After listening to Zhang Shumo's words, everyone began to analyze the pros and cons of attacking Xiazhong City. After a while, Jiao Qiang took the lead and said: "Zhang Gongzi, now that the army has just experienced a big battle, and all the generals are exhausted, why don't you let the army rest for two days before launching an attack on the next city?" ”

"That is, our Western Route Army has lost more than 10,000 people this time, which is the largest loss among the three parties, so we have to delay it for two days." Huang Qi was also unhappy because of the election of the alliance leader just now, and couldn't help muttering.

Without waiting for Zhang Shumo to explain, Chen Lin stood up and said to Jiao Qiang: "General Jiao, Zhang Gongzi's move is also for the sake of the overall situation. The Jingguo army will arrive at any time, if we can't eradicate the enemy army in the next city before this, then when the Jingguo army attacks the city, we will definitely suffer from the enemy on our backs, and it will be difficult to hold on! Moreover, the large forces of our coalition army are all assembled in Dieling Pass, and the garrison of the four cities of Xuliang County is empty, and now the enemy troops in the next city have not received the news, so they have not taken any action, if they wait for them to react, then the four cities of Xuliang County will not be able to live in peace. ”

After listening to Chen Lin's analysis, everyone realized the danger of these enemy forces in the next city. Jiao Qiang also sighed: "It seems that I think it is simple, in this case, we will all listen to Zhang Gongzi's arrangement." ”

Zhang Shumo nodded at Jiao Qiang, and then said: "General Jiao's words are not unreasonable, we have indeed just experienced a big war, and it is not appropriate to fight again immediately." It's just that time doesn't allow us to rest. Since you have no opinion, then I will call the shots. ”

Seeing that everyone had no objections, Zhang Shumo continued: "Pang Yuan, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Gui listened to the order, and the three of you led 4,000 cavalry and 6,000 infantry to trigger this afternoon and went straight to the south gate of the next city. Then you will listen to my command and then act. ”

"Wu Tai listens to the order, you lead an army of 15,000 to set off with me tomorrow and directly attack the north gate of Xiazhong City. Jiao Qiang, Zhang Jun, and Huang Can led the rest of the soldiers and horses to garrison Dieling Pass! ”

Everyone received the order, and Zhang Shumo and the generals dispatched troops together. Due to the loss of more than 12,000 people in this battle, plus the wounded soldiers, there were only about 16,000 people left in combat strength. The losses of the Wu Xiujun were slightly better, and Pang Yuan's cavalry lost more than a thousand people, and there were four thousand left; However, the infantry lost more than 3,000 men, and only about 2,000 soldiers remained. Among the three parties, the Yiyang army suffered the smallest losses, only losing more than 2,000 people, and there were still more than 17,000 soldiers and horses available.

So, Zhang Shumo seconded 1,000 infantry from the Yiyang Army, plus 2,000 infantry from the Wuxiu Army, and handed it over to Zhang Yan for command; 3,000 soldiers and horses were transferred from the Western Route Army to Zhang Gui's command; Pang Yuan continued to lead the cavalry of the 4,000 Wu Xiu Army. After the arrangements were made, the three generals set off with their troops.

Early in the morning of the second day, Zhang Shumo and Wu Tai marched towards the next city with 15,000 Yiyang troops. Because Dieling Pass is very close to the next city, it will not take an hour for the Huaiguo army to come to the gate of the next city.

The army set up a battle, but Zhang Shumo was not in a hurry to attack the city, but first recalled Lu Li, who was monitoring the next city, to inquire about the situation.

"Back to my son, the enemy army defending the city has not been able to hold out since returning to the city, and we can't get in, so the specific situation in the city is not yet known. However, his subordinates felt that these Jingguo soldiers had become frightened birds, and they had no combat power! Lu Liyu reported.

"Oh? What do you mean by that? Zhang Shumo immediately became interested.

Lu Li continued: "Last night, the enemy army in the city sent a small team to meet us, and it seemed that at least two hundred people on the other side had turned around and fled when they saw us, obviously frightened. ”

Zhang Shumo knew that Lu Li's scout team usually only had one or twenty people, and since the enemy army was so afraid of fighting, why didn't he just scold them?

So Zhang Shumo asked the army to prepare for the siege of the city, and then he and Wu Tai came to the front of the city with a troop: "I am Zhang Shumo, who of you is in charge, come out to see me quickly!" ”

The highest general in the city in the next period is Ma Hua's deputy general named Li Mo, this person's martial arts are ordinary, and his talent is also very unbearable, and he became Ma Hua's deputy general by virtue of his ability to flatter. Hearing that the Huaiguo army was approaching, Li Mo was completely panicked, and he couldn't say anything other than let the soldiers defend him.

When Li Mo heard that Zhang Shumo wanted to see him, he was reluctant in his heart. But as a general of one side, he naturally couldn't lose the position, so Li Mo mustered up the courage and came to the city wall with a strained face: "I am Li Mo, the deputy commander of the cavalry of the original city army of Jingguo, who wants to see this general?" ”

Seeing Li Mo's serious face and his unangry and self-righteous look, Zhang Shumo muttered instead: This person looks calm and calm, not like a frightened bird, could it be that they still have any premeditated plans?

Thinking about it, Zhang Shumo still said tentatively: "Li Mo, right? I'm Wu Xiujun Zhang Shumo, believe my name, you must have heard it, right? I'm here to tell you two news, one good news and one bad news, which one do you want to hear first? ”

Li Mo had long heard that Zhang Shumo was scheming, so he was already flustered when he talked to Zhang Shumo, and his brain was even more mushy, and he had no ability to think at all. So he didn't think about it and said, "What good news and bad news, what does it have to do with me?" If you want to say it, just say it, don't say pull it down! ”

Zhang Shumo raised his eyebrows, this Li Mo seems to be a little unproductive, no matter what, he will say at first glance: "Then I will tell the bad news first." I believe you should have guessed the bad news when you saw me, we won a big victory in the battle of Dieling Pass, and your prince Ji Wen has already fled with his troops, which means that he left you alone! ”

When the Jingguo soldiers heard this, they immediately whispered, and even some of the soldiers were about to cry with sad faces. Li Mo was also very desperate in his heart after hearing this, Ji Wen fled, and Dieling Pass fell into the hands of Huaiguo, so he became a lone army. Now that the Huaiguo army is attacking the city again, it is impossible to escape if you think about it. It's really unwilling to pity yourself for being upright and in the prime of life, but you want to die in a foreign country!

At this time, some Jingguo soldiers couldn't control the despair in their hearts and sobbed quietly. When Li Mo heard this, he was sad and angry, and yelled at the soldiers: "What are you crying about!" Lao Tzu is not dead yet, what a frustration! ”

With Li Mo's yelling, the despair that had begun to spread among the Jingguo soldiers was contained, and the Jingguo soldiers held back their strength and prepared to serve the country.

Zhang Shumo couldn't help but squint his eyes when he saw it: I thought that this army didn't have any famous generals, and he could use the technique of attacking the heart to achieve a soldier who would surrender without a fight. Unexpectedly, he encountered a hard stubble, this Li Mo is a little bold, it seems that it is not easy to deal with! Well, try it again, and if it doesn't work, it's not too late to attack the city!

Thinking of this, Zhang Shumo continued: "General Li, don't be sad, I also brought good news!" Your general Ma Hua used his death in exchange for a way for you to live, Ma Hua has already killed himself, I naturally can't break my word, as long as you obediently surrender, I will let you live. Of course you can refuse me, but I can't ask for it! After speaking, Zhang Shumo deliberately showed a weird smile.