Wancheng camp.
Cao Pi sat in front of the case, looking at the military reports sent from the battlefield on the central line, his face gloomy.
Wu general Zhu Huan defeated the general Cao Tai, the son of the great general Cao Ren, and beheaded the general Chang Diao. The Wei army was beheaded and as many as a thousand soldiers were drowned!
"How could the Great Sima Hero be defeated by a young boy like Zhu Huan? This is unreasonable!"
With a crash, Cao Pi pushed all the piles of battle report slips to the ground.
"Your Majesty, please calm down..." After a while, the servant Dong Zhaocai said cautiously: "The general has been defeated all the way. Fortunately, the main force has not been damaged, and we can still wait and see..."
"I understand..." Cao Pi rubbed his brows and tried to calm down his emotions: "Fortunately, there is Boren. He just defeated the Wu general Zhuge Jin on the western front a few days ago. I heard that he is still in Jiangxi. A pontoon bridge is erected between the north bank and Jiang Zhongzhou, allowing the main force to enter the camp in Zhongzhou and hold it firmly. It seems that Jiangling is within easy reach."
"Your Majesty is saying... General Zhengnan is trying to build a pontoon bridge and station the main force in the middle of the river!" After hearing this, Dong Zhao thought for a moment, then frowned and said.
"Why, does the waiter think there is something wrong?"
"Your Majesty, Rong Chen, has given you a detailed report. In the past, Emperor Wu was very wise and brave, but he always feared the enemy and never underestimated him when using troops. But now, General Zhengnan has treated the enemy as nothing!"
"Huh?" Cao Pi didn't take it seriously at first. After hearing this, he didn't dare to be careless. He sat upright and asked, "Why?"
"It is human nature to use troops to advance and retreat at the same time, but when marching, shouldn't you think clearly about your retreat? Only a place where you can advance and retreat freely can be regarded as a valuable place to defend.
Now, the general who conquers the south is stationed in the middle of the island, which is very deep; the floating bridge is used to help, which is very dangerous; and the army is marching together, it is very narrow: these three are taboos for military strategists. The general who conquers the south has always made extraordinary plans, so why did he fail this time? So irrational!
If the enemy captures the pontoon bridge and surrounds it layer by layer, the elites in Zhuzhong, who are not Wei's own, will be transformed into Wu!
Furthermore, as winter turns to spring these days, when the river water rises, how can we defend ourselves? Things are going to be dangerous, but Your Majesty will take care of it! "
Dong Zhao looked worried and kowtowed. He understood that Xia Houshang had always been very resourceful and had won the trust of His Majesty. He was only afraid that His Majesty would not listen to his words, so the situation on the front line was really not good.
Cao Pi listened to Dong Zhao's talk, and the more he listened, the more frightened he became. Later, he even broke out in a cold sweat. If the Western Front was also defeated... No, it must not be defeated! Cao Pi came to his senses and hurriedly ordered: "Quick, issue an edict to Boren to withdraw from Jiang Zhongzhou quickly, without any mistakes!"
"I obey!" Dong Zhao hurriedly stood up and helped the emperor draft a military edict.
Wei Jun Jiangzhongzhou camp. The coach is within his confines.
Xiahou Shang looked at the urgent edict sent by the emperor, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He could only defeat Zhuge Jin's navy, but he so recklessly underestimated the enemy and almost caused a catastrophe!
I just hope it's not too late now.
"Instruct all battalions to prepare quickly and evacuate Jiangzhongzhou!"
Since the beginning of spring, the nights in Jiangling City are no longer so cold. The flowers, plants and trees on both sides of the river are gradually becoming more vibrant.
The Wei army had been busy all afternoon. It was already dusk, but they had just withdrawn thousands of people from the island, and the remaining more than a thousand people were still lining up on the not very wide pontoon bridge to return north.
At this moment, Wu Jun was taking advantage of the dusk to quietly carry the torch oil boat and sneak towards Jiangling Zhongzhou. He only waited for the general's order to light the oil raft. Pan Zhang, the commander-in-chief of the Wu army, brought all 2,000 cavalrymen in the army with him in an attempt to capture Xiahou Shang in one fell swoop and achieve great success. Pan Zhang, who thought that the Wei army was still stationed in Zhongzhou as usual, was surprised to see that the Wei army was withdrawing neatly to the north of the continent, and there were only a few hundred people in the continent who had not yet withdrawn.
Pan Zhang gritted his teeth and cursed: "It's his grandma's fault. Xiahou Shang is really cunning. I'm still a step too late. Brothers, don't waste any more torches burning the pontoon bridge. Follow me and rush up to intercept the Wei army immediately! Charge!" "
The Wei army, which was retreating north, suddenly heard a cry of killing coming from the west.
The well-prepared lieutenant general Gao Qian immediately led the soldiers who had crossed the pontoon bridge to meet the enemy, buying time for the retreating soldiers on the pontoon bridge. Although Pan Zhang's army came with a fierce force, firstly, the Wei army was well prepared, and secondly, the Wu army's cavalry was defeated by the Wei army's cavalry, so Pan Zhang could not take advantage for a while. The two sides fought in a melee for more than an hour, and the Wei army in the continent was basically defeated. All the soldiers on the army withdrew and came here to support, and the Wu army was immediately at a disadvantage.
————
Under Jiangling City, the Wei army camp.
Cao Zhen was always unwilling to give in. He didn't believe that Zhu Ran could really stop him from conquering Jiangling! He thought for a long time and finally decided to give it another try. This time, while the Wu army reinforcements are still entangled by Xiahou Shang, he will use all his army to attack the city!
"Xi'er," he warned while looking into the child's eyes: "After a while, father will take your eldest brother and the entire battalion of soldiers to attack Jiangling City again. Only five people will be left in our camp. Are you afraid of these crippled and weak soldiers?"
"Xi'er is not afraid!" Cao Xi looked at his father with firm eyes: "Xi'er will guard the camp for his father!"
"Okay! Haha, good boy, he is indeed my son, Cao Zidan!" Cao Zhen touched the top of the child's hair happily: "Later, I have to listen to your cousin and General Shi Jian, my father is gone."
Cao Xi nodded and watched his father leave the tent. He and Xia Houxuan may not know that danger is coming.
————
In the north of the Yangtze River, Pan Zhang's tribe was still fighting with Xia Houshang's elite cavalry. A surprise fire attack that had been planned turned out unexpectedly. Pan Zhang was furious and unwilling to retreat. Xiahou Shang commanded the Wei army and formed formations to kill the Wu army in an orderly manner. After a few hours, he saw that the Wu army's cavalry brought by Pan Zhang was about to be completely damaged.
"Quickly retreat!"
Finally, Pan Zhang roared angrily, broke the arrow that was shot on his shoulder, and led the remaining hundreds of soldiers to escape eastward.
"General, do you want to pursue us?" Wei Jun's deputy general Gao Qian asked.
"Don't pursue the poor enemy." Xiahou Shang shook his head: "Our army camped on the spot to block Wu General Yang Can's reinforcements and buy time for General Cao Zidan to attack Jiangling City."
"Understood." Gao Qian obeyed the order and handed over his hand.
————
The night is coming to an end and the sky is still dark.
Xia Houxuan and Cao Xi, who had been waiting all night, were sleeping in a daze in the Chinese army's tent.
Outside the tent, Lieutenant General Shi Jian was lying on the ground with his ear to the ground, seeming to be listening to something. It's the sound of horse hooves!
Shi Jian understood that General Cao Zhen would not need cavalry to attack the city, and at this moment, the sound of horse hooves was getting closer and closer!
This must be Wu Jun's sneak attack!
"Protect the Major General!..." Shi Jian sensed something was wrong and immediately drew out his saber and roared, but before he could shout a second time, his throat was already cut with a knife!
"It turns out to be the young general of the Cao family..." The man stood up on his horse and looked at the Chinese army's tent with arrogance. The first ray of sunlight at dawn shone on the man's ferocious face. It turned out that this person was Pan Zhang, who was dispersed by Xia Houshang, and his more than a hundred remaining soldiers!
Dozens of Wu army cavalrymen and two children disappeared at the camp gate like a burst of smoke. The old and weak soldiers in the camp also hurriedly chased after them, but they were far behind.
"Hmph, Cao Zhen, Xia Houshang, I caught these two little bastards, let's see how you behave!" Pan Zhang cursed fiercely while riding his horse.
"Bah! You are the bastard!" Xia Houxuan and Cao Xi, who were tied to the horses, yelled.
Pan Zhang glanced at them coldly, then a horsewhip fell on Xia Houxuan. A blood mark immediately appeared on Xia Houxuan, whose soft armor was taken off, but he gritted his teeth and did not cry.
"Bad guy, don't hit my cousin!" Cao Xi felt so desperate that he cried "Wow".
"Brother Xi! Don't cry!" Xiahou Xuan said angrily: "I, the descendants of Xiahou and the Cao family, are not allowed to show weakness in front of this thief!"
When Cao Xi heard this, he immediately stopped crying.
Suddenly, a series of slight but crisp sounds came from the north of the avenue. It was the sound of horse hooves. The two children looked happy. They could not mishear it. It was the sound of master Yu Gui's horse hooves!
"Your Excellency, a great general, actually bullied two children. What a great skill!"
Before the three words "good skills" could be heard, three feather arrows had penetrated the throats of three Wu soldiers. Pan Zhang and everyone else were shocked.
From the north of the avenue, I saw a knight in white riding a horse, holding a bow and sword, and wearing a plain scarf on his head. He was coming towards me. It was Yu Gui. He heard about the battle situation on the front line in Luoyang Mansion, and he didn't even have time to change out of his mourning clothes. , then rode the horse south.
Cao Xi and Xia Houxuan's hearts trembled, but they could no longer control their tears. How could they not be moved by the fact that their master was so alone and in danger for them.
"Hahahaha..." Pan Zhang and others couldn't stop laughing when they saw Yu Gui's attire. Pan Zhang laughed provocatively and said: "You are a poor Confucian scholar, you have no money to buy clothes, but you stole them somewhere. Mourning clothes, hahahaha..."
Faced with everyone's provocation, Yu Gui sneered and ignored it. He turned over and dismounted, touched the hilt of his sword, and shouted sternly: "Let these two children go, otherwise, I will make you regret it!"
"Hmph! Let me teach you a lesson!" Pan Zhang laughed at him, but he did not underestimate the enemy in his heart. He saw that Pan Zhang's blow was quite powerful, and it was a man taking advantage of the horse's power, condescending, and it was completely killing. trick!
Yu Gui frowned slightly and seemed to be motionless. He dodged Pan Zhang's fatal blow with a slight movement. He took advantage of the situation and unsheathed his sword. He saw the cold light passing by and two horse legs had been broken. , Yu Gui's white clothes were not splattered with blood at all.
Pan Zhang fell off his horse, quickly turned over and backed away and said: "Come on, give them all to me, chop him up!"
After hearing the order, more than a hundred cavalry formed a formation and rushed towards Yu Gui! I saw that they did not rush forward en masse, but formed in groups of three to five and pulled the net to kill, quite organized!
Even though Yu Gui's Qinggong swordsmanship was superb, he was unsure when facing so many well-trained knights. After several rounds of killing, more than 20 cavalrymen fell off their horses, and Yu Gui's armor also had dozens of terrifying blood marks, and the bleeding continued! Yu Gui leaned on the ground with his sword, trying his best to control himself not to fall, but he finally lost the strength and fell to the ground slumped!
"Master!" the two children cried, rolling down from the horse, with their hands tied, they forgot the danger at this moment, just like Yu Gui protected them many times, they also instinctively rushed towards Yu Gui, thinking I have to protect Master for once.
"Xuan'er... Xi...er..." Yu Gui's mouth was full of blood and he could no longer speak clearly: "Hurry... go..."
At this time, hundreds of old and weak soldiers from the Chinese army camp arrived here. Seeing this, the dozens of Wu cavalry abandoned Yu Gui and turned to fight against the Wei army. However, they fought fiercely with Yu Gui and were already exhausted. In addition, there were too many old and weak soldiers in the Wei army. The Wu army's cavalry was actually outnumbered and fell off their horses one by one. When Pan Zhang saw this, he jumped on a horse and fled eastward.
"Master..." Cao Xi and Xia Houxuan cut off the ropes on their hands, fell next to Yu Gui, hugged him, and kept crying.
"Xuan'er... Xi...er..." Blood flowed out from the corners of Yu Gui's mouth. He trembled and said with a smile: "Master... Master…can’t…protect…you anymore…”
"No!" Cao Xi screamed while hugging Yu Gui.
"Remember... to... be obedient. You have to... keep walking... on the remaining... path... ..., some things...sooner or later...you have to...face...yourselves..." Yu Gui smiled, He finally gave up, and although there was a smile on his face, his brows were as frozen as ice, hiding endless sorrow...
Xia Houxuan was stunned for a while, and finally started crying like Cao Xi. At this moment, he only felt sad, fearful and helpless in his heart. He couldn't believe it...
Many years later, he would still be awakened by that nightmare, dreaming of his master lying in a pool of blood and telling him: "Xuan'er... there are some things that you have to face sooner or later... right......"
In 223 AD, the second year of Wei Huangchu, Wei Emperor Cao Pi made a three-pronged attack on Wu and was at a stalemate with the Wu army.
[Note 1: In the second year of Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi and Huang Chu, he made three expeditions against Wu, but ultimately failed. 】
That year, the spring in Luoyang was still warm and intoxicating.
Later, on the outskirts of the city, tender grass sprouts also sprouted in front of the unnamed tombs of the two generations of Yishou Tinghou, Yu's father and son, and Chang Xi.
