(PS: Tomorrow Mid-Autumn Festival, I wish my friends a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.) By the way, let's talk about tomorrow's update, there are too many things about the pure wolf during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so try to fight for tomorrow's update pure wolf, if you can't catch up with the time, please forgive me. ）

Let's take a look at the situation on the battlefield in Xuchang, although I knew that the remnants of Yuan Tan's army trapped in the lonely city were likely to abandon the city and leave, and I also hoped that Xin Ping and Cen Bi would do the same, but for the sake of prudence, Deputy Director Tao still did not relax the preparations for taking Xuchang City by force. After all, there are many examples in this world of sticking to the lonely city and not giving up, and no one dares to guarantee that Xin Ping, who is loyal to Yuan Tan, will go crazy, and at the same time sharpen the knife and not chop wood, so that the enemy can see that the army is preparing to attack the city by force, which can also increase the enemy's psychological pressure and force the enemy to choose to retreat.

In line with this reason, while setting up the camp, Deputy Director Tao, who had sufficient troops, did not let the army waste time in vain, and while ordering the army to step up the construction of siege weapons, he arranged for Qin Yi to lead the auxiliary army to fill the Xuchang moat and open the siege road for the army. In addition, Deputy Director Tao listened to Liu Ye's suggestion and sent an envoy into the city with a letter to recruit surrender, and persuaded Xin Ping and Cen Bi to open the city and surrender to the Xuzhou army - although it must have been for the envoy to run in vain, but after all, Emperor Han Xian and the Third Duke of Da Yuan were still in Xuchang City, so Deputy Director Tao had to go through the motions, didn't he?

Sure enough, as Deputy Director Tao guessed, after the Xuzhou envoy entered Xuchang City, he was really scolded by Xin Ping, and Deputy Director Tao's surrender letter was also torn to shreds in front of him, and the envoy returned to the camp to report the news, Deputy Director Tao was not angry, but asked the envoy with a pleasant face: "When you entered the city, did you see the big-eared thief Liu Bei also in the city?" ”

The book explains that Deputy Director Tao does not know whether Uncle Liu Huang fled into Xuchang City for two reasons, one is that Uncle Liu Huang and Zhuge Liang and others entered the city late at night without alarming the Xuzhou army, and the other is that Uncle Liu, Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fei had only two soldiers left around after entering the city, and the target was too small to be noticed by Yuan Tanjun, so even if the Xuzhou army caught a few Yuan Tan army scouts who went out of the city to reconnoitre, they did not know the whereabouts of Uncle Liu Huang from the confession. And this time it was the same, the Xuzhou envoy who also did not see Uncle Liu Huang also replied honestly: "My lord, no, after the villain entered the city, he was immediately escorted into the city tower, and he saw Xin Ping and Cen Bi in the city tower, and then he was driven out, and he did not see the big-eared thief." ”

"Really?" Deputy Director Tao frowned, first waved his hand to let the envoy go down to rest, and then muttered, "Could it be that the big-eared thief really didn't escape into Xuchang City?" This doesn't look like a big-eared thief, how could he be willing to miss such a good opportunity to fish in troubled waters? ”

"Lord, what is there to fear from the big-eared thief who has been defeated repeatedly?" Chen Ying next to him interjected and said, "Right now, we should give priority to major matters like the Son of Heaven and Ben Chu Gong, right?" Can you be guilty of being a big-eared thief again? ”

"Don't underestimate the big-eared thief." Deputy Director Tao shook his head and said, "Don't look at the big-eared thief who has been defeated repeatedly in front of our army, but didn't he immediately make a comeback that time, and immediately pulled up a team of soldiers and horses to embarrass us?" If the big-eared thief is not in Xuchang, for the sake of Lord Yuezhang's face, it is nothing to let Xin Ping and Cen Bi go, but if the big-eared thief is hiding in the team of Xin Ping and Cen Bi, then we will have to hunt down Xin Ping and Cen Bi's team at all costs, because if one is not good, the team of Xin Ping and Cen Bi will become the team of the big ear thief. ”

"The lord is too worried, Xin Ping and Cen Bi are not fools, Mr. Xin Ping can be regarded as a wise man, how can he hand over the military power to the big-eared thief so easily?" Chen Ying was a little unimpressed, but this can't be blamed on Chen Ying's carelessness, in this era, except for Deputy Director Tao of the Traverser, there is really no one who regards Uncle Liu Huang as a big trouble.

"Not necessarily." Deputy Director Tao still insisted on his opinion, but he was thinking about how to confirm whether Uncle Liu Huang was in Xuchang City, and even once considered using Guan Yu's corpse head to anger Uncle Liu Huang and Zhang Fei and force them to show up on their own, but considering that this era attaches great importance to etiquette, and the Chinese tradition also pays attention to human death, which will inevitably damage his reputation too much, Deputy Director Tao quickly dispelled this idea and went to find other ways.

Deputy Director Tao naturally can't compare with Uncle Liu Huang in terms of luck, just when Deputy Director Tao was trying his best to confirm Uncle Liu's whereabouts, that afternoon, which was also the afternoon of the third day when the Xuzhou army arrived in Xuchang, the anxious Xin Ping finally made up his mind to give up Xuchang to break through the city, and at the same time Xin Ping listened to Zhuge Liang's opinion, and felt that if he broke through to the northwest, he would be intercepted by the Xuzhou army, and there was a risk of annihilation, so Xin Ping hesitated again and again, but decided to break through to Jingzhou in the southwest first. First to Jingzhou, Nanyang, and then to Hanoi.

Finalized this resolution, at the second watch of the night, in fact, the Xuchang defenders, who had already been ready to retreat, opened four gates, more than 15,000 Yuan Tan troops rushed out of the city, and hurriedly organized the team to retreat westward, with the general Wang Le leading the army of 3,000 to open the way, Cen Bi led the army of 5,000 palaces, Xin Ping led the Chinese army to protect the Han Xian Emperor and his wife and the three princes of the Great Yuan, in order to reduce the burden and speed up, the Xin Ping team only carried half a month of grain and grass, and did not allow the hundred officials of the court to accompany them, for which they also killed two Han loyal ministers who were determined to follow the retreat of the Han Xian Emperor, However, Liu Huangshu and others were able to retreat with the Chinese army with the light of Jingzhou's allies.

By the way, when retreating, some people also proposed to set fire to the Xuchang Imperial City and the granary, leaving not a single brick and tile and a meter of grain in the imperial city to the Xuzhou army, but fortunately, Xin Ping kept a cool head at this moment, and said: "Our army protects the old lord to abandon the city to break through, if the granary of the imperial city is burned, the pottery thief will definitely go all out to hunt down our army, it is better to close the imperial city and leave Xuchang intact with the pottery thief, the pottery thief is best to be famous, seeing our army's righteous deeds, he must have scruples, and will not go all out to chase and kill, and our army can also take the opportunity to protect more soldiers." ”

After making up his mind, Xin Ping did not listen to the advice of Uncle Liu Huang and others, and resolutely decided to close the grain depot of the imperial city, and arranged for some local soldiers in Xuchang who refused to withdraw to take care of it, so that he led the army out of the city to break through to the west.

Although Xin Ping's hand is a bit of a woman's kindness, it also gives the already embarrassed Deputy Director Tao another big problem, because the paralyzed and speechless Yuan Sangong was already retreating with Xin Ping and Cen Bi's team, Deputy Director Tao sent troops to chase and kill, and a slight mistake made the Great Yuan Sangong die in the chaos, Deputy Director Tao not only had a complete reputation, but also the remaining conscience that had not been eaten up by the dog would definitely not go away - after all, Deputy Director Tao was indeed too deeply favored by the Great Yuan Sangong, and it can be said that without the protection of the Great Yuan Sangong, It is absolutely impossible for Deputy Director Tao to come to this point now. And Xin Ping came to a closed imperial city grain depot again, leaving a basically intact Xuchang City to the Xuzhou Army, if Deputy Director Tao was poisoned again, his moral reputation would definitely not be justified.

It was also in consideration of these, so after learning that Xin Ping and others had kidnapped Emperor Han Xian to break through, in the face of the Xuzhou generals who asked for orders to pursue, Deputy Director Tao was unprecedentedly indecisive once, and only ordered Gao Shun to immediately lead the army into Xuchang City to take over the city defense, and then hesitated to make up his mind to order the pursuit, until the Xuzhou generals urged again and again, Deputy Director Tao finally made up his mind and ordered: "Send a messenger, Pegasus to chase Xin Ping's team, and tell Xin Ping face to face that as long as he leaves the Son of Heaven and the queen, I promised not to hunt him down, let his team leave Yingchuan, and let him go there. ”

"Lord, this is a good opportunity to break the enemy's army, why bother with the kindness of a woman and let the tiger return to the mountain?" Several Xuzhou fierce generals shouted.

"I have made up my mind, and you don't need to persuade me again." Deputy Director Tao rarely had a serious face, and then said helplessly: "Lord Yuezhang is in Xin Ping's team, if our army sends troops to chase and kill, and there is a slight mistake in the melee, so that the paralyzed Lord Yuezhang dies in the chaotic army, I will have no way to explain to the people of the world." But fortunately, Xin Ping and Cen Bi are not capable generals, and letting them go is not a big deal, let them go. ”

Seeing Deputy Director Tao's resolute attitude, the generals of Xuzhou had no choice but to retreat, and Yang Changshi, who was in charge of Xuzhou's external affairs, immediately arranged a messenger in person, and asked the messenger to go to the Xinping team to negotiate in person, and then Deputy Director Tao ordered the army to stay still, and then pull out the camp to camp under the city of Xuchang after dawn, and the generals were ordered to go. Then it was also at this time that Chen Yingcai, who was familiar with Deputy Director Tao's surname, found an opportunity and asked Deputy Director Tao alone: "Lord, since you decided to let the Xin Ping team go, why do you want him to hand over the Son of Heaven?" Didn't you say before that it doesn't matter if we can get the Son of Heaven this time? ”

"If I don't express my stance on the issue of the Son of Heaven, how will I explain to the people of the world in the future?" Deputy Director Tao replied with a smile; "Of course, it is best for Xin Ping to be able to hand over the Son of Heaven, if he refuses to hand over the Son of Heaven, it doesn't matter, I use Xin Ping as an excuse to threaten the surname of the Son of Heaven, not only do I not have to send troops to chase and kill, but I can also take the opportunity to detain Yuan Tan for the crime of murdering the Son of Heaven." Chen Ying suddenly realized, and hurriedly flattered Deputy Director Tao again and again.

Not to mention, Deputy Director Tao's decision really moved Xin Ping, when the Xuzhou envoy caught up with Xin Ping's team and conveyed Deputy Director Tao's attitude to Xin Ping, Xin Ping really moved the idea of handing over Emperor Han Xian, because as long as Emperor Han Xian was handed over, the Xin Ping team would not have to worry about Deputy Director Tao, who had always had a good reputation, and would not need to retreat to Hanoi via Nanyang, which could save countless distances and time, and could also avoid the danger of being forcibly absorbed by Liu Biaojun.

Heaven is not as good as people, seeing that Xin Ping was about to accept the conditions of the Xuzhou army, Zhuge Liang next to him saw that the situation was not good, and hurriedly bumped Uncle Liu Huang next to him with his arm, and said in a low voice: "Lord, hurry, go up and oppose it!" Besides, be sure to show your identity in front of Tao Ying's envoy, and let the pottery thief know that you are in the Xin Ping team at the moment! ”

"Why?" Uncle Liu Huang asked in surprise.

"There's no time to explain, it's too late." Zhuge Liang urged again.

Seeing Zhuge Liang's anxious expression, Uncle Liu Huang no longer hesitated, and immediately strode forward and said loudly to Xin Ping: "Xin Servant Shooting, you must not be in the middle of the scheme, Xin Servant Shooting, do you still remember the Guandu battle situation that I am going to introduce to you?" The pottery thief promised to give Ji Hou a day to think about it on the surface, but secretly sent troops to attack Guandu overnight! Now the pottery thief repeats his old tricks, but he wants to trick you into handing over the Son of Heaven, so that he can worry about the future, and then the pottery thief can rest assured that he will chase you and annihilate your team! ”

"Who are you? How dare you slander my father-in-law? The Xuzhou envoy asked angrily.

"I am Liu Bei Liu Xuande, the uncle of the Han Emperor!" Uncle Liu Huang loudly identified himself, but the Xuzhou envoy was really surprised, but Uncle Liu Huang no longer paid attention to him, but turned to Xin Ping and said: "Xin Servant, the Son of Heaven is the lord of the world, how important?" You handed over the Son of Heaven to the pottery thief, how will you explain to the Marquis of Ji in the future? Besides, the pottery thief is despicable and untrustworthy, if you really hand over the Son of Heaven, when the pottery thief waves his army to chase and kill you, won't he have the slightest scruples? ”

"Yes, Lord Servant must not be gullible." Zhuge Liang also limped forward, and kindly suggested: "If Xin Servant Shoot is embarrassed, you might as well act like this, the younger Zhuge Liang suggested, Servant Shot Lord can order this Xuzhou envoy to return to Tao Envoy Jun, and said that as long as Tao Envoy Jun does not send troops to pursue our army, let our army leave Yingchuan, then after leaving Yingchuan, Xin Servant Shoot you will ask the Son of Heaven to decide to stay." ”

"That's one way to do it." Xin Ping, who was hesitating, really hit the plan, first nodded, and then shouted to the Xuzhou envoy: "Go back and tell the Tao thief, just say that I can ask the Son of Heaven to decide to stay, but not in Yingchuan, I must wait for our army to leave Yingchuan safely, and then I can ask the Son of Heaven to decide where to go!" ”

The Xuzhou envoy was helpless, and glared at Uncle Liu Huang, who was already hated in the Xuzhou army, and then said goodbye to Xin Ping, and then got on the horse and hurried back to report the news. also sent away the Xuzhou envoy according to the plan, and Uncle Liu Huang seized the opportunity to talk to Zhuge Liang alone, so he asked Zhuge Liang about the reason for doing so, and Zhuge Liang replied in a cold sweat: "Lord, it's so dangerous, if we were one step late just now, Lord, your big plan to make a comeback, I don't know how long it will be delayed." ”

"Why?" Uncle Liu Huang asked in surprise.

"Because once Xin Ping accepts Tao Yuanjun's conditions, Xin Ping's team will not go to Jingzhou, and will definitely go to Hanoi directly through Yangcheng." Zhuge Liang said in a low voice: "So Liang hurriedly asked the lord to come forward to oppose it, in order to make Xin Ping and Tao Yuanjun unable to reconcile, so that Xin Ping's team can only go to Jingzhou first according to the original plan for the sake of safety, and dare not take Yangcheng, which is easy to be intercepted by the Xuzhou army." ”

"Then why do you want me to identify myself?" Uncle Liu Huang asked again, "Also, why did you seem to deliberately say your name just now?" ”

"Because I'm going to lure Tao Envoy Jun to hunt down Xin Ping's team." Zhuge Liang replied with a smile: "The lord still remembers that Liang once said that Tao Envoy Jun has a pathological hatred for you, and many times he would rather lose a big one because of a small loss, but also give priority to breaking the lord and your team, and hunt you down at any cost!" Liang just wanted to take advantage of this this this time and lure Tao Zhijun to send troops to chase and kill, because the more chaotic the battlefield, the tighter Xin Ping and Cen Bi's team was chased by Tao Yuanjun's team, the more beneficial it would be to you, right? ”

Uncle Liu Huang smiled happily, nodded and said, "Kong Ming is really high-minded and well-educated. ”

Zhuge Liang and Uncle Liu Huang both hoped to profit from the chaos, but due to the limitations of time, roads, and message transmission channels, Uncle Liu and Zhuge Liang were destined to have no way of knowing that a bigger and more complex chaos was waiting for them, because almost at the same time, more than a hundred miles away, the planned withdrawal of Xin Ping's team was outside the target Yexian City, and the angry Cao Boss personally led the army and started a new round of battle with Liu Pan's team. And Huang Zhong, who had beheaded Xiahou Yuan on the first day, rose up and led his troops out of the city again to meet Cao's army south of Wushui, and Liu Pan, who heard that Cao Boss was there in person, left Pang Tong and others to guard Yecheng, and personally led the army to come to reinforcements.

Before the two armies, Cao Boss personally patted the horse out of the battle, pointed at Huang Zhong with a horse whip and scolded, threatening to avenge Xiahou Yuan, Huang Zhong rushed out in anger, Cao Jun also ran out of Dian Wei and Huang Zhong to fight, after the two generals fought for more than ten times, Dian Wei was defeated and left, Cao Boss also led the army to retreat, Huang Zhong and Liu Pan were greedy for merit to pursue, and Cao Boss was lured to pursue more than ten miles south by Cao Boss, who personally served as the bait, and entered the narrow mountain forest area.

Since it is a fraudulent defeat, of course, there are ambushes, and after luring Liu Pan and Huang Zhong, who are brave and resourceful enough, into the narrow road, Cao Boss gave an order, let the guards wave the order flag, and the mountains and forests on both sides of the road were immediately thunderous, Zhang Liao and Cao Ren each led an army to kill on both sides, and Dian Wei in front also turned around and killed back, under the three-way attack, Liu Pan and Huang Zhong's team was suddenly defeated, and the two armies rushed to flee before and after, and fled together to the way they came. Breaking through the biggest obstacle for the Jingzhou army to intercept their own army, Liu Pan and Huang Zhong's team suffered heavy losses and were forced to retreat to Yecheng behind closed doors.

In the battle, Liu Pan's army, which had only about 10,000 troops, lost more than 3,000 troops, and the morale of the army was severely frustrated, and the overall strength was already slightly inferior to the Cao army's team. But what Boss Cao never dreamed of was that more than a hundred miles away, the army of Xin Ping and Cen Bi was rushing towards Ye County, and behind the team of Xin Ping and others, it was also followed by the elite main force of Xuzhou personally led by Deputy Director Tao! A super melee between four armies and five forces is about to unfold vigorously on the battlefield of Yexian!

Of course, if Boss Cao can see this dangerous situation from the perspective of gods and gods, and understand the cause and effect of the whole thing, then Boss Cao will definitely yell from the bottom of his heart, "Big eared thief!" you! (To be continued.) )