Cao Hong and his soldiers saw that Cao Ying had sent Xiahou Dun to meet them, and they couldn't help but be heartbroken, and the soldiers who were still on the run at the beginning immediately stopped with confidence, joined forces with Xiahou Dun's troops, and prepared to turn around and intercept Sun Ce again.

It turned out that Cao Ying knew that the army had been newly defeated, the army was discouraged, and Cao Hong was a little frizzy in doing things, but he was afraid that if he couldn't stop the Jiangdong army, he would be chased all the way, and then he would be even more vulnerable.

Sun Strategy's slight observation of the surrounding environment, except for the rugged mountain road occupied by Cao Bing, there were rocky walls on both sides, and there were reeds and thorns, and there was no other passage. Xiahou led a lot of soldiers and horses in the middle, and because he was in a hurry, he only brought a few thousand soldiers, and he lost slightly in terms of troops. But Sun Ce didn't want to let go of Cao Ying so easily, so he immediately encouraged the soldiers loudly: "Sons, kill Xiahou Dun, you can capture Cao Ying alive, and the manly husband will make contributions at this time, everyone will kill with me." ”

With Sun Ce taking the lead, all the Jiangdong troops rushed forward with high morale.

Xiahou Dun tried his best to get up, Changshuo waved, and Cao Jun also rushed up.

Sun Ce raised the wolf spear and took Xiahou Dun directly.

Xiahou Dun is a good person who fights bravely, how can he show weakness, Changshuo is high and low, and fights with the little overlord Sun Ce.

Due to the narrow pass of the small road, there were not many soldiers who really clashed, and the big ego that lagged behind waved the flag and shouted to help the army.

The small intersection was blocked by water, and the shouts echoed in the valley.

Because Cao Hong broke off with Xiahou, Cao Yingde quickly escaped.

He rode on one of his few horses and galloped all the way. He was followed by a handful of cronies.

The soldiers were obviously much bleaker, dusty, and their clothes and armor were messy, not to mention that each of them carried weapons and flags, took steps, and fled with Cao Ying.

Throwing off the Jiangdong Army's pursuit of the second day, the sky gradually cleared.

When Cao Ying came to a high post, he stopped his speed slightly and looked at the surrounding environment.

At this time, the place where Cao Ying was located was surrounded by mountains on all sides, and only a small path in the middle meandered into the distance. On both sides are ravines and cliffs, and there are thousands of abysses. Cao Ying couldn't help but be shocked, and hurriedly looked back at the general and asked, "Where is this place?" ”

A general said: "This is Yingling Road, which is one of the most precipitous mountain roads in the Yingshui area. Yingling Road is surrounded by mountains on three sides, facing water on one side, and only a small road in the middle can reach Shen County. ”

Cao Ying's heart was palpitated, and he said to Xi Zhicai and Jia Xu: "If Zhang Lang lays an ambush here, although he can't capture it in one fell swoop, he will lose at least more than half of our army's troops." ”

Cao Ying's words had just ended, when a cannon rang out, and a man and horse suddenly rushed from the south side of the hillside, and the mountains and fields were full of Jiangdong banners. The leading general took the lead and rushed straight to Cao Ying. He shouted loudly: "I am Zhu Huan." On the orders of my lord, I have been waiting for Prime Minister Cao for a long time. ”

Cao Ying was shocked, and hurriedly turned on his horse, grabbed the path and fled. Where did the generals behind him dare to slacken, and hurriedly picked up their weapons to fight.

Zhu Huan led the soldiers to rush down, and the Cao army was already disheartened, and no one was more warlike, but as soon as he resisted slightly, he was defeated and retreated. Weapons, flags and other materials were discarded all over the ground, and countless were scattered.

Zhu Huan didn't chase after him, but just asked the soldiers to loot the loot and return victorious.

Cao Ying was ambushed by Zhu Huan, and did not dare to take Yingling Road again, took the Jiangyin Road, and fled to the Shenshan area.

Cao Ying fled for a few days, and when he saw that he was about to step out of the Shenshan Mountain Range, suddenly another cannon rang out in front of him, and he was almost frightened and fell off his horse. Cao Ying looked at it urgently, it was the Jiangdong Army who led the men and horses to kill. He looked back left and right, except for Jia Xu and a few cronies, there would be no more than ten, and no more than a thousand. Cao Ying complained bitterly: "Zhang Lang is so powerful, I have calculated that I will retreat from this road, and now there are ambushes, how should this be?" ”

Cao Xiu, Cao Ying's nephew, responded and said impassionedly: "The prime minister just takes the road and leaves, and his subordinates are willing to lead troops to rob the Jiangdong army." ”

Cao Ying was overjoyed and said: "Xiuguo lives up to expectations, and when he returns to Hebei, there will definitely be a heavy reward." ”

Cao Xiu had Cao Ying's promise, couldn't help but be overjoyed, shouted again and again, and commanded the soldiers to break off together.

The leader of the Jiangdong Army was Ling Tong. He saw Cao Ying snatching the road and leaving, and only a young general who was almost the same age as himself led the troops to chase the road. couldn't help but say loudly: "Whoever is coming, report the name." Ling Tong does not kill the unknown under the gun. ”

Cao Xiu saw that although Ling Tong was young, he was dressed in armor and murderous, and the black horse and tiger under the seat were vigorous. The soldiers behind him were all in good spirits, on the other hand, their own soldiers were sluggish, their faces were trembling, and they couldn't help but feel timid, but he was born in a famous general's family, and he couldn't help but give himself courage and mustered up the courage to say: "I am Cao Xiu is also." ”

Ling Tong laughed loudly, urged the horse forward, the spear came quickly, and said in his mouth: "If Cao Xiu gives way, I can spare your life, if you still stand in my way, next year will be your taboo." ”

Cao Xiu couldn't help but be furious when he was so insulted. He raised his sword to meet him, and said sharply: "Ling Tong is arrogant, today I will let you see the power of this general, and take the move." ”

As soon as Cao Xiu finished speaking, he saw Ling Tong's spear stabbing straight like lightning, and he couldn't help but be frightened, and hurriedly raised his knife to catch it. How do you know that Ling Tong is a false move, he saw that Cao Xiu was so clumsy, he couldn't help but snort coldly, the spear changed to a fight, Cao Xiu was already timid when he first entered the battle formation, and his martial arts were not as good as Ling Tong, in a panic, he was slapped in the arm by Ling Quan, and the whole person was knocked to the ground. Cao Xiu only felt that his entire shoulder was broken, and he couldn't help but cry out in pain: "My hand." ”

Ling Tong looked at Cao Xiu, who was in pain on the ground, snorted coldly, and turned his eyes to Cao Zhen.

Cao Bing saw that the main general was stabbed under the horse in less than three rounds, and he couldn't help but scatter in a hurry, running and running, and descending.

Ling Tong seized the road and chased after him.

Cao Ying fled in a panic in the mountains and forests, and could not find anyone else around him except for more than a hundred pro-guards and military advisors.

Ling Tong chased after him, and kept shouting, "Cao Yingxiu runs." ”

All the soldiers shouted in unison: "Cao Yingxiu is leaving." ”

The sound reverberated in the valley. It seemed that there were chasing soldiers all around, and Cao Ying's frightened soul was scattered, regardless of the road, he only knew how to bow his head and urge the horse to gallop. He ran for several hours in a row, but he still hadn't shaken off Ling Ying's retreat. At this time, a fork appeared in front of him, and Cao Ying couldn't help but stop and look at these two trails. At this time, the horses began to lose their support and fell to the ground foaming at the mouth. The drama behind him took this opportunity to step forward, he was already sweating profusely, and his entire clothes were soaked. Xi Zhicai climbed off the mount with a roll, and gasped: "Prime Minister, my subordinates can't support it." If the subordinates and the prime minister exchange clothes with each other, the subordinates will lead the Jiangdong army away, and the prime minister will go from another path. ”

Cao Ying was shocked, looked at Xi Zhicai with two small eyes, hesitated for a moment, and immediately nodded and agreed: "Okay." ”

Xi Zhicai took a deep look at Cao Ying, Cao Ying, who was originally eloquent and strategic, was depressed and panicked at this time, where is the appearance of being a hegemon? Xi Zhicai said with a little sadness: "If Zhicai is not by the prime minister's side in the future, the prime minister does not have to worry, he can let Wenhe and Gongda seek more power, and both of them can stand alone and share the prime minister's help." ”

Cao Ying didn't say anything, just lowered his eyelids and nodded heavily.

Xi Zhicai didn't say anything, so he exchanged clothes with Cao Ying.

After Xi Zhicai put on Cao Ying's clothes, he led a dozen or so people to pass through a relatively spacious path with a loud noise.

Cao Ying didn't have time to take care of it, and led a hundred people to escape from another trail.

After Ling Tong caught up, under the deliberate guidance of Xi Zhicai, he was really attracted to the past and chased all the way.

Cao Ying walks on another trail. For him, who is pampered, this is so difficult. If it weren't for the support of a few pro-soldiers, I'm afraid that he would have fallen to the ground long ago. At this time, Cao Ying's whole body was covered with plaster, and there was a foul smell on his body, and the beautiful helmet had fallen off at some point, and his cloak was scattered and unkempt. The clothes were also cut through several holes by thorns, and the image was very embarrassing. Where is the dignity of a generation of hegemons. Just when Cao Ying's heart was full of desolation and he was fleeing in all directions, a soldier beside him suddenly pointed to the shade in front of him and exclaimed, "Lord, look. ”

Cao Ying, who had already been frightened, immediately raised his eyes to look, and in the tree-lined path in front of him, there were faint people and horses shaking, and the voices of people were boiling.

Cao Ying's frightened face was like earth, and he stayed there for a while, his brain was blank.

After about half a minute, the people inside obviously noticed Cao Ying's group of people and began to walk out vigilantly with soldiers.

Cao Ying hurriedly looked back at his subordinates, there were not more than a hundred soldiers, there were no more than a few generals, and everyone's faces were full of despair. Cao Ying suddenly felt a burst of discouragement, his heart was like a knife, and he couldn't help but look up to the sky and sighed: "If there is a Jiangdong army here, the sky will kill me." ”

At this time, someone in front suddenly shouted: "Is it Prime Minister Cao Cheng in front?" There was a hint of surprise in his voice.

Cao Ying almost suspected that he had heard it wrong, and said in an extremely excited voice: "The person who came is forbidden? ”

There was a hurried sound in the shade of the trees, followed by a few shouts, and a tall man led a group of soldiers out.

Cao Ying almost looked through the autumn water, his neck was stretched out, his eyes were staring, looking in the direction of the comer, his heart was full of anxiety and hope.

When he saw the appearance of the person who came, Cao Ying could no longer control the excitement in his heart: "Sure enough, it is Wen Ze, and I will not die if the sky is true." ”

Yu Ban's face was also quite excited, and he turned into one step in three steps, and soon came to Cao, knelt on the ground, and cried bitterly: "The last general is too late to save the driver, and I hope that the lord will forgive his sins." ”

Cao Ying was happy at this time, listening to Yu Ban's words, he shook his head, helped Yu Ban with both hands, and said with a smile: "Wen Ze is guilty, by the way, why did you appear here?" ”

Yu Ban sighed and said, "This matter is a long story. When Zhang Lang broke the embankment Yingshui, his subordinates were inspecting the military situation on the order of the prime minister, who knew that Yingshui soared overnight, and his subordinates were trapped in the mountains. ”

Cao Ying exclaimed: "No, all the way through the original phase, all of them are high mountains and dangerous peaks, since you have come over the mountains, you have obviously suffered a lot." ”

Yu Ban smiled bitterly: "Today, I can see the prime minister's peace, and it is worth the great hardship." ”

Cao Ying nodded again and again with emotion: "The existing text is here, and my heart can be at ease." ”

Seeing that Cao Ying was so depressed, Yu Ban gave up his horse and took out his clothes to change clothes for Cao Ying.

Cao Ying, under the protection of the ban, began to retreat to Shen County.

Halfway through, he encountered the remnants of Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong's defeated generals, and together, there were five or six thousand men and horses, and Cao Ying felt more at ease. It's just that I am worried about Xi Zhicai in my heart, and I send people to inquire about his news from time to time. Soon, Cao Ying retreated to Shen County, and Jia Xu had already led the soldiers to meet him. And some soldiers were captured by Ling Tongsheng when they joked about Cao Yingyan, refused to surrender and begged for death, and were later beheaded and beheaded for three days. Cao Ying's voice was moved by sorrow when he heard it, and he couldn't cry.

After this defeat, Cao Ying's mind retreated, hoping to fight Huainan again in the coming year.

But where would Zhang Lang stop, take advantage of the situation to chase the opportunity, take Cai again in Shouchun, and repeatedly send troops to Shen County, intending to kill and retreat Cao Ying.

Whirlpool all the way and Ying Shang all the way heard that Zhang Langshui flooded Cai, Cao Ying's killed piece of armor was not left, and fled back to Shen overnight, and they all stopped the attack on these two places, and the army began to quickly move closer to Cai.

And Zhao Yun took the opportunity to go out again, and cooperated with Zhang Lang's main army to march into Shen County, besieging on both sides.

Cao Bing's new defeat, coupled with Cao Ying's intention to retreat, although he got two reinforcements, but the morale of the Jiangdong army was unprecedentedly high, and Shen Shan was even more victorious, in August 211 AD, Cao Ying had to start to retreat to Wuping.

Zhang Lang took the opportunity to take Shen County, Ruyin, Song County and other places one after another, and his tentacles began to extend to the Central Plains.

Due to the loss of the Wuping front one after another, Xuchang and Luoyang lost their conservative momentum, and the Central Plains was shaken, Cao Ying and Xun You, Jia Xu and other important ministers began to discuss the move to Yecheng.

Zhang Lang stepped out of Yang and Yu in one fell swoop, and the spearhead began to point directly at Yanzhou. The battle of Xia Cai marked that Zhang Lang, who was the main defender of Jianghuai, began to march into the Central Plains, preparing to burn the flames of war to both sides of the Yellow River. At the same time, the corps on both sides actively responded to Zhang Lang's plan, Zhang Liao surrounded Shanyang, Zhou Yu attacked Yingchuan, and for a time the huge Cao Ying became embattled and in danger everywhere.

It is gratifying that the Central Plains defeated Cao's soldiers, but if you want to fully enter the Central Plains, you have to look at the progress of Jingyang and Xuzhou.

But just at this bumper harvest, there was a burst of bad news on the Jiangdong front.

In order to cooperate with Cai's plan to flood Cai, Xu Huang cut the hinterland of Wuping and mobilized the upstream Cao army everywhere. Although he successfully transferred most of Cao Jie's troops, he was also set on fire and trapped in Changping County by three people, unable to escape. Now Xu Huang's life and death are uncertain, and the future is unpredictable.

(To be continued)