Feng Kai crossed the river north of Rencheng. Zhu Zhi received the news early. He tried to block the attack, but found that the troops on both sides were very different. Feng Kai received Cao Ang's support and quickly built a floating bridge to send troops to the east coast of Sishui.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhu Zhi warned Sun Jian, while retreating for more than ten miles, retreated to the camp listed on the east bank of the Si Shui River, and defended Sun Jian's retreat.

Forced Zhu Zhi to retreat, Feng Kai was not in a hurry to attack. He quickly went south and easily captured Zuo County. Soon, Hexiang, Fan County and Gongqiu County also sent envoys to express his willingness to support Yuan Tan.

Within two days of knowledge, although the county towns of Hexiang and other three counties were still in Sun Jian's hands, the powerful outside the city turned to Yuan Tan. Some paid money, some paid grain, and some simply led their troops and brought their own money and grain to Feng Kai's tent. Feng Kai not only received food and grass supplies, but also received reinforcements from more than 5,000 people, completing the encirclement of Sun Jian's retreat.

Only Gao Ping was left without any movement. Feng Kai sent someone to deliver a letter to Liu Biao, who replied that he was under house arrest in the city and could not leave the door. Not only him, but all the families in Gaoping County were like this. Zhang Ai and Zhang Yi of the Zhang family were also imprisoned in the county prison. Man Chong was so shady that he would kill the whole family if he dared to move.

Knowing that this might be Liu Biao's excuse, Feng Kai had no choice. Man Chong was agreed to let him go, and he fulfilled his promise and did not do anything that was unfavorable to Changyi. But Sun Ce asked him to defend Gao Ping, which was so wonderful. Man Chong was just accused of Gao Ping, and it was not surprising that he took office to attack the Gao Ping family.

Feng Kai decided to attack Gaoping. No matter how capable Man Chong is, Gaoping is only a county. How many people can he have? Liu Biao and others only watch the wall at most, and they will never support Man Chong to defend the city. By taking Gaoping, they can block Sun Jian north of Gaoping Mountain and complete the siege of him.

Feng Kai handed this task to the newly affiliated Wei Meng.

Wei Meng was a powerful tyrant in Zuo County. His ancestor was Wei Xian, the virtuous prime minister of Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty. Wei Xian and his son Wei Xuancheng served as prime ministers one after another. They were rich and noble. Later, the Wei family moved to the capital. There were only branches left in Zuo County, and the family-born Wei family also cut off the inheritance. The Wei family in Zuo County was unknown for more than 100 years, far less than the Wei family in Jingzhao.

Wei Meng was very unwilling to accept this. This time, Yuan Tan and Sun Ce played against each other, and he immediately led more than a thousand men to support Yuan Tan. Yuan Tan sent Feng Kai to copy Sun Jian's retreat, and he volunteered to go with him. Feng Kai was the first to win Zuo County so quickly. Feng Kai was grateful and handed over the 4,000 surrounding powerful people to Wei Meng's command, allowing him to conquer Gaoping and make new contributions.

Wei Meng was very grateful and immediately led his troops to Gaoping City, but found that the entrance of Gaoping City was heavily guarded and crowded. At a rough look, there were at least two thousand people, enough to defend Gaoping City. Wei Meng didn't understand why Man Chong had so many people, and he thought that the Gaoping family had supported Sun Ce. After sending someone to inquire, he realized that these people were not the division of the Gaoping family, but the Gaoping bandits who had just recruited and reorganized by Man Chong.

The so-called bandits were originally bankrupt farmers, with no source of livelihood and unwilling to rely on aristocratic families to make up for their divisions, so they simply went into the mountains to become bandits, cleared land in the mountains, and robbed them every now and then to make up for their shortcomings. They lived a hard life, but they were very free. This situation is very common near Mount Tai, and Wei Meng also knew that he often dealt with bandits. But Man Chong's operation was too fast. It took only half a month for Man Chong to reach Gaoping. Why did he do so many things in such a short time?

Wei Meng was in a dilemma. It was impossible for five thousand people to conquer a city defended by two thousand people, even if this city was just a county town. According to common sense, to attack a city defended by two thousand people, at least ten thousand people would have the possibility of attacking. He sent someone to report to Feng Kai and asked Feng Kai to send someone to reinforce. Feng Kai was surprised, but he still agreed and immediately arranged two lieutenants to lead 5,000 reinforcements.

As a result, it was proved that Feng Kai or Wei Meng had all been underestimated. These 5,000 people were ambushed by bandits when they crossed Gaoping Mountain. Countless bandits rushed out from all directions, killing the five thousand Yuan army, beheading more than a thousand, capturing more than 800 people, seizing a large number of weapons, food and grass, and more than 300 war horses alone.

The bandits returned to Gaoping City, and Man Chong begged the prisoners and supplies to the top of the city to show their public. The morale on the city was greatly boosted, but Wei Meng was stunned at the bottom of the city.

Feng Kai was also surprised and thought it was a bit tricky when he received the report of the defeated soldiers. Almost all the tasks assigned by Yuan Tan were completed, but Gao Ping was lacking. But Gao Ping had to be taken down. Gao Ping was too close to Rencheng and was close to Sishui. If Gao Ping could not be captured, even if Sun Jian was defeated in the battle, he could calmly retreat to Gao Ping, and it would be difficult for Yuan Tan to siege Sun Jian.

While informing Yuan Tan of the battle situation, Feng Kai added another 5,000 troops, and it was necessary to take Gaoping. This time, reinforcements successfully passed Gaoping Mountain, met with Wei Meng, and surrounded Gaoping City.

Man Chong stayed in the door and refused to leave.

——

Xinpi put down the cinnabar pen and looked at the situation chart that had just been completed, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.

Although Gao Ping had some problems and lost two or three thousand people and a batch of supplies, it did not harm the overall situation. Gao Ping was surrounded, Sun Jian's retreat had been cut off, Gao Pingshan was also occupied by Feng Kai, and Sun Ce's plan to control Shandong was frustrated before he could implement it.

This is the first time since fighting with Sun Ce. Xin Pi couldn't say anything about comfort. Although this is not the final victory, the situation has turned to Yuan Tan. Next, as long as Sun Jian is trapped, no matter whether Sun Ce will come to rescue, the situation will be very beneficial to Yuan Tan.

As soon as the door of the tent was lifted, Yuan Tan walked in, looked at Xinpi, felt the excitement that Xinpi had hidden it well, and couldn't help laughing.

"George, you are ready as you ask. Three thousand powerful crossbows and two thousand spearmen, ambushing the road that must be passed. Unless he doesn't come, he will definitely be back." Yuan Tan sat down opposite Xinpi, clenched his fists, and tapped his sore thighs. "A false alarm was a bit scared, but it was not a single gain. More than 30,000 elite troops were picked out from the 70,000 army, and the rest could only defend the manor and not fight in the field."

Xinpi laughed: "Elite soldiers have their own uses of elite soldiers, and mobs have their own uses. The envoy does not need Sun Ce's general knowledge. He has no choice but to use elite soldiers. The powerful families of aristocratic families do not support him, and he has enough money and food, so he can only reduce his strength as much as possible. The envoys called for the high school, and the powerful families of Yanzhou are rushing to the forefront. If they only select elite soldiers, they will be disappointed. Besides, how many of them can choose as troops are the old and the weak? It's just a lack of training."

"Yes, I also found a few talented generals this time. If it weren't for the time being, I really hoped to fight for a while and take this opportunity to practice troops. So, it's hard to fight against an opponent like Sun Ce, but I also gain a lot. If I can defeat him this time, no matter who I meet in the future, I will have the confidence to fight and win."

Xinpi sighed softly. "I am right. We should use troops to play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. Our advantage is that there are many people and enough money and food. Stalemate is beneficial to us. As long as we can win, it is worth it even if the farming season is delayed. If the ambush fails, we will shrink our defense line and trap Sun Jian to death. Seeing that Sun Ce comes, we will still not come."
Chapter completed!