"If you know that you are tempted by the outside world, you cannot turn back, and the laws of heaven will be destroyed." [Book of Rites·Book of Music]
Sun Guan himself could not protect himself, and Wu Dun was in a difficult situation. He failed to follow Chang Xi out of the enemy's formation. He was half a beat late and was pinched by the left and right wings of Xia Houyuan's organization. Some influential old people around him advised him to respond immediately.
Killing towards the center and cooperating with Sun Guan to destroy Zang Ba in one fell swoop might give him a chance to survive. However, others who were worried about being destroyed advised him to follow Chang Xi quickly and not stay here for a long time. Some even advised Wu
Dun stayed here to maintain a stalemate, so that he could not only try to open an opening for Sun Guan, but also wait for Chang Xi's return army to break through from here.
Wu Dun was a man without his own opinion. Various voices and people were shouting in his ears, making him even more confused. This hesitation wasted the best time. He saw that
As Sun Guan's men disappeared into the crowd, he knew that Zang Ba was determined to break up with them, and felt great hatred in his heart. At this time, he did not see any action by Chang Xi who broke out of the formation, so he led his troops and moved out.
When Chang Xi left the city, he had already thought about the huge disparity in strength between the enemy and ours. He was outnumbered and defeated by the weak, and he was no match for the Qingzhou soldiers. So he had already thought of his retreat from the beginning, and he would use his troops this time to win if there was a chance.
, if there is no chance, they will take this opportunity to break out. Either flee to Ju County to join Dong Zhao, or flee directly into Taishan County and become bandits again in the mountains. With their own reputation, they can quickly raise another bandit.
Team. At that time, as long as the one who came to encircle and suppress him was not Zang Ba, who regarded him as an enemy, Chang Xi would have more choices whether to fight or surrender.
So after seeing that there was no fighting on Sun Guan's side, Chang Xi made an immediate decision, planted the flag on the ground, and led the remaining troops of his headquarters to flee north. Wu Dun saw Chang Xi coming out of the city to fight in an arrogant manner, but the result was just
He feinted with a shot and turned blue with anger, but at this time, Xia Houyuan and his troops had already bitten him and killed him all the way to the water's edge.
"Where is Zang Ba? Where is Zang Ba?" Wu Dun was defeated. Even if he was forced to the water's edge, he could not muster the courage to fight. He raised his head and looked around, but he could not see Zang Ba's figure among Cao's troops.
Xia Houyuan shook his head. When he came, he had been specifically warned by Cao Cao. Regardless of whether Zang Ba was here or not, Chang Xi and the others would die. But now, after Zang Ba eliminated Sun Guan, he had already led his troops to pursue Chang Xi.
Ignoring his former friends seems to have made his attitude clear.
Chang Xi wanted to flee north to Dong'an first, rest and watch the battle between Cao Jun and Dong Zhao, and then decide whether to flee to Gai County, Taishan County in the north.
The remnant soldiers fled northward. After crossing the Yishui River, Changxi saw that the pursuers in the rear were nowhere to be seen. He was about to order the entire army to rest temporarily, but suddenly saw a troop of soldiers and horses coming from the front under the banner of the Yuan family.
"Dong Gongren?" Chang Xi didn't know why Dong Zhao came suddenly. He felt a little guilty as if he had been caught. At this time, the soldiers and horses were exhausted, so he had no choice but to bravely go forward.
"Why is General Chang here?" Dong Zhao asked in surprise. When he saw Chang Xi looking like a defeated general and his subordinates tumbling on their backs, surprise flashed through his eyes.
Chang Xi was lowering his head and did not notice the difference in Dong Zhao's expression. He replied with the reason he had just thought of: "Cao's army is attacking fiercely, and the city of Yangdu is small. It is difficult for me to defend it, so I have to wait until the city is broken."
On this occasion, I led my troops to break out of the encirclement and went to Ju County to join Duke Dong. I hope that with Duke Dong’s wisdom and the strength of Ju County, we can guard Langxie for the Yuan family."
He thought to himself that since this trip was a head-on collision, he would simply follow Dong Zhao first. Ju County was the former capital of Langye Kingdom. The city was high and the pond was deep. Yuan Tan left another batch of grain and grass, which was far from comparable to Yangdu.
. As long as he holds on until Cao Cao arrives in person, he can directly surrender to Cao Cao and skip the step of Zang Ba. I believe that Cao Cao will not be persuaded by Zang Ba. If it is really unfavorable to hold on in the end, he can still escape to Mount Tai. The middle step is just
It's just an extra mile.
He was deeply calculating, and suddenly remembered something, and said hurriedly: "Yes, Mr. Dong, Zang Ba is still behind now. My subordinates are already exhausted and unable to fight. Why not retreat first and then make plans?"
"Oh? Zang Ba is behind?" Dong Zhao was saying something to a few people around him. Hearing this, he couldn't help turning his head and smiled at Chang Xi and said: "I heard that Cao Cao's army is all in Kaiyang, and Zang Ba is under Yangdu City.
, Xia Houyuan and other soldiers were only a separate brigade, so there was nothing to worry about. Therefore, they wanted to take advantage of the siege of the city, wait for an opportunity to attack, and cooperate with the general inside and outside to defeat the enemy. Who would have thought that the general would go... Well, now that the matter is over, the general will still have his subordinates.
Wake up, everyone, and come with me... Hey, why is there smoke and dust in the distance?"
Chang Xi listened carefully to Dong Zhao's explanation of the reason why he led his troops, and he felt a pang of regret in his heart. If he had really turned defeat into victory as Dong Zhao said, he would have turned defeat into victory long ago. If he had known at that time, he should have continued to hold on and wait for a turnaround.
But then he thought about it, what if he didn't wait for the turning point and waited until Cao Cao came with the main force? He was thinking in his mind, and his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the other party. Hearing that Zang Ba was chasing after him, he was startled and turned around subconsciously.
Look.
Immediately, he received a heavy blow on his back. Chang Xi spit out a mouthful of blood and felt that his spine was about to be broken. He looked back in shock and saw that Dong Zhao had turned his horse to retreat, and two Liangzhou
The strong-faced man held a hammer and stared at him from left to right. The soldiers around him were all shocked when they saw this and stood up in a hurry. However, they had just run a long distance and squatted on the ground for a long time.
He felt physiologically dizzy just after he got up. But at this moment, the two Liangzhou soldiers didn't wait for Chang Xi to question him, and swung their hammers and hit him on the head hard.
Chang Xi was hit so hard that his eyes were filled with stars, blood was flowing out, and there was a constant buzzing in his ears. He vaguely heard Dong Zhao slowly commanding his subordinates to surround his tired and weak subordinates, and saying with regret: "I had known that the general would be like this."
If it’s useless, why should I bother thinking about seizing the city, dedicating it, etc.?”
"You want to surrender to Cao Cao... why don't you come with me..." Chang Xi's consciousness began to blur, and panic suddenly began behind him, as if Dong Zhao had ordered his cronies to be killed, or as if there was another army
Soldiers and horses gave chase.
"I also want to join the general." Dong Zhao raised his hand to stop the man from continuing to smash Chang Xi, and said in a very helpless tone: "Look at the soldiers and horses I brought, they are all General Qu's old troops.
, General Qu was unjustly killed, and it was I who saved them. Now that they are disappointed with the Yuan family and want to submit to the imperial court with me, why should I not allow it? But General Chang, you are different. Someone insists on your death. I
How could you...ah, Zang Xuangao is here, go and ask him."
"Zang Ba..." Chang Xi turned around in a daze. His eyes were already wet with blood flowing from his forehead. Among the chaotic crowd, he could only vaguely see a familiar figure.
The figure didn't say anything. Chang Xi's consciousness could no longer hold on any longer. His whole body was limp and weak, and he bent his knees and knelt down.