National color raw owl

The Tianshan Army stopped their attack on Hezhou City, and set up camp outside the city, surrounding Hezhou City. The defenders of Hezhou, who had fought hard for several days, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then even Zhu Lingyue sent people to the city to shout, not to ask the city to surrender, but to propose that the two sides send a small number of people to take back the bodies of their respective soldiers who died in battle.

From the time when Dahua was destroyed and the heroes began to fight for hegemony, an unspoken rule has been formed. Once the battle is over, both sides will send people to take back the corpses of their respective dead soldiers after negotiation. There are strict regulations on the number of corpse collection teams sent by both sides , and in the process of cleaning up, even if there is a great hatred, the corpse collection teams of the two sides cannot have any conflicts, let alone draw their swords at each other.

It's just that when the heroes are fighting for hegemony, when the corpse collection team is collecting corpses, there is an extremely cruel rule. Although the two sides cannot take action against the other party's corpse collection team members, if they see that the enemy has soldiers who are still alive when they are cleaning up Even if the enemy soldier is dead, just in case, you can also add a few knives to the vital parts of the corpse. This matter is extremely cruel, but it has also become a weapon on the battlefield. rule.

Both the Tianshan Mountains and the Xiguan Army sent corpse collection teams. Although before the establishment of the Qin Kingdom, the rules for killing corpses on the battlefield were unimpeded, but this time the corpse collection teams of both sides stopped this method by coincidence. , most of them are soldiers of the Tianshan Army, while a small number of corpses of the Xiguan Army fell from the towers and fell into the city. However, there are still a small number of soldiers of the Tianshan Army struggling among the dead. The corpse collection team of the defenders did not take any action, nor did they stab any of the corpses of the enemy soldiers.

Seeing that the defenders were like this, the Tianshan corpse collection team naturally treated them in the same way. They each took back the corpses of their comrades in arms. The soldiers looked very dignified.

The defenders resisted for several days in a row, and the losses were extremely heavy. Not only was Hezhou City severely damaged, but the casualties also exceeded a thousand. Such a casualty ratio was not small.

The corpses of the soldiers were placed in the city, covered with a white cloth, and as far as the eye could see, it was all white.

Although the Tianshan Army stopped attacking, the generals defending the city, including Han Ying, did not dare to take it lightly. On the one hand, they asked the logistics team led by Huang Yutan to seize the time to repair the city head and gates, and on the other hand, they continued to prepare materials and do a good job. Preparations for the next round of battle to the death.

The atmosphere in the city was very depressing. Most of the soldiers were exhausted after fighting for several days. Han Ying could only take this opportunity to let some people patrol and monitor and pay attention to the movement outside the city, while other soldiers took the time to rest.

Han Ying's eyes were already covered with bloodshot eyes, and his face was smeared with blood. The Tianshan Army had attacked the top of the city several times. It was Han Ying who led the crowd to resist and forced the opponent to the top of the wall. He himself was also injured in many places. , but still persevered.

"Mr. Pei, I'm afraid it won't last long." Sitting on the stone steps at the top of the city, Han Ying said with a wry smile: "They have enough siege weapons and too many troops. Our Hezhou City is dilapidated everywhere. They are now If you don't attack, I'm afraid you will have to bring stones from other places, and then attack again...!" He clenched his fists, but did not continue.

Pei Ji stood on the edge of the broken battlements with his hands behind his back, looked at the enemy camp in the distance, and said slowly: "General Han, I think they want to besiege the city!"

"siege?"

"Zhu Lingyue has enough food and grass, but we are different." Pei Ji said slowly: "Although Shuoquan brought food, there are 10,000+ soldiers and civilians in the city, and they consume a lot of food every day. Zhu Lingyue surrounded Hezhou City. All the main roads have been blocked, not to mention food, even a single soldier, it is difficult to come over."

Han Ying sighed: "Zhu Lingyue came too fast. We defeated Beishan, and Beishan paid tens of thousands of shi for grain. Before the grain could be shipped to us in Shuoquan, Zhu Lingyue called... What you said is very true, I Looking at the current situation, the governor of Chu must not lead troops to help, strengthen the defense of Shuoquan, and fight Zhu Lingyue in Shuoquan."

"General Han, if Zhu Lingyue really wants to besiege Hezhou City, instead of attacking, and wait for us to run out of food, what do you think we should do?" Pei Ji kept looking at the continuous barracks of the Tianshan Army in the distance, without looking back. .

Han Ying was startled, then clenched his fists and sneered, "The big deal is that there will be no food, so I will rush out of the city and die in battle!"

"Chu Du will not want you to die here." Pei Ji said slowly: "Chu Du stays you here not to let you wait to die here, but to let you live."

Han Ying sighed: "Sir, I also want everyone to live, but... But in the current situation, we can only fight Zhu Lingyue to the end...!"

"You are right just now. Even if Hezhou City is lost, Shuoquan can still hold on." Pei Ji pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "Shuoquan is the first city in the northwest, the city is strong, and the food in Beishan should also be After being sent to Shuoquan, with a strong city and sufficient food and grass, perhaps Zhu Lingyue can really stand in a stalemate to the end. Zhu Lingyue won Hezhou, and then went to Yuezhou to fight Shuoquan. The logistics supply line will be greatly expanded. Although he has enough food and grass, if it takes too long, he may not be able to last forever."

Han Ying stood up, walked to Pei Ji, and said: "Sir, if this is the case, then we must fight to the end here to buy time for the governor of Chu, and we will consume Zhu Lingyue here first, and wait until Zhu Lingyue hits Shuo. Quan, the pressure on Governor Chu will be much less."

Pei Ji turned his head slightly, looked at Han Ying, with a calm expression, and asked softly: "General Han, in fact, you and Chu Du have not known each other for long, why are you willing to defend Hezhou City for Chu Du?"

Han Ying was startled, unexpectedly Pei Ji would ask such a question suddenly, his brows were frowned, thoughtful, and after a while, he asked back, "Why do you stick to this place, sir?"

"You should know that Chu Du is my sworn brother." Pei Ji said: "It is only natural that I entrust my life to him."

"Sir, you're right. I haven't had acquaintance with Governor Chu for long." Han Ying said slowly: "But the scholar died for his confidant. Governor Chu handed over Hezhou City to me at the beginning. It was a great trust. I can't I have failed him. And...to tell you the truth, sir, my background, sir should be clear!"

Pei Ji nodded and said, "You are the former subordinate of General Yu Buqu!"

"That's right." Han Ying nodded and said, "I followed the old general through life and death, and even came to the northwest with the old general. After the old general left, the Zhu party was popular in Xiguan, eliminating dissidents, and Xu Shao was framed by Dongfang Xin At that time, I also knew that Dongfangxin's hand would reach out to me sooner or later." After a pause, he said slowly: "If it wasn't for Chu Du, I would have been wandering outside like Xu Shao. Or even your life is not guaranteed...!"

Pei Ji didn't speak, but just looked at Han Ying.

"Chu Du is not only my superior, but also my benefactor, and... Chu Du's deeds in Xiguan prove that he is a person who really wants to do things for the people." Han Ying sighed: "When the old general was alive, he He often teaches us that when we are soldiers fighting wars, we must keep in mind that everything is for the common people to live a good life, and if you don’t want the common people to live a good life and go to war, then you are a bandit, a robber, and you are not worthy of being called a soldier at all!"

Pei Ji nodded and said: "The old general's words are pearls, true and even reasonable!"

"So since Governor Chu is only thinking about the people, I will swear to the death for both public and private affairs. If I really die for this, I can see the old general under the nine springs, and I can also explain to the old general with my neck up. Han Ying put his hands on the battlements and looked at the enemy camp in the distance: "Sir, as long as there is one soldier in the city, we will fight bloody to the end and never give in!"

Pei Ji raised his hand and stroked his beard, and said with a smile, "General Han is really loyal and courageous." After a pause, he said, "Even if you die in battle, you can't die in Hezhou. General Han, I'm going out of the city!"

"Leaving the city?" Han Ying was startled, not knowing what Pei Ji meant, frowned slightly, and finally said: "Now that Hezhou City is besieged on all sides, it is difficult to leave the city... But if you really want to leave, sir, the troops in the East City are weak, and there are still people in the city." There are hundreds of cavalry, Xu Shao can lead the cavalry and lead the gentleman to break out from the east city...!"

Pei Ji laughed out loud, Han Ying was wondering, but Pei Ji smiled and said, "The general thought I was afraid of death and wanted to abandon the city?"

"Don't dare!" Han Ying hurriedly said: "Mr. misunderstood, Mr. leads the army well, even if they stop the Tianshan Army in Shuoquan, Chu Du still needs the help of a master like Mr....!"

Pei Ji shook his head and said with a smile, "General Han, if Chu Du wants to achieve great things, he can't do without a brave and loyal general like you...!" Lowering his voice, he said, "We can't die here and fight Zhu Lingyue to the end. Naturally, it is imperative, but we are not in Hezhou... We have to leave here alive, and then find a chance to fight Zhu Lingyue!"

"Leave?" Han Ying frowned and said, "Sir, we are surrounded on all sides, how can we leave? And if we leave at this time, wouldn't we be surrendering Hezhou City?"

"Be willing to give up, sometimes you can get something by giving up something." Pei Ji raised his hand, patted Han Ying's shoulder lightly, and said in a low voice: "General, get ready, we should be leaving Hezhou City in two days. Let the soldiers prepare first, but don't let them know that we are leaving, so as not to disturb the morale of the army."

Han Ying was a little confused, but he knew that Pei Ji was Chu Huan's first assistant, and that Pei Ji looked unusually calm, so he wondered if this low-key gentleman had a new strategy?

After pondering for a while, Han Ying still asked, "Where are you going, sir, when you leave the city?"

Pei Ji stroked his beard and said softly, "Go and meet our opponent!"

"Ah?" Han Ying said in surprise, "Mr., you are going to see them at this time? Then... that's not going to happen. It's too dangerous. Even Chu Du is here, and he will never agree."

"Don't worry, general, I know what to do." Looking up at the sky, he said, "After dark, I will leave the city."

"Sir...!" Han Ying tried to persuade him again.

Pei Ji waved his hand and said, "Don't worry too much, general, as long as you keep the city temporarily, I have my own countermeasures."

"Then... Mr. That is really going, so he needs to send more people to accompany him...!"

"No need!" Pei Ji laughed and said, "I just need to bring Qin Lei with me!"