Although there is a distance of three or four hundred miles from Sikou to Xiapi, it takes two or three days to march. However, with the galloping of the horses on the waiting horses, they could reach Xiapi in one day and spread the news of the blockade of the Surabaya estuary to the front-line army.

On the banks of the Surabaya River, three horsemen were hurrying on their way, occasionally waving their whips and whipping their horses under their crotches to speed them up.

"Quick!"

In the urging sound of waiting for the horse, the horse's hooves flew, the horse's breathing became more and more rapid, and the sweat on his neck continued to sway. Worried that the war horse would die due to overheating of internal organs, Hou rode and watered the horse's neck, hoping to cool the horse.

I don't know how long the three waiters ran, but they only ran along Surabaya, and finally at sunset, the waiters finally saw the Han scouts scattered on the periphery.

"Who's coming?"

The scouts on the periphery of the Han army saw that they were coming to ride and met them with bows.

Seeing his colleagues, the leader of the waiting cavalry responded loudly: "Huaiyin is in urgent military situation, General Xu ordered us to pass the letter to the governor." ”

"Bang bang!"

The scout looked at the riders and asked, "Password!" ”

"Burger!" The leader replied.

"Fries!"

When the two sides saw that the password was checked, the waiter felt the letter in his arms and said: "The urgent military situation is not to be said unless you see the governor." ”

"Good!"

The scouts opened the way and led the riders back to the camp.

When they arrived at the camp, it was already nightfall, and the fire in the camp was lit to dispel the night. And the city of Pi is located not far from the camp, and the boat has blocked it.

In the big tent, Huo Jun was discussing military affairs with everyone.

Quan Cong arched his hand and asked: "Governor, the construction of the weir is about to be completed, I don't know when to break Surabaya to flood Picheng?" ”

Huo Jun groaned for a while and said: "The enemy is advancing eastward, and our army should withdraw from the siege, transfer to the three counties of Suishui, and move the people south." If you don't take down Pi, why bother to break the river weir to irrigate the city? Flooding the city will hurt the people a lot, and it will hurt the sky! ”

Huo Jun is not a butcher in troubled times, and he can't treat human life like a mustard. In troubled times, it is not easy for the people, so they can only survive in troubled times.

Today's storage of Surabaya is nothing more than to attract the Wei army to the east, there are reinforcements outside, and the city of Pi is strong, even if Huo Jun floods the city of Pi, he basically can't beat it with only 20,000 people in his hands.

Therefore, Huo Jun had already thought about it, and when the reinforcements sent by Cao Cao arrived, Huo Jun would withdraw from the siege of Pi, transfer Suiling, Xia Xiang, and take the three counties, and move the people of the three counties to the south to enrich the population of Jianghuai.

Before the words fell, Yu Shao, who was in charge of the scout's arrangement, hurriedly walked into the big tent, followed by the waiter.

"Governor, it's not good!"

Yu Shao looked anxious and said: "Last night, the Wei army rushed to Sikou and stationed troops on the east and west banks. Wen Xiang learned this morning that he was ordered to wait for the cavalry to go north and ask the governor to withdraw his troops as soon as possible, and he answered at Huaisikou. ”

"What?"

Yu Shao's words were like thunder, exploding in everyone's ears. Not only was it shocking to the generals in the tent, but even Huo Jun was shocked.

Gao Xiang showed an incredible look and said: "If the enemy army does not wave his troops to the east to aid Xiapi, but orders the sergeant to block Sikou, will he not be afraid of our army to break through Xiapi?" ”

"If Xiapi is broken, what's the point of the enemy blockading Xiapi?"

As if thinking of something, Quan Cong frowned and said: "Could it be that the army sent by Cao Cao has both the army that blocked Sikou and the army that relieved the siege of Pi. ”

"Impossible!"

Gao Xiang stood up from the chair impatiently and said: "Dawangtun has a heavy army in Bagong Mountain, and Cao Cao needs to raise troops to confront him, so Cao Cao wants troops to blockade Sikou, but he can wave his troops east to Xiapi." ”

"Silence!"

Listening to the noisy and noisy crowd, Huo Jun scolded everyone and said: "You have been in command of the army for many years, how can you act like women and children!" ”

Under Huo Jun's reprimand, Gao Xiang and Quan Cong confessed their guilt, and then sat down quietly.

Huo Jun was irritable, but his face was still calm, and he asked, "How is the enemy army arranged in Sikou today?" How many centaurs are there? Who is in charge? ”

Hou Qi lowered his head and replied: "Qi Yu Dudu, the enemy is encamped on both sides of Surabaya, and overnight, with iron locks across the river, on wheels, floating on the water, as many as three ways. And there are also enemies who sneak into the river and arrange wooden stakes to prevent the boat from going south. ”

"The general who leads the troops, there are 'Xu', 'Wen', 'Zhao' and others on the flag face. There were about 20,000 men and horses, and they rode on chariots, and they moved quickly. ”

"General Xu asked the governor to withdraw his troops quickly, and led the boat down the river, and he led the army to meet outside Sikou."

"Is there anything missing?" Huo Jun asked.

"The servant doesn't dare to leave it behind, the above words are instructed by General Xu." Said the waiter.

Huo Jun waved his hand and said, "I am tired after a day of running, so I can retire and rest today!" ”

"Thank you, Governor!"

After the waiting rider retreated, many people in the tent were worried and uneasy.

Huo Jun saw that everyone looked panicked, and said comfortingly: "Although the situation is dangerous today, it is not a dead end. Wen Xiangtun troops in Huaiyin, Dawang Tun heavy troops in Shouchun. Although our army is deep in the enemy's territory, it can also be said to be safe! ”

Everyone saw that Huo Jun's expression was calm, no different from usual, and the panic in their hearts gradually dissipated, and they had to calm down.

Gao Xiang cleaned up his mood and asked, "Governor, what should I do today?" ”

"How's that to be? When asked how Cao Cao will use troops now, and what is the situation in Shouchun? ”

Huo Jun got up from the couch and said with a light smile: "Only by knowing the enemy's arrangement can you have a countermeasure!" ”

"Does Zitong have any opinions?" Huo Jun asked.

Jiang Ji pondered a little and said: "Judging from the blockade of Sikou by the enemy, Ji thought that the situation in Shouchun should not be controlled by the king, or the strategy of water decision, and the enemy would see through it. Cao Cao knew about the king's arrangement, so he rushed forward with light troops, intercepting the retreat of our army, intending to encircle and suppress the governor. ”

"What Zitong said is reasonable!"

Huo Jun paced in the tent and analyzed: "Our army was originally a partial army, and most of the captured Pi were feints to lure Cao Cao to divide his troops to the west. Now Cao Cao has the idea of attacking and suppressing our army, or the strategy of fat water is recognized, or the king is defeated. ”

"However, the king has the law of filial piety and Pang Shiyuan, and he guards according to the mountains and rivers. Zong Cao Cao lifted heavy troops, and he couldn't beat the king much. And if the king is broken, the army marching east today should not be 20,000 people, but Cao Cao raised a large army to conquer in person. ”

Jiang Ji stroked his beard and said, "Governor, no matter what, you can't stay for a long time." The enemy had only been in Sikou for one day, and most of its foundations were unstable. At this time, it is better to dig through the river weir and make Surabaya rise sharply, and the boat will take advantage of the water to meet with General Xu, attack the enemy army, and get rid of the encirclement. ”

Quan Cong frowned tightly and said, "You can veto the river weir and lead the river to flood the river." If our army can break through Xiapi, it may also be able to solve the current crisis. ”

Huo Jun shook his head and said, "Zang Ba should have more than 10,000 sergeants in his hands, and even if he floods the city in Surabaya today, he can't quickly go down to Picheng." Don't forget that after Cao Cao's water was decided, Lu Bu still held on for several months, if it weren't for the rebellion of the generals, Cao Cao would not have been able to get down the city quickly. ”

"Although Zang Ba does not have the courage of Lu Bu, he can win the heart of a sergeant, and if he wants to quickly conquer Picheng, how easy is it?"

Then, Huo Jun looked at Jiang Ji with a little sorrow and said: "As for the river weir, it is not easy to take advantage of the rising water potential of Surabaya to let the boat enter the Huaishui. Don't forget the lower reaches of Surabaya, the water is rising sharply, and it is not easy to take a boat to break through the chains, or a wooden stake. ”

"I'm in a hurry!"

Thinking deeply about Huo Jun's words, a few wry smiles appeared on Jiang Ji's face, and he said: "From Pi to Sikou today, the waterway is three or four hundred miles long. When the water breaks through here, the water speed is mostly slow when it reaches Sikou. ”

When the weir is drilled, the water level of Surabaya will rise sharply due to the water stored in Surabaya. Jiang Ji hoped to take advantage of the surge in the water of Surabaya to break through the blockade of Sikou and merge into the Huaishui.

However, Jiang Ji forgot that Xiapi was too far away from Sikou, and that the downstream channel of Surabaya was wide, and the speed of the water flow was faster than that of Zhouge. By the time the boat reached the lower reaches, Surabaya was powerless to lead them through the defensive line. Therefore, it is really difficult to try to break the river weir and take advantage of the water potential to enter the Huaishui.

Huo Jun paced with his hands in his hands and analyzed: "As for taking advantage of the enemy's unstable foothold, he and Wen Xiangli should cooperate with the outside and forcibly break through the blockade, I'm afraid it will be difficult." If I were Cao Cao, I would definitely prevent me from forcibly breaking through the siege, and most likely I would send another army as a backup. ”

was analyzed by Huo Jun, and the faces of everyone in the tent were sad, as if they had no way out, and they didn't know what to do now.

Gao Xiang was in a dull mood and said: "If you follow what the governor said, wouldn't our army have no way to retreat. ”

Ding Feng got up from his chair and said in a deep voice: "The situation is difficult today, and I don't have an army of 20,000 people in the south, so I can't do without a governor." Now let go of the footmen, and tend to ride the south. I am willing to lead the army to ride on foot, escort the governor and the generals to the south in the starry night, and cover the governor through Huai. ”

When everyone in the tent heard this, they were quite moved by Ding Feng's proposal, and they all looked at Huo Jun. It is not good to retreat in retreat, it is better to abandon the foot soldiers and lead the cavalry to the south to cross the Huai.

As if sensing everyone's gaze, Huo Jun looked angry and reprimanded: "The king has entrusted the army with me, how can I give up the army and live alone." It's not a Jedi now, why should you treat it as a Jedi? If I can lead all the kings to the north, I can lead the kings south to Jianghuai. ”

Huo Jun took out the sword hanging on his waist, slashed the case, and said sharply: "If there is a person who abandons the army and flees today, he will be decided." ”

The case was split in half, and everyone was shocked and did not dare to speak.

"Do you know the military order?"

"The last general is under military orders!" Everyone stood up and answered in a deep voice.

Huo Jun put his sword back into its sheath and said lightly: "All the troops will return to the camp to rectify the sergeants, and march out of the camp tomorrow morning." ”

Gao Xiang stiffened his head and asked, "Dare to ask the governor, where will you march from tomorrow?" ”

"Tomorrow your own military order will be issued!"

"No!"

Out of trust in Huo Jun's proud achievements in the past, although they didn't know the specific strategy, they also felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

Seeing everyone out of the tent, Huo Jun looked at the map hanging on the tent and exhaled deeply.

How could he come up with a plan in a short period of time if he was not a god, and now he can only judge the enemy's situation through limited information, and then think about the enemy's situation.

The difficulty of the current situation gave him a headache. He didn't expect that Liu Bei not only didn't contain Cao Cao, but let Cao Cao target him.

To be honest, this reminded Huo Jun of Huang Quan in the Battle of Yiling, Liu Bei knew that he had no advantage in the navy, so he gave up the boat and let Huang Quan be stationed on the north bank of the Yangtze River as a partial army.

Yiling was defeated, the army on the south bank was wiped out, and Huang Quan, who was left alone on the north bank, had no choice but to surrender to Cao Wei.

At this time, he is luckier than Huang Quan, there is more room for tossing and turning than Huang Quan, Huaishui is not a natural danger, and there are still reinforcements outside. If he can make good use of these, he may not be able to lead the army south.

As for surrendering Cao Cao, Huo Jun didn't have this idea. Not to mention Wuhan's wife and children, his political philosophy is different from Cao Cao's, and he has caused so much harm to Cao Wei, he is destined to live in Cao Wei!

"I don't know much about the soldiers, but I will suffer. There are risks in the army, and you need to be cautious! ”

Staring at the map, Huo Jun couldn't help but complain.

"What are you talking about?" Jiang Ji stood alone in the corner of the tent and asked.

"Nothing!"

Huo Jun saw Jiang Ji in the tent, and asked curiously: "Why didn't Zitong go back to the camp to reorganize the army, so as to prepare for tomorrow's pull-out of the village?" ”

Jiang Ji smiled and arched his hand and said: "Seeing that the governor is worried, Ji has ordered the generals to reorganize the army, and a certain person is willing to share the worries for the governor." ”

"Very good!"

Huo Jun pulled Jiang Ji's sleeve, pointed to Yutu, and said: "Now that Sikou is sealed, if you want to lead the army to return south, you should not stay under Xiapi City for a long time, nor should you go south to Sikou." Since I thought about it deeply, I thought that I could give up my boat, march westward to the river, and look for an opportunity to cross the Huaishui in the south. ”

Huaibei has a lot of water, in addition to the four rivers of Ru, Ying, Si and Whirlpool, there are many small rivers. Among them, between Surabaya and Whirlpool, there is the Tuo River (now Tuo River) flowing through. There are county seats in the Huanshui Basin, which are divided into counties such as Gong and Qi, and are not far from Zhongli City in Huainan.

Jiang Ji frowned and said, "The water is located between the vortex and the Si, and the mouth of the water is adjacent to the mouth of the mouth and the mouth of the vortex. Our army left the boat to go south to the river, fearing that the enemy would know about it, and if it crossed south from the river, there was a risk of being attacked by the enemy's horsemen. ”

The corners of Huo Jun's mouth raised slightly, and he said: "Hukou, I expect it to be difficult to cross, but it can alarm Cao Cao to check the enemy's reality." As for the future plan for the march, we can go to Gongxian County to discuss it again, and we should try our best to preserve the army. ”

"Good!"

(End of chapter)