After losing nearly half of the troops in one breath, Uncle Liu Huang still relied on Xiaopei and refused to go, the most critical reason is that Xiaopei's terrain is relatively easy to hold, with a very rare three-sided water advantage in the Central Plains, the east, south and north directions of the city are surrounded by Surabaya and Paoshui, although there are bridges on the river that can be passed, it is not conducive to the deployment of the attacker's forces, and it makes the siege weapons of the siege army unable to get close to the city wall, forcing the attacker to attack only in the west of the only open terrain, which is also conducive to the defenders to concentrate their forces.

It is precisely because of these characteristics that Xiaopei has become a rare exception in the cities of Xuzhou, Xuzhou's large and small cities are almost easy to attack and difficult to defend, only Xiaopei and Xiapi are easy to defend and difficult to attack, and Xiaopei also has an advantage far better than Xiapi City, that is, the terrain of Xiaopei City is relatively high, not threatened by the surrounding Surabaya and soaked water, and the lower terrain of Xiapi is the opposite, as long as the siege party digs up the embankment of Surabaya and Huaishui River, the Xiapi defenders can only fight with the siege enemy and the flood at the same time. So it is no exaggeration to say that Xiaopei is definitely the most difficult city to attack in Xuzhou - not one yet.

"Tao Yingxiaoer, come on! I want to see if your army of hypocrites can attack the head of my little pei city! Uncle Liu, who had no fear, thought so hatefully.

The city is solid, the terrain is dangerous, there are strong reinforcements to rely on, and the internal military and civilians are also more concentric, Uncle Liu Huang basically occupies the right time and place, but it is a pity that Uncle Liu's opponent in this battle is Deputy Director Tao Buqun. When it comes to demolishing houses and demolishing buildings, not to mention the Three Kingdoms era, even in another thousand years, another 1,500 years, I am afraid that there will be no second one who is more proficient than Deputy Director Tao - because our Deputy Director Tao happens to be from the demolition office............ The day after the battle with Liu Beijun, nearly 1,000 Junzi troops and Zang Ba's 4,000 troops all moved to the north bank of the soaking water, and set up a large camp five miles outside the west gate of Xiaopei. After carefully observing Xiaopei's city wall, Deputy Director Tao's mouth also smiled from ear to ear, it turned out that Xiaopei's area lacked large pieces of bluestone, although Liu Bei had been operating in Xiaopei for more than half a year, repairing the city wall at any cost, but it was always limited by materials, and the city wall was still not high in strength brick and soil structure, that is, it was built with fire-fired bricks and rammed earth - such a city wall in front of the Xiangyang cannon is basically similar to the nail household wall that has been sprayed with the word "demolition" in front of the bulldozer.

"When Lu Su's rear army arrives, eight trebuchets will throw stones together, and within seven days, I will be able to smash this earth fence to the ground!" Tao Ying shouted arrogantly.

"Childe, there are also two trebuchets in Liuxian." Zang Ba next to him interjected and said: "During Gongzi's western expedition to Ruying, Xuzhou craftsmen built two trebuchets and a large number of stone bullets, and after confirming Gongzi's determination to capture Xiaopei, Chen Yuanlong asked General Cao to send these two trebuchets and special stone bullets to Liuxian County, so that Gongzi could attack the city. ”

"Very good, Brother Xuan Gao can quickly order and send all the two trebuchets and stone bullets." Tao Ying was overjoyed, and quickly ordered: "Again, send three hundred sergeants to the east bank of Surabaya to station, destroy all the bridges between Xiaopei and the east, and find that the big-eared thief grabbed the pontoon bridge, and immediately destroy it, don't give the big-eared thief a chance to flee east." ”

Zang Ba agreed, and immediately arranged for people to go down to arrange, but Tao Ying ordered: "Brother Xuangao, send another 500 soldiers to the surrounding township pavilions, bring all the people who can be summoned here, let them bring digging shovels, surround Xiao Pei West Gate, build an earthen wall for me three hundred steps away, dig a trench, and stand up to resist horse antlers, and completely block the road out of the city for the big-eared thieves!" ”

Tao Ying said this, Zang Ba, Chen Zhi and the others were all taken aback, and hurriedly said: "Childe, what are you planning to do?" Since ancient times, the siege of the city is to encircle three and lack one, so that the defenders can see a glimmer of life, do not do the fight of trapped beasts, you have to destroy the Surabaya bridge, but also dig a trench to build a wall to surround the small Peixi Gate, the big-eared thief has no way to escape, is it not to resolutely defend the city? ”

"There is no need to ask, the mountain people have their own tricks." Deputy Director Tao, who has rich experience in demolition, shook his head categorically, and said with a smile: "Generals, you just have to rest assured to carry out the order, within ten days, I will definitely attack this Xiaopei City!" Zang Ba and Chen Zhi and other generals were suspicious, and seeing that Tao Ying was full of confidence, they did not object, and honestly carried out the order.

Under the separate action, in a short time, a number of about 300 Xuzhou infantry, under the cover of the Junzi Army, detoured back to the east of Xiaopei, quickly smashed the Surabaya bridge outside the east gate of Xiaopei, and built a small village on the east bank of Surabaya, stationed in the Tun army, although the Xiaopei defenders were aware, but they were afraid of covering the infantry of the Junzi Army, none of them dared to go out of the city to die, they could only watch the bridge be completely destroyed, and could not flee to the east.

"What the hell is Tao Ying'er doing?" Liu Bei is also puzzled, I don't understand what medicine is sold in Tao Ying's gourd, according to common sense, if the Xuzhou army uses the orthodox siege tactics of encircling three and missing one, the gap deliberately conceded should be in the east, because the bridge is narrow, and it is difficult for the defenders to quickly pass through the bridge, which is very conducive to the pursuit and blocking of the Xuzhou army, but now the Xuzhou army has not hesitated to destroy the Surabaya bridge, what is this going to do?

In the afternoon, a large number of surrounding people were driven to the outside of the city of Xiaopei West Gate, with a shovel to dig soil, and began to dig a trench three hundred steps away, build a horse rejection wall, in order to speed up the progress of the project, Tao Ying also mobilized thousands of infantry to participate in digging and digging the wall, at the same time, this temporary fortification is also quite long, north to the west bank of Surabaya, south to the north bank of the water, in a semi-arc to surround the West Gate of Xiaopei, plus the Xuzhou army firmly controlled and can be destroyed at any time The soaking bridge, Xiaopei has actually been completely surrounded by the temporary fortifications and rivers of the Xuzhou army, and the Xiaopei defenders basically have no way to break through.

If you still don't understand, you can refer to the photo of the best nail household in a certain place, his building is like the current Xiaopei, except for the intact building, the surrounding roads have all been dug up.

Seeing such a situation, Liu Bei, who had been on the battlefield for a long time, was inevitably surprised, happy and secretly worried, of course, surprised by Tao Ying's strange siege tactics, and happy that Tao Ying had done so, so before the fortifications were completed, the Xuzhou army should not launch an attack, which was conducive to Liu Bei gaining valuable time; What I am worried about is that once I ask Lu Bu for help to no avail, I ask Kong Rong and Tian Kai to mediate and say that there will be twists and turns, so once Xiaopei is broken by the Xuzhou army, Uncle Liu's army will not even have a place to run.

"Big brother, what is Tao Ying'er doing?" Zhang Fei, who led the army to defend the city with injuries, was also confused, and couldn't help but ask Liu Bei: "Does Tao Ying Xiao'er want us to run out of food?" Doesn't he know that the grain and grass in Xiaopei City can support us for at least half a year? ”

"If Tao Ying wants us to run out of food, then we will be easy." Liu Bei sighed and said: "The pottery thief is scheming, and the deceit is abnormal, since he dares to do this, he must have his intentions, but he is not as cunning as the pottery thief for his brother, and he will not be able to see through his future for a while." ”

"In that case, let the younger brother lead the army out of the city to rush and kill for a while, and don't let them dig ditches and build walls!" Zhang Fei suggested.

Liu Bei was a little moved, but looking at the iron cavalry of the gentleman's army behind the temporary fortifications, and looking at Zhang Fei who was still wearing colors on his body, and then thinking about Guan Yu who was still lying on the hospital bed, Liu Bei finally gave up the plan to take the risk, shook his head and said: "The third brother is injured, don't take risks easily, since the pottery thief wants to trap Xiao Pei, then let him be trapped, our army has both Lu Bu's strong reinforcements, and Kong Beihai and Tian Envoy Jun come forward to reconcile, the longer the time drags on, the more beneficial it will be to our army." ”

"Brother, Lu Bu villain, the third surname of the house slave, how can he contribute to our army?" Zhang Fei asked unhappily.

"Brother Xian's words are wrong, in the battle of staying in the county, I did not lose Wenhou, and Wenhou will definitely not fail me." Liu Bei shook his head, some words were not convenient to explain to Zhang Fei, but Liu Bei was also a little worried in his heart, "If the third brother is a prophecy, and the villain Lu Bu really abandons Xiao Pei, then I will have to vomit blood." ”

The next time, two newly made Xiangyang cannons and a large number of stone shells arrived under the city of Xiaopei, but Tao Ying did not let these two Xiangyang cannons immediately put into the siege, but temporarily shelved, and at the same time commanded the sergeants and the people to continue to build fortifications to besiege the city, in order to encourage the people to work hard, Tao Ying also took out valuable grain and grass to reward these people, promising that if the fortifications can be completed within seven days, then each person can get a stone of grain as wages, and the people who were originally just serving unpaid labor were also suddenly cheering like thunder, and those who worked harder were more hardworking, The progress of the project has been greatly accelerated.

For Tao Ying's arrangement, there is no one in the Xuzhou army who opposes it, at least Zang Ba reminded Tao Ying worriedly: "Childe, although you can ensure that our army can completely annihilate the main force of the big-eared thieves, but it is too time-consuming, not to mention that Kong Rong and Tian Kai, who are good friends with the big-eared thieves, may intervene, and Lu Bu will never miss this opportunity to fish in troubled waters. ”

"Brother Xuan, I understand all the situations you said." Tao Ying replied helplessly: "But Brother Xuan, have you considered another question?" Our army is now short of trebuchets, even if the two trebuchets keep throwing stones all night, they don't think about the failure and damage of the trebuchet, how much time will it take to smash Xiaopei? ”

"We have other siege weapons." Zang Ba retorted: "We also have siege ladder trucks, crash trucks, and ant ladders, and use these to cooperate with trebuchets to attack the city!" ”

"And what about our casualties?" Tao Ying said with a wry smile: "Our army's current strength is only more than 5,000 people, of which nearly 1,000 are the cavalry of the Junzi Army who cannot be put into the siege battle, and the Xiaopei defenders have at least 3,000 people. If Lu Bu brings troops to help, how can our tired army, which has suffered heavy casualties, resist his tiger and wolf army? ”

"We still have backup, the infantry of the Western Expedition led by Sun Guan and Xu Sheng, and the main force of General Cao Bao of Xuzhou, we can transfer troops from Xuzhou." Zang Ba said again.

"There is no need to transfer troops, take Xiaopei at the minimum cost, I am at least eighty percent sure." Tao Ying replied with a smile: "So Brother Xuan Gao can rest assured, when the fortifications are completed, and then when the rear army led by Zijing and Zhongtai arrives, we can let go of the siege." ”

Of course, Zang Ba didn't believe it, but he couldn't twist Tao Ying, the de facto heir to the Xuzhou Thorn History, so he had to continue to urge the people to step up the construction of fortifications with doubts. During this period, Liu Beijun had twice out of the city, once to impact the construction site of the siege fortifications, trying to destroy the Xuzhou army to build fortifications, and once to try to build a pontoon bridge on the Surabaya River, but both times were repelled by the Xuzhou army, with many casualties and no work, Liu Bei was forced to be helpless, so he had to honestly retreat to Xiaopei, and at the same time to preserve the vitality at the same time, he also paid close attention to repairing the city fortifications, and strived to support the Xuzhou army for as long as possible in the face of the strong attack.

The Xuzhou army rushed to build the siege fortifications at night, and Liu Beijun of Xiaopei worked overtime to build the fortifications of the city, so the confrontation lasted for seven days, and on the evening of the seventh day, the siege fortifications were finally basically completed, Tao Ying fulfilled his promise to take out the grain to reward the people at the same time, the direction of Peiguo also came with good news, the infantry brigade led by Lu Su had arrived in Zhuqiu the night before, and it was estimated that it would arrive at the Xiaopei battlefield on the morning of the eighth day. Tao Ying was of course overjoyed when he heard the news, and quickly organized the people to build pontoon bridges on the Paoshui River overnight, so that the infantry brigade led by Lu Su could quickly cross the river.

On the morning of the eighth day, the infantry brigade led by Lu Su, Sun Guan and Xu Sheng finally arrived on the bank of the Paoshui River, and Tao Ying was overjoyed to meet Lu Su next to the pontoon bridge, but Lu Su saw the siege fortifications that Tao Ying had spent countless manpower and material resources to build, and heard that Tao Ying had not launched a siege battle in the past few days, he was immediately shocked, and stomped his feet and shouted: "Childe, what are you doing repairing this siege fortification?" Did Gongzi forget, when Gongzi left Chen Guo, he had repeatedly analyzed for Gongzi, with Liu Bei's habits, once the war was unfavorable, he was likely to give up Xiaopei to break through, and he would never stay in Xiaopei and wait for death! Son, you completely surrounded Xiao Pei to death, and destroyed the bridge, Liu Bei has nowhere to escape, don't you want to desperately defend the city and wait for help? ”

Zang Ba and Chen Zhi smiled bitterly, and they all agreed with Lu Su's accusation against Tao Ying, and Tao Ying replied with a smile: "Zijing, do you think I didn't give the big-eared thief a chance to give up Xiao Pei?" Eight days ago, I killed nearly half of the army of the big-eared thieves in the south of Xiaopei in one go, and deliberately did not block all the roads in Xiaopei except for the south overnight, but the big-eared thieves just didn't escape? It's clear that he wants to wait for help, so what's the use of me leaving him more ways to break through now? ”

"Then son, why don't you hurry up and attack the city?" Lu Su asked a little angrily: "Don't you know that Shanyang is only more than two hundred and fifty miles away from Xiaopei, and once Lu Bu sends troops, he will be able to reach Xiaopei City in four to five days?" ”

"Of course I know this, so I sent a fine work to keep an eye on Changyi, as soon as Lu Bu makes a move, I will have news here within three days." Tao Ying replied with a smile.

"Son, are you wasting your precious time?" Lu Su asked angrily.

Tao Ying looked up to the sky and laughed, and didn't explain, just waved his hand and said: "Zijing, don't worry, Brother Xuan and the generals, don't worry, since I dare to be so big, I naturally have my reasons." This is not the place to talk, so let's go back to Shuai's tent first, and discuss how to attack the city while roasting and drinking. Lu Su, Zang Ba and others had no choice but to go back to the Xuzhou army camp to rest according to Tao Ying's request, and at the same time let the main infantry who had just arrived also camp to rest, and send eight Xiangyang cannons to the army to prepare for the siege.

The luck on the battlefield has never been on Deputy Director Tao's side, and the worries of Zang Ba and Lu Su and others have finally become a reality, when Tao Ying led the generals back to the Chinese army's big tent, everyone's buttocks have not yet sat firmly, and there are pro-soldiers outside the tent to report, saying that there is a fine work from Shanyang, bringing 100,000 urgent military news, Tao Ying immediately ordered to be transmitted. A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in ordinary people's clothes and covered in dust rushed into the handsome tent, and while showing the Xuzhou Thorn Shifu token, he shouted in a hoarse voice: "Yu Gongzi, the morning before yesterday, Lu Bu personally led an army of 8,000 cavalry from Changyi and went south to Xiaopei!" According to the childe's request, the villain galloped to deliver the letter at any cost, and a horse died on the road. ”

"Lu Bu is here in person?" Except for Tao Ying, all the Xuzhou civil and military officers in the tent jumped up, and all of them screamed loudly with no faces.

"Sure enough, it came." Tao Ying smiled and asked unhurriedly, "Explain your affairs, have you found out?" Who was the envoy sent by Liu Bei to contact Lu Bu? Jian Yong or Sun Qian? ”

"Back to Gongzi, I found out, it's Sun Qian." Xuzhou replied with the sweat and dust on his face.

"Excellent! Sure enough, it's one of them! Now I'm more sure! Tao Ying was overjoyed when he took the case, and waved his hand to the fine work and shouted: "Hard work, you have made a great contribution to this son this time, go down to rest and receive the reward." ”

The fine work was also a great joy, hurriedly saluted and thanked him, and quickly said goodbye and left, and as soon as he left with his front foot, the pot exploded in the handsome tent, Lu Su and Zang Ba and others scrambled to shout: "Childe, what can I do?" Lu Bu has already sent troops, if it is fast, he will be able to arrive in Xiaopei tomorrow afternoon or the morning after tomorrow, and when the time comes, the two families of Lu and Liu will join forces, how can we fight? ”

"Hahahaha!" In the face of the vague accusations of his generals that he had delayed the fighter, Tao Ying not only did not get angry, but laughed out loud and said with a smile: "Everyone, what are you anxious about? Even if Lu Bu is a foot cavalry branch, no matter how fast his cavalry without stirrups runs, he will not be able to reach Xiaopei until tomorrow afternoon, we still have time to attack the city, what is there to hurry? ”

"Childe, do we still have time?" Zang Ba couldn't help but ask: "It's already close to noon, even if we start the siege immediately, we only have thirteen or four hours left, can we be sure to take Xiaopei City, which is surrounded by water on three sides?" ”

"Of course it's enough, and it won't take that much time." Tao Ying replied with a smile, then turned to Lu Su and said with a smile: "Zijing, time is indeed a bit precious, I won't set up a banquet for you today, I will enter Xiaopei City tomorrow morning, and I will make it up for you in Xiaopei City." ”

"Childe, it doesn't matter if you catch the wind and wash the dust or anything." Lu Su replied with a wry smile: "Since Gongzi is so confident, he must have a plan to break the city, and please arrange the siege team as soon as possible, we really don't have much time." ”

"Well, actually, it's fast, just two orders." Tao Ying smiled again, and then shouted: "Nian Bin, Gao Pet listens to orders!" ”

The two light cavalry captains of the Junzi Army, Nian Bin and Gao Chong, came out together to hug their fists and agreed loudly, Tao Ying pointed at the two and shouted: "Immediately lead your team of light cavalry, give me to go north to the border of Pei County, monitor the movements of Lu Bujun's army and block the water and land roads, no one is allowed to ride a small boat south, if one person misses one, take the head to see!" ”

"No!" Nian Bin and Gao Chong clasped their fists and agreed neatly, and Tao Ying told him uneasily: "Although the current Surabaya is shallow and can't carry big boats, small boats and canoes are still possible, so in addition to guarding against land messengers, you must also be careful of the boats on the river, if you let Liu Bei and Lu Bu's messengers pass through the customs in a foolish way, then our army will go to a big deal!" The stakes are high, remember! Remember! ”

The second general agreed again to ensure the completion of the task of blocking road traffic, Tao Ying nodded reassuringly, after the second general of Gao and Nian left, Tao Ying turned to the remaining generals in the tent, first smiled, and then ordered: "Sun Guan, Xu Sheng, your team only arrived in Xiaopei today, very tired, leave me in the camp, continue to set up camp, bury the pot and cook, seize the time to rest, and recover your strength." Brother Xuangao, you led the men and horses of your headquarters out of the camp with me to attack Xiaopei. ”

"Childe, time is urgent, I can't rest." Zang Ba and Xu Sheng and the others were in a hurry together, and Sun Guan was even more furious, jumping out and shouting: "Childe, the last general doesn't need to rest, the ring-eyed thief Zhang Fei killed my eldest brother, I want to go with you to attack the city and avenge my eldest brother!" ”

"Zhongtai is not in a hurry." Tao Ying said with a smile: "General Zhongtai, if you give me the opportunity to put my heart back in my stomach and avenge Brother Ling, I will definitely give it to you, but not now, you can rest at ease and honestly give me peace of mind." Otherwise, when the opportunity for revenge arises, if you don't have the physical strength, how can you kill the enemy to take revenge? ”

Of course, Sun Guan refused to listen to Tao Ying's nonsense, and insisted on leading the army to attack the city, until Tao Ying sank his face and said that this was a military order, and those who violated the military order would be dealt with by military law. The generals in Xuzhou were all worried, their faces were full of melancholy, but Tao Ying's face was as usual, with a bamboo on his chest, and above the corners of his mouth, there was a vicious and excited smile.

Do you want to know how Deputy Director Tao cleaned up Uncle Liu's big nail household? See the next chapter. However, there are also clues and hints in this chapter, and smart friends must have guessed Deputy Director Tao's next move.

(To be continued)