The eighth year of Taixing.

November 20th.

The first snow began to fall at the northern end of Taihang Mountain.

The first snow was not heavy, but the temperature was like a fault and jumped off the cliff in one breath.

Smoke curling smoke came out of Cao's camp outside Tucheng, Shexian.

The guards of the villages outside Shexian have been conquered one by one. Some were damaged during the attack, leaving only some broken eaves and walls, while others are still useful. Now all the Cao army is stationed. The Cao army's flag is erected on the top of its walls.

Although the progress was not slow, the commander of Cao's army, Xiahou Dun, was worried and looked at Tucheng, Shexian with a serious expression.

A group of Cao's cavalry patrolled around the city about four or five miles outside the city, and from time to time would approach the city to shout, provoke, or attack the heart, and carry out psychological tactics.

Since entering Fukou Xing, Xiahou Dun's performance should be quite good. He adapted to the changes in the Taihang Mountains in time and sent out a team of soldiers. Under the leadership of smugglers familiar with the mountain road, he interspersed and surrounded the cavalry defenders on Fukou Xing. This tactic of double-teaming was undoubtedly very effective, and would quickly shake the morale of the defenders along the Fukou Xing and collapse the will. Until he arrived in She County, Xiahou Dun broke through eight postcards and three military camps along the way. Even the military camps outside She County were also defeated by Xiahou Dun...

But the smooth rhythm ends here.

What's troublesome is not food, but food storage is also there.

For this expedition, Cao's army prepared a lot of food and grass, and Xiahou Dun certainly would not forget to carry it, but the problem was that he had brought the food, so there was no room for transportation to carry anything else...

Of course, when fighting in other terrain, there are no additional problems or fuel issues that extend the current situation.

There is food and grass, but there is not enough fuel.

This problem actually won't occur on other terrains.

Even if there is not enough firewood, the army can temporarily cut down trees during its march. On the one hand, it is used as raw materials for military equipment and on the other hand, it is also used as fuel.

But the problem is that this is Taihang Mountain...

Many terrain is covered with cliff faults in Taihang Mountains.

Of course, Xiahou Dun could not cut down trees for environmental protection, but could not cut them down!

Those trees that can be easily cut down were cut down long ago during human survival and trade, and the remaining trees that are high and unattainable, even if they can climb up and cut down, they are not easy to transport.

This is very painful.

Firewood is generally very cheap. The woodcutter carries a load of firewood to the city to sell, which is just a few big money. Now Xiahou Dun is trapped by these big money things.

As the temperature drops, the demand for fuel is greater.

Yesterday, the first snow was snowing, and it seemed that water turned into ice at night. The drop in temperature was almost equivalent to the magic of indiscriminate attacks by all members in this era. Poor families even had only one or two sets of clothes that could go out. They could be shirtless when they were hot, and when they were cold, there was no extra clothes to wear...

The Cao army had already begun to collect fuel with all their might.

Not only were the wood in the abandoned village guarding platform, but also the dry deciduous shrubs in the wilderness, and even the trees that were slightly easier to collect on the stone walls were climbed up with ropes or ladders, and cut them down, causing cheers from a bunch of Cao's soldiers.

Who would have thought that Cao's army is not cheering for victory now, but cheering for fuel?

Xiahou Dun looked at it blankly, and something seemed to move in his heart.

The footsteps came from behind him, and the trusted guard came to his side and reported softly: "I went to the back battalion to count it, found some old wood and gun handles, and some difficult-to-patch wooden boards, which can also be used as fuel and burned for two or three days..."

Xiahou Dun nodded, listening to his subordinates' reports, but his eyes were still staring at the direction of Shexian.

...

...

The county magistrate of Shexian County is called Liang Qi.

The commander guarding the city beside Liang Qi is Yan Zhi.

Liang Qi was originally a big family in Shexian County. Since the time of Dong Zhuo, he has served as the county magistrate of Shexian County and has been to this day.

Pure local snake in Shexian.

Yan Zhi was an outsider and was originally from Youbei.

When Cao's army Xiahou Dun stared at She County outside the city, She County Mayor Liang Qi was also staring at Cao's army, with a look of sorrow.

From the perspective of God, of course, we know the comparison of military strength and material conditions between the two sides, and the people in it can only touch the elephant blind people, and wherever they touch it is considered.

Cao's army attacked Shexian three times in total, and lost two or three hundred people under the city. Of course, these two or three hundred people were not all regular soldiers, most of them were laborers and auxiliary soldiers.

At the beginning of the siege, Xiahou Dun also used many strategies.

It is considered a basic operation to play the role of the east and the west...

Although these strategies are not special and are not rare, they often work in a hurry. If Liang Qi had not been assisted by Yan Zhi, the commander of the city, he would have been deceived and was captured by Cao's army.

After the initial battle, Liang Qi became cautious and respectful to Yan Zhi more and more. He didn't think he was rich and powerful before. He stared at people with half a county in his family. Now he would also see his bald head...

"There is a military strategy, so you can't defend the city. You can go out of the city to fight from time to time to boost your morale?" Liang Qi lowered his head and asked, "These guys who clamor outside the city all day are really disturbing... I wonder what Yan Duwei thinks?"

"No." Yan Zhi pointed to the Cao army cavalry cruising in the distance outside the city and said, "None of these Cao army has exceeded five miles. At the speed of the cavalry, this distance will be in a blink of an eye! If we leave the city, we will give Cao army a chance."

"Then just listen to that?" Liang Qi asked.

Yan Zhi nodded, "If the county magistrate thinks it is unpleasant, you can ignore it... or ask some people to scold Cao Jun... Of course, I don't recommend doing this. It will take a lot of manpower if you don't talk about the cold wind on the top of the city.

Liang Qi nodded and turned around to look at Shexian Town.

The streets in the city were crowded with surrounding people. Although there were porridge sheds and many bonfires were set up, they were still trembling with coldness.

It’s not that the people in Shexian County have no love, but that there is no reason.

There are not many houses and buildings in Shexian County, unlike so many idle buildings in later generations.

Moreover, even if there are so many idle buildings in later generations, no one is willing to take out these idle buildings for low-rent housing or cheap apartments...

The current houses of the Han Dynasty are all private houses, not those that have been rented for decades, so the people who were originally outside the city naturally had no place to go. It would be great if they could find a shelter from the corners and alleys.

The temperature dropped in the past two days, and many people died of freezing, curled up somewhere, waiting for the rot.

"There are still food and grass in the city, but this weather... something to keep warm..." Liang Qi was a little worried.

Yan Zhi also looked back and said, "If it doesn't work, please find some places, dig some land nests, and fill them back after the encirclement is released... Never cause chaos... I suspect that there may be some spies in the city. If we are in chaos first, we will most likely take the opportunity to cause trouble..."

Liang Qi was shocked, "What should I do? Why not arrest these spies from Cao's army?!"

Yan Zhi smiled bitterly, "Cao army is coming in a fierce manner, I have no time to do these... And this spy is not written on his face, you can tell by just a few glances... I just guess... It would be great if there was Wen Si's person who didn't leave..."

Liang Qi also grinned embarrassedly.

When the Wenshu came down to patrol, he felt annoyed.

Now that I have been checking, I start to feel that it is better for Wenshi to stay...

That's how people are.

"I'll think of some solutions..." Liang Qi nodded, "But... it's not a problem to keep going like this..."

Yan Zhi also agreed that the focus now is when reinforcements will come...

As he spoke, Yan Zhi suddenly looked solemn, "Wait, what are those Cao troops doing?"

...

...

On a slope outside Shexian Town.

Xiahou Dun looked out from afar.

The soil slope that had been cut down long ago seemed extremely desolate.

『General, do you use that gunpowder now?』 Bian Bing, the central guard, frowned slightly, 『We don’t carry much gunpowder…』

Is the county important?

Of course it is important, but it doesn't seem very important either.

Cao Cao chased Fei Qian desperately, and Gunpowder made some progress after many accidents.

There are some reasons why Cao Cao is in Shandong and does not pay enough attention to craftsmen and others. Many times, it is like treating an item, and he will die if he dies, which makes it difficult to pass on relevant experiences.

After all, if you are not careful, you will suffer heavy casualties...

Fortunately, there are many people in Shandong.

"The cold winter is approaching, we must have a place to settle down..." Xiahou Dun sighed softly, "In addition, the wind and snow are coming, if the gunpowder is tide... it's better to use it here..."

Although Xiahou Dun was worried, his face still looked calm and calm. Among Xiahou Dun's belief, the most important thing was to complete Cao Cao's orders under any circumstances. This code of conduct that almost ran through his life made him completely trusted by Cao Cao.

Think about it, this kind of subordinate who has to be implemented in any case, who does not fear difficulties and does not talk about difficulties and achieves goals, is loved by any superior.

The Central Army Guard Bian Bing was on the side and was silent for a moment. He also understood the necessity of using gunpowder now, but as the Central Army Guard, he had the responsibility to remind Xiahou Dun. If Xiahou Dun was reminded that Xiahou Dun did not listen, it was Xiahou Dun's problem. If he did not remind him, it was Bian Bing's problem.

Bian Bing's cautious personality makes him very suitable for the position of the Central Army Guard. The Central Army Guard does not need to be too aggressive or have any outstanding strategies. He just needs to check for shortcomings and fill in every matter explained by the commander step by step. It is best to keep the Central Army safeguard free of water.

Bian Bing is the younger brother of Empress Bian, so he is actually considered a "relative relative".

The "external relatives" in the late Han Dynasty may have been too domineering at the beginning, so they tended to choose some small family jades later. This is true for Bian. In fact, Bian's family is not even a small family, otherwise Empress Bian would not have been born into a singer. Because of Cao Cao's rise, Bian Bing was also valued, but his official position has not been much improved.

Mrs. Bian was slightly dissatisfied and once mentioned to Cao Cao that she hoped that Cao Cao would be promoted to his position, but Cao Cao did not agree.

Bian Bing did not slacken at all because of this, but was still diligent.

『Gujun Bian,』 Xiahou Dun said in a deep voice, 『What do you think of the current situation of the war?』
To be continued...