Only then did Guan Yu realize that the problem was with him, and he beat his feet and sighed: "I have fallen into the traitor's scheme. Now that I have lost the nine counties of Jingzhou, how should I look when I see my brother?" Huang Shumin suggested: "I My top priority is to escape the enemy's encirclement, return to Chengdu safely, and then make plans."
Guan Yu calmed down a lot and said, "Where is my fourth brother?"
Huang Shumin said: "Lei Chunze has already set off. He should meet the young master and will return soon."
Zhao Lei, the governor in charge of food supply, said: "The situation is not that critical now. We can send people to Chengdu for help on the one hand, and attack Jingzhou by land on the other."
Guan Yu knew that he had to bear the main responsibility for the loss of Jingzhou. When his advisers suggested that Jingzhou could be attacked, Guan Yu immediately agreed to the suggestion and sent Ma Liang and Yi Ji to Chengdu with written letters to ask for help, and at the same time took the remaining soldiers with him. The horse drove towards Jingzhou, leading the front team by himself, leaving Guan Ping and Liao Hua behind.
After the siege of Fancheng was relieved, Cao Ren brought all the generals to see Cao Cao. He burst into tears and asked for a punishment. Cao Cao comforted him: "This matter is God's fault, not your fault." Not only did Cao Cao not punish the generals, he also rewarded the three armies. He personally went to Sizhong Village to check the situation, and turned around and said to everyone: "Jingzhou's soldiers and horses are here. With so many antlers set up, under such circumstances, Xu Huang was still able to penetrate deep into it and achieved a great victory. I have been in the military for more than 30 years and I have never dared to go deep into it like this. Xu Huang's courage is outstanding."
After hearing this, everyone was filled with admiration. Cao Cao's squadron was stationed in Mobei. Xu Huang arrived with his troops. Cao Cao personally came out to greet him. When he saw Xu Huang marching in line, there was nothing wrong. Cao Cao was very happy and said: "Xu Huang The general is really as majestic as Zhou Yafu back then!" So Xu Huang was named General Pingnan, and he and Xiahou Shang guarded Xiangyang to contain Guan Yu's troops. Because the situation in Jingzhou was still unclear, Cao Cao stationed troops in Mobei and waited for news.
Guan Yu led his soldiers and horses on the road to Jingzhou, neither advancing nor retreating. He said to Zhao Lei: "Now there is Wu's army in front and Cao's army behind. I am caught in the middle. What should I do if there is no reinforcement?"
Zhao Lei said: "When Lu Meng was in Lukou before, he wrote a letter and agreed that the two families would be better together and kill Cao's thieves together. But now he is helping Cao Cao to attack us. This is a betrayal of the covenant. The king can Station troops here first, send someone to send a letter to question Lu Meng, see how he responds, and then make plans."
Guan Yu had already lost his previous complacent attitude at this time, and immediately followed this suggestion and wrote a letter to send an envoy to Jingzhou.
Lu Meng issued an order in Jingzhou. As long as there are families of soldiers who followed Guan Yu in the expedition in various counties in Jingzhou, the Wu army will not be allowed to disturb them. They will be given money and food on a monthly basis. If there are sick people, doctors will be sent to treat them immediately. , created all good conditions, and the families of the soldiers felt the favor, so they became more at ease. Suddenly there was a report that Guan Yu had arrived, and Lu Meng went out of the city to greet him, treating him with the etiquette of a guest.
The envoy handed Guan Yu's letter to Lu Meng. After reading it, Lu Meng showed a helpless expression on his face and said to the envoy: "Actually, I have a very good relationship with General Guan Yu, but that is my personal trainer. The one who attacked Jingzhou today It happened because Wu Hou specially issued an order, and I had no choice but to go back and report to Guan Yu to express my apology." So a banquet was set up to entertain him, and then he was sent to Guanyi to rest.
When the family members of the army heard that the envoy had arrived, they all brought letters. Some were direct letters from home, and some were just a few words. They all said that the family was very good, the conditions were also very good, and there was no need to worry about it.
The envoy bid farewell to Lü Meng, who sent him out of the city in person. The envoy went back to see Guan Yu and conveyed what Lü Meng said. At the same time, he said: "In the Jingzhou city, the families of the princes and the families of other generals are all well taken care of." There are no problems with the care, and some conditions are even better than before!”
After hearing this, Guan Yu was very angry and said angrily: "This must be the plot of the traitor! I can't kill this traitor while I'm alive, but I will kill him even if I'm dead to avenge him!" After saying this, he dismissed the envoy.
The envoy walked out of the camp, and everyone came to ask about things at home. The envoy relayed everything one by one. Everyone knew that the family members were in good conditions in Jingzhou. Lu Meng was a very kind man. After seeing the letters from the family members, they all felt very happy and lost their fighting mood.
Guan Yu led his soldiers to attack Jingzhou, followed by sergeants. Many soldiers secretly returned to Jingzhou while walking.
Huang Shumin saw this and knew that this was Soochow's plan, so she went to Guan Yu and suggested: "Now Soochow has taken the initiative and won over the families of the soldiers. Many soldiers fled on the road, and the combat effectiveness dropped sharply. Let's retake it." Jingzhou is no longer possible. Even if we try our best to get Jingzhou, we will definitely kill a thousand enemies and suffer eight hundred losses. It is better to consolidate our forces and return to Xichuan as soon as possible, leaving the green mountains and not worrying about running out of firewood."
Guan Yu had already been dazzled by hatred and said: "I must kill this thief, you don't have to say it anymore!" After saying this, he dismissed Huang Shumin.
Huang Shumin had no choice but to continue to follow Guan Yu and other Jingzhou troops. Guan Yu also accelerated his march because of his anger.
Halfway through, there was a sudden loud shouting, and a group of people came out to block the way. The leading general, Jiang Qin, drew his gun and shouted: "Why didn't Guan Yu surrender earlier?"
Guan Yu cursed: "I am a military general of the Han Dynasty, how could I surrender to a thief?" He slapped his horse and wielded his sword, and attacked Jiang Qin. After less than three rounds of fighting, he was defeated. Guan Yu held the Qinglong Yanyue Sword and chased him for two more times. More than ten miles away, shouts suddenly started again. Han Dang led the army in the valley on the left and Zhou Tai led the army in the valley on the right. Jiang Qin immediately turned his horse around and attacked from three directions. Guan Yu quickly retreated. Halfway there, he saw Crowds of people gathered on Nanshan Hill. At the same time, a white flag was planted in the center with the words "Jingzhou native" written on it. Everyone called the fellow villagers to come out and surrender.
After Guan Yu saw it, he was very angry and prepared to fight up the hill. Two more troops rushed out from behind, Ding Feng on the left, Xu Sheng on the right, Jiang Qin and other three groups. Their shouts shook the ground and drums and horns roared, trapping Guan Yu In public, most of Guan Yu's soldiers surrendered, and fewer and fewer of them surrendered. They continued to fight until dusk. Guan Yu looked at the surrounding mountains. They were all soldiers from Jingzhou. They were calling for their brothers and looking for their father. The shouts continued, and the morale of the army was already gone. After hearing the sound, they all surrendered. Guan Yu could not stop him at all, and in the end there were only less than 300 people left.
At the third watch, there were shouts from the east direction. It was Guan Ping and Liao Hua who broke into the siege in two groups and rescued Guan Yu.
Guan Ping said: "Now that most of the soldiers in Jingzhou have surrendered, they must first camp in a city to wait for reinforcements. Although Maicheng is small, it can be garrisoned."
(End of chapter)
