Xicheng County, Cao Ren has arrived in Xicheng County for five days, but bad news comes one after another. Jiao Huang's wooden ox convoy that attacked the Han army was caught in a trap, and the entire army was wiped out. Cao's army in Qishan Fort surrendered, and Licheng and Qishan Fort were lost successively.

, the next target of the Han army must be Xicheng.

This made Cao Ren very nervous. He knew the strategic significance of Xicheng. Xicheng was not only the gate of Tianshui County, but also the Han army could enter Guangwei County eastward. Once Xicheng was lost, the entire battle situation in Longxi would be extremely unfavorable to Cao's army.

Currently, there are 8,000 Cao Cao troops in Xicheng County, which has almost reached the upper limit of the number of troops that can be stationed in Xicheng County. However, Cao Ren is still worried, and he keeps sending people to Guanzhong to urge Xiahou Dun's reinforcements.

In the room, Cao Ren was standing in front of the map with his hands behind his hands, staring at the map on the wall for a long time. Just the night before yesterday, Huang Zhong led five thousand troops to bypass the West City and stationed himself on a mountainside ten miles away to the north. This was undoubtedly

It brought trouble to Cao Jun who went south to support him.

Just now, he received news that Xu Huang had led 30,000 troops and was rushing westward. He would arrive at Jicheng first, leaving 10,000 troops to defend Jicheng. Xu Huang would then lead 20,000 troops south to help defend Xicheng.

This was Xun You's suggestion to prevent the Han army from taking advantage of the void to attack Jicheng. Cao Ren agreed with this plan. He was also worried that the Han army would attack the east and west and take advantage of the opportunity when he went south to the west city to attack Jicheng. However, Xu Huang's army has not yet reached Jicheng.

The situation was already bad, which made Cao Ren's heart twist into a ball.

"General, I don't understand why General Xu didn't come directly from Guangwei County to Xicheng. He had to take a detour to Jicheng and then go south. This would take at least two more days." The deputy general Zang Ba next to him said puzzled.

Cao Ren shook his head, "This should be Mr. Xun's careful consideration. Mr. Xun knew that I was in Xicheng and my troops were sufficient. He should be more worried about the loss of Jicheng, so he sent troops to Jicheng first. Considering the overall situation, it was completely safe to send troops to Jicheng."

correct."

Zang Ba lowered his head and said after a while: "I am worried that Liu Jing will personally lead an army to attack the West City. General, if the West City is lost, we will not be able to explain it to the Prime Minister!"

"You have to calm down!

Cao Ren glared at Zang Ba with dissatisfaction, "We have 8,000 troops in the west city and a tall and strong city wall, which can completely withstand an attack of 50,000 people. The garrison in Wudu County is only 50,000. Liu Jing can lead 30,000 at most.

How could we not be able to resist the army's march north? Xuan Gao, I think you don't have confidence in yourself!"

"Yes! I know my fault despite my humble position."

Cao Ren took two steps with his hands behind his back and said: "I have received information that the Han army has been practicing night battles to siege the city in the past few months. I suspect it is targeting the West City. Starting tonight, we will also practice night battles to defend the city. In addition,

There are too few trebuchets on the city, so you must organize craftsmen to make them immediately."

"I understand the humble position, let's make arrangements now!"

Zang Ba bowed and left, leaving Cao Ren alone in the room. Although he scolded Zang Ba for being impatient, in fact he was more worried. Once the West City was lost, how would he explain it to the prime minister?

At this moment, there was a sound of running outside, and a guard rushed to the door and reported urgently: "General, the scouts have discovered urgently that a Han army of more than 30,000 people has passed Qishan and is heading towards the west city.

Come, make a big noise."

"Ah!" Cao Ren was stunned for a moment, and he said urgently: "Bring the scouts to see me!"

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In the afternoon, General Cao Ren stood on top of the city and looked worriedly towards the south. He seemed to have seen the main force of the Han army. Although he ordered more trebuchets, it would take at least five days to add ten more trebuchets.

He was worried that there was not enough time.

He had just received news that tens of thousands of troops had arrived at Qishan last night and were continuing their march north towards Xicheng. They were probably Liu Jing's main army.

But at this time, there was also a Han army camped in the north less than ten miles away from Xicheng. It was Huang Zhong's five thousand army. They bypassed Xicheng at night and camped in the north of Xicheng County for two days.

The main force of the Han army is about to approach. What should we do? Should we go out of the city and fight the 5,000 Han troops to defeat Huang Zhong's troops and open the way to retreat to the north? Or should we hold on to the city and wait for the main force of the Han army to attack the city? Although the crisis is imminent, now is the opportunity.

Yes, but Cao Ren hasn't figured out how to deal with it yet.

When people are in panic, they tend to retreat instead of forging ahead. This is a weakness of human nature. Only brave and extraordinary people dare to challenge themselves in adversity.

Cao Ren obviously lacked courage. He hesitated when the main force of the Han army was about to press the border. He knew that he could fight Huang Zhong's army, but he still did not have the courage to order to leave the city.

He looked carefully at the wall of the West City. The wall was three feet high. Although there was no moat, the wall was very thick. It was all made of large bluestones. It might be able to withstand the Han army for a few days, or it might be able to wait until the reinforcements led by Xu Huang arrived.

That moment.

Although Cao Ren reprimanded Zang Ba for being cowardly, in fact he was also afraid of Liu Jing. He was once captured by Liu Jing. Being captured not only brought him a lifetime of humiliation, but also made him deeply afraid of Liu Jing.

.

He just hoped that reinforcements would arrive as soon as possible, but what Cao Ren didn't expect was that the Han army really arrived and it was not his illusion.

‘Woo~wu——’

A low and distant horn sounded in the south of the earth, and a long black line appeared in the south, like an echo. At this time, horns also sounded in the north, and the Han army from the north also appeared.

The black line gradually spread out, pulling out an overwhelming black curtain, with flags like clouds, bright armor, neat teams, and swords and guns like an endless forest.

The cavalry was in front and the infantry was behind. The marching speed was not fast, but every step was so thrilling. The marching rhythm was accompanied by the sound of horns and the rumbling drums rolled across the sky like muffled thunder.

This is an army composed mainly of the original Yizhou Army, with about 30,000 people. They still retain the unique flag-laying formation of the Yizhou Army.

But the femininity of Bashu soldiers is no longer visible in them. They have the blood and fire unique to Jiangxia soldiers, and a steel-like tough temperament. They are like a piece of high-density steel, indestructible.

At this time, the alarm bell above Xicheng also rang rapidly,

All 8,000 Cao Cao troops went to the city for defense, and the 20 trebuchets and 300 crossbows installed at the top of the city were also ready.

There were not only heavy defensive weapons, but also soldiers' crossbows and the most primitive rolling wood and stones. Therefore, Cao's soldiers were aware that their most severe test was about to come.

Thirty thousand Han troops attacked the west city, which put Cao Jun under great pressure. The city was already busy. Lieutenant General Zang Ba commanded two thousand civilians in front of the city gate to carry huge stones to block the gate. Giant stones weighing a thousand kilograms were moved by Cao Jun soldiers.

Come, they were piled densely behind the city gate, and there was no moat. The city gate was the most vulnerable part of this fortified city, and it was extremely easy for the Han army to open a gap from here.

Zang Ba's voice was hoarse. He pointed at a door and shouted in a hoarse voice: "Quick! This way, this way, block this place."

More than two hundred civilians used crowbars and rolling logs to slowly transport a large square stone to block the city gate. Several more large stones were also transported from behind and piled on top of the large stone, as if one more stone was being piled on top.

A big stone can increase your hope. Hundreds of huge stones blocked the north and south gates.

The drumming outside the city gradually subsided. The two Han armies from the south and the north arrived at the west city almost at the same time. They stopped advancing two miles away from the city and waited for the next order.

Liu Jing was riding on his horse, in the middle of the team. He looked at the familiar city with cold eyes. Although he had made response plans for several possible situations, he did not expect that Cao Jun would eventually choose to trap himself.

In the city.

Although the thick wall of the west city could temporarily make it more difficult for the Han army to attack the city, Liu Jing was confident of victory. Cao Jun could not defend the city this time. On the contrary, the wall would trap Cao Jun's soldiers from escaping.

If it were him, if he knew he was outmatched and no reinforcements were coming, he would rather break out of the encirclement and break out to the east to preserve his strength while being trapped in the city, where they would be more likely to be annihilated.

"Zhou Mu, look!"

One of the soldiers pointed at the city head and shouted: "They have already started throwing stones."

A big stone flew up from the top of the city and landed with a crash,

Liu Jing couldn't help but smile contemptuously. He had already smelled the cowardice of Cao Jun. He couldn't help but lose control when they were still two miles away. Doesn't it show their nervousness and timidity?

"Send my order to build a fort!"

The biggest advantage of Xicheng is its high terrain. Whether attacking from the north or from the south, you have to face a slope of hundreds of steps. This slope makes it difficult for the siege army to use heavy siege weapons. This is also

The main reason why the Han army failed to attack the city last time.

In response to this weakness, the Han army found a solution, which was to build ten forts 350 steps away and turn the slope into a platform.

Cao Jun's trebuchets are medium and large trebuchets, and the longest throwing distance is about 300 steps. Therefore, building a fort 350 steps away can avoid enemy trebuchet attacks.

Two thousand Han army engineering soldiers were quickly building trebuchet platforms out of huge trees, and in the army, soldiers were also busy assembling trebuchet components. This time the Han army went north and brought ten giant trebuchets, with the longest range.

To reach 400 steps, it takes ten oxen to shoot, which is aimed at Xicheng.

At this time, a cavalryman rushed from the north and said loudly: "I am ordered by General Huang to deliver a message to Zhou Mu!"

A tooth general led the messenger to Liu Jing. The messenger presented Huang Zhong's arrows and bowed on his horse to report: "General Huang asked the state pastor for instructions whether to attack Beicheng at the same time?"

Liu Jing pondered for a moment and said: "Let the old general wait for my order, not to act rashly, and to pay attention to the arrival of Cao's army from the north."

"Follow the order!"

The messenger saluted, turned his horse and galloped away to the north.

At this moment, a commotion suddenly broke out at the platform construction site in front, and thousands of fortification soldiers were seen retreating backwards.
Chapter completed!