Before the sky was completely bright, a touch of morning glow quietly dyed the east sky red. In the morning light, Zhang Xuan led the main force of the Sui army to drive to the city of Suyu.

At this time, the gate of Suyu County had been wide open. Chen Miao, the prefect of Xiapi County, led dozens of officials out of the city to greet him. Chen Miao stepped forward and knelt down and said with tears: "In order to protect the people, we have no choice but to surrender to the rioters, but we still yearn for the court, and hope that the general will understand clearly!"

Dozens of officials behind knelt down, Zhang Xuan quickly turned over and got off the horse, stepped forward to help Chen Miao up, comforted him and said, "Enter Chen, don't blame yourself. I have experienced too much. I believe that Eunuch Chen will not be sincere in his heart!"

Zhang Xuan said to everyone again: "I know that everyone is a dignified person and will not be willing to commit to the thief. Please get up!"

Everyone was grateful and stood up to salute Zhang Xuan. Chen Miao was moved and said, "The general is a wise person. It is our luck to meet the general."

"Envoy Chen is too awarded!"

Zhang Xuan changed the topic and asked: "What is the situation of the thief army in Xia Pi County?"

"The bandit army originally had only 5,000 troops in Xiapi County, and was commanded by Luo Binggan. But I heard that Meng Haigong stationed 30,000 troops at the junction of Pengcheng County and Xiapi County. If Pengcheng County is in danger, these 30,000 people will support Pengcheng County, but if Xiapi County is in danger, they will support Xiapi County."

"But how did this army know that Xia Pi County is in danger?" Zhang Xuan asked again.

Chen Miao sighed, "To be honest with the general, Ma Xu, who had just retreated, has sent a pigeon letter to inform the army to inform him of the army. This army will soon enter Xiapi County."

Zhang Xuan immediately made a decision to Pei Xingyan and said, "You can lead the cavalry to Xiapi County quickly. If you encounter a bandit army retreating north halfway, don't worry about them. Take me first to occupy Xiapi County. I will immediately lead the army to support me."

"Abide by the orders!"

Pei Xingyan turned around and was about to leave. Chen Miao, the prefect next to him, hurriedly suggested: "There may be a small number of troops in Xiapi County. If the general cannot take the county town, he can turn to seize the bridge."

"What bridge?" Zhang Xuan asked in confusion.

"Report to the general, there is a floating bridge on the Bian River and Yi River in the north. You can see it in the county town. If the general sends people to burn the bridge first, it can stop the bandit army from moving south!"

"Thank you for your reminder!"

Zhang Xuan told Pei Xingyan a few more words, and Pei Xingyan bowed his hand, turned over his horse, and ran towards the cavalry behind him. Soon, more than 700 cavalrymen left the team and rushed to the north.

Zhang Xuan did not stay in Suyu County for too long. He left a thousand troops to defend the city, and personally led the army to kill Xiapi County, 300 miles north.

Xia Pi County is located in the north of Xia Pi County. It is located in the north of the north and south transportation route. It is located in the north of the county town. The Yi River and the Bian River converge here, and are renamed Si River, flowing south into the Huai River. This makes Xia Pi County's strategic position very important. It is far beyond Suyu County to the south. It can be said that the capture of Xia Pi County has also controlled the entire Xia Pi County.

As the prefect Chen Miao said, Meng Haigong did not really give up Xia Pi County. Although he and Yang Yichen fought fiercely in Pengcheng County, he still released 30,000 troops at the junction of Pengcheng County and Xia Pi County, about 150 miles away from Xia Pi County, this army can support Pengcheng County at any time or support Xia Pi County.

This army of 30,000 people was commanded by Meng Haigong's younger brother Meng Dangui. They would receive letters of peace from Suyu County every day, once in the morning and evening. If they did not receive them once, it might be an accident. But if they did not receive them twice in a row, it would mean that something happened in Xia Pi County, and Meng Dangui would immediately lead the army to Xia Pi County.

Meng Dangui is also a powerful general, brave in combat. He is deeply trusted by Meng Haigong. He looks fierce and has a burly figure. He uses a 60-pound three-point two-edged sword and is very skilled in martial arts. At the hero meeting at the beginning of the year, he entered the top 100, which is much more brave than Luo Binggan.

Although Meng Dangui was brave and strong, he also had a cautious side and was not reckless in doing things, so Meng Haigong gave him the important task of supporting the support.

It was already noon. Meng Dangui stood in front of the tent and looked anxiously at the south. He did not receive the letter of Ping An last night, and he did not deliver the letter of Ping An in the morning. Meng Dangui began to feel a sense of badness in his heart.

The pigeon letter was not sent to the Daying, but to Longgang Town about three miles away from the Daying. At this time, a personal soldier rushed from the gate of the camp. Meng Dangui's heart suddenly hangs up and quickly goes forward and asks, "Is there any news?"

The personal soldier shook his head, "General, no pigeon letter!"

Meng Dangui didn't hesitate anymore, something must have happened to Luo Binggan. Xia Pi County was in danger. He turned over and ordered: "The army sets off!"

Since the pigeon letter was not received last night, the thieves had already been packed up early in the morning. With the order from Meng Dangui, 30,000 troops left the camp and marched towards Xiapi County, 150 miles away.

Because Xiapi County is very important in strategic location, the city wall is built tall and solid, surrounded by water, easy to defend and difficult to attack. At this time, Xiapi County was not an empty city. Meng Dangui has sent a thousand troops to guard the county to prevent the Sui army from sneak attacking this strategic location.

Pei Xingyan led 700 cavalrymen to run all the way. They ran 300 miles in one day and arrived at Xiapi County at dusk. Pei Xingyan tied his horses and looked at Xiapi County from afar. The city gate was closed, and Meng Haigong's flag was erected on the city wall. There were thieves running at the top of the city. Although there were not many defenders at the top of the city, the Sui cavalry who did not have any siege weapons were helpless.

But one thing is certain, the main force of the thief army has not arrived yet, Pei Xingyan whipped the war horse hard, "Follow me!"

He led the cavalry to the north, and sure enough, he saw two floating bridges three miles north of the city, above Sishui and Yishui respectively. Two rivers flowed from the north and the west, converging north of Xiapi County. To the west was a mountain, standing like a huge barrier standing beside Xiapi County.

Pei Xingyan gave the order, and the soldiers started to ignite the two floating bridges. However, the thieves guarding the city did not dare to come out to put out the fire. They watched the thick smoke rolling, and the thick smoke mixed with flames, quickly swallowed the two floating bridges.

Since the journey was nearly half as high as the Sui army, Meng Dangui's 30,000 troops arrived in Xiapi County first, but they were stopped on the other side of Sishui. At the third o'clock in the morning, people on the other side of Sishui shouted horses neighed, and the torches gathered into a fire dragon, stretching for several miles.

Although the 30,000 thieves arrived in Xiapi County, they could not cross the river and enter the city. More importantly, they did not know whether Xiapi County had been occupied by the Sui army. In desperation, Meng Dangui had to order the entire army to camp on the spot and wait for dawn before taking action.

At the same time, Zhang Xuan led the main force of the Sui army to about 80 miles away from Xiapi County, but the army did not stop and still marched rapidly along the east coast of Sishui.

The army was silent, without fire, no noise, and there were no coughs and mixed sounds of war horses. In the river to the west, dozens of large ships loaded with grain and military funds lined up in the river to follow the Sui army soldiers.

Zhang Xuan was in front of the team. He rode on the war horse and stared at the north from time to time. Judging from time, the bandit army should have arrived in Xiapi County, but Pei Xingyan had no news, indicating that the bandit army had not crossed the river and that the two sides had not yet launched a fierce battle.

Zhang Xuan got the exact news last night that Yang Yichen led 30,000 elite Sui army to fight fiercely with the 100,000 army of Meng Haigong in Xiaoxian. Although the bandit army was three times that of the Sui army, its combat effectiveness was much weaker than that of the Sui army. Therefore, although the battle was very fierce, it could not determine the outcome for a while.

If both Pengcheng County are evenly matched, then his military operations in Xiapi County will become the key to the entire battle. Zhang Xuan has been considering the next step, but he needs to get the exact news from Pei Xingyan now.

At this moment, a personal soldier galloped over, followed by a man, "General, General Yuan Qing has sent someone to deliver a letter."

Zhang Xuan was immediately overjoyed. He was waiting for news from Pei Xingyan, and he happened to deliver the letter. It was God's will.

"Take him up!"

Soon, a soldier who reported the news was brought up, and he bowed immediately, "See the commander!"

"Is there any news about General Pei?"

"Report to the commander, we have burned the pontoon bridge and are ready to ambush the enemy at any time to build the pontoon bridge. General Pei said that he is sure to stop the thief army from crossing the river."

"Are there any defenders in Xiapi County?" Zhang Xuan asked again.

"There are about a thousand people, but they dare not leave the city, so there is no need to worry."

Zhang Xuan received clear news, and he pondered for a moment: "Transfer my order and the army crossed the river to the west!"
Chapter completed!