The dim sun is hidden in the thick dark clouds, the gray weather arrives unexpectedly, the wind and sand are wrapped in a choking breath, which makes people breathless, and there is still a messy rain in the sky...
Xu Zongwen, who had finished resting in Fu Yang, personally led the army to the boundary of Pengcheng. After more than 20 days, the main force of the Jin army and the partial divisions finally successfully joined forces under Pengcheng. Now the 50,000-strong army is like a forest of swords and guns, and the armor is like a cloud. The flags under Pengcheng cover the sky. The waves are turbulent, the Jin army is in good order, and its morale is like a rainbow!
The entire city gates in Pengcheng have long been surrounded by water, and not even a bird can fly out, let alone people.
"Your Majesty, you have lived up to your mission and arrived as promised. You are here to return your mission."
Xu Zongwen is dressed in armor and is very handsome. In addition, he has gone through battles, and his face has a heroic spirit. His sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes are aggressive. His pure eyes cannot tolerate a grain of sand. He also has a brave figure and an eight-foot-tall figure. He looks majestic and outstanding!
"Okay! Okay!" Zhu Xu said "good" three times in a row. He stepped forward and looked at Xu Zongwen carefully. He saw that his skin color had become much darker and his stature had become stronger. He was very satisfied.
"Zong Wen, I didn't expect that I only gave you one or two thousand troops at the beginning, but now you have such a climate!"
"Quickly introduce these people to me!"
Xu Zongwen then introduced Pei Qing, Shen Yu, and Zheng Lue one by one, and also mentioned the promotion of several people to official positions. Zhu Xu waved his hand and said: "These are all meritorious ministers. I will appoint them myself. They are still useful." What are you doing to trouble the Governor?"
"Thank you so much, envoy!" Everyone clasped their fists in thanks.
"This Shang Pei Xia Qing, also known as Fuji, was once a meritorious officer of Xiapi County, and now he is his subordinate Duwei Sima. His subordinates marched west from Tancheng, and all the cities they destroyed along the way relied on Mr. Fuji's repeated efforts. A strange plan..."
Xu Zongwen specially introduced Pei Qing and told Zhu Xu his four strategies for destroying the city word for word.
"Sir, you are a wise man. Sima, the mere captain, is too talented!" With Xu Zongwen's recommendation, Zhu Xu also thought highly of Pei Qing and did not dare to look down upon him.
Pei Qing naturally heard Zhu Xu's solicitation, and he replied with a smile on his face: "You are a surrendered minister, and I am really flattered to be praised by the captain and valued by you!"
In a pun, Pei Qing ranked Xu Zongwen, who had a lower official position, at the front, implying that Zhu Xu, at least for now, had no plans to find another job!
The Jin army set up camp under Pengcheng, arranged military tents, and prepared for a protracted war with Pengcheng.
The Jin army's supplies of food and grass can be deployed from the front line of Surabaya, so they are not afraid of fighting with the Qin army defending Pengcheng. Moreover, the counties and counties recovered by the Jin army can also raise food and grass nearby. A 50,000-strong army can besiege Pengcheng for a year and a half. .
The Qin army watched the Jin army gathered on the city wall. The military tents were densely covered with stars, and the soldiers were like sea water. They could not see the end of the army at a glance. They did not know that the Jin army only had 50,000 people, because wherever there was no one behind them, no matter the mountains, they were invaded by the Jin army. It was filled with flags, creating the illusion of hundreds of thousands of troops besieging the city. This was arranged by Zhu Xu before Xu Zongwen came to Pengcheng.
Now, Xu Zongwen brought another 20,000 troops under the nose of the Qin army. The Qin army thought that the Jin army was still adding troops one after another, and it was already a little restless!
The main tent of the Jin army.
Coach Zhu Xu took the main seat, headed by Xu Zongwen on the left, followed by Captain Sima Peiqing, Shen Yu, Zheng Lue, Zhuge Kan, Tian Luo and Zhang Gui, and on the right by Pingbei General Xu Yuanxi and others. General Zhu Xu took his seat one by one.
After Zhu Xu's main army entered Xiapi, he collected grain, grass and ordnance, sailed north along the Surabaya River, captured Xiaqiu, Suiling, Xiaxiang, and Qilu cities along the way, and defeated Lu County, Wuxian County, and Xiaoxian County of Pei County in Yuzhou. In the city, the army abandoned the ship and marched eastward, defeating the Qin State Pingnan General Zhang and occupying five thousand vanguards, and marched to surround Pengcheng.
So far, Zhu Xu's main army has been besieging Pengcheng for more than ten days. In other words, when Xu Zongwen set out from Tancheng, Pengcheng was already surrounded and completely isolated from the outside world. Because he did not know the strength of the Jin army, Qin Pingnan General Zhang Ju had no idea. Taking the initiative, they just kept sending scouts to break out and deliver messages, but it was all in vain and they gave away lives in vain.
Fu Lang, the governor of Qingzhou in the north of Xuzhou, was a soft man with a wine bag and rice sack. Zhang Chong, the governor of Yanzhou in Xingyang, was busy planning with Fu Pi, the governor of Jizhou who was stationed in Yecheng, and Fu Hui, the governor of Yuzhou who was stationed in Luoyang, how to deal with Murong Chui who was forcibly crossing the Yellow River and preparing to return north. The army, not to mention King Fu Jian of Qin, the two brothers Murong Hong and Murong Chong were fighting the autumn wind near Guanzhong, which made him exhausted mentally and physically!
Which one is free to relieve Xuzhou's siege?
The answer is obvious, Xuzhou has become an abandoned son of Qin.
"Everyone, it is not a long-term solution to always besiege without attacking. Who is willing to be the vanguard and open the way for the army tomorrow?" Zhu Xu didn't talk nonsense. The situation between the enemy and ourselves was clear at a glance. Shouldn't he wait for the enemy to surrender without attacking the city?
Xu Zongwen had a plan in mind for a long time. He was the first to step forward and asked for orders: "Envoy, let me lead my troops to test the reality of Pengcheng for the army first!"
"Good! As expected of Zongwen, he is young and promising, he dares to take on responsibilities, he is a man!" Zhu Xu admired Xu Zongwen very much, and Xu Zongwen had won consecutive battles along the way, and indeed he had achieved great results.
"Your Majesty, the last general is also willing to lead the army and capture Pengcheng for your Majesty!" Pingbei General Xu Yuanxi did not want to be suppressed by Xu Zongwen. After Xu Zongwen, he also left the table and asked to attack Pengcheng.
One is his beloved general who was personally promoted, and the other is a veteran who has guarded the border for many years. Zhu Xu looked troubled and hesitant!
Pei Qing came forward and whispered to Xu Zongwen for a while, and then Xu Zongwen said something that surprised everyone!
"Your Majesty, I would like to issue a military order. If Pengcheng is not breached within three days, please behead me!"
"Ah! Brother you!" Shen Yu and Zheng Lue couldn't sit still. The battle hadn't even started yet, so why did their own family fight so hard first?
Zhu Xu didn't expect that Xu Zongwen had such a strong temper. Why didn't he see it before? This kid actually still has a hot temper?
The most difficult situation now is not Xu Zongwen, but Xu Yuanxi. A cavalry captain is so determined to fight, but he, a veteran with a second-grade Pingbei general on his shoulders, actually lags behind in morale?
"Your Majesty, the general is also willing to issue a military order and we will capture Pengcheng within two days!" Xu Zongwen's face sank and he said fiercely through gritted teeth.
Zhu Xu laughed loudly: "Okay, our army's morale is like a rainbow, and the city is just around the corner." With everyone's expectations, Zhu Xu paused and continued: "Since both of you are willing to be the vanguard, then I will make the decision, and tomorrow it will be Xu. How about the general attack the city first, and if he fails, then Lieutenant Xu will attack the city instead?"
"I obey the general's order!" Everyone stood up and bowed their hands in salute.
As for the military order, Zhu Xu didn't mention a word. After arguing for a long time, Zhu Xu acted as a peacemaker, and the two of them took turns to be the vanguard, which saved a lot of worry!
When the generals left the tent, Xu Yuanxi took the lead and squeezed Xu Zongwen to leave the Chinese army tent. Xu Zongwen smiled politely, this is true!
At this time, the relationship with Xu Yuanxi was finally forged. I remember that during the Battle of Feishui, Xu Zongwen fought side by side with Wang Xian and Xu Yuanxi. Now, hey!
In fact, Xu Zongwen didn't want to. It was Pei Qing's idea to ask Xu Zongwen to propose the military order first. Xu Yuanxi was stimulated and could not lose his dignity. He would definitely follow suit and push Xu Yuanxi out to fight with the Qin army for a while to give the Qin army a try. Strength, this way Xu Zongwen's troops will have an extra chance of winning when they attack the city!
It has to be said that in order to win, Pei Qing did whatever it took to achieve his goal. This time, not only the enemy forces, but also the friendly forces were tricked by Pei Qing.
General Pingbei's military tent.
Several captains were gathering next to Xu Yuanxi and scolding Xu Zongwen.
The first captain said: "I heard that Xu Zongwen, the captain of the Bird Cavalry, turned out to be a ninth-grade Sesame Army Sima. If he hadn't been favored by the emperor and given him a sentry, and let him be the vanguard to regain Xuzhou, how would he have had the chance to stand? In front of the general? Look at what he did today. In order to compete for credit, he did everything he could. He is truly a villain!"
Another captain said disdainfully: "He deliberately provoked the general to ask for orders today. He probably expected that the general would not be content with others, so he used the method of provoking the general to force us to attack the city for him first. His mentality is vicious and his methods It is really unheard of to do this, and it is rare in the world."
Another captain continued: "He, Xu Zongwen, has 20,000 men and horses, so he is not afraid of attacking the city. But my army only has 7,000 men. If Pengcheng cannot be taken within two days, not to mention the loss of men and horses, we will still be here." You have lost face..."
The shouts and curses of the generals were buzzing in Xu Yuanxi's ears like a swarm of bees, making him more and more irritable!
Xu Yuanxi quickly stretched out his hand to stop him and said: "Don't say a few words. Xu Zongwen can attack cities and strongholds all the way, and it is not easy for him to accumulate military merits. Now that we have agreed to the vanguard issue, we should quickly pass on the order and make preparations. Cheer up and attack the city tomorrow!"
"promise!"
Pei Qing's plan is that once Xu Yuanxi's troops are fighting with the Qin army in Pengcheng and are in a stalemate, he will directly ask Zhu Xu for help without taking into account anything else. By then, the Qin army will be tired and the Jin army's morale will be high, so they will definitely be able to capture it. City wall!
As long as Pengcheng can be captured at the minimum cost, Zhu Xu will not care about anything. As for Xu Yuanxi, as long as he sends more gold, silver and silk, is he afraid that he will not be able to silence them?
Moreover, Xu Zongwen also hides a powerful siege weapon that can make the Qin army in Pengcheng helpless...
