Chapter 1003: Retreating From Difficulties

"Kebi can retreat? It's really disgusting."

After Xiahou Shang heard the news that Ke Bineng had withdrawn his troops, he frowned. Originally, Cao Jun and Ke Bineng could cooperate with each other, but now that Ke Bineng's army suddenly retreated, Xiahou Shang was naturally unable to fight alone.

Without enough time to think about why Ke Bineng suddenly retreated, Xia Houshang frowned and said: "Withdraw the entire army from western Liaoning and move to eastern Liaoning, quickly!"

Xiahou Shang's head turned quickly. Xu Huang and Lu Bu originally planned to deal with him, but because of Ke Bineng's temporary invasion, they went north to deal with Ke Bineng. Now that Ke Bineng has retreated, Xu Huang and Lu Bu's troops The front must be coming towards him.

You have to retreat quickly before the enemy troops arrive, otherwise it will be too late to leave!

Xiahou Shang immediately mobilized urgently, and 10,000 Cao troops withdrew from Liaoxi County on the same day. It was not until two days later that the Bingzhou Army and the Jizhou Army arrived at Liaoxi County.

"Xia Houshang has already retreated. This kid ran away really fast."

Lu Bu turned around and said, "Gong Ming, you lead the infantry behind and hurry up. I will lead the cavalry to catch up first. Maybe we can intercept the enemy's army halfway."

Xu Huang shook his head. Since Xia Houshang had foreseen the retreat, he probably also started a rapid march. How could he catch up with him in an hour and a half after two days' journey?

But since Lu Bu wants to chase, let him chase, just in case he can catch up.

Lu Bu led his army to pursue Cao Jun almost day and night, but after all, Xiahou Shang left two days early, so he could not catch up.

"General, do you want the city?" Ling Zhizhi asked.

"No, take all the soldiers away, and burn the food and grass. You can't leave any supplies for the enemy. Do you understand?" Xiahou Shang ordered.

The guard general showed an unbearable look on his face: "Huh? Burn these grains and grass."

"Hmph! We can't take away the food and grass, which will slow down the march. If we don't set fire to it, how can we leave it to the enemy to eat?" Xia Houshang said coldly.

"General, I understand!"

Xiahou Shang retreated all the way east, evacuating all the defenders in the cities he passed, and burning all the food and grass, leaving empty cities. Lu Bu's main task these days is to take over this city. Instead of fighting Xiahou Shang.

"Marquis Wen, have you captured Xia Houshang?"

"No, let Xiahou Shang escape into Xiangping City." Lu Bu frowned.

Xiangping City is an important city in Liaodong and the capital of the Liaodong Army. After Gongsun Du became the governor of Liaodong, he proclaimed himself a marquis. Naturally, he repaired Xiangping City more and built it into one of the most important cities in Youzhou. Now Cao Jun's All the main forces were gathered in Xiangping City, obviously planning to fight to the death.

"So, the last mission of our army is to capture Xiangping City and wipe out all the defenders in the city." Xu Huang said clearly.

"Hmph, these thieves are unwilling to go out of the city to fight in the field, otherwise a certain Bingzhou cavalry will have to wipe them out in one fell swoop." Lu Bu snorted.

"Haha, I really have an important task for Marquis Wen." Xu Huang said with a smile.

"What? You are not planning to let my cavalry attack the city, are you?" Lu Bu frowned.

"Of course not." Xu Huang said seriously: "Two hundred miles southwest of Xiangping City, there is a port called Anping Port. Please ask Marquis Wen to lead his cavalry to capture it quickly to prevent Cao's army from reinforcing it from the south."

Anping Port is the largest port in Liaodong, and it is also the only seaport. When Gongsun Du sent troops from the sea to capture several counties in Qingzhou, it was from Anping Port that he sent troops.

Xu Huang was worried that Cao Cao might mobilize some of his troops to land at Anping Port to cooperate with Xiahou Shang's army, so he first asked Lu Bu to seize Anping Port and completely cut off the sea route, cutting off the communication between Qingzhou and Liaodong, and allowing Xiangping to It has completely become an isolated city!

"Oh, that's good. The cavalry is of no use in attacking the city anyway."

Lu Bu immediately shouted loudly: "Let's go, take Anping Port!"

Lu Bu led thousands of Bingzhou cavalry towards Anping Port. The thousands of cavalry left behind were left with Xu Huang to prevent the enemy forces in the city from breaking out.

Xu Huang did not directly attack the city. He had already observed the surroundings of Xiangping City. This fortified city had no flaws, the walls were solid, and the defense was strong. In addition, there were more than 10,000 troops stationed in the city. It would be difficult to attack by force. Said it was very big.

"Dig trenches on all sides and don't let the enemy out!"

Still using the old method of siege, Xu Huang ordered tens of thousands of Jizhou troops to dig trenches on all sides of Xiangping City and surrounded Xiangping City, completely cutting off the enemy's desire to break through.

"General, the weather in Liaodong is cold, so it's okay now. Once winter sets in, and the road goes south, we need to prepare a lot of food and grass, otherwise something may happen."

After listening to the advice of his generals, Xu Huang nodded: "It makes sense. Send a letter to Ziyang and ask him to transport grain and grass from Youzhou and Jizhou. You can use waterways."

More than a hundred years later, Huan Wen made several Northern Expeditions. During his third Northern Expedition to Qianyan, he ordered people to dig 300 miles of waterways in Juye so that ships could enter the Yellow River from Qingshui and use waterways to transport grain and grass. , Unfortunately, Huan Wen fought steadily and did not make a quick decision. As a result, after winter, the water level dropped, making it difficult to sustain food and grass, and the Northern Expedition ultimately ended in failure.

However, Xu Huang planned to transport grain directly by sea. No matter the season, the sea would never dry up.

Xu Huang had prepared a long-term siege, but Cao's army in the city was in chaos without fighting. If Xiahou Shang hadn't suppressed it forcefully, Cao's army would have mutinied.

"Boren, what should our army do?"

Lu Qian had a sad look on his face. His methods of dealing with powerful people in the county back then could be described as vigorous and resolute, so Cao Cao valued him and entrusted him with important tasks. But facing the current situation, even Lu Qian didn't know what to do.

"well"

Xia Houshang sighed and couldn't think of any good solution. You must know that both land and sea routes are now blocked by Xu Huang. Even if you want to send people out to ask for help, it is impossible and you can only wait.

"Zike, don't worry." Xiahou Shang said with relief: "Our army's strength is not too small, and with the support of Xiangping City, which Gongsun Du has run for many years, the enemy does not dare to attack with all his strength. Within a few months, Xiangping City , safety is still no problem.”

"Is our army going to continue to be wasted like this?" Lu Qian couldn't help but ask.

"What else can we do? Let's continue to spend it like this. Maybe there will be a turn for the better."

When he said this, even Xia Houshang himself didn't believe it, but what else could he do? Now that the morale of the army is low, if we take the initiative to send troops to fight with the enemy in the field, I am afraid that we will be timid before fighting. The only solution for now is to stay in a stalemate for the time being and wait for a turning point.