Ji Ling was late. Looking at the Yuan Shao flag flying at the top of the city of Luyang, Ji Ling felt very uncomfortable. Speaking of Luyang's loss, Ji Ling had to take most of the responsibility. First of all, the Iron Army, who should be stuck by Ji Ling, was not stuck, and was deceived by a group of strange people. However, the Iron Army's true body rushed to the night, destroying Qiao Rui's defense line in one fell swoop; secondly, his wrong judgment also passed on Qiao Rui's wrong information, which eventually caught Qiao Rui off guard, and it was also because he transferred the reserve team to the east of the city.

However, now that I regretted or held accountable, I had already finished my defeat, and Luyang was lost. Qiao Rui rushed out of the southern city gate with the rioters at night and fled, and then went south to meet with Ji Ling. This was a great blessing in misfortune.

While reporting the situation to Cao Cao, Ji Ling built a camp outside the southwest city of Luyang, blocking the main road from Luyang westward to head south. However, just calculating the troops, Ji Ling seemed to be worse than the coalition forces of the Tie Army and Zhang He. Therefore, Ji Ling had to choose a place with terrain that was extremely beneficial to him to garrison. Otherwise, Ji Ling would not be able to live a difficult time being by being besieged by the Tie Army and Zhang He.

However, the terrain is good and can block the road from Luyang westward and southward at the same time. In the end, Ji Ling could only find a place that could barely take care of. However, this location cut off the passage between Tiejun and Zhang He, but the road from southward can only be watched from a distance, which is considered to be barely controlled.

Ji Ling is building a camp, and Yi Ren's troops have appeared around to conduct reconnaissance and harassment, but there are cavalry driving around Ji Ling's troops, so Yi Ren cannot get close to him.

The next day, the repaired Tie Army and Zhang He led their troops out of the city. They formed a formation in front of Ji Ling's camp and began to attack Ji Ling's camp. Fortunately, the site of Ji Ling's camp was very good. They used the hills on both sides and the narrow roads to block the enemy troops that were better than themselves in front of the camp.

Although the attack was not very effective, Yuan Shao's army was quite tenacious. From the morning until night fell, Yuan Shao's army took turns to participate in the battle, attacking the camp and the hills on both sides. It seemed that they had plans to fight at night.

Ji Ling personally commanded the formation all day, and was so tired. Seeing Yuan Shaojun's unyielding look, Ji Ling was also helpless. He probably took stock of his losses. After learning that the loss was not big, Ji Ling felt a little relieved. He exchanged and rested with Qiao Rui. In the middle of the night, Ji Ling returned to the front line to command again, but Yuan Shaojun seemed to have no strength to continue attacking.

Under the gaze of Ji Ling and the defenders, Yuan Shao's army slowly retreated, then gathered teams and retreated towards Luyang. Ji Ling did not dare to relax. He still guarded the city until the sky was pale, and then he was sure that Yuan Shao's army had indeed retreated. He was relieved to go back to the camp to sleep. It seemed that Yuan Shao's army would not attack again today, and the soldiers who had been fighting for many days were finally able to have a good sleep.

It was only a short while before Ji Ling slept that he was woken up by Qiao Rui. It turned out that the baggage troops coming from Ye County were attacked by an enemy. The Yiren who accompanied the mission sent back the intelligence. The large number of Yuan Shao's army was actually the huge number of Yuan Shao's army. It was reported that there were more than 30,000 enemy troops and cavalry. Although the enemy did not have a clear banner, it can be guessed that there was only one possibility for a large number of enemy troops between Luyang and Ye County at this time, that is, the Iron Army or Zhang He.

Ji Ling's sleepiness was immediately shocked and disappeared without a trace. After thinking about it for a moment, Ji Ling understood that the attack of Yuan Shao's army was actually a feint attack yesterday, with the purpose of covering the troops south at night. The target of this troops heading south must be Ye County. At the same time, it may also be a trap to lure him back to the aid.

Thinking of this, Ji Ling hesitated. Should he return to Ye County as planned to aid the Yuan Shao army, surround and kill the southward Yuan Shao army, or just make limited advances to the south and block the retreat of Yuan Shao army, who went south?

....................................

"Ji Ling now has two choices, no, it's three, it's just the last one." Song Qingyu held the teacup with one hand and slid on the map with the other hand. Everyone's eyes moved with her slender fingertips. This scene looked very interesting.

"Qingyu, are the three choices you mentioned? Are you the three choices of attacking Luyang, going south to chase and encircle Zhang He, and blocking Zhang He's back path?"

"Yes! Brother, you are not stupid either!"

"Who said I'm stupid! Uh, don't talk nonsense, which one do you think Ji Ling has a better chance of choosing?"

"I just said that there is a choice that basically won't appear, that is, to pursue Zhang He. Ji Ling is an experienced general, so how can he not see the danger of pursuit? Moreover, Ji Ling's army now has a great role. Its role is not only to defeat us and recover Luyang, but more importantly, to restrain. As long as this army exists, we will not be able to let go of attacks on Wanxian and Yexian. Cao Cao's strategic situation will not change significantly, and the situation will not turn around. Yuan Shao's plan will be completely lost. When the reinforcements drawn by Cao Cao from Xiangyang, Shangyong and other places arrive, Cao Cao will be able to calmly launch a counterattack against Luyang."

Song Hufeng nodded: "So, Ji Ling will definitely not give us a chance to attack him, right?"

"Brother, you are so smart!"

"Uh... Then there are two options left. Ji Ling can attack Luyang when Zhang He left Luyang and Luyang has relatively few defenders, or choose to move the camp south, block the road to Ye County, and cut off Zhang He's logistics. Zhang He will collapse without fighting at that time!"

Song Qingyu nodded, shook his head again and said, "Yuan Shao's plan is too presumptuous. Cao Cao was plotted once because our army was outside Cao Cao's plan, and it was not that stupid. Judging from Cao Cao's response, Cao Cao's reaction was very quick and decisive, and the response was very accurate. Yuan Shao always thought about plotting against Cao Cao, and he might be plotted by Cao Cao."

Song Hufeng frowned and looked up at the smiling girl: "Don't Qingyu look forward to Zhang He's actions?"

"I'm definitely not optimistic. I want to know more about how Zhang He should end?"

"It's not difficult to guess this. If Ji Ling comes to attack Luyang, Zhang He will definitely continue to attack Ye County. If Ji Ling goes south and blocks Zhang He's back path, Zhang He will definitely turn around and fight back against Ji Ling. We will also attack from behind. If Ji Ling retreats, Zhang He will be able to return. If Ji Ling does not retreat, he will just destroy Ji Ling."

"Hehe, brother, forget how far is the reinforcements from Xiangyang? What if Zhang He and our army were attacking Ji Ling, but the reinforcements from Xiangyang were attacking Zhang He from behind?"

Song Hufeng's face changed. If that happens, it will be bad.

"Lao Liu, what about Cao Cao's reinforcements?"

"There are two reinforcements of Cao Cao. One is Yan Xing, who came from Shangyong, who is heading towards Wan County, less than a day away from Wan County, and the other is Li Tong's army. He set out from Xiangyang, passed Xinye yesterday and was heading towards Duyang. He is expected to arrive in Duyang today and arrive in Ye County tomorrow afternoon."

Song Qingyu shrugged and smiled. Song Hufeng sighed and said, "This information immediately notifies Zhang He and Yuan Shao, and suggest that Zhang He return to the army immediately and work together with me to attack Ji Ling, and strive to annihilate Ji Ling's troops first."

Song Qingyu shook his head and said, "Yuan Shao may not be able to listen to you, but we should prepare for the battle. If Ji Ling moves to camp, he will definitely choose this area. Why don't we do some tricks first."

"Uh...how much can this work?"

"Who knows, I'm idle anyway, and the players are bored!"

"Haha, it's okay, it's up to you!"

"Hmph! I'm so reluctant to say that I don't care. I'm going to brush the dungeon. I'm angry and ignore you!"

Yuan Shao did not listen to Song Hufeng's advice, but wanted to try to capture Ye County before reinforcements arrived. However, Ye County was not stationed. Moreover, even if Zhang He was prepared, even if he was very good at fighting, it would be unrealistic to want to capture Ye County in a day and a half.

Ji Ling indeed chose to block the road south. Ji Ling tried to lean south as far as possible, chose a very good terrain to build a camp, and blocked Zhang He's rear path.

The next day, Zhang He, who had been attacking for a day and a night, still failed to take Ye County, but his retreat was blocked tightly by Ji Ling. On the other hand, Li Tong's reinforcements had already arrived not far from Ye County, and Zhang He had no other choice but to retreat.

When Li Tong learned that Zhang He was retreating, he accelerated his pace of progress, hoping to block Zhang He in the mountains and annihilate him. Zhang He also knew this danger, so he desperately rushed north despite the fatigue of the soldiers, and then joined forces with the iron army following Ji Ling to attack Ji Ling.

This is a bloody battle. Ji Ling has no way out, and Zhang He has no way out. Ji Ling has a good position and is waiting for it. Zhang He has been fighting for a day and a night. The ending between the two sides seems to be foreseeable when the war begins.

Fortunately, there were also Tiejun and Song Qingyu's tricks in advance. Tiejun involved Ji Ling's considerable force. The oil tanks buried in the mountain were lit and pushed down the hillside by players who lurked in. The ignited fire made Ji Ling lose sight of each other.

After an afternoon of fierce battle, the battle between the two sides became a chaotic battle. Ji Ling's defense line was broken, but he was still blocking it tenaciously. The troops of both sides were completely twisted together and fought all over the mountains. Li Tong's troops had already chased behind Zhang He and were blocked by Zhang He's cavalry to death.

At night, the road was finally opened with Zhang He's death battle and the efforts of the Iron Army. Zhang He's remaining troops quickly retreated. The iron army, who had been prepared, accumulated a large amount of firewood and grass on the road. A fire blocked Ji Ling and Li Tong's pursuit troops, and then retreated in a mess.

Zhang He suffered heavy losses in this battle. Less than 20,000 infantry and cavalry returned to Luyang City. However, Ji Ling did not ask for it. The losses had already made Ji Ling's army lose the ability to continue fighting. However, from a grand strategy point of view, Yuan Shao's army, who had lost the offensive ability, was defeated, and the original strategic attempt could not be implemented again. Even if Jiang Yiqu, who was the last reinforcement, reached Lu County, Cao Cao had completed the increase in troops in Ye County and Wan County.

The attack time has been missed. (To be continued...)
Chapter completed!