In mid-August, Guanzhong, Chencang. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Ma went out of the city to meet Han Sui.

Zhang Liao, a fierce general in northern Xinjiang, was too powerful, he took an iron horseman, Liankeqi County, Yunyang, and killed along the Jingshui River to Chiyang.

At present, he is carrying iron cavalry activities between Anling, Yangling and Gaoling on both sides of the Jingshui River, and has broken through Yuan Tan's resistance five times and killed under the city of Chang'an.

Although Yuan Tan also had 20,000 horses in his hands, he only had 2,000 cavalry, and he didn't dare to compensate Zhang Liao for such a little money, so he asked Ma Chao for help several times.

"Yuan Tan already knows that his uncle only brought three thousand iron horsemen into the pass, and he thinks that I can rely on the solidity of Chen Cangcheng to stop my uncle here." Ma Chao said helplessly, "Yuan Tan ordered me to rush to Chang'an immediately to support." ”

"Do you want to go?" Han Sui asked.

Ma Chao hesitated for a long time, and then said hesitantly: "I want to ask my uncle." ”

Han Sui shook his hand and said, "Don't go." If you're gone, there's no reason for me to stay in Chencang. Although Yuan Tan has repeatedly urged you to support, why didn't Zhang Liao urge me to go east three times and twice? ”

Ma Chao looked at Han Sui suspiciously, and said, "But my uncle only has three thousand iron horses......

"If you leave Chencang today, I can gather 30,000 iron horsemen to take Chencang." Han Sui smiled slightly, "Do you believe it or not?" ”

Ma Chao was shocked and didn't speak for a long time.

"Do you know how many people Zhang Liao has brought?" Han Sui asked again.

Ma Chao shook his head.

"Five thousand iron horsemen." Han Sui smiled, "You can tell Yuan Tan what I said." If he has the ability, he can completely wipe out Zhang Liao. ”

Ma Chao frowned, and stopped talking.

"Is there any news from your father lately?" Han Sui knew that Ma Chao had given up the idea of supporting Chang'an, so he asked casually.

"Since the army of the Northern Expedition crossed the river to the north, my father has not written from me." Ma Chao said worriedly, "However, Yuan Tan told me in his letter that his father hit Yecheng last month, and Prime Minister Cao Cheng and my father led the army to Ganling City. In the first half of this month, Prime Minister Cao Cheng and my father led an army to Xindu City. Yuan Tan thought that by the autumn, the Northern Expeditionary Army would be able to occupy Jizhou and end this crusade. ”

Han Sui's face changed suddenly, and he asked anxiously, "The Northern Frontier Army has withdrawn to Xindu City?" ”

Ma Chao nodded and said, "Yuan Tan won't lie to me." ”

Han Sui touched his forehead, thought for a while, and suddenly patted Ma Chao's arm with a wry smile, and asked, "Meng Qi, do you believe me?" ”

"Of course I believe in my uncle." Ma Chao said without hesitation.

"Then you stay in Chencang and don't go anywhere until your father comes back." Han Sui said solemnly.

Ma Chao asked puzzledly, "Why?" ”

"Because Li Yi's northern tiger is going to eat people." Han Sui sighed and answered the question.

………………

In late August, Bohai County, the river was desecrated.

When the Yellow River burst its banks the year before last, it played an important role in flood distribution, and most of the flood water flowed along the river into the Jiangshui River, and then into the Zhangshui River and into the sea.

In order to prevent problems before they happen, Hebei organized a large number of manpower to excavate and dredge last year, but due to the severe drought in the Central Plains this year, the water level of the Yellow River has plummeted, and the river has long dried up.

The Gongsun army successfully crossed the great river and entered the endless plain.

Gongsun Zhan stopped at his horse, looked back at the rear, and let out a long breath, and finally reached Nanpi only one hundred and fifty miles.

Along the way, the coalition army was cautious and closely protected before and after, lest it be raided by the Northern Xinjiang Army, and as a result, there was a false alarm, and there was not even a shadow of the Northern Xinjiang Army.

It seems that Prime Minister Cao's attack under the city of Xindu has had an effect, and all the northern Xinjiang troops have been attracted.

Just when Gongsun Chan was thinking like this, the scout Pegasus reported: General Ma Teng had arrived at Dongguang City and surrounded Dongguang City, but because the army led by General Ma Teng was an iron cavalry and had no siege tools, it was impossible to forcibly attack the city, so General Gongsun was asked to go to the rendezvous quickly.

Gongsun Chan asked suspiciously, "How many defenders are there in the city?" ”

Gongsun Chan remembered that the Northern Frontier Army had abandoned Dongguang City, and the scouts had repeatedly reported that Dongguang City was an empty city, why did the defenders appear in the city now? Dongguang City is one hundred and twenty miles away from Nanpi City, if Nanpi City gets the news and prepares in advance, it will be a bit troublesome to attack Nanpi City.

Could it be that the Northern Frontier Army has discovered itself?

"We don't know how many people are in the city." "But we saw Gao Shun's battle flag hanging from the tower. ”

"Gao Shun?" Gongsun Chan was taken aback. Gao Shun has been stationed in Nanpi City, why did he suddenly appear in Dongguang?

"Did the Northern Frontier Army discover us?" Gongsun Zhan turned his head and asked Guan Jingdao.

"Definitely, yes." Guan Jing said, "Last night, the scout also replied that Dongguang City was empty, but just one night later, Gao Shun arrived in Dongguang City, so it can be seen that the Northern Xinjiang Army discovered our whereabouts the night before yesterday at the latest." ”

"When he arrives in Dongguang, the reinforcements from Xindu City will soon arrive in Nanpi." Gongsun Zhan said anxiously, "Xindu City is about three hundred miles away from Nanpi, if the Northern Frontier Army starts to support Nanpi yesterday, then they can rush to Nanpi tomorrow night or the morning after tomorrow at the latest." ”

"Lord, now we have to rush for time." Guan Jing said eagerly, "This place is one hundred and fifty miles away from Nanpi, whoever rushes to Nanpi first will win." ”

Gongsun Zhan did not hesitate any longer, and immediately ordered the generals of the Cao army, Xiahou and Li Dian, Liu Beijun's Zang Ba and Xue Lan, and Liu Biaojun's Wen Ping, Gan Ning and Wang Wei, to speed up the march and take Dongguang City tonight.

………………

On the dry bed of the river, an army is galloping.

Lu Bu and Gao Changgong stood side by side on the river embankment, looking at the sweaty and panting soldiers, with only anxiety in their eyes, no pity.

The scout horseback galloped over, and reported: "Two generals, Gongsun Zhan's army has crossed the river and is hurrying towards Dongguang City. ”

"How many ways does Cao Cao's army have to go from the Great River?" Lu Bu asked urgently.

The scout reported back: "About five miles." ”

Gao Changgong and Lu Bu looked at each other, anxious.

"We're still ten miles away from the point of blockade." Gao Changgong pointed ahead and said helplessly, "When we get there, Cao Cao's army has already crossed the river." ”

"If Cao Cao's army is let go, the main guild will kill a few of us." Gao Changgong smiled bitterly.

Lu Bu scolded angrily, pulled off his battle helmet, smashed it to the ground, and ordered: "Order, let the soldiers abandon their heavy weapons and move forward quickly." ”

………………

Xiahoudun was secretly surprised when he heard that the army's movements were exposed, and that the Northern Frontier Army had appeared in Dongguang City.

Before leaving, the eldest brother Cao Cao said to him in private: "Yuan Rang, it is difficult for the army to run long distances to Nanpi to ensure that it will not be discovered by the Northern Xinjiang Army, and there may be a fierce battle under the city of Nanpi, but the Northern Xinjiang Army has limited strength and cannot gather enough troops to defeat you, so you must join forces with all kinds of soldiers and horses at all costs to fight this battle until the end of August." ”

Xiahoudun was very strange, he thought that even if the Eastern Route Army could not achieve the intended combat purpose, it could effectively contain the Northern Xinjiang Army in the direction of Xindu City, help the main force of the Northern Expeditionary Army to break through Xindu City smoothly, advance the battle line to the line of the Zhangshui River, and strive to occupy half of Jizhou before winter came. Under such circumstances, it is no problem to fight this battle until the end of August, even until the end of October.

Cao Cao denied his claims. Cao Cao said: "At the end of August, the army will withdraw to the Central Plains, and this battle is about to end. ”

Xiahoudun is not a brave and unscrupulous person, as soon as he heard Cao Cao's words, he knew what Cao Cao meant.

Xiahoudun was dumbfounded, he felt that it was too ridiculous, ridiculous and suffocating. The eldest brother and those ministers in the court did not have a big Han in their eyes at all, and they not only regarded the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers as a child's play, but also regarded the Han society as a child's play.

The reason why the eldest brother suggested opening up the East Road battlefield was not to defeat the Northern Xinjiang Army to occupy Jizhou, but to consume the strength of other soldiers and horses, he wanted to use the East Road Army to attract the attention of the Northern Xinjiang Army and transfer the main force of the Northern Xinjiang Army to the East Road Battlefield, so as to ensure that he could return to the Central Plains safely and worry-free. The army of the Eastern Route was actually going to die, just to cover Cao Cao's retreat.

Xiahoudun had a lot of doubts, but he didn't ask, he believed in his eldest brother, and his eldest brother would let himself die, and he would not hesitate.

Cao Cao seemed to see through Xiahoudun's thoughts, and explained two sentences slightly, and finally a sentence, to revitalize the Han Dynasty, you must have strong strength, and to have strong strength, you must first eradicate other forces around the Central Plains one by one, and this Northern Expedition is the best opportunity to eliminate other forces to develop themselves.

Xiahoudun figured it out, and he assured Cao Cao: "Big brother, I will definitely lead the army to retreat south in early September and bring back the 50,000 troops as much as possible." ”

"Brother Yuanrang, Gongsun Chan has already led the army to Dongguang in a hurry, should we speed up the follow-up?" Li Dian's voice came from behind.

Xiahoudun looked back at the distance, shook his head, and said lightly: "It's only thirty miles from here to Dongguang, walk slowly, and you will definitely be able to reach it at dusk." Recently, we have been marching continuously, and the weather is very hot, and the soldiers are too tired to fight for such time. ”

"But Gongsun Chan said that we must rush to Nanpi tomorrow night." Li Dian said worriedly, "I think it's better to hurry up." ”

Xiahoudun waved his horsewhip noncommittally, and said nonchalantly: "Whatever you want." Tell the two generals, Zang Ba and Wen Ping, that I will immediately cross the river and ask them to catch up as soon as possible. ”

Then he complained softly to Gongsun Zhan: "Gongsun Chan should cover me on the other side, and he shouldn't be in such a hurry to meet Ma Teng in Dongguang." ”

Li Dian listened to Xiahoudun's complaints, and couldn't help but make fun of him: "Brother Yuanrang, what are you afraid of?" We are only thirty miles away from Gongsun Chan at most, what danger will there be? Could it be that the Northern Xinjiang Army will suddenly emerge from the Great River? (To be continued.) )