Volume 3 Chapter 53: The Jester's Leap

  Yin Xu and Ying Bu rushed to Pengcheng one step ahead, starting the siege of the city. Liu Bang also cooperated by bringing 5,000 troops to assist in the battle. Xiang Liang arrived on the afternoon of the second day after receiving the news, completing the encirclement of Pengcheng with an army of over 40,000.

  Xiang Liang arrived at the earliest time, and as the vanguard, Yin Xu and Ying Bu went to pay their respects first. In the main tent, Xiang Liang sat in the main seat, Yu Zi Qi and Chen Ying were on both sides, now they are the only high-ranking generals in Pengcheng.

  "See the Marshal!"

  "Haha!" Xiang Liang immediately stood up with a smile and helped the two up, obviously very satisfied with the outcome of the Tongshan battle, showing great friendliness. Laughing, he said: "Get up quickly, Tongshan did a good job, very good!"

  Yu Zi Qi nodded silently, as he had been following the Xiang family's generals from the beginning and was very familiar with Xiang Liang's habits. Xiang Liang rarely spoke a good word, but now he said two "very goods" in a row, which was extremely rare, showing how satisfied he was with this matter.

  Thinking of Long Yue's previous arrogance, Yu Zi Qi couldn't help but shake his head. The news would eventually spread to Huiji, and it seemed that they were going to be disappointed. At the same time, he also gained a brand new understanding of Yin Xu and Ying Bu, and it seemed that their reputations were not undeserved. Breaking through Tongshan in two days? Yu Zi Qi asked himself if it was something he couldn't do. Fierce generals!

  Yin Xu exchanged a glance with Ying Bu, and respectfully said: "Thank you, Commander-in-Chief, for your praise. We were just lucky, and happened to have Liu Pei come to our aid, and Deputy General Su An voluntarily surrender, so it was easy."

  Xiang Liang invited the two men to sit down and laughed: "I've heard about it, but Tongshan was conquered by you alone, your merit is undeniable."

  Yu Ziqi and Chen Yin looked at each other and congratulated him on this occasion.

  As soon as Liu Bang was mentioned, Xiang Liang immediately asked about him, and suddenly a man from Pei appeared at the door, which had already piqued his interest.

  It is said that when the voice of Xiang Liang fell, someone came to report that Liu Bang had arrived. Out of courtesy, Xiang Liang rose to greet him, and Yin Xu, Yu Zi Qi, and others could not help but follow him to welcome Liu Bang at the gate.

  Liu Bang smiled and brought Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Fan Zeng to visit. Currently, he has a cooperative relationship with the Wujiang Army. Upon learning that Commander Xiang Liang had arrived, it was necessary for him to come and pay his respects. It's just unexpected that he came so early.

  "Pei County Liu Bang has seen General Xiang!" Liu Bang appeared very humble and lowered his posture to pay respects.

  Xiang Liang smiled and invited Liu Bang into the tent: "Liu Pei Gong, please come in quickly!" Although it was only 5,000 people who came to assist in the battle, the political significance was greater than the actual significance, so on the surface they had to do this.

  Xiang Liang said as they walked: "This time, thanks to the timely arrival of Lord Pi's reinforcements, our army was able to capture Tongshan in time and lay siege to the city."

  Liu Bang, however, repeatedly declined and did not dare to take credit for himself.

  Looking at this scene, Yin Xu couldn't help but shake his head secretly. Now everything is still early, Xiang Liang and Liu Bang are so close, if he knew that years later this person would take away the Jiangshan of the Xiang family, forcing his nephew to commit suicide in Wujiang, would he still be so polite? Would he not hesitate to kill him with one sword? History may be fate, Yin Xu's eyes have not changed much in history, nor is it easy to change much, at least he himself does not currently have the idea of changing history. Everything has its own suitable timing, obviously not now.

  "Master Zhang Liang!" Xiang Liang quickly focused on him.

  Liu Bang's heart skipped a beat, how? Could it be that Xiang Liang also knew Zhang Liang? His gaze unconsciously fell on Yin Xu again, could it be that he had already spoken to Xiang Liang on his behalf? In his eyes, Zhang Liang was now a treasure, and he couldn't afford to lose him. If someone were to poach him, the grand plan would be ruined, so the atmosphere was tense.

  Zhang Liang smiled and said: "Zhang Liang has seen General Xiang!"

  Xiang Liang smiled and said, "Mr. Zifang is being polite, the kindness of saving my younger brother that year has been remembered by every member of the Xiang family. In a few days, my younger brother will go north and let him thank Mr. Zifang in person!"

  Yin Xu knew that Xiang Liang was referring to the time when Zhang Liang saved Xiang Bo, so he wasn't surprised. Liu Bang also finally let out a sigh of relief, it turned out there was such a thing, seeing Zhang Liang's gentle words, only then did he put his mind at ease.

  As for Xiao He, Fan Kuai just gave a symbolic greeting, Xiang Liang did not pay much attention to him, but suddenly turned his head to Liu Bang and said: "I heard that Liu Pei Gong had been in Pengcheng before? Fortunately, he made a wise choice and abandoned the dark for the bright! I'd also like to ask, what kind of people are Jing Ju and Qin Jia? And what is the situation with the defense of Pengcheng?"

  Liu Bang's face changed slightly, and Xiang Liang's words made him a bit apprehensive. Having stayed in Pengcheng might imply that he had once surrendered to Qin Jia, and as for abandoning the dark and turning to the light, it was a good way of putting it, but if one were to put it bluntly, it would be betraying his former lord. Abandoning the dark was not false, but he had not turned to the "light", was Xiang Liang hinting at something else? As for attacking Pengcheng, it seemed that it wasn't his place to point fingers. What did Xiang Liang want to do? What was his purpose? Was it criticism? A test? Or just a casual question? Liu Bang was somewhat unsure.

  Liu Bang hesitated slightly and said, "Jing Ju and Qin Jia are just a couple of clowns who have usurped the throne. They are guilty of great treason from the start. Pengcheng is guarded by warriors, and opinions have been divided from the beginning. Many officers are willing to surrender, and they cannot withstand a single blow."

  "Haha, Jumping Clown said it well! This kind of person is simply overestimating themselves and seeking their own death. We should take this as a warning in the future!"

  The meaning of this sentence is even more obvious, and the previous sentence is even more obvious. Yin Xu secretly said: At first sight, this is General Xiang giving Liu Pei a warning!

  Xiao He's face was slightly gloomy, and he was not pleased with the game. Zhang Liang, on the other hand, was completely unconcerned, his expression unchanged as he sat at the table drinking wine. Liu Bang was a clever person, how could he not understand? He smiled casually and said: "General Xiang is right, when doing things, one must consider their strength and plan carefully, so as to take it as a warning." A great man can yield or stretch, and Liu Bang was exactly this kind of person.

  At this time, Fu Jun came to report that Qin Jia had broken through the northwest side where the defense was the most sparse and escaped. That place was also Liu Bang's defensive zone, and Cao Shen also rushed over in a hurry.

  When Qin Jia saw that Pengcheng was surrounded, the number of defenders was scarce, and after Xiang Liang's army besieged the city, morale was even lower. This defense of Pengcheng is definitely unsustainable, sitting here waiting for death? Rather than being humiliated by the fall of the city and dying, it would be better to make a desperate attempt to break out of the siege and perhaps find a way to survive. After all, there is still the King of Wei in the west, and in Hebei, there are the Kings of Yan and Zhao; maybe someone will be willing to take them in...

  After observation, he chose the northwest side, which was Liu Bang's defense zone. Because he and Xiang Liang's Wujiang Army had not yet been grinding together, there were many loopholes in the defense. Although there were some loyal Qin Jia people among the surrendered Pengcheng Army, it was not difficult to escape. And then this scene was staged!

  Liu Bang immediately stood up, and Fan Kuai wanted to rush back to investigate, but was stopped by Xiang Liang: "As Lord Pei said, it's just a small clown jumping over the beam, a trivial matter! No need to bother you two, Donglai, go and settle it!"

  Seeing Xiang Liang's meaningful gaze, Yin Xu couldn't help but understand and immediately responded. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he led his troops out of the camp to pursue them.