediately go south. In Quyang City, we have stationed 5,000 soldiers, and they can change to the banner of the Yanzhou Army at any time. ”

Zhao Xun nodded and said: "Very good, give them food, let them prepare to leave, in the future, this Quyang City will be our Yanzhou Army." At this time, it is time for them to leave, and the spies in Huaipu City should also gain something. ”

"In addition, to the north of Huaipu City, Xu Qing's troops, who have just passed from Yanzhou to prepare to support the southern front, let them prepare for action, and they must start the operation after the defenders of Huaipu City leave the city. As long as Huaipu City is taken, Huaiyin Mansion is basically ours. ”

The speed of Tanma's investigation of the news was very fast, and two days later, Wei Gang, the guard of Huaipu City, got the news from the eastern part of Yuzhou, Quyang City and other places, but this news made Wei Gang's face change greatly.

"General, explore the horses, the eastern part of Yuzhou has been occupied by the Yanzhou army, and now a new policy is being implemented to take over the local military administration. The Qi army requisitioned the grain from the place where it went and began to transport it to Murong Cheng's place. ”

"In Quyang City, half of the Qi army and the escort grain and grass left and went to Huaiyin City to join Murong Cheng's department. The rest of the tribe also began yesterday, gathering things and preparing to leave the city. In other words, the Qi army of Quyang City was ready to abandon Quyang City, and immediately there, to join Murong Cheng. Adjutant General Bai Feng reported with a solemn face.

Wei Gang's face was extremely ugly, two days ago, the Yanzhou army came to report, he ignored it, didn't believe the other party at all, and bluntly said in front of the generals that this was the other party's trick. But now, things are really as the Yanzhou army herald said, the situation is not good, and he will lose face in front of the generals.

As the deputy general of Huaipu City, Bai Feng naturally knew some of the arrangements of his lord, and he could only use the Yanzhou army, not trust. As for Wei Gang's table two days ago, he didn't think there was anything wrong. However, things are now stricter than expected.

Bai Feng continued: "General, what is even more strict is that we have found out that the Yanzhou army has eliminated 10,000 troops and started to march towards Quyang City. The subordinates guessed that the Yanzhou army was at war with the Qi army, and the news that the Qi army was going to escape from Quyang City was obtained before us. If they take the lead in occupying Quyang City, we won't be able to clean it up when the time comes. ”

Wei Gang understood what Bai Feng meant, if the Yanzhou army occupied Quyang City, it would definitely not give it up at that time. And the Yanzhou army will also tell Li Chi that this Quyang City is not deliberately occupied by the Yanzhou army, but that your Xuzhou army does not want to take over. At that time, the defenders of Huaipu City, who were closest to Quyang City and had been notified by the Yanzhou Army that they had been rejected, would be held responsible. At that time, whether it was him Wei Gang or Bai Feng and other lieutenant generals, they would have to face Li Chi's anger.

"What do you think of now?" Wei Gang asked gloomily.

"General, it is imperative that we immediately send our troops south and reach Quyang City within the scope of the Yanzhou army's entry into Quyang County, so that the Yanzhou army can return in vain. As long as Quyang City is still in our hands, the Yanzhou army will not attack lightly. Even if we really want to attack, with only 10,000 troops, what are we afraid of? Bai Feng said bluntly.

In this way, General Ben personally led 8,000 men and horses to Quyang City, so that the Yanzhou army knew the difficulty and retreated. Even if the Qi army did not leave, General Ben could use the reason of attacking the Qi army in Quyang City to join forces with the Yanzhou army. When the time comes, the Qi army will leave, and we will take over Quyang City in a bright light. If the Qi army can't hold out, we will naturally act together with the Yanzhou army. In this way, we can not only take care of the gains and losses of Quyang City, but also let the Yanzhou army attack the Qi army with us. Wei Gang said in a deep voice.

Then Wei Gang explained to the deputy general Bai Feng: "Bai Feng, this Huaipu City will be handed over to you." Although there are not many defenders here, the Qi army is now in Huaiyin City in the southeast, and there is no threat to us. Therefore, leaving you with more than 6,000 new pawns should not be a major problem. If anything happens, send someone to inform the general immediately. If we can recapture Quyang City this time, you and I will be a great achievement. ”

"The last general understands, the general can rest assured, and the last general will ensure that Quyang City is not lost."

Soon, Wei Gang led 8,000 defenders to leave and went straight to Quyang City in the south. Of course, if these 8,000 foot soldiers still have combat strength to arrive in Quyang City, it will take at least four days.

However, after Wei Gang led the army out of the city, several carrier pigeons took off from Quyang City and headed northwest.

Two days later, Huaipu City welcomed a Yanzhou army. This Yanzhou army came from Yanzhou, entered by detour from the north of Huaiyin Mansion in Xuzhou, and appeared north of Huaipu City.

"Who are they? Why is it here? What is the other party's statement? The current Huaipu City Lord Bai Feng frowned and asked his corporal.

"General Hui, the other party is Xu Qing's headquarters of the Yanzhou Army who assisted us in staying in the Qi army last time. Now, they were ordered to return to Yuzhou and participate in the Battle of Yuzhou. Because Xu Qing's department passed through Huaiyin Mansion last time, he chose this shortcut this time to pass through our jurisdiction. ”

"Huh? Is it for Quyang City? It's not impossible. Now in Quyang City, there are less than 10,000 Qi troops stationed there, there are 10,000 Yanzhou troops who are chasing and killing from Yuzhou, and there are more than 10,000 people who go south from here, and it is not impossible for 20,000 people to besiege the weak Quyang City. Damn it! The Yanzhou army really has the intention of seizing my Quyang City. Bai Feng thought to himself, "Quyang City is an important place for the defense of Yuzhou in the southwest of my Xuzhou, and it is also an outpost when attacking. The Yanzhou army occupies Yuzhou, and it is not impossible to take it. ”

"No, we have to find a way to delay them here, and we can't let the strength of the Yanzhou army outside Quyang City be too strong." In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Bai Feng's mind.

"Someone, please invite General Xu Qing from the north of the city to enter the city!" Bai Feng decided to leave Xu Qing's troops here first, and wait for the situation in Quyang City to have an obvious result. In other words, it will have to wait until Wei Gang reports back to Quyang City.

Xu Qing naturally agreed to Bai Feng's invitation, after all, he had to pass through the other party's territory. However, after Xu Qing entered the city, he asked Bai Feng for his resignation many times, and when he wanted to speed up the march to the southeast of Yuzhou and the junction of Huaiyin Mansion to block the Qi army, Bai Feng said that he did not reply directly.

Seeing that Xu Qing was in such a hurry to lead the army south, Bai Feng naturally became more worried that Xu Qing's troops were participating in the war in Quyang City. Therefore, on the pretext that he was going to go south with the Yanzhou army to participate in the war, he asked Xu Qing's headquarters to stay for a while, and when Huaipu City was ready, the two armies would go south with the army.

Seeing Bai Feng like this, Xu Qingzhi reluctantly agreed. Therefore, let the army be stationed outside the city, and his own two thousand guards entered the city and waited.

"Immediately let the defenders of the northern city strengthen their vigilance, and be careful of the Yanzhou army outside the city." Back at the General's Mansion, Bai Feng ordered in a deep voice.

"General, how do you arrange it now? Although we can let Xu Qing's troops stay overnight, they will eventually lead the army to leave tomorrow. We already have half of our army going south to Quyang City, so why can't we send another army south. ”

Bai Feng frowned and said, "It's okay, we let them leave tomorrow, we have already delayed for General Wei Gang for half a day." Add in the previous day and a half, and the total is two days. Two days was enough for General Wei Gang to make a decision in Quyang City. ”

"In addition, send people to monitor Xu Qing and his subordinates in the city. There are 2,000 people in the city, and if something happens, it will have a very bad impact. In addition, immediately spread the news that Xu Qing's department was about to go south to the general, so that the general could be prepared. ”

As night fell, the people of the city began to rest. But the first part of the Yanzhou Army that entered Huaipu City was still busy in secret.

"General, the inner circle arranged earlier in the city has been gathered, a total of more than 500 people, and they are now preparing in the west of the city. In addition, the army that became was ready. Except for some of the pretended military camps stationed in the north of the city, the rest were divided into three and lurked to the remaining three gates. And to the west of the city, four thousand sergeants were arranged, including two thousand cavalry. ”

Xu Qing nodded and said with satisfaction: "Very good, good job, order the scouts to start killing the people around us who are watching us, let everyone prepare, and the whole army will directly attack the General's Mansion." ”

"Give an order to the city to raid the West City Gate, and take the West City as quickly as possible. There are only about 6,000 new soldiers in the city, and we will definitely take this city in one fell swoop. Let's go! Xu Qing ordered sharply.

Xu Qing and his 2,000 soldiers were arranged in the Xuzhou military camp in the city. Originally, this was the garrison camp of Huaipu City. However, the departure of 8,000 soldiers suddenly made the barracks empty, so it was arranged here. However, around this military camp, there are still 2,000 soldiers stationed in the defenders of Huaipu City.

In the middle of the night, Xu Qing's headquarters suddenly brightened up, and countless soldiers rushed out of the barracks and went straight to the general's mansion in the city.

The guards who were in the same barracks as Xu Qing's department, and the guards who were less than a kilometer away were suddenly shocked by the shouts of killing in the middle of the night and almost bombed the camp. In an instant, two thousand soldiers of the Huaipu City defenders rushed out of the barracks in disheveled clothes.

"What's going on?" Arranged by Bai Feng around Xu Qing's station, in order to monitor the defenders of the Yanzhou army, Wang Qi was awakened by the rioting soldiers.

"Will ...... General, something is wrong, the Yanzhou army has begun to attack us! ”

"What? Yanzhou Army? Wang Qi was stunned, then came to his senses, and shouted sharply: "Come here, immediately gather the soldiers and prepare to suppress them." Damn Xu Qing, he dared to make trouble in our city. ”

"Send a message to the general immediately, saying that Xu Qing's troops in the city are attacking us, and let the general be careful of the Yanzhou army in the north of the city."

In fact, without Wang Qi's message, Xu Qing's department rushed and killed very quickly, directly hitting the general's mansion. And the news of the patrol sergeant and the shouting of killing had already let Bai Feng, who had strengthened his guard, know the news.

"Damn...... Damn! Bai Feng roared. Although he was wary of Xu Qing, he never expected that the other party would dare to make trouble in the city.

"Come on, immediately send an order to the north gate, and let them inform the Yanzhou army in the north city."

"Immediately send orders to all battalions in the city, so that they can immediately clear the Yanzhou army in the city."

"Immediately recruit the young men of the city, and prepare them to participate in the defense of the city."

"Damn, this Yanzhou army actually attacked our idea of Huaipu City."

"Report ...... The Yanzhou army was already less than five hundred meters away from the General's Mansion. ”

"General, the defenders of the General's Mansion are insufficient, we will evacuate to the camp in the south of the city, and when we gather the generals in the city, we will definitely be able to annihilate these Yanzhou troops in one fell swoop." General Huang Feng said urgently.

"What's the panic? How many Yanzhou troops are there in the city? There are only 2,000 people, how many of us are there? Immediately strengthen your precautions, and wait for the soldiers from all walks of life to cover and kill. General Ben didn't believe it, they could withstand the siege of our army on all sides. Bai Feng roared.

Indeed, without the cooperation of the Xicheng Inner Force, if it becomes a large army of the Yanzhou Army, I am afraid that the two thousand Yanzhou Army in the city will not last long at all.

Xu Qing led 2,000 soldiers to the General's Mansion, but there were also nearly 2,000 people behind the Yanzhou army. As time passed, with the notification of the defenders, there were more and more Xuzhou troops in the city. More importantly, the defenders occupy the advantage of geographical advantages, and also occupy the advantage of armor and equipment. Some powerful weapons and equipment were used by the defenders.

"Damn, General, it looks like the city guards are on guard against us. Otherwise, how could this crossbow machine, a small catapult, appear here? ”

"It doesn't matter, as long as the brothers outside the city invade, the enemy in the city is not a problem." Xu Qing said lightly.

With the passage of time, the General's Mansion was assisted by the guards in the city, so that the Yanzhou army was suppressed in several streets in front of the General's Mansion, and there were more and more defenders in the city.

"Dare to hit my idea of Huaipu City, I don't know whether I am dead or alive. Pass the order down, the whole army will storm it, whether it is dead or alive! Seeing that more and more soldiers from his own side gathered around the General's Mansion, Bai Feng's face looked a little better.

"Did the enemy forces outside the city attack the city?"

"Back to the general, the Yanzhou army in the north of the city made a little action and did not attack the city with all its might."

"No, it's impossible for the Yanzhou army to only let the two thousand people in this city move, besides, the main general of the Yanzhou army is also in the city, how can it be ......" Bai Feng was puzzled, and then saw that many of the soldiers around him were guards guarding the four gates, and his face suddenly changed, and he said sharply: "In addition to the north gate, what about the other three gates?" Is there a Yanzhou army appearing? ”

"This ......" general Huang Feng was stunned, outside the four gates, the Yanzhou army is mainly in the north, therefore, the most defenders, the most heavily guarded is also the north city gate. As for the rest, naturally......

"Report ...... Big things are wrong...... General, the West City Gate has been broken, and the Yanzhou Army has come in! "Right here, a bloodied colonel rushed in from outside the general's mansion and reported urgently.

"It's over...... It was used by the Yanzhou army, and they attacked the General's Mansion, which was clearly to attract our troops from all over the world to gather here, so that they could attack the city. It's over......"

Immediately, a rumbling sound came from Xicheng.

"Cavalry ......" Bai Feng groaned weakly, now, he knew that Huaipu City could not be defended, and the Yanzhou army that became it had more than 10,000 soldiers, while Huaipu City only had 6,000 new soldiers......