The sky was dark, and dusk covered the land. Bonfires were set up in the coalition camps, scouts were sent out, and sergeants patrolled incessantly.

In the big tent, Liu Bei and Huo Jun discussed the military situation, and a brief map of the seven counties of Jingzhou was hung on the tent.

Liu Bei pointed to the four counties of Jingnan and said: "Zhong Miao, Bo Wei has ordered Liu Pan, Huang Zhong, and Wang Wei to serve as the three counties of Wuling, Lingling, and Guiyang in Jingzhou. If the remnants of Cao Cao can be broken now, they can gather troops to surround Jiangling and recover Nanjun. When the situation changes, Xiangfan may also be able to plan. ”

Huo Jun pondered a little and said: "Cao Cao stopped on the south bank of Xiashui, and he had the intention of marching to Jiangling, but he was not afraid of the elite of our army. Now that it is getting late, I am afraid that Cao Cao will escape at night, so our army should be careful to prevent Cao Cao from escaping at night. ”

Cao Cao's heart, how could Cao Ren not know the news of Cao Cao's defeat at Jinkou. He received the news from Zhu Gai and Yin from Wulin, and he immediately led nearly 10,000 elite soldiers from Huarong Road to Yunmengze in an attempt to meet Cao Cao.

However, Huo Jun and Liu Bei led an army of 30,000 troops to Jianli, and they had already guarded against Cao Ren's soldiers and horses. He immediately ordered Wen Ping, Wei Yan and other generals to lead 7,000 soldiers to seize Huarong County, build a barracks, and prevent Cao Ren from rescuing Cao Cao to the east.

After a pause, Huo Jun said: "And frustrate the remnants of Cao Cao, Cao Ren retreated to Jiangling, so that you might as well invite Yangzhou to join forces, conquer Jiangling, and discuss the affairs of Jingyang and Yangzhou." ”

Liu Bei comprehended Huo Jun's meaning and said with a smile: "Bei has asked Ji Changnan to go to Changsha and invite Bowei to go north and break Jiangling City." Shi Bei also wrote a table recently, and made Cousin Bowei a general of the chariot and a pastor of Jingzhou. ”

At this stage of the war, the Battle of Chrysostom will come to an end, and Er Liu will divide the fruits after the war. Letting Liu Qi come to Jiangling can be regarded as a gift from Liu Bei to Liu Qi, showing his attitude.

Next, the two Liu exchanged official positions. Liu Beibiao and Liu Qi are the general of the chariot and cavalry, leading the Jingzhou pastor; Liu Qi will also be the general of Wei and the pastor of Yangzhou. General Wei rode the general on a low car, which can be regarded as Liu Beiqian's letting Liu Qi merge the two families.

While the two were discussing, the attendant stepped inside and said anxiously: "Yuzhou, the governor, scout is urgent, the remnants of Cao Cao are heading north, and it seems that they are heading in the direction of Xiangfan, and the person at the head is Cao Jiang Lejin." ”

Liu Bei's face changed slightly, and he said: "Cao Cao doesn't go to Jiangling, if he wants to go to Xiangfan, he should be chased by the soldiers, and he can't be let go easily." ”

Saying that, Liu Bei pondered and said: "Zhong Miao, I'm afraid this strategy is Cao Cao's suspicious strategy, luring our army to pursue north, but in fact, going west, running Huarong Road." ”

Huo Jun pondered for a long time and said: "Although Le Jin is Cao Cao's confidant, he doesn't know the geographical advantages of Jiang and Han, how can he be a striker. And Cao Cao is not a scheming person, it is better to order Xu Sheng to lead 2,000 troops to block the attack, and most of our army will wait for the time being, and watch how the Cao army brigade moves. ”

"Good!"

After another moment, dusk had turned to a starry night.

The scout rode into the camp on horseback and said: "Qi Yu Erjun, Cao Jun has a new movement, although Le Jin is the vanguard, but there are few soldiers and horses behind him. The scouts of our army also found that Cai Mao and Zhang Yuner were heading westward, and the soldiers and horses of their troops were few and bright, and they wanted to take advantage of the cover of night to smuggle across the summer water from the shallow channel of the river and march towards Jiangling. ”

Hearing that it was Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, Liu Bei was first surprised, then angry, and said: "As Zhong Miao expected, the Lejin Department is really a suspicious soldier. Cai Mao is known as the Taishou of Nanjun and is familiar with the terrain of Gangneung. Today, I took advantage of the night to go to the front of Cao Cao's army to open the way for Cao Cao. ”

Saying that, Liu Bei subconsciously held his sword and said, "Therefore, you can't let go of Cai Mao and the remnants of Cao Cao." A certain led an army to block, when he frustrated Cao Cao's remnants of the army, captured and killed Cao and Cai's two thieves, I don't know if Zhong Miao wants to go with him? ”

Huo Jun looked at the road map of Huarong Dao, and said in a deep voice: "Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are familiar with the geographical advantages, and it is possible to steal them at night today." However, the camp is critical, Jun needs to sit in the camp, and Lao Yuzhou led the headquarters to block Cai Cao, and Cao Cao could not be easily let go. ”

What Jia Xu said was true, Huo Jun and Liu Bei were afraid that Cao Cao would lead his army westward and join Cao Ren. No matter what, Jiang Zuo must send troops to break the enemy.

"Good!"

Liu Bei arched his hand slightly, and said: "A certain rate of more than 10,000 people out of the account, there is Lao Zhongmiao leading the soldiers and horses to the camp, if there is a mistake, Lao Zhongmiao will be shot, don't let Cao Cao go." ”

"Yuzhou rest assured!"

……

and Liu Bei led the sergeants out of the camp, and the torches burned high on the way, like a fire dragon. Cao Jun's scouts on the south bank of Xia Shui saw it and quickly reported the news to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao turned over his horse, pointed his horsewhip to the north, and said: "The tiger and leopard ride to open the way, the armies will fall down the banner, do not hold the fire high, and quickly follow General Le." ”

Everyone looked at each other, surprised by Cao Cao's actions.

Yang Xiu glanced at Cai Mao's direction and said, "Prime Minister, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun will lead the Jiang and Han soldiers and horses to open the road at night, why did they suddenly run to Xiangfan today?" ”

Previously, Cao Cao fooled Cai Mao and others, and used Le Jin as a feint to attract Liu and Huo, so that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun led the remnants of the Jiang and Han armies in the army to open the way, and he led the remaining soldiers and horses behind. I never thought that Cao Cao suddenly changed his mind, changed to Xiangfan, and abandoned Cai, Zhang Erjun and the remnants of the Jianghan army.

Cao Cao coughed lightly and said: "Gu has sent someone to report to Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, Yin and other generals, if you see that things are not good, you should take the opportunity to leave behind most of our army." ”

Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, Cao Cao did not report the news, but he reported the news to the Yin Bureau in advance. Let Yin Department fight at the front, take advantage of the night to go north, and wait for him in front.

After speaking, Cao Cao kicked the horse's belly lightly and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, keep up, don't fall behind!" ”

"No!"

On the starry night, Cao Cao's remnants barely groped their way by the moonlight and the sparse torches. Following the sergeants left behind by Lejin, the sergeants walked along the river with difficulty in the night.

Away from the armies of Liu and Huo, and crossing the shallow summer water, Cao Cao dared to order the sergeants to light torches to light the way forward.

Cao Cao rode a horse, looked up and saw the bright starry sky, and saw the sergeants under the tent embarrassed, and he had long lost his former majesty. In the face of Liu and Huo, who were blocking the enemy in front, they had to abandon the army in despair in order to protect themselves, which was very shameful.

How majestic I was a few months ago, how depressed I am today!

Cao Cao couldn't help but feel sad from his heart, and sighed and said: "If Fengxiao is still there, don't make you lonely here!" ”

As soon as these words came out, the civil and military forces on the left and right were silent, and they also had other thoughts in their hearts.

And Jia Xu, who was not shocked, secretly rolled his eyes, if Cao Cao had used his own strategy, even if he did not win, he would not have failed like this. Although he was complaining in his heart, Jia Xu was not the kind of person who was Tian Feng and frustrated, and he knew the stakes well, so he kept his mouth shut and just followed Cao Cao.

Sun Quan rode his horse and comforted: "Now that the prime minister has to get rid of Liu and Huo, they will return to the Central Plains, so why can't he win against Wu Chuhu?" ”

Cao Cao had someone to confide in, and said with sadness: "Zhongmou doesn't know Feng Xiaoye, Feng Xiao is good at plotting, and since he planned for Lonely, he has won many battles and few misses. If in the battle of Chrysostom, Feng Xiao was on Lone's side, how could Lone be defeated by Huo Jun'er. ”

Cao Cao was also angry in his heart, and said: "Gu Jin was humiliated by Huo Jun, it is not that the soldiers are not as good as him, it is really the will of heaven!" The water village lit a fire out of thin air, and the boat was burned, if it wasn't for the will of heaven, how could it be Huo Jun's doing! ”

In order to verify his words, the smile on the corner of Cao Cao's mouth gradually became presumptuous, and then he raised his head and laughed.

"Prime Minister, why are you laughing?"

Cao Cao waved his whip and pointed to the dark wilderness, and said with a smile: "I laugh at Liu Bei's unplanned, Huo Jun's lack of wisdom, and the strategy of attacking the east and the west in the lonely voice." If the army is alone, even if it is set up in Jianli, it will ambush an army here to prevent mistakes. Today~"

"Haha!"

"It's like a prime minister......

Before Sun Quan could finish his praise, suddenly a few fire dragons meandered in the middle of the night, shouting in the wilderness: "Don't get away from Cao Cao, chase and kill Cao Cao." ”

"Yanren Zhang Yide is here! Where is Cao Cao? ”

Immediately afterwards, the sound of golden drums and shouts of killing resounded throughout the field, and the tired Cao army sergeants fled in a hurry.

"Not good!"

Cao Cao's face changed drastically, and he said, "There is an enemy ambush!" ”

Xu Huang came with a lance and shouted: "The prime minister should leave quickly, and Huang will lead the army to the rear of the palace." ”

"Be careful!"

Cao Cao shouted to his attendants to protect the ministers and strategists, and left at night under the escort of Xu Chu and Sun Quan, who dared to stop and fight.

Zhang Fei and Xu Sheng led thousands of elite soldiers to kill and cut Cao Jun's fire dragon into several sections. The remnants of Cao's army could not be stopped, and they fled in defeat. Because of the battle in the night, Zhang Fei and Xu Sheng led the army to defeat the Cao army, pursued for several miles, and then Mingjin withdrew his troops.

Regarding the direction of Cao Cao's escape from Xiangfan, Huo Jun was defenseless. He and Liu Bei arranged for 7,000 people to guard Huarong City, and ordered Zhang Fei to lead 5,000 people to ambush the Northwest Trail, and he and Liu Bei led 18,000 people to guard Jianli. Before Huo Jun sent Xu Sheng to lead 2,000 soldiers and horses to block Le Jin, Zhang Fei didn't take the lead to fight, but now he really squatted to Cao Cao.

And Liu Bei's side had already defeated Cai Mao, Zhang Yun and others, and Jiang Han's soldiers were crushed at the first touch, and they either fled or surrendered.

Cai Mao and Zhang Yun didn't see most of Cao Cao, and when they saw Yin fleeing, they knew in their hearts that they were being sold, and scolded Cao Cao in their hearts. If it weren't for Liu Bei, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun would have surrendered long ago.

Taking advantage of the darkness of the night and the chaos of the crowd, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun took more than a dozen cronies to escape. However, Tai Shiheng and Liu Feng led fifty horsemen to catch up, and Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were captured on the spot.

The lights were bright, and Tai Shiheng escorted Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to Liu Bei.

"My lord, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were captured by my knights."

"Hmm!"

Under the escort of the left and right, Liu Bei rushed to the horse.

Liu Bei was riding on horseback, holding a whip in his hand, and staring coldly at Cai Mao and Zhang Yun who were kneeling on the ground.

"Smack!"

The whip flicked and whipped Cai Mao's face, Liu Bei said coldly; "Cai Mao, do you remember what happened in Tanxi?"

Cai Mao felt the hot pain on her face, trembled all over, and pleaded: "Let Jun Su be kind to the world, can you spare him." ”

As he spoke, Cai Mao kowtowed again and again, and said: "Mao is willing to serve the envoy, do his best to be loyal, and dare not break his promise!" ”

"Huh!"

Liu Bei sneered a few times and said, "I can spare the two of you, I'm afraid that Brother Jingsheng will not be able to spare you two thieves." tampered with Brother Jingsheng's will, colluded with Cao thief, and surrendered Jiang Han. Now that he was captured by someone, An has the face to surrender? ”

"Spare your life!"

Zhang Yun kowtowed and begged: "Envoy, Yun is a relative of Liu Jingzhou, can you spare your subordinates." ”

Riding his horse slowly to the side of the two, Liu Bei suddenly drew his long sword and stabbed Cai Mao to death with a sword.

"Poof!"

Cai Mao's hot blood splashed on Zhang Yun's face, making Zhang Yun's face turn white with fright.

Zhang Yun glanced at it, but saw Cai Mao twitching a few times and dying on the ground, his heart like ashes.

Liu Beijian pointed at Zhang Yun, and seeing that he was so timid, he sneered and said: "You are Jingsheng's brother and nephew, and you actually colluded with outsiders to make trouble, and you have this sword to kill you, I am afraid that you will also defile this sword." ”

"Come on, hand over Zhang Yun to Liu Jingzhou!"

"No!"

(End of chapter)