Cheng Xu came in time, sparing Xia Houlan and his subordinates an unnecessary bloody sacrifice. After everyone settled down, Cheng Xu quietly called Xiahoulan to his tent.

Cheng Xu pointed to the human head on the ground, and said with a worried face: "I know this person, he is Yan Rou's henchman, and he once went south to Jizhou with Yan Rou. ”

Xia Houlan nodded and said in a low voice: "Please forgive me, I estimate that there is that person who will lead the team across the river tonight." ”

Cheng Xu sighed, not as if he was not surprised by Xia Houlan's speculation.

"Do you know why the official called you in?"

"I don't know about my humble duties, but please make it clear."

"Just now, this officer has asked several military marquis under your command, and I have a detailed understanding of the situation of your command of the battle in the past two days, and this officer asked you, if the three thousand soldiers and horses I brought are handed over to you for command, do you dare to take over?"

"Why do you have to do this, sir? The man retreated tonight, and he would not dare to attack again, unless he wanted the whole world to know his shameless face. With an adult in the middle and a lowly position in front of the road, we will be able to transport the grain and grass to Macheng smoothly in less than three days! ”

Xia Houlan didn't understand Cheng Xu's preparation for the temporary surrender of military power, and hurriedly excused himself and said.

Cheng Xu shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said: "If you only bring the grain and grass back to Macheng, this official naturally doesn't have to hand over the military power to you temporarily, but I am worried about the Taifu who stays in Macheng." That person has suffered a big loss in your hands in the past two days, and under the loss of soldiers, it is difficult to guarantee that he will not have resentment and anger, if he returns to Ningcheng and secretly colludes with Kebineng, there will be a huge defensive gap in the north of Macheng, and Kebineng can easily enter the Kou and leave Macheng behind. ”

"If Kebi can dare to be so bold, as long as the adults stick to Macheng, and wait until Kebi Neng leads the army deep into Youzhou, the adults can take the opportunity to block the back road of the Xianbei people, and we will send troops from the direction of Jicheng to fight, wouldn't it be possible to eliminate Kebi Neng in one fell swoop?"

"Xiahou Sima's idea is good, but there are only five days of rations left in Macheng now, in case just before we arrive in Macheng, that person will let Kebineng in, maybe we just run into Kebineng, not only can we not support Macheng, but we will also cheapen Kebineng in vain!"

Cheng Xu said this and stopped. He believed that with Xia Houlan's mind, he had fully understood what he was worried about.

"Your Excellency trusts me so much, Lan is willing to take over this important task, and swear to keep this batch of grain and grass military funds to the death, and send them to Macheng no matter what!"

At the time of crisis, Xia Houlan did not hesitate to accept Cheng Xu's entrustment.

In the early morning of the next day, Cheng Xu announced his decision in public before the troops pulled out of the camp, and handed over the seal letter and tiger talisman that mobilized and commanded the troops and horses to Xiahou Lan's hands. Gongsun Ji wanted to speak out to stop him, but he saw that no one from the soldiers brought by Cheng Xu questioned or objected, so he honestly shut his mouth.

This is the case with the men in the army, in addition to obeying absolute authority, they are more willing to obey the commander who can lead everyone to victory.

Yesterday night, the 3,000 soldiers who came to meet them and the nearly 1,000 brothers who stayed in the camp drank and chatted around the bonfire, and they heard from their former fellow villagers and brothers about the thrilling battles that took place at the water's edge in the past two days, and also heard about the various methods of the military Sima Xiahoulan. Everyone tied their heads to the waistband of their trousers and ate mixed rice, so they admired Xia Houlan very much for being able to save the lives of ninety percent of her brothers at a critical juncture.

After Xia Houlan took the tiger talisman, he said loudly to the soldiers: "I am immoral and incompetent, and I am temporarily resigned to the position of commander, so I can only wear my liver and courage and swear to kill the enemy!" Here, three military disciplines are announced: Fear the enemy and kill! Those who intend to escape, kill! Those who spread rumors and disturb the morale of the army, kill! ”

After Xia Houlan finished speaking, the hundred Zhending men standing not far behind him shouted in unison:

"If the enemy is afraid of the former, kill!"

"Those who intend to escape, kill!"

"Those who spread rumors and disturb the morale of the army, kill!"

The atmosphere in the camp was immediately tense, especially the 3,000 cavalry later, who clearly saw a kind of heartfelt fanaticism and support on the faces of the 900 people who stayed in the camp.

After a short handover and mobilization, Xiahoulan immediately ordered the troops to pull out the camp and leave, and continue to march west along the water of revenge.

In Quang Ninh City, Yan Rou no longer smashed objects, because there were no more items for him to beat in the house where he was temporarily sheltered.

"Lord Qiqi, the number of casualties has been counted." A Wuhuan centurion whispered.

"Tell me, how many are there?!" Yan Rou was a little impatient.

"In two consecutive night attacks, more than 1,300 people were killed and wounded, of which more than 740 were missing or dead, and the rest were wounded by arrows or falls to varying degrees...... The capture of our army this time...... Zero, captive...... Zero. When the report arrived, the cold sweat on the centurion's head couldn't stop flowing down.

"How can there be any missing!" Yan Rou couldn't help but roar again.

"Lord Qiyu, the missing ones were all washed away by falling into the water of revenge, because the leader of the Han army once launched a counterattack, and many brothers crossed the river in a hurry, and the result was ......"

"Rubbish! It's all rubbish! Have you ever found out who led the team that came to the rescue at night? ”

"It's Liu Yu who is engaged in Cheng Xu before the account."

"Cheng Xu? Did Liu Yu even send Cheng Xu? Hehe, it seems that his life in Horse City is not easy either! At such a time, he would rather divide his troops to receive the food team than agree to my request, this stubborn and unruly old horseman! ”

"Hmph, since you don't know each other so much, don't blame me for not remembering the old love! The two of you immediately take people out of the city to Danhan Mountain, and when you meet Kebineng, give him this letter! ”

Yan Rou handed over a secret letter that had already been written to his confidants, and finally a grim smile appeared on his face.

Outside Zhuolu City, Zhao Yun hurried away with five hundred cavalry panting.

"Chuan Wu order, enter the city tonight to stay, and leave on time tomorrow!"

The soldiers, who were already exhausted, cheered when they heard Zhao Yun's order, as a sign of support and support.

After coming out of Guangyang, Zhao Yun "led" Yan Zhi to march quickly, and it took more than a day to march more than 160 miles, and finally arrived in Zhuolu County. Fortunately, the five hundred horsemen that Zhao Yun brought were troops that had never been dispatched in Jicheng, and the horsepower and manpower were kept in a state of full energy, otherwise it would be really difficult to keep up with his speed.

In order to allow the soldiers and horses to fully replenish their physical strength at night, Zhao Yun, who has always disliked disturbing the people, ordered the troops to be stationed in the city, and also took the initiative to negotiate with the Zhuolu County Commander, and won the wine, meat and accommodation for the brothers.

Although Zhao Yun was eager to catch up with Xiahou Lan, he also knew the truth that if he wanted to hurry, he would not be able to reach it, so he would not be brutal when it was time to let the soldiers rest fully.

As an important person on this trip, Yan Zhi received Zhao Yun's "meticulous" care, which was almost equivalent to tying Yan Zhi to his trouser belt, which made the unlucky Yan Zhi unable to run away at all.

Yan Zhi has also practiced martial arts since he was a child, and judging by his skills that Zhao Yun occasionally and unintentionally showed, he may not even be able to resist Zhao Yun's three moves. Encountering this kind of "martial madman" who didn't even blink an eye, Yan Zhi had no choice but to admit that he was unlucky, and he didn't dare to show his grievances and dissatisfaction on his face.

Zhao Yun was on an emergency march, and Xian Yufu didn't dare to delay.

Since the eldest prince changed his plan, Xian Yufu first rushed to the bank of the Qishui River with 700 cavalry, took over the grain and grass transported from Yongnu and the 200 cavalry responsible for escorting from Liu Fang, and then immediately set off to continue the march to the upper reaches of the river.

In the afternoon of the next day, Xian Yufu saw Ma Tai and a hundred cavalry who had arrived here one step ahead of time on the bank of the river, and he immediately ordered the grain and grass transported by water to be brought ashore, and then handed over the people and boats to Ma Tai to be responsible for bringing them to Jicheng.

Now it is the dry season, and further upstream, the depth of the river is no longer enough to carry the wooden boats carrying grain, so you have to take the dry road. This is also the reason why Xia Houlan did not take the waterway when he set off with the first batch of grain and grass, after all, the grain loading and unloading will also delay a lot of time and manpower, if you can only walk dozens of miles by water, it will not be cost-effective.

After the grain and grass of Yongnu and Anci, Yangxiang and other places were gathered, the number was especially better than the first batch, and if it arrived in Macheng smoothly, it could be eaten by tens of thousands of troops for more than a month.

Xian Yufu urged the grain team to continue to march westward, and asked people to inquire about the news of Xiahoulan and Zhao Yun along the way, and when he learned that Zhao Yun had just passed by with the team just a day ago, he felt a lot more relieved.

Zhao Yun's bravery, Xian Yufu has been deeply understood; Zhao Yun's resourcefulness, through this time to urge grain to the west, has also been confirmed. With this fierce general going to Macheng, the safety of Lord Taifu is a little more guaranteed. Even if the battle situation reaches the most critical time, with Zhao Yun on his side, who can stop the escort Taifu breaking through?

Xian Yufu is in a hurry, and Xian Yuyin is also not idle.

Xian Yuyin was still urging grain in Yuguo County yesterday, and suddenly received an urgent message sent by Liu He, knowing that the situation ahead may change, Xian Yuyin also didn't care about settling accounts with a few big households with ambiguous attitudes, and only took the grain and grass that had been collected and hurried to Zhuoxian.

On the outskirts of Zhuo County, in the manor of a large family surnamed Zhang, several elders of the clan are gathering together to discuss matters.

"Old patriarch, I heard that the team urging grain has gone to the country, and it will be our county's turn next. This year, the grain and grass of several of our families are used to support Ling Lang to follow Xuande Gong, and when the time comes, the officers and soldiers will come to ask for it, what will we hand it over? ”

"Ahem...... cough, the food has already asked Zhang Shiping to take people to Anping, what good is it to say these words now? Old Patriarch Zhang coughed a few times, and then said: "The old man doesn't believe that Xian Yuyin can get grain from all the big households in the country, and when the time comes, we can barely hand over a little, just perfunctory, what else can he do to us?" ”

"Old patriarch, I heard that a few days ago, a lieutenant surnamed Zhao went to Anci to urge grain, and slaughtered all the Zhaojiabao who refused to pay food, this Xian Yuyin with two thousand soldiers and horses, is also a captain, if he is dissatisfied with our Zhang clan at that time, will it ......?"

"Forgive this erector for not daring to do this! My son Zhang Yide has the courage of ten thousand people, and he married Jin Lan with Liu Xuande, if you want to make a mistake, you also need to think about the consequences! ”

Old Patriarch Zhang looked determined, and he was not worried about the arrival of Xian Yuyin.