villain

Chapter 523 The Son of the Decisive Battle
Pengcheng, also known as Xuzhou in later generations.

It is known as the key of the northern kingdom and the gateway of the southern kingdom.According to legend, Zhuanxu's great-great-grandson Pengzu lived here.At the end of the Shang Dynasty, he died at the age of seven in 760.

The name of Pengcheng came from Peng Zu.

Pengcheng is in the lower reaches of the tributaries of the Huai River, with the old course of the Yellow River as the watershed, forming a northern water system with criss-cross rivers and densely populated lakes.

Since Liu Bei and Cao Cao joined forces, Cao Cao's defense area was divided by Xiapi, and 20 troops were entrenched at the junction of Donghai County and Xiapi State centered on Weishan Lake, and they were fighting with Dong Pi's troops.In order to show the sincerity of his alliance, Cao Cao gave up Pengcheng and asked Liu Bei to send troops and horses to guard it.This is equivalent to telling Liu Bei, Xuzhou's portal, I will hand it over to you for protection now.

In exchange, Liu Bei also generously handed over Donghai County and Langya County to Cao Cao's control, and Cao Cao allocated all the taxes in the county.

At this point, no one has the heart to intrigue.

Both Cao Cao and Liu Bei are very clear about the so-called principle that cooperation will benefit and division will harm.As long as there is no disagreement between the two of them, the covenant will not be broken.

Today, the guard of Pengcheng is named Mi Zhu.

Originally a big family in Xuzhou, he once had the credit for welcoming Liu Bei into Xuzhou.Liu Bei also trusted Mi Zhu very much, and even once thought of marrying Mi Zhu as his in-laws.It's a pity that Mizhu's younger sister, Mizhen, seems to be reluctant, so she ran away from home and hasn't come back yet.

It is said that Mi Zhu has a brother who is now doing business overseas and has quite a lot of money.

It's just that Liu Bei has never met this person. Since he took over Xuzhou, Mi Zhu's brothers have never returned to Xuzhou.However, from time to time people will send some gifts.If it is said that Liu Bei didn't trust Mi Zhu at the beginning.But almost ten years later, Mi Zhu did his best to Liu Bei. To a large extent, Liu Bei relied on Mi Zhu's financial resources to gain a firm foothold.

In the past, Liu Bei had many available people under his command.

But up to now, the dead are dead, the descendants are descending... Wu is no more than Zhang Yan and Wang Fei, and writing is no more than Sima Lang Mizhu.As for Jushou, although he surrendered to Liu Bei in name, after entering Xuzhou, he couldn't figure it out.When Yuan Shao passed away, Jushou also died of a hunger strike.

Although his reputation was compromised, his integrity still remained, which was considered to be his loyalty to Yuan Shao.

Liu Bei was extremely distressed, but there was nothing he could do.Now, he can only use Mizhu to guard Pengcheng for him and protect Peiguo's flank.

The spring rains in the sixth year of Taiping were particularly abundant.

The drizzle, like silk and fog, shrouded the sky over Pengcheng, giving people an extremely depressing feeling.

After Mi Zhu inspected the city defense as usual, he returned to the mansion.After changing a piece of clothes, I sat alone in the hall, meditating in silence.

How time flies!

Twenty years ago, Dong Bi took away his brother and threatened him with this, so Mi Zhu had to seek refuge with Dong Bi.In the past 20 years, Mi Zhu has been terrified, always worried that one day, his identity as an insider will be exposed, and no one in the Mi family will survive.

Sometimes, he gritted his teeth and forgot that he was a neijian, and assisted Liu Bei in running Xuzhou.

Only Mi Zhu knows the pressure inside... In the past, there was a Mi Long beside him... Oh, that person is actually Dong Long, who talked with him, analyzed, and shared the pressure on Mi Zhu.But now, Milong has retired and returned to Chang'an.

Mizhu was the only one left in Xuzhou. Who would know how sad it was?

Now, the war is coming to an end...

But Mi Zhu became more and more nervous.He knew very well that at such a time, he couldn't relax his vigilance and show his flaws.

Who knows how many Liu Bei's eyes and ears are there in Pengcheng?

Get it over with!
Whenever he thinks of this, Mi Zhu feels like going crazy.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Mi Zhu felt tired.He stood up and was about to go back to his room to rest when he heard a commotion outside.

"Miwei, why are you making so much noise?"

Miwei is the son of Mizhu, who is just as young as the crown, and his characters are young and simple.He has practiced good martial arts since he was a child, and now he serves as a school under Mi Zhu's tent.

Hearing Mizhu's question, Miwei hurried out to watch.

After a while, Mi Wei ran back excitedly, "Father, who do you think I saw just now? Second Uncle, it's Second Uncle!"

Mi Zhu's head buzzed, his eyes widened, and he looked at Mi Wei.

"What did you say?"

"It's really Second Uncle... Although I was still young when Second Uncle left, I can recognize that Second Uncle hasn't changed much."

"He, where is he?"

Mi Wei said: "General Shi Ren said that he caught the second uncle while patrolling the city. He suspected that he was a spy and planned to take him back for interrogation."

"You...have you ever revealed any flaws?"

"Ah!" Mi Wei thought for a while, "I wanted to shout, but my second uncle stopped me. He just nodded at me and didn't speak."

Although he didn't see Mi Fang with his own eyes, the friendship between the two brothers for many years, in Mi Zhu's mind, Mi Fang's appearance at that time can emerge.

Mifang is here!

This means that King Liang is ready to attack!

Mi Zhu lingered in the lobby, pondered for a moment and said, "Mi Wei, you should know about your second uncle's situation these years. We should act... Your second uncle came back suddenly this time, and he must have conveyed this to me. Meaning. Well, you immediately mobilize your confidants and guards to follow me."

As the successor of the Mi family appointed by Mi Zhu, Mi Wei naturally knew about Mi Fang.

He nodded immediately, "I'm going to gather people right now!"

Seeing Mi Wei walk out, Mi Zhu suddenly let out a sigh of relief.The depression in my heart disappeared without a trace in an instant.

******
At the end of March in the sixth year of Taiping, Liu Bei was fighting fiercely with Chen Dao's troops in Peiguo.

The two sides started a tug-of-war with Peixian as the center.It is impossible for Liu Bei to repel Chen Dao... Similarly, it is very difficult for Chen Dao to take down Liu Bei immediately.Although a steady stream of soldiers and horses arrived, it was difficult to deploy them all in the narrow space of Peiguo.From the first month to March, the two sides fought non-stop, and there would be a large number of casualties every day. Pei County was riddled with holes.

However, just when the two sides were evenly matched, an amazing news came from Xuzhou.

Nanyang has fallen!
Wu Ju, the prefect of Nanyang, after learning of Liu Biao's death, was lobbied by Kuai Yue, so he switched to surrender to Pound, and Runan fell into siege.When Liu Bei heard this, he couldn't help but feel panicked.But before he could react, Shamoke, under the leadership of Cai Mao, attacked from Qisi (now Huaibin, Jiangsu), smuggled across the Huai River, and attacked Shouchun by surprise, cutting off the connection between Jiangdong and Xuzhou in one fell swoop.

Shouchun is not only the gateway from Pei County in Runan to Jiangdong, but also the granary of the army in Runan and Pei County.

It's just because before that, Shouchun was under the care of Sun Ce, and Liu Bei didn't invest too much troops there.Now that Sun Ce is in Jiangdong, he cannot protect himself, so naturally he is unable to take care of Shouchun.Liu Bei originally wanted to wait until he had survived this wave of attacks before making arrangements for Shouchun.

Unexpectedly, at this juncture, Shamoke actually captured Shouchun.

Liu Bei immediately ordered Sima Lang to preside over the battle in Peixian County. He personally led an army of [-], with Guan Xing, the son of Guan Yu, as the vanguard, and went straight to Shouchun, trying to take Shouchun back into his hands.Along the way, Liu Bei was in a hurry.The sooner Shouchun is regained, the sooner the morale of the army can be stabilized.

The loss of Shouchun is not only in Pei County and Runan, but also crucial to the entire Xuzhou battle.

Because, if the Guanzhong army can gain a firm foothold in Shouchun, the next step will be to attack from Shouchun, attack Guangling, and seize Xiapi Kingdom.

Damn Dong Bi, why is it so difficult to deal with?
Before that, Liu Biao lost Jingbei in ten months, and the entire Jingzhou fell into the hands of others, which also put Runan at a disadvantage in the battle.

Now, Shouchun is taken again...

Thinking of this, Liu Bei clenched his fists involuntarily.

"Where are the pioneers now?"

The lieutenant of the military school hurriedly replied, "The major general passed through Shansang yesterday, and it is estimated that he has arrived at Chuihuiju at this time. According to the major general's speed, it is estimated that in three days, he will be able to cross the Fei River and approach the city of Shouchun."

Liu Bei was quite satisfied with Guan Xing's speed.

"An Guo acts vigorously and resolutely, as expected, he is like a father!"

A move in my heart, but sadness arises from my heart.Before he knew it, Liu Bei thought of his sworn brother again, and couldn't help crying like rain.

If Yun Chang was still around, how could I be in such a mess?

Thinking of this, Liu Bei only felt sad and lonely in his heart.There were three sworn brothers in Taoyuan in the past, but now he is the only one left.Not to be born in the same year, the same month and the same day, but to die in the same year, the same month and the same day, still lingering in my ears.The third brother, Zhang Fei, has long since become a dead bone, and himself...

Yunchang, Yide!
Don't worry!
Liu Bei gritted his teeth and shouted in his heart: "Just wait for my brother to avenge this bloody sea of ​​blood, and I will definitely go to Jiuquan to find you and wait for a reunion."

At this time, someone nearby asked: "My lord, Zhuyi is ahead. Do you want to inform Xiapi and ask for reinforcements... The soldiers withdrew from the battlefield and marched for a whole day. They are very tired. Why don't we go to Zhuyi tonight? How about taking a rest and replenishing the supplies and supplies?"

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, but felt quite reasonable.

This is in Xuzhou, adjacent to Xiapi, and it is our own territory.Presumably there will be no accidents, and it is reasonable to take a break.

Thinking of this, Liu Bei nodded in agreement.

He ordered people to rush to Xiapi immediately, and asked Xiapi to escort the food and grass, and come to Zhuyi to meet.

Then, the army arrived in Zhuyi in the evening, set up camp, buried pots and cooked rice.After these days of fierce fighting, Liu Bei also felt exhausted.After setting up his soldiers and horses, he turned back into the big tent, put down his clothes, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

This time, he slept for a full two hours.

Liu Bei was awakened suddenly by the commotion, turned over and asked sharply, "Come here, what happened outside?"

A personal guard came in immediately, bowed and said: "My lord, you are soldiers and horses from Xiapi, and you have been ordered to escort food and supplies to Zhuyi."

"Well!"

Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief, and also felt that he was a little frightened, and the grass and trees were all soldiers.

"Send someone down to make arrangements, let everyone rest early, and leave for Shouchun at about [-] o'clock tomorrow."

The personal guard immediately went down to make arrangements. After Liu Bei slept, he felt much better, so he stood up and asked someone to bring food.

Unfolding the map, Liu Bei looked at the map while eating, lost in thought.

I don't know what's going on, my eyelids are twitching, as if something is going to happen.Liu Bei put down his bowl and chopsticks, got up and walked out of the tent.

At this time, it was already late at night.

The soldiers who were escorting the heavy food and grass were also settled. The soldiers rested early, only to hear the sound of fighting, echoing in the silent night.

Liu Bei rubbed his cheek vigorously to make himself more awake.

Maybe it's really crazy...

What can happen here near Xiapi?Turning around, Liu Bei was just about to return to the army tent.But at this moment, flames suddenly appeared in a corner of the barracks.

When Liu Bei saw it, he couldn't help frowning, "Send someone to check it, don't be careful, the water is gone."

His personal guards led away, and Liu Bei stepped into the military tent.But suddenly trembled, and felt a chill rushing out along the spine.

wrong!

I issued an order in the afternoon, why did Xiapi escort the food and grass so quickly?
The reaction of Xiapi was too quick...

Liu Bei picked up the horse at the entrance of the army tent and rushed out of the tent, "Quickly order someone to check, and take down all the people who escorted the luggage!"

As soon as the words fell, more than ten flames appeared in the camp.

Immediately afterwards, the Xuzhou army in the camp panicked, and more and more places, flames appeared, and they were connected together in a short while.The entire barracks quickly turned into a sea of ​​flames.There were shouts of killing everywhere, and the wailing and crying sounded more and more continuously.

"It's an enemy attack, an enemy attack... Gather your troops immediately!"

Liu Bei got on his horse and shouted loudly.

A group of men and horses came out from the flames.The leading general, with golden helmet and armor, and a golden coat under his crotch, is majestic and majestic, just like a god.

"Liu Bei, traitor!"

The general immediately shouted, "Pengcheng has been broken, and Xiapi Kingdom has fallen into the hands of King Liang. Huang Zhong is here, why don't you dismount and surrender?"

(End of this chapter)