Huayin is a relatively special place, although it is only a small county town, belonging to Jingzhaoyin, but Huayin is because it is the only way for Chang'an to go out of the Central Plains in the east, and Tongguan is in the east. People come and go here, and it is very lively, which is why Duan Zhongming can raise more than 10,000 troops with a small county seat, which is much more prosperous than most county seats. When Duan Zhongming was ordered by Xu Rong to go north to Hedong, he took over the defense of Tongguan, and Duan Zhongming felt safe when Tongguan was in hand, so Duan Zhongming deliberately put 3,000 elites in Tongguan, and his distant cousin guarded it. And Huayin County, after Duan Zhongming sent 5,000 troops to Lantian, there were only about 2,000 troops here, and most of them were absent-minded, and they always felt that the left and right sides were their own people, not to mention Tongguan in the east, Duan Zhongming had just gone from the west.

When Chen Lin's army came to Huayin, the whole city did not notice it at all, Chen Lin saw that the banner of Duan Zi was still flying on the city, and his heart was stable, and he was afraid that Liu Bei would run fast enough. Chen Lin glanced at Huayin City, which was a few miles away, and sneered, it was really careless, thousands of troops came to the city and didn't know, if the guard was under Chen Lin's command, he would definitely not live long. Chen Lin waved his hand and said to Zhou Cang and the others: "Without further ado, Zhou Cang seized the city gate, and Huang Yan sent scouts to explore Tongguan and Lantian, don't be careless and act." ”

Above Tongguan, the high-spirited Liu Bei was sitting on the table at this time, Guan Yu was really in the column, and two gentlemen dressed as scribes stood in the lower hall, one old and one young, the older one was forty or fifty, and the younger one was in his early twenties. Liu Bei has lived really smoothly over the years, first Hongnong Luoyang, then Hanoi, Liu Bei has also added capable people, among which the two people in front of him are the famous Sima Fang father and son in Hanoi.

Sima Fang's father was the Taishou of Yingchuan, the Sima family was famous in Hanoi, and when Liu Bei attacked Hanoi, the Sima family and the Han family were mainly based on Liu Bei. This time sending 6,000 troops to take Tongguan unexpectedly is Sima Fang's meaning, Liu Bei's heart is not unhappy, knowing that Chen Lin to Lantian is only a few days away, Sima is sure that Duan Zhongming and Chen Lin will have a battle, and according to the inference of troops, Sima Fang decisively came to the conclusion that Duan Zhongming must take the initiative to attack.

Liu Bei is also a decisive person, immediately ordered Zhang Fei to guard Luoyang, sent 6,000 troops overnight to secretly march with Guan Yu and others, and took Tongguan by surprise in the middle of the night, 6,000 people fought against 3,000 defenders, and more than half of them were killed and wounded. This is also the reason why Liu Bei is still staying in Tongguan, there are too many attritions, and Liu Bei's soldiers and horses are soldiers who have not experienced a big war after all.

At this time, Liu Bei was discussing the next move with Sima Fang, and Liu Bei said worriedly: "It's difficult, far and near, it's not reassuring." Sima Fang saw that the lord was like this, so he had no choice but to speak: "The lord's so-called distant worries are just Cao Mengde, this person is eloquent and strategic, and he is indeed the great enemy of the lord in the future." But the lord has this worry, so why is Cao Mengde not, the lord must not forget the north, that is Cao Mengde's great enemy. Therefore, as long as the lord develops his strength in the near future and unites the north as an alliance, Cao Mengde does not dare to be too arrogant. As for the close concern that the lord said, it is naturally the rear general Yuan Highway, this person spans the three states of Jingyuyang, but Yuan Highway is a person with high ambitions and talents, and he is not enough to be afraid. The stronger he is, the more enemies there are, and Cao Mengde and the others are not afraid that Yuan Highway is too strong, so there is no need to worry about this. The only thing the lord has to do is to implement that strategy, and the Han will not worry about revival. ”

When Sima Fang talked about that strategy, Liu Bei's eyes suddenly lit up, but he didn't know what plan Sima Fang was talking about. Liu Bei: "Well, now that Tongguan has been lowered, how does Jiangong think our army should go down?" "Building justice is Sima Fang's expression. Sima Fang lowered his head and thought for a while, and said: "Duan Zhongming will soon find out that Tongguan is lost, Tongguan is lost, with Duan Zhongming's character, this person will return to the army to guard Huayin, and even come to attack Tongguan." Now the news of the loss of Tongguan must be transmitted to Huayin in less than an hour or two, and it is impossible for our army to raid Huayin. ”

Liu Bei sighed: "If it weren't for the lack of troops, a certain person would immediately send troops to take Huayin after taking Tongguan, at this time, I am afraid that he has arrived at Huayin City by surprise and see what he Duan Zhongming will do." After Liu Bei complained, he turned his head and asked Guan Yu, who was silent: "Yun Chang, the specific number of casualties in the army can be counted?" ”

Guan Yu was arrogant, but he was very obedient to Liu Bei, and said loudly: "Brother, it's calculated, now there are more than 2,900 soldiers who can fight, more than 700 wounded, the rest are all dead, there are more than 600 prisoners, there is not much food and grass in the army, brother It's better to deal with these prisoners quickly, so as not to waste food." "Over the years, Liu Bei has been short of food to the point of no return, that is, after taking Hanoi, with the help of Sima Fang and Han Hao and others, Luoyang barely has to starve, but Luoyang's devastation is not said to be able to get better.

Captives are definitely a problem faced by every victor, kill, Liu Bei does not dare, Liu Bei is known for his benevolence and righteousness, at this time you can't do this kind of thing, let go, Liu Bei doesn't dare, these captives return to Huayin is army, and they can come back another day to attack themselves. At this time, Liu Bei looked at Sima Fang, Sima Fang had not yet spoken, and the young man next to Sima Fang spoke first: "Lord, Lang thinks that these people can't be released, and it is definitely not possible to kill them, so if you escort these people back to Luoyang, doesn't Tuntian just need manpower." "This young man is Sima Fang's eldest son, Sima Lang, Sima Boda. Tuntian is a grain hoarding strategy proposed by Han Hao in Hanoi after Han Hao's surrender to Liu Bei's grain problem, Tuntian. It is to unify a large piece of fertile land, and Liu Bei organized people to cultivate it by hand, and the grain obtained was all returned to the government in addition to these tenant farmers to support their families, and to put it bluntly, Liu Bei wanted to enclose the land and be the largest landlord.

Liu Bei said in his heart, how could he not think of this, and hurriedly said: "Hehe, it is still Boda who is careful, otherwise I will forget about it." Just as Liu Bei was actively preparing for the battle to meet Duan Zhongming's possible counterattack, the scouts sent out rushed back: "Lord Yu, Huayin City has been captured by Yizhou Mu. ”

Liu Bei was shocked, Chen Lin? Huayin? Sima Fang's father and son were also surprised, isn't Chen Lin in Lantian, it's three days away from here, what's the matter, Sima Fang was the first to understand, and said: "Amazing, courageous." Liu Bei hurriedly asked: "Oh, Jiangong, don't be confused, tell me quickly, what's going on." ”

Sima Fang: "My lord, I'm afraid that Lord Yizhou Mu took the initiative to give up Lantian, when Duan Zhongming went to take Lantian, Lord Zhou Mu raised troops to take Huayin, Duan Zhongming got a little Lantian, but he lost his ground, this time it was because of a small loss." It's just that this state pastor is so bold and dares to give up Lantian, if Huayin can't be attacked, then the state pastor will be miserable. ”

When Liu Bei heard this, Chen Lin turned out to be the lord who gave up Lantian and came to take Huayin, and he admired Chen Lin's courage a little in his heart, but this was nothing to Liu Bei, who had gotten along with Chen Lin, and now Liu Bei was more concerned about what impact Chen Lin had on the entire situation and what impact it had on himself. So Liu Bei said: "Jiangong, this person knows that Uncle Chen is both wise and brave so far, but Huayin is a moment, I don't know how the situation will develop, how can Duan Zhongming be willing." ”

As soon as Sima Fang heard it, he knew what Liu Bei cared about and what kind of answer he wanted, and said: "No, Duan Zhongming will definitely counterattack, and Chen Zhoumu will definitely defend it, as long as he holds Huayin for three or a few days, Duan Zhongming's army will be unstable, and then Chen Zhoumu will be able to do great things." The lord suggested that the lord go to Huayin and join Chen Zhoumu. ”

Guan Yu thought of Chen Lin, and his heart was a little moved, if it weren't for Chen Lin, Liu Bei and the three of them didn't know where to wander, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei both had a good impression of Chen Lin in their hearts. Liu Bei asked suspiciously: "Oh, why do you want to go to Huayin, you must know that Duan Zhongming has at least 5,000 troops in his hands, and Huayin is Duan Zhongming's camp, Duan Zhongming will definitely sacrifice his life to attack, wouldn't it be in vain for our army to go to suffer casualties?" After Liu Bei's words were finished, Guan Yu frowned, but he didn't say anything, and Liu Bei didn't find out.

Sima Fang: "Lord, imagine if Chen Zhoumu successfully resisted Duan Zhongming's attack and defeated Duan Zhongming, then Chang'an East Road would be unblocked, and people in the world would talk about it in the future, only knowing Chen Zhoumu's merits, on the contrary, no one would mention it if the lord took Tongguan, and the lord would be willing." Sima Fang didn't care about the shame at all, and openly said such things, and didn't mention anything like a moral and loyal minister. But Liu Bei was so moved that he listened to it, and felt that Sima Fang was reasonable, which made Guan Yu frown again.

On Huayin City, Chen Lin has already attacked the city, and the battle has lasted for a whole hour, and the defenders who were caught off guard have been defeated and retreated, and now Chen Lin has basically controlled Huayin City, and is busy posting a list of people. Chen Lin looked at the busy soldiers and said to Jia Xu and Fazheng: "In less than two days, Duan Zhongming will definitely wave his army to counterattack." ”

Jia Xu: "Lord, there was no such thing as Liu Xuande before, but now that Liu Xuande has come to Tongguan, the lord has a plan to give Huayin to Liu Xuande." ”

Jia Xu has said more than once that he doesn't want Huayin City, the difference is that last time he said that he would let Duan Zhongming take it, and this time he said that he would give it to Liu Bei, so everyone didn't have such a big reaction. Chen Lin: "Oh, Xuande? Why? ”

Jia Xu smiled, always feeling a little bad: "Let Liu Xuande fight with Duan Zhongming, we can go back to Lantian." Although this Huayin is more prosperous than Lantian, but this is the place where Duan Zhongming has been in the past for many years, and our army is here and eats well, if it is better to return to Lantian, it is the hometown of the three commanders, and it is cheaper for our army to act. ”

Chen Lin thought for a while and said, "Then how can you convince Xuande, it is impossible for Xuande not to see Duan Zhongming's determination to return to Huayin?" ”

Jia Xu smiled again: "Grain"

Duan Zhongming's purpose in recapturing Huayin is nothing else, that is, the food in it, the food in the city is enough for tens of thousands of troops for a year, this is Duan Zhongming's only family background in Huayin. Liu Bei is short of food, Chen Lin knows, Jia Xu knows, and Liu Bei knows even more. Chen Lin smiled, laughed at Jia Xuhahaha, and shouted arrogantly: "Okay, let it be given to him, and order someone to contact Liu Xuande, and say that there is a big gift." ”

After Chen Lin finished speaking, the scout came to report: "My lord, Lord Liu Xuande of Henan Province sent someone to come." ”

Chen Lin, Fa Zheng and the others looked at each other and laughed, hahahaha, they sent it to the door.