The closer you get to the north, the colder it gets.
Sitting on the top of the city wall of Chenshui Pass, Xu Mu, wrapped in a large cloak, felt that his whole body was soaked with chill.
On the way to the reinforcements, he almost fell off his horse when he received the news that Lao Huang had died on fire. But in the end, he still followed the advice left to him by Lao Huang and launched a surprise attack on Chen Shuiguan to block the retreat of the victorious army.
"My lord, in the pass of Chenshui City, Military Advisor Qingfeng has hidden several dead soldiers."
Hearing this, Xu Mu looked up in shock.
In front of him, the three or four dead soldiers brought over by Chen Sheng were already kneeling and clasping their fists, sobbing.
"I'll wait to see my lord."
"Get up." Xu Mu's voice trembled, "Qingfeng... Mr. Qingfeng has left you here, but has there been an arrangement?"
Xu Mu knew very well that these people were most likely dead soldiers of the Huang family and were extremely loyal.
"My lord, this is the handwriting left by your master. If your lord cannot enter the city in three days, we will burn it."
Xu Mu hurriedly took the handwritten letter, and there was an unconcealable sadness in his chest.
When Lao Huang set fire to the city at Chenshui Pass, he thought that the gate would be riddled with holes. However, after entering the city, Xu Mu discovered that the burned areas were only insignificant corner walls.
"In addition, although some food and supplies were burned, in fact, sir, I still left three places to bury food, which is enough for my lord to dispatch for two months."
Hearing this sentence, Xu Mu could no longer hold back and burst into tears.
After all, Lao Huang's intention was to make a surprise attack on Chenshui Pass and garrison to block the retreat of the Beiyu people. Although we could choose other places on the Changsheng side, it would take a longer detour, and it was snowy winter, which would seriously delay the march.
"Thank you to all the martyrs."
Xu Mu spoke seriously and was about to reward him.
Unexpectedly, the three or four dead soldiers shook their heads in silence.
"The master has left. I and the others say goodbye to the lord. Although the master took note and asked us to serve the lord... But no matter what, the master and the others only survived because the master sent us food. The road to Huangquan is cold, I'm afraid The master will not be well protected."
"No-"
As soon as Xu Mu's voice shouted, three or four dead soldiers had already bitten the poison under their tongues and died in front of them.
Xu Mu trembled and closed his eyes.
"Brother Sheng, these martyrs... are buried alive and well."
It is no exaggeration to say that the Kezhou Huang family is equivalent to the benefactor of Western Shu. If you gain a kingdom in the future and are rewarded based on your merits, there will definitely be a place for the Huang family!
"Send someone back to Chengdu and secretly tell Li Tao that Ma Xiu in the general hall is my nephew from today, Xu Mu. Send three more secret guards to protect him for the rest of his life, regardless of life and death. If anyone deceives me, , I, Xu Mu, will definitely take responsibility without mercy!"
Ma Xiu, formerly known as Huang Zhixiu, is the second son of Lao Huang.
…
At this time, Chang Sheng, who was riding on a horse on the snow in front of Chenshui Pass, had a heavy look on his face.
In front of him, Chen Shuiguan had been burned by fire. No matter how much he thought about it, he could not have expected that at this time, Xu Mu, the king of Shu who broke out, actually made a second surprise attack and captured Chen Shuiguan. The nearly 100,000 troops they gathered were tightly blocked outside the pass.
"General Zhao... left some people to garrison before, but not many. Maybe he didn't hold it——"
"Shut up!" Yan Pi was furious, and one of the generals who was about to speak was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head and confessed.
I often win and close my eyes for a long time.
He finally understood that Qingfeng had actually set a trap for him before he died. Killing two snakes with one rod was not considered a success. He only killed one Qingfeng and even compensated Jiang Meng.
In addition, even the road back to the north was blocked by the Shu people.
"Don't be anxious, little military advisor. You can go back just as easily by going around from the direction of Lizhou." Shentu said hesitantly. The king of Shu broke through the encirclement, and he had great responsibility, but fortunately, the little military advisor did not punish him immediately.
Chang Sheng sighed, "Shen Tujiu, what you can think of, do you think King Xu Shu didn't think of it? Of course, you can turn back towards Lizhou, but you must not forget that it is snowy winter now. March from there. To turn back, we have to walk at least several hundred miles, and it will be cold and snowy all the way, and many people may die. Moreover, if the march speed slows down, we will not be able to return to Lizhou in time. I am worried that... the lame people will seize the opportunity. "
Many of the nearly 100,000 troops were drawn from Lizhou.
"Military advisor, otherwise, we will break through Chen Shuiguan!"
Chang Sheng was silent, not knowing how to answer for a moment. Logically speaking, King Xu Shu, who had just broken through, should not be able to defend Chen Shuiguan in front of him.
But he felt that if Qingfeng dared to keep this hand, he might have already arranged it.
For a long time, Chang Sheng raised his head, looked at the level in front of him, and finally made up his mind.
"Send the order and set up camp outside the city first. Wait for me to make a plan and attack Chenshui Pass!"
If we turn back from Lizhou, it will take more time, and more people will freeze to death halfway. And the most important thing is that the army has to retreat hastily without fighting, which will eventually cause the morale to plummet.
"The military advisor has ordered us to camp where we are!"
It’s not comfortable to camp in place under the snow. However, the opportunity was lost, and Chen Shuiguan has been changed hands.
"Qingfeng, what a great plan in the world."
…
"Lord, the Beiyu Army has camped outside the city."
At the top of the snowy city, Xu Mu didn't have any panic. After carefully putting the handwritten letter left by Old Huang into his arms, he silently raised his head and looked at the scene outside the city.
Previously, Lao Huang was a lone army, but now, it is his turn. The difference is that compared to Lao Huang last time, thanks to the snowy winter weather, it will be easier to defend the city.
"Brother Sheng, send more men to patrol."
There were no common people in Chenshui Pass for a long time. When Lao Huang was stationed, he distributed a round of relief food and sent the people out of the city gate as a strategic city.
In various places in the city, Shu soldiers stationed there also started repairs.
Again, relying on the cold winter, even if there are only more than 10,000 people, it is not necessarily easy for Chang Sheng to capture Chenshui Pass.
"By the way, Brother Sheng, how about Fan Lu?"
"General Fan Lu has returned to Muyun Prefecture. He will definitely start to recruit troops according to the Lord's military orders. In addition, the long bows will be left there and will definitely cooperate with General Fan."
Xu Mu nodded solemnly.
The war in Kezhou has gradually become clearer now. The deaths of Lao Huang, Ma Yi, and Jiang Meng seemed to have jumped into another stage with the death of the main generals fighting between the two sides.
Xu Mu turned his gaze to Dingzhou to the northwest. The battle in Kezhou is about to come to an end, and the ever-victorious army is blocked here again.
Now, Dongfang Jing, who stayed in Dingzhou, would definitely try his best to make a surprise attack on Lizhou. What we are fighting for is the time to return to the army with a victory.
Of course, the premise of everything is to guard Chenshui Pass and prevent Chang Sheng from taking a shortcut and rush back to Lizhou.
