Cao Zhang and Ma Chao led the soldiers and horses day and night, and returned to the Chang'an camp in four days.

Cao Zhang knew very well in his heart that there was very little time left for him to break the city, so he did not delay in the slightest, and immediately ordered everyone to be summoned to discuss how to break the enemy.

It didn't take long for Xu Shu, Duan Xuan, Xu Huang, Xiahou Ba and others to come to the Chinese army's big tent.

Cao Zhang briefly briefed them on the results of the trip to Tianshui and introduced them to Ma Chao.

Xu Shu and the others were overjoyed when they heard that Ma Teng had accepted Zhao'an, and immediately sent a large army to help in the battle, and even sent someone to escort Zhong Xuan to recruit Han Sui and others.

"Congratulations to the boss, with the assistance of Ma Teng, Han Sui and the princes of Guanxi, we will definitely be able to break through Chang'an and exterminate Li Dao!" Duan Xuan took the initiative to congratulate Cao Zhang.

Xiahou Ba also echoed very excitedly: "Boss, you are really amazing, you settled things as soon as you came out, and it only took such a short time to bring reinforcements, I really admire you!" ”

Xu Shu looked at Cao Zhang and didn't say much, although when Cao Zhang spoke, he tried to simplify it as much as possible, and did not deliberately talk about the repeated battles with Ma Chao.

But Xu Shu knew very well in his heart that Cao Zhang's trip to Tianshui was not easy, and he must have gone through a lot of hardships before he finally got what he wanted.

"Childe has worked hard." Although Xu Shu only said this simple sentence, his eyes were full of understanding and distress for Cao Zhang.

Cao Zhang looked at Xu Shu's eyes, and also saw the other party's understanding of him, and the two understood each other, and there was no need for too many words.

"Yuan Zhi, you have also worked hard. In the past few days since I left, how has the situation been on both sides of the enemy? Cao Zhang calmly responded to Xu Shu's words, and then asked about the battle situation with concern.

"Returning to Gongzi, since we surrounded the four gates of Chang'an, Li Dao has been trapped in the city by us, and he does not dare to come out to confront us head-on. In accordance with your instructions, we did not rush to attack the city, but adopted a tight defense to maintain a stalemate between the two sides. Moreover, I have also sent someone to send the news of our previous victory, as well as the news that Gongzi personally went to recruit General Anma, to Xu Du to report to Cao Sikong. Xu Shu reported to Cao Zhang very quickly.

When Cao Zhang heard the news, he nodded with satisfaction, he knew that Xu Shu and the others strictly followed his orders, maintained the stability of the battle situation, and informed Cao Cao of their situation in a timely manner, which also made Cao Cao feel at ease.

Xu Shu then handed over another letter: "Childe, here is a letter from Sima Boda to you." ”

Cao Zhang took the letter and opened it, and the letter mainly reported that Cao Pi proposed marriage, and Guo Zhao used ointment to confuse the past.

Cao Zhang secretly rejoiced, fortunately he had prepared in advance, otherwise he would have been stabbed in the back by Cao Pi.

"Yuan Zhi, you have done a good job, now that our side has been joined by the Guanxi princes, when all the soldiers and horses arrive, we can attack with all our strength and take Chang'an!" Cao Zhang praised Xu Shu and the others, expressing his attitude.

Ma Chao listened to Cao Zhang's words, but he was unwilling to wait for the arrival of others, he stepped forward and took the initiative to ask for battle: "Boss, please allow me to call the battle under the city tomorrow!" If Li Dao dares to go out of the city to fight, I will take his life with one shot! ”

Cao Zhang looked at Ma Chao in front of him, showed a hint of a smile, and nodded in response: "Big brother, you go to the city at this time to call for battle, that is, to tell Li Dao that the princes of Guanxi have begun to unite with me, which is definitely a great deterrent for him and the defenders in the city." Okay, I'll allow you to go to the city tomorrow to call for battle!" ”

"Thank you, Boss!" Ma Chao happily accepted the order.

"However, I have a few words to remind my eldest brother, you have arrived in the city to indicate the situation of our coalition forces. But there is no need to provoke Li Dao too much, but to try to persuade them to surrender, telling them that as long as the city surrenders, the officers and soldiers of the city will not die! Cao Zhang made a final explanation to Ma Chao.

Ma Chao listened to Cao Zhang's words, but his face was dazed, obviously not fully understanding Cao Zhang's intentions: "Boss, why is this?" ”

Cao Zhang smiled and looked at Xu Shu, hoping that he would explain to Ma Chao.

"General Ma, my son-in-law, this is a discordant plan to attack the heart." Xu Shu smiled and explained to Ma Chao and everyone present.

"Gongzi asked General Ma to announce that as long as he surrendered, he could save the entire city from death, which is a mystery. Everyone can avoid death, but there is no mention of Li Dao here. ”

"According to what we know about Li Dao, he is an extremely selfish and death-fearing person, he will definitely not sacrifice himself for the life and death of his officers and soldiers, and will definitely insist on fighting to the end."

"But in the current situation, everyone can see that Li Dao's army will be defeated, and how many of his officers and soldiers are willing to follow Li Dao to death when they know that surrender can avoid death!? There are bound to be people who want to surrender, and if Li Dao insists on fighting hard, there will be contradictions between them, and in this way, the morale of the army will definitely be even more shaken, and wouldn't this be more beneficial to us?! ”

Xu Shu explained Cao Zhang's true intentions to everyone in detail.

After hearing this, Ma Chao suddenly admired in his heart, his sworn brother's scheming is really good, just a simple explanation of his own words, it contains such a deep meaning.

"I understand, don't worry, I know how to do it!" Ma Chao said to Cao Zhang.

Cao Zhang looked at Xu Shu and Ma Chao and nodded with satisfaction......

In the early morning of the next day, the earth-shattering war drums sounded outside the east gate of Chang'an, the camp gate of Cao Zhang's army was opened, and three thousand cavalry lined up neatly and quickly lined up in the open space under the city.

With the sound of advancing drums, the three thousand horsemen slowly advanced and finished the battle under Chang'an City.

The 3,000 cavalrymen, each armed with spears, were majestic, and a large banner with the word "horse" written on it was erected in the center of the procession.

The cavalry team neatly made way for each side, and Ma Chao slowly passed through the middle of the line and came to the front of the line.

Today's Ma Chao sits on a tall horse, wearing wolf tooth armor and holding a spear, like a god of war descending to the mortal world.

He held a spear, the tip of the spear pointed at the Xiliang army on the city tower, and shouted: "I am Ma Chao, quickly call Li Dao to come to the city to talk!" ”

Ma Chao's name resounded in the northwest, and the Xiliang army in the city had already heard of it, and when they heard him report to his home, they hurriedly went to report to Li Dao in a panic.

Li Dao, Li Ying, Li Huan and others had already heard the sound of war drums outside the city, and were surprised why Cao Zhangjun stopped looking at it for a few days, and suddenly lined up again to call for battle, and heard the soldiers defending the city to report that Ma Chao was under the city.

Li Dao and the others were shocked at how Ma Chao could appear, and they didn't dare to slack off, so they quickly climbed the city tower together, looked down, and saw that it was really Ma Chao under the city.

Ma Chao sat on a tall horse, majestic and awe-inspiring, and he saw Li Dao and others appear on the city tower.

Ma Chao coldly glanced at the people on the city tower, and then said in a sonorous voice: "Li Dao, do you still know your master?!" ”

Li Wei looked at Ma Chao under the city, and scolded angrily: "You little thief, you escaped from the last battle and failed to take your life, you still dare to come to the city today to make noise, are you impatient?" ”

Ma Chao shouted angrily: "It's you who is impatient!" Let me tell you, now my father has been named the assassin of Yongzhou by the imperial court, and I have been ordered to be the vanguard and come to help Cao Gongzi in the war; He has personally led an army of 20,000 and will arrive soon! The princes of Kansai have all accepted the imperial court's recruitment, and they will all lead their troops and horses in the near future. ”

Ma Chao's voice echoed throughout the city, as if it was a thunderclap that shook the sky, reaching everyone's ears.

In fact, the moment they saw Ma Chao appear, Li Dao and others had already realized that the situation was wrong, and the princes of Guanxi must have had a change.

Li Huan, Li Ying, and the Xiliang defenders at the head of the city also felt cold in their vests and felt a huge crisis when they heard Ma Chao say that the Guanxi princes would soon lead a large army to come.

"Big brother, did you hear what Ma Chao said? The princes of Kansai have already accepted the imperial court's recruitment! Your so-called letters, the truth of the cold lips and teeth, are useless at all! Li Huan said anxiously to Li Dao.

"I'm not deaf, I can hear!" Li Wei scolded Li Huan in annoyance.

"No wonder they haven't moved in the past few days, it turned out that they were going to fight Ma Teng, Han Sui and their villains!" Li Wei scolded in annoyance.

He didn't expect that in just a few days, the situation would change so much, and what he feared most happened.

If all the Guanxi princes really sent troops to come, together with Cao Zhang's original men and horses, they could at least gather 70,000 or 80,000 soldiers and horses, which would be several times his number, forming a huge gap in troops. For the Xiliang army, which was already demoralized, it would be a catastrophe.

Big brother, what should we do now?! Li Ying was also very aware of the crisis he was facing, and asked Li Wei anxiously.

Before Li Dao could answer him, Ma Chao's roar had already sounded again under the city: "Listen to the people in the city, hurry up and surrender!" Cao Gongzi said that as long as you surrender, except for Li Dao, all the officers and soldiers in the city can be spared death; If you are stubborn and stubborn, when the princes of Guanxi arrive and break the city together, you will definitely kill all of you traitors, and not one will be left! ”

Ma Chao's words had a great deterrent effect, and the expressions on the faces of the defenders at the head of the city changed instantly, and they obviously began to worry about their fate.

When Li Wei heard this, he was furious, and he felt that he had been greatly insulted. Except for the exception, everyone else is exempt from death, that is, it is clear that they want to kill me, so what nonsense is there to say?!

Li Wei reached out and snatched a hard bow from the archer on the side, bent the bow and arrows, and aimed at Ma Chao not far from the city.

When Li Huan and Li Ying saw Li Wei's actions, they faintly felt that something was wrong, and they wanted to open their mouths to stop them, but it was too late.

Collapse!

With the sound of a bowstring, Li Wei had already let go, and an arrow shot at Ma Chao under the city at great speed.

Everyone in the city couldn't help but hold their breath as they watched the sharp arrows fly towards Ma Chao.

Ma Chao watched the sharp arrow fly in front of him, waved the spear in his hand, and directly knocked the arrow down.

Then Ma Chao pointed the tip of his gun at Li Dao on the city tower, and scolded loudly: "Li Dao, it seems that you are planning to resist to the end!?" Do you dare to go out of the city and fight?! ”

Li Wei snorted coldly: "I don't fight with you brute boy!" ”

"Okay, you wait, in a few days, the heroes of Kansai will come, we will join forces to break the city, and we will definitely kill all those who resist to the end!" Ma Chao's voice was sharp and majestic, like a thunderclap, which shook the eardrums of the officers and soldiers in the city.

After Ma Chao finished speaking, he stopped talking nonsense, turned his horse's head and returned to his own formation, and gave the order to retreat.

The 3,000 cavalry were like a big wave of the ebbing tide, quickly retreating to the camp of Cao Zhang's army.

Li Wei's face was pale, and he looked at Ma Chao who had withdrawn, his face was full of anger and unwillingness. He scolded in a sullen voice: "Shaft, dare to be so arrogant!" I want you to see what you are capable of breaking through my impregnable Chang'an City! ”

After Li Wei finished scolding, he became more and more angry, and he didn't say more, but shouted angrily to the soldiers in the city: "Give me strict precautions, and you must not give Cao Jun any chance!" ”

After saying that, he quickly rushed towards the city tower.

Li Huan, Li Ying and the others didn't dare to say much, so they could only retreat silently, not daring to make the slightest move, and watched Li Dao leave.

When Li Dao disappeared from view, Li Huan, Li Ying and other officers and soldiers at the head of the city turned their heads to look at Ma Chao's soldiers and horses who were retreating in the distance, at this time their hearts were full of uneasiness and worry, they all knew that Ma Chao was extremely brave, once the heroes of Guanxi gathered, the situation in Chang'an would be precarious.

Li Huan said worriedly: "Ma Chao is a terrible opponent, if the Kansai heroes gather, it will be even more extraordinary, this battle, we are really in a desperate situation, it is difficult to win!" ”

Li Ying looked at Li Huan silently, he understood what Li Huan said in his heart, but Li Wei had already expressed the attitude of fighting to the end, what could he do?

The guards at the head of the city silently exchanged a look, and they were all in a fluctuating mood at this time.

They all understood that Li Dao's tough and rigid behavior just now was bound to anger the enemy army. If it is really as Ma Chao said, the Kansai heroes arrive and launch a siege together, and they can't resist it at all, then there is really only one way to die......