In the camp of the Cao army outside Chang'an City, there was laughter and laughter, and a celebration banquet was held to celebrate another defeat of the Xiliang army.

"Zhong Quan, today you led the army to rush and kill, killing nearly a thousand Xiliang troops, and more importantly, it dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the Xiliang army, which is especially important for our next battle!" Cao Zhang praised Xiahou Ba loudly.

Xiahou Ba didn't show much joy, but said with a regretful face: "That's the case, but I couldn't catch up with that Li Shi, this bastard scolded us for a long time, it's a pity to let him run away!" If you can kill him, it will be a stab in Li Dao's heart, which will be more relieving! ”

Xiahou Shang also said regretfully: "Yes, at that time, Brother Ziwen's arrow was almost enough to shoot him to death, but he dodged it!" If you shoot him, you will be relieved. ”

"That's right, what a shame!" Xiahou Ru also echoed and said.

"After all, Li Shi is the son of Li Dao, and he is also a fierce general of the Xiliang Army, it is a pity that he was not killed, but he was able to shoot and wound and severely damage the enemy, and our victory still achieved the desired effect. When the city is broken, I will definitely hand over Li Shi to a few brothers, so that you can vent your anger. Cao Zhang didn't blame him too harshly, and comforted a few people in turn.

Xiahou Ba did not relax, and took the initiative to ask for help: "Ziwen, I am willing to lead the troops to call the battle tomorrow, and strive to win them again!" ”

Cao Zhang nodded with satisfaction: "Zhongquan's courage is commendable." Okay, tomorrow you will call the battle under the city. ”

Xiahou Ba excitedly received the order: "Oh! ”

In the early morning of the next day, when the first rays of the sun shone on the earth, Xiahou Ba had already led thousands of soldiers to battle under the city. Their morale was high, their drums shook the sky, and they shouted loudly.

In order to cheer for Xiahou Ba, Cao Zhang also came to watch the battle in person.

The Xiliang army got Li Wei's military order, but they just closed the city gate tightly and did not dare to go out of the city to meet the enemy.

Xiahou Ba organized the messengers to scold the battle loudly, this time they also showed their eloquence, and doubled the humiliation they suffered the day before, but the defenders in the city turned a deaf ear and did not go out of the city to meet the enemy.

Xiahou was annoyed, and returned to Cao Zhang's side and asked: "Ziwen, the Xiliang army refuses to go out of the city to meet the enemy, please allow me to lead the troops to attack the city!" ”

Cao Zhang frowned, shook his head and said, "Zhongquan, you just defeated the Xiliang army, and now your morale is booming, and you want to take advantage of the victory to pursue the mood, I can understand it." However, the city of Chang'an is strong, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and a strong attack may not be able to win. ”

Xu Shu listened to Cao Zhang's words, and hurriedly said: "Prince Zhongquan, Chang'an City has a tight defensive line, and the number of defenders is five times that of us. Let's take a long-term view. ”

Although Xiahou Ba was unwilling, he also knew that what the two said was reasonable, so he could only nod to the leader and retreat back to the camp with the soldiers.

In the next few days, Xiahou Ba, Xu Huang, and Cao Zhang took turns calling for battle, but Li Dao just closed the city gate tightly, that is, he no longer went out of the city to face the battle......

……

The camp of the Cao army at night lost the laughter of the previous days.

The successive calls were rejected, and the time dragged on longer and longer, and everyone's mood became dull.

Xiahou Ba got up irritably and came to Cao Zhang's front to ask for help again: "Ziwen, don't hesitate any longer, I'll lead the troops to attack the city tomorrow!" ”

Cao Zhang shook his head insistently: "Zhongquan, didn't I say it, Chang'an is easy to defend and difficult to attack, our troops are limited, and now we are attacking the city, the losses are very large, and we may not be able to succeed!" ”

When Xiahou Ba heard this, his face became gloomy. After thinking about it carefully, he said with bright eyes: "Ziwen, I know that Chang'an is difficult to attack, but now our army's morale is booming, and the Xiliang army has been defeated one after another, and its morale is low. Comparing the two, it's the perfect time to win. If we can take advantage of the situation, we should be able to achieve an unexpected victory. ”

Then, Xiahou Ba said very seriously: "Ziwen, don't forget, we signed a military order to conquer Chang'an and annihilate Li Dao in 100 days, and now a month has passed, if you count the time of return, there is not much time left for us." ”

"What's more, we are on an expedition to Chang'an, and we don't have much materials, grain and grass, and we can only support it for about half a month at present, and we can't afford to delay."

As soon as Xiahou Ba said this, Cao Zhang's expression also became solemn.

What Xiahou Ba said was the truth, and now they really need to fight quickly and defeat Li Dao in order to fulfill their original promise to Cao Cao.

Seeing this, Xu Shu hurriedly stood up again: "General Xiahou, I understand your feelings, but Chang'an is easy to defend and difficult to attack, so we should be more secure and not impulsive." ”

Xiahou Ba said anxiously: "Mr. Yuanzhi, you always say that you have to be safe, then you tell me, now that the Xiliang army is closed and the city gate is not out, what way do we have to break the enemy?!" ”

Xu Shu couldn't think of a better way for the time being, so he could only look at Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru on the side for help, hoping that they, as joining the army, could persuade Xiahou Ba.

Xiahou Shang got up knowingly and said to Xiahou Ba: "Zhongquan, we don't have enough troops, and this expedition to Chang'an didn't bring too many siege equipment, and it is indeed difficult to succeed in forcibly attacking the city. ”

"I think that instead of taking the risk of attacking, it is better to ask Ziwen Xiu to write a letter to Sikong, stating the current truth and applying for retirement!"

"What? Retirement? Bo Yan, what do you say? Xiahou Ba was anxious when he heard it.

"Zhongquan, don't be in a hurry, listen to us calmly. After all, we have taken back Luoyang, and we have also defeated Li Dao in Chang'an, so that he does not dare to fight because of the city, which is already a big victory. ”

"But it is also true that our troops are limited and our supplies are insufficient, so it is better to withdraw our troops here, or take Hangu Pass as the boundary and retreat to their respective territories. I believe that such a situation is acceptable to Sikong and will not be too harsh on us. Xiahou Shang explained his thoughts.

Xiahou Ru also hurriedly echoed and said to Cao Zhang: "Brother Ziwen, I think Brother Boyan's suggestion is very reasonable, we really don't need to fight by force, and now apply for withdrawal, Sikong should agree." ”

"Nonsense! If you two dare to bewitch the army, say anything about withdrawing the army, see if I don't clean you up! ”

"What is a military order? Is it possible to change it as much as you want? Even if there are two previous victories, even if Ziwen is Sikong's son, he may really be extrajudicial and agree to our withdrawal. ”

"But we worked hard for a long time, but in the end we went back with a disgraced face, where did Ziwen's face go!? He can't hold his head up in his life! Xiahou Ba became more and more annoyed, pointing at his nose and scolding the two.

Xiahou Shang was scolded by Xiahou Ba like this, and he also felt a little unreasonable, so he lowered his head and stopped talking.

Xiahou Ru muttered helplessly: "Now that the city can't be attacked, and people don't fight, and you don't agree to withdraw the army, are we spending it here?" ”

Cao Zhang listened to the quarrel of several people, fell into deep thought, he had to admit that the sentences summarized by Xiahou Ru in the end were very reasonable, and it was definitely not a way to spend it here.

"Brothers, don't worry." Cao Zhang opened his mouth to stop everyone's quarrel, "At the moment of the great enemy, we can't mess with ourselves. Let's go back and rest first, let me think about it tonight, and I will definitely come up with a way to break the enemy! ”

As the chief general, Cao Zhang knows that he is the backbone of everyone, and he must come up with a practical plan to stabilize the morale of the army.

Hearing Cao Zhang's words, Xiahou Ba was down-to-earth, he had enough confidence in Cao Zhang, he had won two victories by relying on Cao Zhang's strategy, and he also firmly believed that Cao Zhang must have a way to solve the problem in front of him.

"Yes!" Xiahouba and others withdrew after saluting together, leaving only Cao Zhang in the big tent of the Chinese army......