The next morning, at dawn, a thousand cavalrymen led by Zhang Ting arrived at the gate of the rebel camp.
After hearing the news, Liu Yan hurriedly gathered the rebels and ran out of the camp.
Zhang Ting sat on his horse and looked at the rebels who ran out of the military camp.
None of the people had military uniforms, they were wearing whatever they wanted. They were in a mess, and the weapons they used were also in a mess. They were all crooked and cracked. Zhang Ting looked at it and was quite dumbfounded. Such a group of people could withstand 20,000 barbarians. The army's siege was really unbelievable.
Not long after, Liu Yan and Feng Yi ran out of the crowd and came to Zhang Ting. They both stepped in to salute and said in unison: "My subordinate Liu Yan (Feng Yi), please see Mr. Zhang!"
Zhang Ting glanced at the two of them, then looked at the hundreds of volunteers lining up, and asked: "Liu Yan, didn't you say there are more than a thousand rebels? Why are there only so few people now?" ?”
Liu Yan said seriously: "Reporting to Mr. Zhang, in the battle to defend the city, the rebel brothers suffered heavy casualties. Those who can still take up arms to fight are all here!"
"Ha!" Zhang Ting laughed and sneered! He nodded and said, "Okay, since everyone is here, let's go!" Anyway, it's not you who are fighting the Green Forest Army. He murmured in his heart again. One sentence.
The two armies were united, with the rebels in front and the cavalry in the back. There were about 1,500 people in total, and they marched toward Dongcheng in a mighty manner.
When they arrived at the east city gate, the rebels walking in front were immediately blocked by the officers and soldiers guarding the city.
Now is an emergency period. The city of Hanzhong County has been sealed off for a long time. No one can get out without Lian Dan's order.
Liu Yan and Feng Yi didn't have any instructions. When they were explaining to the city gate defenders, Zhang Ting, with more than ten subordinates and guards, rushed over. When he got close, he asked: "What's going on? What's going on? Why haven't you opened the city gate yet?"
Seeing Zhang Ting coming, Liu Yan immediately ran forward, raised his hands angrily and said: "Master Zhang, the brothers guarding the city said that we cannot leave the city without General Lian's handwriting!"
Zhang Ting's face sank, and he looked at the leader of the garrison, a military commander. He showed his badge from his waist, waved it in front of the military commander, and shouted: "Do you know who I am? Don't belabor me anymore. , open the city gate!”
"Master Zhang, my subordinates must see the general's handwriting..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhang Ting had already whipped him with a horsewhip, and a crisp crack was heard in his ears. The military commander was whipped back several steps. Zhang Ting asked: "You even dare to Zhang Ting?" Don’t you even know Ting?”
The defenders currently guarding the city are all cavalry under Lian Dan's command. Naturally, they know Captain Zhang Ting.
The beaten military commander didn't even dare to say a word. He shrunk his neck and shouted to his subordinates: "Open the city gate! Open the city gate quickly! Let Mr. Zhang pass!"
With Zhang Ting present, the defenders did not even check the rebels who were leaving the city. They watched people walking out of the city gate one after another, including Xia Ruoyan who was mixed in with Liu Xiu and others.
Lian Dan probably never even dreamed that Xia Ruoyan would follow the rebels and sneak out of Hanzhong County without anyone noticing.
After successfully leaving the city, Liu Xiu, Xia Ruoyan and others secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After walking a certain distance, Zhu Yun came over with a horse. He handed the reins to Xia Ruoyan and whispered: "Miss Xia, hurry up and leave now!"
Xia Ruoyan was about to take the reins of the war horse, but she immediately retracted her hand. She frowned and asked, "Zhang Ting is watching from behind! If I ride away, how do you want Zhang Ting to explain?"
Zhu Yun said sternly: "Miss Xia, don't worry so much, brother Bo Sheng has his own way to solve the problem!"
Liu Xiu nodded towards Xia Ruoyan and reminded: "The night is long and there are many dreams. Miss Ruoyan, please leave quickly!"
Xia Ruoyan pondered for a moment, nodded to Liu Xiu and Zhu Yun, then without hesitation, took the reins of the war horse, floated on the horse, and said to Liu Xiu: "Today's kindness, Ruoyan will definitely repay you in the future!"
After saying this, she squeezed the horse's belly with her legs and urged the horse to run away.
One man suddenly ran out of the rebel team at a high speed. Zhang Ting, who was walking behind, heard the message from his men. He specially asked Liu Yan to find him and ask him to explain who the man who rode out just now was.
Liu Yan smiled and said: "Master Zhang, that's the scout we just sent out! The art of war is clear, the army hasn't moved yet, the scouts go first..." He shook his head and talked about the art of war to Zhang Ting.
Zhang Ting had a headache after hearing this. Damn it, the soldiers and horses have not moved yet, and the food and grass go first! I have only learned a little bit and know a little bit about it, but you still dare to show off in front of me? He waved his hands to Liu Yan in annoyance and said: "Okay, okay, I knew."
Liu Yan grinned and said: "The villain also learns from every experience. Last time we encountered an ambush by the barbarian army, it was because we did not send out scouts in advance. Now the villain will not be fooled again!"
Zhang Ting rolled his eyes at him, waved his hand impatiently and said, "Okay, go back!"
"Yes! Retreat, villain!" Liu Yan bowed to Zhang Ting and saluted, then returned to the ranks of the rebels.
The distance from Juncheng to Zhushan is about the same as the distance from Juncheng to Xi County, only one day's journey. If there were no rebels as a burden and only Zhang Ting's troops, it would only take half a day to get there.
Along the way, Liu Yan also sent out scouts from time to time to inquire about the environment ahead. When the sky gradually darkened, the team finally entered the Zhushan territory.
Zhushan County used to have a small population. After the brutal massacre by the barbarian army and the Lian Dan Division, as well as the fleeing migration of the people in the county, there are not many people left in the county. After entering Zhushan County, you can clearly feel the local atmosphere. desolate.
Even on official roads, people are rarely seen.
Their goal was to get to the county town first, rest there for one night, and wait until dawn the next day before looking for traces of the Green Forest Army. But they hadn't arrived at the county town yet, but halfway through, a group of men suddenly appeared in the woods on the roadside. Block their way.
These people were all dressed as ordinary people, and there were not many of them. At full count, there were only about twenty people.
The leader is tall and burly, with a Chinese character face, a dark complexion, thick eyebrows, small eyes, a flat nose, a big mouth, and beards and beards that stand like steel needles. The horizontal flesh of his face gave him a ferocious appearance, as if a blind bear had become a spirit.
"Stop, stop, stop! Stop it all!" The black-faced man at the head stood in the middle of the official road, shouting loudly at the rebels opposite.
The rebels looked at each other, but still stopped. Liu Yan and Feng Yi walked out of the crowd, looked at the twenty people in front, frowned and asked: "Who are you? Why did you stop me? The way to go?”
"Hey!" The black-faced man grinned and said, "I drove this road and planted this tree. If you want to live from now on, leave money to buy the road!"
Hey! They were robbed by bandits! Liu Yan and Feng Yi looked at each other and almost laughed.
If they are passers-by, it is normal for you to come out to rob, but we have hundreds of rebels and a thousand cavalry from the capital. You twenty or so people still dare to come out to rob. Isn't this looking for death?
Liu Yan suppressed his laughter, raised his head and said, "You don't want to seek death. If you get out of the way now, you can still survive. If you don't give in..."
The black-faced man didn't take Liu Yan and the others seriously at all. He put his hands behind his back and asked proudly: "If I don't give way, what will you do?"
"Your heads will fall to the ground!"
"Haha -" the black-faced man looked up and laughed, and said: "If you have the ability, just use it. I want to see today how you make our heads fall to the ground!"
It’s so hard to persuade a damn devil with good words! Liu Yan was aroused by the other party’s words. Just as he was about to step forward, someone next to him said: "Brother Bo Sheng, how can you kill a chicken with a butcher's knife! Leave this thief to me. Bar!"
Following the words, Gai Yan walked out of the crowd with the Yanyue Sword in hand, and went straight to the black-faced man opposite.
The black-faced man was not timid, and he hooked his fingers behind him. A young man in his twenties, holding a nine-ear and eight-ring knife, came to the black-faced man and handed the knife forward.
The nine-eared and eight-ringed knife, which could only be held by the young man's arms, was easily picked up by the black-faced man with one hand. He held the knife in one hand, as if it was as light as nothing.
Seeing this, Liu Yan and others secretly frowned. This ugly guy with a black face is quite powerful!
Liu Xiu warned Gai Yan's back: "Ju Qing, be careful!"
Gai Yan nodded and continued to move forward.
Soon, Gai Yan and the black-faced man came together. Both of them were tall and majestic, and they both used knives. They stood together like two door gods.
The black-faced man tilted his head, looked Gai Yan up and down, and said, "I can't kill anyone without a name, please tell me your name!"
"Gai Yan Gai Ju Qing!"
"Oh! Who do I know! It turns out to be that coward Gai Juqing who was captured by the barbarians!"
Hearing this, Gai Yan's eyes turned red. Being a prisoner of the barbarians was a lifelong shame and stain. The reason why he was dismissed from office was that his defeat was only a secondary factor. Being a prisoner was the main reason.
Now the black-faced man was teasing him about this matter. Given Yan's fiery temper, it would be strange if he didn't explode! He screamed loudly and roared: "I want your head!" As he spoke, he swung his fist. The knife will cut it.
The black-faced man didn't just talk the talk. He saw Gai Yan's knife coming fiercely. He showed no fear, raised the nine-eared eight-ringed knife in his hand, and raised his sword upwards.
clang clang clang——
This loud noise was like thunder in the clear sky. Whether it was the two dozen bandits or the rebels on the opposite side, people all covered their ears and looked in pain.
After a head-on blow, neither Gai Yan nor the black-faced man was knocked back. They looked like they were half a catty.
However, Gai Yan was the one who took the initiative to attack, and the black-faced man was the one who passively resisted. In this case, it was only half a dozen, but in fact, the black-faced man was better.
Seeing that the opponent's strength was not only not inferior to Gai Yan, but even stronger than Gai Yan, Liu Xiu who was watching the battle was surprised and worried, and he couldn't help but take a step forward.
At this time, with the rapid sound of horse hooves, Zhang Ting and his men dared to come over.
Looking at the two people who were already fighting in front of him, Zhang Ting frowned and asked, "What's going on?"
Liu Yan said: "Master Zhang, there are bandits blocking the road ahead. Ju Qing goes to meet the enemy!"
"Bandits?" Zhang Ting's brows furrowed even deeper, and he raised his eyes to look at the two men fighting. He murmured, "Where did the bandits come from?!"
