Chapter 444

Pengcheng was surrounded by Zang Ba Tuan, so he couldn't go out to report. Zhang Xun did not know, on the contrary, he led the people to attack xiapi.

After Cao Cao introduced Zhang Xun into the dangerous terrain, twenty thousand Qingzhou soldiers besieged him on all sides, and the people trapped by Zhang Xun suddenly broke up, and Yuan Shujun was also influenced by the people, and most of them fled.

However, Cao Cao killed two birds with one stone, and led 20000 Cao troops to the west of Pengcheng to surround Zang Ba and Peng city. Zang Ba had no choice but to obey Cao Cao. Cao Cao subdued Taishan county and his power increased greatly.

After the news of Zhang Xun's defeat returned to Yuzhou, it immediately caused a shock. However, most of sun CE's subordinates were old members of the sun family, and sun CE's prestige was so high that he had little influence. Liu you, the governor of Yangzhou, Chen Bing Niu FA, was ready to fight against sun CE.

But when the news reached Yingchuan County, it was fried.

"What?" Ji Ling stood up and said angrily, "Zhang Xun failed?"

"The news is accurate, general Ji." Han Yin said with a wry smile: "Zhang Xun was defeated and returned to Pei state with less than 1000 disabled soldiers. After that, the general was so angry that he deducted Zhang Xun's salary for one year."

Ji Ling sighed: "I know, you have worked hard. You have prepared food and wine. Go down and have a rest."

"No

Han Xun ran, he turned and left! Is it not the morale of a certain army to be damaged if we are impatient and advance lightly, and now we are defeated

Yan Xiang shook his head and said, "general Ji has already told the rear general that there are three ways to send troops. If any one of them fails, it will have a negative impact on the other two routes. Now I'm afraid the news has already spread to the army. It's more difficult to break through Yingyang city."

Ji Ling sighed and paced back and forth in the camp. There was no good way to think about it. He had to ask Yan Xiang, "Yan, you've always been resourceful. Give Ben a plan and break Yingyang city quickly!"

Yan Xiang sighed: "general Ji, now our army is short of food and grass and has low morale. Even if we can take Yingyang city by force with such a poor army, it is not worth the loss if we have too many casualties. As the saying goes, there is no need to worry about firewood for keeping green hills. There are still more than 24000 soldiers in our army. These fresh troops will have a bright future when they return to Runan. "

"No, no, no!" Ji Ling shook his head and looked puzzled: "I was ordered by my Lord to lead a large army to attack Liu Bei. Before I left, I had already boasted of Haikou. If I retreated like this, how can I explain to you?"

"General Ji." Yan Xiang comforted him: "although Liu Bei occupied Yingchuan county and Chen state, it was only two counties. Besides, our army has already recruited many Ding Zhuang from these two counties. Even if Liu Bei occupied these two counties and his soldiers were less than 10000, could he possibly annex Yuzhou?"

"When our army withdraws to Runan County, it is not too late to repair the morale and repair the Jiabing soldiers, and then it will be no later to go all out to attack Yingchuan."

Ji lingchu was also reluctant. After hearing Yan Xiang's words, he thought for a while and nodded.

"Well, in that case, I'll go back first. When I go back, I'll teach Zhang Xun a lesson!" Ji Ling gnawed his teeth.

Yan Xiang reminded: "general Ji, although the withdrawal of troops has been determined, it is necessary to guard against it, especially the 2000 cavalry under the command of the enemy general Xu Huang."

"Damn it, when it comes to Xu Huang, the thief will be angry!"

Ji Ling is very angry. These days, he has fully appreciated Xu Huang's military ability, which is better than Peng yuenao Chu.

On the first day when Ji Ling's army attacked Yingyang City, Xu Huang marched in with two thousand irons and pierced a full 30000 Yuan Shu army. The front of the army pointed directly to Ji Ling's central army. Fortunately, Yuan Shu's army fought hard to get rid of Xu Huang.

The next day, Ji Ling strengthened his defense against Xu Huang, and ordered 10000 troops to be ready to gather around him, and be careful of Xu Huang's cavalry attack.

Xu Huang saw yuan Shujun erect a large shield spear, which was made into a wall of iron. The sword and spear were shining in the sun. Xu Huang didn't make a positive breakthrough either. Instead, he circled Ji Ling Jun and suddenly led his troops into the area. Two thousand cavalry did not love to fight. After fighting in Yuan Shu's army for a while, before Yuan Shu's army was surrounded by soldiers, he immediately cut a hole from Yuan Shu's army and killed him.

Xu Huang judged the situation and saw the fierce attack and defense at the head of the city. He led his troops to attack yuan Shujun's attack position. Two thousand iron cavalry made a mess of Yuan Zhujun's Archer position, which greatly reduced the defensive pressure of Yingyang city.

Ji Ling was the number one general under Yuan Shu's command. He had been fighting for a long time and had a lot of experience. Therefore, he ordered his subordinates to dig several trenches outside Yingyang city overnight to prevent Xu Huang's iron cavalry from attacking left and right.

Xu Huang is flexible. You have a good plan. I have a ladder. When he saw Ji Ling's digging a trench and two thousand iron horses could not gallop freely, he stopped harassing the army's siege troops, but instead devoted himself to intercepting the grain transport teams that were transporting grain to the army.

Xu Huang had a deep understanding of the essence of cavalry combat. He scattered half of his iron cavalry into the net and spread it over dozens of miles around Yingyang city. Yuan Shujun could not escape Xu Huang's eyes if he had a little trouble.

Whenever grain and grass from Runan direction was transported to Jiling army, he was immediately informed by Xu Huang, and then he led his troops to intercept and send them to Nanyang County.At the beginning, Ji Linggang was very proud. He thought that digging a trench effectively stopped Xu Huang's strategy of cavalry harassment. He led his army to attack Yingyang city with all his strength. Guan Yu was wounded in many places. The garrison in Yingyang city was badly injured. Thanks to Guan Yu's desperate struggle, he was able to defend Yingyang city.

But after a few days, Ji Lingjun wilted because of Xu Huang's interception, leading to a shortage of food and grass. Ji Ling could not produce grain out of thin air, so he had no choice but to change the big one into the small one and cut down the military grain expenditure.

As the saying goes, the emperor did not want to starve his troops. Of course, Ji Ling's reduction of military food expenditure has temporarily maintained the army. However, with the reduction of military food, the soldiers of Ji Ling army will not be able to survive. As Ji Lingjun's offensive slows down, Guan Yu is relieved.

"If our cavalry retreats slowly, we can't retreat at any time." Yan Xiang suggested.

Ji Ling nodded his head, but he was puzzled: "this retreat can prevent Xu Huang's cavalry from harassing him. However, our army is only afraid that it is less than 50 miles away in one day. When can we withdraw to Runan County?"

Yan Xiang said calmly: "it doesn't matter if you slow down. The key is to bring these 24000 troops back to Runan County. General Ji can write to the Lord and ask him to send a general to lead reinforcements out of Runan and our army to cover the retreat. "

Ji Ling nodded: "well, let the music come."