In Dengfeng County, southwest of Luoyang, two days have passed, and Cao Zhang's army has arrived here to set up camp.

In the early morning of summer, the breeze is breezy and with a hint of coolness, gently blowing through the barracks.

The sunlight shone through the thin tent cloth into the barracks of Cao Zhang's army, and the overwhelming golden light illuminated the entire camp as if it were dream-like.

Nearby, by the river, soldiers were busy preparing breakfast. The morning smoke fills the air, giving off a burst of fragrance.

The icy water of the river flows slowly through the mountain stream, and it is crystal clear. The soldiers immersed their faces in the river water, bathed in coolness, and washed away the fatigue of the night. They frolicked and played in the water, laughing loudly, and wafted through the barracks like beautiful music.

Because this place is close to Luoyang, Cao Zhang and Xiahouba's vanguard troops have also joined forces.

In the big tent of the Chinese army in the center of the camp, Cao Zhang sat in the middle, holding a bowl of vegetable porridge in his hand, and drank it slowly.

Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Shang, and Xiahou Ru sat on both sides, although they all held porridge bowls in their hands, they were all preoccupied and had no intention of eating at all.

"Ziwen, are we marching towards Dagu Pass or Yique Pass?" Xiahou Shang couldn't hold it back, and opened his mouth to ask Cao Zhang.

"What's the hurry, I'll talk about it after eating, let me think about it again." Cao Zhang responded calmly.

In fact, although he was very calm on the surface, his heart was already turbulent, thinking about the result of Xu Huang's sneak attack on Luoyang.

"What is there to think about, our army has been slow in the past few days, if it goes on like this, let's not talk about recovering Chang'an in 100 days, even if it is difficult to recapture Luoyang!" Xiahou Shang said anxiously.

"Yes, Ziwen, we can't just stay still!" Xiahou Ru also echoed and said.

Although Xiahou Ba knew that Cao Zhang's troops would not move, he must have a deep meaning. But he didn't know that Xu Huang had already led his troops to launch a surprise attack, and he looked at Cao Zhang's calm appearance, and his heart was also very anxious.

It's just that Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru were already urging Cao Zhang, and he didn't want to put any more pressure on Cao Zhang, so he couldn't help but keep silent.

At this moment, Xu Shu walked in quickly from outside, holding a battle report in his hand, his face was unconcealable joy, and he said loudly: "Childe, battle report!" Xu Huang's battle report! ”

Hearing Xu Shu say Xu Huang's battle report, several people were stunned.

In their cognition, Xu Huang should be in the rear army with grain, grass and materials, how could there be a battle report, could it be that the grain and grass were robbed?

Cao Zhang looked at Xu Shu's expression and had already guessed the result, he didn't reach out to pick it up, continued to drink porridge with a bowl of porridge, and said to Xiahou Shang: "Bo Yan, you can help me take a look." ”

Xiahou Shang stepped forward suspiciously, took the battle report from Xu Shu's hand and looked at it, Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Ru couldn't help but come over and watch it together.

"What? Xu Huang won the night attack, killed thousands of Li Wei's soldiers and horses, and recovered Luoyang! Xiahou Shang let out an exclamation after reading the battle report, obviously unable to believe this result.

Xiahou Ru and Xiahou Ba were also shocked, and took the battle report from him and confirmed it carefully.

After Cao Zhang listened, he behaved very calmly, raised the porridge bowl and drank the last mouthful of porridge: "Gongming really lived up to my expectations, did a good job!" Order, heavy praise for Komeito and his soldiers! ”

"Yes!" Xu Shu responded to Cao Zhang's order.

"Ziwen, what the hell is going on? How could Xu Huang go to attack Luoyang at night? Xiahou couldn't hide his excitement, and walked up to Cao Zhang and asked.

"Bo Yan, didn't you keep urging me to enter the army as soon as possible. I think you have a point, and it reminds me. I arranged for Xu Huang to go around to the Tiger Prison Pass to sneak attack Luoyang. ”

"When Li Dao seized Chang'an, didn't he use a trick Peng Yue to scratch Chu and defeat Lu Bu. I can also be regarded as treating others in the way of others, and give him a sneak attack! Cao Zhang calmly explained to Xiahou Shang.

Then, he pointed to the porridge bowl in Xiahou Shang's hand and said, "If you don't drink it yet, it's cold!" ”

Xiahou Shang was overjoyed, raised the porridge bowl in his hand and drank it all, and said excitedly: "Ziwen, you are really amazing, no wonder you are so calm, it turns out that you have already made arrangements and won the battle!" ”

"It's just that you didn't even hide it from us, and we were worried for days!" Xiahou Ru was also excited, and said with a little complaint.

"I said it earlier, if the news leaks and Li Wei is prepared, then the strategy will not be realized, but it will put Komeito in a crisis!" Cao Zhang explained lightly.

"Makes sense, makes sense. Soldiers, sophistry, is to surprise and attack their unpreparedness! Ziwen, I'm really convinced of you this time! Xiahou Shang couldn't help but admire differently.

Cao Zhang didn't care about Xiahou Shang's compliment, and turned his head to look at Xiahou Ba: "Zhongquan, have you eaten enough?" ”

"I'm full!" Xiahou Ba hurriedly drank up the porridge in the porridge bowl in his hand and responded to Cao Zhang's question.

"When you're full, send troops, Dagu Pass, Yique Pass, you pick one, I'll go to the rest of the one, while Li Dao hasn't reacted yet, hurry up and go to Luoyang to meet Gongming!" Cao Zhang calmly said to Xiahou Ba that he had actually made the decision to divide his troops to capture the two fortresses.

"I can go anywhere! You must be, anyway, I promise to take down the pass, let the army pass smoothly, and enter Luoyang! Xiahouba replied confidently.

"With such confidence, do you dare to make a bet with me?" Cao Zhang asked Xiahou Ba with a smile.

"Bet on what?" Xiahou Ba also became interested.

"You and Boyan will take 3,000 soldiers to take Dagu Pass, and Junlin and I will take 3,000 soldiers to take Yique Pass, see which of us can enter Luoyang first, even if whoever wins, how?" Cao Zhang enthusiastically proposed the conditions of the gambling game to Xiahou Ba.

"Okay, if I enter Luoyang first, and when I win the battle against Li Dao and take Chang'an, you will give me ten good horses from Xiliang!" Xiahou Ba agreed and made a bet.

"It's a deal! Yuanzhi, you come to witness to us. Cao Zhang greeted Xu Shu.

Xu Shu picked up the pen and wrote a gambling contract for the two.

Xiahou Ba happily beckoned Xiahou Shang to leave the tent quickly, preparing to order troops to attack Dagu Pass.

After Xiahou Ba left, Cao Zhang looked at Xu Shu: "Yuan Zhi, is there any way for me to quickly defeat Li Li who is guarding Yique Pass?" ”

"I'm not just doing this to win the bet with Zhongquan, but also to minimize the consumption of our army, so that I can have more energy to meet the hard battle behind!" Cao Zhang explained to Xu Shu.

"I understand, the terrain of Yique Pass is dangerous, if Li Li can't collect it, it will definitely be unfavorable for my army to advance, or use tricks to win him, and it is better to win with one blow."

"Don't worry, Childe, let me take a look at the terrain and arrange a clever plan to help you win." Xu Shu walked to the bookcase, unfolded the topographic map of Yique Pass, and looked at it carefully.

Cao Zhang looked at Xu Shu with anticipation, expecting him to come up with a corresponding strategy so that he could win the first battle.

After a while, Xu Shu raised his head and said: "The plan is there, the prince only needs to follow the plan, and he will be able to easily kill Li Li and capture Yique Pass according to your imagination!" ”

Xu Shu approached Cao Zhang and whispered his plan.

After hearing this, Cao Zhang nodded again and again, and then ordered the troops to set off, preparing to go to Yique Pass to challenge Li Li......