Zhang Lu didn't expect Liu Qi to arrive so quickly. He didn't care about the affairs of the teaching at all, and was busy discussing strategies to deal with the enemy with Yan Pu and Yang Ren.
Yan Pu said: "Liu Qi came with a light army and will not have the weapons to attack the city. It is better to hold on and wait for reinforcements."
Yang Rendao: "Liu Qi has established a strong foothold and poses a great threat to the counties. If not eliminated early, the surrounding areas will fall, and Nanzheng will become an isolated city. Standing still and waiting for help is just a matter of waiting for death."
Zhang Lu asked: "My brother is on an expedition, and Hanzhong can only be saved by General Yang. What good plan do you have?"
"This..." Yang Ren knew that Zhang Lu wanted him to meet the enemy, but he was worried about meeting Zhao Yun.
At this time, drums were beating loudly in the city, and the defenders came to report. A group of soldiers and horses came from outside the city, calling for battle.
Everyone hurried to the top of the city and saw a red-faced general who stood up with his sword drawn and shouted at the defenders to open the city and surrender, otherwise they would attack the city and Zhang Lu's head would not be saved.
Yang Ren was secretly shocked: "The red-faced general, could it be Guan Yu?"
Yan Pu shook his head and said, "Guan Yu, who has a two-foot-long beard, is deployed in Nanyang to defend Cao Jun. This man has a long beard, and he is not Guan Yun!"
Yang Ren's confidence suddenly increased, and he clasped his fists and said: "Master, if you want to beg an army to challenge, I will kill the general who comes, kill him, and make Liu Qi retreat when he sees the difficulty."
Zhang Lu also wanted to see how strong the Jingzhou army was, and said: "General Yang, be careful!"
Yang Ren mounted his horse and led 3,000 elite soldiers out of the city. The men and horses spread out, raised their guns and shouted: "Unfortunately, Yang Ren, the general of Hanzhong, will be named by everyone who comes!"
Wei Yan shouted: "I am Wei Yan of Jingzhou!"
Yang Ren laughed and said: "It turns out it's not Guan Yu. My trip out of the city was in vain! You are not my opponent, so go back quickly. Unless Guan Yun Chang comes, he can be my opponent."
"How dare you underestimate Wei?" Wei Yan was furious, raised his spear and leaped on his horse, heading towards Yang Ren.
Yang Ren also raised his spear and took action. The two fought at the foot of the city. The two spears were fighting like dragons, and the fight was lively. The sound of drums on the city was loud, and Zhang Lu and others watched the battle nervously.
The two sides fought for more than 20 rounds, and Yang Ren became unable to resist, and his marksmanship gradually became chaotic. Wei Yan forced him to retreat steadily, and he retreated to the main formation with a false shot.
"Where did the dog thief go?" Wei Yan came after him.
General Chang Qi saw Yang Ren's defeat and hurriedly stepped forward to catch him. The defenders behind fired a volley of arrows and forced him back.
Wei Yan pointed his gun at the top of the city and laughed: "There is no one who can fight, Zhang Lumi, thief, why don't you surrender quickly?"
When Zhang Lu saw that Yang Ren was defeated and returned, he said angrily: "You, a mere general, are defeated and have fallen into disrepute of our army. How can you have the dignity to lead the army?"
Yang Ren's face was red and he couldn't answer. Who knew people with red faces could be so powerful?
Yan Pu hurriedly advised: "There are many talented people in the Central Plains, and Liu Qi is good at using people. Using Wei Yan as the vanguard must have some skills. Victory or defeat is a common matter for military strategists. General Yang only defends the city. Even if Guan Yu comes in person, there is nothing he can do!"
Zhang Lu's face was as dark as water. He also knew that Yang Ren now relied on Yang Ren to defend the city, and it was not easy to punish him. He issued an order to defend the city and not go out to fight again.
Wei Yan showed off his power on his horse, yelled and cursed for a while, retreated three miles, and went down to the stronghold on Nanzheng East Road to meet Liu Qi's army.
When Zhang Lu returned to the city, he saw several wine-offering people gathered around him, recommending people to perform rituals at the altar. Nan Zheng and Baozhong were the main ones offering wine-offerings, and they couldn't stop arguing.
Only then did Zhang Lu realize that everyone was in Nanzheng, and he was shocked and said: "The enemy has invaded. If you don't go back to your bases to defend and protect the believers, why are you coming to Nanzheng?"
Nanzheng Jijiu replied: "The practice of Grand Jijiu invites the Heavenly Master to come to the world to help in the battle. We should come to help."
"What nonsense!" Zhang Lu was furious, pointing at everyone and shouting: "Go back to the cities quickly, do you dare to resist my order?"
Baozhongjiujiu had just secretly promised several people the benefits of sacrificing wine, and with the support of several people, he was about to fight for a spot, so he was not willing to back down, so he said righteously:
"Don't worry, Master. There are captains and ghost soldiers guarding each place. As long as we invite the gods to come out, why should Liu Qi be afraid? I am willing to accompany Master to protect the law for the big sacrifice!"
All the wine drinkers bowed and said, "We are willing to protect the Dharma!"
Zhang Lu was shocked and angry. Unexpectedly, in just a few months, these people dared not listen to his orders, and Yang Song was the main one.
At this time, Tan Ma came to report again, and Liu Qi sent the main force of the army to attack Baozhong and sent people to ask for help.
Zhang Lu was shocked and said: "Liu Qi's son is full of tricks and tricks. He actually tried to attack the east and the west."
When Baozhong offered wine, he turned pale with shock and said anxiously: "Master, please send troops quickly. I will return to Baozhong immediately."
The expressions of the rest of the sacrificial wine also changed, and they suddenly realized that their territory might also be attacked by a sneak attack. They all changed their attitudes and wanted to return to various places to garrison.
Only Chenggu Jijiu advised: "Fellow Taoists, don't be anxious. Everything is guided by the gods. Now that we have realized the Tao, we should let go of everything. We must not break our Taoist hearts for foreign affairs. As long as Master and Dajijiu are here, we can work together." Protect the altar and everything will be fine!"
Everyone immediately looked at each other angrily, and the man offering wine in praise looked embarrassed and said anxiously: "Brother Li Dao can take charge of the matter of protecting the Dharma. We are willing to go back to our stations to guard the charity house and protect the believers."
Nanzheng Jijiu was overjoyed when he heard this: "Fellow fellow Taoists have entrusted me with your entrustment, and I will do my best. Please rest assured, Master."
Zhang Lu did not dare to delay, so he immediately called Yang Ren and discussed: "Liu Qi's attack on Nanzheng is just a pretense. He really wants to win praise. The attack on the city is urgent. How to save him?"
Yang Ren didn't know who was receiving the compliment, so he pondered for a moment and replied: "Liu Qi is about to attack the city, and the last general cannot leave lightly. General Zhang has not returned with his troops, so he can only send my deputy general Chang Qi. This man has led troops for many years, and he is enough to Help."
Zhang Lu was overjoyed and immediately ordered Yang Ren to divide three thousand troops and go with Baozhong Jijiu to support him. Jijijiu from other counties also left one after another and rushed back to their base overnight.
The two places were only fifty or sixty miles apart. Chang Qi led his troops out of the city, crossed the Han River and went straight to Baozhong for support.
Baozhong was so anxious that he was sweating profusely for offering wine. Baozhong, Nanzheng, and Mianyang were the richest places in Hanzhong, but when it came to the number of followers, Baozhong had the most. The status of offering wine was mainly measured by the number of followers. .
Although Nanzheng was the seat of Hanzhong, Baozhong was an important road to Baoxie Road in Guanzhong. Hundreds of thousands of people from the three auxiliary areas poured into Hanzhong. Baozhong was the first to bear the brunt and accepted countless children. This is why he can compete with Nanzheng Jijiu. confidence.
The money and food stored in Baozhong's treasury is four to five times that of Chenggu. If this is taken over by the enemy, what's the point?
Baozhong was anxious while offering wine, and secretly prayed to the gods for protection. If he could save his place this time, he would sacrifice three animals to enjoy the gods.
When they were about to reach Baozhong territory, the troops and horses suddenly stopped and rested and drank their horses by the Bao River. The soldiers readjusted their armor, swords and guns.
Baozhong offered wine and said urgently: "Rescuing troops is like putting out fire. Why is the general so lax?"
Chang Qi said: "The soldiers from Jingzhou arrived at Baozhong first, waiting for work. If I rush to the city and are trapped, how can we fight? We should gather our strength and send out troops, and cooperate with the defenders inside and outside, so that we can defeat the enemy in one go."
Baozhong offered wine and said worriedly: "What should we do if we are discovered by enemy sentries?"
Chang Qi laughed and said: "Don't worry about offering wine. I have been leading troops for many years. How can I be unprepared? I have already sent out scouts to monitor the surrounding area. If the enemy comes..."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard shouts of death from upstream, the sound of horse hooves, and large clouds of smoke and dust billowing in.
