Yuan Shaojun saw the intention of the Northern Xinjiang Army, and the war drums of the attack suddenly became fierce, and thousands of soldiers shouted all the way, roaring in the direction of the west city gate. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

The houses in the city were also set on fire. The fire took advantage of the wind, and the entire city was instantly plunged into a sea of fire, black smoke obscured the blue sky, and miserable and helpless cries resounded in the sky.

The golden gong sounded, and the besiegers withdrew like a tidal wave from the burning city.

The people in the city cried for their fathers and mothers, and the wolves rushed to flee in the direction of the east city gate, trampling on each other and killing countless people.

The soldiers of the Northern Frontier guarding the direction of the East City Gate could not control the situation, and were squeezed into the flow of people without a trace in the blink of an eye.

The fleeing people cried all the way and rushed to the pontoon bridge on the Jishui River.

The soldiers guarding the bridge wanted to maintain order so that the fleeing people could reach the other side as quickly as possible, but the terrified people were so frightened by the fire in the city and the army outside the city that they forgot everything and rushed to the pontoon bridge in order to survive.

The bridge guards were caught off guard and pushed into the water by the frantic crowd. The pontoon bridge is overwhelmed and can fall apart at any moment if it is wobbly.

The long arrow roared in an instant. The soldiers of the northern Xinjiang did not hesitate to launch a bloody massacre against the people who rushed onto the pontoon bridge.

At this time, the Northern Frontier Army in the city was also blocked at the city gate and could not leave the city. The fire burned closer and closer, and the scorching flames made the soldiers sweat like rain.

"Kill ......" A soldier of the Northern Xinjiang Army picked up his sword and raised his hand to cut off a head.

The blood and fire stirred up the bestiality in the hearts of the soldiers, and in the face of the unarmed innocent people, they raised their weapons and slaughtered them with impunity.

Tian Yu stood under the city gate with clumpy corpses, took one last look at Li Cheng, who was burning in the fire, waved his hand lightly, and ordered: "Burn this place too." ”

At dusk, all the surviving soldiers and civilians crossed the pontoon bridge and rushed to the north bank of the Jishui River. The soldiers then lit the pontoon bridge.

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the team dragged their tired bodies and slowly retreated towards Pinggao City.

………………

Henan Yin, Xingyang City.

Zhang Fei sat behind the desk, holding Tai Shici's letter asking for help and bowed his head in contemplation.

Guo Jia took the candlestick to the side of the desk and looked at the map carefully.

"The attack of the Yuan army in the direction of Guancheng has stopped." Guo Jia said, "The scouts have sent news that Han Heng and Ma Yan's army is about 10,000 people, and since they have not conquered the superior forces of Guancheng, they have given up the attack after several attempts and turned to garrison the city. ”

"It's not a big problem to manage the city." Zhang Fei put Tai Shici's letter aside, sat up and leaned on the map, "How is the direction of Chenggao?" ”

"Like the other day, not much progress." Guo Jia said, "Yuan Xu, this kid led 10,000 people to attack Chenggao, and the momentum was very strong, but the thunder was heavy and the rain was small, and so far, only three attacks have been launched." One time was to fight Tiger Roaring Ridge and beat the garrisoned our men and horses back to the city, and two times to fight Chenggao, but Chenggao was garrisoned by a forbidden 5,000 army, and Yuan Xuan couldn't move. In addition, news came from the scouts today that Yuan Shao's army still showed no signs of attacking Ao Cang. ”

Zhang Fei frowned and said: "According to the calculation of time, Yuan Shao has received the news that the eldest brother has crossed the river to the south, and at this moment, in order to prevent us from capturing the Central Plains, he should launch a fierce attack on us, so as to drive us out of Henan, so as to transfer troops to support Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan in Yanzhou, and block us on the front line of Dingtao and Changyi." ”

Zhang Fei looked at Guo Jia and asked puzzledly, "Why does he not move?" What was he thinking? ”

Guo Jia shook his head suspiciously, and said hesitantly: "It's hard for me to understand. Although Luoyang increased his troops in Hanoi and Zhang Nan's attack was extremely sharp, it was very difficult for him to conquer Pingao in a short period of time and surround us in the area of Xingyang. Xingyang currently has 5,000 troops in our army, and we can let them support Pinggao at any time, and Pinggao City can be said to be impregnable. ”

Zhang Fei groaned a little and said in a low voice: "You say, will Yuan Shao use the confrontation of the troops as a bait to secretly transfer troops to support Yanzhou?" ”

"It's a big possibility." Guo Jia nodded, pointed to the map and said, "After the lord went south, our intention to attack Henan has been exposed. At this time, if Yuan Shao eats us, he can make our strategy of attacking the Central Plains fail, but Yuan Shao may not be willing to forcibly implement the strategy of encirclement and annihilation at the risk of losing his troops and losing his generals. Once the encirclement is not successful, Dingtao and Changyi are lost again, and Luoyang will be in danger. After all, Yuan Shao's troops are limited, and he can't control Cao Cao and Liu Bei, and if he is not careful, he will lose everything. Relatively speaking, while maintaining their own strength, it is indeed a superior strategy to help Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan block the footsteps of the generals to capture Dingtao and Changyi, and wait for Cao Cao and Liu Bei to come back for help. ”

Zhang Fei stared at the map for a long time, and then said: "If Pinggao is in danger, we will definitely withdraw from Henan, and Yuan Shaofen will not be harmed." At the same time, the armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei fought to the death with the generals on the front line of Dingtao and Changyi, and their losses were quite amazing. After we withdrew from Henan, Yuan Shao would immediately lead his army to support Cao Cao. At this time, if we have no success in fighting for a long time, or have to withdraw from the Central Plains for other reasons, Yuan Shao can take advantage of the situation and occupy the Central Plains. ”

Zhang Fei vigorously nodded at Ao Cang on the map and said loudly: "Only by maintaining his strength can Yuan Shao always have an advantage in the future war." In other words, I would also stand still at this moment, consume each other with the other party, and wait and see the development of the situation in the Central Plains. ”

Guo Jia's expression was solemn, his eyes looked at Aocang City on the map, and he whispered: "It seems that we have to take the initiative." ”

"Hit him." Zhang Fei said coldly, "Immediately write to Liyi, Tian Kai and others, immediately attack Yuan Shao, and fight him to the death." ”

"Send a letter to Tai Shici, reinforcements will arrive soon, let them defend Pingao at all costs."

"At all costs?" Guo Jia said in surprise, "Yide, if you don't give reinforcements, it's okay to deceive them, why do you want them to defend Pingao at all costs?" If the casualties are too great, Pingao City will be in danger. ”

"The losses of defending the city are great, and the losses of the siege are even greater." Zhang Fei sneered, "When Zhang Nan can't move, I will want his life." ”

………………

Yanzhou East County, Xiancheng.

Xiancheng is located on the north bank of the Lizi River one hundred miles southeast of Puyang.

After receiving Yuan Shao's order, Gao Gan left a part of his men and horses to garrison Baima and Puyang, and quietly left Baima with an army of 15,000 and hurried to Juancheng to support Xiahou Yuan.

Originally, the nearest route to Juancheng was to cross the Guzi River in the direction of Puyang, but because Li Jing's army was under Puyang City, Gao Gan could only cross the river by detouring to Xiancheng.

However, when he arrived in Xiancheng, he found that the city had been occupied by the Northern Frontier Army at some point.

Gao Gan immediately decided to follow the south bank of the Guzi River, and then travel more than 100 miles to the southeast to cross the river in Chuiting.

At this moment, the guards stationed in White Horse City sent an urgent report, and Pan Zhang, the general of the Northern Frontier Army, suddenly attacked Pingyang Pavilion and burned the grain and grass accumulated in Pingyang Pavilion.

Gao Gan was shocked and angry, and he was at a loss.

When Yuan Shao led the army to attack Jizhou, the large camp was set up in Baima, and the grain and grass were piled up in Pingyang Pavilion, which was sixty miles away from Baima. How could Pan Zhang of the Northern Xinjiang Army know that Pingyang Pavilion had grain and grass in his stock?

The grain and grass were burned, and the defenders of Baima and Puyang immediately faced the danger of running out of food, and Li Jing and Pan Zhang were bound to take advantage of the opportunity to go to Juancheng to support Xiahou Yuan to attack these two cities.

Once Baima and Puyang were lost, not only Yuan Shao's army would be exposed to the attack of the Northern Xinjiang Army, but even the important Yanzhou towns of Chenliu and Dingtao would be directly threatened by the Northern Xinjiang Army.

Gao Gan thought twice and categorically decided to give up rescuing Xiahou Yuan and withdraw his troops back to defend the city.

The castle is located between Puyang and Hakuba, and can be supported left and right.

Gao Gan sent a letter to Yuan Shao to report the situation, and on the other hand, he led the army to retreat quickly.

………………

Ten miles away from the city, Xiaoliang Pavilion.

As soon as a trace of fish belly white appeared in the sky, the officers and soldiers of the Northern Xinjiang Army, who were covered in a morning mist, quietly rushed to the hillside near Xiaoliang Pavilion and quickly entered the ambush position.

Li Jing, Pan Zhang, and Zhanzhao stood on the hillside, looking quite nervous.

Because of the start of the war and the lack of manpower on the front line, Jizhou Assassin Shi Bao Zheng sent his assistant Zhan Zhao to Li Jing's army according to Li Yi's order.

From the direction of Puyang and Jiaocheng, many scouts came back one after another. The scouts stared at Puyang and Jicheng all night, but did not find anything unusual in the city, and several teams of patrol cavalry patrolling outside the city at night also returned to the city early and did not find Yuan Shaojun's whereabouts. The scouts' return made the three of them relax.

"This place is too close to Puyang and Jiaocheng, and if we are a little negligent, we will be surrounded." Zhan Zhao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said worriedly, "Now it's up to Gao Gan to arrive at Xiaoliang Pavilion on time." If he delays, we're going to be exposed. ”

Zhanzhao participated in the war for the first time and seemed very nervous.

"The scouts kept an eye on him, and they couldn't make a mistake." Li Jing looked up at the sky, "He will be there in another hour." ”

"Gao Gan was so anxious that he had to rush back to Puyang overnight." Pan Zhang smiled, "However, if he wasn't in such a hurry, we wouldn't have been able to kill him." ”

"You burned his grain and grass again, can he not be in a hurry?" Zhan Zhao reached out and patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Gao Gan is too careless. After Yuan Shao left Baima, he should transport the grain and grass back to Baima, so that you have no chance. ”

"I have few troops, and after crossing the river, I don't dare to stay under the White Horse City, so I wander around with the army and beat him in a few small ambushes." Pan Zhang smiled proudly, "Gao Gan is very strict with me, and at this time, it is safer for him to put the grain and grass in Pingyang Pavilion." ”

"If it weren't for your luck, you wouldn't be able to burn the dry grain and grass." Li Jing waved his hand and motioned for the two of them to walk with him to the hidden place behind the slope, "This time it depends on your luck." With a bit of luck, we will be able to defeat Gao Gan and occupy Puyang. (To be continued.) )