"Attack the city."
"Charge!"
"Kill them."
As Yuan Xi was already dispirited, he lost the best time to build a defensive line. Thus, Cao Zheng's 100,000 strong army arrived at Xindu City without shedding a single drop of blood.
The general guarding the city was Zhang He, so the city had a maximum of 30,000 soldiers.
After a few days of rest, Cao Zheng launched a fierce attack on Xindu City on the third day.
"Messenger." Zhang He shouted with blood all over his body.
"Yes." After the messenger arrived, Zhang He ordered,""Leave the city immediately and ask the lord for help. Tell the lord that within three days, the entire Xindu City will be wiped out.”
"Yes."
After the messenger left, Zhang He said loudly,""Brothers, hold on. Beat the enemy down."
Cao Zheng, who was watching the battle from afar, could not bear to see Zhang He fight to the death.
"Tell General Cao Tai that we'll call it a day. Order the crossbow unit to cover the siege troops and withdraw.”Cao Zheng ordered.
"Yes."
Following that, the Cao army's archers fired tens of thousands of arrows at once, successfully suppressing the enemy archers on the city wall. Following that, Cao Tai gave the order to retreat back to camp.
Zhang He thought that Cao Zheng had set up an ambush, so he did not dare to go out of the city to pursue.
"Brother, why did you ask me to withdraw? I only need another hour to break through the city.”Cao Tai said furiously.
"Zixian, I know what you're capable of, but you have to remember, what we want is the entire four prefectures of Hebei. We can't lose too many soldiers in just Xindu City, understand?”
Cao Zheng explained.
"Then, brother, you mean to surround the point and attack the reinforcements?”Cao Tai said in realization.
"That's right. As soon as Yuan Xi's reinforcements arrive, Zhang He will definitely come out of the city to receive them. Our army can seize the opportunity to attack the city. At that time, we will take down the city and eliminate Yuan Xi's effective strength.”Cao Zheng said.
"In that case, brother, tell me, what should we do next?”Cao Tai asked.
"From tomorrow onwards, you will lead your troops to launch a fierce attack on Xindu City every day, forcing Zhang He to ask Yuan Xi for help. I know that according to Yuan Xi and Shen Pei's character, they will not send reinforcements the first time they ask for help, so we have to think of a way to force him to send reinforcements.”
Cao Zheng pointed at the map and said.
"Yes."
Cao Tai accepted the order and retreated.
On the other side, Zhang He's messenger had already arrived at Ye City, but as Cao Zheng had expected, when Yuan Xi decided to send troops to help, Shen Pei quickly stopped him and said," My Lord, Zhang He is the First Lord's General. He is a talented General and will definitely be able to defend Xindu. My Lord, you don't have to be in such a hurry.”
"Why?" Yuan Xi asked in confusion.
"My lord, Xindu has 30,000 troops guarding it. The city is tall and the pool is deep. There is enough food and grass. No matter how bad Zhang He is, he can hold it for several months. Why don't we wait until two months later when Cao Cao's army is tired and send troops to rescue them? At that time, not only can we protect Xindu, but we can also defeat Cao Zheng along the way.”Shen Pei continued.
"Alright, we'll do as you say." After Yuan Xi finished speaking, he walked towards the backyard.
However, while Cao Zheng's main force was attacking Xindu City, Yu Jin and Xu Huang's two armies were unimpeded. Yu Jin had already broken through the last city of Qingzhou, Linzi City. Xu Huang had also broken through Huguan Pass, Jinyang, and almost all of Bingzhou had fallen into Xu Huang's hands.
Cao Zheng spent the next month trying to kill Zhang He as many as he could. Zhang He was forced to send several messengers to Yuan Xi for help.
In the end, when the tenth messenger arrived at Ye City, Yuan Xi finally decided to send Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang to lead the newly recruited army of 100,000 as reinforcements.
"Reporting, reporting to the general, the troops of Ye City have moved.”The scout hurried over to report.
"Alright, let's continue."
"Yes."
"Ziming, order the troops to act according to the original plan.”Cao Zheng ordered.
"Yes, sir."
At the same time, in Xindu City.
"General, the lord has sent 100,000 troops to reinforce us. They have already set off. The lord has ordered that the general hold on for another three days. When the army arrives, we will coordinate from the inside and the outside to annihilate the Cao army.”
"Got it." When Zhang He learned that reinforcements were coming, he immediately had the confidence to continue fighting.
Two days later, Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang's army arrived at the valley outside the capital city of Xin and set up camp.
They were prepared to attack the next day when the Cao army attacked the city. Their ideals were beautiful, but reality was cruel because Cao Zheng would not give them this opportunity.
In the middle of the night, tens of thousands of soldiers were lying in ambush in the forest outside Yuan Dynasty's camp.
"How is it? Is everything set up?”Cao Zheng asked after arriving.
"Elder brother, don't worry. All the troops are in position and are waiting for your order.”Cao Tai said.
"Alright, I'll do it. Send the signal." Cao Zheng ordered.
"Yes."
Cao Tai then took out a firework-like object and pulled and released it into the sky. With a bang, a phoenix-like pattern appeared in the sky.
"Soldiers, release your arrows." Xiahou Chong shouted.
"Heh, heh, heh."
Xiu, xiu, xiu, ten thousand arrows were fired at the same time, and a dense rain of arrows instantly covered the entire Yuan Army camp. However, at this moment, a large number of Yuan soldiers were sleeping.
Therefore, many people almost went to heaven in their dreams and lost their lives.
"Retreat quickly." Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang gave the order to break out.
However, after the rain of arrows, the cavalry charged forward. The Yuan army's defensive line could not withstand the repeated assaults of the Cao cavalry.
When Zhang He learned that the reinforcements were surrounded, he quickly led his men out of the city to help. Unfortunately, Zhang He's decision fell into Cao Zheng's trap. Cao Zheng immediately sent Cao Zhen and 20,000 soldiers to take advantage of the situation and effortlessly took down Xindu City.
Zhang He had finally managed to reunite with the reinforcements after going through many hardships. However, the majority of the 100,000-strong army had been killed, trampled to death, and fled overnight.
There were less than 30,000 people left, trapped by the Cao army on the lone mountain.
"General, after Zhang He and Yuan Zhou's main force met up, they were surrounded by our army on this lone mountain. They were waiting for your order.”the scout reported.
"Got it. Let's continue."
"Yes."
"Reporting, reporting to General, General Cao Zhen has already taken down Xindu City.”
"Got it. Let's continue."
"Yes."
"Reporting, reporting to General, General Yu Jin has already broken through Linzi City and will join forces with General in a few days.”
"Got it. Let's continue."
"Yes."
"Reporting, reporting to the general, General Xu Huang has already taken Huguan Pass. Yuan Xi's retreat to the north has been cut off by our army, and now General Xu Huang is moving towards Ye City.”
"Got it. Let's continue."
"Yes."
"Congratulations, General. Right now, our three armies have won consecutive victories. Yuan Xi is only left with death.”
Jia Xu said.
"General, Yuan Xi still has backup troops in Youzhou. In my opinion, he will definitely flee to Youzhou.”
Xun You stood up and said.
"That's right. Therefore, we must end the battle as soon as possible and head to Ye City.”Cao Zheng said.
"Reporting, reporting to the general, Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang have sent messengers to request surrender.”
the scout reported.
"Where's Zhang He?" Cao Zheng quickly asked.
"I heard from them that Zhang He intended to break out of the encirclement and go to Ye City, but he is now under their control.”
the scout said.
"Got it. You may leave."
"Yes."
After Cao Zheng met the messenger and confirmed the conditions, Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang led their 30,000 soldiers to surrender to Cao Zheng two days later.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Zhang He could only surrender to Cao Zheng.
At this point, the Battle of Xindu was a complete victory for the Cao army.
The three armies were all marching towards Ye City.
Ye City, in the General's Mansion.
"Great General, something bad has happened. Lu Kuang, Lu Xiang, and Zhang He have surrendered to the Cao army.”Shen Pei hurried over to report.
"Sir, what should we do now?”Yuan Xi hurriedly grabbed Shen Pei's hand and asked.
"My lord, we still have tens of thousands of soldiers in Youzhou, enough to make a comeback. Please take advantage of the fact that the Cao army has yet to surround us and lead your troops to Youzhou. As long as you can lead your troops back, our army can still win.”Shen Pei said.
"Alright, I'll set off tonight. I'll leave Ye City and my family to you.”Yuan Xi grabbed Shen Pei's hand and said.
"Please rest assured, my lord. I will definitely hold on until my lord's army comes to help.”Shen Pei guaranteed.
"Thank you, sir."
Yuan Xi followed Shen Pei's advice and led his troops out of the city overnight to Youzhou to mobilize troops.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]