The way forward is blocked, the way back is cut off, and there is still no food in hand.

No matter who it is, they will feel panicked when encountering this kind of situation.

However, Zhang Hua was also a figure who followed his brother Zhang Gongping through the Liangzhou rebellion.

He made a prompt decision, and while he could still stabilize the morale of the army, he secretly ordered the battalions to prepare for retreat.

At night, the Wei army prepared food at the third watch and broke out of camp at the fifth watch. Their horses bound their hooves and their men wore titles. Without lowering their flags or turning off their fires, they quietly retreated toward Jincheng.

It is more than a hundred miles from Jincheng to Yuzhong. It usually takes three days to walk, and five days of food is enough.

At dawn, Gao Xiang looked at the Wei army camp opposite and saw green smoke shrouding the opposite side, while drums were rumbling.

He couldn't help but have worry in his eyes.

Today is the last day for General Wei to set a deadline.

After today, I have to make way for the passage to allow the Cao thieves in Yuzhong City to join the thieves reinforcements coming from Jincheng.

Cao's thieves have many cavalry. Even if they can capture Yuzhong, most of Cao's thieves will escape.

Gao Xiang thought as he asked his soldiers to prepare for the battle.

Unexpectedly, the sun was about to reach its peak, the gates of the camp opposite were closed, and there was no sign of troops being sent out.

This made Gao Xiang secretly relieved.

It seems that the continuous fighting in the past few days has forced Cao Thief to take a rest.

Although it was speculated that Cao Cao would not fight today, Gao Xiang still did not dare to take it lightly.

Throughout the day, he kept paying attention to the opposite side.

As the sun sets and the heat begins to subside, the birds take advantage of the last chance before dark to look for food in groups.

Gao Xiang then sent an order to all the battalions to prepare to join the Chinese army.

He glanced to the west with some worry: There has been no news from General Feng until now, and he doesn't know what's going on now.

But the camp to the west, where birds were constantly rising and falling, blocked his view.

Gao Xiang turned around and took two steps. He suddenly felt something in his heart and turned around suddenly, with a look of surprise in his eyes.

He suddenly took a step forward, rushed to the top of the camp, set up a pavilion, and stared at the setting sun, staring across the way.

In that somewhat blurry golden yellow, there were many flying birds bathing in the afterglow, circling and landing on the opposite camp.

"Come here!" Gao Xiang suddenly shouted sharply, "Drumming!"

The Han army's camp soon opened wide, and groups of soldiers came out one after another and formed formations.

At the same time, a small group of cavalry was sent out first, trying to wander around the gate of the Wei army camp.

Unexpectedly, at this time, the Wei army camp suddenly opened wide, and even the wooden bridge of the trench was lowered.

A dozen old and weak soldiers walked out of the village gate holding white flags.

Seeing all this, Gao Xiang still doesn't understand what's going on?

His face suddenly changed.

He ordered people to take over the Wei army's camp, and he took his men and rode back to the Chinese army like a storm.

"What? Thief Cao ran away?"

When Wei Yan heard the news, he couldn't help but have a look of surprise on his face.

"General Wei, Cao Cao escaped last night." Gao Xiang was happy and worried.

Fortunately, without the support of Cao's thieves from the west, Yuzhong City will definitely be able to be taken safely.

What is worrying is that the Cao thieves suddenly retreated, which was very strange.

"General Wei, the Cao thieves quietly withdrew their troops, but they didn't dare to let us notice. It must be General Feng who was behind the scenes."

"Should we send some troops to follow the thieves westward to see what the situation is like with General Feng?"

Listening to the rumbling noise outside, Wei Yan's expression quickly returned to calm.

"Chasing? Thief Cao ran away last night. It's almost dark now, how can we chase him?"

"Besides, wouldn't it be better if Cao Cao ran away? We will capture Yuzhong City tomorrow!"

When Gao Xiang heard this, he felt anxious, "But General Feng..."

"Feng Yong's purpose was to attract the attention of the Cao thief in Jincheng. If he really did something and lured the Cao thief away, wouldn't it be just right?"

Wei Yan interrupted him without any explanation, and at the same time opened the tent and looked at Yuzhong City not far away.

Just then a stone flew by and hit the city wall.

Dust was flying, soil was falling, and the dilapidated city wall was almost about to collapse.

The rumbling sound reached my ears at the same time.

"Come here, send an order to Huo Yi of the Engineering Battalion, tell him that the city must be breached tomorrow, otherwise military law will be dealt with!"

Wei Yan ordered loudly.

Then he turned around and told Gao Xiang, "General Gao, since Cao's reinforcements have retreated, you don't have to move back. You will stay in the west tomorrow and don't let Cao's escape to Jincheng."

Gao Xiang opened his mouth, but when he saw Wei Yan looking at him coldly and solemnly, he couldn't help but clasped his fists: "Nuo!"

Zhang Hua naturally didn't know that if he left a day later, he might be able to catch up with the Wei army leaving Yuzhong City and retreat to Jincheng together.

Now, he is leading people and heading west quickly.

After he led his army across the natural pass formed by the river and the remaining mountains in the south, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The reason why Jincheng is called impregnable is because on this only road, you have to pass through at least two dangerous places before you can reach the gate of Jincheng.

The first danger is this natural pass.

Now that he has entered the pass, he no longer needs to be afraid even if the Shu soldiers come after him.

"Let's rest at the pass tonight and continue our journey tomorrow."

Zhang Hua asked someone to pass on the order.

If you want to intercept enemies coming from the east, this pass is the best place.

Although no Shu people were found plundering food and grass here, Zhang Hua did not feel relieved.

If this pass is a mountain pass formed by the remaining mountains, then the second dangerous point we will pass tomorrow can be called a water pass.

In the boundary of Jincheng, a lot of river water flows out from the mountains in the south and flows into the river.

Going west for more than twenty miles from Shanguan, there are still mountains extending to the river.

Although it is not as steep as the mountain pass, it has one more stream of water than the mountain pass.

If we use this water flow as a barrier and rely on the remaining mountains, the westward advancing army will also have to stop moving forward.

The Han army that robbed the grain and grass was not at Shanguan. I just hope that they are not at Shuiguan either.

But Zhang Hua didn't know that there is a psychological effect in this world called Murphy's Law.

When he led the Wei army to the east bank of Shuiguan in panic the next day, he saw a stronghold standing on the opposite side.

Looking at the Han army flag flying high, Zhang Hua's face suddenly turned extremely pale.

Not only him, but also the generals and commanders around him couldn't help but look panicked.

Zhang Hua halted his horse at the water's edge and shouted in person: "Zhang Hua, the governor of Jincheng in the Wei Dynasty, may I ask who is leading the army on the other side?"

He would definitely not be willing to end up in this situation for no apparent reason.

Even if he dies, he still needs to know who has tricked him.

I could only hear the voice from the other side coming from far away: "Han, the Marquis of Jiequanting, and the Qiang Colonel Captain Feng Yong who is leading the protection."

Feng Yong?

Zhang Hua was stunned.

Thinking of the four words "Jie Quanting Hou" again, Zhang Hua's expression finally changed drastically.

I see!

Last year, he led the army to attack Longguan and cut off the passage between Longyou and Guanzhong.

Now I don't know how to cut off my retreat back to Jincheng.

This Feng Yong is indeed Xiao Wenhe!

It's a vicious and ruthless move right from the start, making it hard for people to guard against it.

At this time, another voice was heard from the opposite side: "Prefect Zhang, now you are pursued by troops behind you, blocked in front, and blocked by deep ditches. You are in a desperate situation!"

"If you turn your back and take off your armor and surrender with courtesy, wouldn't it be wonderful if you can protect yourself and protect the lives of the soldiers?"

Zhang Hua almost couldn't breathe.

I just wanted to ask about your origins, but you actually took the opportunity to persuade me to surrender? How dare you bully me?
To be continued...