Cao Ying pondered: "Zhao Yun is calm and knows how to advance and retreat, in case they recognize our plan and chase after us, I am afraid that when the time comes, our army will rush to the battle and mess up the formation, and they will take advantage of it." If they don't pursue, although our army can recover Xudu safely, we are a little unwilling to make such a situation after working hard and consuming so much time and food. ”

Xun Yu said solemnly: "Zhao Yun and Xu Shu's generation, not Yuan Shao and the like, the lord still has to be prepared for a protracted war." ”

Cao Ying's two small eyes narrowed into a slit, occasionally revealing a trace of unpredictable light, even Xun You, who had followed him for many years, couldn't guess what Cao Ying was thinking in his heart. It can be seen how deep Cao Ying's city is. Cao Ying stomped back and forth twice, then stopped, put his hand on the case, flipped the picture on it at will, and said slowly: "If our army wades through the upper reaches of the Huai River, first take the Lujiang River, then take the Anfengjin stronghold, and finally besiege Shouchun, Gongda said that what are the chances of winning?" ”

Xun You thought for a while before saying: "This idea is not unthinkable, but according to the spies, the Jiangdong Army has obviously been prepared, in the Lujiang area, three miles and one Yantai, five miles and one outpost, its defense is not inferior to An Fengjin, if you want to open a breakthrough from here, I am afraid that it is more difficult than attacking An Fengjin." ”

Cao Ying was still unwilling to say: "Is it going to be fruitless this time?" ”

Xun You smiled and said, "Not necessarily." The lord retreated first, let Yingshang County go, and then invited the Jiangdong army to enter the army. The lord will encircle from the new circle, increase [***] force, as long as Yingshangcheng is not broken, the Jiangdong army will definitely ask for help from An Fengjin in order to save his life. Zhao Yun will definitely not see death and not save him, then they will send troops to relieve the siege, and then the opportunity for the lord will come. ”

Cao Ying frowned and said, "We spent a lot of money to take Yingshang City, how can we just give it up?" ”

Xun You didn't think Xu Dao: "The two armies are fighting, don't be greedy for a moment's victory, don't fight for a moment's place, if you can exchange the smallest interests for victory, you don't care about attacking Yingshangcheng from the beginning." ”

Cao Ying lowered his head and pondered, obviously distinguishing between this possible surname.

Xun You added: "I can't bear the child to trap the wolf, if there is no better way, then the lord will retreat first." ”

Cao Ying's gloomy face gradually relaxed, his eyes suddenly widened a little, and he said with a terrifying light: "The meaning of Gongda, at first glance, I feel awkward and uncomfortable, but when I think about it carefully, it is a clever plan. If we let Kong Ying go to the city, Zhao Yun will inevitably detach troops from the new division to guard it, which is equivalent to indirectly weakening An Fengjin's forces. If it is in the siege, because of the previous experience of breaking the city, the Jiangdong army must have scruples, as long as we build up a decent momentum, we are not afraid that Zhao Yun will not come out of Anfengjin and support Yingshang. When the time comes, they will be surrounded and annihilated in the set, and their main force will be destroyed in Huaibei, and they will be able to go straight to Shouchun and point their swords at Moling. ”

Xun You's face was full of excitement, and he was relieved for Cao Ying's words.

In August, after three months of holding on to the Huai River, Cao Ying's army suddenly broke the news of retreating to Xudu, and the whole country celebrated in Moling, and the people sang the praises of Zhang Lang's wise leadership. The news of Cao Jun's withdrawal stimulated everyone like a heart booster, and it turned out that Cao Ying was not so terrible and invincible. Cao Ying's retreat was a good way, but he didn't expect to improve the morale of the Jiangdong Army in such a way, which can be regarded as a historical record.

Compared with the views of ordinary soldiers and ordinary people, Xu Shu's vision is much longer-term.

Xu Shu discussed with Zhao Yun: "Cao Jun's retreat this time must be deceitful. Looking at its marching style over the years, every time he advances and retreats, he has a strong purpose. Does Zilong still remember how the Yuan clan was wiped out half a year ago? ”

Zhao Yun said: "Cao Ying has been attacking for a long time, and he retreated to Liyang. Under the steep pressure, the Yuan family broke out in contradictions, and Yuan Shao's several sons fought for their positions. Yuan Tan was trapped in the plains, asked for help from Cao Ying, and also married and married a girl. And Yuan Shang fought alone under the attack from both sides, and was finally broken in Xindu, and Jizhou fell. ”

Xu Shu nodded and said: "That's right, I guess that although Cao Jun is said to use a lot of money and grain, Hebei has a strong foundation, and if it wants to hold on for a year and a half, it will never be a problem." In addition, in the blink of an eye, the wheat is ripe, and the Cao army retreats at this time, it must be to lure our army to pursue, so as to kill the horse pistol. ”

Zhao Yun agreed: "Yuan Zhi's words coincide with me. ”

Xu Shu said: "With the current strength of our army, it is not enough to defeat the enemy army, and the top priority is how to properly settle it." ”

Zhao Yun was puzzled: "According to Yuan Zhi's meaning, let's not pursue the enemy army?" ”

Xu Shu nodded and said seriously: "Not bad." If you go out of the nest, I'm afraid that An Fengjin will be difficult to reassure. If only some troops are dispatched, they are worried that they will be ambushed by Cao's army. In addition, Cao Jun's retreat this time is very strange, so we should be careful. If I'm not mistaken, Cao Ying's retreat this time, it won't take long for him to make a comeback, and the current matter, how to stand on the defense, how to withstand their next wave of offensive, and make himself invincible, is the key urgency. ”

After Xu Shu and Zhao Yun finished discussing, they decided not to pursue Cao Jun.

Cao Ying saw that the Jiangdong Army still couldn't defend it, and the fake retreat turned into a real retreat, and soon retreated to Wuping, Yanzhou, and the whole line began to be rectified.

When Zhao Yun heard the news, he didn't have the slightest solution. However, the news from the spies said that there were only a small number of soldiers guarding Yingshang City, so Zhao Yun brought people and horses from the new to kill Yingshang. The defenders of Yingshangcheng only resisted slightly, but they could not withstand Zhao Yun's charge and were defeated back to Yanzhou. Zhao Yun regained control of Yingshang.

In October, Cao Ying's army pressed the border again and approached the city.

Yingshang City is in a busy situation, arranging the city, preparing the city defense equipment, mobilizing the people, and so on.

Since Zang Ba retreated to Xia Cai, Ying's main general became Zhao Yun, so the burden of command here fell on him. And Xu Shu did not go with the army, and still presided over the overall situation of Shouchun. At this time, there were 30,000 troops on Ying, 50,000 in An Fengjin, and 20,000 horses in Shouchun, just 100,000 elite soldiers. And Cao Ying carried all the elite Qingzhou soldiers down this time, and there were more than 200,000 horse infantry before and after. Among them, not counting the endless stream of reinforcements, the form is quite grim.

Zhao Yun faintly felt that something was wrong, although there was Xu Shu's prompt, but he felt uneasy in his heart. Cao Ying's retreat was just enough, but just after autumn, he raised troops to the south again, which is obviously against the norm. However, this time Cao Jun's army is obviously stronger than last time, and he is obviously prepared, and it seems that he has to be more careful. Zhao Yun didn't think about it so much, and was wholeheartedly preparing how to block Cao Ying's attack.

In mid-October, Cao Ying, who had been preparing for a long time, first sent the general Xiahoudun to lead 50,000 horses to Yingshang City to open the second battle of the Huai River. At the same time, for a time, Cao Ying also asked Han Hao to bring 20,000 elite soldiers across Yingshui to contain Cai's Zhao Yun troops.

The west wind blew, the war drums beat, and one of the fiercest battles slowly kicked off.

Zhao Yun stood on top of Ying's upper city tower, and behind him were the deputy generals who died with him.

The west wind whistled across Zhao Yun's face, and a few bangs in front of his forehead kept fluttering. The handsome face without a trace of expression, it is impossible to guess what he feels in his heart at this time, only the bloodshot eyes, permeated with Xiao Se's murderous aura, make people feel the unyielding fighting spirit, and the belief in victory.

The fluttering flags, making a loud noise, stand tall at the top of Yingshang City.

A large area of Cao Jun in front of the city was like ants, crawling forward, like a black cloud, which made people's hearts very depressed.

The war drums of Yingshangcheng were all over the sky, the horns sounded all over the streets and alleys, and all the soldiers were in a state of boiling blood.

Cao Jun's military appearance is very neat, his clothes and armor are distinct, and the array is neat, which obviously makes people know at a glance that he is well-trained and experienced in a hundred battles. Moreover, they have a complete range of troops, cavalry in front, shield soldiers in the center, spearmen in the rear, and several archers on both sides to press the formation. Although he had never confronted him head-to-head, Zhao Yun still felt the strength of Cao Jun.

Zhao Yun looked coldly at one of the enemy generals of Cao's army and scolded under the city.

The soldiers behind the enemy general were accompanied by the shouting and scolding of the main general, and from time to time there was a noisy roar, and the morale was extremely high. And every soldier gives people an extremely fat feeling, a realm that can only be reached after being tempered by countless battlefields.

Zhao Yun asked the deputy general without a trace of anger: "Who is in the city calling the formation?" ”

Li Feng said respectfully: "General Cao is Xiahoudun. ”

Zhao Yun raised his eyebrows lightly and said lightly: "Is it the number one general in the Cao army after Xiahou Ying?" ”

Li Feng said: "It's this person." In the Cao camp, Xiahoudun is famous for his military force, although he is ranked below Xu Xu, but he is proficient in the art of war, good at charging into battle, although he is rigid and self-serving, but he is still a good general. ”

Zhao Yun laughed and shouted: "Li Feng, order the army, prepare the horse, wait for me for a while." ”

Li Feng was stunned, obviously he didn't expect Zhao Yun to say this, and his expression was a little worried: "General, Cao's army is powerful and morale is booming, it doesn't seem to be the best opportunity to go to war?" ”

Zhao Yun threw off his battle robe and walked straight to the city, while saying: "Xiahoudun let the soldiers not saddle their horses, and the knife left their hands, obviously bullying no one in our army. If we don't fight at this time, I'm afraid that it will frustrate the spirit of our army. ”

Li Feng saw that what Zhao Yun said made sense, so he didn't say anything and left.

Not long after, Zhao Yun had already arrived at the school. All the soldiers had already been assembled, quietly waiting for Zhao Yun to speak.

Zhao Yun glanced at it, nodded with satisfaction, then raised his arms and exhaled, and said loudly: "You are a hot-blooded man in Jiangdong?" ”

The soldiers on the school field responded majestically: "Yes." ”

Zhao Yun shouted again: "Are you willing to fight to the death for Jiangdong?" ”

"Yes." The soldiers shouted in response to Zhao Yun's words, all with passionate expressions, eager to go out of the city immediately to fight, to show their determination.

Zhao Yun stretched out his hand and said with satisfaction: "Okay." Now the Cao army under the city is arrogantly shouting for battle, is about to capture the city, trample on our people, capture our people, if you still have a little blood, when you saddle the horse, follow me out of the city, a decisive battle. ”

"I am willing to follow the general's birth to death, and there will be no complaints." The roar that shook the sky made the entire school field shake for this.

Zhao Yun was also enthusiastic, and said loudly: "Okay, you are worthy of being the most elite soldiers in Jiangdong." The lord asked you to go with me to see your iron-blooded spirit. Are you ready to go into battle and die in battle? ”

"Ready." The high morale of the soldiers shows their determination to fight.

"Okay, get on the horse, go out into battle, don't destroy the Cao army, and swear not to return to Jiangdong."

"If you don't destroy Cao Jun, you swear not to return to Jiangdong." Accompanied by a deafening shout, the war drums once again sounded with a majestic rhythm, and the bloodthirstiness buried in the hearts of each soldier was strongly stimulated, and the saber in his hand kept flashing with piercing light.

Zhao Yun turned over and got on the horse, the thick silver-white armor on his body was as light as nothing to him, and the silver spear that never left his hand, under the sunlight, shone dazzlingly, and also carried a strong murderous aura, which made people dare not look directly. "Let's go." Zhao Yun shouted an order, and the soldiers behind him followed closely.

The suspension bridge in Yingshangcheng was slowly lowered, and an army under the banner of "Zhao" quickly rushed out.

Cao Jun stopped scolding, Xiahou reined in the horse, looked at the Jiangdong army rushing out of Yingshang City with an excited expression, licked his lips from time to time, and said with a cruel smile: "Finally, someone is impatient and comes out to die." ”

Zhao Yun pressed the corners, the soldiers lined up, the two armies faced each other, and no one lost in momentum.

Zhao Yun urged the horse to come out of the battle, pointed his spear at a distance, and said domineeringly: "The person who came is Xiahou Dun?" ”

Xiahoudun slapped his horse out and shouted arrogantly: "Since you know that it is this general, if you don't get off your horse and surrender quickly, you can be spared death." ”

Zhao Yun said coldly: "If you want Zhao Yun to surrender, you have to ask the general's hand if the silver spear agrees." ”

Xiahou sneered and said, "No one in Jiangdong is calling? Such a wax-headed silver gun, a person who embroiders his legs with fists and fists, also dares to go into battle to call for battle. ”

Before Zhao Yun's words were spoken, one of his lieutenants said sharply: "Xiahou Xiao'er, don't be arrogant, I will meet you in the future." ”

Zhao Yun couldn't stop it, and a general with a double axe had already rushed out of the army formation, and rushed straight to Xiahou Dun.

Xiahoudun didn't even look at it, just waiting for the general to rush to the front, and suddenly urged the horse to jump, picked up the long knife, and slashed straight at it.

The deputy general didn't expect Xiahoudun to be so ferocious, and he couldn't dodge it and was beheaded by his waist.

This scene immediately shocked the Jiangdong soldiers, and everyone was shocked by Xiahou Dan's bravery, and they were terrified for a while. And Cao Jun shouted excitedly, waving his flag and shouting for the general's bravery.

(To be continued)