After several days of continuous autumn rains, the river in Surabaya swelled.

Cao Cao adopted the advice of the strategist Jia Xu and led the water of the Si River to pour into Picheng, and the city was suddenly flooded, and every house was flooded with water, and every household was soaked. Many houses collapsed due to the encroachment of the river, and countless old and young women and children were buried and stoned to death by adobe. Even a few old city walls have a tendency to collapse, Chen Gong hurriedly sent more people to repair the city wall, while encouraging the people in the city to climb the city wall to guard together.

"Cao thief and Xuzhou have a grudge against their father, the previous time to break Pengcheng and slaughter the people, if the city is broken, no men, women and children in the city will be spared!"

Although the people in the city were panicked, the morale of the army was unstable. However, under the instigation of Chen Gong, afraid of Cao Cao's slaughter of the city, tens of thousands of strong people climbed to the head of the city to help defend it, and for a while, Cao's army could not capture the city.

Cao Cao saw that the time was almost up, so he ordered the whole army to prepare for the siege of the city, and would launch a general attack on Xiapi within a day or two. Xiahoudun, Lejin, and Cao Chun attacked the east gate, Liu Bei led his troops to attack the south gate, Xu Huang and Yu Ban led his troops to attack the west gate, and Lu Yi led his troops to attack the north gate.

At night, the streets of Xiapi City were crowded with people in a hurry.

The cold rain and autumn wind still have no intention of stopping, and the dripping raindrops beat the lanterns, making it look so stormy.

Inside the Captain's Mansion, Zhang Liao is facing a dilemma.

He sat in his study, arms folded over his chest, and fell into a long contemplation. Around him stood more than twenty brothers of the clan, his confidants. You can live and die with him!

Due to Lu Bu's indecisiveness, he refused to accept the advice of Chen Gong and the generals, and did not dare to go out of the city to confront Cao's army, repeatedly delaying the opportunity, which has led to discouragement. These brothers who stayed with Zhang Liao to live and die together were also completely disappointed in Lu Bu. They all suggested that Zhang Liao abandon Lu Bu and go, rendezvous with Lu Yi, and go north to Yuan Mai.

"Brother, shall we go? Don't care about Lu Bu, the indecisive guts rats are getting more and more useless. Such a person is not worthy of our death with him! The first to break the silence was Zhang Kuo, the brother of Zhang Liao's compatriot.

As Zhang Kuo picked up the conversation. The brothers began to quarrel non-stop: "Yes, Wen Yuan, Lu Bu, a brave and unscrupulous horseman, has repeatedly refused good words. Don't listen to Chen Gongtai's horn plan. As a result, the city was besieged. The river was poured into the city by the Cao thief, and the common people suffered. I'm afraid that it is not far from the time when the city is broken, and we will not leave at this time. I'm afraid there won't be a chance! ”

Zhang Kuang also took the opportunity to agitate again: "What the brothers said is so right, compared to Lu Bulai, Yuan Gongzi is simply wise and martial, capable of literature and martial arts. He wrote words that even a great talent like Chen Lin in Hebei admired, and I had already told the brothers that he wrote "Tanka Xing", is it brilliant? ”

"yes, yes, it's talented!"

"I can't imagine that the old Yuan family of the fourth and third princes has such a talented son, it's really admirable!"

Most of these people's knowledge is average, and only a few have read private schools and county books, but even the illiterate old man listens to others reading the "Short Song Xing" made by Yuan Mai, and he feels extraordinary momentum and admires the author.

In fact, Zhang Kuang is not much interested in the word endowment, let alone worship. Just in order to win the brothers over, I deliberately thought of the tricks on the way before coming, and kept reciting them along the way, so I was familiar with my chest, and after getting along with the brothers in the city for a few days, I said the words of Yuan Mai next to each other, striving to cultivate their sense of identity with Yuan Mai first.

Zhang Liao also heard Zhang Kuang recite this "Short Song Xing", and he was also impressed by the artistic conception and heroic feelings expressed in this poem.

Zhang Kuang continued: "Yuan Gongzi is not only able to write, but also can get on the horse to kill the enemy, and in the battle of the party, the Xiongnu Shan Yu Fuluo was shot by him. Although he is not as invincible as Lu Wenhou in the world, he loves the people like a son and treats the soldiers like brothers. I was given the rank of military officer, and by the skill of my brethren I will surely be above me in the future. ”

Hearing that Zhang Kuang had been awarded the position of military candidate and was in charge of a team of 400 people, these brothers were immediately envious, and they were amazed one by one, and their sense of identity with Yuan Mai became deeper and deeper, and they couldn't wait to fly to Hanoi now and obey Yuan Gongzi's dispatch!

If the city is broken, they have only two ways, one is to die in battle, and the other is to surrender. But since they are all surrendered, it is better to surrender to Cao than to take refuge in the Yuan family to have a future. Surrendering Cao is equivalent to a captive, and he raised his hand to surrender when there was no way out, but it was different when he surrendered to Yuan, that is, "good birds choose trees and perch", and "good people choose the master and serve", and the treatment enjoyed is definitely different.

For Yuan Mai's favor, Zhang Liao was grateful and ashamed from the bottom of his heart. After the family became famous and noble, he did not hesitate to condescend to his hometown, visited his hometown twice before and after, and let his brother come all the way to Xiapi to show goodwill. even put a team of 7,000 people in danger and came to Xiapi to rescue himself, such a kind of love, who has ever had it throughout the ages?

"I, Zhang Wenyuan, am a martial artist, how can I dare to be so valued by Yuan Gongzi? It is difficult to repay you for being crushed in this life! Looking at the drizzle outside the window, Zhang Liao sighed in his heart. It's just, just give up the wait?

"Wen Hou is already in danger, so I can't bear it! What can I do? God, please show me a clear way! Zhang Liao's heart was fighting fiercely, and his face was full of hesitation.

Seeing that his brother was silent, Zhang Kuo took over Zhang Kuang's topic and said indignantly: "Brother, this Lu Bu is not only becoming more and more timid, but also more and more mean and unkind, listening to the woman's words. The day before yesterday, General Hou Cheng's horses were stolen fifty, and the thieves wanted to sacrifice them to Liu Bei. Fortunately, he was noticed before going out and chased back. Colleagues went to the camp to congratulate the general waiting, and it was normal for him to bring out some drinks to entertain the guests. lest he wait for punishment, so he sent someone to the house first. Who knew that Wen Hou was furious and wanted to kill General Hou Cheng. Fortunately, Wei Xu, Song Xian and several others interceded to avoid the death penalty, but they were beaten with fifty military sticks, and General Hou, who was beaten directly, opened his flesh, how could he convince the public by treating the soldiers like this? ”

The day before yesterday, Hou Cheng's horse was lost, and Zhang Kuo was one of the generals who went to congratulate him, and he was almost beaten with a military stick. This made him angry, he didn't choose to leave at the beginning, he stayed with his brother and you Lu Fengxian in the same boat, but you treated me like this, it's really chilling!

From then on, Zhang Kuo made up his mind to persuade Zhang Liao to abandon Lü Bu and go, go out of the city to join Lu Yi, and go north to join Yuan Mai.

"Since the military order is in advance, the soldiers are not allowed to drink too much. If Hou Cheng violates it, he should naturally be punished with military law, what is wrong? Zhang Liao glanced at his brother and said a good word for Lu Bu.

Regarding Lu Bucane's accusation of Hou Cheng, Zhang Liao believes that there is nothing wrong. It's just that Lu Bu doesn't allow his generals to drink, but he drinks in the mansion every day with his wife Yan and his concubine Ren Zhao to relieve his boredom, how can this be determined? Is it true that only the governor is allowed to set fires, and the people are not allowed to light lamps?

"Brother, I saw on the city wall today that Cao Jun has surrounded Xiapi, this city is estimated to be unable to hold for three or two days, for the sake of the brothers, let's go, go to Hanoi to seek refuge with Yuan Gongzi. It's not a pity for our brother to die, but they have exchanged the lives of 7,000 soldiers for you! Zhang Kuo saw that his brother was still saying good things for Lu Bu, so he couldn't hold back any longer, fell to the ground on one knee, and pleaded.

"Wen Yuan, let's go to Hanoi to join Yuan Gongzi, right?" More than 20 clansmen and brothers accompanied Zhang Kuo to his knees and pleaded with Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao couldn't help but sigh, it's time to make a choice, he has done his best to Lu Bu, and it's time to repay Yuan Gongzi for his kindness!

Huo Ran got up, pressed the long sword on his waist and said, "Brothers, all get up, I will go to the Wenhou Mansion again and persuade him to attack Cao Ying tonight." Our army has been trapped in the city for several months, and has not fought a battle, and it is expected that Cao's army has been paralyzed, and it will definitely be gained by sneaking out of the city. In this way, it can slightly dampen the morale of Cao's army, boost the hearts of the soldiers and civilians in the city, and maybe Xiapi can hold on for a while longer......"

After a pause, he sighed and said, "If Wen Hou doesn't listen, we will go out from the north gate tonight, meet General Liyi, and go north to Hanoi to join Yuan Gongzi!" After speaking, without waiting for the brothers to say anything, he strode out of the study, stepped on the war horse, and went straight to Lu Bu's mansion.

The brothers in the room sighed for a while, and said one after another: "Wen Yuan is really too loyal, loyal and a little stubborn, we have already done our best to Lu Bu, why do we have to do this more?" ”

Zhang Kuo waved his hand to signal everyone not to talk nonsense anymore, and ordered: "Lu Bu is unscrupulous, he will never dare to go out of the city to meet the enemy, he is afraid that he will lose the city and be robbed of his mother-in-law, so he can't wait to die in bed with a woman in his arms." If my brother goes, he will inevitably go away in a happy way and return in defeat. Everyone packed their bags and prepared to leave the city tonight. When my brother comes back, let's leave immediately! ”

Everyone said yes and went to pack their bags and prepare their horses. After tonight, I'm going to say goodbye to this Picheng!

"Drive!"

Zhang Liao rode alone, braving the rain and going straight to Lu Bu's mansion. In front of the Wenhou Mansion, I met more than a dozen horsemen from the east, and looked carefully, and the person at the head was Gao Shun.

"Hey, is it Wenyuan?" Gao Shun also recognized that the person on the opposite side was Zhang Liao, turned over and dismounted and asked.

Zhang Liao also turned over and dismounted, and said: "It's Zhang Liao, what is Gao Yuanxun doing in Wenhou Mansion?" ”

"According to my observation, Cao Jun has been paralyzed and negligent in guarding. If you go out of the city tonight and sneak attack, you may be able to fight a battle, even if you can't retreat from the enemy, you can also thwart the spirit of Cao's army, so I came to persuade Wen Hou, I don't know why Wen Yuan came? Gao Shun also turned over and dismounted, and said what he meant.

Zhang Liao was overjoyed: "I have the same intention as Yuan Xun, and I also came for this matter, so let's go to see Wen Hou together and persuade him to send troops to attack at night!" ”

"That's great!" Gao Shun was also overjoyed, with a confidant who fought side by side, there was hope of victory. (To be continued......)