Tang Xiu was in Yanzhou, Shandong, and attacked the city all the way, and the war was very smooth.

The battle report reached Cao Cao, and Cao Cao could no longer care about continuing to attack Xuzhou City, so he personally led his troops back to help.

Cao Cao originally had more than 200,000 Qingzhou soldiers, and he had previously divided his troops into 50,000 troops of the two brothers Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, and returned to Yanzhou to aid him, but he was defeated by Tang Xiu.

Cao Cao's attack on Xuzhou City caused half of the 50,000 or 60,000 defenders in Xuzhou City to lose half, but as the besieging party, the losses were even greater, losing tens of thousands of soldiers and horses.

Today, Cao Cao's Qingzhou soldiers have been reduced from more than 200,000 to more than 100,000.

Tang Xiu had 20,000 Xiliang iron cavalry and 50,000 troops under Tang Xiu, and this attack on Yanzhou was a big victory, and the loss was not large.

He also had 30,000 Huaxiong troops in the Tiger Prison Pass, as well as 20,000 or 30,000 soldiers and horses in Xuzhou City, which could be used as reinforcements.

In total, there are more than 100,000 soldiers and horses!

Moreover, with Tang Xiu's ability, he did not need the Tiger Prison Pass and the army in Xuzhou City, and only with the 50,000 Bingzhou troops and 20,000 Xiliang Iron Cavalry in his hands, he could also fight with Cao Cao.

He has already moved his mind to eliminate the princes of Cao Cao!

Because Cao Cao's ability and ambition will also be a great obstacle to his "revival of the Han Dynasty".

Tang Xiu was preparing to fight Cao Cao in Shandong, but unexpectedly, disaster also came to his lair.

There is a disaster in Pegasus to report: "Zhang Xiu, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou and other generals were defeated by Niu Fu and Jia Xu!" ”

Tang Xiu was slightly shocked in his heart.

He previously sent Zhang Xiu and Liu Guan Zhang three brothers to command the 80,000 Xiliang army, and Zhang Ji and Fan Chou two generals, the commander of the 30,000 Xiliang army in charge of logistics. A total of 110,000 Xiliang troops, strong soldiers and horses, rich in money and food, went to attack Chang'an.

The defeat came so quickly!?

How was this battle fought?

Zhang Xiu, Liu Guanzhang, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou and others were defeated and withdrew to Luoyang City.

This time, Tang Xiu couldn't sit still, at this moment, the garrison of Luoyang City was empty, if Chang'an's Niu Fu army took the opportunity to attack, I was afraid that it would not be good.

What's more, there is also Lu Bu, who is outside the army, this big variable.

Tang Xiu also had no intention of fighting a decisive battle with Cao Cao and eliminating Cao Cao, so he immediately ordered to withdraw his troops and return to the court.

At this time, Cao Cao also gave up attacking Xuzhou City and returned to Yanzhou, Shandong. Unexpectedly, he found that Tang Xiu had withdrawn from the army, and Cao Cao could only temporarily stop fighting.

After all, after repeated battles, the soldiers under Cao Cao's command were also a little unbearable. Fortunately, in this attack on Xuzhou, in addition to not defeating Xuzhou City, a lot of money and grain were looted in other places in Xuzhou, which was enough to raise troops for the time being.

Tang Xiu withdrew his troops and returned to the court, and the 20,000 Xiliang cavalry transferred from Huaxiong returned to the Tiger Pass, maintaining the 50,000 troops of the Tiger Pass.

And he and Zhang Liao commanded an army of 50,000 and returned to Luoyang City.

Next, Tang Xiu met Zhang Xiu, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou and other generals.

These generals of the imperial court, who were originally high-spirited commanders of 110,000 troops, went to attack Chang'an, preparing to make meritorious contributions. Now, they have fled back one by one.

Even the 110,000 army lost more than 60,000! There are only 50,000 soldiers left!

This is still the 30,000 army commanded by Zhang Ji and Fan Chou, but they are only responsible for logistics, and they did not charge into battle, otherwise the losses will be even greater!

In other words, of the 80,000 troops in the hands of Zhang Xiu and Liu Guan Zhang, only 20,000 remained, and 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers and horses were lost!

In a short period of time, fifty or sixty thousand soldiers and horses were lost, and Tang Xiu couldn't help but doubt the ability of the three brothers Zhang Xiu and Liu Guan Zhang.

If it weren't for the fact that these are all famous generals in history, he would be eager to let these generals drag down and behead them!

He has just recovered Xuzhou City, and with the help of Kong Rong and Tai Shici in Beihai, it can be regarded as a big step. In the future, the troops of Xuzhou City and Beihai can be used by him.

With the wealth of Xuzhou City and Beihai, you can easily increase your troops by tens of thousands, totaling 100,000 troops!

Not only that, Tang Xiu was also ready to completely eliminate Cao Cao's henchman, but unexpectedly, the three brothers Zhang Xiu and Liu Guan and Zhang gave him such a big surprise!

In the conference hall of the Great General's Mansion, Tang Xiu looked at Zhang Xiu, then at Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and then at Zhang Ji and Fan Chou, and said in a deep voice: "What is the battle situation?" ”

All the generals were full of shame and didn't dare to speak, but in the end, Liu Bei was quite responsible, stepped forward, and said: "Returning to the general, this defeat is really our carelessness!" ”

Tang Xiu's face remained unchanged, and he said lightly: "Let's hear it." ”

"Whoa!"

Liu Bei responded, and slowly explained the situation of the attack on Chang'an.

It is said to be an attack on Chang'an City, but in fact, it is an attack on Hangu Pass.

Tang Xiu naturally knew about it, because the main target of Zhang Xiu, Liu Guan, Zhang and others was Hangu Pass.

Hangu Guanxi is based on the plateau, east of the river, south of the Qinling Mountains, north of the Yellow River, is one of the earliest Xiongguan fortresses in Chinese history.

Founded in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it is the throat of Luoyang in the east and Chang'an in the west, known as "the Tiankai Hangu Zhuangguan, the dust of the valley to the north sky", "the twin peaks towering beside the river, a battlefield in the Hangu Valley since ancient times", since ancient times it is a place where soldiers must fight.

In the third year of King Zhou Shenliang, King Huai of Chu raised the army of the Six Kingdoms to attack Qin, and Qin relied on the natural danger of Hangu, so that the army of the Six Kingdoms "ambushed millions of corpses, bleeding and drifting". In the sixth year of Qin Shi Huang, the armies of Chu, Zhao, Wei and other five countries committed Qin, "to Hangu, all defeated and left" and "Liu Bang guarded the pass and refused Xiang Yu", all of which were carried out here.

In addition, Hanguguan is not only a military powerhouse, but also a key point of cultural and economic exchanges between the hinterland of China and the northwest region. Around this important city, there are historical stories and legends such as "Purple Qi Comes from the East", "Lao Tzu Passes the Pass", "Chicken Sings and Dog Thieves", "Gongsun White Horse", "Tang Xuanzong Reform Yuan" and so on.

Hangu Pass is the throat of Luoyang in the east and Chang'an in the west, which is the main garrison of the Niu Fu army.

At the beginning, Dong Zhuo was defeated by the coalition of princes in the Tiger Pass, and was ready to move the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an, just to rely on Hangu Pass to retreat the princes and the two armies.

In history, King Chu Huai raised the army of the six countries to attack Qin, and Qin relied on the natural danger of Hangu, so that the army of the six countries "ambushed millions of corpses, bleeding and drifting", which can be seen the power of Hangu Pass.

Tang Xiu ordered Zhang Xiu and Liu Guanzhang, the three brothers, to lead 110,000 Xiliang troops to pour out, with strong soldiers and horses, rich money and food.

And Niu Fuman only had 70,000 soldiers and horses, and it was impossible for them all to gather in Hangu Pass, but to be stationed in various places.

In Hangu Pass, it is already the limit of 40,000 or 50,000 soldiers and horses, and it is very likely that there are only 30,000 or 40,000 soldiers and horses.

Almost three times the enemy, and there were fierce generals such as Zhang Xiu and Liu Guanzhang, Tang Xiu thought that he was able to capture it.

Unexpectedly, these generals were defeated in a short period of time, but they lost 60,000 soldiers and horses, and only 50,000 of the 110,000 troops were defeated!