The report of the Battle of Dengxian soon reached Luoyang. After reading it, Liu Xiu was overjoyed and immediately issued an edict to confer the title of Marquis of Wuyin to Cen Peng.
Cen Peng's original title was Marquis of Guide. Guide was located near Suiyang, a small county, but Wuyin was different, located in Nanyang.
Nanyang is the hometown of the emperor. To be able to obtain a fiefdom here in Nanyang is not only a question of how much food is available, but also a great honor.
Fan Kuai, Liu Bang's general at that time, was named Wuyin Hou.
The Southern Expedition led by Cen Peng was a blockbuster. The battle of Deng County severely damaged Qin Feng's strength and left him unable to recover.
The Han troops who captured Xia Deng County and Dongyang Ju gathered one after another towards Li Qiu where Qin Feng was located. Soon, the army came to the city. Although Li Qiu City is not big, the city defense inside is very complete, the city walls are high and strong, and it is easy to defend. Difficult to attack.
Looking at the strong and towering city defense of Liqiu, Zhu You sighed softly and said: "Jun Ran, it would be better if you did not abandon the defense of Liqiu. Even if you abandon the defense, you should burn all the grain, grass and baggage inside. "
Cen Peng smiled calmly and said: "Xian Zhong, if I stick to Li Qiu or destroy all the food, grass and baggage in Li Qiu, do you think Qin Feng will still run to Li Qiu?"
Hearing this, Zhu You couldn't help but be startled and asked in surprise: "Did Jun Ran let Qin Feng enter Li Qiu on purpose?"
Cen Peng said with a smile: "Qin Feng is now trapped in Liqiu. His subordinates must lead the army to rescue him. Let the enemy travel a long distance to rescue Qin Feng. It is better for our army to wait for work in leisure. It is better for our army to travel a long distance to attack the enemy." Army, how about letting the enemy’s troops wait for work?”
Zhu You blinked his eyes, burst out laughing, cupped his hands and said, "Jun Ran is so pleased with you, I am ashamed of myself!"
Cen Peng laughed heartily, waved his hand and said, "Xian Zhong is too modest."
Cen Peng deliberately let Qin Feng escape to Liqiu, which was also one of his strategies. In modern terms, the tactics adopted by Cen Peng were "encircling the point to mobilize reinforcements."
Qin Feng was the leader of Nanjun's rebel forces. The Han army trapped Qin Feng in Liqiu. Qin Feng's men had no other choice but to come to the rescue. In this way, our own soldiers no longer had to run around or go back. When fighting in the south or in the north, all you have to do is sit here in Liqiu and wait. Come and beat one, come and beat a pair, and just wait for the hard work. Why not do it?
Yan Cen also guessed Cen Peng's tactics. He ran to Liqiu and not long after meeting Qin Feng, he pointed out Cen Peng's tactics to Qin Feng and suggested to Qin Feng to abandon Liqiu and quickly lead his army to break out.
Liqiu is the gateway to Nanjun. If Liqiu is destroyed, Nanjun's gate will be wide open. In the following war, Nanjun will inevitably fall into great passivity. Therefore, in Qin Feng's heart, he must not give up on Liqiu.
Furthermore, all his family assets are in Liqiu. If people can run away, can grain, grass and supplies follow them? Once these grains, grass and supplies fall into the hands of the enemy, what will he use to fight the Han army next? contend?
It's not that Qin Feng doesn't want to run, it's that he can't run away at all. Various conditions restrict him and he can only stick to Liqiu.
The war on the southern front has entered a stalemate stage again.
Qin Feng and his remaining troops huddled in Liqiu and could not move out, while the Han army surrounded Liqiu but did not attack. However, the current stalemate stage is no longer the stalemate stage before the Battle of Deng County.
At that time, the Han army was really unable to break through Qin Feng's triangular defense line, and the Han army was forced into a stalemate with Qin Feng's army.
The current situation is that it is not impossible for the Han army to forcefully break through Liqiu's city defenses, but the strategy implemented by the Han army is to encircle the point for reinforcements and take advantage of Qin Feng's being trapped to attract more enemy troops.
On this day, Cen Peng was sitting in the Chinese army tent watching the intelligence reports from all sides. Generals Zhu You, Ji Zun, and Zang Gong were also in the Chinese army tent. After Cen Peng read a piece of intelligence information, he handed it to the generals. circulate.
He said: "There is still no movement in Yicheng. On the contrary, Tian Rong in Yiling has begun to be unable to sit still and is gathering troops and horses, ready to make a move."
Qin Feng proclaimed himself King of Chu Li, and his capital was located in Yicheng in Nanjun. Zhu You snorted coldly and said, "Tian Rong is here, and he is seeking death!"
While they were talking, a guard came in from outside, stepped in and saluted Cen Peng, and said, "General!"
Cen Peng asked: "What's the matter?"
The guard handed over a letter. Cen Peng took it, opened the bag made of linen, took out a silk handkerchief from it, unfolded it, and found several rows of small characters "Xiu Juan" inside.
After looking at it, Cen Peng was obviously stunned for a moment, then put away the silk handkerchief, put it in his arms, and said: "Today's discussion ends here, Zhong Xian will stay here."
Although the generals were curious about the content of the letter, they did not ask any more questions and stood up and left. After the generals left, Zhu You curiously approached Cen Peng and asked in a low voice: "Jun Ran, what happened?"
Cen Peng took out the silk handkerchief from his arms, handed it to Zhu You, and murmured: "The flower beauty is here."
Zhu You was also stunned before he realized that the flower beauty mentioned by Cen Peng meant Hua Feiyan. In Liu Xiu's harem, this flower beauty was the most mysterious and low-key, and was rarely mentioned by people.
He quickly lowered his head and read the letter carefully. There was not much in it. It was about meeting Cen Peng when he left the camp.
After Zhu You finished reading, Cen Peng said: "Zhong Xian, come with me!" Cen Peng asked Zhu You to avoid suspicion. Although Hua Feiyan was not the emperor's real concubine, she still cared about the beauty. title.
As a minister, it is inappropriate to meet a woman with the title of emperor's concubine.
Zhu You did not shirk, he nodded, handed the silk handkerchief back to Cen Peng, and said: "Let's go, Jun Ran, I, Lao Zhu, will go with you!"
Cen Peng and Zhu You left the camp in casual clothes, accompanied by only a dozen highly skilled guards also in casual clothes.
The place where Hua Feiyan met Cen Peng was not far from the Han army camp, in a small village called Xiangli.
Because of the war, most of the villagers had fled, and those who remained in the small village were all orphaned old people who had no children and could not walk long distances.
There is a tea shed at the entrance of Xiangli Village. This is where Hua Feiyan met Cen Peng. When Cen Peng and Zhu You arrived, they saw Hua Feiyan sitting in the tea shed with a gauze mask. Around her, There are also several maids and servants.
Cen Peng and Zhu You both dismounted and walked into the tea shed. The tea shed was run by an old man in his sixties. He immediately came forward and asked with a smile on his face: "Do you want some tea?"
Zhu You waved his hand to the old man, indicating that he didn't need it yet.
He walked straight up to Hua Feiyan. Even though Hua Feiyan had her face covered, he could recognize that this woman was indeed the beauty. He took out a ringgit from his arms and handed it to the old man. .
The old man was startled. How many bowls of tea would he have to buy for one ringgit?
Zhu You said: "The shopkeeper can go somewhere else first. We have some private matters to discuss here."
The old man reacted, took the ringgit handed over by Zhu You, and weighed it in his hand. It was heavy and genuine. The old man swallowed his saliva, nodded and bowed and said: "Little old man, go to the village for a walk. The guest officer wants to If you want to drink tea, just pour it yourself."
For five hundred dollars, you can buy this small tea shed.
After the old man left, Cen Peng and Zhu You saluted Hua Feiyan and said, "Mrs. Hua!"
Outside, it is difficult for the two to call Hua Feiyan Beauty, and they can only call her Mrs.
Hua Feiyan smiled at the two of them, and waved to the maids and servants around him. Everyone walked out of the tea shed automatically and spread out around them. It looked like they were walking to the shade to enjoy the coolness, but in fact they formed a network. , anyone who wants to get close to the tea shed cannot hide it from their eyes.
"Two generals, please take a seat."
The tea shed was simple and simple, and the mats on the floor were all made of withered grass, picked up from nowhere, and were in dilapidated condition. Cen Peng and Zhu You didn't care, and knelt down opposite Hua Feiyan.
Zhu You asked curiously: "Why did Sister-in-law Hua suddenly come to Nanjun? Does your Majesty know?"
Liu Xiu and Zhu You were both monarchs and ministers, and they were also brothers with different surnames. Whether before Liu Xiu became emperor or after Liu Xiu became emperor, they got along like a family.
Facing the concubines in Liu Xiu's harem, Cen Peng was a little reserved, but Zhu You was very casual.
Hearing that he called her Sister-in-law Hua, Hua Feiyan couldn't help but smile. She said, "Your Majesty usually doesn't care much about my affairs and my whereabouts."
After a pause, she changed the subject and said seriously: "The purpose of my visit to Nanjun this time is to go to Yicheng."
Zhu You and Cen Peng looked at each other and gasped in unison.
Yicheng is Qin Feng's hometown. Isn't it too dangerous for Hua Feiyan to go to Yicheng? Cen Peng asked cautiously: "Could it be that Mrs. Hua has family members in Yicheng?"
Hua Feiyan shook his head and did not immediately answer Cen Peng's question. He asked: "Feiyan wants to know, does the general want to attack Yicheng next?"
"this……"
"If the military situation is secret and it is not convenient for Feiyan to know about it, Feiyan will not make it difficult for the general!"
Zhu You turned his head and rolled his eyes at Cen Peng. What else could he hide in front of Hua Feiyan? Even Hua Feiyan knew many of His Majesty's unknown secrets.
He said seriously: "Sister-in-law Hua, our army has no intention of attacking Yicheng for the time being."
Hua Feiyan nodded and said: "In the next month, the general will not send troops to Yicheng, let alone attack Yicheng."
Cen Peng frowned and asked, "I wonder what Mrs. Hua wants?"
Hua Feiyan said: "General, does he know who is currently stationed in Yicheng?"
Cen Peng blinked and said, "As far as I know, it's Zhao Jing."
Zhao Jing is Qin Feng's confidant, holds the position of prime minister, and is currently the main general guarding Yicheng. Hua Feiyan said lightly: "Zhao Jing can be roped in."
Cen Peng and Zhu You were startled and looked at Hua Feiyan in surprise.
Hua Feiyan said slowly: "The people from Yunxi Pavilion have sneaked into Yicheng a long time ago and have had many contacts with Zhao Jing. Zhao Jing's attitude towards Qin Feng is not as firm as others imagined. If Zhao Jing If you are willing to surrender, then Yicheng will be destroyed without attacking, and our soldiers will also be able to reduce many casualties."
Cen Peng and Zhu You looked at each other, unable to calm down for a long time. They really didn't expect that the people from Yunxi Pavilion had been lurking in Yicheng for a long time, and they had been secretly dividing Qin Feng's forces and quietly wooing Zhao Jing.
Zhu You asked cautiously: "So, Sister-in-law Hua went to Yicheng this time to meet Zhao Jing?"
Hua Feiyan nodded and said with a smile, "Yes."
"No, this is too dangerous!" Zhu You shuddered and said urgently: "What if Zhao Jing is surrendering on the surface, but actually wants to lure you to Yicheng, wouldn't it be a serious matter?"
Hua Feiyan looked at Zhu You happily and said softly: "Ayou is too worried. If I am not completely sure, I will not take the risk myself."
Zhu You called him sister-in-law, and Hua Feiyan felt a certain affinity for him. She imitated Liu Xiu and called him Ayou instead.
Before Zhu You could speak, Cen Peng frowned and said, "Mrs. Hua, I think Zhong Xian's words are reasonable. Mrs. Hua, please don't trust others!"