Six years ago, Tai Shi Ci was famous in Qingzhou, Weizhen Shandong, and far away from other states such as Ji Xu Yan and other states knew Tai Shi Ci's great name.

Tao Ying six years ago, unknown and unknown, even in Xuzhou City, the military and civilian people only knew that Lao Tao Qian had a nerdy and stupid youngest son surnamed Tao.

Six years later, Tai Shi Ci is in decline, the official residence is the goalkeeper, the people led by him are not compiled, how old and weak, and there are only a handful of people who can remember Tai Shi Ci's name.

Six years later, Deputy Director Tao, famous all over the world, such as Dongsheng, opening up the territory and expanding the north and south, after a hundred battles without defeat, the official title Xu Yangzhou Mu, the command of more than 200,000 soldiers and horses, no one or lack of infantry and riding water divisions, strong soldiers like forests, elite like rain! The prestige is magnificent, from the princes of the Son of Heaven to the people of Qianshou, all of whom listen with bated breath!

In just six years, the contrast is still so strong, Tai Shi Ci is open-minded no matter how open-minded he is, and he has some bad feelings in his heart, so although he said it beautifully in front of Deputy Director Tao, after leading Ma Zhong to leave Deputy Director Tao's warm embrace, Tai Shi Ci still felt a little empty and lost in his heart, and a thought couldn't help but come to his mind, "I will repay Liu Miao with sincerity, if Liu Miao knows about this matter, what will he repay me?" ”

"General Taishi, the enemy didn't catch up."

Ma Zhong's words interrupted Tai Shi Ci's self-talk, and after reporting the situation in the rear that he had been paying attention to, Ma Zhong said again: "General Tai Shi, Tao Ying is completely different from what others say, Du Bo and Tun General in our team, every time they mention Tao Ying, they scold him for being the number one thief in the world, a treacherous and shameless man, and he once betrayed our lord, but today it seems that Tao Ying is not such a person?" ”

"Don't listen to those idiots!" Taishi Cishun scolded, and snorted: "If you want to say treachery, that is also our lord's treachery, the battle of Liyang that year, the Xuzhou army attacked Yuan Shujun's sailor on land, and fought very hard, it was our lord in order to preserve his strength, ordered the sailor to retreat downstream, and gave Yuan Shushui a chance to escape for his life, otherwise, the Xuzhou army in that battle would have wiped out Chen Fen's old horseman's team at the Liyang wharf, and then there were those things later. ”

Ma Zhong opened his mouth and stammered, he had also heard about the Liyang incident back then, but those who were generals and officials unanimously declared that it was the Xuzhou army hiding in the upper reaches of the river bank and not attacking, no matter how hard Liu Xuan's army and navy fought on the river, the Xuzhou army just stood by and watched, which led to Chen Fen's team fleeing to Spring Valley, for which the young and vigorous Ma Zhong also scolded the Xuzhou army for being despicable and shameless, and now hearing the truth from Tai Shici's mouth, Ma Zhong's entire worldview was suddenly subverted.

At this time, there was a faint sound of dense footsteps on the other side of the mountain, as well as noisy shouts, Tai Shici and Ma Zhong were their own team up the mountain, and they hurriedly accelerated their pace, and when they arrived at the top of Deshenting Ridge, they saw that a large number of Liu Xuanjun were speeding up the mountain along the narrow mountain road, and the forward team had also climbed to the top of Shenting Ridge Mountain, which was relatively open. Tai Shi Ci hesitated, and was about to turn over and dismount to talk to his colleagues who led the forward, but who expected that the general of Liu Xiangjun, who led the vanguard, shouted loudly, and the soldiers of Liu Xiangjun, who had already climbed to the top of the mountain, immediately raised their spears and aimed them at Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong, and some archers also pulled their bows and arrows and aimed at Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong, putting on a combat posture.

"Lan Danai, are you crazy?" Tai Shi Ci not only knew the forward general who was the same general as himself, but he was also more familiar with him, so he grabbed his war horse and exclaimed: "I am Tai Shi Ci, don't you know him?" ”

"Of course I know, but I'm sorry, I'm also acting on orders." General Lan, nicknamed Danai, was expressionless and said: "General Fan has an order, when you see you and the person next to you, take it down immediately, resist and behead immediately!" Taishi Ziyi, read it to your colleagues, if you put down your arms and be bound now, I will never embarrass you. ”

"Fan Neng?" Tai Shi Ci was stunned, and then roared angrily: "Why did Fan Neng order to take me? What am I doing wrong? ”

General Lan surnamed Ya actually didn't know the reason why Fan Neng gave this order, but he ordered Tai Shi Ci to dismount and surrender again, and when Tai Shi Ci was about to ask again, Fan Neng finally climbed to the top of the mountain, and rode his horse to Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong, Tai Shi Ci hurriedly asked: "General Fan, I heard that you ordered me to be taken, why?" ”

"What you have done yourself, you know in your heart." Fan Neng replied coldly, and then pointed at Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong with a horse whip and said: "Tai Shi Ci, and the one over there, if you are smart, you will kneel down and be bound for me immediately, otherwise, I will directly order the arrows to be released." ”

After finishing speaking, Fan Neng waved his horsewhip, and more Liu Xianjun soldiers immediately strode forward, raising their guns at Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong, Tai Shi Ci was both shocked and angry, subconsciously reined in the horse and took a few steps back, and then shouted angrily: "What did I do wrong? Even if I go out of the camp to capture Tao Ying without permission, I don't need to do this to me, right? ”

"Capture the pottery thief? That's a beautiful thing to say. Fan Neng sneered loudly and said, "Since you went out of the camp to capture the pottery thief, where is the pottery thief?" ”

"His entourage is too powerful to hold it." Tai Shi Ci replied truthfully.

"Then why didn't you fight the Pottery Thief's team?" Fan Neng sneered and asked again, "It seems that you have chased to the vicinity of Guangwu Temple just now, why did you just fold back without fighting the pottery thief?" Also, what did you say to the pottery thief for a long time near the Guangwu Temple just now? ”

"How do you know this?" Tai Shi Ci was shocked.

"Of course someone saw it." Fan Neng was a little proud, and said: "The matter has come to this point, and I will tell you the truth, in fact, our army's Fulu scouts have been secretly monitoring the movements in the area of Guangwu Temple for a long time, so what did you and the pottery thief do there, and the Fulu scouts have already reported to the general." ”

Hearing Fan Neng's words, Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong were even more stunned, and at the same time, in desperation, Tai Shi Ci had to say truthfully: "Yes, I met with Tao Ying next to Guangwu Temple, and I didn't fight, Tao Ying also personally came forward to recruit me and Ma Zhong, but Ma Zhong and I both refused." Although I am only a tooth general, and the Ma Zhong brothers are just ordinary horsemen, neither of us covets the glory and wealth that Tao promised, ....... ”

"Hahaha!" Fan Neng laughed wildly, laughed and said: "Tai Shi Ci, Tai Shi Ci, you thief have reached this point, and you dare to say these unashamed words, and the pottery thief personally came forward to recruit you?" You even refuse? ”

"What's so ridiculous about me refusing to be solicited by the pottery thief?" Tai Shi Ci was a little confused, and then said angrily: "If you don't believe it, go down the mountain with me now to chase the pottery thief, in front of you, I will fight with the pottery thief's entourage for three hundred rounds, proving my loyalty to the lord." ”

"The fox's tail is finally revealed." Fan Neng began to laugh cruelly, "Use such a lame excuse to trick me into going down the mountain to pursue, let me lead the team into the trap of the pottery thief, and let the ambush arranged by the pottery thief in the Guangwu Temple severely damage our army, and my heart is really vicious." ”

"The ambush soldiers from the pottery thief in the Guangwu Temple?!" Tai Shi Ci roared angrily, turned around and pointed to the direction of Guangwu Temple under the mountain in the north, and said angrily: "You yourself send someone to come and see, Guangwu Temple ......, then ......." ”

Tai Shi Ci's words couldn't go on here, because Tai Shi Ci was suddenly stunned to see that around the Guangwu Temple in the north, a large number of Xuzhou army soldiers had indeed appeared, as if they had emerged from the ground, and were converging towards the open area next to the Guangwu Temple. Seeing this scene, don't say that Tai Shi Ci was dumbfounded, Ma Zhong next to him was also stunned and exclaimed, "There are really ambush soldiers!" When we were at Guangwu Temple just now, why didn't we find out?! ”

"Could it be that this is the second point that Tao Ying didn't say?!" Tai Shi Ci's heart sank, and he suddenly understood that Deputy Director Tao had let himself and Ma Zhong go before, not because he was not sure that he and Ma Zhong would be captured alive, but that he was really open to the net and exonerated with righteousness! Otherwise, so many ambush soldiers rushed out together, and he and Ma Zhong were three heads and six arms, and it would only be a matter of being captured!

"Stop acting!" Fan Neng was also a little impatient, and then pointed at Tai Shici and Ma Zhong with a horsewhip, and shouted: "Two horsemen, finally give you a chance, immediately kneel down and be bound!" Otherwise, I'll have to give the order to release the arrows!" ”

Seeing the soldiers of the self-army who were about to release arrows, Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong were both dazed and aggrieved in anger, and shouted loudly together, but Fan Neng did not hesitate to order the arrows, Liu Xianjun soldiers immediately fired arrows together, and fortunately Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong were already somewhat prepared, although they were all surprised, but they also reacted quickly, Tai Shi Ci danced the gun to block the arrows, Ma Zhong turned over and hid in the horse's belly, fortunately, the top of the mountain is not very open, not many archers are arranged, only more than 20 arrows in total, Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong will not be without the power to dodge. But even so, between the neighing of the two war horses, Tai Shici was also hit by two arrows in a row, and suddenly roared like thunder, "Fan Neng Pifu, are you really here?!" ”

Of course, Fan Neng came to be real, and when the horsewhip was waved again, a group of Liu Xianjun soldiers had already rushed up, each raising a knife and gun to Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong to slash indiscriminately, Tai Shi Ci saw that the situation was not good, so he had to jump off the war horse that had been hit by the arrow, and waved the gun to stop the enemy from coming forward, and Ma Zhong also drilled out of the horse's belly and came over with a gun to help the battle. Over there, Fan Neng shouted: "Hurry up and release the arrows, continue to release the arrows, and shoot these two horsemen!" ”

"General, go into the woods." Ma Zhong was calmer, shouted and took the lead in rushing to the woods on the side of the road to the south, Tai Shici also knew that the bow and arrow were difficult to dodge, so he immediately followed, and the soldiers of Liu Xiangjun behind shouted and chased after him.

When the danger of escaping into the woods, the second wave has struck, Ma Zhong in order to cover the already injured Tai Shi Ci, also hit an arrow in the right arm, can only throw away the spear, borrowed a halberd from Tai Shi Ci and took it with his left hand to resist the enemy, Liu Xianjun soldiers swarmed into the forest, Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong, who were injured together, could not resist, so they had to fight and retreat to the depths of the woods, and Liu Xianjun soldiers continued to pursue. At this time, the shouting of killing under the mountain was like thunder, and the Xuzhou army also began to kill towards the mountain.

When the two armies fought in close combat, the gap between the combat effectiveness of the Xuzhou army and Liu Xiangjun was immediately reflected, even the Liu Xiangjun team that Yuan Shujun could not do, although it had a condescending advantage, but in the face of the impact of the Xuzhou army was still powerless, and was killed by the fierce Xuzhou army is a ghost crying wolf, flesh and blood flying, constantly retreating towards the top of the mountain, you push me to trample on each other, completely chaotic, good at bullying the weak Xuzhou soldiers rushed and beat fiercely, desperately to get the merits of the war, and soon attacked the top of the mountain. Seeing that the situation was not good, Fan Neng could only quickly lead the army to retreat, and no longer cared about urging the army to pursue and kill Tai Shici and Ma Zhong.

As Deputy Director Tao said, less than an hour after leaving, Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong returned to Deputy Director Tao again, or returned to Deputy Director Tao with injuries, of course, Deputy Director Tao did not care about Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong's previous ruthless refusal to courtship, not only treated Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong who returned with courtesy, but also pretended to dress them with their own hands - definitely fake, because Deputy Director Tao even smiled and narrowed his eyes when he bandaged Tai Shi Ci and Ma Zhong with his own hands.

At this point, Tai Shici and Ma Zhong of course had no other choice, but they could only struggle together to kowtow to Deputy Director Tao and ask Deputy Director Tao to take him in, expressing their willingness to throw themselves into Deputy Director Tao's warm and broad embrace. Deputy Director Tao was overjoyed, and he simply didn't even have the mind to take advantage of the victory to chase and kill Fan Neng's team, so he directly ordered Ming Jin to withdraw his troops, and led Tai Shici and Ma Zhong to return to the camp to drink and celebrate.

That night, Deputy Director Tao held a banquet in the big tent of the Chinese army, and together with all the civil and military personnel, Tai Shici and Ma Zhong were grateful, Tai Shici and Ma Zhong were grateful, and Tai Shici, whose thigh was pierced by an arrow, was seriously injured despite himself, and took the initiative to express his willingness to be a pioneer and attack Liu Xiangjun's camp for Deputy Director Tao. Deputy Director Tao laughed and said: "Ziyi just cares about recuperating from his injuries, just Liu Xuan, not enough to worry about, in my eyes, even if Liu Xiang has an army of 100,000, it is just a local chicken and tile dog, which can be broken with a snap of his fingers." Ziyi wants to make a contribution, and he doesn't have to be in a hurry. ”

"But Liu Miao defended against the danger, and the camp was strong, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the lord to break through easily, right?" Tai Shi Ci reminded with some worry.

"Liu Xuan's camp is very strong." Deputy Director Tao nodded, and said: "But Ziyi, there is one thing that I am very strange, today I observed Liu Xuan's military camp on the top of Shenting Ridge, and found that his large camp was built on the side of the mountain and water, protected by a shallow river on the front and side, and half surrounded by a hill to set up a camp, but on the mountain that can overlook the entire camp of Liu Xuan's army, why not set up a camp fence to guard it?" ”

"It is inconvenient to get water and transport food, so there is no garrison." Tai Shi Ci replied casually, but he immediately came to his senses, and exclaimed: "That's the key point, if the lord sends an army to seize this mountain, and condescendingly shoots it with a bow and arrow, Liu Xuanjun's camp can't be messed up!" ”

Deputy Director Tao smiled, raised his glass and said to Tai Shici: "Ziyi, drinking, today I only talk about friendships with friends, not about military affairs." Tai Shici understood, and was busy drinking with Deputy Director Tao.

It was also because of the phrase that Deputy Director Tao did not talk about military affairs, a military intelligence report urgently sent from Xuzhou could not be presented to Deputy Director Tao immediately, until the second watch banquet, after a cadre of military generals dispersed, Liu Ye handed this military intelligence report to Deputy Director Tao, and said: "Chen Yuanlong sent someone to send it, on April 12, Yuan Shao once again personally led an army of 200,000 troops to the south to conquer Cao Ying, learned the lessons of the previous adventure and light advance, did not take Baima and Yanjin directly, and chose to enter Cangting, ready to join Yuan Xi's team stationed in Guantao. ”

"Chen Yuanlong estimated in the letter that Yuan Shao's move was to first take Dong'e, Fanxian and Dongping, open up Yanzhou contact with our army, and then move west to Xuchang." Liu Ye added: "Ye also has this view, if Yuan Shao can open up the direct contact with our army, the backup grain and grass can be guaranteed, in the case of the Guandu battle to hurt the vitality, this is Yuan Shao's most ideal tactics to enter the army." ”

"Like my uncle, they've grown a little bit." Deputy Director Tao yawned, and asked while flipping through the letters, "What about the thief?" How? ”

"When the letter was sent, Cao Thief had already personally led his army to Cangting." Liu Ye replied: "It seems that the Cao thief does not dare to take risks, and is ready to defend the enemy outside the country, and has a decisive battle with Yuan Shao in the Cangting area." In addition, according to our army's detailed investigation report, Cao Thief not only hoarded a large amount of grain and grass in Dong'e, but also prepared a very sufficient number of ferries in the Cangting area, so Chen Yuanlong suspected that Cao Thief may also take the initiative to cross the river to the north and join Yuan Shao in the north of the Yellow River. ”

"Impossible, right?" Xun Chen said in surprise: "Although the Cao thief won a big victory in Guandu, the number of soldiers and horses in Jizhou is still far above the Cao thief team, and the Cao thief was defeated by the lord in Xuzhou before, how dare he take the initiative to cross the river to face the battle?" ”

"Mr. Youruo forgives the sin, according to my opinion, Cao Ying's tactic is very correct." Jia Xu said quietly: "Cao Bing's elite, the advantage is in the quick battle, Yuan Shao's soldiers have more food, and the benefit is in the long-term holding, if Cao Mengde is guarded according to the river, it is easy for him to be dragged into a war of attrition that is the most unfavorable to him, and the Yellow River can be crossed everywhere, Cao Ying's concentration is only a little difficult to prevent Yuan Shao from dividing his troops to cross the river, and it is even more dangerous to divide his troops to defend it, and it is easy to be broken by Yuan Shao, who has many soldiers and generals." The only way to take the initiative to cross the river to the north and seek an opportunity for a decisive battle is the best policy. ”

"But the Cao thief fought against the water, and if he lost, he would have nowhere to run?" Xun Chen wondered.

"Cao Jun is elite, and it may be an exaggeration to take one as ten." Jia Lao Poison said with a smile: "But if it is to camp against the water and fight in formation, it may not be an exaggeration for Cao Jun to be ten at all." Moreover, Cao Mengde is extremely strict in governing the army and has a strong team cohesion, which is suitable for such a life-and-death decisive battle. ”

Xun Chen was silent, and finally understood why Yuan Shao lost so badly last time. Deputy Director Tao was not surprised, but held up Chen Deng's letter and said with a smile: "There is another thing, my father-in-law also sent someone to send a book to Xuzhou, but he didn't ask me to immediately withdraw from the southern line to the north, but just asked me to send an army from Mount Tai or Rencheng to attack Dongping. ”

"I think I should." Liu Ye replied: "Yuan Shao is the lord and father-in-law, and our army and Yuan Shao have an alliance to break Cao, and the lord does not make any moves, but I am afraid that it will be difficult to explain." I suggest that the lord might as well transfer a force from Qingzhou to attack Dongping, Yuan Shao has already taken the initiative to withdraw the main force of Qingzhou, and our army is still deploying heavy troops in Qingzhou, which is also detrimental to the reputation of the lord. ”

"Then let's do it." Deputy Director Tao nodded in agreement, and said: "However, in addition to sending troops perfunctory, our main force must also be prepared for contingencies, what do you think?" ”

"It's best for the lord to return to Xuzhou as soon as possible and preside over the overall situation." Jia Lao Poison suggested: "The situation in Jiangdong has also been seen by the lord, the land is vast and sparsely populated, the people's livelihood is withered, and the fields are abandoned, which is not worth the main energy of our army, let Lu Zijing lead the army to stop in Jiangdong, so that Yuan Shu is unable to unify it, the lord should defeat Liu Xuan as soon as possible, and then return to Xuzhou immediately, so as to deal with the changes on the northern front at any time." ”

"Mr. Wenhe's words are exactly what I want." Deputy Director Tao nodded, and then patted the table in front of him, "Three days!" Within three days, give me a break with Liu Xuan! ”

Finalized the plan to quickly break through Liu Xuan, at noon the next day, the well-prepared Xuzhou army sent troops to attack Liu Xuan's military camp, Liu Xuan personally led the army and the Xuzhou army to fight in front of the camp, Deputy Director Tao deliberately sent Zhao Yun, who had been defeated by Liu Xuan's cavalry for more than 20 times, to fight, Liu Xuan's generals were in the plan, and they all went out to fight, and the result was naturally Zhao Yun's four generals who picked Liu Xuan's army to dismount, Liu Xuan's army was frightened, and quickly retreated to the camp to defend it, and Deputy Director Tao waved his division to attack the camp, while in the evening, Wei Yan was sent to lead the army to take a detour to take the mountain behind Liu Xuanjun's camp, and under the cover of night, he successfully seized this vital mountain.

After the Xuzhou army seized the mountain, although Liu Xuan, who had just woken up from a dream, also sent troops to compete with Wei Yan's team, but it was too late to do so, Wei Yan's team not only easily repelled the Liu Xiang team that attacked on the back, but also fired the military tent in Liu Xuan's camp with rockets, Liu Xuan's army was completely chaotic, and the Xuzhou infantry led by Xu Chu and Gao Shun also took the opportunity to break through the front camp of Liu Xuan's army, and drove straight into the camp to kill people and set fire everywhere. Seeing that the general trend had gone, Liu Miao and Fan Neng could only lead the remnants of the defeated army to flee to Qu'a, and Deputy Director Tao did not chase and kill, but burned Liu Xuan's army camp, and then immediately led the army back to Shicheng, preparing to cross the river again to the north and return to Xuzhou to preside over the overall situation.

When he was about to retreat, Deputy Director Tao also took the time to take a look at the situation in Qu'a, which was not far from here, but when he saw the abandoned villages in the Qu'a area, the fields overgrown with weeds, and the fields full of white bones, Deputy Director Tao couldn't help but feel sad again, and wailed: "This is the essence of Jiangdong, this is the Jiangnan of this era, it seems that I can't run the hard life of Jiangnan Wasteland!" ”

(To be continued)