The Langtang Canal in the territory of Chen runs through the north and south, and the Langtang Canal goes south to Xiangxian County to join Yingshui, and Yingshui then flows south into Huaishui.

Most of Chen's money and grain were concentrated in Chen County, so it was most convenient to return to Huainan by water.

It's a pity that Chen Guozhou's boats are scarce, and only more than ten small boats were found in a hurry.

More than a dozen small boats had limited loads, and they could not even fill the treasury with gold and silver, let alone transport Chen Guo's grain.

So the army of 50,000 turned into men and pushed the grain cart slowly to the southeast.

At this time, there is no need to take a detour as when he came, Zhang Xun plans to return to Shouchun in the direction of the current.

The Huainan army took the grain, and just arrived at Xiangcheng at the junction of Chen and Runan, and the news of Cao's army came from the rear to explore the horses.

Yan said: Cao Jun did not stop when he arrived in Chen County, and was following and continuing to chase.

Zhang Xun didn't plan to pay attention to it, but Qiao Rui suddenly hit the horse and came over.

"General Zhang, I heard that Cao Cao is coming quickly, and the march with the grain cart is too slow, we will definitely be caught up, we must have an idea." Qiao Rui's face was solemn.

Zhang Xun didn't care, shook his head and said: "According to several intelligence analyses, Cao Cao has been in a hurry for three days, and continuing to pursue is just pretending, in fact, it is already the end of the crossbow, and there is no need to worry..."

After hearing this, Qiao Rui reminded Zhengse: "General Zhang must not underestimate the enemy, don't forget Kuangting four years ago..."

Zhang Xun snorted lightly: "I'm just telling the truth, no matter how strong Cao Bing is, he is still a human being, and if he is a human being, he will be tired." ”

Qiao Rui said: "Our 50,000 soldiers, more than 10,000 people are transporting grain, even if they rotate and rest every day, but everyone is tired, if the Cao army really chases, what is the war?" ”

"General Qiao, don't you have any high opinions?" Zhang Xun stared at Qiao Rui meaningfully.

Qiao Rui hesitated for a moment and replied: "It's better to give up half of the grain wagons, first, it can hinder Cao Cao's pursuit of the army, and second, it can make the soldiers easier." ”

"Your Majesty forgot the order to leave? He didn't let us abandon the food and capital of the enemy, the general only recklessly broke into the palace not long ago, if this matter is transmitted back to Shouchun, wouldn't it be attacked by the villain? Zhang Xun shook his head.

"But..."

"It is definitely not possible to abandon grain, at most two groups of rotations will be arranged, and the remaining 30,000 people will be responsible for vigilance, so that we can maintain combat effectiveness, we still have to hurry, Cao Cao may not chase or not."

Zhang Xun gave a compromise solution, and Qiao Rui, as a deputy general, had no choice but to walk away.

At this time, the afterglow of the setting sun fell on Qiao Rui, and the shadow of the unity of man and horse was stretched very long.

Zhang Xun looked at his distant figure, and said to himself: "General Qiao has been quite insightful recently, is it true that he is secretly studying the art of war as His Majesty said?" Does he have the idea of replacing Ben Jun? ”

Li Feng, the general who followed him, grabbed the reins and smiled slightly, and said: "He didn't secretly read the art of war, but often asked his subordinates for advice..."

"Qu Hou?" Zhang Xun was stunned when he heard this.

Li Feng nodded and added: "Well, it's the Long Xiang who was scolded by the rod for twenty military sticks because of his poor food protection, it is said that this person has no ability to kill the enemy in battle, and the head of the paper is the way..."

Zhang Xun frowned after hearing this, and muttered: "I have been with General Qiao for many years, and I have to talk to him another day, but don't be delayed by that little guy..."

After a while, night fell.

Zhang Xun put the grain cart on the periphery as a fortification, and simply camped and rested on the bank of Yingshui.

The soldiers buried themselves in the pot and cooked, looking happy and comfortable, and all battalions and departments did not feel the danger at all, except for Long Xiang's Qu Department.

During the break, Long Xiang called Tang Yu and Cao Xing aside.

"The march with the grain cart is too slow, today General Qiao suggested abandoning some grain, but unfortunately it was not adopted by General Zhang, we estimate that we will encounter Cao's army soon, and the road ahead is worrying..."

"Cao Bing is well-trained and disciplined, and most of our 50,000 soldiers are new recruits, and the outcome of the fight is unpredictable." Cao Xing also has no confidence.

Tang Yu saw the sad faces of the two, he patted his chest and cheered up: "Our brothers in the Qubu insist on running and practicing every day, and if they can't fight and can't beat them, they still have the confidence to escape from the battlefield." ”

"There are some things that must be considered in advance, even if you flee back to Huainan, there will be food consumption, our Qu Department has a total of one hundred and sixty people, and Officer Cao, your cavalry has to bear some heavy responsibilities." Long Xiang stared at Cao Xuan and nodded.

"How?" Cao Xing looked puzzled.

Long Xiang explained: "One hundred and sixty men and five days' rations, all of which are tied to your thirty horses, so that the brothers who have no horses can travel lightly. ”

"But now that the grain cart is being pushed, it is impossible to send the rations to individuals to carry, right?" Tang Yu also asked curiously.

Long Xiang Zhengse said: "I will go to General Qiao in a while, and ask him to be sure to move General Zhang, so that all the soldiers of the army can bring some food, which can also reduce the burden of the grain transportation team." ”

"Oh, we listen to you." Tang Yu nodded in response.

Early the next morning, the army had breakfast and continued on its way.

Less than five miles had passed, the sentry spotted a troop of cavalry blocking the way, numbering about two thousand.

Qiao Rui was shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly reminded Zhang Xun: "It must be Cao Cao's cavalry, last night while our army was camping and resting, went around to the front, if it continues like this for thirty miles a day, the main force of Cao's army will come." ”

"There are only two thousand cavalry, General Bridge doesn't need to panic, can't you just drive him away?"

Zhang Xun pretended to be calm, he estimated that the cavalry was intended to harass, so he waved his hand to summon the general Li Feng.

"I'll give you 3,000 steps to ride out of the way, and the general will immediately lead the rear army to join the siege, Cao Cao knows that we are in a hurry, so he took the initiative to send the horse."

"The last general commands." Li Feng clenched his fists and turned away.

Seeing Qiao Rui's serious expression, Zhang Xun smiled and comforted: "I'll order another 5,000 horses to respond, and General Lao Qiao will follow with the rear army." ”

"Okay, Cao Cao has a lot of capable people, so the general must be careful."

Zhang Xun ordered the men and horses to walk two miles, and saw that Li Feng's men and horses had broken up and returned.

He grabbed a defeated soldier and asked, only to learn that the general Li Feng was beheaded, and the beheader was the other party's main general, Cao Ren.

Horses are scarce, and the cost of training cavalry is far better than that of foot soldiers, ordinary people can't afford to raise large-scale cavalry troops, and Cao Ren is also because he has a strong family to support a cavalry of thousands of people.

Cao Ren is the eldest son of Cao Chi, the captain of Changshui, and the Cao family is rich and prosperous in Peiguo County.

After Cao Chi's death, his son-in-law Cao Chun inherited the family business, and he used the financial resources of the Cao family to form the world-famous 'Tiger and Leopard Ride'.

And Cao Ren, the eldest son of the concubine who went out of the family, also used the property he shared to form his own cavalry department.

Cao Ren's cavalry followed him to fight in the north and south, and gradually trained into a sharp cavalry, whose combat effectiveness was second only to the tiger and leopard cavalry.

Zhang Xun heard that Cao Ren was in front, so he hurriedly suppressed his position and did not move forward, at this time he was very self-aware, while sending sentinels to monitor the front, while waiting for Qiao Rui's rear army to arrive, thinking that even if Cao Ren was strong, 2,000 cavalry could not stop 50,000 people.

Not long after, Qiao Rui led the army to hurry over, Zhang Xun glanced at the grain cart behind him, and suddenly found that the number was much less, and he suddenly had a bad premonition in his heart.

"General Bridge, our grain truck..."

"I told someone to lose half of it."