Three Kingdoms

A sharp shout suddenly burst out from Pan Zhang's mouth, like a big cat whose tail was stepped on, and the roar was deafening. Taking advantage of the moment when Zhang Yun was shocked, Pan Zhang took a step forward and leaned against Zhang Yun's shield. He circled Zhang Yun's shield to the side, causing the shield originally used by Zhang Yun to block instead. Offensive hindrance.

Zhang Yun's sword failed, and Pan Zhang stretched out his hand to press out the shield held by Zhang Yun. Almost at the same time, the two glared at each other, roared, raised their swords in unison and slashed again, and then hit the ground with a "dang" sound in the air. Together, sparks shine!

As the swords struck each other, Zhang Yun suddenly felt that Pan Zhang's strength was superior to his. He couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. He slightly released his force on the sword in his right hand, trying to slide Pan Zhang's thick-backed sword aside, and took a step to the left. The intention was to grab Pan Zhang's left side, stay away from Pan Zhang's sword range, and at the same time enter his own more comfortable attack range.

But Zhang Yuncai had just unloaded Pan Zhang's sword and was about to swing it out when he heard the sound of wind. Pan Zhang turned his wrist and the heavy machete was as light as nothing in his hand, and he swung it sideways. !

Zhang Yun could only block it with a horizontal shield. This time the sword and shield met, and there was another loud noise. Pan Zhang's sword bounced back, and Zhang Yun's shield, which was slashed, rose uncontrollably and staggered back.

Zhang Yun's arm was a little numb under the violent impact, but when he saw Pan Zhang running towards him again as if he was completely unaware, he screamed "Bitterness" in his heart and had to use his shield to block it again. Pan Zhang's thick-backed sword was powerful and heavy.

The guards behind Zhang Yun also rushed over and shouted: "General!" Take a step back! 』

Before the voice of Zhang Yun's guard could be heard, Zhang Yun jumped away in a hurry. A Jiangdong soldier next to him took the opportunity to stab him, but Zhang Yun deflected it with a shield, and then cut off his arm with a backhand knife. Suddenly Jiang Dongbing's The arm and the spear fell together, and he rolled over with a scream.

Pan Zhang on the other side also let go of guard Zhang Yun's thrust, and then hit guard Zhang Yun's throat with his elbow. He heard the sound of cracking bones. Guard Zhang Yun let go of the spear and covered it with both hands. He grabbed his throat, gurgled a few times and spurted out some blood, and fell limply to the ground.

In the past, Zhang Yun had fought against many people in Jingzhou. Except for Gan Ning and Wenpin, who he couldn't beat, Zhang Yun consciously had an advantage when fighting with others. No matter how bad he was, he would still be 50-50 However, now I find that Jingzhou seems a bit small. Does Zhang Yun think he is the third in the world...

Once a military commander goes to the battlefield, he faces life and death. In a deadly fight, if there is a slight fluctuation in courage, it will be reflected in the hands and feet, and it will even be keenly noticed by the opponent.

When the thought flashed in Zhang Yun's mind that it would be better if Gan Ning or Wenpin were here, Pan Zhang had already noticed Zhang Yun's intention to retreat, and he roared again and rushed towards him!

Zhang Yun's expression changed and he shouted: "Stop him!" kill him! Reward a thousand gold coins! 』

And Pan Zhang also shouted with anger: "They are afraid!" superior! Attack the city! Maicheng is ours! ! 』

Pan Zhang was at the front, rushing left and right to protect the area for climbing the city. Behind Pan Zhang, Jiang Dongbing was like a dog that had been hungry for three days after seeing meat. It was as if its hands and feet could dig out phantoms. They were crazy Climb up towards the top of the city!

Hundreds of people from both sides fought wildly in this area, with blood splattering everywhere. From time to time, someone fell off the top of the city, and then fell to the bottom of the city, mixed with the previous corpses.

Jingzhou soldiers attacked Pan Zhang again and again, but Pan Zhang forced him to retreat. Pan Zhang's thick-backed sword was now covered with blood, and flesh and blood flew everywhere when he swung it. The dozen or so guards who followed Pan Zhang also began to form a formation, cooperating in the small space. , and even allowed Pan Zhang to retreat and regain some breath.

On the top of Maicheng City, within a few inches, both sides exchanged spears and swords. Screams were heard every moment, and people fell every second. In the process of exchanging lives, the fatigue of Jingzhou soldiers made The battle lines continued to retreat, and more and more Jiangdong soldiers boarded the city...

When the comparison of the number of people exceeded a certain limit, Zhang Yun's face turned pale and his throat was so dry that he could not speak. Under Liu Biao's command, Zhang Yun's soldiers in Jingzhou were considered capable of fighting. This made them think that even in the current troubled times of the Han Dynasty, even if they could not stand out, they still had the capital to protect themselves, so they had always been able to stand on the mountain. In the mind of watching the tiger fight, I thought that I could simply wait until the guys around me had killed each other, and then I could directly attack and win the final victory. Even if I failed, I could still use my own strength to negotiate a good price, and then Shunshun Dangdang continues to live a happy life.

However, now, Zhang Yun and others discovered that the long-term peaceful life in Jingzhou not only failed to improve the combat effectiveness of Jingzhou's soldiers, but was even worse than the Jiangdong soldiers who were in constant disputes with South Vietnam!

You know, when Sun Jian led his troops to invade Jingzhou, the Jingzhou soldiers still had some advantages against the Jiangdong soldiers, and it was only a few years ago...

Under such circumstances, Zhang Yun seemed to have found another excuse. It was not that our army was too incompetent, but that the enemy army was too powerful!

"withdraw! withdraw! Zhang Yun shouted, "Go back to Xiangyang!" Return to Xiangyang! 』

Although he said that he lost Jiangling first and now Maicheng, from the perspective of military law, there are naturally some things, but after all, the Han still believes in rule by man. He is Liu Biao's nephew, so he must take care of him no matter what. He can't arm his arms. The elbow is pointed outward, isn't it? I think the most I can do is be reprimanded and fined some salary or something, and the most I can do is get a few slaps in the face and make meritorious deeds...

Zhang Yun is not the only one who has such thoughts.

In Xiangyang City, Liu Cong's thoughts were actually similar to Zhang Yun's.

Although Liu Cong also stood on the city wall and saw and heard the approaching war in the distance, after walking down the city wall and returning to the government office, he still didn't realize much about the misery of the war.

Back then, Luoyang City was completely burned by fire, but Jingzhou remained stable.

Is not it?

At that time, the two Yuan Dynasties were fighting each other, and the people from south to north were fleeing for their lives in the ravines. Xiangyang was peaceful as usual.

right?

Back then, the Han people and the Hu people fought against each other outside the Great Wall. The sand was stained with blood, and the soldiers fought for hundreds of battles. In the pastoral mansion of Jingzhou, there were at best some petty conflicts of jealousy...

The land of Jingzhou has become rich and prosperous in recent years.

While other places are suffering, with their population declining sharply and refugees constantly on the move, Jingzhou has so much wealth, so many people, so many villages and forts, and such exquisite buildings and cities. All of this is indeed to some extent. It was because of Liu Biao, but unfortunately, precisely because of this, Jingzhou also received all kinds of malicious peeks from the surrounding areas...

What's even more pity is that Liu Cong doesn't understand this.

In Liu Cong's impression, Xiangyang was prosperous, rich, powerful and unshakable.

The blue-grey city wall is so solid, and it winds out for who knows how far. The market in the city is bustling everywhere, with numerous restaurants and shops, and a wide range of goods. There are noisy people everywhere, there are crowds of crowns everywhere, there are rouge flowers everywhere, and there are singing and dancing birds everywhere.

Liu Cong even believed that Xiangyang people should be luxurious, calm, elegant and melodious.

Even the gatekeepers of one's own family can wear brocade and leather boots, and talk like a disciple. Inside and outside the city, there are Bo Guan Lun scarf, and above the tall buildings, Hu Xuan is singing happily. Even when night falls, the city of Xiangyang in Jingzhou is still full of lights, just like the stars in the sky have fallen into the mortal world!

As for Jingzhou Mu's government office, Liu Cong was even more familiar with it.

Especially the garden in the backyard of the government office was Liu Cong's favorite place to play when he was a child. In the garden, there is a high rockery with jagged rocks, several feet high. Every soil, tree and stone is full of ingenuity. It is said that the strange trees and rocks brought as offerings from various counties in Jingzhou are all unique. When Liu Cong was a child, he liked to climb up the rockery and hold his wooden sword high, like a general returning from a victorious conquest...

But at that time, Liu Cong never imagined that the real war would not be pretty at all, not at all like what he had imagined when he was a child.

Ugly, smelly, noisy, chaotic.

The most important thing is that I still don’t understand it...

How could I not understand it myself?

Obviously when I was young, my father, mother, or anyone else always praised me for being smart, right? And no matter where I go, the eyes around me are always humble and envious, right?

So how could it be that I didn’t understand it?

It must be Pang Jiwenpin from the top of the city who is just making things up.

That must be it.

When they heard that Liu Cong had returned to the mansion, the attendants and maids at the door swarmed over like a swarm of swarms. Those who took off their armor, those who burned incense, those who wiped away sweat, and those who brought water brought those who had come to report the news. The soldiers rushed aside from a distance...

The agarwood that had been lit early in the hall rose up along the crane-like pattern of the incense burner, as if a crane was about to spread its wings and fly.

Agarwood calms the nerves.

Liu Cong took a deep breath and felt much more comfortable, "Where is your father?" 』

"Reporting to the young master, I have given you a rest..."

"Oh..." Liu Cong nodded. This is normal and not normal, but Liu Cong didn't notice any problem.

"Someone outside the mansion said there was a military intelligence report... I dare to ask the young master, do you need to wake up the envoy?" 』

"Well..." Liu Cong pondered for a moment, "No, let's talk about it tomorrow... I'm tired. Do you have any soup? Bring me a bowl..."

The servants left in a hurry.

Liu Cong stretched his waist, turned his head and looked at the maid who was waiting on the side and blushed slightly. He moved his fingers slightly, then held back, and then raised his head, not asking for help as usual, but himself I went back to rest alone...

After all, the enemy is at hand.

Just like some junior high school students who made great sacrifices on the night of the exam and finally stopped playing with pesticides, Liu Cong realized that he had put in a lot of effort, exercised restraint, and fought hard. , but what I didn’t expect was that someone seemed to wake me up just as I lay down.

This is really frustrating!

These days, I have been cautious and diligent in everything. I can't eat well, I can't play, I have to obey the rules every day, listen to my father's nagging, even the concubine in me can bear it, but now I'm so exhausted that I can't even sleep! Doesn't this allow people to live?

As a result, when Liu Cong met Liu Biao, in addition to being unable to conceal his fatigue, Liu Cong also looked a little aggrieved.

Liu Biao really didn't want to sleep, but his body couldn't hold it any longer, so he lay down for a while. After all, he had something on his mind, so he got up again soon. When he heard, Liu Cong was back? And then went to sleep?

ah? ha?

"How is it outside the city?" Liu Biao asked.

Liu Cong was silent for a moment, and replied with some resentment, "It's okay..."

"Still..." Liu Biao suddenly felt that the air was blocked in his throat. He could not go up or down, and he coughed repeatedly. Liu Biao originally asked Liu Cong to go to the city wall, and said in advance that he would report anything in time, but he never waited until Liu Cong sent someone to come. I just took a nap, but Liu Cong came back to sleep. And I also heard that someone was waiting outside the house to report. It was Liu Cong who ordered to wait until tomorrow!

Liu Biao hurriedly asked people to come over, but after hearing this, the blood vessels in his head almost burst on the spot. And in Liu Cong's words, this situation was just "okay"?

The fall of the North Camp of Xiangyang means that Xiangyang City will face Cao Jun's attack directly, and this is the vanguard of Cao Jun. It is not known how many follow-ups Cao Jun will have!

In such a critical situation, seeing that Xiangyang was about to be overthrown and the lives of the Liu family were in danger, Liu Cong's words turned out to be just "okay"?

Liu Cong subconsciously sensed that something was wrong. He quickly put away his aggrieved expression and sat up, acting like a good boy, ready to listen to Liu Biao's scolding.

Just like the old days.

But after a while, Liu Biao still didn't hear what Liu Biao said. Liu Cong couldn't help but secretly raise his head to take a look, but saw Liu Biao raising his head and looking far away, not looking at him at all. Liu Cong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and secretly moved his sore neck.

"My father is the queen of Prince Lu Gong... But this Prince Lu Gong, haha, is actually just like Prince Jing of Zhongshan. He got a name for nothing..." Liu Biao suddenly thought of Liu Bei and smiled slightly, "In the past, I When my father saw Xuande, he felt more friendly, and there must be this reason..."

Liu Cong tilted his head slightly, wondering why Liu Biao suddenly said this.

"When my father was young, his career was full of ups and downs. He spent a lot of money on the family and spent countless efforts on it, but he got the name of "Eight Horses". Haha, ah..." Liu Biao sighed, "He just happened to be imprisoned by the party!" Sixteen years! Sixteen years have been wasted! Sixteen years and nothing accomplished! 』

Liu Biao's hands were slightly clenched and trembling, "At that time, the Qiang barbarians were in trouble and the people were hungry. The general received a reward from the two palaces and dispersed it with the students of the Imperial Academy. He also carried food and provisions on the road to give to the poor. ...Although this kind of behavior is suspected of buying people's hearts, isn't it much better than the eunuch's excessive bribery? At that time, my father was in the Imperial Academy, and people around him were criticizing the eunuchs for harming the country. My father wanted to avoid blaming the people, so he didn't take it seriously. Unexpectedly... After that, he fled Luoyang in a hurry and had nothing to live on. , and no money, in the barren mountains and ridges, almost life and death..."

Liu Biao withdrew his gaze and looked at Liu Cong, "When my father entered Jingzhou, he was already nearly half a century old... When my father was young, he had many hardships and tribulations, so I can't bear to let you suffer the same pain as my father, even in my daily life." What a show of support... Now it seems... Ha..."

"Now I know that protecting you as a father has actually harmed you..." Liu Biao smiled, but Liu Cong had a very bad premonition. Sure enough, the next moment Liu Biao shouted loudly, "Come here!" 』

The guards outside the hall responded loudly in the hall.

Liu Biao pointed at Liu Cong and said, "Take this traitor and live in the gate tower of Xiangyang!" If Cao Jun does not retreat for one day, he will not be allowed to go downstairs! As long as the city is there, we will live! If the city falls... then die! take away! 』

"Father!" No! Father, I, I was wrong, my child was wrong, I was wrong..." The hair on Liu Cong's body suddenly stood up, and he fell to the ground, with snot and tears gushing out.

The guards in the hall were hesitant, obviously asking, is this serious? Or is it just a bluff?

"What are you doing standing still?" take away! ” Liu Biaoxu was furious.

"only! ” The guards immediately went to the hall, picked up Liu Cong one by one, and dragged him away.

Only Liu Cong's crying and begging for mercy could be heard resounding over the government office, reverberating around the beams. It must have been that Liu Cong finally made the loudest noise in his life in an attempt to change Liu Biao's decision.

Liu Biao squeezed his fists again and again, closed his eyes, his chest heaved rapidly, and every gray beard and hair on his face seemed to be trembling slightly. Don’t parents feel distressed when their children suffer? Many times when parents see their children in trouble, they want to take their own lives. But children often don’t think so. If there are too many substitutions, these substitutions will become what should be done in the first place. Once the parents do not do it, or are unable to do it, they will become resentment!

Liu Cong looked like Liu Biao when he was a child, so Liu Biao didn't want to see Liu Cong suffer, as if he was suffering for the second time. After all, even though Liu Biao was the queen of Prince Lu Gong back then, how much blessings could a prince from the previous dynasty leave behind? On the one hand, I want to study, and on the other hand, I have to find ways to gain fame. Even if my family has gold and silver, I still have to spend it all! He finally entered Luoyang Imperial Academy and made friends with some scholars. He was about to reach a high official position, but he was slapped by Liu Xie's father and fell into the trough of his life! I have been suffering for sixteen years!

The good times passed by in vain...

Therefore, when Liu Xie returned to Luoyang, he asked the governors and princes from all over the world to pay tribute. Liu Biao was relatively close to Luoyang, but he sent very little. If he hadn't been worried about the face of the big man, Liu Biao would have even asked for tribute. Jump up and yell about Feng Shui...

But now, it seems that the feng shui has turned to him. How much I doted on Liu Cong before, the bitter wine now was so hard to swallow.

Liu Cong's voice gradually faded away.

"Someone is coming!" Change clothes! Apply powder! Liu Biao opened his eyes and ordered, "Send Zhongye to come and see you!" I’m not down yet! Xiangyang will not collapse! 』