From Xiaoguan to Hangu Pass, it is 531 kilometers.
After Xiao Guan sent troops, Zhang Xiu ordered the entire army to march at the fastest speed for ninety kilometers every day without taking off their armor or horses. Finally, on the night of the sixth day, shortly after Cao Cao retreated, Arrive at Hangu Pass.
The vanguard Huo Jun led 3,000 cavalry to arrive at Guancheng first.
Ji Ling and Fa Zheng greeted him at the foot of the city.
Huo Jun turned over and dismounted, clasping his fists at Ji Ling and Fa Zheng: "General Ji, Fa Zhengjun, our lord is still more than thirty miles away from here. Let's wait a moment. You two stick to Hangu Pass. Thank you for your hard work."
"Where there!"
Seeing the reinforcements coming, Ji Ling was relieved of the heavy burden on his shoulders and smiled easily, "I've heard about Xiao Guan. Compared with over there, I'm doing pretty well here."
Fazheng did not express his bitterness, "The current situation is all thanks to my lord, who went north to attack Hetao, flanked Huchuquan, and put down the Xiongnu army. Compared with your lord, our achievements are like fireflies."
"You two are so humble."
While the three of them were chatting, Zhang Xiu led an army to rush in, and the dust was billowing.
Ji Ling's sharp eyes saw the Huns cavalry at once, and he looked at Huo Jun in surprise: "Has the Huns army surrendered to the lord?"
When Fazheng heard this, he immediately looked over and saw a group of people in different clothes galloping behind Zhang Xiu.
Huo Jun smiled and said: "Huchuquan has surrendered, and the Xiongnu cavalry is led by Liu Bao, the Xiongnu Zuoxian King."
Ji Ling and Fazheng were amazed.
My lord is really like a god. The Huns who originally occupied one side and led their army southward actually surrendered completely after the first battle and handed over all their military power.
Zhang Xiu, riding a green colt, was the first to arrive at Guancheng.
Following on the right is Liu Bao, the Xian King of Zuo, and on the left is Gan Ning.
Ji Ling and Fa Zheng immediately stepped forward and knelt down to greet him: "General, I will pay homage to my lord!"
Zhang Xiu immediately stood up and dismounted, helped Ji Ling and Fazheng up, and said with a smile on his face: "I already know about Cao Cao's offensive today. I really did not misjudge the person. If you hadn't held on to Hangu Pass, I'm afraid this battle would have been doomed." When he said this, He took the two of them by their wrists, smiled affectionately and said, "Let's go, let the city defense soldiers rest tonight, and let General Liu Bao do the work."
Liu Bao behind him was stunned for a moment.
City defense is equivalent to handing over the lives and fortunes of everyone in Hangu Pass to Liu Bao's hands. For a mere general, Zhang Xiu actually dared to entrust such important defense to him. He was both moved and puzzled.
Ji Ling and Fazheng were also stunned for a moment.
After all, Liu Bao was the Zuoxian King of the Huns and had an alliance with Cao Cao before. Ji Ling said quickly: "My lord, although the brothers are working hard, they are not unable to defend the city. They came here at night, so they must have worked hard. Let us leave the city defense to us."
Zhang Xiu smiled and said, "You don't have to worry. I have always trusted those I employ and those I have doubted. Since I have chosen to trust General Liu Bao, I won't have any doubts. Wasn't it the same when I hired you?" Have you ever let me down?"
As he spoke, he held their wrists with a smile and walked towards the city.
Liu Bao was left standing there in a daze, recalling Zhang Xiu's clear and sincere words just now in his mind: "I have always trusted those I employ and rejected those I doubt."
After being stunned for a moment, Liu Bao waved his hand, "Switch defense!"
That night.
Liu Bao, wearing armor and a crescent sword hanging from his waist, stood on Guancheng, looking blazingly at the Cao army's camp in front of him, when a Hun captain sneaked over.
"Wise King!"
Liu Bao frowned, turned around and saw that it was a cavalry captain under his command, "What's the matter?"
"Wise King, now Zhang Xiu has handed over the defense of Hangu Pass into my hands. This is the way to die. Prime Minister Cao's 100,000 troops are outside the city. As long as we communicate secretly and open the city in the middle of the night, Zhang Xiu can Catch him alive." The captain looked excited.
Liu Bao's brows furrowed even more tightly: "You and I are now Zhang Xiu's generals, how can we do such a rebellious thing? Don't mention this matter again, otherwise, we will kill you!"
"Wise King!" The captain said unwillingly, "Are you just willing to grovel and be driven by others? Now that Zhang Xiu is short of soldiers and horses, it is the time when he needs us, so he can persuade us and make use of us until we lose our use value. , can he still treat us the same as he does now?"
Just when Liu Bao was about to retort, the captain lowered his voice and said sternly: "Has the wise king forgotten the saying of the Han people: Those who are not of my race will be punished!"
Liu Bao was stunned in place as if struck by lightning.
When the captain saw the opportunity, he immediately added fuel to the fire: "If we join forces with Cao Cao to defeat Zhang Xiu, we can seize the land in Guanzhong. By then, won't all the glory and wealth be ours?"
After a long time, Liu Bao gritted his teeth and looked at his subordinate: "How to contact Prime Minister Cao?"
The school captain said: "But here is a letter. I would like to secretly go down to the city and send it to the prime minister."
Liu Bao's eyes narrowed slightly: "Okay! I will write a letter immediately and you will deliver it."
After saying that, the two hurried down to the city.
In the city, Zhang Xiu temporarily stayed.
Five people came out of the darkness and knelt down respectfully in front of Zhang Xiu's door.
"Come in!"
Zhang Xiu's calm voice came from inside the door.
Five people pushed open the door and entered.
These five people are the five brothers of the Chen family in Nanyang. The five brothers are all rare martial arts talents. They all have the standard wasp waist, mantis legs, steel and iron bones. They were selected into the hidden guards and became various members. The stall owner.
After the five brothers entered the room, they knelt down respectfully.
The room was lit with lights. Zhang Xiu was wearing a black gown, holding a brush and slowly practicing calligraphy. After writing a vigorous and powerful word "必", he said, "Is there any news from Liu Bao?"
"Yes!" This was Chen Da's voice, which was a little hoarse. "Liu Bao wrote a letter and asked his captain Tartuo to take him out of the city to Cao Ying."
Dare to hand over such important city defense to Liu Bao, Zhang Xiu naturally has his own defenses.
"Um!"
Zhang Xiu nodded, "You guys go down first and keep watching. I want to see what tricks Liu Bao and Tartu are going to play, Chen Wu!"
Chen Wu: "Lord!"
"Go and tell all the officers and men in the army to keep your armor from your body and your horse from its saddle tonight, and be prepared for emergencies at all times."
"Here!"
After everyone retreated, Zhang Xiu put down his pen, walked to the entrance of the boat and looked at the sky.
Suddenly, Hu Che'er came over and said, "My lord, Liu Bao asked to see you. He said he had something important to report."
Zhang Xiu was startled.
I thought about it carefully, then grinned: "Let him in."
Not long after, Liu Bao hurriedly walked in and entered the door. He glanced sideways and saw Zhang Xiu writing calligraphy in front of the desk. He immediately cupped his fists and arched his waist and said: "My lord, I will report military information at the end."
"Say!" Zhang Xiu's voice was calm.
This plain voice made Liu Bao feel panicked, and his mouth felt dry for no reason. He swallowed his saliva and said: "The captain of the last general, Tartuo, wants to plot against Cao Cao and attack Hangu Pass tonight. "
After speaking, Liu Bao raised his eyebrows secretly.
But seeing Zhang Xiu's unsurprised expression, he was still writing calligraphy calmly, as if he hadn't heard the thunderous news. This made Liu Bao, who was already guilty, even more frightened, and his back was already broken. sweat.
