Chu Huan nodded and said, "I also know that once this battle is won, if nothing unexpected happens, the stability of Xiguan is just around the corner, but once you lose...!" He shook his head and smiled bitterly, "The situation in Xiguan is probably even more chaotic than when the people of Xiliang were there."

"There are many bandits in Xiguan, and there are dozens of people from all over the world." Fang Rushui said with a grim expression: "A quick battle and quick decision is of course the best result..." He glanced at Chu Huan and said: "Duke Chu, Hu Zongmao is a cautious person. Since he has determined the tactics, he will not change easily. I am afraid that he is already seizing the time to strengthen the city. There are still several days left before Hezhou City. We must fight and quick decision and speed up the march...!"

Han Ying said solemnly: "The wind and sand in Hezhou have been too strong in the past two days... If we march forward, Hu Zongmao may not have set up an ambush... The road we are walking now is all Gobi, but if we move forward, we will enter the mountain road. Chu Du, the mountain road is too dangerous, so we must not be careless."

Chu Huan nodded slightly and asked, "Several generals, if Hu Zongmao really defends the city, what solutions do you have?"

"If there is sufficient materials and cannot be attacked, the best way is to siege the city. We don't have much food and grass, and Hu Zongmao won't have much food and grass." Han Ying said seriously: "But the most troublesome thing we have now is that the food and grass can't last for too long..."!"

"What Han general said is." Fang Rushui clenched his fist and said, "If there is enough time, Chu Du gave me enough time and troops. There are many ways to take down Hezhou City..." Then he smiled bitterly: "But judging from the current situation, it is not easy to attack Hezhou City. Hezhou City is in a flat land. Our situation is clear at a glance..."

Chu Huan frowned and said, "In this way, it is not easy to attack Hezhou City this time?"

Fang Rushui and other generals looked at each other, and they all raised their eyebrows.

Pei Ji finally said: "Don't forget that in addition to Hezhou, there are also Jinzhou, Zhang Shuyan of Jinzhou, and the Gen camp under his command are also thousands of soldiers. Jinzhou City and Hezhou City are in a horn. Our troops are used to attack Hezhou, but if we divide our troops to attack two places, it will not be the upper hand. The so-called quick battle and quick decision will not only be against Hezhou, but also Jinzhou must be quickly defeated. If Hezhou is defeated, Jinzhou is still in the hands of the rebels. In fact, the effect of capturing Hezhou will be greatly reduced...!"

Fang Rushui immediately said: "Mr. Pei said very well, only take Hezhou. If Jinzhou cannot be taken down, the rebels will still have a flag. If we lose troops and generals in Hezhou and suffer too much losses, we will go back to attack Jinzhou. Whether it is materials or military strength, it is probably difficult to support it."

"Of course there is no possibility of these two people persuading surrender?" Chu Huan's eyes were burning.

Fang Rushui and Han Ying looked at each other, and then Fang Rushui sighed: "I wonder if sir, do you still remember Xu Shao?"

Chu Huan nodded.

Xu Shao was a general around Yu Buqi, and he was highly valued by Yu Buqi. However, when Chu Huan was in Anyi, he heard that Xu Shao launched a mutiny in Xiguan and was quickly pacified by Zhu Lingyue. Xu Shao led some of the remnants who participated in the uprising to break out, and his whereabouts are still unknown.

"Director Chu knew Xu Shao, and naturally knew that Xu Shao was a general around General Yu." Fang Rushui sighed: "After the establishment of the Pingxi Army, Xu Shao was originally the deputy general of the Pingxi Army. After General Yu left, it was logical that Xu Shao should have replaced General Yu and commanded the Pingxi Army, but Zhu Lingyue strongly recommended that the position of General Pingxi fell to Dongfang Xin in the end."

Chu Huan nodded and said, "The Pingxi Army is the strongest legion in the northwest. Of course, Zhu Lingyue does not want this legion to fall into the hands of others."

"The situation in the northwest was still very complicated. Zhu Lingyue stomped his feet in the northwest, and the ground had to move three times. According to the situation at that time, if General Yu was not there, only Zhu Lingyue could suppress the northwest." Fang Rushui said slowly: "The court also understood this, so in order to appease Zhu Lingyue, the court could only agree to his sponsorship, but the Ministry of War also left a hand, using Xu Shao as the deputy, in fact, to restrain Dongfang Xin."

Chu Huan understood and said, "There is naturally a reason for Xu Shao's mutiny."

"I really don't know what happened at the moment." Fang Rushui said: "Xu Shao has been following General Yu and has great prestige in the army. With him as his deputy, Dongfang Xin naturally feels uncomfortable everywhere. Later, there was a sudden news about Xu Shao. Before we could figure out what happened, we learned that Xu Shao had led some of his troops to break through and flee. To this day, there is no news about Xu Shao. After Xu Shao was forced to leave, Pingxi Army naturally became the world of Dongfang Xin's group of people. The two battalions of the two battalions stationed in Jinhe Prefectures were all from Tianshan Road, and they were originally subordinates of Zhu Lingyue...!" Buwu laughed and said: "If the adults had not taken office in time, the last general would probably have been kicked out of Pingxi Army."

"What do you mean? Is it almost impossible to persuade Hu Zongmao and Zhang Shuyan to surrender?"

"The generals under Zhu Lingyue were very loyal to each other after Zhu Lingyue's death." Fang Rushui said: "Those who can let Zhu Lingyue be inserted into the Pingxi Army are even more confidant generals. Hu and Zhang raised their troops to rebel, I'm afraid they don't have that courage...!" He said this, but he paused, but did not continue.

Chu Huan's brows were slightly relaxed. He and Pei Ji had known for a long time that Zhu Lingyue must have been making trouble behind everything. But Fang Rushui and Han Ying had a short time with him, so Chu Huan was not inconvenient to say something to them. But now it seems that they have this intention. Knowing that the rebellion of Jin and Hezhou was related to Zhu Lingyue, Fang Rushui was really satisfied with the fact that Fang Rushui was able to speak to this point. He smiled and said, "Generals, don't have any scruples when talking here. Just say something bluntly..." He smiled and said, "I might as well say it directly. If Jin and Hezhou are just based on themselves and do not have such courage, I am a straightforward person. No matter what you think, I always feel that there is a big backer behind them, so that they dare to rebel!"

When Chu Huan said this, all the generals present were much more relaxed. The generals spent too short time together and did not know each other very well. Moreover, although they knew some things, they did not dare to say them. There was actually a layer of diaphragm on both sides. At this moment, Chu Huan said this, and everyone felt relaxed. They thought in their hearts that Chu Duke had already spoken so bluntly, so there was nothing to care about. If the generals on the side were not attentive to one mind, then there was already a huge hidden danger.

Fang Rushui stretched his eyebrows and immediately said, "Duke Chu, this is what the last general means. Since there is someone behind them, and they are unhappy with that person and are not forced into a desperate situation, they cannot surrender. As long as the city is not broken, they will never surrender. When the city is broken, it will be too late for us to surrender."

Pei Ji was calm and suddenly laughed: "A strong attack may not necessarily lead to a quick battle, and it is impossible to persuade the surrender, so you can only break the wisely!"

"Smartly defeated?"

Everyone looked at Pei Ji.

Pei Ji stroked his beard gently, "I have an idea. Once it goes well, let alone Hezhou, Jinzhou can be won day and night..."

Everyone's eyes lit up. When Chu Huan heard Pei Ji say this, he was surprised and asked, "What are the opinions of Mr. Pei?"

Pei Ji glanced at everyone and smiled slightly.

Hezhou City is the main city of Hezhou, which is not as majestic as Shuoquan City, but it is still a solid city. In fact, the scale of the northwest cities is not magnificent, but they are all very solid. Hezhou City stands on a flat land. In the wind and sand season, sand and dust floats in the air, which is very dark, and the sky is covered with gray air, like haze.

Hu Zongmao was over 40 years old. Judging from his appearance, he was a very calm person. At this time, he was wearing armor and patrolling the city. From the day he raised his troops, he knew that Chu Huan could not sit idly by and would sooner or later lead his troops.

Hezhou City is now completely under his control. The five thousand troops in Xun camp have now been stationed in the city. The first thing Hu Zongmao did after controlling Hezhou City was to recruit men in the city and use various methods to strengthen the city.

Hu Zongmao has loved military tactics since childhood, but his talent in military tactics is not good. Since ancient times, not every general who reads military tactics has become a famous general, and can travel across the battlefield and apply what he has learned. It is rare for a true famous general to wash away the sand from a big wave. Hu Zongmao's biggest advantage is that he has a very clear understanding of his own abilities.

He was not arrogant, nor was he blindly arrogant. He knew that he could not compare with those real famous generals who could break thousands of troops and kill ten thousand enemies. Those senior and famous generals who led the elite with less victory and more were always the object of admiration in Hu Zongmao. He knew that it would be difficult for him to become such a powerful general, but he was unwilling to achieve nothing. Fortunately, he had a master in his heart that he yearned for.

During the Warring States Period, various schools of thought were full of wonderful things, while the Mohist school was unique. Mozi's great disciple Qin Huali left his name for defending the city.

Wars have offense and defense. Sometimes the victory of a war is not just about attacks. If you can defend well, you can also achieve victory in a war.

Because of the Qin Huali, Hu Zongmao carefully studied the city guarding technique. He was arrogant, even if not in the whole world, at least among the generals in the northwest, his city guarding technique must be one of the best.

He has always been looking forward to the day when he leads his army to defend the city and becomes famous all over the world, and the opportunity finally comes.

According to what he learned, he carefully made arrangements and actively prepared, recruited a large number of civilians, and raised the city wall by several meters day and night, and built many defensive fortifications on the top of the city.

Outside the city, trenches are also dug and traps are set up.

Guarding the city requires supplies. At this time, defending the city is the first, of course he will not estimate anything else. He will send troops out of the city every day to collect all the materials that can be found.

He needs this war to make a name for himself!—

PS: There are a few days left to study. Thank you for your unwilling support this time. Desert is confident that after further study, you can write a better article for everyone. I believe this!
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