"I am a dignified young master, why can't I see Your Majesty?"
"If you are not allowed to see him, you are not allowed to see him. Sikong has an order. In order to prevent him from betraying the party and deceiving Your Majesty, no one can see the emperor until Sikong comes back."
"you!"
At the east gate of the Xudu Palace, on the road paved with bluestone slabs, Kong Rong pointed at the Su guards at the door and was so angry that he could not speak.
It was the beginning of summer in April, and there was a light rain in Xudu today. In the pattering rain, Cao Cao's guards stood under the palace gate, holding their weapons tightly with both hands, and stared at Kong Rong without saying a word.
They were ready to draw their swords at any time. If he dared to take a step forward and break through the palace gate, these guards would never show mercy to Kong Rong just because he was one of the nine ministers.
"Mr. Wen Ju, forget it."
Next to him, 25-year-old Yang Xiu pulled Kong Rong back.
Since Mi Heng was sent to Liu Biao by Cao Cao the year before last, but Liu Biao used a borrowed knife to kill someone and sent Mi Heng to Huang Zu to kill, Kong Rong's only friend in Xudu was Yang Xiu.
After being pulled under the carriage by Yang Xiu, there was a bamboo canopy on the carriage, which was like a big parasol to protect him from the rain. Kong Rong angrily punched the carriage and said angrily: "Cao Cao is really going too far. This is inconsistent with
What’s wrong with imprisoning the emperor?”
"Mr. Wen Ju, don't say this nonsense. Go back first."
Yang Xiu was startled and glanced guiltily at the palace gate guards not far away. Then he quickly pulled Kong Rong into the carriage and ordered the coachman to return to the Shaofu Mansion as soon as possible.
After the two returned, Kong Rong and Yang Xiu said privately in the backyard: "Shen Chen wrote to me telling me that he will attack Xudu and welcome the emperor. I want to report to the emperor and then find a way to cooperate with him inside and outside. What do you think?"
Yang Xiu shook his head and said: "I advised Wen Jugong to give up this idea. The more Cao Cao is at this time, the more closely he will pay attention to the emperor. The guards at the palace gate firmly control the palace, and they can't get in or get out."
"hateful!"
Kong Rong was so angry that he said viciously: "That thief Cao actually kidnapped the emperor and bullied the emperor. If it hadn't been for your Majesty's decree at the beginning of this year, we would not have known that your Majesty's situation had reached such a state."
Yang Xiu smiled bitterly and said: "My father was also scolded by Cao Cao with excuses. Now he doesn't dare to do anything at home all day long. Cao Cao is insulting His Majesty, and we dare not speak out in anger."
"well."
Kong Rong sighed, and now he hated himself for being blind in the beginning and believing Cao Cao's nonsense, thinking that he really treated the emperor?
As a result, the emperor is now kidnapped, Cao Cao is wielding power, and his cronies are everywhere inside and outside the city. What should we do?
Both of them were very angry. Now, they could not give any help to Shen Chen in Linying.
．
．
Guandu, on the day Shen Chen arrived at Linying, Cao Cao had already turned around and set off south.
The information he got was actually lagging information, that is, the news that Shen Chen might have broken through Ye County. He didn't know that Shen Chen had broken into Ye County a few days ago and was almost at Linying now.
But Cao Cao could not put his hope in the fact that the enemy did not come. He would prepare for the worst, so he thought at that time that Shen Chen was probably already on the way to Xudu, and might even have arrived in Xiangcheng or even Xiangcheng.
Linying.
Therefore, he immediately summoned all the cavalry and led the team himself, just like he later personally led the cavalry to Wuchao, galloping towards Xudu in the starry night.
Wuchao is 35 kilometers away from Guandu, and Xudu is 90 kilometers away from Guandu. In terms of distance, if Cao Cao was an infantry, it would have taken at least two days to get there, but he was a cavalry, so it only took one day. We arrived at Xudu in no time.
Before the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao had very few cavalry, less than a thousand.
But he has one person to thank.
Wen Chou.
In the Battle of Yanjin, Wen Chou's entire army was wiped out and Cao Cao was given five to six thousand horses.
So now Cao Cao has a group of cavalry.
This is also the reason why he was able to gallop thirty-five kilometers overnight to set fire to Wuchao during the Battle of Guandu.
At this moment, when Shen Chen's troops arrived at Linying, Cao Cao was on his way back.
Linying County.
The occupation of this county seat is not troublesome.
There was almost no defense force in the city, and he captured it easily.
The location of Linying County in the Han Dynasty was different from that of Linying in later generations, which was directly south of Xuchang.
Linying in the Han Dynasty was northwest of Linying in later generations and southwest of Xuchang, just in the middle of Xiangcheng and Xuchang.
This is also the reason why after occupying Xiangcheng and marching into Linying, they arrived at the gate of Xuchang.
In order to buy time for Cao Cao, Xun Yu asked Li Dian to lead troops to conquer Shen Chen, but he must not be allowed to enter Xudu City. The impact and destructive power it would cause would be too great, and Cao Cao could not bear it.
So Shen Chen had just occupied Linying the day before, and when he was preparing to set off for Xudu in the light rain the next day, Cao's army had already appeared outside the city in the north.
Li Dian did not attack the city directly. He set up camp outside the city. Apparently, he wanted to use the camp as a defensive point to prevent Shen Chen from going north.
After all, for both parties, Shen Chen actually belongs to the attacking side, but he is currently in the city.
"Achen."
In the slanting wind and drizzle, Gan Ning looked at Cao Jun in the distance outside the city, with a piece of dogtail grass in his mouth, and said: "They are setting up camp, how about a fierce attack now?"
Shen Chen looked into the distance and said: "I don't think the enemy would be so stupid to come and camp in front of us. There must be a trick inside."
"you mean?"
"Send someone to test it out and you will know."
"Okay, I'll go."
Gan Ning turned around and went down to the city. Now he felt that his blood was boiling. He had actually defeated Xudu and was about to meet the emperor.
The walls of Linying city were old and mottled, and the city gate slowly opened. Gan Ning was riding on horseback. Their cavalry was actually not many, only about a hundred people, but Gan Ning brought thousands of infantry behind him, like a long dragon. Attack outside the city.
There are some hilly slopes outside the North City. It was early summer and the vegetation was lush. Li Dian's army nestled near a forest, cut down the trees, and began to build a camp on the spot.
Amidst the patter of raindrops, Gan Ning took the lead and charged towards the enemy's camp that was still under construction like a rushing dragon.
Before they even got close, the soldiers who were building the village wall dropped the wood and tools for building the camp in great panic one by one, and ran towards the forest like birds and animals.
Gan Ning keenly noticed that these people were not soldiers at all.
One is that his quality is relatively low, and the other is that he can actually see an old man with a vicissitudes of life, which is almost impossible.
Therefore, it is obvious that as Shen Chen expected, there is indeed a fraud in it.
Soon he pursued him, and the forest was suddenly filled with people. Gan Ning could even vaguely see the black uniforms of Cao Jun. He immediately ordered the soldiers to stop a stone's throw away, about 150 meters away, and laughed. : "I don't want to play with you anymore, leave."
Then withdraw the troops and go back.
At this time, Li Dian in the forest looked at his leaving figure indifferently. This was indeed Li Dian's idea. If he directly built the camp, he would definitely be attacked. Then let the craftsmen put on soldiers' clothes and disguise themselves as soldiers to attract the enemy to attack. .
Anyway, the life of a craftsman is not a fate in their eyes. It is a pity that the enemy was not fooled. Otherwise, if they chased them into the forest, they would definitely taste the rain of arrows.
"how?"
Gan Ning came back soon, and Shen Chen went up to ask.
"There is an ambush."
After returning, Gan Ning wiped the rain off his face with a linen cloth, walked to the eaves of the tower, and said to Shen Chen, who had been watching, "They are hiding in the woods."
"guessed."
Shen Chen nodded.
Gan Ning asked: "What should we do now?"
"The old way."
Shen Chen smiled slightly: "Bypass here, go straight to Xudu and force them to fight."
Gan Ning gave a thumbs up: "You are still smart."
Shen Chen looked into the distance, then raised his head and looked at the sky, frowning slightly.
Is the weather helping Cao Cao?
Fighting in the rain had a great impact in ancient times. If you are not careful, you may catch a cold or have a fever, which can kill you.
So at this time, he really couldn't act according to the plan.
Fortunately, it was early summer now, and it would probably rain around the Qingming Festival, so he waited patiently.
The best way to mobilize the enemy is naturally to attack the points that the enemy has to defend.
Xudu is the place that Cao Jun must defend.
In the Battle of Guandu, the reason why Yuan Shao could not imitate Shen Chen was because he came from Hebei and his supply line was relatively long. Unlike Shen Chen who left Nanyang and reached the hinterland of Yingchuan, which was only about a hundred kilometers away from Xudu.
In addition, Cao Cao was even more guarded against him. There were many obstacles along the way to Xuchang.
For example, in history, he placed Zhang Xiu in the area of Chenliu and Jiwu to protect the right wing of Guandu. He placed Xiahou Dun in the area of Mengjin and Aocang to protect the left wing of Guandu.
The rear was extremely empty. The defense line basically consisted of Cao Hong and Li Tong respectively in Nanyang and Runan. After passing them, they reached Xudu.
Therefore, Shen Chen could bypass the enemy's troops and attack east and west, heading straight for Xudu, but Yuan Shao could not use this tactic.
Soon time passed by minute by minute.
In the afternoon, the sky became clear again and the rain finally stopped.
Over there, Li Dian was still digging for a camp. Shen Chen looked at him and smiled coldly and said, "Uncle Xingba, here's the order, let's go through the west gate and don't bother to worry about the enemy generals on the opposite side."
"good."
Gan Ning laughed and gave the order.
After about ten minutes, the eight thousand soldiers gathered one after another. After another five minutes, the soldiers marched out of Linying City.
Li Dian's scouts outside the city discovered this situation and quickly reported to Li Dian.
When he learned that the other party had no intention of confronting him in Linying and was obviously going straight to Xudu, Li Dian was shocked and could not care less. He gave up repairing the fortifications and led his troops to stop him.
The two sides fought on the banks of the Tishui River, about 20 miles north of Linying. At that time, Li Dian had nearly 10,000 people, but most of them were improvised troops with no combat effectiveness at all. Shen Chen commanded them on the spot and defeated Li Dian. A lieutenant general killed four to five hundred enemies and captured thousands of them.
Soon, Li Dian's defeated army fled back to Xudu. For a time, people in Xudu were panicked, rumors spread everywhere, and princes from aristocratic families were busy dragging their families and escaping everywhere.
There were even a large number of officials and noble families in the city who sent letters to Shen Chen's military camp to secretly make friends with him.