Although Zhao Yun finally withdrew from the street pavilion, he bought enough time for Pang Tong, Huang Quan and others to pacify everywhere.

After Pang Tong divided his troops, Huang Quan, Ma Chao and others went all the way to attack Liangzhou, leaving Ma Dai to besiege Linwei City, an important town in Tianshui County, and Chen Shi besieged Xiangping City.

Huang Quan and Ma Chao led the main force into Jincheng County, passing through Longxi County, Ma Chao made the three county towns surrender by virtue of his prestige, and arrived at Xiangwu City, the seat of Longxi County.

Huang Quan and Ma Chao continued to advance into Jincheng County, but Taishou Su could not hold out, and sent envoys to Wuwei, Zhangye and other places to warn.

There are many Qiang people in the city, and there are also Qiang soldiers in the army, and Su Ze, a cronie on the left and right, said: "The people of Qiang are the most untrustworthy, and they have always revered Ma Chao." If it is Ma Chao's internal response, we are in danger, it is better to destroy all the soldiers of Qiang and drive away the people of Qiang, so that we can hold on! ”

Su Ze said: "No, the Qiang soldiers will be destroyed before they rebel, the army is not upright, the people of Qiang are not chaotic and driven away, the people will be lost, and they will be defeated before the battle." ”

The cronies said: "By the time the rebellion comes everything too late!" ”

Su Ze did not listen, and ordered the soldiers and people to be summoned. Su Zeping is fair and honest, generous, sympathetic to the people, the people are convinced, and he also has a lot of prestige in Qiang.

Su Ze said to the soldiers and people: "The thieves are in chaos, the soldiers are coming to the city, and the situation is critical. In the name of Taishou, I have issued an order that anyone who wants to leave can leave no matter what official position or person they want, and I will not stop them. Everyone looked at each other.

Su Ze said again: "The person who leaves today and tomorrow is not guilty, let him stay." Two days later, whoever had the heart to stay and looked up to me would defend the city with me and wait for help, but if anyone wanted to leave at that time, it would be treated as a rebellion.

You all have fathers and children, and you have wives and children at home, I don't force it, I thank you for staying! If you want to go, I, Su, am not reluctant. The army is besieging the city, and I am still unpredictable, not to mention everyone, you don't have to worry, I Su will do what I say, and no one will stop me. ”

All the soldiers and the people were grateful, and they all said: "My lord doesn't need to say it, we are all willing to defend the city with my lord and never turn our backs." ”

Su Ze said to the Qiang soldiers: "Your family and tribes are all outside the city, you can leave and reunite with them." ”

The Qiang replied, "Since we are under the tent of the adults, the adults treat us very well, and we will never turn our backs on them." After saying that, they swore that they would stab their arms and bleed, and they would follow Su Ze to defend the city.

Su Ze gave a deep salute and said, "Su Ze thank you again!" Subsequently, Su arranged the city defense, checked the granary, and prepared to hold on.

The guards Wei Ping and Yan Xing were stationed in the city, with nearly 6,000 soldiers and horses, and seeing that Huang Quan was only 14,500 people, he asked for orders to go out of the city and fight.

Su Ze said: "When the thieves first come, their spirit is flourishing, they should first stick to the city, wear down their sharpness, wait for their fatigue, and then break it in a battle." ”

Wei Ping had no choice but to dismiss his thoughts for the time being. After Huang Quan's tentative siege of the city, he found that the golden city was very strong. Ma Chao also asked for troops from the Qiang mouth, and Huang Quan saw that there was no overwhelming force, so he stopped the siege and just besieged it. Building a camp and holding the water source, Ma Chao wandered around and recruited rebels.

The Qiang tribe has always admired Ma Chao, and the tribes outside the city did not buy Su Ze's affection, and several tribes came to surrender. The surrendered tribe Huang Quan was rewarded generously in order to regain the hearts of the people. Intensify the construction of siege equipment. Huang Quan does not shy away from people, so he does it openly.

Wei Ping and Yan Xing in the city were a little anxious, and came to Su Ze to ask for battle, Wei Ping said: "Su Taishou, Huang Quan besieged but not attacked, blindly bought people's hearts, if it is allowed to develop, Qiang Di is vying to return, we are waiting for destruction, only by taking the opportunity to attack, defeat the thief army, can we turn to peace, to the adults allowed." ”

Su Zedao: "Why should the general be in a hurry? ”

Wei Ping said: "Ma Chao attacked and forced landing in various counties everywhere, and most of the Qiang tribes began to respond, how can we not be in a hurry, we are more and more isolated and helpless!" Wuwei Taishou's reinforcements are nowhere to be seen, so they won't be attacked! ”

Su Ze said: "No, if I am Ma Chao, after defeating the soldiers and horses, I will inevitably drive the defeated army in and disturb the morale of our people." Therefore, it can be judged that Wuwei's reinforcements did not have an accident. ”

Yan Xingdao: "Taishou, it stands to reason that Wuwei reinforcements should also come, why didn't reinforcements be sent?" ”

Su Ze said: "I didn't let them send troops." Otherwise, if the sheep enters the tiger's mouth, it will not help to have more than a few thousand reinforcements, it is better to defend Wuwei, which is the best policy.

Ma Chao is here because of the quick battle. The division of troops to attack everywhere was intended to annex states and counties and seize land, not to plunder. So they will take the city first. The longer we delay this way, the better it will be for us.

When the reinforcements arrived, Ma Chao's morale dropped, and when the grain and grass were difficult to retreat, he followed behind, were you still afraid that it would be useless? Now, we just need to calm down, wait for our reinforcements, and go out of the city to fight, and the outcome is unpredictable.

As soon as Jincheng is lost and Liangzhou is shaken, the thief army under the city will draw out their forces to block our reinforcements. We are not afraid to delay, for I will scatter their forces so that our reinforcements may defeat them. This is the way to win in stability. ”

Wei Ping said that Su had no choice but to retreat. It's just that Su Ze expected it to be correct, but things changed unexpectedly.

Within a month, the envoys of Wuwei, Zhangye, Xiping, and Jiuquan counties arrived at Ma Chao's military camp successively, and brought Yan Jun of Wuwei County, Heluan of Zhangye County, Huang Hua of Jiuquan County, and Lu Yan of Xiping County to rebel and occupy the county.

Ma Chao immediately consulted with Huang Quan, who first promised to sponsor them as generals, and let them tell Su Ze the news of the response to him, which would disturb his army's morale.

So, the four of them each sent envoys to Jincheng, and the envoys of the four counties took turns to enter the city. The envoys of Wuwei County arrived first, entered Jincheng County, and as soon as they entered the city, they began to distribute the text written by Huang Quan, which exaggerated the rebellion of the counties in response to the Han army in accordance with the mandate of heaven, and the rebellion against the Cao rebels was the general trend. At the same time, the people were told on all sides that in addition to themselves, the other three counties also raised troops to respond.

Su Ze didn't expect that Wuwei would be in civil strife, and when it was stopped, it was already known all over the city. Yan Xing took down more than ten people including the Wuwei envoy.

Su Ze glanced at it and said, "Is this the messenger of Wuwei?" This is clearly a trick of the thief army to disturb our army, and they are all pulled out and beheaded, and beheaded for public display! ”

Yan Xing promised to escort the Wuwei envoy down, and the Wuwei envoy wanted to say something, but his mouth was blocked and he couldn't say anything.

After Yan Xing escorted away the envoy of Wuwei, Wei Ping hurriedly said: "Taishou, what should I do, if the counties of Wuwei and Zhangye surrender to thieves, we will be alone, and we will be in danger." ”

Su Ze said lightly: "It's okay, this doesn't affect us, we just need to guard the city, we don't have to care about the rest, and we can't take care of it!" ”

Wei Ping said: "If it goes on like this, people's hearts will be scattered, and what city will they guard!" ”

Su Zedao: "Now, the test is patience, if you go out of the city now, how to break the thief?" Even after the thieves are broken, we will inevitably be damaged, and once the thieves' support arrives first, it will be easy for the thieves to sweep us away, pacify the rear, and attack our reinforcements with all our might. ”

Wei Ping said angrily: "When the thieves first arrived, I wanted to attack you and didn't let you, but now they have a firm foothold and stir up rebellion, and we are isolated." Hehe, civilian officials don't know the soldiers, and they delay major events. Hum. He shook his sleeves and walked away.

Su sighed. After a while, Yan Xing returned to report that he had finished disposing of the Wuwei envoy. Su Ze snorted.

After waiting for a while, Yan Xing was about to retreat, but Su Ze suddenly said: "General Yan, if the thieves first arrived, what would be the chance of our attack?" ”

Yan Xing said categorically: "Sancheng! ”

Su Zedao: "Why? ”

Yan Xingdao: "Because of Ma Chao, although Ma Chao is impatient and easy to kill, the brave soldiers are definitely the top, the two armies are fighting, the thieves are few, the thieves are weak, we will not have much chance of winning."

Ma Chao has failed repeatedly, mainly because the king and General Xiahou are more powerful than Ma Chao, which does not mean that Ma Chao is wasted! What's more, there is also a Huang Quan, these days, it seems that this person acts calmly, has a good relationship, builds equipment, and is familiar with geography. With him to make up for Ma Chao's shortcomings, it is even more difficult to break.

I'm afraid they're just waiting for us to go out of the city and fight, so the strategy of not fighting is right. It's just that we underestimate Ma Chao's influence too much, and dragging it out is not good for us. ”

Su Ze nodded and said, "According to my judgment, Ma Chao can't afford it!" What a good idea General Yan has! ”

Yan Xing said: "Lord forgive your sins, there will be no good plan in the end!" ”

Su Ze sighed and said, "General Yan, I heard that you almost killed Ma Chao back then!" ”

Yan Xingdao: "Exactly, Han Sui and Ma Teng fell out that year, and I seriously injured him in a battle with Ma Chao. However, it was not enough to start, so he survived, leading to today's disaster. I knew, hey. If you fight again today, I'm afraid you won't be able to beat him! ”

Su Ze said: "Don't care, the horse is just brave!" ”

Yan Xing said: "Don't worry, my lord, there must be no definite news now, and the messenger just now may be just a ploy of the thieves." ”

Su Ze said: "I hope so." Yan Xing retired and went to inspect the city defense.

For a few days, the envoys of Zhangye, Xiping, and Jiuquan also entered the city, but Su was already prepared, and took them down as soon as he entered the city, and then detained them for interrogation, and got the exact news that the four counties rebelled. Su ordered the news to be kept tightly sealed.

It has been more than a month since Huang Quan arrived in Jincheng, the siege equipment has been fully prepared, and Ma Chao has also personally supervised the battle and started to attack the city.

Su Ze heard that the Han army was going to attack the city, and immediately went to the city to set up defenses in person. To his great surprise, it was not the Han army that stood up first, but the common people, who stepped forward, and the soldiers at the head of the city began to stir, and many people knew each other.

These people were the people who Huang Quan ordered the four counties to bring the people who had relatives in Jincheng and told them that if they didn't want their relatives to be injured and killed in battle, they should be called to give up resistance and never be embarrassed, otherwise, the sword would be ruthless, and it would be too late to lose their relatives.

That's why this scene appeared, this time, people kept shouting each other's names at the head of the city and under the city, Yan Xing hurriedly flicked and stopped.

Su understands that the bullet pressure cannot be suppressed. He ordered dozens of great ropes to be brought down from the city. Su Zedao: "Everyone, since ancient times, flesh and blood family affection is inseparable, today your relatives are under the city, if you want to reunite with them, please go down the rope!" ”

Yan Xing hurriedly shouted: "My lord, you can't, you have to think twice!" ”

Su Ze said: "How can any of us who have no relatives not know the weight of family affection. Because I know it, I must not scatter the people because I am going to war with the thieves, and if I have relatives in the city, go. Reunite with your family! ”

The Qiang soldiers and people in the city did not leave, and said in unison: "The lord treats us like this, and we are willing to swear to follow the lord to the death." ”

Then he stretched out his bow and arrows, clutched his sword and gun, and prepared to defend it.

When Huang Quan saw this scene, he knew that there was no way to mess with the enemy's heart, so he immediately stepped forward and said, "Please ask Su Zetai to talk." ”

Su Ze turned out and said, "Su Ze is here, what do you have to say." ”

Huang Quan hugged his fists and said: "Su Taishou, I am polite, I didn't have a war book before, and now I am here to give a war book, I will start attacking the city tomorrow, I hope Taishou is ready." ”

Su Ze said: "Su Ze and tens of thousands of soldiers and people in Jincheng have already been waiting for it, so just come!" ”

Huang Quan said: "Okay, farewell." ”

Su Ze said: "Wait, what are you going to do with the people in the city?" ”

Huang Quan said: "Naturally, let it go." ”

Su Ze said: "Is this true? ”

Huang Quan said: "Naturally, my lord Liu Xuande personally set a military order, those who kill the people in vain, there is no forgiveness for killing, the main general does not know in advance will receive a hundred military sticks, the main general knows and does not care about the dismissal will never be used again, and a hundred military sticks will be beaten." The Lord will participate in the killing of the unforgiving. Does Su Taishou still have any concerns? ”

Su Ze said: "So, thank you!" ”

Huang Quan said: "Su Taishou, my lord Liu Xuande's love for the people is well known, not Tu Xuzhou, Cao Apu, who was a pawn, is comparable." After speaking, he slowly retreated.