Early in the morning of December 10th.

In the cold winter season, when it is about to reach the eve of dawn, due to the imbalance of heat and cold, the cold fog gradually rises, and the confusion is between Xiangfan.

In the big tent of the Han camp, Pang Tong talked and laughed with Kuai Qi who came from afar.

Kuai Qi smiled at the corner of his mouth, and congratulated Pang Tong with his hand, saying: "Congratulations to Shiyuan for breaking Cao Ren, now Cao Ren is defeated when he goes out of the city, and Xiangfan will be taken by Shiyuan." The name of Shijun will move Jianghaner in the near future! ”

Pang Tong stroked his short beard and said with a smile: "Although Cao Ren is defeated and the thieves are scattered, it is still not easy to get down to Xiangfan quickly, and you still need Kuaijun's help." ”

Kuai Qi, Zhuge Liang's brother-in-law. When Huang Zhong took the three eastern counties, Kuai Qi surrendered to the county. and after the pacification of Bashu, Kuai Qi was first appointed as the Taishou of Jiangyang County; Because of his meritorious service in governing the government, he was reinstated as the Taishou of Fangling.

Meng Da, who had previously served as the Taishou of Fangling, was defeated by Zhang He, and his whereabouts were unknown at first, but he was later found. Meng Da broke his right arm, and although he survived, his right arm was basically crippled.

Seeing that Meng Da's right arm was crippled, it was difficult to get out of the town local council. Under Liu Bei's mercy, Feng Mengda was idle and honored to stay in Beijing, and gave more money and food as a merit of service.

Fang Ling is too empty, and someone needs to be reinstated. Considering the critical geographical location of Fangling, Liu Bei appointed Kuai Qi to serve as the Taishou of Fangling again.

Because of Zhang He, Kuai Qi did not go to Fangling County to take up his post, but joined the Lümeng army and served for him.

Lü Meng talked with Kuai Qi, and learned that he had an old relationship with Zhang Ling's Taishou Lu Chang, and saw that Pang Tong was seeking to capture Fancheng, thinking that Xiangyang had been trapped for more than a year, and perhaps he could use ancient deception to surrender the map, so let Kuai Qi go east and persuade Xiangyang to surrender Lu Chang, which coincided with Pang Tong's deception to break Cao Ren.

Kuai Qi smiled on his face and said, "No matter what, you and I may return to our hometown!" ”

The four surnames of Kuai, Huang, Pang and Cai Xiangyang have a deep and close relationship. Zhuge Liang married Huang's daughter, the eldest sister married Kuai Qi as his wife, and the second sister married Pang Shanmin as his wife. Now Kuai Qi and Pang Tong met in their early years, and the relationship is very close, and there is no subordinate distinction between words.

"That's right!"

Pang Tong shook his head and sighed slightly, and said: "Although there is the honor of returning to the hometown, but the countryside is withered, I don't know where the villagers are?" ”

As soon as these words came out, Kuai Qi fell silent. With Cao Cao's southward movement and Liu Bei's rise, Xiangfan became the front line of the war between the north and the south.

When the two were silent, Fei Yi stepped into the tent and said, "Governor, our army cavalry is chasing, but there is no trace of Cao Ren. And our army sent a messenger to persuade Fancheng to surrender, but the guard general Zhu Zhi closed the door and did not answer. ”

After Cao Ren's department was defeated, Pang Tong told the defenders of Fancheng about the situation and persuaded Zhu Zhi to surrender. However, Zhu Zhi neither agreed nor refused, and still had the idea of stubborn resistance in his heart.

Pang Tong raised his eyebrows slightly, and said with a sneer: "The thief is stubborn, it seems that he needs some fierce medicine!" ”

Saying that, Pang Tong looked at Kuai Qi and said: "There is Lao Kuai Jun who came forward to cross the river with the defeated flag of Cao's army, and followed the old plan of General Ziming, whose words were half-true and half-false, and lured Lu Chang, the guard general of Xiangyang. If Lu Chang falls, then Fancheng will fall! ”

"No!"

Kuai Qi was not ambiguous, immediately got up, saluted Pang Tong and retreated.

Under the thick fog, Kuai Qi led a servant, crossed the Han River in a small boat, and went to the outside of Xiangyang City to see Lu Chang.

Lv Chang, a native of Nanyang Bowang. At the beginning, he was a military general under Liu Biao's account, and he had many contacts with the Xiangyang clan. Because of Cai Mao's connection, Lu Chang led his troops to serve Cao Cao and was named the general of the Li Festival.

and Cao Cao's southern expedition to Jianghan, because Lu Chang was a native of Nanyang and familiar with the geography of Jingxiang, he was appointed by Cao Cao as the Taishou of Zhangling, sitting in the Suizao Corridor.

Although Lu Chang has been trapped in Xiangyang City for more than a year, he and the soldiers in the city are not overly worried. After all, in the past year or so, the Southern Han Dynasty has not sent troops to attack Xiangyang, but only monitored Lu Chang's movements.

Knowing that Kuai Qi came to ask for a meeting, Lu Changchu was surprised, and then ordered someone to let the old acquaintance Kuai Qi enter the city.

At this time, Lu Chang was working in the vegetable garden opened up in the city, turning the soil with a hoe, and planning for the spring of the next year.

Looking at Lu Chang, who was busy with the vegetable garden, Kuai Qi smiled and said: "Lu Jun is so comfortable, Jingxiang is in full swing, and it is not easy for you to be able to manage the vegetable garden." ”

Seeing the old acquaintance Kuaiqi, Lu Chang put down the hoe, invited him into the pavilion, and said helplessly: "Xiangyang is like a cage, making it difficult for me to get out." The war in the north of the Han Dynasty is endless, and there is nothing I can do about it. When I was trapped in Xiangyang for a year, the grain was half empty, for the long term, why not cultivate in the city, in order to wait for reinforcements to solve the difficulty! ”

Saying that, Lu Chang poured a cup of tea for Kuai Qi and said, "I don't know what Kuai Jun means by entering the city this time?" ”

Kuai Qi couldn't help laughing and said: "You want to wait for reinforcements and do loyal things, but I am afraid that the reinforcements will be difficult to come, and you will wait for Cao Gonger!" ”

"Huh?"

Lu Chang's expression changed suddenly, and he asked, "Why did you say this?" ”

Kuai Qi smiled lightly and said: "Your Majesty led a large army out of Runan, and Huo Jun took Shouchun, Cao Gong was jealous of Runan as the pivot of the Central Plains, and personally led the army to the south, and had no time to look west. Guan Yu fought Xu Huang several times in Xinye, but Xu Huang was defeated by him and was unable to go south to relieve the siege. ”

Because Xu Huang was frustrated by Guan Yu, Cao Gong sent Zhang He out of the pass to relieve the siege, but was stopped by Lu Meng. Last night, Cao Ren was hopeless because of the lack of food, and led the elite to attack the camp, the whole army was annihilated, and he rode away, and Fancheng surrendered this morning. You are in Xiangyang, how can you not hear about the things happening now? ”

Lu Chang looked suspicious and said, "Why don't you deceive me? ”

"If you don't believe it, let's see our army beheaded prisoners yesterday!"

Between words, Kuai Qi asked the attendant to open the box, revealing Cao Ren's Daxu and Niu Jinjun flags

Kuai Qi mentioned Cao Ren's Daxu and said with a smile: "This Cao Ren's Daxu, I don't know if Lu Jun recognizes it?" ”

Lu Chang's face was solemn and silent.

Kuai Qi threw away Daxu at will, and said: "Cao Ren gave up Fancheng and fled, Cao Gong knew that Fancheng had surrendered, did the general think that Cao Gong still had the intention of going south?" ”

"There are no reinforcements outside, I don't know how long Lu Jun can hold on?"

Seeing Lu Chang thinking about what he said, Kuai Qi smiled and said: "My sergeant is elite, and people have a lot of heart. and all the troops retreated, Guan Yu and Lü Meng led the army to the city. Even if you have the Xiangyang moat, it may be difficult to keep it for a long time. When the city is broken, it is inevitable that you will die, but you must not forget your wife and children! ”

Lu Chang frowned and said: "My family is in Yecheng, and those who raise troops to surrender will be unable to protect their families!" ”

Kuai Qi pointed to the north and said: "Your Majesty keeps his promise, the king goes out of the city and surrenders, and when he says that the king's food is exhausted, he will be defeated and flee." Jun led his cronies to return and never chased and killed. ”

As he spoke, Kuai Qi put his hand on Lu Chang's shoulder and said, "The general has been holding Xiangyang for more than a year, how can Duke Cao be blamed for the king's desperate surrender?" If Yu Forbidden Family Xiaoshang didn't kill him, how could he blame the general. ”

"Now Your Majesty wants to prosper the Han Dynasty, and all northerners surrender to the north, with less money and more official positions. If I am a general, when I surrender to Your Majesty, I can get rich and rich, and my wife and children in Yecheng can be safe, and I will be happy? ”

Lu Chang hesitated a few times and said, "There is an old mother at home, forgive me!" ”

Seeing that Lu Chang was already tempted, Kuai Qi struck while the iron was hot and said: "Since this is the case, how can you let your mother's white head be draped in linen and cry for you?" ”

Then, Kuai Qi picked up the Cao Ren Daxu flag on the ground and said: "I can give you a piece of wealth, Cao Ren Daxu was obtained by the general's battle, and the general can be guaranteed to be rich!" ”

Lu Chang looked at Cao Ren's Daxu deeply, and finally made up his mind, and said: "As the king said, I will surrender to Xiangyang, and allow me to lead my cronies to return to the north." If there is any help in the future, I will repay the grace of Kuaijun now. ”

Kuai Qi was overjoyed and said, "In this case, I will talk to Pang Du and hand over Xiangyang City." ”

"Good!"

Under the carefully designed words of Pang Tong and Lu Meng, coupled with Kuai Qi's excellent persuasive ability, Lu Chang was coaxed by Kuai Qi's half-truths and half-truths.

Three hours later, Lü Chang and his men surrendered Xiangyang City, and Huo Du led his army into the city to take over.

At that time, Pang Tong asked his subordinates to take Lu Chang's seal letter to Fancheng to persuade Zhu Zhi to surrender.

When Lu Chang saw such an operation, he knew that he had been deceived by Kuai Qi, which made him ashamed. But it had come to this point, and he felt fortunate to know that Cao Ren had indeed been defeated. Although Kuai Qi deceived him, he did not harm him. As Kuai Qi said, he can lead his troops back to China on the grounds of Cao Ren's Daxu.

Lu Changxian surrendered Xiangyang City, which made the already turbulent Fancheng more and more unstable.

Zhu Zhi, who was old and frail, often relied on his mind to defend the city, and when he saw Cao Ren's defeat last night, his blood surged, and he fell ill on the couch.

In the face of Pang Tong's surrender, Zhu Zhi asked his subordinates to wait and see the situation on the grounds of illness.

When he learned that Xiangyang fell into the hands of the Han army, it seemed that something was taken out of Zhu Zhi's body at that moment, and the whole person aged and fell ill on the couch, only sighing.

Cao Ren is gone, and Cao Cao will still send troops to rescue. But the main city of Xiangyang has fallen, and Fancheng, as a satellite city, has little effect, this battle will eventually end, and he will become an outcast!

"Fujun, do you want to surrender?"

Cheng Chinese Wu came to the side of the bed and asked.

Zhu Zhi's expression was slightly dazed, and he said, "Do I treat you thinly?" ”

"The prince treats me with kindness, and he is never mean!" Gong Cao replied.

Zhu Zhi gasped and said, "I returned to Wei because of Liu Bei, and I have no intention of voting for him." However, I have no intention of judging your wealth and fame. Therefore I have a request, I wonder if you can do it? ”

"Please say it!" Humane.

Zhu Zhi closed his eyes and said, "I'm dying, I don't know if you can lead the crowd to surrender after I die of illness?" ”

Everyone looked at each other for a few moments, and replied in unison: "No! ”

"Thank you!"

With Zhu Zhi's words, Fancheng Wenwu contacted Pang Tong to discuss the matter in detail and asked for a few days of relief.

There are those who agree with the Han army, or there are those who disagree. For example, Fei Yi believes that this is Zhu Zhi's strategy to delay the army, and it cannot be a strategy; Huo Du thought that Xiangyang had fallen, and Fancheng was not so important, so he could agree to the request of the city.

Pang Tong leaned towards Huo Du's suggestion and gave Fan Cheng five days on the grounds that the siege would hurt the lives of the soldiers. If it does not surrender for five days, then send troops to attack it.

Although Pang Tong gave Fan Cheng five days, in the early morning of the third day, Zhu Zhi died of illness.

On December 15, in the early afternoon, Fancheng civil and military forces went out of the city and surrendered, and Pang Tong led the army to take over.

So far, the year-and-a-half-long battle of Xiangfan ended with the surrender of Fancheng and came to an end!

(End of chapter)