Three thousand miles in exile

That night Liu Zhan personally supervised the battle on the tower, no matter what the Yan soldiers were doing, he remained unmoved until dawn when the Yan soldiers assembled again.

The Yan army's strategy was still mainly harassment, and they brought in two siege catapults, which made a lot of noise in the pass.

Compared with the bloody battle on the front line, there are big fish and meat, good wine and good food in the tent of the Yan army at the foot of the mountain.

"Fan Tianshi, this general has been attacking according to your plan for two days, but there is still no progress." Yelu Longji took a sip of his mulled wine and was in a terrible mood.

His 15 troops, who were able to control the government of Yan State, actually lost more than 1 people in this small mountain pass. These are all warriors in his tribe, and they are his chips for gaining a foothold in Yan State.

However, Yelu Longji is still on the verge of riding a tiger until now, if he withdraws his troops in such a disheveled manner, what face will he have?

"General Zuo, be safe and don't be impatient."

The man named Fan Tianshi was white-faced and beardless. Looking at about 30 years old, he looked kindly and kind-hearted, with a bit of a tall figure.

He is one of the counselors around Prince Yan, known as Daoist Fan Tianshi Fan.

Fan Tianshi smiled gently, and took a sip of wine in a leisurely manner.

"About three years ago, a group of bandits appeared in Rao County near the border of Qiyun Mountain, disturbing the common people's livelihood. Rao County sent troops several times to encircle and suppress them, but they were wiped out by bandits. General Zuo thinks that bandits are bandits?"

Back then, the bandit incident was a hot topic in Yan's country, but because the King of Yan ordered the attack on the Cangxia Plain to be the most important thing, it didn't attract more attention.

When this matter was mentioned suddenly, Yelu Longji was taken aback. "The general has heard about the bandits. What Fan Tianshi means is that these bandits are actually Chu soldiers in disguise?"

"Before today, I couldn't make a conclusion. After today, General Zuo, you saw those brave guards at the Shancheng Pass. The answer is ready." Fan Tianshi looked like a master.

Yelu Longji nodded suddenly, it seemed that he really underestimated the enemy.

The atmosphere in the account was a little awkward for a while.

"I ask Fan Tianshi to explain this matter to the prince on behalf of the general." In the end, Yelu Longji still chose to bow his head to the celebrity in front of the prince.

"General Zuo is serious. Why should the Crown Prince know about such a trivial matter." Fan Tianshi could not offend the most powerful General Zuo in Yan Kingdom, so he naturally sold his favors along the way.

Knowing that the Chu soldiers on the mountain have been brave for a long time, Yelu Longji felt even more headache. "I don't know what countermeasure Fan Tianshi will have next? If the Chu soldiers stick to it, our army can't afford it."

The focus of Yelu Longji's operations has always been the Cangxia Plain, where there is vast and fertile land. As long as the Chu army is driven back to the south of Huangchuan, he can at least divide such a large plain into one-third.

Compared with Cangxia Plain, Qiyun Mountain is worthless, how could Yelu Longji spend too much time and energy on Qiyun Mountain, if he hadn't made a mistake in his judgment, he wouldn't have stepped into this muddy water.

"General Zuo, don't worry, there won't be too many defenders on Qiyun Mountain. In the past two days, reinforcements have arrived one after another, but the soldiers from the nearby county have arrived." Fan Tianshi analyzed slowly.

"Even if the main force of the Chu army came to support, General Zuo just continued to harass. The Shancheng Pass is only so big, and it can be almost destroyed if it is smashed with a trebuchet for several days."

The Yan people looked down on the Chu people from the beginning to the end. This is the confidence built by the Yan army's iron cavalry. In this battle, they don't think they will be planted in this mountain city.

The most indispensable thing on Tongtian Peak is stones. Yan Bing used local materials, and the two trebuchets were operating without breathing.

Liu Zhan asked the soldiers to retreat under the city wall to guard. In this case, there is no need to go up to die.

Tongtianguan fell into a passive state, Yan Bing was greatly encouraged, and the voices of provocation and abuse continued.

"Brother!" Li Xiaolian was angry and anxious. "I'll take people out!"

More and more people came to Liu Zhan to ask for a job, but Liu Zhan only had one sentence. "not the right time yet."

What is the provocation of Yan Bing outside Tongtian Pass, what he said to the provocative Yan Bing outside Yang Pass is even worse, even cursing the eighteen generations of the emperor's ancestors without panting.

This day was like a year for the defenders of Tongtianguan, and it was hard to stay until noon, but Liu Zhan waved his hand and said something to everyone. "Light a fire and cook, cook meat!"

Today, the Tongtian Peak was windy, and the smoke of the wolf was blown away from time to time. After a while, there was a burst of meaty smell in Tongtian Pass. It was an irresistible braised pork.

Early this morning, Liu Zhan sent someone down the mountain to pull a few pigs.

The cook has been busy all morning dividing the pork into three-finger-thick pieces, frying the aniseed ingredients until fragrant, then adding the pork and stir-frying until golden brown, then seasoning with soy sauce and then stewing.

The cook baked pancakes and boiled millet porridge, and the soldiers each took a few pancakes and brought a bowl of braised pork, squatting at the base of the wall to avoid flying stones, and their mouths were full of oil.

I don't know if it's everyone's illusion, but Feishi's strength seems to have weakened a lot.

Niu Shilu ate fifteen cakes and wiped all the soup in the bowl. He felt that it was not enough and asked the cook for it with a shy face.

The uncle cook stared at him fiercely. "General Liu has an order that the rest of the pot of meat must be left for the reinforcements to eat."

"I'll just eat another piece, please reward me with a piece of pancake and meat!" Niu Shilu's dark bear paw poked into the pot and was knocked open by the chef with a spoon.

"If I say no, I won't do it! I'll give you another bowl of porridge at most, and the others can't move!"

Niu Shilu begged for a bowl of porridge and squatted back to the wall to drink it tastelessly. It was because the braised pork was so fragrant that he felt that everything he ate was tasteless.

Compared to Niu Shilu who couldn't get enough to eat, it was really difficult for Liu Zhan to ask Song Fenglin to eat something, so he had to persuade him to drink half a bowl of porridge.

"Why is it more burning than yesterday? Shall I send you down the mountain?" Liu Zhan's eyes were full of distress.

"No, it'll be fine after a good night's sleep. It's just a minor injury." Song Fenglin lay down on the kang, and Liu Zhan carefully put a layer of mattress on him in order to make him lie more comfortably.

"Has Xiaoman come back?" Song Fenglin asked, although he was drowsy from the high fever, he was still thinking about the war situation.

In the early hours of the morning, Liu Zhan sent Zhang Xiaoman down the mountain with a few nimble men to spy on the enemy.

For Yan Bing, Tongtian Peak is full of cliffs and there is no way, but for the native people, there is a way to the cliffs.

From the beginning of the construction of Tongtianguan, Liu Zhan considered how to go down the mountain to Yandi to spy on the enemy when he was besieged.

On the cliff to the northwest of Tongtian Pass, there is a hidden path.

It is said that the road is actually just a gap in the foot at the right place. In order to improve safety, Liu Zhan planted some vines there, and he can descend vertically to the mountainside by stepping on the gap along the vine.

"Should be back in the afternoon." Liu Zhan sat on the edge of the Kang, reached out and brushed the sweaty hair on his forehead.

Suddenly a loud noise broke the silence in the room, and the stone almost fell into the small courtyard.

The Yan army started a new round of attack. For a while, flowing stones flew, and the sound of falling to the ground resounded through Tongtian Pass. Every sound stimulated Liu Zhan's nerves, and his violent temper could hardly be suppressed.

"No." Song Fenglin pressed his hand.

"When Da Zhuang arrives, just repel the Yan soldiers on the mountain. Don't go down the mountain to compete with the main force of the Yan army. Before the time comes, bear it if you can."

Everyone thought that Liu Zhan could hold his breath very well, but only Song Fenglin knew that Liu Zhan could bear it with a small ninja, but he couldn't bear it with a big ninja.

He can retreat and wait for Cao Zhuang to come, and when Cao Zhuang arrives with his elite, Liu Zhan will not bear it no matter what.

"Those who know me..." Liu Zhan bowed his head and kissed Song Fenglin's temple. "...you too."

Liu Zhan was the one who knowingly committed the crime. How could Song Fenglin go down the mountain without worry? If the furious wild wolf king really brought a pack of wolf cubs into the country of Yan, someone would have to pull him back.

At this time, for the defenders of Tongtian Pass, every minute and every second is suffering.

"Reinforcements are here!!" until the messenger shouted and rushed into Tongtian Pass.

"General! Lord Cao has led his cavalry to arrive!!"

Liu Zhan stood up abruptly, Cao Zhuang is here!

At that time, after receiving Liu Zhan's seal letter, Cao Zhuang sent someone to report to the general and set off immediately. He took [-] cavalry to go first, and [-] infantry were expected to arrive two days later.

"Boss! I'm late!" Cao Zhuang was out of breath. He took the elite starry night and traveled along the road without stopping, and arrived earlier than expected.

"It's not too late, it's just in time." Liu Zhan's eyes were sharp.

"Order the soldiers to rest where they are! Those with a rank of more than a thousand households are allowed to discuss matters!"

The entire Tongtian Pass was in motion again, and the reinforcements had reached sufficient strength. All the young and strong men who had been temporarily recruited to defend against the enemy were replaced and went down the mountain to recuperate.

And those soldiers who were injured and supported the enemy were all transferred to the rear to recuperate.

"General Liu specially ordered this to be reserved for you. Eat it quickly. It's hard work for you after driving for two days." The cook was busy distributing food to the reinforcements, and he had to eat enough to fight if he wanted revenge.

Just when the Tongtian Pass was in rotation, Zhang Xiaoman came back with the spies.

In the small courtyard, Liu Zhan sat at the head, Cao Zhuang, Li Xiaolian, Wei Chenggui, Huang Noon, Guo Donghu, Jiang Changlin, and several military officers with more than a thousand households sat around for a pre-war meeting.

"Boss, please appoint me as the vanguard. I am willing to lead the troops to fight out, and I will definitely kill the swallow dog outside the pass and flee!" Cao Zhuang was full of anger and resentment.

All the way up the mountain, into Tiancang Village, there were wounded and carried out corpses. This scene made everyone angry, these are brothers!

Everyone echoed the crowd's outrage.

"I would like to go!"

"I want to go too!"

Liu Zhan raised his hand to signal everyone to be safe, and he stood up and walked to the sand table.

According to the news brought back by Xiaoman, the Yan army was stationed outside Zhou Shukou, with about tens of thousands of troops stationed, and the Yan army on the mountain was attacking the city with more than 2000 people.

The Yan army has more than [-] troops, and it is not ruled out that the Yan army will continue to increase its troops.

However, many of Liu Zhan's troops were killed, and most of them were wounded. Now only the [-] cavalry brought by Cao Zhuang and Liu Zhan's previous [-] personal guards can be regarded as combat strength.

If this battle can be survived, more people will be lost, and if the loss continues, Liu Zhan's Cenzhou camp will be shattered.

For Liu Zhan, this battle has come to the point of life and death, and he needs to make a decision as soon as possible.

In the end, Liu Zhan made up his mind.

"My target is it." With his horsewhip, he tapped the spot where the Yan Army's large tent was located on the sand table.

For a while, all the soldiers clasped their fists excitedly. "I'm willing to kill the general and go down the mountain!"

Liu Zhan looked up and glanced at the soldiers he brought out with his own hands. "How do you think we're going to fight?"

The strength of the Yan Army was not only larger than them, but there was a flat wilderness outside Zhoushukou, and the Yan Army's cavalry could disperse from all directions, and then outflank them back. Their [-] miscellaneous cavalry were not enough to kill one round trip.

For a while, everyone stared at the sand table and thought.

"You can't go there head-on. There is a plain outside Zhou Shu's mouth. The horses of the Yan soldiers are all good horses. We can't catch up." Cao Zhuang was the first to see the problem.

"Sneak attack is allowed." Wei Chenggui proposed.

Liu Zhan nodded, with appreciation in his eyes. "How to sneak attack?"

Wei Chenggui couldn't answer for a while, because there was only one way down the mountain, and the Yan army would know as soon as they got off the mountain.

"You can sneak attack at night and go down the mountain while it's dark." Xiao Li connected Wei Chenggui's train of thought.

The idea of ​​the sneak attack is correct, but there is a problem. The Yan army has more than 2000 troops distributed on the mountain road. If you want to sneak attack, you can only catch them by surprise. These distributed Yan troops are all obstacles.

"How to solve the problem of not being found on the way down the mountain?" Liu Zhan glanced at them.

Everyone, look at me and I look at you.

Seeing that they were really unexpected, Liu Zhan said two words. "Fake surrender."

For a moment, everyone was enlightened.

A series of arrangements since Liu Zhan's arrival made Tongtianguan give Yan Jun an illusion of passive resistance.

The city gates were smashed to pieces, and the soldiers guarding the city were dressed in blood. Not only Yan Bing believed that the Tongtian Pass would not last long, but even Yelu Longji believed in it.

It turned out that Liu Zhan had a strategy in his heart, and he was guiding Yan Jun step by step to believe that Tongtian Pass would not last long.

Liu Zhan formulated a counterattack strategy, and the entire Tongtianguan moved silently.

In the evening, the setting sun was like blood, and a white flag was raised on the dilapidated gate tower of Tongtian Pass.

The deputy general of the Yan Army who supervised the battle was overjoyed and immediately signaled to stop throwing stones.

After the throwing of stones stopped, on the horribly dilapidated city wall of Tongtianguan, wounded and distressed soldiers climbed up one after another, threw down their weapons, and shrank back into the building.

Lieutenant General Yan Jun was convinced. "Come on, break the door!"

An order was given to Yan Bing to pick up the big tree stump and start banging on the door. There was silence in Tongtian Pass, and the deputy general of Yan Jun was even more sure that Chu Bing had abandoned the pass and fled.

"Come here, report the victory to General Zuo immediately!" Lieutenant Yan Jun was overjoyed.

The other officer who had been against him the day before yesterday was shot to death with an arrow, and he knew that his luck was coming, no, he would definitely be promoted this time due to such a great contribution.

After smashing it for a while, there was no movement in Tongtianguan, Yan Bing gradually relaxed, and the soldiers who were originally scattered on the mountain road also gathered together.

Greed was shining in their eyes. There were several villages behind Tongtian Pass, which were said to be very rich. The Yan army had always had a tradition of allowing soldiers to plunder, and whoever robbed would own it.

That's all wealth!

More and more Yan soldiers gathered, and they all waited for the moment when the city gate opened to rush into the Chu land. Except for the defenders stationed at Zhou Shukou, all the Yan soldiers on the mountain came.

Everyone is gearing up, and even talking loudly is imagining how miserable the pass will be.

Finally, the gate fell down, and through the dark city gate, one could see that the school yard directly opposite was full of rocks and a mess.

There are still many discarded weapons and armor in the rocks. It seems that Chu soldiers left in a hurry, and even sharp-eyed people saw money bags left on the ground.

For a while, Yan soldiers rushed into the pass in fear, and they all wanted to go in and rummage through the cabinets at the first time to see if they could find something valuable.

Lieutenant General Yan Jun laughed loudly, swaggering into the customs among the crowd.

Just as the Yan soldiers were scrambling to enter the pass, Gui Chenggui emerged from the city wall with hundreds of people and then climbed down the city wall neatly. Their team was responsible for controlling the way down the mountain in advance to prevent any fish that escaped the net from reporting.

What Yan Bing didn't know was that there were people hiding behind the Tongtianguan house, in the dark at the base of the wall, and on the walls of the city tower. When the whistle sounded, the archers lying in ambush on the city wall appeared immediately, and a wave of arrows rained down on the sky.

"Ambush!! There is an ambush!!!"

Yan Bing was like ants in a frying pan. Most people's first reaction was to quit immediately, but Liu Zhan was already prepared.

Cao Zhuang led hundreds of people rushing out from the dark corners of the city gate or behind the houses to block the way, and dozens of people raised the collapsed city gate again and closed it.

In order to deceive Yan Bing, Liu Zhan asked all the soldiers and personnel other than the elite to retreat to the forest and wait. Now there are only 1000 people he carefully selected in the pass. There are not many people but they are very brave.

Yan Bing was frightened and the lineup was in chaos.

The elite team led by Liu Zhan formed a group of three, armed with guns and one with a shield, forming an encirclement and killing Yan soldiers layer by layer. In the end, they killed 600 Yan soldiers and captured 580 five people, including the lieutenant general of the warlord.