Hangu Pass is the dangerous pass that separates Hongnong and Luoyang, the east of the Kanto is Luoyang, the west of the Kansai is Hongnong, the two sides are the endless mountains and mountains, the cliffs, and the birthplace of many rivers, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is difficult for birds and beasts to pass.

Therefore, the idea of the so-called detour was eliminated from Zhong Xuan's mind for the first time, and if he could bypass it, this place would not have been relied on from ancient times to the present.

The current shape shì, conventionally speaking, has only two possibilities.

One is the loss of Luhun Pass in the south! But Lu Hun Pass was guarded by Xu Rong personally, and the soldiers were well fed, so it was impossible for him to fall inexplicably without even a little rumor. What's more, in the fields and mountains outside Lu Hun Pass, there are many eyeliners dressed as hunters, which he personally arranged, as long as there is a slight disturbance in Lu Hun Pass, news will be transmitted back from there.

The other is that Yingchuan was lost, and the Chu army in Nanyang attacked Cao's army, and then fought from behind. But this is also unreasonable, because at this time, the time when the good news came is not long, it is impossible to be so fast, which is completely beyond the scope of people.

These thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, Zhong Xuan calmed down for the first time, pulled out the sword at his waist with a "sneer", and shouted murderously: "Everyone, panic, this is a thief in the mountains, not the army of Chu, you are here to resist with all your heart, and the old man and General Cao Zhen will personally go to surround and kill!" ”

Zhong Xuan's prestige in the hearts of his subordinates is unparalleled, and his composure quickly stabilized the panic of the middle and high-level generals, and they took orders to go away one after another to calm the hearts of the army.

Zhong Xuan and Cao Zhen also hurried to the Kanto City Wall, and along the way, they saw the kind of soldiers who were frightened, alarmist, and instigated their colleagues, all of which were unceremonious. Slash with a sword.

In this way, all parties can do their best. The chaos finally stabilized.

But Zhong Xuan's heart has not yet settled. When there was still some way to go from the Kanto city wall, another herald rushed in.

"Qi Yu is too defended, the enemy army took advantage of the night cover to attack the eastern city, our side was unprepared, the dispatch was slow, and now three sections of the city wall have been lost."

"Quickly send an order to Xiahou Zan and ask him to transfer 3,000 soldiers from Xicheng to come for reinforcements immediately!"

"No!"

After the messenger is gone. Cao Zhencai showed a little panicked, and said hurriedly: "Zhong Taishou, something is wrong!" If it is an ordinary thief, how can he have such combat power, even if he is not prepared, he will not be able to break through the city wall so quickly, and the other party is definitely an elite soldier and horse. ”

"The reason is no longer important, now the military can't be messed up!" Zhong Xuan didn't explain anything, only replied meaningfully.

Cao Zhen is not stupid, and he doesn't talk much anymore. It's just that the melancholy on the brow lingers.

The two rushed to Dongcheng with their henchmen and guards, and only then did they know the fierceness of the battle. Dongcheng arranged this garrison, which was simply suppressed and retreated, if it weren't for the desperate fight of the soldiers, I am afraid that it would have fallen long ago. Zhong Xuan observed slightly, and then took over the command as soon as possible, and after his dispatch, although it was still difficult to resist, the shape was much better.

Soon, Xiahouzan led 3,000 soldiers to reinforce him, which greatly relieved the pressure.

It's a pity that the besieging army has already occupied several sections of the city wall and seized the opportunity, and it is very difficult for Zhong Miao to turn the tables.

"Elite soldiers, the other party is definitely an elite soldier in a hundred battles!"

Cao Zhen observed for a long time, and also went up to fight in person, and when he returned to Zhong Xuan's side, he immediately shouted.

"I understand!" Zhong Xuan's old face was gloomy, and his hands holding the sword were a little blue. "This must be the main force of the Chu State, or the elite of the main army, even the soldiers under our command are not as good! Now that they have the upper hand, it is not good for us. ”

"What now? Zhang Liao in Kansai is also like crazy, attacking regardless of casualties, and if this continues, our losses will be very large! ”

"Hold! No matter what, you have to hold on, as long as it drags on for half a day, these soldiers in front of you will retreat! Zhong Xuan said categorically: "They only have a few thousand people, although they are elite, but they are obviously rushing to attack, there is not enough rear strength, as long as they survive this half day, they retreat, we can ease up, redeploy the defense, there is no need to worry." ”

"Then I'll personally step forward to supervise the battle!" Cao Zhen replied, full of astonishing evil spirits.

But before he could set a foot, an anxious cry came.

"Report! Report!!!!!! ”

"What?" Cao Zhen was shocked.

"The granaries and arsenals in the city, including the customs of Hangu Pass, were all on fire, and there were many unidentified masters who were causing chaos in the city."

When the words fell, Zhong Xuan didn't have time to speak, and another person hurriedly came: "The bell is too guarded, a large number of soldiers in Xicheng who have withdrawn from the city to rest have symptoms of poisoning, weak and weak, although it is not fatal, but most of the soldiers are weak in their hands and feet!" ”

"What?"

Zhong Xuan's eyes were dark, and his body was weak.

Cao Zhen's eyes were quick, and he hurriedly held him up, and asked sharply: "What's the matter?" How is it poisoned? ”

"The doctor said that the food should be mixed with something like sweat medicine!" The soldier replied.

"Sweat medicine? Food in the army has always been strictly regulated, how can there be such a thing? Cao Zhen was furious, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"It's probably the people who brought the food before!" Zhong Xuan regained some vitality at this time and said strongly.

It turned out that there were many people in the city who took care of their children and mothers earlier, and sent this and that to Cao Jun to support them in resisting the enemy.

"People?" Cao Zhen was stunned, and was extremely sad and indignant: "I have never been short of waiting for the people in Guannei, why did they turn their backs on them like this?" ”

Zhong Xuan waved his hand: "No, this has nothing to do with the people, someone should be in the way, just took advantage of this opportunity, because only at this time, they can poison the food of our army, and it is even possible that the people's righteous deeds were led by them!" ”

After speaking, he seemed to be ten years old in an instant, and sighed extremely tiredly: "What a clever method, he took advantage of the people's love for me, such a strategy must come from Guo Jia's hand!" ”

"Alas!" Cao Zhen sighed heavily, and the big knife stood on the ground fiercely, smashing a hole with a "bang".

"We're defeated!"

Zhong Xuan was very calm, thinking that in this situation, there was a big chaos inside, and he was absolutely powerless to resist, and his voice was full of bitterness.

"Cao Zhen, you lead a group of soldiers to break through! If you resist again, you just sacrificed your life in vain, you have to report this news to Yingchuan, otherwise the consequences are unimaginable! ”

"Good!" Cao Zhen knew the general situation, turned around and was about to leave.

But as soon as he took a step, he suddenly paused and turned his head suddenly: "Zhong Taishou is not leaving?" ”

"Me?" Zhong Xuan showed a smile of relief on his face, and said lightly: "I lost Si Li, and now I have lost Hangu, how can I still have the face to see the lord!" That's it, let me live and die with this Hangu, I just hope that General Cao Zhen will remember the past and take care of the old man's family in Luoyang. ”

"Zhong Taishou, what are you talking about? The lord once said that only Zhong Taishou must not have an accident in this division, and he will not be able to watch you die here. Cao Zhen was eager to dissuade.

Zhong Xuan did not waver, and said with certainty: "I have betrayed the trust of the lord, General Cao does not need to say more!" Your Excellency should quickly lead your troops to break through the siege, and don't delay the big thing. ”

"This ......"

Cao Zhen was a little hesitant, not only because of his relationship with Zhong Xuan, but also for what Cao Cao once said to him, and he understood the weight of Zhong Xuan in his heart.

"No, Zhong Taishou must go!"

Cao Zhen made a decision, didn't say a word, and shot directly.

"You ......"

Zhong Xuan only had time to say a word before he was knocked unconscious.

Cao Zhen didn't procrastinate, waved his hand and threw it to the guards beside him, and said loudly: "You are responsible for protecting Zhong Taishou, sending people to notify all departments, and break through from the East City on your own, this general only fights for half an hour for everyone, and within half an hour, the East City Gate will be in the control of this general!" ”

Cao Jun didn't understand why the shape would take a sharp turn, but after receiving the order, no one hesitated, and a fierce offensive and defensive battle instantly turned into a breakthrough battle, which was inexplicable, but it also made people sigh at the rapid changes on the battlefield, but unfortunately the facts are the facts, and no one can only accept them.

The battle for the east city gate was not fierce, after discovering that the Cao army intended to break through, the soldiers and horses of the Chu State deliberately abandoned the city gate, and even made way for them to escape, ignoring the withdrawn Cao army, but only tightened the control of various important strongholds on the city wall, seizing the advantageous position, forming a strange scene.

Cao's army at Hangu Pass withdrew, and most of those who could not go chose to surrender.

Zhang Liao's White Tiger Legion quickly seized control of the entire Hangu Pass and began to sweep the interior.

The battle report also flew like snowflakes to all sides!

Only half a day later, Zhang Liao once again set up troops to march eastward, chased the defeated army, and took Luoyang directly!

Xu Rong, who was stationed south of Hangu Pass, learned that Hangu was lost, and Zhang Liao fought to the hinterland of Cao's army, worried that he would fall into a lonely place, so he took the initiative to attack Hongnong, intending to "encircle Wei and save Zhao" and force the White Tiger Army to withdraw. It's just that this was expected as early as possible, Yongzhou Thorn Shi Fazheng had been ordered to lead the county government soldiers to set up an ambush for many days, and he was still halfway there, and was greeted by a rolling stone and a wooden tree in the mountain stream, and returned in a miserable defeat.

No one thought that the soldiers of the county government of Chu, who had not participated in the war for a long time, would be called up to make such an ambush.

But it is precisely because of this negligence that no one pays attention to the county government soldiers who maintain law and order in various counties on a daily basis, let alone the law and law that has long been a pure civilian but leads troops to set up an ambush.

Xu Rong thought that he had spotted the enemy's movements, but he didn't think about it, but he made a big mistake.

After this defeat, Xu Rong knew that Lu Hun Pass could not be saved, and he was worried that he would be attacked from the front and back, so he hurriedly abandoned Lu Hun Pass and led the army to aid Luoyang.

Zhang Liao personally divided his troops to block the attack, and the two armies fought fiercely at Yique.

In this field battle, the Xiaoyaojin dead soldiers became famous again, as the arrows of the army, they killed the demoralized Cao soldiers with superb martial arts and the spirit of not fearing death, Xu Rong and Zhang Liao fought dozens of battles, and they were also picked off their shoulder armor with a shot, and their left shoulder was wounded, and they were forced to retreat to the east of Luoyang, losing the strength to fight again.

Zhong Xuan and Cao Zhen led the remnants of the Cao army to be trapped in Luoyang, and they were in danger!

Huang Quan also commanded his soldiers to attack after Xu Rong's defeat and the siege of Luoyang on the third day!

Cao's army was defeated in a row, its strength was greatly reduced, and the soldiers were cowardly, and Luoyang's majestic and complete city defense was difficult to resist the morale of the soldiers of the White Tiger Legion, and they were crumbling! (To be continued......)