Great Han Empire

Chapter 1046 The Banner of Heroes in Troubled Times Unrolled
As night fell, the sound of passionate horns echoed on the banks of the Sishui River, galloping war horses galloped back and forth under the bloody afterglow, and teams of cavalry soldiers struggled to kill along the river bank.

Wei Jun rushed out of the corpse-strewn battlefield with the Ula iron cavalry, and headed northward. They will join Gao Shun's infantry army to besiege and kill Xiahoudun.

Xiahoudun failed to last until dark, and Gao Shun's camp was very fierce. They marched forward amidst the sound of war drums, and tore apart the Xuzhou army's battle formation with the force of thunder.Xuzhou soldiers retreated step by step, they expected the vanguard to come to meet them, but what rushed out from the darkness was the Northern Xinjiang cavalry, a roaring and raging bloodthirsty beast.Xuzhou soldiers were terrified and collapsed instantly.

In the middle of the night, Zhao Yun's iron cavalry joined Gao Shun's infantry army. Xia Houdun, Li Dian, Guo Jia and nearly ten thousand Xuzhou soldiers were captured, and the Xuzhou army that went north to attack Yanzhou was wiped out.

"We went south overnight to kill Pengcheng." Zhao Yun pointed at the map with his horsewhip, "Brother Ziping, follow up quickly. After the Yanzhou army surrounds Pengcheng, I will lead the cavalry to directly kill the Huaihe River."

Gao Shun nodded, and said worriedly: "If Cao Cao transfers all the troops south of the Huaihe River to the north, they will most likely rush to enter Xiapi before us. This will be very unfavorable for us to attack Pengcheng, so you'd better go to Xiapi first. Pi, block Cao Cao's reinforcements."

"The primary target of Fengxian and I is Pengcheng." Zhao Yun said, "If he reaches Pengcheng first, then I will continue to go south to Xiapi. No matter how fast Cao Cao's reinforcements are, they are not as fast as our war horses."

"Don't be careless, it's better to be careful." Gao Shun said, "We don't have much advantage in military strength, especially in attacking the city, the strength is even more insufficient, so you have to block Cao Cao's reinforcements from Xiapi city no matter what. "

Full of confidence, Zhao Yun bid farewell to Gao Shun and headed south overnight with his cavalry.

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At dusk on the second day of September, Lu Bu led his cavalry to surround Pengcheng (now Xuzhou City).

Cao Cao and the civil and military officials rushed to the city tower, looking at the northern Xinjiang army with banners and flags outside the city, all of them changed their colors in horror.According to the attack speed of the Northern Frontier Army, Xiahoudun and Cao Hong's armies had obviously been cut off from their escape routes.

"Lü Bu is sending troops across the Sishui River." Cheng Yu smiled wryly, "Zi Xiao (Cao Ren) has also been cut off from retreat."

"The Qingzhou army is probably attacking Tan (tan) city. Even if Zixiao's troops can hold them back, it will not be able to save the crisis." Xun Yu pointed to the east and said eagerly, "Lu Bu's cavalry will arrive at Zushui River tomorrow morning. On the front line, capture the two small cities of Fuyang and Wuyuan, so that Zixiao will be surrounded. My lord, immediately send people to Tancheng, tell Zixiao to abandon the city and go south, and stick to Huaiyin (now Qingjiang City), Huaipu (now Lianpu) Water) to prevent the Northern Frontier Army from crossing the Huai River and capturing Guangling."

Cao Cao supported the city wall with his hands, his body trembling slightly, despair enveloped his body and mind, and the severe headache made him moan in a low voice.Li Hong came, and brought the brave and invincible Northern Xinjiang cavalry to kill. Xuzhou was over, even if he had the ability to reach the heavens and the earth, he could not turn the tide.

"Pengcheng was completely surrounded, and the Huns' cavalry galloped back and forth along the city wall. At this time, let alone people, not even a bird can fly out." Mao Jie sighed, "To save Xuzhou now, we have to We can rely on Jingzhou Liu Biao and Jiangdong Sun Quan."

If Liu Biao of Jingzhou can do his best to fight against the Northern Army in Nanyang, and if Sun Quan of Jiangdong can lead an army of [-] to go northward, defend the Huaihe River with Cao Pi and Xiahouyuan, and block the Northern Army on the south bank of the Huaihe River, then the Northern Army will be in Nanyang and Xuzhou at the same time. This battlefield is caught in a bitter battle, and it is obviously difficult to sustain it for a long time with Chang'an's current wealth, so Xuzhou still has a chance, otherwise...

Xun Yu smiled wryly, making it uglier than crying, "Liu Biao dares to fight Nanyang at this time? Do you think he is Li Hong? Besides Li Hong, is there any lunatic in the world who would be so reckless and fight on two battlefields at the same time?" ?”

"Defend Pengcheng." Cao Cao said with widened eyes and gritted teeth, "I don't believe it, that leopard can eat Xuzhou in one bite? Northern Xinjiang cavalry going south requires an astonishing amount of food and fodder, plus an army of more than 20 infantry Chang'an is simply unable to support the consumption. I want to see how long Li Hong can persist? The battle will drag on until winter, and it may not be me, but him who will be defeated."

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On the third day of September, Peiguo, Yuzhou, Zhicheng (now west of Suzhou).

Man Chong and Liu Xun led their troops northward to support them. They were less than a hundred miles away from Qicheng, and they fought the armies of Lei Chong and Guan Yu.

Suddenly seeing Guan Yu's battle flag, Man Chong and Liu Xun were very surprised, but then they became furious, because just after the two sides fought, Guan Yu was the first to board the camp and defeated Liu Kai's vanguard battalion, beheading Liu Kai .Liu Kai is Liu Xun's younger brother. Liu Xun, who was in great pain, immediately led his army to fight back, but was hit hard again, and was killed by Guan Yu and fled with his head in his arms.

Man Chong's troops were limited, unable to break through Guan Yu's blockade, and worried that the northern Xinjiang cavalry would roar down, so he withdrew to Qicheng immediately, and urgently told Zhou Yu and Lu Su to speed up and join him as soon as possible.

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At the same time, the various armies of the Northern Xinjiang Army also formed a siege on Cao Hong's Xuzhou Army near Dancheng, a hundred miles away.

Lei Chong's army guarded Dancheng; Jiang Wu's Xiliang iron cavalry launched an outflank from the northwest; Cao Hong's main force was divided into two; Wei Xu and Meng Si led an army of [-] to vent down from the direction of Qiao County.The [-]-step cavalry army of the Five Route Army surrounded the Xuzhou Army.

Yu Jin was the first to surrender.With only 5000 men in his hands, he was vulnerable, and only surrender could save the lives of the soldiers.Cao Hong then also surrendered, and his men marched continuously, exhausted, with no fighting spirit, and could not fight even if they wanted to.

That night, the little emperor continued to go south with [-] iron cavalry, while Wei Xu and Lei Zhong led the army to advance eastward at a rapid pace, killing Xiapi City [-] miles away.

=

On the third day of September, Xuzhou Donghai Kingdom, Tancheng.

Guan Hai's Qingzhou Army stationed troops outside the city and attacked continuously.Cao Ren led the army to resist, but after only two days of fighting, the situation was not right. The northern Xinjiang cavalry went to the Zushui River line, captured Fuyang and Wuyuan, and formed a siege of Tancheng.

Cao Ren's son, Cao Yan, persuaded his father to abandon the city immediately, and before reaching Tancheng on the northern border cavalry, he quickly withdrew to Xiapi City and stood firm.Tancheng is about [-] miles away from Xiapi City. If the northern Xinjiang cavalry wants to stop Cao Ren's army, they have to cross the Yishui River. However, there is no sign of the northern Xinjiang cavalry crossing the river to block it, which gives Cao Ren a chance to retreat.

Cao Ren smiled wryly, pointed to the map and said to his son, "The appearance of Northern Xinjiang cavalry on the Zushui River line means that Pengcheng has been surrounded. Pengcheng is only 160 miles away from Xiapi City, and Wuyuan is only 120 miles away from Xiapi City. If we If you retreat down the Yishui River, you will be discovered by them immediately, and the army will be chased and intercepted by the Northern Xinjiang Army, and you will die."

"But sticking to Tancheng is a dead end." Cao Yan said, "Although we can stop Guan Hai's army from going south, how many days can we hold it back? The northern Xinjiang cavalry roared down and directly killed the Huaihe River, which can send us north to support the army. Block it firmly. Can we reverse the crisis in Xuzhou by defending several isolated cities? I think we should retreat to Xiapi City first. If Xiapi City is also besieged, we will go down along the Sishui River to Huaiyin and retreat to Guangling County. Wait for the opportunity to counterattack."

Cao Ren considered for a long time, but still did not agree.It is not clear what the purpose, scale, and determination of the Northern Xinjiang Army suddenly went south to attack Xuzhou this time. It is too rash to withdraw from Tancheng rashly and abandon the defense line on the east wing of Xuzhou. If Pengcheng and Xiapi fall into Desperate situation, own guilt is too great.

"Send people to Pengcheng to investigate immediately." Cao Ren said, "If Pengcheng is besieged, we can't withdraw. If we don't withdraw, we can drag tens of thousands of Northern Xinjiang troops to Tancheng, which will help Pengcheng and Xiapicheng to hold on. As long as If we drag the battle until winter, the situation will definitely change, and Xuzhou still has a chance to turn things around."

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On the third day of September, Taiwei Zhang Yan and Hussar General Zhao Yun arrived in Pengcheng successively.

"Don't think about anything, go south immediately, go south at full speed..." The horsewhip in Zhang Yan's hand kept tapping on the map, "Huzi, take your cavalry and go south along the Sishui River at high speed, go straight to Sikou, and seize Huaiyin and Huaipu will cut off the northward support route of Guangling County."

"Zilong, immediately lead your army southwards to cross the Suishui River, and attack the Huaihe River from Guyang (now Guzhen, Anhui). Chen's troops will cut off the northward reinforcement route of Jiujiang County at the Zhongli, Kuokou, and Dangtu lines."

"Your Majesty and Jiang Wu's iron cavalry will attack the front lines of Anfengjin (now south of Yingshang), Yangquan and Xiacai (now Fengtai) in the near future, and stop the rebels in the direction of Shouchun, Lu'an and Hefei."

"Fengxian, you leave the Duliao cavalry in Pengcheng, and lead the Huns southward to surround Xiapi. After the infantry army of the two generals Lei Zhong and Wei Xu arrives at Xiapi, you go south to the Huaihe River to join His Majesty's army. Stop and kill the rebels going north."

Zhao Yun hesitated for a moment, pointed to the map and asked: "Pengcheng, Xiapi and other places still have many small towns, and there are also many forts between the cities and the countryside. There are more or less troops in these places. If they gather together to fight We're a big threat..."

"Huh..." Zhang Yan sneered, "They can't figure out the situation for the time being, and they won't be able to get together for a while. When we stabilize the battle line on the Huaihe River, all the cavalry will start attacking and killing all the cities and forts. Let me attack them all, and kill all those who dare to oppose us, leaving no one behind."

That night, Zhao Yun, Lu Bu, and Wei Jun each set off overnight with [-] cavalry, and galloped towards their respective targets.

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On the third day of September, Zhou Yu and Lu Su led an army to Mengcheng, a hundred miles away from Qicheng.

In the early morning of the fourth day of the lunar new year, Zhou Yu was woken up by Lu Su from his sleep, "Gong Jin, Bo Ning (Man Chong) wrote a letter saying that his army was blocked in the city of Zhi, please go north as soon as possible, and attack the city with him."

Zhou Yu looked at the letter close to the candlelight, and frowned suddenly, "Guan Yu? How did Guan Yu end up in Yuzhou?"

"Yeah, it's very strange." Lu Su frowned, "I woke you up for this. Li Hong only uses Guan Yu under one circumstance."

Zhou Yu was startled and jumped up from the table, "Li Hong is going to attack Xuzhou."

"I think so too." Lu Su Nianxu said, "Li Hong wants to fight Xuzhou with all his strength, but many generals from northern Xinjiang are in Chang'an, and he doesn't have enough generals. He urgently needs a strong general like Guan Yu. He charged forward, but to make someone like Guan Yu willing to be used by him, he must have strength, enough to deter Guan Yu."

"Li Hong must have brought the northern Xinjiang cavalry south." Zhou Yu's face changed slightly, and he threw the letter on the ground hard, "Cao Aman didn't tell me about such a big matter, and Bo Ning even covered it up. He I am unkind, I am unrighteous, withdraw..."

"Retreat..." Lu Su also said firmly, "Retreat to Anfengjin overnight, to the south bank of the Huaihe River."

"Xuzhou is over." Zhou Yu shook his head dejectedly, "Who would have thought that Li Hong would still be so crazy, daring to fight on two battlefields at the same time."

"As long as Cao Cao can withdraw his troops in time and defend Pengcheng and Xiapi, and we stick to the Huaihe River, there is still hope for Xuzhou." Lu Su said disapprovingly, "At this time, Li Hong recruited cavalry from northern Xinjiang to fight against Xuzhou. What matters is surprise and speed. Once he is trapped in the Xuzhou battlefield, he will not be able to take down Pengcheng and Xiapi for a long time. He will have to withdraw his troops before winter. Otherwise, what will happen to his northern border? The last time Li Hong recruited northern Xinjiang cavalry to fight in the Central Plains , that is, for the decisive battle. After the decisive battle, return immediately. With so many cavalry staying in the Central Plains, food and grass are a big problem, and the safety of northern Xinjiang is also a big problem. No matter how brave Li Hong is, no matter how crazy he is, he dare not take himself It’s a joke about northern Xinjiang.”

"Can Cao Cao's army retreat?" Zhou Yu sighed while putting on his armor, "Although he is careful, the frontline army is only more than 300 miles away from Pengcheng, but more than 300 miles is nothing to a galloping horse? The people in northern Xinjiang each had two horses, and they ran day and night without sleep, even if Cao Cao's men had two wings, they could not escape the fate of annihilating the entire army."

Lu Su stood blankly for a while, with a dejected expression, "Xuzhou is really over. In the blink of an eye, Xuzhou is gone. A leopard is a leopard. The older you get, the more cunning you get, and the older you get, the more ruthless you are."

"Let's go." Zhou Yu picked up the long sword and sighed softly, "If we can't hold the Huai River this time, the world will belong to Li Hong."

"There are [-] troops in Jiangdong, are you afraid that you won't be able to defend the Huaihe River?" Lu Su sneered, "I don't believe that Li Hong's iron cavalry can cross the Huaihe River."

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On the morning of the fourth day of September, Man Chong received a letter from Zhou Yu. In the letter, he solemnly warned Man Chong to retreat to the south bank of the Huaihe River immediately, otherwise he would surely die under the iron cavalry of Northern Xinjiang.Xuzhou is over, if you can hold the Huaihe River, you can still survive, otherwise you will die.

"How does Little Zhou Lang know that the northern Xinjiang cavalry has gone south?" Liu Xun said with a wry smile, "Without his 2 people, our going north is equivalent to death."

Man Chong decided to wait a little longer to see if Cao Hong could break through the siege, and told Cao Cao that Xiao Zhoulang had already run away, and that his troops were weak, so he asked to retreat.Just when he was anxious, the scouts flew to report that the northern Xinjiang cavalry had crossed Zhicheng and was galloping towards Qicheng.

Man Chong was shocked, and ordered the army to abandon food, grass and luggage, and retreat at full speed.

On the fifth day of September, the little emperor led Fengyun cavalry to catch up with the Xuzhou army near Xiangcheng (now north of Huaiyuan).Man Chong's army was completely wiped out, and none of them escaped the Huaihe River.

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(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please visit www.CMFU.COM, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)
(End of this chapter)