Outside Duyang City.
After a brutal battle, corpses in various postures were lying in various positions inside and outside Duyang City. Scarlet blood gathered in one place and flowed to a lower place.
A pungent fishy smell filled the air.
The soldiers dragged their tired bodies back and forth, carrying away the corpses on the ground and cleaning the battlefield.
Chen Yu was busy commanding, and he felt that he had a part of the credit for the victory of this battle. At least he was fighting side by side.
Jia Xu stood at the door, waiting for Zhang Xiu's arrival.
This battle not only tested Zhang Xiu's combat ability and leadership ability, but also tested the mutual trust between the two.
It also highlights Zhang Xiu's unique ability to adapt to changes in circumstances and remain calm on the battlefield.
This proves that he is an excellent commander.
Not long after, Zhang Xiu came over on horseback.
When he saw Jia Xu standing at the city gate from a distance, a smile appeared on Zhang Xiu's lips. He knew that Jia Xu had completely returned home this time.
"Xu meets my lord!" When the war horse came to the door, Jia Xu clasped his fists and saluted respectfully.
This gift was earned by Zhang Xiu with his life.
Zhang Xiu felt completely at ease when he heard that Jia Xu addressed him from 'general' to 'lord'. He happily accepted Jia Xu's gift. After the ceremony, he supported Jia Xu and said, "This battle is the end of the battle." A great start to our planned program.”
Thinking of the later plan to occupy Yongzhou, Jia Xu's heart became hot.
When Zhang Xiu occupies Yongzhou, he will become a prince in the world.
Jia Xu said: "Xu is willing to pursue a great cause with my lord!"
Wei Yan didn't know their plan, but he could tell from their conversation that Zhang Xiu had already formulated a long-term strategic direction.
He didn't understand the strategic direction, but he knew that there were still many opportunities for him to make contributions.
Only in war can the value of a general be reflected.
Zhang Xiu looked at the huge arrow tower built by Yu Jin and asked curiously: "Is this what Cao's army used to attack the city?"
Jia Xu said: "It is crudely made, but it is a powerful weapon for attacking the city. Fortunately, our army is good at shooting, otherwise it would be dangerous to block Yangcheng."
Zhang Xiu nodded and looked at the ladders used in ancient sieges.
It is no different from the ladders of later generations. It is stronger and more durable. Even if it is hit by a rolling stone, it may not be broken.
Looking at the ladder, Zhang Xiu thought of the catapult, a weapon for siege, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
If he could build a catapult, he would be invincible when attacking Wuguan and Chang'an.
He immediately asked Jia Xu: "Why didn't Cao's army use catapults when attacking the city?"
Jia Xu smiled and said: "It was the general's letter that worked. Cao Cao was careless in underestimating the enemy and did not even think about fighting a tough battle. If my guess is correct, Cao Cao is planning to surround Wancheng and not attack. He will not leave." In one month, our army will surrender."
"Is it because of the food?"
Jia Xu nodded.
This is the consequence of not being firmly established. The local powerful do not trust Zhang Xiu and do not provide food and grass. There is no food in the treasury. If there is a protracted war, the first problem they will face is lack of food.
Fortunately, Liu Biao funded him, otherwise this battle would have been difficult to fight.
At this time, groups of Cao's soldiers were tied up with ropes and entered Duyang City. The weapons and armor of all the soldiers were confiscated.
Hu Che'er came on horseback.
He dismounted and said happily: "My lord, there are more than 56,000 soldiers surrendered in this battle, which can be said to have broken Cao Cao's muscles and bones."
These are all veterans of the battlefield, each of them valuable.
Zhang Xiu smiled and looked at Jia Xu: "Uncle, how much grain, grass and war horses do you think fifty-six thousand people can get in exchange?"
Jia Xu immediately understood and said: "At least 10,000 war horses and 200,000 shi of grain will be obtained." Then he explained: "Last year, Cao Cao appointed Ren Jun as Diannong Zhonglang General, and he promised to cultivate the fields, and there would be a lot of grain. Otherwise, there would be a lot of grain." He cannot feed his army of hundreds of thousands."
Zhang Xiu nodded: "Then write a letter to Cao Cao and ask him to redeem his 56,000 soldiers, but -" Zhang Xiu pointed to Duyang City and said, "-Duyang City belongs to us in Nanyang Gate, let these 56,000 people build the city wall and then send them back."
Jia Xu nodded.
Zhang Xiu said: "Write a letter to Cao Cao, saying that I, Zhang Xiu, am willing to make peace with him and invade each other, and then tell him that we are short of food, and his more than 50,000 people will starve to death without food, and ask him to send 50 thousand people immediately. Thousands of stones of food will come."
"Five hundred thousand shi of food?" Hu Che'er's eyes widened, "Will Cao Cao give it to me?"
Zhang Xiu smiled and said: "It's a bargain! It's at least 300,000 dan."
At this time, Li Tong came back.
Zhang Xiu immediately greeted him. This was their great hero.
Li Tong jumped off his horse, knelt down in front of Zhang Xiu and said guiltily: "My lord, Tong failed to retreat Cao's army and returned without success. I am ashamed of my lord's trust."
Zhang Xiu laughed loudly and helped Li Tong up, and said seriously: "Wenda is the one who made the greatest contribution to this battle. If we had not broken the city, Cao Cao would not have been so hasty that he only focused on attacking the city, ignoring the tail, and was captured by me. "
As he said this, everyone laughed.
Chen Yu was left behind to lead the men to clean up the battlefield, while Zhang Xiu led his men back to Wancheng.
As soon as he returned to Wancheng, Zhang Xiu's face became gloomy.
The powerful nobles in Wancheng gave him a huge gift.
A thick pile of letters concerning collusion with Cao Cao was placed on Zhang Xiu's table. The pile of bamboo slips was one meter high.
Although this result had been expected, when the fact happened before his eyes, anger arose in his heart.
Hu Che'er shouted angrily: "Don't worry, my lord, I will go get them and behead them all."
Saying that, he was about to go out.
Zhang Xiu slapped the table and glared at Hu Che'er sharply.
Hu Cheer was so frightened that he lowered his head and said nothing.
Jia Xu asked: "What do you think, my lord?"
Zhang Xiu took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and then exhaled with a relieved smile: "Before the war, I couldn't protect myself, let alone these nobles who have no soldiers and no power? Cao Cao is a big tree, they want to hug this tree Why is it wrong for a big tree to survive? Hu Cheer, do you think they are wrong?"
Hu Che'er hesitated and couldn't answer.
Zhang Xiu stood up, walked to Hu Che'er, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a vicious and fierce look in his eyes: "Go to these nobles and tell them that I, Zhang Xiu, will invite the powerful nobles of Wancheng to this dinner."
Then he turned back to Jia Xu and said, "Uncle, let's see who among these nobles is the most flattering."
Jia Xu nodded and smiled: "Perhaps it is more effective to kill the chicken to scare the monkey."
Zhang Xiu said to Wei Yan: "Chang Wen, lead fifty swordsmen and axemen to the left and right. I want to show these nobles some color."
Wei Yan took the order and went out to prepare.
…
Nanyang County, Rangcheng.
Gan Ning was lying leisurely on the bed, with his legs crossed and grass in his mouth, enjoying himself leisurely.
At this time, Su Fei ran in in a panic and said in surprise: "General Gan, Zhang Xiu actually defeated Cao Cao's 150,000 army!"
Gan Ning got up with a cry and looked at Su Fei suspiciously: "Brother Su, could this be a joke?"
Su Fei said: "How dare I lie to the general? The whole Nanyang County knows that Zhang Xiu's soldiers hid in Han Mountain and came out from behind Cao's army. They killed Cao's army and fled without their helmets."
"Oops!" Gan Ning jumped out of bed in surprise and pain, "If I had known that General Zhang could win, I would have defected to General Zhang. I can make a lot of achievements in this battle."
Zhang Xiu posted a notice recruiting brave soldiers in Nanyang, and Rangcheng also posted it.
At that time, Gan Ning predicted that Cao Cao would definitely send troops to conquer Zhang Xiu. Due to geographical reasons, after leaving Duyang City, Zhang Xiu's troops were approaching Xu Du.
Cao Cao would not allow Zhang Xiu's 20,000 cavalry to exist.
At that time, Gan Ning concluded that Zhang Xiu could not withstand Cao Cao's military strength. Surrender would be a matter of time and there was no need to recruit new soldiers to resist.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiu actually defeated Cao Cao.
For a moment, Gan Ning admired Zhang Xiu, but also regretted his short-sightedness.
He had no choice but to rely on Liu Biao.
When he came to Jingzhou, he found out that Liu Biao, one of the Eight Horsemen, was not trained in military affairs. In today's world of strife and war, Liu Biao's lack of military training would inevitably lead to failure.
I had long thought of leaving Liu Biao, but I had not thought of the next step.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiu of Nanyang could defeat Cao Cao's army, and he was eager for talents, which happened to be what he wanted.
Su Fei said: "General Gan, it's not too late for us to defect now! With the general's talent, will General Zhang turn him away?"
Gan Ning nodded excitedly: "Hurry up and call the eight hundred brothers to gather together. Let's abandon Liu Biao and go to Zhang Xiu."
