Guan Yu stood at the bow of the boat, anxious. Although he could soon enter the dock east of Xiapi along the Han River, what he was most worried about was that by the time he arrived, everything would be over.
Fortunately, the worst did not happen. When he got off the boat from the dock and led his soldiers to march quickly towards Xiapi, he found that although Xiapi City was being attacked by enemy troops, fortunately it was not broken.
However, a group of soldiers and horses came out of the city to fight, and were surrounded by Yuan Shu's army in the center. The generals led the troops to charge left and right, showing extraordinary bravery. Although he was not at a disadvantage, there were too many generals besieging him, and he gradually began to show weakness. Guan Yu focused his attention Look, isn't this Zhang Fei?
He did not hesitate immediately, shouted loudly, led the troops to rush out, and went straight to the generals of Yuan Shu's army.
Although Yuan Shu's generals surrounded Zhang Fei, they could not defeat him, so they had to take turns wearing down Zhang Fei's strength until he was exhausted.
But he was unprepared when an army appeared from behind. Before they could react, Guan Yu rushed forward, raised his sword and beheaded a general of Yuan Shu's army under his horse.
The rest of the people were shocked and hurriedly backed away. Zhang Fei saw him and laughed loudly, "Second brother, you came just in time!"
"Work with my brother to kill all these thieves!"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei combined their forces, and no one could defeat them. Yuan Shu's army immediately fell into decline. The two took advantage of the situation to cover up and kill for a while. They killed Yuan Shu's army, discarding their helmets and armor, fled in a hurry, and retreated into the camp in a hurry.
Zhang Fei wanted to take the opportunity to attack the stronghold, but Guan Yu stopped and said, "Third brother, beware of enemy ambush. Return to the city first."
The two of them returned to the city after victory. Liu Bei greeted them and asked in surprise: "Second brother, why are you back?"
Guan Yu said: "I have to report urgently that Xiapi is besieged and is in danger, so I led people to rush back by water at night to save Xiapi from the siege."
After hearing this, Liu Bei chopped his feet and said, "I was deceived!"
"The attack on the city was very urgent that day, and rumors were spreading in the city. I felt that I could no longer bear it, so I sent an urgent message to my second brother!"
"In the past two days, I have discovered that Yuan Shu's army's offensive has slowed down a lot, so I feel that there is no need to bring my second brother back like this!"
"I then wrote another letter and sent it to my second brother. I was afraid that my second brother had already left the city at that time, so I missed it!"
After hearing this, Guan Yu frowned and said, "Even if I'm not here, Mi Fang should still receive letters in Qucheng. Wouldn't he send a clipper to chase me?"
"Could it be that he resented me for transferring all the soldiers in the city and deliberately delayed the letter?"
Liu Bei was shocked when he heard this: "My second brother transferred all the soldiers in the city?"
"Then how to defend Qucheng?"
Guan Yu asked curiously: "Who does Qucheng need to guard against?"
"To the south is the fierce tiger Haixi. It can't be his plan, right?"
Liu Bei stumbled and said: "It's not him, it's Cao Cao!"
"Do you know why I'm so panicked?"
"Because the spies came to report a few days ago, Cao Jun has suddenly appeared from the border of Taishan County, Yanzhou, near Ju County and Houqiu!"
"If it lays down a thick hill, Tancheng will be to the south. Once occupied by it, our Xiapi will be cut off and we won't be able to escape even if we want to!"
"What's even more frightening is that there is no news from Pengcheng Kingdom so far!"
Previously, the administrative seat of Xuzhou was located in Tancheng at the junction of Donghai and Xiapi County. After Zhang Fei lost Tancheng and Liu Bei's wife and daughter fell, Liu Bei asked the Yuan brothers for assistance and recaptured Tancheng.
But Liu Bei already had a grudge against Tancheng, so he simply moved his headquarters to Xiapi City in Xiapi County and used the original Tancheng as a place to station troops and farm.
Guan Yu was shocked when he heard this, "Does Thief Cao dare to take action at this time?"
"If that's true, that's really treacherous!"
Liu Bei sighed: "He didn't even make a truce with us in the first place."
"But he chose this time very well. He launched an attack just when Yuan Shu's army was attacking the city, making it difficult for us to take care of ourselves!"
Zhang Fei said angrily: "Did this guy join forces with Yuan Shu?"
After hearing this, Liu Bei shook his head and said: "It's unlikely. It's probably just an opportunity to weaken us and expand our territory."
"After all, Xiapi blocks the road from Yanzhou to Yuzhou. It is reasonable for him to regard us as a thorn in his side."
"However, the timing of his calculations was extremely good. He cleverly took advantage of Yuan Shu's opportunity to send troops. It was really a calculation."
"Cao Mengde is really a formidable enemy."
Guan Yu said: "Then what should we do now?"
Liu Bei sighed: "I'm afraid Qu City is in danger. Let's wait for the news first."
In less than half a day, the news came.
Qucheng was captured by the Taishan bandits, and Mi Fang escaped. However, the road going south was cut off by the Taishan bandits, and Mi Fang had to flee into Houqiu.
As soon as they entered the city, they were surrounded by Cao's army. Mi Fang was shocked and sent someone to send a message asking for help before they were surrounded.
Liu Bei and the other three looked at the letter for help and remained silent. This meant that almost all of Donghai County was lost!
If Cao Jun captures Tancheng again, Liu Bei will be trapped and die in Xiapi, unable to escape even if he wants to face Yuan Shujun!
Moreover, it is strange that Mi Fang was able to deliver the letter despite being under siege. Is it possible that Cao Jun lured them here to rescue, and then surrounded them for reinforcements?
This tactic used by Cao Jun has been used several times by Cao Jun in the previous battle with Lu Bu at Yanzhou, and Lu Bu's army complained endlessly. Now I am afraid that he will use the same tactics again.
Liu Bei was in a dilemma.
If Mi Fang is not rescued and Houqiu is lost, Tancheng will become an isolated city and will soon fall into Cao Cao's hands.
But if they rush to rescue, they will not only be ambushed by Cao's army, but the Xiapi City in front of them will also be difficult to defend.
If he really abandons Xiapi and fails to counterattack the East China Sea, Liu Beijun will be homeless!
But even in the current predicament, it will be difficult for Liu Bei to break through. He is afraid that all the wealth he has worked hard to save over the past year will be completely lost!
Everyone suddenly thought that this place in Xuzhou is really a scam!
Yuan Xi stood at the head of Haixi City, and the cries of the people driven away by the thieves could be heard faintly from the distance.
Qucheng has probably been invaded. Looking from a distance, dozens of thick black smoke pillars rise into the sky.
Everyone's expressions were ugly. Over the past day, the other party's actions seemed deliberate, but they were unbearable.
Seeing that Yuan Xi seemed to have made up his mind, Jushu said quickly: "Young master, think twice. It seems that the enemy is probably trying to lure you here!"
Yuan Xi sighed: "Why don't I know?"
"But sir, don't forget my current identity."
"I am Xuzhou Mu!"
"Now that the people of Xuzhou are being massacred, if I keep sitting back and watching, then what use is this title for him?"
Lu Xun also spoke up: "But now the enemy's situation is unknown. We don't know how many there are, nor what their intentions are."
"The worst-case scenario is that Yuan Qingzhou is behind the Taishan bandits, and Cao Mengde of Yanzhou may also be involved. With just a few thousand of us, it will be difficult to change the situation in the East China Sea."
"Besides, General Taishi sent a letter saying that Guangling County has been attacked by tens of thousands of Yuan Shu's troops, which makes Guangling's defense quite difficult."
"As a result, General Taishi cannot be transferred here for the time being."
"If generals are recruited from Youzhou, General Zhao and General Tian are suitable. It may take more than ten days to go back and forth."
Yuan Xi was silent, then said: "If it takes half a month, how many people in Donghai will die?"
Jushu and Lu Xun looked at each other, and they understood that Yuan Xi was not unaware of the other party's intentions, but the other party had set a trap that Yuan Xi had to step on!
Jushu sighed: "Then what are you going to do?"
Xia Houyuan finally got the news he wanted to hear.
Several large ships went out to sea in Haixi Port and sailed to Qucheng Pier. It looked like they were about to enter the city.
He said to the spies: "Go to Qucheng immediately and ask all the soldiers in the city to withdraw."
A general from the Cao camp next to him asked doubtfully: "In this case, doesn't it mean that Qucheng was taken in vain?"
Xia Houyuan shook his head and said: "Qucheng is not important, what is important is the people."
"Besides, Youzhou's soldiers are very capable. It's hard for us to defeat them."
"Its only weakness is that it does not have a leading general. Of course, if Youzhou or Guangling respond quickly, generals will come to support Haixi in about five days."
"What we have to do now is to lure him out step by step before his generals arrive!"
He immediately asked: "Then Mi Fang has been surrounded in Houqiu?"
The general replied: "Li Dian, Xia Hou En and others sent news that he had fled into the city and that two generals had surrounded the city."
Xia Houyuan nodded and said: "The bait has been prepared, let's see if the other party eats it."
The key in his mind is still in Houqiu, and it will depend on Cao Hong's performance all the way.
If you're lucky, you'll catch not just one big fish, but two!
Several warships docked heavily at the dock, and the vanguard soldiers of the Youzhou Army jumped out of the ship one after another, holding their shields.
Lu Xun's voice came, "Set up defenses around the pier while others search for houses and ships on the pier to prevent the enemy from setting fire to it!"
After hearing this, the soldiers searched everywhere, but the sight in front of them shocked them.
There were dead bodies everywhere, and some even had wounds where the blood hadn’t dried yet, which meant that at least they were still alive not long ago.
Yuan Xi looked at the mutilated corpses on the pier, including women and children who were half-clothed, and clenched his fists involuntarily.
If it was really Yuan Tan who instigated the Taishan bandits to do it, sooner or later he would ask for an explanation!
Not long after, a group of soldiers came back and said that all the rudders on the big ships at the dock were destroyed. Only then did Yuan Xi and others understand why Mi Fang abandoned the city and fled instead of taking the waterway.
His heart tightened. Could Mi Zhen be dead?
Thinking of this, he suppressed the irritation in his heart and left the soldiers to guard the dock. He took Lu Lingqi and Sun Li and led the troops straight to the city.
When he greeted Lu Lingqi, he couldn't help but be speechless. He didn't know how he managed to get away with it. Now Lu Lingqi has become the most powerful general around him!
People lined up all the way through the city. The people who were still alive in the nearby houses were trembling and did not dare to come out.
Yuan Xi ordered people to open the doors of several households and asked about the situation that day. He and Lu Xun were speechless.
What Mi Fang did was too outrageous. She even used the people in her city as bait to escape!
He said aloud: "Why don't you run away?"
The common people said bitterly: "So many people were trampled to death before leaving the city. If we leave the city, we will still die. Since we are all going to die, we might as well stay in the city."
Yuan Xi sighed and said to Lu Xun: "Arrange a ship to take them to Haixi for refuge."
He rode his horse in the city, looking at the devastation, thinking that in this troubled world, there were really few paths that ordinary people could choose.
(End of chapter)
