Gongsun Zan's army marched much closer than Yuan Shao, and he traveled faster. In less than ten days, the main force of the army went into battle.
Around the sixth day of November in the sixth year of Zhongping, Gongsun Zan's army was all in place and launched a comprehensive siege. More than 30,000 troops besieged a city guarded by more than 3,000 people. The pressure on Qu Yi was really all-round.
Because there were so many troops, Gongsun Zan directly attacked the city in rotation from morning to night without stopping in between, and the troops took turns to rest.
However, Quyi did not have such a margin. The army was severely reduced in number, and the time for rest was getting less and less. The morale of the army was also getting lower and lower. No matter how much encouragement was given, it could not be uplifted.
Several times Gongsun Zan's troops boarded the city, but he sent his personal guards to drive them down. The general army was about to lose its fighting spirit.
At this critical moment, Yan Liang hurriedly arrived with 10,000 vanguard troops. They tried to attack Gongsun Zan's army on the outside. Although they failed to break Gongsun Zan's encirclement, they also gave a huge encouragement to the city.
Seeing the reinforcements coming, Qu Yi encouraged the soldiers to continue fighting. The morale of the soldiers in the city was greatly boosted, and they finally had the courage to continue fighting. Therefore, Gongsun Zan's raid plan failed.
Despite this, Gongsun Zan did not intend to stop there. He wanted to continue fighting. Yuan Shao's main force was still a little far away. He planned to eat up all the reinforcements from Gaoyang City and Yan Liang, so he personally led the troops to attack Yan Liang.
Yan Liang was a fierce general discovered by Yuan Shao after he took control of Jizhou. He was very brave and strategic, and won Yuan Shao's favor.
Although he could not win against Gongsun Zan's superior force, he did not lose, and he fought and retreated. Finally, he used the superior terrain to withstand Gongsun Zan's fierce attack, making it impossible for Gongsun Zan to win quickly.
On the other side, the city's defense was also very resolute. Gongsun Zan could not win despite being besieged for many days, which made Gongsun Zan increasingly anxious.
Gongsun Zan even personally led troops to attack Yan Liang many times. Yan Liang could not win, but in the end he was not defeated by Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan was forced to confront Yan Liang.
There was a leak in the house and it rained all night. Just when Gongsun Zan was anxious, on November 15, the sixth year of Zhongping, two days before Yuan Shao's army arrived, a piece of news reached his ears.
On the sixth day of November, Yuyang County, Youbeiping County, Liaoxi County and Liaodong County were attacked by the Xianbei and Wuhuan people. Tens of thousands of Xianbei cavalry and Wuhuan cavalry launched attacks from multiple directions and looted counties.
Local losses were heavy.
What's more important is that for this sudden attack, there was no local defense preparation. The military and political officials in various places did not know about the sudden attack in advance, so they rushed to fight, and many people died in the battle.
It is currently known that important local officials such as Duke Wuhuan, Lieutenant of the Wuhuan School, and Liu Zheng, the Governor of Youbeiping, have been killed.
At present, only Rao Bin, the governor of Yuyang County, and Gongsun Du, the governor of Liaodong County, led the county troops to resist bravely. The officers and soldiers of Youbeiping County and Liaoxi County were unable to resist. More than half of the county towns were lost, and only a few county towns were closed to defend. The Xianbei and Uzbek people were not allowed to
Huan Ren succeeded.
However, other farm areas were plundered by the Xianbei and Wuhuan people. Local officials and soldiers were unable to do anything about it. They sent messages to Gongsun Zan asking for help immediately, asking Gongsun Zan to come to his aid immediately.
The words "bad things happen" were immediately engraved in Gongsun Zan's mind, and he made a decision almost immediately - to withdraw his troops.
We can't fight. If we continue to fight here, our base will be gone and Youzhou will be finished.
If Youzhou is finished, Liu Bei and Lu Zhi will never let him go, and he will definitely die.
So he immediately ordered the entire army to retreat and give up the attack. The subordinate officers were also very anxious and wanted to return to the division to rescue the place.
At the critical moment, only Chang Shi Guan Jing mentioned one thing.
"Yuan Shao's main reinforcements are not far away from Gaoyang County. They will arrive within a few days. He will also know the reason for your retreat. He will definitely lead troops into Youzhou by then, and Zhuo County will be the first to bear the brunt.
Fanyang County is the fiefdom of the general, and Zhuo County is the fiefdom of Lu Taiwei. It is also the hometown of the general and the Taiwei. The Lu family and the Liu family are all here. Once Fanyang County and Zhuo County fall, they will fall into Yuan Shao's hands.
,Have you ever thought about the consequences?”
After saying these words, Gongsun Zan was stunned for a moment, and then shut down at the speed of light.
Yes, Zhuo County and Fanyang County are in Zhuo County, not far from the battlefield. Fanyang County is also his grain storage and transfer station. If this falls into Yuan Shao's hands...
Fanyang County is okay. If you lose a little face and a little money at most, Liu Bei will be angry, but he won't get angry.
But if Zhuo County falls into the hands of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao will definitely kill all the Lu and Liu clans in order to take revenge. By then, even Gongsun Zan's death ten thousand times will not be able to calm the resentment in Liu Bei and Lu Zhi's hearts.
Then he's finished!
Therefore, the most important task at this moment is to return to the army to rescue Yuyang County or Youbeiping County?
Leading the main army to defend Zhuojun is the most important thing. As for the rest...
Hurry up and call for help!
Gongsun Zan was so panicked that he quickly asked Guan Jing to help him make a decision. Guan Jing had no choice but to give orders on Gongsun Zan's behalf.
After the army retreated, they divided into two groups. One group was led by Tian Kai and Yan Gang and stationed in Fanyang County. They then quickly built city fortifications and defended the city to the death, waiting for reinforcements.
The other group was led by Gongsun Zan himself and stationed in Zhuoxian County, guarding it to the death, waiting for reinforcements.
Where are the reinforcements?
Guan Jing sent two groups of people to ask for help.
The first step is to go to Liu Bei. Go to Liu Bei quickly and explain the matter clearly. Please ask Liu Bei to mobilize troops for support immediately.
The second route is to find Dong Zhuo, because Dong Zhuo stationed in Taiyuan County is the closest reinforcement that can be found at present. Dong Zhuo and the Yuan family are mortal enemies, and it concerns Liu Bei's family. Dong Zhuo will definitely lead the troops even if he risks his life.
Come to help.
This is the only thing Guan Jing can do for Gongsun Zan at the moment. As for other local counties...
Wish yourselves good luck, friends.
The current situation in Youzhou is really not optimistic, just like Gongsun Zan's future is not optimistic.
His proactive attack caused emptiness in the rear, so that the Xianbei and Wuhuan people succeeded. If Liu Bei and Lu Zhi knew about this, Gongsun Zan's future might not just be summed up in these four words: "not optimistic".
Five days after the news for help was sent out, news came from the front that Yuan Shao's army had entered Youzhou. After receiving the news, Gongsun Zan was very worried.
Because one day before, he had learned that Rao Bin, the governor of Yuyang County, was defeated by the Xianbei people. Rao Bin was injured and could only stay in Yuyang County and send people to ask for help from Gongsun Zan.
At present, among the counties in Youzhou, only Liaodong County is still resisting under the leadership of the prefect Gongsun Du. The other counties are either busy protecting themselves or have almost fallen. It can be said that they are in chaos.
However, as the governor of Youzhou, Gongsun Zan had no spare power to send troops to help them.
He was fully responsible for the chaos this time, and he could imagine his bleak future.
The only life-saving straw is to protect Fanyang County and Zhuoxian County from Yuan Shao, and try to withstand Yuan Shao's fierce attack before Liu Bei's reinforcements arrive. Only in this way can he gain a glimmer of hope.
Yuan Shao didn't care about this. After he arrived in Gaoyang County, he learned the news about Gongsun Zan's withdrawal. He also knew that Yan Liang, Qu Yi and others were leading their troops to press forward step by step. They also defeated Gongsun Zan in a small victory at Fanyu Pavilion. Soon
Happy.
He praised Qu Yi and Yan Liang, gave them rewards, and then personally led his troops across the hail and marched towards Fanyang County.
Fanyang County was defended by 10,000 troops led by Tian Kai and Yan Gang, as well as a large amount of grain and fodder. Under Gongsun Zan's death order, Tian Kai and Yan Gang also knew that their chance of survival lay in defending Fanyang County, Liu Bei's fiefdom.
If they defend Fanyang County and Liu Bei's fiefdom, everything will still be possible. If they cannot defend this place and are captured by Yuan Shao, then they can just kill themselves with a sword.
"This is the fiefdom of the general! It is the place where the food of General Liu is located! If you guard this place, everyone can gain wealth! The general will definitely give you heavy rewards. If you cannot guard this place, you will get nothing, and you will lose your life.
, gentlemen, we have no way out!"
Tian Kai was a bit smart. He said this to his officers and even soldiers, giving them hope and pressure, which made Fan Yang's defenders have a good fighting will.
They have all heard of Liu Bei's name, heard of this Youzhou man's name, and knew that he was very awesome.
Now, what they are protecting is his fief, his food, and they are fighting for him. If he knew, how could he not give him a reward?