As night fell, on the upper floor of the East Gate of Chang'an, Li Dao took Li Huan, Li Ying and others to look at Cao Jun's camp from afar.

They had already received a report from Tanmalai and knew that there were new soldiers and horses joining Cao Zhang's camp, so they came to check it out in person.

Looking at the bright lights in the Cao Jun camp in the distance and the soldiers and horses who were busy camping, Li Wei's expression became nervous, and he asked the soldiers in charge of the investigation: "Whose soldiers and horses are coming, have you found out?" ”

The soldier hurriedly responded: "General Hui, it has been found out, it is 5,000 soldiers and horses led by Duan Xuan, General Ning Ji." ”

Li Wei's brows quickly furrowed, and he muttered in a low voice: "Duan Xuan, this bastard is really here with troops!" He's going to fight me to the end! It seems that we received a letter from Dong Cheng before, saying that Cao Cao planned to let the Son of Heaven arrange an envoy to recruit all the princes of Guanxi to deal with me, which is true. ”

Li Huan said disappreciably: "Even if he is accurate, what? Obviously, he was dissatisfied with Cao Cao, and said that he wanted to cooperate with us inside and outside, deal with Cao Cao together, and let us send troops. ”

"But now, we sent troops, but we were beaten back, and we were blocked by Cao Zhang at the door of the house, what else did he Dong Cheng do besides writing a few letters to inform the news? What is this in-out-of-the-outside combination? I think it's clear that he is using us, wanting to use our hands to deal with Cao Cao and fight for his own interests! The more Li Huan spoke, the more angry he became, seemingly expressing his dissatisfaction with Dong Cheng, but in fact, he had obvious feelings of resentment against Li Wei.

Of course, Li Dao heard the implicit meaning of Li Huan's words, but now he needs to fight with the same enemy and deal with Cao Zhang, so he endured it and didn't have a seizure.

"Brother Xian, you can't say that, even if Dong Cheng doesn't write to us to invite me to send troops, don't we want to snatch the Son of Heaven back? If Dong Cheng leaves us alone now, and doesn't report to us in advance and tell us about Cao Cao and Cao Zhang's plans, how can we prepare in advance? Isn't that just sitting back and waiting? Li Wei tried his best to calm his voice and responded to Li Huan.

After Li Huan heard Li Dao's words, the resentment in his heart calmed down slightly, and then he said worriedly: "Big brother, do you think your letter to Ma Teng and Han Sui can have an effect?" Can they really rely on a letter from you without refusing the favor and reward of the imperial court? ”

Li Wei said confidently: "How many times have we dealt with them over the years? I still know some about the tempers of the two of them. They are mercenary villains. In the letter I gave them, I promised them a lot of benefits, and the two of them should be tempted. ”

"These two guys are not only greedy, but also very concerned about their own gains and losses and whether they are in danger. I also told them in the letter that Cao Cao's so-called Zhao'an was actually just a trick to coax them, and he wanted to borrow their hands to get rid of me first. ”

"Once Chang'an falls into Cao Cao's grasp, they will also lose a barrier and will face Cao Cao directly. Cao Cao will then defeat each of them and completely control the Kansai. I think they should be able to understand the truth of cold lips and teeth! ”

"In addition, Dong Cheng will also write letters to them, stating that all this is just Cao Cao's strategy, and I believe that Ma Teng and Han Sui will not dare to believe the edict of the Son of Heaven."

"As long as the two of them don't accept it, Liang Xing, Zhang Heng and a few of them will definitely not dare to go against us, and Cao Cao's plan will naturally fail!"

Li Dao explained his arrangements to Li Huan in detail, expressing his confidence.

Li Huan listened to Li Wei's explanation, pondered for a moment, and then nodded slowly: "Then what should we do next?" ”

"Cao Zhang is just adding 5,000 soldiers and horses to Duan Xuan, there is nothing to be afraid of, with their little soldiers and horses, it is impossible to attack Chang'an. We just need to prepare in advance to defend the city, and we will be able to sit back and relax! Li Dao said confidently.

Li Huan wanted to remind Li Dao, but looking at his arrogant and confident appearance, he held back the following words vividly......

……

A few days passed, and Cao Zhang, Zhong Xuan, Duan Xuan and others had been waiting for news from Ma Teng and Han Sui, and they were not in a hurry to launch an attack on Chang'an.

"It's back, the messenger sent out by Zhong Shizhong is back." The soldiers guarding the door hurriedly walked into the big tent and reported to Cao Zhang.

"Call him in!" Cao Zhang had already been waiting anxiously and hurriedly urged.

A moment later, the messenger drooped his head and walked in from the outside, and walked in front of Cao Chang and Zhong Xuan to salute.

"How's it going? Have you ever handed over my letter to Ma Teng and Han Sui and invited them to come to Chang'an? Zhong Xuan saw that the messenger's expression was wrong, and asked anxiously.

"After returning to the service, Ma Teng and Han Sui read the letter, and said that the imperial court did not really recruit and reward them at all, in fact, it was ......" The envoy said this, held back his words, and looked at Cao Zhang, who did not dare to say more.

"Say, what are you doing?" Xiahou was in a hurry, slapping the table and urging the messenger.

The envoy said in a panic: "They said that this was actually Cao Lao's ploy to lure them, wanting to trick them to Chang'an and kill them with a knife, so that they would not be fooled!" Ma Teng's son Ma Chao was about to kill me at that time, but it was I who begged bitterly that Ma Teng left me alive and came back! ”

"What?!" Cao Xianran didn't expect this to be the result, and his eyes widened in shock.

"Bold! This Ma Teng and Han Sui are really thieves, and they actually questioned the reward and recruitment of the Son of Heaven, which is really hateful! Xiahou Ba scolded angrily.

Zhong Xuan obviously didn't expect such a result.

He secretly rejoiced in his heart, fortunately, he had arranged for the fast horse messenger to meet the two of them first, and if he went directly to issue the decree, he didn't know if he would be able to come back alive.

Cao Zhang frowned, he didn't expect Ma Teng and Han Sui to suspect that the Son of Heaven would refuse to recruit An, which was completely unexpected by him, and it also disrupted his overall plan.

"Yuan Zhi, what do you think about this matter?" Cao Zhang asked Xu Shu's opinion.

"Childe, I believe there must have been a problem somewhere. Ma Teng and Han Sui didn't see the Holy Envoy, so they had such great resistance and hostility, they must have been provoked in advance. Xu Shu stroked his beard and made an analysis.

"It makes sense, it seems that someone had already stimulated Ma Teng and Han Sui before the messenger in Zhong Shizhong arrived, making them refuse to accept Zhao'an." Cao Zhang calmed down and immediately thought of the crux of the matter.

"Impossible, before I set off from Xudu, Sikong specially summoned me to explain this matter. I immediately wrote a letter in my own hand, explaining that the messenger set off, how could anyone be faster than him?! Zhong Xuan clearly did not believe in such an analysis.

Cao Zhang and Xu Shu glanced at each other, but they already had the answer in their hearts.

Although Zhong Xuan's speed is indeed very fast, if someone sends an expedited horse to Yongliang before he sets off, it is possible to form the current result.

The answer to who this person is has long been known.

Duan Xuan got up in annoyance and said to Cao Zhang: "Childe, Ma Teng and Han Sui are villains, since we can't count on it, we don't have to force it." The last general will lead the troops to attack the city tomorrow, and he will definitely break through Chang'an, and cut off Li Dao's head and send it to Gongzi. ”

The general's mood of asking for war for the country was very moving. But "The Art of War" has a cloud: go up to the army to attack and plan, then to attack the enemy, then to attack the army, and then to attack the city. Siege warfare is often protracted and costly, and it is not easy to succeed. ”

"Li Dao led the Xiliang army to occupy Chang'an for many years, and he had already repaired this place extremely strongly, and he might not be able to win in a hurry. I think the general is still a little calm, let me think of a way, how to persuade Ma Teng, Han Sui and others to besiege Li Dao together. Cao Zhang hurriedly persuaded Duan Xuan.

"Childe said this, didn't he believe in the last general? Could it be that without Ma Teng and Han Sui, we can't capture Chang'an and kill Li Dao!? When Duan Xuan heard this, not only did he not calm down, but he became even more annoyed.

Cao Chang realized that Duan Xuan had misunderstood him, and hurriedly wanted to explain: "General, don't misunderstand, that's not what I mean, I just don't want the general to lose troops in vain." ”

"Childe's kindness, Duan Xuan has received it, but I have made up my mind, early tomorrow morning, I will lead the troops to attack the city, and I must capture Chang'an and kill the Li thief!" Duan Xuan said firmly.

Cao Zhang saw Duan Xuan so persistent, and knew that it would be useless to persuade him again, so he could only nod helplessly: "Okay, then tomorrow I will personally cheer for the general!" ”