According to common sense, Shen Yi went deep into the city alone and occupied a large city. No matter what situation he encountered, he should hold on to the city.
It was for this reason that Zhou Yuanlang dared to bring his army so close.
However, Shen Yi's thoughts are different from others.
The reinforcements from the Qi people came all the way to Xuzhou, and they must be exhausted. In addition, their numbers are not superior, and they are close to the city of Xuzhou. It would be unreasonable not to go out and fight them at this time.
Thinking of this, Shen Yi asked someone to get pen and ink, sat on the tower and wrote a letter to Zhou Yuanlang, and then asked someone to leave the city and send him to Qiying in the north.
The messenger carried Shen Yi's letter and rode all the way. It didn't take long before he arrived at Qi Ren's camp. After identifying himself, he was immediately taken to a large tent. He held the letter in one hand, handed it over and said:
"The letter from my Duke Shen, which of you is Zhou Yuanlang?"
This Qi reinforcements were transferred by Zhou Yuanlang with documents from the Ministry of War. Although they were following Zhou Yuanlang's orders, there were many people in the camp who were far superior to the young Zhou Yuanlang in terms of rank and status.
After all, these people were not the people who conquered the Southern Army, and they did not recognize him as the major general of the Southern Army.
As soon as the messenger said these words, everyone's eyes turned to Zhou Yuanlang who was sitting in the tent. Zhou Yuanlang stood up silently and took the letter from the messenger. He did not embarrass the messenger of the Huai'an Army and let him go.
Went back.
After the messenger left, Zhou Yuanlang was about to open the letter. Several generals on the side smiled and said: "Major General, what letter did the bandit leader of the Southern Dynasty write to you? Can you give it to us to take a look at?"
Zhou Yuanlang frowned slightly and said, "I won't know until I see it."
As he spoke, he opened the letter. After unfolding the letter, what caught his eye were a few large characters.
"Traitors and traitors."
"Xuzhou Prefecture and even the north of the Huaihe River to Jimen Pass are our ancient places and the hometown of the Han family!"
"To take Xuzhou now is to restore China."
"You, the Zhou family, were originally from the Han family. Later, you became a barbarian bandit and became the slaves of the Lang family. From humble to humble, you later became a Hu Ting eagle and dog, killing and wounding countless members of the same clan."
"Shen doesn't disdain you for talking too much."
"Today, I, Master Chen, are stationed in Xuzhou City. If you and others still have a little courage, we will attack Xuzhou City early tomorrow morning."
"Shen, please wait patiently in Xuzhou."
The letter stopped abruptly when I wrote it here.
The signature is four chic and elegant words.
Jiangdu Shen Yi.
After Zhou Yuanlang read it, his face darkened immediately.
Because what Shen Yi sent him was not a reply, it could even be said to be an article simply used to curse people.
And he scolded her where it hurt.
The Zhou family is Han Chinese. In his early years, he devoted himself to the Lang family of Zhu Lizhen and worked as slaves for the Lang family. This is almost universally known.
And this is not a big deal for Zhu Lizhen.
Not to mention that the Zhou family had separated from the Lang family since the previous generation, Zhou Jinan, and became its own family, which was envied by many people in Yandu.
But this kind of "slave" culture unique to Zhu Lizhen is definitely despised in the eyes of the Han people.
At this time, Shen Yi brought up old things again and scolded him again, so he was naturally a little angry.
Seeing that Zhou Yuanlang's face was not very good, several generals looked at each other and said with a smile: "Young General, can you show us this letter?"
"cannot."
Zhou Yuanlang had a cold face and was about to burn the letter, but then he thought, if he burned it like this, it might leave a trail to outsiders, who might accuse him of having an affair at some point.
Nan Chen.
By the time the court investigates him, without this letter, he will have no way to tell the truth. Even if he is not convicted because there is no evidence, he will definitely be suspected by the court.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yuanlang took a deep breath, dropped the letter in his hand in the tent, and walked outside.
"Look, look."
He strode away.
The generals in the tent laughed for a while, and then found someone who knew a lot of literacy and read Shen Yi's letter together. After reading, another burst of laughter came from the tent.
Zhou Yuanlang, who walked out of the tent, silently looked in the direction of Xuzhou City and squinted his eyes.
"I want to use words to inspire me to attack Xuzhou immediately..."
The major general snorted: "You're looking down on me."
…………
It was night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.
Near midnight, not long after Major General Zhou Yuanlang fell asleep, there was suddenly a loud noise outside. He sat up from the bed angrily and was about to get angry when someone suddenly broke into his tent and knelt on the ground.
, somewhat panicked: "Major General, the scout battalion is here to report!"
"The soldiers and horses of the Southern Dynasties in Xuzhou suddenly left the city from the north gate and are now heading straight for my camp!"
Zhou Yuanlang was so excited that he immediately lost his sleepiness and asked, "How many people are here?"
"The night is too dark, it's unclear!"
This man was a general of the Zhou family. He knelt on the ground and said in a panic: "Now, we are only six or seven miles away!"
Zhou Yuanlang froze on the spot, stunned.
A thunder suddenly exploded in his mind!
At this moment, the major general suddenly figured it out!
The letter Shen Yi sent during the day was not to scold him, nor was it to inspire him to take the initiative to attack Xuzhou!
But to make him think that the Huai'an army in Xuzhou city will definitely defend the city and will not go out to fight!
"How dare he...!"
Zhou Yuanlang's face turned a little pale: "The army goes deep alone, surrounded by my army on all sides, how dare he leave the city at this time!"
However, these thoughts only flashed through his mind, and soon the major general put on his clothes and rushed out.
At this time, the reinforcements of almost 20,000 people were already slightly panicked.
Because they are not elites, and they have been exhausted all the way here.
At this time, everyone was suddenly woken up in an extremely sleepy state, and they were still a little confused.
"Get ready to face the enemy!"
Zhou Yuanlang shouted angrily.
Several generals in their thirties and forties gathered around Zhou Yuanlang, their voices becoming a little nervous.
"Major General, the enemy is only about five miles away from us. At their speed, they can reach the distance of five miles in just one stick of incense. It is too hasty to assemble the troops in formation in such a short time!"
At this time, everyone's eyes were surprisingly unanimous, all looking towards Zhou Yuanlang.
Although they didn't respect the major general very much and wouldn't listen to him on weekdays, in times of danger like this, they needed someone to take responsibility.
"Without further ado!"
Zhou Yuanlang said angrily: "Go to the formation immediately and prepare to meet the enemy!"
"It's too hasty and we're not ready? Should we let the southerners run over us directly?"
One of the generals lowered his head slightly and said: "Major General, it seems that we can order the brothers to retreat first, and while retreating, organize the formation. In this way, we will have enough time to prepare, and then..."
He whispered: "If the southerners pursue them, they don't need to go too far. As long as they chase them thirty or forty miles away, my army can step forward and hold them back so that they cannot return to Xuzhou."
"No matter how many people they leave the city, when the time comes, they will contact General Zhou and encircle the two sides, so that they can eat up the Qi army that leaves the city!"
Zhou Yuanlang was also anxious and confused. After thinking for a while, he figured out the key. He nodded and said in a deep voice: "Send my military order and ask our brothers to slowly retreat to the north to temporarily avoid the attack of the southerners."
"Lead them north!"
"It's best to drag them until dawn!"
"yes!"
All the generals immediately bowed their heads and agreed, and then went down to dispatch their soldiers.
At this time, directly south of them, some explosion sounds could be vaguely heard.
General Ling Suling personally led the troops and attacked all the way to the Qi people's camp in the north.
But soon, Ling Su also discovered that these Qi people began to retreat after a brief resistance.
On the horseback, Ling Su's eyes flashed.
He originally thought that tonight would be a good opportunity to make a great contribution. If he could seize it, he might be able to make a contribution to "breaking the army".
But now it seems that it is difficult to do.
He shook his head slightly and said with emotion: "Mr. Shen is right, he is really just here to beat the autumn wind."
Having said this, he turned back to look at Zhang Meng beside him and shouted in a deep voice: "Send my order to pursue at full speed."
"The Qi people are retreating. No matter what, even if we can't eat too many Qi people, we still have to bite off the tails of these Qi people!"
Following Ling Su's order, nearly eight thousand Huai'an troops roared angrily, all raised their swords, and ran towards the north.
In the dark night, countless torches flashed, looking like a giant dragon, very spectacular.
The Huai'an army, which only had 8,000 troops leaving the city, was extremely ferocious. They followed the Qi people and "chased" nearly 20,000 Qi people as reinforcements!
After rushing to the Qi camp, General Ling took the lead and sounded excited.