The night was full, the dead silence in Tancheng, the lights on the city walls were blown on and off by the wind, and the soldiers defending the city were also tired, and began to nap with their spears.

"Gotta ......"

Suddenly, a hurried sound of horses' hooves came from a distance, and the guards on the walls looked out as far as they could, seeing nothing but the endless darkness.

Tonight, the moon was dark and the wind was high, and the guards were all a little alert, and called the military horses guarding the city, all of them were tense and looked out of the city with wide eyes.

A moment later, an afterimage passed in front of the crowd, and a knight restrained his horse by the moat, and the faint light reflected in the light, and the grim face of the man was faintly seen.

"It's the cavalry general, open the city gate quickly!" The military commander in charge of defending the city recognized the knights outside the city at a glance, and immediately ordered.

The knight standing by the moat was none other than Zhang Yan, the cavalry general. He galloped all night, and finally arrived here at the hour, looking at the flickering lights on the city tower, the figure swayed, and before he could call the door, he saw the drawbridge slowly lowered.

In a short time, the drawbridge was completely lowered, the city gate was opened, and the guards, led by a military commander, walked straight towards him.

"The last general Sun Guan, see General Xiaocai!" As soon as the military Sima came to Zhang Yan's face, he bowed respectfully.

Zhang Yan looked at Sun Guan and saw that this person had thick eyebrows and big eyes and a burly figure, so he asked, "Do you know me?" ”

Sun Guan said with a smile: "The general is famous, Sun Guan is like thunder, and I often hear General Zang Ba mention the general, saying that the general is the hero of the world. ”

Zhang Yan carefully searched his memory, and then remembered that Sun Guan, Yin Li, Wu Dun, Chang Xuan, Sun Kang and others were all Taishan thieves who surrendered to Zang Ba, and are now Zang Ba's generals.

Sun Guan appeared here, which also shows that Zang Ba is also in Tancheng. He immediately said: "I remember, you are the military Sima of General Zang's subordinates, right?" ”

"The general has good eyesight, and he can guess it." Sun Guan looked behind Zhang Yan again and asked, "Didn't the general bring soldiers and horses?" ”

"I'm alone, with a lot of soldiers and horses, I'm afraid that I won't be able to get here tomorrow. By the way, where is General Zang now? ”

"My general is resting in the barracks, so I'll take General Zhang into the city."

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Yan, under the leadership of Sun Guan, soon came to the military camp where Zang Ba was.

At this moment, Zang Ba's big tent was still lit by fire, and he hadn't fallen asleep yet.

Zhang Yan followed Sun Guan to the edge of the big tent, and heard Zang Ba's roar from the big tent from a distance: "What is he Liu Bei?" We are desperately guarding Xuzhou here, Tao Envoy Jun not only did not give us a little bit of compensation, but gave up the position of Xuzhou pastor to Liu Bei, is there such a thing in the world? ”

"No, no, no......," the group chimed in.

Zang Ba's voice sounded again: "I wonder, what does Tao Yuanjun think, he has made it once in Kaiyang City, his illness has just improved, and he has let it again today, since he doesn't want to be a pastor in Xuzhou, he can step down early, what are you still doing in this position?" Even if you want to give way, you have to give way to the cavalry general. The whole of Xuzhou, if it weren't for the protection of Zhang Yan, the cavalry general, would have fallen into the hands of Cao Cao long ago......"

"Yes, yes, General Xiaocai's military achievements are promising, his prestige is far-reaching, and even we admire the five-body throw. General, it's already too late, so don't drink, rest early, and have business to do tomorrow......"

"Drinking is the right thing. If you don't have a drink with me today, don't even think about getting out of this big tent! "Zang is domineering.

While he was talking, the curtain of the big tent was suddenly opened, Zhang Yan walked in straight from the outside, glanced at the drunken Zang Ba, and said with a smile: "Why don't you let me accompany you to have a good drink!" ”

Zhang Yan's sudden appearance surprised Zang Ba, he shook his head vigorously, looked at Zhang Yan in disbelief, and asked, "General Zhang?" I'm not dazzled, am I? ”

"Brother Zang is really good at laughing, even if he is dazzled, he won't dazzle everyone, right? If you don't believe me, ask your subordinates to see if I'm real. Zhang Yan walked straight to Zang Ba's side and said as he walked.

The people around Zang Ba nodded one after another: "General, it's really General Zhang who is here!" ”

After Zang Ba heard this, Hahadaxiao got up, stood up from the ground, hugged Zhang Yan directly, and handed a bowl of full wine to Zang Ba, and said happily: "You're finally back, come, dry this bowl of wine first!" ”

Zhang Yan took the bowl of wine, drank it all, then sat next to Zang Ba and asked, "You just said that Tao Envoy Jun wants to give up the position of Xuzhou pastor?" ”

"Liu Bei! What is that Liu Bei, what is it, I just don't understand, is Tao Yuanjun evil or what, counting this time today, he has already ceded Xuzhou Mu to Liu Bei twice in a row. After Zang Ba said this, he drank a large bowl of wine.

When Zhang Yan heard Liu Bei's name, he couldn't help frowning, he thought that he could snipe history, but he never thought that Liu Bei still appeared as always.

"Apart from Liu Bei, who else is coming?" Zhang Yan asked.

Zang Ba then informed Zhang Yan of the people who came one by one, and when Zhang Yan learned that Zhao Yun and Tai Shici were also in Tancheng, there was a hint of hope in his eyes.

Zhang Yan accompanied Zang Ba to drink a few more bowls of wine, and then left Zang Ba's military camp under the pretext, he rode a dark cloud on a snow horse, and went straight to Mifu.

Even though it was late at night, the lights in Mi Mansion were still bright, and in the hall, Mi Zhu, Chen Deng, and Sun Qian sat as guests and hosts, tasting fragrant tea and discussing things at the same time.

Suddenly, the housekeeper Mi Qiang broke in from outside the door and said in a panic: "The master of the family, my uncle is back!" ”

"Who did you say came back?" Mi Zhu couldn't believe his ears and asked again.

"Uncle is back." Mi Qiang repeated it again.

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Yan strode in from outside the hall and appeared in front of everyone.

"See the general!" Mi Zhu, Chen Deng, and Sun Qian all stood up in unison and hugged their fists one after another.

Zhang Yan hurriedly said: "There are no outsiders here, so there is no need to be so restrained." Yuanlong, what you wrote in your letter does it mean that Tao Envoy Jun wants to give way to Liu Bei? ”

Chen Deng nodded and said, "That's exactly what happened. Tonight, Tao Envoy Jun gathered everyone together again, ready to give way to Liu Bei again, fortunately we persuaded him, otherwise, even if the general rushed back, I am afraid that it will be useless. ”

"Well, when I entered the city, I passed by Zang Ba's military camp, and I heard Zang Ba talk about everything at night." Zhang Yan saw Sun Gan from the moment he entered the door, he walked straight in front of Sun Gan, and arched his hand: "Mr. Sun, you are Tao Yuanjun's staff, and Tao Yuanjun has always listened to your opinions, I don't know if you can persuade Tao Yuanjun?" ”

Sun Qian said: "General Zhang, don't hide it, I have already persuaded Tao Envoy, and I have also stated the stakes. As for where Tao Envoy Jun will go, that's not up to me. ”

Chen Deng hurriedly said: "Mr. Sun has been persuading Tao Yuanjun and recommending the general to take charge of Xuzhou, Tao Yuanjun wants to give way to Liu Bei, and Mr. Sun has no choice. ”

"Now in the whole of Xuzhou, everyone wants the general to succeed Xuzhou Mu, Tao Zhijun also knows this very well, even if he wants Liu Bei to be Xuzhou Mu, Liu Bei will not be stupid to come to the general to compete. Although the general can rest assured, this Xuzhou Mu will definitely be the general. Sun Qiandao.

Chen Deng said: "The general rushed back from hundreds of miles away without any effort just for this matter. Once Tao Yuanjun couldn't think about it and insisted on giving Xuzhou Mu to Liu Bei, our efforts would be in vain. In order to avoid long nights and dreams, let's go to the state pastor's mansion now, and ask Tao Yuanjun in person, Weishenme will not give Xuzhou Mu to the general. In the whole of Xuzhou, who else can be qualified for this position except for the general? ”

Mi Zhu also echoed: "Yes, Xuzhou must not be allowed to fall into the hands of outsiders." Even if Tao Envoy Jun insists on going his own way and has to give Xuzhou to Liu Bei, we must take Xuzhou back and put the general in charge. ”

Zhang Yan saw that Mi Zhu and Chen Deng were excited, so he said: "It's all this time, I'm afraid that Tao Yuanjun has already rested." There isn't much time left until dawn, so why don't we wait until dawn with peace of mind, and then go to see Tao Envoy together, how about it? ”

"General, you have a lot of dreams at night!" Chen Deng reminded.

Sun Qian said: "General, I think Tao Zhijun will not fall asleep tonight, the general returned late at night, just take this opportunity to go to the state pastor's mansion to visit, I will go with the general, and when I get to Tao Yuanjun, I will recommend the general to take over Xuzhou, Tao Yuanjun will see that we are all together, and the general is on his side, and he will definitely give up the position of Xuzhou Mu to the general." ”

"Without further ado, let's go now!" Mi Zhu said.

Without waiting for Zhang Yan to react, Chen Deng and Mi Zhu left the hall with Zhang Yan in their arms, and accompanied by Sun Gan, they headed towards the Prefecture Governor's Mansion together.

In the state pastor's mansion, Xuzhou Mu Taoqian couldn't sleep for a long time, and his mind was still thinking about whether to give Xuzhou to Liu Bei.

But Sun Gan's advice, as well as the displeasure of Zang Ba, Chen Deng, Mi Zhu and others to give way to Liu Bei, are enough to illustrate a problem, they don't like Liu Bei. In comparison, Zhang Yan is the best candidate in their hearts. If he really gave up Xuzhou Mu to Liu Bei, then how long Liu Bei could sit firmly in Xuzhou Mu's position was unknown.

After some thought, Tao Qian finally figured it out.

At this time, the soldiers came in and announced: "Qi Yu envoy, Xiao cavalry general Zhang Yan, Diannong school captain Chen Deng, don't drive Mi Zhu, cavalry captain Zang Ba, and Mr. Sun Qian, come to ask to see the envoy. ”

Tao Qian said in surprise: "Zhang Yan? When did he come back? ”

"My subordinates don't know."

Tao Qian sighed lightly and said slowly: "Everyone who should come is here, since all of them have come, the old men of the province have invited them one by one." Let them in. ”

"Whoa!"