At noon that day, the team rested in the mountains. Liu Xiu sat under a big tree, took out his water bag, and drank water.
Heimao was lying next to Liu Xiu, lazily and a little listless. Heimao usually slept during the day and went out to act at night. In the past few days, Heimao followed Liu Xiu and kept marching during the day. This made Heimao very upset.
adapt.
Fortunately, for Heimao, the jungle is like his home. Walking in the jungle, Heimao can feel more comfortable.
Liu Xiu drank some water, then took a small basin from Luo You, poured some water, put it in front of Heimao, then raised his hand and stroked Heimao's hair, and said: "Remember the roads we took.
, I might need you to lead the way when we retreat!"
Heimao raised his head to look at Liu Xiu, then lowered his head and licked the water with his tongue.
Long Yuan took the food, handed Liu Xiu a piece of dry food and a piece of beef, and then put a large piece of raw meat on the plate.
Heimao just lowered his head and smelled it, then turned his head to the side. Liu Xiu shook his head and smiled, and said, "These days, we have made Heimao's mouth naughty."
Before Long Yuan could answer, Heimao lazily stood up, glanced at the raw meat in front of him, turned around and walked away. Liu Xiu didn't stop it, and said, "Don't go too far, we'll return in a while."
We have to keep on our way."
"Ouch--" Black Hair let out a low cry, indicating that he understood.
Not long after, the black-haired figure disappeared into the nearby woods. After coming to She, Yaoqi, Ji Zun came with a guide, and everyone saluted and said: "Your Majesty!"
Liu Xiu waved his hand, looked at the guide, and asked: "How many days do we have to walk to get out of this mountain forest?"
The guide was a strong man in his thirties with dark skin. He was an Orion on the border of Sanfu. During the first battle of Hanyang, he served as a guide for the Han army. He said seriously: "Your Majesty, I guess it will take more
Two days.”
After a pause, he picked up a branch from the ground, sketched it on the ground, and explained: "After leaving the forest, going forward, there is a barren mountain. There is no grass growing, and it is difficult to hide our tracks. Once there, we have to speed up...
…”
Liu Xiu listened attentively, nodded while listening, and knew what he was doing. After the dark man finished speaking, he picked up the water bag, took another sip of water, then shook it. The water bag was already empty, and he asked
: "Is there a water source nearby?"
He drank all the water, and probably the soldiers below had also drank almost all the water. The swarthy man said: "Go forward three or four miles, and we can pass by a small river. The water is very clean!"
"Yes!" Liu Xiu nodded and asked no more questions.
Lai She, Yao Qi, and Ji Zun gathered around the dark-skinned man and continued to ask him about the nearby terrain.
When Liu Xiu had finished his lunch, had almost rested, and was about to continue his journey, Heimao just came back, and at the same time he brought back a fat and big rabbit.
Seeing this, Long Yuan, Xu Ying and others all widened their eyes and said with surprise: "Heimao also picked up a rabbit!"
Heimao looked at Long Yuan and the others, and then at the piece of raw meat on his plate. He loosened his mouth, put down the rabbit, and raised his head high. Long Yuan scratched his head and muttered: "How do I feel? Heimao looks at me.
The look in his eyes is full of contempt!"
Liu Xiu was delighted and said, "The meat you gave Heimao is no longer fresh."
It is now mid-to-late October, and the weather has turned cold, but raw meat that has been for so many days is of course no longer fresh. For Heimao, he does not like to eat meat that is about to go bad, and he does not bother to eat it.
eat.
Long Yuan couldn't help laughing and sighed: "This black-haired beast is really about to become a sperm!"
Liu Xiu pointed to the dead rabbit that Heimao had brought back and said, "Okay, put the rabbit away and make it Heimao's dinner!"
Just as the swarthy man said, after walking forward for more than four miles, a small river appeared in front of him. The river was not wide, and when he reached the middle of the river, it was barely above his knees.
When they got close to the river, the soldiers of the Han army took up the river water, drank big gulps, and filled their water bags with water.
Other soldiers went to cut down trees and prepare to build a bridge across the river.
It is possible to walk across such a shallow river without building a bridge, but it will make the soldiers' feet wet. When traveling long distances, you need to keep your feet dry, otherwise the skin of your feet will be easily worn out.
Opening roads across mountains and building bridges when encountering water are the rules for armies traveling long distances. Two days later, the Han army soldiers led by Liu Xiu finally walked out of the forest. Looking further ahead, the plants began to become sparse. On the mountains and on the ground, everything was covered with
loess.
Although they lost the cover of trees, their marching speed was much faster. This 20,000-strong Han army unexpectedly passed through the streets, springs and Qin pavilions and headed straight for Lueyang.
When Lueyang received news that the Han army was approaching, the Han army was less than fifty miles away from Lueyang.
The defenders of Lueyang were shocked. If they wanted to evacuate Lueyang now, they would have time, but if they wanted to take away the supplies in Lueyang City, they would have no time anyway.
The general of the garrison could only bite the bullet and ordered the four gates to be closed. At the same time, he sent people to Shanggui to report the enemy's situation to Wei Xiao and ask him to send troops for reinforcements. The people sent by Lueyang had not yet arrived at Shanggui.
The army has arrived at Lueyang City first.
The guard general of Lueyang was named Chen Wang, and Lai She actually knew this man.
He often traveled between Luoyang and Liangzhou, and he had met most of the generals under Wei Xiao. Some had close personal relationships, while others were acquaintances. He and Chen Wang fell into the latter category.
After the Han army arrived in Lueyang, Lai She asked Liu Xiu for a military expedition, hoping to persuade Chen Wang to surrender. Liu Xiu pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. He reminded Lai She and said, "Come on, doctor, be more careful!"
Lai She bowed his hand to Liu Xiu, and then without any soldiers, he rode a horse alone to the front of Lueyang City. He shouted loudly to the top of the city: "I am Lai She. General Chen is willing to go out of the city to meet me."
Will I meet you?"
The defenders knew that Lai She was the Taizhong doctor of the Luoyang court and a minister Liu Xiu valued very much.
As soon as they heard that the people were coming, the archers on the top of the city raised their bows and arrows. Chen Wang waved to them and said in a deep voice: "No one is allowed to shoot arrows without my order!"
As he spoke, he turned around and walked towards the city. Not long after, the city gate opened a gap, and Chen Wang, also alone, ran out of the city on horseback.
He came to Lai She and when they were three steps away from each other, he tightened the reins, stopped, bowed his hands to Lai She on the horse, and said: "Lai She, doctor, I haven't seen you for a long time, how are you doing?"
Lai She raised his hand in return. Although the two of them had no close friendship, Lai She still knew a little about Chen Wang.
The relationship between Chen Wang and Wang Zun was particularly good, and they were close friends, and Wang Zun was devoted to the Luoyang court. Based on this, Lai She felt that Chen Wang had a chance to be won over by her side.
He said meaningfully: "Back then, when Kai Xiao took refuge with the Han Dynasty, the people in the world were all happy and thought that they no longer had to suffer the pain of war. But now, Wei Xiao is shameless and betrays the Han Dynasty, making Sanfu, Liangzhou, etc.
It is heartbreaking that there will be no more days of peace. She Su heard of General Chen's name and knew that General Chen was righteous, so he came to persuade General Chen to abandon darkness and surrender to the light, and return to the right path!"
Seeing Chen Wang's brows furrowed and his face gloomy, Lai She said again: "The reckless thieves have usurped the Han Dynasty and brought trouble to the world for more than ten years. All the people in the world miss the Han Dynasty. Restoring the Han Dynasty is the right way and the way of heaven. It is indeed the way of heaven."
The general trend is that all those who go against the will of heaven will act like a chariot with a mantis' arms. General Chen is a righteous man and should assist Mingjun to create the great cause of the Han Dynasty again!"
Lai She was a civil servant and a diplomat appointed by Liu Xiu. His eloquence was really eloquent and eloquent, and what he said made people feel very reasonable and convincing.
After Chen Wang heard this, he was also distraught. In his heart, he really didn't want Kai Xiao to rebel against the Han and was unwilling to fight the Han army. However, he was a subordinate of Kai Xiao, and he had to obey his orders.
.
Now that She came to recruit him to return to the Han Dynasty, he really had an impulse in his heart and wanted to agree to come to She immediately.
But no, his family members are all in Shanggui. If he surrenders to the Han army in Lueyang, then none of his family members in Shanggui will survive.
He didn't have that much courage to disregard his family's life and death and seek refuge in Luoyang alone. After thinking about it, he smiled bitterly and said: "I understand what the doctor said, but... I can't just live for myself.
And the whole family is affected, and they have no place to die! I hope the doctor can understand how difficult it is!"
Lai She had already considered this factor, and he never thought that just a few words of his own could make Chen Wang switch sides in front of the two armies.
He said: "General Chen wants to save the lives of his family. This is human nature. Of course I can understand it. General Chen may not return to the Han openly, but it is possible to return to the Han secretly!"
Chen Wang was stunned by what he said, and asked in confusion: "Returned to the Han Dynasty in secret?"
Laishe said seriously: "Today, our army will pretend to attack Yang. After being defeated by General Chen and his troops, they will set up camp in the east of the city. Tonight, General Chen can hold a big banquet in the city to reward the three armies. Our army will
Steal the city in the middle of the night. At that time, General Chen can take his confidants and escape from the west of the city. If he escapes due to defeat, Wei Xiao will not harm General Chen's life. General Chen will have great achievements in our Han Dynasty, and the imperial court will conquer Liangzhou in the future.
, I will never forget General Chen’s achievements today!”
The Han army does not know exactly how many defenders there are in Lueyang City, but it is estimated to be about 10,000. The Han army led by Liu Xiu traveled a long way through the mountains and forests, and did not carry any large baggage.
There are no large-scale siege weapons in the army, and even the ladders they carry are pitiful. With 20,000 Han troops, it will not be easy to forcefully capture Lueyang, where 10,000 enemy troops are stationed. Even if they can finally defeat it, they themselves
The casualties will also be huge.
If Chen Wang is willing to offer the city, that would be great.
Chen Wang looked at Lai She in surprise and fell into deep thought. After a long time, he slowly raised his head, looked at Lai She, and asked, "If Wang really does this, will your majesty remember Wang's achievements?"
Lai She said solemnly: "She can guarantee it with your head. Even if Weixiao is destroyed in the future, Your Majesty, the court will definitely not pursue General Chen. Instead, it will promote General Chen to a higher rank!"
Chen Wang stared at Lai She intently. After a long time, he nodded and said, "Okay! I believe what Doctor Lai said! Tonight, I will reward the three armies and create an opportunity for the Han soldiers to steal the city!"
Lai She's eyes suddenly showed joy, but there was no expression on his face, and he said: "General Chen is willing to abandon the dark side and turn to the bright side. It is really a blessing for the Han Dynasty!"
Chen Wang said with some embarrassment: "Doctor, you are serious." As he spoke, he lowered his eyes and glanced at his sword.
Lai She immediately understood what he meant and nodded slightly. Without hesitation, Chen Wang drew out his sword and pointed it directly at Lai She. Lai She looked angry, glared at Chen Wang fiercely, and turned his horse's head.
, return to the main formation.
Seeing that he was gone, Chen Wang also took back his sword and returned to Lueyang City.
It seemed that the two generals had not reached an agreement and broke up on bad terms. In fact, Lai She and Chen Wang had already made a verbal agreement.
Shortly after Lai She returned to the Han army's main line, the Han army began to attack Lueyang. The defenders of Lueyang carried a large number of rolling logs and stones to the top of the city, and set up their posture, hoping to fight the Han army to the death.
The Han army's attack was typically characterized by loud thunder and light rain. There were many people shouting and killing, but few actually rushed up desperately.
For such sparse offensives by the Han army, the defense of Lueyang defenders was also very easy, repelling the Han army's offensives one after another.
The Han army attacked all afternoon. When it got dark, the Han army began to retreat from the rear to the front.
Our side repelled the Han army that came to attack. The defenders were naturally happy. People stood on the top of the city and looked at the Han army that was "fleeing". They jumped, jumped, laughed and cursed. They were so proud.
