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Anlu County is located north of Jiangxia County. Due to the barrier of Huaiyang Mountain in the north, Anlu County is separated from the Central Plains, forming a semi-closed state of Anlu County. During the years of wars between the north and the south, except for the Battle of Chibi, the other battles had little impact on Anlu County.

Although there are many mountains in the northern part of Anlu County, most of them are hilly. I don’t think the mountains are as high as the Qishan Mountains. There are many passages between the hills, which can pass through the hilly valleys and go straight to the north.

Yiyang County is the northernmost county in Anlu County and the ancestral home of the general Wei Yan. It is the Tongbai Mountain area. The terrain is high in the west and low in the east. At the easternmost part of Yiyang, it is a wide plain. The Huai River winds through here, dividing the plain into Anlu County and Runan County.

At this time, a huge military camp covering an area of ​​thousands of acres stood south of the Huai River on the plain. This was a wall-shaped military camp built by the Han army in nearly two months. The walls were two meters high and a sentry tower was built every step. The camp was close to the Huai River. Standing on the sentry tower, you can clearly see the small Anyang county on the other side of the Huai River.

Anyang County has been occupied by the Han army and is the outpost of the Han army's northern expedition. Since Yiyang County is the birthplace of the Huai River, the Huai River is not wide in this area and it is easier to cross the river. The Han army built a floating bridge on the Huai River for this purpose, closely linking Runan County and Anlu County.

This time, Anlu County will become the main battlefield for the Han army's northern expedition. The Han army has successively increased its troops to 80,000 in Yiyang County. Liu Jing also came to Anlu County to take charge. Cao Cao also realized that Runan will become the main battle. He also increased his troops to Runan County to 100,000. Cao Cao himself rushed to Ancheng to command the upcoming Central Plains War.

As time gradually came to early November, the Central Plains region had entered a cold winter, and the upper reaches of the Huai River began to freeze. However, the ice layer was very shallow and could not walk directly on the ice. However, the rivers in Runan all formed thick ice layers, with a cold wind and a bleak earth.

In a hilly area about fifty miles north of Anyang County, there are large areas of woods and farmland. In a valley leeward, a scout patrol team composed of ten cavalry was hiding in a forest to rest and have lunch.

Everyone lit a fire, scorching a little wild boar they had hunted. The wild boar meat was roasting, golden oil and fragrant. The soldiers could no longer help but cut off a piece of meat with their knives and sat next to the fire.

The cavalry scout station chief was named Wang Xing, who was from Anlu County. The scouts he led were basically locals and were very familiar with the surrounding environment. Their task was to monitor whether Cao's army went south.

Wang Xing was chewing a wild boar's hind legs. When he looked up, he found that ten subordinates were roasting fire and eating meat. He was a little dissatisfied and kicked a soldier, "Wu Si, it's your turn to be on duty, go and wait."

The soldier had no choice but to cut off another piece of meat and walked out of the valley while eating. At this time, another soldier smiled and said, "Tun Chief, it's such a cold day, do you think Cao's army will go south?"

Wang Xing wiped his mouth with oil and said, "This is not accurate. We are in Runan County now. If a Cao army appears on someone's territory, I will not be surprised at all."

"Tun Chief, why do you think you want to fight in winter?" another soldier asked vaguely.

"You ask me, who will I ask?"

"I guess I want to attack Xu Du. I heard that there are also 50,000 or 60,000 troops on Xinye, and the attacks on both sides are like two big clamps of a scorpion."

"It is impossible to attack Xudu, otherwise what is the point of sending troops in Jiangdong?"

The soldiers argued, and at this time, the trench chief Wang Xing cursed unhappily: "Don't fart, eat meat quickly, go to the patrol when you have enough food. If you miss Cao's army, you will be unable to save your life."

At this moment, the soldiers who had just run to keep their guard came over in panic, "I saw Cao's army, there are many troops."

Everyone jumped up in fear and suddenly became messy. They didn't bother to eat meat. After extinguishing the fire, they got on their horses and rushed out of the valley.

By the woods on the hill, ten scouts and cavalry looked into the distance. They indeed saw a Cao army, about 5,000 people, marching south along the official road in the distance, obviously heading towards Anyang County.

"Wu Si, you will continue to monitor Cao's army with four brothers, and the rest will follow me."

The head of the village Wang Xing turned his horse's head and led four cavalrymen to rush down the hills. He ran towards Anyang County.

At this time, Liu Jing inspected Anyang County. Anyang County is a small county with a population of several households. It is built on a high place on the north bank of the Huai River. The city wall is less than a foot away from the Huai River. The city is small and has a circumference of more than ten miles, and the city wall is quite dilapidated.

The county town itself has no military strategic value, but because the pontoon bridge is built close to the county town, the small county of Anyang has become a bridgehead, playing a protective role for the pontoon bridge, and its military role is artificially created.

There are currently 5,000 troops stationed in Anyang County, commanded by the captain Liao Hua. At this time, Liao Hua was accompanying Liu Jing to inspect the county town. He pointed to the city wall and said: "Anyang County was destroyed by Liu Pi, the Yellow Turban Army in about five years of Jian'an. Later, it was simply built. After more than ten years, it was already dilapidated. Huye carried out partial repairs to complete some collapsed city walls and replace the broken city bricks, but it would take at least half a year to completely renovate it, and it would not take too long to go."

Liu Jing nodded and said, "It is obviously unrealistic to rely on Anyang County to block the main force of Cao's army. The role of Anyang County is to protect the floating bridge. However, when the main force of Cao's army arrives, even if they don't burn the floating bridge, we will burn it. Our strategy is to confront Cao's army, not fight. You must understand this first."

"Unclear job"

Although Liao Hua did not really understand what Liu Jing meant, he knew one thing very well that as long as he faithfully executed Liu Jing's orders, it was enough. As for why he wanted to do that, it was not something he considered.

At this moment, a soldier came to report, "I reported to the governor of the state, and a cavalry scout came back and said he had discovered the enemy's situation."

Liu Jing was stunned and ordered: "Bring the scout to see me."

The city gate opened and several scout cavalry entered the city. Wang Xing was soon taken to Liu Jing. Liu Jing asked with a smile: "What kind of enemy situation has been discovered?"

Wang Xing did not expect to meet Liu Jing. He was a little nervous and quickly knelt down on one knee to report: "About 5,000 Cao troops are coming south along the official road, and now they should be twenty miles away."

Five thousand Cao troops were equal to Anyang County's troops. What did Cao Cao mean? Liu Jing thought about it and said to Wang Xing: "Continue to explore, try to stay away from it, and report any situation at any time."

"Abide by the order"

Wang Xing bowed and stood up and walked away quickly. At this time, Liao Hua said: "I guess Cao's army is here to test our virtuality and reality."

Liu Jing nodded, "If I expected it was good, there must be a large group of cavalry behind them. Once the Anyang defenders faced the battle, the Cao army's cavalry would surround the back, destroy Anyang County and the floating bridge, take the people first, annihilate the five thousand Han troops in Jiangbei, and boost the morale of the Cao army."

"The governor of the state means that the low-ranking officials will respond to the enemy's troops and defend Anyang City without moving."

"I'm just guessing that I don't know the enemy's true intentions, so it's better to defend. However, the floating bridge needs to strengthen defense. If the situation is not good, you can give up the Anyang retreat at any time."

Liao Hua clasped his fists and said, "I understand, so I ask the provincial governor to return to the south bank immediately."

Liu Jing turned over the horse, and under the escort of several personal soldiers, ran out of the city gate and headed towards the south bank along the floating bridge.

The vanguard of the five thousand Cao army, led by General Yu Jin, quickly rushed to Anyang City. As Liu Jing guessed, the purpose of the Cao army was to wipe out the five thousand Han army in Anyang City and use the victory of the first battle to boost morale. Yu Jin was just a vanguard, and his mission was to burn the floating bridge.

Behind Yujin, the cavalry of the Qian Cao army was ready. Once the Han army in the city left the city and fought fiercely with the Cao army, the Cao army would come quickly and cooperate with the Yujin army to annihilate the Han army.

At this time, Yu Jin led the five thousand Cao troops to approach the first floating bridge of the Han army, located a mile east of Anyang City, guarded by five soldiers. The five soldiers held military crossbows and lie behind the bunker, watching the Cao army slowly coming.

The five thousand Cao troops led by Yu Jin were arranged into an attack formation, and one thousand soldiers were lined up in two rows with large shields in their hands, forming a shield wall to slowly advance. Behind the sword and shield army were one thousand crossbow soldiers, and behind them were the thousand spear soldiers.

Yu Jin was among the crossbowmen, and he waved his sword and shouted: "Press up and destroy the floating bridge."

As the sound of Cao's war drums sounded, Cao's army began to run. The five defenders shot arrows into the Cao's formation. The dense arrows flew into the air and shot at the enemy group, but the results were not very effective. Cao's shield formation withstood the first round of shooting of the Han army's crossbowmen, and less than twenty people were shot.

At the same time, the Cao army's crossbowmen also began to shoot arrows, and the overwhelming arrows shot towards the bridge cover, pressing the Five Han Army tightly. Seeing Cao army getting closer, the Han army marquis shouted, "Retreat."

The Five Han troops at the bridge left the bunker and ran south along the floating bridge. More than a dozen people running behind were shot by arrows and fell to the ground screaming. The Cao army soldiers rushed through the bunker like a tide and completely occupied the first floating bridge. Soon, a raging fire burned on the floating bridge, and thick smoke rolled.

On the top of the city, Liao Hua looked at the burned pontoon bridge in the distance. Seeing Cao's army turn around and fight toward the second pontoon bridge, he tightened the hilt of the knife and could not be passive like this. Once the pontoon bridge is burned, they can't go back, but Liao Hua was not sure whether to attack or retreat for a while.

At this moment, the scout cavalry Wang Xing ran back from the north again and shouted under the city: "Report to General Liao quickly, there is an emergency situation in the enemy."

Liao Hua quickly walked to the city, and asked, "What did you find?"

"I found that the main force of Cao's army, about 100,000 people, was coming here, and it was less than ten miles away."
Chapter completed!