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Xicheng County, Cao Ren has been in Xicheng County for five days, but bad news follows one after another. Jiao Huang's wooden ox caravan attacking the Han army was trapped and wiped out the entire army. Cao's army at Qishan Fort surrendered, Licheng and Qishan Fort lost one after another. The next target of the Han army must be Xicheng.

This made Cao Ren very nervous. He knew the strategic significance of Xicheng. Xicheng was not only the gate of Tianshui County, but also the Han army could also enter Guangwei County to the east. Once Xicheng was lost, the entire Longxi battle situation would be detrimental to Cao's army.

At present, there are 8,000 Cao troops in Xicheng County, and it has almost reached the limit that Xicheng County can station troops, but Cao Ren is still worried. He keeps sending people to Guanzhong to urge Xiahou Dun's reinforcements.

In the room, Cao Ren was standing in front of the map with his hands behind his back and staring at the map on the wall for a long time. The night before yesterday, Huang Zhong led 5,000 troops around the Xicheng and stationed on a half-mountain ten miles north. This undoubtedly caused trouble for the Cao army who went south to support him.

Just now, he received news that Xu Huang had led ten thousand troops to quickly head west, and would go to Jicheng first, leaving 10,000 troops to defend Jicheng, and Xu Huang led 20,000 troops south to assist in defense of Xicheng.

This is Xun You's suggestion to prevent the Han army from taking advantage of the emptiness to attack Jicheng. Cao Ren agreed with this plan. He was also worried that the Han army would attack the west and take advantage of the opportunity when he headed south to Xicheng. However, Xu Huang's army has not arrived at Jicheng yet, and the situation is not good, which makes Cao Ren's heart a mess.

"General, I don't understand why General Xu didn't come to Xicheng directly from Guangwei County, and insisted on detouring Jicheng and heading south. This would take at least two more days." Zang Ba next to him said in confusion.

Cao Ren shook his head, "This should be Mr. Xun's careful consideration. Mr. Xun knew that I was in Xicheng and had enough troops. He should be more worried about Jicheng's losses, so he sent troops to Jicheng first. From the overall perspective, it was completely correct to send troops to Jicheng."

Zang Ba lowered his head and said for a while: "I'm worried that Liu Jing personally led the army to attack Xicheng. General, if Xicheng is lost, we cannot explain to the Prime Minister."

"You have to keep calm

Cao Ren glared at Zang Ba with dissatisfaction, "We have 8,000 troops in the west city and tall and strong city walls, which can withstand the siege of 50,000 people. The garrisons of Wudu County are only 50,000. Liu Jing led tens of troops north at most. How could we not resist Xuangao? I think you don't have confidence?"

"It's a humble job to know the mistake."

Cao Ren took two steps behind his hands and said, "I have obtained information. The Han army has been practicing night battles and siege in the city for the past few months. I suspect that it is targeting Xicheng. From tonight, we will also practice night battles in the city. In addition, there are few stone catapults on the top of the city, so you must organize craftsmen to make it immediately."

"I understand, let's make arrangements now."

Zang Ba bowed and left, only Cao Ren was left in the room. Although he scolded Zang Ba for being unable to calm down, in fact, his worries were even greater. Once the Xicheng was lost, how could he explain to the Prime Minister

At this moment, a sound of running came from outside, and a personal guard rushed to the door and reported urgently: "General, the scouts discovered that a Han army of more than 10,000 people had passed the Qishan Mountains and was coming to the west city, with great momentum."

"Ah" Cao Ren was stunned for a moment, and he said anxiously: "Bring the scout to see me."

...........

In the afternoon, the chief general Cao Ren stood above the city and looked at the south worriedly. He seemed to have seen the figure of the main force of the Han army. Although he ordered the addition of trenchers, it would take at least five days to add trenchers. He was worried that it would be too late.

He just got the news that tens of thousands of troops arrived in Qishan last night and were continuing to head north towards Xicheng. It was probably Liu Jing's main army.

But at this time, there was a Han army camping in the north less than ten miles away from Xicheng. It was Huang Zhong's five thousand troops. They bypassed Xicheng at night and camped in the north of Xicheng County for two days.

The main force of the Han army is about to approach the present. What should we do if we go out of the city and fight with the five thousand Han army first, defeat Huang Zhong's army, open up the way to retreat north, or guard the city and wait for the main force of the Han army to come to attack the city. Although the crisis is imminent, there are opportunities now, but Cao Ren has not yet thought about how to deal with it.

When people are in a panic, they often retreat without thinking about being enterprising. This is the weakness of human nature. Only brave and extraordinary people dare to challenge themselves in adversity.

Cao Ren obviously lacked the courage. He hesitated that the main force of the Han army was about to face the brink of the brink. He knew that he could fight Huang Zhong's army, but he never had the courage to order to leave the city.

He looked carefully at the city walls of Xicheng. The city walls were as high as meter. Although there was no moat, the city walls were very thick and were all made of large bluestone. They might be able to withstand the Han army for a few days, or they might be able to wait until the moment when Xu Huang led the reinforcements.

Although Cao Ren scolded Zang Ba for being timid, he was actually afraid of Liu Jing. He was once captured by Liu Jing. Being captured not only brought him a lifetime of shame, but also made him feel deeply afraid of Liu Jing.

He just hopes that reinforcements will arrive as soon as possible, but what Cao Ren did not expect was that the Han army had arrived in real life was not his illusion.

Woo~ Woo

The low and distant horn sounded in the south of the earth, and a long black line appeared in the south, as if it was an echo. At this time, the horn sounded in the north, and the Han army in the north also appeared.

The black line gradually spread out, pulling out a black curtain covering the sky, with flags like clouds, bright armor, neat teams, and swords and guns like endless forests.

The cavalry was in front and the infantry was behind. The speed of the march was not fast, but every step was so thrilling. The rhythm of the march sounded with the sound of trumpets, and the rumbling drums rolled across the sky like muffled thunder.

This is an army dominated by the original Yizhou Army, with about 10,000 people. They still retain the unique flag-laying formation of the Yizhou Army.

But they could no longer see the feminine aura of the Bashu soldiers. They had the unique blood and fire of Jiangxia soldiers, and the tough temperament of steel. They were like a piece of high-density steel, invincible.

At this time, the sound of the bell on the head of Xicheng also rang rapidly.

All the eight thousand Cao troops went to the city to defend, and twenty catapults and bed crossbows installed at the top of the city were also ready.

Not only were there heavy defensive weapons, but also soldiers' crossbows and arrows, as well as the most primitive wooden rolling stones, so the Cao army soldiers realized that their most severe test was about to come.

The attack on the Xicheng of the Wan Han army made Cao army feel a lot of pressure. The city was already busy. Deputy General Zang Ba commanded two thousand civilians to carry huge rocks in front of the city gate to block the door. Pieces of huge rocks weighing thousands of pounds were moved by Cao's soldiers and piled up densely behind the city gate. There was no moat. The city gate was the most vulnerable place in this city, and it was easy for the Han army to open a gap from here.

Zang Ba's voice was hoarse. He pointed to a door and shouted hoarsely, "Hurry here, here, block here."

More than two civilians used pry sticks and rolling wood to slowly transport a square huge rock, blocking the city gate. Several large rocks were transported one after another, piled up on the large rocks, as if one piled up one large rock, which could add a little hope. Several huge rocks blocked the two city gates from north to south.

The drum sound outside the city gradually subsided, and the two Han troops in the south and north arrived at the west city almost at the same time. They stopped moving forward two miles away from the city, waiting for the next order.

Liu Jing rode on the horse, the middle army in the team. He looked at the familiar city coldly. Although he had made plans for several possible situations, he did not expect that Cao's army would eventually choose to trap himself in the city.

Although the thick city walls in Xicheng can make it difficult for the Han army to attack the city for a while, Liu Jing has the confidence to win. Cao's army cannot defend the city this time. On the contrary, the city walls will trap the pace of Cao's soldiers' escape.

If it were him, if he knew he was defeated and no reinforcements came, he would rather choose to break through, break eastward, preserve his vitality and be trapped in the city, and they would be more likely to be wiped out.

"Stay and Governor's Look"

A personal soldier pointed to the city and shouted: "They have started to throw stones."

A big rock flew up from the top of the city and landed on the ground with a bang.

Liu Jing couldn't help but smile contemptuously. He had already smelled the timid breath of Cao Jun. He could not control the stones when they were two miles apart. Doesn't it mean their nervousness and timidity?

"Transfer my orders and build a cannon"

The biggest advantage of Xicheng is that its terrain is high. Whether it attacks from the north or from the south, it has to face a few steps of slope. This slope makes it difficult for the siege troops to use heavy siege weapons, which is also the main reason for the last time the Han army failed to siege the city.

In response to this weakness, the Han army found a solution, which was to build ten cannons within fifty steps and turn the slope into a platform.

Cao's army's catapult is a medium-sized catapult, and the farthest throwing distance is about about steps. Then, building a cannon platform fifty steps away can avoid the enemy's catapult attack.

Two thousand Han military fortification soldiers were quickly building a platform of thief casting machines with giant trees. In the army, soldiers were also busy assembling thief casting parts. This time, the Han army brought ten giant thief casting machines to the north, with a maximum range of up to four steps, and needed ten ox to shoot, which was aimed at Xicheng.

At this time, a cavalry rushed from the north and shouted: "Send a letter to the governor of the state under the order of the Old General Huang."

A general led the newsman to Liu Jing. The newsman presented Huang Zhong's order arrow and bowed to report: "Gen. Huang asked the provincial governor whether to attack the northern city at the same time?"

Liu Jing pondered for a moment and said, "Let the old general wait for my orders, not act rashly, but pay more attention to the arrival of Cao's army in the north."

"Abide by the order"

The soldiers who reported the news bowed and turned their horses to run north.

At this moment, a riot suddenly broke out at the building of the platform in front, and thousands of fortification soldiers retreated one after another.
Chapter completed!