Yizhou, Shu County, Chengdu, wars.

Even if Liu Zhang has moved his administrative office to Yak, Chengdu, as the former capital of Yizhou, is undoubtedly strong.

Chen Xu commanded the army and stormed the city for eight days, but Wang Fu and Ma Han held Chengdu to the death.

In this case, no matter how resourceful the strategists under Chen Xu were, and no matter how brave and good the generals were, they could only storm the city.

Fortunately, the number of troops in Chengdu is not large, and Chen Xu has incorporated some Yizhou troops, and his strength has increased greatly.

Under the continuous attacks, the defenders of Chengdu were also a little overwhelmed.

The moat has been filled in by the Guanzhong army, and all kinds of strange siege equipment have smashed the north gate of Chengdu to the ground.

Tian Feng stood beside Chen Xu, looked at the battle situation in Chengdu from afar, and said: "Lord, if you continue this high-intensity siege, it will only take two days to break through Chengdu." ”

Chen Xu frowned, and said, "I thought that after capturing the Sword Pavilion and capturing Guanghan County, Liu Jiyu would surrender the city. ”

"I never thought that Liu Jiyu actually moved to govern the place and sent people to defend the city along the way, if it took so long to capture every city, when would I be able to take the entire Yizhou?"

At this time, Chen Xu was a little impatient in his heart.

Not to mention that the princes led their troops to attack Guanzhong, that is, Chen Jing went to the desert to fight Ma Chao, which made Chen Xu feel a little uneasy in his heart.

In Chen Xu's impression, when Liu Bei entered Shu, it seemed that after beheading a few Yizhou generals, Liu Zhang surrendered under the persuasion of Fazheng.

But to this day, the record of the Guanzhong Army is actually far more brilliant than Liu Bei at that time, but Liu Zhang is actually ready to resist to the end, which can't help but make Chen Xu feel extremely stunned.

But when you think about it, it's not hard to understand.

When Liu Bei attacked Yizhou, Liu Zhangbei had Zhang Lu, a great enemy in his life, and there was no ally outside.

Moreover, the death of the generals under his command and the surrender of the surrender, plus he and Liu Bei are both relatives of the Han family, there is some incense, and the surrender is not surprising.

On the other hand, today, although the Guanzhong Army has repeatedly broken the Yizhou Army, and there are not a few Yizhou generals who have beheaded, captured, and surrendered, Guanzhong is now embattled and precarious.

Liu Zhang still had some thoughts in his heart, hoping that Chen Xu would not be able to withstand the pressure and lead the troops to retreat soon after.

At that time, he can re-lead the troops to regain the lost territory and become the Yizhou pastor of the separatist side again.

In fact, Chen Xu didn't know much about the details of Liu Bei's entry into Shu, even after Zhang Ren was killed, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang and others were still blocked out of Luo County by Liu Xun, the son of Liu Zhang, and led the troops for nearly a year.

It was not until the city of Ruoxian was broken and Liu Xun was captured that Liu Zhang surrendered the city.

Tian Feng was silent for a long time, and then said: "If you want to capture the land of a state, how easy is it?" The lord shouldn't be so impetuous, right? ”

Yizhou is a country of abundance, with many people, and the danger of occupying mountains and rivers, it will not be an easy thing to annex Liu Zhang.

In Tian Feng's opinion, Guan Zhongjun's current achievements are brilliant enough, and he can't figure out why his lord is so anxious.

Chen Xu knew that he had lost some of his normal heart, took a deep breath, and then secretly thought: "History has already changed, and if you want Liu Zhang to surrender the city, I'm afraid it will be a little difficult." ”

"It's really not good, and the only way to do it is to storm the city."

After speaking, he looked at Wang Fu and Ma Han standing on the city wall, and sighed: "These two people are also loyal and righteous, and I led a large army to the city, but they did not have the slightest fear. ”

In addition to sighing, Chen Xu was also extremely impressed by the courage of these two people.

Jia Xu's brows moved slightly, wanting to say something, but he didn't open his mouth after all, just stared thoughtfully at the two people on the city wall.

Xu Huang hesitated, but said: "Lord, there is a certain word, I don't know whether to say it or not." ”

For Xu Huang, a confidant and favorite general, Chen Xu naturally likes it very much.

Seeing that he had something to say, Chen Xu said with a little teasing: "I'm not the kind of person who can't listen to advice, Gongming has something to say, but it's okay to say it." ”

Xu Huang's face changed slightly, and he hurriedly saluted: "Lord Mingjian, Huang has no such intention!" ”

Chen Xu was stunned for a moment, and then after thinking about it, he knew why Xu Huang was making amends, and he couldn't help but laugh dumbly.

stepped forward and grabbed Xu Huang's shoulder, Chen Xu said: "Fang Cai is just joking, why is Gongming so nervous?" ”

Xu Huang quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He also knows that his lord is not the kind of person who is cautious.

But Xu Huang is extremely strict with himself, even if he has made great achievements now, he will not be proud of his achievements, and he will not act too casually because he is valued by Chen Xu.

On the contrary, Xu Huang's usual words and deeds are almost to the level of caution.

This is Xu Huang, he is loyal, brave, courageous, but humble, upright, and abides by the courtesy of a monarch and a minister.

I have to say that looking at the generals in Guanzhong, only Zhao Yun can compete with Xu Huang in these aspects.

Seeing Chen Xu's inquiring eyes, Xu Huang sorted out his emotions for a moment, and then said: "Have you ever thought about why Chengdu has only two thousand defenders, but it can hold the city for so long?" ”

Chen Xu was stunned, and subconsciously said: "Wang Fu and Ma Han are both literate and martial, and they are outstanding, plus Chengdu City is tall, it is not strange to defend the city for eight days." ”

Jia Xu's eyes flashed, and he looked at Xu Huang with appreciation, but Tian Feng was thoughtful.

Xu Huang said: "The lord's words are certainly reasonable, but the tens of thousands of troops in Guanzhong still delay for so long in attacking the four city gates, and it is not because these two people can be outstanding. ”

Chen Xu's heart moved slightly, and then asked quietly: "Please also speak up." ”

Xu Huang said: "Although Liu Jiyu only left 2,000 defenders in Chengdu, there are definitely no less than 5,000 soldiers who have participated in the battle in the past few days. ”

"Coupled with those people who helped defend the city, the Yizhou army was able to hold off our army for eight days."

Xu Huang paused and continued: "Most of those extra soldiers are the private soldiers of the powerful clans in the city, and as for the people helping to defend the city, there is no need to say more. ”

Chen Xu frowned, but he didn't speak, at this time he already knew what Xu Huang was going to say.

Sure enough, Xu Huang stubbornly continued: "The lord is benevolent and righteous, and treats the people and the people with noble morals, but when the two armies fight, being too merciful can sometimes backfire. ”

"When Huang once attacked Langzhong, the Langzhong defenders swore to defend the city and resolutely not surrender."

"Later, the city of Langzhong was broken, and this person refused the surrender of the last general with righteous words, and his face was full of righteousness and admiration."

"The end will be that this man is a true hero, and for the sake of his loyalty, he wants to behead him. I never thought that when he was about to be executed, this person actually began to beg for mercy at that time. ”

When Chen Xu and the others heard this, they couldn't help but be a little dumbfounded.

At the beginning, he defended the city and resolutely refused to surrender, and after being captured, he was full of righteousness and righteous words; When he was dying, his attitude changed drastically, and he hurriedly begged for mercy, and this contrast was inevitably too great.

Seeing the stunned expressions of several people, Xu Huang continued: "The last general was also quite surprised at the time, I don't know why this person has changed so much, after asking in detail, the result made the last general feel shocked. ”

Seeing that everyone was paying attention to themselves, Xu Huang said: "It turns out that this person has heard of the benevolence and righteousness of our army, and will not kill prisoners indiscriminately, and he will treat those who are talented and virtuous with courtesy. ”

"This person deliberately defended the city, wanting to show his talent and integrity, so that he could be reused after surrendering."

Hearing this, Chen Xu's face suddenly sank.

He didn't expect that some people would actually regard his kindness as the capital of stubbornness.

Xu Huang also said angrily: "The last general was furious at that time, and he ordered the man to be killed despite his begging for mercy and surrendering. ”

Chen Xu immediately clapped his hands and praised: "Good kill!" ”

Xu Huang said: "Of course, these people can be killed, but when Huang thinks about it, he also feels that the lord is too merciful to treat enemies and prisoners. ”

"This kind of mercy has emboldened some people, and they all want to resist our army first to gain fame, and then surrender to gain high positions after defeat."

"Not only that, the people of Bashu were originally devoted to Liu Jiyu, and after learning that the lord would not kill innocents indiscriminately, he had no psychological burden to help the Yizhou army defend the city."

Speaking of this, Xu Huang said bitterly: "But in this way, it has made it much more difficult for our army to attack the city, and many soldiers who should not have been sacrificed have also lost their lives in vain. ”

Xu Huang suddenly knelt on the ground and said: "War is always cruel, if you blindly be benevolent and righteous, you will be cocooned and self-bound, and I hope that the lord can change the military regulations." ”

Jia Xu also said: "Gongming's words are very good, and I hope that the lord will consider it carefully." ”

When the two armies are fighting, why do massacres often occur? In many cases, it is actually just to deter the enemy army and want to surrender without a fight.

Just imagine, if the Guanzhong army treats the enemy unusually cruelly, the Langzhong defender, when Xu Huang's soldiers are approaching the city, I am afraid that they will directly surrender the city.

Even the people in the city did not necessarily dare to help the Yizhou army defend the city.

If the defenders of the city knew that they could not hold the city, and if they desperately resisted and were captured, their lives would be lost, presumably many people would not dare to continue to be enemies of the Guanzhong army.

In this way, almost all the counties along the way in Yizhou where the army passed could look at the wind.

After all, those who can sacrifice their lives for Liu Zhang will always be a very small minority.

Seeing that Chen Xu was silent, Tian Feng said: "Although Gongming's words are reasonable, they are also biased. ”

"If it weren't for the benevolence and righteousness of the lord, how could the people of the state and Guanzhong be loyal and desperate for themselves when the lord was in the most danger?"

"He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world, killing can never be compared with righteousness, and there is nothing wrong with the mercy of the lord."

Xu Huang argued: "The so-called benevolence and righteousness should also be for one's own people, but there is only victory and defeat on the battlefield." ”

Xu Huang is not a murderer, but he is an unscrupulous general, and if you want to become a famous general, you must recognize the facts.

Once you succeed, if you don't know how to make trade-offs, you can't become a generation of famous generals.

Seeing that Xu Huang was about to speak, Chen Xu waved his hand and said, "I have my own plans in my heart for this matter, and Gongming doesn't need to say much." ”

Although Xu Huang's words are very reasonable, and Chen Xu is no longer what he used to be, Chen Xu still has a little insistence.

Jia Xu sighed slightly, stopped talking, and Xu Huang did not continue the topic.

The four city gates, the smoke of gunpowder was dense, and the sound of shouting and killing shook the sky.

Large stones roared into the city, striking at the already fragile walls.

Suddenly, Guan Ping led a man wearing the armor of the Yizhou Army to Chen Xu.

"This man is the messenger of the guards of the city, and he wants to meet the lord."

Chen Xu was slightly stunned, looked at the man for a while, and asked, "Our two armies are in the hostile camp, why did you come this time?" ”

The man was taken by Chen Xu's momentum and looked a little embarrassed.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and said: "Liu Yizhou has an order, if you can't hold the city for ten days, the guard's family will be beheaded." ”

"If you can resist the enemy army for ten days, even if you surrender, you won't anger the general's family."

"Although my general has the heart to surrender, he is worried about the safety of his family, so he dares to offend the general Huwei."

"If the general has mercy on my general, I hope to postpone the attack, and after ten days, the gate of Chengdu will be opened, and my general will also offer a seal and surrender."

After speaking, the man knelt on the ground, his face full of pleading.

When everyone heard the news, they were stunned on the spot.

They were still wondering why the guards in the city were so resolute in resisting, but they didn't expect that there was such a hidden situation here.

Chen Xu looked at the sky and said, "Mingjin retreats." ”

In Chen Xu's opinion, if the defenders in the city can take the initiative to surrender, he can not only get two generals with good ability, but also save the lives of many sergeants and soldiers, why not?

Whether there is fraud or not, now that it is almost dark, it is time to retire and recuperate.

After returning to the camp, Chen Xu summoned everyone, told everyone the details, and said, "What do you think about this matter?" ”

Tian Feng stroked his beard and said, "If Wang Fu and Ma Han are really willing to surrender the city in two days, it doesn't hurt for the lord to postpone the siege of the city." ”

"However, I can't keep the policy of ten days to punish my family, but I don't know if it's really true."

Zhang Song shook his head when he heard this: "I have never heard of this. ”

Tian Feng said: "If there is no such thing, I am afraid it will be a plan for the enemy general to delay the army." ”

Wu Yi, who had been silent, suddenly spoke: "Lord, I know a little about this matter. ”

Chen Xu set his eyes on Wu Yi and said, "I want to hear about it." ”

Wu Yi said with some embarrassment: "Because of my relationship with General Ziqiao Toucheng, Liu Jiyu no longer trusts his subordinate martial arts. ”

"Huang Gongheng even made a statement to him, and set up a decree for the Ten Days City to destroy Lian's family, and what the messenger said was true."

It turned out that Liu Zhang was afraid that he would send people to defend the city, and these guards would fall in the wind, so he accepted Huang Quan's suggestion, took the guards away, and made a ten-day covenant.

If the Guanzhong army breaks through the city within ten days, the defender's family will be implicated, and if they can hold on for ten days, even if they surrender to Chen Xu later, their families will be fine.

Chen Xu's eyes lit up, gently stroked his beard, and said, "In this case, what's the point of delaying for two days?" ”

In Chen Xu's opinion, even if the city is stormed, I am afraid it will take two days to break the city.

Since two days later, the Chengdu garrison was willing to surrender the city, why did he let the soldiers die in vain?