At night, the Liang army troops led by Luo Xianfeng entered the city one after another.

Luo Rucai led 20,000 horses to chase and kill Zhu Zijian, the king of Shunyi, but the number of people who could return to Hanzhong Mansion safely was less than 5,000 people, and even the 5,000 men and horses were all wounded.

When Luo Rucai stood in the lobby of the yamen of the prefect of Hanzhong Prefecture, his hair was scattered, his armor was torn, his body was injured in many places, and his battle robe was about to be stained red with blood.

Luo Rucai staggered forward, holding the ink-colored spear in his right hand, knelt down in front of Xu Liang and Hong Shenzheng, with tears in his eyes, and said hoarsely: "The last general led the army to the expedition, the battle was unfavorable, and the soldiers were killed and injured heavily. ”

Wan Wenshan, the cavalry battalion owner on the side, knelt down and said: "My lord, the last general lost the battle first, Luo Xianfeng fell into the encirclement of the people's army in order to cover the safe evacuation of the last general and the cavalry battalion. ”

Liang Jun suffered such heavy damage, which greatly surprised Xu Liang, Xu Liang was sad in his heart, but he knew that this was not the time to hold him accountable and punish the generals. He stepped forward to help Luo Rucai and Wan Wenshan up, took a deep breath, and said slowly: "The two generals don't have to blame themselves, the defeat in this battle is not the overall strength of our army, and it is not the general's personal sin. ”

Xu Liang saw Luo Rucai standing in the hall, his body swaying, his face pale, obviously caused by continuous battles and excessive fatigue, and hurriedly said: "The two generals will go down first to rest." ”

After instructing the guards to help Luo Rucai and Wan Wenshan down to rest, Xu Liang sat down again, and put Hong in politics and Dai Feng. Sima begged, Luo Baiguan. Fourth Miss Li Ting, Heavenly Dragon. Guo Tianxing and others gathered in the hall to discuss countermeasures.

Feng Wang Gao Yingxiang and Huang Ziren led the army back to Hanzhong Province, and as soon as they made contact with the Liang army, they killed the Liang cavalry battalion and inflicted heavy losses on the Liang army's vanguard troops.

As soon as the battle began, the Liang army lost nearly 20,000 people, which was an almost devastating blow to the Liang army.

Everyone in the hall was in a heavy mood, and they were all worried about the future of the battle.

Xu Liang took in the expressions of the generals and sighed. He said in a deep voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, in the large army of the people's army, King Gao Yingxiang has 50,000 soldiers, Huang Ziren has 80,000 soldiers, plus the remnants of the people's army led by Zhu Zijian, the king of Shunyi, Wang Zuogui and others, the total number of people's troops we have to face is at least more than 130,000. And the current strength of our army, there are still 5,000 Liang troops in the city. plus more than 7,000 soldiers who retreated into the city, the fourth lady, the heavenly dragon, and the heavenly star. The total number of troops is less than 20,000. How to deal with it, it is time to come up with a solution. ”

Dai Feng said: "We still have 5,000 elite soldiers in Hutou Pass, when necessary. You can transfer these 5,000 people. ”

Hong Shenzheng hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Absolutely not." The defenders of Hutou Pass are the last barrier to our retreat. Do not use it lightly. ”

"What then?" Dai Feng glared and shouted: "There are 130,000 people in the people's army, and we are less than 20,000. The disparity in strength is too great, how can this battle be fought? ”

Hong Shenzheng tapped the table and said firmly: "The city of Hanzhong is strong, and 20,000 horses are enough to defend this city." ”

Dai Feng asked, "What does Lord Hong mean, stick to it and wait for help?" ”

Hong Shenzheng nodded slowly and said, "This is no way. ”

When Luo Baiguan, the head of the Liang army, heard this, he meditated on the amount of grain and grass for a while, and couldn't help but remind him aloud: "There is not enough grain and grass in the city, and if you stick to it, you can only hold on for half a month." ”

Hong Shenzheng said: "Half a month is enough. When the Governor of the Three Sides learns of our situation, he will try to send reinforcements. ”

Xu Liang listened, but he was very unimpressed. He shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Lord Hong, you are too optimistic. Master Wu sent troops to help, who to send to help? Liu Zhilun, the governor of Shaanxi, led troops to rescue Xi'an Prefecture, and almost all the available troops in Shaanxi were exhausted. When we went to Hanzhong Mansion, we have already transferred more than half of the soldiers and horses of Pingliang Mansion. Gao Yingxiang, since Huang Ziren led the army to arrive here, then Liu Zhilun, the governor of Shaanxi, is estimated to be about the same, even if it is not a big defeat. Shaanxi is empty, where are there still reinforcements! Unless it is the court that transfers troops from the border pass. ”

Hong was silent, and the governor of the three sides, Wu Zhiwang, waved down, and there were still 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers, but the border army had the heavy responsibility of guarding the border passes, and they could not be transferred. Transferring troops from the border passes, unless the current emperor issues a holy decree, who would dare to transfer lightly?

"What should I do?"

The generals looked at each other.

Xu Liang raised his head and asked Fourth Miss Li Ting, Shangtianlong, Guotianxing and others, and said, "What do you have to build?" ”

Fourth Miss Li Ting shook her head, looked at each other from the Heavenly Dragon, and looked at Xu Liang with a smile: "Let's listen to Lord Xu, what do you say, let's do it." ”

Xu Liang frowned and thought for a while, and said helplessly: "Before the siege of the people's army, retreat." ”

Hong Shenzheng screamed and said, "No! ”

Xu Liang said: "The disparity between the strength of the enemy and me is too great......

Hong Shenzheng said angrily: "Our army has worked hard to capture Hanzhong City, and if we haven't fought a battle, how can we give up lightly!" Once you give up, how difficult it is to regain it. The lesson of Hutou Pass is still in front of you, Guozhong, you have to be cautious. ”

Xu Liang's face sank, and the lesson of Hutou Pass that Hong Shenzheng said refers to the incident that after the Liang army captured Hutou Pass, Xu Liang ordered the Liang army to abandon the pass and evacuate all. Hong's participation in politics was brought up again, which made Xu Liang very dissatisfied.

Xu Liang said in a deep voice: "As long as our army retains its strength and Hanzhong is lost, it can be fought back." ”

Hong Shenzheng listened, pointed at Xu Liang with trembling fingers, and shouted angrily: "Guozhong's words are inevitably suspected of cowardice and war!" If our army withdraws, where will the hundreds of thousands of people in Hanzhong be placed? Where are the officials who have just been assigned to the states and counties? Soldiers, the weapon of the country! Don't say that our army still has 20,000 horses, even if there are only 2,000 men and horses, we must fight for every inch of land, fight to the death, and never compromise! ”

"You ......" Faced with Hong's merciless accusation of participating in politics, Xu Liang was furious.

Just when the two were arguing about whether to fight or stay, the alarm bell on the city tower was raised.

Everyone in the hall woke up suddenly, Xu Liang saw this, put aside the dispute for the time being, and all rushed to the Dongcheng Tower.

On the city tower, the soldiers defending the city have entered a state of war, and when Xu Liang and his party climbed the city tower, they saw the Liang soldiers on the city tower looking nervously at the city.

Below the city. A black and oppressive civilian army formation stretched to the end of the night. Countless torches lit up at a glance. It's like a sky full of stars. Several generals of the People's Army galloped in front of the People's Army, facing the direction of the city tower, cursing loudly.

Xu Liang and Hong participated in politics when they saw it, and their faces changed.

"It's coming so fast!" Hong Shenzheng sighed.

Xu Liang said: "It's okay now, we don't have to argue, we can't leave if we want to!" ”

Wan Wenshan and Luo Rucai heard the news that the people's army had attacked the city, and the two of them also followed up to the city tower, glanced at the people's army phalanx outside the city, and said to Xu Liang and Hong Shenzheng: "It's the troops of King Gao Yingxiang." Look at the two adults. Those cavalry in the left rear of the people's army are Gao Yingxiang's ironclad cavalry! ”

Xu Liang's face was worried, and he pointed to the civilian army formation and said, "The civilian army under the city is estimated to be at least thirty or forty thousand people!" There will definitely be more people's troops to join in the future! He shouted to the generals beside him: "General Dai, you lead the generals to inspect the city tower and arrange the task of defending the city." ”

Dai Feng responded and led Wanwenshan, Luo Rucai, Shangtianlong and others out to assign the task of defending the city. By Xu Liang's side, only Hong participated in politics. Luo Baiguan and Fourth Miss Li Ting and others.

Xu Liang said to Luo Baiguan: "Manager Luo, don't stay on the city tower, hurry up and go down to the city tower to organize the doctor, herbs." Prepare to treat the wounded. ”

Luo Baiguan nodded, turned around and left.

Hong Shenzheng said at this time: "Guozhong, you are watching from the city tower, and this official and Chief Luo will go down together." ”

"Hmm." Xu Liang nodded. watched Hong Shenzheng and Luo Rucai walk towards the city. At this time, the whole city tower was busy, and the city tower went down the steps. Groups of Liang soldiers came and went carrying supplies to defend the city. Two Liang soldiers carried a log with a thick bowl mouth and participated in politics with Hong, and Luo Baiguan and the two staggered by. The Liang soldiers who walked in front lowered their heads slightly. The rim of the helmet obscured most of the face.

Xu Liang glanced lightly and saw the two soldiers carrying logs in the direction where Xu Liang was standing.

Xu Liang was slightly surprised, and suddenly, Xu Liang noticed that the corner of the soldier's mouth under the helmet in front of him actually showed a sneer, and it disappeared in a flash.

The large army outside the city is approaching the city, the enemy is outnumbered, and the disparity in strength is huge, for any normal Liang army soldier, it should not be a sneer.

Xu Liang saw it and stopped the two of them: "Stop!" ”

Xu Liang's voice broke off, and Hong Shenzheng and Luo Baiguan, who were about to go down the city tower, were shocked. The two turned around and looked at Xu Liang suspiciously. Then they saw an incredible scene.

The soldier of the Liang Army, who was walking at the front end of the log, suddenly roared, grabbed the log with both hands, and threw it in the direction where Xu Liang was standing, and saw the hundred-pound log flying sideways and crashing into Xu Liang.

Four Tsing Yi guards stood around Xu Liang, and when they saw this, they all shouted angrily, and two guards jumped forward and reached out to block the log that crashed into Xu Liang, and the other two guards rushed towards the assassin.

A hundred pounds of logs flew up horizontally, the force was so huge, as soon as the two guards stretched out their hands, they were shocked by the logs and fell out, and the dull sound made the two guards pale in their faces, obviously not lightly injured.

The log castrated unabated, and rushed to Xu Liang in the blink of an eye. Xu Liang let out a deep sigh, turned sharply, supported the end of the log with his right hand, and took three steps back in a row before he could unload the impact of the log. With a thud, the log fell to the ground.

"Protect your lordship!"

The soldiers in the tower shouted loudly, and the soldiers stationed there rushed forward to block the assassin who rushed forward with their knives.

"Guozhong be careful!" Descending the stairs, Hong Shenzheng was protected by a team of soldiers and shouted at Xu Liang.

The assassin was very skilled, with a long knife in his hand, and the wheel was not stopped, and he had already cut down the two Tsing Yi guards to the ground, and the Liang soldiers who rushed up could not hurt him at all, and the assassin rushed left and right, and the Liang soldiers who rushed to him were cut down to the ground.

Fourth Miss Li Ting stood in front of Xu Liang, paying nervous attention to the assassin, and said to Xu Liang: "My lord, I'll block him, you go quickly!" ”

Xu Liang snorted coldly, this place is on the upper floor of Hanzhong City, guarded by heavy Liang soldiers, although there are not many personal guards around Xu Liang, but ordinary soldiers are everywhere. In the midst of the heavy guards, facing an assassin who had infiltrated the Liang army, Xu Liang turned around and fled? Xu Liang can't afford to lose this person!

"I'm not leaving! I'd like to see how much an assassin dares to do to me! Xu Liang said in a deep voice, his eyes fixed on the assassin who was getting closer and closer.

In the distance, Dai Feng, who had heard that an assassin had attacked Xu Liang, was running towards the city tower, and a group of Liang soldiers shouted: "Catch the assassin!" "Protect Lord Xu! "Reinforcements in the direction of the castle tower.

"Don't kill me! I'm my own! In the corner of the tower, another Liang soldier carrying a log cowered there, looking around in horror. A Liang military captain saw him cowering, and said disdainfully: "Coward, get out of the way!" ”

The assassin killed six or seven Liang soldiers one after another, and there were only two Liang soldiers between him and Xu Liang!

"Dog officer, suffer death!" The assassin shouted, jumped up, and used the long knife in his hand as a machete, and slashed directly!

While! A bang!

Xu Liang held the knife in one hand and blocked the assassin's slash with one hand! Immediately snorted coldly, Xu Liang's gesture changed, and the long knife in his hand turned into a cut, and the long knife was like a swimming dragon, attacking the assassin's ribs.

"Yikes!" The Assassin exclaimed, retreating.

Xu Liang was wrapped in a piece of knife light, and he went up closely, and the long knife was one after another, fighting with the assassin.

The assassin's knife technique should be the way to slash and kill in the middle of martial arts, and the hole is powerful, and the opening and closing are wide. This sword technique was extremely advantageous in the battle between the two armies.

However, Xu Liang's great skill has reached its peak, and the introductory knife technique learned from Dai Yingying has only been practiced to his so-called 360 degrees without dead ends, plus the number of Dai's knife techniques learned from Dai Yingying in the later period, the long knife was used in Xu Liang's hands, not only the fierceness of Dai's knife technique, but also the trickiness of Xu Liang's own comprehension. The change of moves is extremely fast, the knife is extremely weird, and there is no pattern to follow.

Under Xu Liang's swordlight, the assassin only had the ability to parry, and had no power to fight back.

The two of them fought out of the outside of the city tower, and between the lightning and flint, there were no less than 100 moves. Xu Liang let out a loud shout, and the assassin was immediately separated.

The assassin took five or six steps back, his hands on his waist, his fingertips dripping with blood, and he was already injured by Xu Liang.

"Rats! Take! At this time, Dai Feng and his men finally arrived, and the knife flashed, and the knife in his hand was already on the assassin's neck, so that the assassin did not dare to move.

Seeing that the assassin was captured, Hong Shenzheng and the others breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ran over to check.

Xu Liang handed the bloodied knife in his hand to the guards beside him and walked over to Hong Shenzheng.

Suddenly, the sound of breaking wind hit in his ears, and another Liang soldier carrying a log was originally cowering in the corner of the city wall, but he was standing not far from Xu Liang's side at some point, and suddenly attacked, holding a dagger, turning into a black shadow and rushing straight at Xu Liang.

Quick, so fast!

Xu Liang didn't have time to react, so he was hit by the black shadow, but when he saw the cold flashing, he had a sharp pain in his chest, like an electric shock!

"Ahh Xu Liang roared, clapped his palms continuously, and slapped two palms with the black shadow that attacked, and there were two muffled sounds, Xu Liang felt that his palms were like hitting an iron plate, and he was in severe pain.

Bang! The black shadow shot extremely quickly, and the dagger that stabbed Xu Liang's chest went a few points deeper, and struck Xu Liang on the chest with one palm.

Xu Liang's chest hurt so much that he almost turned his back and fell out of three feet away.

"Bold!" Dai Feng roared wildly, like a tiger descending from the mountain, flying towards the black shadow.

"Your Excellency!" Fourth Miss Li Ting, Liang Jun Chief Manager Luo Baiguan exclaimed.

"Guozhong!" Hong exclaimed.

"Hahahaha!" The black shadow struck a blow, laughed nonstop, and without waiting for Dai Feng to get close, he jumped up from the battlements and jumped out of the city.

Dai Feng arrived and looked down at the city, only to see the black shadow plummeting down towards the city, still smiling.

"Hahahaha!"

"Damn it, let go of the arrows! Give me arrows! Dai Feng shouted angrily. (To be continued......)