It was said that Bing Yuan revealed the reason for helping Zhao Chen, and Zhao Chen was overjoyed. If things go well, it will be a certainty that General Ziyi will be included in Liu Bei's account.
Coincidentally, on this day, I received two letters about Taishi Ci in succession.
Although Sun Ce's movements were much faster than Zhao Chen expected, Zhao Chen reorganized his thinking and felt that it would not affect his capture of Qingzhou.
Bing Yuan led Zhao Chen's army all the way to the foot of Yingling City.
Seeing the silence in the city, all the soldiers began to murmur in their hearts.
Zhang Liao asked Zhao Chen in a low voice: "Military advisor, could it be Wang Xiu's plan to fake a surrender and lure our troops here? They want to make a surprise attack?"
Zhao Chen looked straight ahead with firm eyes and said, "Believe in Mr. Genju."
Zhang Liao said no more.
Sure enough, after waiting for about a quarter of an hour, the gate of Yingling City slowly opened.
Wang Xiu and Cen Bi led the soldiers out to accept the surrender.
Zhao Chen was overjoyed and successfully received the 10,000 troops in the city, adding two more available talents.
Pingshou, Juxian, Linqu, and Guangxian, several nearby small towns, heard about it and sent letters expressing their support for Zhao Chen's army.
Zhao Chen also treated each other with courtesy, did not change everyone's official positions, and still maintained the status quo of governance.
At this point, Zhao Chen's army in the Northern Expedition has really found a foothold. One-third of Beihai and most of Qi are under Zhao Chen's control.
However, Yuan Shao's 20,000-strong army, hundreds of miles away, was heading toward Le'an Kingdom in mighty force.
The news was immediately sent to Zhao Chen's temporary residence in Yingling.
In the study, Cheng Yu, Zhuge Jin, Bu Zhi and others were discussing matters.
Zhao Chen asked: "Can you find out who the leading general is?"
"Yan Liang, Zhang He, and Ju Shu are accompanying the army."
Zhao Chen understood and waved his hand to signal the guards to wait outside.
Cheng Yu thought for a moment and suggested: "Military advisor, there are only 7,000 troops in Linzi City now. It is estimated that the defenders General Wen Xiang and Boyan will be unable to resist. Should you consider abandoning Linzi? If the two armies join forces, it should be more than enough to deal with Yuan Shao's army."
"It's exactly what Mr. Zhongde said."
Zhuge Jin expressed his opinion for the first time: "Linzi City penetrates deep into Qingzhou. It is already facing pressure from several surrounding counties. In addition, with the 20,000 troops on Yuan Shao's trip, it is difficult to defend the city. Rather than being besieged, it is better to give up voluntarily."
After hearing this, Zhao Chen did not speak, but glanced at Bu Zhi and asked, "What do you think of Zishan?"
Bu Zhao replied with shame: "If it is an internal matter, Zhao has thousands of strategies. But for marching and fighting, we still ask the military advisor to make arrangements."
Zhao Chen chuckled, just like Bu Zhi in history, low-key and down-to-earth, knowing his strengths and weaknesses and not acting recklessly. This is Bu Zhi's best state.
Cheng Yu and Zhuge Jin's suggestions were indeed in line with the current situation for Zhao Chen.
He had previously warned Xu Sheng when he left Linzi that if Yuan Shao's army came, he could abandon the city and leave.
But now that Yingling has been captured, and he has accepted Bingyuan's request to recapture Donglai County from Yuan Tan, it is no longer the best idea to give up Linzi City at this time.
Zhao Chen said: "Yuan Shao ordered Yan Liang to lead an army of 20,000, just to help Yuan Tan regain Qingzhou. If we can prevent the two armies from attacking from the front and back, we will have a chance to capture Anle, Qi, Beihai, and Donglai." The four areas of the county.”
Cheng Yu asked: "What does the military counselor mean by saying that our army will take the initiative?"
Zhao Chen smiled and said, "Zhongde knows what I mean."
He walked to the map and placed his right hand within the boundaries of Qi.
"Xi'an?"
Everyone said in unison, but with full doubts.
Zhao Chen explained: "When Yuan Shao's army enters Qingzhou, it will definitely attack Linzi City first. It is the only way to go from the Youzhou front line to Linzi City. Now Xi'an County is still in Yuan Tan's hands. Food and grass supply is not a problem. The key is less than fifty miles away from Linzi. The ground can be attacked, retreated or defended. It is the best place to station troops. Jushou is a wise man and he will definitely understand this truth. Therefore, I predict that Yan Liang will definitely lead the army here."
Zhuge Jin was still a little confused: "Military advisor, could it be that our army wants to increase its troops in Linzi City to fight against Yuan Shao's army?"
Zhao Chen shook the map and said: "It will only take time and effort to hold on. Sun Ce has already captured Qu'a, and it won't take many days for Cao Cao to attack Yuan Shu. If we delay it any longer, it will be detrimental to our army, so we can only fight quickly."
"Tomorrow, our army will lead 10,000 troops and go to Xi'an County to prevent Yuan Shao's army from approaching Linzi City. As for Yingling City, Zhongde, I will ask Wang Xiu, Bing Yuan and Cen Bi to assist you and lead 9,000 troops to guard the east side. Yuan Tan. When our army defeats Yuan Shao's army, we will join you and capture Yuan Tan together."
Cheng Yu took the order.
The next day, Zhao Chen gathered an army of ten thousand, led Zhang Liao, Chen Dao, and Zhuge Jin and marched towards Xi'an County.
A march of 10,000 troops usually takes four days from Yingling City to Xi'an County.
On the other side, Yan Liang led an army of 20,000 people and marched quickly.
Following Jushou's advice, he rushed straight to Linzi and informed Mr. Yuan Tan that he would not go out while guarding the camp.
But who knew that two days later, Yuan Tan received a letter asking for help and found that the tomb had been lost. Now his 10,000-strong army was forced to garrison in Duchang City.
Jushou thought for a moment and asked Yan Liang to maintain the previous strategy, and the army aimed at Linzi.
As long as Linzi is captured, Zhao Chen will have to withdraw from Qingzhou, and Yingling will naturally be recovered.
Yan Liang followed his plan, and the army hurriedly and slowly arrived at Xi'an County of Le'an State in Qingzhou after twelve days of effort.
Jushou suddenly discovered that a large army was stationed ten miles outside the city. The flag flying on the tent was "Zhao".
He couldn't help but think, could it be Zhao Chen?
The scouts who went to inquire about the news first came to report that Zhao Chen led an army of ten thousand and was stationed ten miles outside the city. The leading generals were Zhang Liao and Chen Dao.
After saying this, Jushou immediately suggested that Yan Liang personally lead the army to explore the camp.
Yan Liang led his own army of fifty cavalry, together with Zhang He and Jushu, and marched ten miles outside the city to the front of Zhao Chen's camp.
Everyone climbed up to take a look.
I saw that Zhao Chen's camp was only built with some wooden sticks. There was no sentry at the entrance of the camp, and there were no guards on both sides.
In the camp, the tents were arranged in a messy manner, the functions were incompletely divided, and there were no trenches in key parts to prevent the cavalry from attacking.
The patrolling soldiers were wandering around without any structure, and each of them was depressed, which was in sharp contrast to Yan Liang's army.
Yan Liang suddenly smiled and said: "It seems that Cao Mengde and Cao Zixiao are incompetent."
Zhang He asked in confusion: "What do you mean, general?"
"Zhao Chen has an empty reputation. Marching and setting up camp are the most basic qualities of a general. From my perspective, this man's camp is like a three-year-old child. He does not have the demeanor of a general at all, let alone marching and fighting? Therefore, I say, it is not Zhao Chen It's amazing that Cao Mengde and Cao Zixiao were incompetent, so they were defeated by Zhao Chen again and again."
Zhang He heard this, but advised: "General, don't underestimate the enemy. Since Zhao Chen can defeat Cao Cao three times, defeat Yuan Gongluo, and beat Mr. Yuan so much that he was forced to evacuate Yingling, he should be a good warrior. This is definitely not the case." A person who doesn’t live up to his name.”
Jushou also couldn't understand why Zhao Chen's camp was so messy and showed no commanding demeanor.
Yan Liang smiled and said: "Jun Yi is too worried. Those who can win in Zhao Chen are all young people who have never met me. I will let this person go home in defeat tonight."
Jushou hurriedly stopped: "General, don't act too hastily. I heard that Zhao Chen is best at sneak attacks. Now that he knows that our army has arrived in Xi'an, he will definitely guard against our army's night attack."
Yan Liang waved his hand, refused to listen to Ju Shou's words, and led fifty cavalry to turn around and return to the camp.
Zhang He on the side saw that he could not persuade him, so he had to give up.
Jushou had no choice but to look at Zhao Chen's camp again, and headed towards the military camp full of doubts.
