Zhang Xuan's food aid will not arrive in half a month, but Zhang Xutuo's military rations can only last for ten days, which made Zhang Xutuo extremely anxious. Despite the threat of food cuts, he still insisted on refusing to seize the 5,000 stones of food. That was the evidence of Yang Qing's affair with the Wagang Army, and he would never use it.

In desperation, Zhang Xutuo had to send people to Liang County and Jiyin County to urge grain, especially Liang County, who had 70,000 to 80,000 shi of official grain in Chenliu County, which could fully support him. This was also the emperor's will, and Liang County and Jiyin County would supply their own military grain.

For several days, Zhang Xutuo spent the anxiety. There was no news from the court, and I don’t know if Yang Qing had gone to the court to do something. Thinking about it, Yang Qing would not sit still and wait for death, so he would definitely send someone to clear the joints.

That morning, Zhang Xutuo was handling military affairs in the official room. A soldier rushed over and reported in the hall: "General, the Liang County Government sent someone to report urgently!"

Zhang Xutuo was stunned and hurriedly said, "Let him come in!"

After a moment, a scholar hurriedly walked into the lobby and bowed, "Below is the Liangjun Cang Cao, the military officer, Lai Heng, and if there is an urgent matter, report to the general."

"What urgent matter is Lai joining the army?"

"I am given 30,000 stones of food to the general under the order of the prefect"

Zhang Xutuo was overjoyed. It was just a timely rain. He asked anxiously: "Where is the food?"

Lai Heng smiled bitterly, "The problem lies here, the food is seized."

"What!"

Zhang Xutuo was anxious, "What the hell is going on?"

"We directly boarded the grain from the Chenliu County warehouse, and used the Tongji Canal to transfer to Junyi County fifty miles away to the official road, and transported it directly to Kuangcheng from the official road. However, the general also knew that Junyi County belonged to Xingyang County, and was caught by King Xun's patrol team before Fengqiu County was taken over. He said that King Xun had an order and that this batch of grain was to be transported to Lingchang County, so it was useless for us to take out the prefect's letter."

Zhang Xutuo was furious. It was obviously Yang Qing who was taking revenge on him and taking away his military rations. He let his army run out of food and collapse.

He said anxiously: "Where is the food?"

"In Bailonggang, south of Fengqiu County, it is within Xingyang County. Our grain team and King Xun's army are still in a stalemate, but the other side is a senior official, so we may not be able to withstand it."

Jiang Ming, the military officer next to him, reminded: "The general is better off looking at the map first."

Zhang Xutuo took the map and looked carefully. Fengqiu County was located at the junction of Dongjun and Xingyang County. Bailonggang is also in Xingyang County, about 120 miles away from Kuangcheng County. Zhang Xutuo found a small road on the map that could directly lead to Bailonggang, which is at least twenty miles longer than walking on the main road.

Zhang Xutuo immediately said to Jiang Ming: "I will lead three thousand troops to regain the food. You will order the troops for me. If I am not in Kuangcheng, all generals must not act rashly."

Jiang Ming advised: "Why do you have to go in person, just send a side general!"

Zhang Xutuo shook his head. This batch of food is very good to me. It is related to our army's survival. Yang Qing also knows this. He will definitely send a general to intercept it. Apart from me, I am afraid no one can withstand Yang Qing's oppression. I must go in person."

Jiang Ming nodded silently. The general made sense. The grain in Yang Qing's territory may only be able to be recaptured.

"General, please be careful and try not to conflict with King Xun, after all, he is a royal family."

"I know!"

Zhang Xutuo quickly walked out of the military yamen and said sternly: "The first army gathers immediately!"

An hour later, Zhang Xutuo led three thousand troops to leave Kuangcheng County, and the troops rushed towards Xingyang County in the southwest along a small road.

Fengqiu County is located at the junction of Dongjun, Liangjun and Xingyangjun. This area belongs to the northern half of the alluvial fan-shaped plain of the Yellow River. It is densely forested and is distributed in large areas of very low hills. Because the Wagang Army has been active in this area for many years, Fengqiu County has always been within the sphere of influence of the Wagang Army. Many Wagang Army soldiers are Fengqiu County.

The path Zhang Xutuo walked was sparsely populated, with jungles and many rivers. However, this road was not a barren land, and it was once very lively. There was also a famous post station, Chenqiao Post Station, where Zhao Kuangyin in history was put on his yellow robe.

Zhang Xutuo was anxious and led his army all the way. He knew that the grain transport convoy would definitely not be able to withstand Yang Qing's pressure, and that it was in Yang Qing's territory, so that the grain must have been intercepted by Yang Qing, but he just hoped that the grain transport convoy would go slower so that he could catch up.

In the afternoon, Zhang Xutuo led his army to Chenqiao Station, which was still thirty miles away from Bailonggang. The army ran for more than 60 miles in one breath, and was really tired.

At this time, a side general pointed to the station in the distance and said, "General, go to the station to drink some water! The brothers are all thirsty."

Although Zhang Xutuo was anxious, he was still more polite to the soldiers and nodded, "Drink some water and leave!"

Three thousand soldiers immediately cheered up and ran towards the post station, but less than a hundred steps away from the post station, suddenly a rapid bang sounded in the post station, and arrows were fired in the dense forests on both sides. The Sui soldiers were caught off guard and fell to the ground.

The sudden change surprised Zhang Xutuo and hurriedly ordered: "Retreat immediately!"

At this time, drums were heard everywhere, and countless troops came from all directions, with tens of thousands of people surrounding them. The soldiers shouted, "General, it is the Wagang Army, we are ambushed!"

Zhang Xutuo had calmed down, and he immediately understood the cause and effect. This was the trap set by Yang Qing, asking the Wagang army to ambush him through Xingyang County. The so-called food is just bait.

This is a trap made by the Wagang Army, Yang Qing and Liang County government colluded with each other. Zhang Xutuo knew that he was in danger today, but no matter what, he wanted to lead the soldiers out, and he could not let the innocent soldiers lose their enemies.

Zhang Xutuo shouted loudly: "Brothers, rush out of the siege with me!"

He turned the dock and rushed north, with the horse galloping, the wind and lightning, as fast as flying, the Yanling sword shining in his hand, followed by thousands of Sui soldiers.

His army was less than two hundred steps away from the enemy group in the north. It was clearly seen that the dark bright armor of the Wagang Army was flashing cold light in the sun. The dense spears were like forests, and Zhang Xutuo's war horses were like flat thunder, getting closer and closer to the Wagang Army.

Less than a hundred steps, the panicked Wagang Army began to shoot arrows, and three thousand arrows were fired at once, forming an arrow net in the air. The Sui soldiers raised their shields. They waved their spears with one hand, and shouted to kill the sky. Sui soldiers were constantly shot down. But the archer only shot two rounds, and Zhang Xutuo's war horse rushed to the front of him. The archers had no chance to turn around and escape.

He roared, slashed with a knife, seven or eight heads flew up, blood burst out, and Zhang Xutuo opened a bloody path and led the soldiers to the depths.

This ambush was planned by Yang Qing and Zhai Rang. Yang Qing wanted to use Zhai Rang's hands to get rid of Zhang Xutuo, and Zhai Rang also wanted to use this opportunity to get rid of Zhang Xutuo, a strong enemy. The two sides hit it off.

Yang Qing had a deep connection in the Central Plains officialdom, and he was also the leader of the Central Plains officialdom. He had been secretly ordering Liang County and Jiyin County to seize Zhang Xutuo's military rations, which eventually caused the military ration crisis of Zhang Xutuo's army, and also created conditions for Yang Qing to implement tricks.

He received the certificate from the Liang County government and ordered the warehouse manager Lai Heng of Chenliu Warehouse to spread the news for a false report, which lured Zhang Xutuo to be deceived. In order to deceive Zhang Xutuo, everything was real, and even the food transported from Chenliu County was real. Finally, Zhang Xutuo was introduced into the ambush circle of the Wagang Army.

Zhai Rang saw from a distance that Zhang Xutuo wanted to break out from the north, and ordered: "Go to join me, don't allow him to break out!"

He whispered loudly: "Those who get Zhang Xutuo's head will be rewarded with 5,000 taels of gold, and will be promoted to three levels!"

Under the heavy reward, the Wagang army surrounded the Sui army from all directions. Zhang Xutuo also cheered up and constantly inspired the Sui army to fight bravely. Although the troops were only 20% of the opponent, they killed the Wagang army and retreated step by step.

But the Wagang Army had too many troops, with 12,000 people, and Zhai Rang personally led it. The Wagang Army gradually stabilized its position and blocked the Sui Army's breakthrough route. It divided into four teams to fight with the Sui Army in bloody battles.

The battle was fought from afternoon to late at night, and the battlefield had moved westward for fifteen miles. When the battle reached the official road, the Wagang Army had suffered more than 4,000 casualties, and the Sui Army had nearly 2,000 casualties, most of which were injured. Even the commander Zhang Xutuo was shot in the back and thigh by two enemy tribes, and blood was poured in. He briefly bandaged it. Although he had broken through three times, he killed him again. He refused to break through alone and must take the soldiers with him.

At this time, Zhai Rang shouted: "Zhang Xutuo, my 50,000 army has gone down the mountain. I pretended to be Yang Qing's army and attacked Weicheng County and Kuangcheng County. Your army has been defeated, but Yang Qing is not saved. If you do not surrender, you will die in the battlefield and you will have no chance to seek justice."

Zhang Xutuo was secretly shocked. Could his army be defeated? The soldiers of Sui army around him shouted: "General, let's break through first! Otherwise, no one will survive."

However, Zhang Xutuo refused to give up the soldiers and wanted to die together. He would never live alone. Zhang Xutuo gritted his teeth and continued to lead the soldiers to break north.

Seeing that Zhang Xutuo refused to surrender, Zhai Rang was furious and shouted sternly: "Kill them, no one will be left!"

At this moment, the southwest suddenly sounded loud drums and shouted and there was a sound of killing. A Sui cavalry came from the southwest, like a sharp long sword, which immediately split the Wagang army's team, and the Wagang army was in chaos.

The Sui army had about 500 cavalrymen, and they were the generals in charge, holding a large iron spear. It was the fierce general Luo Shixin. He shouted: "Master, break through here!"

Zhang Xutuo was overjoyed. He didn't even think about how Luo Shixin would appear. He immediately led the remaining thousand soldiers to run towards Luo Shixin. Luo Shixin led the cavalry to open a bloody road, escorting Zhang Xutuo's army to break out of the encirclement and flee southwest.

Luo Shixin received Zhang Xuan's urgent letter in Pei County, Pengcheng County. He was anxious and thought the army was too slow to march, so he gathered 550 cavalrymen and rushed all the way to the east county. It was a coincidence that he saved Zhang Xutuo at the critical moment.

Seeing that Zhang Xutuo was rescued by Luo Shixin, Zhai Rang was worried that Zhang Xuan's army would arrive, so he gave up chasing Zhang Xutuo and hurriedly led his army back to Dongjun.

The Sui army ran for more than ten miles in one breath. Seeing that the Wagang army did not chase after him, they stopped. At this time, Zhang Xutuo was almost unable to support him and asked anxiously: "Shixin, what is the situation in Weicheng County?"

Luo Shixin was sad and whispered for a while: "I met dozens of defeated soldiers on the road. They said that the Wagang army pretended to be the Sui army to deceive the city. Weicheng County and Kuangcheng County were both lost, and the army was unfortunately defeated."
Chapter completed!