Just after Pei Xingyan's army left Gushu County and headed north, the south gate of Songcheng opened, and an army of more than 10,000 troops escorted the baggage and carriages to leave the county town, and quickly headed south under the cover of night. ≥

This army was the advance team sent by Zhai Rang to Runan, with a total of 20,000 people carrying all the gold jewelry and some of the grain of the Wagang Army. This batch of gold jewelry was the treasure that Yang Qing had dreamed of in Wagang Mountain. But he didn't know that Zhai Rang secretly transported them to Liang County last year, leaving only a very small part in Wagang Mountain.

This army was led by Zhai Hong and his son Zhai Mohou. In the important decision to go to Runan County, Zhai Rang could not trust other generals of the Wagang Army, and even Shan Xiong could not trust him. He could only let his brother and nephew lead his army to escort Caibao. In addition, the families of more than a thousand Wagang generals also followed the army south in carriages.

Zhai Rang stood at the top of the city and watched the team go away. He was in a very heavy mood. The Wagang army had reached the point where they had to find another way out. Have they really gone to decline?

At this time, Fang Xuanzao, a military officer in the Record Room, walked to Zhai Rang, "Why didn't Zhai Gong go south with the army?"

Zhai Rang shook his head, "I am the lord of Wagang. Of course, I have to live and die with the Wagang army. How can I leave the army and leave by myself? Besides, I can break through to Runan in the end after the war. Why is the gentleman unwilling to leave?" Zhai Rang glanced at him in confusion.

Fang Xuanzao is the brother of Fang Xuanling clan and was the first to serve as the county magistrate of Songcheng County. Although both of them are outstanding in talent, the path they took in the end was completely different.

Fang Xuanzao smiled faintly and said, "Donald Zhai thinks the second general can tolerate me?"

Because Fang Xuanzao was valued by Zhai Rang, he was appointed as the secretary's army, but was jealous of Wang Ruxin and Zhai Hong. Zhai Rang also knew this. If Fang Xuanzao followed the army south, he would inevitably be harmed by Zhai Hong.

Zhai Rang was silent for a moment and couldn't help but sigh, "I, Zhai Rang, dominate the Central Plains, but in the end, both Yu Wenhua and both suffered losses, resulting in today's decline. It's a pity that the heaven cannot tolerate me!"

"The Central Plains is a place of four battles. The Wagang Army has indeed been consumed too much in recent years. If Mr. Zhai occupied Bashu, even if he could not conquer the world, he could at least control one side. Even Wang Shichong would decline sooner or later. The future struggle for the world will definitely be Zhongdu and Chang'an."

"What sir means is that I don't have a chance to retreat to Runan?"

Fang Xuanzao remained silent for a moment. Zhai Rang understood what he meant and shook his head and walked down the city. Fang Xuanzao looked at Zhai Rang's back and walked away, and sighed secretly in his heart. Some words were really hard to say.

Zhai Rang's defeat was that he believed in his brother Zhai Hong too much. From the first division of the Wagang army to the failure of the Eastern Expedition, to the conquest of the south to Yu Wenhua, these were the result of Zhai Hong's instigation behind his back. Zhai Rang was indecisive and did not believe in outsiders, but he kept obeying his stupid brother's words, and never learned lessons again and again. How could the Wagang army not decline? I'm afraid Zhai Rang would not understand this until his death.

As the Sui cavalry went north and there was no blockade of the Sui army to the south, Zhai Hong's team walked extremely smoothly. At noon the next day, they arrived at Huanshui. After passing Huanshui, Qiao County was ahead. At this time, they were a hundred miles away from Songcheng and completely got rid of the situation of the war.

Zhai Hong felt particularly comfortable. This time he took away all the wealth of the Wagang Army and got rid of his brother's control. Zhai Hong will decide what to do next.

Huanshui is a big river, dozens of feet wide, and the river water is very deep, with dense forests on both sides. There were originally several large bridges on the river. In order to defend against Du Fuwei's north disturbance, the officials of the county along the river demolished all the bridges. The people on both sides could only cross the river by ferrying.

Zhai Hong and his party arrived at the pier. The pier was very dilapidated and the shore was full of broken ships, but there was no ferry in the river. Zhai Hong saw a simple wooden house not far away, and there seemed to be someone inside, so he ordered the soldiers to capture the people in the room.

After a moment, an old man was caught, and the old man was so scared that he knelt down and begged for mercy.

Zhai Hong lowered his head and asked, "I won't kill you, but you have to tell me where can I get a boat crossing the river? Otherwise, I will kill you, an old guy."

The old man shivered and said, "Walking west for three miles, there is a water sway there, and there should be a ferry in it."

Zhai Hong was very happy and immediately sent someone to take the old man to Shuidang to find the ferry. He ordered the soldiers to rest on the spot, and sent someone to find military advisor Wang Ruxin and his son Zhai Mohou to discuss. Soon, the two of them rushed over.

Zhai Hong asked the two of them to sit down on the soft mat, poured them a glass of wine, and said with a smile: "I want to discuss with you where we will go next?"

Zhai Mohou was stunned, "Didn't my uncle ask us to go to Runan County to establish the foundation?"

Zhai Hong snorted, "I've been a thief for so many years. Do you still want to be a thief for the rest of your life?"

Wang Ruxin knew Zhai Hong’s idea very well and smiled: “If I’m not mistaken, the second general wants to join Li Yuan.”

Zhai Hong nodded, "Mr. I have 10,000 troops and the families of important generals in Wagang. If I go to Li Yuan, I can at least be named a marquis. I have so much wealth and I can enjoy it in the second half of my life."

However, Zhai Mohou was much more kind than his father. He said in a short while in silence: "In order to cover our retreat to the south, my uncle defended Songcheng to the death and entrusted the fate of the Wagang army and his family to us, but my father wanted to give them to Li Yuan. I am so sorry for my uncle."

"That's his own choice!"

Zhai Hong said viciously: "I have advised him to surrender to Li Yuan for a long time, but he refused. He chose to fight Zhang Xuan to the decisive battle. What does it have to do with me? Besides, these ten thousand people are my army, and most of these wealth should belong to me. The army and wealth are my things. Can't I decide my destiny? I have to work hard for him!"

Zhai Hong's voice and expression were stern, so scared that Zhai Mohou lowered his head and did not dare to contradict his father again. After a while, he muttered in a low voice: "But Li Yuan is too far away, how can we surrender?"

This is a big problem. They are now thousands of miles away from Runan County, not to mention Chang'an. They are completely different from each other. Zhai Hong looked at Wang Ruxin.

Wang Ruxin thought for a while and said, "It's better for us to switch to Shangluo County. According to our current food, we can support us there. When we arrive at Shangluo County, we will send someone to Chang'an to contact us. I believe the general will be welcomed."

Zhai Hong seemed to see Li Yuan going out of the city to greet him personally. He was extremely yearning in his heart, so he decided to say: "I decided like this, and I will change my way to Shangluo County."

But even if he went to Shangluo County, he had to cross Huanshui first. Just so happened that his men found a large ferry boat and stopped at the dock. Zhai Hong immediately ordered to carry the big box on the boat first.

At this moment, the army behind suddenly shouted, Zhai Hong was startled and stood on a big rock and looked back. He saw a cavalry breaking out from the woods a mile away, and entered the resting team. Looking away, the overwhelming cavalry was coming here.

Zhai Hong was so scared that his face was pale. He suddenly shouted: "Please carry the box onto the boat, hurry!"

Zhai Hong no longer cared about the army. He just wanted to escape from the other side with his treasure. Even if he couldn't surrender to Li Yuan, he could still be a rich man.

Suddenly, his son Zhai Mohou roared from behind, "Wang Ruxin, what are you doing?"

When Zhai Hong turned around, he saw Wang Ruxin running onto the boat, causing several confidants to leave. Zhai Hong was furious and drew his sword and rushed forward, but he was still one step late. The ferry had already left the river one foot.

Zhai Hong was extremely angry and pointed his sword at Wang Ruxin and shouted, "Wang Ruxin, I don't treat you, why do you want to betray me!"

Wang Ruxin smiled sinisterly, "Mr. Zhai treats you well, haven't you betrayed him too? We are each other!"

Zhai Mohou opened his bow and shot the boat with an arrow. Wang Ruxin was so scared that he lay on the boat and shouted: "Go away! Go quickly!"

The ferry slowly sailed away, and Zhai Hong was furious and furious, but he was helpless.

Pei Xingyan led 20,000 cavalry to kill the soldiers, which made Zhai Hong's soldiers look like chopping melons and vegetables. The soldiers cried and shouted, but there was nowhere to escape. Countless soldiers jumped into the Huanshui and tried to swim across the other side, but the river was too wide and most of the soldiers drowned in the river.

At this time, Pei Xingyan saw Zhai Hong and his son. When he saw that Zhai Mohou's weapons were actually a pair of copper hammers, he immediately ordered the soldiers to bring their own double hammers. He hit the sledgehammer and urged the horse to run towards Zhai Mohou, "The thief will take me a hammer!"

Zhai Mohou recognized Pei Xingyan. He was panicked and swung his hammer to attack Pei Xingyan. Pei Xingyan laughed loudly, "Good come!"

With a loud "dang!", Zhai Mohou flew out with a hammer. Zhai Mohou shouted and turned around to escape, but was hit by Pei Xingyan's back with a hammer. His bones and tendons broke and he fell off his horse. He was almost unable to survive.

Seeing that his son was shot down and off the horse, Zhai Hong's eyes turned red, and swung his knife to kill Pei Xingyan. Pei Xingyan sneered, with the other party's big knife hanging on the left hammer, and a gust of wind blew up at Zhai Hong's head. With a crisp sound, the sledgehammer hit Zhai Hong's forehead. Zhai Hong's brain burst and died tragically on the spot.

Pei Xingyan suddenly felt murderous intent and shouted: "Don't take prisoners of war, kill them for me!"

The cavalry began to massacre. Song Zhengben, the army joined the army, was anxious and urged his horse to catch up with Pei Xingyan and shouted: "General, the King of Qi has an order, don't kill him indiscriminately!"

Although Pei Xingyan wished to kill all the Wagang bandits, he had to change his orders due to Zhang Xuan's strict orders. Women and children would not be killed, and those who surrendered could be spared.

It was because Song Zhengben stopped in time that the massacre by the Huanshui River stopped. More than 6,500 Wagang soldiers were able to survive, and the families of more than 1,000 Wagang generals also escaped the fate of being massacred.

Pei Xingyan left Chen Jing and led 5,000 cavalry to assist Song Zhengben in handling the funeral of prisoners of war supplies, while he himself led 15,000 cavalry to run towards Chuqiu County like lightning.
Chapter completed!