The sunset shone obliquely, and twilight shrouded the land outside Chang'an City.

Cao Zhang and Xu Shu rode horses, and under the protection of Li Jin and several personal guards, they slowly patrolled around the perimeter of Chang'an City.

Cao Zhang wrote a letter to Cao Cao, hoping that the imperial court would recruit an emperor and reward the heroes of Guanxi, but the holy decree had not yet arrived.

Although Sima Lang delivered the military rations and materials in time to ensure that there was no problem with the supply of the army, the deadline agreed on the military order was getting closer and closer, and Cao Zhang's heart began to be anxious.

Although his suggestion was beneficial to Cao Cao and not harmful, if he was not in Xudu, it was inevitable that someone would obstruct him, block it, and delay time.

In order to avoid exceeding the deadline, Cao Zhang also had to plan for the worst, that is, to storm Chang'an. So he took Xu Shu to start surveying the terrain and preparing for a strong attack later.

The two walked slowly, their eyes wandering away from their surroundings, only to see that the Qianli Plain was devastated and sparsely populated.

A haze enveloped the entire land, the sun could not penetrate the gray fog, and a dull atmosphere enveloped the entire sky.

Cao Zhang's eyes narrowed, observing the distant horizon.

In this once prosperous and lively land, the plundering of the Xiliang warlords has turned a prosperous area into ruins, full of broken walls and trees with destroyed life.

Xu Shu clenched the horsewhip in his hand, his brows furrowed, looking at the dilapidated buildings along the way.

The faint aura emanating from the ruins made him feel heartache and helplessness.

The dilapidated fields were blown away by the wind, and a few lone trees moaned desolate in the breeze.

The fields that were once rich in grain have become barren, with only a few remaining seedlings swaying in the wind.

Cao Zhang slowed his horse and stopped in front of a badly damaged village.

The houses in the village have long since collapsed, and the broken walls and scattered rubble on the ground make for a sad picture. The people who once lived here have left, with endless pain and disappointment, looking for a new life.

"Xijing is chaotic, and the jackals and tigers are in trouble. Abandon China and commit yourself to Jing Barbarian. Relatives feel sorry for me, and friends chase after me. When I went out, I couldn't see anything, and the plain was covered with white bones, and ......" Xu Shu couldn't help but recite a poem written by the famous poet Wang Cang, "Seven Mourning Poems, Xijing Chaos and No Phenomenon".

This poem was written in the second year of Chuping (192 AD), when Wang Cang left Chang'an with his clansmen and friends, and went to Jingzhou to take refuge in Liu Biao.

Xu Shu had also seen Wang Cang when he was in Jingzhou, so he knew this poem, and he couldn't help but recite it when he touched the scene today.

Cao Zhang also felt the pain in Xu Shu's heart, and exclaimed: "Yuan Zhi, look at this devastated place, it's really heart-wrenching." ”

Xu Shu sighed softly: "The king's affairs are corrupted, the warlords in the Guanlong area are in dispute, and the people are innocently affected. Li Dao, Guo Yan and others, greedy and reckless, almost flattened this land. ”

"Therefore, we must eradicate Li Dao, quell the warlord separatism, and restore the former glory here." Cao Zhang gritted his teeth, his voice full of determination.

Xu Shu looked up at Cao Zhang, with a hint of appreciation and admiration in his eyes.

In the past, he only felt Cao Zhang's martial courage, wisdom and political opinions, but today when I hear his ambition, I deeply feel that he still has a heart of love for the people.

A fast horse galloped from a distance, and the person on the horse was Xiahou Ba, and he excitedly shouted: "Ziwen, Ziwen!" ”

When Cao Zhang and Xu Shu heard it, they didn't know what was going on, so they hurriedly rode their horses to meet them: "Zhongquan, what's wrong?" ”

Xiahou Ba said excitedly: "Just now I visited the Malay newspaper, and Duan Xuan, the general of Ning Ji, brought five thousand soldiers and horses from Huayin to support us, which is less than ten miles away from us. With him, there were also envoys sent by the imperial court to recruit the princes of Anguanzhong, serving Zhong Xuan. ”

Xu Shu was overjoyed when he heard this, and said to Cao Zhang: "Childe, it seems that Sikong agreed to the proposal in your letter and made arrangements. We defeated Li Dao and pacified Guanzhong! ”

Cao Zhang was also very pleased: "Quick, let's hurry back and prepare to meet the Holy Envoy and General Duan Xuan." ”

The group quickly galloped towards Cao Zhang's camp.

Half an hour later, Cao Zhang led everyone to wait at the gate of the camp.

A group of people came from afar, led by a general in his forties, wearing battle armor, majestic, and looking particularly majestic, he was Duan Xuan.

Duan Xuan looked at Cao Zhang at the gate of the camp from a distance, hurriedly dismounted, and stepped forward on foot.

Cao Zhang stepped forward quickly, greeting with a smile: "General Duan, under Cao Zhang, there is a long way to go." ”

Duan Xuan hurriedly returned the salute politely: "There is Lao Cao Gongzi who came out of the camp to greet him, and he is ashamed." A few days ago, when Gongzi passed through Huayin, I had the heart to send troops to help, but the time was in a hurry, and it was too late to allocate soldiers, horses, money and food, so I came late. A few days ago, Zhong Shizhong came to Huayin with a holy decree, and ordered the end of the army to help Gongzi, and the last general did not dare to delay, and now he led 5,000 soldiers and horses to come, and obeyed the dispatch of Gongzi. ”

Cao Zhang listened to Duan Xuan's words, and hurriedly said politely: "General Duan is a senior, and his brother Duan Cheng was powerful in Xiliang back then, known as the three heroes of Liangzhou, and the younger generation admired him very much. The general made great contributions when he escorted His Majesty back to the east, and he was a pillar of the imperial court and a model for us to learn. Zhang is a junior, and he should treat each other with courtesy, and we will work together to fight, where do we dare to use the word dispatch. ”

Cao Zhang respectfully mentioned the past glory and exploits of Duan Xuan and his elder brother Duan Cheng, expressing his respect for them.

Duan Xuan smiled slightly, and then said: "Gongzi is too complimentary, my Duan family has been loyal and good for generations, and it is my duty to protect Your Majesty." It is really my honor to be able to come to help Gongzi today and eliminate the rebellious party Li Dao together, so Gongzi doesn't have to be polite to me. ”

"Then thank you General Duan for your help." Cao Zhang thanked him again, and then asked suspiciously: "By the way, why is it that only the general is here, Zhong Shizhong?" ”

"Zhong Shizhong is accompanied by the Son of Heaven Honor Guard, so the speed is a little slower, and then it will arrive." Duan Xuan hurriedly explained.

"The general went to the camp first to rest, and I have prepared a banquet, and when the bell waiter arrives, I will take the wind and wash the dust for you. Zhong Quan, please ask General Duan to rest in the Chinese military tent. Cao Zhang instructed Xiahou Ba to beckon Duan Xuan into the camp first, while he himself waited for Zhong Xuan's arrival.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhong Xuan, surrounded by the honor guard of the Son of Heaven, also came to Cao Zhang's camp.

Cao Zhang stepped forward, and the two also greeted each other.

After the greetings, Zhong Xuan whispered to Cao Zhang: "Childe, except for General Duan Xuan, I have arranged for someone to send my handwritten letter to Ma Teng and Han Sui on a fast horse in advance, asking them to lead troops to Chang'an to accept the canonization of the Son of Heaven, and to assist Gongzi in besieging Li Dao. ”

Cao Zhang listened to Zhong Xuan's words and was very grateful, his arrangement was equivalent to greatly shortening the delay on the way to deliver the edict, and also bought himself more time to break the enemy.

"Thank you for this kindness, Cao Zhang is unforgettable." Cao Zhang expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Zhong Xuan.

"Childe doesn't have to be polite, he just does what Sikong tells him to do, and tries to help Childe buy time. Childe wants to thank him, so let's go back to Xu Du to thank Sikong. Zhong Xuan responded to Cao Zhang with a smile.

Cao Zhang was stunned, and then smiled and beckoned Zhong Xuan to enter the camp to go to the banquet together.

Cao Zhang's heart was extremely gratified, it seemed that his previous series of performances in Xu Du had deeply moved Cao Cao, he not only agreed to his suggestion to recruit the princes of Guanxi, but also took the initiative to arrange for Zhong Xuan to cooperate and seize the time, which showed that his feelings had begun to tilt.

The next thing Cao Zhang had to do was to wait for Ma Teng, Han Sui and other warlords from Yong and Liang Prefectures to arrive, flank Li Dao together, and pacify Guanzhong as soon as possible......