The fire in Luoyang had been shattered, and Cao Zhang's soldiers and horses did not enter the ruins, but set up camp outside the city.

At night, in the open space in the center of Cao Zhang's camp, several large cauldrons were erected, the firewood under the pot was boiling vigorously, and the water in the pot was about to boil.

Several soldiers carried a few freshly cleaned sheep over and placed them on a table next to them, and began to cut them, cutting them into large pieces, and then putting them in a pot and starting to simmer.

Cao Zhang, Xiahou Ba, Xu Huang, Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Ru, Xu Shu and others sat around the platform set up by the open space, which was Cao Zhang's celebration banquet to celebrate.

As the water in the cauldron boiled, the mutton was gradually stewed, and the aroma began to waft around.

The soldiers took out the stewed mutton, put it in a basin, and brought it to several people.

Cao Zhang raised his eyes and saw that in the camp tents around the clearing, many soldiers were watching from afar, and some of them were even drooling.

Cao Zhang got up, picked up a pot of mutton in front of him, handed it to Li Jin beside him, and ordered: "Go and share it with the brothers!" ”

Li Jin took it according to the order and handed it to the guards to distribute mutton to the soldiers.

Cao Zhang announced loudly: "Brothers, don't be anxious, since today is a celebration banquet, a lot of fat sheep have been prepared, and they will be distributed to everyone when they are cooked in a while, and everyone will have meat to eat today." ”

When the soldiers heard Cao Zhang's words, they all cheered loudly: "Thank you, Son!" ”

For these soldiers, who were usually hard and could only eat grains and vegetables to satisfy their hunger, eating meat was a luxury for them.

In peacetime, the celebration banquet in the army is basically that the generals can enjoy meat, and they only have to watch it, but now Cao Zhang actually said that everyone has meat to eat, how can they not be excited.

Xu Huang listened to Cao Zhang's words, hesitated, walked to his side, and persuaded in a low voice: "Childe, your intention to treat your subordinate soldiers well is very clear and very grateful. But the last general thinks that Ci is not in charge of the soldiers, and he should be strict with the soldiers to control them! ”

"Komeito's reminder makes sense. But I don't think there is a contradiction between loving a soldier like a son and not being in charge of a soldier. Don't forget, soldiers are flesh and blood, brothers who follow us from birth to death! ”

"They can give us their lives, and that is a trust in us. We should also love them from the bottom of our hearts. When it is time to take military discipline seriously, we will never relax; But when it is time to give comfort and warmth, we must not be stingy. ”

"Only by treating each other with sincerity can the soldiers communicate with us, truly carry out orders and prohibitions, and become an invincible army!" Cao Zhang responded to Xu Huang calmly and said his reasoning.

"Childe is sympathetic and loves soldiers, and his vision is much higher than that of his subordinates, and his subordinates are too worried." Xu Huang sincerely expressed his admiration for Cao Zhang.

Cao Zhang picked up the wine bowl and said to Xu Huang: "Gongming, you can say this, it shows your loyalty and sense of responsibility, I am very pleased." This time, you traveled hundreds of miles, raided Luoyang, and inflicted heavy losses on Li Dao, which is the first contribution of our army to recover Luoyang! Come, I'll toast you! ”

"Thank you Childe, all this is Childe's ingenious arrangement, Xu Huang is just following the plan, and he doesn't dare to take credit!" Xu Huang responded modestly.

"Under my command, merit is merit, and there is no need to be modest!" Cao Zhang said to Xu Huang, "Come on, see the reward!" ”

With Cao Zhang's instructions, several personal soldiers brought the bounty, silk, and cloth that had been prepared long ago to Xu Huang.

Xu Huang saw the reward and hurriedly said: "Thank you, son, it's just that this credit was obtained by the soldiers of our army together, how can Xu Huang enjoy it alone......

Cao Zhang waved his hand and interrupted Xu Huang: "Gongming, I understand what you mean." But these rewards are all for you, and everyone under your command has a share, and I will give them out! ”

"Remember, the soldiers under my command will be rewarded for their merits, and no one will be disappointed! So I don't need to be a general, I give my rewards to my subordinates, I want everyone to fight bravely to kill the enemy and fight for their own merits and rewards! Cao Chang interrupted Xu Huang and announced loudly.

Xu Huang always likes to distribute rewards to his subordinates, in a sense, this is love for soldiers like children.

But for the rulers, they did not approve of his behavior. The reward is given by me, and you take the reward I give to do favors, and the soldiers are grateful to you, not me. So, I'm here to reward you!

Although Cao Zhang was only a forensic doctor in his previous life, he also understood these ways of being an official, so it was necessary to prevent his subordinates from using his rewards to invite people to buy people's hearts from the root.

"Thank you, Childe!" Hearing Cao Zhang's statement that everyone has a reward, there were thunderous cheers among the soldiers.

When Xu Huang saw Cao Zhang say this, he naturally couldn't disobey anymore, so he could only give his hand to thank him: "The meaning of the son, the last general understands, thank you for the love of the son!" Xu Huang will definitely do his best to help Gongzi sweep away the rebels! ”

Cao Zhang nodded with satisfaction, waved his hand to signal Xu Huang to sit down, and then walked to Xiahou Ba on the other side with the wine bowl.

"Zhongquan, I really didn't expect that you actually beheaded Li Xian, directly captured Dagu Pass, and entered Luoyang before me. For my brother, I lost this time convincingly. ”

"Don't worry, what I promised you, I will definitely honor it, ten good Xiliang war horses, we have written down this account!"

"Bo Yan helped you win the pass, and there is also merit, and all of you are also rewarded!"

After all, this is Cao Zhang's first battle, and he can win so happily thanks to the courage of his subordinates, and he does not hesitate to reward him.

There are three profitable businesses of wine making, Cao Gong paper, and movable type printing, and Cao Zhang also has such confidence.

When Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Shang heard that Cao Zhang was going to give them a reward, they also toasted together, and the three of them clinked glasses and drank them all.

"Yuanzhi, Junlin!" Cao Zhang raised his glass again and walked towards Xu Shu and Xiahou Ru.

The two also hurriedly got up and toasted to each other.

"I was able to kill Li Li and successfully capture Yique Pass, thanks to the help of the two of you, thank you!" Cao Zhang raised his glass and toasted the two.

The two of them also hurriedly raised their glasses, and after another polite thank-you, the three of them also raised their glasses and drank freely.

"Ziwen, I'm so happy today, you are very talented, why don't you chant a poem to strengthen the heart of the army!" Xiahou Ba proposed to Cao Zhang.

"I'll go, you're really a pig teammate, let me write poems in public, you treat me as Cao Zhi, you can really open your mouth and come!" Cao Zhang secretly slandered Xiahou Ba, but in the face of everyone's attentive eyes, he naturally couldn't refuse, so he could only start searching his memory and looking for suitable poems.

Where did the others know Cao Zhang's thoughts, they just looked at him quietly, waiting for a good sentence to come out of his mouth.

Just as Cao Zhang was meditating, a scout came running from afar: "Report! ”

Cao Zhang hurriedly said: "What's the military situation!?" ”

"Qiyu Gongzi, Li Dao has collected the remnants of the army, and has withdrawn from Hanguguan and headed towards Chang'an." The scout reported to Cao Zhang.

Cao Zhang waved his hand to signal the scout to step back.

"Great, Li Dao has withdrawn from the army, it seems that he is afraid of us!" Xiahou Shang said excitedly.

"Yes, the enemy has withdrawn! That's a good thing! Xiahou Ru also echoed and said.

Xu Shu frowned slightly at this time: "Two sons, the military order that my son-in-law made in front of Sikong is to kill Li Dao and recover Chang'an. Now Li Dao will retreat in a battle, and his vitality is not injured! ”

"Chang'an is different from the ruined Luoyang, where there are strong cities to defend. Li Dao has occupied it for many years, and the grain, grass, and ordnance are also extremely sufficient, and it is not easy for us to fight the enemy with Li Dao in Chang'an! Xu Shu whispered about the difficulties of the next battle.

After listening to Xu Shu's words, Xiahou Shang and the others also came back to their senses, and looked at Cao Zhang with a solemn expression, wanting to hear what kind of attitude he had.

Cao Zhang, who was originally thinking about the poems, listened to Xu Shu's words, but his heart was moved, and he was full of pride, facing the sky and chanting loudly: "Cangyue is lonely in the north of the clouds, and the remnants of the city look at Hangu Pass." Yellow sand wears gold armor in a hundred battles, and Chang'an will not be returned if it is not broken! ”

He recited the more famous fourth poem of the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Changling's "From the Army" with slight changes, combined with the current environment and mood, and recited it aloud, which was quite appropriate to the occasion and expressed his determination to win!

"Okay, a good one who doesn't break Chang'an will be uneasy!" Everyone recalled Cao Zhang's poems and praised them in unison!

Cao Zhang looked at the emotions that everyone was mobilized by himself, and he was secretly happy in his heart.

"Yuan Zhi, quickly report the news of our army's victory to Xudu, please rest assured! Gongming, Zhongquan, Boyan, and Junlin, each of them will rectify the soldiers and horses of their headquarters, pull out the camp early tomorrow morning, and send the troops to Chang'an! Cao Zhang gave the order to everyone to continue marching!