Prancing Horse Xiliang

Chapter 288
To the north of Mianshui, there are continuous mountains.

Zhao Yun led five thousand soldiers from the east of the river and rushed out of the mountain pass. Looking back, the five thousand soldiers had completely become beggars.

Zhao Yun sighed, the Ziwu Valley path was too difficult to walk, even with a guide leading the way, it took more than half a month to get out of the mountain, and there were no fewer than a hundred soldiers who stumbled and fell off the cliff, which had a huge impact on morale. blow.

To put it bluntly, the five thousand Hedong soldiers have now become a tired army.

Such an army, not to mention attacking Nanzheng, might even have difficulty suppressing the bandits.

"Look, General!"

The guide who led the way pointed to the other side of the Mianshui River and said to Zhao Yun: "Cross the Mianshui River from here and go southward, ten miles to Dingyuan. Eighty miles west of Dingyuan is Chenggu, and there are more than [-] miles from Chenggu to Nanzheng. inside!"

Zhao Yun nodded, this is already the Hanzhong Plain, and I don't want to be more than [-] miles away from Nanzheng.

However, soldiers are precious and fast, and now is not the time to rest.

Zhao Yun only allowed the soldiers to rest for an hour, then crossed Mianshui and headed south quickly.

Since all the supplies and food and vehicles have been lost, the five thousand soldiers from the east of the river are traveling lightly. The soldiers only brought dry food for less than three days. When they arrived on the plain, they marched at an extremely fast speed, and it was not a problem to run a hundred and eighty miles a day. .

Of course, if there is no compensation, the five thousand soldiers from the east of the river will be disbanded after three days.

Zhao Yun couldn't afford to wait, so he didn't dare to delay. He led the army and marched lightly. He only rested twice in the middle. After a total of less than two hours of rest, he traveled more than a hundred miles in half a day and one night, and arrived in Nanzheng early the next morning. .

Nanzheng, Zhang Lu's official residence.

"My lord, something is wrong!"

The counselor Yan Pu rushed into the inner hall with a pale face, cupped his hands at Zhang Lu, and said: "The scout just found out that a Xiliang army passed through the Ziwu Valley trail, drove more than a hundred miles in one day, and has reached the east of Nanzheng. Twenty miles away!"

"what?"

Zhang Lu was taken aback immediately, jumped up and hissed, "Is there such a thing?"

Yan Pu nodded vigorously, and said in a concentrated voice: "Since the Xiliang army raided Nanzheng from Ziwu Valley, it means that there are not many soldiers and horses in Xiegu and Sanguan. Raise an army to meet the enemy."

Zhang Lu's eyes narrowed, "Is this true?"

Yan Pu resolutely said: "Nine times out of ten, the mobilization of Luo Zheng's army has always been extremely fast, and it has never been so long. This time, it took more than half a month to gather troops and horses on the front line of Sanguan and Xiegu. What is it!"

The thoughts in Zhang Lu's head turned sharply, and he immediately believed it.

Yan Pu said again: "My lord, you can order General Zhang Wei to speed up the army to return to Nanzheng to meet this partial division of the Xiliang Army. Just leave [-] soldiers and horses to guard Yangping Pass."

Zhang Lu hesitated and said, "But Yangping Pass is no less than two hundred miles away from Nanzheng, and it will take at least three days for the army to return to the division!"

Yan Pu said: "Don't worry, my lord, the Ziwu Valley Trail usually only takes woodcutters and hunters, and there are no roads in many places. Even if the Xiliang Army can pass through the Ziwu Trail, it will become a tired army, and they will not be able to bring their luggage here at all. My lord, you can order the big gentry in the city to summon private soldiers to guard the four gates of Nanzheng, and see if the Xiliang army can fly to the top of the city without siege equipment?"

Zhang Lu resolutely said: "For goodness, we should follow this plan."

Soon, the city of Nanzheng was boiling.

The Xiliang army suddenly appeared twenty miles away from Nanzheng, and the Hanzhong gentry immediately panicked.

Zhang Lu sent all the soldiers and horses to Yangping Pass and Dingjun Mountain. There were only a thousand soldiers and horses left in Nanzheng City, and most of them were old, weak, sick and disabled. Naturally, it would be no problem to take precautions against bandits.

It can be used to resist the Xiliang army, but it is not enough.

Although Yan Pu swore that the Xiliang army had passed through the Meridian Trail and had become exhausted and had no siege equipment, the gentry in Nanzheng City still couldn't feel at ease. It was because the Xiliang army under Luo Zheng's command was too famous.

But the matter has come to this point, there is no other way, the only option is to call the family and private soldiers to guard Nanzheng first.

After brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai returned to the mansion, they immediately reprimanded the servants and got together to discuss.

"Brother, what should we do now?"

Yang Baidao: "Luo Zheng really sent troops, are we going to fight or surrender?"

Yang Song thought for a moment, and said decisively: "Look at it first!"

Yang Bai said anxiously: "Brother, we can't delay any longer!"

Yang Song said in a deep voice: "It's about the lives of hundreds of people in my family, so don't be careless. Second brother, don't be impatient!"

Yang Bai sighed and had no choice but to close his mouth.

An hour later, Zhao Yun led his troops to surround Nanzheng.

Zhang Lu led the gentry in the city to wait on the top of the city to watch, and saw that the Xiliang army was in disarray and had no supplies and vehicles, so he was a little relieved. However, he saw that the Xiliang army was cutting wood from the forest ten miles away, and hurried After setting up a batch of simple siege ladders, the Nanzheng nobles on the top of the city immediately felt suspenseful again, and transferred all the private guards to the top of the city.

By the end of the afternoon, the Xiliang army had already produced twenty crude ladders.

However, it was getting late and the army was exhausted, which was not conducive to attacking the city.

Zhao Yun led the army to retreat three miles away, and ordered the army to dig a few trenches, chew a few mouthfuls of dry food, and take turns to rest. Because they lost all their luggage and could not set up camp, they had to light a fire to keep warm after nightfall.

Fortunately, Hanzhong is still very hot in September, and the night is not difficult.

"General Zhao Yun, what should we do now?"

A small school came to Zhao Yun's side, worried and said: "Brothers, there are only two days' ration left, and the lord is not allowed to loot the people, if we don't find a way to break through Nanzheng as soon as possible, the army may be in danger of mutiny! "

"Wait a minute!"

Zhao Yun waved his hand, he knew that Fa was lobbying in Nanzheng, but others didn't know!

As for whether what Fazheng planned would be accomplished, Zhao Yun had no idea, so he had to wait.

Into the deep, Yang Mansion.

Brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai had a private discussion for a while, and were about to leave, the housekeeper came to report and Fazheng asked to see him.

"Let him in!"

The two brothers looked at each other, and Yang Song waved his hand.

The housekeeper took the order and left, and came in with a package of Fazheng in a short while.

Hanzhong is a poor land, and it is still very hot in September.

Fazheng dressed like this is definitely looking for guilt.

"Two adults!"

Fazheng cupped his hands and sat down at the bottom.

Brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai reluctantly cupped their hands and remained silent.

Fazheng glanced at him, and then said: "I don't know what the two adults are thinking. Now my lord's army is approaching the city. I heard that there are only old, sick and disabled soldiers in Nanzheng. Breaking the city is the right thing to do. Why are the two adults still hesitating?" Undecided?"

Yang Song said slowly: "That's wrong. The Xiliang army doesn't have any siege equipment. How can they break through the city?"

Fazheng's eyes were a little cold, and he reprimanded bluntly: "I would like to tell you two, it is not easy to be a fool, and what my lord looks down on most is the grass. There is no such thing as free wealth in this world. If you want to get something Therefore, you must have something to give up. Fortune and misfortune are in a moment, since the two of you brothers have a little sincerity, then prepare to live and die with Nanzheng!"

After finishing speaking, without saying a word, he got up and left with a flick of his sleeves, feeling really suffocated in his heart.

The faces of Yang Song and Yang Bai brothers were very ugly, and they were both a little blue.

What Fazheng said was too merciless, and he couldn't stand it if he changed his mind.

If it weren't for the situation being stronger than others, the two brothers would have jumped up and ordered Fazheng to be tied up and given to Zhang Lu. How could they tolerate such a ruthless refutation of themselves by a yellow-mouthed child.But for the sake of his family and his family, he really didn't dare to offend Luo Zheng to death. Otherwise, even if he could keep Hanzhong this time, he wouldn't be able to spare them when Luo Zheng conquered Hanzhong in the future.

"Wait a minute!"

Seeing that Fa Zheng was about to go out, Yang Bai hurriedly got up to stay with the guests.

"Mr. Yang Er, what else can I say?"

Fazheng stopped, turned around and asked with a grim expression.

Yang Bai managed to force a smile, and said, "Nephew, please don't get angry, how about allowing me to discuss it later?"

Fazheng nodded, and said calmly: "Although the two of you have discussed it, I will stay soon. My lord's army raided Nanzheng from the Ziwu alley, and did not bring much food and grass. They will break the city tonight, and I will go to meet the army to enter the city. !"

"what?"

Now Yang Song and Yang Bai could no longer calm down, and their colors suddenly changed.

Yang Song condensedly said: "How does my nephew welcome the Xiliang army into the city?"

Fazheng smiled inscrutably and profoundly, and said: "I won't bother you two about this. There are many gentry in Hanzhong who are knowledgeable about current affairs, and some of them are willing to serve my lord. The two discuss slowly, and I will leave now!"

After all, he opened the door and walked away.

The faces of the two brothers changed several times, and their hearts suddenly felt extremely bad.

Fazheng's words can be said to have caught their lifeblood. Although they knew that Fazheng was mostly bluffing, the two brothers did not dare to bet. If someone had already taken refuge in Luo Zheng, the trouble would be big .

Once Luo Zheng's army enters Nanzheng, it doesn't matter whether their brothers take refuge or not.

When that time really comes, Fazheng will not spare his brother if he spares anyone, and the consequences will definitely be very serious.

"Quickly, go chase him back!"

Yang Song's complexion changed several times, and he hurriedly called out.

Yang Bo hurriedly chased him out, and pulled back Fazheng who hadn't left the hospital yet.

"Nephew, please stay!"

While pulling Fazheng back, Yang Bai said with a smile on his face: "My brother and I have already discussed it. It is inhumane for Zhang Lu and others to resist in the corner. I am willing to serve General Luo Zheng and return My nephew will recommend it on my behalf!"

The corner of Fazheng's mouth couldn't help showing a smile, and he cursed shamelessly before he smiled and said: "The two gentlemen understand the righteousness deeply, and they are worthy of being the leaders of the Hanzhong gentry! Don't worry, sir, but to put down Hanzhong, I will definitely recommend you two! "

"Then there will be a good nephew Lao!"

Yang Bo walked back with Fazheng, and said, "Come on, let's go back and discuss how to welcome the army into the city!"

Fazheng went happily, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If the Yang brothers drag on, the fun will be really great.

Although Fazheng also instigated some people, but he can't be compared with a wealthy family like the Yang family. It doesn't count if there are hundreds of private soldiers in total. It is really uncertain to take Zhao Yun's army into the city. .

To accomplish this, the only way to be sure is to completely win over the brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai.

The Yang family is a big family in Hanzhong, and the private soldiers of the Yang Song and Yang Bai brothers' houses add up to eight hundred if not thousands, and Nanzheng's troops are empty. Guard the four gates.

The west gate is guarded by the private soldiers of brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai. As long as the gate is opened, Zhao Yun's army can enter the city.

Just after midnight, the torches were still burning brightly.

Zhao Yunhuo calmly waited for news in front of a pile of firewood.

Although he was a little anxious, he didn't show it on his face, so as not to affect the morale of the army.

Hasty footsteps sounded not far away, and a sentry rushed over.

"General!"

The whistler rushed forward and handed over a ball of paper, "Someone in the city shot this with an arrow."

Zhao Yun quickly took the ball of paper, unfolded it and read it with a torch, his face immediately beamed with joy.

A valued officer next to him asked suspiciously: "General, what is this ball of paper?"

Zhao Yun said: "This matter was originally a secret, and only Yun knew about it, but now that Nanzheng City is about to be destroyed, it's time to tell you. Fazheng, a military counselor under the lord's account, has been lobbying the Hanzhong gentry in Nanzheng, and now he has persuaded him. Brothers Yang Song and Yang Bai took refuge in the lord, and opened the west gate at the second watch to welcome the army into the city!"

"What, there is such a thing?"

The duty officer was taken aback, and then he was overjoyed, "Great, this is really great!"

Zhao Yun stood up and said, "Gather the army quickly and prepare to enter the city!"

"As ordered!"

The duty officer agreed and ran down immediately.

(End of this chapter)