On the city wall of Xiakou, Zhang Zemao suddenly got the news that Wei Ran led the crowd to return to the camp in a hurry.

Zhang Zemao kept pacing and thinking in the city, he got the news a few days ago that Wei Ran led the army to attack Jiangzhou, and now he hurriedly returned to the camp to capture Jiangzhou and suffered a setback?

Just when Zhang Zemao was puzzled, Wei Ran returned to the camp and saw Xiao Ju lying on the couch like dead ashes.

Wei Ran hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, why is this?" ”

But Xiao Ju only had tears in his eyes and did not speak. Zhongshu Ling Hengxian said at this time: "General, there is bad news from Jiankang. His Majesty's wives and daughters were all executed by Xiao Luan. His Majesty's heart was so painful that he became ill. ”

Wei Ran was also furious when he thought of this: "Xiao Luan, this thief, has lived up to his humanity. ”

Then seeing Xiao Ju who was pale on the couch, Wei Ran called softly: "Brother, don't take care, he will capture Jiankang in the future, and he will break Xiao Luan's corpse into thousands of pieces to comfort the spirits of the first emperor and his sister-in-law." ”

Xiao Ju looked up at this time and said slowly: "When my brother fled from Jiankang, I expected that my wife and daughter would be ruled by Xiao Luan, and my brother originally thought that Xiao Luan would use his wife and daughter to threaten me to strike the army, but I didn't expect Xiao Luan to be so short-sighted and kill them directly." ”

Then Xiao Ju turned his head to look at Wei Ran: "How was the trip to Jiangzhou?" ”

"Jiangzhou has been taken, the guard general Du Min has been killed in battle, Du Min's staff member Yuan Muzhi is quite talented, and the minister has promoted him to be the marching Sima. He offered a plan to use fake reinforcements to take Xiakou. Wei Ran told Xiao Ju about everything in detail.

"Okay, break through Xiakou, and the other two cities are just around the corner."

"Then act according to the plan." Wei Ran then walked out of the tent and began to prepare.

Xiakou has now been entrenched for a month, and although the grain and grass in the city are abundant, the soldiers are all exhausted.

Although Xiao Ju's army is now besieging but not attacking, the soldiers in the city do not dare to relax in the slightest, and under such a high level of pressure, many soldiers are already afraid.

At this time, someone suddenly came to report that a ship was attacking Xiao Ju Camp from the east.

Zhang Zemao hurriedly rushed to the top of the city tower and saw that the Jiangzhou army was launching a fierce attack on Wei Ran's army at this time.

The partial general hurriedly said: "General, this is a great time, but the inside and outside should be combined to defeat the rebels in one fell swoop." ”

Zhang Zemao was cautious and cautious, still observing carefully, and said: "Wei Ran's army attacked Jiangzhou, and now the Jiangzhou army still has the strength to fight back, I'm afraid there is fraud." ”

Hearing this, the partial general also observed carefully, and then a soldier said: "The last general heard a news, Your Majesty Yu Jiankang killed the wife and daughter of the traitor Xiao Ju, Xiao Ju was so angry that he couldn't afford to be sick, and the rebels besieged and did not attack a few days ago, I am afraid this is the reason." ”

"Why didn't you report it sooner?" Zhang Zemao asked sharply after hearing the news.

"The last general only learned about it not long ago, and the information is difficult, and it is not convenient to pass on the information in detail. Wei Ran led the army back, and I am afraid that he also learned of Xiao Ju's change. ”

Zhang Zemao began to think in his heart at this time, if Xiao Ju was angry and bedridden, then it would be reasonable for Wei Ran to retreat from Jiangzhou. Xiao Ju has no heirs, once something happens, then Wei Ran must sit in the Chinese army to take care of the overall situation, and the Jiangzhou army will have the spare strength to rescue Xiakou.

At this time, the Jiangzhou army became more and more courageous, and it was vaguely seen that a gorgeous guard of honor came out of the camp in Xiao Ju's camp, and then rushed to the riverside boat, as if it wanted to retreat to Jiangling.

Wei Ran was commanding the fight on the front line at the moment, both sides knew that they were acting, so they didn't hurt the killer, but manslaughter was inevitable, and in a short time, the two sides had already dropped more than 100 corpses.

The city guard hurriedly said: "General, the one in silver armor is Wei Ran, who seems to be injured and is fleeing. ”

Zhang Zemao hurriedly looked in the direction of his finger, and sure enough, he saw that Wei Ran's arm was being hit by an arrow that kept retreating, and the Jiangzhou army kept pressing forward.

Zhang Zemao looked carefully at the Jiangzhou Army, and after seeing the word Du written on the flag, Zhang Zemao began to worry in his heart.

"General, if you don't cooperate with the attack at this time, and don't say what the Jiangzhou army thinks, when Wei Ran's army reorganizes its troops and horses to continue to besiege the city, the Jiangzhou army will definitely not come to the rescue." Seeing that Zhang Zemao still refused to send troops, the general hurriedly persuaded him.

Zhang Zemao looked at the increasingly chaotic Wei Ran army formation, and finally made up his mind: "Open the city gate and chase the traitor with me." ”

The gate of Xiakou was opened, Zhang Zemao led the army to rush out, the two sides fought by the river, Zhang Gui led his troops to form a chariot near the ferry, covering the boarding of the large army.

"General, the Jiangzhou army asked if they could let the wounded soldiers go into the city to recuperate." At this time, a biased general asked.

Zhang Zemao carefully analyzed the situation in front of him, although Zhang Gui formed a formation to block the enemy, but the scattered formation behind the rebels was not pretended, and he even saw that some people were pushing each other in order to board the ship.

"Let the wounded of General Du's headquarters enter the city first, and I will contain them here. lest the thieves fight back. "I have known it for a long time, Zhang Zemao said.

Yuan Muzhi received the news, and then let thousands of wounded people enter the city, and the rest of the troops gathered and slowly moved closer to Zhang Zemao.

Zhang Zemao did not doubt him at this time, and gradually leaned together with Yuan Muzhi's military array.

At this time, Yuan Muzhi's Jiangzhou soldiers had already helped each other into Xiakou City, but as soon as they arrived in Xiakou City, these soldiers were alive and well, and began to slash and kill the soldiers defending the city, seizing the city gate, and the corpses of Wei Ran's troops and Jiangzhou troops lying on the ground, many people also got up and rushed to Xiakou City.

Not long after, under the cooperation of the Jiangzhou soldiers, Xiakou was conquered, and the army cut off Zhang Zemao's banner and planted Wei Ran's banner.

Zhang Zemao saw a commotion in the army, and then looked at the city tower and couldn't help but be horrified, shouting: "It's a plan, pay attention to your side!" ”

But it was too late, the Jiangzhou army had merged with the Xiakou army at this time, and many people in the Xiakou army were cut down to the ground before they could react, and the army was in chaos.

Zhang Gui took the lead, lifted the knife and took Zhang Zemao directly, Zhang Zemao was a Confucian general after all, and he was shocked by Zhang Guizhen in only one round to fly the saber in his hand, and then Zhang Gui slapped the back of the knife, Zhang Zemao fell off the horse in response and was captured by Zhang Guisheng.

The remaining Xiakou troops saw that the main was about to be captured, and the back road was cut off, so they laid down their arms and surrendered, so far Xiakou was pacified.

Wei Ran's army also suffered a lot of losses in this battle, and most of the retreating people did not know that Wei Ran was defeated, so they rushed to flee for their lives, trampling on each other, resulting in more than 3,000 casualties. This also let Wei Ran know the hidden dangers of the army.

In Xiakou City, Zhang Zemao was tied under the lobby, and Wei Ran said: "General Zhang guards Xiakou, and he is already worthy of Lu Cao, and now that His Majesty is ordered by heaven, why doesn't General Zhang surrender?" ”

Zhang Zemao raised his head, stared at Wei Ran deadly, and then spat out and said, "I have received great favor from Lu Cao, how can I surrender to you so little." ”

Wei Ran wasn't annoyed, just waved his hand and said, "Then pull it out and cut it." ”

Yuan Muzhi hurriedly said: "General Zhang is quite capable, why is General Wei like this?" ”

Wei Ran said with a smile: "Such a foolish and loyal person is also worthy of being called a great talent?" Xiao Luan killed his father and usurped the throne, and a few days ago, he slaughtered His Majesty's wife and daughter, which lived up to his humanity. The real talent should be in the right court and worthy of the people. What did Zhang Zemao do again? ”

Then Wei Ran slowly got up and said to Yuan Muzhi: "There are many great talents in the world, and the great talents in the government and the opposition are only the Qing who crosses the river, and more are the pearls of the sea in the cold gate!" ”

When Zhang Zemao heard this, he couldn't help but blush. Seeing this, Yuan Muzhi said to Wei Ran: "What the general said is extremely true, but Zhang Zemao has indeed won the hearts of the people of Xiakou, and it is not appropriate to kill him, so it is better to let him go." ”

"Then let him go, let him go back to Jiankang to find his master." Wei Ran didn't look at Zhang Zemao at this time, but waved his hand casually.

Zhang Zemao suddenly felt despised and Wei Ran looked at him as if he were looking at an object. Zhang Zemao, who had a strong sense of self-esteem, immediately said: "Wei Gong's words are wrong, although I am from Lu Kemen, but I am also a scholar from a poor family, why can't I be a pearl in the sea?" ”

Hearing this, Wei Ran and Yuan Muzhi looked at each other and smiled. Then Yuan Muzhi waved his hand and Zhang Mao said: "In this case, General Zhang, please go down and rest first, and decide whether to go or leave General Zhang to decide." ”

After Zhang Zemao left, Wei Ran asked, "What does Mr. Yuan think of Zhang Zemao?" ”

"Although Zhang Zemao is quite capable, he is arrogant. Such contempt for him would have displeased him, and if he had stayed, he would have offered advice to demonstrate his abilities. When Jiankang is to be captured, it is even more important to employ people, and the general can wait for a while. Yuan Muzhi returned with a smile, and then said: "If Zhang Zemao surrenders, then Wuzhou and Wuchang can be won without a fight, and the army will be approaching Jiankang just around the corner." ”