Sizhou, Chenggao.
October 20th.
The heavy snow in the sky has completely covered the ground. This kind of winter snow has not fallen in Sizhou for several years.
Such winter snow generally indicates that there will be more rain next year.
However, Liu Yu had no time to appreciate such a beautiful snow scene.
In the camp in the city, Liu Yu was receiving messengers from Luoyang asking for help.
"Is Wang Dun defeated?"
After Liu Yu read the letter, he already knew that the Hun Emperor Liu Cong had led tens of thousands of troops to surround Luoyang.
However, this letter did not explain the more detailed ins and outs. What is more important is that the person who wrote this letter was Xun Song, the prefect of Yingchuan of Jin Dynasty, not Wang Dun, the commander-in-chief of the Jin army.
After hearing Liu Yu's question, the messenger of the Xun family in Yingchuan also replied unequivocally.
"It's not that we were defeated, we just escaped!" the messenger said angrily.
"Escaped?" Liu Yu was surprised when he heard the result.
"Impossible. I heard that the elite cavalry from the front of the Hulu have arrived in Luoyang, haven't they? Wang Dun has not only infantry, but also a large number of accompanying people and civilians. How can he escape?"
If Wang Dun just led his army to escape, the Huns cavalry might not dare to pursue him, or even if they pursued, they might not be able to win.
However, Wang Dun retreated south with tens of thousands of people. How could the Huns cavalry not pursue him?
You know, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when Liu Bei led his army and the people to retreat southward from Jingzhou, Cao Cao's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry completely taught him how to escape in tears.
"Wang Qiaoqi is indeed a famous person, so he naturally has his own methods!"
This messenger from the Xun clan in Yingchuan immediately told Wang Dun's method of retreat.
Wang Dun first led his troops out of the city to garrison, leaving only Du Zeng and Xun Song to defend the city.
He led his army to station on the south bank of Yishui River to protect the food route. Then he first sent some infantry to escort the common people to retreat south. Wang Dun personally led his army to station in Yishui River with a clear banner.
Several subsequent sneak attacks by the Huns' cavalry were defeated by Wang Dun.
The Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong only wanted to defeat Wang Dun, and he stared at Wang Dun's main force on the other side of the Yishui River like a pack of wolves.
However, Wang Dun secretly played a trick. He ordered people to beat drums in the military camp to demonstrate. The Huns army knew clearly that it was a demonstration, but they did not dare to attack the camp.
The drums were beating almost continuously for days!
Two or three days later, Wang Dun quietly ordered people to tie dozens of sheep upright, and tied drumsticks on the sheep's back. The tied goats kicked their legs randomly in panic, just in time to hit the goats underneath. The drums were beating loudly.
After hearing the continuous beating of drums, the Huns army did not notice anything strange. Wang Dun immediately used his guide to lead the way and led his army to abandon the camp and flee south overnight.
By the time the Xiongnu leader Liu Cong discovered the deception, the army led by Wang Dun had already withdrawn nearly a hundred miles south.
The Xiongnu Hulu who went to pursue them were ambushed again in Xincheng. Although the losses were not heavy, they did not dare to pursue them anymore.
After hearing the words of the Xun family messenger, Zhao Kun, the guard general next to Liu Yu, took a breath of cold air and couldn't help but speak.
"Huh? Why does this trick Wang Dun used sound so familiar?"
"Of course I'm familiar with it. Isn't this the strategy in the "Thirty-six Stratagems" published in Linzi?" Li Feng, the governor of Yuzhou on the side, rolled his eyes.
"Oh, yes, I asked you why it is so familiar. In this case, Wang Dun has read this book a long time ago!" After Zhao Kun said this, he immediately asked Liu Yu.
"Your Majesty, this "Thirty-Six Strategies" was compiled by Your Majesty himself. He thought it was used by the army to prepare for war. It should have been kept secret. Someone must have leaked it. Otherwise, how could Wang Dun learn so much? !”
"Your Majesty must investigate this matter strictly! This is a huge leak!" Zhao Kun said with a solemn expression.
"Yes, Your Majesty, we must investigate!" Li Feng, the governor of Yuzhou, also said.
After Liu Yu heard what these two people said, he didn't care too much about leaking secrets.
The book "Thirty-Six Strategies" was actually written by him based on his original impression and some suggestions from his staff counselors after seeing that many soldiers in the army were literate but could not read any advanced military books. A simple reader.
Apart from the overview at the beginning, most of what is left are some simple prints and stories.
If this kind of thing is considered a leak, it would be too difficult to investigate.
After all, almost the entire Han army has read this 'Book of War', and at least one-third of them directly own this book.
It would be completely normal if one or two copies, or even eight copies out of ten, were circulated.
However, the speaker has no intention, but the listener has intention.
After hearing the conversation between the two, this descendant of the Xun family in Yingchuan had already silently memorized the name of this 'book of war' in his heart.
"Thirty-Six Stratagems?"
"Even the Cavalry General Wang Dun copied the strategies in it. When we go back, we must let Brother Jing You search for a few copies and study them carefully!"
Liu Yu didn't care about this kind of thing at all. What he was most concerned about was the current situation in Luoyang.
After all, half of the Yingchuan Xun clan is in his camp, and he also wants to win over the remaining strong-willed Xun Song.
"Is the situation in Luoyang very dangerous now?" Liu Yu asked.
"Very dangerous!" the messenger replied very solemnly.
"What's the crisis?"
"The previous city wall of Luoyang was in ruins and had not been repaired properly."
After hearing these words, Zhao Kun and Li Feng curled their lips, who asked you to secretly learn our "Stone Cannon".
"Moreover, there are not enough soldiers and civilians in Luoyang City. If the barbarians take turns attacking the city day and night, they will not be able to support it for long!"
"What if we withdraw our troops and return eastward?" Liu Yu suggested.
"After all, Luoyang is already an empty city at this time. Since we can't defend it for a long time, why not withdraw our troops and return to Yingchuan?"
The messenger shook his head, "Your Majesty may not know that when Wang Dun led his army out of Luoyang, he had taken away almost all the horses. Now Xun Jingyou has almost all infantry in his hands."
"If you have to trek hundreds of miles in the cold winter snow, you will have no choice but to be killed by the barbarians."
Liu Yu knew that this made sense.
After thinking for a moment, he said to the messenger.
"Luoyang can no longer be defended for long. I can go to assist Xun Jingyou in withdrawing his troops and returning eastward."
"You go back and tell Xun Jingyou that I will lead my army to Luoyang tomorrow. Xun Sikong helped me. I have no reason to sit back and watch Xun Jingyou be destroyed at the hands of the Hulu."
The messenger was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately kowtowed.
Zhao Kun, Li Feng and others next to them all looked worried after hearing Liu Yu's words.
After the messenger left, Zhao Kun finally couldn't help but ask.
"Your Majesty, our army currently only has 20,000 soldiers and horses in Chenggao. The barbarian Liu Cong's army has at least 70,000 or 80,000, and may be more. How can we support Xun Song's withdrawal?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, once we encounter the barbarians, it will definitely be a big battle. The strength of the troops is really huge, so we must think twice!" Li Feng, the governor of Yuzhou, couldn't help but said.
Just a few days ago, Liu Yu allocated some of his troops to go north to Jizhou.
Because news of the six hundred-mile emergency had arrived, Lord Tuoba Xianbei, Tuoba Pugen, led an army from Shengle to attack Xinping, Mayi and other places in the name of honoring King Sima Bao of the Jin Dynasty. Liu Yu immediately ordered the king of Youzhou to Zan, Sun Wei and others sent troops to rescue.
"Now that the river is not frozen, I can let the navy go up the river and meet on the north side of Mang Mountain. Even if the battle is unfavorable, we can retreat unscathed, as long as the river is not frozen."
"Xun Song has at least 20,000 soldiers and horses in Luoyang City. I can't just watch them die."
After hearing Liu Yu's words, Zhao Kun, Li Feng and others stopped talking.
=·=·=·=·=·=·=
Luoyang.
When the envoy brought back the news that Liu Yu had agreed to send troops to assist the Luoyang defenders, Xun Song finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As for why he trusted the Qingzhou Han army so much, Xun Song didn't know the reason, but he felt much more at ease when he heard that Liu Yu was going to lead his troops in person.
Maybe this is because of the confidence brought by the Qingzhou Han army's repeated victories.
"Fortunately, we have a way out!" Xun Song immediately became happy.
Xun Song's staff, generals and others all calmed down when they saw the general's confidence.
However, Du Zeng, the governor of Xiangcheng next to him, was a little uneasy.
“Mr.
When the Xiongnu and Han army arrived, Du Zeng, the governor of Xiangcheng, wanted to frustrate the Hulu and led his troops to attack. However, he won first and then lost. Not only did he lose many soldiers and horses, but Du Zeng himself was also killed. It was an arrow wound.
After hearing Du Zeng's question, Xun Song, the governor of Yingchuan, smiled softly.
"Liu Jixing is a talented general. He has never been defeated against the barbarians for several years. Brother Du Xian, don't worry."
After hearing Xun Song call him 'Brother Du Xian', Du Zeng couldn't help but beam with joy, as if he had been greatly praised.
Xun Song originally had no good impression of Du Zeng, who came from a rough background, but when the Hulu army arrived outside Luoyang City, all the generals in Luoyang City were trembling with fear, almost to the point of being frightened.
Only this Du Zeng was not afraid of powerful enemies and led his elite troops out of the city for a surprise attack.
Although he was finally defeated back in the city, Du Zeng's losses in killing the enemy were not embarrassing.
As a result, Xun Song, who was born into a noble family, began to take this reckless person seriously.
"Since Mr. Xun is so sure, of course I believe it!"
Du Zeng felt in a good mood, almost happier than when he was promoted to the county guard by Wang Dun.
This is Xun Song, the Xun clan of Yingchuan, who is famous all over the world. He actually calls himself his younger brother, which is simply too shameless.
At this time, Du Zeng, the governor of Xiangcheng, suddenly thought of something, and his face immediately darkened again.
"After evacuating Luoyang, as soon as I return to Xiangcheng, I will go to Wang Dun and have a good argument!"
"You are so shameless, leaving Duke Xun and us in a desperate situation here."
"General Du thought it was simple. If you dare to go to Wang Qiaoqi, you will never come back." Another general with the title of general said.
"Yes, if you ask me, just don't look for Wang Dun at all! If you do, let's go directly to the King of Jin and ask him to make a fair judgment!" Another general said angrily.
"Hey, there are two Jin Kings now. I don't know which one you want to find?"
"What's so difficult about this! Of course, we will go to the King Jin who will uphold justice for us!"
Not long ago, news came from Qinzhou that Sima Bao, King of Nanyang, had proclaimed himself King of Jin in Tianshui, Qinzhou, just like Sima Rui of Jiangdong, who supervised the country as King of Jin.
After hearing the general's words, everyone burst into laughter.
Everyone feels that the overall situation in the world now is really magical!
The rebels who overran and proclaimed themselves emperor included Hulu and Qingzhou bandits, and they were divided into two parts: the Eastern and Western Han Dynasties.
The clan's legacy overseers were Sima Bao and Sima Rui, and they were divided into two Jin kings, one in the east and one in the west.
After everyone learned that Liu Yu, the leader of the Han Dynasty in Qingzhou, was going to personally lead his troops to rescue them, they immediately swept away their previous gloom and relaxed slightly.
However, this relaxed mood did not last for many days.
In the next two days, the Huns and Han troops outside the city built many simple siege tools.
The Jin people sent from Hedong County were regarded as the first batch of consumables to consume the arrows and energy of the defenders.
The two-day offensive not only consumed thousands of people from Hedong, but also consumed a lot of energy from the defenders.
The general Xun Song did not dare to relax at all, and he ordered the deployment of manpower to use the night to heighten and reinforce the gap that had been repaired.
After the tower carts built by the Xiongnu and Han troops were erected, they continued to attack for several days.
In such repeated offensive and defensive battles, more than half a month passed quickly.
As the Xiongnu and Hulu attacks became more severe day by day, the Jin army in Luoyang City finally couldn't bear it any longer.
"Mr. Xun, when will these Qingzhou soldiers arrive!?"
"Yes, Mr. Xun, if the Qingzhou soldiers don't come again, we have to find a way to retreat as soon as possible. Otherwise, once the river in Luoshui freezes, the Hulu will be completely free to travel!"
After Xun Song heard the questioning of these generals, he felt irritated. Now the Luoyang defenders had too few reserves. As time went by, maybe the Huns and barbarians had not yet broken through the city, and the defenders would starve to death.
By then, even escape would be impossible.
"Everyone, please be at peace. Even if there are no Qingzhou soldiers and horses, won't we still be able to defend it well!"
"What's more, the Hulu are now unable to defeat the city. Whether it's a chariot, a ladder, or a tower chariot, they've all been defeated by you!"
Although Xun Song was a little anxious in his heart, he still wanted to boost everyone's morale.
After hearing Xun Song's words, these generals felt a little relieved.
Because what Xun Song said was too true, no matter what methods the Hu Lu used, the Luoyang city defense was still too difficult for the Hu Lu to deal with, so they could only risk their lives.
Suddenly, a primary school student ran in in a panic and shouted in a panic-filled tone.
“Mr.
When Xun Song heard this, he immediately stood up.
"Elite Hulu!?"
""
