The once majestic Pengcheng Fortress now only remains in ruins, and some scorched marks can be found vaguely in the ruins to glimpse the brutality of the past battle.
Chu people have a special feeling for this place.
The Chu State's strongest ace, Hu Xiaoying, fought hard in this area to the last soldier and successfully held back the Wei army. This allowed Sun Ce to escape from the siege of the Han army.
Standing on this land is like a pilgrimage, every soldier is solemn and solemn.
Ji Shu, Huang Gai, and Jiang Qin led their horses and walked slowly in front of the team. After leaving Pengcheng Fortress, there were two forked roads. One went north around Rencheng and Dongping, and finally reached the north of Xiaopei; It passes through Qiao County to the east and reaches the west of Xiaopei.
"Old General Huang, the scouts have come to report that the Han army has abandoned Qiao County, Dongping, and Rencheng, and has reduced its troops to Xiaopei. It seems that they will fight us there. Even so, your trip is You must be more careful when leading troops northward to occupy Rencheng and Dongping. Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu are not idlers, so there is no guarantee that they have not left any other means behind."
Stopping in front of the fork in the road, Ji Shu looked at Huang Gai and gave him careful instructions.
Huang Gai nodded slightly, indicating that he would pay more attention, and then said seriously.
"Don't worry, military advisor, I will definitely build a solid line of defense in the north so that you can fight Liu Bei with peace of mind. But I'm afraid that if the Wei army breaks the contract and kills like Liu Bei did, I will not be able to help but rush into Wei, which will ruin the military advisor's position." Strategy."
Haha~~
I never thought that General Huang would be so heroic!
Ji Shu and Jiang Qin looked at each other and couldn't help but smile. Ji Shu replied.
"Cao Cao and Liu Bei were just competing for interests, so Liu Bei defected in the face of greater interests. But Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao are different. Their hatred is no less than that of eldest brother and Liu Biao, and there is no possibility of them giving up."
"It would be extremely unwise for the Wei State to completely break up with us at this time. If the Wei army really comes to the border, it is just to contain and test us. General Huang just let it go. You want the Wei State to see a hungry, A tiger that has lost its mind, not a jumping sick cat.”
"But having said that, our army's goal this time is still to capture Xuzhou. Please remember eight words, the old general - 'When the enemy moves, we will be ruthless, and when the enemy is quiet, we will stop'."
Ji Shu's meaning is very clear. There is no need to be afraid of the Wei State, just fight when it's time to fight. You also need to remember that the focus of this battle is to capture Xuzhou.
After listening, Huang Gai clasped his fists and said clearly.
"So, Huang Gai knows what to do."
Having said that, everyone mounted their horses and prepared to embark on their own journey. At the end of the day, Huang Gai cupped his fists again and said goodbye.
"I wish the military advisor and the lord will win the battle and march into Xiapi. May the great Chu survive forever and be everlasting!"
Ji Shu and Jiang Qin solemnly returned the greeting with clasped fists.
"May Da Chu live forever and be everlasting!"
??????
In the scorching sun, a group of herons were hiding on one side of the river with their heads open, looking warily and curiously at the hurried pedestrians on the other side of the river.
Big drops of sweat fell from his forehead to his chin, and then fell to the hot ground and were instantly evaporated. There is a cool shade of trees on one side, but no one seems willing to stop and take a rest. No matter how tired the traveler is, he only goes to the river to grab a spoonful of water, drink a few sips, and then continue on his way.
It was as if there was some savage beast chasing them behind them.
Passing through the river valley, you can see a city standing in the distance - there is Xiaopei, the destination of countless travelers.
At this moment, Xiaopei City was crowded with people waiting to enter the city. Many of them had been waiting at the city gate since last night. But two hours had passed since dawn, and there was still no sign of the city gate being opened today. Everyone couldn't help but become anxious.
"My lord, when will the city gate be opened?"
The young man standing closer to the city gate spoke to the soldiers at the top of the city and asked.
Hearing the young man's words, everyone seemed to have opened up their chat boxes and started shouting towards the top of the city.
"Yes. Sir, it's already dawn, let us go in quickly!"
"My lord, please open the city gate quickly. We are all citizens under the rule of the King of Han."
"Master, the sun is too hot today, and my baby can't bear it anymore. Come on, please let us go into the city early."
Everyone's words to me are ultimately just a request, a simple request. But the soldier guarding the city gate did not dare to respond to this request. He hesitantly turned away from the man standing behind him.
Guan Yu's face was as dark as water, and he stood on the top of the city with his eyes closed, stroking his long beard. The voices of the people lingering in his ears were like needles pricking his back. Finally, Guan Yu moved slightly and squeezed out two words through his teeth.
"Kaicheng."
"slow!"
Before the soldiers could make any move, they were immediately stopped. The one who dared to block this order was Xu Shu, who was standing next to Guan Yu.
Xu Shu's face was also filled with unbearability, but he still bowed to Guan Yu to stop him.
"General Guan, think twice! Xiaopei was a small city with a population of only 60,000, but now it has exploded to a population of 160,000, far exceeding expectations. People are crowded, people are next to each other, eating, drinking, and diarrhea are difficult to solve. If If we allow tens of thousands more people to enter the city, I'm afraid the city will be in chaos without a fight before the Chu army arrives."
"Besides, the scouts this morning sent back news that the Chu army has arrived forty miles away. Now two hours have passed, but the Chu army has not arrived. Why? General Ruoguan opened the city at this time, and the people rushed in. Can the city gate be closed before the Chu army arrives?"
How could Guan Yu not know?
However, it was precisely because of the protection "promised" by the Han army that many people gave up their homes, crops, and hometowns, and moved to Xiaopei with their families.
Most of them did not carry much food. If they were allowed to go back now, they would starve to death on the road.
In order to survive, some of them may become thieves, just like the Yellow Turban Rebellion. With evil intentions, they will unleash the evil of human nature and commit horrific atrocities that they may never have imagined in their lives.
Zhuge Liang's strategy has completely gone out of control, and the people under the rule of the Han Dynasty are suffering now. How can Guan Yu bear it?
"Everything the military advisor said makes sense, but what I have learned all my life is the word 'righteousness'. Is it a righteous act to let the people be displaced and suffer so much? That's why I opposed Zhuge Liang's plan before, but my eldest brother listened to it. That's Zhuge Liang. What a shame! Now it's not just Pengcheng? The people of Qiao County, Rencheng, and Dongping are all my Han people, how can I stand by and watch? Kaicheng!"
"slow!"
Xu Shu's eyes were filled with tears and he stopped Guan Yu's order again. In principle, Xu Shu and Guan Yu were on the same level, and the soldiers didn't know whose advice to listen to, so they could only stand there in panic.
Xu Shu bowed deeply again and said to Guan Yu.
"General Guan disregarded his own safety for his benevolence and righteousness. Xu Shu deeply admired him. But if it was because of this that Xiaopei fell and the Chu army marched in, ruining the lord's plan, where would the righteousness between the king and his ministers and the righteousness between brothers be put in place? "
Guan Yu was silent, he let out a long sigh, and quickly went to help Xu Shu up.
"There is no need for the military advisor to do this. I will just listen to you."
As soon as Guan Yu finished speaking, he heard soldiers pointing to the horizon in the distance and shouting.
"Chu Army, Chu Army!"
Everyone quickly leaned against the wall and looked around. Sure enough, as far as the eye can see, there is a neat banner, with the cavalry in front and the infantry behind, and the surging waves are rolling in.
The city gate of Xiaopei became noisy, and some people shouted to guard the gate. Some people seemed to have understood that the city gate would not be opened to them again. Thinking of the terrible rumors about the Chu army, they hurriedly fled towards the distant mountains and forests.
Guan Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief for some reason, and he gave instructions to the soldiers.
"Let the people below the city flee quickly. The enemy has arrived and the city gate will not be opened."
"yes."
Soon, the people under Xiaopei City fled in different directions.
At this time, Guan Yu saw many fast horses chasing the scattered people from the front of the Chu army. He shouted while chasing.
"Folks, don't run away. Our Chu army doesn't kill people or set fire to it. Your houses and fields are still there, and the Chu army doesn't move at all. Folks, please go home quickly. Don't listen to the rumors of the Han army. If If you don’t have enough food on the way back, you can go to the Chu army’s camp to borrow it, and return it together with taxes after returning home during the Autumn Festival.”
The Chu army's shouting everywhere caused many people to stop, and the sound also reached Guan Yu's ears along the wind. While Guan Yu felt a little relieved, he also became more angry.
After an unknown period of time, the Chu army stopped five hundred steps away from Xiaopei.
Jiang Qin, Wei Yan, Su Fei, and Hou Cheng came forward with a young man wearing exquisite armor. This was the first time Guan Yu saw this man, but Guan Yu knew who it was.
"General Guan, are you okay?"
The enemy was extremely jealous when they met. Guan Yu glared at the young man in front of him and couldn't help scolding him in a rough voice.
"Ji Shu, you are so despicable!"
