-- August 26, 23rd of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Luoyang――

In the antechamber of a mansion in Luoyang City, which served as a command post, as the commander of the Western Expeditionary Army, Li Shou sat on the main seat, looking at the generals sitting on both sides of the house with a worried expression.

Obviously, it was the day after taking Luoyang with amazing results, but there was not the slightest joy on the faces of the generals in the house.

The reason is that a moment ago, the woman of the eldest grandson Xiangyu left Luoyang.

This woman took Liu Yi, Wu Peng, Qi Hao and other 20,000 Qu troops, as well as Xiang Qing and Luo Chao, who had attacked Guocheng and had not yet returned to Luoyang, 8,000 archers, with nearly 30,000 troops, turned the road south, looked at Yique Pass, and handed over as many as 70,000 Zhou troops from Luoyang and Yanshi to Xie An.

I have to say that the departure of the eldest grandson Xiangyu made the generals in the house very disappointed, you must know that after seeing this woman's excellent tactics, all the generals in the house firmly believe that this woman whose wisdom is comparable to that of a demon can lead them to the final victory, but they never expected that this woman would leave them behind and hand over more than 70,000 soldiers and horses in Yanshi and Luoyang to a little ghost who is one year younger than her.

Isn't that good......

Bad......

Li Shou, who was sitting on the main seat, clearly noticed the change in the expressions of the generals in the room, and was secretly anxious in his heart, and quietly glanced at Xie An, who was sitting on the left side, but found that he was silently looking at the teacup in his hand and said nothing.

Oops, without the woman of the eldest grandson Xiangyu, Xie An may not be able to deter these generals......

What to do?

Block it for him first?

Just when Li Shou was thinking to himself, suddenly. Xie An, who was sitting in the chief, let out a long breath, then glanced around at the generals in the room, got up and arched his hand and said, "The generals must have known that Xie Ming'an, who is in the lower sex, has not yet expressed his words, and when he was in Jijing, he was appointed as the Shaoqing of the Great Prison Temple, but he didn't know much about the use of soldiers. I hope that the generals will mention more in the future......"

"......" The generals in the room glanced at each other and didn't say a word, just looked at Xie An intently, which made the atmosphere in the room even more tense.

Seeing this, Xie An took a deep breath and continued, "The generals guessed that the reason why the eldest grandson military division led the army to leave Luoyang and run to Yique Pass. It's just because on the matter of rescuing Lu Gong, the official and the military advisor have opinions to the left...... I won't hide it from you. Rescuing Lu Gong and Xie An is not for the public, but because of his own selfishness! -- For your own selfishness, you have to put yourself in danger, and you feel very guilty! ”

"......" everyone in the room frowned slightly.

Hey......

Say this at this time?

Li Shou looked at Xie An in astonishment, and frequently gestured to him with his eyes.

However, Xie An didn't seem to see Li Shou's eyes, and after taking a deep breath, he raised his voice and said, "I know that the generals are complaining in their hearts. I also feel guilty below, but the matter has come to this point, even if you complain about it, you can't change the established facts......"

"Hey!" Su Xin, the general in the room, grinned, and could hear that this laughter was mixed with a lot of contempt and ridicule.

Glancing at Su Xin. Xie An continued to say in a deep voice, "Right now, there are only two paths in front of the generals, either. Rush to Hangu Pass with the general and the official to rescue Lu Gong and attack the rebels, or stay in Luoyang! -- This officer does not have the courage of the eldest grandson, and he will never dare to deal with you for the crime of rebellion, and you generals can rest assured of this! ”

As soon as the words fell, I heard the general Zheng Hao say, "Since the military power is in General Xie, the last general and others have nothing to say, but ...... Luoyang to Hanguguan, on the way must pass through Gucheng, although the city wall of Gucheng is not as good as Luoyang, the army is only more than 10,000, however, it is not easy to take...... I don't know what Xie Shen can use to conquer this city? ”

Li Shou's face changed slightly when he heard this, and he subconsciously looked at Xie An, he knew very well that Xie An's answer was related to whether he could control the army's heart.

No, it's not all, Xie An's answer is also related to the morale of these generals, and the morale of the Zhou army in the city, which has finally gained the upper hand!

Just when Li Shou was secretly anxious, Xie An showed a little smile on his face, shrugged his shoulders and said lightly, "Of course, the eldest grandson military master has already given this official a clever plan!" ”

"W-What?" Su Xin, who didn't care about it at first, changed his face slightly when he heard this, and said urgently, "The military advisor teaches the master a clever plan?" Maybe even he didn't notice that his address to Xie An had changed.

"Yes!" Xie An nodded, and said with a natural expression, "Just after the generals left, this officer and the military advisor discussed for a long time and decided to divide the troops into two routes, and the generals also know that there are 100,000 rebels in Hangu Pass, and there is an unknown fierce general, how can it be easily captured?" Therefore, the official and the military adviser discussed, and His Royal Highness and the official led the army to attack the Hangu Pass to attract the attention of the enemy, and the military division led 30,000 soldiers and horses to attack the Hangu Pass from the flank. ”

The generals in the house were slightly shocked when they heard this, and then, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became lively.

"I see......"

"It turns out that General Xie and the eldest grandson have already planned ......"

"Xie Shenjiang is really, I said it earlier, I will wait for the end of the ...... to be so worried."

As soon as he heard that the eldest grandson Xiangyu had delivered the secret plan to Xie An in advance, the expressions on the faces of the generals suddenly became relaxed.

"I don't know what kind of clever plan the eldest grandson military master told General Xie Shen?" Su Xin said eagerly, he was like two people with Fang Cai.

"Well...... Xie An dragged out his voice and said with a wry smile, "Don't say it right now!" -- The temper of the eldest grandson's military advisor is also known to the generals......"

"Oh, oh...... Right, right! Su Xin nodded suddenly in understanding.

During this period, Li Shou kept looking at Xie An with a stunned gaze, and said secretly in his heart: It turns out that this guy asked that woman for a strategy? Damn, don't even say it, you have to be so anxious......

The generals talked and laughed for a while, and retreated one after another, after all, there was a wave of 20,000 rebels in the northwest corner of Luoyang who occupied a corner of the city, and they resisted stubbornly.

Think about it, and you know. Before the army marches and heads to Hangu Pass, this rebel army is bound to be annihilated!

Seeing the last general withdraw from the hall, Li Shou let out a long breath and said with palpitations, "Fang Cai is really shocking this king!" As he spoke, he glanced at Xie An and said angrily, "Xie An, it's too uninteresting." Miss Eldest Sun gave you a secret plan, but you didn't even hide it, and the king is still worried about you......"

As soon as the words fell, Xie An let out a long sigh and muttered, "If that woman really told me some clever plan, it would be great!" ”

"Huh? What do you mean? Li Shou froze as he stretched his waist, looked at Xie An in disbelief, and said in a trembling tone. You...... Did you just say ......?"

"Ah, it's all a lie! - The woman. Didn't say anything! Xie An spread his hands and said lightly.

Li Shou gasped in shock, covered his violently beating heart, swallowed his saliva and said, "That'...... So what now? ”

"What else can I do?" Glancing at Li Shou, Li Shou sat back in his seat, put his hands on the desk, supported his body, and said in a deep voice. "Come up with a brilliant plan as soon as possible......"

"This ...... How so? ”

"What can I do? These people obviously admired that woman, and now that woman is gone, their morale will plummet, and even, if they don't say so, they won't obey me at all! ”

"That's ......" Li Shou nodded with relief when he heard this, and then frowned and asked. Are you sure? If the remnants of the rebels in the city are annihilated, we will rush to the valley city immediately, and the longest will only be a day and night, and you will not think about it in this day and night. Think of a whimsical plan comparable to the Changsun Army's attack on Luoyang, right? ”

"To be honest, I'm not sure......," Xie An shook his head, and then said in a deep voice, "However, you have to come up with one to say anything!" - Anyway! ”

"......" Li Shou opened his mouth and was stunned.

This kid......

I've never seen him so serious......

Thinking of this, Li Shou licked his lips and said, "Is there anything I can help with?" Don't dare to boast, I, Li Shou, have also read some military books......"

"Of course it can help!" Xie An raised his head with a smile, and then the expression on his face suddenly changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Shut up!" Get out! ”

"......" Li Shou was speechless for a long time by this sentence, and after half a ring, he walked to the door of the hall with his head dangling.

"Well, that's fine...... If that's a help......"

Looking at the back of Li Shou leaving, Xie An shook his head angrily, then took a deep breath and thought hard about the so-called clever plan.

When the book is used, there is less hatred, and when people die, they really want to live.

It is often only when people are faced with some problems that they fully realize how much they have taken for granted the answers they have made in the past.

When the eldest grandson Xiangyu was in charge of the troops, Xie An said this and that, but when he was in charge of the troops himself, he was at a loss and didn't know what to do.

A whole hour passed, and Xie An didn't come up with an idea, but even his thoughts were disturbed.

Sweat gradually oozed from his forehead.

Why?

Why can't you think of a way at all?

Is this the only way I can after all?

Is he just a person who is too ambitious and has a low eye? Usually talk rhetorically, but once you really face a problem, you are helpless?

No......

Grabbing the hair on his head with his right hand, Xie An gritted his teeth, revealing a little pain.

Suddenly, the voice of the eldest grandson Xiangyu faintly sounded in his ears......

[If it doesn't go well...... Then remember for me, Xie An, you killed my eldest grandson Xiangyu! There are also nearly 30,000 people such as Liu Yi, Xiang Qing, and Luo Chao! ]

No!

Vaguely, Xie An felt as if there was an invisible pressure that overwhelmed him.

is not only the woman of the eldest grandson Xiangyu, but also nearly 30,000 people such as Liu Yi, Xiang Qing, Luo Chao, and 70,000 soldiers in Luoyang......

You have to think of it, even if you spend your whole life of wisdom here, you have to think of it!

Xie An clenched his fists tightly.

But unfortunately, he was so anxious, and his thoughts became more and more confused.

At this moment, Xie An seemed to hear a familiar voice.

[Calm down, Ann, impatience doesn't solve the problem......]

It was the sound of Liangqiu Dance.

"Dance ......," Xie An muttered the name of Liangqiu Dance.

In his opinion, Liangqiu dances this woman. The calmest of the women he had ever seen.

Some people may laugh at it, a short-tempered and irritable woman like Liang Qiu Wu is actually the calmest.

But in fact, Liang Qiu Wu is indeed the calmest woman, it is undeniable that she is very easy to get angry because of certain people and things, but she can always control the anger in her heart.

Even Xie An, who was unknown at first, took away her precious chastity, and this woman forcibly calmed herself down, you know. With her force, it would be effortless to kill Xie An.

Liang Qiu Wu is an irritable woman, but she will never be carried away by anger!

Yes, calm down......

Perhaps thinking of Liangqiu Dance, Xie An took a deep breath, and then spit it out for a long time, adjusting his mood.

At present, our Zhou army has captured Luoyang, and it is only 500 miles away from Hangu Pass. The only obstacle on the way is a castle called Valley Castle......

Yes. With 70,000 troops in hand, as long as you capture this city, you can reach the Hangu Pass!

However, the eldest grandson Xiangyu needs to rely on the strength of less than 30,000 people to conquer Yique Pass, Dagu Pass, Xincheng, Luhun Pass, and Yiyang, which are five cities and passes where rebels are stationed, in order to get around the back of Hangu Pass......

Compared to the city pass she wants to conquer, what is in front of her?

Believe in yourself, Xie An. Can you come up with ......

With his fingers crossed and his hands on the desk, Xie An stared intently at the flaw of a small black dot on the desk.

If it were that woman, what would she do?

Not......

Not......

Immediately send troops to attack Valley City?

While the rebels in Gucheng didn't know that Luoyang had fallen, they attacked in a hurry?

No way......

Not to mention that there is still a rebel army in Luoyang that is resisting stubbornly, even if there is no rebel army. The soldiers who are tired from the siege of the city may not be able to fight again, and if they reluctantly go to the valley city with the tired army, they will not be able to take the city. will also be dragged to death there, once the rebels of Hangu Pass go to the rescue of Gucheng, I am afraid that it will be their own 70,000 troops who will suffer......

Well, that woman would never do such a stupid thing.

Most of them will order the whole army to renovate for a day, and then go to Valley City tomorrow......

But in this way, the rebels of Gucheng will know that Luoyang has fallen, after all, many of the rebels in Luoyang have escaped from the West Gate, and the place where these people will go is undoubtedly Gucheng......

In other words, Tanijo will ask Hanyaguan for help......

Gucheng is at the midpoint between Hanguguan and Luoyang, in other words, the reinforcements sent by Hanguguan should have a similar itinerary as his own army of 70,000......

In other words, unless you conquer Valley City in one day, you are likely to be dragged to death by the rebels.

How do you conquer Valley City in one day?

The defenders of Gucheng will not run out of the city stupidly and fight with our army, most of them will defend the city......

Wait, no!

Mamoru Tani will be in battle!

The rebels who escaped from Luoyang will definitely tell the Gucheng defenders the news of the fall of Luoyang, so that the Gucheng guards will have an illusion, that is, relying on the city wall defense alone like Zhang Dong is not enough to hold Gucheng, after all, Zhang Dong did not hold Luoyang with more troops.

Therefore, the defenders of Gucheng will definitely go out of the city to face the battle......

Wrong wrong......

Although this idea is correct, there are only 10,000 people in Gucheng, but our army has 70,000, and there are at least 60,000 who can be brought to Gucheng.

Damn it......

Ten thousand people, what valley city do you guard? Can't you bring a little more?

Ah, no, no, if Gucheng has more troops, then the victory rate of my Great Zhou army attacking Gucheng will naturally be even smaller......

Is there a rebel army that can't be regarded as the combat power of Gucheng, but can give Gucheng defender Ou Peng courage?

Let him dare to lead people out of the city to face the ......

Thinking of this, Xie An laughed at himself and reached out to scratch his head.

"How could such a good thing happen......"

At this time, Li Jing, the general of the Zhou army of the Western Expedition, hurriedly rushed into the hall, saw Xie An sitting on the seat, clenched his fists and said, "Lord Xie, Zhang Dong, who is fighting the trapped beasts in the northwest corner of the city, sent someone to negotiate with our army: If our army can pardon the crime of sitting together with the families of the generals and soldiers in his army, then Zhang Dong and the soldiers under his command are willing to bind themselves, otherwise, they will fight to the death with our army until one soldier and one soldier will not die!" - My lord? ”

Under Li Jing's surprised gaze, Xie An grew his mouth in surprise and took the case.

"That's him!"

"Huh?"

Yeah!

How could I forget that there is still such a rebel army in Luoyang City who is stubborn to the end!

At the moment when the other rebels were fleeing in disarray, why didn't this rebel army flee before Fei Guo, Li Jing and others captured the West City Gate and the North City Gate?

The reason is simple, there are families in the city! They wanted to pick up their families and go together, so they delayed the opportunity, and in desperation, they could only stay in the northwest corner of Luoyang.

While thinking excitedly, Xie An followed Li Jing and rode towards the northwest corner of Luoyang City.

After riding a horse for half an hour, Xie An came to the location of the last force in the city.

Looking at the corpses everywhere nearby, Xie An was secretly frightened, because he found that among the corpses everywhere, the ratio of the rebels to the Zhou army in battle was almost one to one.

It can be said that it is even more tragic than a siege battle!

What's going on?

Holding the reins of the horse and walking slowly forward, Xie An looked at the houses and streets in the distance, and he faintly saw that on those houses and streets, the rebels had set up simple defensive facilities, for example, a series of furniture were dragged out of the houses and placed on the streets to build a defensive line, and even, in some places, directly used the corpses of soldiers on both sides to build a defensive line.

Looking at the blood everywhere and feeling the smell of blood that was close at hand, if he hadn't forcibly held it back, Xie An would have almost vomited out the overnight meal.

Taking a deep breath, Xie An reminded himself over and over again.

Calm down, Xie An, putting aside the nominal commander Li Shou, you are now in control of an army of 70,000, and the lives of 70,000 people are in your hands......

If you can convince Zhang Dong to defect, then you will be able to take Gucheng with a slight loss, and even the [Bloodless Blade] that the woman of the eldest grandson Xiangyu sneered at!

Believe in yourself, what you can do, isn't it your forte?

Thinking of this, Xie An took a deep breath, rolled over from his horse, and looked directly at the countless rebels occupying the streets and houses in the distance......