Zhao Yun and Yang Wan led the cavalry straight to the street pavilion. The two returned to the army, the soldiers and horses had eaten, and they were ready to attack.

Zhao Yun divided the soldiers and horses into two groups, leaving a cavalry to protect the rear road. He first led 500 soldiers and horses on foot to the Cao military camp in Jieting.

Under the cover of the night, he quietly approached. On the ladder frame that will be built, the soldiers with strong hands stepped on the ladder to climb, and when they were halfway up, Cao Jun heard the sound and was alert, and found the Han army climbing after checking.

The Han army had already drawn their bows and arrows, waiting for Cao Jun to shout. Zhao Yun let go, and the arrow flew towards Cao Jun. Cao's army was caught off guard and shot down half of them.

The Han army took advantage of the panic of the Cao army, went to the village with all their strength to fight, and jumped into the Cao army camp. Zhao Yun personally acted as a pioneer, armed with a spear, picked up dozens of people, and opened the gate of the village.

Yang Wan led the cavalry to follow up, Cao Jun was already resisting, after all, it was not the opponent of the cavalry, Zhao Yun and Yang Wan used the cavalry to kill randomly, and the Cao army was defeated in the back village.

Yu Ban heard the movement in the back village, quickly gathered soldiers and horses, held the gate of the village, and the crossbowmen were in place. Cao Jun's Zhao Yun and Yang 10,000 cavalry rushed away, retreated to the front of the village, and asked to open the door!

Yu Ban shouted on it: "If you don't prepare, so that the army is defeated, what crime should you be guilty of?" Now immediately rely on the camp to arrange the formation, and those who disobey the order will be killed immediately! ”

Cao Jun was at a loss, Yu Ban grabbed a bow and arrow, shot a captain with an arrow, and said: "Don't hurry up and reorganize the army, otherwise you will be like this person!" ”

General Cao Jun came to his senses and turned back to reorganize the army. When Zhao Yun and Yang Wan arrived, they saw the scene in front of them and secretly sighed that Cao Jun reacted so quickly.

Seeing that nothing could be done, Zhao Yun ordered a retreat, and burned the captured Cao army camp during the retreat. Rendezvous with another army of soldiers and horses, the deputy general led by Yu reported: "General, the Cao army in the two cities was killed, was routed by the cavalry, and retreated!" ”

Zhao Yun praised it and said: "These two cities were originally built by Pang Junshi to stop Cao Cao, but I didn't expect that now they will become a stronghold to protect Cao's army from entering Longyou and escort grain and grass!" "Retreat.

After Yu Ban repaired the burned camp after dawn, strengthened the defense, and warned Cao Xiu and Cao Ren that there was a soldier and horse in Longyou, and the leading general Zhao Yun!

Cao Ren's 30,000 elite soldiers besieged Tianshui County, and when they arrived at the foot of Tianshui City, the head of Tianshui City was closely guarded, and trenches were dug on all sides.

Cao Ren ordered to set up camp and cut down trees. Unexpectedly, the trees within thirty miles of the surrounding area had been cut down by Zhou Budo and made into sassal wood.

Cao Ren divided the soldiers and horses into two groups, cut down trees in one wave, and built siege equipment. Another group was stationed under the city and began to fill in the outer trenches.

Cao Jun had just arrived, and his momentum was in full swing, and he came to fill the trench with logs and stones, and quickly filled the two trenches. Continuing to fill in the third one step by step, just as he was approaching the trench, hundreds of Han soldiers suddenly poured out of the trench, armed with spears and knives.

The Han army fought out and attacked in an orderly manner. The gun-wielding soldiers stabbed the Cao army, and the sword-wielding Han army hacked the Cao army to death.

Cao Ren originally judged that the trench was not within the range of the crossbowmen at the head of the city, thinking that it was just a delay in the Han army's delay and the cost of Cao Jun's physical strength to set it up, although it was to prevent the Han army from leaving the city, he never expected to fight in this way.

These trenches were dug in tunnels and connected to the city. Cao Jun, who was the first to hold logs and stones, was caught off guard and was quickly cut down by hundreds.

Zhou Budo, who was at the head of the city, immediately ordered the whole army to go out of the city and attack Cao's army. Zhou Budo was neatly draped, holding a sword, and he was the first to kill, and the morale of the Han army was greatly boosted.

Seeing this, Cao Ren commanded Cao's army to pick it up, and Zhou Budo rushed to kill for a while, took advantage, and relied on the trench to withdraw alternately.

Cao Ren saw the Han army withdrawing, and sighed to himself: "I didn't expect a county guard to dare to go out of the city and take the initiative to attack, this courage alone is admirable, it seems that Tianshui is not easy to take!" ”

Cao Ren suffered a loss once, so he became cautious. The action was not slow at all, and the trench was quickly filled.

All that was left was the trench dug by Tianshui City around the city, which was equivalent to a moat, not only deep, but also densely covered with spikes.

Cao Ren didn't want to fill it in immediately. During this time, Cao Ren attacked the surrounding county towns and isolated Tianshui Zhiji County.

The attack went extremely smoothly, and the county towns surrendered one after another, offering food, gold and silver. Cao Jun returned, and Cao Ren tasted bad news from it.

All the original defenders of these counties were concentrated, and all their families moved to Ji County. The surrendered county town did not make it clear early in the morning, and the sacrifice of food, gold and silver was purely to gag his mouth, for fear that he would slaughter the city after he knew about it.

When people surrender their offerings, slaughtering the city by themselves is tantamount to saying that they will be infamous on their backs, and no one will surrender after that. Don't slaughter the city and feel depressed, a little futile and in vain, and the meaning of the Tao!

The surrounding counties are equivalent to saying that taking it will have no impact on Ji County, and they don't plan to defend it. Cao Ren inquired clearly, Zhou Budo was less than thirty, could he be tricked by a child! At the moment, it seems that Zhou Budo is determined to defend the city, and his surrender is tantamount to asking for his own humiliation.

Cao Ren was not reconciled to this, and ordered the Han army, which had more than 70 captives, to come to the city of Jixian County, and shouted: "Please talk to Zhou Budo!" ”

Zhou Budo rushed to the head of the city, looked at the captured Han army below, and quickly calculated what might happen next.

Cao Ren shouted: "Zhou Budo thief, you are so ruthless, you actually set fire to Shanggua City, do you know that it is the county seat registered by the imperial court." Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes because of you! What is your conscience?

Liu Bei prides himself on benevolence and righteousness, but Zhao Yun acts like this, how can he be worthy of the people of Longyou if he doesn't kill Zhao Yun. I am at the behest of the Son of Heaven of the Han Dynasty, precisely to appease you who have no king's law and are like thieves.

The people of Shanggua, the people of Tianshui, and the soldiers of Longyou. If you let Zhao Yun and Zhou Budo let these people live, they won't be able to live a peaceful life. Only the royal division of our court is the righteous army that quells the chaos and peace of the people, so don't be fooled. Surrender as soon as possible, and the past is not to blame! If you are obsessed, you will be added to the body with a sword and axe, you are so thoughtful! ”

As soon as Cao Ren's voice fell, he saw Zhou Budo standing at the head of the city.

Cao Ren secretly said proudly: "In the end, it is a child, and if you don't go through practice, you can't adapt to changes after all." There is no name for wisdom, but it is not useful! ”

Zhou Budo howled and cried at the head of the city: "Your Majesty, I'm sorry for your entrustment and didn't protect the city of Tianshui County. Our grain and grass garrison was burned by Cao Ren, who plundered the people of Xuzhou and promised to kill Wancheng.

I was afraid that he would do something out of character to move the people of Shanggua, but I didn't think that Cao Ren would dare to do it. General Zhao Yun loves the people like a son, is upright, and is not greedy for money.

At the beginning, many people captured Yizhou and wanted to divide the land, but General Zhao Yun persuaded the king to share it with the people, how could such a person want to burn the city? It must have been Cao Ren who saw the people running away after entering the city, and there was not a grain of grain that was annoyed and angry! ”

Cao Ren heard it clearly under the city, and he understood that Zhou Budo was acting, but what Zhou Budo said was heart-wrenching.

Zhou Budo's subordinate Liang Xu was also very good at watching and shouted: "Zhou Taishou is right, Cao Ren is a butcher, let's not listen to his demagoguery!" Everyone must be firm, Baowei Ji County has a way to live! ”

Cao Ren said angrily: "Don't be deceived by this thief, the city was really burned by them, I don't believe you ask these thieves who were caught by me!" ”

After speaking, with a wave of his hand, Cao Jun shouted rudely: "Say it quickly!" ”

Zhou Budo was the first to shout: "Brothers, you are the warriors of my great man, you are not ashamed to be captured with all your strength, and your family is also honored by you."

I won't give up on you! Cao Ren, listen well, I'm willing to redeem them with 500 gold per person, how about it! ”

Cao Ren was choked with stuffiness in his chest, and shouted, "Let them say it!" Some people in the Han army were shouted by Zhou Budo and did not speak, and those who were afraid told what happened intermittently.

Zhou Budo shouted after hearing this: "Brother, I know that you are forced to do so, but I am very happy that you can live in this way, after all, you have shed blood and fought hard for us!" I don't owe us anything, I can understand if it's insincere! ”

After speaking, he said to the surrounding soldiers and people: "People, soldiers, I dare to guarantee that General Zhao Yun will never come up with a poisonous plan to burn the city!" ”

Of course, this was what he Zhou Budo came up with, and Zhao Yun did it. A few of the people and soldiers played with a clear understanding of the words, and they were naturally convinced.

For the fire on the hexagram, most of the soldiers and horses arranged were not the local soldiers and horses of Longyou, but the garrison brought from the south. These soldiers and horses all followed Zhao Yun to guard the hexagram. The soldiers and horses in Ji County did not know. As for the upper echelons, Zhou Budo strictly ordered them not to guess, let alone spread rumors, otherwise they would be punished as collaborators.

Zhou Budo stunned everyone for a moment. Cao Ren saw that it didn't seem to have any effect, and scolded: "It's been a good week, reversing right and wrong!" ”

Zhou Budo then said to Cao Ren: "Cao Ren, let me ask you." Why are you so ruthless, setting fire to the city, and threatening our army to capture the soldiers?

You once slaughtered the people of Xuzhou, and the corpses of the people cut off the river! Why are you still unrepentant? How can your heart be black from beginning to end, Wancheng Cao Cao has spoken not to pursue the people, but what about you? When you enter the city, you start setting fires, which is exactly the same as this time to break the hexagram! Don't admit it yet! ”

Cao Ren said: "Nonsense, I didn't burn the city, it was you thieves who arranged it and burned our army!" Is it false that our army lost thousands of soldiers and horses! ”

Zhou Budo looked at the flaws, and said lightly: "Nonsense, what do you mean?" You didn't slaughter Xuzhou with Cao Cao? Who in the world doesn't know that you have broken several counties! Tao Gongzu went to prevent you from being killed and defeated, originally the two armies clashed, and the victory and defeat were normal. But how can the people be disappointed, you personally urge the people to be killed! Do you still deny that you didn't set fire to Wancheng? ”

Cao Ren suddenly understood. Zhou Budo said that there was a piece that he didn't have, and he denied the fake and took the real one. Cao Ren suddenly realized that he was a military general looking for literati to quarrel, a bit stupid! There is a dilemma right now.

Cao Ren stubbornly said: "Now I'm talking about the hexagram, don't talk about anything else!" ”

Zhou Budo raised his fist and said, "I, Zhou Budo, am not afraid of death, not afraid of your Cao Ren's knife!" Swear to defend Ji County to the death, and never let the tragedy of the hexagram repeat. This is the only thing I can do as a Tianshui Taishou.

I will fight Cao Ren's butcher with my own body to the end, as long as I live, I will do my best to block Cao Ren's knife and never let him hurt the people. I can't help it when I die! ”

The crowd shouted: "Swear to follow Taishou to the death, never surrender!" ”

Cao Ren had no choice, he scolded Zhou Budo for being cunning, how could Liu Bei's subordinates have such a non-stuffy person, who was thick-skinned and refused to admit what he did.

Cao Ren waved his hand and withdrew. Zhou Budo shouted: "Rush out of the city and rescue the captured brothers!" ”

When Cao Ren heard this, he ordered a pause in the retreat and made preparations. After waiting for a long time, the city head was busy, but no one came out of the city gate.

Cao Renxin said: I originally wanted to wait for me to retreat before chasing.

After ordering the Cao army of the battalion to lie in ambush from the movement of the two wings and retreat by himself, if the Han army pursues, the ambush army will surround the Han army together!

After Cao Ren finished instructing, he looked at it and shouted at the head of the city: "Boy who saves people, what are you doing in the city, come out and save people!" ”

Chengtou Liang Xu said: "Cao Ren, what we say you believe, you are obedient!" Come, enter the city, my house is too guarded to invite you to a feast! Do you dare? ”

Cao Ren was not angry and said: "How can I be as knowledgeable as a child!" "Ordered to retreat.

Unexpectedly, the Han army did not chase after them. Cao Ren was puzzled. If Zhou Budo does not act, then this sentence is useless, dishonest and untrustworthy, trying to damage his prestige.

Cao Ren was thinking about it, and his subordinates reported that the place where the engineering equipment was made was attacked, and the Han army set fire to a small part of the manufactured equipment.

Cao Ren clapped his hands and said: "Good calculation, cut down the trees around thirty miles, and separate the besieging soldiers and horses from the soldiers and horses that make siege equipment, which is conducive to a sneak attack!" Stop me with that word at the head of the city! Calculate the distance, when I shouted under the city, Zhou Budo should have sent someone out of the city! ”

The men asked, "Shall we hurry to intercept this army?" ”

Cao Ren said: "No need, we are already a little late in receiving the battle report, and it is not worth it to mobilize and rectify the army for a few hundred people!" We don't have a lot of cavalry, and they won't make a big difference, otherwise one cavalry will be enough! ”

Cao Ren got up and looked in the direction of Ji County and said: "Liu Bei's employment is worthy of his reputation, it seems that this will be a tough battle!" If someone comes, immediately report the situation to King Wei separately, and the battle situation may last!

Stepping up contact and urging Zhang He to lead soldiers and horses to send food, weapons and other materials along Weishui! Also, Cao Ren of Nan'an County and Fei Yao of Qishan Fort stepped up their efforts to break the city! "The men are commanded.

That night, the Cao army, who chased the sneak attack on the soldiers and horses, reported that this thief army went around three times and twice, and they did not know the geographical advantage, but they were ambushed and hurriedly retreated!

Cao Ren said: "That's just a false move, if the thief army really has soldiers and horses, it won't be impatient to expose and scare you away!" Let the chasing general have a longer brain next time! Go ahead! "The men are commanded.

The next day, Zhou Budo sent an envoy to tell Cao Ren that they had captured ten Cao soldiers and wanted to exchange prisoners with Cao Ren! Cao Ren knew that Zhou Budo was powerful, so he agreed to come down and exchange ten with each other.

Cao Ren looked at the returning Han captives and sighed in his heart: "Although Zhou Budo failed to fully fulfill what he said, he also retained his prestige!" You can't be so passive. ”

I thought about it and said to the people next to me: "How are the ladders and carts built?" ”

The subordinate said: "There are hundreds of ladders and thirty cars!" ”

Cao Ren said: "Prepare to attack the city this afternoon!" ”

The chariot was a siege machine. The height is flush with the city wall of Ji County, and it is divided into four layers. From the bottom up, at the bottom are the wheels, which can be propelled forward.

The second layer is filled with mounds of earth and stones, which are ready to fill in the trenches around Ji County.

The third floor is equipped with ladders and horses, as soon as you get close to the city wall, take the ladder and climb directly. It is equivalent to climbing directly from the middle of the city wall.

On the fourth floor, archers are used to suppress the archers in the city. The top layer is the top cover, which is made of solid wood.

Zhou Budo was amazed when he saw the siege equipment built by Cao Ren. Cao Ren gave an order, at the beginning, because of the trench, the third layer did not take the ladder, but also mounds and stones, and the top layer was Cao Jun's archers.

Zhou Budo sprinkled it with fire oil and lit it. Unexpectedly, Cao Ren was well prepared, and the carts were all newly cut trees, which was not easy, so Cao Ren nailed several layers of wet bark to the outermost part and filled the middle with wet mud.

The oil was sprinkled down, and as soon as it caught fire, Cao Jun quickly pulled it back, and the fire burned slowly, not waiting for the wood to burn inside, tearing off the outer layer, nailing a new one, and so on.

Zhou does not doubt that the fuel is consumed. organized a surprise attack out of the city, and was killed by Cao Ren, who had prepared earlier, more than 200 people, and retreated into the city.

In just three days, the trench outside Ji County was filled. Cao Ren replaced the bottom with a battering ram, and carried a ladder and soldiers and horses in the middle. And piled up mountains outside the city of Ji County and attacked in an all-out way.

Arrows flew indiscriminately above, suppressing the head of the city, and the ladder below quickly climbed and the pressure doubled. The battering ram slammed into the city gates and city walls, and Ji County was in danger.

Seeing this situation, Liang Xu looked for Zhou Budo after Cao Jun was repulsed: "Taishou, Cao Ren's siege equipment is sharp, we have to find a way!" ”

Zhou Budo said: "The method is already there, I will send someone to practice for a few days, and I will pull it out tomorrow to try." Liang Xu was very surprised.

The next day, the Cao army continued to line up neatly to attack, dozens of wrestlers from the Han army poured out, and the chariot approached the city wall, and Zhou Budo shouted: "Look, throw!" ”

The wrestlers took out the weapons in their hands, which were strange weapons with a thick rope tied to the grinding plate. The grinding disc flew out and smashed the wheels of the car first. When the wheels are broken, they don't run flexibly.

The Han army dragged in unison, pulled the grinding disc back, and began to smash the immovable cart.

The crowd looked at the hole that had been smashed, threw the oil into it, lit it, and burned it with the people and the car. Cao Ren saw that the momentum was not good, and ordered a withdrawal.

Zhou Budo seized the opportunity and went out of the city to fight back. Most of the wheels of the cart were broken and did not work, and there was chaos in the retreat of Cao Jun, the one who pulled the cart, and the one who jumped from the cart.

The Han army fished in troubled waters, won a small victory, and its morale resurged. Cao Ren was expecting to break the city in the next few days, but it seems that there is no play!