Chapter 128 A plan to hide the truth

Zhou Xing has already thought of Liu Zheng and Qian Liang's escape strategy.

"Don't be afraid of chasing Langya. My lord, you can let Liu Ziquan pretend to capture Pingchang County and transport money and grain into the city. At this time, we will catch up to Pingchang first. Liu Ziquan will use stones as money and sand as grain, replacing the real

We will leave the money and grain in the city, transport the sand and gravel away, and then we will enter Pingchang City."

"Liu Ziquan led the men and horses to carry sand and gravel to Langya County. After arriving in Langya County, the men and horses immediately dispersed and left, threatening to flee to a small island in the sea. In this way, the reputation of robbing money and food would forever fall on Guan Cheng. At this time, we issued an order to recruit troops, and the scattered people

The soldiers and horses will go back to Xiami to recruit, so that the soldiers and horses will be ours again. Moreover, we can also transport the money and food left in Pingchang back to Xiami."

Liu Bei was overjoyed: "Zi Quan transported the sand and gravel to replace the money and grain to Langya County, so that we will not be suspicious when we transport the money and grain again. Moreover, Zi Quan's men dispersed first and threatened to flee into the sea. Yuan Tan

It must have been thought that Guan Cheng took refuge on a small island in the sea again. In fact, Guan Cheng did take refuge on a small island in the sea. He cannot be cleansed of the name of robbing money and food."

"Hey, Military Advisor Zhou really has a way." Zhang Fei praised.

Zhou Xing smiled and said: "My lord, eight thousand soldiers and horses led by Yan Jing are already on the way. This matter is urgent, and people should be sent to Pingchang City first to help Liu Ziquan seize the city, and to take care of the money and food after Liu Ziquan leaves.

”

"Okay, that's what the military advisor intended."

Liu Bei sent dozens of people to Pingchang City first, and then sent people to inform Liu Zheng, tell him the plan, and let him act according to the plan.

Pingchang City is located at the junction of Langya and Beihai, right in the middle of Beihai Xiami and Langyaju counties, and is relatively far from both sides.

Liu Zheng led his men and horses to rush to Pingchang City with money and grain, because he had already sent people to sneak into the city, captured the city without any bloodshed, and stationed in the city.

Liu Bei led a thousand soldiers and horses to pursue him, while Yan Jing led eight thousand soldiers and horses to follow Liu Bei.

Yan Jing was eager to achieve meritorious service, and at the same time wanted to avenge Hu Li. He chased him all the way without any intention of retreating, and seemed to not stop until he caught up.

According to the plan, Liu Zheng exchanged sand and gravel for money and grain, and left Pingchang with the sand and gravel and rushed to Langya County. Liu Bei immediately led his troops into Pingchang City, rested in the city and stopped pursuing.

The next day, Yan Jing led his troops to pursue him outside Pingchang City.

Originally, he had no intention of stopping and wanted to keep pursuing him, but he saw a group of people standing by the road ahead, and someone came to report that Zhou Wensheng, the military advisor under General Zuo, was waiting.

Yan Jing led his bodyguards to stop in front of Zhou Xing.

"General Yan has worked hard chasing the thieves all the way. General Liu would like to invite General Yan to take a break in the city." Zhou Xing stood on the roadside and said, cupping his hands.

Yan Jing did not dismount and said coldly: "Hmph, why don't you chase the thief but stay in the city?"

"General Yan, we only have a thousand soldiers and horses, but the thieves have thousands. We are afraid that we will not be able to defeat the thieves, so we stay in the city and wait for General Yan. Besides, General Yan has led his troops from afar, and we also want General Yan to make a contribution.

Return, we still have to rely on General Yan to exterminate the thieves."

Zhou Xing first expressed his inability to suppress thieves and showed weakness to Yan Jing, saying that it would be easier to recruit soldiers later.

He also said that only Yan Jing could destroy the thieves, which was a compliment to the other party.

As expected, Yan Jing's expression softened slightly and he said softly: "Please tell General Liu that General Liu's good intentions are appreciated by Yan Jing, but the thieves have already left, so I won't stay. It's more important to chase the thieves."

Zhou Xing nodded slightly: "Yes, it's important to chase the thief, General Yan. Guan Cheng is very good at using tricks. I heard that he used an ambush strategy to steal money and food. There are many mountain roads in Langya County, so General Yan should not be careless.

Don’t get caught in an ambush by thieves.”

It seemed that he was reminding Yan Jing with good intentions, but in fact, Zhou Xing wanted to delay Yan Jing's pursuit.

If you remind the opponent that there may be an ambush ahead, Yan Jing will definitely pursue you carefully, and the march will be slower.

Yan Jing bowed his hand to Zhou Xing: "Thank you, Military Advisor Zhou, for reminding me. I will be careful. Besides, I don't have to be afraid even if there is an ambush!"

"General Yan, please, General Liu will stay in the city temporarily, waiting for General Yan to come back after annihilating Guan Cheng, and take care of the general."

Zhou Xing watched Yan Jing and his troops go away, feeling a little worried about Liu Zheng.

Although Liu Zheng left two days in advance, they were not walking very fast while transporting "money and food". If the sand and gravel were thrown away, the track would be shallow, which might arouse Yan Jing's suspicion.

If Yan Jing suspected that the "thieves" had left money and food in Pingchang City and found the money and food when they came back, it would be difficult to explain clearly.

This is why he went out of the city to remind Yan Jing, and wanted to slow down Yan Jing's pursuit.

Liu Zheng also thought about this problem.

Ten miles after leaving Pingchang City, he first threw away a small amount of sand and gravel to make the ruts appear less shallow, and then walked faster.

After walking another twenty miles, he threw away some of the sand and gravel, leaving only half of the gravel on the cart. Although the ruts would appear shallower, it was still different from an empty cart, and it should not arouse Yan Jing's suspicion.

Yan Jing really has no doubts.

When he was a few miles away from Pingchang City, he carefully inspected the ruts and found that the ruts were deep. He believed that the other party must have escaped with money and food.

Therefore, he was anxious to chase the thief and did not check carefully along the way.

Liu Zheng walked in a hurry, always keeping an eye on the pursuers behind him, knowing that Yan Jing was only twenty or thirty miles away from him.

When we arrived at Langya County, Yan Jing's troops were only about ten miles away.

Liu Zheng did not dare to stay for a long time, so he immediately ordered his troops to disperse and leave. Instead of taking the main road, they could only leave by small roads. They could go anywhere. In short, they should not gather in groups to avoid being discovered by the stern scouts.

He also distributed money and food to them, and asked them to go to Beihai Xiami in a month. By then, General Liu may have issued a recruitment order for them to apply as soldiers.

At the same time, people spread the word that Guan Cheng fled into the sea with money and food, and planned to live on the island for a long time.

When Yan Jing chased him to Langya County, he didn't even see the thief. He only heard that the thief had fled into the sea again.

Not to mention not having a ship, even if there were ships, the soldiers and horses he brought would not dare to go to sea at will.

On land they might be a dragon, but on a ship or in the sea, they might be a worm.

Yan Jing could only look at the sea and sigh. After staying in Langya County for three days, he had no choice but to lead his troops back.

When he arrived in Pingchang County, Yan Jing did not enter the city to meet Liu Bei. He failed to exterminate the thieves for fear of losing face in front of Liu Bei.

He led eight thousand soldiers and horses back to the plains, while Liu Bei left Pingchang and rushed back to Xiami with money and food.

Just after leaving Pingchang, Liu Bei sent Sun Qian to Pingyuan and personally wrote a letter to Yuan Tan.

The letter said that he had too few soldiers and horses, which was why the thieves were so rampant. He had to recruit more soldiers and horses to protect the county and the people.

In Pingyuan, Yuan Tan was furious when he learned that Yan Jing had returned without success. He also saw the handwritten letters written by Sun Qian and Liu Bei. He was so angry that he didn't think much and immediately agreed to Liu Bei's recruitment of troops.

When Liu Bei got the reply, he immediately issued an order to recruit troops, waiting for Liu Zheng's Taishan soldiers to come and surrender.
Chapter completed!