The Xuzhou reinforcements were defeated, and Wu Dun was killed in battle. The city of Hefei was broken, Zhang and Li Er were killed, and Zhu Guang and Xue Yi fled out of the city at night.

Chengde, Cao military camp.

In the big tent, the one-eyed Xiahou looked at Zhu Guang and Xue Yi, and the two lowered their heads, very ashamed.

Xiahoudun showed indignation on his face and asked in a deep voice: "But Hefei has been lost?" ”

Zhu Guang stiffened his head and said sadly: "General, the two generals Zhang and Li went to war, and Huo Jun planned to do so, and the two generals were all not in the army, and the sergeants either died or surrendered. The light and the guards were seriously damaged, and it was difficult to defend the city, so they had to abandon the city and leave. ”

Then, Xue Yi surrendered his hand and pleaded guilty, saying: "It is not good for General Zhu to defend the city, please punish the general." ”

Xiahoudun suppressed the anger in his heart, stayed to help the two of them, and said: "The prime minister said that he would defend the city for 100 days, and the enemy would be pardoned." The two have adhered to Hefei for more than 100 days, and they have all the words of the prime minister. ”

"General!"

Xue Yi and Zhu Guang didn't dare to get up, and bowed and begged Xiahou Dian.

Seeing Xue Yi like this, Xiahoudun sighed. I don't know what the two of them mean, it's just that they are worried that Cao Cao will lose Hefei and Zhang and Li will die in battle, so they will be angry with the two. I hope to get my own shelter and let myself give Cao Cao a few words of advice.

Thinking that the war is unfavorable today, when it is time to employ people, Xiahoudun made a promise.

Xiahoudun said comfortingly: "The two generals Zhang and Li led heavy troops out of the city to break the weir, and the soldiers were defeated and died, leaving Hefei with no troops available. If you two don't surrender Huo Jun and keep more than a thousand soldiers and horses, how can the prime minister punish the two? ”

"Thank you, General!"

Zhu and Xue saw Xiahoudun's guarantee and saluted with gratitude.

"You two stand back and rest!"

"No!"

After the two retreated, Xiahoudun's face sank, and he asked in a sullen voice: "Huo Jun sent a large army to the north to defend me, and today he led the army to break Hefei." Xuzhou soldiers and horses have not yet arrived. Dare to ask you, what should be done? ”

Everyone talked about it, Liu Ye frowned and thought hard, full of favor and silent, each with his own demeanor.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Sun Quan said directly: "General, in the opinion of power, it is advisable to retreat to Shouchun, and not to fight with Huo Jun." ”

"Evacuate to Shouchun?"

Xiahou was moved, but he didn't dare to say it directly.

Sun Quan's face was calm, and he said: "Huo Junbing took Hefei, and the prime minister ordered us to rescue Hefei, but it has not been successful, so we need to plan for the future." Huo Jun is in charge of tens of thousands of soldiers, and with the victory of Hefei, our army is afraid that it will be difficult to defeat. ”

"If our army loses, Huo Jun will be able to drive straight in and take Shouchun. Shiyu and Yan'er Prefecture are turbulent, the Central Plains is restless, how can the prime minister focus on Western affairs? General Wang put the overall situation first and retreated to Shouchun to contain Huo Jun's troops. ”

Xiahoudun bowed slightly, looked at Wen Hui and Liu Ye, and asked, "Erjun is in charge of Yangzhou affairs, what is your opinion today?" ”

Liu Ye stroked his beard and said, "General, what Sun Hujun said is not unreasonable. There are few people in Jianghuai for hundreds of miles, and only Shaobei has people living in it. Now Hefei has been lost, Huo Jun's soldiers, the rainy season is coming, why should the general fight? Retreat to Shouchun, according to Bao Shaobei, or a good policy. ”

After a pause, Liu Ye thought about it and said: "As for the reinforcements from Xuzhou, I heard the two of them say that the army and the army went north at the same time, and the army was nowhere to be seen, so the only way to think was to meet the reinforcements of Wu Dun. Now I don't hear the news of Xuzhou's reinforcements, I am afraid that I have been defeated by Huo Jun's army. ”

Xiahoudun's face became more and more ugly, and he asked: "The reinforcements were defeated, and our army retreated to Shouchun, why did Huo Jun's soldiers and horses advance north?" ”

Liu Ye groaned a little and said: "Jianghuai is withering, and the people are scarce. Shouchun is near the Central Plains in the north, and the Central Plains can be supplied with military rations. Huo Jun went deep into Shouchun, and only relied on Jiangdong to supply the army for hundreds of miles, and he couldn't hold it for a long time, so could he fight with our army? ”

Liu Ye must be said to be a talented person, and he has a thorough understanding of the affairs of the soldiers.

In the Jianghuai region, there are no people for ten miles, and there is no rooster crowing for a hundred miles. For Huo Jun's army, the further north it went, the greater the supply pressure.

Behind Shouchun are Runan and Peijun, and Runan has been full of favor for a long time, and has a little vitality; In the land of Pei County, Cao Cao's hometown of Qiao County is in Pei County. Therefore, the retreat of the soldiers can be said to be the safest choice after the loss of Hefei.

"Good!"

Xiahoudun made up his mind and said: "Since the army is withdrawn, the camp will be burned tomorrow and the army will be withdrawn, and Man Runan will lead the army behind the palace to block the enemy's pursuit." ”

"No!"

All the civil and military officers were relieved to see Xiahoudun withdraw his troops, Huo Jun had a prominent reputation, and the pressure in his heart was too great to fight against him.

Wen Hui shook his head in the crowd, now Hefei gave up and retreated to Shouchun, although he can keep the Huai River, but how much is left in Yangzhou, which he is responsible for?

Previously, most of Jiujiang County and a small part of Lujiang County were in hand, but now Hefei was taken by Huo Jun, and it is estimated that there are only a few Huainan counties left. It's not as good as the previous county.

——

Xiahoudun adopted Sun Quan's suggestion and burned the camp to lead the army to retreat to Shouchun. At the same time, Xiahoudun reported to Cao Cao on the battle of dredging the Jianghuai and asked for treatment of the crime of unfavorable rescue.

Ma Liang presented the battle report from the front line and said: "Governor, Xiahou accepted Sun Quan's strategy, burned the village and abandoned the grain, withdrew lightly, and retreated to Shouchun. ”

Huo Jun looked at the letter and said helplessly: "I am not afraid of Xiahoudun daring to fight, and I am only worried about Sun Quan's withdrawal and guarding Shouchun." ”

The enemy from three sides has now solved the Hefei soldiers and horses, defeated the Xuzhou reinforcements, and only sent people to the north to block it. If Xiahoudun is iron, after Huo Jun rests in Hefei for a few days, he can go north to defeat Xiahoudun. However, Xiahou Dun adopted the strategy of instigating Sun Quan, burned down the camp, retreated and withdrew, and Huo Jun had no way to stop it.

Ma Liang stood on the side of the case, looked at Huo Jun with that admiring gaze, and asked, "Dudu, since Xiahoudun has retreated to Shouchun, dare to ask how to use troops now?" ”

Huo Jun looked at Jiang Ji and said with a smile: "Zitong is in charge of Jiujiang County, and he is a Jianghuai person, can you have a high insight to teach me?" ”

Jiang Ji was previously the Taishou of Jiujiang in Yao, and now he has taken Hefei, that is, he has become a real leader from Yao.

Jiang Ji, the freshly baked 2,000 stone Shangqing, was smiling and quite happy.

Brushing his beard, Jiang Ji said: "Governor, Shouchun is more than 200 miles away from Hefei, during which the people are scarce and the people's livelihood is withering. Fertilizer water north and south, do not communicate with each other, military food from the east of the Yangtze River to give, why the governor of the north expedition to the spring? ”

The fertilizer water is four fertilizer water in the southeast and northwest, and the fertilizer water in the south is the water, which flows through Hefei and is injected into Chaohu Lake. This southern fertilizer water is Huo Jun to build a river weir to divert water to irrigate the city's fertilizer water. Because it originated in the Dashu Mountain, the water level is greatly affected by the season. East fertilizer water is often called fertilizer water, which flows through Shouchun from Shaobei.

Historically, Cao Cao dug an artificial canal between the east and south fertilizer water in order to conquer Sun Quan in the south, called the Cao Cao River, to transport grain and grass. At this time, Cao Cao has only made a southern expedition in this plane, and can he dredge Ershui?

"Today, the fertilizer and water are not passable, and the governor wants to cut down Shouchun, so he should dig through the fertilizer water to pass the grain and grass. If you want to send the people to carry food, but there are no people to use it. If you want to cut down Shouchun and break Xiahou, you can only be trapped in grain and grass. Jiang Ji said.

Huo Jun lightly slammed the case with his fist, sighed and said: "Jianghuai has ten rooms and nine emptiness, and the grass is overgrown. hateful Yuan Shu caused chaos in Jianghuai and mutilated living beings. If there is no Yuan Shu, Jiang Huai'an can wither here? ”

Jiang Ji persuaded: "Governor, the Yangtze River is not connected to the Huai River, so the husband is digging a ditch." Today, the war is chaotic, and the ditch is blocked. If you want to go to the Huai River, you want to break Shouchun. When you think about the long term and rush to achieve success, you will be defeated. ”

Huo Jun thought about it for a long time, and said: "Mi Tai has been guarding the northbound Yuzhou for a long time, and he will return soon." Today, the troops will go north, the Central Plains will have soldiers and horses to support, the soldiers are outnumbered and difficult to fight, and there will be no reinforcements later. ”

Seeing that Huo Jun adopted his own suggestion, Jiang Ji said: "At the beginning of Hefei, if the governor is uneasy, Cao Cao will raise troops to seize it, I am afraid that it will be lost." ”

Then, Jiang Ji was meaningful, and said: "The governor has beheaded Zhang and Li Erjun, and he has shocked Jianghuai and moved China, so why not collect dozens of counties in Huainan and restore the merit of Huainan." That is to say, Chaohu Lake has auspicious rays and is dedicated to the king, and this Han family should be a sign of recovery. ”

Ma Liang frowned and thought, and said, "Sir, is it too early to offer auspicious rui today?" ”

Jiang Ji saw that Ma Liang was puzzled, and pointed out: "After taking off the chin, those who persuade the monarch to ascend to the throne will discuss the official ranking, how can it be Ji Chang's turn?" ”

Saying that, Jiang Ji hinted: "Jun Shang is getting old, and he is determined to be in the world, and An Neng stops here!" ”

Hearing Jiang Ji's guidance, Ma Liang suddenly became enlightened, thanked Jiang Ji, and said, "Thank you, Mr. for your advice, Liang Yousheng is grateful." ”

What Jiang Ji said is not unreasonable, when Liu Bei defeats Bashu and offers auspicious rui, there will be many people who persuade Liu Bei. If you don't persuade first, wait for others to persuade first, and reward your merits and deeds, you won't have your share.

Of course, Liu Bei doesn't adopt it now, it doesn't mean that he doesn't use it, it's just that he doesn't have time. As a courtier, of course, you will have to show your attitude.

"Good!"

Huo Jun got up from the couch and said, "Jianghuai is withering, and it must be returned." Today, when Hefei is victorious, we should enter Huainan counties. ”

"Where is Ma Liang?"

"In!"

Huo Jun looked up at Yutu and ordered: "Order Huo Du to march westward and restore Lu'an, Anfeng, Yanlou, Qianshan and other Lujiang counties." ”

"Ordered Heqi to march eastward, Fuyinling, Zhongli, Chengde and other Jiujiang counties."

"No!"

Ma Liang held a pen on the silk and wrote down Huo Jun's orders.

"He also ordered Gao Xiang to go west to Xiapi County, restore the south of Huaishui, Dongcheng, Huailing, Gaoshan and other counties."

"Order Zhao Yun to march to Guangling and collect Dongyang, Ping'an, Sheyang, Gaoyou and other Guangling counties."

"The governor stayed in Hefei to appease people's hearts. The above four armies, those who can relocate the people, must move the people to the south, and do not let Xiahoudun move the people through Huai. ”

"No!"

Huo Jun put his hand on the hilt of the sword, and said in a deep voice: "To be divided into counties, Jun should report to the lord, this battle will collect the four counties of Huainan Lujiang, Xiapi, Guangling, and Jiujiang, more than 30 counties, and show merit for the civil and military forces." ”

"Xie Dudu!"

After speaking, Huo Jun's eyes fell on Jiang Ji and said with a smile: "Chaohu Xiangrui, there is Lao Zitong." ”

"Don't dare!" Jiang Ji surrendered his hand.

Seeing that Ma Liang wanted to retreat, Huo Jun called out to Ma Liang, took out the letter from the desk, and said, "Let the pawn send this letter to Sun Quan." ”

Ma Liang was puzzled and asked, "Why is this?" ”

"Teach him to break Hefei!"

Huo Jun laughed a few times and stroked his sword out of the hall.

There is one more chapter in the evening

(End of chapter)