Huang Quan quietly retreated and headed south, and Xiahou Yuan followed and pursued, biting tightly. Huang Quan made a gesture of wanting to enter Lintao City, and sent Zong Wei as the vanguard to move in the direction of Lintao.

Xiahou Yuan expected in advance that Huang Quan would give priority to entering Lintao City when he could retreat, Xiahou Yuan hoped for a quick victory, and did not want to delay, so he naturally forced Huang Quan to fight in the field, and sent Guo Huai to lead his troops to take Lintao in advance.

Xiahou Yuan did not blindly pursue, but intercepted by multiple cavalry, compressed the Han army, and caught up with Huang Quan to annihilate it.

Xiahou Yuan considered that the cavalry drove away Rufei, even if there was no plan, Huang Quan was the assassin of Liangzhou, this identity made Xiahou Yuan very excited, besieging or capturing Huang Quan alive was equivalent to taking most of Liangzhou, and the blow to the morale of the Han army was even more fatal!

Xiahou Yuan was attracted to Huang Quan, and Cao Hong was attracted to Liu Chan. Cao Hong was not brainless, and when he was discussing with Yang Fu, he sent a messenger to Xiahou Yuan, and the messenger sent by Cao Hong was detailed, and learned that Liu Chan was in Taoyang City, and Xiahou Yuan's first reaction after reading the map was the same as Cao Hong.

Xiahou Yuan said excitedly: "Great, God-given opportunity, I am worried that the thief army will avoid fighting, and now once Taoyang is besieged, in terms of Liu Chan's identity, Taoyang has become a place that must be saved according to the art of war."

The army besieged Taoyang, and the reinforcements from all over the thief army must give priority to rushing to the rescue, just turning the passive into the active, and there is no need to strictly guard the grain and grass to find the main force of the thief army, surround Taoyang, wait for work, lure reinforcements, annihilate the endless Liangzhou soldiers and horses, and save a lot of trouble. ”

Xiahou Yuan then asked Cao Hong how many people he led to go. Knowing that Cao Hong led 15,000 people, he instructed the messenger: "You tell Zilian not to attack the city, mainly to besiege, and I will solve Huang Quan as soon as possible." In addition, I sent 3,000 cavalry to support him.

There is also the direction of Didao. Let Yang Yishan always be vigilant, if the thief army attacks in a big way, he can retreat to Zhongti, and with Yang Fu's strength and ability, it will not be difficult to hold out for half a month. lest the thief army hear that Taoyang is besieged and want to encircle Wei to save Zhao, I only need the soldiers and horses in my hands to annihilate Huang Quan. ”

Sending the messenger away, Fei Yao's soldiers and horses bite Huang Quan tightly. After the messenger left, Xiahou Yuan was ready to do a big job, suppressed his excitement a little, looked at the map, and suddenly felt that something was wrong, and he couldn't remember it for a while.

In the afternoon, Yang Fu's messenger came in a hurry, it turned out to be a messenger sent by Yang Fu secretly, and the messenger told Xiahou Yuan about Yang Fu's worries in detail.

The authorities are fascinated, Xiahou Yuan is exactly like this, Yang Fu was a little sober, came to his senses, patted his forehead and said: "It's not good, I'm happy for a while, I only want to be beneficial to us, but I forgot that dividing troops is a taboo in the art of war, and I made a big mistake!" ”

He ordered to chase back the messengers sent to Cao Hong, and strictly ordered Cao Hong to protect the grain road and meet the possible Di Dao thieves, and Liu Chan sent a team of soldiers and horses to monitor it.

After his subordinates Wang Ling and Li Jun learned about it, they said strangely: "Liu Chan is Liu Bei's eldest son, and Liu Bei's adult son is only Liu Chan, isn't it important?" ”

Xiahou Yuan said: "My first reaction was exactly like this. Yoshiyama's words woke me up. Liu Chan's identity is indeed important, but it is of little use to the current situation.

In the situation in Longyou, we have a huge advantage, Tianshui and other places are fully suppressed, and Huang Quan is blocked by us. The only thing that is uncertain now is where Ma Chao is, and where is the main force in Liangzhou?

Could it be that Huang Quan's cavalry of less than 10,000 people is the entire force of Liangzhou! No, Ma Chao and the main force of Liangzhou are not there, and if the two are combined, it will be a big disaster!

The number of thieves is unknown, and it is estimated that there are no less than 10,000. We besieged Taoyang, and we couldn't completely take it in a short time, which is equivalent to further dispersing the troops, Ma Chao came along Di Dao at this time, and 10,000 cavalry was enough to crush our grain route.

We should now stay safe, protect the grain road, protect the good situation of Longyou, and make Ma Chao unable to break through! Yishan is right, destroy Huang Quan, defeat Ma Chao, and take Liangzhou, are you afraid that you won't be able to catch Liu Chan? ”

Xiahou Yuan woke up early, but failed to stop Cao Hong's actions, Cao Hong was very happy to receive Xiahou Yuan's instructions and reinforcements, and urged the troops to advance.

Then a second messenger was received, and the messenger explained the stakes. Cao Hong said unhappily: "Surround Taoyang, Ma Chao just didn't dare to march along Di Dao again, save Taoyang first, otherwise Liu Bei will not let him go after seeing death and not saving him!"

Could it be that Yang Fu's clever tongue bluffed Miaocai! Yang Fu is just a Wenchen, even if the soldiers are just cautious, I'm afraid of that worry, and I'll send someone to say it to Miaocai! ”

Cao Hong sent a man of speech with his own reply to explain the benefits of entering Taoyang. Xiahou Yuan saw that Cao Hong was confused, and wrote a sternly worded reply.

In such a fight, Cao Hong's vanguard arrived in Taoyang, and Chen Zhi led his troops out of the city, and fled back to the city in defeat. This move made Cao Hong even more reluctant to give up, which greatly delayed time.

Chen Zhi and Pang Lin in the city of Taoyang strengthened the city defense, monitored the Cao army at the head of the city, and the Cao army came one after another, the infantry dug trenches, set up a fortress to besiege Taoyang barrier, and the cavalry patrolled every day to prevent the Han army from escaping.

After observing for a few days, Pang Lin, who joined the army, said to Chen Zhi: "General Chen, I have found that the cavalry patrols of the Cao army are quite regular in the past few days, and the route has not changed much!" ”

Chen Zhi held on to the city wall and said: "The place where the cavalry of the Cao army patrols is just stuck in the position where we may go out of the city, and we can't shoot at the distance from the city." But if you want to break through, you will inevitably be discovered quickly, in an open place, there is no place to hide! ”

Pang Lin said: "I found that the cavalry went east every time. I looked around the terrain and there was a drinking place to the east with grass and bushes nearby. I wonder if it would be that every time the Cao army patrols it passes by to give the horses water, why don't we take advantage of the darkness to send people to ambush and attack the Cao army! ”

Chen Zhi was overjoyed and said: "Yes, exactly! ”

The two came to report to Liu Chan, and Liu Chanqi said: "Since we can go out at night, Cao Jun will not guard against us leaving at night!" ”

Chen Zhi said: "Childe." At night, we broke through with cavalry, and the sound of horses' hooves easily alarmed Cao's army, and even if there were too few soldiers and horses, they left smoothly and were discovered by nearby scouts, and it was impossible to guarantee safety at that time.

Breaking through with infantry is even worse, moving slowly, and having nowhere to hide after dawn to sit and wait to be killed. Cao Jun understands the importance of Gongzi, and he is sure that we will not take risks. Taking advantage of the fact that the Cao army's fortress has not been completed, I led the infantry out of the city to ambush, snatched the horses of the Cao army and withdrew, and Pang joined the army to meet me in the city. ”

Liu Chan said: "Okay! General Chen is a general that his father relied on, and he is right! ”

Chen Zhi hugged his fists and said: "I will definitely live up to the king and the son." Chen Zhi led his troops to ambush that night.

Early the next morning, Cao Jun patrolled as usual. In the city, Shi Jaw, Guan Xing, and Zhang Bao led soldiers and horses ready to go out of the city to support at any time. Liu Chan and Pang Lin watched from the city.

Soon, Cao's army headed east. An hour later, a team flew in, and everyone saw from a distance that it was Chen Dao. Because it was early in the morning, the Cao army was negligent in taking precautions, thinking that there were cavalry patrols, and most of the Cao troops were digging trenches and building fortifications, and Chen Zhi rushed to the city smoothly.

Everyone greeted him, Chen Zhi entered the city, threw down the prisoners, and said to Liu Chan: "Son, the Cao army has about 500 cavalry, most of them were killed, and these generals who led the troops were captured alive. The horses robbed about three hundred. Most of Cao Jun hadn't reacted yet, and many of them were dismounting to drink, and this battle was a great deal! ”

Liu Chan was overjoyed and said: "The general is really brave!" ”

The leading Cao Jiang scolded: "Liu Chan Xiaoer, I don't know whether you are dead or alive, when the city is broken, it will be your death!" ”

Chen Zhi said contemptuously: "Does this have anything to do with you?" As long as Childe gives an order, now is your death date! How dare you speak up if you are defeated! ”

Liu Chan asked, "How is General Chen going to deal with this person!" ”

Chen Zhi said: "Childe, it seems that this guy knows a lot, it's best to be taken down, tortured, and ask for information!" ”

Liu Chan agreed, and his men took the prisoners. Cao Hong was furious when he learned that his cavalry was ambushed, and came to the city to scold, but there was no movement in the city.

The cavalry was ordered to take strict precautions and increase the number of patrols in each team. The next day, because the patrol of Cao's army was the best route. Chen Zhi found that the route of Cao's patrol had not changed much in general.

Chen Zhi discussed with Pang Lin that there were exactly 5,000 cavalry in the city, and the Cao army was now divided into two teams, alternating and constantly patrolling, so it was better to go out of the city and fight in the field.

After discussing and reporting to Liu Chan, Liu Chan naturally relied on Chen Zhi's command, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao also had to go out, and Chen Zhi dissuaded him.

The two generously said, "We are the sons of the gates, what are we afraid of! ”

Liu Chan said: "This city is now besieged by a large army, and a little defeat will hurt the morale of the army. General Chen is fighting the enemy with all his might, and he has no time to take care of the two of you. Let's not add to the chaos now, and listen to General Chen in all actions. ”

After that, he said to Chen Zhi: "General Chen, I originally wanted to go to the city to watch, but I was afraid of sharing the general's heart, so I sat here and waited for the general's good news!" ”

Chen Zhixi said: "The son is doing things properly, the last general will admire, please wait for the good news." ”

Liu Chan actually complained about his original impulse at this time, which provoked the Cao army, and he was afraid of going up the city wall to show his cowardice.

It's just a matter of pretending to be calm now. After learning for a long time, the words are quite beautiful, Chen Zhi mistakenly thought that Liu Chan was purely like Liu Bei's undoubted demeanor, how did he know that Liu Chan did not dare to watch the battle.

Chen Zhi's raid was quickly successful, Cao Hong did not know the soldiers and horses in Taoyang City, after Huang Quan sent troops before, the Han army hid the news that it still had 5,000 cavalry, and wanted to play a role in the critical time.

In addition, Chen Zhi spread rumors about Liu Chan in the city, and always deliberately blocked the troops. In addition, no one could have imagined that Huang Quan only led half of the cavalry to battle, leaving a strong army of soldiers and horses to defend the city with nothing to do.

Cao Hong was misled by the captives into believing that most of the people left behind in Taoyang were infantry. Chen Zhi dug a big hole in the city gate in advance, and after he was ready, he gave an order, pushed down the wall, and the Han army quickly killed the cavalry in a row.

The two thousand cavalry of Cao's army on patrol were shocked, and General Cao saw that it was cavalry that was killed, and the speed was not advantageous, and retreating was almost the same as sending him to death. One side asks for help, and the other side fights.

The cavalry of the 5,000 Han army saw that they had the advantage in numbers, and they struggled to attack, and Chen Zhi took the lead in overthrowing several people. After two repeated encirclement and impact, the cavalry formation of the Cao army was loosened, and after five attacks, the Cao army was in chaos.

The rest of Cao's cavalry had to report and rushed to support. Chen Zhi immediately divided 3,000 people and engaged in a head-on battle. Nearly 1,000 cavalry of the Cao army had been killed, leaving 2,000 soldiers and horses to deal with.

Chen went to the head-on, and the cavalry general Cao who rushed was also stunned, how could the Han army ignore the battle so much, and change the image of avoiding war.

Pang Lin filled the large hole with the prepared stones, and the soldiers and people of the city worked together to quickly build up the outermost wall. Chen Zhi fought for a while, until Cao Hong led the infantry to arrive, Chen Zhi commanded to fight and retreat, using the speed of the cavalry, walking around the city and entering through the city gates.

Cao Hong chased after him, and when he was close to the city wall, the Han army in the city commanded the archers to greet him, but Cao Hong did not bring siege equipment, so he did not dare to force it, so he could only retreat. Chen Zhi lost 200 people, and roughly estimated that at least 1,000 cavalry of the Cao army were killed, and the wounded were not counted.

Cao Hong was very depressed, and lost 2,000 cavalry in two sneak attacks, and his morale suffered a great setback. I retreated in my heart, this Taoyang was not the same as I judged.