Cao Cao was very embarrassed by the defeat in Chang'an, and when he retreated to the city, he made all his beards shave.

Cao Cao, with his chin slippery, looked a little festive.

The staff and generals all lowered their heads and did not dare to look at his face.

Standing at the head of the city, looking at the Xiliang army outside the city, Cao Cao gritted his teeth and said: "What a Ma Chao, I will make him look good sooner or later!" ”

Han Sui and Ma Chao besieged Chang'an.

Cao Shuo led the army to hurry up and came to the vicinity of Chang'an.

After being besieged for several days, there is not a lot of grain and grass in Chang'an City.

Checking the treasury and counting the grain and grass, Cao Cao was bored with how to distribute it to support it for a few more days, when a guard hurriedly ran over and whispered something in Xu Chu's ear.

Xu Chu nodded and waved his hand at the guard.

The guards left, and Xu Chu whispered to Cao Cao: "Duke Cao, the Xiliang army has withdrawn." ”

"Withdrawn?" After suffering a big loss, Cao Cao couldn't believe it and asked, "Why did they withdraw?" ”

"It is said that the eldest son is here." Xu Chu replied.

"Zirong is here?" Cao Cao's eyes lit up.

If Cao Shuo really came, the siege of Chang'an would be lifted, and he still needed to personally count the grain and grass here, and consider how to fill the stomachs of the soldiers in the future.

"Quick, come with me to the head of the city." Cao Cao instructed Xu Chu.

Leaving the treasury in a hurry, Cao Cao came to the city.

Sure enough, the Xiliang army outside the city disappeared, and patches of battle flags appeared in the distance.

The battle flag is fluttering, and it can be judged from the color that Cao Shuo is coming.

Seeing Cao Shuo's battle flag, Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Congratulations to Gong Cao!" It was also seen that the crisis in Chang'an had been resolved, and the staff and generals congratulated Cao Cao one after another.

"What is there to congratulate?" Cao Cao said with some annoyance: "So many of us were trapped and killed in Chang'an by Ma Chao and Han Sui. If it weren't for Zirong coming to relieve the siege, I don't know how to fill the stomachs of the soldiers in the future. This defeat was very humiliating for me. ”

He subconsciously touched his chin.

The beard that I shaved off the other day has grown some.

The short beard is stiff and stiff, and it is really comfortable to touch.

But every time Cao Cao touched his chin, he would remember that he was forced to cut his beard and abandon his robe, and his hatred for Ma Chao would be a little more.

Cao Shuo's army came outside the city of Chang'an and did not ask to enter the city.

With only Sima Yi and Deng Zhan, Zhu Ao and a team of guards, Cao Shuo came to the city gate.

He shouted to the city, "Dare to ask if my father is there?" ”

I had already seen him, and when I heard him shouting outside the city, Cao Cao poked his head out and asked, "Why did Zirong come?" ”

"It's a little late." Cao Shuo replied: "Along the way, I urged the soldiers to speed up the march, but I still couldn't catch up with the extermination of Ma Chao. ”

"Let's talk about it when we go into town." Cao Cao shouted to Cao Shuo.

The city gate soon opened, and Cao Shuo and the others entered the city.

When he went to the city and saw Cao Cao, Cao Shuo was stunned for a moment.

Cao Cao's chin was bare, and the beard he had just grown was very short, which made his face, which used to have a long beard, look very funny.

Seeing Cao Cao's chin, Cao Shuo immediately understood that it was only a few days ago that Ma Chao forced Cao Cao to cut his beard and abandon his robe.

had an impression of this allusion, but Cao Shuo had to pretend not to know, and after seeing the ceremony, he seemed to be very stunned and asked, "Why did my father shave his beard?" ”

Cao Cao sighed in annoyance, waved his hand and said, "It's okay not to mention this matter!" ”

He refused to mention it, and of course Cao Shuo would not ask again.

"If you come a few days late, I'm afraid I will be wiped out by Ma Chao." Cao Cao said: "Ma Chao and Han Sui are hateful, I will divide the bodies of their five horses sooner or later." ”

"What are Father's plans?" Cao Shuo asked.

"What else can I plan?" Cao Cao said: "When the military rations arrive, immediately lead the army into Xiliang." ”

"I heard that Tongguan was lost." Cao Shuo asked, "Didn't my father plan to take Tongguan first?" ”

"The army and Ma Chao have been fighting for days, and the soldiers are already very tired." Cao Cao said: "I plan to let the soldiers rest for a few days first, and then attack Tongguan when the military rations arrive." ”

"If my father allows, I am willing to capture Tongguan." Cao Shuo said: "It's just ......"

Speaking of which, he deliberately sold a pass.

"You leave me some rations." Cao Cao said: "Don't worry about attacking Tongguan, when the military rations I allocated arrive, I will send you some more." ”

"Military rations are one thing, but what I want to say is that once Tongguan is taken, I'm afraid my father will have to send craftsmen to maintain it." Cao Shuo bowed and said.

Cao Cao was suddenly full of black lines.

Knowing that this was what he was going to say, he didn't quickly agree to distribute him more military rations.

"Anything can be done, as long as you can take Tongguan." Cao Cao said: "It's up to you to make the decision to attack the pass, and I will never interfere!" ”

"Thank you, father." Cao Shuo thanked him and said to Cao Cao: "Father, please rest in Chang'an first, and when I take Tongguan, the military rations will be fully raised, and I will fight against Xiliang with my father." ”

"Just before you arrive in Chang'an, you have to leave?" Unexpectedly, Cao Shuo was about to leave so soon, Cao Cao was stunned: "Don't let the soldiers rest for two more days." ”

"It's not too late to rest in Tongguan." Cao Shuo said: "If Tongguan is not in the hands of our army, the Central Plains will never be stable. ”

What Cao Shuo said is not unreasonable.

Cao Cao nodded: "Then it's up to you." ”

Cao Shuo was about to retire and leave, when Cao Cao suddenly asked, "Has Ma Teng come?" ”

"Here we are." Cao Shuo replied, "I asked him to wait outside the city. ”

"Go, Ma Teng, bring it to me!" Cao Cao instructed Xu Chu: "There is no way to teach my son, I will use his head to pay tribute to the soldiers who died in battle!" ”

Xu Chu was about to execute, but Cao Shuo hurriedly said: "Father must not kill Ma Teng." ”

"Why?" Cao Cao frowned, and said with a little anger: "Ma Teng is Ma Chao's father, I want Ma Chao to see how he forced his biological father to a dead end!" ”

"Father does this for a while, it will indeed be refreshing for a while." Cao Shuo said: "But did my father ever think that as soon as Ma Teng died, Ma Chao would definitely do his best to be the enemy of the Cao family." At that time, Xiliang's situation will be complicated. ”

"Hasn't he done his best yet?" Cao Cao said with a blushing face: "Fighting with our army, Ma Chao is more attentive than Han Sui!" ”

"I understand what my father said." Cao Shuo replied: "But Ma Teng came with the army this time in order to persuade Ma Chao to surrender. If you kill him, you will be missing a great help. ”

"How can you be sure that Ma Teng really helps us?" Cao Cao wanted to kill Ma Teng, but Cao Shuo stopped him, which made him very annoyed.

"Whether it's true or not, he's all in our hands." Cao Shuo said: "If he is sincere, his father will kill him, wouldn't he take advantage of the thoughts of Han Sui and others?" If he is not sincere, he will not be able to escape from my army, and it will not be too late for me to kill him. ”