Tiger Prison Pass, the 11th Road Princes were stationed in front of the pass for more than half a month, and no one was willing to take the initiative to send troops to attack Guancheng. But nearly 200,000 troops are stationed here, and the grain and grass consumed every day are also extremely terrifying, and the princes can no longer hold on.

After repeated discussions, the princes of the Eleventh Route finally reached an agreement to evacuate from the front of the pass and return to Sujuju.

The sour jujube is about 200 miles away from the Tiger Pass, which can not only deter the Tiger Pass, but also reduce the pressure on the army's grain and grass. You can even confuse the defenders of Dong Zhuojun in Tiger Prison Pass and Revolving Gate Pass to find fighters.

………………

Not long after the allied forces of the eleventh princes withdrew to the sour date, Zhang Xiu, who was stationed at the Tiger Prison Pass, received a secret letter from Xu Rong and asked him to meet.

Zhang Xiu was very strange, but he still rushed to the revolving gate with a team of personal soldiers.

The Tiger Prison Pass is thirty miles away from the Revolving Gate Pass, and it is coming in an instant.

Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong knew each other when they were in Western Xinjiang and were very familiar with each other.

Zhang Xiu saw Xu Rong's melancholy expression, and she was very happy.

In the past, Xu Rong's status was much higher than Zhang Xiu's, especially after Xu Rong participated in the Battle of Yanmen County, Xu Rong was even more famous in Western Xinjiang. However, this time, Zhang Xiu made a great reputation through the battle in the Tiger Prison Pass, and his position in the Xiliang Army was much higher than Xu Rong. This can be seen from Dong Zhuo's current arrangement, he was ordered to lead 20,000 troops to garrison the Tiger Pass, but Xu Rong could only lead the 5,000 men and horses of his headquarters to garrison the Revolving Gate Pass.

Zhang Xiu comforted Xu Rong a few words, and then asked Xu Rong why he came here.

Xu Rong smiled slightly, leaned into Zhang Xiu's ear and whispered a few words, and finally asked, "How is it?" The credit is all yours, do you do it? If you win this battle, you will be a general. ”

Zhang Xiu hesitated, pondered for a long time, and then said: "I think, it's better to play Xiangguo first in this matter." Once ......"

"This battle will be won." Xu Rong frowned and said, "What?" When you arrive in Luoyang, are you too timid? ”

Zhang Xiu glared at him fiercely, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, listen to you." ”

The next day, Xu Rong led the army out of the revolving gate, captured Xingyang City, which had only a small garrison, and made a posture to continue the attack on Suojube.

Qiao Mao learned that Xu Rong led his army eastward, and hurriedly assembled a large army to meet the enemy, and at the same time urgently reported to Yuan Shao. To fight or not to fight?

Yuan Shao replied: "Xu Rong has attacked all the way, if he doesn't fight at this time, he will definitely shake the morale of the army, and if he doesn't fight, he will have to fight, what else do you ask?" Beat. ”

Qiao Mao, Liu Dai, Zhang Miao and others had never fought, and they were very panicked, especially since the opponent was Xu Rong, a famous general in the world.

In the battle of Yanmen Pass that year, the hussar general commanded an army of 100,000 to inflict heavy losses on the Xianbei iron cavalry under extreme disadvantage. Since then, it has become famous all over the world. And Xu Rong happened to lead the Changshui Battalion of the Northern Army to participate in this battle, and made great contributions, and was worshiped by the Son of Heaven as a Zhonglang general.

It's scary to think about fighting with this kind of person.

Zhang Miao said: "There are a few of us. Only Meng De and Yuncheng have fought, so in my opinion, let the two of them command the army to fight. ”

Everyone agreed.

At the moment of the great enemy, Bao Xin and Cao Cao did not push back. It's incumbent on you.

Cao Cao said: "Yun Cheng treats people generously, Shen Yi is strategic, and he is deeply loved by the soldiers." I am willing to obey Yuncheng's command. ”

Bao Xin refused with a smile, and he said to everyone: "Brother Meng De is talented, familiar with the art of war, and in his early years, he accompanied General Huangfu to quell the scourge of ant thieves, and he must be more proficient in fighting than me." ”

He strongly demanded that Cao Cao command the battle. After Cao Cao Qian gave in two sentences, he immediately agreed without being angry.

It was Xu Rong who came to attack, and if he could defeat him, he would be able to become famous in a fight.

………………

Xu Rong and Zhang Xiubu drove Hu Che'er and his troops to Yuanwucheng, which was twenty miles away from Sujujube.

The people here knew that there was going to be a war, and they had already run out. Xu Rong did not enter the city, and directly ordered the army to rush towards the sour jujube.

Cao Cao thought that Xu Rong was in a hurry, and the soldiers must be very tired, and his own army was waiting for work, with high morale and full of physical strength, and he could completely defeat Xu Rong and beat him down.

Liu Bei objected, believing that it was not appropriate to take the risk of attacking. Cao Cao didn't bother to pay attention to him, and immediately led 20,000 horses and horses with Bao Xin to take the lead in the camp to meet the enemy, Zhang Miao, Qiao Mao, Ding Yuan and Liu Dai's army followed in the center, Liu Bei had no choice but to reorganize the army and horses with Zhang Chao, Kong Ling, Kong Rong, and Yuan Yi and then go out of the camp.

Before Liu Bei left the camp, the scouts came to report, Cao Cao and Xu Rong were already fighting ten miles ahead.

Xu Rong ran too fast, and he was more than thirty miles away from Zhang Xiu's main army. He probably didn't expect that before the army approached the sour date and camped, the rebels attacked head-on.

Xu Rong and the soldiers were caught off guard, and after resisting a little, they fled in embarrassment.

Cao Cao and Bao Xin led the army to chase for thirty miles before stopping.

If you don't stop, you will have to confront Zhang Xiu's main force.

Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong didn't say a word, and led their troops to retreat fifty miles overnight.

Cao Cao and Bao Xin and others discussed, to chase or not to chase?

Cao Cao said: "It is normal for Zhang Xiu to be reluctant to fight, although he himself has the courage of ten thousand people, but he only has 20,000 people in his hands. We have an army of 180,000, and Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong do not dare to confront us head-on. Continue to chase, as long as Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong are defeated, the battle against Dong will be fundamentally changed, and we will also make immortal achievements. ”

Liu Bei, Yuan Yi and Liu Dai were reluctant to take risks, saying that since Zhang Xiu's huge amount of Xu Rong had returned, then forget it, or follow Yuan Shao's deployment and return to the sour jujube to wait for the opportunity.

Everyone had different opinions and argued, and in the end, it was Qiao Mao and others who persuaded Cao Cao.

The next day, the coalition forces withdrew their troops back to Sujuju, but Xu Rong and Hu Che'er followed behind and killed. The coalition forces were caught off guard and folded hundreds of people. Cao Cao was furious and commanded the army to turn around and attack back. Xu Rong was defeated, and Hu Che'er fled with the defeated soldiers.

The coalition forces pursued another thirty miles in one go.

Zhang Xiu led the army to retreat again.

Liu Bei said: "This must be Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong's plan to lure the enemy, there may be an ambush ahead, so it's better to withdraw the troops as soon as possible." ”

Cao Cao scoffed. Zhang Xiu only has 20,000 horses, and Xu Rong himself only has 5,000 people, where did he get the troops to ambush us? Even if he wanted to fight our ambush, it would be between Xingyang and Tiger Prison Pass. From here to Xingyang, there is no suitable terrain for ambushes.

Bao Xin agreed with Cao Cao's opinion and suggested that the pursuit should continue.

On the third day, the coalition army marched towards Xingyang, and in order to prevent accidents, the speed was not very fast.

After arriving at Bianqu, Xu Rong and Hu Che'er reappeared, this time leading the army to block the coalition army from crossing the river. The two sides fought bloodily. The Xiliang army was defeated, leaving behind hundreds of corpses and retreating in panic.

Bianqu is fifteen miles away from Xingyang City.

Cao Cao, who was the first to cross the river, had just come ashore when he received news from the scouts that Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong had abandoned Xingyang City and led their troops to retreat to Tiger Pass.

Cao Cao asked, "Is there anyone in the city?" ”

The scout shook his head, they didn't dare to go in. Cao Cao did not hesitate at all, and immediately ordered Xiahoudun and Shi Jian to enter the city with a thousand men and horses.

"Go and tell Bao Xin and ask him to cross the river from our right side in the direction of Aocang. Inform Zhang Miao and ask him to cross the river from our left side. Strive to have 20,000 people stationed in Xingyang tonight. Cao Cao Zhi was complacent, and happily said to Cao Ren who was standing beside him, "Zixiao, I think Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong are just like that." ”

Cao Ren cautiously looked into the distance and whispered, "Big brother, I see that the Xiliang Army's actions this time are quite strange. They were supposed to be in danger, and there was no need to fight. Even if they were to fight, they wouldn't be like they were now, and they would be defeated as soon as they got into battle. ”

Cao Cao smiled: "Nothing strange. You didn't notice one thing, that is, Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong had been sending people to loot food before leading the army to retreat. I guess there is no food left at Tiger Prison Pass and Revolving Gate Pass. There are tens of thousands of troops in Luoyang, and they are already short of food, and it will definitely be difficult to deliver supplies to the Tiger Prison Pass and the Revolving Gate Pass, so Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong have to go out of the customs to grab food. ”

Xiahoudun and Shi Jian quickly entered the city and divided their troops to occupy the four city gates.

Cao Cao and his army were preparing to enter Xingyang, and the scouts came quickly to report, Zhang Xiu's army did not let Xu Rong enter the pass, and the two sides fought at the Tiger Prison Pass.

"Probe again, you must see it clearly......" Cao Cao was overjoyed, and hurriedly ordered the whole army of 5,000 men and horses to advance rapidly in the direction of Tiger Pass. He planned to take the opportunity to fish in troubled waters and hit Xu Rong and Zhang Xiu hard.

Scout continuous returns. Zhang Xiu's men and horses were stubbornly guarding the pass, and Xu Rong's army was overwhelming and was attacking frantically.

Cao Cao smiled: "Don't be in a hurry, let's slow down." When they get tired of fighting, they die. ”

Cao Cao ordered the army to stop at the Yuting Pavilion, ten miles away from the Tiger Prison Pass, and wait for the best time to attack.

Just when Cao Cao was talking and laughing with Cao Ren and others, a fast horse came running from the direction of Xingyang, and immediately the knight was blood-stained in his battle robe, embarrassed.

The person who came was a scout under Bao Xin, and he said anxiously to Cao Cao: "General Cao, my lord is in ambush in Aocang, and I ask General Cao to rush to help. ”

Cao Cao exclaimed: "Whose soldiers and horses? ”

"It's Zhang Xiu, it's the elite of the Xiliang Army." The scout was stunned, and said in a hoarse voice, "We are crossing the river, Zhang Xiu's army suddenly came from the direction of the Yellow River, we were caught off guard, and the casualties were extremely heavy, please General Cao to rescue quickly, otherwise the whole army will be annihilated." ”

"Where is Xu Rong? Who is in the Tiger Prison? Cao Cao raised his hand and whipped a scout hard, "Give me another look." ”

"Go, go to Aocang, go to Aocang......"

Cao Cao led his army to the east along the Zhanran River, and in the face of Xingyang City, which was wide open, no one was interested in taking another look.

At dusk, Zhang Xiu saw the arrival of rebel reinforcements and hurriedly commanded the army to withdraw from the battlefield.

Most of Bao Xin's 10,000 horses were killed in the battle. The Bianshui River was littered with dead bodies, and blood stained the river red. On the bloody battlefield, Bao Xin knelt in front of the remains of his younger brother Bao Tao, hugging his head and crying.

Liu Bei, Qiao Mao, Liu Dai, Zhang Miao and others got the news and withdrew overnight.

Cao Cao led his troops to break off. He commanded his soldiers to briefly clear the battlefield, and then hurriedly crossed the river with Bao Xin and his army.

At dawn, the army arrived at Yuanyong City, and the soldiers were exhausted.

However, Xu Rong's battle banner appeared in the sky at this time, under the blood-colored morning glow. (To be continued.) )