On September 16 of the first year of Xingping of the Han Dynasty, a thick layer of haze gathered in the sky above Dingtao City, and it was drizzling in the sky, and the whole Dingtao City was immersed in sadness.

Today, it is not only the day of Lu Bu's burial, but also the memorial service for the soldiers who died in this war.

In the early morning, the scouts came back to tell that Cao Cao had set up camp overnight and quickly returned to Puyang.

At the same time, as soon as Chen Qi, Zhang Hong, Bao Shao and others received Zhang Yan's order, they hurriedly led reinforcements to support, and after a long journey, they also arrived in Dingtao this morning.

In addition, Wei Xu and Cao Xing also led a thousand troops to come at this time, just in time to attend Lu Bu's funeral.

Lu Bu's funeral was presided over by Gao Shun and personally organized by Zhang Yan. Lu Bu was named Marquis of Wen during his lifetime, so the entire funeral was handled in accordance with the ceremonies of the Marquis of the Han Dynasty. Although it is said that Lu Bu never enjoyed the treatment of a marquis during his lifetime, he was able to enjoy this kind of treatment after his death, and it was not in vain to come to the world.

Lu Bu, who was only thirty-nine years old, ended his life in this way, which can be described as an untimely death.

After Lu Bu's death, his subordinates Gao Shun, Zhang Liao, Wei Xu, Cao Xing and others all surrendered to Zhang Yan's account, and Yanzhou, which was originally a three-legged stand, had become a two-legged world at this time, and Zhang Yan and Cao Cao formed a situation of confrontation between the north and the south.

Today's Cao Cao, only the lonely city of Puyang remains, and it is a bit too far-fetched to say that the confrontation between the north and the south is too far-fetched.

After Lu Bu's funeral, Gao Shun, Zhang Liao, Wei Xu, Cao Xing and others immediately came to Zhang Yan, and after a ceremony, Gao Shun said directly: "Lord, now that Cao Cao has retreated back to Puyang, there is only such a lonely city, and his subordinates think that our army should quickly send troops to attack Puyang, and we must not leave Cao Cao a chance to breathe......"

Gao Shun's words, the point stopped, did not seem to be persecuting, but also analyzed the current situation from another aspect, and very sincerely asked Zhang Yan to send troops.

It happened that Zhang Hong was also in the hall, so Zhang Yan turned his head to Zhang Hong and said, "Strategist, what do you mean?" ”

Zhang Hong didn't think about it, and immediately said: "Now Cao Cao only has the lonely city of Puyang, with less than 10,000 soldiers and horses, and judging from the current situation, it is very beneficial to our army." If the lord can gather superior forces and come to the city of Puyang, as long as he keeps attacking day and night, he will definitely be able to capture Puyang and completely defeat Cao Cao. As the saying goes, if our army can attack quickly and do not give Cao Jun any respite, once Cao Cao is eliminated, Yanzhou will be decided. I thought that this was the best time to send troops. ”

Zhang Yan heard that Zhang Hong also agreed to send troops, and the analysis of the current situation was also in place, he thought for a moment, and then said: "This time to send troops, if you don't eliminate Cao Cao, you will not give up!" ”

Subsequently, Zhang Yan issued an order, with Gao Shun as the vanguard, and Wei Xu and Cao Xing as their generals, leading their old subordinates, each with three days' rations, to Puyang first.

Gao Shun, Wei Xu, and Cao Xing, with their old subordinates, left Dingtao that afternoon, and quickly headed towards Puyang with a heart of revenge.

Zhang Liao was left by Zhang Yan's side, and together with Tai Shici and Xu Chu, he was responsible for commanding the only more than 900 cavalry.

The army took a rest in Dingtao City, and found out the only siege equipment from the arsenal, and asked Bao Shao to return to Changyi with a team, and asked Bao Xun to send people to Puyang to transport more siege equipment and grain and grass.

After that, Zhang Yan sent someone to send a letter to Yu Ban, asking Yu Ban to lead the army to Puyang and join him in Puyang!

And Zhang Yan asked the troops and horses of the headquarters to reorganize and set off early tomorrow morning.

That night, Chen Jiao, the Taishou of Xiapi, sent someone to send an urgent letter, and after Zhang Yan opened it, he carefully browsed it, and a wisp of sorrow came to his heart.

This letter was written by Liu Xuan, the assassin of Yangzhou, and it was a letter asking for help, which mentioned that Sun Ce, the general under Yuan Shu's account, led the crowd to attack Qu'a, and the generals under Liu Xuan could not resist it, and they were defeated and retreated.

"It seems that Sun Ce is going to capture Jiangdong......" Zhang Yan closed the letter and said to himself.

Although Zhang Yan also wants to prevent Sun Ce from attacking Jiangdong, he is powerless now, his current focus is completely on Cao Cao, and winning the Central Plains is his strategic plan, although Jiangdong also wants to collect it, but now he has no skills.

When Yuan Shu attacked Xuzhou the previous time, Zhang Yan sent Chen Jiao to Yangzhou to contact Liu Xuan, and Liu Xuan sent troops to attack Yuan Shu's back, indirectly helping Zhang Yan.

Later, Zhang Yan adopted the strategy of long-distance friendship and close attack, and even signed an offensive and defensive alliance with Liu Xuan. Because of this, when Zhang Yan saw this letter asking for help, he was in a dilemma and didn't know what to do.

In desperation, Zhang Yan had no choice but to invite Chen Qi and Zhang Hong over to discuss countermeasures.

After Chen Qi and Zhang Hong arrived in the hall, Zhang Yan immediately explained the reason for letting them come, and after hearing this, the two looked at each other and looked embarrassed.

Zhang Yan has just issued an order to attack Puyang, and he has also made arrangements, wanting to completely eliminate Cao Cao in one fell swoop to prevent future troubles. Then Liu Miao's letter for help was sent, this is not to be saved, and it is not to be saved.

Chen Jue took the lead in saying: "Liu Zhengli is a famous man at home, and a member of the Han family, during his reign, he was widely benevolent and beloved by the people of Yangzhou. What's more, the last time Yuan Shu attacked my Xuzhou, Liu Zhengli, at the request of the lord, sent troops to attack Yuan Shu's Huainan and forced Yuan Shu to retreat and return. This time, he was attacked by Yuan Shu's generals, and if our army did not go to help, it would inevitably be a little unreasonable. ”

"But I have already given an order, and I am preparing to attack Cao Cao with all my strength, at this time Liu Miao asked for help, I am lacking in skills, how to save it?" Zhang Yan asked rhetorically.

Zhang Hong hurriedly said: "Lord, Liu Zhengli is in trouble and has to be saved. If Liu Zhengli's army was defeated, Yuan Shu's army would be able to drive straight into Yangzhou and steal Yangzhou. Yuan Shu already has Huainan, and if he wins Yangzhou again, he will inevitably become the enemy of our army. However, the lord does not have to go to the rescue in person, Guangling Taishou Chen Deng is not only resourceful, but also quite a general, as long as he leads the soldiers and horses to cross the river to Qu'a, go to help Liu Xuan, this problem will be solved! ”

Chen Qi also hurriedly said: "Although Yuanlong is my son, I am virtuous and do not avoid relatives, and this important task is none other than Yuanlong." However, although Yuan Long has resourcefulness, he has no courage, and the lord still needs to send a few generals to assist. ”

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "Then let's do it, Chen Junshi, please write an official document, one to Yuanlong, and ask him to lead the Guangling soldiers and horses, cross the river to Qu'a, and help Liu Xuan." ”

After all, Chen Qi is Chen Deng's father, and this time he was involved in the war, and he was afraid that something would happen to his son, so he asked again: "......What about the dispatch of war generals?"

"Don't worry about this, I will send two capable generals to Yuanlong." Zhang Yan saw Chen Qi's worry, so he said comfortingly.

Subsequently, Zhang Yan summoned a scout and asked this scout to rush to Huailing and Dongcheng overnight, and conveyed his order to Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin, so that the two of them could go to Qu'a and be dispatched by Chen Deng.

In order to allow Chen Deng to control the soldiers and horses more quickly, Zhang Yan deliberately asked Chen Qi to add a few words to the official document, so that Chen Deng could temporarily exercise the power of the general.

After the matter was resolved, Chen Qi and Zhang Hong retired one after another, and Zhang Yan returned to the room, ready to rest and set out for Puyang tomorrow.

However, after returning to the room, Zhang Yan couldn't sleep over and over, and at this time, he kept thinking about one person in his mind, that is, Diao Chan.

Since the last time Zhang Yan took the opportunity to ask Tai Shici to take Diao Chan away and hide it in Changyi, he has never seen Diao Chan again, and I don't know if Diao Chan is satisfied with his arrangement.

If it weren't for the expedition tomorrow, he would definitely ride the dark clouds on the snow horse tonight and gallop to the city of Changyi, so that Haode and Diao Chan could meet each other.

Zhang Yan couldn't fall asleep over and over, and all he thought about was Diao Chan, which lingered for a long time.

"Alas! Let's wait until Cao Cao is eliminated! ”

Zhang Yan forced himself to sleep, and finally fell asleep half an hour later.

After dawn the next day, Zhang Yan led the army out of Dingtao and went to Puyang.

Gao Shun led more than 1,000 people including Wei Xu and Cao Xing, and soon arrived in Puyang, although they were all anxious to find Cao Cao for revenge, but Gao Shun knew very well that with their little strength, they could not defeat Cao Cao at all.

Therefore, Gao Shun decided to find a place to settle first, wait for Zhang Yan's army to arrive, and then face Cao Cao.

Gao Shun had been to Puyang several times, and every time he arrived at a new place, he would always ride around on horseback and personally inspect the local geography. And he knew everything about Puyang, so he didn't hesitate to choose a place to settle - Xiancheng.

Xiancheng is a small city in Puyang, which was once an important city in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and was gradually abandoned.

Today, although Xiancheng is not very important, it still exists as a military fortress.

Gao Shun first sent scouts to investigate, and learned that there were a few Cao soldiers stationed in Xiancheng, so he attacked Xiancheng with Wei Xu and Cao Xing, and captured all Cao soldiers, and did not miss a single one.

Xiancheng was only more than twenty miles away from Puyang, and Gao Shun was worried that Cao Cao would send troops to attack after learning that he occupied Xiancheng, so he led his soldiers to lay many traps outside Xiancheng to prevent accidents.

In the evening, Gao Shun did not wait for Cao's army, but waited for Yu Ban, who led Chen Ying, Mi Fang and 10,000 soldiers and horses to come, and was about to attack Xiancheng to occupy this place, but Gao Shun took the lead.

Fortunately, Yu Ban had already known that Gao Shun and the others had surrendered to Zhang Yan's account, otherwise, Ken would have attacked him.

Gao Shun learned of the arrival of Yu Ban and others, and personally went out of the city to greet him, and the two armies merged into one and waited for Zhang Yan's army to arrive in Xiancheng.