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Before dawn, the Han army completely evacuated Wancheng. However, unlike Zhang Liao's expectations, the Han army did not retreat east of the Qingshui River, but retreated rapidly to the southwest, preparing to join Pang De's army, cross the Han River, and retreat from Fangling County to Xiangyang.

Five large ships with full supplies evacuated from Wancheng one hour ago, and went down the river from the Qingshui River to Xiangyang. The five large ships stretched for dozens of miles, with a spectacular and eye-catching momentum, and naturally attracted the attention of thousands of Cao's cavalry active in the southern part of Wancheng.

After a fierce battle with Pang De's army, although the Cao army's cavalry had been wiped out, they also paid the price of casualties of the remaining cavalry. Cao Zhen did not chase the main force of Pang De's army, and then turned around and prepared to attack the 5,000 Han troops stationed in Jingyang County. However, Xiang Chong, the chief general of the Jingyang Han army, expected the enemy to be the first, and retreated back to Jingyang County first, causing the Cao army's cavalry to pounce on the air.

Xiang Chong is good at defending. Although the city of Qingyang is not big, it is defended by Xiang Chong. Cao Zhen tried to capture Qingyang County several times, but he ended in failure. However, Xiang Chong was also quite worried. It was meaningless to defend Qingyang. The key was to successfully evacuate Nanyang and return to Xiangyang. How to get rid of the pursuit of Cao's cavalry is the top priority.

Xiang Chong quickly walked to the city and looked at the Cao army cavalry battalion several miles away. He had just received the news that the Cao army cavalry headed north to the water, which surprised him very much. At this time, a general advised: "General, since the Cao army cavalry headed north, can we take advantage of this opportunity to retreat to Xinye?"

Xiang Chong shook his head, "What if it was Cao's army's plan to lure troops, wait and see what happened."

At this moment, a cavalry rushed from the north and rushed to the city and shouted: "To the general, I will come to deliver the letter under the order of the governor."

Xiang Chong looked over and saw that he knew this person and was hired as a personal soldier. He immediately ordered: "Let him in Kaicheng."

The city gate slowly opened, and the letter-sending soldiers urged the horse to rush into the city. They were soon led by soldiers to the top of the city. The letter-sending soldiers knelt down on one knee and presented a volume of letters, "Please take a look at the letter of the governor."

Xiang Chong opened the letter and looked for a moment, then he understood why Cao's army went north. He nodded and immediately turned around and ordered: "Transfer my order, the whole army gathered and prepared to retreat."

The sky was getting brighter, and a fleet of dozens of miles on the Qingshui River was sailing south quickly. All the ships were two stone flat sand ships. They were the most common cargo transport ships on the Qingshui River. The ships were loaded with weapons and food, but the water was not deep, and there was obviously a lot of room left. Each ship was escorted by several soldiers. They hid under the oil cloth, held military crossbows, and watched the situation on the shore with vigilance.

At this moment, there was a fierce sound of horse hooves in the distance, and a long black line appeared in the distance, followed by overwhelming cavalry rushing towards the shore. The boatmen driving the boat suddenly became nervous and leaned on the east coast, heading close to the east coast.

The Cao army cavalry did not approach the river. They had learned a painful lesson. A few months ago, Cao Chun died on the shore of the Qingshui River. Several cavalrymen stepped forward and shouted loudly: "The ship is docking immediately."

No matter how the cavalry shouted, the fleet just ignored it. Suddenly, more than a dozen cold arrows were shot out from the ship. A Cao army soldier could not dodge and was shot through his chest with an arrow. He screamed and fell off his horse. The rest of the cavalry evacuated from the shore.

Cao Zhen was furious and ordered the horse whip, "Shoot me the arrow."

Arrows suddenly shot at the shore, and the boatmen raised their shields to greet each other. The hull was nailed with arrows for a moment, but the ship was still sailing without any effect. Cao Zhen hated that he was going south with light clothes this time and did not carry tinder oil, otherwise a fire would burn all the ships.

At this moment, a patrol came from a distance and clasped his fists to Cao Zhen and said, "Report to General, the army has left Wancheng and evacuated to the southwest."

Cao Zhen was stunned. He slapped his forehead suddenly, and then he realized that the five ships were just baits, luring his cavalry to the water. However, the main force of the Han army retreated from the west of Wancheng. He asked anxiously: "When will they evacuate?"

"Reporting to the general, it seems to be at the fifth hour."

Cao Zhen changed his mind. The Han army had been retreating west for more than an hour and walked not far. He had time to catch up. He immediately ordered: "Come with me and go chase after peddling."

More than 4,000 cavalry turned their horses and followed Cao Zhen to chase the west, gradually moving away.

An hour later, the fleet arrived in Jingyang County. Xiang Chong's army, who had been waiting here, got on board. The fleet continued to travel south and headed to Xiangyang.

The cavalry led by Cao Zhen were the tiger and leopard cavalry from Youzhou, most of which were Wuhuan people. They lived on horseback since childhood, and their cavalry skills were superb. They were systematically trained by the Cao army, making them a cavalry with strong combat power. This is also one of the reasons why Cao Cao was able to dominate the world. A cavalry of 5,000 people was enough to defeat tens of thousands of infantry.

It is precisely for this reason that Cao Cao would never allow foreigners to take charge of cavalry. The four cavalry commanders, Cao Chun, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu, are all brothers and nephews of Cao Cao. Their strong strength and special preferential treatment make this cavalry proud and arrogant. They not only despise the soldiers in the southern part of the Han army, but also look down on their own Cao army infantry.

Cheng Yu was also well aware of their strength, so he specially sent this cavalry to attack the outpost. They did not disappoint Cheng Yu's expectations and successfully blocked the merger of the Han army and annihilated the Thousand Han army that blocked them. The existence of this cavalry made the Han army passive, and even the evacuation of Nanyang County became a big problem.

The cavalry of Cao's army rushed westward for several miles. The yellow dust rolled on the official road, and the momentum was horrifying. The pedestrians were so scared that they ran to the wheat fields on both sides. If they took a little slower, they would be shot to death by arrows.

“Speed ​​up”

Cao Zhen kept turning around and shouting, "He took the lead and ran away with a long spear in his hand. Cao Zhen knew in his heart that the Han army was not retreating quickly, and it was far from comparable to the cavalry. They could catch up with the enemy at noon.

The terrain of Nanyang County is high in the west and low in the east, with plains to the east, hilly areas to the west, and Funiu Mountains to the west. After passing through large wheat fields, the cavalry gradually entered the hilly areas. At this time, the Cao army had already discovered the traces of the Han army, and it was obvious that they had just passed by.

Cao Zhen held the war horse and pointed a whip at a young man in the field, and said to his left and right: "Catch him."

Several cavalrymen ran away, and the young man turned around and fled, but he could not escape the cavalry's war horse and was instantly caught up and captured.

Several cavalrymen rushed to Cao Zhen with the young man, "General, catch him."

Cao Zhen glanced at the boy and asked, "Child, I'll ask you, before us, there will be an army coming over."

The boy was so scared that he was trembling all over and couldn't speak. The cavalry scout knocked on the boy, "Speak quickly."

The young man said tremblingly: "Just a while ago, an army had just passed by and walked in a hurry, and they were all running."

Cao Zhen was overjoyed. This must be the main recruitment. He shouted loudly: "So quickly and catch up with the enemy."

The cavalry accelerated again and ran westward like lightning. The cavalry gradually approached a hill with dense forests on the hills, about ten miles long, close to the official road. At this time, thousands of military crossbows in the woods had already aimed at the rushing Cao's cavalry.

It was Pang De, the general. Pang De did not cross the river, but was waiting for an opportunity. When he learned that the army was retreating westward, he immediately led his army to ambush the pursued cavalry. At this time, Pang De's eyes ejaculated. He thought of the thousands of subordinates who were massacred by the cavalry. The bone-thundering pain filled his heart with hatred.

"General, the enemy has passed a thousand people"

Pound nodded and issued an order to "shoot"

The sound of the buzz suddenly sounded, and arrows suddenly shot at the Cao army's cavalry like a storm. Cao army was chasing, but they were not wary of it. The running cavalry were shot one after another, screaming and turning over and falling off the horses. The war horses behind could not dodge and were tripped and rolled over. Cao army was in an instant and suffered heavy casualties. The official road was in chaos. Then the second round of crossbow arrows rushed toward the wheat field again. Many cavalry turned around and ran into the wheat field, but the wheat field was also covered with caltrops. The war horses ran a few steps and were pierced by long needles. They fell to the ground with a long neigh.

Cao Zhen was at the front of the team and had already run through the ambush. He suddenly heard a scream behind him, his whole body was shocked, and he quickly stopped the war horse and asked anxiously: "What happened behind?"

"General, there is an ambush on the mountain, and the brothers were ambushed and suffered heavy casualties."

Cao Zhen was shocked. Before he could react, drums were heard everywhere. Eight thousand soldiers led by Pin came out of the woods on the edge of the mountain. Pin shouted loudly, "The enemy general came to take his life."

Cao Zhen recognized Pin. He didn't say a word, and rode his horse and thrust his spear. Pin waved his sword to greet him. The two fought fiercely. At this time, Pin's army surrounded more than a thousand cavalry, stabbed with spears nearby and arrows from afar. Cavalry kept screaming and falling off the horse. It was not suitable for cavalry combat, so the cavalry was passive.

Cao Zhen and Pin fought fiercely for more than ten rounds. Seeing that the situation was not good, Cao Zhen was unwilling to fight. He stabbed a spear, blocked Pin's sword, and ran forward. When the cavalry behind saw the main general escape, they rushed forward. The Han soldiers could not stop the cavalry's breakthrough and were killed with blood. They watched several cavalry break out of the encirclement and escape.

Pin snorted with hatred and turned around and ordered: "The cavalry will not be allowed to break through again in a formation."

Eight thousand infantry quickly formed an array on both sides of the official road, and thousands of crossbow arrows aimed at the Cao army cavalry that was about to rush over. The arrows shot away like rain, while the rest of the soldiers formed a spear formation to intercept the impact of the cavalry.

This battle was based on ambush first and intercepted later, and a beautiful turnaround battle was fought. More than 4,55 elite cavalry killed and injured more than 1,800 people. In the end, less than a thousand people successfully broke through and ran north in panic.
Chapter completed!