The autumn rain continued for several days, and the rivers in the Si River surged.

Cao Cao adopted the suggestion of the adviser Jia Xu and led the water of the Si River to flood Xia Pi City. The city suddenly became vast and the houses were flooded with water and every household was wet. Many houses collapsed due to the invasion of the river, and countless old, young, women and children were buried and killed by adobe bricks. Even several old city walls tended to collapse. Chen Gong hurriedly sent people to repair the city walls, while mobilizing the people in the city to climb up to the city walls to guard them together.

"The Cao thief has a grudge against Xuzhou to kill his father. In the previous period, he defeated Pengcheng and slaughtered all the people. If Xia Pi City was broken, no one in the city would be spared!"

Although the people in the city were panic and the morale of the army was unstable, under the agitation of Chen Gong, they were afraid of Cao Cao's slaughtering the city, and tens of thousands of strong people climbed to the top of the city to help defend. For a moment, the Cao army could not capture the city.

Seeing that the time was almost over, Cao Cao ordered the entire army to prepare for the attack and would launch a general attack on Xia Pi within one or two days. Xiahou Dun, Le Jin, Cao Chun attacked the east gate, Liu Bei led his troops to attack the south gate, Xu Huang, Yu Jin led his troops to attack the west gate, Qu Yi led his troops to attack the north gate, and the entire army was on standby at any time, just waiting for the command of the commander to beat the war drums all over to strive to break the city in one fell swoop.

The night is getting late, and people are coming and going in the streets of Xia Pi City, and their paces are in a hurry.

The cold rain and autumn wind still have no intention of stopping. The drizzling raindrops slapped the lanterns, making them look so swaying.

Inside the cavalry commander's mansion, Zhang Liao was facing a dilemma.

He sat in the study, hugged his arms in front of his chest, and fell into long-term contemplation. Around him were more than twenty brothers of the tribe, who were his confidant death soldiers. He could accompany him to live and die together!

Due to Lu Bu's indecisiveness, he refused to adopt the suggestions of Chen Gong and the generals, and did not dare to go out of the city to confront Cao's army. The repeated delays of good opportunities have led to a disintegration of people. These brothers who stayed to accompany Zhang Liao to live and die together were completely disappointed with Lu Bu. They suggested that Zhang Liao abandon Lu Bu and meet Qu Yi, and go north to join Yuan Mai.

"Brother, let's go? Don't worry about Lu Bu, the indecisive and courageless rat race are becoming less and less promising. Such a person is not worth our death with him!" Zhang Kuo, the brother of Zhang Liao's first-class compatriot.

As Zhang Kuo took off his words, the brothers began to clamor and kept talking: "Yes, Wen Yuan and Lu Bu, a brave but unscheming man, repeatedly refused good words and did not listen to Chen Gongtai's plan. This led to the city being surrounded. He was thieves who were lured into the city by Cao's thieves, and the common people were suffering. I am afraid that it was not far from the time the city was broken, and we would not leave at this time. I am afraid there would be no chance!"

Zhang Kuang also took the opportunity to incite again: "The brothers are right. Compared to Lu Bu, Mr. Yuan is simply wise and powerful, capable of literature and martial arts. Even a talented man like Chen Lin from Hebei admires him. I have told his brothers before that he wrote "Short Songs" that he wrote. Is it very literary?"

"Yes, yes, it's really talented!"

"I didn't expect that such a talented young man appeared in the Yuan family of the fourth generation and third generation family. It's really admirable!"

Most of these people have ordinary knowledge, only a few of them have studied in private schools and county school halls, but even the ignorant man listened to others reading the song "Short Songs" made by Yuan Mai, he felt extraordinary and admired the author.

In fact, Zhang Kuang was not very interested in lyrics and fu, let alone worship. He just wanted to win over his brothers, and recited them all the way before he came, and then he was familiar with them. After spending a few days with his brothers in the city, he said the poem Yuan Mai one after another, trying to cultivate their sense of identity with Yuan Mai first.

Zhang Liao also heard Zhang Kuang recite this song "Short Song" and admire the artistic conception and heroic feelings expressed in this poem. Although he had never met this Prince Yuan Mai, he had a hint of longing for it.

Zhang Kuang continued, "Young Master Yuan can not only be literary, but also be able to fight the enemy. In the battle of Shangdang, the Xiongnu Shanyu Yufuluo was shot and killed by him. Although he is not as invincible as Lu Wenhou, he loves the people as his sons and treats the soldiers like brothers. Look how many days have I been there? He was awarded the position of military commander. With the ability of his brothers, he will definitely be above me in the future."

When they heard that Zhang Kuang had been awarded the position of military commander and was in charge of a team of 400 people, these brothers were envious and were amazed one by one. Their sense of identity with Yuan Mai became deeper and deeper. They wished they could fly to Hanoi now and obey Mr. Yuan’s orders!

If the city is broken, they only have two ways, one is to die in battle, and the other is to surrender. But since they are all surrenders, it is better to surrender to the Yuan family than to surrender. Surrendering to Cao is equivalent to a prisoner, and he only surrenders when there is no way out, but surrendering to Yuan is different. It is "a good bird chooses a tree to live in" and "a good talent chooses a master to serve". The treatment he enjoys must be different.

Zhang Liao felt grateful and ashamed from the bottom of his heart for Yuan Mai's favor. After being a famous noble family, he did not hesitate to be arrogant and visited his hometown twice, and asked his brother to come to Xia Pi to show his kindness. He even put a team of 7,000 people in a dangerous place to rescue him. Who has ever experienced such love in ancient times?

"I, Zhang Wenyuan, is a martial artist. How can I be so virtuous? I dare to be so respected by Mr. Yuan? I will be crushed to pieces in this life and it will be hard to repay you!" Looking at the drizzle outside the window, Zhang Liao sighed in his heart. But, did he leave with the warmth?

"Wen Hou is already in a dangerous place, so I can't bear it. What can I do? God, please give me a clear path!" Zhang Liao's heart was fighting fiercely, his face full of hesitation and confusion.

Seeing his brother silent, Zhang Kuo took over Zhang Kuo's topic and said angrily: "Brother, this Lu Bu is not only becoming more and more timid, but also becoming more and more rude and obeys the words of women. The day before yesterday, General Hou Cheng's horse was stolen fifty horses, and the thief wanted to offer them to Liu Bei. Fortunately, he was noticed before going out and chased him back. His colleagues went to General Hou's camp to congratulate him. It was normal for him to take out some wine to treat the guests. He was afraid that Wen Hou would punish him and sent someone to the mansion first. Unexpectedly, Wen Hou was furious and wanted to kill General Hou Cheng. Fortunately, Wei Xu, Song Xian and several others pleaded with mercy, and they were spared the death penalty, but they beat General Hou heavily and beat him up so hard that he was so furious that General Hou was full of flesh and blood. How could he convince the soldiers like this?

The horse that Hou Cheng lost and recovered the day before yesterday. Zhang Kuo was one of the generals who went to congratulate him and almost got a military stick. This made him very angry. He did not choose to leave at the beginning and stayed to accompany his brother and you, Lu Fengxian, to help you, but you treated us like this, which was really heartbreaking!

Since then, Zhang Kuo made up his mind to persuade Zhang Liao to abandon Lu Bu and leave, go out of the city to meet Qu Yi, and go north to join Yuan Mai.

"Since military orders are ahead, the soldiers are not allowed to drink heavily. Hou Cheng violated it, so he should naturally be punished with military law. What's wrong with that?" Zhang Liao glanced at his brother and said a good thing for Lu Bu.

Zhang Liao believed that it was nothing wrong with Lu Bu's scepter to Hou Cheng. It was just that Lu Bu did not allow his generals and schools to drink, but he drank with his wife Yan and his concubine Ren Zhao in the mansion every day to relieve his boredom. How should we make up this? Is it really that the state officials are only allowed to set fires and the people are not allowed to light the lamp?

"Brother, today I saw the Cao army surrounded Xia Pi on the city wall. This city probably won't be able to defend for three or two days. For the sake of my brothers, let's go and go to Hanoi to surrender to Mr. Yuan. We brothers are not to betray our lives. They have bought the lives of seven thousand soldiers for you!" Zhang Kuo saw that his brother was still saying good things for Lu Bu, and he could no longer hold it down on one knee and begged.

"Wenyuan, let's go to Hanoi to join Mr. Yuan?" More than 20 tribe brothers fell to the ground with Zhang Kuo and begged Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao couldn't help but sigh. It was time to make a decision. He had done his best to Lu Bu, and it was time to repay Mr. Yuan for his kindness!

Suddenly, he stood up, pressed the sword on his waist and said, "Brothers, I will all get up. I will go to Wen Hou's mansion again and advise him to attack Cao's camp tonight. Our army has been trapped in the city for several months and has not fought. It is expected that Cao's army has been paralyzed. If he goes out of the city to attack, he will definitely gain something. In this way, it will slightly dampen the morale of Cao's army and boost the hearts of the military and civilians in the city. Perhaps Xia Pi can hold on for a while..."

After a pause, he sighed and said, "If Wen Hou doesn't listen, we will go out from the north gate tonight, meet General Qu Yi, and go north to Henoi to join Mr. Yuan!" After that, without waiting for the brothers to say anything, he stepped out of the study room, stepped onto the war horse, and headed straight for Lu Bu's mansion.

The brothers in the room sighed and said, "Wen Yuan is so loyal and a little stubborn. We have done our best to Lu Bu, so why do we do this again?"

Zhang Kuo waved his hand and told everyone not to talk nonsense, and ordered: "Lu Bu is a foolish person and will never dare to go out of the city to meet the enemy. He was afraid that he would lose the city and be snatched away his wife, and he wished he would hug the woman and die on the bed. The elder brother would definitely leave in pleasure and return in disappointment. Everyone packed their luggage and prepared to leave tonight. When the elder brother came back, we would set off immediately!"

Everyone agreed and went to pack their bags and prepare their horses. After tonight, they would say goodbye to Xia Picheng!

"drive!"

Zhang Liao rode alone and headed straight to Lu Bu's mansion in the rain. He met more than a dozen riders coming from the east in front of Wen Hou's mansion. He stared carefully and found that the person in charge was Gao Shun.

"Hey, is it Wen Yuan?" Gao Shun also recognized the person coming from the other side as Zhang Liao, turned over and dismounted and asked.

Zhang Liao also turned over and dismounted and said, "It's Zhang Liao, what is Gao Yuanxun doing when he comes to Wenhou's mansion?"

"According to my observation, the Cao army is already paralyzed and is wary. If they go out of the city tonight, they may be able to make a contribution in one battle. Even if they cannot retreat to the enemy, they can defeat the Cao army's aura. Therefore, they come to persuade Wen Hou, but I don't know why Wen Yuan came from?" Gao Shun also turned over and dismounted and told his purpose.

Zhang Liao was overjoyed: "I have the same intention as Yuan Xun, and I came for this matter. Let's go to see Wen Hou together and advise him to send troops to attack at night!"
Chapter completed!