Just as Zhao Xun and Situ Liang were discussing countermeasures and preparing to advance westward, Liu Wenqi's information from the north finally reached the Zhao army camp outside Weinan County.

Zhao Xun didn't have time to check Liu Wenqi's recital, and asked directly to the herald who transmitted the information: "Is the Northern Feng Yi Mansion still in our hands now?" Are the grain and grass materials in Gaoling City still there? ”

Although the herald didn't understand what the situation was, he still replied urgently: "Back to the king, although there was a riot in Feng Yi's mansion by the Han army, now Feng Yi's mansion is still in the hands of my Zhao army, and the grain and grass materials in Gaoling City are also intact. ”

Zhao Xun and Situ smiled at each other and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Because it was good news, Zhao Xun also smiled and said to the herald and the guards who were waiting: "Go down and rest, reward!" ”

At this time, Situ Liang had already dismantled Liu Wenqi's recital under Zhao Xun's signal, and began to look at the details. After all, the herald had already said just now that there was indeed a riot in the Han army in Feng Yi's mansion, but the situation was still under control. Zhao Xun and Situ Liang urgently need to know the details of the situation in the north at this moment, so that they can make corresponding arrangements.

"It's dangerous! Sure enough, as the king expected, this Lin Shucheng moved his mind in the north. But fortunately, Lord Liu did a good job in Gaoling City, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable! After reading Liu Wenqi's recital, Situ Liang breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, it's really dangerous! This Lin Shucheng, this time the means are really ruthless! Seeing Liu Wenqi's return, Zhao Xun also let go of the worries in his heart.

After listening to Liu Wenqi's recital, the generals couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and now the crisis is finally solved.

"Great King, the situation in the north is clear, so is the previously designated action still the same as before?" Zhao Xiong, general of the Tenth Town Army, asked.

Zhao Xun pondered for a moment and said: "As for the need for Dongyongzhou to prepare grain and grass, it is not comparable, I said this earlier, just in case." Now that the north has settled down, there is naturally no need for Dongyongzhou's grain and grass preparations. However, the rest is business as usual. If the southern princes attack very fiercely, they will send the Yuzhou garrison to support. ”

"Now that the north has stabilized, do we still want to give up this Weinan county without attacking? Isn't that a pity? Zhao Kang said with some regret. Although the city wall of Weinan County has been continuously repaired by the guards, how can the repaired city wall achieve the original defensive effect. Therefore, this Weinan county is close to being conquered. In addition, the 8,000 Han troops in the city are now less than 5,000. The rest are all young and strong, and after breaking the city, they can't resist the attack of the Zhao army. Giving up the attack now really makes Zhao Kang and the others feel a little pity in the end.

Zhao Xun smiled: "It's a pity, don't worry, if Xiyongzhou is taken by us, even if this small county is given to them, they won't be able to escape." In addition, the more we attack, the more we will be able to unite the defenders of the city and fight to the death. If we stop attacking, these soldiers and the young men of the city should think about themselves and their families. Give them a little time, a little space, and these soldiers who will not retreat may not think like that. ”

"After all, they are not really brave men, and the only reason why they are so brave and fearless is because their families have been taken down by the government, coupled with our fierce attacks, so that they have no way out. Let's stop and let them think for themselves, whether it's really worth it to continue. ”

Saying that, Zhao Xun's face turned cold, and he said coldly: "In addition, we also have to secretly spread the news, just say that Lin Shucheng and the officials of Chang'an and their current main generals will fight to the death in order to make them fight to the death, in order to reduce the logistical burden, their families have already been abandoned by the Han Military Mansion, or beheaded, or have become outcasts, I don't know where they are now exiled." The Han Military Officers' Mansion and the Chang'an Center no longer have the energy to pay attention to the families of these soldiers who are certain to die in their eyes. ”

In this way, this king wants to see if Qiao Xuan in this Weinan county can really get the support of these soldiers who were slowly sent to his death, and also wants to see if Qiao Xuan can restrain these thousands of crazy soldiers. Leaving a cavalry, the rest immediately to the west, we and Yang Wangqing converged, with the army overturned to press over, this king wants to see, how long does this Lin Shucheng want to support? ”

"Maybe, as soon as we left, this Weinan county will be in chaos! You go and arrange for a cavalry to stay behind, and tell them that the main general will guard the city outside the city, and the others don't need to be ignored, their task is to guard the county seat of Weinan and not let anyone in the city leave. In any case, they could not attack the city, and besides, even if they surrendered, they had to go out of the city and surrender, so that the defenders of the city would surrender themselves. ”

Zhao Xun gave an order, and tens of thousands of troops immediately raised their flags and marched westward, heading towards Chang'an. It stands to reason that this is definitely a good thing for the defenders of Weinan County, after all, the enemy army has retreated. However, at this moment, Qiao Xuan, the guard in Weinan County, did not have a trace of joy.

The Zhao army left, but there were still 5,000 cavalry and 10,000 auxiliary soldiers outside the city. In addition, the three small cities around the county seat of Weinan were all under the control of the Zhao army, and a total of nearly 5,000 foot soldiers were left. In this way, around the county seat of Weinan, the Zhao army has left an army of 10,000. Although only 5,000 cavalry aimed directly at themselves, the 5,000 cavalry did not attack the city and stayed outside the city, but they also trapped the defenders of Weinan County in the city. This was not what he wanted, according to the plan, what he needed was to delay the time of Zhao's army outside Weinan County as long as possible.

You must know that in order to delay the Zhao army for as much time as possible, so as to facilitate the operation in the north, cut off the food and grass of the Zhao army. Qiao Xuan endured being smashed by the Zhao army's catapult for several days, and he endured that he did not recruit ambushes to raid the Zhao army's grain and grass team, and only now did he act.

I never thought that the Zhao army would withdraw immediately after being attacked. Qiao Xuan still doesn't know the situation in the north, and he doesn't know whether the plan in the north has begun to be implemented. If it is implemented, the withdrawal of the Zhao army will naturally not be too sudden, and the longer the Zhao army can be delayed, the better, if not, it doesn't matter, there is a Chang'an army below to be responsible for the action. But if the plans of the north are not implemented, then the situation is not good for him.

"Damn! Since then, after the Zhao army occupied the northern land and let King Yong lose Bingzhou and Liangzhou, the war horses of our southern princes have become a big problem! It's a pity that King Yong shouldn't have given up the northern land to Zhao Xun little by little, and now we are subject to restrictions everywhere. After seeing that the scouts and heralds he sent were shot and killed by Zhao Jun, and the head of the general was still outside the city gate, Qiao Xuan couldn't help but secretly hate the mistake of Situ Lei, the former Yongwang Wang.

Of course, Qiao Xuan can only scold these words in his heart, and he will not declare them. Yongwang Situ Lei is the father of Situ Fei, the king of Hanzhong, if these words are spread, even if he is Lin Shucheng's disciple, it is useless.

"Continue to send people, no matter what, General Ben needs to know the current situation outside, especially the current situation in the north, and he needs to know what changes can happen in the land of Feng Yifu in the north." As a last resort, Qiao Xuan could only order so. This has nothing to do with his talent, his cavalry scouts are not able to kill the blockade of the Zhao army, this is because the cavalry of the Zhao army outside the city is already several thousand, far from being comparable to the two or three hundred cavalry in the city.

"My lord, something is wrong!" Just when Qiao Xuan was thinking about the news of Zhao Jun's sudden departure outside the city, a guard rushed in with a panicked face and reported to him.

"What's the matter? Panic what? Say! Qiao Xuan said coldly angrily.

"Report to your lordship, the Zhao army outside the city has begun to throw a letter of persuasion into the city!"

"Persuasion? Let them throw, all the letters of surrender are in the hands of the soldiers and the young strong, they know what they should do. As long as they don't fall into the hands of the people of the city, these little things will bother me! Have more questions? ”

"Returning to my lordship, this letter of persuasion is different from the previous one, please take a look!" Saying that, the guard handed the letter of persuasion in his hand to Qiao Xuan.

Qiao Xuan took a look at it disapprerovingly, originally thinking that he had added insulting words to this persuasion letter. But after watching it, Qiao Xuan was dizzy.

"How is that possible? They already know? Also, the operation of Feng Yifu in the north has failed, how is this possible? Qiao Xuan exclaimed.

In addition to the original content of the persuasion letter, that is, to describe the treatment enjoyed by the people and soldiers in the city after the surrender of Zhao, Lin Shucheng, Qiao Xuan and other city lords also added that Lin Shucheng, Qiao Xuan and other city lords would take the soldiers' families as hostages to threaten the soldiers to fight to the death and send them to death. promised that the soldiers would be rewarded for their families when they died in battle, but in fact, these family members had been abandoned by Lin Shucheng and the city officials when these soldiers were transferred to various places to fight to the death. They were killed, or driven into exile, and they were often slaves and slaves.

The letter of persuasion also persuaded these Han soldiers that you are fighting to the death on the front line, but your family is struggling for survival. You are working hard for these officials, but they are robbing you of your property in the rear, and you are insulting your wives and daughters. Why do such officials still have to fight to the death?

In addition, it is briefly stated that the Han army's operation in the north has failed, and now the Han army is sunset and is about to end. Advise these Han army officers and soldiers, in order not to continue to be sent to death by the Han military office, and for their families to live better, to surrender to Zhao as soon as possible, and to be liberated as soon as possible.

"Damn! Damn Zhao Xun, it's just damn it! Qiao Xuan's face turned pale, and he scolded angrily. But there is more worry and panic in his heart. The teacher's layout in the north has now failed, which cannot but make him feel frightened. Speaking of which, his actions here are actually just to assist the northern operation from the side.

"My lord, the city gate guard will let the little ones come to report it, and let the adults be ready for a mutiny, just in case!" The guard continued.

The guard's words immediately made Qiao Xuan react, and he naturally understood the great trouble involved. If the soldiers below see this, no matter what, there will definitely be a big mess.

"Damn Zhao Xun, bastard! How dare he frame us! Qiao Xuan couldn't help but scolded angrily, "Pass the order down and let the officers collect the letters of persuasion in the hands of the soldiers...... No, once Ben would have let people collect this persuasion, it would have angered these soldiers. Damn, this Zhao Xun is simply too ruthless, this hand is obviously roasting the official on the fire! ”

"Hurry up and give an order and tell the soldiers that this is a trick of the Zhao army outside the city, and we raided their grain and grass, so that they have to withdraw their troops because of their lack of food and grass materials, and deliberately use this to break the morale of our army." Qiao Xuan rubbed his eyebrows and said to the guards beside him in a hurry.

"Someone!" Immediately, Qiao Xuan summoned other guards in the mansion. A moment later, Qiao Xuan gathered two hundred guards around him. These are Qiao Xuan's personal guards and his cronies. In addition, more than 300 personal guards were placed in the army by him to assist the officers below in running the army. The 200 guards were divided into five teams, and they took turns in the palace on weekdays.

"The first and second squads immediately went to the barracks, and cooperated with the officers and brothers in the army to pacify the soldiers and soldiers, and must not let them riot."

"The third team personally went out of the city to the surrounding area to investigate the news, and find out if there was any change in Feng Yi's Mansion in the north, be careful and safe."

"The fourth and fifth squads are guarding the generals, and they are on guard. In addition, prepare the secret passages in the mansion, and leave the general's mansion at any time if there is an accident. ”

After several military orders were issued in a row, the general's mansion suddenly began to get busy. However, Qiao Xuan's face did not change in the slightest, and he was still iron-blue. He didn't expect that he had raided Zhao Jun's grain and grass, how did he become what he is now.

This was completely different from what he expected, in Qiao Xuan's expectation, he raided the grain and grass of the Zhao army, if the north has not moved, then the Zhao army should storm the county seat of Weinan. And he commanded these irreversible defenders to fight to the death until the city was finally broken. Of course, there is still a way to leave.

If the operation of the Lord in the north has already begun, then the reaction of the Zhao army is mostly to withdraw the army. And his responsibility is to defend the county seat of Weinan and delay the withdrawal of the Zhao army.

But now, the Zhao army has withdrawn, but there are still 5,000 Zhao cavalry outside the city, in addition, all the cities and towns around Weinan County are now run by the Zhao army, besieging them, not only did not play their due role, but also made them a turtle in the urn.

Although the Zhao army spread the news of the failure of the northern operation, because the county town of Weinan was besieged by the Zhao army, he could not get the information of the north, and Qiao Xuan could not believe the news spread by the Zhao army.

"Alas...... The strength of the forces has canceled out any calculation of intrigue and intriguery. Now, Qiao Xuan also had to sigh like this.

What made Qiao Xuan unpredictable was that the scale of the persuasion letter shot by the Zhao army outside the city was stronger than when the Zhao army besieged it before. In the letter of persuasion, the persuasion was secondary, and the main thing was to tell Lin Shucheng that they were under house arrest and forced the soldiers to fight to the death, but because of the logistical difficulties of the army, and at the same time, in order to eliminate the disaster, they wantonly slaughtered and expelled the families of these soldiers. In addition to some officials who were unwilling to manage and were directly executed, more were deported to the western part of Chang'an.

You must know that the soldiers of the Eastern War in Chang'an were all transferred from the surrounding cities, and it is very possible to expel their families to the west. Therefore, these soldiers believed more and more in what Zhao Jun said in the persuasion letter. After all, these soldiers also know about the current embarrassment of the Han army.

Secondly, Zhao Jun also gave various suggestions on the letter of persuasion, asking these Han soldiers to kill Shangguan and surrender to Zhao Jun, assist Zhao Jun to take Xiyongzhou, and rescue their families. The sooner Zhao Jun took Xiyongzhou, the sooner their families would be rescued.

In addition to these ordinary soldiers, the letter of surrender also involved the officers in the city. The letter of persuasion was full of words, let them tell these ordinary soldiers the truth, do not hide it, and work with these ordinary soldiers to kill the officers who imprisoned their families, take Xiyong Prefecture, and rescue their families.

The Zhao army did not attack the city, but began to persuade the people to surrender, which made the people in the city turbulent for a while, although Qiao Xuan vigorously proclaimed that this was a trick of the Zhao army, but, as time passed, some soldiers began to ask others, looking for the low-level officers below. After learning that the middle and low-level officers were just like them, the people sent by Qiao Xuan to suppress it could no longer be suppressed.

Qiao Xuan hated Zhao Jun's tricks while slowly appeasing him. However, the matter of putting the soldiers' families under house arrest and forcing them to fight to the death was indeed done by the upper echelons of Chang'an, which is an ironclad fact that cannot be erased. Therefore, no matter how much Qiao Xuan suppressed it, no matter how much he involved Zhao Jun, he couldn't cover up their subordinate methods.

After a team of guards sent by Qiao Xuan was finally killed by Zhao Jun and failed to bring back any effective information, Qiao Xuan finally couldn't bear the situation where the soldiers below asked him for an explanation.

On the second day of the withdrawal of the Zhao army, and the afternoon of the second day when the Zhao army outside the city continued to throw letters of persuasion, after seeing that the head of the team of guards outside the city was still outside the city gate by the Zhao army, Qiao Xuan was no longer in a good mood to appease the soldiers below.

When Zhao Jun threw the persuasion letters again, Qiao Xuan directly ordered the soldiers to collect these persuasion letters and burn them all, and the soldiers were not allowed to collect them at will. Although the guards officers and lieutenant generals around him persuaded Qiao Xuan Mo to do this to prevent angering the lieutenant officers and soldiers, Qiao Xuan, who was irritable and angry, insisted on carrying it out.

As a result, some defenders questioned Qiao Xuan on the spot, asking about what Zhao Jun said on the persuasion letter. After holding back his annoyance and persuading a few words to no avail, Qiao Xuan finally couldn't bear it anymore. His own guards died outside the city, how could he be in the mood to appease these ordinary soldiers who stayed in the city and didn't do their jobs, and bothered themselves every day? You must know that those guards have followed him Qiao Xuan for many days, and they are almost brothers-like existences.