The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms Chapter 173

Xu Zhong planned to take down Pi County, split his troops to attack Siwu and Liangcheng, and then attacked the East China Sea. After Xun Cheng captured Quyang, he took a short rest and then headed north, but he was one step ahead of Xu Zhong and had already entered the East China Sea. ——Twenty or thirty miles north of Quyang is the boundary of Donghai County.

After entering the East China Sea, it was less than a hundred miles away, and it was Houqiu County.

This county was set up by Emperor Wu of the former Han Dynasty. Because of the hills in front and the river in the back, it was named "Houqiu". After Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, he changed the name of this place to Zhuqiting, Guangwu Zhongxing, and changed it back to his real name. After Wang Mang became emperor, he carried out many "reforms", one of which was to change the "name". In terms of people's names, because of the so-called "two names are indecent, but not two in spring and autumn", he stipulated that people should be named without two characters. This change has always affected the present. In addition, he also made a lot of changes to official names and place names. For example, in the name of the county, Quyang, who was besieged by Xun Cheng before, was renamed Congyang, and Siwu, who is currently attacking by Xu Zhong, was renamed Xiwu. Later, it was changed back by Emperor Guangwu.

Houqiu is the first county to enter the East China Sea from Quyang, and it is also the only place to go from Quyang to Tanxian County. Therefore, Tao Qian arranged heavy troops to guard here.

Xun Cheng's army went to the outside of Houqiu City, and set up camp far away, to inspect the city's emptiness and realities, and to prepare for attacking the city.

While preparing to attack the city, Xun Cheng summoned generals and civil servants to discuss an important military situation.

It was Zang Ba who finally arrived in Donghai County despite his slow march, and has just settled in Licheng.

Licheng is 120 to 30 miles north of Houqiu. This distance is said to be close or not far. Although he is watching Zang Ba's actions, he seems to be waiting and watching, but what did he think? But he couldn't guess, if he suddenly sent troops to kill him when he was besieging Houqiu, it would also be troublesome. Therefore, if you want to attack Houqiu with peace of mind, you must first find out Zang Ba's intentions.

Lieutenant General Xu Rong, school commanders Xin Ai, Chen Bao, Gao Su, Chen Wu, Chen Dao, Chen Rong, and other ministers, Sima Wenpin, Gan Ning, Yao Ban, etc. all arrived; literary officials such as Cheng Jia, Qin Song , Xu Zhuo, Xuan Kang and Yao Sheng and Li Bo who were in charge of logistics were also there.

Xun Cheng sat down on his knees and chaired the military meeting.

Xu Rong was at his side.

The rest are seated according to their titles, seniority and seniority.

Xun Cheng said: "Zang Ba is now in Tunli City, although he seems to have the intention of sitting and watching, but his intention is not clear after all. What do you think about this?"

Before the war, Cheng Jia was ordered to go to Kaiyang and met Zang Ba, which was the main reason why he did not stay in Guangling, but went north from Xun Cheng's army. He said with what he knew about Zang Ba: "In the opinion of the following officials, Zang Ba must have no intention to fight."

Xu Rong said: "Having said that, it is difficult to attack Houqiu with peace of mind if we don't find out what his intentions are."

Chen Bao smiled and said: "There is a military document in front of the lord, so that I can send an envoy to meet Zang Ba at the appropriate time to greet him. Isn't it the 'appropriate time'? ... Captain Cheng, you said Zang Ba must have no will to fight, so dare to see him again?"

Although Chen Bao was an old friend of Xun Zhen when he was in Xixiang, in terms of qualifications, only a few people such as Liu Deng could compare. He was witty and flexible, and won Xun Zhen's love and credit. Communication, sincere treatment, and understanding of others have always been to promote others' strengths and conceal their weaknesses, and to be enthusiastic and helpful. Therefore, among the generals of Xun's army, he can be said to be the most popular one.

He was already well-connected, but when he asked Cheng Jia, "Do you dare to meet again?" Zang Ba's words were obviously joking. Cheng Jia was not annoyed, and said boldly, "Why don't you dare?" Xun Cheng asked for the order, "I will ask the general to order, and I will go to Licheng for a walk!"

Xun Cheng hesitated and said, "Even if you send someone to Licheng, you don't need to go."

Cheng Jia is now a "counselor of military counsel", a senior official who is more than two thousand stone. If Zang Ba is detained in the camp, or loses his life because of it, even if this possibility is very small, Xun Cheng can't. main idea.

Although Cheng Jiaren was short and arrogant, he said: "General, don't worry, that Zang Ba and I are also old acquaintances, take ten thousand steps back and say that his previous 'sitting and watching' attitude is really a mystical thing, and he is deceiving our army. It won't make it difficult for me."

Xu Rong said with a smile: "Xiaowei Cheng has confidence, so... Fujun, would you invite Xiaowei Cheng to go?"

Xun Cheng's military title was "Fu Jun Zhong Lang", so Xu Rong called him "Fu Jun".

Xun Cheng said, "Okay, then let's go to Junchang hard."

Cheng Jia said: "The short one is three days, the long one is five days, and I will return."

He lifted up his clothes, saluted Xun Cheng and Xu Rong, and then saluted everyone in the hall, saying, "You gentlemen, stay in the camp and wait for me to come back with good news!" He strode out of the tent, He summoned people to fetch horses, and took a few entourages out of the camp to Licheng.

Xu Rong praised: "Cheng Xiaowei is a heroic man."

Since Cheng Jia was willing to go to Licheng to investigate Zangba's intentions, now he can only wait for him to return, and then decide on the specific siege.

However, they could not waste their time. Taking advantage of the presence of all the generals in the army, Xun Cheng and Xu Rong ordered people to unfold the map and discuss with the generals how to fight Houqiu after Cheng Jia returned. After laying down Houqiu, how should we take Qu County and Tan County?

Qu County is located in the northwest of Houqiu, at the rear of Houqiu. Tanxian County is in the northeast of Houqiu, just after the Shushui River, and the two places are only more than 100 miles apart.

As far as the current situation is concerned, it is a good thing for Xun Jun.

Xun Cheng's soldiers here were only over a hundred miles away from Tan County, and after they had conquered Qu County, they could head towards Tan County. Xu Zhong's side can enter the East China Sea only by taking down Siwu and Liangcheng. Once Xu Zhong enters the East China Sea, he will travel a hundred miles to Tan County. The distance from Tan County is closer than Xuncheng, less than a hundred miles away. place. Until then, the two armies, one from the west and the other from the east, will be attacking Tanxian County, so why worry about it?

——Of course, the premise is that Zang Ba does not move, and Xue Li does not move. But for now, 90% of the two should not move.

On that day, the discussion of military affairs fell into the night, and everyone dispersed.

The next afternoon, Xun Cheng was inspecting the newly built battalions, when suddenly soldiers came to report: Cheng Jia has returned and is now in the tent.

Xun Cheng was stunned~www.mtlnovel.com~ Cheng Jia only left the camp yesterday, why did he come back this afternoon?

Licheng is more than 100 miles away from Houqiu. It takes two to three days to go back and forth alone, even if you drive fast, day and night, and if you add the time to see Zang Ba, it will take three to five days. That's why Cheng Jia said before he left, "three days for short, five days for long".

But why are you back now?

Did you encounter thieves on the way? Or have you discovered any enemy?

Is it? Did you find that Zang Ba sent troops to Houqiu?

Thinking of this, Xun Cheng was a little nervous, and he quickly called someone to invite Xu Rong, Qin Song and other civil and military officials to meet in the main tent, and he himself rushed to the tent with his entourage and guards.

When he got outside the tent, Xun Cheng saw Cheng Jia waiting at the tent door, and he looked very serious.

"Junchang, why did you leave the camp yesterday and return today? But what happened on the way?"

"General, Yinde failed to attack Mount Tai and was captured instead."

Chapter end