Shuhan

"We'll reach Chang'an in less than seventy miles."

Xia Houmao was sweating profusely and his chest was heaving violently.

The most important thing is that there is a burning pain in the inner thigh.

Although he has been in the military, to be honest, his skin and flesh are still tender.

This kind of thing, riding a horse continuously for hundreds or thousands of miles, has never been done before.

"Rest for an hour, and then set off again after an hour!"

Xiahou Shang's appearance is much better than Xiahou Mao's.

Xiahou Shangnai was the cousin of Xiahou Yuan, the general who conquered the west. Cao Cao pacified Jizhou and served as Army Sima and Wuguan General Wen Wen. He moved to Huangmen as a minister. He accompanied Cao Zhang on his expedition to Wuhuan and returned victoriously. He was close and friendly with Emperor Wen of Wei Cao Pi.

This level of marching is actually similar to running in the desert.

Xia Houshang can still hold on.

"The expedition cavalry arrived in Chang'an, but no one came back. Could it be that Chang'an has fallen?"

Xia Houshang felt a little uneasy, and his hand holding the reins tightened unconsciously.

"If Chang'an falls, how can Zheng County be saved? Most of the Han army should still be in Chang'an."

If Chang'an is lost, places like Zheng County will be unsafe to defend. As soon as the Han army arrives, the city will be broken.

"The scouts have come to report that Ba Ling has been captured. Should we continue to advance?"

Xia Houmao was already a little scared in his heart.

Ba Ling was occupied by the Han army, and Chang'an may have been lost.

Now that the cavalry troops have passed, they may be surrounded by Han troops.

This comes with a certain risk.

"Even if we want to attack Chang'an, we need to capture Ba Ling to cut off the retreat of Chang'an soldiers. Chang'an should not have been conquered by the Han army."

Xia Houshang made a serious analysis, and he wanted to give Xia Houmao some confidence.

Even he himself had some doubts that Chang'an had fallen.

"Don't think so much. You will naturally understand it when you get to Chang'an. Besides, we are a cavalry army with one person and three horses. Chang'an has fallen. Can't we escape? The Han army's cavalry has always been inferior to us. Let's take a rest."

After listening to Xia Houshang's words, Xia Houmao's originally anxious heart relaxed a lot.

Boren's words are reasonable, but what if Chang'an is lost?

The cavalry of the Han army were southern horses. The horses were short and could not catch up with the Xiliang horses of the Wei Dynasty.

If Chang'an falls, you can always escape if you run.

Thinking of this, the soldiers applied the medicine, Xia Houmao also crossed his arms and squinted his eyes, and began to close his eyes to rest.

When you have enough energy, come again and make meritorious deeds!

He is the guard of Chang'an, and the credit for guarding Chang'an belongs to Xia Houmao!

As for Zhang He
Is your surname Cao or Xiahou?

In the next two days, the Han army continued to attack, but the intensity of the attack was not as strong as before.

Moreover, it is not so much a siege as a pile of earth.

The places where the earth was piled were the city gates of Chang'an.

This confused Zhang Xiong.

"Father, what are these Han soldiers doing in the rain of arrows and heaping earth?"

Zhang He couldn't understand it at first, but as if he thought of something, his expression became a little serious.

"I understand, reinforcements have arrived!"

Reinforcements?

Zhang Xiong also reacted immediately.

"What does father mean to say that the reinforcements have arrived and that's why the Han army wants to pile up the earth gate so that we can't get out?"

Zhang He nodded.

"That should be the truth."

Zhang Xiong's face showed a look of joy and he said: "What's the use of piles of dirt at the city gate? We can still open the city gate, and then let the soldiers shovel away the dirt at the gate, and then we can leave the city."

The gate of Chang'an opens inward, not outward. There is no such thing as the city gate cannot be opened.

If your Han army can pile up the dirt at the city gate, of course our Wei army can shovel it away.

"As soon as the reinforcements arrive, Chang'an will be defended!"

Thinking of this, Zhang Xiong was so happy that he almost jumped up.

"If this is possible, why would my father's face be so ugly?"

Zhang He frowned tightly as he looked at the Han soldiers who were rolling wood and broken bricks to transport earth and rocks below the city.

"Could it be that there are other variables?" Zhang Xiong hesitated.

"The more soil the Han army piles up, the slower we will leave the city. Moreover, if we open the city gate, can we close it?"

Once the city gate is opened, the loose earth and rocks will enter the corridor. Even if they are shoveled away in time, some earth and rocks will be left behind.

Once this happens, the city gate cannot be closed.

You can activate soldiers to shovel soil.

But maybe before you can eradicate it, the Han army will come in from the outside.

"this."

Zhang Xiong really didn't expect this.

"The Han army wants to lure us out of the city with reinforcements?"

Zhang He nodded, then shook his head.

"Maybe so, maybe not."

This riddle confused Zhang Xiong.

"It's already here, and father still hasn't made it clear?"

Zhang He knew that his son couldn't help but tease him, but he didn't give in.

"What would you say if the reinforcements were annihilated by the Han army in front of us?"

"This"

Zhang Xiong walked into it, and suddenly his whole body was trembling, and he broke out in cold sweat.

Being full of hope will push you into the abyss of despair, which will directly make the already desperate Chang'an defenders lose their fighting spirit.

"This is a poisonous plan!" Zhang Xiong said bitterly.

"This is a conspiracy!"

Zhang He's expression was very calm.

"Then how should we respond?" Perhaps even Zhang Xiong didn't notice that his voice was already trembling slightly.

"Guard Chang'an!" Zhang He's answer was also very simple.

Keep?

How can this be maintained?

"If there are enough reinforcements, or even if there are very few reinforcements, as long as the reinforcements are taken away, it will be a huge encouragement to the generals defending the city."

The first batch of reinforcements has arrived, can the second batch of reinforcements be far behind?
Isn’t this how morale comes about?

"When the reinforcements arrive, will they open the city gate?"

Zhang He thought for a while and said, "We'll talk about it after the reinforcements arrive."

If there are enough reinforcements, he will open the city gate to receive them.

If there are fewer reinforcements.

Naturally, they closed the city gate tightly and waited for the arrival of follow-up reinforcements.

On the second day.

The weather was still clear and cloudless, and there was only a fireball in the sky that was so hot that it would scorch everything.

As summer approaches, the air becomes drier.

The weeds that were once green and tender have now become hardened.

Around Chang'an, which is half buried by loess, and on the banks of the Weishui River, there is no other green except for the green grass.

Within ten miles there is not a single tree.

The trees near Chang'an have been cut down and used as siege equipment.

Now the Han army has to walk more than ten miles to collect wood for the army.

If the war continues, I am afraid that all the trees in Guanzhong will suffer.

Zhang Fei has received the scout message in advance.

Wei reinforcements are coming.

He immediately issued an order to attack the city. At the same time, Zhao Yun's cavalry and the armored infantry led by Wei Yan were already ready.

dong dong dong~
War drums beat.

"Come on~"

"Kill~"

"Break the city!"

The shouts of killing rose to the sky.

A new round of offensive and defensive battles in Chang'an City has begun.

suddenly!

Tap tap tap~
As if the earth was trembling, a burst of yellow smoke rose in the distance, and then, a strange army came from a distance. Zhang He, who was on Chang'an City, could clearly see that it was the Xiahou Ya Banner.

And there are two big flags.

Xiahou Mao, the governor of Chang'an, returned. The other Xiahou, I don’t know who he is.

"Father, do you want to open the city gate?"

Zhang He hesitated when he saw that the number of cavalry was only a few thousand.

"There are too few people."

"That's Chang'an guarding. The general doesn't open the city gate to respond? He might be punished."

When Zhang He was hesitant, Cao Wei's cavalry led by Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Mao, had already rushed into the Han army's siege sequence.

For a time, the Han army was defeated one after another.

"Hahaha~"

Xia Houmao kept laughing wildly, waving the spear in his hand, killing the Han soldiers and civilians in front of him wantonly, feeling very happy in his heart.

Chang'an is not lost!

Chang'an is not lost!

Then Xia Houmao is not guilty.

After charging for a while, Xia Houmao saw that the Han army's infantry formation had moved in the distance. His heart tightened and he hurriedly said to Zhang He on the city: "Open the city gate quickly!"

He had the courage to beat the civilians and wipe out the Han army's defeat, and he was very bold.

But he did not have the courage to go head-to-head with the main force of the Han army, especially the Han army infantry with such a high armor coverage rate.

Zhang He said with a straight face: "Guard, this is a treacherous plot of the Han army. It is for the purpose of planning Chang'an City. I forgive you for not being able to obey orders."

If there were ten thousand cavalry, Zhang He might have opened the city gate, but there were only three thousand, which was too small a number.

If the city gate is opened now, the Chang'an city gate will not be able to be closed for an hour or two. Chang'an is in danger!

"Bullshit Han army conspiracy!"

Xia Houmao immediately became angry and his face turned red.

"But you think I'm here to take the credit? Open the city gate quickly. If it delays the war, don't blame the heads!"

From Xia Houmao's point of view, his reinforcements had arrived, but Zhang He still didn't open the city gate. It was clear that he wanted to kill him, and then he would get the credit for guarding Chang'an.

Its heart is awkward!

From Zhang He's point of view, the cavalry did not come out, only the infantry formation. It was obvious that they were here to gain the city of Chang'an.

This city gate must not be opened!

Xia Houmao was furious.

The Han infantry was approaching faster and faster.

Tap tap tap~
Han infantry wearing armor, holding fine iron shields in one hand, and holding spears, spears or halberds in the other hand were already approaching Chang'an City.

If time delays any longer, the only way he can go is to run away.

But who are you kidding?
He finally made it to Chang'an, so why should he go back?
Moreover, in Xia Houmao's view, the Han cavalry has not come yet, and must have ambushed them on the way. If they retreat this time, it will be very bad!
"Boren, please say something!"

Seeing Zhang He's disobedience, Xia Houmao had no choice but to turn his gaze to Xia Houchang beside him.

"General Zuo's words are not unreasonable."

The mounds of earth in front of Chang'an City are so thick that even if the city gate is opened, it will take a lot of time to clean up the earth and rocks.

It will take quite some time to close it again.

"Can't we just walk away in despair? I think this is because He is greedy and refuses to let us in. He is treasonous!"

Seeing that Xiahou Shang was unwilling to stand in line, Xiahou Mao had no choice but to shout at the city of Chang'an: "General Zhang He of the Left did not obey military orders and was committing rebellion. Are you going to rebel too?"

Treason?
Chang'an City suddenly exploded.

Zhang He's expression was even more like a scapegoat.

He now wished he could snatch the bow and arrow from the archers around him, and then shoot Xiahou Mao to death with one arrow.

I, Zhang He, will do anything to protect Chang'an.

As a result, as soon as your boy came over, he shook the morale of the army!
How can we protect Chang'an with such insects?
"If the guard doesn't leave, he won't be able to leave!"

Xia Houmao had a ruthless look on his face and shouted at Chang'an City: "If the city gate is not opened within ten breaths, you and the other people on the city will be rebels. Think about your family members, many of them are in Luoyang." , if you don’t open the city gate, you will be an accomplice! If your family members are involved, everyone will be implicated!"

Xia Houmao looked at Zhang He fiercely and shouted: "One!"

Zhang He on the city frowned and clenched his fists.

If looks could kill, then his fire-breathing eyes would have killed Xia Houmao thousands of times.

Don’t be afraid of enemies having Gundams, but be afraid of teammates being Pig Noses!

Tired heart.

If Zhang He hadn't been in good health, he would have died of anger on the city wall.

"two!"

"three!"

"Four!"

Before Xia Houmao's voice stopped, there was already a commotion in the city.

"General, now that the guard has returned, it's better to let the guard enter the city!"

The person who spoke was an official from the Chang'an Guards House.

"General, please consider the overall situation. The guard is a member of the Tian family. Offending him will not be beneficial to the general."

"Have you forgotten what the general did in Chang'an City?"

"General Zuo, please open the city gate quickly. Don't be accused of treason!"

Even the generals stationed in Chang'an spoke up one by one.

Those Hu soldiers had objections to Xia Houmao and did not speak at the moment.

But their attitude is also neutral.

Although Zhang He gave them many rewards, many people died while guarding Chang'an.

We don’t owe each other anything.

After all, Xia Houmao had been guarding Chang'an for several years. Although he abandoned the city and fled, his status and influence in Chang'an City were not much worse than that of Zhang He.

Especially what Zhang He did in Chang'an cannot be described as the anger of God and people, but can only be described as the anger of humans and gods.

The number of people who died in Chang'an in the past few years was not more than the number of people killed by him.

And
In order to boost the morale of the lieutenant generals, many husband-in-law crimes were committed.

The wives, concubines, and family members of the common people in Chang'an were sent to the army to work in the army.

No matter how hard the people work without complaining, with hundreds of cuckolds on their heads, they still cannot calm down.

"Father, I think it's still the case"

Before Xiahou Mao came, with Zhang He's ruthlessness, his majesty in the army, and the pressure of Zuo General, the common people and officials in Chang'an City would not dare to conflict with him.

After all, Zhang He did so many immoral things. Although it was out of conscience, it was also to protect Chang'an and for the country.

But it's different now.

The Chang'an garrison is back.

The backbone of Chang'an is back.

You, General Zuo, are not a member of the Tian family, but you have done these unscrupulous things, and yet you dare to refuse Chang'an to guard outside the city. What are your intentions?

From the moment Xia Houmao arrived in Chang'an, Zhang He's righteousness disappeared.

Although Xia Houmao was incompetent, he had great righteousness and had the status of an upright guard of Chang'an.

Compared with the fierce Zhang He, the incompetent and gentle Xia Houmao is what Changan needs now.

After all, if the reinforcements come, you, Zhang He, will be useless.

"hehe."

Zhang He gave a bitter smile, which then turned into wild laughter.

"Hahaha~"

The laughter contained anger and confusion, but in the end, it turned into a laugh of relief.

At this time, Xia Houmao's face at the foot of the city was as red as an angry monkey's butt.

"Eight!"

He reined in his horse and turned around, looking at the soldiers around him, feeling as if everyone was laughing at him.

Ever since.

He became even more angry and resentful towards Zhang He.

"Nine!"

"ten!"

The last number was shouted, and Xia Houmao broke his defense.

"Zhang He, I am your ancestor, your mother's maidservant!"

Xia Houmao was furious. Now the Han infantry was pressing forward. If he didn't leave, they would form an encirclement and eat up his three thousand cavalry.

The cavalry has a speed advantage, but if they are surrounded by heavily armored infantry, it will be like a tiger that has lost its claws and is just waiting to die.

Xia Houmao was about to retreat, but at this moment, the Chang'an city gate creaked and was slowly pushed open.

The earth and rocks piled on the city gate fell down, and half of the opened city gate was flooded.

Without further ado, Xia Houmao immediately drove his horse and galloped towards Chang'an City.

In the distance, Zhang Fei saw the city gate wide open on the high platform, with a row of big white teeth showing on his bearded face.

Xiahou Mao.

You are really my number one hero!

Now, the fighter plane to take down Chang'an has arrived! (End of chapter)