Zhang Liao stood outside the tent for a long time before he heard the sound of Xu Rong calling him in. He walked into the tent and saw Xu Rong sitting alone in front of the fire pit, stretching out his hands to roast the fire. The fire pit was burning like a piece of furniture, and I don’t know what wood it was, emitting a strong fragrance. The cold wind blew in from outside the tent, and the fire swayed, making Xu Rong’s face turn light and dark.

Zhang Liao stood in front of Xu Rong, not knowing what to say for a moment. No matter how sufficient his unauthorized retreat was, was it the direct reason for Duan Wei's defeat, it was a violation of military law. Xu Rong took the responsibility and gave him a chance to atone for his merits and make him fight with Sun Ce. As a result, he came back empty-handedly. How did he explain to Xu Rong, and how did Xu Rong explain to the generals of Xiliang?

"Sit down." Seeing that Zhang Liao didn't move for a long time, Xu Rong raised his head and glanced at Zhang Liao with a calm expression.

Zhang Liao sat down silently, lowered his head, and stroked his hands on his thighs. The iron armor was cold, wet, mixed with the smell of rust. When it was roasted by the fire, it was a little hot. Xu Rong handed over a glass of wine, took off the short knife, cut a piece of meat, and handed it to Zhang Liao.

"Look at how smart you are usually, why are you so stupid this time?"

Zhang Liao held a wine glass in one hand and meat in the other, looking at Xu Rong barely, and suddenly realized that his originally pale face suddenly turned red. "General, you... do you know that I can't take Sun Ce's head?"

Xu Rong snorted: "I have never seen Sun Ce, but I have seen Sun Jian. Sun Jian is called a tiger and is very brave and fierce. Hua Xiong is a well-known brave general under Gong Gong's tent. He was killed by Sun Jian. Sun Ce is Sun Jian's eldest son. If his martial arts are not good, can Sun Jian let him lead the army alone?"

Zhang Liao was very embarrassed.

"If Sun Ce was different from Sun Jian, he was more cautious than Sun Jian. If Sun Jian had led his army to catch up, how could you let you retreat calmly? Sun Ce was only in Licheng. It was terrible for young people to have such a mind. Wen Yuan, you are not as good as him." Xu Rong sighed. "If I guessed well, if you duel with him this time, the shooting Huang Zhong was on the side, right?"

Zhang Liao already understood what Xu Rong meant. Sun Ce's martial arts have always been very good. Before, he just hid his weaknesses and was part of the strategy. He was not sure about his face-to-face battle with Sun Ce, but Xu Rong was far away and was as insightful as a little bit. How could the difference be a little bit. After understanding this meaning, he naturally knew that Xu Rong asked him to challenge him not to expect him to kill Sun Ce, but to let him find an opportunity to escape. As for his brother, Xu Rong would also find a way to let him go.

Zhang Liao was very ashamed, but he didn't regret it. Even if he had known this before, he wouldn't escape.

"General, I have something unknown, I want to ask the general for advice."

"explain."

"Why did the general break out of normalcy and break into Nanyang? Is it a surprise victory or a forced one?"

Xu Rong raised his thick eyebrows slightly, his eyes flashed. "What's wrong with me doing this?"

"I dare not have any doubts about the general's military use." Zhang Liao put down the wine and meat, bowed and bowed, and repeated Zhao Yan's words, in detail, without hiding a single sentence.

Xu Rong listened quietly, without saying a word. Until Zhang Liao finished speaking, he said, "You are back just to ask about this?"

"Yes."

Xu Rong straightened his waist, spread his hands, and raised his gray eyebrows. "Do you think I'm in danger now?"

Zhang Liao was puzzled and didn't know what Xu Rong was saying. Xu Rong laughed silently, his gray beard was tilted, and he wanted to say something. He swallowed it back. He took a sip of wine. "Wenyuan, you have been in Yiluo for more than half a year and have seen Nanyang again. Can you tell me the difference between the two places?"

Zhang Liao was confused. He stared at Xu Rong for a long time, but lowered his head and began to ponder. Xu Rong seemed to be invincible, not as dangerous as he thought. He was an experienced general. He asked questions not to understand the confusion, but to point him out Zhang Liao. This was a rare opportunity, so how could he let him go easily. He carefully recalled his experience in Luoyang, and combined with his combat experience during this period, he was as cautious as an exam.

Xu Rong was waiting silently, and the fire shone on his slightly dark face, like iron casting.

Zhang Liao thought for a long time, but shook his head and said ashamedly: "General, Liao is stupid, and there are no differences. Both are flat river valleys, with hills and waterways, but not as good as cavalry driving. There are mountains and passes around, but they are not as dangerous as the four passes of Guanzhong. There are rich specialties, the people are flamboyant, and they are not resistant to bitterness and coldness, so it is difficult to produce elite soldiers. Luoyang is the capital, Nanyang is the imperial town, the powerful fields are connected to the fields, and the people are not well-fed and inseparable. It seems that the same is true. Although the Wuguan Road is flatterer than the Hangu Road, Wuguan is now controlled by Sun Ce, which is also very unfavorable to us. If you want to retreat, it is not as convenient as the Hangu Road."

Xu Rong nodded, got up and took two maps. "Take it and see."

Zhang Liao took the map, one was the map of the Sili Department and the other was the map of Nanyang County. After looking at it for a while, he still couldn't see any problems, so he had to raise his head and look at Xu Rong with help.

"General, I... still don't understand."

Xu Rong smiled. "Actually, what you said just now is not very different. Nanyang and Luoyang are not very different. The terrain is similar, the population is similar, and the folk customs are the same, but there is a little difference. Luoyang is narrow and Nanyang is vast. If the land is narrow, the production is small and cannot be self-sufficient. If the land is wide, the production is large. Not only can it be self-sufficient, but it can also raise soldiers. I think this is the reason why Sun Ce took all his efforts to take Nanyang. As for us, look, although Wuguan is not in our hands, we only need to break through two county towns and the robbery income can solve the problem."

Zhang Liao woke up from a dream and nodded repeatedly.

"The generals are attacking the counties, and they are all very attentive. Within ten days, the counties will be together, and we will have enough military resources and shock the people of Nanyang. Sun Ce lacks military strength and dare not come to challenge easily. He has just arrived in Nanyang, and the people are not attached to us. We have to use the power of victory to attack and advance. Sun Ce can only retreat to Wancheng. Who is stronger and who is weak? It is obvious at a glance that the people in Nanyang are weak, seeking profit and avoiding harm, and they will inevitably obey me. Without three months, we can surround Wancheng. At most, Nanyang will be my own. What should I worry about?"

Zhang Liao admired him very much. After savoring it for a while, he suddenly realized a question. After Xu Rong said this, he actually did not answer his initial question.

"General, so, is it the general who did it intentionally, not a last resort?"

Xu Rong pondered for a long time, raised his head and stared at Zhang Liao. "I am the General Pingnan appointed by the court. It is the imperial edict of the court. My mission is to take Nanyang. I don't care about other matters. Wenyuan, the court is more dangerous than the battlefield, and the three Mings of Liangzhou are all first-hand. Your talent belongs to the battlefield, not the court. Don't have any inappropriate thoughts, so as not to delay yourself."
Chapter completed!